Madison Georgia's top selling real estate office for 2013 is Coldwell Banker Lake Country, according to statistics complied by the Lake Country Board of Realtors MLS*.    With $6.4 million in closed sales volume year to date, the office is already more than $1 million ahead of 2012 total closed sales volume.  I've been the top selling agent based in the Madison office since the office opened in 2005 - having my base on Main Street in Madison is something I really value! My business is split about 50/50 assisting buyers and sellers.  Most of my buyers are seeking quality of life change - some are looking for privacy (land), some are looking for small town living (Madison and our other historic towns), and some are looking for lakefront (Lake Oconee and Sinclair).  Having made the switch ... 10/23/2013

Madison Georgia homes for sale: Market Report October 2013   The Madison Georgia market continues to improve, with 120 homes sold in Morgan Country through September, and the median home price rising to $160,000 - up from $140,000 in September 2012. The most expensive homes sold in the Madison, Georgia area this year include a lovely 4700sf 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath lakefront in the Woods of Lake Oconee, sold in June for $870,000, and an upscale 5500sf 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath farmhouse on 20 acres, sold in August for $730,000. The mid-range included one of my listings - a 1950sf 4bedroom, 3bath ranch on a 1+ ac lot on a shared pond - plus a 2200sf 4bedroom, 2bath ranch in Madison, and a 2100sf 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath 1930's brick cottage on 2.5 acres in Rutledge. There have been 2 homes sold in the M... 10/06/2013

Sold!  Madison, Georgia - 40 acres of land on Plantation Rd, home included. What a deal STEAL!    Sure, the land was in rough shape from a previous timbering operation.              And the previous tenant had not cleaned up from her goat operation.         And roughly 50% of the land is unbuildable - in flood plain and hardwood bottoms surrounding Big Sandy Creek, which borders the property.               On the bright side, the 2008 3 bedroom/2bath Horton home was in excellent condition, and included all appliances.             Plantation Road is THE address for horse folks in Madison - with professional trainers in the 3 Olympic disciplines and many private farms.         This bank-owned property was listed for $232,000 - but the owners got a crazy good deal.  You'll have to call me ... 03/14/2013

  This Short Sale home in Buckhead Manor, Madison, Georgia went under contact in just 7 days!  Thats right - in a market with an average days on market more than 180 days, these sellers found their buyers in just 7 days! May 2 UPDATE - the buyers walked and the home is available! 5 showings, 2 offers, and a solid contract in just 7 days. What's the secret?  Price, Presentation, and Marketing. Price - $299,000 for this custom brick home with a finished basement including in-law apartment, on a private 1+ acre lot, is a great deal!  Its still on the high end for recent sales in Buckhead Manor, but its simply a great home. Presentation - This home was show-ready when it hit the market. The owners spent days de-cluttering and cleaning so the home would be at its best, and the result was im... 03/06/2013

Jeanne Dufort is the #1 Realtor based in Madison, Georgia for 2012 Sales Volume, according to stats compiled by the Lake Country Board of Realtors, and revealed at last nights annual Awards Dinner at Rock Eagle Conference Center.   Dufort also ranked in the top 10 Overall for the Lake Country Board of Realtors in both sales volume and units sold.   This is the 8th consecutive year Dufort has qualified for membership in the Million Dollar Club of the Lake Country Board - she's made the elite group every year she's been licensed as a Realtor.   ***************   My goal when I chose real estate as my "retirement career" was quite simple: use my marketing, analytical, and negotiating skills to assist people with buying and selling real estate in Georgia's Lake Country.  My special focus is... 02/27/2013

When working with clients I have to do research all the time.  When working with sellers it's research to determine the list price and potential sales price.  When working with buyers I also do the same research to determine offer price and potential purchase price.  My most recent research was into my family history.  My grandfather was a 7th generation decent of Martha Talbot, who was married to William Talbot who fought in the revolutionary war.  William's father Matthew also served during the Revolutionary war.  So today I submitted my formal application of membership to the Daughters of the American Revolution.  They said it could take up to two months for my lineage to be verified and membership accepted.  And of course I will want my daughter to join too.  Perhaps at her age she ... 01/03/2013

  I'll show you my marketplace, if you'll show me yours... I'll go first.   My office is in historic Madison, Georgia - population about 3,700.  Madison has a very active tourism and hospitality business, averaging more than 50,000 visitors each year. My farm is 10 minutes from Madison, in rural Morgan County, where farming matters.  We have a mix of heritage family farms, and new farms committed to sustainable practices.  With Atlanta just an hour west, foodies are discovering that our farms are fun to visit - so we created FarMeander.         My farm adjoins 19,000 acre Lake Oconee, Georgia's second largest lake. Renowned for its championship golf courses, Lake Oconee also offers boating and fishing sports.  The core of my real estate practice is centered in the three counties (Morgan... 10/21/2011

