Top Home Remodeling Trends 2011

Large format tile floors in bathrooms, along with heated floors are among the top home remodeling trends for 2011.

Large Format Bathroom Tiles.  Smaller square tiles are being replaced with tiles measuring 12” x 12” or larger, as well as non-square shapes (12” x 18”), producing flooring and walls that showcase more tile and fewer grout lines.

Multiple Finishes on Kitchen Cabinetry.  Complimentary multiple stains and a mix of painted and stained finishes on cabinetry enables homeowners to escape the look and feel of a “cookie cutter” kitchen where all surfaces match.

Homeowners looking to increase living space and enjoy a bit of the outdoors will add on screened porches.

Screened Porches.  Homeowners are extending their living areas with screened porches that allow them to enjoy the outdoors throughout the year without the nuisance of insects. Click here to see five beautiful screened porches on homes for sale in the Sotheby’s International Realty network, and click here to see three homes for sale in Atlanta with screened porches.

“Furniture-Like” Detailing in Kitchens.  Varied cabinet and counter heights, distressed finishes and furniture-style toe kicks provide visual interest and help eliminate the “component” look of many kitchen cabinet designs.

Heated Bathroom Flooring.  Heated mats underneath bathroom flooring tiles provide radiant heat that is proven to keep homeowners warmer than forced-air heating systems, helping to save on energy costs.

Kitchen Cabinet Accessories.  With drawer inserts for cutlery, spices or dividers, homeowners are making better use of every available space within their kitchens.

LED or CFL (Compact Fluorescent) Lighting.  Homeowners are moving away from incandescent fixtures toward more energy-efficient choices such as LED and CFL bulbs.

High Quality Synthetic Materials for Home Exteriors.  Synthetic materials such as Hardie Plank siding and PVC trim pieces mimic the look of natural materials like wood, but are much more durable and better able to withstand climate changes.

Please click here for the entire article on home remodeling trends for 2011.

Read Full Post »

Famous people from in and around metro Atlanta

Metro Atlanta is a wonderful place to live. In our city and close-by surrounding cities hail some of the world’s most interesting and famous people.  This list is not exhaustive; it simply drops the names of some of those whom call Atlanta home (or have called Atlanta home).  For a larger list, please find a list of famous people from metro Atlanta on Wikipedia.

• Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States (1977–1981), Nobel Peace laureate 2002 and Governor of Georgia (1971–1975)
• Neal Boortz, talk radio host, author with Congressman John Linder, The FairTax Book
• Alton Brown, Peabody Award-winning creator and host of the Food Network program Good Eats
• Clark Howard, talk radio host
• Ty Pennington, television personality
• Forrest Sawyer, news anchor and journalist
• Ryan Seacrest, TV/radio personality and host of American Idol
• Gutzon Borglum, sculptor of Mount Rushmore and the first aborted Stone Mountain carving
• Raven-Symoné, actress
• Holly Hunter, actress
• Jane Fonda, actress
• Jeff Foxworthy, actor & comedian
• Lil Jon, rapper, producer
• Keith Sweat, singer/songwriter/produce
• Kilo Ali, pioneer Atlanta rapper
• Andre 3000, rapper
• Arrested Development, hip hop group
• Ray Charles, jazz, blues, soul, and rock-and-roll pianist, songwriter, and singer; born in Georgia, raised in Florida
• John Mayer, singer-songwriter
• Shawn Mullins, singer-songwriter
• Indigo Girls, Folk and pop duo
• The B-52s, punk/alternative band
• The Black Crowes, blues rock band
• R.E.M.
• Gladys Knight & the Pips, popular music act
• Little Richard
• Alan Jackson, country singer
• Travis Tritt, country singer
• Mark Wills, country singer
• Trisha Yearwood, country singer
• Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot and the current owner of the Atlanta Falcons
• S. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A
• Bernard Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot and primary funding source for the Georgia Aquarium
• Ted Turner, media mogul
• Asa Griggs Candler, founder of The Coca-Cola Company
• Robert W. Woodruff, Coca-Cola executive
• John Portman, international architect and developer, designer of thegroundbreaking atrium-style hotel
• Neel Reid, student of École des Beaux-Arts who died at the height of his career
• Pat Conroy, contemporary Atlanta-born author of The Prince of Tides, Beach Music, and The Great Santini.
• James Dickey, poet and novelist
• Joel Chandler Harris, author of Uncle Remus
• Henry W. Grady, editor of the Atlanta Constitution
• Lewis Grizzard, journalist and author
• Margaret Mitchell, 1937 Pulitzer Prize for the Novel Gone with the Wind
• Alice Walker, 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction The Color Purple
• Hulk Hogan
• Bobby Jones, only player ever to have won golf’s Grand Slam
• John Heisman, coach and college trophy namesake
• Deion Sanders, two-sport athlete (MLB and NFL)
• Jamal Lewis, Running Back
• Evander Holyfield, heavyweight champion boxer
• Hank Aaron, Baseball Hall of Famer and the major leagues’ home run leader from April 1974 to August 2007
• Chipper Jones, baseball player
• Brett Butler, retired MLB baseball player
• Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil rights leader; Nobel Peace Laureate 1964 (he was the youngest man ever to receive this award)
• Andrew Young, Ambassador to the UN under President Carter, civil rights activist and former mayor of Atlanta
• Dean Rusk, US Secretary of State 1961 to 1969 under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson

