Real Estate News

The rules for the St. Patrick’s Day parade have been set. And they don’t include buying your own little section of the squares. Also, transportation for the late night party goers is still be negiotated. The rules are: no one is allowed in the squares to stake claim to a spot before 6 am the day of, no grills, no amplified music, barricades will be used, a shuttle will run from the Oglethorpe Mall to the downtown area ($5 per adult), the festival on River Street will be on the 14th and 15th, there will be a police buffer, Bay Street will close at 8 pm on the festival days, and the only entrances to River Street will be from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Lincoln Street, and East Broad Street.

So, it looks as if tradition has won! Hopefully the barricades don’t impede on the male paraders getting their kiss! For more information stop by www.savannahnow.com/stpats. If you are coming from out of town, don’t forget to pack the green (clothes, beads, etc….).

Technorati Tags: festival, green, parade, St. Patrick's Day

The Chief Executive Officer of Imperial Sugar Co., John Sheptor, did a whole one and a half page interview about the refinery and its future. 152 of the companies employees have been called back to work. The workers are working with OSHA and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, making plans to restart and rebuild, or removing the remaining sugar inventory.

The company hopes to begin operating the refinery portion, which only suffered minor damage, by the end of the year. They will need to need to utilize third party packers once refined sugar is being made. The packing facility, where the blast occur, was almost a total loss. Rebuilding of the packing facility will take awhile. But the plans are for a state of the art facility.

Also, the Sugar Refinery Family Support Fund created by the United Way after the blast on February 7th is nearing 600,000. People from other states have also been sending money to the fund. Donations are still being accepted. In addition, families of victims can go online at The Savannah-Chatham public school system website to apply for free or reduced-price meals or call Altheria Maynard at 912-201-7650.

Technorati Tags: Imperial Sugar, refinery, Savannah-Chatham public school

February 22nd : 7:30 pm at the Skidway Island Presbyterian Church on the Diamond Causeway, The Presidio Saxophone Quartet will perform. Call 912-598-0151 for more information.

February 23rd : 8 am at Forsyth Park near the Mansion, the Historic Foundation’s walk/run will be held. There will be a 10k run or a 5k walk/run. Call 912-233-7787 for more information or register online.

                             8:30 am at the Messiah Lutheran Church on Westridge Road, the Humane Society will hold it’s Dog Lover’s Walk. Call 912-354-9515, ext. 114 or find out more about the Dog Lover’s Walk online.                    

                             9:30 am - 11:30 am at the North Beach of Tybee Island, come meet some of the birds that stop by the Georgia Coast each spring while strolling along the beach.

                             8 pm - midnight at the Prince Hall Masons on East Broad Street, there will be a Stepper’s Ball. The theme will be “Steppin in a Strawberry with a Touch of Chocolate”. Call 912-920-1684; 355-0105; 748-2676 for more information.

February 24th : There will be a Jazz Brunch at the Aqua Star Restaurant on the Westin Savannah Harbor. Reservations are required. Call 912-201-2085 for more information or a reservation.

                              5 pm at the Four Points by Sheraton Historic Savannah on Bryan Street, The Coastal Jazz Association All-Star Concert and Meeting will be held. Call 912-675-5419 for more information or vist Coastal-Jazz.

Technorati Tags: Beach, Birds, Dog Lover's, Events, Humane Society, Jazz, Savannah, Walk, Weekend

All Events are Free and Open to the Public unless otherwise noted by a call for information.

February 18th at 6 pm in the Lucas Theatre on Abercorn Street, David Adjaye will be speaking. He is a Bristish Architect and internationally known. This event will be celebrating him and his traveling exhibition.

February 19th : 2 pm until 7 pm in the Savannah Morning News Building on Chatham Parkway, the HealthCare Career Fair will be held. If you have ever consider a career in the healthcare industry, then stop by and find your new career here.

                             7 pm in the Barnes and Noble on Abercorn Street, Susan Taylor will be signing copies of her new book, “All About Love”.

                             7 pm in the Coastal Georgia Center on Fahm street, the Savannah Tree Foundation will be celebrating its Silver Anniversary with two events.  First, a lecture “Trees: Growing Stronger and Healthier Communities” will take place on Tuesday.

                            7:30 pm in the Memorial Health College Center Dining Hall on Abercorn Street, The Poetry Society of Georgia reading series will continue with Barbara Hamby.

February 20th: 11am - 1 pm in The Cottage Shop on Abercorn Street, Gwen McKee and Kacey Ratterree will sign copies of their books “Around Savannah: Where to Go and What to Do with Children” and “Around Savannah: More to do with Children”. Call 912-233-3820 for more information.

                             5 pm - 7:30 pm in the Churchill’s Pub on Bay Street, there will be a social mixer. Representatives will be there to talk about membership packages and services offered. Call 912-234-9688 for more information.

