Atlanta, Decatur, and Buckhead Intown Real Estate, Homes, and News by the zac team @ RE/MAX Greater Atlanta

Atlanta, GA Real Estate and Housing Statisics for the Month of September 2008

Every month, the First Multiple Listing Service publishes numbers compiled by Smart Numbers with extensive research and statistics on the Atlanta market. The 130+ page document can be a bit overwhelming, so we break it down to the basics here to share with our sellers and fellow agents. The summary compares September 2008 numbers with September 2007 numbers. Enjoy and please feel free to give us a call if you have any questions! Our office # 404.564.7200. Units Closed: 2008 2007
Single Family 3,774 3,887(read more)

Morningside homeowners keep an eye out for stolen water by Atlanta landscapers

I received the following posts today from the Morningside Lenox Park Yahoo Group and wanted to re-share them with everyone. Please be observant of your water bill!

I have recently learned that some of our neighbors have had water
stolen by landscapers filling their water trucks while the homeowners
were away from the house or out of town. If you have a sudden and
substantial increase in your water bill that is not due to any type of
leak or personal usage, you may have had your water stolen. When you
are out of town, turn off your outdoor spigots from inside the house.
If you see a landscaping water truck at a neighbor's house that is not
expected or normal, please notify APD right away by calling 911.

Morningside Security Patrol and APD are aware of this.

Mark Romzick
MLPA Safety and Security Chair This post followed with an update:

Hi Group,
I ..(read more)

Help Volunteer with the Atlanta BeltLine at the Grand Opening in the West End!

Volunteers needed for the BeltLine Grand Opening this Saturday! That’s right - it’s really happening! In recognition of the first section of trail that is completed in the West End, the BeltLine will celebrate with neighbors and supporters this Saturday, October 18th in the Historic West End with a 5K run and a community celebration. The BeltLine is looking for three volunteers to work one shift each at the official BeltLine booth at the Grand Opening! Are you available to help out? If so, please click here to go to the website and send an email via the form "tell us how you would like to help!"

Click here for details and to sign up for the 5K!

Atlanta's Piedmont Park Green Market, Tours, & more!

Haven't made it to Piedmont Park for the weekly Green Market? You have a few months left in the year! The local market runs from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. every Saturday at the 12th Street entrance and will continue through December 13th, 2008 (it will reopen in May 09). Click here for more information and support your local farmers! For a limited time, you can also purchase rain barrels at the market for $75 each. Want to learn more about Atlanta's famous Piedmont Park? Sign up for one of the Piedmont Park tours on the first or third Saturday of each month from May - October. Tours start at 11 a.m. at the Visitor Center near the 12th Street entrance and lasts 60-90 minutes. It covers all phases of the park’s development - forest, the Walker farm, fairgrounds for the Piedmont Exposition of 1887, the Cotton States and International Exposition of 1895, the transformation of the fairgrounds into a suburban park, and the current status of Piedmont Park as Atlanta’s premier urban ..(read more)

Atlanta's BeltLine Grand Opening 5K & Community Celebration this Saturday in the Historic West End!

BeltLine Grand Opening this Saturday! That’s right - it’s really happening! In recognition of the first section of trail that is completed in the West End, the BeltLine will celebrate with neighbors and supporters this Saturday, October 18th in the Historic West End with a 5K run and a community celebration. Click here for details and to sign up for the 5K!

Volunteers needed! The BeltLine is also looking for three volunteers to work one shift each at the official BeltLine booth at the Grand Opening! Are you available to help out? If so, please click here to go to the website and send an email via the form "tell us how you would like to help!" Thanks!

In another significant BeltLine event this week, the Old Fourth Ward Park (which will run south from North Avenue behind City Hall East) will break ground on Wednesday morning, October 15th, in a ceremony with Mayor Shirley Franklin. When finished, the park will be about 30 ..(read more)

Recycling of Electronic Waste this Saturday at Grady High School in Midtown!

E-recycling this Saturday, October 18th! Every third Saturday of the month, Grady High School hosts an e-recyling campaign to collect used electronics, batteries, wires, scrap metal, etc. It runs from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and is located in the side parking lot of Grady.

For a full list of what is and is not accepted, please click here.

Upcoming dates are:
Saturday, Nov 15th from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday, December 20th from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sunday Open Houses from the zac team! Come see some of Atlanta's most beautiful homes for sale!

Hello Neighbors,
Please join us this weekend as we hold open five incredible homes from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, September 28th! Come tour one or all of the following homes!... a French country estate in Virginia Highland... a bungalow with finished basement in Virginia Highland... a sunny hillside home in Lenox Park / Morningside... a classic bungalow near Piedmont Park... and an amazing find in Candler Park near Lake Claire!
Please call our office anytime if you have questions! 404.564.7200. And you can see virtual tours of all of these properties online at www.zac.biz!

The zac team announces new cutting edge 80/20 compensations plan for Atlanta Real Estate Agents!

The zac team is proud to annouce a new commissions split plan to add to our list of services offered to our real estate agents! Thinking about joining real estate? Or ready to be more independent in your real estate career? We now have opportunities available for agents at a 50/50 split, 80/20 split, or as a listing partner. Like to know more information? Please give Zac a call today at 404.564.7272!

Atlanta, GA Real Estate and Housing Statisics for the Month of August 2008

Every month, the First Multiple Listing Service publishes numbers compiled by Smart Numbers with extensive research and statistics on the Atlanta market. The 130+ page document can be a bit overwhelming, so we break it down to the basics here to share with our sellers and fellow agents. The summary compares August 2008 numbers with August 2007 numbers. Enjoy and please feel free to give us a call if you have any questions! Our office # 404.564.7200. Units Closed: 2008 2007
Single Family 3,736 5,421(read more)

First-time home buyer? Been a while since you bought a home? We can help you navigate through the changing Atlanta real estate market!