More Pics From Set Of Extreme Makeover in Madison, Georgia. Went back yesterday for another day of volunteering at the Extreme Makeover house in Madison. It is unbelievable how fast everything is moving! The family returns tomorrow from their Walt Disney World vacation and a brand new, dream home customized for Anaiah Rucker will be waiting on them. What an amazing day and incredible experience for all of us fortunate enough to have been involved!   07/15/2011

Pictures from the set of Extreme Makeover-Madison, Georgia. Yesterday marked Day 1 of the Extreme Makeover for a deserving Northeast Georgia family. Ty Pennington, along with the rest of the Extreme Makeover crew, surprised Anaiah Rucker who was credited this past March with saving her younger sister's life. Anaiah pushed her little sister out of the way of an oncoming bus and in the process sustained many injuries of her own. She wound up losing one of her legs as a result of the accident and now has a prosthetic. The dream team is here to build the family a new home that will be customized for Anaiah to hopefully help make her life a bit simpler. Thousands of local people have volunteered to help be a part of the event. Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee has the pleasure of being a Platinum ... 07/11/2011

Ivy Cottage in historic Madison Georgia is under contract! Madison has the second largest protected Historic District in the state of Georgia, attracting thousands of visitors every year to our popular home tours. Ivy Cottage is a 3,200sf C.1853 home has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, with a gorgeous kitchen and nearly new master suite.  The bonus is an oversize .9 acre lot with level private backyard and a 2 car garage, plus a heated sunroom. I love helping families choose a home in Madison's Historic District - there are always interesting choices available.  Right now, for example, there are twenty historic or reporduction homes available ranging from $199,000 for an adorable cottage ready to be updated to $1,750,000 for a C.1900 stately home on 5 acres thats currently being used as a bed an... 01/27/2011

Sold - 23+ acre horse farm land on Plantation Road, Madison,Georgia Another family joined the horse-friendly community on Plantation Road today, purchasing 23 beautiful acres with established pasture, towering hardwoods, and a beautiful creek flowing along the back property line. As I mentioned here, Plantation Road is home to beautiful private and professional farms specializing in the Olympic disciplines of dressage, jumpers, and three day eventing. Plantation Road is located just 5 miles north of Madison's quaint downtown with a wonderful array of shops and restaurants, and less than 30 minutes from the University of Georgia's campus in Athens. Would you like your next farm to be a short hack from professional trainers in three disciplines?  With horse-friendly neighbors all around? ... 01/21/2011

Its a rare winter when my Madison Georgia farm is blanketed with snow, but the winter of 2010-2011 looks like a memorable one. I hurried home from Atlanta Sunday evening, just before the precipitation started, and woke up to a winter wonderland. This is the view from my deck - my farm on beautiful Lake Oconee is usually more green than white! This is the second time this winter that we've been blessed with the white stuff - but this one comes with a dose of freezing rain and ice, followed by several days of temps below zero. It could get interesting... So far, its been a terrific day to catch up on work. But a bit more ice and we may lose power - I'll be happy for the loaf of oatmeal bread that nearly finished, and wish I'd tested the backup propane heater. Wish me luck! I specialize in... 01/10/2011

Tourism in Madison and Morgan County Georgia was up 5% in 2010, according to figures released today by the CVB. 65,880 visitors logged in at the Welcome Center in Madison's Historic downtown in 2010 - up from 62,477 one year ago. Hospitality and Agriculture are the two biggest contributers to the local economy, and the increase in visitors is good news to the downtown Madison businesses that depend on a mix of local and visitor support. Madison has the second largest protected Historic District in the state of Georgia, and its convenient location along I-20 midway between Atlanta and Augusta makes a day trip to Madison fun for many people. I specialize in rural properties and historic homes in the Madison and Lake Oconee area - give me a call if you want to discover just houw good life ... 01/05/2011

Madison Georgia has a new source for locally grown food! Madison and the greater Morgan County area is experiencing a resurgent of small family farms practicing sustainable agriculture, and Madison Locally Grown provides an easy way for locals and small farmers to connect.       Its even better than a farmers market - your order is harvested fresh for you and available right in downtown Madison each Wednesday afternoon, at the Madison Produce Company near the Courthouse.             From free range eggs, to milk and cheese, to grass fed beef and hogs and pastured chickens, plus honey and seasonal fruits and vegetables - if you and your family care about eating well you simply must make Madison Locally grown part of your weekly routine.           0ur temperate climate and farm friendly a... 10/21/2010

