Cherokee County GA Real Estate & Community Blog

New trend in living arrangements

2008-10-03T14:42:00.007-04:00

According to this article on REALTOR.org, more and more people are sharing their house with family or friends. More and more, we find parents living with grown children and even grandparents living with their grandkids.

According to Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United, "It is evolving in some ways back to how families used to live. That is, they're living in multi-generational households".

Add the economic benefit and it is no wonder it is becoming more popular than ever to share your home with someone. Remember the old adage "Two can live as cheap as one?"

As a homeschooling family, we have been very sensitive to multi-generational relationships and encourage our kids to be able to relate to people of all ages, not just kids their own age. We believe this is very valuable in teaching our kids the wisdom that comes from age and experience.

If the thought of living with extended family is not appealing to you, re-think that. With today's houses, you can have two separate living spaces and never even see one another unless planned. In fact, my firm has a great example of a home used to care for an elderly parent. This home has 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 full kitchens/family rooms and a handicap ramp all for $165K.

Click here to see it.

There are lots of options today. Please give me a call and let me find the right one for you!

Michael Bradford
Associate Broker
Southern Prime Realty
770-862-8002

The end of DPA?

2008-09-24T09:23:00.005-04:00

With all of the news surrounding the end of down payment assistance programs, there still is a way for someone who has good credit and income to get 100% financing. And isn't that really the key? We want people who can afford a home to get one. We should do all that we can to help those who have the means and the desire to purchase a home be able to do so. After all, home ownership reflects a long term commitment to a piece of land at a specific place. When we have people committed to maintaining and improving a piece of property, it is good for our communities.

If you have decent credit and good prospects for a stable income, then you can still buy a home with little cash up front. There are several programs available today that can help you realize your dream of home ownership. Call me today and let me show you what your options are. There are limits and requirements but anything worthwhile takes effort. Let's work together to fill empty homes with people who will take care of them and be an asset to our communities.

Michael Bradford
Associate Broker
Southern Prime Realty
770-862-8002

No Paws Left Behind

2008-06-12T08:43:00.005-04:00

As a proud owner of a schnoodle (part poodle, part schnauzer) rescued from an illegal puppy mill, I was very happy when I read this article on REALTOR.org about No Paws Left Behind. According to their web site, No Paws Left Behind "is a focus driven not for profit organization, designed to bring awareness to all communities the silent victims of foreclosure who have no voice or rights to implement change."

With the rise in foreclosures across the country and here in Cherokee and Cobb county, it is good to see people thinking about the impact that this can have on our pets. If you know of any animals that have been displaced by a recent foreclosure, please give me a call or visit the No Paws Left Behind web site for more information about how you can help.

Michael Bradford
Southern Prime Realty
770-862-8002

Existing homes sales up!

2008-06-10T08:06:00.005-04:00

According to this article on REALTOR.org, pending home sales in April were higher than expected. This is good news you certainly won't hear on the nightly news and if you do, it will be qualified with the dreaded word "but...". Good news just doesn't sell these days so you have to look for it. Great homes are available at excellent prices. Mortgage rates are stable and inventories are leveling out.

If you are looking to buy a new home, now is the time. Call me today and let me help you find the home of your dreams.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

Demand For Mortgages Rise.

2008-04-10T09:00:00.002-04:00

According to REALTOR.org and this article, demand for mortgages rose even though rates have crept up slightly. The demand is primarily an increase in purchases and not refinancing activity.

This is good news. It seems like most of what we hear is mixed blessing. Rates are up but prices are down. All I know is that my phone has been ringing a lot more lately and several of my properties have gone under contract at very close to the listing price. Spring is here in Cherokee County and now is a great time to get your house ready to sell. If you have been waiting till spring to sell, now is the time to act.

Give me a call and I would consider it an honor to help you get your home sold.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

Atlanta, #2

2008-03-28T12:15:00.004-04:00

Last week I focused on Cherokee County's growth. The news today is about the Atlanta region. According to the US Census Bureau and this article from REALTOR.com, the Atlanta Metro Area grew by 151,063 people between July, 2006 and July, 2007. This make us the second fastest metro area behind the Dallas, Ft. Worth Texas area.

Not to take away from the folks in Texas, but I been to there and Georgia is a much better place to live. I know the people of Texas are great and friendly and all, but Atlanta is such a prettier place and the people are just as friendly and nice. I believe our economy is much more broad based which will fair better during any downturn and will recover faster than a market which is more narrow in focus.

As I wrote about last week, the current buyer's market will end sooner here than most areas and we are already seeing trends that point to a recovery. Don't let this market turn before you take advantage of it. Call me today and let's find the home of your dreams before we wake up and find it's a sellers market again.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

Here we grow again!

2008-03-20T09:18:00.003-04:00

Georgia had 18 counties in the top 100 in population growth. According to U.S. Census Bureau reported by the AJC here, Forsyth County ranked No. 8 in the nation, increasing its population by 7.2%. It was the fastest-growing Georgia county. Cherokee County was ranked 6th in the state, 18th in the nation and grew by 5.3%.

It is easy to see why Georgia has the most counties in the top 100. While we have had problems keeping up with the growth, like water management, urban sprawl, and congested roads, for the most part Cherokee County has done an excellent job with the resources given to them. Our schools are doing great, unemployment has remained low and housing has remained affordable.

The current buyers market in Cherokee county will change sooner than other areas of the country. We need to keep in mind that we live in an area that is going to continue to grow and be prepared for the thousands of new comers looking for a better life.

If you are thinking about buying a house in Cherokee County anytime in the near future, I would recommend that you take advantage of the current market before it changes. I can help you find a great deal and would consider it a privilege to assist you.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

Try Before You Buy.

2008-03-17T08:23:00.002-04:00

Lease/purchase, rent ot own or lease option, whichever name you call it, has become more and more popular. Even investors who would prefer to rent their properties are offering them as a way of getting qualified people into their houses. REALTOR.org has an article here that explains much of the details.

This can be an excellent way for buyers to try the house and neighborhood on, so to speak, before they have to actually buy it. Owners get another tool they can use to get an empty property occupied or get the freedom to go ahead and move to their new house without fear of their present house sitting empty.

If you have thought about lease purchase as an option for you, please call me. They are not for everyone and I can share more details to help you decide if this is right for you.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

The End Of The Buyers Market?

2008-03-13T10:00:00.002-04:00

We all know that it has been a buyers market for a couple of years now. Human nature always wants to resit change and we are usually surprised when it happens. Are we going to be caught off guard when the market changes back to a buyers market? You and I both know it will eventually happen. Is there any way to predict when?

What we can see from current trends is that new housing starts are much lower than ever before and applications for new developments have almost stopped completely. It can take 2-5 years before a new project is proposed and when new homes are ready to be occupied. We live in an area that will continue to see economic growth. I believe we are going to be caught unprepared with not enough housing units in the pipeline or available for the demand that will continue to grow. It takes time to ramp up new construction and because not much is happening now, a lot of builders are closing up shop and moving into other lines of work.

After the current overstock of housing inventory is depleted, where will the new home buyers of tomorrow find a place to live? Wherever it will be, the prices will go up because as always demand sets price. Those who bought when supply was plentiful and demand low will be looking at a day when they can sell high. The problem will then be where are they going to go. They will have a hard time replacing the home they have with something comparable. What can you do to take advantage of the current buyers market?

The best thing would be to buy rental properties and hold on to them for a couple of years. Demand will continue to rise so prices will also rise. You are not trying to replace your primary residence but selling an investment, which as we all know you should do when prices are high. I know lots of people who bought low in 2001-2002 and sold high in 2005-2006. You can time this market but you won't do it by following the crowd. You have to buy when everyone else is selling and you have to sell when everyone else is buying. It is simple logic.

If you need help finding great investment properties, give me a call. I can help you meet your goals of buying low and selling high. Real estate is still one of the best and safest investments you can make if you do your homework. Start your education today.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

The Tax Man Cometh!

2008-03-10T10:00:00.002-04:00

It's that time of year when accountants and CPA's get very busy. For those who do their own taxes, or for those of us who have a lot of preparation to do before the accountants even get the information, it can be a daunting task. I am all for the Fair Tax and wish it was a reality now. We have a lot of work ahead of us to change the current system, and until then we will have to work with what we have.

What we have is a system that rewards debt on most real estate. The tax code also rewards appreciation or capital gains on your primary residence, up to a limit, depending on your marital status, and if you have owned your home long enough. Here is a good article from REALTOR.com that gives great reasons for home ownership from a tax standpoint. With all of the negative reporting on what is happening in the real estate market, we must remember that owning your own home it is still one of the best ways to accumulate wealth and save on your taxes.

Most people think the day you sell your house is when you make money on it, but in reality it is when you buy your house that most of your profits are made. Sure, you can time the market somewhat when you sell to maximize your gains, but in the end if you paid too much in the first place, it will reduce your profits later when you sell. Time can dig you out of a bad purchase, but don't let that happen to you.

Everyone knows when investing you should buy low and sell high, right? Well, now is an excellent time to buy low! Don't miss the bottom of the market! On Thursday, I will talk about how the buyers market we are seeing in Atlanta will be back to a sellers market before the rest of the country, and that it will be here faster than you think. Interest rates are great, prices are low, and supply is plentiful. Now is the time to buy low, and start looking for the day you can sell high, and avoid the tax man all the way to the bank.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

5.5% Interest Rates?

2008-03-06T10:00:00.003-05:00

According to REALTOR.com, we could see 5.5% interest rates this year. Will that be enough to encourage the housing market and spark a rebound? According to this article, maybe not. Economist Brian Bethune said, "People are going to stay away from the market if they see instability, and lenders are going to have a hard time valuing properties and issuing mortgages."

This may keep some people away but then again, everyday people have to move for one reason or another. A new job, divorce or other life circumstances will always keep a certain portion of our population moving. Even though the market has slowed down, it has not stopped. If you find yourself in the category of people that have to move now, please give me the opportunity to make it as pain-free as possible. I can market your home to a very broad base of internet home buyers and help you strategically place your home prominently in the online community.

Over 80% of home buyers today start their search on line. Let me show you how we will leverage that trend to make your home stand out among all the others. Call me today and let's get started.

Michael Bradford

770-862-8002

Ignore The Headlines!

2008-03-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

It has been a tough year to decide what to do if you want to buy or sell a home. This Time article make some great points as to why you should buy a home now. But for every positive article like this, you have more negative ones like this one at Yahoo.com telling you why renting a home instead of buying might be better. If you need to sell a house right now, you do need to realize that prices are flat and you will need to price it realistically for it to sell today.

What is a realistic price? A good indicator would be to go back 5 to 7 years, find the value then and increase it by 2-3% a year. While this is a very simplistic and often times the wrong approach, it can help us see the long-term, steady increase the house would achieve without the wild run-up of prices we saw a couple of years ago.

If you are renting and have stable income, even just OK credit and a little cash, now is a great time to buy. What is keeping a lot of people on the sidelines are the headlines about record foreclosures, people losing their homes and the sub-prime loan meltdown. All of these thing, while significant, should not keep qualified buyers from possibly the best buyers market we have seen in years.

Let me help you determine if now is the best time to enter the home ownership market. I can help you find a great lender and a great home.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

Housing Prices Falling?

2008-02-28T01:32:00.006-05:00

We have all heard the news. Doom and gloom for everyone who owns a home, right? Not so fast! Everyone should know that real estate is all about location, location, location. So how is Cherokee County doing? Are we seeing the drop in prices that other markets are seeing? Well, the answer is yes and no.

Some segments of the market are declining slightly while others are holding their own. So it depends on which part of the market (price range) you are looking at. According to the graph here on yahoo.com, the average home price rose over the last year. We have seen a slight decline in the last couple of weeks though.

If you are concerned about your home's value today, there are several places you can go to get an idea of value. The best place to start is with a local REALTOR. If I can help you determine your home's value in today's market, please give me a call. I can access the latest data available to give you the best picture of your home and neighborhoods current value.

If you are considering selling your home soon, let me arm you with all you need to make your decision to sell now or wait until later.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

The Paperless Office

2008-02-21T16:20:00.008-05:00

Today marks the first time I have used a new service that I will be offering my clients, the paperless real estate sale! Up until now, getting signatures from everyone involved in the sale of real estate has been one of the most time consuming and in-efficient parts of the process. DocuSign has changed all of that.

Thanks to the internet and electronic signature, I can now send documents to anyone with an e-mail address and internet connection for you to review, sign and return from the comfort of your computer. No more having to take a contract to one person for their signature, fax it to another for them to approve, sign and countersign and then return to the original sender. With this new service, you will get an e-mail notifying you that a document needs your review and approval. You then click on the link in the e-mail, sign in to a secure web site, review the document and then electronically sign it.

Now don't panic! If you want to print out a paper copy for your files, you can. You can also save the document to your own hard drive in the form of a pdf (portable document format) document for review later or just for your records.

If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to call me with any questions, concerns or comments. This is just one more way I am committed to helping you buy or sell your next home in as quick and easy way as possible.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

Interest Rates Climb!

2008-02-18T08:00:00.002-05:00

According to Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft and this article from REALTOR.com, interest rates for 30 year fixed loans climbed this week due to several factors. Mr Nothaft said on Friday, "economic uncertainty is responsible for the movement in mortgage rates". He also noted that some borrowers are finding it difficult to obtain mortgages due to stricter credit standards.

If you have wanted to buy a home and found it difficult to get financed, you are not alone. If you truly want to take advantage of the current low rates (before they go up again) and excellent deals available, please call me. I have several techniques that can help you obtain the financing you need to buy your first home. I can help you find a home that will meet your needs and one that also has instant equity. This is very important because when a loan officer looks at the property, you will start out from a very strong position before he even looks at your credit.

Call me today and let's find a home that will put you on the road to financial freedom and also to own your part of the American Dream!

