Covington Living Today

Home For Sale in Oxford, Georgia - Historic District

Fri, 21 May 2010 15:29:25 -0400

Home for Sale in Oxford, Georgia - Historic District GAMLS# 02856488 $249,000

For more information, call my mobile phone (770) 337-5262, or visit my website www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com

Home for Sale in Oxford, Georgia - Historic District - 3 Bedrooms. 3 Full Baths

I've never had a home that offers as much value as this lovely craftsman-style Home for Sale in historic Oxford. Situated on a private, wooded 2-acre lot, you can walk from this Home for Sale to the elementary school, the new Town Hall, and Oxford College of Emory University.

Custom built in 2007, the home has only been lived in for three months. And virtually everything in this Home for Sale is upgraded. The exterior is Hardi-plank siding for low maintenance, and the wooded yard features a picnic patio area with fire pit. Dual-pane thermo windows, extra insulation and dual-zoned natural gas heating and central air keep the home cozy in winter and cool in summer heat. The over-sized attached two-car garage leads to the interior and a covered side porch.

The main level of this Home for Sale features an open floor plan with a fireside Great Room leading to a formal dining area and bright open kitchen with inlaid tile floor, corian counter tops and back splashes, built-in appliances, and custom cabinets with lazy susans, slide-out and fold-out shelves. All appliances remain in this Home for Sale, including smooth cook-top electric range, built-in microwave, dishwasher, double-door refrigerator, and washer and dryer in the separate laundry room with deep sink. Flooring throughout this Home for Sale is ceramic tile, upgraded plush carpeting and Berber carpeting on the second level.

Upstairs is a huge Rec Room and additional bedroom space with full bath. And the regulation-size slate pool table also remains with this comfortable Home for Sale.

Among the many custom features of this Oxford Home for Sale are 10-foot ceilings throughout, custom blinds, mud room with deep sink, stacked-stone remote-controlled gas fireplace, tiled showers with shower seats, upgraded light fixtures and ceiling fans, furniture-grade bathroom cabinets, office with built-in shelving and tile floor, energy-efficient tank-less hot water system, central vacuum, and fire / security alarm system.

You may find other custom-built homes on beautiful lots, but you'll not find one that offers more value than this exceptional Home for Sale in historic Oxford, priced at only $249,000. The home may be purchased with cash, conventional, FHA, or VA programs, and the owner will even consider owner-financing. This is not a short sale or distressed property. Contact me today to view this move-in-ready Home for Sale property.

View the location of this historic Oxford Home for Sale on the map below. And be sure to watch the virtual tour located just below the map.

View Larger Map

For more information regarding this property, call my mobile phone at 770.337.5262. For more information on other Homes for Sale in Oxford, Covington and the surrounding areas, visit my website at www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com. And to keep up with what's happening in Covington community news, events and real estate market, visit my blog at www.CovingtonLivingToday.com.

Be sure to visit my website at www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com

To keep up to date on community news, events and real estate in Covington, Georgia and the surrounding area, subscribe to my blog, CovingtonLivingToday.com

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Home For Sale in Covington, Georgia - Myrtle Grove

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:02:44 -0500

Home for Sale in Covington, Georgia - Myrtle Grove GAMLS# 02816267 $69,900

For more information, call my mobile phone 770-337-5262, or visit my website www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com

Home for Sale in Covington, Georgia - Myrtle Grove - 3 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths

What a price! What a value! For this solid 3-bedroom, 2-bath ranch Home for Sale on a large 1.17-acre lot.
This Home for Sale offers comfort and the convenience of having all your living space on one floor! A fireside Great Room, open Kitchen, lovely bay-windowed Dining area anchor the home. And a huge Rec Room to the side of this Home for Sale is a great place for kids to play. Or let the kids outside into the private backyard via the access door from the Kitchen dining area.

Currently being renovated with fresh paint and new carpet throughout, this great little Home for Sale in the quiet neighborhood of Myrtle Grove will go quickly at this great price. You won't find a better value than this Home for Sale in Covington, so you'd better see it today!

