Atlanta, GA Georgia State Capitol Originally uploaded by army.arch Greetings Peachtree City! Well it finally happened! Governor Sonny Purdue signed into law the highly debated House Bill 261 on May 11, 2009. How much controversy was behind this bill? Well, as far as the Georgia Association of Realtors were concerned, it was at the top of their 2009 agenda. From the side of the opposition however, this bill seemed unnecessary because it was felt that the credit would not pose to be a huge incentive for folks that were preparing to buy anyway. Critics also stated that Georgia is facing a $3.1 billion deficit in fiscal year 2010 and projected deficits projected at $746 million in 2001 and $1.7 billion in 2012. Just for the record, I personally think that Governor Purdue should be commende... 05/16/2009

Thoughts the oneOriginally uploaded by FeelFreeTravel Greetings Peachtree City and friends that have followed my blog. Over the last several months I noticed that my sites were getting tons of hits from all over the country as thousands of folks were reading my blogs. (I know because each of my sites has analytics to track visitors) Anyway, if you have read one of my posts you pretty much know that this is definitely not your A-typical real estate blog.  Each post was the result of extensive research, years of study, and personal experiences. These experiences in both the public and private sectors proved to be real "revelations" about the inner working and the behind the scenes activities of our systems related to finances, government, education and the economy. The results of my know... 05/06/2009

Get ready Peachtree City...the Japanese Zero Air Show is coming as part of the Peachtree City Memorial Day celebration on May 30, 2009! The air show features an excitingly and breath-taking replica of the feared and famous Japanese "Zero" fighter that once ruled the Pacific skies in the early part of WW II.   This aircraft is a replica A6M2 "Zero", also known as a "Zeke" and was built for the filming of the now famous WW II film Tora! Tora! Tora! about the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Just to give you a little bit of history, The A6M2 or Zero was one of the most significant aircraft in the Japanese Navy's arsenal.  Also known as a Zeke, this piece of machinery was a fighter aircraft whose performance was far superior to anything in the United States inventory, and perhaps the world.  The Ja... 05/06/2009

A house does not need to be vacant to need staging when it comes time to sell . . . Sometimes it takes an out-of-the box presentation to be the best in the neighborhood.  It's all about the Web pictures that can lure in showings from the Internet . . , Presentation that can aide the Realtor to create multiple showings.    Creating warmth can often be simple . . .  work with the furnishings the home owner has . . . Then add the accessories that they need to make the look . . . let the showings begin!         Peachtree Home Staging works with the owners furnishings, comfortably re-designs the layout and flow of the various rooms, and then added the accessories. WA LA . . . as the magician would say . . . How folks live in a home is their business, how folks present the home for sale is my... 04/27/2009

Hey AR, it has been a pretty sobering experience to speak with some many folks who now face the simple fact that their homes are now worth less than they owe on then.  Hence the terminology being "underwater".  For the people that have not experienced the joys of home ownership yet, it equates to the same thing as your car being "upside down" where you actually owe more that its worth.  I have been impacted by this behemoth phonenomon because we decided to build a custom home in a brand new golf course community.  Being the 2nd or 3rd home sold,  we felt we got in on the "ground level" before the word got out and prices got jacked up.  Now I probably need to preface that statement because I don't want it to be taken out of context.  We are investors and have other real estate and the ho... 04/17/2009

What a statement!    "There are many ways to avoid success in life, but the most sure-fire just might be procrastination." What can you do? 1.  Make a list for the week.  On Sunday night, make your priority list.  Arrange it with #1 being the highest priority (and the most profitable for your business) and continue through to the low priority tasks.  Start with #1 and do not move to #2 until it is finished!  If you have a large project, you could break it down into smaller tasks.  The most important could be #1 and the next could be on the list as #4.  That way you get a break from the project but you will get back to it soon. 2.  Figure out what your distractions are and turn them off.  You know what I'm talking about: email, Facebook, surfing the net.   That's right, just don't do it ... 04/17/2009

Hey AR...you know I often wondered what Ben Franklin was really thinking about when he wrote the phrase "the only thing certain is death and taxes"in a letter sent to his friend Jean-Baptiste Leroy in 1789.  We all know that our day is enviable but have you ever really thought about which one really comes first.?  Oh come on.......you know the taxman always cometh first!  But the truth be told folks look at how much of our lives are regimented based on the simple premise of trying to avoid tax liabilities.  Just how bad is it?  Let's pause to reflect for just a moment.  We spend enormous amounts of time and money looking for investments, shelters, tax loopholes, and yes some folks even plan to have their babies just at the end of the year to get that extra tax credit!  Shameful you say?... 04/15/2009

