Clowdus Team Again Leads Team Production

The Clowdus Team from Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty's Jonesboro/Clayton County office, led by Susan Clowdus, was named the company's July Team Agent Leader. This is the fifth time in 2008 that The Clowdus Team has led the company and the Jonesboro office in team production.

The Penny Henderson Team from the McDonough/Henry County was the No. 2 team producer during the month, and TeamTidwell from the McDonough office, led by Donna Tidwell, was No. 3.

The Clowdus Team was established in 1994 by Susan Clowdus, who has consistently been a top producing agent for Coldwell Banker Bullard since she first joined the company. She received the firm's companywide Top Producing Agent award every year from 1995 through 2001, was the No. 2 producer companywide the next two years, and was No. 3 companywide in 2004 and 2007, and was the companywide No. 2 team agent leader for 2005 and 2006. Clowdus has been in Bullard Realty's President's Club and President's Relocation Club,. She received the top award in her company 12 consecutive years for her cooperation with PHH Mortgage, was runner-up for this accolade, and she was named the 2003 Top Outgoing Referral Agent from Bullard's Relocation Department.

Over the years, Clowdus and The Clowdus Team have been named to Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation's International President's Premier three times, the International President's Elite six times, and the International President's Circle twice.

Clowdus is a past president of the Metro South Association of Realtors.

She attended Clayton College and State University, completed the MLS Training Institute with honors, and took part in the Disney Institute of Customer Service and Floyd Wickman's "Sweathogs" sales and listing incentive program.

She and her husband Jimmy, who is a member of The Clowdus Team, are Henry County residents, and they have one son, John. They are members of First Baptist Church of Jonesboro.
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Luxurious Peachtree Hills Place Community is Fifty Percent Reserved

Isakson Barnhart is pleased to announce that its luxurious Atlanta community available to residents 55 and older, Peachtree Hills Place is fifty percent reserved. Upon completion, Peachtree Hills Place will consist of 266 luxury, villa-style residences in low- to mid-rise buildings and eight single-family homes. Homebuyers can choose from 18 floorplans that are designed specifically for the most discerning of shoppers and that exemplify luxury living at its best. Located in the heart of metro Atlanta, Peachtree Hills Place is minutes from downtown, I-285, I-75, I-85 and convenient to Hartsfield- Jackson International Airport.

“Thanks to our members, staff and community, Peachtree Hills Place has experienced great success throughout the past year,” said E. Andrew (Andy) Isakson, Managing Partner of Isakson-Barnhart Co. and Peachtree Hills Place member. “We are incredibly proud to hit this important milestone. Our members are captivated by the lifestyle offered at Peachtree Hills Place, a luxurious, maintenance free lifestyle that allows our members to truly enjoy all that life has to offer.”

Residents of Peachtree Hills Place will experience the best in new home features. Wood cabinetry, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and custom lighting are a few of the state-of-the-art features found in homes at Peachtree Hills Place. Homeowners will also enjoy outdoor living with porches, balconies or private courtyards a part of most every home.

Peachtree Hills Place boasts an array of resort-style amenities including a 15,000 square foot fitness center with an indoor pool, warm water therapy pool, exercise room and spa. The award-winning clubhouse includes several dining venues, a library, business center and special interest rooms such as a billiards room and poker room. Developed on 23.3-acres, Peachtree Hills Place features multiple parks, walking paths, green space and a five-acre preserve.

The community will also address the wellness of its members, with a rich and versatile wellness program that will encourage exercise, nutrition and health screenings as well as physical activity. When health status changes, members will have access to an on-site health center as well as in-home care services offered on site.

Located in Buckhead in the heart of metro-Atlanta at the intersection of Peachtree Hills Avenue and Virginia Place, Peachtree Hills Place is conveniently located to the best shopping,
dining and entertainment that Atlanta has to offer. Buckhead itself features beautiful historic mansions, distinguished shopping and fine dining. Located adjacent to Midtown, residents of Peachtree Hills Place will enjoy close proximity to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Woodruff Arts Center, Piedmont Park and the Fox Theater.

