Serenity Cove in Newton Begins Construction for Exclusive Neighborhood

Whether buyers choose floor plans designed by Frank Betz & Associates or bring their own plans, the new home community of Serenity Cove is becoming a showplace in Newton County.

Two builders -- Todd Peppers with BMP Properties and Greg Kerbow with Madison Brook Homes -- have teamed up to create this affordable luxury community, which features home sites from one to nine acres. The 29-home community includes a winding street and plenty of green space.

"The name Serenity Cove aptly applies," said Sandi Austin, sales agent with American Land Mart, exclusive brokers for the community. "The homes are elegant and positioned on these large lots to showcase their styling and design. The community is peaceful and relaxing."

Austin said that home buyers can choose a lot and bring their own plans, working directly with the builders to price out home construction. "These builders are excellent and extremely responsive to home owners," she said. "The goal is to create homes that speak to their owners' style and personality."

Homes in Serenity Cove start at the mid $300,000s. Plans with four and five bedrooms and multiple baths are well suited to families looking for great value in one of the fastest-growing sections of north Georgia. Features include granite countertops, stainless appliances and brushed-nickel fixtures.

"The features in these homes at Serenity Cove would be upgrades in other houses in the same price point," Austin said. "They are truly a great value for the price."

Hardwood floors, detailed vaulted and coffered ceilings and Palladian windows punctuate the styling of the ranch and two-story homes. Some plans offer spacious master suites on the main floor with separate sitting rooms. Tile and granite master baths with oversized tubs and showers and dual vanities have vaulted ceilings, per plan.

"Trim detail, judges' panels and elegant staircases all create an air of luxury," Austin said.
All homes are three and four sides brick and have sod and irrigation on four sides. The exteriors include low-maintenance HardiPlank siding and vinyl soffits to give homeowners the peace of mind to relax and enjoy their homes. They all have full basements.

The community is located close to schools of excellence, shopping and easy access to I-20, I-75 and I-285 on the east side of metropolitan Atlanta.

To reach Serenity Cove, take I-20 east to Exit 82, then turn right onto Ga. 20 headed south. Turn left on Christian Circle and entrance to Serenity Cove is on the left.

Serenity Cove is being marketed by Coldwell Banker American Land Mart Inc. Ann Bell (770-483-8925) and Sandi Austin (770-652-1007) are the listing agents. The sales office is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 1 p.m. until dusk. For more information, visit http://www.serenitycove.info/.

Crystal Lake Community Defies The Trend With 72 Luxury Home Sales During 2007

For those thinking that 2007 was a down year for real estate in Henry County, Crystal Lake Golf & Country Club has a different message: "It definitely wasn't a down year for us".

Sharon Patterson, the broker for Crystal Lake Realty LLC, which is handling sales in the community, said that according to data released recently by SmartNumbers, Crystal Lake Golf & Country Club had 72 home sales in 2007, more than twice the number reported for its closest competitor in the $295,000 and up price range.

Developed by Lake Erma LLC, the 750-acre gated, luxury home community, which is located on North Mt. Carmel Road in the Hampton area, offers an 18-hole golf course, 80-acre lake and a swim/tennis/playground amenity area with a covered pavilion for residents' use.

The seven custom builders active in the community have model homes available for prospective buyers and market homes for those buyers who need a home right away. With the current price range from $308,000 to $1,650,000, the selection is there for most prospective buyers looking for a luxury home.

The development's premier custom builder team is composed of Black Hawk Builders, Collins Communities Inc., Hunter Homes & Properties Inc., Loran Conner Inc., Next Generation, Oxford Custom Homes LLC, and RHB Inc.

This family-oriented community has interior, golf and lake homesites, many of which will accommodate a basement. Some of the standard features of the homes include granite counters and vanities, stainless appliances, hardwood floors, security systems, full sprinkler systems, wrought iron railings, and three-car garages. The most popular plans have two master suites.

Crystal Lake is located just two miles west of Exit 221 of I-75 and is less than a mile from the Dutchtown schools. It is a short distance from Henry Towne Center, the area's newest shopping center.

For more information on Crystal Lake call or visit the sales center by the main entrance on North Mt. Carmel Rd. or visit the community's website at http://www.crystallakecommunity.com/. The sales center, where the phone number is 770-957-0080, is open seven days a week.

