About Newton County, GA

How much confidence do Realtors have in their local markets? The Real Estate Confidence Index answers that question.

The people who host my website, Point2Agent, conducts a monthly survey of its thousands of members across North America to determine how real estate professionals see the current and future market conditions in their respective areas.

The survey receives over 3,000 responses monthly from every area of the country across many different types of markets. Respondents rate their markets on a scale of 1 to 10, showing their confidence level in local real estate markets over the short term (3 to 6 months), and the long term (12 to 18 months). A statistical mean on the 1 to 10 scale is then derived which becomes the monthly Real Estate Confidence Index. The Index is statistically valid due to the number of responses received.

The Real Estate Confidence Index (R.E.C.I.) for October, 2009 is 5.59. This seems a bit middle-of-the-road, and one might say, "Yeah... half the country's confident, the other half isn't." However, the Index is based upon real opinions from real professionals in the real estate field, and if watched over time, does fluctuate by State and economic conditions.

To those of us in Georgia, confidence is not great. The Georgia R.E.C.I. is 5.08. Georgia real estate professionals rate their confidence in the current market a 4.53, with improvement in the short term to 4.63, and the long term to 6.08 - still a long way from complete, or even comfortable confidence in the marketplace.

In the South, Georgia professionals are joined by South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Kentucky and Oklahoma practitioners with only low to moderate confidence in their markets. Professionals in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina exhibit a bit more confidence, but still hover only slightly higher (current index 6.3) than the country as a whole.

Survey administrators point out that "the Real Estate Confidence Index is a purely subjective survey, and is in no way intended to be an accurate reflection of current market conditions." It is based on the opinions of real estate professionals across the country. Even so, it's both interesting, enlightening, and probably not too far off.

Home for Sale in Covington, Georgia - Clark's Grove  GAMLS# 02402631   $379,000

For more information, call my mobile phone 770-337-5262, or visit my website
www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home for Sale in Covington, Georgia - Clark's Grove - 4 Bedrooms, 3 1/2 Baths

This lovely Federal-style Home for Sale in Covington, Georgia's Clark's Grove offers non-traditional value in Covington's premiere Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND), Clark's Grove.  Climb the wide steps to the broad rocking-chair front porch, and enter the home's great room through classic double front doors.  Notice the marble facade of the room's fireplace with easy gas starter, the lovely hardwood floors, and the rounded corners on all walls.

To the left, enter the formal dining room with its judge's paneling with plate rail, dramatic chandelier and inlaid hardwood floors.  Pass through to the gourmet chef's kitchen to see the solid surface island cooktop, double convection ovens, tile backsplash, granite countertops and large dining area.

This Clark's Grove Home for Sale includes a large laundry room with built-in cabinetry and a half bath located just off the kitchen for your convenience.

A large gallery space off the kitchen connects the Home for Sale downstairs amenities to the master suite on the main level, and the covered sitting porch just off the huge, enclosed patio.  The master features a sitting area, master bath with subway tile, separate shower, jetted tub, and large walk-in closet.  Access the covered porch through the master's double french doors.

Upstairs are two additional bedrooms, two full baths and a huge rec room with closets which might be used as a fourth bedroom.  All bedrooms have double closets, and under-eaves, floored storage space is also accessed from the upstairs rooms.

Off the brick-paved patio and covered porch in the rear is the detached two-car garage.  The garage has an epoxy floor for ease of maintenance, and is connected to the main house by a breezeway.  Above the garage is a finished room with hardwood floors which might be perfect for an office, or just additional storage.

Outside this Home for Sale in Clark's Grove, you can stroll the neighborhoods tree-lined sidewalks. swim in the Olympic-size pool, use the playgrounds, ballfield and picnic pavillion, explore the walking trails or grow herbs and vegetables in the community garden.

Covington's Clark's Grove is just a short walk off the city's historic square, and with all Covington, Clark's Grove and this exceptional home has to offer, there's everything you need to enhance your lifestyle, entertain friends and relax with your family.

This Swann Street Home for Sale has been reduced from the original asking price of $459,000, and offers exceptional value.  Contact me today to view this move-in-ready Home for Sale property.

View the location of this Clark's Grove Home for Sale on the map below.  And be sure to watch the virtual tour located just below the map.

For more information regarding this property, call my mobile phone at 770.337.5262.  For information on other Homes for Sale in Covington and the surrounding areas, visit my website at www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com.  And, to keep up with what's happening in Covington community news, events and real estate market, visit my blog at www.CovingtonLivingToday.com

 

 

 

View 33.595735, -83.872379 in a larger map

 

 

 

 

Nine past citizens of Newton County “spoke” to visitors strolling through the historic Covington City Cemetery last Thursday evening during the Newton County Chamber of Commerce’s “Voices From The Past” tour.

