About Jasper's Arbor Hills

Hello,

I wanted to tell you a little something about a great neighborhood in Jasper, GA. Arbor Hills is one of the few neighborhoods in Jasper with a community swimming pool and tennis courts. Another well kept secret is that it has nice sidewalks that many of the residents use everyday. It also has streetlights, it is on public water and sewer.

If you are looking for a nice neighborhood where you really have neighbors that get out and meet each other then you need to check out Arbor Hills!

Yesterday I attended a meeting of my local board of Realtors. The speakers were bankers and they confirmed a lot of what I knew, hoped, to be true. There is money out there.

FHA is alive and well. For those of us in rural areas there is USDA (100 percent financing) . There is VA as well. Conventional loans can be had at 10 percent. So what is the problem?

The problem is consumers are shopping on line a lot for loans. They are not working with companies that have track records in their area. They are avoiding local banks. In effect they are buying the sizzle and not the steak. So they are literally be left at the Altar ( the closing table ) high, dry, and non funded.

Now more than ever it is important to work with a local Realtor. Will the Realtor make your loan? NO ! But the Realtor will have worked with enough loan folks to be able to separate out the good from the Hype.

So the good news is prices are great , inventory is good, Rates are good. Why not buy and use a professional to avoid surprises with your financiing ?

Jasper Georgia's, Arbor Hills neighborhood, which has been around since 1999, actually saw an increase in home sales last year over the prior two years -- moving against the general Pickens County home sales trend. Last year's 12 homes sold is a 50% improvement over 2006 (8), and a 20% improvement over 2005 (10), however there was very slight price softening over prior years (approximately 1%).

The 14 active listings of homes for sale in Arbor Hills as of this writing presents slightly better inventory numbers than the rest of the county, although still not what would be considered "optimal' for a balanced market. The expectation that some foreclosure properties are likely to enter the market in the near future requires keeping an eye on both listing activity and sales prices, to see what impact, if any, this might have.

While sales seem to be holding up, the wide variety in age and finishes of homes need to be kept in mind by home buyers and sellers when considering fair market value, and adjusted for accordingly.

For the latest data on market conditions and homes available in Arbor Hills in Jasper, Georgia, contact Trent Cluley -- Keller Williams Realty.

Arbor Hills Home Sales Data*

Home Sales: 2007
Number Sold*		12	--
Low		$148,000	3 bed / 2 bath
Average		$181,619	3 bed / 2.5 bath
High		$240,000	5 bed / 3.5 bath
Active Listings: Feb '08			--
Number on Market		14
Low		$171,000	3 bed / 2 bath
Average		$210,641	3 bed / 2.5 bath
High		$249,985	4 bed / 3.5 bath

* MLS Data used here does is for informational purposes, does not reflect private sales of properties not listed in real estate, and is not warranted.

Arbor Hills in Jasper Georgia is one of Pickens County's few neighborhoods to offer swim and tennis as amenities . . . particularly with an entry point under $200,000 for new or "newer" homes. Just two miles from Jasper off Lumber Company Road -- and easily accessible from Highway 515 -- Arbor Hills provides a variety of convenient and affordable options for first-time, move-up or downsizing home buyers.

Homes in Arbor Hills were built from 1999 up to the current day, with new construction still under way, mostly as spec homes. A majority of the houses have full or partial basements, although there a number built on a slab or with a crawlspace. Floorplans and styles are fairly standard for spec homes in this area and price range . . . some variation of ranch, split-level, or other gabled multi-level design. Exteriors are generally vinyl siding with stone or brick accents, while interiors are largely carpet / laminate / linoleum floors, and laminate counters, however some houses do offer concrete siding, hardwood floors, solid surface counters, and other upgrades.

Lot sizes are smaller than found in most other Pickens County subdivisions, falling for the most part within a very manageable 1/3 - 1/2 acre range, on level or gently sloped terrain (with some exceptions as always). The main reason for the smaller yards is that Arbor Hills lies within the Jasper city limits, and is therefore served by public sewer and public water, which requires less space than septic systems. Standard utilities -- hi-speed Internet access, phone, cable, electric, etc -- are run underground.

As mentioned, amenities offered include a community swimming pool, tennis courts, a clubhouse, streetlights, and sidewalks. There is also ahomeowner's association and a $395 annual association fee, which includes swim and tennis usage.

Neighborhood homes and yards appear generally well-maintained, however certain portions of the newest phase, Phase III (fortunately, not readily seen from other parts of the development), appear a little disheveled due to financial difficulties of some builders in that section, including foreclosures of newly constructed homes and new homes still under construction in Arbor Hills. There are likely to be a handful of bank owned homes coming on the market in the near future.

With around 200 platted lots, many of which have already been developed, and a number still awaiting development, Arbor Hills stands as a fairly good size neighborhood for Jasper and Pickens County, where many developments are smaller and have fewer homes. Its size and amenities make it an appealing prospect for those who enjoy community and being neighborly . . . at a still very affordable price point.

For a complete email list of homes for sale in Arbor Hills, more information on anyhomes or land for sale in Pickens County, GA, or daily email updates of price changes, foreclosures, and homes new to the market in Arbor Hills, just send Send Us An Email with your request. You can also use the Property Search feature to search Jasper Georgia homes for sale by neighborhood.