Posted on April 19, 2011 by atlantadecaturhomes One of the most desirable neighborhoods in the City of Decatur is located just off Clairemont  Avenue. Some of the most beautiful Decatur Homes are found in Great Lakes, which  was named for long-vanished Lake Seneca, now a mostly dry stream in Waddell Park.  History of Great Lakes The surrounding streets were named for the famous French explorer, Samuel de Champlain and the Great Lakeshe discovered in the early 1600′s - Lake Huron, Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Lake Seneca, and Lake Ontario. Champlain was the first European to explore and describe the Great Lakes, providing some of the first maps and descriptions of the Great Lakes area - the largest fresh water system on Earth.  Lake Erie, which meant Lake of the Cat, was named for the Erie ... 04/19/2011

One of my favorite times of year is the fall. Yes, I like the changing of the seasons, the leaves changing color, college football....but what I like most of all is The Decatur Beer Festival. This has got to be one of the best annual festivals in the great Atlanta metro area. If you have never been, come check it out - you will not be disappointed. Many festival goers meet beforehand to savor a meal at one of the many restaurants in Decatur and then it's off to the festival. Festival goers are encouraged to sample the many different types of beers showcased by local and international beer artisans. Over 100 types of beer are present, sure to please anyone's palate.  Thanks to the many restaurants in Decaturand area distributors, the festival is a hit every year. Between beer sampling an... 04/15/2011

Posted on March 18, 2011 by atlantadecaturhomes    History - Decatur Real Estate Decatur real estate in this part of  DeKalb County sold in 1822 for 10 cents an acre.  The following year, Decatur was named the County Seat and the area began developing. Leafmore Hills and the surrounding area was once a rural farming community with few homes and no  4-lane highways.  Dairy farms dotted the landscape and Clairmont Road, now a major artery, was part of an Indian trail.  There were no shopping centers, grocery stores, or restaurants, just small crop farms and cows!   An expanding population pushed Atlanta eastward towards Decatur, which was becoming a prestigious suburb by the early 1950's.  According to  history compiled by the Leafmore Civic Association, there was a country store  with a ... 03/18/2011

Posted on March 14, 2011 by atlantadecaturhomes The City of Decatur has many beautiful neighborhoods and one of the most charming is Glendale Estates.  Decatur real estate has always been in demand, now more than ever. The History of Glendale Estates/Glennwood Estates , as compiled by residents of the community, gives an interesting  history of the area. Five Hundred acres that extended from Sycamore up towards the North DeKalb Mall and the present Hospital area  sold around 1847 for $10 an acre, the highest recorded value paid for an acre of Decatur real estate at that time.  The original Glendale Estates/Glennwood Estates was begun in 1927 and encompassed  a portion south of the creek, comprised of Glendale Avenue, Pinecrest, and Glendale Circle.  By 1939, the early development was ne... 03/14/2011

As a professional home stager in Atlanta, Georgia, I'm frequently asked what the home staging process is like. The questions range from "how long does it take?" to, "how do you select the furniture and accessories?." Fair questions, for sure. Before I elaborate on these two questions, it's important to understand that the process will vary by stager. The best advice I can offer is to ensure you ask these questions of the stagers you've reach out to. As for my answers: How long does it takes to stage? We do it in a day. We typically arrive in the a.m. and leave when the home is completely staged. The amount of hours will depend on the size of the home.  How do you select the furniture and accessories? I gain insight into the demographics of the buyer. Knowing whether they will be young, ... 02/18/2011

Here is an excellent investment opportunity.  This short sale property is approved to sale at $34,000, and there is a tenant ready to rent it out.  The property needs about $10,000 in work done, and it will make a nice four bedroom, two bathroom rental.  It is located in the East Atlanta neighborhood and a few blocks away from the East Lake Golf Club.  I can assist with hiring contractors for the labor and working with you to get the property rehabbed.  Estimated ARV is $90,000. The best part is that the tenant will pay rent and stay in the home while the work is being done.  You cannot beat it. Interested?  Give me a call at 404 246 3210 or shoot me an email at info@jordonwheeler.com.  For other great real estate opportunities in metro Atlanta, call me. 02/01/2011

Real Estate Market Report for Decatur GA - I was reviewing some numbers from where our Decatur GA real estate market was in June of 2009 to now, 18 months later. I often hear people say, oh, I'm waiting until spring to put my home on the market.  I think that's an outdated way of thinking.  Why? Check out these numbers: For June 2009,  13 Homes sold ranging in price from $165,000 - $680,000.  In December of 2010 we had 28 homes sold ranging from $33,000 to $580,000.  This goes to show that homes do sell in the winter and clearly twice as many as in the summer a year and a half ago. In June of 2009, we had 37 Homes pending sale meaning they went under contract but have not yet closed. List prices range from $21,900 - $799,000. Right now January 2011, we have 14 pending sales with list pr... 01/24/2011

