Yesterday I read a post by Liz Moras on this subject and it prompted me to talk to buyers in my area a little. I got a call Saturday evening at home.   The customer dialed the office number, but at Lane Realty if you dial our office number after business hours, you still get an agent (please don't call after 11, we do need sleep).  It's been a long standing practice at Lane Realty to forward the phone to a full time agent for customers who call during evening hours or before the office opens at 9 a.m.  We strive to be available when customers/clients need us.  And you never know what time someone might call to make an appointment.  Back to my call.  The caller had been at Lake Sinclair earlier in the day with a cell phone that had service from a company that didn't offer good service in... 11/12/2009

It's really still warm for this time of year, the highs have been a little above average in the 70's this week and finally we've had a week without 5 days of rain. It is really beautiful this time of year on Lake Sinclair.  The fish are biting and water is calm and most of the ski boats and seados have been put away for winter.  Fall is really my favorite time to be out on the lake putzing around in a pontoon boat. (I long ago gave up water skis and fast boats).  My husband is the fishing fan in the family.  I'm pretty satisfied to have a good book along. Our two dogs also love the lake and it's hard for us to keep them out of the water.  Labs don't care how cold it is and our Great Dane well he'd follow Laney anywhere. There are still some wonderful real estate bargains out there right... 11/07/2009

Every year my Donald carves me a pumpkin, The seeds are roasting in the oven usually by this time, but not this year. We go to the market and we buy a big bag of candy.  We trim the lantana off the steps.  The porch light is on, the lights are dim and we get ready... just in case. And as always, out where we live, the knocks do not come to our door with one single exception.  This year the one beautiful little girl who came to knock on our door and say "Trick or Treat" was Dorothy from Kansas.  She was just beautiful and we nearly stuffed her pumpkin full of candy, puzzle books, pencils and gummy things.  She gets a real loot at our house, because we only buy candy we like since we usually end up having to eat it. Dorothy also stayed to visit a while.  She got to play with Gabby and giv... 10/31/2009

For years now Lane Realty has been listing foreclosures.  As the market has changed more and more foreclosures are occurring and dictating market values.  So if you are looking to purchase a foreclosure in the Lake Sinclair area who better to help you than a brokerage thatis familiar with the process and extra steps and paperwork of a foreclosure. There are a lot of great deals out there right now.  Even private party listings have values that are lower than they have been in years.  If you are looking for a waterfront property on Lake Sinclair it's a great time to invest Here are just a few of the deals available. For a more complete list of properties available you can visit our website and search the Lake Sinclair Area Multiple Listing Service. It's updated daily!   10/27/2009

Thinking of selling your home on Lake Sinclair?  Think it doesn't matter if you don't have flood insurance because you have no mortgage?  Well your buyer may have to have a mortgage so it's still something to think about. Today I got this email inquiry: Tammy,   I have not connected in some time, but wanted to say hello and get some guidance-My sister and I have a home over off XXXXX River on XXXXX Drive and we looked into flood insurance recently and were told by our insurance company today that she plugged in our address and we are in flood zone A- I remember that I read that some mapping was re-done, but not sure on the specifics as we do not have a traditional mortgage thru a bank where they may have informed the owners-we are being told the cost would be $2K /year- just wondering i... 10/21/2009

Today I spent part of the day out and about checking on my listings.  Tonight we have our first freeze warning.  It's early for that, but mother nature didn't really ask us, she just sent it.  And out in the rural area where I live many homes still have wells.  And your well house needs several things: Insulation Wrapped pipes that exposed A light bulb or spotlight I also switched many homes from the A/C to the heat today.  Usually in a vacant home I just set it on about 58, that is enough to keep things from freezing.  And if you haven't had a chimeny sweep, you should have that done before burning a fire.  And hopefully you have remembered to check your propane tank and make sure it's full and had your furnace checked out by a professional. And tonight, bring your pets inside.  And af... 10/19/2009

I have a busy busy busy schedule.  I am at work 6 or 7 days a week for 8 to 12 hours a day.  I teach Sunday school and have for 18 years now.  I have two large dogs and 3 regular sized cats.  I don't "do" yard work.  And if anyone reading this has a television you know that the southeast USA experienced a few years of terrible drought and I needed something that was drought resistant and could live without pruning, watering and dead heading. I went to Agee Lawn & Garden center and asked them what I could plant and forget about, but the birds would enjoy and would be pretty.  This was their recommendation. I guess I forgot to mention that I would be bordering my steps with them and might still need to be able to navigate the steps.  Yes I could just whack off the parts of the plant that ... 10/08/2009

