One of the things Atlanta has become infamous for is its traffic.    This gives an impression that Atlanta is all pavement and doesn’t have much in the way of green space.    The reality is, of course, that that’s a HUGE misconception.    Atlanta has many lovely parks of all sizes and miles and miles of walking and biking trails.    The Atlanta Beltline Project aims to expand on both the parks and the trails!

Not only will the Project add new parks but existing parks will be expanded and improved.   Miniscule Enota Park will expand from .3 acres to 10 acres.      Already sizable at 52 acres, Maddox Park will be more than double in size to 114 acres while Armore Park will grow from 2 to 8 acres.

 Atlanta Beltline Parks will also create such new parks as the 65 acre Peachtree Creek Park near Buckhead and Peachtree Creek, the 28 acre Hillside Park on the site of the McDaniel CEO complex, and 2 acre Holtzclaw Park.     Additional Atlanta Beltline Parks will be historical in character.     These include 204 acre Waterworks Park, and 351 acre Westside Park.    This last substantial green space will include a reservoir created from the pit left by the Bellwood Quarry.    The Historic Fourth Ward, will eventually have a 63 acre park, but already sports a new Skatepark.    Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk, whose foundation contributed $25,000 towards the construction of the new facility, was there for the Grand Opening!

The Atlanta Beltline Parks will form a continuous loop around the central portion of the city along existing rail line right of ways.     They will thus also serve as a means to get around the heavily trafficked portions of the metropolitan center while still retaining the flavor of the natural environment.     Eventually, a light rail transit system will make the system both accessible and an adjunct to public transportation for the region.

 Atlanta Beltline Parks are expected to add 40% to the amount of green space found in the 45 neighborhoods of the Atlanta Metropolitan region that are a part of the Project.    There are to be a total of 33 miles of multi use trails connecting 40 parks. 700 acres of existing parks will be linked.    Atlanta Beltline Parks also call for the acquisition of 480 to 490 acres of new park area.    Costs for these purchases are expected to be $480 to $570 million.    An additional $275 to $340 million will be spent on park development and trail construction.    The funding will come from a variety of sources including business partnerships, government grants, and bond issues.

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Are you house hunting?  Looking for that perfect home for your family?  Are your kids begging for their own rooms?  You want a home that’s elegant but still comfortable?  With room to grow, great for entertaining, room for the kids to play, but is still in the right area for good schools, great shopping and restaurants and easy access to everything else you need?  Well, The Anderson Group just listed two such homes and you NEED to check them out!

1442 Eastham Drive  -  In the Heart of Dunwoody!

 4 bedrooms;   2.5 baths;  2,969 s/f  -  $439,500

OPEN HOUSE – SUNDAY, MAY 20th   2 – 5pm

The new open style Kitchen with its custom cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, & granite counters, offers the choice of a Breakfast Nook or sitting at the counter.    Perfect for maintaining conversation while busy cooking, the Kitchen opens to the Great Room and a tiled Fireplace sporting enough room above for that large, flat screen TV the family loves.    French Doors in that wall of windows leads to beautiful level fenced Backyard & Patio.

The luxurious Master Bedroom is on the main level with its designer ceiling, large walk-in closet and row of windows.    The elegant new Spa Bath has a large glassed shower and jetted tub with a custom dark wood double vanity and mirror.    The main level is completed by a 1/2 Bath and Laundry Room with cabinets and a sink.

Wander upstairs and admire the wonderful Loft Area perfect for that getaway place.    You’ll also find three large Bedrooms, another full bath plus a bonus office/library/playroom area with French Doors.

Lawn care is included in HOA fee, too!   Walk to the Library, Shops, and Restaurants in Dunwoody Village.

2015 Barrett Drive  -  Cumming:  Not City Living But Not Quite The Country Either

4 bedrooms;   2.5 baths;  2,189 s/f  -  $239,000

You do not want to miss this one.    This house has it all.   The renovated Kitchen has stainless appliances, coordinated granite counter tops, floors, hardware and tile back splash.    The Breakfast Nook and formal Dining Room have bay windows and the Dining Room seats 12 people.    The main level has bamboo hardwood floors.   The Family Room has a painted brick Fireplace and custom shelves & cabinets built into the stairway.    There is also a formal Living Room which the current owner chose to make play area.    The entire home is suffused with natural light from many windows.

