About Columbia County, GA

March Community Calendar

12 Nurturing Nature Preschool Walks from 10 - 11 AM at Reed Creek
Park. Children must be accompanied by and adult. (706) 210-4027.

12 Pond Exploration at Reed Creek Park from 4:30 - 5:30 PM. Children will explore and learn about what critters live in our pond. Be prepared to get a little wet and muddy. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration required by calling (706) 210-4027.

13 All about Frogs at Reed Creek Park from 7-8 PM. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration required by calling (706) 210-4027.

16 Bo Bice in concert at the Amphitheater at 6 PM. Tickets are $15.

19 Insect Investigations at Reed Creek Park from 4:30 - 5:30 PM - learn about our 6 legged friends as we catch and release insects with bug nets. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration required by calling (706) 210-4027.

20 Nurturing Nature Preschool Walks from 10 - 11 AM at Reed Creek Park. Children must be accompanied by and adult. (706) 210-4027.

22 Pond Exploration at Reed Creek Park from 10 - 11 AM. Children will explore and learn about what critters live in our pond. Be prepared to get a little wet and muddy. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration required by calling (706) 210-4027.

22 Easter Egg Scramble at 10 AM at the Government Center on Ronald Reagan Drive. Also, "Part With Your Paint Day" and "Adopt a Stream" activities. Call (706) 312-7195.

29 Great American Clean Up - gathering at 10 AM at the Government Center on Ronald Reagan Drive. Also, "Part With Your Paint Day" and "Adopt a Stream" activities. Call (706) 312-7195 for more information.ANNOUNCEMENTS

• AARP tax assistance at the Main Library every Tuesday and Thursday from February 5^th to April 15^th at 9 AM - 3 PM.
• Bartum Trail Golf Clb, wishes to announce its new annual membership rates for citizens of Columbia County:
  o Family $1800/year
  o Individual $1300/year
  o Senior(60+) $960/year
  o Senior Family $1260/year
  o Junior (up to 18) $600/year
  Call (706) 210-4681 for more information.

For more information please visit http://www.columbiacountyga.com/

COLUMBIA COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY

FUNDRAISER to benefit the Building Fund



When: Saturday, March 15, 2008



Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.



Where: Taylor BMW, Washington Rd. Evans



Who: Entertainment - Leo Dean & Allison Foster



What: Art Show and Sale / Silent Auction



How Much: Tickets available $30 per person / $50 per couple

Active Rain Blog Text Christine May 03/02/08

In spite of all the media gloom and doom, the Greater Augusta market has picked up for me. The area cost of living is 13% below national average attracting more and more new businesses. There is current and future growth at Fort Gordon due to Homeland Security and the National Security Agency (NSA). In addition, a new reactor at Plant Vogel will add to the incoming to the Augusta area. First T-Mobile opened a call center and now a second new call center creating 300+ jobs was just announced to serve a health care company. These are just a few examples that indicate good growth potential for this area over the next few years with thousands of new residents

We all should know that the time to buy is when prices and interest rates are low.

The Augusta market never had and "explosive" price increases like other parts of the country. Homes here did not get greatly overpriced so there is no need to "slash" pricing like we've seen in Florida.

Over the past 6- 12 months or so I've noticed:

•1. EXISTING home sale prices have been generally "flat" and not declining much if at all. Instead of 30-90 days on the market sellers can expect 90-180 days on the market

•2. NEW CONSTRUCTION - instead of price increases every 3 months - prices have stayed FLAT or even decreased some. Builders slowed down and even temporarily stopped new building "start ups" and are taking a wait and see attitude. Some builders have excess inventory and others are just sitting on the sidelines till demand increases.

•3. FORECLOSURES: There are more foreclosure properties than ever before that can be picked up cheap and make good deals for owner occupants or savvy investors.

•4. CORPORATE OWNED homes can be a great deal! Typically relocation properties are good deals but now corporations are "dumping inventory" and offer great value. Across the country, these sellers are used to the softer markets and assume Augusta is weak too. Not wanting to hold this inventory, I'm seeing these sellers willing to negotiate much better deals than in the past.

•5. There is now a value issue related to declining value market areas. The Martinez/Evans area is not considered a "declining or high risk area" by lenders. Some values are being discounted 5-10% below appraisal value - which means if a buyer wants to buy in a high risk area - they have make 5-10% additional down payment on their loan.

•6. Sellers that are not prepared for longer marketing times are more willing to rent out their homes than in the past.

•7. Another observation I have is that although there are still discount brokers offering limited marketing service, it's more important than ever to have a complete marketing program to set houses apart. Increased inventory levels have created great selection for buyers and available homes must be presented effectively.

I'm confident in our market overall but am observing shifts and changes for everyone in our real estate industry. There is currently and will be a shake out of some and opportunity for growth for those that adapt. At the end of the day, professionalism and hard work will determine the survivors in the business. For consumers, it's more important than ever to select your service providers with care.

