There is still time to get in on some fun things to do, and this edition of Out and About Happenings in Atlanta and Georgia for September will certainly give you some great ideas!!!
Enchanted MAiZE, Rock City, Flintstone
September 18-October 31
This popular attraction atop Lookout Mountain sends you through a labyrinth (a maze of paths bordered by high hedges, as in a park or garden, for the amusement of those who search for a way out) in a cornfield below Lover's Leap!
Check The Enchanted Maize website for more info!
West Fest, 2009 in HomePark
Saturday, September 19, 2009 1PM -10PM
WOW! There is so much to do in such a short time at this festival...and it's all just "over the bridge" infact, the NEW 14th Street Bridge from Midtown! Homepark is a great little neighborhood tucked between GATech and Atlantic Station!
This festival will feature Improv, comedy, and other entertainment from Relapse Theater and live music throughout the afternoon! Restaurants such as 5Seasons Brewing, Six Feet Under, Sweetwater Brewing (ah...BEER) and Octane Coffee Bar and Lounge will have food! It's sure to be a great time! (I'm hoping for about 1 hour there, then a pool party and then showing property! Whew!)
The weekend of September 26-27 is a Double Whammy! So, maybe you can split your time between these two great events!
Castleberry Hill Loft Tour, September 26-27, 2009
Saturday, 11AM-5PM and Sunday, 12NOON - 5PM
On the South end of Downtown Atlanta, a short 5 minute walk from Centennial Olympic Park/CNN/Phillips Arena is Castleberry Hill, the true loft/warehouse district of Atlanta. The Loft Tour - two days of an intimate look at urban living in a historic neighborhood. There will be 8 selected lofts to visit, plus you can be assured that there will be numerous Open Houses of other lofts For Sale in the area!
In fact, The Thom And Ray Team will be at Swift and Company Lofts, showcasing our unique loft listing! So come on down, tour the lofts and then check out this one that could be yours! Click on the picture for more information about this unique home in Castleberry Hill!
OR, your other option (or do one on Saturday and one on Sunday) is....
Sandy Springs Festival September 26-27, Heritage Green, Sandy Springs
What is there to do at THIS Festival?
Juried Artist's Market
Collector Car Show
Business & Civic Expo
Food Court
Pet Parade....
For More Info, Click HERE!
As you can see, lots of fun things to do over the next couple weekends! Hope we see you in Castleberry Hill! And if not, we know you were Out and About in Atlanta!
When you are looking to buy anything, you always look at the pros and cons of your purchase. Whether it's a new shirt (which color, etc) or a new car, you should look at both sides of the purchase. And you should also weigh the pros and cons of Midtown Atlanta Condominiums before you purchase one in Midtown Atlanta, or anywhere for that matter. Owning a condominium is very different from owning a single family home. It's a different type of lifestyle, and usually in a much different location. So, let's take a look at both sides....
The PROS to Condominium Living
Location While it use to be the case that most condos were located in more urban areas, like Downtown Atlanta, Buckhead or Midtown, you can find condos all over the Atlanta area. If you want to be in the center of the city, a condo can be a good choice for you.
Security While no building is totally secure, having controlled access with a card reader and a 24-hour Concierge and security staff does make one feel better. Also, if you travel much, the "lock it and leave it" convenience of a condo is awesome. No lawn to mow, paper to have picked up or mail to be taken out of the box! A condo, at the beach, makes a great second home for this very reason.
Minimal Maintenance Most any one of the Midtown Atlanta Condominiums that you look at offer you low maintenance. There's no yard to mow, or snow to shovel (it can happen here!) Common areas (those areas of the building you share with your fellow owners) and things like the roof are handled by the property management. You mostly have to be concerned with items inside your home such as your a/c, kitchen appliances and such.
Affordability This is a key factor in purchasing a condominium. While they come in all shapes and sizes, so do the prices. However, a 1 or 2 bedroom condo in Midtown Atlanta will be less expensive than trying to purchase a single family home.
Amenities The chance you will buy (or be able to afford) a home with a pool, club room and fitness center are probably slim. But a condominium offers these types of amenities, and more. Some new buildings now have zen gardens and outdoor living rooms! Along with these amenities comes social events with your neighbors or, the ability for you to reserve the club room for your own private event!
And if you are not inclined to use these amenities, you should take them into consideration when purchasing your condo. You might not use them, but the next person might, and this could affect your ability to sell your condo in the future! Be sure to see the different amenities in all the Midtown Atlanta Condominiums!
