Experience the Best of Cherokee County Living at Estates of Fernwood Creek

PEC Development Group’s new single-family home community, Estates of Fernwood Creek, offers the best in luxury custom home living. Located in the highly sought-after Cherokee County, Estates of Fernwood Creek is just minutes away from Alpharetta and Roswell while being convenient to Georgia Highway 400 and I-575. Phase 1A of construction will begin in August 2008 and will consist of 24 single-family homes. Presales for homes in Phase 1A will begin in July 2008, and homes will be priced from the mid-$600,000s.

“Estates of Fernwood Creek offers an incomparable opportunity to new home shoppers in Cherokee County,” said Paul Corley, Chief Executive Officer of PEC Development Group. “This community provides superbly designed, luxurious homes and high-convenience living. Estates of Fernwood Creek is the ideal community for the new home shopper seeking beautiful homes, spectacular amenities and a first-class lifestyle.”

The single-family custom homes at Estates of Fernwood Creek will range from 3,200 to over 4,000 square feet. Custom floorplans feature four or more bedrooms, large gourmet kitchens, three-car garages, outdoor living spaces per plan, fireplaces and beautifully detailed elevations with brick, stone, and shake. By conserving an abundance of greenspace within the community, 90 percent of the home sites will back up to open space.

Residents of Estates of Fernwood Creek will enjoy exceptional amenities, including a community clubhouse and pavilion designed by the award winning Caldwell-Cline Architects and Designers. Other amenities include lighted tennis courts, a Junior Olympic sized pool and scenic walking trails throughout the community.

Children at Estates of Fernwood Creek will attend Arnold Mill Elementary, Dean Rusk Middle School and Sequoyah High School.

To visit the community, take Georgia Highway 400 North to Exit 7B. Turn right onto Holcomb Bridge Road, which becomes Crossville Road (Highway 92). Turn right onto King Road. Turn left onto Cox Road. Estates of Fernwood Creek will be located on the left.

Estates of Fernwood Creek is a custom home community being developed by PEC Development Group in Cherokee County. The 112-home community will offer beautiful, personalized homes crafted by a selected group of the area's first-class custom homebuilders. An array of custom floorplans will be available, with the most luxurious home appointments in a peaceful, private setting. PEC Development Group tops the community with extensive amenities for the most discerning new home buyers. To learn more about the homes at Estates of Fernwood Creek, call 770-924-3120 or visit www.estatesoffernwoodcreek.com.

PEC Development Group creates master-planned communities with carefully crafted home sites and livable amenities to enhance the homeowner’s quality of life in Atlanta, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. In addition to popular swim/tennis facilities and sports courts, PEC communities include dedicated public green spaces, such as certified wildlife habitats and large parks with nature trails. This combination of carefully planned home sites, built amenities and natural common areas creates a hometown feeling for residents and establishes communities that families are proud to call home. For more information on PEC Development Group, visit www.PECdevelopment.net.

Secretary Handel Reminds Contractors of the Deadline for Licensure

Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel today reminded construction contractors about the July 1, 2008 deadline to obtain state licensure. Pursuant to Georgia law, the following types of contractors must obtain a license from the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors:

Residential-Basic Contractor (Contractor work relative to detached one-family and two-family residences and one-family townhouses not over three stories in height).
Residential-Light Commercial Contractor (Contractor work or activity related to multifamily and multiuse light commercial buildings and structures).
General Contractor (Contractor work or activity that is unlimited in scope regarding any residential or commercial projects).

The legislation requires licensure for most types of residential and general contractors. However, some specialty contractors are exempt under the law, including barn/agricultural use buildings; contractors engaging in roofing, painting, and dry wall; DOT pre-qualified contractors; certain repair work; and certain licensed subcontractors. A complete list of exempt specialty contractors can be found at: http://sos.georgia.gov/plb/contractors/Specialty_contractors.htm.

To date, 19,322 applicants have been approved for licensure and mailed a license. The number of approved applicants for licensure by category is as follows:

General Contractor Company
1,583
General Contractor Individual
219
General Contractor Qualifying Agent
1,614
Residential Basic Company
3,421
Residential Basic Individual
3,126
Residential Basic Qualifying Agent
3,786
Residential Light Commercial Individual
1,270
Residential Light Company
2,052
Residential Light Qualifying Agent
2,251

Consumers can check the licensure status of any professional licensed by the Secretary of State’s Office, including any disciplinary action, at: https://secure.sos.state.ga.us/myverification.

Contractors with additional questions, including contractors that were approved for licensure and have not received their license, can contact the Professional Licensing Boards at (478) 207-2440.

Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our citizens and our business community. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives and the Capitol Museum.

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SmartNumbers names Circle 75 Number One

SmartNumbers has named The Towns of Crescent Park the number one best selling townhome development in their top 28 for the period of January 1, 2007- May 31, 2008 in the price range of $300,000- $499, 999. SmartNumbers provides residential real estate information, analysis and forecasting for brokers, builder/developers, and mortgage and banking professionals. The number one best selling title is coveted and clearly shows the success that Circle 75 has been enjoying. The placement of The Towns of Crescent Park at the top of the list is based on several criteria, including number of townhomes sold and percentage of market share afforded to the development. Homes in The Towns of Crescent Park are priced from $324,900, with the average selling price for townhomes in this popular neighborhood at $346, 925.

The Towns of Crescent Park is a thriving Live/Work/Play community located in Cobb County in Circle 75. The community offers unique architecture which is reminiscent of the east coast, an appeal unlike anything else in the immediate area. The community features three-story Brownstone-style townhomes complete with exceptional architectural features such as Juliet balconies, arched windows, limestone accents, and hand-engraved addresses.

“The Towns of Crescent Park really has it all! A fantastic location, superior quality construction, an extensive list of standard options that will most definitely exceed today’s homebuyers’ expectations, great amenities, and even a gated dog park,” said Morris & Raper on-site agent, Michelle Legan. ”These features help us stand out above the rest, which is why the homes are selling so well.”

Bullard Ranks in Top 700 Brokers In 20th Annual Listing by RISMedia

Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty has been named to RISMedia's 20th Annual Power Broker Report & Survey. The Metro South-based company ranked 167th in closed transaction sides in the Power Broker Report, which identifies and ranks America's largest residential real estate brokerage companies by transaction sides and sales volume.

Last year, Coldwell Banker Bullard was in the No. 194 position in the report.

The results of this year's Power Broker Survey reflect the market downturn felt from coast to coast. Longer listing times, more cautious buyers and the mortgage meltdown resulted in fewer total transactions -- 2,322,210 in 2007 compared to 2,754,618 in 2006. Meanwhile, price appreciation continued its decline, resulting in lower total sales volume -- $749,201,552,294 in 2007 compared to $855,755,959,352 in 2006.

To view the complete Power Broker Survey results, visit www.rismedia.com.

“Appearing in RISMedia's 2008 Power Broker Report is more important than ever,” explains RISMedia President & CEO John Featherston. “By ranking the industry's leading brokerages by sales dollar volume and transaction, we have been able to identify the leaders in real estate year after year. It's a great promotion and recruitment tool and a great way to show consumers that the real estate industry is still open for business.

“Being among the top 700 brokers in the country is a sure way to gain the trust of speculative clients, differentiate your firm from the competition, and catch the eye of ambitious new recruits.”

For years, the nation's top real estate brokers have sought to be included in the report-an indispensable reference tool used by the real estate industry. RISMedia's Power Broker Report is read by more than 300,000 real estate professionals, thousands of leading corporate relocation decision makers and is accessible online to millions of interested consumers.

The Power Broker Report & Survey is compiled annually by RISMedia and is based on data collected by an annual survey of leading residential real estate brokerage firms. All sales and transaction volume comes directly from brokerages and is verified and substantiated by external sources, in most cases accounting firms, prior to publication.

Based in Norwalk, Conn., RISMedia was founded in 1980 as the premier source of news and business-development information for the residential real estate and home services industries. RISMedia is the leading media organization for best practices information, breaking news and analysis, educational and networking events, and marketing and branding solutions for the leading real estate and home services companies throughout the United States. RISMedia's flagship publication, Real Estate magazine's printed edition is distributed to more than 40,000 brokers and leading agents nationwide, and RISMedia's Daily e-News is circulated to upwards of 300,000 real estate professionals each day. For more information, visit www.rismedia.com.

The Bullard organization was founded in 1956 by the late Cliff Bullard and worked out a franchise agreement with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation in early 1998. It is the largest Coldwell Banker franchise in Georgia. Steve Bullard, current owner and president, has been with the company for more than 35 years.

The oldest and largest real estate company headquartered in the Metro South area of Atlanta, Coldwell Banker Bullard has its headquarters in Jonesboro. The organization now has other offices in Griffin, McDonough, Jackson, Peachtree City, Newnan, and Conyers, and a separate but affiliated company, Coldwell Banker American Land Mart in Conyers.

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Conveniently Located Fulton County Community Offers Variety of Home Options

Central City Condominiums is pleased to invite interested new home buyers to 384 Ralph McGill Blvd. This Fulton County condominium community is located conveniently to downtown, midtown and Little 5 Points. The mid-rise community will offer one- and two-bedroom condos priced from the $120,000s to the low $260,000s.

The condos range in size from approximately 750 to 1,050 square feet and offer a variety of features depending on plan. Most of the homes feature 10’ ceilings, spacious kitchens with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, and hardwood floors in the living areas.

In addition to the sought-after features each home offers, home buyers also have plenty of options to choose the space that best fits their needs and desires. Central City offers one- bedroom, one bathroom homes from 750 to 850 square feet, and two-bedroom, two bathroom homes from 950 to 1,050 square feet.

