More Great New Listings

Charming Ardsley Park Brick Bungalow

616 East 51st Street
Year Built: 1925
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2
Liviing Area: 1890 Sq. Ft.
MLS Number: 116131
Offered At: $257,900

This Charming brick Ardsley bungalow has a welcoming, screened front porch with arch details. Beautiful wood floors, thick moldings, tall windows and architectural details throughout.
For full details details and more photos on this property follow this link: http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/616-East-51st-Street-a293049.html

Absolutely Charming Bungalow 

630 East 54th Street
Year Built: 1930
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1.5
Living Area: 1204 Sq. Ft.
MlS Number: 116544
Offered at: $230,00

This is an absolutely charming bungalow just two blocks from Hull Park. Sits high on corner lot with sweet, welcoming front porch. Sunny living room. Separate dining room with cozy fireplace. Updated kitchen with granite counters, breakfast bar, gas range, stainless steel  appliances and pantry.
For full details details and more photos on this property follow this link:
http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/630-East-54th-Street-a293051.html

Handsome Brick Duplex in Baldwin Park

501 East 40th Street
Year Built: 1915
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
Liviing Area: 2649 Sq. Ft.
MLS Number: 116340
Offered At: $225,00

Big, handsome brick duplex on a corner lot in Baldwin Park. Each unit has two bedrooms, hardwood floors, thick moldings and tall ceilings. Big, bright living room. Separate dining room with cozy fireplace. Private front porch for each unit. Small fenced back yard and two car garage.
For full details and more photos on this property follow this link:
http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/501-East-40th-Street-a293045.html

Charming Parkside Bungalow

1107 East 51st Street
Year Built: 1916
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Living Area: 1616 Sq. Ft.
MLS Number: 116154
Offered At: $225,000

This charming Parkside bungalow has a broad, welcoming front porch with swing. Bright, generously sized, living room.  Separate dining room with cozy fireplace. Large kitchen with breakfast bar, quality cabinetry, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, butler's pantry and breakfast area! Three bedrooms including en-suite master with bath and walk-in closet . Beautiful hardwood floors and great craftsman details throughout.
For full details and more photos on this property follow this link:
http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/1107-East-51st-Street-a293046.html

Three New Listings This Week

Extremely Well Maintained Betz Creek Home

115 Teakwood Drive
Year Built: 1996
Bedrooms: 4
Bathroom: 2
Living Area: 1729 Sq. Ft

Located on Wilmington Island this extremely well maintained Betz Creek home has a handsome, welcoming entrance. Separate living room with vaulted ceiling, cozy fireplace and sliders to rear deck. Dining room with picture window and vaulted ceiling as well. Fully equipped kitchen boasts quality cabinets, countertops and stainless steel appliances as well as a breakfast area and sliders to a deck. Three spacious bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs including a master bath with double bowl vanity and jetted tub. Fourth bedroom and den downstairs. Second floor deck, rear patio and screened porch. Two car garage with storage workshop. Beautifully landscaped back yard with garden overlooks lagoon thriving with fish, ducks and turtles. Wilmington Island location is convenient to supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants and more right on the island yet the magic of Downtown Savannah is only 15 minutes away. An easy jaunt on out to Tybee Island as well. Come enjoy the famous Low Country lifestyle at its best.

See more photos here: http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/115-Teakwood-Drive-a292872.html
or
See a video of this beautiful home.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7p6Ob0QJNg

Mid-Century Modern in Magnolia Park

1514 Whitney Road
Year Built: 1958
Bedrooms: 2
Baths: 2
Living Area: 1557 Sq. Ft.

This Mid-Century Modern home in Magnolia Park has long, low lines. Entry foyer with double doors. Spacious living/dining room combo with full wall fireplace and three sets of sliders to side yard and rear patio. Fully equipped eat-in kitchen with breakfast area and access to carport. Two bedrooms and two baths including master suite. Separate den/third bedroom with sliders to rear patio. 1 car carport with storage. Fenced yard with lush, mature landscaping. Magnolia Park is experiencing a renaissance of sorts with new families discovering its close proximity to the mall, hospitals and Midtown as well as Downtown Savannah via the Truman Parkway. Convenient to the thriving Victory/Skidaway corridor and Derenne as well.

See more photos here: http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/1514-Whitney-Road-a292870.html

Great Investment Opportunity

651 East 38^th Street
Year Built 1930
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4
Living Area: 2663 Sq. Ft.

This is a great investment opportunity! Multifamily property with four 1-bedroom units generating $24,000.00 per year income. Two units that rent for $500 each are currently vacant for showings. Other side occupied generating $600 and $400 per month income. Some original details and hardwood floors throughout. Great location convenient to local favorites like Green Truck burger joint, Al Salaam Deli and the Starlander Café. An easy bike ride to red-hot Habersham Village and its shops and restaurants. Convenient to Baldwin Park, Daffin Park and the new Whole Foods Market. Less than 10 minutes to the heart of Downtown Savannah. This is a deal just waiting for the right investor.

See more photos here: http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/651-East-38th-Street-a292869.html

KW Cares Top 10 donors

Recently Keller Williams President Mary Tennant characterized the philosophy at Keller Williams as 'a culture of success' during her State of the Culture address at the Mega Leadership Camp, and “At the heart of our culture is our shared commitment to help those in need,” she said.