Myrtle Grove is located off GA. Hwy 36, southwest of the city square. View the location of this Myrtle Grove Home for Sale on the map below. And be sure to watch the virtual tour located just below the map.

View Larger Map

For more information regarding this property, call my mobile phone at 770-337-5262. For information on other Homes for Sale in Covington and the surrounding areas, visit my website at www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com. And to keep up with what's happening in Covington community news, events and real estate market, visit my blog at www.CovingtonLivingToday.com

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Home For Sale in Covington, Georgia - Lakeside

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:12:47 -0500

Home for Sale in Covington, Georgia - Lakeside GAMLS# 02816280 $99,000

For more information, call my mobile phone 770-337-5262, or visit my website www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com

Home for Sale in Covington, Georgia - Lakeside - 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths

If you're looking for a Home for Sale in one of Covington's wooded, quiet neighborhoods as a first-time buyer, to downsize, or as an investor, this Home for Sale is a great value! Set on a beautiful lake-view lot of almost an acre, this Ranch-style Home for Sale has everything you need for comfortable living, including a fenced backyard for kids, extra storage space in youe outside building, and huge two-level deck for entertaining family and friends.

Located conveniently just outside Covington and Porterdale off Hwy 81, this Home for Sale has been totally renovated with new appliances and fresh paint and carpet throughout. Even the double, side-entry garage floor in this Lakeside Home for Sale has been sealed and painted for your comfort and convenience.

This Home for Sale interior features include Great Room with stacked-stone fireplace, bright, open Kitchen with Breakfast Area, separate formal Dining Room with chair-rail trim, and large Master Bedroom all on a single level.

Value like this is hard to find! This beautiful Home for Sale is ready for you now. Just bring the family and move right in to enjoy the Spring on your lovely Deck. Contact me today to view this move-in-ready Home for Sale property.

View the location of this Lakeside Home for Sale on the map below. And be sure to watch the virtual tour located just below the map.

View 110 Lakeside Drive in a larger map

For more information regarding this property, call my mobile phone at 770-337-5262. For information on other Homes for Sale in Covington and the surrounding areas, visit my website at www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com. And to keep up with what's happening in Covington community news, events and real estate market, visit my blog at www.CovingtonLivingToday.com.

You can also find me and more information about this lovely home on Localism.com.

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Bite Into Your "15 Minutes of Fame!"

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:33:35 -0500

Now you can bite into your 15 minutes of fame!

The CW Network's "Vampire Diaries" TV show has put out a call for paid extras as they continue to film the popular series in Covington. The show held an open casting call last July in Covington, but is still looking for extras of all types and ages.

To bite into this opportunity, all you have to do is send an email to the extras casting director at vampirediariescasting@gmail.com. Send along a recent photo, along with your name, age, height, weight, clothing size, and phone number

The pay?... $7.25 per hour, plus overtime if you work more than eight hours. And I've noticed that the crew films all hours of the day and night. I guess that's what it takes to be a good vampire.

The show's website says that "Vampire Diaries" was the best premiere ever for The CW network, and averages 4.5 million viewers, making it the network's most-watched show.

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Roll Me Over In The Clover

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:06:40 -0500

Roll Me Over In The Clover... words to an old ditty I was reminded of when I read the latest FHA rules waiver.

On January 15, the Federal Housing Commissioner signed a waiver of Section 203-37a(b)(2) of FHA regulations which essentially state that you cannot get an FHA loan for a property which has been purchased by the seller within the past 90 days. The waiver takes effect on February 1, and will be in effect for one year from that date.

What does this mean?

The FHA decided that waiving the 90-day sale rule will offer a multitude of advantages to both the agency and the US housing market:

It will help address the foreclosure crisis;
Give FHA a "greater opportunity to dispose of its single family REO properties in a way that maximizes return to the FHA;
Permit buyers to use FHA loans to purchase other bank-owned property;
Create market conditions allowing homes to resell as quickly as possible;
Help stabilize resale prices; and
Help stabilize neighborhoods and communities where foreclosures have been high.

