Today Bank of America stopped the foreclosure process in all 50 States. If you are in the housing market this is NOT good news. But the reasons for why they had halt are not good either. With out Bank bashing lets look realistically at the situation. The banks got into a financial tail spin. So they cut costs (i.e. lay folks off). Then there are banks failures and the strong start to gobble up the weak.  The housing crisis explodes.the number of short sales along with foreclosures. So more work is needed to be processed with less people. To make matters worse a lot of the work comes from banks who the big boys gobbled. So the folks handling the work do not understand the other banks systems and since most of the other folks were laid off there is no one to explain things. As the work pi... 10/08/2010

For the second year running the Mountain Real Estate Report is being nominated for a GABBY. The GABBY is radio's award for a broadcast. Last year, and our first year nominated, we placed well. We are hopeful that this year now that we have some experience in this arena we may do better. The Mountain Real Estate Report has been providing information for North Georgia listeners on the air waves and on line for close to 6 years. Wish us luck and stay tuned !! 10/06/2010

The Mountain Real Estate report is heard through out our North Georgia Mountains. We service multiple counties and great communities like Big Canoe and Bent Tree. This weeks show focuses on the problems in the foreclosure market that have hit 23 States. In addition we provide great information on buying a foreclosure. we talk about loans that work and requirements for the many products out there. Enjoy the show Your browser does not support iframes. 10/06/2010

Yesterday we cranked up the wood burning stove. I went outside for more wood and smelled the air. Said to myself, "who is having a fire?" It was me !!! Days in the 60's and 70's with low humidity and blue skies are what is happening in the North Georgia Mountains now. At night we are dipping into the 50's and some places further North in the 40's. This is why it is festival time in the mountains and also a great time to look at property. Hope to see you all at an Octoberfest !!! 10/06/2010

The story goes that J.P. Morgan was getting his shoes shined one morning on the way to the office. The shoe shine boy was telling J.P about the stock market and how he was doing well in it. Now we do not know whether the shiner knew who he was talking to. But J.P. as the story goes went in that day and started to liquidate his holdings. His thinking was if the shoe shine boy is playing the market the market is over heated. That was in the summer of 1929. Our housing market went through the same thing in 2001-2006. People were buying 4 and 5 houses to flip. Retirees were putting in their pension funds to spread them around buying Condos in Florida that were not yet built. They were selling them before they were half way finished. In the end the bubble burst Today we have the herd in a fr... 10/05/2010

In days not so long gone by Realtors were necessary. People drove around and saw signs. They called a Real Estate agent who was listed on the sign. In each Real Estate office there were books of listings that Real Estate folks had access to. The buyers came to those brick and mortar buildings. Real Estate folks had big cars to drive families around and look at homes. When you decided on a home you went to your bank put 20 percent down, unless you were a veteran, and away you went. Enter the information age and access to the listings by anyone with a PC . So folks may ask , Why do I need a real estate agent any more ? It is my contentin that now MORE THAN EVER you need a trained real estate professional. Here is why. Sellers need the Internet marketing a Realtor can provide. Realtors do ... 10/03/2010

I had three foreclosure closings this week. All three of them involved pain. I represented the buyers in all three cases. Here are some things to look out for. 1 If you are doing a USDA loan allow yourself AT LEAST 45 days from the binding agreement date to the closing date. USDA is still catching up with their funding back log. And unlike normal sellers getting banks to extend is a problem which defies reason 2 Understand that 90 percent of asset managers do not care about your buyer.  So try to close on time. And please do not extend into a date where a manager might miss a quarterly or monthly bonus 3 Make sure your buyers understand NEVER to cancel their lease. Even if it costs them an extra months rent, these closing can really be pushed by the Seller. Many times this is due to las... 10/01/2010

Next Saturday the 9th Oktoberfest hits Big Canoe. There will be bands and plenty of good food. There will also be a number of booths with information on things like fire safety as well as Booths where you can buy things. If you are ion the Jasper area stop by and have some fun. I will be in the fire / BCERT booth for a lot of the day and would like to say hello to a fellow Rainer. 09/30/2010

The Mountain Real Estate Report is heard in a multi county area in our North Georgia Mountains. It reaches communities like Big Canoe, Bent Tree, and Talking Rock Creek resorts to mention a view. It reaches into Gilmer, Cherokee, Pickens, Dawson and North Fulton Counties. This weeks show focus is foreclosures and to expect the unexpected. we also go over things that are going on in our mountains. Enjoy the show and as always suggestions for topics for future shows are welcome. Your browser does not support iframes. 09/29/2010

This coming weekend is the Marble festival in Jasper Georgia. Jasper is the marble Capital of the U.S. Much of the mable in our Federal Buildings and even around the world comes from Jasper. In this economy for those of you who are buying  cultured marble sinks for your bathroom, chances are the Marble comes fom Jasper. Jasper also has a pink Marble vein. The Tate house in Jasper is an example of a home built with marble much of it pink. it is a unique and wonderful look. The festival will be this Saturday and Sunday and feature local artists as well as music and plently of food. If you sign up early enough there is even a tour of a marble mine. The whole thing has the feel of the festival inthe M.J. Fox movie Doc Holywood. It is a great time and hope you can enjoy if you are in the are... 09/28/2010