Kenneth M. Gunn Joins Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty

Kenneth M. Gunn is a new sales associate with the Peachtree City/Fayette County office of Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty.

Gunn, who has been in real estate for three years, completed Coldwell Banker FastStart, and he holds the GRI and CRS designations. He has been named to membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Club.

With an M. S. degree in logistics management, he served in the U. S. Air Force for 27 years. He has also been a communi;ty college instructor, working fulltime in this position for five years and part-time for seven years.

Gunn and his wife, Grace Jewell Blankenship, are Peachtree City residents. They have three children, Angela Egan, Audren Steinberg and Kenneth C. Gunn, and one grandchild, Emily Egan.
The are members of First Baptist Church of Maryville, Il.

Cynthia (Cyndi) Randolph Joins Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty

Cynthia (Cyndi) Randolph has joined Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty as a sales associate.

Raldolph, who has been in real estate for 17 years, comes to the Bullard organization as a result of its recent merger with Coldwell Banker Fulton Realty Associates.

A member of the Fayette County Board of Realtors, she is a new home specialist and has earned the ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative) deaignation. She has been a Million Dollar Club member and has completed various real estate seminars during her career.

Randolph, a Fayetteville resident and a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, is married to Jack Randolph. They have one daughter, Whitney, 21

REALTOR JAMES HENKEL EARNS CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL SPECIALIST DESIGNATION FROM THE COUNCIL OF RESIDENTIAL SPECIALISTS

Realtor James Henkel has been awarded the prestigious Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

James is a real estate professional with Prudential Georgia Realty and is based out of its Fayetteville office on Glynn Street. Originally from Texas, he is a graduate of Texas Tech University. Now residing locally in Fayetteville, James specializes in residential real estate in the Fayette County and surrounding region. He is a member of the Fayette County Board of Realtors, the Georgia Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

Realtors who receive the CRS designation have completed advanced courses and have demonstrated professional expertise in the field of residential real estate. Only about 39,000 Realtors nationwide have earned this credential out of more than 1 million NAR members. Home buyers and sellers can be assured that CRS designees must subscribe to the strict Realtor code of ethics, have access to the latest technology and are specialists in helping clients maximize profits and minimize costs when buying or selling a home.

If you have questions or would like to learn more about the local real estate market, contact Realtor James Henkel at 770-719-9400 or visit http://www.jameshenkel.prudentialgeorgia.com/ to conduct a complete search of nearly 100,000 available properties in metro Atlanta and the Southern Crescent.

Prudential Georgia Realty (www.PrudentialGeorgia.com) 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., the company placed 36th for most 2006 transactions in the trade magazine’s 2007 Power Broker Report.

For the last four years, Prudential Georgia Realty has been honored with a Consumers’ Choice Award as Best in Class for Executive Home Sales in Atlanta. The firm set another sales record in 2006 with nearly $3 billion in gross sales, breaking the 10,000-transaction mark for the second time in its 43-year history. The company has 24 locations in metro Atlanta and 1,500 Realtors ready to assist families with their real estate needs.

Channing Cove in Rockdale Offers $25,000 in Buyer Incentives in Builder Closeout

With classic brick elevations and large estate lots, Channing Cove continues to be one of the most popular communities in Rockdale County. As the 40-home community nears close-out, the builders are offering $25,000 in upgrades and other options on several of the homes that are ready for immediate move-in.

"From electing to finish the basement or home theater to using some of the funds toward closing costs, buyers have a wide choice of ways to take advantage of this extraordinary offer," said Sandi Austin, agent with Coldwell Banker American Land Mart, exclusive broker for Channing Cove. "These homes are an excellent value for the money with many extras that other builders consider to be upgrades."

Homes in Channing Cove start at the mid $300,000s. Plans with four and five bedrooms and multiple baths are well suited to families looking for great value in one of the fastest-growing sections of north Georgia.

"Our incentives are available on seven ready-for-move-in homes," Austin said. "Additionally, we've reduced the pricing by up to $35,000 on two other spec homes that feature our most popular floor plan -- the Jessica. In all, prospective home buyers have a chance to customize their incentive packages."

Two builders -- Todd Peppers with BMP Properties and Greg Kerbow with Madison Brook Homes -- have teamed up to create this affordable luxury community. The builder team in Channing Cove comes with an array of solid experience and qualifications necessary to build a beautiful quality home community. They have a unique feel for what the public wants and are dedicated to producing that type of home.

