Rob Muller - ABR, ASP, RCC, CNHS, LREA Cherokee County Real Estate

This is my first "From the Hip" blog entry so take it easy on me, but I had to share this stuff with someone.

I was watching the news the other day and I don't know if any of you have heard about this but there seems to be some sort of housing slump going on.

The state of the market has created a glut of foreclosures here in Cherokee County and this has attracted a ton of 1st time investors.

How "Flip That House" is trying to ruin my life.

There are several popular House Flipping shows out there now that tell the story of a new investor each week who has purchased some sort of depressed property and tracks them as they get it ready to resell. They inevitably hit a few rough patches but 99% of the time the house gets finished. Everything is shiny and new when the potential Realtors show up and quote possible sales prices that are tens of thousands higher then the purchase price. The house usually sells and they have a impressive looking graphic at the end showing the profits from the sale of the home.

They never show anything about how the property was purchased, never mention anything about capitol gains tax, and usually wrap everything up neatly in an hour.

I think that these shows have given a lot of people the idea that flipping a house is much easier than it can sometime be. I have been getting a couple of calls a week from people who have decided they want to start flipping some of these foreclosures here in Cherokee County.

I know as an agent I should not be complaining about receiving calls from potential clients but sometimes things can get a little frustrating.

So with further ado here is my top 5 list of actual questions/requests/clients I have had over the last year thanks to "Flip That House"

5. I receive a call on one of my listings stating they would like to make an offer $85,000 under the asking price. They have been looking for a house to flip and figure this one would be perfect since it is already in great shape. (this is $85K under the asking price of $199,000, not like it is a million dollar home) They were very surprised when the offer was turned down without a counter. I explained that the house is not a foreclosure or short sale but is simply a regular listing. They got angry and said we were being unreasonable because they saw on TV that people were desperate and now was a good time to buy, before hanging up on me.

4. Client is upset that they are not finding any of those great foreclosure deals she has seen on TV in the listings I have sent her. I explain that many foreclosures are purchased at auction and that we can go that route if she would like. I start to explain to her the process of buying s home at auction, the amount of research needed, inspections and appraisals and such, she then accuses me of trying to milk her for extra money, she has learned all about flipping a house on TV and they never do any of that stuff. Not only will she not be working with me but I am unethical.

3. Love this one. I get a call about finding a foreclosure to flip. They want to buy the home at auction with a personal check. By the time they check bounces and they come after him in court he will have fixed up the home and sold it allowing him to pay the check and keep the profits for himself.

2. I get a call from a guy who wants to flip a house like he has seen on TV. After getting some background it turns out that he has been renting for years becuase he can not afford a house and has been unable to get approved for a 100% loan. He has decided that if he can flip a house he will be able to use the money he makes as a down payment for a house of his own.

1. I can't make this stuff up. Lady calls and she and her husband have been thinking about flipping a foreclosure. They have found the one they want and are ready to go. Sounds good right? only small problem is the foreclosure they want to flip is the same house that they just lost to foreclosure. They have seen it back on the market and figure they can get it for much less than they used to owe on it.

So now you understand why you won't catch me watching "flip that house" anytime soon!

Georgia's Entrepreneur Friendly program has resulted in 50 counties, including Cherokee County, earning the status of an Entrepreneur Friendly community.

The Entrepreneur Friendly program developed its roots in 2004, under the direction of Governor Perdue. There was an apparent need to create a more supportive environment to foster the growth of the small business sector. The program has flourished due to the overwhelming support from local communities including Cherokee County Including Canton and Woodstock.

Once a community elects to participate in the program, they develop an Entrepreneur Friendly Advisory Board, which is comprised of a variety of local small business owners. They are assigned a small business representative from the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and work together to analyze their business environment. This includes surveying other similar small businesses to ascertain whether they have received adequate support and further documenting any strategies that would encourage growth in the small business community.

Once the assessment is completed, the board participates in a full-day evaluation of their findings by a review team from the GDEcD staff as well as various other government agencies, in order to earn the designation of an Entrepreneur Friendly community.

Some of the assistance available to small businesses as a result of this program includes:

Business Start Up Kit - Contains valuable information on opening and running a business specific to your community. These available for downloading from various local government and chamber of commerce web sites.

Mentoring Program - The board will be implementing a mentoring program, where existing business owners will provide advice to new business hopefuls.

Entrepreneurs of the Month - This is an opportunity for local businesses to be publicly recognized.

Market Data Availability- Small business owners in Entrepreneur Friendly communities will gain access to customized market data to assist in their business plans.

This innovative attitude and support for entrepreneurship has created a self-sustaining and optimistic economic environment. To date, 95 percent of Georgia companies are comprised of small businesses. The success of these ventures has contributed greatly to Georgia's overall economic well being.

Check out the Cherokee County listings to see what is available in this Entrepreneurial Friendly community. Click here to visit all of the Georgia real estate listings.

