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

Come set your joy on golden fronds
That spice the meadow with saffron strains
‘Tis Spring that waxes, fresh verdure dawns
Awakes as Winter’s crescent wanes!
                    ( R Weisser 2012 )

Spring has come early to Newnan Georgia this year. The “jonquils” started blooming in January and the “redbuds” are resplendent in their awakening.

The trees are already budding out. And while I enjoy Spring as much as anyone, you have to wonder about the impact this unseasonably mild winter will have on agriculture.

The famous Georgia Peaches require a significant amount of hours below 45 degrees to properly set fruit. Not to mention the fact that if they bloom too early, a late frost or freeze can ruin a crop.

But like it or not, we have no control of the weather and must deal with it as it comes.

In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the flowers!

The woodpile and the furnace grate
Await the tardy guest waylaid.
Is Winter past or only late…
Asleep, to stir another day?
              (R Weisser 2012) 

It seems as if we haven’t has any Winter at all this year here in Newnan Georgia.

As a matter of fact, even though it’s still January, the yellow bells and jonquils are already blooming.

And although we enjoy a relatively mild climate here in the Southeast, we do occasionally get a real taste of Winter, as these photographs from previous years will attest!

Here's wishing you snow if you want it, and sunshine and warm breezes if you don't!

As a result of readily accessible information about property listings, many buyers like to search listings based on one criteria: PRICE

And we do have many value-priced properties for sale in Coweta County Georgia. And buyers want to see all of these properties in hopes of finding the “perfect” combination of price and livability.

The problem is that many, many buyers are looking for the same thing. And so the good properties sell very quickly. As a result the casual weekend property seeker is very unlikely to stumble upon the right house at the right price.

A good real estate agent can be an invaluable asset in overcoming this dilemma. We see new properties every day and can alert buyers when a “hot” one shows up on the market. It is no longer a matter of being in the “right place at the right time”

Finding the right house at the right price is not a lottery.

Rather it is a calculated strategy for getting an offer submitted on a great house before it is too late. 

So far this year, winter has not made much of an appearance. Although there was a freak early snowstorm in the Northeast here in Georgia Winter has not amounted to much more than a few frosty mornings.

Here is it, the second day of January, and I still have a few peppers than can be harvested from a still alive (although not exactly vigorous) pepper plant.

I guess from a purely economic perspective, a mild winter in a real boon as we save on heating fuel and the cost of snow removal.

But from an aesthetic point of view, it somehow does not feel “right.” It’s January and it’s supposed to be cold.

I’m certain that this is probably one of those cases of “be careful what you wish for,” as there is plenty of opportunity for some real winter weather in the upcoming months.

But for now, I’ll just take advantage of the nice weather and get some yard work done!”

The question I have been asked most often in the last few weeks is: What is the outlook for the real estate market in 2012?

It’s an interesting question, because there are many dynamic factors involved in the state of housing in North America.

First and foremost are the immutable laws of supply and demand. If there is more product than there are consumers, the market will continue to decline.

And while we can’t change the rules of the axiom, we can certainly control the variables. Either the supply of homes for sale has to be reduced or the number of buyers has to increase, a bit of both would be great.

The best way to increase demand is to make mortgages easier to obtain. We don’t want to return to the debacle of the early 2000’s but a little sanity in the underwriting process would help.

Many consumers with good credit scores want to buy houses but they can’t because of guidelines that have caused such trepidation regarding default that the money is kept safely tucked away and out of the hands of would-be buyers.

Alternatively, we need to figure out more ways to keep people in their houses that want to stay but have suffered a financial or personal setback. The flood of foreclosures continues, and many of the displaced homeowners that I have spoken indicated that they tried to work out an arrangement with their mortgage holders but were unsuccessful.

Unfortunately, nothing has been done to significantly affect real estate in the upcoming year. And so any real estate recovery is totally dependent on the economy as a whole. As the economy goes, and as jobs are created, so goes the real estate market.

And since 2012 is an Presidential election year, one should expect some temporary economic remedies being set into action to skew the numbers by November.

As a result, the real estate market should fare slightly better in the second and third quarters of 2012. The market will be far from robust, but it will be a bit stronger than 2011.

