Mary Anne Payne, ePro, Associate Broker

I love local newspapers. I receive them free in my driveway once a week for my area in South Forsyth county GA called the Forsyth Herald. The best part of it is looking at the DUI and drug arrests to see if you know anyone unlucky enough to be cited there. And there have been neighbors and neighbor kids in there. Ah.... THAT's why mom is driving juniors 'beater' to the tennis courts today.............

So this week in our local paper under the Police Blotter section( and here we go, this is funny..) Another case of drive-by 'fruiting' and the article is as follows:

'Forsyth County deputies were contacted by the security guard at Laurel Springs subdivision (my neighborhood and one of my farm areas)after he became another victim of a senseless drive by 'fruiting'.

The security guard said he was looking into a report of drivers being pelted with strawberries when his security vehicle was hit with a tomato. The wayward foodstuff knocked a sensor off his radar unit, which was located on the windshield, said investigators.

The guard told deputies later that evening a blue Jeep Cherokee pulled up to the entrance and exit gate. One of several teenage boys inside the car was overheard laughing and saying "You hit it" before they drove off, he said.'

SO my friends, do I tweet this, do I post it on Facebook, do I send a card out to my farm area with a coupon for free strawberries or tomato plant-I want to have FUN with this!!!!!! Market stats are so not as funto talk about, and are depressing too.

I wanted to be a journalism major in college, after interning at a paper doing obits and thinking up ways to make incidents like this sound interesting, I decided upon sales......

Remember the movie Mrs. Doubtfire?? That's where the phrase came from--

With over 74 middle school performers, Riverwatch Middle School is nearing the opening of their spring musical, High School Musical the week of March 18 at the Central Forsyth High School Performing Arts Center.

What a great and economical way to take the family to a quality production that everyone will enjoy! RMS Chorus Director Miriam Reynolds states "We had over 150 students audition back in November for this show. We have an incredible group of parents that have built sets, designed costumes, lights and sound. The kids have worked very hard and are ready to 'show their stuff!'"

TIcket information is available at www.RMSdrama.wordpress.com

Central Forsyth High and Lambert High (due to open fall of 09) are going to add Academy Programs to enhance their curriculums for our growing Forsyth County population.

Unlike the old vocational programs of our past (yes those of us in the late 70's and 80's high school grads!), these programs will take a more focused approach to channeling student's talents in their propective careers.

For the complete article on the program in the Forsyth County News today, click here!

In other news, Forsyth County also purchased a tract of land at the corner of Nichols Rd and Old Atlanta Rd across from the new Lambert High to be designated as a park and green space--YAY for FC for forward thinking on this issue!

The information contained herein is my personal opinion on the following restaurants in our area and should not be construed as an inducement to gorge yourself or blow your diet at this particular mall!

It's hard to work in a retail environment, its REALLY hard to work in a real estate office in a retail environment because at 11am, we are already discussing the most important question of the day, Where do we go for lunch???? When I am sick of my 6 point Subway sub for lunch, the Avenue Forsyth has some pretty good alternatives for the hungry in Forsyth County.

Newly opened Summer of 2008, The Avenue Forsyth at the corner of highway 400 and 141 (exit 13) houses some decent opportunities for the hungry--Ted's Montana Grill, Little Azio's, Red Robin, Jim & Nick's BBQ, Hibachi Steakhouse, and the proverbial Chick Fil A. Across the street there is great fare too, I will get to that later.

Ted's Montana Grill claims that this location is their number one location in sales and I could maybe believe that (it is directly across from the AMC Theaters). But, my experience there TWO times has not been that satisfactory. I had their famed Buffalo Burger twice and for the cost (an extra $1 more than regular beef) and the claim of lower cholesterol, I was unimpressed. The side dishes were tiny --their famed Aunt Fannie's squash casserole was miserably small in a side dish-the fries were soggy and when the burger came I had to send it back for a piece of lettuce that was green, please! And forget the cholesterol, this burger was so salty that what what was lost in the bad stuff was evened out by the high sodium! Our lunch took a while to come and our bill was high--it averaged $15 per person with tip--when I want to blow the diet and dive into a great burger I will go to.....

Red Robin!! Ok, on the weekends this place is the ADHD capital of Forsyth County-it is a great place to take kids -- but for lunch during the week you can actually enjoy your meal and talk to your partner. I have had their wrap sandwiches, the blue cheese burger, and the french onion soup and half sandwich. And I will go back for more. They give you an endless basket of steak fries and the service is quick and perky. For the money or the burger, go here--you and your wallet will be much happier.

In the mood for thin crust pizza, salads or panini's? Little Azio's serves these up and while the service has been slow in my experiences, the food is fine and a great place for a mom's lunch or a glass of wine outside after the movie. It can be a little pricey for what you get, if you want a thick gooey pizza, this probably isn't the place.

BBQ--many a fight has been waged over who has the best ,etc., but Jim & Nick's is the best addition to the Avenue's so far. With a wide ranging menu that includes catering and take-out, this Birmingham based eaterie is great! Their vinegar based bbq sauce is great and the pulled pork is the best. They also serve deadly corn and cheese biscuits and the coconut cream pie will make you 'slap your momma'! They also serve fried catfish, chicken tenders that are awesome, and have a great burger so everyone in the family will be happy.

I haven't tried this location of the Hibachi Steakhouse but if history proves right, this is a good choice for families, dates and sushi eaters. I believe we are getting a Carraba's Italian Grill soon next to the CVS, yay, when they offer the WW points menu there I will be on the front step.......

Getting stats and numbers from places like Smart Numbers (Steve Palm) and Brokermetrics can sometimes be tricky but digesting it and putting into words is another. My mind can start wondering when too much information or TMI is given so here is some good news from these sources for Forsyth and our market in general.

Quoting Steve Palm's letter from 10/21/08 he states the following:

"Are you ready for some positive trends? Believe it or not I am about to share a few with you. First, after 18 consecutive monthly year-to-year percentage closing declines for all single family we will have an increase. September had a 4.1% decline from September 2007, but after lags are reported, we will be positive.

There are two fundamental reasons that explain the increase. The first year-to-year significant percentage decline was September 05-06 and the largest year-to-year percentage decline during our downturn was September 06-07. As you can see, we are working against a very weak September 2007 result.

Second, the average price for September 2008 for all single family was the lowest since November 2001 and also the greatest percentage year-to-year decline for an average sale price on record, 16.9%. A very clear indication of capitulation, but also a sign that even under very adverse economic conditions, if the price is right buyers will buy."

THEY ARE OUT THERE FOLKS!!!!!!!!!!!Just gotta get those prices down and condition up to reel 'em in!

In September 2008 Forsyth had a total amount of sales (closings) of 183 homes with an average of 100 days on market and a sales price to list price percentage of 94.6% (this is calculated at the final list price, not the starting list price). TOTAL single family detached homes months supply in the metro area is at 14.7 months, down from a high of 15.1 months this past August.

Mr. Palm thinks we are at the bottom, do I??? Yep, I think this is it--we will see an uptick after the election and there is pent up energy out there--people still need houses to live in, Americans will adjust to our new economic reality, suck it up and perservere as we have in the past.

I for one have turned to reality programming and not the news feeds, they make my head ache and raise my blood pressure. And hey--gas is under $2.50 a gallon, I am already saving over $50 a month over last month so I think I am going shopping.............