About Newton County, GA

Real Estate Market Report for August, 2010

NEWTON COUNTY:

• 124 days on market – this is 14 days less than in August 2009
• Sellers received, on average, 95.7% of their list price when the home sold
• There is 8.8 months of inventory currently on the market (6 months inventory is considered “normal”)
• 111 homes sold in August 2010 – this is 6 less that August 2009
• The most popular price range was $0 – $100,000
• The average sales price was $102,962, compared to $108,580 in August 2009
• There were 51 foreclosures – this is 3 less than August 2009

ROCKDALE COUNTY:

• 113 days on market – this is 24 days less than in August 2009
• Sellers received, on average, 96.5% of their list price when the home sold
• There is an 11.5 months inventory on the market (6 months inventory is considered “normal”)
• 60 homes sold in August 2010 – this is 15 less than in August 2009
• The most popular price range was $0 – $100,000
• The average sales price was $106,843, compared to $142,271 in August 2009
• There were 34 foreclosures – this is 9 more than August 2009

If you have questions or comments about the real estate market in Newton or Rockdale Counties, please leave me a message or give me a call… 770-337-5262

Al Qaida... Hamas... Taliban... Hezbollah... No, it's none of those, but there is a real estate terrorists cell operating in Newton County and several other counties in Georgia, according to the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution."

Cells of the domestic terrorist group "sovereign citizens" (listed on the FBI's domestic terrorist list) are "stealing" homes across the U.S. Locally, investigators have tied them to at least 19 property thefts in Newton, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Spalding and Richmond counties.

The "sovereign citizens" group believe they are immune to state and federal laws, and assert -among other things - that banks can't own land and that any home owned by a bank - including hundreds in Newton County, and thousands across Georgia - is free for the taking. So they simply forge a bogus quitclaim deed, have a locksmith change locks on the foreclosed home of their choice, and move in.

Banks that own the foreclosed homes being usurped by the "sovereign citizens" are unaware of the deed changes. Generally, they have so many foreclosed properties, it's hard to keep track of all of them.

The FBI says the "sovereign citizens" is a sect of anti-government extremists involved in various criminal behavior, but whose crime of choice is paper terrorism and attempting to disrupt the U.S. economy. They create their own drivers' licenses, have multiple identities, don't pay taxes, file lawsuits and liens against police, government officials, and anyone else who questions them. They don't believe in the U.S. or our laws... until they're arrested. "Then they want a lawyer," says Lt. Joe Fagan, commander of DeKalb Police's North Precinct.

According to the "AJC," the FBI says the national "sovereign citizens" movement has been around for decades, and has ties to the Nuwaubians, a black supremacist group that started near Augusta. Nationally, "sovereign citizens," which originated as a white supremacist group, have been connected to multiple insurance fraud and tax evasions scams, and some violent crimes, including the shooting deaths of two police officers this past May in Arkansas.

The investigation of the "sovereign citizen" terrorist group stealing homes started in May when a DeKalb County real estate agent called local police to report that someone was having the locks changed on a $1 million home he was selling on Windsor Parkway in Atlanta.

Newton County, Georgia, about 30 miles southeast of Atlanta, has more foreclosures than any other county in the State. But, after several months of the foreclosure flood subsiding in the county, the waters are on the rise again.

For the first seven months of this year, foreclosures in Covington and Newton County were down by 29.3% over the same period in 2009. The number of pages of foreclosure notices in "The Covington News" each week were consistently running around 25 to 30 pages. But last week, there were over 50 pages of notices, and indication that our real estate market crisis is far from over.

Other indicators of the soft market here include:

• An 8.1-month supply of homes currently on the market
• Average time to sell is 143 days on the market
• Average Sales Price down 14.8% in July, and
• Of 775 homes sold in the county during the past six months, 528 (or 68%) sold for under $100,000.

If you're in the market for a home, it's a great time to buy. If you want to sell your present home... not so good.

Our market will improve, but it's not likely until unemployment rates go down and the national economy improves substantially. By my latest estimation, we're likely to continue with current market conditions for the next 1.5 to 2 years.

Home for Sale in Oxford, Georgia - Historic District  GAMLS# 02856488  $249,000

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

Home for Sale in Oxford, Georgia - Historic District - 3 Bedrooms. 3 Full Baths

I've never had a home that offers as much value as this lovely craftsman-style Home for Sale in historic Oxford.  Situated on a private, wooded 2-acre lot, you can walk from this Home for Sale to the elementary school, the new Town Hall, and Oxford College of Emory University.

Custom built in 2007, the home has only been lived in for three months.  And virtually everything in this Home for Sale is upgraded.  The exterior is Hardi-plank siding for low maintenance, and the wooded yard features a picnic patio area with fire pit.  Dual-pane thermo windows, extra insulation and dual-zoned natural gas heating and central air keep the home cozy in winter and cool in summer heat.  The over-sized attached two-car garage leads to the interior and a covered side porch.

The main level of this Home for Sale features an open floor plan with a fireside Great Room leading to a formal dining area and bright open kitchen with inlaid tile floor, corian counter tops and back splashes, built-in appliances, and custom cabinets with lazy susans, slide-out and fold-out shelves.  All appliances remain in this Home for Sale, including smooth cook-top electric range, built-in microwave, dishwasher, double-door refrigerator, and washer and dryer in the separate laundry room with deep sink.  Flooring throughout this Home for Sale is ceramic tile, upgraded plush carpeting and Berber carpeting on the second level.

Upstairs is a huge Rec Room and additional bedroom space with full bath.  And the regulation-size slate pool table also remains with this comfortable Home for Sale.

Among the many custom features of this Oxford Home for Sale are 10-foot ceilings throughout, custom blinds, mud room with deep sink, stacked-stone remote-controlled gas fireplace, tiled showers with shower seats, upgraded light fixtures and ceiling fans, furniture-grade bathroom cabinets, office with built-in shelving and tile floor, energy-efficient tank-less hot water system, central vacuum, and fire / security alarm system.

You may find other custom-built homes on beautiful lots, but you'll not find one that offers more value than this exceptional Home for Sale in historic Oxford, priced at only $249,000.  The home may be purchased with cash, conventional, FHA, or VA programs, and the owner will even consider owner-financing.  This is not a short sale or distressed property. Contact me today to view this move-in-ready Home for Sale property.

View the location of this historic Oxford Home for Sale on the map below.  And be sure to watch the virtual tour located just below the map.

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For more information regarding this property, call my mobile phone at 770.337.5262.  For more information on other Homes for Sale in Oxford, 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.