So, let the "flipping" begin!

There's Always A Catch...

Naturally, there are a few restrictions to applying the waiver. But they're not so bad for transactions on the up-and-up.

All transactions must be "arms-length" between the buyer and seller;
Seller must hold title to the property;
No pattern of previous flipping associated with the property;
Property must be marketed "openly and fairly" via MLS, FSBO, auction, etc.

And in cases where the sales price of the property is 20 percent or more over the seller's purchase cost, the lender must justify and document the reason for the increase in value with the seller or through an appraiser, and must have an inspection done and provide a copy to the purchaser.

Will It Help?...

In part of the waiver order, the FHA says, "As a result of the currently tightened credit market, FHA-insured mortgage financing is often the only means of financing available to potential homebuyers. FHA has an unprecedented opportunity to fulfill its mission by helping many homebuyers find affordable housing while contributing to the stabilization or neighborhoods and communities."

This could actually be as good or better an effort as the homebuyer tax credits which expire this April. We'll have to wait ans see. But, let's hope so!

Roll me over...
In the clover...
Roll me over in the clover,
And do it again!

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"Political Correctness" Defined

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:28:24 -0500

Ron Brown, a loan specialist from Puyallup, Washington wrote a great blog today titled "Are these words "offensive?"

It's about two things... (1) What we can and can't say in real estate advertising to avoid Fair Housing Law violations, and (2) the condition and requirement that has sneaked into our society of being "PC," politically correct.

It seems that, at the beginning of every new year, Ron's local Multiple Listing Service board sends out a list of words to be avoided in real estate advertising by all their members because they may be found "offensive." The list is long, and includes such really nasty words as (dare I write them?):

Adult
American
Church
Couple
Family
Grandmas house
Healthy
Married
Older person
Retired
Student
Traditional
Woman
Working, and
Young

At my last count, Ron's blog post had over 100 comments from my colleagues around the country, most of which included words to describe the list as "absolutely pathetic, sad, outrageous, downright stupid, ridiculous," and "extremism to the 'n'th degree."

One commenter said "There is nothing in our Constitution that says that we have the right to NOT be offended." Another said, "We can't say 'America' without offending someone? This is what I fought for in the Marine Corps for the last 14 years!" And yet another pondered, "Let's see... Realtors can't use the word 'Negro' but the Speaker of the House of Representatives can."

I have to admit, I agree 100 percent with the sentiments and comments expressed by my colleagues. I'm sick of being worried about being "politically correct," the accompanying guilt trips associated with not being "politically correct," and even the term itself. I realize that there are words in our lexicon that are offensive to some individuals and groups, and we shouldn't use them... in advertising, or anywhere else. But, the reason we shouldn't use offensive words is out of respect for our fellow human beings and/or their condition, not because we're worried about being politically correct.

Come on people! We need to stop being a nation of wimps. If you're worried about calling someone, or offended by being called an "Adult American who takes the Family to Grandmas House after Church on Sunday," you need to pull up your big-girl panties and get a life!

Allegedly, there's an annual contest at a major Texas university which calls for entrants to write the most appropriate definition for a contemporary term. Last years term was "Political Correctness." The winning entry was:

"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

My sentiments exactly!

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The Only Thing That Stays The Same Is... CHANGE!

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:52:40 -0500

This month we leave behind a decade characterized by unprecedented change in our real estate industry and the world.

During the past ten years we saw our industry boom, lead the national economy, and then implode.

Today we look outward on a nation whose economic system is near collapse, an unemployment rate hovering around 10 percent, banks collapsing, huge companies being taken over by the government, and security systems that don't work.

Technology, with the emergence of flat-screen, high-definition digital-broadcast television, the IPod, Social Networks, smart telephones, advanced, inexpensive digital cameras, ultra high-speed Internet connections - all these changes within the last ten years. And you can bet that equally impressive and important changes will happen in the coming ten years... optimistically, changes for the better!

