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Statistics |
| Unique Visitors: 23 |
| Total Unique Visitors: 137530 |
| Visitors Out: 2465 |
| Total Visitors Out: 2709 |
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| Demand For Mortgages Rise. |
| 2008-04-10 08:00:00 |
According to REALTOR.org and this article, demand for mortgages rose even though rates have crept up slightly. The demand is primarily an increase in purchases and not refinancing activity.This is good news. It seems like most of what we hear is mixed blessing. Rates are up but prices are down. All I know is that my phone has been ringing a lot more lately and several of my properties have gone under contract at very close to the listing price. Spring is here in Cherokee County and now is a great time to get your house ready to sell. If you have been waiting till spring to sell, now is the time to act.Give me a call and I would consider it an honor to help you get your home sold.Michael Bradford770-862-8002...
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| Atlanta, #2 |
| 2008-03-28 11:15:00 |
Last week I focused on Cherokee County's growth. The news today is about the Atlanta region. According to the US Census Bureau and this article from REALTOR.com, the Atlanta Metro Area grew by 151,063 people between July, 2006 and July, 2007. This make us the second fastest metro area behind the Dallas, Ft. Worth Texas area.Not to take away from the folks in Texas, but I been to there and Georgia is a much better place to live. I know the people of Texas are great and friendly and all, but Atlanta is such a prettier place and the people are just as friendly and nice. I believe our economy is much more broad based which will fair better during any downturn and will recover faster than a market which is more narrow in focus.As I wrote about last week, the c...
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| Here we grow again! |
| 2008-03-20 08:18:00 |
Georgia had 18 counties in the top 100 in population growth. According to U.S. Census Bureau reported by the AJC here, Forsyth County ranked No. 8 in the nation, increasing its population by 7.2%. It was the fastest-growing Georgia county. Cherokee County was ranked 6th in the state, 18th in the nation and grew by 5.3%.It is easy to see why Georgia has the most counties in the top 100. While we have had problems keeping up with the growth, like water management, urban sprawl, and congested roads, for the most part Cherokee County has done an excellent job with the resources given to them. Our schools are doing great, unemployment has remained low and housing has remained affordable.The current buyers market in Cherokee county will change sooner than other areas of the country. We need to k...
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| Try Before You Buy. |
| 2008-03-17 07:23:00 |
Lease/purchase, rent ot own or lease option, whichever name you call it, has become more and more popular. Even investors who would prefer to rent their properties are offering them as a way of getting qualified people into their houses. REALTOR.org has an article here that explains much of the details. This can be an excellent way for buyers to try the house and neighborhood on, so to speak, before they have to actually buy it. Owners get another tool they can use to get an empty property occupied or get the freedom to go ahead and move to their new house without fear of their present house sitting empty.If you have thought about lease purchase as an option for you, please call me. They are not for everyone and I can share more details to help you decide if this is right for you.Micha...
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| The End Of The Buyers Market? |
| 2008-03-13 09:00:00 |
We all know that it has been a buyers market for a couple of years now. Human nature always wants to resit change and we are usually surprised when it happens. Are we going to be caught off guard when the market changes back to a buyers market? You and I both know it will eventually happen. Is there any way to predict when?What we can see from current trends is that new housing starts are much lower than ever before and applications for new developments have almost stopped completely. It can take 2-5 years before a new project is proposed and when new homes are ready to be occupied. We live in an area that will continue to see economic growth. I believe we are going to be caught unprepared with not enough housing units in ...
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| The Tax Man Cometh! |
| 2008-03-10 09:00:00 |
It's that time of year when accountants and CPA's get very busy. For those who do their own taxes, or for those of us who have a lot of preparation to do before the accountants even get the information, it can be a daunting task. I am all for the Fair Tax and wish it was a reality now. We have a lot of work ahead of us to change the current system, and until then we will have to work with what we have.What we have is a system that rewards debt on most real estate. The tax code also rewards appreciation or capital gains on your primary residence, up to a limit, depending on your marital status, and if you have owned your home long enough. Here is a good article from REALTOR.com that gives great reasons for home ownership from a tax standpoint. With all of the negative reporting on what is h...
