Real Estate Update
Affordable Moving Labor Help that Won’t Break Your Savings
April 25, 2012 | 
Author If you have a car, you can go anywhere you want to at anytime. If it has two or three rows of seat, you can take your family at once. Unfortunately, the convenience won’t be the same when you need to move your stuff. It needs bigger and more reliable transportation. Are you going to rent a truck from your neighbor? It is true you can move the stuff, but you will find problems on the packing. The improper packing will make your precious things get damaged. There is no guarantee that all of them can be totally safe.
What you need is the help from professional a Moving Labor company. This company has been known as the best partner for home or business moving. Whatever type or reason you want to move to, make sure that you deal with the professional mover. Need a recommendation? GM Movers can provide the reliable Moving Labor Help that won’t break your savings. They are reputable and reliable.
Although the well planned moving will give you a peace of mind, there are times what you will need to move immediately. If you do not have the time to prepare it, let this GM Movers Help Moving with the same day service. Give them a call to 1-800-470-5750 or just visit Giantmonkeymovers.com.
Observers Look to Downtown Manhattan to Help Fuel Real Estate Rebound
Most of the talk in New York real estate circles these days has centered on the national recession, the pain it has caused the NYC apartment market, and when it’s all going to end. The recent Deutche Bank report has fueled the debate, as have recent prognostications of a global recovery – most of latter having stemmed from perpetually overly-optimistic business writers.
While the perennial debate between optimists and pessimists plays itself out in the context of shrinking real estate valuations, the form that the eventual recovery will take is becoming clear. The eventual construction resulting from the wretched attacks of September 11th with aid a revitalized downtown New York real estate market. Manhattan is typically the strongest part of the New York apartment market, and changes in commercial real estate supply and demand will, in the long run, make the downtown area even more attractive to businesses and their employees.
A planned strengthening of public transport systems will also make the downtown area a more attractive place for businesses looking to headquarter themselves in New York City or relocate from other parts of the city.
Similarly, the strengthening of residential neighborhoods near the downtown area that occurred during the previous expansion has attracted additional retail activity.
In some ways, it seems like an odd argument: In the downtown heart of business activity in the business capitol of the United States, additional business activity will help lead the Manhattan real estate market rebound more generally.
There are four major factors, though, that have pointed some observers towards such a conclusion: First, the reconstruction of areas that were damaged or destroyed during the terrorist acts of September 11th.
Second, the changed market dynamics of residential neighborhoods near to the downtown area. Third, a resulting further rejuvenation of retail activity. And fourth, an uptick in supply and concordant downturn in demand for commercial real estate that, over the long run, will make the downtown an especially attractive place for new or relocating businesses.
The weak US dollar will similarly attract additional foreign demand for both the commercial and residential real estate market. A disproportionate amount of that demand may end up being concentrated in the downtown area.
It’s not enough to fuel a recovery by itself – or even come close. But what is clear is that when that recovery comes, look to downtown real estate and related neighborhoods to help lead the way.
Athens, Georgia a Southern Athens and College Town
Article by Howard Giske
Located in the rolling hills at an elevation of about 600 feet, between the sea and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Athens is the largest city in Clarke County, with a population slightly over 100,000. Since 1990, the governmental functions of Athens and Clarke County have been consolidated, though the smaller town of Winterville, continues to maintain some degree of autonomy. Athens is located about 60 miles northeast of Atlanta, not far from the South Carolina border.
Some top employers in the area are the local hospital system, Gold Kist, and Seaboard Farms. Agricultural production in Clarke County includes timber and poultry. Home prices in the Athens, Ga. Area have a wide range. They range from a luxury two-bedroom condo, for only $ 100,000, to a huge 8 bedroom historical mansion in Watkinsville, Ga., Oconee County, for over $ 700,000. Athens is the home of the University of Georgia. In fact, the University has been there since 1804, and was the original impetus for the creation of Athens, Ga., which has been a college town from the very beginning. Get it, like Plato’s Academy of Athens? The downtown is next to the UGA campus, which has made the area popular in theAthens real estate marketand a desirable place to live. The town is popular not only with students, but also with retirees, due to the social and cultural attractions and its mild winters. The antebellum charm of Athens’ older buildings, are rather unique in the state of Georgia, since they avoided General Sherman’s march from Atlanta to Savannah and the sea.