In the real estate industry, the change began on the first day of the new decade. HUD issued a new RESPA (the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) rule, effective that day, which changes the process of obtaining a mortgage. The object of the rule change is to make it easier for borrowers to comparison shop for their mortgage, and better understand the closing costs they have to pay.

Among the RESPA changes are:

Use of a new "good faith estimate" (GFE)
A new HUD1 settlement statement, which adds a third page to the statement
Restrictions and limits on which and how much GFE charges may change at the closing table, and
Bundling of fees on the HUD1 by category or provider, allegedly to make things easier for the borrower to understand.

Are these changes good or bad? Some say good. Some say bad. We'll just have to wait and see.

in another change in Georgia this year, now before a Realtor® refers a buyer to another broker they must do two things:

Get prior written permission from the person being referred for the referral, and
Include an estimate of the referral fee, if any, the referring broker will receive by making the referral.

What else might change in real estate in 2010? Real estate gurus and prognosticators are saying this:

Sales volume should be way up, compared to last year, particularly early on, due to buyers taking advantage of the expanded tax credit. (Not sure I believe that, but we'll see!)
Average sales prices may dip even lower, or stay flat at best, because foreclosures will remain high. (Signals continuing difficult times for sellers)
Future foreclosures will be more widespread geographically, not because of the market bust, but because of high unemployment. (Employment figures are usually the leading indicator of a bettering economy. Watch them!)
Agents will have to convince sellers to price their property realistically for this market. (Duh! Is that a change? You bet it is! And if they don't, the property won't sell.)
Short Sales will get easier and less confusing because lenders will staff up and develop routine processes to handle the sales. (I'll believe that when I see it!)

It should be very interesting to watch what happens in the coming decade in real estate... and in the world around us. But the one thing we can always count on... The only thing that stays the same is Change!

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Home For Sale in Conyers, Georgia - Short Sale

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:26:45 -0500

Home for Sale in Conyers, Georgia - Short Sale GAMLS# 02784578 $275,000

For more information, call my mobile phone 770-337-5262, or visit my website www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com

Home for Sale in Conyers, Georgia - Short Sale - 4 Bedrooms, 3 1/2 Baths

This lovely Home for Sale brings gracious southern living and "low country" charm to Conyers. The open Southern Living floor plan in Rockdale County's best school district has 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths. Climb the stacked-stone steps to the home's broad front rocking chair porch and enter the home's two-story foyer through the leaded glass front door. Straight ahead is a dramatic staircase to the second level, while to your left, through double french doors is the formal dining room which easily seats 12+ for fine dining.

Straight ahead of you is the sunken Great Room in this Conyers Home for Sale. Notice the stacked-stone fireplace, built-in bookshelves with entertainment center, and wet bar with ice maker. The huge kitchen includes corian counter-tops, gas surface unit, built-in oven and microwave, breakfast bar and pantry. Adjacent to the kitchen is the rear entry from the Home for Sale detached 2-car garage, a huge laundry room, bright breakfast dining area, and solarium. Completing the main level is the Master Suite with large master bath with two walk-in closets, and separate sitting room with built-in book shelves and entertainment center.

Upstairs in this Southern Living Home for Sale are three additional bedrooms, two full baths, and a huge rec room / office.

Other amenities in this Home for Sale include hardwood floors, Berber carpet, fire/burglar security system, intercom, heavy molding and trim, laundry chute from the upper level, tile backsplashes, and a partial daylight basement, stubbed and ready to finish.

A multi-level deck with hot tub anchors the rear of this Home for Sale on its wooded, 1.56-acre cul-de-sac lot.

This Conyers Home for Sale has everything your family needs for relaxed living and gracious entertaining. It can be yours through a bank-approved Short Sale, and is a great value at only $275,000.

The location of this home offered at Short Sale is shown on the map below. And be sure to see the virtual tour located just below the map.

