The research focused on the average price per square foot, frequency of real-estate transactions and distribution of sales-activity throughout numerous large metropolitan cities.  Some relative stability or improving stability in the housing market combined with the lower home prices has been attracting more buyers in many areas including Atlanta. Multiple offers are becoming common places for some of the distressed homes (short-sales and foreclosures) on the market and this is helping to reduce inventory.

If you have money to invest or the ability to obtain financing, then real estate is readily available as an excellent investment for the future.  The wide variety of incentive programs for tax credit and buyer assistance make this market even more attractive and the metro-Atlanta area has proven to be a good location.

REDUCED TO SELL!!  BARGAIN PROPERTY!

View video survey of the kitchen and master bathroom upgrades in this recently reduced-priced home on a cul-de-sac in Brookside Plantation subdivision with the master on the main level.

Lawrenceville, Georgia

Well, it has always been applicable until 2008, when suddenly it appears that all real estate can be discussed on a nationwide basis and lumped together as a single unified commodity. The truth is, and I understand that I’m preaching to the choir for the most part, there is no national housing market. The “national housing market” being discussed and lamented for the past several months is actually made up of thousands of very “real” individual neighborhood markets in your communities and mine, where the true market values should be and normally are determined by, you guessed it……Location, Location, Location.

Now, I am not ignorant enough to think that our economy does not have serious problems or that the real estate industry is not suffering from mistakes made during the boom years of easy loans and soaring demand. I know that the high number of foreclosures, short-sales and bank-owned properties have a tremendous impact on neighborhood markets, and has drawn attention at a national level. However, I do believe that the overwhelming fear and lack of confidence has been increased by misrepresenting the problem with a constant barrage of news on declining “national housing” prices. The truth is most of us will suffer to some degree during these challenging times and many will suffer more than others, but it also true that some bold individuals will flourish because they make wise choices and take courageous risks based on the actual conditions in their specific location, not based on national averages.

Part of our role as real estate professionals is to help communicate to the public and educate the public that real estate is local, has always been local and will always be local. The news about the market in another part of the country does not universally apply in our communities. It is our role to find out what the market is doing in our specific community. This may require us to focus even more intensely on even smaller segments of our communities….even down to neighborhood levels.

We need to be able to accurately advise our clients, buyers and sellers, on their realistic options. In today’s market, those options may not always be in our immediate best interest, as agents, for all neighborhoods, but in the long term we will all benefit from a market that operates on the best local information and facts. The challenges and opportunities are all unique to the location.

We still buy and sell real estate based on Location, Location, Location. In fact, one of the first questions agents ask of their buyers is, “Where are you interested in living?”

Original post at ActiveRain.com

Buford has already built their mixed-use development at the intersection of Buford Hwy and Hamilton Mill Rd. Their concept of providing shops, restaurants and residential condos in a walkable development is very similar to Suwanee’s concept. However without the park, amphitheater and fountain in the recent economic environment, the Buford Village development is not filling as quickly as anticipated, but will be successful in the long run. The concept is definitely being accepted and even sought out by many commercial and residential buyers as the real estate market continues to improve throughout the Atlanta markets.

Both Norcross and Duluth have their own versions of the mixed-use “live, work, play” developments either under construction or consideration as means of revitalizing certain sections of those communities. Alpharetta’s Prospect Park is another example of the expansion of the mixed-use development concept. As described in Beth Warren’s AJC article on 7/30/08, Loganville’s city council will soon be reviewing and voting on a mixed-use development on 28 acres surrounding an existing lake on US 78, which is proposed to include an amphitheater for concerts and community events very similar to Suwanee Town Center Park and Atlantic Station in downtown Atlanta.

Suwanee Gateway (Opus South development) at I-85 and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Rd is under construction and will become another great addition to the “Play Hard, Live Well, Smile More” neighborhoods of Suwanee. As residents of Suwanee, we already know about the lifestyle that the reader’s of Money magazine learned from the 2007 “Best Places to Live” edition and what many of our neighboring communities are beginning to learn.

Realtor with Diamond Dwellings Realty in Gwinnett County Georgia just northeast of Atlanta. Enthusiastic resident of Suwanee and 12-year resident of Gwinnett county with an extensive network of family and friends throughout metro-Atlanta and Georgia. Additional residential real estate experience as the owner and primary inspector for Look Close Home Inspections serving the metro-Atlanta and surrounding areas for over 6 years, including work as a certified radon gas test provider. Past career experience includes 10 years service as an officer in the Air Force and over 9 years as an outside sales engineer calling on industrial and retail corporate clients throughout the southeast.

Diamond Dwellings Realty – Agent

Now we’re bringing our unique brand of internet-focused real estate marketing to Suwanee because we’ve come to LOVE the lifestyle here! If you want to buy or sell real estate, we want to put our experience and our passion for this city to work for you!

We’re hiring agents now for our Suwanee Dwellings market, so call us now at 678.279.4700 or send email to matt@diamonddwellings.com