Central City is located on Ralph McGill Boulevard and offers incredible views of Atlanta. In addition to the views and ample convenience the community offers, homeowners may also enjoy a fitness center, swimming pool, clubhouse and beautiful interior courtyard. Adding an extra sense of security, this pet friendly community also has controlled entry access and garage parking.

Bowen Family Homes Offers Final Opportunities in Alcovy Falls

Bowen Family Homes urges interested home buyers to visit its Lawrenceville community, Alcovy Falls, for final opportunities to purchase single-family homes. The community offers an array of new home options with four single-family home plans and four townhome plans to choose from. The conveniently located community offers front and back lawn maintenance allowing homeowners the time needed to enjoy all that the community and surrounding area has to offer. Alcovy Falls offers townhomes priced from the $120,000s and single family homes priced from the $140,000s.

“We have sold our Alcovy model home and moved into our Townsend model as we promote the final opportunities to purchase single-family homes in this amazing community,” said David Bowen, owner of Bowen Family Homes. “Home buyers seeking convenient location with minimal lawn maintenance need look no further than Alcovy Falls, and they need to look fast. With only 12 single-family homes left, buyers need to move quickly so they don't miss their chance to live in such a great community.”

Magazine Honors Donna Tidwell as one of Atlanta's Best Realtors

Communities Magazine recently once again honored Donna Tidwell as a member of this year's Communities 100, a designation recognizing Atlanta's leading Realtors across metropolitan Atlanta real estate boards.

Tidwell, who had over $14 million in sales last year, is the leader of TeamTidwell from Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty's McDonough/Henry County office.

A member of the Metro South Association of Realtors' Gold Circle of Excellence, Tidwell has been picked for membership in Coldwell Banker's International President's Elite six consecutive years, then was named to the President's Premier for 2001 through 2007, an honor received by fewer than one percent of the Coldwell Banker sales associates worldwide.
Team Tidwell was honored by Coldwell Banker as the Top Producing Team in Georgia in 2002, 2003 and 2006.

From 2002 through 2007, she was the Top Team Producer for both the company and her office. She has been a member of the President's Relocation Club for the past eight years, and Bullard's Relocation Department saluted her as the top agent for outgoing referrals during
2002, 2005, and 2006. She also received Cendant/PHH Mortgage's Top Outstanding Agent Award for 2006 and 2007.

The special Communities 100 designation was established in 1986 by Communities Magazine to recognize only the highest producers of the thousands of Realtors in the area.

The Communities 100 honors the top producing 100 Realtors during 2007 in each of the following three groups: those who are individual agents working for general brokerage companies, those who are team agents typically working for general brokerage companies, and those who are new home agents working for new home, on-site specialist companies. The company for which they work, along with their function within that company, determined placement within a category. Tidwell was selected in the Team Agents category.

Prudential Georgia Realty's New Homes Division Takes on the Marketing of Seven Neighborhoods for Local Builder

Prudential Georgia Realty’s New Homes Division was recently awarded the sales and marketing of seven neighborhoods for Dozier Communities. The Atlanta-based builder, led by Paul Dozier, decided to outsource these and future new home communities it builds.

“Paul Dozier believes in exceeding the expectations of his customers by building top quality, affordable homes and, in representing his seven neighborhoods, our goal is similar,” said Prudential Georgia Realty’s Director of New Homes Lori Lane. “We want to wow home buyers with excellent service while, at the same time, justifying to Dozier Communities that we are the best choice in Atlanta for handling the sales and marketing of its neighborhoods.”

The New Homes Division already had some two dozen new home communities in eight metro Atlanta counties. The new Dozier communities now being represented by Prudential Georgia Realty include:

Clarion Downs, in Stone Mountain, is priced from the high $140s. Clarion Downs is a collection of beautiful three and four bedroom townhomes with elevations varying from beautiful brick to stone and shake, all with hardiplank siding! Each townhome has a guest bedroom on the main level with a full bath and one-car garage. Only 14 remain! Sales center: 770-413-5568

Redan Square, in Lithonia, is affordably priced from $119,900. Redan Square is a private enclave of 155 condominium townhomes, which include nine foot ceilings on the second floor, private single car garage, guest bedroom on main level with full bath, sidewalks, street lights and underground utilities. Protective neighborhood covenants with Condominium Homeowners Association, professionally maintained landscape and common grounds, and maintenance-free building exteriors. Sales center: 678-526-1712

Autumn Cove, in Cumming, is priced from the $220s. Located three miles east of Ga 400, Autumn Cove offers eight spacious floorplans with four and five bedrooms, up to 4,800 square feet. The new community also features a pool, cabana, playground and sidewalks for evening strolls. Sales center: 678-947-1585

The Park at Chestnut Mountain, in Flowery Branch, is priced from the $200s, and ideally located just minutes from Gainesville, Athens, Lake Lanier and the Mall of Georgia. Home plans can be built up to 3,900 sq. ft.+/- with brick, stacked stone and hardiplank elevations. Standard home features include granite countertops and tile backsplash, stunning master retreats with sitting room and fireplace, and custom wood cabinetry in the kitchens. Basement homesites, hardiplank siding, master on the main and ranch plans also available. Sales center: 770-967-4339

Mulberry Village, also in Flowery Branch, is competitively priced from the $160s. Just minutes from Interstate 985, Interstate 85, Lake Lanier, and a short jaunt to Atlanta or the Appalachians Mountains. This private community offers enormous three to five bedroom floor plans, up to 3100 +/- square feet with finished basements. Sales center 770-967-7710

Chicopee Crossing, in Gainesville, is priced with the first-time buyer in mind from the low $100s. These spacious two and three bedroom townhomes with brick exteriors are located across from Chicopee Woods Golf Course and close to Gainesville College and Brenau University. Sales center 770-287-9908

Belmont Village, Conyers, is priced from $139,900 and includes two-story detached condominium homes, three and four bedroom with one or two-car garages. Belmont Village is located close to I-20 and Stonecrest Mall. Sales center 770-483-1607

With the addition of the seven Dozier neighborhoods, Prudential Georgia Realty’s New Homes Division now handles the sales and marketing of more than 30 communities around metro Atlanta. The division has one of the most expansive areas of new home sales and marketing coverage of any firm in metro Atlanta. For more information on any of the new home communities being marketed by Prudential’s New Homes Division, with homes ranging in price from the $100s to $2.5 million+, visit www.prudentialganewhomes.com.

For the last four consecutive years, Prudential Georgia Realty (www.PrudentialGA.com) has been honored with a Consumers’ Choice Award as Best in Class for Executive Home Sales in metro Atlanta. The firm annually has real estate sales well in excess of $2 billion, is one of the 50 largest real estate firms in the nation and is now in its 45th year serving Atlanta. The company has 24 locations in 14 metro Atlanta counties and 1,400 Realtors ready to assist families with their real estate needs.

Harry Norman, Realtors President Lewis Glenn Retires, Successor Named

Rismedia - After months of thoughtful consideration, Harry Norman, Realtors® President and CEO, Lewis Glenn, announced his retirement from Harry Norman, Realtors to pursue other personal and professional opportunities. Senior Vice President and General Manager, Martha Hayhurst, will succeed Glenn as President of Harry Norman, Realtors®.

Lewis Glenn was named President and CEO of Harry Norman, Realtors® by the late Harry Norman, Jr. in 1994. Glenn and a group of managing partners led the company until it was sold to its present owner, HomeServices of America - a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, in May 2006. Prior to being named President, Glenn served as vice president and managing broker of the company’s Buckhead/Northwest office.

“My decision to retire has been made easier by having the current leadership team in place. Harry Norman, Realtors leadership team is committed to taking our company to the next level of greatness. Our company values, principles, good name and reputation are still in place today and this team will only enhance our heritage and legacy. It has been a great honor and pleasure serving as the President and CEO of Harry Norman, Realtors® and I leave this company deeply grateful for the opportunity to be of service to our sales associates, staff members and leadership team. I admire Martha Hayhurst’s professional expertise and leadership skills and after observing her thorough commitment to the success of everyone connected with Harry Norman, Realtors, I am confident in her ability to lead this company to its next level of accomplishment,” said Glenn.

Ron Peltier, chairman and CEO of HomeServices of America, said the following of the announcement:

“I want to personally thank Lewis on behalf of HomeServices for his strong leadership, his dedication to the company and its people, and for his passion to always strive for excellence in our business. I’m sure that, like his colleagues across the HomeServices family, everyone at Harry Norman, Realtors will miss Lewis. I also want to congratulate Martha Hayhurst in her new role as President of Harry Norman, Realtors®. Everyone at HomeServices wishes her the very best in this endeavor. Martha has demonstrated a strong passion to do what’s best for the company and the leadership skills necessary to act on them. HomeServices is committed to the long-term growth and success of Harry Norman, Realtors.”

Martha Hayhurst served as a Senior Vice President since 2006, first as the Senior Vice President in charge of Branch Growth and Development and most recently as the Senior Vice President and General Manager in charge of the overall operations of Harry Norman, Realtors®. Hayhurst joined Harry Norman, Realtors® as Vice President and Managing Broker of the Peachtree City Office, which she opened in 2001.

With more than 20 years experience as a Realtor® in the metropolitan Atlanta area, the Fayette County Board of Realtors® named Hayhurst Realtor® of the Year in 2000 and 2002. She was named as one the top 40 most influential Realtors® in Atlanta for three years by the Atlanta Business Chronicle; she is the recipient of the inaugural President’s Award for service to the Fayette Board of Realtors®, the past President of the Fayette County Board of Realtors and chair or vice chair of many Georgia Association of Realtors committees.

