A recent article in the USA Today has made reference to the fact that homes sale prices have risen for the third straight month in July which is added fuel to speculation that the recent housing downturn has turned and better times are ahead.

With that being said, there are still numerous “deals” out there and if you are looking for a new home at a great price, we have five properties in the Madison Heights subdivision in Gwinnett County that you need to take a look at.

Madison Heights is a small enclave of homes located in one of the most desirable areas of Snellville with award winning schools, numerous shopping options, parks and so much more. This neighborhood has so much to offer and the recent price reductions make for a great deal.

With homes priced from the high $300,000’s to mid $400,000, these opportunities are not going to last. We have seen a great deal of interest since we have taken over these properties and expect to be sold out quickly.

Here is a list of these properties we are pleased to offer:

4462 Madison Run Place

4472 Madison Run Place

4452 Madison Run Place

4442 Madison Run Place

3113 Madison Run Cove

Give us a call or email me to schedule your private showings and you can email Scott Windish at Georgia Trust Bank,  swindish@georgiatrustbank.com for your loan pre-approval on this or any other property needs.

Have you or someone you know recently purchased a foreclosed home?  If so, you may be entitled to a refund from the county in which you live.  Please know, I do not provide this service, merely the information that can help you get what is rightfully owed to you.  There is a little known exemption that very few people know about and is rarely taken at closing.

On a $300,000 purchase you may be able to receive up to $300 back from the County.

Please feel to contact me for more information.

Matt Hermes

770-402-2819

mattsells@bellsouth.net

A newly released report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says home sales and prices posted gains in the second quarter, another sign that the ailing housing market is finally coming to life which is good news for both the housing industry as well as the economy overall.

The National Association of Realtors says the median sale price in the quarter was $174,100, up 4% from the first quarter, but still almost 16% below a year ago. Prices were down from a year ago in 129 of 155 metropolitan areas the group tracks.

Sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.76 million, from 4.58 million in the first quarter, but were still about 3% below a year ago.

Good news for home sellers? Well, I think so.  As we head towards Fall, home sales activity is important as a foundation for the fourth quarter of 2009 but more importantly the Spring 2010 Selling Season.  With the low interest rates, lower home prices, now is the time to jump off the fence. Prices should continue to rise in the next year and the inventory will continue to decline which means now is the time to buy.

Located in the highly sought after Glenaire section of the Hamilton Mill subdivision, this home located at 2242 Floral Ridge Drive is a rare find in Hamilton Mill and the seller has priced it to move quickly at $434,900.

Rare Master on Main floorplan features a spacious master with wonderful bath. Main level is wide open and flowing with a large family room with stack stone fireplace, tremendous kitchen with large granite bar, island, and large keeping room. Large dining room and office are also located on the main level and hardwoods adorn both the main and upper level.

Three  second level bedrooms are all huge. One bedroom has it’s own bath and the other two bedrooms are shared by a large jack and jill bath.  Also on the upper level is a wonderful loft area with built in bookshelves and computer workstations. You need to see this space.

One room has recently been finished in the basement as well.

Large level lot, with professional landscaping.

This is a MUST SEE!

Give us a call to schedule your private showing of this Hamilton Mill beauty.

Well, we were able to collect over 250 pair of slightly used athletic shoes and will be donating them to the Atlanta Union Mission in the next couple of weeks.

My 8 year old daughter thought we could help some folks in need and after reading an article about used tennis shoes in a tennis magazine we thought we could collect some and give to those in need versus giving them back to the manufacturer.

Here is a photo of McClain and the shoes we collected.

Gwinnett county is now home to the newest accredited 4-year public college in Georgia.  The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) has granted approval for Georgia Gwinnett College’s (GGC) accreditation.  The SACS accreditation signifies the college meets all the basic standards educational quality.  Students attending GGC will be eligible to receive federal aid in order to attend and the degrees received from the college will now be more widely recognized by graduate programs and potential employers.

Opening on August 18, 2006 with approximately 100 students, GGC held its first commencement ceremony on May 29, 2009 featuring U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus speaking to the class of approximately 40 graduates along with their friends, families, community leaders and college staff.  The college now expects to enroll over 3000 students in the fall semester and is well on its way to becoming a strong educational institution for the state.

While there are no established timetables for gaining accreditation, GGC’s ability to achieve this tremendous goal in less than three years is a testimony to the drive and determination of the college president, Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman,  as well as his faculty and staff.  Georgia’s first new 4-year public college in over 100 years is now accredited and prepared to continue adding new degree programs and students in the many years to come.

