Prudential Georgia Realty is pleased to announce that Metro Atlanta home values are officially past the bottom.  Read the report to learn the facts that support our case.  The report also includes an overview of the key drivers that impact future homes values with relevant facts about each category.  Learn the trends for short sales, foreclosures and bank-owned properties.  Get the facts about the shadow inventory being held by banks. See the latest stats for new homes permits and trends for replacements costs. Understand how increasing mortgage rates could reduce your buying power.   Home affordability remains exceptional with selling prices below replacement costs and historically low mortgage rates.  But these conditions will not last! Click Here To Download The Report Come to my ... 05/10/2010

Webster defines community as: “a unified body of individuals” or “the people with common interests living in a particular area”; and, there is no better definition to exemplify Suwanee, GA.   This past week Suwanee citizens came together to provide muscle and sweat to prepare for the opening of one more of the many city parks that City officials had purchased -The theme for White Street Park is a community garden – specifically Square Foot Gardening. There are approximately 70 plots which have been rented by Suwanee residents, each ranging in dimensions of:  5x5, 5x12 and 5x14.        With the hot Southern sun beating down on us, we started Day 1 with a large group of residents gathered to assemble cedar boxes, dig holes, shovel rock and move dirt. It was hard work, but it was “fun” wor... 05/10/2010

Market stats for Suwanee, GA, March, 2010 indicate that there are 620 properties on the market. Overall, there is about an 11.6 month supply of properties.  This is one of the rare markets that is showing a better Absorption Rate for March than February.  New listings were up by 10%, but sales were up by 50% (month over month)... Image by lane.bailey via Flickr In the sub-$200k arena, there are 119 listings, with under 7.8 months supply. This is stronger than most of the rest of the county, but still not as strong as it was in November (less than 4 months supply).  However, with an increase in sales compared to last year, and listings not growing as rapidly as many areas, Suwanee is still looking solid. Between $200k and $400k, there are 311 listings for sale, and 11.2 months of supply.... 05/08/2010

The Atlanta real estate market continues to have twists and turns. With the end in sight for the housing tax credits, it was anticipated there would be a higher jump in activity as the clock clicks downward....not so much. Closings for all single family homes was up only 8% from one year ago.  According to Steve Palm with Smart Numbers: There was a surge of homes going under contract for the month of March.  So it seems reasonable to expect that closings, particularly for April will see an increase compared to April 2009. Inventory levels also seem to be hitting more of a "seasonal" norm for the Atlanta market. And, new construction seems to be on the rebound - Metro Atlanta permits are up almost 50% the first quarter of 2010 compared to first quarter 2009 - 1900 permits issued first qu... 05/04/2010

I recently worked with a buyer from out of state and we looked at several homes in the Suwanee and Buford areas.   In doing my preparation for showing it occurred to me that there weren't that many foreclosures and short sales coming up in my search for suitable listings to show these buyers.   In fact, the number of short sales and foreclosures might have been lower than we are seeing in many other areas of Gwinnett County. What's the reason for that?   Well, there could be many reasons but the best part about this discovery is that sellers in Suwanee and Buford have a real opportunity in what they may feel is an impossible situation right now.   Many homeowners who have a need or desire to move are holding back.   Homeowners are putting off placing their homes on the market out of fea... 04/27/2010

Market stats for Suwanee, January, 2010 indicate that there are 566 properties on the market. Overall, there is about an 12.3 month supply of properties. In the sub-$200k arena, there are 121 listings, with under 8.3 months supply. This is stronger than most of the rest of the county, but not as strong as it was in November (less than 4 months supply).  Part of that is because of the increase in listings... and half the sales, although February was looking up. Between $200k and $400k, there are 271 listings for sale, and under 11.5 months of supply. Sales dropped off dramatically during the Holiday period. January and February sales were much stronger than 2009. From $400k to $600k, there are 84 homes on the market. The absorption rate is around 15 months. Sales were 10 for Jan/Feb comp... 04/11/2010

Play hard...live well...smile more!   That's the City of Suwanee motto.   Gotta love that!   Suwanee, GA calls itself a "progressive community" in North Gwinnett, with about 16,000 residents.   Back in 2007 Money Magazine named Suwanee, GA as one of its most liveable small communities in the U.S.   It has only gotten even better since then!   Check out the main website for Suwanee, GA where they lots of pictures, and post everything from a history of Suwanee to economic development and what's new and events.     The City of Suwanee even has its own facebook page.  Located 30 miles north of Atlanta, Suwanee is well known for its high quality mixed used communities, crowd pleasing events, great schools and over 500 acres of park lands with walking and biking trails.     Suwanee Town Cente... 04/02/2010