Okay AR...can we talk for a moment?  It's official!  After the meeting of the G20 all of the World's Governments are now focused on "fixing" the problems at all costs.  Hmmmmm...so when did government get bigger than the market?  Don't know.  Back to the G20 in uno momento.  First...what you may or may not know is that recently the Financial Accounting standards Board (FASB) suspended its rule #157-e...the Fair Value Rule.  Basically this rule requires banks to value their assets using a "mark-to-market" method.  Not sure what mark-to-market valuation is all about...go back and check out an earlier post of mine.   Anyway, the FASB reports that the new measure purports to guide asset holders who mark their holdings to market through a two-step process to help them decide "whether a marke... 04/06/2009

Hey Peachtree City and AR friends, as you know April Fool's day is normally full of playful pranks, and plenty of tomfoolery but the prank on this April 1 is a real threat to millions of computers.  Well, you may not have heard about it until recently on the news or 60 Minutes but a virus call Conficker C, threatens come out of dormancy and take over your computer on April Fools Day.  The virus is said to be able to disabe all your security programs and then proceeding to steal all your personal information.  In fact, CBS reported that it had a recent fight with this virus which took them 10 days to find and isolate.  Does Conficker C pose a viable threat?   All I can say is that everyone needs to at least be prepared.  How can this be you say?  Well from what I heard the "worm" may be ... 03/30/2009

Boulignini Shoes and Accessories located in Peachtree City, Georgia is a virtual artist studio featuring conversation-starting accessories.  The boutique exudes a stylish sense of surprise offering shoes, boots, handbags, belts, jewelry, and unique one of a kind accessories created by local and international designers and artisans. Shoe connoisseurs will find styles by Donald J Pliner (their #1 seller!), Vaneli, Frye, Oh, Matosse. Deer,Dr. Scholls, Deer, Uggs, and Carlos Santana.  By the way, shoes have gone green too! While you are there, check out the stylish J41s, a shoe made by Jeep featuring partially recycled rubber!  Boulignini also has it in the bag with a sumptuous array of handbags by Donald J Pliner, Hobo, and Sandra Roberts to name a few.       One of most unique jewelry co... 03/24/2009

Looking for a great place to shop but tired of the same ole shopping mall experience?  How about checking out The Avenues in Peachtree City, Georgia?  The Avenues At Peachtree City offers shopper a different experience with a more open-air feel to its upscale shopping experience.  Come enjoy the small town feel of this community with its unique architectural appointments such as sprawling green landscaping and ornamental arrangements, park benches and ornamental lamp posts, bronze sculptures, and those sparkling fountains giving the Avenues a modern feel and a fresh urban flavor.    As you take a stroll on the beautiful promenades you will find a host of beautifully decorated storefronts reflective of the swank and sophisticated styling of local and national merchants. However, the dev... 03/24/2009

Hey AR, Remember the scene from the classic 1983 movie with Al Pacino, "ScarFace" where the mob boss Frank Lopez (played by Robert Loggia) was bringing in the new guy Tony Montana?   Big Frank told Tony with a vociferous voice, "never underestimate the extent of the other person's greed!" Wow, I can see Spielberg or Scorsese chomping at the bit waiting to see how things play out with AIG and the Feds. They are probably anticipating not only a huge movie blockbuster but more that likely a sequel to boot...Cha-Ching! How about the scene from Wall Street where the great Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas)is recruiting his next protege, Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen). Gekko is in his office where no expense has been spared right down to the cuban cigars on his desk.  He get up on his soap box and begin... 03/23/2009

Okay Peachtree City, I heard all kind of scuttle-butt related to President Obama's take on correcting the financial structure of our country and supposedly suspending this system.  Now I know your next question will be, "What the heck is Mark-to-Marketing and how is it related to our current financial crisis?  Remember Enron and Worldcom and a host of other unscrupulous companies that bilked investors out of billions.  Yeah, somebody cooked their books!  Unfortunately not to many folks knew how.  But the real question here may be, "Could our financial meltdown be pinned down to something as simple as an obscure accounting rule?"  Maybe so...remember this rule was so devastating that FDR suspended it in 1938.  So why would the Bush administration resuscitate it again in 2007.  I know For... 03/18/2009

Hey Peachtree City...are you guys able to keep track of all the new legislation, regulations and other recent changes?  Yeah, it's becoming pretty esoteric, right?  However, I agree with Warren Buffet that we should support our President and the current economic policies.  It's just these new changes have added a cataclysmic amounts of information to absorb, review, and evaluate on top of all the gloom and doom we are inundated with day in and day out by our new media.  My brain is fried, my house in under water, and my finances could use some bailing out!   But there is still hope and plenty of money out there to be made....right?  Heck, the last estimate I read had the world's total wealth at $100 trillion dollars!  Yipee..its not like there is only a few loaves of bread and some fish... 03/10/2009

