It was with great sadness that I leaned of the passing of Andy Griffith. Although he was a skilled and versatile actor that succeeded in many endeavors, Andy will always be best remembered as the Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry North Carolina. Born in Mt. Airy ( Mayberry ,,, Mt Airy …Mayberry … Mt Airy … get it?) Andy took his vision of small town Americana to the small screen in 1960. As a child that was coincidentally the same age as Opie Taylor,  I often confused Mayberry with the real world. In Mayberry, everybody looked after his neighbor, and went to great lengths to prevent hurt felling or damaged pride. Family always came first, and friends were treated like family! In Mayberry, there was never a crisis that could not be solved in twenty-six minutes. Even today, when we describe... 07/03/2012

Like much of the country has already experienced, today we will see temperatures in triple digits in Coweta County Georgia. It’s on days like this that I am thankful that I have a job that does not keep me outside for significant periods of time, and that I can control my environment during the hottest parts of the day. I pray that those that must work outside take all of the necessary precautions to protect their health in these extreme conditions. However, it is also important to remain our friend in the animal kingdom, who must combat the temperatures head on. I always make sure that I provide “cooling” stations with plenty of fresh water for both the birds and the mammals that might have no other resource for survival. It just takes a little time and very little effort, but the crea... 06/28/2012

If you happen to be traveling through historic downtown Newnan Georgia, you may be taken aback by the herd of brightly painted horse sculptures scatteded along the way. “A Horsey Affair” is a free public art display that includes twenty-five hand painted statues gracing the historic Old Courthouse Square and adjacent parks! The Newnan-Coweta Historical Society organized the project which enlisted the help of local artists and sponsors in an effort to raise money for a new interactive children’s museum. The exhibit has been a huge success and a boon for downtown Newnan, as visitors spend both time and money as they try to find and indentify all twenty-five horses! You can get more information at the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society or at the Visitor’s Center in the Old Courthouse! 06/17/2012

The Friends of Chattahoochee Bend State Park has announced that the construction of all approved trail paths is complete. One can now hike from the Visitors Center and connect to the Riverwalk Trail and continue from there to the Bend Trail. There is also a short loop available (.9 miles) for those just wanting to stretch their legs. Here’s the latest Chattahoochee Bend State Park Trail Map. Since there are some moderate changes in elevation it is wise to always carry water and perhaps an energy snack. The hot Georgia Summer can talk a toll on the ill-prepared hiker. There is a plethora of diverse plant and animal life to be observed in the park. And one of the best ways to get “up close and personal” with Nature is to spend a morning or afternoon on the trails. Chattahoochee Bend State... 05/15/2012

Yesterday I got another one of THOSE calls: “Hello, I just got off the Interstate at the Newnan exit and I need to find Greenville Street Park.” I was more than happy to help the caller find their way. After all, I wrote the post about Greenville Street Park way back in August 2008, and I have been getting calls about it ever since. But yesterday’s call piqued my curiosity, and after a little checking I discovered that my posts about local, state and national parks actually were among my most viewed web pages. And yesterday’s call that occurred nearly four years after the fact proves that these kinds of articles are SEO durable and will stand the test of time. Parks play an important role in any community. A municipality with quality parks can attract those seeking to relocate in a new ... 05/03/2012

A glint of azure tinged with greenThat beckons from the dark ravine,The forest reveals its hidden jewelA softly trembling shimmering pool!                  (R Weisser 2012) We all know the old saying that you “can’t see the forest for the trees,” and we rarely apply it literally. But as an avid hiker and naturalist, I have learned to keep an open eye along the trail for any nuance of nature that could easily be bypassed without so much as a second look! So as I was walking the East-West Trail in Chattahoochee Bend State Park, I noticed a nice reflection on a small pool in a rivulet. You can only wonder how the light penetrates through the full canopy of leaves and is able to reveal an otherwise easily missed spot along the way. It is indeed easy to miss the forest for the trees. So we n... 04/28/2012

As hard as it is believe, we are already in the second quarter of 2012. The year seems to be racing along at lightning speed. Perhaps that it because the Coweta County real estate market is red hot right now. There seems to be more of a sense of urgency for buyers as inventories dwindle and as interest rates threaten to rise. A lot of fence sitters have abandoned their perches and are now in the game. For many, it may be too late. Because the market now belongs to the sellers with fairly priced properties that command multiple offers. As we move towards Election Day, the expectation is that the economy will improve through the rest of the year. The market shows no sign of slowing down! Game on! 04/01/2012

