Coweta Fayette Real Estate & Newnan Homes for sale blog by Richard Weisser of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers

Is it just me or did Summer just fly on by at warp speed? It seems like just a few weeks ago I was writing about Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

But as the hours of daylight wane and the night air finally begins to cool, it’s time to start thinking about sampling some muscadines and scuppernongs or heading to the mountains for some fried apple pies.

The tomato vines are starting to wither from old age. Here in the South, they rarely make it until frost as the inherent genetic maladies erode the vigor of new growth and the vines simply succumb to “old age.”.

And the migrating hummingbirds are passing through on their way to warmer winter climes. We counted fifteen around the feeder yesterday.

Fall is just around the corner. And although we’ll still reach 90 degrees in Newnan Georgia today, Summer’s grip is loosening.

I hope that everyone has a great holiday weekend!

Pundits ignore it. Prognosticators omit it. Politicians are oblivious to it. But there is one argument in favor of home ownership that no one can legitimately dispute:

40% of American homeowners own their primary residences “free and clear.”

This large segment of our society is immune to the cyclical winds of real estate change. They can never be “upside-down” or “underwater.” And while they may have lost some equity in the market value of the property, their only consequence is a lower tax assessment if they opt to appeal.

As long as they choose not to sell, the true value of their property as a residence remains intact. It will continue to serve their housing needs for years to come.

And as long as the ultimate goal of any purchaser is to own their home outright, ownership will NEVER be passé!

I have never been one to suffer from tunnel vision. When I am traveling from place to place, I take full notice the world that is around me.

Whether I am in a back alley or a National Park, I notice the all of the details that are around me.

And while some of the beauty of the world is obvious at first glance, at other times, the aesthetic value of a glimpse must be cognitively recognized to be fully appreciated.

Perhaps I have a touch of AADD. I am so easily distracted.

There is so much to see in the world around me and I want to experience all of it!

Sellers all share the same notion as to the value of their house. When I ask what they would like to net from the sale of their property, they always answer: “as much as I can get.”

And generally, they believe that the best way to achieve that goal is to start high to test the waters, and then consider price reductions as time goes on without receiving any offers.

However, in today’s market, there is a strong possibility that electing to use this strategy will ultimately lose money for the seller. It’s called “chasing the market,” and in a declining market it is more like a dog chasing its own tail.

As houses languish on the market, savvy buyers sense more and more desperation on behalf of the seller. There is nothing about these listings that would make a buyer want to offer anything near the list price.

My preference is to ask a seller what the “least” amount they can live with right from the get-go. If that amount is close to the true market value that I have researched, we are in business.

A properly price house immediately attracts serious buyers during the initial “new listing” phase. And if a house generates multiple offers within the first week or two, the seller is actually in a much stronger negotiating position.

And here’s the kicker: Pricing a house lower can actually net the seller more money in less time! Let’s all repeat that: Pricing a house lower can actually net the seller more money.

And a better bottom line is the net result of a successful sale!

Coweta County has experienced some troubling economic times over the last few years. And during that time, the consumer hasn’t gotten any relief.

As a matter of fact, the average citizen has been hit with higher food and gasoline prices, the suspension of the Homestead Exemption on their property taxes, and higher prices for public services.

And now there’s a new wrinkle is the diminishing disposable income fabric. This year’s record high temperatures have produced utility bills that are in some cases DOUBLE what they were last year.

Homeowners and tenants are struggling to pay electricity invoices that are nearly equal to their mortgage payments or rental amounts. It’s not just the hot days that have caused the problem, as high humidity and overnight temperatures have kept the air conditioners running all night long!

And more money spent on keeping your cool is less money spent is local stores and restaurants. It is truly an economic challenge that was not expected.

And it couldn’t have happened at a worse time!

Coweta County Georgia was one of the fastest growing counties in the nation in the early part of the decade. It ranked in the top ten U.S. Counties in growth for several years, and even hit the number one spot for a brief period of time.

But with progress, there is always an associated loss. Much of the county’s rural charm and scenic beauty fell prey to the earth movers and bulldozers. As a matter of fact, there was so much development that the loss of greenspace and natural elements was alarming.

When the real estate market reached the saturation point, the machines stopped and the disappearing natural landscape was granted a reprieve. What is very bad for the real estate business is very good for the environment

It’s a trade-off with some positive benefits.

And it is one that I am willing to accept!

There is a natural tendency when faced with a tenuous situation to “take the plunge” and deal with the consequences later.

But you should always bear in mind that someone else’s interpretation of “dealing with the consequences” may differ from yours.

You might envision a nice roundtable discussion with everyone working together to achieve a harmonious resolution.