Condominium Association Somewhat different than a typical homeowners association in that EVERYONE MUST be a member of the association. No ifs, ands or buts! The association has a Board of Directors, elected by the owners, who work with the property manager to run the "day-to-day operations" of a condo building, that can be as small as 4 units or as large as 400. The Board acts to enforce all the rules and regulations and make decisions about the overall property and maintenance.
The CONS to Condominium Living
"Box of Air" This term has often been used to describe a condo. You do not own the land on which the condo building sits, but share ownership with all the other owners. So comes the saying that you own a space in the area. It's a bit more than that, as you are responsible (from maintenance as well as insurance) for your interior walls, in. So if you've done extensive remodeling to your condo, you can have alot more it in. But it is different than the single family home where you own the land your home sits on.
Community Living Of course you live in a community when you own a single family home. But, you've got some 10-20 feet between houses, maybe even more, depending on the neighborhood. In a condo, you share walls and common areas (hallways, pool, club room, garage) with your neighbors. So you are much more inclined to see them more often, and also might hear them if they play a stereo to loud! You are also much more involved as a group in making decisions for the entire building, than just your own home.
Fees Many condo buyers, especially if it's your FIRST condo purchase, wrestle with condo fees. But it takes some careful analysis to look at what is really covered in that monthly fee which goes towards the maintenance and repair of the common areas and the building. In a single family home, you have insurance against your home, pest control, security (an alarm system?) trash collection, lawn maintenance (if you don't do it yourself) and other expenses. All of these are covered in your monthly HOA fee. Some Midtown Atlanta Condominiums even include water and sewer charges, gas (if available) and internet access.
Resale It use to be thought that condominiums were more sensitive to trends in real estate than a single family home. But the recent market probably would question that thought process. More importantly in condo resales, is the condition of the building (common areas) as well as the financial strength (reserves) of the condominium association to handle future repairs or potential lost condo fees from foreclosures. In a single family neighborhood, an empty home can quickly be noticed by uncut grass or papers in the driveway. It's pretty difficult to see which condo are empty.
Rules This is probably the single biggest difference between condominium and single family home living. Yes, in newer home communities, they have strict guidelines about painting your home, installing a fence or pool. But in a condominium, the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&R's) can limit everything from types of pets, what can/cannot be placed on your balcony, where you park and even what type of window coverings you can have. While it sounds very restrictive, and can be, it's done in the interests of maintaining the community (building) to look the best for everyone. I often say, "not everyone has as good a taste as you and I."
Condominium Association While it is a positive to have an association, it can also have challenges. But, most Midtown Atlanta Condominiums are professsionally managed by a property management company. This provides for an on-site manager (in most cases) to manage the building on behalf of the residents, with direction from the Board of Directors. While I don't think this much different than a single family association (except no property manager) it's an important factor to consider. For example, if you want to remodel the interior of your condo, you have to have approval from the association. Not a bad thing....ever seen the damage cause when a contractor ruptures a waterline on the 16th floor?
The Thom And Ray Team have been in the Midtown and Buckhead communities for the past 4 years. If you are looking for a condominium home in these, or other InTown neighborhoods, let our experience help you find just the right condominium for you! For more information, just click on our picture!
Why?
Lots of reasons.
I woke up.
I pushed myself, and went to the gym to get myself back into the routine.
I've got new business that is giving me energy. There is nothing like showing homes to buyers to get you back in the grove.
I was out on the town last night and meeting people. A great feeling.
I Gotta Feeling That Today's Gonna Be A Good Day!
But just in case YOU need any motivation, let me pass this along.......
Never quite Speechless...but....
The countryside near Brasstown Valley Resort in the North Georgia Mountains.
Only a couple hours from Atlanta, and just a refreshing change from the skyscrapers and traffic!
I'm LONG overdue for a visit!
But, when you are ready to return to the sights and sounds of Midtown Atlanta real estate,
The Thom And Ray Team is here to help!
One of the unique aspects of the U.S. is while we are one country, we really are made up of 50 different countries. Each state has it's own unique character, people and place in our history. Whether it's New York or New Mexico, San Franciso or Savannah, there are so many unique places here. My "Bucket List" of the places in the U.S. that I have never visited, or want to return to is a long one. I'll keep my list and hope I can start to tick some of them off in the months and years ahead.
