If you’ve got a home to sell and you’re living in the Metro Atlanta area, you’ve gotten some good news as of today!  The National Association of Realtors released a report on Wednesday showing that home sales rose dramatically in August 2011 compared to August 2010.  Across the country the over increase was 18.6%.  In the Metro Atlanta area the rise was even more dramatic with the increase at 26.2 %.  There are 9 counties that constitute the Atlanta Metro area.

Fulton County Homes:

North Fulton Homes for Sale

South Fulton Homes for Sale

Cobb County Homes for Sale

DeKalb County Homes for Sale

Cherokee County Homes for Sale

While home sellers have reason to celebrate (and many have after selling homes that have been listed for months), not all the news was good.  With the economy still acting like a roller coaster, the report also tells of home prices continuing to fall.  Digging into the details of the report, the Atlanta Journal Constitution found that home prices in the metro area fell by 7 %.  In August of 2010 the median house price was $111,100 and dropped to $103,300 in August 2011.

Forsyth County Homes for Sale

Gwinnett County Homes for Sale

Clayton County Homes for Sale

Henry County Homes for Sale

Fayette County Homes for Sale

Continuing in the more positive vein of the news, it looks as though the sales trend could continue into September.   Home buyers once again have fabulous mortgage rates to work with.  The average fixed rate, 30-year mortgage fell to a record low of 4.09 percent last week, according to Freddie Mac.

If you’re looking to buy a home in the Metro Atlanta area (or really anywhere in the country!), the combination of low mortgage rates and historic lows in home pricing means NOW is the time to do so!  Whether you are looking to buy or sell, you need a great agent to help you and The Anderson Group stands ready to assist you in all your efforts.

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Druid Hills is conveniently located near Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control in DeKalb County. This prestigious Atlanta neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Districts. This includes the historic parks along Ponce de Leon Avenue that were designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead in the late 1930’s. The Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, located on a Gothic-Tudor estate, is within the Druid Hills neighborhood limits. The Druid Hills Civic Association fosters a strong sense of community through its sponsorship an annual arts festival that takes place every October. The civic association is also very active is historic preservation and zoning matters.

As dedicated as the Druid Hills neighborhood is to preserving its heritage and exquisite architecture, it also aspires to have modern conveniences. One such example of the community embracing the 21^st century is the recent approval of the construction of a new retail and residential center called Emory Point. Part of the plan approved by the commission for this development included prohibiting any future development of 25 acres of dense woodlands behind Emory Point. This conserves the natural beauty of the Druid Hills neighborhood for future generations.

For those looking to relocate to Druid Hills, there is a wide variety of home in architectural styles that will appeal to most tastes. The homes in the Druid Hills neighborhood have listing prices that make them accessible to most people’s budgets. The homes in the Druid Hills are have increased in value during the past year and prices not dropped significantly during the recent downturn in the real estate market nationally. Those who choose to call the Druid Hills neighborhood home can be assured not only the beauty and charm of this historic will last the test of time, but also the value of their investment is likely to be maintained.

Other neighborhoods near Druid Hills:

Chandler Park Homes for Sale

LaVista Park Homes for Sale

Clairmont Area Homes for Sale

Inman Park Homes for Sale

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Sandy Springs, GA, just north of Atlanta is one of the state’s most affluent suburbs, on par with its neighboring city, Dunwoody. The newly minted city has all that could be asked for in a suburb.  Along with friendly people, great neighborhoods and schools, and an array of parks, trails and recreation outlets, Sandy Springs has a healthy, well-established business economy.  Such well rounded areas are rare in the best of times but almost unheard of  in these times.  This allows Sandy Springs to plan and complete improvement projects that add to everything that is good about the city.

Many other cities in Georgia are pigeon holed in how and what they are known for, Sandy Springs’ reputation is much more dimensional which makes it stand out.  In turns the city is noted as ideal for the young professional, as well as being a family-oriented destination.  How does Sandy Springs embody all of these aspects in one?  Let’s list the ways!

 Recreational programs at:

 – Hammond Park

 – Allen Park

 – Ridgeview Park

 – Big Trees Reserve

 – Cherokee Nature Center

Major businesses:

 – IBM

 – Murrant

 – J.E. Dunn Construction

 – Porche

 So Sandy Springs offers the best of  city and suburban living and it’s dedicated to making life even better for those who live there.  Wise decisions by city government and the planning department are ensuring you won’t have to worry about Sandy Springs growing too quickly.  If you’re planning to relocate and want a place that is putting everything in place for its future,  take a look at one of the many neighborhoods in Sandy Spring.  Whether you’re fresh out of college and just making your start or you’ve got a growing family and you’re looking for the perfect place to raise your kids - Sandy Springs will prove to be a perfect fit.