Granite countertops, stainless appliances and brushed-nickel fixtures showcase the upscale styling of each home. The floor plans are versatile and the details inside and out distinguish these homes from others in similar price ranges. The homes are stick built with pre-engineered open web floor trusses on basement homes. Homes have either two- or three-car garages, depending on the plan.

"All homes are three sides brick and have sod and irrigation on four sides," Austin said. The builders designed them with vinyl soffits and other features that signal low-maintenance and easy-care.

The community is located close to schools of excellence, shopping and easy access to I-20, I-75 and I-285 on the east side of metropolitan Atlanta.

To reach Channing Cove, take I-20 east to Exit 82, then turn right onto Ga. 20 headed south and go approximately 5.7 miles. Take a right onto Oglesby Bridge Road. Turn right onto Old Oglesby Bridge Road. The entrance to Channing Cove is on the left.

Channing Cove is being marketed by Coldwell Banker American Land Mart Inc. Ann Bell (770-483-8925) and Sandi Austin (770-652-1007) are the listing agents. The sales office is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 1 p.m. until dusk. For more information, visit http://www.channingcove.info/.

Chambliss Co-Sponsors Isakson Measure to Stimulate the Housing Market

U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., today co-sponsored legislation authored by colleague U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., that would provide a $15,000 tax credit over a period of three years on single-family homes purchased between March 1, 2008 and February 28, 2009.

“Owning a home is part of the American dream, and when a family or an individual owns a home, they are not only investing in their own financial security but in their community as well,” said Chambliss. “Senator Isakson is a veteran of the real estate industry, and I’m pleased that he has come forward with this legislation that will help stimulate the housing market and give folks a chance to invest in their future.”

Buyers must occupy the homes as their principle residences to be eligible, and purchases of homes from investors or by investors are ineligible. Homes eligible for the tax credit include: 1) new homes where the building permit was issued and construction began on or before September 1, 2007; 2) owner-occupied homes whose first mortgage loan is in default; and 3) a single-family home that has been foreclosed on and is owned by the mortgagor or its agent.

A similar tax credit was invoked by Congress in the mid-1970s, when the housing market was in a similar crisis.

PRUDENTIAL GEORGIA REALTY ADDS REALTOR PAT WHITE

Prudential Georgia Realty continues to expand its Fayette County sales team with the addition of Realtor Pat White. She is based out of the company’s Fayetteville office on Glynn Street.

Pat makes the switch to Prudential from Harry Norman, Realtors. Originally from Connecticut, she now resides locally in Fayetteville. Pat has been an active leader in a local Cub Scout Pack for five years, where she has learned to incorporate Scout values in her business. She also holds a position on the school council in a local elementary school, where her two children attend.

Pat concentrates on residential real estate in the Fayette County and surrounding region. Professionally, she is a member of the Fayette County Board of Realtors, the Georgia Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

To learn more about the local real estate market, call Pat White at 770-719-9400 or visit http://www.patriciawhite.prudentialgeorgia.com/ to conduct a complete search of nearly 100,000 available properties in metro Atlanta and the Southern Crescent.

Prudential Georgia Realty (www.PrudentialGeorgia.com) 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. It is the 11th largest Prudential real estate affiliate in North America. Ranked by Real Estate Magazine as one of the top 100 real estate companies in the U.S., Prudential Georgia Realty placed 36th for most 2006 transactions in the real estate trade magazine’s 2007 Power Broker Report.

For the last four consecutive years, Prudential Georgia Realty has been honored with a Consumers’ Choice Award as Best in Class for Executive Home Sales in metro Atlanta. The firm set another sales record in 2006 with nearly $3 billion in gross sales, breaking the 10,000 transaction mark for the second time in its 43-year history. The company has 24 locations in metro Atlanta and 1,500 Realtors ready to assist families with their real estate needs.

Isakson Introduces Legislation Offering Tax Credit to Homebuyers

Drawing on more than three decades of experience in the real estate industry, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today introduced legislation to provide a $15,000 tax credit spread out over three tax years for anyone purchasing a new home, a foreclosed home or a home where foreclosure is pending. Isakson said he believes such a tax credit would provide an immediate boost to the housing market and to the nation’s economy, just as a similar tax credit did in the mid-1970s.

Co-sponsors of Isakson’s legislation include Senators Judd Gregg, R-N.H., Wayne Allard, R-Colo., Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Larry Craig, R-Idaho.