However, the harmed party might be thinking more along the lines of attorneys, juries, and torts.

Lawyers love gray areas, and are bound and determined to turn them into black letter law in the court of jurisprudence.

Before moving into unknown or unsure territory, always ask yourself:

Is it really worth the risk?

I got a call from a nice young man yesterday afternoon. He was here from out of town for the weekend and had found a house on the Internet and wanted to see it right away.

The problem was, my business partner and I were already scheduled out for the day and we were physically unable to set aside enough time to properly help him.

We did manage to squeeze in enough time to show him the house he wanted to see which did not meet his expectations, and then he asked if we had “others” that we could show him.

We did have others that we could show him, but we did not have the time to either set up the appointments or to show the properties. We told him that we would be glad to allocate some time the following day, but he insisted that he would be returning home in the morning.

I explained that real estate sales was a service business, and that we worked by appointment. And in reality, our time was better spent with pre-qualified, ready, willing, and able buyers that had been scheduled in advance.

I suppose that many people assume that we sit by the telephone and wait for it to ring. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We are constantly adjusting our schedules to both meet with clients and to deal with all of the necessary paperwork and follow-up. It’s a struggle just keeping up with everything that needs to be done.

And in order to best serve our clients, we need to set aside enough time to take care of THEIR needs! Otherwise, we will both be disappointed with the outcome.

Coweta County Commercial Real Estate

Coweta County Industrial Real Estate

Located in the heart of downtown Newnan, this historic hosiery mill offers approximatelty 44,000 square feet of industrial/manufacturing space. It is fully operational and is currently in use. All utilities are available.

The property is also suitable for conversion to residential lofts, retail shops, or as a mixed-use development. The structure sits on 4.75 acres adjacent to the CSX rail line.

The possibilities are endless, and are limited only by your imagination and city approval!

Asking Price is $1,500,000.

Complete details Newnan Commercial Real Estate

As the real estate market began to decline in Newnan Georgia, it became readily apparent that many premium attributes of properties were losing value at a rate faster than the market as a whole.

During the heyday of the boom years, historic properties were in very high demand in Coweta County Georgia. And we have plenty of them, including many antebellum homes and plantations.

However, as prices dropped mortgage lenders became more and more cautious; the intrinsic value of history and charm no longer translates to monetary value.

In many cases, distressed homeowners can no longer afford to maintain these gems of history, and many are upside-down and are unable to sell their property.

As a result, there is a good chance that many of these historic structures could be lost forever. They will disappear as mere collateral damage of the current real estate market.

It’s a sad legacy of the times.

Newnan Georgia is the seat of Coweta County. And although it only lies about 40 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta, it is a world away from the bug city!

Newnan still has a downtown square, and all of the historic downtown storefronts have been carefully preserved. As a matter of fact, the entire downtown area is registered as a National Historic district.

Downtown Newnan is still economically viable, with boutique shops, diverse restaurants, and professional offices all within a short walk of each other.

Parking is plentiful and always free. And there are three city parks within a one mile loop.

So why not plan a walking tour of downtown Newnan in the near future? And don’t be surprised if you wind up staying a lot longer than you expected!

It seems like lately I get more and more phone calls from frustrated prospective buyers that wish to capitalize on the low prices of houses in our area combined with some pretty amazing low interest rates.

The problem is, these would-be investors don’t qualify for an owner-occupant loan, but at the same time, do not wish to pay either the additional down-payment or the higher interest rates for loans on investment property.

So they ask me to come up with a workaround to help them beat the system. And I have an answer for them.

NO!

Do they honestly think that I will risk fines, imprisonment, or the loss of my livelihood for a mere commission?

Do the truly believe that I would sacrifice my integrity and professional image for a few measly dollars?

Do they actually realize that what they are asking me to do is criminal? As a matter of fact, when they start talking about dragging an appraiser or a loan officer in it is actually a criminal conspiracy to defraud.

As a former once president stated so ineloquently, I am not a crook. I will not participate in schemes or conspiracies. I’m not in this business to make a fast buck.

I’m in it for the long haul!

Believe it or not, the Coweta County Georgia 2010-2011 school year commences today, August 9. The vacation break just seemed to fly on by!

It’s been a long time since I have had a child in school, but I like the ability to drive around the county during the summer without encountering a school bus or school traffic. In the real estate business, one must always account for these delays when navigating to appointments.

So I carefully allow for extra travel time during the school year, especially in the high school “hot spots” where many of the students drive. It can sometimes take over ten minutes extra in these areas.

