About Newton County, GA

With the current state of the economy in the U.S., fueled for the past several years by the housing market, it's probably no big surprise that 2008 was not a stellar year in real estate in Covington and Newton County.

Here's how the year ended in Newton County, according to statistics drawn from the Georgia Multiple Listing Service (GAMLS).

A total of 1355 single family homes sold in Newton County during 2008, a decrease of almost 400 from those sold in 2007.

Total Sales volume in December 2008 was almost $8 million less than in January. And the average sales price during that period dropped by over $43,000 per home, on average.

New homes were hardest hit with only 328 new homes selling during 2008. It took an average of 6.5 months to sell each of those new homes, and there's still a 14.3 month supply of newly constructed homes on the market in the county.

There were 779 single family property foreclosures during the year. But, they were not just low-cost and starter homes. These foreclosures can be found at virtually every price point and in most neighborhoods county wide.

Will 2009 be a better year in the housing market? With unemployment in metro-Atlanta standing at 7% and expected to rise during 2009, it's hard to say. But housing is the key to economic recovery in this area overall, and unemployment usually lags the start of recovery. So watch the housing market this year to see how our economy is doing.

The good news in all of this is that it's still a great time to buy a home, especially if you're in a position of not having to sell before you buy. There is ample mortgage money available for new loans for those with good credit at some of the lowest interest rates in years. And there are plenty of homes on the market for you to choose from - 1862 active single family home listings in Newton County today - at better prices than you're likely to find for years to come.

If you have a home to sell, give it a try. It costs you nothing until the home is sold, so you have nothing to loose. And if you sell for less than you'd like, be assured that you'll be buying for a lot less than you would expect also!

If you have a home to sell, contact us, "Your Traditional Neighborhood Specialists," by either phone, email or text message. We'll be glad to advise you on things you can do sell your home faster in this market.

And if you're looking for a new home, we have access to hundreds of new, bank-owned and foreclosed properties throughout Covington, Newton and the surrounding counties. Call or text 770-337-5262 or 404-925-3676, or email billblair@bellsouth.net. We'll make it work for you!

I grew up in the South eating home-cooked Southern food. My Mom was a great cook, as is my wife. But Mom always cooked in ways that we've come to realize weren't so good for you. Her biscuits were made with lard. Chicken, or pork chops or steak was fried. Most veggies were cooked with fat back. And the cornbread was always slathered with butter. The result... yummy food, bouts with being overweight, and cholesterol pills.

Now, I'm not sure they cook like Mom did, but you can still get that great Southern home-style food at Smiley's in Porterdale.

No white tablecloths, just wooden tables and straight-backed chairs. But the staff is friendly, the service is great, and the food will make you slap yo' mama!

Everything is served buffet-style after the waitress brings your sweet tea. This past Sunday at lunch, the buffet featured fried chicken, roast beef, baked ham, biscuits, cornbread, salad bar and veggies, including green beans, butter beans cream corn, fried okra, mashed potatoes with two kinds of gravy, cornbread dressing, boiled cabbage, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, and probably a few others I've forgotten.

Yellow cake with chocolate icing and, as always, fresh banana pudding (made with real custard - no instant vanilla pudding here!) rounded out your meal - and you. And everything tasted just as good (well 99%) as Mom used to make.

Smiley's is only open on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. But it's worth the wait and the drive to Porterdale. Just don't eat too much during the week and be sure to wear your expandable waist pants!

If you want some great Southern cooking like your Mom used to make, Smiley's is still here and still serving it up! I give it two big thumbs up!

I'm fortunate enough to have a friend who is also a fine poet. He writes verse all during the year. But every year around this season, there's always something special.

His latest is "A Christmas Hope." This was published in our church program this past Sunday, but deserves to be read by more than just our Presbyterian friends. It evokes vivid images of Christmas past, and inspires belief in the future. It's what this special season is all about. I think you'll enjoy it. It's printed here with permission.

A Christmas Hope

by Reed Blakeney

It's strange to see you now, old friend
I hardly knew your face
There was a time when we would spend
Long hours at your place

Do you remember Christmas Eve
In nineteen fourty-four?
That's when old Jessie had to leave
And go away to war

But you and I were under age
Not old enough to fight
We acted on the high school stage
And knew we'd be all right

For hope was in our corner when
our boys were true and strong
This war would end all evil, then
The nations would get along

Hope was high as battles won
Created much speculation
The war would end and a soldier son
Would get an earned vacation

It's strange the way it all worked out
Since that Christmas long ago
We wonder what it's all about
But we still have much to show

For yes, we've taught Democracy
To nations across the world
We wanted people to be free
We marched with flag unfurled

What do you think, old friend of mine -
This Christmas, two thousand and eight?
I'll treat you to a glass of wine
And set the record straight

It's love that makes the world go 'round
It's hate that turns it sour
There's still much joy to be found
In every Christmas hour

Let's drink a toast to you and me
And good friends we remember
We've lived a long time, don't you see
And hope lives each December

I've always been an optimist. There's nothing to be gained from being pessimistic. Of course, there's nothing to be gained from being an optimist either. It just feels better. But, who can an optimistic Realtor® believe these days?

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors is quoted in the latest issue of "Realtor" magazine as saying "...there's good reason to believe the housing market has turned the corner." But, last night on CBS's "60 Minutes," an interesting piece with Scott Pelley questioned whether there was "A Second Mortgage Disaster on the Horizon."

Whitney Tillson, an investment fund manager with Amherst Securities, specializing in mortgages, told Pelley we're at the beginning of a second wave of mortgage defaults. When rates are reset for Alt-A and Option ARM mortgages written during the boom years, the result could be even more defaults and foreclosures than we've seen with the subprime market implosion.

According to Tillson , there were about $1 trillion in subprime mortgages, and there are about $1 trillion in Alt-A mortgages and another $500 to $600 billion in Option ARM mortgages out there which could be in serious trouble when their interest rates reset within the next several months. He expects a default rate of 50 to 70% on the Atl-A and Option ARMs.

60 Minutes' Pelley wrapped up the piece talking with Sean Egan who runs a credit rating firm, and is one of six people who "Fortune" magazine says predicted the fall of Wall Street's financial giants. Egan predicts that 2009 is going to be "miserable," and 2010 to be even worse. The housing market is "core" to the recovery of our financial woes, Egan says. And, he is looking at three... four... maybe five years before the supply overhang of housing is worked through.

So, who can Joe Homebuyer, Suzie Homeseller and an optimistic Realtor® believe?

Covington and the surrounding area have long been known by the nickname "Hollywood of the South." Film-makers, producers and directors all seem drawn to the locale by the character and charm of its Southern-style buildings and homes.

When the film credits roll, "Filmed on location in Covington, Georgia" shows up on productions such as "In the Heat of the Night, The Dukes of Hazard, My Cousin Vinnie, and Six Pack," among others. Now Covington - more specifically Covington's Traditional Neighborhood Development, Clark's Grove - is the backdrop for yet another video.

Taylor Braun, the young, upcoming Nashville star, filmed her latest music video in Clark's Grove this past August. It was just released, and is making its way on country music television. Also featured prominently in the video is Clark's Groves great little coffee shop, Town Center Breads.

If you'd like to take a look at the video right away, here's a link... Just click on Taylor's photo. Taylor and her music are great. And the backdrop is spectacular!

For more information on Covington, "The Hollywood of the South," or Clark's Grove, give me a call or leave a comment.