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

Preparing your House For the Market

2008-02-12T21:51:00.000-05:00

I get a LOT of calls from people who are contemplating selling their home. They almost all ask the same thing: what are the main things that I can do to prepare my house for the market. I'm so glad they ask because this is a very competitive market and it takes some time to get your house in top shape. Here are some ideas for what you can do to prepare your house for the market:

1. Paint! If you can do nothing else, paint your walls. A fresh coat of paint covers a multitude of sins. Be sure to use only one neutral color of flat (such as antique white or eggshell) and a high gloss pure white for your trim. Keep it simple and keep it neutral.

2. Be sure to remove any wallpaper - most potential buyers will not want wallpaper and they especially won't want yours. When people see wallpaper, they immediately think of the work that will be involved in removing it (not much if you do it correctly) and it detracts from the house in their mind.

3. PURGE! Yes, get rid of the clutter and get those closets organized. This is very important because it allows the buyers to see the space that your house has to offer. It is very difficult for people to visualize the space looking different when they'll own it so you need to make it look great when they see it. If you could use the services of a personal organizer, please call me and I will be happy to recommend one to you.

4. Stage the house! Get rid (now) of furniture you don't think you'll take with you when you move so you'll have more space to stage the furniture that you do have to give your house an open floorplan feel. If you would like to use the services of a professional stager, please call me for a recommendation.

5. Window Treatments. First, make sure that the blinds that you have are clean. Dusty or dirty blinds are not only unsightly, but they retain odors. To clean them, remove them and soak them in your bathtub for 10 minutes. The water shold contain 3 parts water to 1 part ammonia. Use a scrub brush for blinds that have grease (from the kitchen). Lay them out on a flat surface like a driveway to dry out before rehanging them. Wash fabric window treatments.

6. Speaking of windows, while you have the blinds soaking, clean the windows themselves. Have a clean & clear view for your potential buyers. Use a good streak-free window cleaner.

7. If you can, replace the carpet (be sure you paint first!). This will give the house a nearly brand new feel when combines with the paint. If you really want to sell it and add value to the house, replace the carpet with hardwood floors. Buyers like this because it's healthier (especially for those with allergies) and easier to keep clean than carpet.

8. Perform a spring cleaning! For a light clean, go through and declutter, dust, clean and check all light fixtures for working bulbs. Check your smoke alarm, too. If you really want to deep clean and go over it with a fine-tooth comb, visit this site and get a print out of the most serious spring cleaning plan that I've ever seen: THE GRAND PLAN

9. Upgrade! Kitchens and bathrooms are the 2 rooms where you should focus your energy and your dollars. Replace the old fixtures with new ones. (faucets, lights, towel racks, drawer/cabinet hardware). Be sure that drains are not slow while you're working in there.

10. Landscape. At the bare minimum, your yard should be raked, clean and have a trimmed lawn. You can also trim your hedges, spread some mulch and plant some flowers that require little water. Be sure to remove any junk, toys or yard debris.

11. Look at your mailbox. Is it a rust bucket? Does it look battered? Consider replacing it. It will be one of the first things people see when they come to look at your house. If you don't have the funds to replace it, at least paint it so that it looks new. A small can of spray paint for metal would work well. Be sure to paint the post as well. The mailbox is also a great place to plant some flowers.

12. Odors - get rid of them. Clean every surface that you possibly can. If you smoke, be sure to wipe everything down from the walls to the doors to the ceilings and ceiling fans. If you want to use an air freshener, use the kind that plug in and have a liquid base. Method has some great scents as well as other great home cleaning products. Using matching scents can go a long way in removing odors as you clean.

For more ideas about preparing to sell your home or to find out what it may be worth in today's market, please give me a call at 770-862-8002.

-Michael Bradford
Southern Prime Realty

Winter Gardening: Preparing For Spring

2008-02-10T09:20:00.000-05:00

Atlanta Garden & Patio Show

2008-02-07T09:23:00.000-05:00

This weekend, the 14th Annual Garden & Patio Show will be held at the Galleria in Marietta. This show gives homeowners many ideas for their homes and gardens and puts them in touch with a variety of local companies that can help them with their projects.

The highlights will be the Gallery of Gardens, an Ikea Cooking Corner, hundreds of exhibitors, a pet pavilion, the See-Thru House, special workshops, demonstrations, samples, contests and more.

Ticket Prices:

Adults - $10

Children ages 6-12 - $3

Children ages 5 and under - FREE

Military with ID $5

Senior Citizens 65+ with ID FREE

Tickets are available at the Show Box Office, located at the top of the escalator. Regular tickets are only valid for one day of admission. Multi-day passes are available for $15 and allow attendees to return for a 2nd day of the show. There will be plenty of free parking.

My Newest Listing

2008-02-05T09:34:00.000-05:00

Do It Herself Workshops

2008-02-03T18:06:00.000-05:00

The Home Depot is a great store for teaching average people how to make improvements on their homes. One of their more popular workshops is the "Do It Herself" workshops. These workshops are specifically geared for women. Not only do they offer topics that women would find helpful and interesting, but they also offer 10% off coupons to attendees. The next "Do It Herself" workshop will be "The Smarter, Warmer, Eco-Friendly Bathroom". It will be held at your local Home Depot on Monday, Feb. 25th from 7 - 8:30pm. To register, CLICK HERE.

Don't miss the bottom!

2008-02-02T09:12:00.000-05:00

Interest rates went up this week. REALTOR.com reports (click here for the article): "Following four consecutive weekly declines, Freddie Mac reports a jump in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate to 5.68 percent during the week ended Jan. 31 from 5.48 percent the prior week."

Usually when the Federal Reserve Board meets and lowers the rate they charge banks, interest rates eventually will fall. Due to the high demand for refinances, this time rates have actually risen.

Will they continue to rise or will the demand for mortgages easy allowing the rates to fall again? That is the million dollar question. I think we are at or very near the bottom for now.

Today is a great time to lock in a low interest rate for your new home. Great inventory and low rates together make now one of the best times to buy your new home. Call me today and let's find YOUR dream home!

Michael Bradford

770-862-8002

Atlanta: Growth Still Steady

2008-01-31T10:44:00.000-05:00

I was reading THIS ARTICLE on Frobes about the number of growing southern cities. One of the reasons that Forbes identifies Atlanta's strong and steady growth is because of our tech industries. It also cites close proximity to universities (Kennesaw State, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Emory, etc,.) and an increase in population. We have seen a steady increase in population and suburban growth for over a hundred years now. Our unemployment rate is low and our cost of living is good.

Housing, as with the rest of the nation, is a market on the decline now. Many experts feel that the market will take an upturn in the spring. The interest rates are at an all-time low now so if you are interested in positioning yourself for a sale of your current home or the purchase of a new one, let me tell you some things that you can do to make that successful. Give me a call at 770-862-8002 and we can discuss your needs.

-Michael Bradford

Southern Prime Realty

A Dream Home

2008-01-30T14:11:00.001-05:00

HGTV is giving away a dream home located in the Florida Keys. To enter to win this home, you can CLICK HERE. If you'd rather live here in Atlanta, I can help you find a dream home that suits your needs. Give me a call today at 770-862-8002 and let's start looking!

-Michael Bradford
Southern prime Realty

Painting Trim Tips

2008-01-25T18:33:00.000-05:00

Lowering Energy Costs

2008-01-23T10:34:00.000-05:00

When it gets cold out and you are cranking up the thermostat, stoking the fireplace, increasing your gas usage and still feeling chilly, it's time to evaluate what you might be able to do to help your home retain heat and your wallet retain money.

Energy Star, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's brainchild, is equipped to help every American consumer of energy to learn how they can use less. THIS SITE is an awesome little interactive place where you (and your whole family) can see what you can do to improve your quality of life and use less of our natural resources.

Besides the money and energy you will save, another benefit is that if and when you decide to sell your home, you can show the potential buyers how inexpensive their monthly bills will be. If you would like more information on how to conserve energy, insulating your house or preparing it for the market, please call me today at 770-862-8002.

Michael Bradford

Southern Prime Realty

Considering a Transfer? Employers Will Help...

2008-01-21T08:27:00.000-05:00

Many employers are recognizing the need to give their employess extra help when it comes to job transfers. Because the housing slump is fairly widespread throughout the nation, employers are stepping up their game to meet the needs of employees reluctant to accept job transfers because they fear they will lose money on the sale of their homes.

In THIS USA Today article by Stephanie Armour, Sally Stetson, co-founder of Salveson Stetson Group, a Philadelphia executive search firm, says "What's going on in the housing market is causing an increasing reluctance for candidates to consider relocating. Employers are much more willing to extend corporate housing on a month-to-month basis."

What employers are willing to do:

•Employers are extending temporary housing allowances from two to three months to up to eight months, an indicator of how hard it is today for relocating employees to sell their homes.
•Larger companies in some cases will buy the new employee's home as a buyer of last resort. Home Depot (HD), for example, will buy a relocating employee's residence once it's been on the market for 90 days.
•Some companies will let a new hire or employee who can't relocate work remotely, or let them commute long distances, going to the main office less frequently.

If you are considering a job transfer, let's talk about how you might be able to negotiate with your employer to get some help with the sale of your home. Call me today at 770-862-8002.

Michael Bradford
Southern Prime Realty

Want to Buy A House? Get Your Finances in Order..

2008-01-20T13:08:00.000-05:00

I came across a very interesting and comprehensive financial help site called Wesabe. This site offers free membership, allows you to keep all of your financial info in one place, allows you to enter expenditures and then analyzes what you spend to give you tips on how to save. Here is an introductory video:

Color Corrections

2008-01-16T18:21:00.000-05:00

HGTV has a fantastic website that is absolutely FULL of ideas for your home. One of the areas where many poeple who are selling their homes need help in is COLOR. Click HERE to go to HGTV's Color Correction page. You can view a 5 minute video about sophisticated master colors, learn the top 10 mistakes people make regarding color and see how you can use hues to improve your home.

Zip Skinny

2008-01-14T14:44:00.000-05:00

I ran across this interesting website that allows you to enter a zipcode and will then bring up the latest statistics on that area. People call me wanting to relocate to Georgia and often ask questions about income, demographics and similar factoids. Here is the "skinny" on my personal zipcode: 30189

To enter your own zipcodes and get the "skinny" on the area, visit Zipskinny by clicking HERE.

Organize your Closet

2008-01-10T14:25:00.000-05:00

A Little Tax Joke

2008-01-09T08:13:00.000-05:00

A Dutchman was explaining the red, white and blue Netherlands flag to an American. "Our flag is symbolic of our taxes. We get red when we talk about them, white when we get our tax bills, and blue after we pay them." The American nodded. "It's the same in the USA only we see stars too!"

Rent's Going Up, Interest Rate's Going Down.

2008-01-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

Who would want unemployment numbers to go up? If you want a new mortgage, you do! When Wall Street gets bad news like it did on Friday, the market goes down. When the market goes down, interest rates for mortgages usually go down with them. That is exactly what happened on Friday.

Long term interest rates have gone down this week (Click Here). Hopefully this is the beginning of a downward trend but I wouldn't bet the house on it. Anyone looking to purchase a house soon will be glad to know that rates are trending downward and they make buying a house or re-financing your current loan very affordable.

Couple that with the fact that rents are sure to go up, (Click Here for more info) anyone who invest in real estate could position them selves nicely with a low mortgage and higher rents. I have several properties in mind that will create a good cash flow and excellent appreciation in Cobb and Cherokee County.

If you every wanted to invest in real estate, now is a great time to start. Call me today and let's get started.

Michael Bradford

770-862-8002

Resolution: Exercise More

2008-01-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing.
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.
The advantage of exercising every day is that you die healthier.
If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.
Walking can add minutes to your life. This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $5000 per month.
My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. Now she's 97 years old and we don't know where on earth she is.
The only reason I would take up exercising is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.
I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there.
And last but not least: I don't exercise because it makes the ice jump right out of my glass.

Georgia Growth Promises Steady Market

2008-01-01T08:53:00.000-05:00

I recently read THIS ARTICLE by Mary Lou Pickel in the Atlanta Journal & Constitution. It reported the latest census figures that show Georgia ranks as the 5th fastest growing state in the nation. This growth is what is keeping Georgia steady in the real estate market and what will help metro Atlanta's recovery from a slowed market.

"We are the fastest-growing state east of the Rocky Mountains. That confirms a trend that has been in place many years. It's deja vu," said Jeffrey Humphreys, a demographer with the University of Georgia's Selig Center. "It ratifies the fundamental strength that Georgia has as an economic engine," he said. "People come here for jobs and to get educated and to retire."

It's a new year and time to make plans for your dream house. Whether you want to buy or sell a house, I can help make that happen. Call me today and let's talk about how you can put yourself in the best position for the rebounding market. 770-862-8002.

Michael Bradford
Southern Prime Realty

Support For Homeschooled Students in Cherokee County

2007-12-28T10:39:00.000-05:00

Canton is getting enrichment classes for homeschooled students!

The Cherokee County Arts Center is hosting a new series of enrichment classes for homeschooled students who live in the northern part of the county and beyond. Tisha Gotte, the director, expects to attract students from Dahlonega, Jasper and Ellijay.

There will be 3 sessions this school year. Session 1 runs from Jan. 7 to Feb. 16. Session 2 will run from Feb. 25 to April 5 and the third session will run from April 14 to May 24. You can get more info about these classes by clicking HERE or by calling the Cherokee County Arts Center at 770-704-6244.

Classes include:
1. Creative Movement/Dance
2. Art in Nature
3. Concoctions & Contraptions
4. Drawing
5. Piano
6. Multimedia Art
7. Public Speaking/Debate
8. Pastels
9. Drama/Theatre
10. Creative Writing
11. Anime/Cartooning
12. Rock-n-Roll Chorus
13. Sculpting with Sculpey
14. Simple Machines
15. Robotics I

Exit Strategies for Real Estate Investments

2007-12-26T14:15:00.000-05:00

Although I think now is not a good time for investors to reduce their inventory in the Atlanta housing market, (in fact just the opposite, you should buy more houses) some of them must do so. I have a few ideas of just how to do that without losing their equity.