Isakson Barnhart is Georgia’s developer of nationally recognized, award-winning residential communities for those age 55 and over. The company’s vision to provide amenity-rich, independent living for discerning adults was born out of the personal experiences of the family of Ed and Julia Isakson after their difficult search for a community that would provide an active lifestyle combined with on-site health care. This mission manifested itself in Park Springs, the company’s flagship property in Stone Mountain. Park Springs was nationally recognized by the 50+ Housing Council of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) as the recipient of the 2005 Platinum Award for best large CCRC as well as the Gold Award for interior design. Now, Isakson Barnhart introduces another award-winning residential community in Peachtree Hills Place, named the best “On the Boards” large CCRC by the same group in 2006. Isakson Barnhart has carefully selected Life Care Services, LLC, the leading management company of senior communities in the nation, to partner in the planning and management of Peachtree Hills Place and Park Springs. For more information, visit www.peachtreehillsplace.com or call 404-467-4900.
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Eight Individual Bullard Realty Agents Named to Coldwell Banker International Sterling Society

Eight sales associates from Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty have been recognized as members of the 2007 Coldwell Banker International Sterling Society. The distinguished membership is awarded to the top 11 percent of the more than 116,800 sales associates worldwide in the Coldwell Banker system.

Recipients of this designation include Philip Born of the Jonesboro/Clayton County office; Janis Kraft, Patricia Roman and Martin Wise of the Peachtree City/Fayette County office; Bobbie Roper, Sandra Stephens and Brooks Brackett of the McDonough/Henry County office; and Sheri Sears of the Conyers/Rockdale County office.

These agents were recognized for their achievement at the Coldwell Banker International Business Conference, held February 21-23 at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The annual event brought thousands of Coldwell Banker sales associates, brokers, managers and employees together for an intensive professional development program and awards ceremony. The conference's keynote speakers were Bob Woodruff (co-anchor for ABC's World News Tonight) and his wife, Lee Woodruff. The couple recently released "In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love, Courage, and Healing," a memoir about Bob's recovery after being seriously injured by a roadside bomb while reporting near Taji, Iraq.

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 (http://cbbullard.com) 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.

Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker organization has been a premier full-service real estate provider. In 2006, Franchise Times magazine's prestigious Top 200 issue ranked the Coldwell Banker system number one in real estate for the seventh straight year and number eight among all franchisors. The Coldwell Banker System has approximately 3,800 residential real estate offices and more than 120,000 sales associates in 42 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker System is a leader in the industry in residential and commercial real estate, and in niche markets such as resort, new home and luxury property through its Coldwell Banker Previews International division. It is a pioneer in consumer services with its Coldwell Banker Concierge Service Program and award-winning Web site, www.coldwellbanker.com. Coldwell Banker Mortgage is one of the largest telephone/web based lenders in the country. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, the world's largest real estate franchisor. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated
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Prudential Georgia Realty Wins Consumers' Choice Award Fifth Straight Year

For the fifth consecutive year, Prudential Georgia Realty has been honored with a Consumers’ Choice Award as a “Best in Class” company in the Executive Home Sales category. In addition, the Atlanta-based company, for the fourth straight year, has won a Consumers’ Choice Award for Best Commercial Real Estate Company. Metro Atlanta consumers and business executives were asked to rate the best area businesses in more than 100 categories.

The survey is conducted by the New York-based Harris Interactive Inc. market research firm. The Consumers’ Choice Award was first established in Canada in 1986 and expanded into the U.S. 12 years later. This year marks the ninth year the awards have been given in Atlanta.

“Today’s consumer wants to be informed and we strive to provide the most up-to-date information available in Atlanta, whether it’s updates on the market, mortgages, new listings or foreclosure properties,” stated Prudential Georgia Realty President and CEO Dan Forsman, who regularly posts a video message update with statistical data about the Atlanta real estate marketplace at http://www.AtlantaRealEstate2008.com. “We are honored and humbled that so many metro Atlantans are raving fans of our customer service and knowledge of the local real estate market. Now more than ever, it’s important to have a trusted advisor negotiating on your behalf and our agents are trained to do just that.”

Each agent within the company has a designated website and the http://www.PrudentialGA.com site offers consumers the opportunity to do customized searches, review virtual tours or multiple photographs for every Prudential listing from the ease and comfort of their home, receive instant notification when a new property comes on the market matching their search parameters, has an upcoming open houses feature, a search option for new home communities and even offers an updated foreclosure properties link on the home page.