Also, in Georgia there is zero tolerance for speeding in a school zone, so pay attention to the speed limits and times when they are strictly enforced.

So drive extra carefully today, and watch out for the children and lost bus drivers.

And allow enough time for everyone to stay safe!

When I do a listing presentation, I tell potential clients about all of the marketing methods that I will employ to get their real estate in front of as many buyers as possible.

Using all of my Internet savvy combined with conventional strategies does indeed present the property to a plethora of possible purchasers.

But I NEVER guarantee that I will sell the house. Because at the end of the day, the property has to stand on its own!

There is a multitude of reasons that people buy houses, and an even larger number of reasons that cause a purchaser to reject the property and move on. And some of the objections are insurmountable.

Getting a property noticed is only the first step in getting it sold. Finding just the right buyer is the hard part of the job.

But with patience, persistence, and top-notch marketing it is possible to sell in today’s market!

It has been one hot summer here in Newnan Georgia. There have been more ninety degree plus day this year than in any previous year that I can recall.

And when you add in the extremely high humidity, the so-called “heat index” has been over a hundred degrees for many days in a row. Yesterday, as the sweat was pouring as I installed yard signs on my new listings, the word “sweltering” popped into my head.

I never really thought much of the word ‘sweltering,” but the use of the term in describing our climatic condition has never been more appropriate.

It’s miserable outside. Even more depressing is the fact that the long range forecast calls for more of the same.

And so as air-conditioners whirl and fans spin, one looks to the outside world with trepidation.

Because it’s really sweltering out there!

Located near the south entrance, the lot is just minutes from I-85 and with less than a 30 minute drive to the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.

Yet the community ambience is more akin to a vacation resort than a big city suburban subdivision. Since the community features an 18 hole championship golf course, fishing lakes, tennis courts and pool located amidst controlled greenery in a park-like setting, residents do not have to travel to experience various recreational experiences.

Nor do they have to drive to Atlanta for fine dining, as the Coweta Grill, located in the clubhouse, offers some of the best cuisine in the county.

Tight architectural control and a strong homeowner’s association help to protect the owner’s investments in the community. Arbor Springs Plantation is renowned for both it’s aesthetic beauty and it’s many amenities.

The lot is priced at $90,000

Energy self-sufficiency as an important element of a real estate purchase decision has moved from the realm of idle chit-chat into the world of reality.

I have been getting more and more calls lately from buyers seeking land parcels that have attributes that lend themselves well to personal power generation.

Some are looking for a good running stream with a significant fall, or an unobstructed hilltop that could support a wind turbine.

Energy self-sufficiency is not, however, a new or novel concept. Prior to the days of inexpensive and readily available electricity, resourceful entrepreneurs harnessed the power of wind and water to run their machinery and improve their livelihoods.

And while the initial investment was expensive, the long term benefit of free energy for years to come resulted in a significant return on investment.

Modern technology has reduced the up-front costs significantly and the efficiency of generators has made them more compact and reliable than ever.

Energy self-sufficiency is no longer a radical concept, but it is a genuine specification that is becoming more and more mainstream every day!

And it could be a wonderful investment for generations to come!

As the 1970’s brought both environmental awareness and exponential technological growth, many pundits predicted that by the year 2000 we would become a paperless society.

Obviously, something went awry somewhere.

When I started selling real estate in 1984, a purchase and sale agreement was a single sheet of paper. It contained all of the essential elements: legal description of the property, method of payment, earnest money deposit and seller’s concessions.

The only dates indicated were the date of the contract and the date of closing. And that seemed to work for everyone and we closed on a lot of houses.

Fast forward to the year 2010. After three decades of consumerism, some purchase and sale agreements exceed thirty pages. We did one that was over fifty. The expected “paperless” society has not materialized. Instead, we are buried under piles of printed legalese and conditions.

And as time goes on, it’s only going to get worse. Every lawsuit results in a new updated contract form or a new addendum. The days of “caveat emptor” are long gone.

And we have the paperwork to prove it!

After several years of economic corrections, the Newnan Georgia real estate market seems to be gaining some momentum.

And a lot of the increased activity is coming from outside the county and even more from outside the state of Georgia. Many transferees that are heading for the Atlanta metropolitan region have heard about Coweta County and the tremendous real estate values there!

As a result, the inventory available in July 2010 is about half the number of homes that were available just one year ago. And diminished supply and steady demand is tending to stabilize prices.

But even in the heyday of expansion, Coweta County homes were considered to be bargains. That is truer now more than ever!

If you are considering a move to the Atlanta area, be sure to spend at least a day in Coweta County. You’ll find the combination of low prices and excellent amenities to be almost irresistible!