View 1895 Birch Court in a larger map

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Farm For Sale in Covington, Georgia

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:07:21 -0500

Farm for Sale in Covington, Georgia - 4176 Hwy 81 South GAMLS# 02778963 FMLS# 3989815 $1,450,000

For more information, call my mobile phone 770-337-5262, or visit my website www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com

Farm For Sale in Covington, Georgia - 74.76 Acres - 4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths

This special Farm for Sale in Covington, Georgia, only nine miles from Covington's historic square, features 74.76 rolling acres and a beautifully decorated and immaculately maintained 4 bedroom / 3 bath Cape Cod home.

Secluded on a wooded plot at the end of its winding driveway, the lovely home on this Farm for Sale features cedar shake siding, dormer windows, and a huge 160 square foot screened porch stretching across its back. Inside is a comfortable, open Great Room and formal Dining combination anchored by a masonry fireplace and built-in bookshelves. The rear kitchen is light and airy and a chef's delight. Everything is at your fingertips. Modern appliances and conveniences, including built-in double convection ovens, solid-surface island cook-top, built-in microwave, spacious pantry space, corian counter-tops, and under-counter wine rack make cooking a pleasure.

Also on the main floor of this Covington Farm for Sale home is a convenient office which can easily be used as a fourth bedroom to fit the needs of a larger family. Upstairs are three additional over-sized bedrooms and two full baths.

The home's many special amenities include programmable thermostats, gas fireplace logs, burglary / fire alarm security system, wide wooden blinds, over-sized bedrooms, hardwood, carpet and ceramic tile floors, water softener, and built-in vacuum system. Outside the home is an in-ground 18 X 36 gunite pool.

The gently rolling acreage of this Farm for Sale is approximately half wooded and half open pasture, fenced and cross-fenced. A short distance behind the home is a perfect spring-fed lake site. And to the right of the home, beyond the pool, is a large kitchen garden spot and grape arbors. The Farm for Sale also includes open storage sheds for tractors and equipment and a large outbuilding for workshop or additional storage space.

Don't miss the comfortable convenience and secluded splendor of this beautiful Farm for Sale with its move-in-ready home. It's perfect for the "Gentleman Farmer" and his family to play, relax and entertain. Contact me today for a showing.

See the location of this Covington Farm for Sale on the map below. And be sure to watch the virtual tour located just below the map.

View 33.524569, -83.954296 in a larger map

For more information on this property, call my mobile phone at 770-337-5262.

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Commercial Property For Sale in Covington, Georgia - Hwy 20 South

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:39:46 -0500

Commercial Property for Sale in Covington, Georgia - Hwy 20 South

GAMLS# 02723114 $289,900

For more information, call my mobile phone 770-337-5262, or visit my website www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com

Commercial Property for Sale in Covington, Georgia - Highway 20 South - with 3 Bedroom, 1 Bath House

This potential Commercial Property for Sale in Covington, Georgia on Highway 20 South is just steps away from the new Kroger supermarket at Hwy 20 and Brown Bridge Road. The property is 1 acre, and includes a 3 bedroom, 1 bath all-brick home built in 1960.

The all-brick ranch home on this Commercial Property for Sale is built on crawlspace, and has central electric heat and air conditioning. The home features a mix of hardwood floors and carpeting, a country kitchen, living room/dining room combo, and a laundry closet on the attached carport.

Immediately beside this 1-acre Commercial Property for Sale, closest to the new Kroger, is an additional vacant 1-acre lot. Behind the property is additional commercial property, which along with the vacant adjacent acre lot might be combined for an assemblage of approximately 14 (+ or -) acres.

The property experiences daily high traffic counts on Hwy 20. The potential Commercial Property for Sale would be an excellent site for a professional offices, drugstore, gas/convenience store, small retail, etc.

View the location of this Commercial Property for Sale on the map below.