The first is obviously to sell the property. To get the most for the property, you should sell it as quickly as possible. You can do that by making sure it is in very good condition, has a fresh coat of neutral paint, new or clean carpet and is priced right. You should also be sure that it has a clean yard and working appliances. If you want to go the extra mile, you should consider staging the house. When it's ready to sell, you should give me a call at 770-862-8002 and set up a listing appointment. I will use my Internet marketing plan to get your home maximum the exposure possible. My "Featured Homes" (click here for an example) listings on REALTOR.com are getting over 100 property views a day!

If the house is a "fixer-upper" and you don't have any cash to put into selling it at a retail price, I can help you with that, too. Because I am associated with a group of local investors, I can get you a cash offer, close in 7 days and you can walk away from your problem with at least some money in your pocket.

Another option for getting out of that property is to rent it. Being a landlord isn't for the faint of heart and you should know what you are doing when you begin to screen your tenants. When you have the right ones, it can be a win-win for everyone. You will have someone else paying for your mortgage and they will have a house to live in for a period of time.

Lease purchase options have become very popular now because of the fall-out from the sub prime mortgage problems. You get the benefits of a tenant who will take care of the property as if it were his own (because someday it probably will), a non-refundable option payment up front and also the sales price you need. Because they are not buying the property today, your sales price can be based on tomorrow's price, not today's. I have a lot of experience in the area and would be happy to help you.

If your payments have gone haywire, you can also call your lender to see about refinancing the property. Sometimes, the lenders are willing to work with you to help avoid going into foreclosure when you are having trouble making the payments. It will not hurt you to call and talk to them about a "rate and terms" refinance option.

If you are not sure what a good strategy would be that fits your situation... give me a call and I can help you think about what would work for you.

Michael Bradford 770-862-8002

Southern Prime Realty

Your Cherokee County Georgia Real estate Specialist

HGTV's "Green Home" Giveaway

2007-12-26T11:28:00.000-05:00

In the spirit of environmental consciousness, HGTV has gone “green” with their newest dream home giveaway. The contest, which will run from March until May of 2008, will feature a house in Hilton Head, SC that was designed to provide people with “examples of affordable, accessible and eco-friendly approaches to living."

HGTV has registered the home with the LEED For Homes certification. LEED is a voluntary rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council, which plans to launch a nationwide residential LEED certification program later this year. It will be a baseline program to set uniform standards for “green” homes.

The HGTV house will be open for public tours beginning in the spring. It will be decorated with eco-friendly products and materials by designer Linda Woodrum. HGTV will offer viewers a 360 degree online tour of the home beginning Monday, March 3, 2008. Viewers who are interested in earth friendly ideas for their homes can tune into HGTV's show Red, Hot & Green. it airs next on Jan. 1 at 7am.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-25T12:57:00.000-05:00

We just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas today.

-The Michael Bradford Family

Local Charities Need Last Minute Help

2007-12-22T10:23:00.000-05:00

Papa's Pantry & Family Ministries needs donations of gift cards and gas cards. You can call them at 770-591-4730 for more information.

Woodstock Jaycees need a variety of donations. Call 770-926-8336.

MUST Cherokee needs packages of new socks, underwear, peanut butter, jelly & canned pasta. You can call them at 770-479-5397.

Cherokee Child Avocacy Council needs gift cards. Call 770-345-8100.

Buy Investment Property Now

2007-12-21T07:44:00.000-05:00

Home prices nationwide are now at their lowest prices in over 25 years. Interest rates are low and expected to go down a little more. If you have ever thought about buying an investment property to add to your portfolio, I have several in mind right now that would generate a healthy monthly cash flow and increase in value over the years.

If you would like to learn more about investing in real estate, I can teach you how to buy them (where you make the money), how to rent them out to reliable tenants and how to generate a monthly cash flow. I can also share tips with you about how to turn your property into a tax advantage. Give me a call today at 770-862-8002 and let's talk.

Michael Bradford

Southern Prime Realty

Woodstock Youth Wins Grant

2007-12-20T08:56:00.000-05:00

The Del Monte Foods "Do Something" program has honored 6 year old Lizzie Marie of Woodstock with a $2,500 grant for her creation of healthy cooking/nutrition shows to be shown in hospitals. Lizze was the youngest winner (by far) of the 10 recipients of this award. You can read more about this contest by clicking HERE or you can visit the Do Something website by clicking HERE. Woodstock is proud of Lizzie Marie!

Feds: Home Mortgage Proposal

2007-12-18T11:08:00.000-05:00

The Feds have decided that people taking out new mortgages need more protection from predatory lenders. This article describes their plans to place new restrictions and limitations on lenders who make loans to higer risk borrowers.

The new proposal "would restrict lenders from penalizing risky borrowers who pay loans off early, require lenders to make sure these borrowers set aside money to pay for taxes and insurance and bar lenders from making loans without proof of a borrower's income. It also would prohibit lenders from engaging in a pattern or practice of lending without considering a borrower's ability to repay a home loan from sources other than the home's value."

Whenever government gets into the realm of making more laws and restrictions, there are always saavy people looking for loopholes to turn them into an advantage. I would like to see less regulations on what lenders can or cannot do but more disclosure to the borrowers about what type of loans they have and how they work.

If the idea of loan packages makes your head spin, give me a call at 770-862-8002. I can help you decide which product is right for you. I can also help you to decide what you can really afford to pay for a mortgage, NOT what the mortgage company tells you that you can afford. There are many affordable homes in Cherokee County right now. Woodstock, Acworth, Canton, Ball Ground and Waleska are all full of beautiful, affordable homes. Call today and let's find a place that's right for you.

Michael Bradford

Southern Prime Realty

Get Your Home Ready To Sell

2007-12-17T10:38:00.000-05:00

In today’s real estate home buyers market, how can sellers make their home stand out among the others? Price is what will sell your house above any other single factor. But where is the threshold between pricing it to sell today and giving it away? Only someone who is on top of the market can really know that. There is a certain amount of subjectivity to pricing some properties but for the most part, it all boils down to comparable properties.

Someone once used this as an analogy, if you could buy a dollar bill for 90 cents on one side of the street and across the street they were selling them for 85 cents, which dollar would you buy? Now we all know it’s not that simple but the concept is the same.

REALTOR® Magazine Online has a great article giving 7 tips for selling your house today. They report the number one tip as “Don't overprice your property”. I wholeheartly agree! An over priced house will only help your competition. Overpriced houses are used by most real estate agents to sell the features or price of another property. I am as guilty as the next guy when I have said something like “remember the house on Elm Street? It had ______ and was $10,000 less than this house”. If you are serious about selling your house today, you need to be that house on “Elm” street, not the one being used to sell it.

The number 2 item was”Set your price to show up in Web searches”. This is such a key strategy that I am always trying to accomplish. Because over 80% of home buyers start their search online, you want your house to fall within as large a search criteria as possible. Location and price are the main search criteria that people key into and price is the only one you can control. Let me help you determine the best price that you can get today for you home. I will make sure that as large an audience as possible will see it in the best possible light.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002
Cherokee County Georgia Real Estate Specialist

Increase the Resale Value of Your Home

2007-12-14T10:49:00.000-05:00

One of the hardest questions sellers have to ask is “what do I need to do to my house to get it ready to sell that won’t cost me more to do than I will receive back when I sell?” In other words, what is the return on my investment (ROI) in the upgrades?

My first reaction is to look around the home and make sure it is clean, uncluttered and freshly painted. These things are non-negotiable these days. But after those have been addressed, which remodeling projects will give us the biggest bang for the buck, i.e. the highest ROI?

According to this article from REALTOR.org, three of the top four projects are exterior projects with upscale siding replacement being number 1 at an 88% ROI. So for every dollar you spend, you will increase the value of your home by .88 cents. The only interior project listed was a minor kitchen remodeling project which was 83% ROI.

Now most of us think that these kinds of projects should increase the value by more than we spent but in reality that rarely happens. If you have a working functioning kitchen, replacing it with a newer kitchen will increase the value, but ussually not as much as it cost. What it will do is get your house sold faster and for more money than if you had not done the project.

The best thing you can do to get your home sold fast for the most money is clean, clean, and clean some more. That doesn't cost a thing. When you clean, pack away the clutter and personal pictures and items and clean some more. Paint and some elbow grease will more than pay for themselves over any remodeling project.

If you would like help getting your house ready to sell, please click HERE to see my “Ready To Sell” plan. I have been doing this for years and would consider it a privilege to put my experience to work for you. Give me a call and let’s get started.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002
Your Cherokee County GA Real Estate Specialist

Toilet Flow: Water Conservation Tip

2007-12-12T09:19:00.000-05:00

Foreclosures: It Doesn't Have to Be This Way

2007-12-11T11:33:00.000-05:00

I said it yesterday and I'll say it today: you can avoid foreclosure!

Today's AJC has an article (Click Here) about how Atlanta has a record number of foreclusres. They are up 29% from last year.

What does this mean?

First, it means that there are a lot of very inexpensive homes out there ready for purchase. Many people lost their homes to foreclosure. These houses are empty and available to move in. You can buy a LOT of house for very little money right now. You can also enjoy low interest rates. Atlanta has a healthy economy and good jobs. There is no reason for you not to take advantage of the fantastic deals out there right now.

It also means that there are people out there who do not know how to get the help that they need to stay in their homes. If you are struggling to pay your mortgage or about to default on your loan, please call me today so I can help you stay right where you are. I have a number of tips and helps that I can give you to try and see if you can save your home from being sold on the courthouse steps. Call me today - time is of the essence.

Michael Bradford

770.862.8002

Southern Prime Realty

Avoid Foreclosure!

2007-12-10T09:02:00.000-05:00

Over the past year, Georgia (as well as many other states) have seen a record number of foreclosures. The reasons vary, but are mostly due to the cheap money that was available when the market was peaking. A lot of people got loans for homes that they could not afford at a low introductory (but adjustable) rate. When the rates were raised after the first year or two, they skyrocketed and most buyers could no longer afford the payments.

I saw this interesting article in the Atlanta Journal & Constitution about how owners can avoid foreclosure. Georgia, along with Texas, are the states with the shortest window from the time of default until the time of sale at the courthouse steps. That window is 37 days. It is not much time at all for owners to find help.

Help is available but time is of the essence!

Because I buy investment properties, I often encounter owners who are behind on their payments and facing foreclosure. One thing that never fails to shock me is how few of them have a plan or are even open to finding a solution. They just bury their heads in the sand and wait until the day before auction to remove their belongings from the property.

If you are facing this problem, there are several things you can do to try to stop foreclosure. I can help you make a plan to either get yourself back on track with your mortgage company or find a buyer to take the house off of your hands so that you can have a fresh start.

If you need some help, please give me a call today. Together, we'll explore all of your options to find a solution that works for you. 770-862-8002.

Michael Bradford
Southern Prime Realthy

Humane Society Needs Volunteers

2007-12-08T08:06:00.000-05:00

The Cherokee County Humane Society is looking for some volunteers. They need adults to help at their cat adoption centers in Marietta, Woodstock, and Acworth. Responsibilities include cleaning cages, washing bedding and assisting with adoptions. For more info, please contact the cat adoption manager at:

peanut_lg@yahoo.com

Retirement with Real Estate

2007-12-07T09:07:00.000-05:00

CNNMoney.com had an interesting article on Monday about buying real estate inside of your IRA. It made me think of all the reasons why baby-boomers need to consider (if they haven't already) why they should own real estate as they enter into retirement. Here are a few that I can think of:

1. Buying real estate now, at rock bottom prices, you will have the opportunity to see your money grow as your equity grows. The huge amount of people facing foreclosure will keep them out of the house-buying market for about 7 years. That will be 7 years of a booming rental market where you should have few problems finding qualified tenants to make your mortgage payments for you.

2. You can always sell it if you need cash. When you buy real estate low enough, you have the comfort of knowing that you can always sell it quickly if you need to.

3. Tax deductions! There are a lot of ways to deduct taxes from investment properties. Did you know that you can write off DEPRECIATION from a rental property that produces an income?

4. Snag that smaller place just incase. You may be living in that big house and the kids are leaving for college. You want to downsize but now just isn't the time for you to move out. Take advantage of todays low prices and lock in that dream cottage! Go ahead and buy it, enjoy the tax breaks and the positive cash flow from a renter while you wait. When the time is right and you're ready to move, you already have plenty of equity in the house. You can either enjoy that in the form of a home equity loan, keep it where it is or even use it to refinance so that your monthly payments are much, much lower.

If you would like to discuss real estate investment strategies, whether you are just getting started or about to retire, give me a call today. As an investor myself, I can help you find the deals! 770-862-8002

Michael Bradford
Southern Prime Realty

Brad Pitt: Importance of Green Housing

2007-12-06T08:21:00.000-05:00

If nobody listened to me before yesterday about the need for more environmentally friendly construction, maybe they'll listen to Brad Pitt. (Ladies, do I have your attention?)

Brad, an avid student of architecture, has put his skills (and $5 million of his cash) towards rebuilding homes in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans. And not just any homes, but homes that were constructed with sustainable materials, have effiecient use of energy/water, are safe and finally, affordable.

Brad's organization, Make it Right, is collecting donations to help witht he construction and supply costs to get this project off the ground. Their goal is a minimum of 150 new houses to be completed by the end of next summer.

If you are interested in eco-freindly, green housing -you are not alone. I am a conservationalist and have taken a keen interest in seeing more housing like this come to Cherokee County. I also want to help homeowners to modify their housing to use less raw materials and become more effiecient. If you would like to get some help in this area, thus adding value to your home, please call me today at 770.862.8002 and we'll talk about easy things that you can do to help us all.

Michael Bradford
Southern Prime Realty

Earth, Paint & Fire

2007-12-04T08:21:00.000-05:00

By: Shannon Bradford

Lisa DeLosh grew up in the Tallahassee area of Florida where she and her friends used to go to ceramic/pottery workshops. When she relocated to Woodstock, she was teaching Home Economics at Woodstock High School while trying to decide if she wanted to continue teaching or run her own business. After spending a year researching and developing a business plan, she and her husband, Kevin, opened Earth, Paint & Fire. That was 3 years ago.