“Our country and our economy face a serious challenge in the next 12 months. The number of unsold new homes and foreclosed resale homes will reach unprecedented numbers. Lenders will be forced to liquidate their real estate holdings, which will result in lower home values and less equity for homeowners,” Isakson said. “Today, we need the same bold incentive to restore the housing market and consumer confidence. Just as it did in the mid-1970s, this proposal will reduce inventories, reduce foreclosures and stabilize market values.”

In the mid-1970s, America faced a similar housing crisis when a period of easy credit and loose underwriting flooded the market with new construction. Interest rates rose, the economy slowed and America was left with a three-year supply of vacant homes. Congress responded by passing a $6,000 tax credit spread out over three tax years for anyone purchasing a new home for their principle residence. Isakson believes the results were clear and swift as home values stabilized, housing inventory dropped and the market recovered.

Specifically, Isakson’s legislation, S.2566, will provide a direct tax credit for the purchase of a single-family home in the amount of $5,000 a year for three years on homes purchased between March 1, 2008, and February 28, 2009. Buyers must occupy the homes as their principle residences to be eligible, and purchases of homes from investors or by investors are ineligible.

Homes eligible for the tax credit include:
· New homes where the building permit was issued and construction began on or before September 1, 2007;
· Owner-occupied homes whose first mortgage loan is in default; and
· A single-family home that has been foreclosed on and is owned by the mortgagor or its agent.

Isakson spent more than three decades in the real estate business, beginning his business career in 1967 when he opened the first Cobb County office of a small, family-owned real estate business, Northside Realty. Isakson later served as president of Northside for 20 years, presiding over the company’s growth into the largest independent residential real estate brokerage company in the Southeast and one of the largest in America.

National Group Helps Wounded Troops Buy Homes

Photo: Through its Wounded Warrior Housing Project, Operation Homefront is helping wounded veterans become homeowners. The group is working with home builders and mortgage lenders to make homes like this one in Glendale, Ariz., affordable through price reductions and lower mortgage rates. Photo courtesy of Operation Homefront

A recent study that estimates nearly 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night has spurred Operation Homefront, a national troop-support group, to action.

The study, titled "Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans," estimated that on any given night in 2006, 195,827 veterans were homeless. The number represents nearly 25 percent of the nation's homeless population.

Operation Homefront provides emergency assistance and promotes morale for troops and their families. The organization is connecting wounded veterans, who can face financial trials during recovery, with home builders and mortgage lenders to make home ownership easier.

The group is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.

"When the statistics came out about one in four homeless is a veteran, that was when we said, 'That's it,'" said Meredith Leyva, founder of Operation Homefront. "That's exactly what's going to happen to our guys if we don't have a long-term vision here and implement it now.

"(We are working with) ... home builders to basically sell their excess inventory to wounded warriors," Leyva said, explaining that her organization's role is to make connections and help negotiate the best deals possible. "These are good homes, and (the builders) are dropping the price by $30,000 to $50,000."

The goal is to sell entire swaths of neighborhoods, ideally near Veterans Affairs medical facilities, to wounded warriors, she said. This creates an understanding community.

"It's a community that's going to look out for each other," Leyva said. "And even in the worst of times, they've still got their house."

To sweeten the deal further, Operation Homefront is working with mortgage lenders to negotiate lower interest rates on 30-year home loans.

The group also is asking lenders for a little compassion if a new homeowner should miss mortgage payments because of medical issues, Leyva said. That would require a statement from the doctor and a repayment plan, however, and there is no guarantee that the original lender won't sell the loan to another company who might not be so understanding.

As excited as Operation Homefront is about the program, its officials are realistic about how long it will take to get up a head of steam.

"This is going to take months, because people just can't make a commitment of hundreds of thousands of dollars on either the builders' or the lenders' side without some serious thought as to how they're going to do it," she said. "It'll take a good three to six months to build up some really solid commitments from builders and lenders."

Home builders in Arizona, as well as the Houston Housing Authority in Texas, have given the program a good start by committing a number of homes, Leyva said.

TWO DECORATED TOWNHOME MODELS NOW OPEN IN JOHNS CREEK WALK

Two decorated model homes have opened in the townhome area of Johns Creek Walk, a new mixed-use community in North Fulton County.