Nearby Communities:

Dunwoody Homes for Sale

Roswell Homes for Sale

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Ansley Park is a historic distinctive neighborhood just east of midtown Atlanta. Winding roads through single-family homes and apartments in an eclectic mix of architectural styles give the neighborhood a park like feel as the streetscape meets the landscape of the homes. Architectural styles found in this community include Colonial, Contemporary, Neo-Classical, Federal, Italian Renaissance, and Craftsman. The former Georgia governor’s mansion is located in the Ansley Park neighborhood. Most of the homes in this area were constructed in the early 20^th century; Ansley Park is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Ansley Park Golf Club borders the neighborhood on Settindown Creek and provides members not only a golf course but also tennis and swimming along with a variety of dining and social opportunities. All of the homes in Ansley Park are located less than 10-minute walk from the neighborhood’s two parks, Winn Park and Mc Clatchy Park, providing residents a natural setting for recreation and a tranquil place to relax. The Ansley Park Civic Association offers tours of the historic homes in the area.

The real estate market in Ansley Park is one of the strongest in the metropolitan area. Prospective homeowners interested in relocating to this distinctive neighborhood can explore properties ranging from condominiums and townhouses, with listings starting at $65,000, to multimillion-dollar historic homes to new custom designed and built homes that fit the character of the neighborhood. The median sales price of homes in Ansley Park has increased 28.7 percent during the past year and the value of homes has appreciated almost 400 percent during the past year defying the national real estate market trends. Those who relocate to this neighborhood can feel assured the value of their home will be maintained just as the natural distinction of Ansley Park has lasted during the past century.

Nearby neighborhoods:

Inman Park Homes For Sale

Druid Hills Homes For Sale

Grant Park Homes For Sale

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  Where exactly IS Brookhaven, GA?  Covering only about 8 square miles even locals aren’t really sure where Chamblee ends to the east and Brookhaven begins. The same for Dunwoody to the north and Sandy Springs to the west and Buckhead to south.  Much of the confusion now stems from multiple prosposals in the last few years to incorporate Brookhaven into its own city with the various proposals each showing different boundaries.

  Still, since Brookhaven’s eary beginnings back in the 1830′s by the Godwin family, the area has been highly thought of as one of ‘the’ places to live.  Around 1900 summer cottages began being built in the area and this view was likely confirmed when in 1910 150 acres were specifically purchased to build a golf course which was named Brookhaven.  This golf course is now a part of the prestigious Capital City Country Club.  It was this golf course that was responsible in the 80′s, for the area being placed on the National Register of Historic Places as the “first planned golf club community in Georgia.”

   Brookhaven today is a lovely landscape complete with gently rolling hills, broad winding streets and densely wooded hollows, all populated with English cottages and elegant Georgian, Tudor and Colonial homes.  In the heart of the neighborhood is the Capital City Country Club.

Being so centrally located access to the rest of the city is convenient.  Boarded by Peachtree and Peachtree Dunwoody Streets, the area is also serviced by the Brookhaven MARTA station.  Some of the best schools in the city are in this area; Sarah Smith Elementary, Sutton Middle School and North Atlanta High School.  Brookhaven is also less than a mile away from the city’s best shopping in the Lenox Mall and Phipps Plaza.

Brookhaven truly offers the best of all Atlanta neighborhoods.

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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.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, life here will remind you of what many neighborhoods have lost – a true sense of community.  Everything you want is nearby.  The Little Five Points and Edgewood business and retail districts to all kinds of recreation venues.  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.

Much of the socializing takes place at Candler Park itself.  With a golf course, playground, pool, tennis courts and sports fields there is plenty to do for adults and kids.  There are even movies shown in the park throughout the summer.

Of course no neighborhood will be able to fulfill every need.  When the residents require that which isn’t a part of the Candler Park area, anything else that is needed is only minutes away!  Emory University, City of Decatur, Downtown Atlanta, the Midtown arts venues, Virginia-Highlands and the interstate to provide easy access to the rest of the metro area.