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| 5.5% Interest Rates? |
| 2008-03-06 09:00:00 |
According to REALTOR.com, we could see 5.5% interest rates this year. Will that be enough to encourage the housing market and spark a rebound? According to this article, maybe not. Economist Brian Bethune said, "People are going to stay away from the market if they see instability, and lenders are going to have a hard time valuing properties and issuing mortgages."This may keep some people away but then again, everyday people have to move for one reason or another. A new job, divorce or other life circumstances will always keep a certain portion of our population moving. Even though the market has slowed down, it has not stopped. If you find yourself in the category of people that have to move now, please give me the opportunity to make it as pain-free as p...
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| Ignore The Headlines! |
| 2008-03-03 09:00:00 |
It has been a tough year to decide what to do if you want to buy or sell a home. This Time article make some great points as to why you should buy a home now. But for every positive article like this, you have more negative ones like this one at Yahoo.com telling you why renting a home instead of buying might be better. If you need to sell a house right now, you do need to realize that prices are flat and you will need to price it realistically for it to sell today.What is a realistic price? A good indicator would be to go back 5 to 7 years, find the value then and increase it by 2-3% a year. While this is a very simplistic and often times the wrong approach, it can help us see the long-term, steady increase the house would achieve without the wild run-up of prices we saw a couple of years...
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| Housing Prices Falling? |
| 2008-02-28 00:32:00 |
We have all heard the news. Doom and gloom for everyone who owns a home, right? Not so fast! Everyone should know that real estate is all about location, location, location. So how is Cherokee County doing? Are we seeing the drop in prices that other markets are seeing? Well, the answer is yes and no. Some segments of the market are declining slightly while others are holding their own. So it depends on which part of the market (price range) you are looking at. According to the graph here on yahoo.com, the average home price rose over the last year. We have seen a slight decline in the last couple of weeks though.If you are concerned about your home's value today, there are several places you can go to get an idea of value. The best place to start is with ...
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| The Paperless Office |
| 2008-02-21 15:20:00 |
Today marks the first time I have used a new service that I will be offering my clients, the paperless real estate sale! Up until now, getting signatures from everyone involved in the sale of real estate has been one of the most time consuming and in-efficient parts of the process. DocuSign has changed all of that. Thanks to the internet and electronic signature, I can now send documents to anyone with an e-mail address and internet connection for you to review, sign and return from the comfort of your computer. No more having to take a contract to one person for their signature, fax it to another for them to approve, sign and countersign and then return to the original sender. With this new service, you will get an e-mail notifying you that a document needs your review and approval. Yo...
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| Interest Rates Climb! |
| 2008-02-18 07:00:00 |
According to Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft and this article from REALTOR.com, Rates">interest rates for 30 year fixed loans climbed this week due to several factors. Mr Nothaft said on Friday, "economic uncertainty is responsible for the movement in mortgage rates". He also noted that some borrowers are finding it difficult to obtain mortgages due to stricter credit standards.If you have wanted to buy a home and found it difficult to get financed, you are not alone. If you truly want to take advantage of the current low rates (before they go up again) and excellent deals available, please call me. I have several techniques that can help you obtain the financing you need to buy your first home. I can help you fi...
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| Preparing your House For the Market |
| 2008-02-12 20:51:00 |
I get a LOT of calls from people who are contemplating selling their home. They almost all ask the same thing: what are the main things that I can do to prepare my house for the market. I'm so glad they ask because this is a very competitive market and it takes some time to get your house in top shape. Here are some ideas for what you can do to prepare your house for the market:1. Paint! If you can do nothing else, paint your walls. A fresh coat of paint covers a multitude of sins. Be sure to use only one neutral color of flat (such as antique white or eggshell) and a high gloss pure white for your trim. Keep it simple and keep it neutral.2. Be sure to remove any wallpaper - most potential buyers will not want wallpa...
