CurbView Jasper . . .

Pickens County GA Home Sales: 2nd Quarter 2008

2008-07-27T22:20:00.005-04:00

Not much of an improvement to report in Jasper Georgia real estate data from 1st quarter 2008. In fact, finishing up the 2nd quarter, home sales look even worse than they did in the first three months of the year . . . Quarter-on-quarter, the number of homes placed under contract in Pickens County dropped from 77 to 56. When compared against the same period for prior years, this reflects a 49%

Georgia Jobs Down . . . For Now: The Future of Atlanta Employment.

2008-06-25T07:24:00.009-04:00

As the Georgia Department of Labor reports an unemployment rate in Georgia that climbed to 5.8% for May -- admittedly a not very welcome statistic -- a couple of recent articles shed a slightly more promising light on the future potential of the North Georgia area. Despite the current economic conditions (which affect most of the country), a longer term view of employment and job growth in the

Pickens County GA Higher Education Opportunities -- Taking Advantage of the Neighbors...

2008-06-18T17:16:00.007-04:00

Starting next year (2009), it appears another educational opportunity will be available to residents of Pickens County, GA. Recently announced was an agreement between Gilmer County officials and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, to establish a new instructional site in downtown Ellijay, administered by Dalton State College. This facility would allow students to pursue a

Short Sales of Homes in Jasper and Pickens County GA . . . A New "Trend"?

2008-05-18T22:38:00.008-04:00

The new catch-phrase in Pickens County GA real estate, as with markets across the country, is "possible short-sale". In real estate terms, a short sale is the sale of a home for less than what is owed to the lender. This usually occurs when the borrower is substantially behind on mortgage payments and is faced with foreclosure, but in which the lender is willing to take an upfront loss rather

Jasper GA Home Sales: First Quarter 2008 Market Update

2008-04-25T22:04:00.006-04:00

Will 2008 be a better year for Pickens County GA real estate than 2007? Uh . . . In a word, no. Not likely. As much as I would like to present a positive front and not be one of the many "nay-sayers" out there feeding on the negative news, I also feel obligated to present facts as I see them and not some dressed up version of the truth. So . . . In addition to my "Week in Review" weekly market

Pickens County GA Courthouse Renovation or Replacement Approved: So What Happens Now?

2008-04-22T12:42:00.008-04:00

So, the voters have spoken once again (at least a narrow majority of those who actually voted), granting Pickens County GA officials permission to allocate $17-million dollars of a new SPLOST -- replacing the one about to expire -- toward either rebuilding or remodeling the present courthouse located on Main Street in Jasper. Fair enough. Justice needs a home. WARNING: Editorial content to

Septic Systems In Pickens County GA: Buried Facts (Part 2 of 2)

2008-04-16T14:46:00.009-04:00

To continue on the topic of septic tank requirements in and around Jasper, GA . . . As previously posted on this subject, there are certain things for both buyers and sellers of homes and land in Pickens County GA to keep in mind when dealing with property requiring an on-site (septic) sewer system, rather than public sewer service. In Pickens County GA, for new development(s) with septic

Jasper and Pickens County GA Septic Systems: What You Need to Know (Part I)

2008-04-06T16:37:00.007-04:00

Although not one of the most thrilling of topics to cover, it's one about which I quite routinely encounter questions . . . and one that anyone looking at Pickens County Georgia homes for sale should keep in mind. As the title suggests, I'm speaking of the requirements for sewer, or more specifically, septic tank, systems in Pickens County, GA. (Told you it wasn't fun!) Generally, inside the

FHA / FNMA Loan Limits for Jasper and Pickens County, GA.

2008-03-23T21:52:00.005-04:00

To follow up on my previous post regarding FHA loan limits in Pickens County GA, and FNMA / FMAC conforming loan amounts for the Jasper GA area, we finally have some answers. As of March 5, 2008, For the ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-MARIETTA, Georgia (MSA ) which includes Pickens County, the good news is that the revised FHA mortgage limit is up to $346,250 for single-family housing. An increase from

Jasper Georgia Antique Stores to Hold 2nd "Antique Treasure Hunt" This April

2008-03-21T20:38:00.008-04:00

Following on last year's first annual "Antique Treasure Hunt" in Jasper GA last October, the second treasure hunt will be held this year in April. The Spring Antique Treasure Hunt, presented by the Jasper Antique Association, will feature eight dealer locations to visit on the route -- two more than the six available last Fall. While not an "event" as much as a promotion, this collection of

Jasper Georgia Residential and Commercial Real Estate Developments: Long-Term Growth Potential

2008-03-13T22:29:00.009-04:00

While home sales in the Pickens County area have shown declines in the past year-plus, causing many smaller (and some larger) developers and builders to pull back on intended projects, there are those with more far-reaching plans that understand the current softness is a temporary downturn, unlikely to last forever and are able to act on this insight. With local fundamentals (solid employment /

Map of Homes for Sale in Jasper and Pickens County GA Added To NorthGeorgiaResidential.com

2008-03-07T13:06:00.005-05:00

For those of my blog readers / subscribers who also use my website http://www.northgeorgiaresidential.com/ to access listings of homes and land for sale in the Pickens County and North Georgia area, I have added a new functionality to make the search easier. Aside from my home page map showing Pickens County schools and neighborhoods (a partial list anyway . . . I'm adding when I get the chance!