Now in its 45th year, Prudential Georgia Realty has been serving the real estate needs of metro Atlantans since 1963. Prudential Georgia Realty, an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates (PREA), annually ranks among the top 50 real estate companies in America and was recognized as the 10th largest real estate affiliate within PREA at the organization’s annual convention held in March of this year.

In 2007, Prudential Georgia Realty was also honored as a “Best Place to Work in Georgia” by Georgia Trend magazine. It was the only nationally franchised real estate firm to make the list.
With the recent opening of a new branch office on the Cobb County side of Roswell and the breaking ground of a new location in Suwanee, Prudential Georgia Realty has 24 offices in 15 counties and more than 1,300 real estate professionals to assist people with their real estate needs. For more information on Prudential Georgia Realty or to search more than 100,000 available metro Atlanta properties, visit www.PrudentialGeorgia.com.
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Parks & Mottola Agents Support Kool Kidz!

The sixth annual Kool Kidz Classic Polo Tournament will be held on Saturday, September 6, at Cedargate Farms in Newnan. The special event benefits Kool Kidz, a not-for-profit foundation devoted to serving metro-Atlanta children with special needs. The Foundation focuses on providing programs that join challenged children with children of all ability levels so that they may learn from one another.

Parks & Mottola agent Twyla Wilson is the Chair of the 2008 host committee. Lesley Barber and Jennifer Beegle, also agents at Parks & Mottola, serve on the host committee with Wilson and 17 other ladies, including honorary chair and event host, Ann Beegle.

Instrumental in planning and coordinating the event, the all-volunteer Host Committee is responsible for numerous tasks integral to the success of the Kool Kidz Classic. Duties include securing sponsors, organizing auctions and raffles, recruiting volunteers, and even set-up, clean-up, and take-down of the event. The Host Committee meets on a regular basis throughout the year.

“Each of the women who volunteer their time give 100 percent. They share a passion for helping children,” explains Wilson. “We wear lots of hats and do whatever it takes to get the job done.”

In 2006, Parks & Mottola was a corporate sponsor of the Kool Kidz Classic. That same year, the company’s marketing director, Robin Stewart, provided volunteer publicity and public relations services for the tournament. The company is pleased to maintain its connection to and support for the unique, charitable Newnan event.

In addition to an eight-goal polo match that includes local, national, and even international players, a variety of other activities are also scheduled. Children’s games, silent and live auctions, a raffle, dance performances, and live music are part of the festivities. Traditional favorites like complimentary champagne and divot stomping are planned as well. Complete information, including how to purchase tickets for the 2008 Kool Kidz Classic, can be found online at www.KoolKidzClassic.com.

It is the mission of Kool Kidz Foundation, Inc. to provide the metropolitan Atlanta area with exceptional programs and services where all children, especially those with physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs, can learn and play together in an inclusive and challenging environment. Visit www.KoolKidzFoundation.org to learn more.

Parks & Mottola Realty, LLC, is a Newnan-based real estate company serving Coweta, Fayette, Heard, South Fulton, Meriwether, Troup and other counties for more than 23 years. Founded in 1985, Parks & Mottola employs more than 40 licensed salespeople specializing in residential, land, commercial and investment properties. The company has a full-time marketing and relocation director and is a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, a global network of 145,000 associates assisting individuals and corporations in the relocation process. Parks & Mottola also offers land-planning services through a Certified Land Planner and Registered Landscape Architect. For more information on services or available properties, visit our Web site at www.ParksAndMottola.com or call 770.253.7005.
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Chantilly Station Welcomes the Redevelopment of the Executive Park

Chantilly Station is an intimate community that has been converted into a series of luxury condominiums. Located in DeKalb County near Briarcliff Road and North Druid Hills, Chantilly Station offers 35 condominiums reasonably priced from $189,900 to the $230s. Chantilly Station offers one- and two-bedroom homes in a convenient location near Cheshire Bridge Road, Briarcliff Road and Sheridan Road.