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| Atlanta Garden & Patio Show |
| 2008-02-07 08:23:00 |
This weekend, the 14th Annual Garden & Patio Show will be held at the Galleria in Marietta. This show gives homeowners many ideas for their homes and gardens and puts them in touch with a variety of local companies that can help them with their projects. The highlights will be the Gallery of Gardens, an Ikea Cooking Corner, hundreds of exhibitors, a pet pavilion, the See-Thru House, special workshops, demonstrations, samples, contests and more. Ticket Prices:Adults - $10Children ages 6-12 - $3Children ages 5 and under - FREEMilitary with ID $5Senior Citizens 65+ with ID FREETickets are available at the Show Box Office, located at the top of the escalator. Regular tickets are only valid for one day of admission. Multi-day passes are available for $15 ...
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| Do It Herself Workshops |
| 2008-02-03 17:06:00 |
The Home Depot is a great store for teaching average people how to make improvements on their homes. One of their more popular workshops is the "Do It Herself" workshops. These workshops are specifically geared for women. Not only do they offer topics that women would find helpful and interesting, but they also offer 10% off coupons to attendees. The next "Do It Herself" workshop will be "The Smarter, Warmer, Eco-Friendly Bathroom". It will be held at your local Home Depot on Monday, Feb. 25th from 7 - 8:30pm. To register, CLICK HERE....
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| Atlanta: Growth Still Steady |
| 2008-01-31 09:44:00 |
I was reading THIS ARTICLE on Frobes about the number of growing southern cities. One of the reasons that Forbes identifies Atlanta's strong and steady growth is because of our tech industries. It also cites close proximity to universities (Kennesaw State, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Emory, etc,.) and an increase in population. We have seen a steady increase in population and suburban growth for over a hundred years now. Our unemployment rate is low and our cost of living is good. Housing, as with the rest of the nation, is a market on the decline now. Many experts feel that the market will take an upturn in the spring. The interest rates are at an all-time low now so if you are interested in positioning yoursel...
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| A Dream Home |
| 2008-01-30 13:11:00 |
HGTV is giving away a dream home located in the Florida Keys. To enter to win this home, you can CLICK HERE. If you'd rather live here in Atlanta, I can help you find a dream home that suits your needs. Give me a call today at 770-862-8002 and let's start looking!-Michael BradfordSouthern prime Realty...
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| Lowering Energy Costs |
| 2008-01-23 09:34:00 |
When it gets cold out and you are cranking up the thermostat, stoking the fireplace, increasing your gas usage and still feeling chilly, it's time to evaluate what you might be able to do to help your home retain heat and your wallet retain money..Energy Star, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's brainchild, is equipped to help every American consumer of energy to learn how they can use less. THIS SITE is an awesome little interactive place where you (and your whole family) can see what you can do to improve your quality of life and use less of our natural resources. .Besides the money and energy you will save, another benefit is that if and when you decide to sell your home, you can show the potential buyers how inexpensive their monthly bills will ...
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| Considering a Transfer? Employers Will Help... |
| 2008-01-21 07:27:00 |
Many employers are recognizing the need to give their employess extra help when it comes to job transfers. Because the housing slump is fairly widespread throughout the nation, employers are stepping up their game to meet the needs of employees reluctant to accept job transfers because they fear they will lose money on the sale of their homes.In THIS USA Today article by Stephanie Armour, Sally Stetson, co-founder of Salveson Stetson Group, a Philadelphia executive search firm, says "What's going on in the housing market is causing an increasing reluctance for candidates to consider relocating. Employers are much more willing to extend corporate housing on a month-to-month basis."What employers are willing to do:•Employers are extending temporary housing allowances from two to three mon...
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| Want to Buy A House? Get Your Finances in Order.. |
| 2008-01-20 12:08:00 |
I came across a very interesting and comprehensive financial help site called Wesabe. This site offers free membership, allows you to keep all of your financial info in one place, allows you to enter expenditures and then analyzes what you spend to give you tips on how to save. Here is an introductory video:...