Immediately after the sign went up on this new listing we got a call.  The agent hadn't even taken inside photos yet to put on the web site because the owners were packing up and moving out and boxes were everywhere. It's over 4000 sq. ft. and a wonderful Lake Sinclair home on two lots. A showing was scheduled.  An offer followed. It was very low. Now of course we'd done a CMA using recent sales.  BUT, the owners knowing what the market is like had also hired a local appraisal firm to give them a current appraisal.  So we went with a very close to appraised value listing price. $425,000. And taking into consideration that the home is also being sold nearly completely furnished we feel it's listed near what it should bring. The owners did counter the offer we received on the property. Th... 09/24/2009

I'm 44 (and I am happy to tell you that), I won't mention the ages of my parents... Don't know how much my mom would like that?!, but you can do the math. I honestly think they might have been the very last people on the planet to get an answering machine.  Growing up we had one phone in the house and it was on the kitchen wall.  I'm pretty sure I was away at college when my brother finally put a phone line in a bedroom and he put it in my bedroom and ran a second wire to his room via a splitter.  For about a decade there was the generic voice that came on the machine telling people to 'PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE'.  Then finally I put a personal message on it for them.  Mom called me once and one of her friends had said, "Tammy is that you, what are you doing at your parents house today?"  ... 09/23/2009

I'm currently burried under the red blob where it says Eatonton and it could be days before I get to take photos.  In fact, it could be days before I get to walk my dogs again.  I'm needing some sunshine please.  I really want to showcase my new Lake Sinclair listing.  It's a 1 year old manufactured home on water for just $245,000.  Good lots sell for that price on my lake.  Hope I can show it to you very soon.   09/17/2009

                               September 3 - Oct 3 The Old School History Museum presents the exhibition "Farm Life: A Century of Change for Farm Families and their Friends" at The Plaza Arts Center. 12 pm to 4 pm daily. For more information and to book group tours call 706-485-3156 or visit www.theplazaartscenter.com. How cool would it be to take your children to see how farming is done.  And Putnam County is the Dairy Capitol of Georgia, we have a  lot of farms here.         September 21  Putnam General Hospital Foundation Annual Golf Tournament.  Participants enjoy prizes and a silent auction. $175 per player, $700 per team.  All donations and entries are tax deductible and go towards buying new IV infusion pumps for the hospital.  For more information, call (706) 485-2711, ext 202. ... 09/11/2009

Currently Lane Realty has 23 waterfront listings on Lake Sinclair.  They range in price from $110,000. to $485,000.  Prices are lower than anytime in the past three years, but I have seen recently that sales prices are  rising again and not still going down. If you don't see what you are looking for in our inventory I invite you to visit our web site and search the entire MLS. Our office is open 7 days a week for your convenience and WILL be open on Labor Day Weekend.  Monday to Satuday our hours are 9 to 5 and and Sunday we are open from 1 to 5. Other hours can be arranged by appointment if needed. So if you are visisting the lake next weekend and want to stop by and pick up a package of information on Lake Sinclair, we'd be happy to give you one or show you property.   08/29/2009

Lovely A-frame with 3 Bedrooms and 2 Baths on Woodslake Drive in Crooked Creek Cove priced at only $225,000.  This is a quiet cove not far off the main channel, water is boatable and the view is serene and peaceful. Home features hardwood floors, stone fireplace, screened porch, wrap around deck, dock, deck near the water front and is a fee simple lot that you own from the road to the water. Area is restricted to site built homes only. This is a motivated seller and this home is priced below many other similar floor plans.  We'd be happy to show you this home.  Just call Lane Realty to set up an easy appointment. 706-485-96968. . . . . . . . . .   08/18/2009