Professionally decorated by award-winning DEI (Design Environments Inc.), the models are open Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sundays from 1-6 p.m. A grand opening agents event is planned for Tuesday, Feb. 26.

The clubhouse in Johns Creek Walk is designed to replicate a 1940s movie theater, with showtimes Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sundays from 1-6 p.m. Through Tuesday, Feb. 12, each visiting agent who previews or shows prospects the townhomes receives a gift of movie theater concessions, such as Raisinettes, Goobers, Hershey bars, Coca-Cola or popcorn and a chance to win a weekly drawing for Regal Cinema gift card passes.

The model homes are Richard Aaronson Signature Homes' Artisan and Craftsman plans. The Artisan is a three-bedroom plus bonus room, three and one-half bath plan, while The Craftsman is a four-bedroom, three and one-half bath plan with the master suite downstairs. The model homes serve as a showcase for the latest color palettes, fabrics and textures, cutting edge design features, layouts, building materials, and other items. The 44 townhomes range in price from the low $300,000s to the low $400,000s.

Johns Creek itself is one of the metro Atlanta newest cities, and in order to help meet the demand for great new neighborhoods there, Atlantic Realty Partners, an Atlanta-based developer of mixed-use communities, is now building Johns Creek Walk. Meg Thompson, broker for Johns Creek Walk Realty, which is handling the residential sales there, pointed out that the community is North Fulton County's first true live, work and play neighborhood, offering a unique blend of sophisticated manor homes, Arts and Crafts-inspired townhomes, luxury rentals and specialty retail.

The 26-acre community will have a mix of housing choices, including the townhomes as well as 17 custom-built single-family manor homes, which are 50 percent sold out, and 210 luxury apartments with condominium-grade finishes when complete. Built by Cliftwood-Johns Creek LLC, the single-family Manor homes are priced starting in the low $500,000s.

The builders in Johns Creek Walk are currently offering purchasers a $10,000 buyer incentive.

Amenities currently in place include a swimming pool with outdoor kitchen and cabana, state-of-the-art fitness center, 24-hour Wi-Fi equipped cyber cafe', business center, pocket parks, pond with ambient water feature, sidewalks on both sides of the streets, park benches, period streetlights and sign posts.

The on-site agent in the the sales center, where the telephone number is 678-261-7587.
To reach Johns Creek Walk, take Ga. 400 north to Exit 13/Georgia 141, and turn right. Stay straight when the road becomes Medlock Bridge. The community is on the right at the intersection of Medlock Bridge and Bell Road.

Home Building Brings Millions into the Local Economy

Reports from a national level senior economist show that building just 100 new homes in the Midwest region of Georgia generates over $43 million dollars in local income and over $8 million dollars in local taxes over a 10 year period.

Dr. Elliot F. Eisenberg, senior economist for the National Association of Home Builders, spoke at Fayetteville First Baptist Church last Thursday night at an event on the economic impact home building has on our local economy.

Organized by the Home Builders’ Association of Midwest Georgia and the Fayette County Board of Realtors, Eisenberg’s presentation covered two areas: how monies generated from building new homes flow in the local economy and the costs to the local area to support that growth.

Eisenberg analyzed the impact of new home construction in three phases: the construction phase, the ripple effect and the occupancy phase, and then compared it to the cost of public services like roads, education, fire, police, hospitals and, of special concern, water. Using data supplied by the federal census, the numbers show that new homes in our local region actually pay for themselves in just 7 years.

Eisenberg reports the first year’s impact during the construction phase of 100 new homes generated over $9.2 million in local income, $818,000 in local taxes and created 140 local jobs. But the effect doesn’t stop there. Eisenberg explains that an ongoing economic ripple is created as those who profit from the home building industry spend that money in the local economy.

“The ripple effect lasts for a year following the completion of the home and is approximately 50% of the construction phase,” states Eisenburg. “The occupation phase lasts as long as the house is occupied.”

Eisenburg reports that the first year impact of the ripple phase generates an additional $4.4 million in local income, $499,000 in local taxes and 70 jobs. The occupancy phase produces $3 million in local income, $727,000 in local taxes and creates 52 local jobs.

“These numbers are impressive,” said Lynne Bride of Harry Norman Realtors. “We want people to know that this area is a great place to be and that new growth doesn’t have to cause problems.”