I don't suppose many of us like to think about a cemetery. It does not bring up the fondest of memories. But they too, have a part in our history. I've never toured the grounds in New Orleans, but due to the city being below sea level, everything is a tomb, and many are quite an architectural sight. So, this morning, I was scanning the New York Times on line, and ran across a story about cemeteries that have survived (and rightly so) the urban sprawl. But only to end up in the strangest of places. Most, are in the middle of parking lots....surrounded by acres of pavement for the Walmart or Home Depot.... On one of those crazy Internet "road trips" we can take by clicking on a link (note to self...don't do that to readers of your blog, lest you leave a trail of bread crumbs so the return... 01/23/2011

Film crews on location at the Centers for Disease Control Royabal campus and Emory University tied up traffic on Thursday.  Fake military vehicles, mock protesters, fake TV film crews and a reported siting of actor Laurence Fishburne had traffic backed up for miles. The Movie "Contagion" starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth l, Kate Winslett and Laurence Fishburne is the reported source of the traffic jams.  Laurence Fishburne plays the part of the CDC director and was in town filming.  There have been no reports of the other big name stars on campus. Rumors have it downtown Decatur is the location for filming today.     01/07/2011

Free Get Organized Workshops Saturdays in January - With the new year many of us have goals to be more organized in something.  Well, one of my favorite Decatur GA businesses, Finder's Keepers  is hosting free workshops at 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays in the month of January 2011.  January 8th: Creative Order Suellen Germani, certified Life Coach and Organizer, will help you clear the road to your goals by helping you identify and eliminate your "Life Clutter," which often claims the time, space, and energy that could instead be used to pursue your passions. Her workshop will outline four key elements to developing an organized lifestyle, which includes exploring the important emotional aspect surrounding our "stuff." January 15th: Chaos to Comfort Susan Fox is a true warrior of stuff and can... 01/05/2011

December 31st, any year; it's a time for looking back.  The days to follow; it's all about looking forward! So what's to see when Peachtree Home Staging looks back and stares down the spiral of 2010?  Well, we look back with a smile and a big bucket of gratitude!  The home staging concept has really taken off; the business model is becoming more defined, and opportunities to expand are growing like a healthy new born infant.  The year 2010 brought us bank owned homes and many investors homes to stage.  It brought us home sellers fascinated by the concept and wanting reassurance with a professional home stager's consultation.  The number of REALTORS utilizing our services has easily doubled. Anyone reading this post also knows, that as in the past; since the inception of home staging, it... 12/31/2010

Decatur Holiday Bonfire & Marshmallow Roast You're invited to the Holiday Bonfire and Marshmallow Roast.  It's Thursday, December 16th, 2010 from 7 to 8 pm in downtown Decatur GA. It's also the last day of Terrific Thursdays in Decatur for the season.  Be sure to stop in many of the shops and restaurants while you are there. They will be open late. The 10' x 10' bonfire will be on the Square. Enjoy the holiday music and visit with Santa.  This free event is open to the public.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! This event is just another thing that makes Decatur GA a great place to live, work and play.  If you are thinking of of buying or selling real estate in or around Decatur, GA contact Realtor Jen Bowman, Broker Associate & e-PRO with Keller Williams Realty at 404-456-5024... 12/07/2010

Holiday Events in Decatur Georgia - Decorate Decatur Community Grab your outdoor lights,  garland, and yard "art" and get ready for the annual Decorate Decatur Contest! On December 19th, 2010, judges will drive through Decatur and pick their 10 favorite homes, as well as one favorite business and one favorite neighborhood.  There will also be one "overall" winner that will receive the Commissioners Cup from the Decatur City Commission. If you are planning to join in on the fun, all you have to do is pull the decorations out, flip on the lights and call 404-371-9583 to give your address and alert the Decatur judges that you will be participating in the contest. To view the previous winners, visit the Decorate Decatur web page.  Also, if you really want to get in the holiday spirit, there... 11/29/2010

