It has been one hot summer here in Newnan Georgia. There have been more ninety degree plus day this year than in any previous year that I can recall. And when you add in the extremely high humidity, the so-called “heat index” has been over a hundred degrees for many days in a row. Yesterday, as the sweat was pouring as I installed yard signs on my new listings, the word “sweltering” popped into my head. I never really thought much of the word ‘sweltering,” but the use of the term in describing our climatic condition has never been more appropriate. It’s miserable outside. Even more depressing is the fact that the long range forecast calls for more of the same. And so as air-conditioners whirl and fans spin, one looks to the outside world with trepidation. Because it’s really sweltering... 08/04/2010

  Energy self-sufficiency as an important element of a real estate purchase decision has moved from the realm of idle chit-chat into the world of reality. I have been getting more and more calls lately from buyers seeking land parcels that have attributes that lend themselves well to personal power generation. Some are looking for a good running stream with a significant fall, or an unobstructed hilltop that could support a wind turbine. Energy self-sufficiency is not, however, a new or novel concept. Prior to the days of inexpensive and readily available electricity, resourceful entrepreneurs harnessed the power of wind and water to run their machinery and improve their livelihoods. And while the initial investment was expensive, the long term benefit of free energy for years to come r... 08/02/2010

As the 1970’s brought both environmental awareness and exponential technological growth, many pundits predicted that by the year 2000 we would become a paperless society. Obviously, something went awry somewhere. When I started selling real estate in 1984, a purchase and sale agreement was a single sheet of paper. It contained all of the essential elements: legal description of the property, method of payment, earnest money deposit and seller’s concessions. The only dates indicated were the date of the contract and the date of closing. And that seemed to work for everyone and we closed on a lot of houses. Fast forward to the year 2010. After three decades of consumerism, some purchase and sale agreements exceed thirty pages. We did one that was over fifty. The expected “paperless” soci... 07/31/2010

After several years of economic corrections, the Newnan Georgia real estate market seems to be gaining some momentum. And a lot of the increased activity is coming from outside the county and even more from outside the state of Georgia. Many transferees that are heading for the Atlanta metropolitan region have heard about Coweta County and the tremendous real estate values there! As a result, the inventory available in July 2010 is about half the number of homes that were available just one year ago. And diminished supply and steady demand is tending to stabilize prices. But even in the heyday of expansion, Coweta County homes were considered to be bargains. That is truer now more than ever! If you are considering a move to the Atlanta area, be sure to spend at least a day in Coweta Co... 07/30/2010

In our area of Newnan Georgia, we have a lot of distressed properties for sale. And the savvy buyer has an excellent opportunity to acquire a good house at a great price. There are, however, some buyers that insist on getting exactly what they want at exactly the price that they want to pay. And since that combination of value and fulfillment rarely exists, the endless pursuit for perfection goes on and on. We have even had some buyers throw up their hands and quit the search. Several of them had even made some offers that were accepted and they backed out during the diligence period. And every one of these forsaken contracts was such great a deal that they were instantly snagged by another anxious, albeit less cautious, buyer. Compromise is the key when one is searching for true value... 07/28/2010

  Most economists agree that recent rashes of government spending will ultimately lead to significant inflation. The constant infusion of cash that is intended as a short-term solution will eventually have a long-term effect on the value of a dollar. One of the best hedges against this expected phenomenon is the purchase of a home during one of the best buyer’s markets in history. With low, low property prices and record low fixed interest rates, there has never been a better time to buy a home. But if one takes into consideration the fact that a mortgage may be repaid with inflated dollars, the deal only gets better and better. By fixing housing expenses now in terms of the 2010 dollar of today, home buyers will be immune from contrary inflationary economic forces for as long as they o... 07/26/2010

  Regulation “Z” has been around for a long time. The name is a little misleading, because it is not a single rule, but an entire section of code that stipulates required disclosures when offering credit to a borrowing consumer. And although the law has been revised many times, (the latest changes went into effect July 1, 2010.) some of the very basic tenets that apply to real estate advertising still exist. Simply stated, there are still certain “trigger” words, that when used in advertising, require complete disclosure of all of the terms of the loan. These trigger terms include: 1) The amount or percentage of any downpayment. 2) The number of payments or period of repayment. 3) The amount of any payment. 4) The amount of any finance charge. If any of these words are used in any form ... 07/25/2010