Read Full Post »

Top Migration Trends Seen in 2010

Please click here for the entire article from RIS Media on Top Migration Trends in 2010

RISMEDIA, January 4, 2011—According to the 2010 Atlas Van Lines Migration Patterns study, more Americans are on the move. In 2010, Atlas saw increases in the number of household moves, a possible sign that the economy is improving. Atlas’ annual study has tracked the nation’s moves since 1993.

The number one outbound state in 2010 was Ohio, while states in the Southeast, like Georgia, held their own in people moving to the state.

For some states, outbound moves were high. Due to high unemployment, especially with declining manufacturing and automotive jobs, residents of the Rust Belt continue to relocate elsewhere. States adjacent to the Rust Belt saw a great increase in the number of inbound moves.

For the first time in two years, Kentucky joined its surrounding Mideast states—North Carolina, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.—as inbound states. For the fifth year in a row, Washington, D.C. had the highest percentage of inbound moves, while Ohio came out the clear leader in the highest percentage of outbound moves.

Regardless of economic highs and lows, several states have remained constant in status for 10 or more years. California, Kansas and South Carolina have been balanced, Indiana has been outbound, and Alaska and North Carolina have remained inbound.

As the year progressed, Atlas saw increases in the monthly totals of household moves. Summer months continued to see the highest number of moves per season. Overall, the total for 2010 was 74,541.

Silver Lining
Despite high foreclosure rates and poor housing sales, a large pocket of southeastern states – including Florida, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina – saw no drastic increase in the number of outbound moves; in fact, they remained balanced in their number of outbound and inbound moves. A reason for the balance could be these states’ popularity as a retirement destination.

Please click here for the entire article from RIS Media on Top Migration Trends in 2010.

Read Full Post »

Most expensive homes sold in Atlanta 2010

The five highest priced homes sold in the city of Atlanta, Georgia, in 2010 are all located in Buckhead.  Three of the five homes had closing dates in fourth quarter of 2010. All five homes were built within the last 10 years. Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty participated in two out of the five sales.

4549 Harris Trail - The highest list price home sold in Atlanta in 2010.

4549 Harris Trail, Atlanta, GA – in Buckhead
List Price: $6,990,000
Seven bedrooms, eight full and four half baths
Sold: December 23, 2010

300 Valley Road - The second highest list price home sold in Atlanta in 2010.

300 Valley Road, Atlanta, GA – in Buckhead
List Price: $4,995,000
Seven bedrooms, eight full and two half baths
Sold: March 1, 2010

3900 Tuxedo - The third highest list price home sold in Atlanta in 2010.

3900 Tuxedo Road, Atlanta, GA – in Buckhead
List Price: $4,950,000
Six bedrooms, six full and four half baths
Sold: October 29, 2010

2952 Howell Mill Road - The fourth highest list price home sold in Atlanta in 2010.

2952 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, GA – in Buckhead
List Price: $4,200,000
Four bedrooms, four full and two half baths
Sold: April 13, 2010

