Life in North Georgia, Real Estate in the Mountains

Scene from the 2011 Jasper Arts Festival

Clear out your weekend calendar. The Jasper Arts Festival is April 21-22, 2012. This will be the Jasper Arts Festival’s 2nd year and it was an outstanding success in its inaugural year.
Festival hours are 10:00 am to 5 pm on Saturday and 10:00 am to 4 pm on Sunday. Don’t worry about “finding” it – Main Street will be blocked and you literally can’t miss it. Come on out and join the fun.

Here is the Festival’s website for more information: Jasper Arts Festival

See ya ’round the mountains,
Don

We have been telling folks for months that activity in the local market was trying to recover. 2011 was actually one of my better years in total sales volume – admittedly, I reached that level with many smaller sales as opposed to fewer small ones. I am pleased to report that 2012 is continuing on the same kind of pace and home values are actually beginning to recover a little. Late last month the National Association of Realtors released the results of its survey of Investment and Vacation Home Buyers and they confirm a national trend to support what we are seeing locally.

The sale of vacation homes grew a respectable 7% in 2011, the growth in investment homes surged an amazing 64.5% I will have local sales information from 2011 posted in a few days. If you would like to read the entire article from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) you can do so at this link: NAR Reports Investment and Vacation Home Sales Surge in 2011

See ya ’round the mountains,
Don

"Paws" Greeting Guests As They Arrived

Some of the Guests Enjoying Breakfast at Pancakes for Paws

Bill Bapst With Diners at the Pancakes for Paws Breakfast

What Pancake Breakfast Could be Complete without a truly gracious hostess? Waynette Greets Guest in style

The Bent Tree Foundation’s “Pancakes for Paws” was a huge success Saturday morning. Money was raised for the new facility to house stray animals found in the Bent Tree community and everyone had a great breakfast. I’m not sure, but I think Waynette, may have missed his, er uh, her calling.

See ya ’round the mountains,

Don

Pancakes for Paws

Come Join the Community for Breakfast this Morning!. From 7:30 to 10:30 The Bent Tree Foundation is Sponsoring a Pancakes for Paws Breakfast at the FATZ Cafe in Jasper

Proceeds from the Breakfast will go to complete the Stray Animal Facility for the Bent Tree Community. The Bent Tree Foundation is a 501(C)(3) charitable organization dedicated to providing educational and quality-of-life funding to benefit the students and residents of our local community.

Come on out and have some ‘cakes. They will be good and you will be supporting a great cause.

See ya ’round the mountains,
Don

In the press today, we frequently see reports of how hard it is to get a mortgage for a home loan and a great deal of the “blame” for the lack of a better housing recovery is laid at at the feet of the mortgage industry. When I tell folks that in the last 6 years I have not lost a single sale because a qualified buyer couldn’t get a loan they look at me like I have a 3rd eye or my nose just grew 3 inches. Now I am not saying there haven’t been challenges and I am not saying that I haven’t been so mad I could bite nails when a closing was delayed because the mortgage company asked for “new” documentation at the last minute; but, they did all close – eventually.

Below is a link to a great article published by Forbes. (The article was sent to me by my good friend John Palmer at Liberty Home Mortgage. Thanks John.) The premise of the article- and it makes great sense in retrospect – is that mortgage originators are no longer looking for the perfect mortgage or the perfect mortgage customer. The mortgage originator is looking for the perfect mortgage FILE. It makes great sense and it might save all of us a lot of grief if we took this little article to heart.

Take a few minutes and read it through and pass it on to anyone that might be considering buying a home. It is a quick read & a good one.

The Perfect Loan File

See you ’round the Mountains,

Don