What is Earth, Paint & Fire? It's a lot of family fun! You can do an assortment of projects ranging from painting ceramics to be glazed/fired in the kiln to beautiful mosaics. When I visited Lisa yesterday, there were several mothers with young children making Christmas gifts for family members that all included adding their tiny handprints.

Shown below is Sheri Sands with her daughter Samantha.

This is Avery Rylander with her mom, Sara.

Tara Hooks came in for a follow up to a project that she had yet to finish. Tara, from Canton, was having both of her children's handprints on travel mugs for their father and their aunt. Tara told me that she loves to go to Earth, Paint & Fire because she loves making sentimental gifts. She was there this past Saturday and said that there were a lot of fathers making gifts with their children. Here she is with her son, Nole:

Like any business, Earth, Paint & Fire gets very busy this time of year. Normal turn around time for having the pieces ready to pick up (they must be glazed after they're painted, fired in a kiln for a half a day and then cooled for another day and a half) is 5-7 days. Now, it's more like 7-10 days. Customers are urged to come in and get their holiday art done before the middle of the month to ensure they'll be ready in time for the holidays.

What if you need to walk away with a gift? Lisa recommends a mosaic project where you glue tiles on one of many forms she has for sale. She'll give you an easy grout kit to take home with you so that you can finish it the next day wherever you want. She also has plates that you can write on with special ceramic markers that are food-safe. You can do the artwork there, then take the item home and bake it on in your own oven. Here are some examples:Lisa not only has a huge selection of dishes and containers, but also switchplate covers, figurines and decorative tiles/trivets. I also saw Pottery to Go Kits & melted wine bottles for sale.

What if you are like me - creatively challenged? Lisa not only has a table full of books with ideas, but she also has tools such as stencils, stamps, tape & sponges. You'll also never feel alone as Lisa has "Paint Hostesses" who help you with your project - providing paint, tools and guidance.

Lisa pointed out what I was noticing while observing the parents working with their children: this is a fun entertainment alternative. Forget the germy ball pits and mindless entertainment of the movies where you have nothing to show for your time or money. Bring your kids to Earth, Paint & Fire. You'll share a table, talk, & laughter while you all work on a skill together. At the end, you'll have a unique item that will be a cherished memento of the time spent together. Lisa also informed me that Earth, Paint & Fire offers week-long camps to coincide with Cherokee County School System's breaks in February, the summer and September. Kids ages 6+ will paint, bead, work with pottery, make mosaics and more. They walk away with between 5 to 10 projects and a few new friends as well.
Earth, Paint & Fire has a private room that they use for birthday parties (FREE downloadable invitations on her site), Bunko groups, bridal and baby showers, Red Hats meetings, sports teams, homeschool groups and just about any other kind of group.

Lisa also has special days set aside for certain groups such as Teen Night (free pizza), Grandparents Day (free add-on), Ladies Night (discount for groups), and even a Wine/Paint Night where local wine merchants bring samples to taste.

If you would like to be added to Lisa's events e-mail, you can click HERE and request to be added. You can also click HERE to see her December events.

Earth, Paint & Fire is a wonderful, locally owned business that provides an excellent entertainment and artful outlet for Cherokee County & Woodstock residents. You can find them at 1432 Towne Lake Parkway (Suite 130) just off I-575's Towne lake Parkway exit in the shopping center behind Longhorn Steakhouse. (around the corner from Publix). For directions or more information, call them at 770-592-4114 or visit them online at www.earthpaintandfire.com.

Geothermal Heat Pumps

2007-12-03T09:14:00.000-05:00

By: Todd Fratzel, P.E.
Guest Blogger
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One of the hottest topics today in energy conservation is the use of geothermal heat pump systems. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 40,000 geothermal heat pumps are installed each year. These systems have been in use since the 1940's but have only become popular due to the soaring price of fossil fuels. A typical geothermal heat pump can save an verage of between 25% and 50% on yearly heating and cooling costs according to the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium.
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Most geothermal heat pumps rely on a closed system of vertical or horizontal pipes buried in the ground below the frost line filled with water or a water/antifreeze mixture. These geothermal heat pumps rely on the constant temperature of the earth below the frost line. These systems can generate heat in the winter and cooling in the summer. The picture below is and example of a closed horizontal loop system.

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The system works by pumping the water through a heat pump and exchanging the thermal energy into your home. The geothermal heat pumps can even supply hot water for homes. Energy Star program even offers incentives for new construction utilizing geothermal heat pumps. Some states and even electric utility companies are also offering sizable rebates and discounts for installing the geothermal heat pumps.
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To read more from Todd Fratzel, you may visit his blog, Helpful Advice For Home Construction Improvement by clicking HERE.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

2007-12-02T12:48:00.000-05:00

When the weather starts to get cold, we see deaths and injuries due to things such as fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. I was at CARBONMONOXIDEKILLS.COM reading up on the things you can do to prevent this from happening in your home. Click HERE for 10 easy things you can do right now to keep yourself and your loved ones safe this winter.

If you would like to find a house that has been inspected and given a clean bill of health, I can help you locate one within your budget and in the area you would like to reside. Give me a call today and we'll get started on finding the safe, perfect home of your dreams.

Michael Bradford 770.862.8002
Southern Prime Realty

Clutter Cutter

2007-11-29T16:48:00.000-05:00

Tis the season to gather clutter fa la la la la lalalala!

Christmas time is upon us and that means giving and receiving gifts. The problem is, given the theory of space and time (given enough time you will fill every space), we can quickly become overwhelmed with “stuff”. What can we do? Do we pack our closets so tight that opening the door is only done at the risk of bodily harm? Or pack hundreds of dollars of stuff in our garages while our automobiles, which are worth thousands of dollars, sit in the rain?

Several companies offer solutions to the symptoms of the problem such as PODS or self storage units but those are temporary in nature. We have companies that specialize in helping keep our closets and garages organized by selling us more “stuff” to help us store more “stuff”. What are some ways we can get at the root of the problem?

I will give you three techniques that we have used in our home to help manage the “piles of trials with smiles”.

#1. When something new comes in, something old goes out. When we get new clothes, it is time to re-evaluate our existing clothes to see which ones we can give to charity. I have a hard time parting with my favorite t-shirts and shorts, but to maintain the same level of inventory, something must go. Same with books, toys, household gadgets and furniture.

#2. My wife has adapted this sentiment and I have come to accept it too. “I have to absolutely love it or use it regularly to keep it”. What is regularly? If you don’t use or unpack something at least once a year, you don’t need it and won’t miss it when it is gone. What is love it? You will have to decide on that for yourself.

#3 If you can’t find a good place to keep something or it regularly gets in your way, you may have too much stuff. When our children were small, we had a system for keeping the house picked up. They had the freedom to play with any toys or books they wanted as long as it was put away by the end of the day.

What would happen is I would call home when I was on the way and Nick and Lindsey were given a 30 minute warning. They would put everything away that they could and when I got home, my job was to go around the house and collect anything that was out of place. These confiscated items were place in a garage sale/charity box and available for redeeming the next day. If I came home and everything was as it should be, they could go to the box and re-claim one item. It would become clear what they really cared about and what they could live without. Once a year we would have a garage sale and they got to keep the money from the items that they sold.

As I wrote about in this blog before, clutter is your enemy when you are trying to sell your home.

REALTOR.com® has a

great article about PODS and how they are becoming more and more popular even to the point that cities are trying to legislate how long you can keep them in your driveway. As for using them to de-clutter your home before selling it, they are great as long as you don’t leave them in your driveway to remind potential buyers that your house lacks storage space.

As always, if you are thinking about or getting ready to sell your home, I would consider it a privilege to help you determine how to make your house look it’s best to buyers. I will even prepare a customized report called “Ready To Sell” (click here for more info) that can help you get your home ready.

Michael Bradford, 770-862-8002
Cherokee County Georgia Real Estate Specialist

Holiday Decorating

2007-11-28T10:32:00.000-05:00

My wife and I are absolutely decorating impaired. We have never owned drapes/curtains, our carpets are always brown, our walls antique white and trim/doors glossy bright white. We don't own many knick-knacks and we can fit our holiday decorations into one or two boxes. We need today's post as much as some of you might. Here are some links to help you with your holiday decorating:

1. Amazing Christmas Ideas

2. Holiday Ideas

3. Holiday Decorating Planner

4. 10 Great Holiday Decorating Ideas on a Budget

If you'd like to share an idea or decorating tip, please send an e-mail to me at MichaelBradford@comcast.net and I'll be glad to post it. Happy Decorating!

"Cyber" Monday

2007-11-26T10:56:00.000-05:00

Today has been officially dubbed “Cyber Monday” according to the National Retail Federation. Yahoo reports that today marks the start of the online shopping season. Internet research company comScore estimates that consumers will spend over $700 million online TODAY!

The internet has change so much about how we live our lives everyday. I only know a handful of people who are not online. The vast majority of people in the U.S. are plugged in and using the internet regularly. According to REALTOR.com®, over 80% of people looking for their next home start looking online. Even the way we shop for Christmas is changing as evidenced by today being named “Cyber Monday”. Retail buying has not been as dramatic a change as buying a new home but I believe that more and more of our shopping will be done online.

So how did the retail “brick and mortar” stores do over this past weekend? According to the article, ShopperTrak RCT Corp. reported late Sunday that sales on Friday and Saturday combined rose 7.2 percent to $16.4 billion from the same two-day period a year ago. "This was a really good start," said Bill Martin, co-founder of ShopperTrak. "There seemed to be a lot of pent-up demand."

I thought the sky was supposed to be falling and we were heading for economic chaos, fascism and looting in the streets. That seems to be the news we hear lately.

I agree with Mr. Martin and believe there is a pent up demand and it flows into every area of our spending. We are only being prudent with what we have. The main stream media has us convinced that our future is in doubt and we have responded by not spending as much money. But at some point, when we all realize that “I’m doing pretty good”, we will start to spend our money and live our lives the way we can and want to. We will spend money on Christmas and also eventually buy the house or car we want or need. The problem with a pent-up demand is you never know when it will be released.

Currently within the real estate market, it is a buyers market. Interest rates are excellent and we have a diverse, reasonably priced inventory of homes available. When it will change back to a sellers market is unknown but, rest assured, it will. We live in a great area with lots of jobs and low inflation.

If you are one of those people who have a “pent-up demand” for housing, I would encourage you to at least look around and see what is available. I would consider it a privilege to help you find the home of your dreams.

Michael Bradford, 770-862-8002
Cherokee County Georgia Real Estate Specialist

Ready, Set, SHOP!

2007-11-23T08:36:00.000-05:00

I know that today is the biggest single day of the year for shopping but I just can't bring myself to go. It's not because of the economy or the price of gas, I just don't like traffic. I can even handle the crowds of people once I get there, but not the traffic. Something happens to people when you put them behind the wheel of a car along with thousands of other’s all trying to go the same way at the same time.

When I use to commute to Smyrna for work everyday, the only way I got through it with my sanity intact (my wife and family may argue this point:) was the radio and cassette player (this was before iPods). I have listened to almost every kind of music and talk radio there is. I would go through phases of what I listened to. For instance, 1996-97 was my "country years". I can't tell you who most singers are now, but play me a country song from 96-97 and I can sing along with the best of them. For a while I gave up music all together and listened to only talk radio or tape series from my church’s library. I even listened to alternative stations and (this is hard to admit) National Public Radio for a while.

I guess my point to all of this is that we have much to be thankful for and one of the biggest is that we live in a country which will let us be who we are. If we don't like who we are, we have the freedom and for most of us, the opportunity to change. Commuting was one of the biggest reasons I left my job to start my own business. Oprah said it well when she said "We set our life up like we want it". If you don't like the way your life is now, change it. And of course, (you all knew it was coming) if you don't like the house you live in, let me help you sell it and find the one of your dreams. Don't settle for something that you don't want, have out grown it, or it has out grown you. Set your life up today the way you want it. You will thank yourself and everyone around you will also thank you.

Michael Bradford, 770-862-8002
Cherokee County Georgia Real Estate Specialist

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T07:48:00.000-05:00

Atlanta: Forbes' Most Undervalued Cities

2007-11-21T09:33:00.000-05:00

Forbes magazine recenly published this article by Matt Woolsey about the cities in this country with the most undervalued property. Atlanta was in the top 3 along with Charlotte, NC and Detroit, MI.

Matt wrote: "Market slumps often result in good buys, and solid investments get tagged with bargain prices due to the volatile market. One place to look for these deals is the housing sector, where worries about a continuing dip in home prices are keeping many buyers on the sidelines, and keeping a lid on prices."

That is exactly what I tell people everyday when they ask about the market, fearful that they should stay out of it. No! NOW is the time to buy. I firmly believe that the spring will bring a rise in prices and people will not be able to find the deals that are out there today.

If you are in need of a home, NOW is the time to buy. Call me today so we can get to work. We may even have you in your new dream house by Christmas! 770-862-8002.

Michael Bradford

Southern Prime Realty

NAHB To Launch Green Building Program

2007-11-20T10:34:00.000-05:00

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) plans on launching a new program for it's members at at the 2008 International Builders’ Show in Orlando on February 14th. This program will "link dozens of successful state and local voluntary green building programs with a national online scoring tool for builders and verifiers. It also will provide a registry of green homes and green builders as well as extensive educational resources."

NAMB surveyed it's members earlier this year and found that 90% were interested in a voluntary green building certification program. NAHB President Brian Catalde stated that more than 100,000 homes have already been built and certified by voluntary, builder-supported programs across the country.

Read more about this program by clicking HERE. You can also find out more about the 2008 International Builder's Show by clicking HERE.