But until then, we've come up with technology such as TV and the Internet to take us places we have never been, or places we have been, and maybe did not appreciate as much as we should have. It's not to late to gain that appreciation. And my little home town of Livingston, Montana is such a place. Not a fond place to grow up in some respects, but in others, I think I'm a better person for having started my life there.
A return trip this past June and my new found sense of "take your camera everywhere," gave me the opportunity to see my hometown in a different light. It was fun to walk all over town and capture the sights I grew up with, some in a different state, and some just they way they looked when I left some 30 years ago!
Just so you can capture the rest of what Montana looks like, and why it's called The Big Sky Country, I'm sharing the last 3 parts of the No Reservations in Montana series in one blog. I hope you'll pause for a few minutes and watch with me and experience what Montana is all about.
Number 4 has true family tie to it. Tim Bowers is my brother-in-law. The "base camp" where they have lunch after their horse ride is actually just behind their home in Paradise Valley, located on land given to them my my Dad. In the video, the lady with the blue plaid shirt is my sister, Cindy, the oldest of the three of us. If you want a truly unique vacation experience, check out Bearpaw Outfitters.
Thanks, for taking time to stop by. Thanks for reading my blog. And Thanks for spending a little time in Montana.
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Midtown Atlanta Real Estate "Real Estate For The Urban Lifestyle"....means Midtown Atlanta Real Estate! We LIVE, WORK and KNOW Midtown Atlanta! A dynamic, ever-changing part of Atlanta! Welcome Home!
"Midtown Atlanta...Manhattan of The South"
Once an area filled with boarded up buildings, vagrants and empty streets, Midtown Atlanta is now the Premiere location in Atlanta! The Midtown Alliance is guiding The Midtown BluePrint...and now Peachtree Street (also know as the Midtown Mile) is lined with luxury condominiums, office towers and retail shops. New construction continues, and in the next few years, Midtown will offer almost 1 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL SPACE....the size of Phipps Plaza in Buckhead! Cultural activities abound, from the Fox Theatre, High Museum, Alliance Theatre, and the Center for Puppetry Arts are just a few! New restaurants offer you dining options galore...and more open almost monthly! See the brick building on the left of the picture...that's OUR office....right in the Heart of the Mile!
Like to travel? The Midtown MARTA station is just across the street from Plaza Midtown...making those weekend getaways easy!
Midtown Atlanta...Manhattan of The South!!
The "A" on the Map is our office! Right in the Heart of Midtown Atlanta!
There is a very strong neighborhood association, Midtown Neighbors' Association, which works to improve the community through various community services, land use planning, review of liquor licenses for local businesses and safety. MNA also hosts two signature events each year, the Midtown Tour of Homes, and the Midtown Atlanta Shop And Dine Week! Both are ones you don't want to miss! And maybe, even become involved with!
Midtown Atlanta........Where YOU want to Be!
Want to see the FUTURE of Midtown Atlanta?
Just Click on the Picture Below for a Special Tour!
I've been a Resident of Atlanta for 16 years (the second longest place I've lived since growing up in Montana!) and to say it's changing...well! But, it's all exciting! Of course, we have growing pains, just like any big city does, but it's a great place.....Come on down....I'll give you a personal tour in my special real estate touring car....
In my time in real estate, I've learned "you cannot be everything to everyone." That being said, if I have a Buyer or Seller who want to buy a home, or list a home in an area of Atlanta I'm not familiar with, I won't do it. Call me crazy...think I am turning away business....NOT! I feel I will do a client/customer a BETTER service be referring them to an agent who knows the area they want to look in. On the flipside of that, I see agents work in my marketplace who have no idea what building is coming up next, or what's going on in the neighborhood.
I specialize in Midtown Atlanta! While most of this area is condominiums, I do keep abreast of single-family home neighborhoods close to Midtown, so that if my clients want to move from a condo to a home, I know of areas that would fit their needs. Again, I stay Inside The Perimeter (ITP) so I can focus on areas and know more about them.
Midtown is a dynamic, ever-changing neighborhood. Knowing my market, knowing my product, and knowing the area, are what I consider key factors that any home Buyer or Seller should be looking for when they select a REALTOR.
I bring my extensive Marketing and Sales background full circle from the hospitality industry to Real Estate. I previously held Sales positions with Hilton Hotels Corporation, Nikko Hotels North America, and most recently as President and CEO of Benott Hospitality Group, a consulting firm specializing in small hotels and motels. My marketing experience helps clients market and stage their homes for maximum exposure and maximum dollars!