Along the byways far from town, Away from mob and traffic sounds.Serene and cloistered hamlets waitFor those that forgo the interstate!                     (R Weisser 2012)  In the real estate business, it is hard to get away for more than a day or two. As a matter of fact, I haven’t had a day off in 2012 yet. So instead of thinking of “getting away” in terms of weeks, days, or even hours, I often take breaks that may last only minutes, but provide an enduring legacy to my photo archives. Do you ever choose to take the “scenic" route? Yes, we are pressed for time, and there is precious little extra for the extravagance of leisure. But there are places near our homes and places of work that are worthy of meriting a little detour every now and then. It may takes a few extra minutes and a ... 03/31/2012

Awake, from sleeping root push forthTo beckon famished apian swarms‘Tis Spring’s first industry of growthThat bursts from rock as Nature’s host!                         (R Weisser 2012) It’s THAT time of year again. The time when the earth warms enough to force the earliest blooms to open and face the sunlight before the canopy of leaves prohibit them for completing their reproduction cycles. I often marvel at how delicate and fragile these earliest flowers are. Springtime conditions provide a harsh environment and the plants will only bloom a short time. And while you may have to narrow your focus and look very closely to see the show, it’s well worth the time and effort to discover what symphonies of life are being orchestrated beneath your feet! It’s a show that should not be missed!... 03/03/2012

Is was an unusually busy weekend with quite a bit of activity. As a result, my Monday is fully scheduled out with housekeeping tasks that need to be completed today. I often wonder what causes the “switch” in business to be thrown from “off” to “on.” If I had to guess, I would say that there are three significant factors that contributed to the current floury of consumer interest: 1) Amazingly low interest rates. Rates are so low now, they are barely significant. In many cases, there is not enough mortgage interest being paid to even consider itemizing deductions on an income tax return. And since mortgages are long term notes, a buyer can fix mortgage expenses for years to come. 2)Decreasing inventory. InCowetaCountyGeorgia, we are at about one third of the number of listings compared ... 02/26/2012

In Coweta County Georgia, we are starting to see some houses listed as short sales and REO and HUD sales for the SECOND time in the last few years. How did this happen? Did we learn nothing from the past? Have year after year of buyer incentives and continued low down payments completely eroded the fundamental concept of ownership? True ownership involves skin in the game. It is too easy to just walk away and there are fewer and fewer consequences with each passing month. And yet the clamoring continues for easing mortgage qualification requirements. Leverage has toppled the market. The notion of only losing OPM has created economic chaos. Call me simple-minded, but I will always feel that people will act more responsible when THEIR money is at risk. The madness will not end until attit... 02/24/2012

The current real estate market has caused a paradigm shift in the way buyers think about real estate. The old notion that “more is better” has given way to “less is best.” Buyers simply do not want to put a lot of money into a house during a declining market. Builders in Coweta County Georgia has responded to consumers by purchasing  existing lots at fire sale prices, and by downgrading the product finishing to make the price as attractive as possible. What was once a stone or tile shower is now a one piece fiberglass unit. Where there was once crown molding, now there is none. Carpet has crept over most of the space that at one tome would have been a hardwood floor. It makes you wonder if perhaps we had come to the point where we expected too much in the first place. Perhaps simpler is... 02/16/2012

All of the experts seem to agree that the “shadow inventory” is out there.  Houses that have gone through the foreclosure process but for whatever reason are being maintained in inventory but have not been placed on the market for resale. The motivation behind the phenomenon has been described as being anything from sinister to shrewd. Are these institutional sellers simply buried under piles of paperwork, stymied by litigation, or simply trying to stabilize the market in an effort to reap top dollar for their properties? Whatever the reasons, in Coweta County Georgia there is a significant difference between the number of monthly foreclosures and REO and HUD homes showing up in the marketplace. I get calls all of the time about houses that have been sitting empty for long periods of ti... 02/08/2012