Caption Contest

2007-11-19T09:45:00.000-05:00

We can't quite decide what happened here. We thought this would be a golden opportunity to have a caption contest. So here's the deal:

1. The winner will receive a $10 Home Depot Gift Card.
2. The winner will be decided by my our panel of judges: my wife, son, daughter and I.
3. All entries should be left in the comment box before Saturday, November 24th.
4. Winner will be announced on Monday, November 26th.

Questions? Call me at 770-862-8002

FHA steps up to the plate!

2007-11-16T07:53:00.000-05:00

After years of losing market share to private lenders, the FHA is poised to make a major comeback in the low to moderate income borrower market. The Federal Housing Authority’s insured loan program has grown significantly since the “sub prime” market problems that we have seen for the last several months. According to Brian Montgomery, FHA commissioner and assistant secretary for housing at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,” FHA has doubled its loan volume and is on track to reach some 240,000 borrowers in 2007”. To read this article from REALTOR®Magazine-Daily click here.

This is good news for borrowers everywhere. A reformed and streamline FHA program that can compete with a “sub prime” private lender is in everyone’s (except maybe the sub prime lender) best interest. FHA programs not only can help keep the market stable and moving, but they are also very good at educating borrowers about what is expected from them regarding home ownership. Most “sub prime” lenders only care about getting the loan to closing and getting paid for the origination of that loan. Lot’s of people got loans they had no business getting in the first place and we are seeing the results of that now with record foreclosure rates.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am all for the free market and I believe there is a place for “sub prime” lenders. But I also know that a lot of people were taken advantage of and not really educated in what they were signing up for with some of these loan products. A reformed and streamlined FHA will help educate people to the realities of home ownership and also what mortgage choices people have and what those choices mean.

If you though that you could not buy a home because of credit or income reasons, were smart enough to reject a “sub prime” loan, or did not have enough cash for the down payment, now is the time to take a look at the new FHA. There is even a program for buying a HUD home for $100 down and getting a loan for any fix-up cost.

This may be the perfect time to enter the exciting American dream of home ownership. Call me today and let’s get started!

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

Yellow River Game Ranch Wants Your Leaves

2007-11-15T12:24:00.000-05:00

HERE, LEAFIE, LEAFIE !!

The Yellow River Game Ranch asks that Georgia residents, currently trapped behind their front doors by fall leaves, bag their foliage and bring stuffed bags to the 24-acre animal preserve in Lilburn. The leaves provide Game Ranch animals with necessary ground cover for winter bedding and nesting. Embedded acorns provide a source of "low-carb energy" for over 100 white-tailed deer and eager groups of chipmunks and squirrels.

Art Rilling, CEO of the Game Ranch stated, "We encourage natural recycling – it’s an ideal opportunity to help our wildlife with those beautiful, but pesky leaves!"

A wooden trailer has been set up in front of the Game Ranch for convenient deposit.

ABOUT THE GAME RANCH

The Yellow River Game Ranch, Georgia’s oldest animal preserve, is now celebrating its 44th year of providing children and adults a 'nose to nose' experience with wildlife. The preserve has over six hundred animals and birds. The Game Ranch is open seven days a week except for certain holidays, 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, with the last ticket sold at 5 pm. The Game Ranch is also home to Georgia's Official Weather Prognosticator, General Beau Lee. The history of Groundhog Day and Beau’s Official Bio are posted on the Game Ranch web site.

The Yellow River Game Ranch is located at 4525 Highway 78, Lilburn Georgia. For further information, call 770-972-6643 or visit our web site!

http://www.yellowrivergameranch.com

You know it's your last day at work when...

2007-11-15T10:21:00.000-05:00

You hand a bank teller an envelope, and when she asks, "What's this?" you realize you just dropped the company's deposit in a mailbox.
A woman comes into the store, you turn to the other salesman and say, "I waited on the last fat ugly old lady. This one's yours." Your boss is standing behind you. It's his wife.
While your boss is at lunch, you sneak in and look at some confidential information on his computer. You spill coffee on the keyboard. It shorts out.
You return from a week's vacation to find that you had scheduled *this* week as vacation, not last week. (Just means you get to take two weeks vacation, right?)
You take a "sick" day. The next morning the boss asks you, "So, how was the fishing on Rock Creek yesterday?"

Thanksgiving Help Needed

2007-11-14T08:04:00.000-05:00

I was reading this article in the Cherokee Tribune about local organizations that need help preparing to feed hungry people this Thanksgiving. Here are ways that you can help:

1. MUST Cherokee needs sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese & pies. Call them at 770-479-5397 for more information.

2. Cherokee Thanksgiving needs financial donations to help cover the cost of their meal delivery program. You can make a check out to: Cherokee Thanksgiving and mail to: Canton First UMC, 930 Lower Scott Mill Rd., Canton, GA 30115.

3. Papa's Pantry needs donations of Cream of Mushroom soup, packaged stuffing, french-fried onions (for green bean casserole), canned fruit, paper goods, aluminum foil & holiday spices. You can call them at 770-591-4730 for more information.

I also found this fun website to visit. You can improve your vocabulary while earning rice for hungry people around the world. Click HERE and let the rice accumulate!

My Newest Listings

2007-11-13T08:10:00.000-05:00

1.

2.

If you would like to see either of these homes, or any others that you've seen for sale, please call me at 770-862-8002 to schedule your private tour.

Michael Bradford
Southern Prime Realty

Cherokee/Cobb Servants

2007-11-10T10:55:00.000-05:00

According to this article in REALTOR Magazine-Daily.com, Atlanta has again made the list of most afordable cities in the US. And where is the best place in Atlanta to call home, why it's Cobb and Cherokee county of course!

This article made me think of the many reasons why I love this area. All of those reasons boiled down to one thing: the people! They are so generous in giving back to their communities with their time, talents and treasures. I would like to share with my blog readers all that I can about various civic charities and services that highlight the work and giving being done in our great area.

If you would like to tell me about your charity, non-profit or service related group, please give me a call at 770-862-8002. You can also send an e-mail to me at michaelbradford@comcast.net. I would like to do some features in the near future and want to hear from all of you in Cobb & Cherokee counties.

Michael Bradford

Handyman Tip: Dryers

2007-11-08T13:56:00.000-05:00

FoxTale Book Shoppe

2007-11-05T07:58:00.000-05:00

I love independent book stores! I love the fact that they carry really good books that nobody else does. I love the fact that the people who own them care about their customers and read what they sell. I love that they can ask you a few questions about what you like and make an accurate, good recommendation. And I love the feeling of community when I shop in one. All of those reasons are why I am a customer at FoxTale Book Shoppe in downtown Woodstock.
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I had the very good pleasure of meeting with one of FoxTale Book Shoppe's owners, Ellen Ward to talk to her about my favorite independent bookstore. My son and I sat at the checkout counter and had a terrific visit with her while she shared with us all about FoxTale.
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Upon arrival, one of the first things a visitor will notice is that the place is decorated like nobody's business! It's like visiting a cool, literary friends' place. Of course there are books on gorgeous shelves, but there is so much more to see. Each time I've gone to FoxTale, there has been a new window display. This time, there was a waterfall, colorful leaves, autumn touches and big, stuffed dogs that every customer under the age of four wanted to ride on.
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Ellen gives the credit for the shop's amazing decor to her partner, Karen Schwettman. Karen has a background in interior design so she really came through for them by giving the store the unique look, the cozy feel and the interesting touches such as the stunning chandelier, reading nooks and the fun bicycle dangling from the ceiling in the children's room. A favorite of almost all of the customers is the door that doubles as the checkout counter.
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Ellen says that there is a reason there are 2 barstool chairs at the checkout. "All of us (owners) are writers and we like to hear stories. When people come up here to check out, they'll have a seat and we just talk. We love to hear their stories. It helps us get to know our customers on a much more personal level."
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When I asked Ellen how FoxTale came to be, she relayed a story about how she, Jackie & Karen all attended a writing class at KSU and became friends. When Karen & Ellen went to Denver for their 50th birthday, they visited The Tattered Cover book store and were inspired by it. After that, everything started really coming together. Ellen thinks it's quite a trifecta that they all have backgrounds that compliment each other. Besides Karen's interior decorating background, Ellen worked in advertising for 18 years. Jackie was a paralegal. Together, they have all been able to take on various responsibilities to help the store run smoothly.
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When asked about their vision for the store, Ellen said it's the same vision of most independent book stores: to be an integral part of the community, to carry good books that larger chains don't have and to cooperate with other businesses nearby to create a stronger sense of community. They want to be able to point serious readers like me to really good books that I may not know about. One of my observations that Ellen confirmed is that unusual people gravitate to independent bookstores. And this book store is a necessary element to a part of downtown Woodstock in it's new growth phase where more communities are being established within walking distance of the main street area. This is creating a more diverse group of people coming downtown to shop, dine and enjoy the park.
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Besides the fun activities that the book store hosts, they also stay open after hours for book clubs to meet. They host authors, have birthday parties for children in their big children's room, and even have a story time each Monday and Saturday at 11am. With all of the events and book clubs at FoxTale, Ellen suggests that people either come by the store or send an e-mail to her at Ellen@foxtalebookshoppe.com to request being added to their e-mail announcement list. This will keep you "in the know" about their activities and events. OR, you can just check out the EVENTS on the sidebar of this site and we'll be sure to have FoxTales's updated regularly.
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When asked what types of things are on the horizon for FoxTale Book Shoppe, Ellen says they are about to start an online ordering service from their website (CLICK HERE), offer writing classes, add more book clubs and possibly start serving coffee, tea and snacks.
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As we talked about living in Cherokee County, I asked Ellen what some of her favorite places are (both in Cherokee and in north Georgia). Since she lives in Waleska, she enjoys activities at Reinhardt College (especially the music events) and shopping in Canton. She also loves visiting
Amicalola Falls, the High Museum of Art, the Georgia Aquarium and the fabulous Fox Theatre.
As I browsed the store, I couldn't help but remember that Christmas is just around the corner! Not only did I see books for sale, but also candles, calendars, journals, stuffed animals and loads of quality educational toys and really unique gifts that you don't see for sale everywhere else.
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Ellen reminded me that if they don't have a book that I'm looking for, they can order it and in most cases, the book will be delivered to them the NEXT DAY!
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While I was there, a man came in to pick up a gift bag. Ellen tells me that many people call them with a budget and tell them what the receiver likes. FoxTales will put together a collection of items that fit your budget. The one I saw was very nice and the goodies were in a nice FoxTales canvas tote bag.
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And in case you are reading this, Santa, here are a few things I would like to add to my personal Christmas wish list:

1. Savannah Bee Sugared Honey Body Scrub

2. This very cool FoxTale Book Shoppe fitted T-shirt3. Rock-n-Roll Quiz & Trivia page-a-day calendar
Be sure to visit FoxTale Book Shoppe located 105 East main Street, #138 next to the Woodstock City Park. (Map:Map of 105 E Main St Woodstock, GA 30188-5013, US ) Take your Christmas list with you!

Georgia Ranked #2 Business Climate

2007-11-03T09:38:00.000-04:00

According to THIS article in the Atlanta Journal & Constitution, Georgia moved up 2 spaces from last year to end up in the number 2 position for the nation's best business environment. This ranking was made by Site Selection Magazine.

According to the magazine editor, Mark Arend, the trend seems to be that businesses are moving into southern areas that are less dominated by unions - the "right to work" states.

Wonder how they all shook out? Here is the final list:

THE TOP 20

1. North Carolina

2. Georgia

3. Texas

4. Virginia

5. Alabama

6. Tennessee

7. Ohio

8. Kentucky

9. Florida

10. South Carolina

11. Indiana

12. Michigan

13. Illinois

14. Pennsylvania

15. Oklahoma

16. Iowa

17. Mississippi

18. Missouri

19. Nevada (tie)

19. New York (tie)

• Source: Site Selection Magazine's 2007 Top 20 Business Climate Rankings

Feds Cut Interest Rate

2007-11-02T09:22:00.000-04:00

As everyone thought, The Federal Reserve Bank cut it's interest rate that it charges banks by a quarter point to 4.5%. REALTOR.com® gave a report on the rate cut today. I think the most significate remarks made yesterday as reported in the AJC article was "the risks to the economy from inflation "roughly balance," or are equal to, the risks of a serious downturn in economic growth. Previously, the risks of a recession were seen as more of a threat to the country's economic health."

What does that mean? It means we probably won't see another reduction this year. For those who are waiting for the interest rates to bottom out before buying or refinancing a house, this may be it. It may take a couple of days or a week before this rate cut drives down mortgage rates, but I believe in the next few days we will see excellent rates for mortagages and loans.

If you call me today, you could be in your new home by the holidays. Let's find your new home and I will even buy your first Christmas tree! Call me at 770-862-8002.

Michael Bradford
Southern Prime Realty

Fire Safety Video

2007-11-01T14:21:00.000-04:00

To Fear Or Not To Fear...

2007-10-31T09:05:00.000-04:00

With all of the news out there about the real estate market, one thing is clear to me. We have a significant pent up demand for housing. If you look at the statistics and trends for the last 5 years and compare them with the overall economy, you will realize that alot of people should be moving who are not. Why?
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A buyer's worst fear is that they overpaid for the home they bought and could be "upside down" in their home (owe more than it is worth). The dominant media in this country is in need of headlines that will cause people to read, watch or listen to the reports. It's like the accident on the highway; we can't help but drive by and look. The same is true with a story of doom and catstrophy. We tend to believe bad news before we believe the good. The problem is that often these reports become self fullfilling prophicies.
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There is no hard evidence that now is not the time to buy real estate. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Price reductions are stablizing and interest rates are low. In fact, the Federal Reserve is schedualed to meet today and are expected to cut key rates by at least another quarter point!
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Loans are excellent, the market is a buyer's dream and our local economy is looking fantastic! There is absolutely no reason to fear buying or selling in this market. Let me show you how to even make money during this dip. Call me today at 770.862.8002 and let me tell you how to succeed either as a buyer or a seller.
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Michael Bradford
Southern Prime Realty

2007-10-30T10:05:00.000-04:00

Landlording 101

2007-10-27T12:01:00.000-04:00

So I have convinced you that today is a great time to buy real estate. Prices are low, interest rates are low and people will always need a place to live. All are great reasons for investing in real estate. But still you wait....why?

