Georgia 400 Toll Booths To Come Down

How long of have you lived in Atlanta? Some of you may remember a time when GA 400 stopped at I-285. That particular portion of the

Tolls will no longer be collected at the GA 400 toll booth as of November 21, 2013. Photo from Creative Loafing 2010.

road, which would seem impossible to live without in our current day-to-day lives wasn’t around when the road opened in the early 70′s. With that portion also came the toll booths. It has been over 20 years since everyone traveling from Buckhead to North Fulton started paying a toll. Most would say the toll  road has been a huge asset to our communities, even if they have been in rush hour traffic on GA 400.

History is going to be made on November 21 of this year when you will no longer pay a toll to travel on GA 400. It has been decided that the changes will take place prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, in order to ease some of the traffic woes during the winter holiday season.

All of this will result in some new traffic plans according to the Peach Pass newsletter, “preliminary plans call for all GA 400 traffic to shift into three general purpose lanes where motorists currently use the electronic tolling lanes.”

Construction will begin in October for the traffic shift, but the full demolition of the booths will run January 2014 through May 2014. Once the structure is down, traffic will shift back over.

This is great news and who knows maybe rush hour will move a little quicker!

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Avalon Residences Plans Revealed

The Avalon event last Tuesday night was a HUGE success and everyone is buzzing about The Residences at Avalon.

There was a wonderful turnout for the Avalon event about upcoming residences plans. Photo by Debra Dent

Monte Hewett and Lew Oliver gave an outstanding presentation! It was exciting to hear that there are 250 people are on the waiting list for the 101 single-family homes that are slated to be a part of the project. Lew Oliver, town developer, let us know that the homes will have European feel and developer Mark Toro said they “expect vertical construction to begin in September.”

On the retail side of the project 60% of the retail space is currently leased and 20% is in the negotiation process now.  Myself and everyone at Altanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty are more than excited about what a development and community such at The Avalon will add to the Alpharetta community!

To find out more about Avalon visit their website.

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Come Out Tonight To Avalon in Alpharetta

Come find out more about Avalon in Alpharetta

Tonight an exciting event is happening regarding Avalon! It is your opportunity to get a sneak peek of The Avalon Residences and find out more about what is planned for the development. Monte Hewitt of Monte Hewitt Builders (single-family homes) and Lew Oliver the single-family town planner will both be on hand to discuss what to expect from single-family living at Avalon residences.

Taking place at our North Atlanta office, agents from Atlanta Fine Homes will be there to answer questions. Debra Dent is organizing the event and if you think you can make it, RSVP to her at 404-974-4464.

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Hard Hit Atlanta Real Estate Market Is Poised For Big Gains

We all know that real estate hit an all time high around 2006. We all also unfortunately know that home prices and values plummeted,

Great things are happening in the Atlanta real estate market and more growth is on the horizon.

in the few years following the high. It went down as quickly as it went up. It was a difficult time for home owners, real estate professionals and America in general.  A lot of agents needed to find second jobs to feel secure in earning a regular income for their families.  That also meant some rising real estate stars didn’t enter the profession. People that would be excellent service providers to buyers and sellers were afraid to jump in with both feet.  All indicators show a changing tide for the real estate market in general. 2012 had significant growth in home sales and in avg home prices and the gains have continued into 2013.

According to the ajc.com

One of the industries hit hardest by the recession was metro Atlanta’s housing market. But after years of stagnation, experts say the business is back on track.

Low interest rates and low prices have spurred home sales, and builders are putting up new developments. That bodes well for the area’s real estate agents and brokers, as well as those who are looking to the market as a viable career option.

“In the next 10 years, Atlanta will probably be one of the fastest-growing markets in the country,” said Bob Hart, director of education for the MLS Training Institute, an arm of the Georgia Metro Listing Service in Tucker. “The 2010 numbers indicate that Georgia’s population has increased as we’re getting more people from Florida and the Northeast moving here, and that’s also getting people interested in the real estate business.”

I enjoy coming to work everyday. It is a exciting time for me as a Realtor. I love seeing buyers and sellers both excited about the possibilities. I love seeing the other members of my team energized by the area’s growth and their potential.

I’ve said it before, but if you have been holding off on buying or selling or even entering the real estate profession, now is a great time.