  It was a typical summertime Friday night in the South. It was hot and humid, and the old watering hole was more reminiscent of a scene in a 1950’s “B” movie than a contemporary night spot. The plastic fans were whirring, but the air was barely moving and the heat was stifling. But we were there to make music that is exactly what we did. I am not certain if I was delirious from the sultry heat or affected by the attempted remedy of cold beverages, but the music was awesome. And the crowd actually multiplied over the course of the evening, as the melodic strains wafted through open windows onto the two-lane highway and drew them them away from the comfort of their air conditioned vehicles. The point is, that hen you are committed to doing something, even the most adverse conditions cann... 07/24/2010

  If price was the only thing that mattered when purchasing real estate, sales contracts would only be a few paragraphs long. But in reality, sales contracts can be ponderous instruments exceeding thirty pages of legal language. The terms and conditions of a transaction are equally as important as the price that is being paid. Terms such as the length of an inspection period, and the conditions of the resolution process if defects are discovered can add a tremendous amount of value over an “as-is” purchase. Even the projected closing date can affect the value of the property. If a buyer needs the property in 30 days, but the seller needs 90 days to move, the value of the property may become diminished to the buyer. Contingencies such as ability to obtain financing or the appraised value... 07/23/2010

  It seems that as real estate agents we spend a lot more time in the car these days. As more and more sellers dictate title companies and require hand delivery of earnest money and other documents, it is not unusual to drive over 200 miles in a day. We get to visit places “across town” that we not have seen in years. Heck, sometimes we go to places that we have NEVER been. There are times when I think that some evil genius has deliberately constructed a program that selects the servicers that are as far away from the subject property as possible. You just don’t know how many times I’ve heard the closer ask: “Newnan, where is that?” As a result, those of us here in the Atlanta metropolitan area circle I-285 like planets around the sun, awaiting the robotic drone of the GPS to give us fu... 07/22/2010

I had an interesting situation come up recently. A buyer had made a cash offer on a property owned by a quasi-government privately owned mortgage corporation. The offer was accepted, but the seller delayed in getting the executed contracts delivered. And so the SELLER asked for an extension on the closing date to ensure enough time to get the title work done. The buyer agreed, the extension was executed, and then signed and stamped by all parties. Here’s where the story gets interesting: On the day of closing, the buyer wires the money to the title company’s office. But after driving 50 miles, and after having done everything correctly, the buyer is told that the contract fell “out of the system,” and that the offer process would have to start all over again. Of course I protested. I d... 07/21/2010

As many qualified would-be buyers are opting to rent instead of committing to a real estate purchase, it seems to me that many are missing out on one of the most incredible opportunities in the last 100 years. Many agonize about trying to determine exactly when the market has or will have bottomed out. They don’t want to invest in a property that could lose some monetary value in the near future. But a home is not a stock or a bond. A home has intrinsic value that goes way beyond money. It is a place where dreams are fulfilled and memories are created. Home is a place where we change the paint colors to suit our personalities, and where we tend our gardens that will mature and age more gracefully than us! The longer that we own a home, the more it becomes a part of us and the more it r... 07/20/2010

Contact Tom Barron # 404-936-7422. FABULOUS 4 BEDROOM 2.5 BATH NEW CONSTRUCTION CAMDEN FLOOR PLAN, GRANITE COUNTERTOPS, STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES AND HARDWOOD FLOORS IN KITCHEN. GREAT FAMILY ROOM WITH A MARBLE FIREPLACE THAT OPENS TO THE KITCHEN. FORMAL DINING ROOM WITH PICTURE MOULDING, LIVING ROOM, SITTING AREA UPSTAIRS. COVERED PORCH, AND HUGE FENCED BACKYARD. To see complete property tour: http://www.advantagehometours.com/tabid/1650.aspx.    07/14/2010