Residents of Chantilly Station will soon have access to the first suburban office park in the Atlanta area, which will combine office, retail, dining, residential and hotel components. DeKalb County is in the planning stage of a mixed-use makeover for the DeKalb Executive Park. The redevelopment project will bring increased commerce to the area and will be within walking distance for residents of Chantilly Station. This will transform Chantilly Station into a true Live-Work-Play community. Part of the redevelopment plan is to restructure the roads surrounding the Executive Park. This is great news for both residents and those who use the heavily trafficked intersection of North Druid Hills and Briarcliff roads in north-central DeKalb.

This fully remodeled community offers single-level condominiums ranging in size from 1,000 to 1,400 square feet. In addition, all homes offer a variety of luxurious features which are standard and are not upgrades as they typically are for other builders. Homes include granite countertops with tile backsplashes; spacious kitchen pantries; all stainless steel appliances including stackable washer and dryer; hardwood floors in the kitchen, foyer, living room, dining room and sunroom; indoor 5’ by 3’ storage rooms; gas-log fireplaces with granite surrounds and built in cabinetry. For entertaining friends and family, all homes also have a patio or deck off the main living area.

To make living enjoyable and convenient, Chantilly Station also features a swimming pool and pavilion, as well as superb access to I-85 and GA 400. Children attend Briar Vista Elementary, Shamrock Middle, and North Druid Hills High School.

To visit the community, take I-85 North to the North Druid Hills Exit and take a right onto Briarcliff Road. Follow Briarcliff Road to a right onto Sheridan Road. Turn right onto Chantilly Road, and the entrance to Chantilly Station will be on the left.

Exclusive sales and marketing is provided by Morris and Raper REALTORS®. For more information, call 404-235-2370.
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Actions Taken by the Georgia Board of General and Residential Contractors at its August 6 Meeting

The Georgia Board of General and Residential Contractors held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, August 6, 2008.

The Residential Division voted and accepted the recommendations from the previous committee meeting on applicant appearances, which was held on July 30, 2008.

At the July 30, 2008 meeting, the Residential Division held 73 appearances for applicants who requested that the Board reconsider the denial of their licenses. The Division overturned the denials of 21 applications for licensure, upheld the denials of 25 applications for licensure and tabled 18 applications for further review. Nine applicants did not attend their scheduled appearances.

The Georgia Board of General and Residential Contractors held 53 appearances for applicants who requested that the Board reconsider the denial of their licenses. The Board overturned the denials of 20 applications for licensure, upheld the denials of 20 applications for licensure and tabled 10 applications for further review. Three applicants did not attend their scheduled appearances.

The Board voted to approve 610 residential basic licenses, 241 residential light licenses and 253 general contractor licenses. The Board also voted to deny 7 residential basic contractor licenses, 2 residential light contractor licenses and 1 general contractor license.

The Board voted to accept the following Public Consent Orders for probationary licensure:
Scott Alan Belanger, McDonough.
Timothy Hand, Fayetteville.
Phillip Jason Flatt, Macon.
Douglas Eugene Majors, Cairo.
Jason Andrew Thomas, Colbert.
Gilbert Tillman, Griffin.

The Board voted to repost the following rule:

Rule 553-7-.02, Written Warranty for General Contractor: Defines written warranties and outlines the items that should be included in a warranty.

The Board will hold a public hearing and vote on Rule 553-10-.01 Inactive License, which provides methods by which a license can be placed on inactive status, at its September 3, 2008 meeting.

The Georgia Board of General and Residential Contractors will hold its next meeting Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. at the Professional Licensing Boards Division in Macon, Georgia.
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Nine Individual Bullard Realty Agents Named to Coldwell Banker Diamond Society

Nine individual agents with Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty have earned membership in the company's International Diamond Society, a level achieved by only the top seven percent of the more than 116,800 sales associates worldwide in the Coldwell Banker system.

Honorees recognized for their performances in 2007 included Donna Daniel, Diane Maney and Dee Christian from the company's Peachtree City/Fayette County office; Tammi Lamb from the McDonough/Henry County office; Shannon Scott from the Newnan/Coweta County office; and� Sherry Mattox, Patricia Winston, Melissa Stephens and Patricia Ramsey from the Jonesboro/Clayton County office.

