The home features:

• 4 bedrooms
• 2 baths
• Built in 1994 this home has 2013 square feet
• Nearly a half an acre yard
• Large back deck
• Trey ceilings in the master, living area, and breakfast room
• Fireplace
• Open and split floor plan
• Many large windows that allow great natural light into the home
• Large master
• 3 walk in closets
• And more!

This home is a must see.  It looks better in person than in the pictures and you will not be disappointed.  Offered at $194,999 it is well below the CMA (competitive market analysis) price of $207,000.  Offering 5k in closing/carpet costs.  Call me at 803-270-5005 to schedule a viewing of this great home!

HOME IS AGENT OWNED!!!

Here is the ‘official’ ad I am running around town:

Elegant Realty Group LLC at Exit Complete Realty is searching for Real Estate Buyer’s Agents. The successful candidate is required to hold a real estate license in GA or SC and ideally in both states. You must be organized, have above-average phone skills, and be proficient at email. To set up an interview & get more information, please call Lydia Taylor at 803-270-5005 or contact me via www.NorthoftheSavannah.com.

If you know someone or are interested in joining me, please give me a call!

The ‘metro’ Augusta area is essentially made up of 3 counties:  Richmond County, Columbia County, and Aiken County.  Augusta is in Richmond county.  Augusta is the home of the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta National (host of the Master’s Golf Tournament), the Green Jackets minor league baseball team (affiliated with the San Francisco Giants),  Augusta State University,  the Veterans Administration and University Hospitals, and Fort Gordon.  Augusta is the last stop upstream on the Savannah River.

If you are interested in living in Augusta there are very few subdivisions, however there are some popular areas like Summerville, Lake Aumond, Forest Hills, Kingswood, and downtown (although if you are looking to buy this option is limited).  If you are looking to be close to MCG  and University Hospitals,  Summerville tends to be a preferred area due to homes being within 5-10 minutes from either.  The median home price sold in Augusta, Richmond County from 4/30/08 to 4/30/09 is $112,533 with a high of $799,000 and a low of $3,500 with an average of 102 days on the market.

Columbia County has three areas that are popular to live in: Martinez, Evans, and Grovetown.  Grovetown is more of a town unto itself.  Evans and Martinez are areas of Augusta and it is difficult to differentiate between when one ends and the next begins.  Columbia County is home to large employers like Club Car, & John Deere, and upscale gated communities like West Lake or Jones Creek.  Columbia County has lots of subdivisions.  Popularity of subdivision depends on your price range and what kind of neighborhood amenities you are in search of.  The median home price sold in Columbia County from 4/30/08 to 4/30/09 is $200,733 with a high of $1,700,000 and a low of $9,000 with an average of 118 days on the market.

Aiken County is on the South Carolina side.   North Augusta is the town in closest relation to Augusta in Aiken County.  It is essentially a suburb of Augusta separated by the Savannah River.  This little sleeper offers the Greeneway (a walking path), Nike Peach Jam ( a highschool basketball invitational), easy access to I-20, and the feel of a small town.  This small community offers the essentials for daily life - grocery stores, Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, and some fast food.  For everything else most North Augustans go across the river into Augusta.  Some of the more popular neighborhoods are Hammond Hills, Bergen Place, Lakes and Streams, and homes on the river.  The median home price sold in North Augusta, Aiken County from 4/30/08 to 4/30/09 is $159,628 with a high of $1,175,000 and a low of $5,000 with an average of 123 days on the market.

Schools- one of the most popular questions asked to me is ‘What is the best school?’  Truthfully, I have no idea.  I have one child who is 5 months old and school is not in my vocabulary yet - I am still working on a full night of sleep.  From people that I have worked with in the past, Columbia County and South Carolina schools seem to be pretty popular.  However, you don’t have to take my or any one else’s word for it anymore!  Thanks to the world wide web, I can offer you a report card on the schools you are possibly interested in sending your kids to!  Click on the respective States for more information!  Georgia or South Carolina.

Shopping- aaahhh an American past time!  Augusta offers tons of great specialty shops in the Surrey Center, Downtown, in strip malls etc.  There is no shortage on great little stores - however that is a post for another time.  If you are coming from out of town you are looking for some old favorites, stores that make you feel at home regardless of location.  Well Augusta’s Magnolia Mall offers everything from Abercrombie & Fitch to Williams-Sonoma.  Don’t worry there is a Dillard’s and a Macy’s too!  For a complete list of your tried and true favorites at the mall, click here for the mall directory.