Over the past week or so you may have seen Southwest Airlines new commercials with the theme “It’s On”. If you have not I have posted a link to one of the commercials picked up from You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnvOlI7sgdo

This is such a creative ad campaign and one that truly hit home for me. Yes it is “On” now is the time for each of us to drag ourselves up from our bootstraps and get out there and go. The economy is turning and will only move forward if each of us has the atttude that “It’s On”

I laid awake last night for over an hour thinking about that commercial because I was so pumped. I never thought a commercial could get me so fired up to get moving and change the direction we all have been dealing with. We all have been through some pretty rough times over the past couple of years. I do not know of anyone who has not had to deal with some type of hardship recently and now is the time to get moving forward.

So what are you doing to get “It On”?

We all need to change our own attitudes and patterns of the past couple of years and get this country moving in the right direction.  No matter what your political or social views are, the fact remains that each of us will contribute to the rise of this country and we need to get “IT ON”.

Today, House Bill 261 was signed by Governor Sonny Perdue. This bill provides an $1800 tax credit which would be taken over three years. This bill is immediately in effect and is meant to spur the housing market. The amount of the credit will either be $1800 or 1.2 percent of the purchase price (whichever is less).

If you are a first time home buyer, this tax credit would be in addition to the $8000 federal credit. Eligible properties include single family residences including condos, previously occupied homes that were listed for sale before May 11, 2009 and are still listed, and bank owned properties. The bill did not include investment properties.

The goal of this bill is obviously to provide an incentive to move current inventory and to get would be home buyers back in the game. If you, or anyone you know, are ready to purchase a home, Signature Lending Group would love an opportunity to earn your business and to help you take advantage of the new tax savings. We are more than willing to hold your hand throughout the entire process. Call us anytime at 678-387-5580.

Looking for that perfect golf course home on one of the finest golf courses in Gwinnett County and the state of Georgia?  Set on the 7th tee of the Fred Couples designed Hamilton Mill golf course, Diamond Dwellings is pleased to offer this masterpiece of design and function located at 3103 Cambridge Hill Drive. Click on the address link to view the virtual tour of this masterpiece.

Built in 2006, this home offers the Buyer a rare opportunity to purchase one of the most sought after addresses in Gwinnett County.

The serene and quiet golf course lot offers a wonderful view of the 7th tee box and fairway while   relaxing  on the open rear deck or screened in porch.

Virutal Tour

From the two-story Foyer and its magnificent floating dual circular staircase, soaring ceilings, and enormous windows, greet you as you enter this beautiful home.  Spectacular and stunning details yet extremely livable, this home creates a wonderful environment for any size family.

The spacious master suite on the main level is joined by a large master bathroom and plenty of closet space. The kitchen and Keeping room

Looking for a kitchen that will be the envy of your friends, well this home has it. Fabulous Gourmet Kitchen! Designer touches include granite countertops, high end appliances, two ovens, microwave and much more. Large Breakfast bar which will comfortably accommodate 5 or more barstools. The Kitchen adjoins the Breakfast Room and overlooks the Keeping Room which features a stack stone fireplace flanked by built-in cabinets.

Looking to entertain? The 12+ seating dining room offers a wonderful view of the large front porch and offers wonderful detail. The two story family room with built in bookshelves and large fireplace make for the perfect gathering place for families or for entertaining.

Four oversized bedrooms on the upper level in this home create a wonderful living experience. Upstairs loft offers space for an informal sitting area or student study/ computer headquarters.

For more information on this one of a kind Hamilton Mill home please give us a call to arrange your private viewing.

In a effort to provide timely and relative information on Gwinnett County home sales, I have provided this information for you as it was taken from the Gwinnett County Tax Commission website.

I was very surprised to see how drastic the change has been in the last year or so.

The number of homes sales is almost half of what it was last year and pricing has dropped considerably. What does this mean to you as a seller or buyer?

If you are buying a home, do not wait, especially if you are a first time buyer. Pricing will never be better and with the low interest rates and the First Time Home Buyer credit available now is the time to get off the fence. Do not wait.

As a Seller, you need to realize that price and condition are key. Price the home too high and you will sit on the market for a very long time. Price it properly and get it sold and you are now able to take advantage of the low prices on your new home. Yes, you will take a “hit” on the sale but you can more than make up for it if you are purchasing another home.

Statistics for Gwinnett County 2008 vs. 2009 Single Family Residence

Time               # of Sales         Median Sale Price

Feb 2009     368                     $168,051

Feb 2008     693                     $185,700

Jan 2009     455                     $170,000

Jan 2008     826                     $189,000