View Larger Map

For more information regarding this property, call my mobile phone 770-337-5262. For information on other Commercial Property for Sale in Covington and the surrounding areas, visit my website at www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com. And, to keep up with what's happening in Covington community news, events and real estate marketread my blog at www.CovingtonLivingToday.com.

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Your comments and questions are always welcome

The Real Estate Confidence Index

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:26:06 -0500

How much confidence do Realtors have in their local markets? The Real Estate Confidence Index answers that question.

The people who host my website, Point2Agent, conducts a monthly survey of its thousands of members across North America to determine how real estate professionals see the current and future market conditions in their respective areas.

The survey receives over 3,000 responses monthly from every area of the country across many different types of markets. Respondents rate their markets on a scale of 1 to 10, showing their confidence level in local real estate markets over the short term (3 to 6 months), and the long term (12 to 18 months). A statistical mean on the 1 to 10 scale is then derived which becomes the monthly Real Estate Confidence Index. The Index is statistically valid due to the number of responses received.

The Real Estate Confidence Index (R.E.C.I.) for October, 2009 is 5.59. This seems a bit middle-of-the-road, and one might say, "Yeah... half the country's confident, the other half isn't." However, the Index is based upon real opinions from real professionals in the real estate field, and if watched over time, does fluctuate by State and economic conditions.

To those of us in Georgia, confidence is not great. The Georgia R.E.C.I. is 5.08. Georgia real estate professionals rate their confidence in the current market a 4.53, with improvement in the short term to 4.63, and the long term to 6.08 - still a long way from complete, or even comfortable confidence in the marketplace.

In the South, Georgia professionals are joined by South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Kentucky and Oklahoma practitioners with only low to moderate confidence in their markets. Professionals in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina exhibit a bit more confidence, but still hover only slightly higher (current index 6.3) than the country as a whole.

Survey administrators point out that "the Real Estate Confidence Index is a purely subjective survey, and is in no way intended to be an accurate reflection of current market conditions." It is based on the opinions of real estate professionals across the country. Even so, it's both interesting, enlightening, and probably not too far off.

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Home For Sale in Covington, Georgia - Clark's Grove

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:55:04 -0500

Home for Sale in Covington, Georgia - Clark's Grove GAMLS# 02402631 $379,000

For more information, call my mobile phone 770-337-5262, or visit my website
www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com

Home for Sale in Covington, Georgia - Clark's Grove - 4 Bedrooms, 3 1/2 Baths

This lovely Federal-style Home for Sale in Covington, Georgia's Clark's Grove offers non-traditional value in Covington's premiere Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND), Clark's Grove. Climb the wide steps to the broad rocking-chair front porch, and enter the home's great room through classic double front doors. Notice the marble facade of the room's fireplace with easy gas starter, the lovely hardwood floors, and the rounded corners on all walls.

To the left, enter the formal dining room with its judge's paneling with plate rail, dramatic chandelier and inlaid hardwood floors. Pass through to the gourmet chef's kitchen to see the solid surface island cooktop, double convection ovens, tile backsplash, granite countertops and large dining area.

This Clark's Grove Home for Sale includes a large laundry room with built-in cabinetry and a half bath located just off the kitchen for your convenience.

A large gallery space off the kitchen connects the Home for Sale downstairs amenities to the master suite on the main level, and the covered sitting porch just off the huge, enclosed patio. The master features a sitting area, master bath with subway tile, separate shower, jetted tub, and large walk-in closet. Access the covered porch through the master's double french doors.

Upstairs are two additional bedrooms, two full baths and a huge rec room with closets which might be used as a fourth bedroom. All bedrooms have double closets, and under-eaves, floored storage space is also accessed from the upstairs rooms.

Off the brick-paved patio and covered porch in the rear is the detached two-car garage. The garage has an epoxy floor for ease of maintenance, and is connected to the main house by a breezeway. Above the garage is a finished room with hardwood floors which might be perfect for an office, or just additional storage.

Outside this Home for Sale in Clark's Grove, you can stroll the neighborhoods tree-lined sidewalks. swim in the Olympic-size pool, use the playgrounds, ballfield and picnic pavillion, explore the walking trails or grow herbs and vegetables in the community garden.