New homes do require fire, police, garbage collection, new parks, roads, schools and they also create new demand for water and other utilities. But findings show that by the end of the 7th year, the cost to support every 100 new homes is fully paid for with an ongoing surplus of $166,946 thereafter. This is the equivalent of municipalities paying off entire sewer systems, schools and more in only 7 years.

Eisenberg asks to contrast that kind of pay off with “car loans lasting 5 years” and asking the question “How fast did you pay off your student loans?”

Eisenburg further explains that without the economic stimulus from new home construction, local economies start to decline pointing to other areas of the country where home construction is stagnant.

“This is an exciting area,” said Eisenberg. “Home ownership is still affordable here and has the ability to pay for itself in seven years.”

BUILDING STANDARDS PROPOSED FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL

The Newnan Planning Commission, along with the City Planning Department, is currently developing proposed building standards for new residential construction in Newnan’s national register historic districts. Under these standards, residential new construction will be required to be compatible with the historic character of the neighborhood within which they are being built.

The Planning Commission is currently seeking public input on the proposed standards. They will hold a public hearing at their next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 12th at 7:00 p.m. in the Newnan City Hall.

“Although the City has existing national register districts, we do not have standards in place to ensure that new construction compliments the existing historic homes,” said Tracy Dunnavant, Planning and Zoning Director for the City of Newnan. “As of right now, types of building materials, scale, and other pertinent decisions are left solely to the discretion of the builder, and the city is considering adopting language to ensure some type of quality control,” continued Dunnavant.

In defining “new construction”, the Commission was quick to limit the standards to structures being built on undeveloped lots or lots where complete demolition has occurred. The regulations would not apply to the expansion of existing structures, improvements to exterior walls, additions to existing structures, accessory structures for existing residences, and general maintenance and repair of existing homes.

With the proposed additions to the zoning ordinance, standards for new residential construction in the area include such requirements as enhancing the overall character of the district, being compatible with the dominant design characteristics of the historic homes, being consistent with adjacent structures, and using building materials such as wood, brick, masonry, and other complimentary materials. The use of vinyl siding in the district will be strongly discouraged.

Dunnavant said the standards are designed to achieve the quality development that the City is seeking, while providing a certain amount of flexibility for the property owner. She added that maintaining that careful balance is crucial when creating a successful design.

Dunnavant said that her department is available to answer questions and has copies of the proposed standards for review. She can be reached at 770-254-2354.

The Mayor and City Council will have to approve the Planning Commission’s recommendations before the ordinance is officially adopted.

Coldwell Banker Bullard Welcomes Tracy Willis

Tracy M. Willis is a new sales associate with the Peachtree City/Fayette County office of Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty.

Willis, who has been in real estate for two years, joined the Bullard organization as a result of its recent merger with Coldwell Banker Fulton Realty Associates. Previously from New Jersey, she has a degree in nursing from Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, N. J., and she worked in nursing prior to entering real estate.

She is married to Steve Willis, and they have three children, Cory, 20, Ryan, 19, and Justin, 9. The two older boys are graduates of Starr’s Mill High School and now attend Jacksonville State University and Auburn University, and the youngest attends Kedron Elementary School.

Willis is a member of the Fayette County Board of Realty, Cultural Diversity, and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Highwoods Properties Renews 221,000 Square Foot Lease at Century Center in Atlanta

RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Highwoods Properties, Inc. (NYSE: HIW), the largest owner and operator of suburban office properties in the Southeast, today announced that it has renewed a lease for 221,000 square feet at 2800 Century Center in Atlanta. This lease was set to expire in January 2009 and has been extended through July 2014.

Ed Fritsch, President and CEO of Highwoods stated, “We are pleased to put our largest 2009 lease expiration to bed. Congratulations to our leasing team in Atlanta for their hard work in securing this renewal.”

The Company also announced that it has signed a 25,000 square foot lease at Highwoods Bay Center I in Tampa. This 208,000 square foot, $42 million, Class A office building started as a 100% speculative project in May 2006, and is now 78% pre-leased. Highwoods Bay Center I is slated to reach stabilization by year-end 2008.

“Our Highwoods Bay Center development continues to attract high-quality customers. Highwoods Bay Center is ideally located in the highly desirable Westshore submarket, which was 92% occupied at the end of the third quarter, and continues to demand the highest rents in the overall Tampa market. Including this lease, our $500 million development pipeline is currently 77% pre-leased,” added Mr. Fritsch.

In 2007, the Company delivered $200 million of new development that was 88% pre-leased.