I have asked myself and others "What is the biggest deterrent for the average person when it comes to owning rental properties?" Most people tell me the thought of clogged toilets and midnight calls from the sheriff's office or annoyed neighbors about one of their houses tops the list. I am not saying that those kind of things don't happen (once a neighbor called about someone standing naked in the front door of one of my houses!) but they can be managed very easily with a little for-thought and planning.

I call it "front end loading" because I work really hard at the beginning so I can take it easy the rest of the time. I make a plan and stick to it. I have a great lease, great application and a unbiased person to review the applications and pick the best one according to the application. The times that I have gotten in trouble is when I felt sorry for someone and wanted to help them or wanted to get someone in the property quick and did not pay attention to my own plan.

I have made it my "company policy" to accept only good credit scores and people with good references. I do my benevolent activities outside of my rental business using the resources generated by that business to help others. I don't like to rent to relatives or friends and if one of them needs a place to stay, they are welcome at my home and I won't even charge them rent while they get back on their feet.

REALTOR.com® has a great piece about "Sanity-Saving Rules for New Landlords". These are very good tips and anyone thinking about becoming a landlord should read them. I can also recommend a couple of good, easy to read books about the subject.

Give me a call today and let's get you started on your very own inflation proof, excellent cash flow for retirement, great tax benifits and easy to start and run landlord business.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

How to Save Water at Home

2007-10-26T08:03:00.000-04:00

Gov. Sonny Purdue has requested that everybody reduce their water use by 10% over last year. Will this be enough of a conservation effort to make a difference now? Only time will tell but it is good that we are talking about and taking actions to conserve one of North Georgia's most precious resources. What are some practical steps we can all take to conserve water? Here are a few of my favorites:

*Don't wash the car. This has to be my all time favorite. But even I have a hard time with a dirty car after a couple of weeks. Here is a tip to help between washes. First thing in the morning if you park outside, when the dew is still on the cars, take an old towel and wipe down the top, hood, trunk and doors. hang the towel out to dry . Use it two or three times before washing it. If you park inside, a duster could also help.

*No outdoor watering. I still have a empty flowerbed that we decided not to plant the new flowers in right now. I know this has hurt the nursery business but I promise to make it up by buying more drought resitant plants. I also try to use more hardscaping in my yard.

*Not turning on the faucet all the way when rinsing dishes. This took some getting use to but I think we can turn the corner on this. We are also keeping the stopper in the sink so water collects and we can rinse the dishes off while reusing it for other dishes. I never really though of how much water was going down the drain by rinsing dishes with the faucet on high and the sink stopper open.

*Use your bath towel several of times. Hopefully you did a good job in the shower and your towel can be hung to dry and reused. Less loads of laundry is definitely a good way to save water, electricity, and time as well.

These are just a few ways we can all help use water more efficiently. I would like to hear from you about ways you are conserving water (showering with a friend aside:). For the most creative and effective suggestion I get, you will receive a $20 gift certificate to Lowe's or The Home Depot and also your idea posted here. Please e-mail your ideas to me at: michaelbradford@comcast.net. The decision of the judges (me, my wife, my 16 year old son and my almost 14 year old daughter) is final and the winner will be announced on Wednesday, Oct. 31 . Thank you for taking the time to participate.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

Homemade Cleaners

2007-10-25T12:09:00.000-04:00

Make-It-Yourself Household Cleaning Products

Baking soda will help control odors in your garbage disposal. Pour 2 tablespoons in garbage disposal every week.

Baking soda will remove the coffee and tea stains from yourfavorite mugs.

Microwaves can be cleaned by nuking a ½ C. vingar for 2 minutes and letting sit for an additional minute. Wipe the interior with a rag. For tough spots, dip it int the vinegar and wipe.

If you have a problem with sugar ants, a mixture of half vinegar half water sprayed on the ants will kill them instantly.

Instead of buying expensive antibacterial sprays for the kitchen, just put about 1 tablespoon of household bleach in a spray bottle filled with water and use it to disinfect around the sink and counters, especially when you've been handling or packaging meat.

For quick cleaning, keep a spray bottle equal parts water and ammonia handy.

To unclog a plugged drain, try pouring 1/2 cup baking soda 1/2 cup vinegar into the clogged drain and cover tightly. After a minute or so, rinse the drain out with two quarts of boiling water. Cleaning the drain in this manner from time to time will help keep debris from building up.

When your drain is clogged with grease, try pouring a cup of salt and a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by a generous amount of boiling water. This will usually dissolve the grease and clear the drain.

To clean your oven, use a mixture of ammonia and water. The solution may be stored in a spray bottle. For tough stains, apply a mixture of baking soda and water directly to the stains, and let the mixture stand for several minutes before wiping the oven surface clean.

To rid your cutting board from that smell of onions and garlic it tends to accumulate, rub it with half a lemon or lime.

Use a cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol, club soda, or white vinegar to give your stainless steel a brilliant shine.

DON’T WAIT UNTIL SPRING TO SELL YOUR HOUSE!

2007-10-23T19:00:00.000-04:00

As an active agent in Cherokee County, I talk to people everyday whose house did not sell the first or even the second time they listed it. Almost everyone I talk to that had not re-listed their house after a couple of weeks of it expiring tell me they are going to wait until spring before they try again. I know the market is soft now, but will it be that much better in the spring? I wish I had a crystal ball but I don’t. What I can tell you is when spring comes in Georgia, not only will the Dogwoods and Tulips start popping out but there will probably be hundreds more houses for sale signs popping up as well. Many economists say that it will be 2009 before we see a substantial turn around in the housing market. My point is you should take your chances in today’s market instead of speculating on what the market could do in the future.

Here is a case in point: A homeowner wants to move to a bigger house. They have been in their house for awhile now and want to take the equity they have built up and put it into a new, bigger house. The problem is they couldn’t sell it for what it was worth last year in today’s market so the listing expired. Let’s say as an example that the house was worth $200,000 last year but in today’s market they have been or would be selling for $180,000. They don’t want to “lose” $20K so the house sits on the market until the listing expires and they are trapped in a house that is too small.

What are they to do? My advice would be to price the house to sell today, take the perceived “loss” and move on. Why would I call it a “perceived” loss? Because the opportunity to buy the bigger house now, while prices are flat, will more than offset any loss they may have in selling their current home.

Let’s say they are able to buy that new, bigger house last year for $450,000. Today that same house could be bought for $410,000, a savings of $40K! They are already starting $20K ahead. If you also consider the appreciation which may start to climb late next year or early into 2009, getting the appreciation on a $410,000 house would be more than the appreciation on the $180,000 house. Plus you get to enjoy your new, bigger house now! Next year or even 2009 when your $180,000 house will be worth $200,000 again, the $410,000 house will be worth $450,000. Do you want to "save" $20K only to "lose" $40K when you buy the next house?

If this makes sense to you, please call me and let’s talk about your specific situation. If you still want to wait until spring, please keep my contact information and when spring comes, let me show you my internet marketing system that will have sold houses all winter long. I will do my best to make your house stand out against the hundreds of others available then and we can take our chances.

I do hope you will reconsider waiting until spring and call me today. Let’s face it, the market has slowed down but it has not stopped. Everyday people have to move for one reason or another. Let me put your house in front of hundreds of people a week online, holding a “virtual open house” 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Let’s sell your house now so you can move on with your life!

Michael Bradford

770-862-8002

Buying Foreclosures, Part II

2007-10-22T22:17:00.000-04:00

Buying a house at the courthouse steps is not for the faint of heart. It is filled with many pitfalls that can trip up even the most experienced purchaser. A good friend of mine who regularly buys at the steps told me about a problem he had with a purchase. I won't bore you with the details but to only say he still has $60,000 tied up in a property that he doesn't own.
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Real estate broker and writer John Adams was quoted in the AJC article on Sunday as saying: "The auction is a much more advanced technique, and quite frankly, it is almost impossible to fully protect yourself against some of the threats that are out there." So how can the average person pick up a good deal from all the foreclosures on the market now?
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Post foreclosure is where you want to look first. They are easy to find and the risks can be determined with a little effort in advance. These are properties that the lender has already gone through the legal process of taking the house back by purchasing it at the court house steps and have listed it with an agent. Great deals can be found here if you are willing to overlook some flaws in the property.

Because the lender has never lived in the house, no sellers disclosure or termite letter will be provided. Not that you can't find this information out on your own but the lender will tell you WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). AS IS really means AS IS! No Warranties really means No Warranties! You are on your own to find out any and all problems the house has.

Next, you will have access to the house. You can hire your own inspector and termite company. You can inspect and test every system in the house, but it will be at your own expense and you will have no recourse to the lender if you miss something. If you find something that needs repairs, the lender won't care. They will not repair anything so you have to know what the house needs and the cost to fix whatever is broken.

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So what is the upside?

You get a great price. How much of a great price are we talking? I would caution anyone buying a house this way to get at least a 30% price reduction from retail price.

"Come on Michael, the lender won't go that far!" I'm sure someone is saying right now.

Yes, they will - and even farther if needed. Right now is such a great time to buy one of these that I am personally about to enter negotiations on one myself.

What makes now such a good time? It is close to year end and the banks want the bad loans off the books before the new year. For every $1 in non-performing (bad) loans that lenders have on the books, they are required to keep a certain amount in reserves to cover that bad debt which means there is less money they can lend.
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The other way to buy these type of properties is to find the seller before the sale at the courthouse steps and make a deal directly with them. This is time consuming and often impossible because they often abandon the house and leave the area. There is also only about 30 days fromo the time that the public is notified until the bank forcloses. You must be able to close very, very quickly if you can even find the owner to sell the house to you. Many of these owners owe more than the property is currently worth so a deal is not even possible.
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Please call me if you have any other questions or would like to pursue purchasing a great deal from a lender who wants out. I have seen several excellent deals in Cherokee County and would consider it a privilege to help you meet your goals.

How can I serve you today?

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

Buying Foreclosures

2007-10-22T10:04:00.000-04:00

Last week I touched on buying foreclosures and said it was a tricky business. The AJC had a great article in the Homefinder section of Sundays paper which was dedicated to buying foreclosures. This has become such a big issue I wanted to address it in more detail today.

Cherokee County had around 200 advertised foreclosures in the Cherokee Tribune this month that are scheduled for the court house steps on the first Tuesday of the month (November 6th). Just because a house is advertised does not mean it will ultimately get sold on the steps. There are a couple of reasons why.

1. The homeowner "redeems" the property. This can happen by several methods but most likely the homeowner was able to work out a payment plan with the lender. This is sometimes called a "forbearance agreement" (for more info click here) and the lender has agreed to postpone or stop the current foreclosure process.

2. The homeowner sold the property. Up until the day before the sale at the court house is scheduled, the homeowner can sell the property on his own. The closer to the sale date, the harder it is and the more likely the sale will not be able to be completed. It will also need to be approved by the lender. Here is where a "short sale" can take place (for more info click here) which is where the lender agrees to accept less than what is owed on the property to keep them from getting the property back. I have done a couple of "short sales" and lenders are becoming more open to them lately just because of the shear numbers of properties on the market and the number of properties the lender currently has in it's REO (Real Estate Owned) portfolio.

The bottom line is that lenders don't want the house back. What they want is a loan that is performing (payments are current and on time). Tomorrow I will talk about how to buy a foreclosure house with the least amount of risk for the greatest amount of reward.

Until then, if you have questions that can't wait, please call me @ 770-862-8002. If you know anyone who needs to buy or sell real estate in Cherokee or Cobb County, Georgia, thank you for considering giving them my name and number.

Michael Bradford
Associate Broker
Southern Prime Realty
770-862-8002

Lessons about the way we treat people

2007-10-19T11:05:00.000-04:00

Thanks to my friend Robin who sent this to me.

Cleaning Lady...
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

Pickup in the Rain...
One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others." Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

Always remember those who serve...
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

The obstacle in Our Path...
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand! Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

Giving When it Counts...
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away". Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

Know when to hold 'em?

2007-10-19T10:15:00.000-04:00

Here is a great article from Real Estate Insights on REALTOR.org about pain that some investors are "feeling". I'm not sure exactly why (other than my age:) but it made me think of the Kenny Rodgers song "Know When To Hold 'Em". The article make a great analogy about investing in the real estate market versus the stock market. This is a must read for anyone who is currently renting! Lawrence Yun, Vice president of NAR Research, has some excellent statistics to counter the argument that people who own and invest in real estate are feeling "pain" now because of the current market.

Mr Yun reports that someone who invested $10,000 as a down payment on a typically priced house in the US that appreciated at 5% per year would have a return of $110,000 after 10 years. Compare that with a $10,000 investment in the stock market at 10% that would yield a return of only $23,600. This could also explain the next statistic. "A typical homeowner had $184,400 in net worth versus only $4,000 for a typical renter." Wow, what a huge difference!

NAR reports that "only the recent buyers (flippers) who bought last year in few specific markets would have encountered a loss" which of course is what the main stream media is reporting on. If you want to buy houses and "flip" them for a quick profit, be careful. It can still be done in today's market but you must do your homework and know what you are getting into.

Investing in foreclosures is also a tricky business and needs to be approached with caution. If you have the nerves for this kind of investing, give me a call. I can offer you some tips that I have picked up along the way.

But if you want to invest for a great return over time, now is the time to enter the world of home ownership. Interest rates are low and inventory is plentiful. Don't let the sensationalism of the media scare you away from increasing your net worth today.

Call me today and I will help you meet your goals.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

You Know You're Growing Old When...

2007-10-18T12:56:00.000-04:00

You've come to the annoying realization that your parents were right about almost everything.

The bag boy volunteers to help load groceries into your car-in the "ten items or less" lane.

You've stopped supporting your children, and started supporting your parents.

You've found yourself discussing the weather.

You remember your kid's names, just not always the right one.

You have nightmares about forgetting to move the garbage cans to the street for the garbage collector.