November 6th I'm an incredibly happy man - there are numerous things to be excited about.....and I continue to try to share that joy with others who don't know about one very special event - the DECATUR WINE FESTIVAL.  No, it's not the Catalina Wine Mixer....it's the DECATUR WINE FESTIVAL in Decatur Square. From 1-4 pm you get the pleasure of sampling an incredible amount of wines - both local and international & sampling some of the best food that the Decatur area restaurants have to offer. There are organic & sustainable wines to taste and over 350 additional domestic & international wines to appreciate.  To go along with the incredibly diverse varietals to sample you can enjoy tastings from the following local restaurants (this is a partial list): The Iberian Pig, Saba, Watershed, Zu... 11/05/2010

Decatur Electronics Recycling Day Fall 2010 - It's that time of year again. Start gathering your items and plan your stop for recycling.  Most of us have a few things that should be recycled rather than tossed in the trash.Below is the pertinent information: What: Decatur Electronics Recycling Day Fall 2010 When: Saturday, October. 30, 2010  9 a.m.-1 p.m. Where: Decatur High School Parking Lot which is at the corner of N. McDonough Street and Howard AvenueWhy: This semi-annual event has been hugely successful at diverting electronic equipment from landfills, where they may contaminate soil and water. Who: Volunteers assist in unloading items. To volunteer, please contact Sandy Johnson at 404-377-5571.  Anybody can drop items off. You do not need to be a Decatur resident to participate. ... 10/29/2010

Decatur Craft Beer Festival Saturday October 16th Old Courthouse on the Square 101 E Court StDecatur, GA 30030   About the Beer Festival Come and enjoy an afternoon of beer tasting on the Decatur square. More than 100 of the finest local, American and international beers are showcased at this annual event sponsored by area distributors and Decatur's restaurants and pubs. Enjoy live music on the Community Bandstand and food from local restaurants available for sale. Admission is $35 per person and includes a commemorative tasting glass. The festival is limited to the first 4,000 ticket holders. All tickets are sold online. No tickets are available for purchase at the gate. You must be 21 or older to attend. No children or animals allowed in the festival area. No exceptions! 10/09/2010

Last April, just before the Tax Credit was about to expire, I listed a home for sale in Sagamore Hills.  It was a lovely home and the owners had every hope it could be sold without a short sale.  Unfortunately the market was continuing to slide downward and a short sale became the new reality. We had the home under contract by June.   Once under contract, we started work on the short sale.  The selling agent was short sale savvy, the seller was motivated and capable and the buyer was ready to "do what it takes" to get it closed.  Sun Trust, not so much. Sun Trust held both a first mortgage and a second / HELOC (Home Equity Line of Creidt) mortgage.  The mortgages were held in different subsidiaries.  Apparently the two entities don't communicate with each other. I have done a lot of sho... 09/30/2010

 The latest episode of "This Month in Real Estate" is out it covers the hot, hot topic of FORECLOSURES. If you are in the market for a new home, this is 'must see TV'.  Take a peek...   In addition to discussing the latest foreclosure rates, the video also offers tips for submitting an offer on a foreclosure, timelines and repairs.  One tip that wasn't mentioned that I think is important -- especially in the Atlanta real estate market: Many of the foreclosure homes are priced significantly BELOW market value in order to generate multiple offers on the property.  So if you are out looking at homes or condos with your real estate agent and find a property with a price that is too good to be true, sometimes it is.  Over the last 18 months it seems to be happening more often than not on the... 09/06/2010

4th ANNUAL AJC DECATUR BOOK FESIVAL STARTS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 Sponsored by the AJC, NPR, Dekalb Medical, Agnes Scott College (and many more), Downtown Decatur will be the center of the literary world from September 3 - 5, 2010.  The AJC Decatur Book Festival will feature lectures and signings from 300 national and local best-selling authors, representing all genres of books.  In addition, you'll find poetry readings, live music, cooking demonstrations and great food.  Whether you're 7 years old or 77, there will be something for everyone. >>> CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LABOR DAY FESTIVAL Hope to see you there!   ************************************************************ Posted by:  Kerry Lucasse - Decatur GA Real Estate Agent - Atlanta Home Search TeamThe ATL Home Sear... 09/01/2010

Decatur Concerts on the Square are back! One of the great things about living in Decatur is the free concerts on the square in downtown Decatur every Saturday night in May and September. There are also free concerts on the square at noon on Wednesdays in May and September. This year this first concert of the month will be on Sunday September 5, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. which will be in the middle of the Decatur Book Fest Labor Day Weekend. The rest of the concerts will be on Saturday nights from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Bring picnic food and coolers, chairs and lawn blankets.  You can get take out at one of the nearby restaurants or have dinner at one of them before the concert.  Sunday, September 5, at 6:30 pm   Zydeco T Saturday, September 11 at 7 pm Gwen Hughes & The Retro Jazz Kats - Jazz, Blues, & ... 08/31/2010