“Being named President of Harry Norman, Realtors, a nationally recognized leader in the real estate industry, is an honor and humbling responsibility. This is an opportunity of great magnitude and I meet this challenge with excitement. I am tremendously grateful to Lewis Glenn and my fellow leaders for preparing me for this task through their fellowship and support,” said Hayhurst.

Hayhurst continued, “Together with our leadership team, I can promise that Harry Norman, Realtors core values of uncompromising honesty and integrity will not change. We will provide nurturing courageous leadership that is not afraid to make difficult decisions with compassion for all involved. We will continue to be a results-oriented company; a place where people are encouraged to grow and flourish, and where they are recognized for their commitments and accomplishments that help to better the entire organization. Together, our leadership team will be relentless in our pursuit of excellence. “

Magazine Honors Two ALM Agents as Being Among Atlanta's Best Realtors

Communities Magazine recently once again honored Betty Denio and Linda Lindsey from Coldwell Banker American Land Mart in Conyers as members of the this year's Communities 100, a designation which recognizes Atlanta's leading Realtors across metropolitan Atlanta real estate boards.

Denio, who had over $9 million in sales last year, was included in the Gold Circle for 16 years in the Communities 100. Lindsey had over $8 million in sales for the year.

The Communities 100 honors the top producing 100 Realtors during 2007 in each of the following three groups: those who are individual agents working for general brokerage companies, those who are team agents typically working for general brokerage companies, and those who are new home agents working for new home, on-site specialist companies. The company for which they work, along with their function within that company, determined placement within a category. Denio and Lindsey were selected in the Individual Agents category.

Magazine Honors Cindy Carter as One of Atlanta's Best Realtors

Communities Magazine recently recognized Cindy Carter as a member of this year's Communities 100, a designation recognizing Atlanta's leading Realtors across metropolitan Atlanta real estate boards.

Carter, who is a Realtor with the Eagle's Brooke Sales Center in Henry County, previously was named to the Communities 100 listing for her production in 2006.

She began her real estate career in 2005 with Prudential Georgia Realty in McDonough. In her first year in real estate, she was named as her office's Rookie of the Year, and she was Top Producing Individual Agent for 2005 and 2006. Recognized as being in the top five percent of Prudential Agents nationwide in 2005, she was presented with the "We Care" Community Service Leadership Award from Prudential in 2006. That same year, she was named to the Circle of Excellence by the Metro South Association of Realtors (MSAR) with sales volume in excess of $6 million.

Carter moved her real estate license to Killearn in December of 2006 to work at the Eagle's Brooke Sales Center in Locust Grove. In 2007, she again was named to the MSAR Circle of Excellence with sales of over $5 million and served as chaplain for the MSAR. This year, she is is a local director for MSAR.

The special Communities 100 designation was established in 1986 by Communities Magazine to recognize only the highest producers of the thousands of Realtors in the area.

The Communities 100 honors the top producing 100 Realtors during 2007 in each of the following three groups: those who are individual agents working for general brokerage companies, those who are team agents typically working for general brokerage companies, and those who are new home agents working for new home, on-site specialist companies. The company for which they work, along with their function within that company, determined placement within a category. Carter was selected in the New Home Agents category.

O'Brien Joins Peachtree City Realtor

Tracey O'Brien has joined the Peachtree City/Fayette County office of Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty.

O'Brien, which has been in real estate for more than five years, has completed Coldwell Banker FastStart, the Negotiation Specialist course, and other continuing education classes. She joined the Bullard organization as a result of its recent merger with Coldwell Banker Fulton Realty Associates.

She and her husband Bob and their two dogs live in Peachtree City. She has been a participant in Habitat for Humanity.

Hires Joins McDonough Realtor

Freddie Hires is a new agent with the McDonough/Henry County office of Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty.

Hires, who completed the Real Estate Express pre-licensing course, was a finance major at Tuskegee University, finishing with honors. He also has an M.B.A. from Auburn University.

A Stockbridge resident, Hires is a member of the Atlanta chapter of the Tuskegee University Alumni group.


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Hope for Homeowners?

GHRE Note: We found this story of interest and thought we'd pass it along to our readers.

Mortgage Group To Step Up Homeowner Aid
New guidelines will offer more aggressive help to homeowners in trouble

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

June 17, 2008

A group set up by major U.S. mortgage lenders says it has revised its principals and guidelines to offer more aggressive help for homeowners in distress. ....

Read the story.

Oakland Park Welcomes New Sales Agents

The Oakland Park development team is excited to welcome two new sales associates to the community, Allan Altman and Valencia Justice of The Marketing Directors. Oakland Park, at 563 Memorial Drive in Atlanta, is a joint venture project between Atlanta’s Urban Realty Partners and Melaver, Inc., a sustainable real estate developer based in Savannah, Ga. Oakland Park is the first multi-family housing project in Atlanta to receive LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. In their newly appointed positions, Altman and Justice will represent Oakland Park to new condominium shoppers.

“Allan and Valencia bring many years of sales experience to Oakland Park,” said Simon Tuohy, Financial Officer and Development Associate for Urban Realty Partners and project manager for Oakland Park. “These two extraordinary associates are valuable additions to our team. Interested buyers will be thoroughly impressed with the first-class customer service provided by these award winning associates.”

Altman brings eight years of sales experience to Oakland Park. He spent seven of those years with Century 21 Dwellings, formerly Dwellings Real Estate. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors and the Georgia Association of Realtors and was named a Top Sales person for seven years, was a part of Century 21's Top Selling Team in 2007 and received their Centurian Award in 2006 and Emerald Award in 2007.

Justice brings seven years of sales experience to Oakland Park. Her background also includes several years of administrative and office management experience. Prior to Oakland Park, Justice spent two years at Century 21 Dwellings alongside Altman. She is a member of the National Association of Realtors and the Georgia Association of Realtors.

The Marketing Directors, Inc., has been the leading marketer and exclusive sales agent for residential property since 1980, selling more than $20 billion of real estate, one home at a time. The company has received numerous awards and recognitions from industry associations such as The Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM), and The National Sales & Marketing Council (NSMC) of the National Association of Home Builders. The company has won more than fifty Silver and Gold IRM awards for excellence including Best Marketed Project of the Year twelve times since 1984. For more information, visit www.themarketingdirectorsinc.com.

The six-story Oakland Park building is remarkable because of the “forever views” of the Atlanta skyline that can be seen across Oakland Cemetery, and because of the care taken by developers to create an environmentally friendly building. The developers made sound decisions that resulted in a more efficient construction site, with very little waste going to the landfill, and in a high performance building that will use less energy over time. Bamboo floors, oversized, operable, low-emittance windows, eco-friendly tile and paint, high-performance plumbing fixtures and energy efficient appliances are the interior hallmarks of Oakland Park, which features 65 one and two bedroom residences and 6,400 square feet of street-front retail.
Oakland Park includes Foxgloves and Ivy floral design studio, Stella Neighborhood Trattoria restaurant, and will include additional retail fronting Memorial Drive and Park Avenue. For more information, call 404-688-0300 or visit www.oaklandparkatlanta.com.

2007 Bronze Society

Pictured in these two photos are some of the current Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty agents who earned membership in the company’s 2007 Bronze Society, recognized for having at least $1 million in production credits during that year. The list of current agents achieving Bronze Society for 2007, who are shown with President and owner Steve Bullard, includes top photo from left: (front) LouAnn Harris, Dennis Kitchens, Marian Hynson, Linda Scott, Donna Lasseter; (back) Virginia Pigue, Debbie Jordan, Bullard, Nancy Hollis, Debra Bardwell, and Loy Hutcheson; bottom photo from left: (front) Ted Phillips, Marge Peterson, Sabrina McGee; (back) Jim Qualls, Bullard, and Bob Conklin.

The recognition was made at the company’s recent Awards Breakfast, held at Eagle’s Landing Country Club. Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty has offices in Jonesboro, McDonough, Peachtree City, Newnan, Jackson, Griffin, and Conyers.

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Large Lots, Castle-style Homes Bring A Touch of France to Conyers at Avignon

Thirty luxury homes on lots averaging three-quarters of an acre will create a taste of France in Conyers at the newest community of homes built by custom home builder Classic Smith Neighborhoods. Avignon will feature six brand new floor plans based on homes created by builder Mark Smith at Underwood Crossing, which features homes built on the theme of European castles.

These brand new plans were designed with comfort and convenience in mind. Today's buyer is looking for a home with a good flow, Mark Smith, president and founder of Classic Smith Neighborhoods, which has also built Greyfield and Underwood Crossing. Our homes are an excellent value; we use high-quality materials and offer low maintenance and long-term appeal for the homes we build, both inside and out.

The name Avignon comes from the European Castle Collection of homes Smith originally designed for Underwood Crossing. All the homes in Avignon are from the French Collection, creating a full community of stylish European homes.

"We're making special introductory offers for buyers, " Smith said. "In a slow market like this one, we have continued to provide value for the dollar; that's why we're still building. The custom home market has remained consistent, and we are able to meet that demand. With interest rates continuing to remain low, it truly is an excellent time to buy a new home."

The six new plans feature different elevations with the heavy stucco accents classic to European styling. All brick exteriors offer insulation and very low maintenance. Stucco and stone accent the castle-like elevations, and custom finishes are available on all of the homes.

Inside, bull-nosed (rounded) corners and knock-down ceilings add texture and depth; architectural details such as tall ceilings, arches, columns and two-story rooms add to the elegance of the plans. Full basements include rooms that can be finished as home theaters, family rooms, hobby/office space and full baths. All of the plans feature a guest suite with a full bath on the main level.