Candler Park. A lovely neighborhood of  parks, a fun business district and 1920′s Craftsman bungalow homes, located within the perimeter.

Nearby  neighborhoods:

Lake Claire Homes for Sale

Inman Park Homes for Sale

Virginia-Highlands Homes for Sale

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It’s been a long hot summer over much of the country but here in Georgia long hot summers are the norm and we know how to cope with them.  But as the kids return to school, and soccer and football seasons begin gone are the pool parties and backyard cookouts and many in-town neighborhoods sponsor events fit for the season.

Grant Park takes a last blast at summer with their Summer Shade Festival on Saturday, August 27th.  This free event is held each year and is packed with things to do and enjoy.  There will be a special area just for kids, as well as two stages of live music and two artists’ markets.  Be assured of plenty of food and drinks choices as well with Corks &Forks as a part of the Festival.

Moving past the Labor Day Weekend, September signifies a stepped up pace in the Fall events calendar and September 17th highlights the month with multiple events all over the metro area.  Focusing on in-town you might check out the East Atlanta Strut.  This one day community festival held the 3rd Saturday of each September strives to promote the diversity of the East Atlanta Village.

If you’re feeling athletic that day head for the Mellow Mushroom on Peachtree to join the Caterpillar Crawl.  This 5k is a fundraiser for the Room to Read organization who focus on increasing childhood literacy.

Also on September 17th is one of Atlanta’s most popular annual events – The 5th Atlanta Arts Festival, in Piedmont Park. 200 renowned artists from across the country in 12 different mediums, including jewelry, painting, photography, ceramics and sculpture, leather and metal, glassblowing and more, as well as art demonstrations and live music.  Everyone from avid art collectors to casual festival-goers will not want to miss this nationally ranked fine arts festival.

If September hasn’t worn you out, the weekend of October 15th and 16th gives you another chance for a jammed packed active weekend. Start the weekend at the Chandler Park Fall Fest being held on October 15 & 16, this year. The weekend is full of fun things including Live Bands, Artists’ Market, and various activities for children.  There is also a Tour of Homes scheduled on Sunday, October 16th and a 5k Road Race on Saturday, October 15th.

If you’re a hard core runner you can do the 5k at Chandler Park on the 15th and on October 16th head over to the Morningside neighborhood for their 2nd Morningside Mile race.  There is a block party going on after the race benefiting Atlanta’s oldest fire station.  It will be held at Doc Chey’s Morningside shopping center.  The party will include live music, food and family fun provided by Atlanta firefighters, Doc Chey’s and other Morningside Village businesses.

These are only a few of the events of all kinds that are happening this Fall.  Neighborhoods all over the metro area typically plan some kind of event during this time of the year. A good way to keep abreast of all the different events is the Atlanta Buzz.  If you’re in market for a new home and want to live in a neighborhood that supports these kinds of activities, give us a call and let us find not only your dream home but your perfect neighborhood as well.

Morningside Homes for Sale

Grant Park Homes for Sale

Chandler Park Homes for Sale

Emory/Druid Hills Homes for Sale

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     The metro area real estate market is flooded with condos and townhouses – there is something for everyone.  Whether you’ve always dreamed of living in a hi-rise overlooking the city or you want the suburban lifestyle without the upkeep of house.  Even the most casual of real estate searches will overwhelm with the variety locations and styles.  Here’s a look at 3 very different styles.

3475 Oak Valley Road

This is the affordable hi-rise dream in Buckhead.  2 bedrooms, 2 baths with a full wall of windows in the great room.  A beautiful chef’s kitchen in black and white that looks out to the separate dining area and the continued view to that amazing view of the city.  The building offers great amenities – a pool, a fitness center, conference room, party room and even guest suites.  Underground parking is provided with 2 parking spaces deeded with the property.  A great central location within a easy walk to shopping at Phipp’s Plaza and Lenox Mall, the great Buckhead restaurants and a MARTA station.    A fabulous deal at only $235,000!