It's tough giving up a summer of spending leisurely evenings on the patio, winding down under the stars. Fire pits are a great way to extend the outdoor use of your yard or patio, as well as creating a laid back, relaxing atmosphere. They can be as extravagant as a bulky, stone wood burner or as delicate as a ceramic fire pot for your patio table. They've come a long way from the campfire pits, enjoyed by those with large, backyards. Now, just about any home can safely install a fire pit and the choices are endless; here are some things to look for:

The In ground Fire Pit: This is the wood-burning, marshmallow eating version; usually surrounded by a brick or stone ledge and dug into the ground. This is a great way to enjoy a fire, but you have to have the space to locate it away from the house or dry vegetation.

The Above ground Fire Pit: Almost the same as above, except it can be built into a stone or cement patio; the actual pit is elevated, allowing your feet to rest on the ledge and sit closer to the heat. The only digging involved is for the trench for the footings, and the bed is lined with gravel. When deciding on the size of the circle, imagine the size of fire you want to build. A small ring limits the size of the logs you'll be burning, a larger ring will allow for a larger fire, but you may have to sit further back. A good recommendation is an interior diameter a minimum of 3 feet with walls about 12 inches thick and 12 to 18 inches high.

Portable Fire pits: Portable fire pits have increased in popularity, especially now that outdoor living spaces have become so fashionable. They are available in a variety of different sizes, and the price starts at about $120, going up from there. Generally, they are made of steel, copper or the chimineas; a Mexican style made from fired clay or cast iron.

The fire table top, where you have a large bowl inserted into a table, can be fueled by propane or natural gas, allowing for seating around the fire. The tops are usually made of a glass fiber reinforced concrete. Some of them even convert into an ice chest and grill.

Some units such as the table top burners or the glass enclosed luminariums use ethanol as a fuel which provides the look and feel of a wood fire without the smoke or ash.

Safety: In all situations, research your local fire regulations, whether the portable versions are allowed on a wooden deck, the guidelines for building a fire pit and whether you'll require a permit. It needs to be situated well away from the house, overhanging trees, power lines or other structures. It's good practice to use a spark screen and never leave a fire unattended. A fire extinguisher or garden hose should be kept nearby.

Burn compressed logs or wood with a low resin content, using only 1 or 2 at a time, in a portable fire pit.

Whether buying or selling, contact Rob Muller with ReMax town and Country Realty @ Bridgemill for all of your Cherokee County Ga Real Estate needs. Also specializing in East Cobb Real Estate, and West Cobb Real Estate.

Sure you can ride your mountain bike just about anywhere but there's nothing like riding miles of winding hand-built single track (just wide enough for one) through the forests of North Georgia. But where? Unfortunately, mountain bikes have been unceremoniously kicked out of public parks all over the Southeast for their tendency to erode paths built for hikers and even collide with the hikers themselves. The solution? Well if you live in Woodstock Georgia, you wrangle your own park and build your own trail.

The Southeast Off-Road Bicycle Organization (SORBA) is responsible for the wildly popular Blankets Creek trail system that skirts Blankets Creek at the edge of Lake Allatoona. Other nearby SORBA projects include Atlanta's Morningside Nature Preserve trail that links Midtown Atlanta with Buckhead through a 30 acre forested trail, and Big Creek Park in Roswell.

BLANKETS CREEK

Almost entirely built by hand by a team of volunteers, Blankets Creek Park is Cherokee County's only designated bike park and is proving itself to be one of the state's best rides. Right in Woodstock, just off Sixes Road, not too far from downtown and just 25 miles outside of Atlanta, the park draws over 100,000 bikes annually. Kids, men, women, families, couples, lone wolves, seasoned riders and even hikers all converge here for the great trails, a good workout and fun times.

The park has three short loops that let you choose your own adventure - from beginner trails to hair-raisers that demand technical skill. The group is currently building a fourth for a total of 16 miles of off-road goodness. The North Loop will be complete in spring 2008 and is going to bust the guts of all but the most experienced cyclists. With breakneck climbs and headlong descents, you really have to know how to handle your bike if you want to make it to the end of this four mile trail. Fortunately there's plenty of opportunity to train up.

The Mosquito Flats trail and the slightly more challenging Mosquito Bite Trail (1.3 miles total) are fun easy rides perfect for kids and beginners or to get your heart rate up before taking on the more challenging trails. Intermediate riders can try the Dwelling loop (3.5 miles) and advanced riders can try the South Loop (4 miles) for a steady stream of switchbacks, climbing, rock gardens, roots and log crossings.

Though all previous trails were built by hand with rakes, shovels and a lot of back-breaking labor, the new North Loop trail is being blazed by a mini-excavator. The main benefit is that the trail will be complete in less than half the time it would take to build it by hand.

GETTING HERE

Blankets Creek is located in Woodstock on the shores of Lake Allatoona. To get here, take I-75 north to I-575 north and take exit 11. Turn left on Sixes Road, go about 1.8 miles and turn left into the trail head parking lot. The park is open every day, but closed for rain. Check the trail direction before you begin as it changes daily. Admission is a $1 suggested donation.

WHAT TO BRING

- A helmet. You can't ride the trails without one.

- Tool kit and tire pump

- First aid kit

- Water and snacks

Woodstock GA is a great community to live in! To find Homes for Sale in Woodstock Ga near Blankets Creek right now, visit http://www.relyonrob.com or contact Rob Muller, Cherokee County Real Estate Agent.