"There seems to be more demand than ever for homes that offer space for entertainment and guests," Smith said. "The terrace level is perfect for the flexible space of a home theater and extra living area."

Coldwell Banker American Land Mart in Conyers is the marketing team for Avignon. For information, call 770-483-2323 or visit the company's website at www.AmericanLandMart.com.

Prudential Georgia Realty Places 41st in the Nation for 2007 Sales

Prudential Georgia Realty, with its 24 offices and 1,400+ sales associates, continues to be one of the nation’s sales leaders. In the April issue of Real Estate Magazine, Prudential Georgia Realty placed 41st in the nation for total sales. In 2007, Prudential Georgia Realty had more than $2.4 billion in gross sales.

The 2008 Power Broker Report publishes the top 500 real estate firms in the United States. The list is compiled by total sales volume and closed transactions. It is the 20th year this real estate trade publication has published this report and Prudential Georgia Realty has become a regular fixture on the list.

“The report also showed that Georgia ranks 9th in the nation for most real estate sales and 10th for most sales volume. These two stats are important indicators that our state remains an active real estate market and is not seeing the downturn effects so often reported in the local media,” said Prudential Georgia Realty President and CEO Dan Forsman. “These news reports generally only show national averages and statistics, but real estate has always been diverse from city to city and state to state. It’s not unlike the weather. Just as we don’t have the same forecast in Georgia and California, nor do you have the same real estate trends.”

It was also announced, at the recent Prudential Real Estate Affiliates (PREA) Annual Convention in New Orleans, that Prudential Georgia Realty was the 10th largest Prudential affiliate in North America for its 2007 sales production. PREA has nearly 2,100 offices and 64,000 sales associates in its organization.

For more information on Prudential Georgia Realty or to get contact information on any of its 24 metro Atlanta locations, visit www.PrudentialGeorgia.com. From there, link directly to any of the company’s 1,400 Realtor web sites, for each sales professional has his or her own personal Internet address. Visitors to the sites can conduct and save property searches as well as research foreclosure properties in Georgia through a designated link.

Prudential Georgia Realty is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, a full-service residential and commercial real estate network with offices throughout the U.S. and Canada. Ranked by Real Estate Magazine as one of the top 100 real estate companies in the U.S., Prudential Georgia Realty placed 41st for most 2007 sales in the real estate trade magazine’s recently released 2008 Power Broker Report.

For the last four consecutive years, the company has been honored with a Consumers’ Choice Award as Best in Class for Executive Home Sales in metro Atlanta. The firm annually has real estate sales well in excess of $2 billion and is now in its 45th year of serving metro Atlanta. Prudential Georgia Realty has 24 locations in 14 metro Atlanta counties and 1,400 Realtors ready to assist families with their real estate needs.

Foreclosure Activity Increases 7% in May

GHRE Note: Georgia appears to have made the top 10 in this list.

RISMEDIA, -RealtyTrac®, a leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, released its May 2008 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report(TM), which shows foreclosure filings — default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions — were reported on 261,255 properties during the month, a 7% increase from the previous month and a 48% increase from May 2007. The report also shows one in every 483 U.S. households received a foreclosure filing during the month, the highest monthly foreclosure rate since RealtyTrac began issuing the report in January 2005.

RealtyTrac publishes the largest and most comprehensive national database of foreclosure and bank-owned properties, with over 1.5 million properties from over 2,200 counties across the country, and is the foreclosure data provider to MSN Real Estate, Yahoo! Real Estate and The Wall Street Journal’s Real Estate Journal.

“May was the third straight month where we’ve seen a month-to-month increase in foreclosure activity and the 29th straight month we’ve seen a year-over-year increase,” said James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac. “The nationwide rate of increase for default notices and foreclosure auction notices slowed in May, with default notices up just 1% from the previous month and auction notices down 3% from the previous month. However, bank repossessions continued to surge in May — posting a double-digit percentage increase from the previous month and more than twice the number reported in May 2007 — which pushed the total inventory of bank-owned REOs in our database to more than 700,000.”

Nevada, California, Arizona post top state foreclosure rates

With one in every 118 households receiving a foreclosure filing in May, Nevada posted the highest state foreclosure rate for the 17th consecutive month. Foreclosure filings were reported on a total of 9,009 Nevada properties, an increase of nearly 24% from the previous month and a 72% increase from May 2007.

California foreclosure activity in May increased 11% from the previous month and 81% from May 2007, helping the state continue to register the nation’s second highest state foreclosure rate. One in every 183 California households received a foreclosure filing during the month, a rate that was 2.6 times the national average.

Arizona’s May foreclosure rate — one in every 201 households received a foreclosure filing during the month — ranked third highest among the states for the second month in a row. Arizona foreclosure activity increased nearly 12% from the previous month and almost 119% from May 2007.

One in every 228 Florida households received a foreclosure filing in May, giving it the fourth highest foreclosure rate among the states. Michigan foreclosure activity in May increased nearly 25% from the previous month, helping the state’s foreclosure rate to jump to fifth highest among the states after ranking No. 9 the previous month. One in every 353 Michigan households received a foreclosure filing in May.

Other states with foreclosure rates ranking among the top 10 were Georgia, Colorado, Massachusetts, Ohio and New Jersey.

California, Florida, Arizona report highest foreclosure totals

Foreclosure filings were reported on 71,930 California properties, 37,364 Florida properties and 12,959 Arizona properties, the three highest state totals in May. Michigan was not far behind Arizona, with 12,792 properties receiving foreclosure filings during the month.

Foreclosure filings were reported on 12,295 Ohio properties in May, the fifth highest state total despite a nearly 7% decrease from May 2007. With one in every 410 households receiving a foreclosure filing, Ohio’s foreclosure rate ranked No. 9 among the states and was above the national average.

Georgia foreclosure activity increased 11% from the previous month and 23% from May 2007, giving the state 10,241 properties with foreclosure filing in May — the nation’s sixth highest total. And with one in every 378 Georgia households receiving a foreclosure filing during the month, the state’s foreclosure rate also ranked No. 6 among the states.

Other states in the top 10 for total properties with filings were Texas, Illinois, Nevada and New Jersey.

California and Florida cities account for 9 of top 10 metro rates

For the second month in a row, California and Florida cities accounted for nine out of the top 10 metropolitan foreclosure rates among the 230 metropolitan areas tracked in the report. Seven California cities were in the top 10, led by Stockton in the top spot. One in every 75 Stockton area households received a foreclosure filing in May — more than six times the national average. Other California cities in the top 10 were Merced at No. 3, Modesto at No. 4, Riverside-San Bernardino at No. 5, Vallejo-Fairfield at No. 7, Bakersfield at No. 8, and Sacramento at No. 9.

The Cape Coral-Fort Myers metro area in Florida registered the second highest metro foreclosure rate in May, with one in every 79 households receiving a foreclosure filing during the month. The other Florida metro area in the top 10 was Port Lucie-Fort Pierce at No. 10.

Las Vegas was the only city outside of California and Florida with a foreclosure rate ranking among the top 10. One in every 96 Las Vegas households received a foreclosure filing in May, more than five times the national average and No. 6 among the metro areas.

Metro areas with foreclosure rates among the top 20 included Phoenix at No. 12, Detroit at No. 14, San Diego at No. 17 and Miami at No. 19.

BD Investors, LLC is Pleased to Announce the Grand Opening of the Designer Decorated Model Home at AXIS in DeKalb County

BD Investors, LLC is pleased to announce that the designer decorated model home at AXIS is now open. The DeKalb County condominium community offers 47 one and two bedroom condos and seven live/work units which are within walking distance to Little 5 Points and Candler Park. Phase I of the community also recently opened and of the 22 homes in the initial phase, there are several which are currently under contract. The 796 to 1,355 square foot homes at AXIS are priced from the $180,000s to the low $300,000s.

“We are thrilled to announce the opening of our designer decorated model home at AXIS, and encourage interested new home buyers to tour the model soon and pick out one of the remaining homes in Phase I of the community,” said onsite agent, Charles McClain. “The model showcases The Claire floor plan, as well as all of the great interior features offered at AXIS at no additional charge.”

Designed and decorated by Pimsler Hoss Architects, The Claire is a one bedroom, one bathroom home with a den. Offering approximately 856 square feet of living space, the home has a large bedroom with spacious walk-in closet and a bathroom with double floating vanities. The kitchen, living and dining rooms all open to one another creating a light and airy atmosphere. In addition to the separate den, The Claire also features a large balcony.

Many of the features of the model are the same in each home at AXIS including the balcony, a contemporary Italian-style kitchen and bathroom with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, sliding four-panel bathroom doors, Kohler “rain” showerhead and hardwood floors in the living areas. All condos also come with an Ipod dock which can be integrated into the home’s audio system allowing for music to be played throughout the home.

Other unique interior features offered in the homes include glass tile backsplash, accent lighting above and below the kitchen cabinetry, sound dampening sub-flooring, large metal windows allowing an abundance of light, brushed nickel finished hardware on all doors, and crystallized glass vanity tops with wall mounted faucets in the baths. Several unit floor plans feature a rooftop patio and mezzanine level with either a sitting area and wet bar or a bedroom and full bath.

AXIS is located within walking distance of MARTA and has a dogwalk in the community – where residents can take their four legged friends for playtime and to meet neighbors. The gated community has an electronic entry system, a securely lit parking area, and professional landscaping.