Eateries- my favorite subject.  Being a rather large city, Augusta has a wide array of places to eat.  A good number are chains you are familiar with- Outback, Bonefish, Applebee’s, Chop House, Miyabi’s, California Dreamin’, Monterrey’s, Hooters, Olive Garden, and so the list goes on.  Augusta even touts some unusual restarants such as TakoSushi - a southwestern sushi bar.  Yes- you heard correctly- they serve southwest/mexican favorites alongside sushi - killing two cravings with one restaurant!  There are also tons of great little local places and hole in the wall restaurants to choose from as well.  So have no fear, Augusta offers a selection of food for almost every taste palate!  If you ever need a suggestion- just let me know- I am pretty sure I can direct you to some great local favorites to satisfy your need for some good groceries.

So, where does the Augusta Real Estate market area fit into all of this?  The average median closing price for Richmond, Columbia, and Aiken County residential property for 4/30/08 to 4/30/09 is down 2.1% from 4/30/07 to 4/30/08.  In the same time frame, ‘days on market’ has gone from 87 to 113 days.  So what does this mean to you?  Well, as a buyer it is great news!  It appears to defy all logic because negatives are never better, but it is good in 2 regards.  One, it is a great time to get a good deal on a home- it’s a buyers market.  Sellers are having to sell their homes for a bit less on average than they did the previous year.  The second good thing is - the market did not royally crash here.  Yes, that means you will not get a house for $20 grand less; however it is a sign of a pretty stable market.  So when you are no longer a buyer and are a seller, it means that even in a tough market your home’s value will not tank so far that it enters a place of no return!

As with anything - there are those who love the Augusta Area and those who hate it.  I happen to be on the love it side.  This area offers pretty much anything one could need or want.  The bonus to it all is that you are not as bogged down with traffic and the hustle and bustle of the city.  It has its moments during the Masters and with construction, but as a general rule Augusta still has a lot of Southern Charm.  The people are friendly, the food is good, and for the Northerners trying to escape horrible winters- it almost never snows here.  What more could you ask for?

• High ceilings with crown moldings
• Arched doorways
• Updated kitchen with granite counter tops
• Stainless Steel appliances (including a refrigerator, which stays with the home)
• Modern baths
• Stacked stone fireplaces
• Private backyard
• Beautiful hardwood floors, and a great floor plan.

No need to even worry about extra storage, this little charmer has a basement (rare in the South!) to house all your extra stuff.  The home is 1 1/2 miles from the Medical College of Georgia, and would be perfect for someone looking for a short commute. When you walk into this Hill cottage there is no doubt that the home has been lovingly updated and is ready for you to move in!  All of this offered at $229,999.

To get a better view of this house online, you may visit the virtual tour…

To schedule a viewing or ask detailed questions, feel free to call me @ 803-270-5005 or Susan MacEwen at 706-294-6795.

Update: I have added a widget that might be helpful for buyers not familiar with the area. It’s called a ‘walkscore’ and it is below. Use the arrows in the category lists to cycle through locations.  The arrows in the map will allow you to resize or zoom the map.  I hope you find it helpful!!

1. Showing 40+ homes in Augusta’s July heat; or 12 hours of labor.   Both make you hot and sweaty, make you want to strangle the person who put you in this position, and in the end are a pain in the rear (pun intended…)
2. Helpless baby who must depend on you for everything; or helpless Realtor on the other side of a transaction who can’t fill out a form properly or turn their documents in to the lender or lawyer.  I will take the baby!
3. Pacifiers - cute little plastic objects babies suck on to make them feel better.  Margaritas - adult pacifier to make the weary Realtor feel better.
4. Real estate is expensive.  Babies, even MORE expensive…
5. Real estate negotiation is all about getting the best deal so no one cries;  negotiation with a cranky baby is impossible - someone is always crying!
6. Real estate can be a dirty business, but babies are WAAAAY dirtier!!
7. Dealing with demanding clients is like having a baby poot on you - it just STINKS but you have to laugh.
8. Touring homes for sale and taking care of babies results in lots of hand washing.  You can never escape sticking your hand in some kind of mystery goo.
9. Eventually, someone always gets peed on.  Real estate, figuratively;  babies, literally.
10. When someone gives a big smile after buying their first house, it is a great moment.  Just like when your baby looks up at you and smiles - which is always a fantastic moment.

I hope you enjoyed my list!  We all need some humor sometimes.  If you need help buying or selling your home in the Augusta area, please give me a call!