Take a minute to see what is available in your ideal community, then give The Cueny Team a call at 404=695-7040, we are ready to serve you!

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Have You Heard Of Pocket Listings in North Fulton?

Sometimes I read articles that make me a little bit upset. I read one of those last week and I spent a couple of days thinking about this

Do you know what pocket listings are?

post before publishing it. Maybe your saw the article, “Secret Pocket Listings in Hot Markets are Back” on cnnmoney.com.  Sotheby’s International Corporate also saw it and they posted a link to it on their weekly wrap-up. I was contemplating writing about it when I saw they had linked to it.

From cnnmoney.com

The housing rebound has given new life to an old, but little-known sales practice called “pocket listings,” where agents reserve homes for serious buyers only.

Most homes that are put up for sale are posted on databases called multiple listing services (MLS), on which agents share information with one another in order to find buyers. There are open houses on Sunday afternoons and listings posted on real estate websites.

But with pocket listings, properties are kept under wraps and brokers only show them to people they expect will put money down if the property and the price are right, said Richard Smith, CEO of Realogy, the parent company of Coldwell Banker, Century 21, Better Homes & Gardens and other real estate brokerages. Ideally, the buyer has deep pockets and is willing to pay in cash, fast.

“High-end sellers often don’t want to have the world coming to their property,” said Michael Izquierdo, a Los Angeles-based real estate agent and acquisitions manager for LAPocketListings.com. “When it’s put on the MLS, sometimes the next morning you see people standing outside the property, hoping to talk to the sellers.”

Continue reading here.

Did you read all of that? Sometimes things come across pretty poorly in a news article.  The reality is that through our agent relationships and contacts and our database (friends, family, network) often successful agents and established brands such as Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International are promoting a property prior to putting in the FMLS service. There is something intriguing to all buyers about seeing a property “before it is listed”…just like in the height of the market everyone loved to see a “Just Listed” property…

I don’t think it means you necessarily get a higher price or that you will only get a serious buyer, but that you have a unique opportunity if it makes sense and you and your agent are in agreement.

It means to a seller that they will have the opportunity to promote their house to a more exclusive audience of agents, build a little bit of a marketing buzz, and hopefully get a solid and strong offer they can agree on with a buyer. If you don’t sell as a quiet listing, you and your agent can together do some revision on condition of the property, marketing, and price and list officially after gaining some market insight.

That said, the old saying of you “can’t sell a secret” still applies and often the best way to sell and deliver the highest possible price is to list with an agent that incorporates FMLS so that you gain the exposure of a large buying audience.

 

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Take A Break And Enjoy This Home In Providence Oaks

Are you looking for an ideal home and ideal location? Look no further than 375 Providence Oaks Circle. A gorgeous neighborhood with swim/tennis and favorite Alpharetta restaurants such as Pure Tacqueria, Village Tavern and more all under five miles away. And of course top rated schools including Summit Hill Elementary.

Beautiful traditional home in Providence Oaks has been completely updated.

The approximately 3,000 square foot house has four bedrooms and two and half baths and has been completely remodeled. The main floor has new hardwoods throughout which are noticeable from the minute you stand inside the foyer.  There is an open living room or office space that flows into a gorgeous professionally decorated formal dining room.  A stenciled tray ceiling, wainscoting and amazing color combinations are all showcased.

The dining room is breathtaking and captures your attention as you enter the home.

The kitchen and family room are open to each other also. The kitchen has granite countertops,  stainless appliances, updated fixtures and contrasting island.  Both rooms are wonderfully light filled from the wall of windows in the family room and bay window in the breakfast nook.

Family room and kitchen combo is bright and welcoming at 375 Providence Oaks

The master suite has stunning custom finishes everywhere from paint to cabinet colors. The room is open and will feel dreamy to the new owner. You will want to spend a relaxing evening in the larger corner jetted tub. One of the additional bedrooms upstairs has beadboard work surrounding  the room.

Beadboard bedroom, a great guest room or child’s room.

The property’s landscape is well laid out and has a brick firepit, and paver patio. It is a beautiful place that everyone will enjoy.

Enjoy the brick firepit when you are relaxing outside.

These pictures are only a glimpse of all the wonderful assets this home offers, click here to view a full slide show of the property.