The art and music scene runs from classical to popular and rock-n’-roll. In fact, the Athens area has a certain amount of notoriety as being the origin place of such bands as R.E.M., and the B-52s. The University of Georgia (UGA) Performing Art Center on 230 River Rd. brings in world-class orchestras performing classical and popular music. Also, the UGA football team is well-known, with their games being very popular events.
Due to a number of factors, including the Univ. of Georgia, Athens is truly the Athens of Georgia, in terms of arts and drama available in the area. The Georgia Museum of Art, is the state museum, at 90 Carlton St. is part of the modern Performing and Visual Arts complex. This complex is located on the east campus of the University of Georgia. American painting is the focus of the Georgia Museum of Art’s collection. Alfred Heber Holbrook, the museum’s founder collected lots of important Nineteenth-century works include those by Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Eakins, Winslow Homer, George Inness, Elizabeth Jane Gardner, and James McNeill Whistler. Its modern collections include works by Georgia O’Keefe and Andrew Wyeth. The museum’s restaurant and performance venue, Figgie’s Five is known for good food and musical performances ranging from folk to jazz. Athens is also the location of the state of Georgia botanical gardens, located just out of town of South Millege Avenue. It is a lovely spot of plants and trees that is often the site of receptions and weddings.
Retirement Planning with Investment Properties
Article by Mike Selvon
All around us, people are getting rich off real estate, buying at just the right time and reselling at higher values or by using tenant rent money to pay off an existing mortgage. Are investment properties a good idea? Or is the market in a downward spiral?
As with anything, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but getting information is the first step to assessing whether or not investment properties will be included in your supplemental retirement plan.
Pros of owning investment properties are obvious. Hypothetically speaking, imagine owning a six-plex in a slow-changing, yet prosperous part of Atlanta where you charged each tenant $ 1,000. Your monthly mortgage for the building might be $ 3,000 but you’ll still have that extra $ 3,000 cushion each month.
Another benefit of property investments is the generous tax kickback you may receive. If you delight in getting your lump sum tax return at the end of the year, then perhaps investing and selling properties when you need that quick chunk of cash is right for you.
Also, there’s no penalty for opting out early or age regulations regarding when you can start using your earnings. You don’t have to be rich or super business savvy to add property ownership into your retirement planning agenda. It’s been dubbed “the equal opportunity wealth builder.”
Cons of investment properties include the no guarantee risk. It’s also not a feasible option for everyone because of high transaction prices. Not everyone has thousands of dollars saved to make a substantial down payment.
Vacancies, bad tenants, maintenance costs and property oversupply are a few of the disadvantages. Like any investment, there are many factors beyond your control that could affect your income. For better guarantees, 401ks or IRAs should be included in your financial retirement planning.
Your success in real estate investment properties will depend largely on when and where you buy. Money Magazine reported the most growth in Panama City, Florida and Washington state — cities like Olympia, Spokane and Mount Vernon.
Slow-changing but profitable markets exist in Atlanta, Providence and Albuquerque. First time investors will want to avoid ex-boomtowns like Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Las Vegas, where exorbitantly high prices make the market unsustainable.
While downtown real estate can be profitable, it’s not advised for people who are simply retirement planning for some supplemental income.
Since the average American moves every five to six years, and twelve million houses are sold each year, why not capitalize on this trend when retirement planning? It doesn’t necessarily take a rich person to invest and profit.
If you’re looking to downsize your home after your family moves out and earn some extra spending money, investment properties may be the right supplemental retirement plan for you!
Ditch Your Car and Raise the Rent
Article by Josh Keen
Atlanta’s come a long way in the past decade, the city ranked 14th out of 30 walkable American cities in a recent survey done by the Brookings Institute. Committed to combating its notorious urban sprawl with sidewalks, public transit, high-density housing and mixed-use development, Atlanta is helping it’s population get a bit trimmer and its property values get a bit higher.
What’s Walkability?