To visit the community, take DeKalb Avenue towards Decatur. AXIS will be on the left at 1300 DeKalb Avenue. Exclusive sales and marketing is provided by Morris & Raper Intown. Interested homebuyers may contact the sales center at 404-577-AXIS or visit www.AxisDekalb.com for more information.

Foreman Is Sales Leader for Jonesboro Office

Rodney Foreman has been named May Individual Agent Leader for the
Jonesboro/Clayton County office of Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty.

Patricia Winston was the office’s No. 2 individual producer for the
month, and Walter Widemond was No. 3.

Foreman, who took his pre-licensing courses at Clayton State College,
has been in real estate for eight years and joined Coldwell Banker
Bullard in October of 2007. He currently handles sales for the Tara
Woods, Tara Oaks and Heritage Place communities.

A Clayton County resident, Foreman majored in business administration
with a minor in business management.

Matthews Joins Griffin Realtor

Steve Matthews is a new sales associate with the Griffin/Spalding County office of Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty.

Planning to work primarily in Pike, spalding Lamar and Coweta Counties, Matthews specializes in land, commercial and developments. He is a graduate of the Advantage School of Real Estate and Coldwell Banker Boot Camp.

Matthews, who also owns a pressure washing company, is the husband of Brandy Matthews, who is also an agent with Coldwell Banker Bullard's Griffin office.

They are residents of Zebulon and have three children, Tyler, Austin, and Grayson. He coaches Little League baseball, and the family is active in Pike County Church of Christ.

Mark Carruth Brings Diverse Background to Active Adult Market

As a third generation homebuilder, Mark Carruth has been building homes since the age of 16. In college, Carruth pursued a medical career briefly, but as a junior decided his passion was building homes. Carruth graduated from the University of Georgia with a Business Degree with an emphasis in real estate. After college, Carruth worked in the Macon and Atlanta residential and commercial markets before starting his first company, Loren Construction. Carruth now brings that diverse background to the active adult market at Windsong Properties, which he founded with Steve Romeyn to meet a demand fueled by the baby boomers and the change in demographics.

“We share a common background in building and I have a lot of respect for Steve,” said Carruth. “With the active adult market growing rapidly, we saw an opportunity to create a new company together, so we went for it.”

Windsong is Carruth’s fourth company and is his first company focused solely on the active adult market. Carruth relates to the active adult as an empty nester himself, and he uses that personal experience and merged it with his building experience.

“Building for the active adult market is just as much about building a lifestyle as it is building the actual home,” said Carruth. “People go through a lot of changes in their fifties. Whether it is career-related, family-related or health-related, Windsong allows active adults to live a lower-maintenance lifestyle in a community of like-minded people.”

Windsong pays attention to the details that make living simple for the active adult. Homes are single-level, have no steps, are EasyLiving certified and have wider openings creating wheelchair accessibility. The homes are smaller, but the individual rooms are more spacious.
After 30 years of building homes, Carruth still enjoys the process and works hard to make it enjoyable for his clients as well.

“Clients are excited about the custom building process, but have reservations because they have heard so many horror stories about the homebuilding process,” said Carruth. “I just want the process to be fun. You do not want your client to be worn out or stressed; and you want the results to be positive.”

When he’s not building homes, Carruth enjoys playing golf, boating or traveling to his second home on Hilton Head Island. Carruth is also actively involved with Habitat for Humanity and the Greater Atlanta Home Builder’s Association.

ExchangePoint Properties Completes TIC Transaction for Major Atlanta Multifamily Complex

BUSINESS WIRE --Beverly Hills-based ExchangePoint Properties, LLC, a leading real estate investment company and sponsor of tenant-in-common (TIC) investments, announced today the completion of a TIC transaction for Cameron Brook Apartments, a 440-unit apartment complex located at 4659 Dawson Boulevard in Atlanta, Ga. Within five months of acquiring the property for $26.2 million, ExchangePoint completed the sale of the apartment complex to 35 TIC investors.

“Atlanta is a strong market with an expanding economy and growing demographics, that combined offer us tremendous opportunities for the acquisition of multifamily value-added properties,” said Evan Farahnik, principal of ExchangePoint Properties, LLC. “Cameron Brook provided investors with a unique opportunity to invest in an exceptional asset with strong upside potential.”

A $3 million renovation program is planned for the property. ExchangePoint plans to complete extensive interior and common area upgrades, which will allow the complex to compete with newer class ‘A’ apartments in the area.

The Cameron Brook Apartment complex was built in 1986 and has a variety of one, two, and three bedroom units. Amenities at the complex include a club house, fitness center, two tennis courts, pool area and playground.

ASHI Introduces Client Bill of Rights

From choosing a neighborhood to hiring a real estate agent to buying the right home, it’s easy for potential home buyers to feel overwhelmed by all the decisions that go into the home-buying process. Who can one trust and what can he or she expect?

Just as the Founding Fathers of our country created the Bill of Rights to protect our citizens, the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) created the Client Bill of Rights to protect home buyers.

“Few things in life come with a guarantee,” said Brion Grant, 2008 president of ASHI. “The ASHI Client Bill of Rights is a commitment that ASHI members make to their clients that they will uphold the highest standards and conduct a thorough, unbiased and honest evaluation of their home. It’s another demonstration of professionalism and ethical commitment so their clients can feel confident about the decision to choose an ASHI Certified Inspector.”

According to Bill Loden, chairman of the ASHI Code of Ethics Committee, the Client Bill of Rights was designed to help the general public and clients of ASHI members better understand how the ASHI Code of Ethics serves them. “It shifts the focus from the inspector to the client,” said Loden. “Our ethics are no longer simply a set of rules that our members strive to follow, they are more a commitment they offer their clients.”

The ASHI Client Bill of Rights was derived from the ASHI Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. The full bill of rights follows:

ASHI Client Bill of Rights

- To be assured the inspector is objective in his or her reporting and will not knowingly understate or overstate the significance of reported conditions.
- To be assured the inspector’s opinion is based on genuine conviction within the scope of his or her education and experience.
- To be assured the inspector stays current with the industry body of knowledge through continuing education.
- To be assured the inspector will not disclose inspection results or client information without client approval.
- To be assured the inspector has not accepted any form of compensation for recommending contractors, services or products.
- To be assured the inspector will not offer to repair or replace for compensation any component covered by the

ASHI Standards of Practice for one year after the inspection.

- To be assured future referrals to the inspector from real estate agents are not dependent on the inspection findings or the sale of the property.
- To be assured the home inspector has no financial interest in the transaction.
- To be assured the inspector is not receiving compensation for the inspection from any other party.
- To be assured the inspector did not compensate the real estate agent or other party for the referral to the client.

ASHI Certified Inspectors have the experience and technical expertise to help potential buyers better understand the condition of a home before making a purchase.

Three New Home Consultants at eon Receive EcoBroker Designation

Energy benefits may take the form of improved financing, utility bill savings, homeowner comfort, and appliance reliability. EcoBrokers understand energy benefits and costs and how they will affect their buyers and sellers. eon at Lindberg’s new home consultants Whitney Stuckart, Carolina Haas and Louis McCall have all completed their EcoBroker designation.

Wendy Stuckart, newly certified EcoBroker, said, “This certification will help me attract the green-minded consumer and provide valuable energy and environmental information to all types of clients. I always understood the value of energy efficiency, environmental technologies, reduced liabilities, and sustainable design in real estate, but this designation has provided even greater resources to help consumers see the tremendous value of living green.”

An EcoBroker is a truly dedicated real estate professional who has taken additional energy and environmental training geared towards meeting the needs of buyers, sellers and clients. This training equips them with information and tools that help them provide added value to all of their real estate transactions. EcoBroker training helps real estate agents address the newest topics in real estate, such as "green" home certification programs, energy-efficiency, and sustainable design.

Mortgage Applications, Refi’s Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

RISMEDIA -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending June 6. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, was 557.1, an increase of 10.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis from 502.3 one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 23% compared with the previous week and was down 16.5% compared with the same week one year earlier.

The Refinance Index increased 8.4% to 1622.1 from 1496.1 the previous week and the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 12.8% to 376.2 from 333.6 one week earlier. The Conventional Purchase Index increased 11% while the Government Purchase Index (largely FHA) increased 17%.

The four week moving average for the seasonally adjusted Market Index is down 2.8% to 568.6 from 597.9. The four week moving average is up 1.7% to 353.8 from 354.3 for the Purchase Index, while this average is down 8% to 1835.6 from 2035.6 for the Refinance Index.

The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 39.8% of total applications from 40.6% the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 10.3 from 8.7% of total applications from the previous week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 6.24% from 6.17%, with points increasing to 1.12 from 1.06 (including the origination fee) for 80% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 5.78% from 5.7%, with points increasing to 1.12 from 1.06 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans.

The average contract interest rate for one-year ARMs increased to 6.87% from 6.8%, with points decreasing to 1.42 from 1.44 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans.

For more information, visit www.mortgagebankers.org.

Serrano and Eon Show Their Support for Local Realtors

COMMUNITIES Magazine honored the top producing 100 Realtors at their annual breakfast at the Cobb Galleria. eon at Lindbergh and Serrano sponsored this event to show their support for all the hard work that goes into being named among the top 100.

Across 14 metropolitan Atlanta Boards of Realtors and among 24,271 real estate professionals, these individuals were named the top one percent. “We are happy to be here to cheer for this elite group of Realtors. We also were excited to have an opportunity to showcase two of our developments, eon at Lindbergh and Serrano, among such an amazing group of professionals,” said Irene Hall, Vice President of Marketing at Evolv.