While helping my clients market their homes, I also enjoy helping buyers find the "PERFECT" home. By listening and understanding what they are looking for, I use the latest technology to help them find their new home. My experience in Customer Focused Service training in the Hospitality industry for 20 plus years gives me a unique advantage when working with both Buyers and Sellers. I determine the needs of my Buyers, find the homes that have those features and benefits they are looking for, and then help them every step of the way, from contract to closing, and all the details in between. For Sellers, I identify the features and benefits of their home so we can market it more effectively.
Thom,
Kimberly and I wanted to thank you and Ray for all your help in our recent Atlanta real estate ventures.
We were impressed from day one with your excellent organization and professionalism. The booklet you prepared for us with the property photos and summaries was especially helpful when viewing multiple properties, more so since we were out of town and would not have the opportunity to visit frequently.
Kimberly and I were also very happy with your assistance beyond closing. It is obvious that your commitment did not end there, and we are grateful for the follow up you provided with our property even after we closed.
We would highly recommend you and Ray to any of our friends who would be interested in Atlanta real estate.
Thanks again,
Brad
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Bradley G. Goldberg, M.D.
www.coffeewomenscenter.com
Thom and Ray:
Thank you both so much for all you did to help me with the purchase of my condo at Spire Midtown. I cannot adequately express how much I appreciate your patience, expertise and counsel throughout the entire process.
Everything you did, from educating me on the basics of home buying to referring me to a superb mortgage broker, worked toward making me feel more comfortable and more confident about the pending purchase. I never felt like I was "just another client", since you were guiding me every step of the way.
And the result? I am the proud owner of an amazing condo in the heart of Midtown Atlanta! I have an incredible place to call home and entertain guests. Thank you again, and rest assured that I will refer you to friends and associates. I look forward to working with you again in the future.
Winston W. Chapman
My husband, Don Jones, and I are extremely happy to say that we sold our townhouse at The Dakota in Midtown Atlanta in 92 days in one of the most depressed real estate and stock markets in more than six years! Not only did it sell amazingly fast, it sold for 94% of our Listing Price!
One of the major contributing factors to our recent sales success was The Thom And Ray Team. They have an amazing combination of skill sets: Professionalism, Sales, Marketing, Market Savvy and Negotiating. We strongly recommend using The Thom And Ray Team adn would welcome an opportunity to answer any questions you may have.
Thom and Ray also handled the purchase of our new home at Viewpoint Midtown which was complicated by our purchaseof two units to be combined into one. At each step of the process, we received consisitent and professional advice and ended up purchasing at a very favorable price.
Peggy Denby, Executive Director, Keep Atlanta Beautiful
Note: Peggy (in Pink) and Don (white shirt) cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening Party for Viewpoint!
When my fiancée and I decided to move to California, we began to shop around for agents to help sell our condo. We were referred to Thom Abbott by a friend of my fiancées family and decided to use him as our agent after a brief meeting. Thom is extremely knowledgeable about the Midtown Atlanta market and impressed us with his ideas about how to market our condo. Thom held open houses and also created a flyer that was displayed for potential buyers to take home with them. 
My fiancée and I were selling our condo in a tough market when many homes were being foreclosed upon; however we had a steady flow of showings on a weekly basis. Thom was able to get feedback for us from other agents about what potential buyers liked/disliked about our unit and we were able to sell our unit in a just few short months. Whenever we had a question or concern, Thom was always easily reachable or got back to back to us in a very timely manner. I would highly recommend Thom as an agent and will definitely refer him as an agent to friends and family.
Peter and Kira Morris
To Whom It May Concern:
Thom and Ray were very proactive in helping me sell my condo in Midtown. I previously had my place on the market for a year and I never got a single offer.
The second time around, I hired Thom to list my place because he seemed very knowledgeable of the in-town market. He and Ray pulled out all the stops to get my place exposed to as many people as possible. They sent out promotional flyers, posted the listing on all the major websites, and held numerous open houses.
I was out of town during this time so they kept me informed of progress through email and phone calls. I was surprised, given the staggering slack in home sales, how many people they actually got to come through the doors.
After a few months we had a buyer. Thom negotiated the price and took care of all the contracts and paperwork, making the closing a hassle-free process. I was a first time home owner trying to unload a one bedroom condo in a troubled market; Thom and Ray were great partners to have on my side--I'd recommend these guys to anybody.
Kevin Manley Cornerstone Village Condominiums
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