The Master Suite also contains bay windows.    The Suite is large enough for a sitting area, has a treyed ceiling and the closet is a room in itself.    The stunning new Master Bath feels like your own private spa.   The custom vanity has granite counters, dark wood cabinets that coordinate with the custom mirrors.    The new shower and step-up whirlpool tub are beautifully tiled.   A serene place to relax!

The private backyard with a walkout Deck for perfect for entertaining and letting the kids play!    The Barrett Downs neighborhood is fantastic with a community swimming pool, tennis courts and playground.    The area has been redistricted into new Kelly Mill Elementary school.

From the custom paint throughout to the all new spray foam insulation in the attic…there are too many details to list!    This one won’t last!

Two GORGEOUS homes just listed from The Anderson Group!!   Don’t wait to lay claim on your favorite – homes with deals like these aren’t on the market long!  Give Tom or Mary Ann Anderson a call and check out your new home!

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 If you’re one of those home buyers who has been waiting and waiting for just that right moment to buy your dream home, take note.    The Time to Buy is Now!!!!

The signs are everywhere and I’m not talking about ‘For Sale’ signs; in many areas those are decreasing rapidly.   In many areas around the country inventory levels are down to less than 2 months and even in areas where the inventory is larger, buyers have depleted the market in key pricing levels.   Your dream home may have already begun to increase in price.

The following two recent Real Estate articles, from CNN Money and The New York Times, are down right screaming for holdout home buyers to holdout no longer.    The Times’ article on Fannie Mae’s 1st profit in years and CNN Money’s story touting home prices will never be cheaper, is another clear signal that home buyers shouldn’t wait.

It’s time to make your dream a reality and The Anderson Group is ready to help.   Give Tom or Mary Ann a call and get your dream while the price is still heaven sent!

Buying a Home Won’t Get Much Cheaper

By Les Christie

Buying a home may never get any cheaper than this.   Several housing experts are predicting that this year will be the last chance for bargain hunters to cash in on the best deals of the weak housing market.

With home prices down 34% nationally since 2006 and mortgage rates at historic lows, homes have never been more affordable — but it won’t stay this way for much longer.

Stuart Hoffman, chief economist for PNC Financial Services, said he expects home prices to flatten out by the third quarter and start climbing by next year.

A number of factors will help bolster the housing market, he said, including a decline in the number of foreclosures and continued job growth.    In addition, home buyers will have better access to mortgages as they get their finances in order and improve their credit scores.

“This is a strong indicator that we will start seeing home price indexes, like the S&P/Case-Shiller, start to report home price increases this summer,” he said.

Prospective home buyers who’ve been sitting on the fence shouldn’t worry if they aren’t quite ready to make the leap.    Analysts are predicting that the initial price gains will be modest, at least, in most markets.

Fannie Mae Posts Profit; Seeks No Aid

By ANNIE LOWREY              Published: May 9, 2012

A slowdown in the decline of home prices and in the number of homes entering serious delinquency allowed the company to eke out a profit after paying its dividend to the Treasury.   Fannie Mae also said losses on its portfolio of home mortgages had probably peaked and that it expected better profits in the future, another sign that the worst might be over for the battered American housing market.

Across the country, there are signs the housing market is stabilizing.   Home prices have continued to fall but at a much slower pace.   More Americans are buying houses than they were a year ago.   Housing starts have risen  more than 10 percent in the last year.

Fannie and Freddie, which own or guarantee millions of home loans, lose money when borrowers default — their financial fortunes are directly tied to the overall health of the housing market.    Estimates for the two companies’ ultimate cost to the taxpayer vary widely.   They depend on many variables, including default rates and home values.   The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that they will cost taxpayers $53 billion between 2011 and 2020.

Recently, the Obama administration and some Democrats have urged Fannie and Freddie to take on more losses to further aid the housing market.   The White House has pushed for Fannie and Freddie to allow mortgage servicers to reduce the amounts homeowners owe on their mortgages to reduce their chances of defaulting.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency, Fannie and Freddie’s overseer, estimated that a principal reduction program for homeowners who owed more than their homes were worth would cost the mortgage financiers $100 billion.   Edward J. DeMarco, the acting head of the finance agency, has long resisted such a program on the ground that it would be too costly for taxpayers.

