New trend in living arrangements

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?

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

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!

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.

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

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!

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.

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?

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!

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?

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!

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?

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

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!

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

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

Atlanta Garden & Patio Show

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

Do It Herself Workshops

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!

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

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

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

Lowering Energy Costs

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.

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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.

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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.

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Michael Bradford

Southern Prime Realty

Considering a Transfer? Employers Will Help...

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..

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

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

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

A Little Tax Joke

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.

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

• 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

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