When complete, eon at Lindbergh will offer 352 one- and two-bedroom EarthCraft® certified residences. eon at Lindbergh is one of a few of Atlanta condominiums that are EarthCraft® Certified. Created by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association in partnership with Southface, EarthCraft® guidelines address energy efficiency, durability, indoor air quality, resource efficiency, waste management, and water conservation.

Serrano's amenities are nothing less than what is expected at any Mediterranean resort. The community will feature a state-of-the-art fitness center with saunas; media room; clubroom with full kitchen, and a comfortable entertainment and seating area; conference room, business center and spacious storage facilities; secured parking; swimming pool, outdoor grill, fireplace and social area. Pets are part of the family and welcomed at Serrano, which will incorporate a pet walk into its outdoor landscaping. Buyers can choose from 13 unique floorplan designs.

Blue Ridge Mountain Home to Sell in July 19 Auction

BUSINESS WIRE - A secluded home in the mountains of North Georgia will sell at absolute auction Saturday, July 19, with Albert Burney Auction Company managing the sale. In an absolute auction, the property sells to the highest bidder with no minimum bid or reserve.

“A lot of people just don’t realize that there are still places in the Blue Ridge Mountains where you can have a secluded home and be surrounded by some of the most beautiful land in the world, so this auction gives us an opportunity to let more people know about it,” said Warren Ward, president of Albert Burney.

The three-level home is located only seven miles south of the North Carolina/Tennessee state line, in an area that is known for spectacular mountain views and unspoiled wilderness. It features walk-around balconies on two levels, a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, a pool room (with table) and a master suite with a private sitting area overlooking the mountains.

“The individuals selling this property chose the land about 15 years ago and built the home to take full advantage of the setting. The best thing is that you’re virtually surrounded by nature, without the traffic and noise you find in areas to the north,” said Ward. It is located minutes from the Toccoa River, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and the Chattahoochee and Cherokee national forests.

“This is also one of the best areas in the Southeast for hunting, with several wildlife management areas where you can hunt white tail deer and even bear,” said Ward.

Individuals interested in additional information about the home and auction may contact Albert Burney at 800.434.1654 or visit the company’s web site at www.albertburney.com.

Windsong Properties to Host Active Adult Homebuyer Seminar

Windsong will host an Active Adult Homebuyer Seminar on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at The Villas at Blackberry Run in Seven Hills, which is located in Paulding County. The seminar will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Villas' Clubhouse. Speakers will include Patricia Ann Bowen, a relocating specialist and Arow Flemmer, an interior designer that will talk about staging and decorating. The seminar is free and open to the public. Guests are asked to RSVP at 770-917-8082.

Patricia Ann Bowen is responsible for marketing and client relations with Get Ready for Tomorrow, a Senior Move Management and Estate Liquidation service. She has a Masters degree in Psychology and years of marketing, training and intervention experience. With her Operations Partner, Tome Schulte, she provides free estimates for what it will take anyone to ‘Get Ready for Tomorrow,’ including downsizing, selling, donating, packing, sorting and more.

“Moving is one of the most difficult and stressful events in life, especially when you’re downsizing,” said Bowen. “I’m happy to share with people how they can do what we do: get ready to move using a relatively painless process, and how they can find good homes for their treasures if they’re downsizing.”

Arow Flemmer is the owner of Under the Willow Interiors and has been running her own business for six years. She is one of four Accredited Staging Professional Masters in Georgia. Flemmer received her Interior Design degree from Lambuth College and has approximately 20 years industry experience. Flemmer has been staging home for four years and has staged homes with values ranging from a $92,000 condo to a $2.6 million estate. As part of a staging team, Flemmer was featured on two episodes of A&E’s Flip This House in the Atlanta market.

The Villas at Blackberry Run is a master-planned community located in Seven Hills between Acworth and Dallas. These ranch-style homes consist of two to three bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. Features of the homes include private courtyard retreat with patio, ventless fireplace with gas logs, oversized Master walk-in closet, and cultured marble garden tub and separate shower in the Master bathroom.

To visit The Villas at Blackberry Run take I-75 to Glade Road (Exit 278). Turn left. At 3rd light (Hwy 92), turn right. At Hwy 41, turn right. Past Hwy 92 and turn left at light on Cedarcrest Road. Seven Hills is approx. 5 miles on the right. Turn Right on Seven Hills Blvd. Just past the amenities, turn right on Blackberry Run Trail. Follow to the entrance of the Villas at Blackberry Run on the left.

First Sharp Residential Homeowners Move into LakeStone!

Residents have already begun moving into LakeStone, Sharp Residential’s newest single-family neighborhood located in sought-after Woodstock. Spacious new homes, many with basements, are selling fast and range in price from the $300,000s to $400,000s. The community surrounds a lake, and upon completion will have 203 homes, a swimming pool, tennis courts, tot lot, dock and sidewalks throughout.

Cameron and Thomas Mize have just moved into LakeStone with their young daughter, Samantha. They weren’t really planning on moving so quickly from their previous home which was located only a mile and a half away. But the amount of house they could get for the price was unbeatable. They ended up purchasing The Briarcliff II, a five bedroom home with a full basement.

“We knew we would move eventually as our family grew,” said Cameron Mize. “When we saw the sign for LakeStone go up, we began scoping it. We just couldn’t pass on the opportunity to get such a pretty and spacious home at such an affordable price.”

Mize’s favorite thing about her new home is the bay windows and the front porch. But, The Briarcliff II also features a large kitchen with lots of cabinets and a generous island. It opens to the living room and has a view of the two-story floor-to-ceiling fireplace in the center of the home. The floorplan is great for entertaining and the Mize family is looking forward to many get-togethers with friends and family in the future.

“We are really social,” said Mize. “I want to barbeque in the backyard with the family…and have a birthday party for our daughter in August...and have neighborhood parties as other families move in! I also look forward to spending time by the lake and the pool, and being able to take walks throughout the neighborhood.”

The surrounding area was also a plus for the Mize family. The schools nearby are rated well and there is quick access to Highway 92, I-575 and GA 400, allowing for easy commutes to all metro Atlanta areas. Located in Woodstock, LakeStone is convenient to Roswell and Alpharetta, all of which offer unique shopping, dining and entertainment options.

And when the Mize family was ready to purchase, the sales managers made the entire process easy. “Michael Barsky and Brandon Carter were great!” said Mize. “They really moved through everything quickly and helped us get exactly what we were looking for.”

The homes at LakeStone range in size from three to five bedrooms with up to four baths. Master on main plans are available. Within the first phase of the neighborhood, 46 homes will offer basements and numerous lake lots are available. Interior features such as vaulted ceilings, heavy trim packages and granite countertops throughout are standard. Beautiful carriage-style garage doors will enhance the elegance of the exteriors.

The Mize family looks forward to meeting their new neighbors soon and making memories in their new home. ‘We’ll be here for a while!” said Mize. “We could have five kids if we wanted and not grow out of this house!”

To visit LakeStone, take GA 400 North to exit 7B (Hwy. 92). Follow Hwy. 92 for approximately eight and one-half miles to a left on South Cherokee Lane. The entrance to LakeStone will be on the right. For more information, call the on-site agents at 770-928-4063.

Bardwell Tops Conyers Office in Sales

Debra Bardwell was recognized as the May Individual Agent Leader for the Conyers/Rockdale County office of Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty.

Other top performers for the office during the month were Bryant Tiggs, No. 2; and Brenda Waldrop, No. 3.

She was a member of Bullard's Bronze Society for her performance during 2003 through 2005 and again in 2007, and was named to the Coldwell Banker International Sterling Society for 2006. She is a member of the Million Dollar Club.

Bardwell was her office's No. 3 producer for 2005 ,the No. 1 producer for the office in 2006, and No. 2 in 2007. She is a graduate of the Floyd Wickman StarMakers Program.

Peachtree Hills Place to Sponsor 2008 Garden of Eden Ball

When the Atlanta Botanical Garden holds its 27th annual Ball on Sept. 27, 2008, a number of Atlantans will lend their support in two ways: first, as members of the Garden and second as new members of Presenting Sponsor Peachtree Hills Place, an upscale residential community in Buckhead for people ages 55 and older seeking a secure, independent lifestyle. This is the first time Peachtree Hills Place has sponsored the Garden of Eden Ball, and Julie Mitchell, director of community relations for the development, says it’s a natural fit.

“Peachtree Hills Place appeals to active, mature Atlantans, many of whom have contributed years of volunteer time and financial support to some of the city’s premier institutions, including the Atlanta Botanical Garden,” said Mitchell. “When we realized how many of our members are also involved with the Garden, we knew that sponsoring this year’s Ball would be something our members would be excited about, while benefiting both organizations,” she said.

The theme for this year’s Ball is Bell’acqua, a salute to that increasingly precious resource, “beautiful water”. The theme is a nod to the new, environmentally sustainable facilities scheduled to open at the Garden next year.

The black-tie gala is being chaired by Terance and Jennifer Fowler, and will be held from 7 p.m. – midnight on the Garden’s Great Lawn. As a special tribute, the evening will honor Mrs. J. B. (Dottie) Fuqua, who, along with her late husband, J.B. Fuqua, has been one of the Garden’s most dedicated and generous supporters. Jennifer Fowler is their granddaughter.

With décor and flowers by Atlanta event designers Kathy Rainer and Tricky Wolfes of Parties To Die For, the Ball will begin in the Parterre Garden with cocktails and entertainment, and progress to the Great Lawn, where the lavishly decorated tent will emphasize a color scheme of blues, greens and aquas. Guests will be treated to a seated dinner catered by A Legendary Event before dancing to the sounds of the 17-piece orchestra Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters.