But recently, the agency has shown some signs of softening its resistance.   An assessment released last month by Mr. DeMarco showed that writing down the mortgage principal for 691,000 homeowners who owed more than their homes were worth would actually cut Fannie and Freddie’s losses by $1.7 billion.   Over all, the program would cost the taxpayer modestly, as the Treasury would pay incentives to encourage participation in the program.

Last week, Freddie Mac reported quarterly net income  of $577 million for the first quarter.   In the year-earlier quarter, it reported net income of $676 million.   Freddie requested $19 million from the Treasury after making its $1.8 billion dividend payment to taxpayers.   Fannie Mae paid out $2.8 billion in dividends to the government in the first quarter.

This is the first quarter that Fannie Mae has not made a request for additional bailout money from the Treasury.   Those quarterly requests have ranged from $1.5 billion to as high as $19 billion since the government took over the mortgage financier.   In the final quarter of 2011, Fannie drew down $4.6 billion; in the first quarter of 2011, it requested $8.5 billion.

Fannie and Freddie have a total portfolio worth more than $5 trillion.

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The Lake Claire neighborhood of Atlanta is bordered on the west by Candler Park and is a hilly area with a number of wonderful homes. There are approximately 1200 homes in Lake Claire.   These comprise an eclectic mix from a variety of periods including the Revival, Victorian, and Modern.   Many of the homes in Lake Claire are brick Tudor style, Bungalows and Victorians.    You will find everything from Craftsman Bungalows and 1950’s cottages to recently renovated and new construction homes.

 Although this is one of the smaller neighborhoods within Atlanta, it does have a small-town and close knit community feel.   Owners of homes in Lake Claire have a neighborhood association, which is made up of an elected executive committee.    This committee helps plan all of the annual events, including the Halloween kid’s parade and the Lake Claire home and garden tour every fall.

There has also been some new building in the neighborhood recently.    This includes a subdivision of new town homes and homes in Lake Claire called Sutherland Place.    The abundant number of trees as well as the many lovingly tended gardens and green spaces will also strike you.

 Many of the residents of Lake Claire are committed to helping preserve the natural tree canopy and green spaces within the Atlanta area and are a part of a ‘Land Trust’.    Residents may enjoy the playground, tennis courts and open fields for gathering with neighbors or simply enjoying the outdoors.     Throughout the Spring , Summer and Fall, when the weather is good, Drum Circles are held on the the Land Trust property and are open to all.

 There are a number of additional activities located close to the homes in Lake Claire.    These include restaurants, movie theaters, shops, and grocery stores.    One of the best schools in the area for youngsters is the Saint Thomas Moore Catholic School, for grades K through 8.

 If you are seeking a place with all of these amenities, then the homes in Lake Claire may be perfect for you.    It is truly an oasis within an urban center.

While investigating Lake Claire, you might also check these nearby neighborhoods:

Candler Park Homes for Sale

Druid Hills Homes for Sale

Kirkwood Homes for Sale

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Garden Hills has some of the most attractive and historic homes in the Atlanta.   The homes in Garden Hills feature a collection of Craftsman bungalows as well as spacious Georgian, Spanish Revival, and Tudor mansions, in addition to less sizable but still spacious ranch style homes.    Builders are still attracted by the convenient location between Peachtree and Piedmont Road and close to downtown Atlanta.   New homes in Garden Hills tend to run in the $700,000 range, although many listings below and above this price point are active.    Atlanta designated the area a historical district in 1987.

Garden Hills is a neighborhood renowned for winding roads lined with mature trees.    It is often referred to as an urban forest because of the abundance of trees in a setting so close to downtown.    There are numerous parks, several of which include pools and other recreational amenities.   Even the traffic islands are lushly landscaped  and residents enjoy many sites for shopping and dining.    The hustle and bustle of the city is just a short distance away from homes in Garden hills, but can seem a world away in this bucolic locale.