2012 offers some promise for better times ahead. However, just how much better it will be is still anybody’s guess.

The 2011 Newnan Candlelight Tour of Homes is scheduled for Friday December 2 from 4:00 until 9:00 P.M.

The annual event is staged by the Piedmont Newnan Hospital Auxiliary and this year will feature five homes in the Cole Town Historic District.

The tour homes this year will include Victorian, Craftsman, and Cottage styles and were all constructed in the late 19^th and early 20^th Centuries.

Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 on the day of the tour. Advance tickets may be purchased at Scott’s Bookstore on the square, the Coweta County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau in the old courthouse, Morgan’s Jewelers in Ashley Park or the Newnan Piedmont Hospital Gift shop.

There is free parking at the Old Train Depot which will be open and offering light refreshments to tour visitors.

As a CSX Northbound freight rumbles past the old Madras Depot, the fate of the historic building is still in the hand of local benefactors.

Built along the Atlanta and West Point Railroad in the mid 1850’s, the antebellum structure is in danger of being razed.

The county has left the fate of this piece of Coweta County history in the hands of private citizens that wish to move the building from the right of way to a safe location which it can be restored and preserved.

It’s hard to even fathom how much human history occurred along this historic route. Everything from soldiers being deployed during the Civil War to generations of local farmers shipping their goods toAtlanta and the world beyond.

As a lover of both history and railroads, I hope that the building will be saved.

It’s an interesting piece in the puzzle of Coweta County history!

As the first chill of the season stealthily descended into Newnan Georgia last night, I turned on the furnace for the first time this year.

It served as an unpleasant reminder that the cold, dark days of Winter are just around the corner. And although I can’t do anything about it, it is a bit depressing to say the least.

One of the reasons that I moved to Georgia so many years ago was to escape the frigid Winters of Western Pennsylvania. By contrast,Georgia enjoys a relatively temperate climate.

But with each passing year of living in the South, it FEELS colder to me. Perhaps it is just age, but my preference would be a life of perpetual Spring and Autumn with mild days and cool nights.

But ready or not, Winter is on the way. And it’s time to prepare for it!

And I’m already looking forward to Spring.

Inventories of REO properties and HUD homes in Coweta County Georgia are at one of the lowest levels in years.

In addition, the number of foreclosures advertised for sale on the courthouse steps is about a third of what it was at the peak of the madness. But what does this really mean for the Coweta County real estate market?

For those of us in the business, there is a sneaking suspicion that this reduction in distressed property for sale is NOT an indicator of better economic factors.

More than likely, it is the direct result of lien-holders working with owners that are in trouble and allowing them to stay in their homes longer. And as the tine between default and foreclosure increases, inventory shrinks proportionately.

It’s a short term effect, and not a long term fix. And it may be a case of delaying the inevitable.

Only time will tell.

Chattahoochee Bend State Park will allow hunters to harvest deer and feral hogs and kill coyotes for two days this December.

Thirty bucks will allow you to harvest two bucks (or does) after a mandatory pre-hunt meeting with park officials.

After debating the issue on the “Friends” Facebook Group, I was a bit surprised to see that many support the hunt. One commenter even complained about seeing three herds of deer on a twilight ride. Another said that deer were a dangerous threat to park visitors.

That prompted this reply from me:

“I guess I'm just a silly old man, but when I go to a park I WANT to see deer and coyotes and other forms of wildlife. If I saw three herds I would be thrilled!

The park speed limit is 20 MPH, so I don't think that the threat of injury is all that great. If the herd needs to be thinned, I think that it should be done by professionals and not by anyone willing to pay 30 dollars. (sic)…

You’ll notice I don't use words like "slaughter" or "murder" although I do see the wanton shooting of coyotes as cruel and unnecessary. I understand a harvested deer or hog is food on the table rather than road kill. But as I have reiterated, I would prefer to see the herd controlled by professionals.”

To me a park is a park. It is NOT a wildlife management area, a state forest, or a game land. Hunting by amateurs should not be part of population control because of potential damage to fragile ecosystems.