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| Color Corrections |
| 2008-01-16 17:21:00 |
HGTV has a fantastic website that is absolutely FULL of ideas for your home. One of the areas where many poeple who are selling their homes need help in is COLOR. Click HERE to go to HGTV's Color Correction page. You can view a 5 minute video about sophisticated master colors, learn the top 10 mistakes people make regarding color and see how you can use hues to improve your home....
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| A Little Tax Joke |
| 2008-01-09 07:13:00 |
A Dutchman was explaining the red, white and blue Netherlands flag to an American. "Our flag is symbolic of our taxes. We get red when we talk about them, white when we get our tax bills, and blue after we pay them." The American nodded. "It's the same in the USA only we see stars too!" ...
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| Rent's Going Up, Interest Rate's Going Down. |
| 2008-01-05 07:00:00 |
Who would want unemployment numbers to go up? If you want a new mortgage, you do! When Wall Street gets bad news like it did on Friday, the market goes down. When the market goes down, interest rates for mortgages usually go down with them. That is exactly what happened on Friday.Long term interest rates have gone down this week (Click Here). Hopefully this is the beginning of a downward trend but I wouldn't bet the house on it. Anyone looking to purchase a house soon will be glad to know that rates are trending downward and they make buying a house or re-financing your current loan very affordable.Couple that with the fact that rents are sure to go up, (Click Here for more info) anyone who invest in real estate could position them selves nicely with a low m...
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| Resolution: Exercise More |
| 2008-01-02 08:25:00 |
I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing. I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them. The advantage of exercising every day is that you die healthier. If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country. Walking can add minutes to your life. This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $5000 per month. My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. Now she's 97 years old and we don't know where on earth she is. The only reason I would take up exercising is so that I could hear heavy breathing again. I joined a health club last year, spent about...
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| Georgia Growth Promises Steady Market |
| 2008-01-01 07:53:00 |
I recently read THIS ARTICLE by Mary Lou Pickel in the Atlanta Journal & Constitution. It reported the latest census figures that show Georgia ranks as the 5th fastest growing state in the nation. This growth is what is keeping Georgia steady in the real estate market and what will help metro Atlanta's recovery from a slowed market. "We are the fastest-growing state east of the Rocky Mountains. That confirms a trend that has been in place many years. It's deja vu," said Jeffrey Humphreys, a demographer with the University of Georgia's Selig Center. "It ratifies the fundamental strength that Georgia has as an economic engine," he said. "People come here for jobs and to get educated and...
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| Support For Homeschooled Students in Cherokee County |
| 2007-12-28 09:39:00 |
Canton is getting enrichment classes for homeschooled students!The Cherokee County Arts Center is hosting a new series of enrichment classes for homeschooled students who live in the northern part of the county and beyond. Tisha Gotte, the director, expects to attract students from Dahlonega, Jasper and Ellijay.There will be 3 sessions this school year. Session 1 runs from Jan. 7 to Feb. 16. Session 2 will run from Feb. 25 to April 5 and the third session will run from April 14 to May 24. You can get more info about these classes by clicking HERE or by calling the Cherokee County Arts Center at 770-704-6244. Classes include:1. Cre...
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| Exit Strategies for Real Estate Investments |
| 2007-12-26 13:15:00 |
Although I think now is not a good time for investors to reduce their inventory in the Atlanta housing market, (in fact just the opposite, you should buy more houses) some of them must do so. I have a few ideas of just how to do that without losing their equity. The first is obviously to sell the property. To get the most for the property, you should sell it as quickly as possible. You can do that by making sure it is in very good condition, has a fresh coat of neutral paint, new or clean carpet and is priced right. You should also be sure that it has a clean yard and working appliances. If you want to go the extra mile, you should consider staging the house. When it's ready to sell, you should give me a call at 770-862-8002 and set up a listing appointment. I will use my Internet marketi...