27 holes of Golf, 10 tennis courts (2 indoors), 3 pools (1 indoors) 3 lakes, fitness center, boccie, basketball court, baseball field,soccer field, hiking trails, clubhouse, multiple meeting facilities, over 10,000 acres (1/3rd set aside green), private security, in house EMT and fire service, underground utilities, elevations to 3500 feet, over 100 clubs and much much more make Big Canoe the gem for active mountain living. Home prices from the mid to high 100,000's up to 3.2 million make Big Canoe a diverse community that fits all budgets. Along with all of the above come sights like these; The lower falls in Big Canoe is a great place to pause while hiking to enjoy the cool water , the great sight and the rushing water sound Rhododendrons, as well as Azaleas and Mountain Laurel grow w... 09/26/2010

This weeks show is broken into 2 parts. The first part talks about the word Uncertainty. What does this word mean in our Real Estate Market. The second part of the show talks about fall n the North Georgia Mountains and all the great things going on. You would be amazed at all the diet busting festivals we have in the fall. Enjoy the show and I hope to see you in our Mountains. Your browser does not support iframes. 09/22/2010

Big Canoe homes for sale as of today are 291 on the market. Prices range from 189,000 to 3,200,000. This wide price range is a testament to the character and style of this great community. It is very affordable on the one hand , and attractive to high end buyers on the other. If you have not experienced this gem in the North Georgia Mountains let the folks at All Mountain Realty be your Big Canoe Community experts. There has never been a better time to buy in     09/22/2010

The beautiful community of Bent Tree is nestled in the Southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. With Golf Tennis an Equestrian Center and much much more Bent Tree is a hidden affordable jewel. Lake Tamarack in Bent Tree is Beautiful and over 100 Acres. One of the things that make Bent Tree such a great place to live is the spirit of the folks who live there. The following is from the Keep Bent Tree Beautiful committee. With the great spirit of volunteerism Bent Tree is  alive , well and a great place to live. The folks at All Mountain Realty are your community experts when it comes to Bent Tree , Big Canoe or many other places in our North Georgia Mountains.  Quote   Keep Bent Tree Beautiful, a group of concerned property owners dedicated to action that results in returning our commun... 09/21/2010

1 Thoughts The Mountain Real Estate Report is in its' 4th year on the radio. We have been very happy with it. The show was nominated, but lost, for a GABBY. So we need your thought for future shows. We do talk about property and ask for business. but that is just a small part of the show. We work hard to educate folks about real estate as well as interview folks who shape what is going on in our mountain communities. So please any ideas would be greatly appreciated. We have, in the past given credit on the air to Rainer's who have given us topics we have used. 2 $$$$$ Doing things yourself ,i.e. being self reliant, is the American way. The Big Canoe volunteer fire department works in Big Canoe AND throughout the mountains as called n. This year we have saved a life as well as 1 home and... 09/19/2010

This weeks show focuses on 2 aspects of home buying. One is the inspection. The other is the appraisal. The appraisal process has changed significantly this year. And the inspection process does more than tell you about issues a home might have. Thank you all for listening to the show. Your comments and suggestions for future shows are greatly appreciated. Your browser does not support iframes. 09/16/2010

Thanks to my ActiveRain blog the following happened. A couple of weeks ago I attended the FMLS show in North Atlanta. It is a very big real estate show here. As I was leaving the show I stopped at a booth sponsored by Big Canoe.  Since Big Canoe has a developer they can have a booth as a community. So I am saying hello to folks there who I know. One of them says, " Somebody was just here looking for you." " Looking for me?" I reply. "Why would they be looking for me here?" The answer was this person was a reader of my Big Canoe blog and just assumed that I would be here at the Big Canoe booth. Well the Big Canoe Blog is only on ActiveRain. So thank you ActiveRain, the recognition as a Big Canoe expert really made my day. 09/13/2010

Today we have mom and the kids going out for a family romp in the woods So here we have Mom and the Kiddies out for a day. It is rare to see a mom with 3 children. Whats happens when they get hungry? Junior has decided that he will pick some peaches. Unfortunately the tree has already been picked bare( no pun intended) Living in the North Georgia Mountains is great. Living in Big Canoe is wonderful. Think you know about gated communities? Does this fit your idea of an amentiy rich mountain community? Let the folks at All Mountain Realty show you live inthe mountains 09/09/2010

Arts and Crafts Show - Big Canoe GA:  Over three weekends starting September 10 and running through September 26, there will be a "Fine Mountain Arts and Crafts" Show within the gated mountain community of Big Canoe.  This event to be held at 901 Choctaw Village will feature over 20 Artisans and 3 galleries. The works of Ann Young, organizer and artist, will be on display and available for purchase.  You will also have an opportunity to meet Ms. Young who is recognized for her use of diverse subjects in her works, as you will note as you view her paintings.  Along with Ann Young, the show will include the artistic renderings of over 20 other artisans.  The exhibits of work from these artisans will represent their unique talents in various art modes such as photography, stoneware, basket... 09/05/2010

The Black and Blue and Tennis shoe second annual fund raiser for the Big Canoe Fire Department is being held November 12 at 6pm in Sconti. The Big Canoe fire department is 80 percent volunteer. Not only do we work in Big Canoe but we are called out to Dawson and Pickens county to assist. We are proud of the fact that as a community Big Canoe has one of the lowest fire insurance component costs in our mountains. As a volunteer in the Fire Department not only do I work with structure fires but I am part of the North Georgia Wild land fire task force. What this all means is that many of us give back in many ways to our respective communities. So this is my pitch for your help. If you are in North Georgia tickets go on sale this month. They are $75.00 each. We will be sold out. The event we... 09/03/2010