 Phillips McDuffie, an Atlanta lawyer, founded Garden Hills in 1925.    He sought to create a subdivision based around a community center and park with a pool.    His aim was to have all the homes in Garden Hills set along streets lined with trees to give the entire neighborhood the feel of being a well-kept garden.    The homes in Garden Hills developed incrementally in three sections.    The first was the Country Club portion that contained the pool and community center around North Hills Drive and Rumson Road.    The next area developed was the Peachtree portion between Rumson and Peachtree Road with the Brentwood Section along Piedmont Road to North Hills Drive as the last.

 Garden Hills has three sizable, named parks:  Sunnybrook, Alexander, and Frankie Allen.    The last features playing fields, tennis courts, and facilities for barbequing.    Residents here are right to feel pampered.    Granite markers are employed throughout the neighborhood to note structures of historical significance.   The Garden Hills pool is a gathering point for area events.

For more information on this neighborhood and/or other neighborhoods, contact the The Anderson Group!

Brookhaven Homes for Sale

Peachtree Hills Homes for Sale

Buckhead Homes for Sale

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The Atlanta Beltway Project seeks to convert abandoned rail lines around the city into an interconnected, multi-use transportation corridor.    Not only will hikers and bikers be able to use the pathways to get around, but the well landscaped trails will serve as green space to enjoy in a heavily urbanized area.    Portions of the Atlanta Beltway Project already have finished trails while others remain in a rough state, but are still hikeable.

 Future plans calls for the Atlanta Beltway project to contain trolleys and light rail.    It is hoped that the endeavor will lead to redevelopment of adjacent areas in addition to serving both recreational and transport needs.    Atlanta is one of the many metropolitan areas that are developing such a multi-use transportation scheme.

 The Atlanta Beltway Project was originally formulated as a master’s thesis by Ryan Gravel who was a student at Georgia Tech when he submitted his work in 1999.    Gravel now works in the Atlanta Planning Department.    He was bothered by the dearth of transportation alternatives in the area and developed his notions with the help of friends in the transportation field.

 Gravel sent copies of his work to numerous civic and business leaders in the region in 2000.    His plans were endorsed by several city council members along with then Mayor Shirley Franklin.    They saw the Atlanta Beltway Project as a means to revitalize neighborhoods along with a way to aid transportation.    The Georgia Department of Transportation along with a pair of private railroads owned most of the track at the time.

Altogether, the Atlanta Beltway project is 22 miles in circumference.    It encircles an elongated section of Atlanta’s business district.    It envisions the redevelopment of over 2500 acres adjacent to the pathways and park areas of the corridor itself.    A series of thirteen parks will be linked by trails for walkers and bike riders.

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Decatur, to the west of Atlanta and in DeKalb County, offers newcomers a wealth of affordable in-town neighborhoods!    From Lake Claire to West End to Cabbagetown and East Atlanta Village, Atlanta families and singles alike can choose from a wealth of vibrant areas close to downtown, yet within walking distance to restaurants, art galleries, pubs and unique shops.    Considered one of the best is Oakhurst.    If you’re looking for an eclectic, diverse, young-thinking neighborhood, you’ll find it here!

Born at the turn of the 20^th century, Oakhurst was a “streetcar suburb” of Atlanta.    Only six miles from downtown and a stone’s throw from other hip neighborhoods, it’s an historic tree-lined area just south of Decatur and offers a wide selection of Arts and Crafts and Craftsman style homes with coveted architectural details such as high ceilings, fireplaces and original hardwood floors.

The jewel in the neighborhood crown may be the Oakhurst Community Garden Project, a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental education.    At just under two acres, the garden offers individual garden plots, a community chicken coop, bee hives, and compost piles.   Led by the knowledgeable onsite director Daniel Ballard, the garden is not limited to locals; for $35 per year, members from any area receive a newsletter, a decal, priority tickets to events, and discounts on various programs.    The garden can also be rented for parties and private events.

Oakhurst Village, at the center of the neighborhood, is a gathering spot known as with several restaurants and pubs, art galleries, shops, and the lovely old building that once served as the Scottish Rite Hospital, designed by local architect Neel Reid in 1917.     Although the hospital long since moved on to larger quarters, the building still serves Oakhurst as an art gallery, restaurant/wine bar, and The Solarium, an event facility.