Contact Tom Barron # 404-936-7422. SPECTACULAR NEW CONSTRUCTION. 4 BEDROOM 3 BATH MONTREAL RANCH PLAN. FEATURES INCLUDE GRANITE COUNTERTOPS, HARDWOOD FLOORS AND STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES IN THE KITCHEN. VAULTED FAMILY ROOM WITH MARBLE FIREPLACE, DINING ROOM WITH PICTURE MOULDING, MASTER ON MAIN WITH SPACIOUS TILED MASTER BATH WITH JETTED TUB AND GRANITE COUNTERTOPS. To see complete property tour: http://www.advantagehometours.com/tabid/1652.aspx.    07/14/2010

On July 1, 2010 a new law went into effect in Georgia that prohibits the practice of texting while operating a motor vehicle. And although it should be considered common sense, “driving while distracted” now carries some hefty fines. Drivers that are cited and convicted of the offense will be penalized $150 and have a point added to their driving record. It’s a shame that safe driving has to be codified, but there are still a lot of drivers that haven’t gotten the message yet. Hopefully, this new law will save lives and a lot of unnecessary suffering statewide! No texting while driving. It is now the law in Georgia! 07/01/2010

If you are looking for a home in Newnan Georgia, call Laura Ellen Beckom of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers. I have live my whole life in Newnan and Coweta County Georgia, and I love to help buyers find the best possible deals that are available. I also sell HUD homes and would love to assist you with entering a bid on one of these government foreclosures! Call me at 678-378-2527 and I'll help you find the home of your dreams! 06/23/2010

With temperatures in the 90’s and very high humidity, Summer is in full swing in Newnan Georgia. But working in real estate was even hotter today for agents at my office, as the air conditioner cried “uncle” and decided to quit working. And as the temperature rose inside, so did the frenzy of activity. Everyone was up for the challenge. After all, our clients come first and if that means if we have to work in the heat, so be it. Fax machines faxed, copiers copied, and printers printed continuously as the offers and signed contracts made their way from office to client to office to another office! We were all working furiously and oblivious to the less than pleasant conditions. So when I say that the real estate business was hot in Newnan today, I mean both literally and figuratively. A... 06/22/2010

  During the past week, I have encountered several individuals that expressed interest in getting into real estate as a profession. In years past, that was not an unusual occurrence. Real estate was red hot and was seen as the path to easy money and a life of luxury. And even though most new real estate agents failed in their first year, every pre-license class was packed! The real estate business of today is vastly different than it was three years ago. Even the most experienced agents struggle to get buyers and sellers to the closing table. So why would anyone want to get into this crazy business now? I think that in many cases, that although the real estate profession is very demanding, it is also very interesting and challenging. Every day brings a new situation that makes the job e... 06/19/2010

On Thursday, June 10th, Congress introduced new legislation which, if passed, could extend the deadline to close loans in order for potential homebuyers to receive the homebuyer tax credit.  The extension could increase the required close by date from June 30 to September 30, 2010. The legislation doesn't affect who may qualify for the tax credit. To qualify, you still must have signed a contract by April 30, but it will relieve some of the pressure to close by June 30. Buyers who did not expect to close by June 30 may now be able to qualify and or have sufficient time to shop for the best mortgage options, especially with rates dropping in the most recent weeks. Please visit our website  or Jeff Wilmoth | HomeStar Financial Corporation...Serving all of Georgia! 848 Jesse Jewell Parkway... 06/14/2010

The weather report last night was a monotonous string of temperatures in the 90’s with high humidity. That would be totally normal for July in Newnan Georgia, but it’s a bit hot for early June. But with the hot Summer weather come the beautiful Summer blooms. I love summer flowers because they are more durable that the fragile fleeting flowers of Spring. It’s time for hydrangeas, crape myrtles, lantana and butterfly bushes to do their best to attract hummingbirds and honeybees to the yard. Fortunately, the occasional thunderstorm that is associated with heat and humidity has kept everything green and vigorous! The downside is that it’s pretty muggy out there, which is a hard word to really describe unless you are experiencing it! Summer in the South. You gotta love it! 06/10/2010