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| HGTV's "Green Home" Giveaway |
| 2007-12-26 10:28:00 |
In the spirit of environmental consciousness, HGTV has gone “green” with their newest dream home giveaway. The contest, which will run from March until May of 2008, will feature a house in Hilton Head, SC that was designed to provide people with “examples of affordable, accessible and eco-friendly approaches to living."HGTV has registered the home with the LEED For Homes certification. LEED is a voluntary rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council, which plans to launch a nationwide residential LEED certification program later this year. It will be a baseline program to set uniform standards for “green” homes. The HGTV house will be open for public tours beginning in the spring. It will be decorated with eco-friendly product...
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| Merry Christmas |
| 2007-12-25 11:57:00 |
We just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas today. -The Michael Bradford Family...
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| Local Charities Need Last Minute Help |
| 2007-12-22 09:23:00 |
Papa's Pantry & Family Ministries needs donations of gift cards and gas cards. You can call them at 770-591-4730 for more information.Woodstock Jaycees need a variety of donations. Call 770-926-8336.MUST Cherokee needs packages of new socks, underwear, peanut butter, jelly & canned pasta. You can call them at 770-479-5397.Cherokee Child Avocacy Council needs gift cards. Call 770-345-8100. ...
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| Buy Investment Property Now |
| 2007-12-21 06:44:00 |
Home prices nationwide are now at their lowest prices in over 25 years. Interest rates are low and expected to go down a little more. If you have ever thought about buying an investment property to add to your portfolio, I have several in mind right now that would generate a healthy monthly cash flow and increase in value over the years. .If you would like to learn more about investing in real estate, I can teach you how to buy them (where you make the money), how to rent them out to reliable tenants and how to generate a monthly cash flow. I can also share tips with you about how to turn your property into a tax advantage. Give me a call today at 770-862-8002 and let's talk..Michael BradfordSouthern Prime Realty...
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| Woodstock Youth Wins Grant |
| 2007-12-20 07:56:00 |
The Del Monte Foods "Do Something" program has honored 6 year old Lizzie Marie of Woodstock with a $2,500 grant for her creation of healthy cooking/nutrition shows to be shown in hospitals. Lizze was the youngest winner (by far) of the 10 recipients of this award. You can read more about this contest by clicking HERE or you can visit the Do Something website by clicking HERE. Woodstock is proud of Lizzie Marie!...
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| Feds: Home Mortgage Proposal |
| 2007-12-18 10:08:00 |
The Feds have decided that people taking out new mortgages need more protection from predatory lenders. This article describes their plans to place new restrictions and limitations on lenders who make loans to higer risk borrowers. The new proposal "would restrict lenders from penalizing risky borrowers who pay loans off early, require lenders to make sure these borrowers set aside money to pay for taxes and insurance and bar lenders from making loans without proof of a borrower's income. It also would prohibit lenders from engaging in a pattern or practice of lending without considering a borrower's ability to repay a home loan from sources other than the home's value." Whenever government gets into the realm of making more laws and restrictions, there...
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| Get Your Home Ready To Sell |
| 2007-12-17 09:38:00 |
In today’s real estate home buyers market, how can sellers make their home stand out among the others? Price is what will sell your house above any other single factor. But where is the threshold between pricing it to sell today and giving it away? Only someone who is on top of the market can really know that. There is a certain amount of subjectivity to pricing some properties but for the most part, it all boils down to comparable properties.Someone once used this as an analogy, if you could buy a dollar bill for 90 cents on one side of the street and across the street they were selling them for 85 cents, which dollar would you buy? Now we all know it’s not that simple but the concept is the same.REALTOR® Magazine Online has a great article giving 7 ti...
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| Increase the Resale Value of Your Home |
| 2007-12-14 09:49:00 |
One of the hardest questions sellers have to ask is “what do I need to do to my house to get it ready to sell that won’t cost me more to do than I will receive back when I sell?” In other words, what is the return on my investment (ROI) in the upgrades?My first reaction is to look around the home and make sure it is clean, uncluttered and freshly painted. These things are non-negotiable these days. But after those have been addressed, which remodeling projects will give us the biggest bang for the buck, i.e. the highest ROI?According to this article from REALTOR.org, three of the top four projects are exterior projects with upscale siding replacement being number 1 at an 88% ROI. So for every dollar you spend, you will increase the value of your home ...