Team Tidwell Atop Company, Office in Team Production

Donna Tidwell and TeamTidwell were once again the Team Agent Leader both companywide and for the McDonough/Henry County office of Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty. The most recent recognition was for May.

The Penny Henderson Team from the McDonoughHenry County office earned the No. 2 team producer award for the company and for the McDonough location.

Tidwell began working in the real estate industry 16 years ago, and she joined Coldwell Banker Bullard early in 1999. She received her real estate training through Clayton College & State University and the Georgia Realtor Institute, and she has earned the Certified New Homes Sales Professional (CSP), Certified Senior Residential Sales Specialist, Certified Negotiation Specialist, Certified Previews Properties Luxury Home Specialist, and GRI designations.

A member of the Metro South Association of Realtors' Gold Circle of Excellence, Tidwell has been picked for membership in Coldwell Banker's International President's Elite six consecutive years, then was named to the President's Premier for 2001 through 2007, an honor received by fewer than one percent of the Coldwell Banker sales associates worldwide. Team Tidwell was honored by Coldwell Banker as the Top Producing Team in Georgia in 2002, 2003 and 2006.

From 2002 through 2007, she was the Top Team Producer for both the company and her office. She has been a member of the President's Relocation Club for the past eight years, and Bullard's Relocation Department saluted her as the top agent for outgoing referrals during 2002, 2005, and 2006. She also received Cendant/PHH Mortgage's Top Outstanding Agent Award for 2006 and 2007. In addition, she continues to be included as a member of Communities magazine's Communities 100 listing of top agents in the Atlanta metro area.

The Metro South Women's Council of Realtors honored Tidwell as the Business Woman of the Year for 2007.

TeamTidwell is currently marketing Indian Creek Overlook, Chamlee Estates, and Sandy Ridge, all in McDonough.

Before entering real estate, Tidwell was an engineer with BellSouth. A McDonough resident, she is married to Jim Tidwell. They have six grown children and 18 grandchildren.

Hawkins Tops Peachtree City Office in Sales

Erin E. Hawkins has been named May Individual Agent Leader for the Peachtree City/Fayette County office of Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty.

Other top producers for the office during the month included Janis Kraft, No. 2; and Donna Lasseter, No. 3.

Hawkins, who has been in real estate for approximately nine years, joined Coldwell Banker Bullard in 2000. She is a member of the Fayette County Board of Realtors, the Bullard President's Relocation Club, and the Million Dollar Club. She earned membership in 2001 in the Coldwell Banker International Sterling Society and in the Bullard Bronze Society from 2002 through 2007.

A Fayette County resident, she is married to Jack Hawkins. They are members of New Hope Baptist Church.

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Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone

Thacker Leads Jackson Office in Sales

Lynne Thacker is the May Individual Agent Leader for the Jackson/Butts County office of Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty. She was also the No. 3 individual producer companywide for the month.

Loy Hutcheson was the office's No. 2 producer during the month, and Julie Epperson was No. 3.

Thacker, who entered real estate with Coldwell Banker Bullard six months ago, is a resident of Jackson.

She is the bookkeeper at Henderson Middle School in Jackson and is a member and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church of Jackson.

Munda Leads the Pack

Michelle Munda was the May Individual Agent Leader both companywide and for the Griffin/Spalding County office of Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty. She has been the office's top producer every month in 2008.

Tammi Lamb of the McDonough/Henry County office was the month's No. 2 producer for the company, and Lynne Thacker of the Jackson/Butts County office was No. 3.

Nancy Key was the Griffin office's No. 2 producer during the month, and Angela Sweatmon was No. 3.

Munda, who received her real estate training through MLS Sales Associate Training and who affiliated with Coldwell Banker Bullard in fall of 2001, is a resident of Griffin. Her business background includes 12 years in banking and investment.

In 2002, she was recognized as the No. 3 producer in her office and received a Certificate of Merit from her company for her production. The next year year, she received membership in the Million Dollar Club, was a member of Coldwell Banker's International President's Circle, and was the No. 1 producer for her office. Then, in 2004, she was named to Coldwell Banker's International President's Elite, was again the top producer in her office, and was once again a member of the Million Dollar Club.

In 2005, Munda was honored as the Top Individual Agent Leader companywide and for her office. Her other 2005 recognition included selection to the Coldwell Banker International President's Circle and Million Dollar Club membership. In 2006, she was once again the No. 1 producer for her office and was No. 3 companywide. Other honors during the year included Million Dollar Club membership and selection to the Coldwell Banker International President�s Circle.

Last year, her honors included No. 1 Individual Producer for both the company and her office and membership in the Coldwell Banker International President's Elite and the Million Dollar Club.

NAR - Home Sales May Rise Modestly before Broader Upturn in Second Half of 2008

RISMEDIA -A modest gain in the level of home sales is possible over the next couple months, and an improvement is forecast for the second half of this year as more buyers are able to access affordable mortgages, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.

The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in April, rose 6.3% to 88.2 from a reading of 83.0 in March. It’s the highest index since last October, but remains 13.1% lower than April 2007 when it stood at 101.5.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said pending sales contracts have picked up notably in areas undergoing significant price drops. “Bargain hunters have entered the market en masse, especially in areas that have experienced double-digit price declines, but it’s unclear if they are investors or owner-occupants,” he said. “Sharp price reductions are leading to a quicker discovery of price equilibrium points. The West is already seeing year-over-year gains in pending contracts.”

The PHSI in the West rose 8.3% to 98.8 in April and is 4.0% higher than April 2007. In the Midwest, the index jumped 13.0% to 83.7 in April but remains 13.1% below a year ago. The index in the South increased 4.6% to 88.8 but is 22.5% below April 2007. In the Northeast, the index declined 1.9% in April to 79.3 and is 12.2% below a year ago.

NAR President Richard F. Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif., said the market may be breaking its holding pattern. “It appears that more buyers are realizing they can take advantage of a favorable combination of mortgage interest rates, home prices and family income,” he said. “Overall affordability conditions are the best we’ve seen since the middle of the housing boom in 2004, but with far more choices and much less pressure than buyers experienced four years ago to make an investment in their future. Recent declines in mortgage rates on conforming jumbo loans and a return to sound but not overly stringent underwriting standards will permit more people to qualify for a loan.”

NAR’s housing affordability index has been trending up this year and is projected to rise 15 percentage points to 128.0 for all of 2008.

“Although mortgage interest rates will remain historically favorable, they will start to steadily inch up,” Yun said. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage should rise gradually to 6.3% by the end of this year, and then hold at that level for most of 2009.

Yun said the underlying fundamentals point to a pent-up demand. “Home sales are at about the same level as they were 10 years ago, yet the population has grown by 25 million people and we have over 10 million more jobs,” he said. “The housing market has been underperforming by historical standards, partly because buyers were hampered by mortgage availability issues, but that’s improved and an upturn is more likely. On the other hand, it’s unclear what role consumer confidence will play in the coming months.”

Existing-home sales should increase from an annual pace of 5.05 million in the second quarter to 5.83 million in the fourth quarter. For all of this year, existing-home sales are expected to total 5.40 million, and then rise 6.3% to 5.74 million in 2009. “Sales gains will be greatest in areas that underwent sharp price declines,” Yun said.

After unprecedented home price declines in the first half of the year, many markets can anticipate stabilizing price trends in the second half. The aggregate median existing-home price is likely to decline 8.4% in the first half of this year, and then begin to stabilize in the second half before rising 4.4% next year to $213,900.

“Policymakers need to be attentive to the fact that many homeowners have seen a reduction in housing equity, or are in an ‘underwater’ situation. More needs to be done on the policy front to alleviate hardships and bring fence-sitters back into the marketplace,” Yun said.

A great mix of conditions continues around the country. “We’re seeing healthy price gains in moderately priced areas like Erie, Pa., and Corpus Christi, Texas, and double-digit gains in others,” Yun said. “Our most recent data shows sales rising strongly from a year ago in some areas that experienced sharp price drops, including Detroit and Las Vegas.”

New-home sales will probably fall 31.7% to 529,000 in 2008 before rising 12.5% to 595,000 next year. Housing starts, including multifamily units, are projected to drop 27.2% to 987,000 this year, and then slip 0.6% to 980,000 in 2009.

“Rising construction costs will provide less room for price cuts on new homes,” Yun said. The median new-home price is forecast to decline 3.1% to $239,500 in 2008, and then rise 5.4% next year to $252,400.

Yun sees an improving economy. Growth in the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) should be 1.7% in 2008 and 2.0% next year. The unemployment rate is estimated to average 5.3% this year and 5.6% in 2009.

Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, is expected to be 3.6% this year and 2.4% in 2009. Inflation-adjusted disposable personal income should grow 1.4% in 2008 and 2.5% next year.

*The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing.

Lamb Leads Individual Agents for Bullard McDonough Office

For the third time in 2008, Tammi Lamb has been recognized as Individual Agent Leader for Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty's McDonough/Henry County office. This latest honor was for May, when she was also the No. 2 individual producer companywide.

Duane Lockwood was the month's No. 2 individual producer for the office, and Linda Jones was No. 3.

Lamb, who has been in real estate for more than four years, joined Coldwell Banker Bullard two years ago. A specialist in the foreclosure marketing area, she holds the RePro and CREO designations, and she earned the Bullard Certificate of Merit in 2005 and 2006. For 2007, she was named to the Million Dollar Club and earned membership in the Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society.

A resident of Henry County since 1978, she is married with three children.