What makes a community walkable is simple: lots of places to walk to and easy routes to get to them. And though it’s only one way to measure a the livability of a particular neighborhood, it’s proving to be a consistently reliable one. Software developers have even developed the “Walk Score” for anyone who wants to take a sneak peek into prospective neighborhoods in far away cities. Just plug in the address of the house you’re interested in and the site will calculate a walk score for the neighborhood. Combine this info with the advice of a good real estate agent and you’re in great shape.
Walkable Neighborhoods are Better to Live in
Atlanta has long been at the forefront of research that has connected neighborhood design to health. A 2005 Atlanta SMARTRAQ study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that residents in Atlanta’s most walkable neighborhoods were 2.4. times more likely to get 30 or more minutes of exercise per day than their more suburban counterparts. Were they heading to the gym? No! They were heading to the store to pick up some milk, walking their kids to school and going to work.
Of course if being healthier isn’t a good enough reason to move somewhere, there’s a whole host of other benefits to living in a walkable community. Where there are pedestrians you’ll typically find less traffic congestion, higher property values, more places to go, local businesses, stronger communities, civic involvement, reduced crime, safer streets and less pollution.
Though Atlanta still has a long way to go, there are a number of success stories and we have some great, walkable, livable and lovable communities where people are proud to be seen on the street. Some of our favorites are:
DECATUR: Ditch the car and come live in Decatur. Let your kids walk to their top-rated public school, run into people you know, take a walk down to the city square and throw a penny in the fountain. Dating back to the civil war era, this community’s tree-lined streets are a popular place to be. 20 minutes to downtown Atlanta.
MIDTOWN: This is Atlanta’s cultural mecca and home to places like the Fabulous Fox Theater, the High Museum of Art, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Margaret Mitchell House and the Woodruff Arts Center. But what makes it a great place to live is the strong sense of community and diversity that ties people together. With 200 acre Piedmont Park at its heart, Midtown also has places to stop and play whether you want to feed the birds of Rollerblade along the trails. Bonus: the sidewalks don’t roll up after dark.
ATLANTIC STATION: Though technically this is also midtown, Atlantic Station deserves it’s own honorable mention. Built on the former site of the Atlantic Steel Mill, this mixed-use development has reclaimed a part of the city that had been lost for years. Blends a great deal of shopping with condos and other great places to live. Right next to downtown.
BUCKHEAD: This newly revitalized community has been recreated as a walkable neighborhood with urban trail ways and plenty of places to go, places to work and things to see. Home to one of the city’s most important business districts, Buckhead is also fast becoming a cultural center for Atlanta with a real handle on live entertainment. With good transportation options so much to do, residents find it easy to extend their living rooms out into this community.
Living Downtown Offers Some Advantages
When it comes to finding a home in the Miami area, you have many different options available. You can find condos that are priced quite low to those that are on the high end of the scale. Nearly everyone should be able to find something that is affordable.
Downtown Miami has four distinct areas: Brickell, Midtown, Park West, and the Central Business Disctrict. Midtown has its own districts of Wynwood and Edgewater. Miami offers many different luxury condominiums throughout these districts. Most of the homes in the city are in high-rises. These buildings reach high into the sky, and they have helped to dub the city the Manhattan of the South. The city shoots upward rather than spreading out, which means more people will be able to live comfortably in a smaller area.
Living in the downtown region has many benefits. One of the best reasons to live in the downtown area of Miami is because of the proximity to great activities.
Residents will be able to reach the beach in just minutes when they have a downtown home. They will also find that they are within walking distance of some first class shopping and dining. Miami is a city known for its thriving nightlife as well, and you will be able to find plenty of nightclubs throughout the town. Museums and the college help to round out the great offerings in downtown.
Some of the most popular of the condominium complexes in the downtown area are 50 Biscayne, 900 Biscayne, Asia Downtown, Avenue Downtown, and the upcoming Axis Downtown. Prices of these condos range from less than $ 200,000 all the way to the millions of dollars.
Before you settle on a condo, it’s a good idea to speak with a professional real estate agent who will be able to help you decide on a unit that fits your budget. You may even want to take a trip to the city to get a feel for things first.
As you can see, living in the downtown area doesn’t mean that you have to have an outrageously large bank account. You will be able to find units that can fit your budget as well as your style. The downtown area is a great place to live, and it’s easy to see why more and more people are choosing to move there. With the great prices, more are able to afford the high-class lifestyle that these condos offer.