Christine May, Broker, ABR

Licensed in GA and SC

EXIT REALTY LEADING EDGE

141 North Belair Rd. Suite 101

(approx. 1/2 mile from the Columbia Rd. Intersection)

Evans GA 30809

Office (706)-869-9478

Fax (706)-860-9431

http://www.augustahomestore.com

broker@augustahomestore.com

www.RealEstateSchoolOfGA.com

www.ExitRealtyCareersGA.com

2 Meet Tara McAdoo, author of Glorious Expressions, from 2:30 - 4:30 PM.

2 Sounds of Jazz concert series featuring Kari Gaffney at 7 PM in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 by calling (706) 868-3484.

3 Book signing and talk by author Micheal Gregory of If At First You Don't Succeed form 2:30 - 4:30 PM.

5 Harlem Library Story time from 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM.

6 Euchee Creek Library Story time from 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM.

7 4 Hour Defensive Driving Class 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM. Location: Building A, General Conference Room, 630 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans.

8 After Hours Story Time for the whole family at the Main Library at 6:30 PM featuring Valentine stories and crafts. Register by calling (706) 863-1946.

9 American Red Cross Babysitting Class from 10 AM - 4 PM. Call (706) 724-8481 to register.

9 Sounds of Jazz Concert series featuring Fred Williams at 7 PM in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 by calling (706) 868-3484.

9 P.R.I.D.E. (Parents-Reducing-Incidents-of Driver-Error) Class for ages 14-16 at the Columbia County Justice Center on Ronald Regan Drive for 8 -10 AM. Alan Brown, father of Josh Brown, and spearhead for Joshua's Law will be the main speaker as well as actual experience in a rollover simulator, etc. Call (706) 868-3320 to register.

12 Arbor Day 2008 at Reed Creek Park at 11 AM. Come and experience the dynamic program presented by Tim Womick, the modern day Johnny Appleseed. Call (706) 210-4027 for more information.

12 Harlem Library Story time from 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM.

13 Euchee Creek Library Story time from 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM.

16 Nature Games - a program designed for children 6+ at Reed Creek Park from 10 - 11 AM. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration required by calling (706) 210-4027.

16 2008 Heart Health Fair presented by Columbia County and the University Health Care System in the Main Library from 10 AM - 3 PM. Call (706) 828-2502 for more information.

16 Sounds of Jazz concert series featuring Preston and Weston at 7 PM in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 by calling (706) 868-3484.

17 Augusta Symphony family concert featuring Peter and the Wolf. Call (706) 826-4705 or visit http://www.augustasymphony.org/ for tickets.

17 Scrabble Club from 2 - 5 PM at the Main Library.

18 Monday night book discussion on The Confessor by David Silva at 6:30 PM in the Main Library.

19 Harlem Library Story time from 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM.

20 Euchee Creek Library Story time from 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM.

21 Nurturing Nature preschool walks from 10 -11 AM at Reed Creek Park. Children must be accompanied by and adult. Call (706) 210-4027 for more information.

21 Brown Bag lunch book discussion on Still Life with Chickens by Catherine Goldhammer at 11:30 AM in the Main Library.

23 Birding Reed Creek at Reed Creek Park from 7 - 9 AM. Observe the bird life as it changes from winter to spring; bring binoculars and rubber boots to cross the creek. (706) 210-4027.

23 African American genealogy by Gloria Lucas at the Main Library from 2:30 - 4 PM.

23 Augusta Symphony Columbia County Music Series presents Hudson Shad in Magic Moments at 7:30 PM in the Performing Arts Center. This singers recall the greatest crooners and their most memorable tunes. Call (706) 826-4705 or visit http://www.augustasymphony.org/ for tickets.

24 Mardi Gras Outside Louisiana! For young adults from 2 - 4 PM.

25 One Book, One Community/Columbia County Reads Together book discussion on The Alexandra Link b Steve Berry at Harlem Library at 6:30 PM.

26 Harlem Library Story time from 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM.

27 Euchee Creek Library Story time from 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM.

28 8 Hour Defensive Driving Course 8:30 AM - 5 PM. Location: Building A, General Conference Room, 630 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans.

Announcements

Reed Creek Park Young Naturalist After-School Clubs and Home-school Clubs. Do your children like slither snakes, timid turtles, slimy salamanders, or beautiful butterflies? What about wonderful wildflowers? Then join one of our Young Naturalist after-school of home-school clubs to explore the natural world at Reed Creek Park. Call (706) 210-4027 for more information.

Art exhibit at the Main Library features Laurie Adams, mosaics, and Elizabeth Barnes, sculpture.

AARP tax assistance at the Main Library every Tuesday and Thursday from February 5th through April 15th at 9 AM - 3 PM.

All information provided by Columbia County.