                             5:30 pm in the Georgia Coastal Center on Fahm Street, a lecture by George Briggs on “The North Carolina Arboretum: Merging Beauty with Regional Innovation”. Call 912-353-7065 for more information.

                            8:30 pm in the Metropolitan Planning Commission on State Street, the Savannah Tree Foundation will be celebrating its Silver Anniversary. The workshop “Trees and Urban Streets: Research on Public Perceptions and Transportation Safety”

February 21st: 6:30 pm in the River Club on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Jim Frakes will speak about “Studies in Roman Provincial Architecture”.

                            7 pm in the Savannah Arts Academy on Washington Avenue, The SAA Orchestra will perform. The admission prices are $5 for general public and $3 for students and seniors.

Technorati Tags: architect, architecture, book signing, Local Events, orchestra, poetry, tree foundation

Let’s take a look at Effingham County first:

So, what does this mean for your home? If you home is priced $500,000 and over, there is a 54 month supply of homes currently for sale. Typically the higher the price, the longer it takes to sell. You can definitely see that from this chart. If your home is listed $199,999 or below, you have the best chance of selling in a year.

Now, let's look at Chatham County (not including the islands, downtown Savannah, historic district, or the Southside):

Technorati Tags: Absorption Rates, Chatham County, Effingham County

As everyone knows, the Imperial Sugar Refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia suffered an explosion on Thursday night. Over 40 people were injured as a result, 6 people lost their lives, and 2 people remain missing. The search and recovery efforts are still on going. Sugar leaking from silos are causing a sludge that when cooled is almost like concrete. This added complications for the search teams. Also adding complications, was the strong wind yesterday. The silos and buildings are already weak, so the wind added extra hazards.

With all this going on, one can feel helpless. However, there are ways to help. You can donate money to the Salvation Army at 3100 Montgomery Street, you can donate blood to the American Red Cross at 25 Tibet Avenue, or you can donate to the Southeastern Firefighter’s Burn Foundation at 3614 J.Dewey Gray Circle, Building C, Augusta, Georgia 30909.

Another great way to help if you know someone affected, you can make meals or offer your help. We can also let them know our thoughts and prayers are with them and their family and friends.

Technorati Tags: Blood, Dixie Crystals, Donate, Explosion, Imperial Sugar Refinery, Port Wentworth, Sugar

In mid- December, George Bush announced Hope Now, a program to help decrease the number of subprime defaults. It is a voluntary accord that lenders, mortgage investors, and servicers entered into to aid borrowers facing default after their subprime adjustable rate loan jumps to that higher rate. This program basically freezes the interest rate so that borrowers have more time to find a solution.

There are several steps involved in the process. The most important one is placing the call. Call 1-888-995-4673, the line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When you call, you will be connected with a HUD-approved counselor. Make sure you have plenty of time when you make this call. You should expect the call to last 45 minutes. To make things go smoothly, be prepared. Gather all documents you have regarding your financing, your income, and your monthly expenses. After the counselor gets all the information necessary, they will give you all the available options for your current situation.

Quick Guide to Eligibility:

1.) Only Home Loans are applicable (no Home Equity)

2.) You obtained financing between January 1, 2005 through July 31, 2007

3.) Those whose rates will reset between January 1, 2008 through July 31, 2010

4.) Those who are current on their mortgage before rate the jumps, don’t qualify for a refinance, and will not be able to maintain the mortgage when the rate hikes

The counselors will still help borrowers that do not meet those requirements. Remember with increasing numbers of foreclosures, the mortgage servicers are dealing with large numbers of REO properties. So they are more willing to try to help you NOT default. The most typical solution is refinancing. The mortgage servicers are more than willing to find a loan to help you, even if they don’t offer it.

For those of you that are unable to make your payments on a traditional loan or due to a life change, there is always what is termed a short sale.  Even if this is your situation, you should call the Hope Now number. They will make sure that there isn’t any other recourse for you.

Technorati Tags: foreclosure, Hope Now, Refinance, Short Sale, Sub Prime

The last week, we have seen the words super used frequently. We had Super Bowl Sunday and the Giants upset the Patriots. We had Super Tuesday. Well, a few candidates thought it was super. In the Savannah area, we are having Super Museum (and Historic Site) Sunday.

On Sunday, about 40 museums and historic sites will open their doors to visitors usually between noon and 4 pm. During this time, there will be no cost for admission. Some museums or sites will have different hours for this “free” time. For your convenience, I will list all participants on Super Museum Sunday along with phone numbers.