Colin Coyne of Melaver, Inc Joins Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership
Article by CarriageTrade PR
(BIRMINGHAM) – Colin Coyne, Chief Operating Officer of Melaver, Inc., has been selected as a member of the board of directors of the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership. The Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership (IGEL) is a leadership program dedicated to building and sustaining a diverse network of environmentally educated leaders who will help resolve Georgia’s environmental challenges. IGEL brings together a diverse group of leaders from a multitude of backgrounds. The IGEL program enhances participants’ leadership skills and improves their understanding of complex environmental issues.”IGEL was, without question, one of the finest professional experiences of my life,” Coyne said. “The leadership model IGEL has created for ad dressing substantial issues in a meaningful way is something every other state should emulate. To serve on the IGEL board is a privilege.”
Based in Birmingham, Coyne oversees acquisition, development, and construction management. He received a BS degree in Economics and Business Administration from Vanderbilt University and an MBA with Dean’s List honors from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He is LEED 2.0 accredited by the U.S. Green Building Council. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professionals have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and familiarity with LEED requirements, resources, and processes.
Melaver, Inc. is committed to sustainability – the triple-bottom line approach to economic performance, environmental impact, and social engagement with the community. The company has properties in Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah, Huntsville, and Birmingham, including their latest acquisition at 2101 Highland. The Savannah-based company develops, acquires and renovates, manages, owns and brokers commercial and residential real estate throughout the Southeast.
Melaver, Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned business based in Savannah, Georgia. The sustainable real estate developer currently has eight LEED certified projects in their portfolio and developed one of the first LEED certified buildings in the U.S. which is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Melaver Inc. also developed the first all-retail LEED shopping center in the country, Abercorn Common, including the first LEED McDonald’s worldwide.The Alabama office of Melaver, Inc. is located at One Federal Place in downtown Birmingham. Contact: (912) 236-0781(205) 583-9400 www.melaver.com
For more information about The Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership (IGEL), visit http://www.igeleaders.org
Posted in Real Estate Update | 
Tags: Colin, Coyne, Environmental, Georgia, Institute, Joins, Leadership, Melaver | 
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Buy the Right House for the Right Reasons
Article by Paula Stone
Years ago people would look for a house to buy that was in a place they wanted to live for a long period of time.
They were looking in a specific location that had amenities the homebuyer wanted like great schools, cute houses, restaurants and shopping close by and lots of other things that made a home and the neighborhood desirable.
It’s that old real estate term…you know the one…”location, location, location”.
It’s the one aspect of real estate that has been most ignored in the house flipping craze.
Picking up a cheap foreclosure in a bad neighborhood is VERY different from buying a house in a great neighborhood that needs work.
Buying in the wrong neighborhood can be a problem. It can be a problem from a personal happiness standpoint as well as a real estate investment standpoint. If you are living in the wrong spot for your lifestyle, work location and loved ones it matters. And it will matter too, to people who might buy your property…or not.
The great neighborhoods hold their value even in bad real estate markets.
Other neighborhoods, especially in outlying suburbs around cities will do much less well than close in, established neighborhoods with great schools and short commutes. And in a time when gasoline prices are not expected to go down, outlying suburbs will be a tougher sell in the coming years.
Many homeowners who look to the far-flung suburbs for newer homes are struggling when they try to resale. Maybe they lose a job or just get transferred, but resale takes way too long. And sometimes resale never happens and another home goes into foreclosure. It’s happened all too often recently, depressing the economy and bringing a new reality to us all.
But close in neighborhoods in many cities do a lot better.
As an example we know a couple which purchased a 1940′s vintage home near Piedmont Park in Atlanta shortly after finishing college in the early 1970′s. It’s close to downtown and shopping and is a desirable place to live now that they are considering retirement. They will find a pool of eager buyers if they decide to sell.
A younger couple we know bought a 1920′s vintage Queen Anne style house in the same area recently. Even though the house was not in perfect condition they were able to resale quickly when they were transferred to Europe.
The neighborhood has good resale now and it had good resale 40 years ago.
So get it right when you buy. Buy in the right kind of neighborhood. It may require a larger financial investment, more remodeling and more careful and knowledgeable shopping. But the extra work could serve you better than buying the wrong kind of property in this less certain real estate market.