1125 West Conway Road - The fifth highest list price home sold in Atlanta in 2010.

1125 West Conway Drive, Atlanta, GA – in Buckhead
List Price: $3,880,000
Five bedrooms, five full and two half baths
Sold: December 21, 2010

Read Full Post »

North Fulton (Atlanta) Most Expensive Homes Sold in 2010

The five most expensive homes sold in the North Fulton area, north of Atlanta, Georgia, had list prices spanning from over $13 million to $1.7 million. Three out of the five homes are located in Alpharetta’s Country Club of the South subdivision.  Dean Gardens, the most expensive home sold, was listed by Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty.

For a little perspective, in North Fulton in 2010, there were 1,367 properties sold this year.  The average was a 5 bedroom, 4 and half bath home with an average sales price of $474,561.

Dean Gardens, the most expensive home sold in 2010 in the North Fulton (Atlanta) area.

Dean Gardens - 5100 Old Alabama Road – Johns Creek
List Price: $13,500,000
Eight bedrooms, 9 full, 3 half baths
Sold: July 30, 2010

Marsh Park Drive, the home with the second highest list price sold in 2010 in North Fulton (Atlanta).

520 Marsh Park Drive – Winfield on the River Subdivision in Duluth
List Price: $2,395,000
Five bedrooms, five full, one half baths
Sold: October 1, 2010

Old Southwick Pass, the home with the third highest list price sold in 2010 in North Fulton (Atlanta).

8885 SE Old Southwick Pass - Country Club of the South in Alpharetta
List Price: $1,900,000
Six bedrooms, six full, three half baths
Sold: June 2, 2010

Colonnade Trail, the home with the fourth highest list price sold in 2010 in North Fulton (Atlanta).

9360 Colonnade Trail - Country Club of the South in Alpharetta
List Price:  $1,849,000
Five bedrooms, six full, two half baths
Sold: July 9, 2010

Leadenhall Street, the home with the fifth highest list price sold in 2010 in North Fulton (Atlanta).

2010 Leadenhall Street – Country Club of the South in Alpharetta
List Price: $1,749,000
Six bedrooms, seven full, two half baths
Sold: November 8, 2010

Read Full Post »

2010 Residential Real Estate Metro Atlanta in Review for Andrea Cueny

2010 has been a great year for The Cueny Connection with sales increasing by more than 25%!

 

Click here to see Andrea's recent sales.

We attribute 2010 residential real estate success to the Sotheby’s International Realty brand, our powerful marketing program for sellers, and hard work and commitment to this business each and every day.  Our success in this market is simple . . . knowledge of multiple markets in metro Atlanta residential real estate!

The experience and understanding of multiple markets is from working with clients relocating here from around the world for business.   Buyers relocating to Atlanta and people who already live here often want to consider and explore real estate in the various pockets of Atlanta.

I feel fortunate to work and know many markets to help buyer and seller clients.  Atlanta has so much to offer and so many areas for a buyer to consider!

A graphical representation of the locations of Andrea's buyers and sellers throughout metro Atlanta during 2010.

Just as an example in 2010, sales for buyer and seller clients were in the following areas:

• Alpharetta
• Atlanta
• Brookhaven
• Cumming
• Decatur
• Mableton
• Marietta
• Midtown
• Roswell
• Smyrna
• Virginia Highlands

Please click here to see some of the homes I have recently sold in metro Atlanta.

Read Full Post »

A great thing about living in Alpharetta, Georgia

I have lived in Alpharetta, Georgia, for many years. This city, located in North Fulton County, north of Atlanta, in Georgia, is the site to some of Atlanta’s most exclusive neighborhoods and fabulous schools.

The Greenway

A great thing about living here is The Greenway, which currently has two sections to the trail. The Forsyth County portion extends from Bethelview Road down to McFarland Parkway. The Alpharetta portion extends from Webb Bridge Rd to just south of Mansell Road in Fulton County. There are plans to connect the two trails, but they are not finalized and the earliest that will happen is in 2011. (Map)

Some of the things that are most frequently enjoyed on The Greenway are walking, running, cycling, nature watching, and enjoying being outdoors.

Read Full Post »