North Atlanta Real Estate Voice

Archive for the 'General Info' Category

Operation Stop Arm: Know the Law About Passing A School Bus and Save A Life

Operation Stop Arm is aimed at reducing the number of children that are injured and killed at school bus stops every year. Operation Stop Arm strives to accomplish this worthwhile goal through the following methods:

1. Seeking amendment of current laws to make Stop Arm violation penalties enforceable.

2. Implementation of a state – wide Operation Stop Arm marketing campaign to educate and awaken drivers to the dangers of illegally passing school buses.

For more information on Operation Stop Arm, you can visit the web site at www.operationstoparm.info

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Get the Best Marietta, GA House Deal

Marietta, GA is positioned 15 miles to the northwest of Atlanta in an exemplary Cobb Country setting. The city looks vibrant with world-class amenities, stupendous facilities, and a strong tie to with the past. Close to the earth – this is how a stay at a Marietta, GA house is going to make you feel. Here you have every arrangement for a perfect and an approved stay. All the facilities being offered are just excellent. Thus, when deciding where to relocate, consider Marietta, GA as a favorable option.

Why won’t you consider Marietta, GA houses as an option for spending the rest of your life when the place is always ready to provide you with the best? The locale is just wonderful with aspiring provisions like well-adorned parks, a promising educational set up, and appealing and meticulous streets. The roads and the environment are so exquisite that it seems like every part of the land has been especially prepared for you. With an option of all strata educational system there are lots of opportunities to allow your child to grow. Some of the institutions have a religious intervention and thus study with values is indeed an option.

Purchasing a Marietta, GA house is a great deal for many individuals. If you are looking for a new home, consider purchasing your new home in Marietta, GA.

I hope that now after reading this article you would have got some idea about the city of Marietta and what it has to offer for its people.

Homes in Marietta GA for Sale

Marietta, Georgia is the largest city of Cobb County, and if you are looking for homes for sale, in Marietta, be assured that you will find a wide variety in different price ranges. After going through the prices of the properties, you will be sure to find at least one Marietta, GA home that will meet your requirements and fit your budget.

Subdivisions are available for every home buyer: from first time homebuyers to those looking for upscale homes as well.  You will also have your choice of new construction or resale in town homes, condos and single family homes.

Marietta is full of historical significance and charm; this is one of the many attractions for homebuyers.  With all of the choices available and the variety of locations, amenities and schools, the first thing you need to do is hire an experienced real estate agent who knows the nuances of the real estate business in the Marietta, Georgia area.  Even if a homebuyer is clear about his/her preferred location, budget and other requirements, a professional Realtor will help them focus their search and save lots of time and energy.

Marietta offers many subdivisions that are close to shopping, entertainment and dining.  Or, if you prefer to be a bit more isolated, we have options like that too.

Marietta is also well known for its schools of excellence, which include Walton High School, Pope High School, Marietta High School, Lassiter High School as well as Magnet schools such as Wheeler and Pebblebrook High Schools.

Note that even if you do not have school age children, it is always a good idea to buy a home in an area with good schools.  Good schools always generate demand which will  help you with resale value in future.

Marietta, GA: Sunny and Smart

The city of Marietta, GA is steeped in history.  From its humble beginnings in 1834, it has a rich history and a bright future.

In the 1830s, the state legislature approved the creation of the Western and Atlantic Railroad.  Marietta, GA was selected as the home base for the railroad’s operations.  As result, the city started to grow and businesses boomed.  Several taverns and hotels were built as well as homes for the newly arriving residents.  Marietta, GA endured its share of ups and downs over the next 30 years culminating in 1864 when the town was set on fire by the Union General Kilpatrick.

Almost 150 years later, Marietta, Georgia conjures images of beautiful homes in a suburban setting surrounded by charming downtown streets and shops, inviting green parks, thriving businesses and friendly residents.  One of the reasons Marietta, GA has continued to thrive is due to its education system.  Amidst the parks and historic buildings in downtown Marietta lie three colleges and universities. Well-known for its impressive engineering, computer science, and technology programs, Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) draws students from all-over Georgia as well as far beyond the state’s borders.  SPSU’s baseball, basketball, and soccer teams compete in the NAIA and often draw exceptional athletes. In the 2009 season, the SPSU baseball team won fifth in the NAIA World Series, and three players were drafted by major league teams.

Not content to stand in the shadows, Chattahoochee Technical College (CTC) also awards degrees to hundreds of students each year. A two-year technical college with six campuses in the northwest metro Atlanta area, CTC provides an education and an opportunity to quickly start or enter business in the “real world”.  Lastly, Marietta’s Life University offers three colleges: College of Chiropractice, College of Graduate Studies and Research and the College of Undergraduate Studies.

Marietta, GA is undeniably charming, historic, beautiful, vibrant, and warm in both weather and demeanor. While such surroundings help residents be happy and vibrant, higher-education institutes such as SPSU, CTC, and Life University help residents to reach their potential through education and community involvement.

The colleges and universities draw students who often decide to remain in the area and purchase homes in Marietta, GA.  The allure of the community, opportunity, affordability and availability of homes for sale in Marietta, GA make it one of the best places to live.

Marietta, GA Homes Can Be Fruitful for Investors, Too

Investors who are looking for good opportunities should consider real estate in the Cobb County and Marietta area of GA.  Real estate in these areas should experience growth as demand returns.  Cobb County and its cities such as Marietta and Kennesaw offer low taxes, great schools and easy access to Atlanta as well as the major interstates.

The real estate market in Marietta, GA offers many opportunities for potential buyers, whether they are investors looking for rental property, first time home buyers or homeowners looking to step up or downsize.

