Michelle Francis Realtor Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Buckhead – Atlanta Public School Redistricting – Questions, Concerns and Getting Answers – Feb 8^th, 2012

Buckhead, an intown area of Atlanta just north of Midtown, offers a number of phenomenal public schools that Tim Francis Realty is specifically asked by Buyers and Luxury Rental Tenants to find a good home in. Because of this high demand for a number of area schools, they are facing overcrowding and challenges with managing enrollments. At this point, the Atlanta Public Schools are working on a redistricting plan. It’s never easy to do this, but emotions are strong, as folks want to understand where their kids will be going to school.

Tonight, there’s a meeting to allow residents to answer questions. The APS Meeting is at the North Atlanta High School at 6:30pm today – February 8^th, 2012. Please arrive at 6 pm if you would like to sign up to speak for a 2 minute time period.

For more links on current mapping options, click on Buckhead APS Redistricting Maps. Also, to stay in the loop, we recommend that you sign up for the Buckhead Patch, as they are doing a nice job covering this and how it will affect Buckhead. One of the major concerns, besides moving a child from one school to another is that a majority of the Buckhead Atlanta Public Schools – carry the International Baccalaureate (or IB) designation. Take Sutton Middle School, which is currently IB, if they open a second middle school or put one grade of three at a new location, that current school would not have the IB designation.

Choosing a home is always a challenge, a bit more today when the school districts are shifting. If you are looking at purchasing or renting a luxury home in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, please be sure you take this into account.

Do you need an agent who knows Buckhead and the current issues? Please feel free to contact Tim Francis Realty if we can help you with housing needs in Buckhead.

Price it right and they will come in droves! A Buckhead Home Sale Story – January 2012

While it is true that 2011 was still very much of a buyer’s market, as Tim Francis Realty starts 2012 we are seeing trends that show parts of metro Atlanta housing are already in recovery. Prices are stabilizing, demand is high when a good property comes on the market, and homes are going under contract quickly.

Tim Francis Realty was happy to offer this lovely Buckhead / Brookhaven home for sale in early December 2011. Within the first week on the market, we had very strong showing demand (like something you would see in 2006) and a solid offer on the home. Now, just six weeks later, we’ve had a successful closing on this Buckhead Home.

Interestingly, the house was NOT a short sale or foreclosure. It was a regular sale of a 10 year old home. This lovely home was meticulous, offered at a reasonable price point and ready for a new owner. The change in market from last January to today is significant. Overall inventory for the Buckhead / Brookhaven / Sandy Springs area is down to levels of 2001. Demand for homes is high, as there are a number of buyers looking for the right home to come on the market for them.

Even while under contract the home had multiple showings with the knowledge it was under contract. During closing week, the home had more phone calls for additional showings. Real estate is completely local. Tim Francis Realty believes Buckhead & Sandy Springs in early 2012 is already stabilizing and ready to rebound.

What real estate trends are you seeing in Buckhead and Sandy Springs?

Georgia Real Estate Forms changes coming for 2012, how will this affect our clients?

In the decade I’ve been a Realtor, the Georgia Association of Realtors has published forms for may be used by all real estate agents. This has been a tremendous benefit to Clients, Brokers, and all agents as you were basically dealing with a single Purchase and Sale Document in the state of Georgia that everyone was familiar with in the industry.

In 2012, this is all about to change. Tim Francis Realty has maintained its membership in the Georgia Association of Realtors (and National Association of Realtors.) A lot of folks have dropped out, as it’s over $400 a person to belong and times are tough. While there are a lot of good things about being a Realtor, I respect everyone’s right to make a business decision.

However, what this means is the GAR copyrighted FORMS that had been the only standard within Georgia, will no longer be the only standard. If you are a Realtor, or if you pay a forms fee of $199 per person, you will be able to still utilize these forms. However, if you don’t then you need to get your own forms. Conceptually I am good with this. BUT (and you sensed a BUT was coming didn’t you?) the challenge will be when we have a variety of forms and we need to understand what this form A says verses form B or form C.

The MLS in the state – FMLS & GaMLS (that make up metro Atlanta) are working together to come up with their own set of forms for use by any agent. I have also heard of some brokerages working together to offer a forms package. Both are good ideas, but not sure how well implemented they are. FMLS was going to offer about 10 forms to start – (today in GAR Forms – there are over 200.)