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| Foreclosures: It Doesn't Have to Be This Way |
| 2007-12-11 10:33:00 |
I said it yesterday and I'll say it today: you can avoid foreclosure!.Today's AJC has an article (Click Here) about how Atlanta has a record number of foreclusres. They are up 29% from last year. .What does this mean?.First, it means that there are a lot of very inexpensive homes out there ready for purchase. Many people lost their homes to foreclosure. These houses are empty and available to move in. You can buy a LOT of house for very little money right now. You can also enjoy low interest rates. Atlanta has a healthy economy and good jobs. There is no reason for you not to take advantage of the fantastic deals out there right now..It also means that there are people out there who do not know how to get the help that they need to stay in their homes. If you are struggling to pay your...
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| Avoid Foreclosure! |
| 2007-12-10 08:02:00 |
Over the past year, Georgia (as well as many other states) have seen a record number of foreclosures. The reasons vary, but are mostly due to the cheap money that was available when the market was peaking. A lot of people got loans for homes that they could not afford at a low introductory (but adjustable) rate. When the rates were raised after the first year or two, they skyrocketed and most buyers could no longer afford the payments.I saw this interesting article in the Atlanta Journal & Constitution about how owners can avoid foreclosure. Georgia, along with Texas, are the states with the shortest window from the time of default until the time of sale at the courthouse steps. That window is 37 days. It is not much time at all for owners to find help.Help is available but time ...
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| Humane Society Needs Volunteers |
| 2007-12-08 07:06:00 |
The Cherokee County Humane Society is looking for some volunteers. They need adults to help at their cat adoption centers in Marietta, Woodstock, and Acworth. Responsibilities include cleaning cages, washing bedding and assisting with adoptions. For more info, please contact the cat adoption manager at:peanut_lg@yahoo.com...
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| Retirement with Real Estate |
| 2007-12-07 08:07:00 |
CNNMoney.com had an interesting article on Monday about buying Estate">real estate inside of your IRA. It made me think of all the reasons why baby-boomers need to consider (if they haven't already) why they should own real estate as they enter into retirement. Here are a few that I can think of:1. Buying real estate now, at rock bottom prices, you will have the opportunity to see your money grow as your equity grows. The huge amount of people facing foreclosure will keep them out of the house-buying market for about 7 years. That will be 7 years of a booming rental market where you should have few problems finding qualified tenants to make your mortgage payments for you.2. You can always...
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| Brad Pitt: Importance of Green Housing |
| 2007-12-06 07:21:00 |
If nobody listened to me before yesterday about the need for more environmentally friendly construction, maybe they'll listen to Brad Pitt. (Ladies, do I have your attention?)Brad, an avid student of architecture, has put his skills (and $5 million of his cash) towards rebuilding homes in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans. And not just any homes, but homes that were constructed with sustainable materials, have effiecient use of energy/water, are safe and finally, affordable.Brad's organization, Make it Right, is collecting donations to help witht he construction and supply costs to get this project off the ground. Their goal is a minimum of 150 new houses to be completed by the end of next summer.If you are interested in eco-freindly, green
| Earth, Paint & Fire |
| 2007-12-04 07:21:00 |
By: Shannon BradfordLisa DeLosh grew up in the Tallahassee area of Florida where she and her friends used to go to ceramic/pottery workshops. When she relocated to Woodstock, she was teaching Home Economics at Woodstock High School while trying to decide if she wanted to continue teaching or run her own business. After spending a year researching and developing a business plan, she and her husband, Kevin, opened Earth, Paint & Fire. That was 3 years ago.What is Earth, Paint & Fire? It's a lot of family fun! You can do an assortment of projects ranging from painting ceramics to be glazed/fired in the kiln to beautiful mosaics. When I visited Lisa yesterday, there were several mothers with young children making Christm...
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