From 1974 to 1993, I was a die-hard urban dweller - Chicago was my (adopted) hometown. I loved the walkable neighborhoods, ethnic diversity, arts and culture, easy mass transit system, and - of course - my beloved Chicago Cubs! Who can forget crisp Friday afternoons at the park, and the Cubbies legendary announcer, Harry Caray, joyously calling "Hey, Hey"! Well, I've been in Atlanta for 17 years now, and I still get to cheer my Cubs on at the Braves ballpark from time to time - but life in horse country brings different ways to spend a weekend. This weekend, for example, I loaded and stacked 45 bales of hay.  Opie, our retired horse will be very grateful this winter for the delicious grass that my friends Beth and Bucky grew on their farm. My 50-something muscles had a bit to say about ... 08/30/2010

And voila!  You have your very own dream horse farm! What does it cost, you may wonder? It depends. How much land do you need What kind of fencing do you want What sort of barn suits your needs and, of course, how big is your dream home If you chose this 8 acres on Plantation Road in Madison Georgia, for example, the asking price is just $89,000!  Its on a quiet country road just 5 miles from downtown Madison, with professional dressage, eventing, and hunter/jumper trainers just a short hack away. You could also consider this 20 acre land tract on Knight Road in Madison - it features 50% lush pasture and 50% woods with rolling topography, amazing views, and a shared pond. Its about 8 miles southwest of Madison in an area of large farms, and the asking price is just $6800/acre.   Fencing... 07/12/2010

Fourth of July in Madison kicks off tonight, June 2, with the annual community picnic and concert on the lawn of our Cultural Center. The Classic City Band from Athens will once again entertain us with patriotic tunes - my favorite is their medly of service tunes - I join the crowd in applauding our many veterans as they stand for their song. The program begins at 7pm - but come early and bring your picnic.  By tradition, awards will be granted for the best table decorations, so consider unleashing your creative decor powers along with your culinary skills. On my table tonight - homemade bread, shrimp and brie appetizers, fresh garden tomatoes and cukes, pulled pork, and locally grown peaches and blueberries for dessert.  Yum! Just one more reason why I love living in historic Madison, ... 07/02/2010

Its impossible these days to drive through historic Madison, Georgia, or around the beautiful Morgan County countryside without noticing all the signs   The re-zoning application that will allow a proposed Regional Landfill is working its way through the review process.  Buyers thinking of moving here are asking questions, of course, and this gives me a chance to discuss with them what I love most about living in Morgan County: PEOPLE CARE. CITIZENS GET INVOLVED. AS A RESULT, MOST DECISIONS GET MADE BASED ON LONG TERM GOOD.   When the first public hearing was re-rescheduled, my friend Meg decided that "we, the people" should gather anyway. So with the help of a few friends, and with just one week's notice - more than 150 citizens gathered in our new Town Park to learn more about the pro... 05/03/2010

Plantation Road may well be the most horse friendly neighborhood in Madison Georgia. For generations, it was home to the Sidwell Plantation, where more cattle grazed than horses certainly.  But times change and most of the plantation has been divided into smaller farms. Grady Sidwell still tends his cattle on 180 acres of family land, now surrounded by horse farms. Four Seasons Farm opened in 2000 as a premier hunter/jumper facility, and today is also the host farm for Morgan County high school's new equestrian team.  Four Seasons has a 24 stall barn, covered arena plus 2 outdoor rings, and 60 acres of lush pasture. Rhythmn and Balance Equestrian Center opened a few years later - its a state of the art facility with an indoor 100x200 arena with Eurofelt footing and mirrors, 100x200 outd... 03/29/2010

Choosing a north Georgia horse-friendly community is no simple matter.  Some of the things you should check out include: are there good local vets who specialize in horses? are there local hay and feed suppliers? what about farriers? If you have performance horses, you'll also want to know if there are good local trainers in your discipline.  And how far you'll have to travel to competition venues. If you're planning to live with your horses - the cost and availability of good farm land will also make a difference. Land costs vary widely, and in some parts of north Georgia there simply is a scarcity of horse friendly land. Of course - proximity to work and good schools are also important factors in choosing a new community. More and more horse people are turning to the Madison Georgia a... 03/25/2010