The River Club in Suwanee, Georgia is a short drive from Atlanta but offers everything that you adore about being in the suburbs - open spaces, majestic views along the Chattahoochee, lifestyle amenities, a Greg Norman designed golf course and gorgeous homesites. Think of all the things that you would like to see in the place that you select when building a home.   The River Club is exactly what you have been dreaming about.     Homes constructed must maintain a 2800 square foot minimum on the main floor, 1000 minimum on the upper floor, and 3800 square foot minimum for ranch style homes.  The River Club is a Crescent Community.   Crescent Resources LLC is a joint venture between Duke Energy and Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund.  The Club features a wide range of activities for the entir... 03/30/2010

The sun shined down on the metro Atlanta real estate market for February, 2010 with a positive year-to-year increase according to Steve Palm of Smart Numbers. Although the increase was slight, 1.6% ....the news is still promising.Additionally, according to the Case Shiller Index, our metro Atlanta market hit "bottom" in March 2009. And since that time, Case Shiller is reporting metro atlanta home values have risen 5.8%.  As for our new home inventory, it is at an all time low. And, although we are beginning to see a few (a very few) builders begin developing new subdivisions (at least in the gwinnett County/suwanee area) new construction inventory is not expected to return anytime soon; and as a result, this is helping to absorb our foreclosure, short sale and resale inventory. What the... 03/26/2010

It's 2010 and Atlanta is still considered a declining market. As a result, many potential home buyers have sat on the side lines concerned with what their property investment will be worth over time should they go ahead and take the plunge and buy now. According to the Census Bureau, Atlanta will lead the nation in producing 1.7 million jobs by 2025. The engine behind this will be Fortune 500 companies. The Delta/Northwest merger along with NCR mov-ing their headquarters to metro Atlanta are prime examples.  Fortune Magazine is predicting over 2 million more res-idents for the Atlanta area by 2020. An average of 100,00 new residents with an average of 60,00 jobs per year has been released in a  report by the Atlanta Regional Commission. Although there is some variance in the numbers, th... 03/26/2010

 We are off and running. January, 2010 is now just a distant memory. And, for the Atlanta real estate market, January, 2010 left behind the lowest number of closings in a month during the past nine (9) years (Steve Palm/Smart Numbers, Marietta GA January 2010 Agent Report). And, the foreclosure market in Atlanta seems to be taking a break. We saw just over 8100 foreclosure filings for the month of January. Seems hard to imagine that we see that figure as good news. Gwinnett County came in second with 1,196 foreclosure fiillngs according to Realty Trac.  And, according to Steve Palm with Smart Numbers we will see l00's of new construction foreclosed condos hitting the Atlanta market during 2010. Despite this news, the predictions are we are likely to see foreclosures take a back seat to ... 03/08/2010

Suwanee, GA is a suburb of Atlanta in Gwinnett, Forsyth and (just a little bit) in Fulton Counties. The population is 2000 was 8,725, but that only included the area inside the city limits, and it had seen tremendous growth since that census.  Money Magazine rated Suwanee in the "Top 10 Best Places to Live" in 2007, and it is one of the wealthiest parts of Georgia. Recently, the City of Suwanee has revamped their old town, adding a large park with a bandshell, condos, town homes and small businesses. It is also home to North Gwinnett High School, Peachtree Ridge and Collins Hill. Market stats for Suwanee, January, 2010 indicate that there are 529 properties on the market. Overall, there is about an 9 1/2 month supply of properties, with sales matching the pattern set in most of the rest... 03/07/2010

Smart Remodeling Investments still pay. I was on the phone with a customer of mine yesterday who purchased a home last year. It had an unfinished lower level and needed some TLC. He had an expanding family and needed to maximize living space. He finished the lower level, invested in a new HVAC system for the lower level, and modestly updated a kitchen and bathroom. According to a recent market analysis, he appears to have increased the value of his home close to the dollars he spent on improvements. Investors know that remodeling pays but you have to be smart about where you spend your dollars. According to this year’s Cost vs Value Report by Remodeling magazine, the best return on your investment often comes from  the most logical and utilitarian choices. Adding more livable space, ins... 03/06/2010