10 Oakhurst Commons

To the east of downtown Atlanta, in DeKalb County, is the city of Decatur.  The Oakhurst community resides near Agnes Scott College and there you will find this lovely 4 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath brick townhouse.  Over 1900 square feet and 3 levels, there is loads of space and loaded with upgrades.  From the custom kitchen with its cherry wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and dark granite countertops to the custom moldings, lighting fixtures and hardwood floors, this townhouse is perfect for families or students.  The family room is complete with a great stone fireplace.  There is a separate dining room with lovely arched doorways and the kitchen has a breakfast area with a door to the large deck.  The master bedroom carries a bath with a spa tub and separate shower with a split double vanity.  The terrace level has a wonderful flex space that can be used as a bedroom, media room, playroom, etc. and has a full bath.  All the bedrooms are large and the whole townhome is filled with light from the many windows.  Nearby is Oakhurst Village for shopping, McKoy Park for leisure and many restaurants.  A wonderfully delightful home in a great community selling for $307,500.

5208 Santa Fe Parkway

The economy has created some really amazing opportunities in the real estate market and what someone must give up is a chance for someone else to purchase for steal.  This is one of those opportunities.  Investors, students or couples, this is something that should not be passed by. A 3 bedroom, 2 bath condo in Sandy Springs.  This recently renovated community has a pool, tennis courts and a clubhouse.  The condo has hardwood floors, beautiful cherry wood cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.  Sandy Springs is the city with easy access to everything!  Travel with I-285 and 400 access and 2 MARTA stations.  Dunwoody, Marietta, Buckhead and Alpharetta are only minutes away with Perimeter, Northpoint, and Lenox Malls for great shopping, countless restaurants of every type and many parks and nature trails for leisure activities.  This great condo truly is a steal $48,000!!!

The locations and varieties of condos and townhouses are so many there is no reason for anyone interested in such living NOT to find what they desire.  This is definitely the easiest real estate search you can do, the only difficulty will be deciding which one to choose.  Contact us and we’ll be glad to help!!!

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  It seems to happen earlier and earlier every year – the beginning of the new school year.  Summer may be in full swing according to the weather but the calendar says school days are here again.

The question is WHEN?!  There is no consistency any more as to when the first day of school is.  It not only changes from year to year but from state to state, county to county and even school to school!  Well, here’s a little help for those in the North Georgia area.  Official first day of school dates according to county websites in alphabetical order.

Getting ready for school now takes a much greater effort than it ever used to.  Many schools now have dress codes and the kids likely have grown out of what they wore last year.  Then, of course, you have to check the school websites to find out the ‘must haves’ for kids in each grade.  Long gone are the days of a notebook, a couple of #2 pencils and a ruler.  These days the list is likely to be longer than your grocery list and your kids are likely screaming for the latest laptop computers.

 Now that you’ve got the necessities out of the way it’s time to think about all the costs associated with those after school sports and activities.  Is your daughter on the soccer team?  Is your son running cross country track? What is the school doing for field trips this year?  Team uniforms, specialized shoes, dues, dances and who’s going to pick them up after pratice? 

Yes, the new school year is here.  Parents who might have been thinking they can’t wait to get the kids back in school and out from under foot, might just be wishing for the easy days of summer vacation again, real soon! 

If your end of summer means finding a new home and the best schools are important to you.  Give us a call and we’ll be happy to help you find a new home, in a great neighborhood, with schools that best meet the needs of your children.

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You’re looking for a home for your family.  You need lots of room; you want a yard, you want to live in a ‘community’!  Close your eyes and picture the home you want.  Now look at 2203 Windermere Way - this IS that home!

 This was a model house and still could be.  A 5 bedroom, 4 bath, 3 sides brick home with every upgrade.  Even with the most casual perusal you can’t miss the multitude of small details that make this place special.  Notice the hardwood floors, the trey ceilings in many rooms, the woodbeam ceilings in others, the custom lighting and paint; even the powder room has been upgraded.

The kitchen is a dream with gorgeous wood custom cabinets, light colored granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances.  The center island doubles as a breakfast bar.  There is a built-in microwave and a double oven.  The entire kitchen is flooded with light from multiple windows.

And then there is the master suite, your own private place of relaxation heaven.  Bring on the most massive bedroom furniture and the room still feels roomy.  One wall of the sitting area shared with the master bath contains a fireplace which is open to both rooms!  A lovely multi-treyed ceiling, incredible walk-in custom built closets finish out a bedroom anyone would love.  Back to that master bath.  Enjoy the crackling fireplace while easing away the cares of the day in the spa tub.  The custom double vanities are accented by the tile floor, decorative window and another multi-treyed ceiling.

There are many more wonderful features to this house but seeing them is better than reading about them.

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