Investors will find the many universities generate the need for rental properties, while Atlanta’s base as the home for many corporations means that as the economy rebounds, companies will likely re-start hiring and relocating workers to the area.

Both Marietta and Kennesaw offer many homes for sale that will make good long-term investments.  With the price of real estate in these areas back to levels not seen since the late ‘90s and early 2000s, now is the time to make a purchase.

As an expert in the Kennsaw and Marietta real estate markets, I can identify homes for sale in Marietta and Kennesaw for you to consider.  Please contact me and let me use my expertise to your advantage.

Make A Good First Impression When Listing Your Marietta GA Home For Sale

When selling a home, there are so many factors that are out of your control: the economy, supply and demand, mortgage rates, quality of school district, etc.  So, if you’re thinking about selling your Marietta, GA home, you should make sure that the things you can control are working for you.

Selling a home is all about marketing.  Yes, there are other factors but if no one knows your home is for sale then it really doesn’t matter how good it looks or is priced.  The #1 marketing tool all agents have is the MLS.  Because the majority of buyers have agents (over 80% according to NAR), the most important place to have accurate and correct information is in the local MLS.  Unfortunately, many agents don’t know how the MLS works and even fewer know how to use it to it’s maximum.

Here is one tip and example of a good agent and brokerage missing the boat for their client.  First, the example, then the explanation. READ THE REST OF THE STORY

Top Home Improvement Projects Based on Cost and ROI

In today’s competitive home seller’s market, it is critical to make sure your home is in top showing condition.  Sometimes small things add up to make a huge impact.  HomeGain.com announced that it has released the results of its nationwide home improvement and home staging survey.

HomeGain’s recent survey shows the top do-it-yourself home improvements that Realtors recommend to home sellers. HomeGain received responses from nearly 1,000 Realtors nationwide and configured a list of the top 12 do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvements that cost under $5,000 and benefit sellers most when they sell their homes.

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Voluntarily Walking Away From Your Mortgage – Does That Make You A Social Pariah or Smart Person?

I recently read an excellent article on NYTimes.com by Roger Lowenstein.  In the article, he discusses the decision of a homeowner who voluntarily walks away from their mortgage (and loses their home) and compares it to decisions made by big corporations when they walk away from their obligations.  In our society homeowners have typically felt obligated to honor their agreement to repay a loan even when it was a poor financial decision or required great sacrifice where as large corporations routinely file bankruptcy or use other legal means to obviate their obligations in the name of smart business and shareholder interest.

I have copied the article below and also have a link back to the NYTimes website where it was posted.   After you read it, what do you think about voluntarily walking away from your mortgage especially if it was a good financial decision?  Please post your comments below. READ THE REST OF THE STORY

Marietta, Georgia History and Real Estate

Georgia has a very rich history.  It was one of the original thirteen colonies was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution on January 2, 1788.  On January 21, 1861, Georgia declared its secession from the Union along with six other states.  These were the original seven Confederate states.  Georgia was the last state to be restored to the Union on July 15, 1870.

Georgia is ranked 24^th in size among the 50 U.S. states.  In terms of land area, this makes it the largest state east of the Mississippi River.  With an estimated population of 9,685,744 in July of 2008, it is the ninth most populous state.  Georgia also had 14 counties ranked among the nation’s 100 fastest growing counties.  This makes it one of the fastest growing states in the United States.

Marietta is the county seat of Cobb County.  According to the 2000 census, the population of the city was 58,748.  This makes it one of metro Atlanta’s largest suburbs. The Marietta, Georgia real estate market is beginning to rebound from the economic recession.  The median sales price of a home for sale in Marietta, Georgia for September through November 2009 was $166,676.  This is a decrease of 2.8% when compared to the median price for the same time period in 2008.  Certain areas of Georgia that are rebounding faster than other areas and Marietta, Georgia is one of these areas.

Buying a home is still a great investment and Marietta offers lots of great buying opportunities.  The real estate market is starting to recover and prices are expected to start rising in 2010.  Homes for sale in the Marietta area are an especially good investment at this time due to it’s prime location, low taxes, excellent schools and easy access to Atlanta and major interstate highways.

If you are considering purchasing a new home, now is the time since interest rates are still low, tax credits are available and it is still a buyer’s market.  How long these benefits will last is unknown but now is the time to buy your next home. Contact me to get the latest market information and available homes.

What To Expect in 2010

Happy New Year!  It’s early January and I am filled with optimism about 2010.

I’d like to thank all of you who subscribe to my blog and let you know what to expect in the months ahead.

I launched this website – www.NorthAtlantaRealEstateVoice.com – one year ago. Prior to the launch, I had had a website in place for several years.  While that site had some good information, it was not interactive and really only reached my existing clients.  As the web and internet developed into a more social and interactive space, my old website was not going to cut it. So, I decided to invest in a new site which would take advantage of web 2.0 and allow me to interact with anyone interested in real estate in the north Atlanta area.

When I started this site, little did I know about how big the learning curve would be.  I was challenged not only in learning how to develop the look and feel of the site and its content but also in how to use all of the tools available (facebook, twitter, blogging, youtube, etc) to effectively communicate relevant information.

For the coming year, I am setting the following goals:

1. More consistent posting of content
2. More focused content on the local markets I serve
3. More interaction with my readers and subscribers
4. Growing my subscriber base
5. Becoming a valued resource for north Atlanta real estate information

I will also continue to tweak the look and feel of the site.  It’s getting closer to what I want but it’s not there yet.  Please feel free to share with me any ideas on what would make this site more useful or easier to use.  You can contact me here.  Also, please feel free to let other people know about my site and blog. They can subscribe by clicking here.

I wish you a great 2010 and hope that it brings you everything you want.

All the best,

Barry Wolfert