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Payoff Your Mortgage In Less Than 30 Years

When buying a home you consider many factors, size, number of bedrooms, location, possible schools, and in Atlanta certainly commute time! It seems all of those items get lumped into one set of decision factors that get equally weighed against securing a mortgage and how much you are prepared to pay monthly. 30-year mortgage, 15-year mortgage, Adjustable Rate, etc.

I read an article last night on MSN entitled “8 Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early” by Jeffrey Trull.  I enjoyed the article because it gave several suggestions on ways to go forward with a traditional 30-year mortgage yet, pay it off in much less time. I also like the article because it gives examples of the difference each of these methods can change the term of your loan.

Read the full article on money.msn.com here.

Are you ready to start your local search. Visit atlantafinehomes.com to see what is available then give us a call at the North Fulton office 770.442.7300, we will be happy to help you!

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Surprise Your Mom on Mother’s Day!

There is a VERY special day coming up. Do you know what it is? Think about it for a minute…

Did you remember that Mother’s Day is May 12. While we should be telling our moms how wonderful they are everyday, this is the day

The Orrison’s garden at 708 Greenview Ave. is a part of the 2013 Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour.

we set aside to celebrate them and all they do to make our world a better place.

You could always take your mom to another brunch, but how about something different this year? What better way to spend a Spring day with our moms than the annual Gardens for Connoisseurs event hosted by the Atlanta Botanical Garden? The event is on May 11 and 12 (Mother’s Day weekend) from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  The Gardens for connoisseurs is so very different than other events hosted by the Botanical Gardens because it allows you access into eleven stunning private gardens. You have the opportunity to see superior garden design at  private residences in Atlanta.

Each garden is unique in its own way. You will see cottage gardens, gardens inspired by the Colorado Rockies, an estate with five acres of gardens, the 2013 Decorator’s Showhouse, and much more. There is something for everyone to delight in.

You can get advance tickets on the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s website. Do wait, surprise your mom and let her know you already have something special planned!

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Top U.S. Growth Cities According to U-Haul

I saw this headline on numerous local and national news sites yesterday and I have to admit I was a little intrigued about where Atlanta

U-Hauls annual report names Atlanta #26 on top growth cities.

ranked in “U-haul’s List of Top Growth Cities.” As a real estate agent I stay up-to-date on what the population is doing in the area. Currently, with the low inventory situation, it feels like there are lots of people looking to buy homes, and not nearly as many selling homes, which even before you look at the numbers would make you believe that Atlanta is growing.

According to U-Haul’s annual report, Atlanta ranks 26th on the list of 30 cities. They estimate around 1% of growth in 2012. The number 1 city, Pittsburgh, saw 9% growth.  One percent may not seem like a lot, but Atlanta was not on the list at all in 2011 and with new construction just gearing back up at the end of 2012, it certainly can be felt in the housing market. To see how U-Haul calculated their numbers and the companies press release click here.

I think with all the recent announcements of businesses opening offices in the area we are going to continue to see this number increase.  I continue to feel like it is a really EXCITING to live in Atlanta and its suburbs. It has always been a wonderful city and as more and more people realize it, the city will continue to grow and prosper!

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Summer Is Around the Corner

Are you sitting in the car rider line RIGHT NOW or waiting on the bus to drop your kiddos off while you scroll through Facebook?

Summer is almost here, check out the school calendars to start planning your adventures!

Chances are you and everyone else around you are doing just that! You are probably also counting the days until summer break! Well all Atlanta area schools will be out by the last day of May leaving you open to pack as much, or as little, into those days as your heart desires!

Are you planning some fun trips and wondering when you have to be back in town and ready for the new school year? Or just want to know what next year’s schedule is going to look like? Or have you decided that summertime is the PERFECT opportunity to move? If either of these thoughts are running through your mind right now you may be interested in area school calendars!

It looks like most of the counties will start back between August 7 and August 12 this year, follow the links below to see the schedules for the full 2013-2014.

Dekalb

Forsyth

Fulton

Gwinnett

Cherokee and Cobb have not posted a full 2013 – 2014 calendar as yet, but you can see the rest of year and when your summer will kick off!

If you have moving in mind. Click here to see area inventory and then give us a call! The Cueny Team is ready to help!

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