Your high school yearbook is now home to three different species of mold.

You buy "age-defying" makeup and "anti-wrinkle" creams and believe they work.

You've realized that all those geeky people in Bermuda shorts walking around Disney World include you.

You recognize Led Zeppelin songs that have been turned into elevator Muzak.

You've had three opportunities to buy every single Disney Animated Classic-"for the last time in a generation" Wal-Mart and Target seem to share your fashion sense.

The only way you know to stop a virtual pet from beeping involves the patio and a sledgehammer.

You can pack two suits, Five shirts, five ties, five pairs of underwear, five pairs of socks, a pair of shoes, and half of your bathroom into a carry-on bag-in less than five minutes.

You know what Earth Shoes are.

You think if you hear "Stairway to Heaven" one more time your head will explode.

Your weight-lifting program seems to have no effect on your muscles, but the veins on the backs of your hands are bulking up quite nicely.

To "Open House" or not to "Open House"? That is the question.

2007-10-16T09:18:00.000-04:00

I am asked at almost every listing appointment I go on how many open houses I plan to have. Most sellers are surprised when I tell them that I don't hold traditional open houses at all. I then go on to tell them I wouldn't want to put them or their home through all that for mostly my benefit. Do agents sell the homes that they hold open house for to people attending the open house? I am sure that it does happen. Would that same buyer have bought the home even without an open house? Probably. Buying a house is not an "impulse purchase".

Traditional open houses are great for agents looking for buyers leads. It used to be the number 1 way of finding buyers. But things have changed. The internet is where buyers are going and I want to have my listings as "Virtual Open Houses" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Between having virtual tours, multiple photos (25-50), plat drawings of the lot and soon, floor plans of each of my listings posted on the internet, I believe that both my time and yours is better spent leveraging the most powerful tool available today to market your home.

Research by REALTOR® Magazine Online reports that “while 80 percent of home buyers use the Web to search for properties, only 42 percent visited open houses last year”. They also reported “serious buyers tend to view properties online and make appointments to tour the specific properties that truly spark their interest”.

While an open house make’s it look like the agent is working hard for the seller, in most cases, it will only benefit the agent with new buyers leads. I want to sell your house, not use it to generate buyers leads. If you are ready to sell your house, let me show you how marketing on the internet will get thousands of people touring your home in a “Virtual Open House” every week, not just a few between 2 and 4 on Sunday.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

Local Investor Offers Solution to Many Buyers With Credit Issues

2007-10-15T08:37:00.000-04:00

Howard Brummel is a man who can think outside of the box. This local real estate investor has found a way to put people into houses that they love even when they would not be able to get traditional financing because of credit or income verification issues.

Howard, and other investors like him, offer their houses (he has over 40 right now to choose from) for sale through the very popular Lease/Purchase program. This method of selling a house is proving to be quite popular with the tighter restrictions that mortgage companies are putting on their borrowers now.

HERES HOW IT WORKS:

A buyer has some credit issues but needs a house to live in now. Instead of the traditional 10% down on a house, Howard only requires an initial 3 - 5% down. They have 1 year to clean up their credit while they pay rent on the house as if they were leasing it. As they make their payments on time, they are establishing a record of being able to make payments on the house for the future lender to see.

If they buy the house within the first 3 months, 100% of their on-time rent is credited towards the final purchase price of the house. If they close within 4-6 months, it's 75%. 7-9 months is 50% and 10-12 months is 25% rent credit. After 12 months, 10% of their rent is credited. By credit, I mean that that percentage of their rent will go, along with the down payment, towards to purchase price of the house.

A buyer can know that at least some portion of his rent is working towards the purchase price of the house. He is also buying time to work towards establishing better credit so that he will qualify for traditional financing and lower interest rates.

To read more about Howard's Lease/Purchase plan, you can visit his site by clicking HERE. You can also reach him at 770-591-9492.

Solar Decathalon = Green Ingenuity

2007-10-13T10:07:00.000-04:00

U.S.A. Today had a great story on an event that's taking place on the National Mall in Washington D.C. this weekend. It's a competition between 20 teams of students from all over the world that focuses on harnessing the energy of the sun to meet the energy needs of homes.

Many of the solar homes have sustainable materials in them such as "pressed wheat and sunflower hull cabinetry, recycled glass tiles and fly ash countertops made from the ash of incinerated garbage. Bamboo floors replace pine or oak because the durable, fast-growing grass yields four times as much material on the same amount of land."

There will be a team from Georgia Tech to represent us and the results of the hard work should be very exciting. To learn more about how solar cells work, CLICK HERE.

My Newest Listing

2007-10-12T07:37:00.000-04:00

I am so proud of my newest listing. I know a lot about the neighborhood, Hidden Branches, because I used to own a house on the same street. The neighborhood homes are all on approximately 5 acre lots so everyone has plenty of privacy and plenty of space to do their own thing. I really hated to sell my house and move.

The owner of this house has done some amazing things. First of all, his house is very unique in style and floorplan. It's a European/Bavarian stucco house on 5 acres with a creek and a pasture. The house is a passive solar design to take advantage of the sun in the winter for heating but shade in the summer to keep it cool. Everything (from windows to fireplaces to HVAC systems) are all high efficiency and designed to keep your energy usage low.

If you would like a private showing of this house, please call me today to schedule an appointment. I can be reached at 770-862-8002.

Holocaust Survivor Tom Reed Speaks at Reinhardt

2007-10-11T11:06:00.000-04:00

As part of Reinhardt College’s “Year of Eastern Europe and Russia, the public is invited to to hear a first-hand account of the Holocaust from Thomas Reed, a native of Poland who now lives in Milton, Ga. On Oct. 15, at 11 a.m., on the top level of the Hill Freeman Library and Spruill Learning Center, Reed will speak about his experiences as a Holocaust survivor.

“I will tell people what I have lived through,” Reed said. “I will say, ‘Think about what it would be to be a 12-and-a-half year old boy. Close your eyes and let’s get going.’ Then I tell them my story, what I saw and experienced.”

In 1944 when the Germans occupied Hungary, Mr. Reed was the oldest of five children in his family. They were forced into a local Ghetto along with the 500 other Jewish inhabitants of their small town of Mezocsat. They were then transported to a central Ghetto and sent to Auschwitz in Poland. There his family, except for him and his father, was immediately murdered. Reed pretended to be 17 years old and, along with his father, was selected for work in Germany. He and his father survived the concentration camps of Munchen-Allach, Mulhdorf-Mettenheim and Mittergars and a massacre in Poing, Bavaria.

He was liberated by the U.S. Army at Tutzing, Bavaria. He lived for several years in a displaced persons camp in Bavaria and for a short while in Munich prior to coming to the U.S. in 1949. He served in the U.S. Army, married an American girl, and they have three children and five grandchildren. He earned a B.S.E.E. and J.D. and retired after 42 years in the defense industry.
For more on Reinhardt's Year of Eastern Europe and Russia, please see www.reinhardt.edu/Yeer/index.htm

Active Adult Communities

2007-10-10T09:12:00.000-04:00

They're becoming quite popular with the huge number of baby boomers!

These are communities of homes that are built with a 55+ resident in mind. They usually have minimal steps, wide open spaces, a lot of recreational activities in the community and smaller yards (for less maintenance).

Here is a snip from THIS ARTICLE in yesterday's Atlanta Journal & Constitution:

"Two other national home builders have rolled out a strategy in metro Atlanta aimed at another group of transient buyers, retirees. Both Pulte Homes, through its Del Webb division, and Levitt Corp. brand Levitt & Sons have launched a series of communities designed to appeal to "active adults," affluent retirees over age 55 who want to live in a community designed around recreation and leisure activities.

Pulte, in particular, has invested heavily in metro Atlanta with Del Webb communities at Lake Lanier and Lake Oconee and its signature Sun City design in Spalding County south of Atlanta. When first introducing Del Webb in the Atlanta market, Pulte executives predicted that Georgia will become as strong a magnet for retirees as Florida.

With the looming retirement of the baby boom generation, Del Webb is positioning itself as a leader for housing designed to appeal to the healthiest, most affluent generation of home buyers in history."

Cherokee County has such communities and I have seen the beauty and benefits of older adults moving into them. As the boomer generation begins to reach retirment age, the value of the homes in these active adult communities will continue to rise and the demand will be steady.

If you are interested in looking at some of these communities or would like to position yourself to be ready to sell your current home in order to relocate to an active adult community, give me a call today and we'll talk strategy. 770-862-8002.

Michael Bradford

Southern Prime Realty

Good Morning

2007-10-09T15:09:00.000-04:00

The first day of a new year at college, the Dean came in and said "Good Morning" to all of the students. When they echoed back to him, he responded "Ah, you're Freshmen."

He explained.

"When you walk in and say good morning, and they say good morning back, they're Freshmen. When they put their newspapers down and open their books, they're Sophomores. When they look up so they can see the who's talking over the tops of the newspapers, they're juniors. And when they put their feet up on the desks and keep reading, they're seniors. "And when you walk in and say good morning, and they write it down, they're graduate students."

Pawcasso art show to benefit Cherokee Animal Shelter

2007-10-08T09:24:00.000-04:00

I wanted to let you all know that today, an art show/sale called "Pawcasso" will be opening at the Cherokee Arts Center (located in historic downtown Canton behind the Justice Center). An excellent variety of animal art by several local artists will share the gallery space with art created by the very talented paws of some of The Cherokee Animal Shelter residents. Each original ‘Pawcasso’ painting will be matted and will have the picture, name and story of each animal artist attached to the back of every painting. Proceeds will benefit the Cherokee Animal Shelter. A must see for all animal lovers. If you can only attend once, try to go on Saturday, October 13th for a "Meet the Artists" from 1-3 pm.

Why residential Realtors support the FairTax

2007-10-05T08:27:00.000-04:00

by Harvey Abernethy, Realtor®

(This article can be accessed for printing HERE.)

The FairTax plan has many positive features, not the least of which are the advantages that accrue to real estate ownership. The FairTax plan allows homeowners to:

• Pay an entire house payment, both principal and interest, with "pre-tax" dollars, a major improvement over the paltry home-interest tax deduction, which only pays interest with pre-income tax/post-payroll tax dollars.
• Get this benefit without itemizing deductions, which only a small percentage of homeowners do today.
• Save for down payments much faster, without the penalty of taxation.
• Reduce interest rates even lower than they are today.

The current system punishes those who would own property.

The federal income tax is unfair, complex, and riddled with loopholes. Even worse, it
punishes work, savings, investment, and productivity. It contributes to high interest rates
and a lack of savings among the American people. But now, fundamental tax reform is
seriously being discussed in Washington. The most innovative proposal is HR 25, called the Fair Tax Act. The FairTax is revenue-neutral legislation, repealing and replacing the following with a progressive retail sales tax:

• The individual income tax (including capital gains and alternative minimum taxes)
• The estate and gift tax
• The corporate income tax
• All payroll taxes including the Social Security, Medicare, and self-employment taxes

This single-rate sales tax is calculated to raise the same amount of money raised by the current system (revenue neutral). This proposal does not seek to raise or lower taxes but just to change the collection system. The change in the collection system provides the least expensive, least intrusive, most efficient way of raising the same amount of money, which removes significant friction from the American economy.

A 30-percent1 federal sales tax is imposed on all retail sales of goods and services. Used goods are not taxed, including pre-owned homes. American exports do not have tax costs embedded in their prices. Businesses-to-business transactions are not taxed, therefore no commercial real estate transactions are taxed. The sales tax is separately stated and charged. Social Security and Medicare benefits are fully funded and secure, with funds raised from a broad-based, progressive sales tax, rather than a narrow, regressive payroll tax.

States can elect to collect the federal sales tax on behalf of the federal government. Strong taxpayer rights provisions are incorporated into the act. The burden of proof in disputes is on the government.

Because of these features, the FairTax (a) makes all federal taxes visible, (b) untaxes the poor, (c) raises only the same amount of money as the current system does, and (d) untaxes savings and investments. In other words, it only taxes spending, not income.

Not only is this plan a fantastic benefit to individual Americans, it particularly benefits the real estate industry, both commercial and residential.

The FairTax supercharges the mortgage interest "deduction."

Under an income tax, the mortgage interest deduction is half a loaf. It allows home mortgage interest payments to be made with pre-income tax dollars. But mortgage interest payments must still be made with money that has already been payroll-taxed (the payroll tax comprises the most significant taxes first time homeowners pay). Under the FairTax, mortgage interest and principal payments are simply not taxed, so the entire payment is made with both pre-income and pre-payroll tax dollars.

Individuals are able to save for the purchase of a home much faster, which increases and accelerates the volume of home sales.

Today, buyers seeking to buy a new home or to step up to a larger or second home are taxed on their savings, reducing them. No wonder our savings rates are so low. Under the FairTax, savings and investment are not taxed, allowing buyers to save the down payment in about half the time (nothing is deducted from their paychecks). As a result, a chain effect takes place: Accumulation of down payments is easier and faster, existing owners are able to sell their homes faster and more new home sales take place. Realtors make more money faster since there are more qualified buyers faster.

Mortgage interest rates fall.

Today, mortgage interest rates are artificially inflated because they include a tax premium, which is the amount lenders pay in taxes on the income they receive. Because lenders don’t pay taxes on income under the FairTax, it is as if every homeowner is entitled to finance with a tax-free municipal bond. Home mortgage interest rates fall by 25 to 30 percent (i.e., about two points on a 30-year conventional mortgage). Real interest rates also stay low because the supply of capital for borrowing increases. With lower interest payments, everyone wins – especially homebuyers, sellers, and Realtors.

The FairTax makes housing more affordable by repealing upstream taxes.

Like other businesses, homebuilders pay corporate taxes, significant compliance costs, and payroll taxes, not only directly, but also in the form of upstream producer price increases that are included in their material and labor costs. Under the FairTax, these upstream costs are eliminated. Under the FairTax, principal payments are still sales taxed (as they are today, since the income earned to pay for that principal is taxed) but new home sales prices fall as a result of the removal of upstream tax costs.