Hey Peachtree City...can you smell it in the air???  No...Sinuses again, huh?  Okay I'm talking about Spring!  Come on this is Georgia folks, we just had our snow and we are looking at a beautiful and sunny 75 degree weekend.  We all can use the vitamin D folks!  Well, if you hadn't recognized it yet then I can't suspect that you've recognized your W-2 in that huge pile of mail on your counter....Yes now you've got it.  It's tax time again, hurrah!  So long, bulky coats, ugly boots & mercilessly dry skin! Hello, Spring & tax season! Alright...if you are like me getting organized for my CPA can be a pain in the butt.  Especially with collecting  and keeping up with all those receipts.  Every year I keep saying that I am going to come up with a better system.  Oh you too?  There is help..... 03/10/2009

Hey Peachtree City...can you smell it in the air???  No...Sinuses again, huh?  Okay I'm talking about Spring!  Come on this is Georgia folks, we just had our snow and we are looking at a beautiful and sunny 75 degree weekend.  We all can use the vitamin D folks!  Well, if you hadn't recognized it yet then I can't suspect that you've recognized your W-2 in that huge pile of mail on your counter....Yes now you've got it.  It's tax time again, hurrah!  So long, bulky coats, ugly boots & mercilessly dry skin! Hello, Spring & tax season! Alright...if you are like me getting organized for my CPA can be a pain in the butt.  Especially with collecting  and keeping up with all those receipts.  Every year I keep saying that I am going to come up with a better system.  Oh you too?  There is help..... 03/05/2009

Homes are becoming more affordable than ever due to the decrease in home prices coupled with lower mortgage rates. In fact, in most housing markets the cost of home ownership versus renting is at or near its historical average.In these markets, there are some neighborhoods that stand out. Business Week highlights these neighborhoods in its report, "Best Affordable Suburbs 2009."Ironically, these neighborhoods are not the most affordable suburbs in the nation. Instead it is a list that includes suburbs where buying a home is a good value due to the economy, schools, and crime level.Peachtree City, GA made the list due to its outdoor recreation with two lakes and 90 miles of golf cart trails. It also has a very low crime rate. For a complete 50 state listing, visit Business Week's website... 03/03/2009

Okay Peachtree City...I'll admit I was watching the President address Congress the other night along with millions of other folks.  Although I have to say, I kinda felt like a kid waiting for the tooth fairy to come.  But instead of replacing one of my pearly whites with a shiny new coin, I was looking to replace the financial woes of the economy with at least a glimmer of hope.  The news media was buzzing as many folks talked about how President Obama has a great plan whileother pundits felt that the Obama Recovery plan was pretty ambitious.  His plan to rebuild, recover, and move America out of this depression is a $3 trillion-plus blueprint focused on education, health care, and energy.  Not to mention reforms to our banking industry which will include another $250 Billion more on to... 02/26/2009

I recently staged an occupied home that belongs to a great Realtor, Rachel Hayes with Prudential Georgia Realty.  She has a Realtor partner, Leigh Steele.  Together, Rachel and Leigh formed a TEAM prior to listing that they thought would give them the most powerful sales presentation possible for the home. They had the home pre-inspected by Gary Sloan of Advantage Inspection They contacted Dave Loeffler of Met Life for mortgage lending information They had the home appraised by a local appraiser, Sam Williams And I had the privilege of staging the home.  I worked with a combination of Rachel's furnishing and accessories and my Peachtree Home Staging's accessories and furniture solutions. Last, but not least, the home was video'd by Tom Knight of Knightyme Video Tours   So, ready for mar... 02/10/2009

Hey Peachtree City...the other night I was a part of the millions of music lovers checking out the 51stGrammy Awards when suddenly it hit me.  The music of Bono & U2, Coldplay, Kid Rock, Jennifer Hudson & others was a true reflection of life as we know it with all its struggles, successes, & failures.  Yep, music is the mirror of our souls and right now its crying out for the humanity in us all.  So you don't think there is a direct correlation between music and the impact it has on life and our economy?  Read on!  Getting ready for the Grammys I ran to the kitchen for refreshments.  My wife's version of the Beatles "Long and Winding Road" was the song playing in my head.  Maybe it was a reminder of all the financial hardship we are personally faced with and that road to recovery seemed... 02/09/2009