What 9 year old boy wouldn't want a party like this?

Last weekend, my grandson had a tree climbing party.  Yep, he, his friends and cousins all learned how to climb a tree.  A representative of the Tree Climber's International, came to Blackburn Park in Atlanta and rigged a 40+ year old Willow Oak with ropes so they could all climb.

Each child was fitted with a saddle, gloves and a helmet, and after watching the instructor, each climbed up the ropes, up into the tree canopy.  What a wonderful day for this, low 70's slightly overcast and breezy. 

They had a blast - the youngest was 5 and the oldest was 12.  No one cried and they all got up to the top of their ropes without incident. 

I know they all slept well!

For more information go to: http://www.treeclimbing.com/. 

A day at Cubihatcha

The Cubihatcha Outdoor Education Center is a nature preserve located almost directly across from the Noah's Ark animal park.


Working with the children



Every fall, area third graders visit the Center. Their visits are organized through the Henry County Outdoor Education Partnership in collaboration with the Henry County Water and Sewer Authority, the Henry County Board of Education and many other local and regional sponsors.



Moving into a Seller's Market

We have had our share of difficult times trying to sell real estate in Henry County.  Don't believe me?  Take a look at the following picture:

Months of Invwentory for Henry County, all prices

The graph above shows the Henry County Trends over the past 15 months. It sure wasn't fun between November 2010 and March 2011.  But thankfully, we are now in an even market for the most part.

Contrast the County as a whole with homes priced below $100,000.

Months of Invwentory for Henry County, $100,000 and below

The above chart shows the trend for homes priced below $100,000.  Although, the stats were not as bad for sellers from November 2010 to February 2011 in this price point as they were for the County, overall, it was still a buyer's market. 

Starting in March of last year, we have definitely been in a seller's market.  That means that buyers are going to have to act quickly and decisively when they see a house they like.

Is the market turning around overall?  Hard to say.  A lot will depend on forces beyond our control, such as, how much of the shadow inventory will be released into the market; whether interest rates remain low; whether more banks fail, etc.

Want to see information about your area? Contact us and we'll run a report for you!

What do Phoenix, AZ and McDonough, GA have in common?

Planting at Phoenix Airport - cycad surrounded by geraniums

 I didn't have a whole lot of time in Phoenix. I was there to attend the Certified Residential Specialist's annual convention, Sell-a-bration. Going to this event helps me stay up-to-date with what's going on in the real estate industry.

It didn't escape me that there were palms and cycads and bougainvillea everywhere, even some lantana. These are all plants that grow in Florida. With the exception of the cactus, these plants reminded of my time in Florida.



Welcome Center in McDonough, GA

 What I didn't expect was geraniums. Yes, just like McDonough, which has a geranium plant in the center of the city seal, they were in huge beds in lovely shades of pink. Interesting to see that a plant that does so well for us in McDonough, GA, in the summer, will also grow in Phoenix in the winter.

But that was not my only surprise. I sat at lunch with a lovely agent from Sedona, by the name of Beth Larsen. I asked her if Arizona had any industry an she said they grow cotton. Big shock for me! What about you?

Let me know what plants you see when you travel and I'll let you know if they grow in our area.

Trip to Dillard, GA

View from our "Fireside" suite at the Dillard House

What a nice trip we had for New Year's 2012.  I've never been to Dillard, GA.  This year,my step-daughter asked us to join her, and her husband and our grandkids at the Dillard House.

It's only about 130 miles from our house in Henry County.  We stopped at Tallulah Gorge to view the deepest gorge east of the Missippi.  Karl Wallanda walked over it in 1970. Although the water doesn't flow through the gorge, it is still a great view. (The water has been diverted for hydro-electric purposes. However, water is released in the spring and fall from Tallulah dam.  You can check with www.gastateparks.org/info/tallulah to see when water will be released

We had a great suite.  It included a living room with a fireplace, a microwave, refrigerator and sink, a bedroom and nice bath.  The grounds and views were beautiful.  The Dillard complex includes about 30 cottages about 2 miles away.  Each cottage is tucked into a wooded location and includes balconies and decks and a kitchen, living area and one or more bedrooms and baths.

The little towns leading to Dillard are chock full of antique shops an eateries.  The kids had a great time "panning" for precious stones and feeding the goats at a place called "Goats on the Roof". They were also eager to jump in and out of the hot tub in their cabin, naked as jay birds. Lots of fun.

We hope to come back in the fall.