Covington's Clark's Grove is just a short walk off the city's historic square, and with all Covington, Clark's Grove and this exceptional home has to offer, there's everything you need to enhance your lifestyle, entertain friends and relax with your family.

This Swann Street Home for Sale has been reduced from the original asking price of $459,000, and offers exceptional value. Contact me today to view this move-in-ready Home for Sale property.

View the location of this Clark's Grove Home for Sale on the map below. And be sure to watch the virtual tour located just below the map.

For more information regarding this property, call my mobile phone at 770.337.5262. For information on other Homes for Sale in Covington and the surrounding areas, visit my website at www.CovingtonLivingHomes.com. And, to keep up with what's happening in Covington community news, events and real estate market, visit my blog at www.CovingtonLivingToday.com

View 33.595735, -83.872379 in a larger map

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Covington Residents Hear "Voices From the Past"

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:05:01 -0400

Nine past citizens of Newton County “spoke” to visitors strolling through the historic Covington City Cemetery last Thursday evening during the Newton County Chamber of Commerce’s “Voices From The Past” tour.

Local residents dressed in period costumes portrayed notable past citizens of the county, providing vignettes of their lives and county history during the 1800s and early 1900s. Each presented their story standing beside the grave of the resident they portrayed.

Residents represented in the portrayals included Mahala Pitts Clark, born into slavery who died at the age of 100; George Thompson, a gypsy killed at Clark’s Grove as a result of a gambling altercation; Reverend Toney Baker, first pastor of the African-American Bethel Baptist Church; Dr. Luke Robinson, one of the county’s first physicians; Julia A. Camp Porter whose husband founded Porterdale and its textile mill, and after whom the Julia A. Porter Memorial Methodist Church is named; Martha Hood Dorsett, a young frontierswoman who died at the age of 20, but whose descendants still reside in the area; Frances Reynolds Brown Merritt whose husband and three children all died within a short seven-year marriage; Reverend Andrew Hamill, a Methodist circuit-riding preacher who served the spiritual needs of Georgians from Brunswick to Blairsville, and; General James Phillip Simms, Confederate General and state legislator.

Local resident Louise Adams portrayed Mahala Pitts Clark. Ernie Smith was the gypsy George Thompson. The Reverend Hezekiah Benton, current pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, portrayed Reverend Toney Baker. Chris Smith, descendant of Dr. Luke Robinson, portrayed his ancestor. Cynthia Millsaps became Julia A. Camp Porter. Amelia Thomaston, Oxford College student, portrayed Martha Hood Dorsett. Sandi Schein tugged your heartstrings as Frances Reynolds Brown Merritt. Reverend Brian Dale became circuit-rider Reverend Andrew Hamill. And Will Alisberg played General James Phillip Simms.

Tour guides led groups from the sold-out event through the cemetery, pointing out distinctive monuments, inter-relating the cemetery and county history, and explaining the meaning and significance of symbols and markings on the memorials and grave stones.

The Covington City Cemetery consists of five separate sections:

The Old Methodist, Northwest Section
The Confederate, Northeast Section
The African American, Eastern Central Section
The Memorial Garden, West central Section, and
The City Cemetery, The Central and largest Section

Within the city limits of Covington, ten other cemeteries have been identified, bringing the total cemeteries in Newton County to 270, identified so far.

The Tourism Division of the Newton Chamber, in cooperation with the Newton County Historical Society should be commended for staging this unique event. "Voices From The Past" offered Covington residents a special opportunity to be both educated and entertained by our county’s history.

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The Covington Georgia Real Estate Market Report - September 2009

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:45:00 -0400

Covington Georgia September 2009 Real Estate Market Report

Active Listings 1024
Pending Sales 126
Closed Sales 79
Week's Inventory 56 (Absorption Rate)

The "Weeks Inventory" indicates the number of weeks it takes to sell the current inventory of homes on the market at the present rate of sales. Inventory level in a "good real estate market" is considered to be around 24 weeks.

