Fighting Crime in Atlanta
February 26, 2008
A lot of folks contact us when they are thinking of moving to Atlanta. They want to know where the best schools are located, what it costs to buy a 4-bedroom home with a finished basement on a large level lot with a fenced yard, and what is the crime rate in the area.
We are well prepared to answer questions on schools and housing, but are never sure how to address the issue of crime. Now we have an answer – at least in Midtown.
Check out the video here. (H/T to AtlantaMidtown)
Atlanta Tops the List for America’s Most Wired City
February 18, 2008
A recent article by Elizabeth Woyke for Forbes.com examines some of the reasons Atlanta tops Forbes.com’s survey of America’s most wired cities in the U.S. – for the second year in a row.
As the communications hub for the Southeast, Atlanta boasts regional headquarters for AT&T (nyse: T – news – people ) and Verizon (nyse: VZ – news – people ) and a bustling community of Internet-related start-ups. It’s also home to BellSouth and EarthLink (nasdaq: ELNK – news – people )–a major promoter of citywide wireless networks until recent months–as well as cable giant Cox Communications.
So, what I want to know…
Is it important that your Atlanta real estate agent be wired?
There is no shortage of websites to view Atlanta homes for sale: Zillow, Trulia, and Roost, to name a few national sites. Every major real estate broker and franchise in the metro Atlanta area has a website featuring Atlanta listings – most of them with direct feeds to the Atlanta multiple listing services.
Real estate agents promote email listing alerts and home searches from their personal websites. All of them apparently wanting to have a conversation with you, the person searching for information on the Atlanta housing market.
But, how many times have you emailed the listing agent seeking answers to your questions, and never received a response?
What’s the point of real estate agents promoting online service and being unavailable? I don’t get it.
In my office, we recognize that folks moving to Atlanta have tons of questions, and often need guidance to narrow the home search.
- Where are the best schools in Atlanta?
- Is Atlanta traffic as bad as everyone says?
- Is this neighborhood safe? Should we rent first?
- How do I find the best place to live?
- Where do I find diverse lifestyles?
- What’s the best way for me to compare one Atlanta suburb to another?
We use technology to enhance our ability to answer your questions in a timely manner. Our goal is to acknowledge your request within the hour, and provide a detailed response the same business day. To meet this goal we – like Atlanta – are the most wired real estate agents in Atlanta.
How to Find the Best Place to Live in Atlanta – Part 6
January 29, 2008
Over the last few weeks we have raised several questions to guide the assessment of your priorities for your move. We thought it would be helpful to have them at hand. So, feel free to print them out and discuss around the dinner table.
Why are you considering a move or purchasing property at this time?
- Retirement
- Investment Property
- Proximity to Family
- Employment
- Improved Quality of Life
- Other __________
How often would you like to see family?
- Weekly
- Monthly
- Special Occasions
- Telephone or Email is Fine
How often would you like to see close friends?
- Weekly
- Monthly
- Special Occasions
- Telephone or Email is Fine
In terms of square footage, are you “downsizing” or “upsizing” and why?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
How important is reducing your cost of living?
- Very important
- Important
- Not important
What is your approximate housing budget?
- Less than $250,000?
- $250,000 – $350,000?
- $350,000 – $500,000?
- $500,000 – $700,000?
- $700,000 – $1,000,000?
- Over $1,000,000?
If you’re purchasing property for investment, how long do you plan to hold it?
- Less than 5 years
- 5 – 10 years
- More than 10 years
What type of housing are you looking for?
- Single-family
- Condominium or Townhouse
- Custom-built
- Spec-built
- New Construction
- Resale
What type of community interests you?
- Urban
- Suburban
- Private / Gated
- Family-friendly
- Age-specific
Rank what is important to you in a community from the following list:
Services
- Major Medical Center
- Shopping
- Places of Worship
- Colleges/Universities
Recreation
- Golf, Tennis, Swimming
- Walking, Hiking, Biking
- Kayaking, Boating, Fishing
- Professional/College Sports
- Civic/Social Groups
Cultural Events
- Theater
- Music
- Museums
- Fine Dining
What community amenities are important to you?
- Pool
- Fitness Center
- Tennis
- Clubhouse
- Golf
- Walking Trails
- Organized Activities
- Other ____________
Sharing your lifestyle with North Atlanta Realty Group helps us better serve in guiding your relocation. Drop us a note at any time.