These agents were presented with this distinguished honor at the Coldwell Banker International Business Conference, held February 21-23 at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The annual event brought thousands of Coldwell Banker sales associates, brokers, managers and employees together for an intensive professional development program and awards ceremony. The conference's keynote speakers were Bob Woodruff (co-anchor for ABC's World News Tonight) and his wife, Lee Woodruff. The couple recently released "In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love, Courage, and Healing," a memoir about Bob's recovery after being seriously injured by a roadside bomb while reporting near Taji, Iraq.

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 (http://cbbullard.com) 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.

Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker organization has been a premier full-service real estate provider. In 2006, Franchise Times magazine's prestigious Top 200 issue ranked the Coldwell Banker system number one in real estate for the seventh straight year and number eight among all franchisors. The Coldwell Banker System has approximately 3,800 residential real estate offices and more than 120,000 sales associates in 42 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker System is a leader in the industry in residential and commercial real estate, and in niche markets such as resort, new home and luxury property through its Coldwell Banker Previews International division. It is a pioneer in consumer services with its Coldwell Banker Concierge Service Program and award-winning Web site, www.coldwellbanker.com. Coldwell Banker Mortgage is one of the largest telephone/web based lenders in the country. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, the world's largest real estate franchisor. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.
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Time is Running Out to Take Advantage of Down Payment Assistance Programs Ending September 30, 2008

According to the new Housing Stimulus Law passed last month, many down payment assistance programs will not operate as they have in the past beginning October 1. A federal tax credit for first-time home buyers will be available, but home buyers planning to take advantage of down payment assistance programs and in the process of closing or searching for the perfect home need to act fast. Homes must close by September 30, 2008 in order to receive financial support from many programs.

Currently there are several charitable down payment assistance programs that help potential home buyers, including the Nehemiah Program in Georgia. The Nehemiah Program has given over $187 million dollars to help Georgian’s go from potential home buyers to homeowners. Thanks to McCar Homes’ easy closing process, potential home buyers can take advantage of this program before it is too late if they act now.

Potential homebuyers will find everything they want and need at a McCar Homes’ community. McCar has more than 25 communities located in the best locations throughout the Atlanta area. Every home includes state-of-the-art features and with several spacious floorplans to choose from, there is something for everyone at McCar Homes. Residents at one of McCar’s Atlanta communities enjoy luxurious amenity packages which include: community pools, cabanas, clubhouses, tennis courts, playgrounds and much more.

For more information on any of McCar Homes’ Atlanta communities, visit www.mccarhomes.com.

Dan and Elaine McSwain founded McCar Homes more than 50 years ago with a mission to build homes for buyers who desire the best homes in sought-after locations. Today, the
company has grown from a hometown builder into one of the nation’s top builders and is ranked 39th by Professional Builder. McCar Homes has earned numerous national and regional
awards. With an experienced team of professionals, McCar Homes sets a new standard for exceptional quality, innovative home design, outstanding amenities and customer satisfaction – building new home communities across the Southeastern United States including Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. For more information, visit www.mccarhomes.com.
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Curcio Joins Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty's PTC Office

Stephen Curcio has joined Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty's Peachtree City/Fayette County office as a sales associate.

Curcio, who is now with the Bullard organization as a result of its recent merger with Coldwell Banker Fulton Realty Associates, has lived in Peachtree City for over six years. Originally from New York, he previously lived in Florida for 15 years.

He noted that his 25 years in the jewelry retail business has been a great asset in his transition to selling real estate. He received his real estate license in July of 2007 and has also completed Coldwell Banker FastStart.

Curcio, who has a great love for animals, volunteers his time working with different animal rescue groups.
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Bowen Family Homes Get an A+ in Summer School!

Bowen Family Homes recently held their last continuing education course for the month of July. The three part series focused on quality construction with an emphasis on building homes for long term value. The instructor was Robert T. Merz, who is the President of Construction Arbitration Associates, Ltd.

“Bowen’s summer learning series is really helpful for all involved. The realtors truly enjoyed seeing some of the beautiful homes in Stonehaven Pointe. The construction at Stonehaven is superior,” said Merz. “As I was teaching, we viewed several homes in the neighborhood. I looked for areas that needed improvement to use for instructional purposes, but honestly, the homes were built so well that flaws were not evident.”

In attendance at the CE class were over 25 co-op agents who were also impressed with the sound construction of the Stonehaven Pointe homes. About 75 percent of those individuals attended all three courses, and that enabled Merz to reference the homes at Stonehaven Pointe in the second class “How Quality Enhances Value.”