Georgia Homes for Sale
Article by Hunter Ramsey
There are many different areas to choose from when looking at purchasing a Georgia home for sale. Atlanta is the capital of Georgia and therefore one of the more popular areas. Apart from Atlanta, Alpharetta, Marietta, Kennesaw, Roswell, and Woodstock are some of the other popular cities in the state of Georgia.
Alpharetta is one of the most prosperous cities in Georgia, that is located in the North Foulton County. It is known for its favorable weather and has a population of 49,903.
The average price per square foot of a home in Alpharetta is $ 116 at present, which is 9.4% less than what it was in 2008. The median price for a home in Alpharetta is $ 229,005. This figure indicates that the median price has depriciated by 6.6% from 2008. However, the average price listed for the sales of homes in Alpharetta city was $ 514,169 for the week ending October 7, 2009. This is an increase of 1.4%, indicating a postive change in the realty scene in the city.
Marietta, GA offers good prospective for investment in real estate because it is located at just 15 miles from the downtown Atlanta area. It is the largest suburban area that attracts many first time home buyers and seasoned real estate professionals for its reasonable prices of properties and low cost of living.
Roswell is another popular choice. It is an affluent area located in the northern suburban area of Atlanta, Georgia that offers $ 250,000 as the median sales price of homes.
When searching for a Georgia home for sale, there are many different cities to choose from. Georgia is a one of the first Thirteen Colonies to be established and therefore has a rich history. All areas of the state have a different history to choose from.
Indian Hills Country Club: An Amenity Filled Community
Article by Tina Fountain
A 27 hole golf course designed by world renowned architect Joe Lee, a practice green, a driving range, a chipping green, three swimming pools and eight tennis courts are just a few of the many benefits members and residents of Indian Hills Country Club enjoy.
Located in Marietta, Georgia about 20 miles Northwest from metro Atlanta, Indian Hills Country Club Golf Course is a premier residential and clubhouse community. As a result of over $ 4 million in recent renovations and the establishment of an updated amenity filled Clubhouse, Indian Hills Country Club has gone from a small, residential golf community to an expansive private golf club community. Luxury, leisure and relaxation are just a few things you will experience as a resident in Indian Hills Country Club.
The elegant and stately clubhouse is a host to a numerous events; Casual dining, Sunday brunch, family and friend gatherings, business meetings, weddings and other private functions to name a few. The Clubhouse also hosts family and social gatherings year round, from theme dinners to brunches to holiday parties to children’s events.
Other Clubhouse amenities include private meeting rooms with state of the art wi-fi and audio video services; a bar and lounge for relaxing or socializing after a round of golf or tennis; outdoor dining with extraordinary views of the golf course and lush scenery; and a picturesque courtyard for outdoor leisure activities.
Winding its way through the Georgia woodlands, the three nine hole courses that comprise the Indian Hills Country Club Golf Course are meticulously designed – integrating lakes, creeks, streams, and other natural surroundings to enhance the actual course design. Additional course components include over 15,000 square feet of putting and chipping greens, and over 30,000 square feet of natural spaces of grass and trees.
There is also a well stocked Golf Pro Shop with the latest in golf equipment, clubs, shoes, clothing, and accessories. Staffed with professionals who can help you with everything from answering questions about merchandise to scheduling tee times and golf lessons.
Residents of the Indian Hills Country Club are served by the highly renowned Cobb County Public School system and attend either the East Side Elementary School or East Valley Elementary School, Dickerson Middle School or East Cobb Middle School, and Wheeler High School, or Walton High School. There are also several top rated private schools nearby.
In addition to living in Indian Hills Country Club and enjoying all the benefits a community can offer, you are also just minutes away from fine dining, world class shopping, and endless entertainment; both in the cities of Marietta, and of course Atlanta. Indian Hills Country Club residents also enjoy an easy commute into midtown and downtown Atlanta via Interstate 75.
The luxurious homes and condominiums of the Indian Hills Country Club community start from the mid $ 200,000s, and palatial estates upwards of $ 1 million. In the heart of Cobb County, Indian Hills Country Club and community is an incredible real estate value, and is truly an amenity filled community.