I have nothing against hunting at all. I am absolutely opposed to hunting within the boundaries of a state park.

Period!

The Kiwanis Coweta County Fair is one of the most popular annual events in the Newnan area.

The fair attracts thousands of visitors during its ten day run and features agricultural competitions, arts and crafts displays, and of course, the electrifying midway.

The main attraction is replete with carnival rides, games of skill, thrilling shows and my favorite: fair food!

The Coweta County Fairground is a magnificent facility with easy access from Interstate 85 (exit 41) and plenty of free parking.

For complete information about ticket prices, hours of operation and directions visit the official website for the Kiwanis Coweta County Fair.

HUD homes for sale in Coweta County Georgia are becoming more scarce with each passing day.

And while at first that seems like good news, it really has me thinking that there is foul play afoot,

Because the number of foreclosures has not abated one has to wonder if the so called “shadow inventory” is growing as fast as the National Debt.

Is this a Keynesian attempt at market stabilization or is the motivation purely political? Either way there is trouble looming ahead when these houses are finally released into an already tenuous market.

My preference would be to sell them as soon as they can be sold. Otherwise they will simply be stripped by vandals and left to decay into oblivion.

If that is the intent of the powers that be may I offer this admonition?

Let the houses go!

Yesterday I went on a photography expedition to Chattahoochee Bend State Park. It’s Georgia’s newest state park, and it is located right here in Coweta County.

Since it has opened on July 1, I have made over a dozen trips to the park and I now know my way around, and I have a great feel for where I am.

What makes the exploration a little more interesting is that I knew this area BEFORE it was a park. And it has been a challenge to locate old landmarks relative to the new access and park roads.

But parks are not just about facilities and roads. It’s about the underlying reasons that the park was created in the first place. And once I had a firm grasp of the “big picture,” it was time to take a closer look.

As I wandered around a rock outcropping, I took notice of the “small” world of tiny wildflowers punctuated with fluttering skippers!

On a 97 degree day on a HOT rock, it would have been easy to miss the small wonder of the park in its most basic and natural form.

But fortunately, I was able to grab some shots before the heat addled my brain!

I am now making plans to document every wildflower in the park.

And that should keep me occupied for years!

The economic foundation of any community is jobs. And jobs in the healthcare sector are considered to be some strongest in terms on both longevity and compensation.

So the Newnan Piedmont Hospital will provide a much-needed boost to an economy that has suffered a significant slowdown over the last few years.

There were several snags and roadblocks along the way, including a halt on construction as some of kinks were worked out on the project. But the hospital will be a reality soon, thanks to persistence and the skill of construction crews erecting the facility.

In addition to the hospital, a new Cancer Center is also being constructed, and soon Newnan will become a Mecca for those seeking superior healthcare services.

And the thousands of people that will be working there will need housing. I would not be surprised at all to see inventory level off in the next two years.

Coweta County is on the road to economic recovery and the Newnan Piedmont Hospital is playing a huge role in that effort.

And it can’t happen soon enough for me!

In just a few short weeks since it has opened, Chattahoochee Bend State Park has transformed Newnan and Coweta County into a “destination!”

People now flock to visit this natural treasure which is now open to the public. And it’s not just people from around the state of Georgia either. I have seen license plates from many states and Canada in the park since opening day.

Chattahoochee Bend State Park is not just an amenity. It will now play a major role in the future of the county.

No longer will I have to explain where Coweta County is located or what we have to offer, From now on, many will find our beautiful area on their own!

And while they are here, many will like what they see. And some will even want to stay!

And even though completion of all of the facilities of the park is still ten years distant, there is still plenty to see and do right now, from kayaking to hiking to camping and fishing and anything else that one can imagine in 2900 acres of forest bounded by seven miles of river shoreline!

The destinies of Chattahoochee Bend State Park and Coweta County are now inescapably intertwined.

And the future for both looks very bright!

Summer in Georgia is always hot, that’s a given! But the typical Summer weather pattern is one of both heat and humidity.

That translates into hot days, and muggy nights punctuated with late afternoon and early evening thunderstorms.