“Quality construction is an absolute necessity, especially in today's housing market. I was very pleased with the superior construction I found at Stonehaven Pointe,” said Merz. “Quality can be achieved in all price points to enhance value.”

The community offers many choices of popular design features and upgrades desired by many of today’s homebuyers, such as vaulted or sloped ceilings, elegant molding packages in dining rooms, marble vanities, separate garden tubs and showers, maple kitchen cabinets and hardwood floors in foyers. These features add to the value to a home, especially when constructed with high quality materials and attention to detail.

The 480 homes of Stonehaven Pointe are the Arts and Crafts style single-family component of the master planned Stonehaven community. homes are priced from the $190s.

Stonehaven offers amenities for everyone, from the elegant clubhouse where families can gather and entertain and the junior Olympic pool with slide and the aquatic play park where young children can splash to the multipurpose fields where anyone can go for a pick-up game of their favorite sport. The six tennis courts are lighted for play into the late hours, and sidewalks and streetlights throughout the community connect everything for easy, safe access. The community also has a dog park where residents can take their four-legged friends for playtime and to meet with their neighbors.

The families of Stonehaven Pointe and Stonehaven Terrace are served by Shiloh Pointe Elementary, South Forsyth Middle and South Forsyth High schools. The communities are located only 2 miles to the new Avenues Forsyth Mall, which is scheduled to open Spring/Summer of 2008. To visit, travel on Ga. 400 North to Exit 13 (141/Peachtree Parkway) and turn left onto 141. Turn right onto Highway 9, then left onto Piney Grove Road. Stonehaven Pointe is on the left. For more information on Stonehaven Pointe, call on-site sales agents Casey Wood and Jeff Anthony at 770-844-0779.

Since 1969 the Bowen name has stood for excellence in new home construction and community development. Recognized as the 43rd largest privately owned builder in the country by Builder Magazine for 2007, Bowen Family Homes is a dynamic homebuilder with operations in Georgia, Florida and Texas. The Atlanta Business Chronicle ranked Bowen Family Homes 6th among metro Atlanta builders in 2006 and 30th among Atlanta’s Top 100 Private Companies for 2006. Additionally, Bowen Family Homes was named the Georgia Family Business of the Year for medium sized companies by Georgia Trend and the Cox Family Enterprise Center at Kennesaw State University in 2006. Bowen Family Homes ranked 78th on the 2008 Professional Builder Giant 400 largest homebuilders in the United States list. These successes have been achieved by simply offering the best new home value in all price ranges. For more information about Bowen Family Homes, please call their Atlanta region headquarters at 678-325-4554 or 1-877- MY BOWEN or visit online at www.bowenfamilyhomes.com.
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HGTV’s FrontDoor.com Real Estate Offers the Top 10 Unique Selling Tactics to Lure Potential Buyers

BUSINESS WIRE --Say goodbye to the days when baking a batch of cookies and putting out fresh flowers before an open house would be enough to sell your home. In today's market, it takes more than that to attract buyers, and frustrated home sellers are resorting to some unusual methods to get their homes noticed. From clever to downright bizarre, FrontDoor.com – HGTV’s new award-winning real estate site – shares its top ten favorite unusual home selling tactics. (http://www.frontdoor.com/top10)

1. Hold an open house party. Open houses are the norm when selling a home, but some sellers are upping the ante on the open house by offering wine, catered food, live music and prizes. A fancy shindig could start a buzz on your property and make your home memorable.

2. Take home staging to the extreme. It's well known that staging your home can help it sell faster, but some sellers are taking staging a step further with an ancient Chinese philosophy. Feng shui stagers rearrange the elements of a home to improve its chi, or energy. Good chi makes potential buyers feel more welcome.

3. Help serious buyers with financing. Many people who want to buy a home can't qualify for a standard mortgage right now, so sellers are offering a helping hand. Sellers have a few options when it comes to assisting buyers with financing, including offering lease-to-own deals, offering financing themselves, paying for closing costs or paying for points to lower the interest rate.

4. Have a little faith. Burying statues or medals of St. Joseph in the earth is a tradition that dates back hundreds of years. Most recently, home sellers have been burying the patron saint of family and household needs in their yards to help their homes sell faster. Thousands of sellers swear that a little divine intervention helped them get a sale.