Come set your joy on golden frondsThat spice the meadow with saffron strains‘Tis Spring that waxes, fresh verdure dawnsAwakes as Winter’s crescent wanes!                    ( R Weisser 2012 ) Spring has come early to Newnan Georgia this year. The “jonquils” started blooming in January and the “redbuds” are resplendent in their awakening. The trees are already budding out. And while I enjoy Spring as much as anyone, you have to wonder about the impact this unseasonably mild winter will have on agriculture. The famous Georgia Peaches require a significant amount of hours below 45 degrees to properly set fruit. Not to mention the fact that if they bloom too early, a late frost or freeze can ruin a crop. But like it or not, we have no control of the weather and must deal with it as it comes... 02/05/2012

The woodpile and the furnace grateAwait the tardy guest waylaid.Is Winter past or only late…Asleep, to stir another day?              (R Weisser 2012)  It seems as if we haven’t has any Winter at all this year here in Newnan Georgia. As a matter of fact, even though it’s still January, the yellow bells and jonquils are already blooming. And although we enjoy a relatively mild climate here in the Southeast, we do occasionally get a real taste of Winter, as these photographs from previous years will attest! Here's wishing you snow if you want it, and sunshine and warm breezes if you don't! 01/29/2012

As a result of readily accessible information about property listings, many buyers like to search listings based on one criteria: PRICE And we do have many value-priced properties for sale in Coweta County Georgia. And buyers want to see all of these properties in hopes of finding the “perfect” combination of price and livability. The problem is that many, many buyers are looking for the same thing. And so the good properties sell very quickly. As a result the casual weekend property seeker is very unlikely to stumble upon the right house at the right price. A good real estate agent can be an invaluable asset in overcoming this dilemma. We see new properties every day and can alert buyers when a “hot” one shows up on the market. It is no longer a matter of being in the “right place at t... 01/14/2012

So far this year, winter has not made much of an appearance. Although there was a freak early snowstorm in the Northeast here in Georgia Winter has not amounted to much more than a few frosty mornings. Here is it, the second day of January, and I still have a few peppers than can be harvested from a still alive (although not exactly vigorous) pepper plant. I guess from a purely economic perspective, a mild winter in a real boon as we save on heating fuel and the cost of snow removal. But from an aesthetic point of view, it somehow does not feel “right.” It’s January and it’s supposed to be cold. I’m certain that this is probably one of those cases of “be careful what you wish for,” as there is plenty of opportunity for some real winter weather in the upcoming months. But for now, I’ll j... 01/02/2012

The question I have been asked most often in the last few weeks is: What is the outlook for the real estate market in 2012? It’s an interesting question, because there are many dynamic factors involved in the state of housing in North America. First and foremost are the immutable laws of supply and demand. If there is more product than there are consumers, the market will continue to decline. And while we can’t change the rules of the axiom, we can certainly control the variables. Either the supply of homes for sale has to be reduced or the number of buyers has to increase, a bit of both would be great. The best way to increase demand is to make mortgages easier to obtain. We don’t want to return to the debacle of the early 2000’s but a little sanity in the underwriting process would he... 12/29/2011

The 2011 Newnan Candlelight Tour of Homes is scheduled for Friday December 2 from 4:00 until 9:00 P.M. The annual event is staged by the Piedmont Newnan Hospital Auxiliary and this year will feature five homes in the Cole Town Historic District. The tour homes this year will include Victorian, Craftsman, and Cottage styles and were all constructed in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 on the day of the tour. Advance tickets may be purchased at Scott’s Bookstore on the square, the Coweta County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau in the old courthouse, Morgan’s Jewelers in Ashley Park or the Newnan Piedmont Hospital Gift shop. There is free parking at the Old Train Depot which will be open and offering light refreshments to tour visitors. 11/30/2011

As a CSX Northbound freight rumbles past the old Madras Depot, the fate of the historic building is still in the hand of local benefactors. Built along the Atlanta and West Point Railroad in the mid 1850’s, the antebellum structure is in danger of being razed. The county has left the fate of this piece of Coweta County history in the hands of private citizens that wish to move the building from the right of way to a safe location which it can be restored and preserved. It’s hard to even fathom how much human history occurred along this historic route. Everything from soldiers being deployed during the Civil War to generations of local farmers shipping their goods toAtlanta and the world beyond. As a lover of both history and railroads, I hope that the building will be saved. It’s an int... 11/18/2011