If you don't have cash, you may not be closing in 30 days anymore.  There's a new "review" period for good faith estimates before your lender can begin work on your loan. A great video to watch The government is AT it again.  Doing something under the the guise of "protecting the public" and hurting them instead. I vote for smaller government.  I mean I think I can make the wise choice about wearing or not wearing a seatbelt without the government having to make it a law.  And I think I can make the wise choice about proceeding with a loan if the actual figures come in way over my good faith estimate.  But for the time being, my advise to buyers is... Use a lender that is my list of "trusted" lenders Make a realistic amount of time to close based on the facts as your agent presents them... 08/17/2009

I have to change things a bit here,because even though I really want to publicly "call out" a national bank and a particular loan officer, I won't do it. BUT... The contract, and they have had it for 6 weeks, said July 31, 2009.  Yup, that's tomorrow.  Are we closing? Of course not.  On the 22nd I called the loan officer who asked me to email her instead because she was "just getting those documents".  So I also emailed her that day to check status and see if we were on schedule to close.  Six, count them 6 DAYS later, I get a reply that says please check with her closer to the scheduled closing. WHAT?  Check with you closer to the closing you say on the 28th when it's supposed to be the 31st.  Oh and the PS on her email that is part of her signature said... I will get back to you in 24... 07/29/2009

Finally the remodel is complete!  One of my favorite places to eat has been closed the past few months for a serious remodel.  My husband was missing spicy green beans.  Bone Island Grill opened back up just in time for their wonderful 4th of July fireworks.  The place looks great.  They added to the interior more seating, a really nice new bar, and even added to the outside porch seating.  Wednesday this week on the porch will be Conner Pledger of Moreland  & Thursday will be Barry Michael, that after checking out his web site I'm looking forward to getting to hear.  I'm a fan of country music.  Of course I'm a country gal.  He also has a song that's free to download on his web site and you can buy the entire album there too. So for some good food and good music... I'd love to see you ... 07/14/2009

I went to the bank earlier in the week to make a trust account deposit.  The teller's phone rang *internal bank call and she answered, hung up and let me know my loan officer wanted to see me after I was finished with my transaction. I bank with The People's Bank, Lake Sinclair Branch and my loan officer is Donita Roberts.  She can be reached at 706-485-6710. Now I must admit, I felt like I'd just been sent to the principle's office.  But I sat down and said, hey what's up?  She asked how things are going at work and I was completely honest when I said, we're hanging on, but I wish it was better.  Well she had an offer that I can't refuse.  My office (and I built a new building 3 years ago) loan is with The People's Bank.  They are going to renew my loan (not a true re-fi), but a renewa... 07/10/2009

For all of you read my post about my sick puppy Glen who had eyes swollen shut two weeks ago *and let me tell taking a 115 pound doggie who can't see for a walk is quite the chore!* Glen is doing much better.  He's off the meds with the exception of benadryl twice a day until the redness goes away and he stops pawing at his eyes.  Don't know what our pup may have had an allergic reaction to, but we are being very careful with him.  He's on the mend and both eyes are open now. Much thanks to Lakeside Veterinary Clinicwho were there for us.  If you need a great vet in the Lake Sinclair area.... I suggest you take your pet to them.  They are located in Milledgeville (Baldwin County) right on 441 near the lake.  478-452-7422 07/07/2009

If you live near Lake Sinclair or are visiting this Independence Day you won't want to miss the Crooked Creek Marina / Bone Island Grill fireworks.  I've been before, it was fantastic.  This looks to be really spectacular this year. This will be my husband's first 4th of July off work in years.  I'm excited that we will be able to attend.  The food at Bone Island Grill is great and for the celebration of the 4th of July they will have bands starting at 11:30 a.m.  You can check out their web site and find the schedule.  Make special note of the times the boat docks and ramps will be closed before and after the fireworks.  To watch on the lake from the boat is just spectacular.  But do be careful and make sure you have proper lights on your boat and a designated driver who is not drinkin... 07/03/2009

My real estate company has agents on vacation, agents with relatives in town, an agent with their wife having had surgery this week.  So short staffed feels like an understatement.  But I always believe that things work the way they are supposed to for a purpose. Yesterday, I covered a home inspection appointment for an agent who could not be at work yesterday.  I met his buyer clients and the home inspector at the property they have under contract.  It's about a 45 minute drive from our office to the other side of Lake Sinclair. I left in plenty of time, having not been to this house before to give myself time to find it.  The home inspector on the other hand, did not leave in time to allow himself time to find it and be on time.  He also did not follow the directions.  Finally he call... 07/02/2009