Newnan, GA

All of the experts seem to agree that the “shadow inventory” is out there. Houses that have gone through the foreclosure process but for whatever reason are being maintained in inventory but have not been placed on the market for resale.

The motivation behind the phenomenon has been described as being anything from sinister to shrewd. Are these institutional sellers simply buried under piles of paperwork, stymied by litigation, or simply trying to stabilize the market in an effort to reap top dollar for their properties?

Whatever the reasons, in Coweta County Georgia there is a significant difference between the number of monthly foreclosures and REO and HUD homes showing up in the marketplace.

I get calls all of the time about houses that have been sitting empty for long periods of time while would-be buyers await the opportunity to make an offer.

The shadow inventory is out there. And it can affect our market dramatically.

And until it is dealt with in a proactive way a lot of uncertainty will remain.

Come set your joy on golden fronds
That spice the meadow with saffron strains
‘Tis Spring that waxes, fresh verdure dawns
Awakes as Winter’s crescent wanes!
( R Weisser 2012 )

Spring has come early to Newnan Georgia this year. The “jonquils” started blooming in January and the “redbuds” are resplendent in their awakening.

The trees are already budding out. And while I enjoy Spring as much as anyone, you have to wonder about the impact this unseasonably mild winter will have on agriculture.

The famous Georgia Peaches require a significant amount of hours below 45 degrees to properly set fruit. Not to mention the fact that if they bloom too early, a late frost or freeze can ruin a crop.

But like it or not, we have no control of the weather and must deal with it as it comes.

In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the flowers!

The woodpile and the furnace grate
Await the tardy guest waylaid.
Is Winter past or only late…
Asleep, to stir another day?
(R Weisser 2012)

It seems as if we haven’t has any Winter at all this year here in Newnan Georgia.

As a matter of fact, even though it’s still January, the yellow bells and jonquils are already blooming.

And although we enjoy a relatively mild climate here in the Southeast, we do occasionally get a real taste of Winter, as these photographs from previous years will attest!

Here's wishing you snow if you want it, and sunshine and warm breezes if you don't!

As a result of readily accessible information about property listings, many buyers like to search listings based on one criteria: PRICE

And we do have many value-priced properties for sale in Coweta County Georgia. And buyers want to see all of these properties in hopes of finding the “perfect” combination of price and livability.

The problem is that many, many buyers are looking for the same thing. And so the good properties sell very quickly. As a result the casual weekend property seeker is very unlikely to stumble upon the right house at the right price.

A good real estate agent can be an invaluable asset in overcoming this dilemma. We see new properties every day and can alert buyers when a “hot” one shows up on the market. It is no longer a matter of being in the “right place at the right time”

Finding the right house at the right price is not a lottery.

Rather it is a calculated strategy for getting an offer submitted on a great house before it is too late.

So far this year, winter has not made much of an appearance. Although there was a freak early snowstorm in the Northeast here in Georgia Winter has not amounted to much more than a few frosty mornings.

Here is it, the second day of January, and I still have a few peppers than can be harvested from a still alive (although not exactly vigorous) pepper plant.

I guess from a purely economic perspective, a mild winter in a real boon as we save on heating fuel and the cost of snow removal.

But from an aesthetic point of view, it somehow does not feel “right.” It’s January and it’s supposed to be cold.

I’m certain that this is probably one of those cases of “be careful what you wish for,” as there is plenty of opportunity for some real winter weather in the upcoming months.

But for now, I’ll just take advantage of the nice weather and get some yard work done!”