Athens, GA

Coming up at the Classic Center are:

The Robert Osborne Film Festival April 10-13

The Very Hungry Caterpillar May 1

Athens Symphony Concerts May 9-10

For more information contact the Classic Center at 706-357-4444 or www.ClassicCenter.com

Congratulations to the UGA Gymdogs for winning the SEC Championship!!

UGA hosts the NCAA Championships April 24-26. Go to georgiadogs.com where you can purchase tickets while supplies last.

The media has been spreading some good news for us in Athens, GA.

The Athens Banner Herald had an article published on February 28 that confirms that Athens will be ahead of the rest of the state in economic growth this year. More specifically the article states that we should have DOUBLE the rate of academic growth vs. the rest of the state. Read the rest of the article here.

Even more news: According to the March edition of Atlanta Magazine: Athens & its nearby town of Watkinsville are in the top ten for price change in the state AND increase in number of homes sold in 2007 vs. 2006. This data was provided to Atlanta Magazine by Smart Numbers and data is listed below:

• Athens Zip Code 30601 saw an average home price increase from 2006 to 2007 of 12%
• Athens Zip Code 30606 saw an increase in the number of homes sold 23.1% from 2006 to 2007
• Watkinsville Zip Code 30677 saw its number of homes sold increase 10.1% from 2006 to 2007

Even though the mainstream media may Doom and Gloom the economy and home sales data---it seems Athens, GA can overcome!

It's been an interesting few weeks in the mortgage market with rates fluctuating and the scary, but thankfully temporary, disappearance of 100% financing in Georgia due to being rated a "declining market" for the entire state by several risk management (PMI) companies. However, spring market is just around the corner and happily, buyers are leaving their winter hibernation behind and starting to search for homes in Athens, Georgia.

In a recently released report from Georgia State University's Economic Forecasting Center, it's predicted that Athens, Georgia will avoid a full recession this year and grow at twice the rate of the rest of the state of Georgia.

It's predicted that Athens will add 1.6% more jobs than the rest of the state's predicted 0.8%. The growth can be attributed in a large part to the stability that the University of Georgia brings to the Athens metro area.

Real Estate and Housing has remained mostly stable in the Athens, Georgia area as documented by Success Realty in our most recent Athens Georgia real estate market statistics.

As for the rest of the state: At the Georgia Economic Outlook luncheon held in Atlanta in Deccember 2007, Dean Robert T. Sumichrast of the Univeristy of Georgia's Terry College of Business stated "Our economy is still growing, but what appeared to be a soft landing for Georgia's economy has morphed into a protracted landing -- characterized by considerable turbulence."

Ken Heaghney, Georgia's official state economist told state leaders at a meeting of the House and Senate Appropriations committees in January that "We're expecting ... Georgia could do no worse than the U.S. as a whole, and probably better". He went on to assure state leaders any recession should be mild, and the economy could turn around as soon as the middle of the year.

If you would like to see what is available for sale in the Athens Georgia and surrounding area real estate market, please search our IDX via the multiple listing service, just click on the "search for homes" button below.

706-207-2502 cell 706-543-1553 office

For more information about homes for sale and real estate in Athens, GA or to request a Relocation Package by mail for Athens, GA and the surrounding areas , please visit our website at Success Realty or email Michelle DeRepentigny at Michelle@SuccessRealtyGa.com for more information.