Pickens County GA Foreclosures: Three-Year Trend

2008-02-27T21:43:00.006-05:00

A review of foreclosure sales data in Pickens County GA for the past three years (at least for those foreclosed bank owned homes that were listed in real estate), reveals one surprising fact . . . The number of foreclosure homes sold in the Jasper Georgia area actually declined from 2006 to 2007. With all the talk of a foreclosure crisis, the opposite outcome would be expected, but the number

New Conforming and FHA Loan Limits: Changes Pending, But Not Yet Set

2008-02-24T22:48:00.008-05:00

There are so many questions swirling around credit, financing and home mortgages right now, that I had wanted to post a breakdown of some of the changes we are seeing, hopefully to make them a little clearer for home buyers and sellers. Unfortunately, most of the answers just aren't available. First is the matter of conforming loan limits for mortgages purchased on the secondary market by Fannie

Closing Costs by State: Where Does Georgia Rank?

2008-02-14T11:19:00.005-05:00

According to Bankrate's annual survey of mortgage origination fees and closing costs for 2007, Georgia ranked number 31 in closing costs among states nationwide -- improving from a 20th place ranking in 2006. Based on a $200,000 loan, Georgia's average closing cost was surveyed at $2,655, versus a national average of $2,736. Once again, New York was the highest at $3,830, while Indiana came in

Dual Agency Brokerage: Georgia Real Estate Law Allows it, But is it Right For You?

2008-01-18T13:31:00.000-05:00

My first two posts on real estate representation in Georgia covered types of real estate brokerage available to buyers and sellers, and some of the misunderstood duties and roles of listing and selling agents under these agreements, respectively. But to me, no area of real estate law is more uncertain than the practice of Dual Agency, which warrants a post all its own. Dual Agency occurs when

Jasper Georgia Foreclosure Homes: Update for Rising REO Numbers in Pickens County, GA

2008-01-07T22:26:00.000-05:00

In looking at foreclosure numbers for Jasper Georgia and surrounding parts of Pickens County (Tate, Nelson, Talking Rock, Marblehill, Ranger, etc.), my last post on the subject argued that the foreclosure numbers for Pickens weren't any cause for alarm. While I still maintain that position for right now, unfortunately, the statistics are looking a little less favorable . . . for those wanting to

Georgia Real Estate Brokerage: Who Represents You, and How?

2007-12-15T14:43:00.001-05:00

My previous post dealt with the various forms of real estate representation or brokerage agreements available to buyers and sellers of homes and land in Georgia. That post continues here, with a look at how this plays out in a "who represents whom" scenario, because for consumers, this seems to me one of the more misunderstood areas of real estate . . . Seller representation appears pretty clear

Georgia Real Estate Representation: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

2007-12-15T11:50:00.000-05:00

The original thought for this post has developed to the point that I think in the interests of brevity, it will be necessary to break it up into two, possibly three, posts. The first part will cover the very basic issue of what types of broker representation are available to buyers and sellers of homes, land and other real estate in the state of Georgia. Generally buyers and sellers fall into

Free Real Estate Investment Seminar in Canton Georgia

2007-11-25T14:27:00.002-05:00

(For my subscribers who receive updates to both this blog and my Georgia Land Blog , please forgive this duplicate post.) This coming Tuesday, November 27, there will be a free real estate investment seminar in Canton GA, from 5:30 to 7:30, for anyone interested in attending. The session will be hosted by John Mangham of Starker Services -- a leading provider of services for 1031 tax deferred

Jasper Georgia Highway 53 Widening Proposal Plans Revealed

2007-11-21T21:41:00.000-05:00

There's still a fair amount of "discussion" (dissent?) regarding the Georgia Department of Transportation's (GDOT's) initial planning for the widening of Highway 53 / West Church Street leading in to Jasper. Regardless of personal opinion, the fact remains that absent some long range planning now, future growth is going to create a nightmare for traffic flow through downtown Jasper. Better that

Pickens County Home Sales Flat: A Buying Opportunity in North Georgia?

2007-11-12T15:33:00.000-05:00

Market activity for home and land sales in Jasper and Pickens County, GA, as we go into the holiday season, is something of a mixed bag . . . On the downside, inventory levels of houses for sale has climbed to 17.7 months. There are currently 615 active home listings in Pickens County, but only 417 homes have sold in the past 12-months (heightening the importance of sellers pricing their home

Real Estate Investors (and Bargain Hunters) Needed: North Georgia Home Deals Ripe for the Picking

2007-10-31T09:36:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I attended a live on-site real estate auction, at which several bank-owned North Georgia homes were being auctioned (part of a larger sale by a national auction house of more than 50 homes in the Atlanta metro area). I was a little surprised at what I saw. The investors that I was with were outbid on our house of choice, which went for a little over $200,000. The high

Jasper and Pickens County Georgia Picture Series

2007-10-21T22:30:00.001-04:00

It's been a long time in coming, but I'm finally getting around to adding a few more images of Jasper and the Pickens County area. I will try to do better, (but no promises). Burnt Mountain, as seen from from Jasper. (Behind Crescent Bank in the Ingles shopping center). Burnt Mountain and Mount Oglethorpe hold claim to being the two highest points in Pickens County, with peaks that reach

Lease Purchase / Lease Option as Alternate Home Selling Tools

2007-10-15T21:19:00.000-04:00

I have been approached several times in the past few weeks by potential home buyers or agents, inquiring whether my seller clients would be willing to consider a lease-purchase on their homes. While options, lease options, lease purchases, and owner-financing are nothing new, it seems current real estate market conditions are perhaps bringing them more into demand. During the past few years of