1.) Bonaventure Cemetary - 912-247-8173

2.) Chatham County Garden Center and Botanical Gardens - 912-356-3591

3.)  Congregation Mickve Israel - 912-233-1547

4.) Davenport House - 912-236-8097

5.) Dorchester Academy - 912-884-2347

6.) Effingham Museum and Living History Site - 912-826-4705

7.) First African Baptist Church - 912-233-6597

8.) Fort King George - 912-437-4770

9.) Fort McAllister Historic Park - 912-727-2339

10.) Fort Morris Historic Site - 912-884-5999

11.) Fort Pulaski National Monument - 912-786-5787

12.) Fort Stewart Museum - 912-767-7885

13.) Georgia Salzburger Society - 912-754-7001

14.) Georgia Southern University Museum - 912-681-5444

15.) Girl Scout Council of Savannah - 912-232-8200

16.) Jepson Center for the Arts - 912-651-9651

17.) Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, National Historic Landmark - 912-233-4501

18.) LeConte-Woodmanston Plantation - 912-884-5371

19.) Massie Heritage Center - 912-201-5070

20.) Midway Museum - 912-884-5837

21.) Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum - 912-748-8888

22.) Oatland Island Wildlife Center - 912-898-3980

23.) Old Fort Jackson - 912-232-3945

24.) Owens-Thomas House - 912-790-8880

25.) Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum - 912-231-8900

26.) Richmond Hill Historical Society - 912-756-2676

27.) Roundhouse Railroad Museum - 912-651-6823

28.) Savannah-Ogeechee Canal Museum - 912-748-8068

29.) Savannah History Museum - 912-651-6825

30.) SCAD Museum of Art/Walter O. Evans Center for African American Studies - 912-525-7191

31.) Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum - 912-232-1511

32.) Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences - 912-790-8800

33.) Thunderbolt Historical Society - 912-351-0836

34.) Tybee Island Historical Society - 912-786-5801

35.) Tybee Island Marine Science Center - 912-786-5917

36.) University of Georgia Marine and Education Center and Aquarium - 912-598-2496

37.) Wormsloe Historic Site - 912-353-3023

38.) Geechee Kunda

39.) Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home

Technorati Tags: Fort, Free, Historic Sites, Jepson, Museum, Oatland Island, Telfair, Tybee

I read a blog post from a collegue in Minnesota. She described the market as a changing market. So there is still a chance to Avoid Being “The Biggest Loser” in this Changed Real Estate Market. Indeed, she is correct. To look at it in terms of a seller’s or buyer’s market put undo stress on the opposing side. Even in the termed “buyer’s market”, a seller can make a great deal. And the same is true for buyers. The market is changing. It’s always changing.  A buyer or seller can win in any kind of market.

While it is true that there are a surplus of homes on the market, you can still do some simple things to increase your chances of selling. Of course, you know the basics. But just in case, you should declutter, touch up any paint, keep up on the lawn maintenance, and know your competition.

But there are also other things you should consider. First, look at your home like you did when you were the buyer. Fix anything and everything that you can that you have been putting off. Remove most of your personal items from your walls and dressers to allow the buyers to view themselves in the home. Put in plants and various other neutral accessories to emphasis the features of your home. You can always consider hiring a home stager to assist you in this process. If you have any big pieces of furniture, you might want to consider moving them out. Big pieces of furniture can make an average room seem smaller.

If you can, you can do some simple upgrades to your home. The best upgrades that can lead to the biggest return are changes to the kitchen, the bath, and the flooring. In the kitchen, you can change the finish of the cabinetry, add new fixtures (brushed nickle or oil rubbed bronze are the best), redo countertops, repaint, remove wallpaper, and even replace appliances (stainless steel is the most popular choice). In the bath, you can update the cabinetry, have the bath tub resurfaced, add a tiled backsplash (if you have one), update the fixtures and hardware, remove wallpaper, and paint. As for flooring, most people love hardwood floors. But you don’t have to spend a fortune doing these upgrades. If you change the countertops, you can install a laminate countertop in natural stone styles. In addition, the floors can be done in a resilient laminate or vinyl. They have vinyl planks that resemble wood but not in the cost.

How to increase your odds of not being the biggest loser as a seller:

1. Know your competition

2. Know what the market will bear. Remember it changes, so you want to stay ahead of the game.

3. Maintenance and Upkeep

4. Declutter

5. As few showing restrictions as possible. You want A LOT of people to see your home

6. Depersonalize as necessary

And a special thanks to, Theresa “Teri” Eckholm, a licensed REALTOR® with Keller Williams Premier Realty in Minnesota for allowing me to add her link to my blog. 

Technorati Tags: changes, Changing Market, Home Sellers, Home Stager, Tips, Upgrades

Number of sales during this period: 20
Average Sales Price: $257,993
Percentage of Asking Price Obtained: 96.96%
The Average Time on the Market: 106 days

Homes Sold in Bryan County:

Technorati Tags: Bryan County, Market Update, Monthly Market Report, Sales Data