With the news of the government tossing a lifeline to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac this week, there is more real estate news swirling around than ever before. The beginning of this month saw the termination of downpayment assistance programs and, this week, we have seen a drop in interest rates. Curious about how all of this works and how it can affect your home purchase?

We invite you to attend our home-buyer seminars to get first-hand information on all the benefits to you as a buyer in the market! Now, more than ever, it is essential to have an agent navigate the market with you! Talk to our real estate experts as well as our in-house mortgage consultant Pat Griffin who always has great monthly deals to share!!

Call us today to reserve your spot for a home-buying workshop brought to you by the zac team and Greater Atlanta Financial Services this Saturday, September 13th!! Just call MJ at 404.564.7268 to reserve your seat! If you know someone who is ..(read more)

Toco Hill Town Center Redevelopment in Atlanta at North Druid Hills and Clairmont Roads Raises Questions

Last Tuesday, DeKalb County held a community meeting to disseminate information and address concerns regarding the proposed redevelopment of Toco Hill Shopping Center and the Williamsburg Apartments area. For those of you familiar with the area, this begins at the intersection of North Druid Hills Road and LaVista Road to the northwest and runs down North Druid Hills to Clairmont and then encompasses the apartments to the southeast of that intersection. Looking at a map, it creates a butterfly shape, as they pointed out at the meeting. The idea is intriguing. In a high-traffic, very un-pedestrian, and somewhat unattractive area, the idea of a town center that encompasses the opposite values would seem to come as a breath of fresh air (literally). However, I live in the area and this proposal raises more than a few questions in my mind (this is Jenny “speaking,” team marketing manager). Perhaps someone can shed some light on some of these questions for me? Or ..(read more)

The Georgia Conservancy’s Blueprints for Successful Communities Joins the Lindbergh LaVista Corridor Coalition for a New and Improved Intown Atlanta Neighborhood!

The Georgia Conservancy is preparing to kick off its next big project for the Lindbergh and LaVista area of intown Atlanta with the planning phases scheduled for August through December 2008. This project will fall under the umbrella of the Georgia Conservancy’s Blueprints for Successful Communities and is a combined effort between the Lindbergh LaVista Corridor Coalition and Georgia Tech’s City and Regional Planning program. Blueprints will hold four meetings during this four month period. All meetings will be open to the public and residents are encouraged to participate in the planning process! The Blueprints project focuses on the area defined by the intersection of I-85 and GA 400 to the west, Sheridan Road to the north, Briarcliff Road to the east, and the CSX rail line to the south and is also looking at opportunities beyond these limits. Come join the discussion on the following initiatives: ? Major transportation initiatives ? Pedestrian needs ? ..(read more)

Toilet Talk: Low-Flow Toilet Rebate Program Plus Advantages for Atlanta Seniors

$100 in free water?! That’s right – the City of Atlanta will give you a $100 credit towards your water bill for installing an approved 1.28 gallon-per-flush toilet, or $50 for a 1.6 gallon-per-flush potty. Another benefit? You can save an estimated 45 gallons of water EVERY DAY with a new and improved toilet! And the number of people who have taken advantage of this low-flow toilet rebate is growing every day. In the August newsletter from the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, they announced that 419 people had taken advantage of the rebate so far. Another group that is experiencing improved water flow is Atlanta’s senior citizens. 15 seniors so far have had low-flow toilets installed courtesy of the Department of Watershed Management and Southeast Energy. Qualifying customers must be 65 years or older and: ? Have a maximum annual household income of $25,000 ? Live in a home that was built before 1993 ? Be the primary title holder or ..(read more)

Atlanta Home Show 2008 Coming up at the Cobb Galleria Centre in September!

The Atlanta Home Show is back for its second exhibition this year! The bi-annual home show will take place at the Cobb Galleria Centre from September 25-28 and will feature over 300 companies ranging from waterproofing to solar equipment to pest control to brick & stone and, of course, real estate! This is a fantastic educational event that is expected to have an attendance of up to 30,000 people. It's also a great way to learn more about the great home ideas out there that you can pass on to your clients. Discounts for Realtors and associated businesses! The Home Show announced on their website that:
To help stimulate the Atlanta housing industry and educate members of affiliated associations, we also offer complimentary weekday admission to all members of these organizations: Georgia Professional Real Estate Agents, the Home Builders Association (HBA), National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), National Kitchen & Bath Association ..(read more)

City of Atlanta Announces $1.5 Million in Funding for Multifamily Developers for Affordable Housing Initiatives

Hello neighbors,
I wanted to share with you a great article sent out by the Atlanta Board of Realtors this past week regarding affordable housing initiatives in Atlanta. The City has authorized specialized dollars to go towards developing or redeveloping multi-family housing and rental units. Please read on... City Allocates $1.5 Million for Multifamily Developers
The Atlanta Development Authority (ADA), the economic development agent for the City of Atlanta, will begin accepting applications from multifamily developers wishing to access federal HOME dollars. The City has allocated $1.5 million of HOME dollars to ADA to provide loans for the acquisition, construction and/or rehabilitation of rental housing units. HOME is a federally funded program that assists in the production and preservation of affordable housing for very low to moderate-income families and individuals. Recognizing a shortage of housing stock for Atlanta’s middle class, a ..(read more)