 Sound interesting? Call the TAG team today! We’d love to show you available homes in and around beautiful Oakhurst.

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4841 Manget Court is now under contract!

The Anderson Group has had a busy 4 months, having sold 7 properties in that time.    As May dawns it appears that they have no intention of slowing down.    To make a great start to the month their 8th property of the year is pending sale.

On the market for less than 2 months, Manget Court isn’t their quickest property to go from listed to under contract, 140 Knighthood went in 9 days, but with the market still uncertain no seller could be unhappy with that time frame.    Of the 7 properties sold so far in 2012, none of the 7 were on the market for more than 4 months.

The Anderson Group specializes in the Dunwoody and Sandy Springs areas as well as those in the Candler Park/Lake Claire, Druid Hills/Ansley, and Inman Park/Grant Park/Virginia Hills.

The real estate market continues to stabilize and the Metro Atlanta market is heating up fast.   Inventory across metro Atlanta is dropping while buyers are becoming more active.   If you have been thinking about selling your house..now is the time.

Call The Anderson Group to find out how we can get your property listed and sold in record time!

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For the past few months there have been a number of news stories indicating that the real estate market is improving.    While many parts of the country still show poor numbers in the leveling off of foreclosures and falling property values, increasingly, more parts of the country are showing vastly improved numbers in home sales.

Most recently, an article in the Wall Street Journal indicates the pending homes sales have risen to the highest level in 2 years.

 NAR: Pending home sales rise to highest level in 2 years

By Justin T. Hilley

Pending home sales increased in March and are well above a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors.

NAR’s pending home sales index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 4.1% to 101.4 in March from an upwardly revised 97.4 in February.    It is 12.8% above March 2011 when it was 89.9.    The data reflects contracts but not closings.

The index is now at the highest level since April 2010 when it reached 111.3.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said 2012 is expected to be a year of recovery for housing.   “First-quarter sales closings were the highest first-quarter sales in five years.    The latest contract signing activity suggests the second quarter will be equally good,” he said.

“The housing market has clearly turned the corner,” Yun added.   “Rising sales are bringing down inventory and creating much more balanced conditions … which means home prices will be rising in more areas as the year progresses.”

The index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20% of transactions for existing-home sales.    An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year of examination.

If you’ve been planning on selling your home – give Tom or Mary Ann Anderson a call and let them explain what they can do for you.

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Just a little south of Ponce de Leon, east of downtown Atlanta but still west of Decatur lies one of Atlanta’s oldest neighborhoods, Candler Park.   Candler Park is a beautiful neighborhood and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.   This neighborhood highlights gorgeous bungalow homes, beautiful parks and a vibrant business district.    Many of the homes in Candler Park have been remodeled, and they add to the true beauty of this neighborhood.    Candler Park offers residents the unique opportunity -   life here will remind you of what many neighborhoods have lost – a true sense of community.   It also offers easy access to almost all of their needs.   Everything you want is nearby.

The business district is located along McLendon Avenue and DeKalb Avenue and is known for its eclectic establishments.    Many different types of business are located there, including great restaurants, markets that sell a wine for every palate, and a dance studio.     There is even a MARTA station nearby.    That’s how you make and keep a community, when the residents lives revolve around their immediate area it breeds familiarity.   People here know their neighbors and they socialize together.

The homes in Candler Park surround the large park by the same name.   The park has something for everyone: swimming pools, a public golf course, a playground, picnic areas and tennis courts.    Candler Park is not the only park located in this neighborhood, but it is the largest.    Residents can also visit Goldsboro Park, Freedom Park and Iverson Park.

Those who live in homes in Candler Park are a part of the City of Atlanta school district.    Elementary school students can attend Mary Lin Elementary.    Inman Middle School and Grady High School also serve the Candler Park area.    Several private schools are in the vicinity as well.

The Neighborhood Organization for the homes in Candler Park plans many activities for the residents.    There is a free movie night on Friday nights during the spring and fall seasons.    The movies begin at dusk, and every movie is family friendly.    Candler Park provides its residents with a quiet escape from the noise of the big city.

Lake Claire Homes for Sale

Inman Park Homes for Sale

Grant Park Homes for Sale

Virginia-Highlands Homes for Sale

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