I am most concerned that this hurts the consumers in the long run when forms are no longer standard. For years, we’ve attended a forms class to understand the latest updates for the year in forms. (This year is no exception – I’m going Friday, January 13^th, 2012 to get the latest.)

Our goal is to do what’s right for our clients. It will add another interesting layer in the Real Estate world to say the least. I am glad we are still part of the Georgia Association of Realtors and at least for forms we control, we will have the standard form. Time will tell how this one works out.

What changes are you seeing that will affect your clients in the year ahead?

Stump Grinding – Taking care of business in Atlanta GA – Jeff Hilyer – Stump Removal Services - Atlanta & Buckhead, GA Recommended Vendor Series by Michelle Francis, Realtor

Almost everyday our phone rings where folks ask who we would recommend for this or that task. Being in Atlanta, Buckhead & Sandy Springs Real estate sales, executive leasing and property management business, Tim Francis Realty see more than the average share of needed repairs and updates. It's critical to have a good team of go to people in place and we do. In this series, we are continuing to highlight folks Tim Francis Realty have had good success with and would use again.

We first met Jeff Hilyer outside our neighborhood subdivision taking out a tree stump so a new large magnolia tree could be installed. Jeff impressed me right away as he was friendly, intent on his task and took care of the job quickly. We took his card, as we knew it wouldn’t be long before we needed to remove tree stumps for ourselves or one of our homes we property manage.

Over the past three years we’ve used him a number of times, all with excellent results, a reasonable fee and care in a job well done. What we like is that he has the right machinery, returns calls promptly, comes at the agreed time and charges a reasonable amount. He’s also careful, which when you have a lot of underground utilities and you are digging is very important. In Georgia, we always utilize Call BEFORE you DIG services (www.call811.com or dial 811 on your phone) to have them mark the utilities BEFORE Jeff starts his work.

If you have young children they will love watching how the machine digs up the stump, at a safe distance of courseJ.

If you need reliable and good stump grinding service in Atlanta, Jeff Hilyer is your man. Give him a call at 770-652-8635.

To check out our other posts in this series around Buckhead & Sandy Springs in Atlanta, GA – click here for all of the vendors in Michelle’s Preferred Vendor Sereis we have written about!

Who do you call when you need help?

Atlanta & Buckhead, GA Recommended Vendor Series 2012 by Michelle Francis, Buckhead & Sandy Springs Realtor

Almost everyday our phone rings where folks ask who we would recommend for this or that task. Being in Atlanta, Buckhead & Sandy Springs Real estate sales, executive leasing and property management business, Tim Francis Realty see more than the average share of needed repairs and updates. It's critical to have a good team of go to people in place and we do. In this series, we are continuing to highlight folks Tim Francis Realty have had good success with and would use again.

Since we have found reliable, credible vendors and we know that our clients and friends need these same types of services, we wanted to put them in a one stop spot to check in for various services. We will continue to add different vendors – so check back to see who’s made the list!

All vendors are current as of 2012! Click on the blog posts below to get additional info on each vendor as well as their contact info. Be sure to say we sent you to them!

1. Everything Electrical -Atlanta Recommended Vendor Series by Michelle Francis, Atlanta Realtor

2. American Floors (Carpet work) - Atlanta Recommended Vendor Series by Michelle Francis, your Buckhead Atlanta Realtor

3. Dog Gone Handy Handymen - Buckhead Atlanta, GA Recommended Vendor Series - By Michelle Francis Atlanta, GA Realtor

4. Alejos Brothers - Phenomenal Hardwood Flooring Specialists - Atlanta & Buckhead, GA Recommended Vendor Series by Michelle Francis

5. Zeferino Painters – Awesome Painting Contractors - Atlanta & Buckhead, GA Recommended Vendor Series by Michelle Francis

6. Abe & Jose’s Lawn Service – Awesome Lawn Care Contractors - Atlanta & Buckhead, GA Recommended Vendor Series by Michelle Francis, Realtor

7. Our Fabulous Tile Guy – Rich Cheatham - Atlanta & Buckhead, GA Recommended Vendor Series by Michelle Francis, Realtor

8. Best Heating and Air Conditioner Service & Install Guy in Atlanta GA – Marc Hull of Hull Services - Atlanta & Buckhead, GA Recommended Vendor Series by Michelle Francis, Realtor

NOTE: Please realize these are all unsolicited referrals. We love the work they do, reasonable price points, and are choosing to share their names. (We don't make money off referring them.)