A home buyer can earn less to buy the same home.

Considering the fact that a consumption tax taxes purchases, but the income and payroll
taxes take the money before we purchase, the proper comparison question between the
two methods is simply this: How much money would a purchaser have to make to pay
for the home? Since the FairTax lowers marginal rates, homebuyers face lower after-tax costs of their principal payments.

A far simpler, fairer system for Realtors

Under the FairTax, no sales tax is collected or paid in commercial transactions, so commercial Realtors are essentially removed from the tax system completely. There is no longer any record keeping for income taxes, payroll taxes, or any other such items. All Realtors earn their commissions and put 100 percent of that money in their pockets.

The FairTax ensures no American pays this tax on necessities.

Because there are no exemptions or exclusions from the FairTax, it provides every family with a rebate of the sales tax on spending up to the federal poverty income level (about $25,660 for a family of four). The rebate is paid monthly in advance. In this way, no individual or family pays tax on essential goods and services and middle-class families are effectively exempted on a large part of their annual spending. The poor and those on fixed incomes pay no tax whatsoever – hidden or obvious – up to the poverty level.

Get the FairTax residential real estate affordability calculator and worksheets.

FairTax.org provides both an automatic calculator, to compare the amounts homeowners can spend on homes under the current and FairTax systems, as well as worksheets for doing these calculations with pencil and calculator. To obtain these, please send an e-mail to info@fairtax.org and put "Need auto calculator" in the subject line.

1 This issue is often confusing, so we explain more here.
When income tax rates are quoted, economists call that a tax-inclusive quote: "I paid 23 percent last year." For every $100 earned, $23 went to Uncle Sam. Or, "I had to make $130 to have $100 to spend." That’s a 23-percent tax-inclusive rate. We choose to compare the FairTax to income taxes, quoting the rate the same way, because the FairTax replaces such taxes. That rate is 23 percent. Sales taxes, on the other hand, are generally quoted tax exclusive: "I bought a $77 shirt and had to pay that same $23 in sales tax." This is a 30-percent sales tax. Or, "I spent a dollar, 77¢ for the product and 23¢ in tax." This rate, when programmed into a point-of-purchase terminal, is 30 percent. Note that no matter which way it is quoted, the amount of tax is the same. Under an income tax rate of 23 percent, you have to earn $130 to spend $100. Spend that same $100 under a sales tax, you pay that same tax of $30, and the rate is quoted as 30 percent.

Will our tax meet the ax?

2007-10-04T09:27:00.000-04:00

This past Tuesday, the AJC ran THIS ARTICLE about how House Speaker Glenn Richardson is trying to make a change for Georgia taxpayers. He not only wants to eliminate property taxes, but also repeal income taxes. (Florida is also a state with no state income taxes).

Reseach has shown over and over that when people have less of a tax burden, the economy does very well. This leads to more jobs, a stable economy, a healthy trading market, a sellers real estate market and business growth.

For more about taxes and real estate, please return tomorrow for a fantastic article on how the proposed FairTax legislation will benefit the real estate markets throughout the nation.

New Rules for New Mortgages

2007-10-03T07:03:00.000-04:00

Goodbye, easy money. Hello, higher credit standards.

The high default rates we are seeing now is a result of mortgage companies lowering their lending standards in the face of low-interest rates. Now that these banks are being stuck with empty houses in a soft market, their standards are being raised.

What can you do do be sure that you qualify for the type of mortgage that you will need when it comes time to buy your next house? THIS ARTICLE has some excellent information that will help you understand what is going on and what you can do to prepare for your needs.

If you have any questions about mortgages, how to find out what type of payment you can afford, how to clean your credit up to prepare for buying a house or to pull the trigger and buy now while rates are low and it's a buyers market, give me a call. 770.862.8002.

Michael Bradford
Southern Prime Realty

Questions Buyers Forget to Ask

2007-10-02T09:12:00.000-04:00

Don't leave money on the table....

I was reading THIS ARTICLE at Realtor Magazine about questions that potential buyers forget to ask that could save them a lot of money down the road.

I'll admit it.... I had never even thought about a few of these. But I am comitting them to memory so I can help my clients avoid these types of pitfalls in the future. As an agent, knowing the right questions to ask can help my clients avoid buying a money pit as well as giving them a huge tool for negotiating a sale.

Don't know an agent that will work hard to save you money and find you the house of your dreams?

Hi, I'm Michael Bradford.

Now you do. Give me a call today and we'll get started! 770.862.8002

"Green" Houses: Keeping the Environment in Mind

2007-10-01T09:09:00.000-04:00

I sometimes get questions about houses and the way they relate to being environmentally "friendly". Nothing hit this home to me more than THIS ARTICLE that I read on the cover of the AJC yesterday.

What factors are involved in making a house environmentally friendly? And what things can a homeowner do to help reduce energy and water consumption? These are some things to think about and some goals to work towards. Not only will these ideas save money, energy and water, but they will also be SELLING POINTS when you need to sell your house:

Go solar. The sun is free and if you can use solar panels to capture it's energy, you can use it to run or suppliment the energy that you use in your house. Solar technology is better and the materials are cheaper than they were just a few years ago. To learn more about solar energy, you can visit THIS SITE.
WATER. USE IT WISELY is an excellent resource for learning about reducing our consumption. It has 100+ ways to reduce, a family water audit to help you see where you may be consuming too much water, and ideas for saving water outdoors.
Landscaping is an important "green" factor in a house. Can you grow your own food? Organic gardening is an excellent way to suppliment your diet and a fun hobby as well. Planting fruit trees, vines and other food-bearing plants will add value and beauty to your home. To learn more, visit the Organic Landscape Alliance.
Add a composter to reduce the amount of waste that you add to your landfills. Your plants and trees will thank you for the nutrients you will be providing them with, as well. To learn more about composting, CLICK HERE.
If you are building a new home or rennovating your old one, put some thought into using either recycled materials, sustainable wood floors (bamboo instead of oak, for example) and natural products (wool carpet instead of synthetic). VISIT THIS SITE and you will see things that you have never heard or thought of.
Water filtration. Using good filters is important for your health and the value of your home. A whole-house water filter that will begin filtering your water as it enters your house will be a big feature. No chlorine, harsh chemicals or impuritites will get into your bath, drinking or laundry water. These filtration systems can be a huge selling point as well as help keep you and your family healthy. CLICK HERE to go to a buying guide.
Air filtration is a huge factor for your health as well as your energy bills. Using a good filtration system can keep you from visiting the doctors during allergy seasons, it will keep you from having to clean/dust as often, it will keep your AC unit from having to work so hard to keep your house cool and it will be a HUGE factor in the sale of your house. People love high quality filtration systems and you should keep this in mind when deciding on which one to purchase. At the minimum, you should have a very good air filter in your AC system that you change or clean often. To learn more about air filters, CLICK HERE.
Lighting is huge when it comes to energy consumption. If your house has not been designed with natural lighting in mind, it is imperative that you add energy-efficient lightbulbs. Not only will this reduce your monthly power bill, but you will replace them less often, your house will be cooler in the summer months, you will be reducing air and water pollution and your lighting will be better. Visit THIS SITE for more information.
Recycle. Making it easy to recycle is an important factor in whether that plastic bottle goes to the landfill or gets reused. Move your recycling containers to a place where they are as easy to get to as your garbage can. If you keep them out of sight, they will be out of mind. Many stores such as Lowe's or Home Depot sell organizing bins to aid you in your efforts to store/organize recycle materials. Installing these will not only encourage you to recycle, it will also be an attractive feature to many potential buyers. To see the variety of options, CLICK HERE.

If you are interested in buying a "green" house or knowing how to make your house more environmentally friendly, please call me today at 770.862.8002 and we'll get started right away!

Michael Bradford

Southern Prime Realty

Artuzzi's Italian Kitchen

2007-09-28T06:38:00.000-04:00

Review by Shannon Bradford

My friend Gina and I were hankering for some Italian fare so we decided to try Artuzzi's Italian Kitchen located on Hwy. 92 near I-575 in the same shopping center as our last week's review resturant "Firehouse Subs" (near Kinko's). Let me just say that we were NOT disappointed.

Artuzzi's is really unique and they can only be found in the Atlanta area. (They call it Italian With A Twist) They serve fresh, healthy Italian food quickly. It's not "fast food" but it is served to you quickly. It is also much more moderately priced than some of the more expensive Italian resturants and tastes just as fresh and delicious. Don't be surprised when your food is being cooked with a flame under the sautee' pan. And, yes, you can watch them do it because they have an open kitchen area.

Artuzzi's lends an atmosphere of fun to your dining experience. It's artfully decorated in a modern way with great lighting, lovely tile floors and contrasting paint colors. Seating is spacious and there are plenty of loyal staff members (who have worked there since they first opened 2 years ago) cleaning and serving throughout the dining room.

The tone was set when we arrived as we were greeted by a very sweet, smiling girl, Tammy. She was ready to walk us through the menu, which included pasta, pizzas, sandwiches and salads. Their most popular dish is their Lasagna followed closely by pasta (of your choice) with the Bosco Sauce. (sliced chicken, roasted mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, garlic, scallion, fresh basil, Marsalla wine, cream, chicken stock, Parmesan & Romano cheese.) Is your mouth watering? They also serve beer, wine and some delicious looking desserts. See?

Brian Hazen, who co-owns Artuzzi's with Crawford Humphreys, informed us that not only do they serve fresh food to their walk-in customers, but they also cater and are about to launch delivery service (within a 3 mile radius). I am sure this will absolutely delight the local businesses nearby.

After placing our order of Cheese Ravioli in Bolognese Sauce and a Chopped Mozzamato Salad, we found a comfortable booth near the back and got our drinks from the soft drink bar. Although there was a good crowd of people enjoying Artuzzi's for lunch, there was plenty of comfortable seating - even enough to accomodate several large groups that were dining together.

When our food was brought to us, it looked as delicious as it tasted. And nobody on the staff failed to ask us if we needed anything or offer a friendly smile. That's because they pay their employees a full wage and tipping is optional. Still, many customers leave tips because they feel (as I did) that the service was worth it! Gina even left with a To-Go cup of her favorite soft drink so it didn't go to waste.

If you have not yet tried Artuzzi's Italian Kitchen, may I recommend it to you? They are open for lunch and dinner so you can decide when you want to try something fresh and new. Our lunch was a wonderful dining experience - one that will earn Artuzzi's two new loyal customers. And when you do stop by, tell them that the Bradford's sent you!

Fear the Market? Why?

2007-09-26T06:37:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I came across THIS ARTICLE from Realtor Magazine that I wanted to share with you. It names Atlanta as the #4 top rebound city for the slow market we are experiencing in this country right now. It projects a 5.6% growth rate. Interestingly, all but 1 of the top 10 cities were in the south.

Interest rates for borrowers with good credit and income are at very reasonable rates and easy to obtain. Quicken loans is quoting 6.25% for today's rate (30 year fixed) which is very affordable. Anyone who is renting and has ever considered owning their own home should be excited and motivated to look at properties now! We don't know how long the buyers market will continue but be assured, it will come back around to a sellers market again.

Don't be one of those people (me included) who says "I should have..."! I look around at property that just a few years ago I could have bought (or even did buy and did not keep) for what would be a great deal today and say "If only I had known...". Real estate has always been, and will continue to be a long term, excellent investment that has created more wealth for individuals than any other single vehicle in this country.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, NOW is the time to buy! Give me a call today and tell me if you are looking for your dream home or just a investment that will give you a nice monthly cash flow and I will do the rest. 770.862.8002

Michael Bradford

Southern Prime Realty

Over 600 property views in 1 week!

2007-09-25T09:36:00.001-04:00

The real estate market has changed. We have all heard that and for those of us involved with it on a daily basis know it to be true. As with any business, when your market changes, you have to change with it or risk the chance of being left behind. With that said, I was amazed at the response of a new marketing tool that I have been using with one of my listings. It is called the "Featured Home" on Realtor.com, the worlds' largest real estate web site.

When someone does a search on Realtor.com, they usually start the search by city or zip code. The results of the search "30188" are detailed on this page. It then asks you to choose a search option - either a map or a list. But before you see the list or map, there are 4 homes (of the 8 spots for the zip code) with pictures on the left side which are the "Featured Homes" for this zip code. One of these spots is now mine which I rotate my Woodstock, Georgia, 30188 listings in and out of. But as a test for this first week, I left only one listing all week to see what kind of response I would get. My listing at 204 Whistle Wood Court got 612 property views in the week ending 9/23/07!

Even I was impressed with the results! I may be easily amused, but I am not easily impressed:)

I plan to use the "Featured Listing" on Realtor.com for all my listings. In the age of the Internet where 80% of all home buyers start their search for their next home, it only makes sense to use the tools that will reach this massive audience. If you would like to see your home get this kind of exposure in a "slow market", call me and let's get lots of people seeing your home in a whole new "Featured Home" light.

Call me today and let's talk about real estate. It's one of my favorite things to do! Michael Bradford, 770-862-8002

Household Hints

2007-09-24T17:19:00.000-04:00

All New Household Hints

1. Reheat Pizza : Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to
med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.

2. Easy Deviled Eggs: Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients , reseal , keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly , cut the
tip of the baggy , squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

3. Expanding Frosting: When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. BONUS: You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

4. Reheating refrigerated bread : To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

5. Newspaper weeds away: Start putting in your plants; work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget
about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet
newspapers.

6. Broken Glass clean up: Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

7. No More Mosquitoes: Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

8. Squirrel Away!: To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

9. Flexible vacuum nozzle: To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to
get in narrow openings.

10. Reducing Static Cling: Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone.

11. Measuring Cups clean up: Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill
with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as
peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

12. Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

13. Reopening envelope : If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It
unseals easily.

14. Hair Conditioner: Ladies, use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the
conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...

15. Goodbye Fruit Flies: To get rid of pesky fruit flies , take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

16. Get Rid of Ants: Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home", can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains , but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!