5. Throw in some extravagant extras. In the past, a free big-screen TV was enough of an incentive to get your home noticed. Times have changed, and incentives are becoming more and more substantial. Sellers are throwing in all kinds of goodies, like free cars, vacations, pricey home upgrades and monetary incentives like a year's mortgage or a furniture stipend. One woman in Florida is even offering herself as an incentive – she hopes to marry the man who buys her home.

6. Make your home a grand prize. After conventional methods fall short, some sellers are holding raffles and essay contests and giving their homes to the winners. This method is sure to draw attention, but beware: home lotteries are illegal in many states, so find out your state's regulations.

7. Get Web savvy. If the traditional method of selling your home through a real estate agent doesn't appeal to you, you may find an alternative process on the Web. Some sellers are auctioning off their homes on eBay, while others are swapping properties through sites like Pad4Pad.com and DomuSwap.com.

8. Let your house do the talking. After taking the traditional route of putting a For Sale sign in your front yard and placing an ad in the newspaper, try some hi-tech advertising. Some sellers and agents are using the Talking House radio transmitter, which allows you to record a customized message about the features of your home. Buyers can tune into a radio station to hear this message as they drive by your house.

9. Put your house on the auction block. Auctions are no longer just for homes that have been foreclosed on. Sellers looking to sell their homes quickly are choosing the auction route. Keep in mind that the total costs of auctioning off a home are often the same or more than the costs of selling a home through an agent.

10. Let buyers sleep on it. For serious potential buyers who are on the fence about buying your home, let them sleep on it, literally. By letting buyers spend the night in your home, you're allowing them to get the full experience of living there. A trial run could be just what they need to sign on the dotted line. Be sure to consult with your real estate agent or attorney first.

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Builder Offers Useful Insider Tips to Homebuyers Seeking Value in Current Housing Market

Builder Mark Smith knows the residential building marketplace inside and out. As owner of Conyers-based Classic Smith Neighborhoods Inc., a longtime builder of mid-level to high-end custom homes, Smith's many years of experience in working with buyers gives him the edge to deliver homes that are appealing, affordable and built to last.

"Everyone's hearing that this is a buyer's market and while that's true, buyers need to know the inside scoop on working with builders to get the kind of home they want," said Smith, who is currently building in several upscale communities in East Metro Atlanta, including Avignon and Underwood Crossing. "Builders and homebuyers form a team with the same objectives, no matter what the market, and by working together, much can be accomplished to the satisfaction of everyone."

Smith urges buyers to look carefully and critically at neighborhoods with homes they're considering for purchase, working from a list of 'must-haves' to find the best match.

"Think about location, quality of neighborhood, current design, comparable value, lot size and home features that are important to you and your family," he said. "Buying a home is perhaps the largest investment you'll make in your lifetime and you should give it thoughtful consideration. If you must have an open floor plan or a master suite with a separate sitting area, don't settle for anything less."

Smith says his company works hard to give homeowners the look they want, from the exterior to the interior by building them the home of their dreams.

"We begin with elaborately detailed entrances to our neighborhoods and take that detail to the home inside and out," he said. "New homebuyers should be impressed by their neighborhood's entrance and feel good about their home being a part of a masterfully planned neighborhood. Our homebuyers wanting to build have the opportunity to work one-on-one with our decorator to make the many choices that go into building your own home. It is an exciting time for most homebuyers, and we like to help make it a great experience by making it easy for them."

Because there are many new homes on the market, it could be even more confusing for today's buyers. Values have come down somewhat, but quality builders continue to construct homes with upscale features, such as granite countertops, generous trim packages and distinctive interior architectural features, niches and columns while maintaining their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

"In the current market, homebuyers will find that homes may be selling for less than they were valued one year ago, but the quality of our homes remains top notch," he said. "Today, even more special features are being added to our homes to attract the buyers. We pride ourselves on our Mark of Excellence in every home, and that will never change. We are offering brand new neighborhoods with all of the homes being investments that will offer faster future value.