Since Last Month's Report:

Active Listings DOWN 26.3%
Pending Sales DOWN 9.4%
Closed Sales DOWN 15%

Foreclosures:

New foreclosures in the Covington and Newton County real estate market were DOWN in September by 9.4% from last month's figure. However, for the nine-month period, foreclosures are still UP 1.4% in the county over 2008.

The Average Sales Price of homes in the Covington real estate market in September was UP 31% over August to $141,031, and UP 7% from the same period in 2008. That's good news!

It's still taking longer to seel our homes in the Covington real estate market. The Average Days On Market of homes listed in Covington was UP 9.7% over August, and 12.9% over September 2008.

DISCLAIMER: All information, photographs & content contained within this blog is the property of Bill Blair and may only be used with express written permission of the author or via the Active Rain "reblog" function, posted in its entirity with attribution to the author.

All statistical information used to create this report was obtained from GAMLS. Information Deemed Reliable but not Guaranteed.

The Covington Georgia Real Estate Market Report - August 2009

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A Boondoggle of Olympic Proportions

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:35:18 -0400

Valerie Jarrett, one of the president’s senior advisers told major media outlets this morning that President Obama will travel to Denmark to support Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. He will leave this Thursday and join his wife Michelle in Copenhagen where they, along with a packed contingent from Chicago’s bid committee and the world of celebrity, will lobby the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the international event.

The IOC will decide the host city on Friday from among the final contenders, Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.

What’s wrong with this picture? I see two major problems.

First, let me say that there is no bigger supporter of the Olympic movement than me. Before I became a realtor in Covington, I was a sports marketing consultant working primarily for worldwide corporate sponsors of the Olympic Movement for over 15 years. I developed and implemented marketing programs to help sponsors leverage their sponsorships in Olympic Summer and Winter Games, regional competitions such as the Asian Games, and local trial competitions for National Olympic Committees in countries throughout the world. I worked on Games and competitions in Europe, Asia, India, Australia and the U.S. To me, there is no greater movement, nor one that elicits more national pride, emotion, history, or personal satisfaction than the Olympics.

My first issue with Obama traveling to Denmark is that the U.S. taxpayers will be springing for yet another presidential boondoggle and photo-op. Not only is Obama going, but he is “meeting” Michelle there, and taking along Jarrett, Education Secretary Anne Duncan and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, according to the AP.

And since Obama is going, it’s a good bet that taxpayers will also be liable for a good portion, if not all, of the Chicago contingent’s costs. The Chicago group will include the city’s bid committee members, Obama crony Mayor Richard Daley, Ophra Winfrey, and 14 Olympic and two Paralympic gold medalists, including Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Nadia Comaneci and Nastia Liukin.

There is no reason for the US President to lobby for the Games being held in the United States. President George H.W. Bush did not make an appearance when Atlanta won the bid in 1989, nor has any other American president ever done so. Obama will be the first U.S. president to actually appeal in person to the IOC for an Olympic event. And in fact, it is likely that the IOC’s mind is already made up as to who will be the winning city. Although no one will know until this Friday, IOC officials have been visiting potential cities, asking questions and receiving input from potential hosts for the past seven years.

But even more than Obama needlessly spending taxpayer money for this useless boondoggle, I’m concerned that Chicago even has a chance to win the 2016 Olympic Summer Games.

If you thought there were improprieties in winning the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games, which came close to destroying the Olympic movement, can you imagine the graft, corruption and quid pro quo that will be going on if Chicago is the chosen city? Corruption and questionable dealings already exist throughout the city and state administrations, and will only be amplified by the lust after the billions of dollars of economic impact an Olympic event can bring to a city. I can only hope that IOC members remember and have learned from the past what an ill-advised decision Chicago would be.

There’s nothing I would rather see than the Olympic Games back on U.S. soil. But not at this time… and NOT in Chicago!

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