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Brick House Realtors Selected to Sell Homes within The Park at Heritage Ridge

Brick House Realtors has been selected to sell homes within The Park at Heritage Ridge in historic Newnan. The 241-home community, being developed by PEC Development, opened May 16 for pre-sales.

“The experience that Brick House Realtors brings to the table perfectly matches this community,” said Paul Corley, Chief Executive Officer of PEC Development. “The company’s staff has combined experience in excess of 30 years and specializes in new home sales in our price point. They know the marketplace and will be invaluable in matching prospective homeowners with these fabulous and affordable homes.”

Brick House Realtors’ expertise includes new home sales, construction, customer service and financing. The company partners with builders and developers to help make the home buying experience easy for buyers.

PEC Development recently opened The Park at Heritage Ridge in Newnan, the final neighborhood in the successful Heritage Ridge master-planned community. Phase I construction will feature 91 craftsman-inspired homes that start in the $160,000s. Eight floorplan designs in ranch and two-story styles features exterior elevations of brick, stone and cedar shake. The homes range from 1,500 to 2,500 square feet and have gourmet kitchens, two-car garages, three and four bedrooms and fireplaces.

“The Park at Heritage Ridge offers a very comprehensive amenities package for homes in this price point,” said Vanessa Lohr, Broker with Brick House Realtors. “The opportunity to work with PEC Development is great for us. PEC’s commitment to preserve green space and provide quality, affordable homes in a lifestyle community is second to none.”

The extensive amenity package is already complete and includes a 9,500-square-foot clubhouse with large game room and billiards, exercise and fitness room, a large swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, a bocce ball court and a large playground.

The Park at Heritage Ridge is centrally located to employment centers, shopping and entertainment venues, educational and recreational resources and offers easy access to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

To visit The Park at Heritage Ridge, take I-85 South to Exit 47 (Newnan). Go left (east) on Ga. Hwy. 34 for one mile. Turn right onto Shenandoah Boulevard and go approximately one and a half miles. Turn left onto Lower Fayetteville Road and go approximately one mile, Heritage Ridge is on the left. The sales gallery is located at 6 Bayview Drive in Newnan. The sales office hours are Monday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association’s 50+ Council Members Win Big at the 2008 Best of 50+ Housing Awards

Members of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association’s 50+ Council proved why Atlanta is a leader in the active adult market taking home five awards at the 2008 Best of 50+ Housing Awards. Winners were announced at the 2008 Building for Boomers and Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium held in New Orleans in May 2008. Winners are companies that successfully focus on the latest trends in design and marketing for the 50+ housing market.

“These awards demonstrate that Atlanta is a leader in bringing the highest level of dedication and service to this emerging market,” said Betsy Sheppard, Owner of B. Sheppard Consulting, Inc. and Communications Committee Chair of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association’s 50+ Housing Council. “Congratulations to my fellow professionals in the active adult and service-enriched industry for their exemplary work in the fields of design, development, ownership, management, and sales and marketing for the 50+ market.”

Following are a list of the winning Council members and the awards they received:
Gold Award Winners:

Jim Chapman Communities’ Brookhaven of East Cobb – Active Adult Housing: Clubhouse – Small (up to 6,000 square feet)
Isakson Barnhart/Foley Design Associates Peachtree Hills Place – Active Adult Housing: Clubhouse Interior Design – “On the Boards” Large (over 6,000 square feet)
B. Sheppard Consulting, Inc. Peachtree Hills Place – Special Promotion: Best Overall
The Village at Deaton Creek by Pulte Homes/Del Webb – Active Adult Housing: Large Community

Silver Award Winners:

Jim Chapman Communities’ Brookhaven of East Cobb – Active Adult Housing: Attached Home Design – For-sale Attached Up to 1,700 Square Feet
B. Sheppard Consulting, Inc. Old Town Grayson – Logo: Best Overall

The Atlanta 50+ Housing Council is the voice of the seniors' housing industry. Formed in 2003 to address the emerging demands that the rapidly expanding 50+ market would press on the housing industry, it identifies specific problems and serves the special needs of HBA members involved in or interested in all aspects of building, design, development, finance, marketing and sales of seniors' housing. For more information, call 678-775-1446.

Termite Control Not for Novices

You can try and control the insects inside and around your house yourself. But leave the termites to the professionals, says a University of Georgia expert.

“There are a few pests you can’t really tackle yourself. I could walk you through ant, flea and cockroach control, but not termite control. You can’t tackle them yourself,” said Dan Suiter, an entomologist with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Equipment essential

"Effective termite control involves product selection, chemical formulations and, most importantly, proper equipment," he said.

“Even if you could get the right chemicals, you’d need the right equipment,” Suiter said. “And you can’t even rent it.”

Suiter coordinates pest control operator trainings at the Georgia Structural Pest Control Training Facility in Griffin, Ga.

Many homeowners try do-it-yourself termite treatments after getting “sticker shock” from a professional’s quoted price.

False security

“They purchase over-the-counter chemicals, spend a Saturday applying them and then feel pretty good about the job they’ve done,” Suiter said. “The problem is they now have a false sense of security. Think of what’s at stake. Your home is the biggest investment you have.”

Termite treatments typically cost several hundred to $1,000, depending on the severity of the infestation, he said. It typically takes several hundred gallons of pesticide at a cost of $2 per gallon to treat an average home unless baits are used.

“If you have your home treated, the termite control company cannot treat again unless there is evidence of termites,” he said. “The first treatment is viewed as a preventative measure.”
Suiter encourages homeowners to keep in mind what they’re paying for when they sign a contract with a pest control company. “You’re paying for the treatment and for their expertise,” he said.

Termite trivia

Because of the hot and humid climate, the Southeast is known as the termite belt, Suiter said. Three native termite species and one introduced species from China can be found in this region.
Signs of a termite infestation include damaged wood, shelter tubes and flying termites. In the spring, winged termites swarm, leaving their colony to mate and start new colonies.

“Termites really don’t have it out for you personally,” Suiter said. “They’re just foraging for food. They prefer softer spring wood, and they rely on moisture to survive. That’s why they bring mud up with them.”

Many people confuse termites with winged ants. But ants have a waist and termites don’t. And, ants have jointed antennae and termite antennae are straight. Both have two pairs of wings, but termite wings are all the same size. The first pair of ant wings is smaller than the other pair.
For more information on urban pests, go to the UGA Urban Pest Management program Web site at www.gabugs.uga.edu. For detailed information on termite contracts in Georgia, call the Georgia Department of Agriculture at (404) 656-3641.

By Sharon Omahen
University of Georgia

2007 Top Producer Announced

Top individual producer companywide during 2007 for Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty was Michelle Munda from the Griffin/Spalding County office.

Steven Dickens from the Newnan/Coweta County office was No.2, and Phil Wagner from the McDonough/Henry County office was No. 3.

The recognition came at the company’s annual Awards Breakfast, held recently at Eagle’s
Landing Country Club.

Live Among Natural Beauty at Bryant Lake LaGrange

PEC Development Group is pleased to announce its newest community, Bryant Lake LaGrange, LaGrange's premier master-planned community. The community offers three beautiful neighborhoods, exceptional amenities and an active lifestyle. Neighborhoods include Lakeview at Bryant Lake, Creekside at Bryant Lake and Acorn Park at Bryant Lake, and offer single-family homes perfect for a wide range of new home shoppers from first-time buyers, expanding families and those seeking to downsize. Prices range from the $170,000s to $300,000s.

The 528-home community will offer a mix of single-family homes with a variety of floorplans ranging from 1,900 to 3,700 square feet. Construction on the initial homes will begin in mid June with completion slated for early September.

“Bryant Lake LaGrange offers a unique opportunity to Troup County new home shoppers,” said Paul Corley, Chief Executive Officer of PEC Development, developers of the new community. “The community is situated within 400 acres of natural beauty around Bryant Lake and is within minutes of Downtown LaGrange. A diverse selection of first-rate homes and spectacular amenities will be offered, setting new standards for master-planned communities in the area. Buyers are certain to be impressed with all that this community has to offer.”

From the oaks of Acorn Park to lush green spaces, Bryant Lake LaGrange offers an abundance of natural luxuries. Overlooking Bryant Lake, Pinewood Pavilion will be perfect for intimate social gatherings and large events. The community clubhouse offers a comfortable place to enjoy a book or quiet conversation as well as a meeting room, kitchen and gathering room with fireplace. For active residences, Pinewood Pavilion offers a fitness center. Homeowners will also enjoy playing tennis at one of the four lighted tennis courts; swimming at the aquatic center; walking or running on the paths that weave along the banks of Bryant Lake; lounging at the Gazebo or one of the many rich green spaces at Acorn Park, Longleaf Park or along the lakeshore; and fishing at Bryant Lake.

Bryant Lake LaGrange is located at the intersection of I-85 and Hamilton Road in Troup County, which is known as “the corridor of growth,” and is expected to see significant economic development and the resulting quality-of-life benefits. The community is located just eight minutes from Kia Motors Corporation's West Point plant and 60 minutes from Atlanta. Excellent schools, recreation, shopping, and airports are located close by. Calloway Gardens Resort, Little White House at Warm Springs, Wild Animal Safari and exceptional fishing and water sports at West Point Lake are just minutes away. Bryant Lake LaGrange is close to dining, retail, healthcare, places of worship and an abundance of conveniences.

To visit Bryant Lake LaGrange, take I-85 South to Exit 14 (LaGrange). Turn left off the exit ramp and travel approximately one-eighth of a mile. Turn left into the community and travel down the parkway. The Sales Center will be on the left at 515 Bryant Lake Blvd, LaGrange, Ga., 30240.