And typically that continues into October when the nights cool and the air dries out a bit. The only respite from the constant and oppressive heat is the sanctuary of the air-conditioned structure!

This kind of weather leads to jungle-like growth in the garden, and it’s hard to control unwanted weeds and volunteer plants as nearly perfect growing conditions occur. It’s a time of lush growth and various shades of the color green are everywhere!

No drought, no floods, just day after day of a tropical atmosphere that is the legendary backdrop of the Southern novel.

It’s hot, and if you don’t like it there’s only one thing that you can do about it:

Learn to love it! 

I was out “in the county” yesterday previewing some properties. Coweta County Georgiais one of those locales that takes you directly from urban to rural is a few short miles.

Much of the Eastern part of the county is Atlanta suburbia, with its accompanying tract houses and strip malls!

Downtown Newnan is still classic small town America, with a center “Square” and shops, restaurants, and parks all within walking distance.

As you move beyond town, the county is very rural, with pastoral landscapes, grazing livestock, and a new state park!

Since it appeals to such a broad range of lifestyles, Coweta County offers something for every taste and preference!

And it is certainly worth a look to all considering a move to the Greater Atlanta area!

Chattahoochee Bend State Park is now open! Located in Coweta County Georgia, the 2,910 acre state park is one of the largest in Georgia. It officially was dedicated and opened on July 1, 2011.

The park has frontage on nearly 7 miles of the Chattahoochee River, and the public can access the river via an all-weather boat ramp. But the river is just part of what the park has to offer.

There are picnic sites along the river, pavilions which can be reserved for large groups, camping facilities for both RVs and tent campers, playground facilities, and currently six miles of hiking trails.

Daily access is only $5 per vehicle, or an annual Georgia Park Pass can be purchased for $50 which allows access to every State park in the Georgia system.

To get to the park take Mt. Carmel Road West from Newnan until it dead ends and turn right! Follow the signs to Chattahoochee Bend State Park.

For more info contact the Friends of Chattahoochee Bend State Park.

You can learn more about Ga State Parks.

These days, more than ever, it has become a lot more difficult to determine the value of a home’s intangible assets.

While everyone can assign a dollar value for the number of bedrooms and baths, the type of construction, or even the school district, home characteristics such as being designated as historic, having a great view, or possessing a unique charm are all subjective qualities that may be difficult to appraise.

And while sellers may wish to promote these properties as “one-of-a-kind,” real estate brokers and licensed appraisers alike often have difficulty finding suitable comparable properties.

True fair market value is what a buyer will pay and a seller will accept without duress. If a third party is thrown into the mix, the subjective nature of the purchase offer will have to stand the test of objectivity and be measured accordingly.

Here in Newnan Georgia, we have seen many of these intangible assets decline in value over the last few years. Lender enthusiasm for these attributes has eroded.

And evaluations have taken the charm out of the purchase process!

Laura Ellen Beckom, a member of the Newnan-Coweta Board of Realtors, a business associate, and a great friend of mine passed away on Wednesday, June 22 2011 at her home in Newnan Georgia after a brief illness.

To say that I will miss Laura Ellen in an understatement.  We worked together on many deals, and her positive attitude and beaming smile would light up any room. She always greeted me with a bubbly “hey there” when I called on the phone or when we met in person.

Laura Ellen was one of the hardest workers that I have ever met. She fought tooth and nail for her clients, and always made certain that they were well served throughout their transaction.’

She was also one of the most honest people that I have ever met. She called me on more than one occasion because she thought that something didn’t sound just right or that she had suspicions that something underhanded might be going on.

Laura Ellen was diagnosed with a terminal illness just a few weeks ago. She came in the office one last time to turn in some paperwork, and she was as positive and upbeat as ever.

A little over a week later at Emory Hospital, she opened up her eyes and asked me “how’s it going?” I told her that she was going home that afternoon and she gave me one of her big warm smiles.

We laughed together a lot, because that is what we did. We always laughed about a deal that was terminated for no apparent reason, or a client that disappeared before closing, or a loan that was turned down at the last minute.

Laura Ellen always said that she needed a good laugh to keep from crying!

Right now, I need a good laugh.