"Don't let a bargain price sway you on a purchase," he said. "Make it a priority to locate a good neighborhood first, because your investment is in the neighborhood with the home of your dreams. And meet personally with the builder to discuss your choices, whether it's a completed inventory home or one that's in process. Even if the home is already complete, the builder can most likely work with you to customize it further by finishing a basement, installing additional built-ins or upgrading lighting and fixtures."

Many builders and developers are offering incentives for buyers, especially on inventory homes. Classic Smith Neighborhoods' inventory homes are built to sell, custom designed with all of the features today's homebuyers are looking for. This makes it easy for a customer to come in with a list of wants, but without a lot of time to build.

"Our incentives make it easier for the purchaser to get the deal of a lifetime on their dream home. This is an excellent way to find a good value," Smith said. "But don't overlook homes that are in various stages of completion, because you have more opportunities to make it your own by selecting carpet, hardwood floors, countertops, tile, paint colors, lighting fixtures and other extras. If you're not in a hurry to move in - say, you can wait eight to 10 weeks -- you have plenty of time to work with your builder to make your own selections. Most builders would be happy to work one-on-one with buyers to help them create and attain their dream home.

Mark Smith has been building homes in Conyers for nearly 25 years. Coldwell Banker American Land Mart in Conyers is the marketing team for Classic Smith Neighborhoods Inc. For information, call 770-483-2323 or visit the company's website at www.AmericanLandMart.com.
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Morris & Raper Announces Opening of New Bank Owned Properties Division - ForeclosedDeals.com

Builder foreclosures are expected to be in the billions in the next 12 to 18 months according to ViaSearch, a market research company based in Atlanta. As banks are forced into the business of selling and sometimes even building homes, this creates a niche in the new home market. Morris and Raper Realtors is uniquely positioned to capture this market due to their experience and reputation in the real estate industry, as well as their success with work outs.

Morris and Raper is pleased to announce the formation of a new bank owned properties division, ForeclosedDeals.com, to sell, market and service bank owned properties including raw land, developed lots and new homes – single family homes, condos and townhomes. While numerous companies provide foreclosure listings, Morris and Raper represents only new home foreclosures, not resales. Their new division is already up and running representing several communities.

“In over three decades of new homes sales, we've successfully connected more buyers and sellers of residential properties than virtually any other real estate company in metro Atlanta and the Southeastern United States,” said Gail Raper, Founder of Morris and Raper. “And this new division will give us the opportunity to continue to make those connections.”

This new division is headed by Rob Benware. With over a decade of sales and marketing management experience with companies including Disney’s Celebration, McCar Homes, and Traton Homes, Benware's leadership will allow this new division to provide a full service approach to selling bank owned properties including, in some situations, professionally decorated models and sales centers. All homes represented will have the advantage of creative Internet marketing and a new dedicated website (www.ForeclosedDeals.com).

Founded in 1979, Morris & Raper is the premier source of new homes and condominium sales and marketing information with the expertise to apply it for its team, its developer and builder clients and for homebuyers and sellers alike. The family of companies includes Morris and Raper Realtors, Morris and Raper Intown, Marketing Results, Model Residences and Mortgages On-Site, a joint venture with Wells Fargo. The companies combined provide one-stop shopping for sales, marketing, consulting, design and financing.
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Broadfoot Leads Sales for Rockdale

For the second time this year, Linda Broadfoot is the Individual Agent Leader for the Conyers/Rockdale County office of Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty. The latest recognition was for July.

No. 2 top producing individual agent for the month was Antonio Brooks, and No. 3 was Sheri Sears.

Broadfoot, who has been a real estate professional for over 30 years, has been a member of the Million Dollar Club.

She relocated to Georgia in 2005 to be near her son and two small grandchildren. In Kansas, she was an active member of the Wichita Board of Realtors, Kansas Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors. She served on various committees on the Wichita Board of realtors over the years. She is currently a member of the East Metro Board of Realtors and the Georgia Association of Realtors.

Broadfoot's in-depth real estate training includes courses in Real Estate Practices, Fair Housing, Economics, Financing, Legal Aspects, and Mortgage Fraud. She holds the GRI (Graduate of Realtor Institute) and ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative) designations.

Broadfoot and her husband Steve, to whom she has been married for more than 40 years, were lifelong residents of Kansas before moving here. They have two grown children and four grandchildren. They are partners in Conyers Pool and Patio, which is operated by their son and his wife.
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