Local residents dressed in period costumes portrayed notable past citizens of the county, providing vignettes of their lives and county history during the 1800s and early 1900s. Each presented their story standing beside the grave of the resident they portrayed.

Residents represented in the portrayals included Mahala Pitts Clark, born into slavery who died at the age of 100; George Thompson, a gypsy killed at Clark’s Grove as a result of a gambling altercation; Reverend Toney Baker, first pastor of the African-American Bethel Baptist Church; Dr. Luke Robinson, one of the county’s first physicians; Julia A. Camp Porter whose husband founded Porterdale and its textile mill, and after whom the Julia A. Porter Memorial Methodist Church is named; Martha Hood Dorsett, a young frontierswoman who died at the age of 20, but whose descendants still reside in the area; Frances Reynolds Brown Merritt whose husband and three children all died within a short seven-year marriage; Reverend Andrew Hamill, a Methodist circuit-riding preacher who served the spiritual needs of Georgians from Brunswick to Blairsville, and; General James Phillip Simms, Confederate General and state legislator.

Local resident Louise Adams portrayed Mahala Pitts Clark. Ernie Smith was the gypsy George Thompson. The Reverend Hezekiah Benton, current pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, portrayed Reverend Toney Baker. Chris Smith, descendant of Dr. Luke Robinson, portrayed his ancestor. Cynthia Millsaps became Julia A. Camp Porter. Amelia Thomaston, Oxford College student, portrayed Martha Hood Dorsett. Sandi Schein tugged your heartstrings as Frances Reynolds Brown Merritt. Reverend Brian Dale became circuit-rider Reverend Andrew Hamill. And Will Alisberg played General James Phillip Simms.

Tour guides led groups from the sold-out event through the cemetery, pointing out distinctive monuments, inter-relating the cemetery and county history, and explaining the meaning and significance of symbols and markings on the memorials and grave stones.

The Covington City Cemetery consists of five separate sections:

• The Old Methodist, Northwest Section
• The Confederate, Northeast Section
• The African American, Eastern Central Section
• The Memorial Garden, West central Section, and
• The City Cemetery, The Central and largest Section

Within the city limits of Covington, ten other cemeteries have been identified, bringing the total cemeteries in Newton County to 270, identified so far.

The Tourism Division of the Newton Chamber, in cooperation with the Newton County Historical Society should be commended for staging this unique event. "Voices From The Past" offered Covington residents a special opportunity to be both educated and entertained by our county’s history.

Covington Georgia September 2009 Real Estate Market Report

• Active Listings 1024
• Pending Sales 126
• Closed Sales 79
• Week's Inventory 56 (Absorption Rate)
  

The "Weeks Inventory" indicates the number of weeks it takes to sell the current inventory of homes on the market at the present rate of sales. Inventory level in a "good real estate market" is considered to be around 24 weeks.

Since Last Month's Report:

• Active Listings DOWN 26.3%
• Pending Sales DOWN 9.4%
• Closed Sales DOWN 15%

Foreclosures:

New foreclosures in the Covington and Newton County real estate market were DOWN in September by 9.4% from last month's figure. However, for the nine-month period, foreclosures are still UP 1.4% in the county over 2008.

The Average Sales Price of homes in the Covington real estate market in September was UP 31% over August to $141,031, and UP 7% from the same period in 2008. That's good news!

It's still taking longer to seel our homes in the Covington real estate market. The Average Days On Market of homes listed in Covington was UP 9.7% over August, and 12.9% over September 2008.

DISCLAIMER: All information, photographs & content contained within this blog is the property of Bill Blair and may only be used with express written permission of the author or via the Active Rain "reblog" function, posted in its entirity with attribution to the author.

All statistical information used to create this report was obtained from GAMLS. Information Deemed Reliable but not Guaranteed.

The Covington Georgia Real Estate Market Report - August 2009

If you enjoy history or want to learn more about Covington's history and that of the people who have lived here, here's something you won't want to miss.

On Thursday evening, October 15, the Tourism Division of the Covington/Newton County Chamber of commerce is sponsoring a guided walking tour of the historic Covington City Cemetery. The cemetery is located off Conyers and Church Streets just a couple of blocks off the historic square.

The tour will be conducted by people in period costumes representing several "residents" of the cemetery who will provide graveside commentary about their lives and history of Covington and the surrounding area.

For those unable to walk the route, golf carts will be provided.

The crisp fall weather, personal portrayals and rich history of Covington will make this an event not to be missed.

Tickets may be purchased at the Covington visitors center on Clark Street between now and the event. No tickets will be sold at the cemetery. Admission to the tour is $10 for adults and $5 for children. All proceeds will go to the Newton County History Center, being developed in Covington's historic jail building, and to the construction of the Newton County Miracle Field.

Come out for an enjoyable evening. Learn more about our history. And support our local charities.