How to Find the Best Place to Live in Atlanta – Part 5
January 21, 2008
Though housing is clearly the largest factor, Atlanta cost-of-living includes other factors as well. Relocation guides, such as Your Guide to Relocating to Metro Atlanta, a service of North Atlanta Realty Group, provide a wealth of information on lifestyle, entertainment, transportation, etc. A valuable online source for comparative information is bestplaces.net
These types of relocation guides provide valuable information, but they won’t help you anticipate new, sometimes major outlays, such as carrying costs or property owner fees.
What is your approximate housing budget?
- Less than $250,000?
- $250,000 – $350,000?
- $350,000 – $500,000?
- $500,000 – $700,000?
- $700,000 – $1,000,000?
- Over $1,000,000?
It’s important to ask North Atlanta Realty Group a lot of questions as you prepare for your move to Atlanta. We are experts in providing peace of mind as you prepare for your move.
How to Find the Best Place to Live in Atlanta – Part 4
January 14, 2008
With words like “upsize” and “downsize” having recently entered the popular lexicon, and with Atlanta new home construction at an all-time high, being realistic about your housing needs – and overall living expenses – is also important.
Think about the home you now live in:
- What is its current market value?
- What is your equity?
- How large is your home – in square feet, number of bedrooms, kitchen, etc.?
- Is it too large or too small?
- Are you looking to “downsize” or “upsize”?
Comparatively speaking, home costs in Atlanta are less than they are in California, the Northeast and Midwest.
Establishing a realistic budget or consulting a mortgage consultant may help in regard to finances.
How to Find the Best Place to Live in Atlanta – Part 3
January 8, 2008
Strong social support is important for a successful relocation to Atlanta. We will pose several questions as we strengthen our relationship.
- What is the level of social support in your current location?
- What is your level of involvement in your current community?
- How would you go about creating a new circle of friends in Atlanta?
- When have you done this in the past?
- What are the interests you will form new relationships around?
- What type of community interests you?
Taking time to fully explore these questions will better enable you to determine the right Atlanta location for you.
How to Find the Best Place to Live in Atlanta – Part 2
December 31, 2007
Your lifestyle is your choice – you’re in the driver’s seat. By definition, “lifestyle” is a way of living which reflects one’s priorities. At different stages of life we have different responsibilities and priorities. Since where we live affects how we live, at times we need to change our habitat to change our habits.
Thinking about the lifestyle we desire allows us to choose a place that will be conducive to or foster that lifestyle. Reflect on what prompted you to think about a move to Atlanta in the first place. Warmer weather? More outdoor recreation? Proximity to family? Better schools? Work?
Life is a journey and relocation is a part of the journey that allows us to expand our circle of friends. Think about ways for creating new relationships. To build new friendships, look for people with common interests. Many Atlanta communities are designed with “social architecture” or centered around diverse cultures. Look for public venues and social activities in Atlanta neighborhoods that will encourage meeting other people. If you’re moving with school-age children, check to see what schools, clubs and organizations exist for children.
What type of community interests you?
- Urban
- Suburban
- Private/Gated
- Family-friendly
- Age-specific
Yes, you are truly in control; we are simply here to guide your relocation. Our mission is to enhance your comfort and peace of mind as you prepare to move.
There are onlines tools and services that put you in control of the home search. See photos. Get driving directions. Identify the schools, and more at www.SearchMultipleListings.com
Need a master bedroom on the main floor? Must have a finished basement? In love with a particular school district? Spell it all out at www.SeeAtlantaHomes.com . Properties meeting those needs are emailed directly to you.
You’ll find our Relocation Guide (a pdf download) to be a helpful resource. It’s provided at no cost or obligation to you as a way of saying, “Thanks for letting us be a part of your relocation!”
How to Find the Best Place to Live in Atlanta
December 26, 2007
How do you go about finding the best place to live in an unfamiliar area? First, examine your reasons for moving.
- Are you seeking to escape ice and snow or escalating taxes?
- Maybe you want to pursue the possibilities of year-round outdoor recreation.
- Perhaps you’re dreaming of doing some traveling with the extra money you’ll save with a lower cost-of-living.
- Or maybe your employer has transferred your position.
These are just a few of the many reasons that millions of people move each year, purchase Atlanta real estate as an investment or buy a home in Atlanta.
Our expertise is in providing peace of mind by helping you envision your lifestyle, compare places conducive to your desired lifestyle and help you decide where you want to live in Atlanta.
To help guide guide your relocation, we will pose several questions as we strengthen our relationship.
If you are currently pricing homes in the Atlanta market, you might be interested in a Listings Alert service, which sends you up-to-date information on listings as they become available. The service is free and can be found at SeeAtlantaHomes.com.
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