The process of purchasing a home is an exciting time, but one that may bring additional responsibilities into your life. Many homes may need renovations or inspections, especially in areas that are susceptible to natural disasters. Having the assistance of an experienced and reliable Georgia real estate agent will make this process smooth and stress free. Some older homes may still contain obsolete building materials. Citizens of this great state are striving to move to a green lifestyle, advocating environmentally sustainable methods to be used throughout the state. Building or remodeling your homes with Eco-friendly materials can lower utility and water bills, higher real estate value, purer air quality, reduced waste sent to landfills and conservation of natural resources. Asbestos &... 02/16/2010

  Located about 30 miles north of down town Atlanta, Suwanee GA has become nationally recognized as one of the best places to live in the United States.  The City of Suwanee has worked diligently over the past several years to create a very family-oriented community - and, they have succeeded. However, the City of Suwanee, like everywhere else, has not been untouched by the down turn in the housing market. The real eye opener came as I prepared this report and looked at the total homes sold in 2009 vs. 2007....a drop in units sold of 71%!! And as "fun" as it is to look back at where we once came, it is important to spend more time looking forward. So as we open the door and welcome in 2010, we will no longer be a stranger to the foreclosure market. And, as real estate agents, most of us... 02/10/2010

  We close the door on 2009 and from my perspective if you are still in the real estate business you deserve a HUGE pat on the back. It was tough out there, but houses were selling. It became a huge dose of reality that if you wanted to survive you had to learn a new way of working AND be diligent. Equally I think this business has proven, at least for me that you never know it all – no matter how long you’ve been a Realtor®. If you were a Seller during 2009, the year was probably an eye opener for you as well. Foreclosures dominated our market throughout the year and prices did plummet. And if you were a Seller fortunate enough to have good equity in your house like we do, then the depressed market values probably did not have the same emotional impact on you as the Seller who HAD to m... 02/04/2010

The good news for November was the increase of 27% in units closed. This follows October with a 13% increase. All good news. I don't think we can call this an upswing in our real estate market nor the beginning of good things to come. More to the truth would be the "anticipated" end to the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit - indicated by the Average Sold Price. I anticipate the numbers for December will be lower; but I do think we will see an early spring selling season. The extended $8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit; and, the $6500 Seller Tax Credit in play until April 30, 2010 should surely encourage those buyers (and, some sellers) who have been sitting on the fence, to take the leap! Interest rates still are historically low. What's not to like!   Come to my house:MySuwaneeHome.com 01/28/2010

The whole year of 2009 was challenging in some segments.  In other segments, it has shown surprising resilience and strength.  Suwanee is one of the markets in Gwinnett County, GA, that has shown relative strength, even into the last quarter of 2009.  And it started off fairly strong. Looking back over the last couple of months for Suwanee, GA, the market has moved...  The biggest thing has been the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.  It has had a GIANT pull on the market, and when it "expired" (it was renewed and expanded before it actually expired, but the effect seemed to expire) it solidified the direction of the market... as it did when it was enacted. Let's knock out a few numbers... There were 517 Listings as of 12/31/2009 December currently reports with 48 sales The Absorption Ra... 01/21/2010

Estate Homes In Laurel Springs are located in the city of Suwanee. This Community is a full amenities neighborhood with golf, tennis, pool, gated and club house to boot! Homes For Sale In Laurel Springs Most homes built between 1996 to 2003 and the H.O.A fees, at time of post, are $2,000.00 a year. The average price for a 5 bedroom / 4 and 1 half bathroom is $637,026 at time of post. More Real Estate In Suwanee GADirections: North on Hwy 141 turn right on Laurel Springs or from 400 North go right to Laurel Springs on the left into the Community of Laurel Springs. 01/19/2010

I've often talked about the City of Suwanee as being a live, work and play community.  And in order to create this sense of community,  the citizens of Suwanee have worked alongside the Suwanee City Council over the past several years to create everything from city parks to the re-establishment of Historic Suwanee, to the establishment  of the Suwanee Town Center.The Suwanee Town Center was envisioned as being the city's landmark while at the same time creating a gathering place for the community as well as visitors coming into Suwanee. And, as the finishing touches were being applied late this year to the new, picturesque Suwanee City Hall, Suwanee was the recipient of the  2009 Development of Excellence by the Atlanta Regional Comission (ARC). The award is given in recognition of deve... 01/11/2010