This commitment was the motivating passion of Chairman Mo Anderson whom in  2003 established KW Cares. A 501(c)(3)  public charity that raises money through Keller Williams offices across North America. Today it is supported by all KW associates. This charity is the heart of the Keller Williams Realty culture in action – finding and serving the higher purpose of business through charitable giving in the communities where our agents live and work.  KW Cares continues to support extraordinary personal challenges of Keller Williams associates and their families, in need during times of regional, national, and personal crisis.

2013 certainly saw it’s fair share of natural disasters and Keller Williams associates supported each other in big ways including the wildfires in Colorado and Hurricane Sandy in the Northeast. Every Keller Williams team has their own way of giving back to their communities, including those of the KW Cares that they are involved in. See The Don Callahan Team's community involvement. See Keller Williams top 10 donors at the video below:

Deciding to Buy

Purchasing a property is most likely the biggest financial decision you will ever make. Whether this is your first purchase or you are an experienced buyer, this decision must be made carefully. Don talks briefly about how the real estate business works for buyers in Savannah, GA View Don's listing here.

3rd Annual Coastal Empire Surfers for Autism Beach Festival

Tybee Island will be transformed into a beach bash on September 7^th for a very special group of kids. The beach by the pavilion will be filled with families, volunteers and children, special needs children who have a chance to feel the sweet taste of success, fun and self-confidence by learning how to surf. Surfers for Autism, a non-profit organization, will be hosting the event from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The therapeutic benefits of the surfing activity to children and young adults within the autism spectrum cannot be put into words and must be experienced.

At a Surfers for Autism event, the surfers are provided a safe, fun, judgment free environment where highly skilled surf instructors carefully guide the children into waves. Each child is accompanied with two or three volunteers and a "master" surfer who take the kids into the water one at a time. Each child is in the water for 25 minutes, then a new session is started with another child. The sessions continue rotating until 4:00 pm.

This is a very special day where children with developmental delays interact with typical peers and

wow families with their capabilities. The result is always the same: complete and total transformation in a moment. Transformative moments are not the exclusive province of the surfers, as parents also undergo a shift in thinking. Goals and milestones once missed or forgotten suddenly come into sharp focus. For many of the families, it’s a day they never thought they would experience.  Many times autistic children are sensitive to auditory stimulation, but here they can just enjoy being a kid.

A Few Testimonials From Past Events

Amy Spalter Schwartz: “I am awestruck at what a difference you all have made in my son’s life, but not just Spenser’s life, but our whole family. When he is out there surfing, he is a completely different child. This is the ONLY extracurricular activity he has had ANY interest in sticking with.” 

Caryn Jones Hamblen: Words cannot express our gratitude for today. What an amazing event! Dylan said it best, “This is the best day, ever!"

Kara Collins: I will never forget the joy I saw on my daughter’s face that day, the pride she felt that she was enough- just the way she was. She made friends and no one cared who spun in circles or said something inappropriate, they just welcomed you for who you were. Now we own Boogie boards and sun shirts and count down the days until the next event, when she isn’t a girl with Asperser’s- she is just a girl who is 7 catching a wave.

Surfers With Hearts as Big as Their Ambition

Surfers for Autism was founded in Deerfield Beach Fla in December of 2007 with a handful of local surfers. There was a local surf club in Florida. One of the members' brothers was touched with autism, so they got together to take some kids with autism and related special abilities surfing, and the rest is history. Although the SFA has events internationally most of the coordination for an event is on the local community level. While surfing with special athletes is certainly the centerpiece, events have morphed into massive beach parties replete with concerts, catered cuisine, gaming tents and much more.

This Saturday at Tybee Island there will be an activities tent and other resources available. Musician Cody Blake will be performing on the beach, his big brother is one of the participating surfers. In addition Lunch and water for the families will be provided plus the opportunity to enjoy time with other families just like their own. 

The Don Callahan Real Estate Group will be there volunteering this Saturday. Tybee's Surfers for Autism beach festival has an open invitation to anyone.

Photos from Surfers for Autism.

Two Charming New Listings

509 East 56^th Street 

Listing Details:

Bedrooms: 3

Baths: 2
Living Area: 1591 Sq. ft
MLS Number: 113335

This completely renovated midtown bungalow sits on a quiet, dead end street in a great neighborhood! The quaint front porch overlooks a garden waiting for your personal touch. There is new paint and refinished hardwood floors throughout. The living room has plenty of light and a fireplace sandwich between two large windows. A wide arched doorway leads to the separate dining room. The dining room is open to a new kitchen with granite counters, quality cabinetry and stainless steel appliances.  Beyond the dining room is a massive family room with a large fireplace, and entry to the backyard. The master bath with ceiling fan includes an en-suite bathroom with well thought out updates creating a sleek and clean feel. Two other bedrooms also with ceiling fans have ample light and access to the second bath with pedestal sink and tub/shower.

The back has a covered rear patio and fenced yard with a shed for yard accessories. From the yard there is access to the car carport. The property is located in a great central midtown location.  It’s close to red-hot Habersham Village with restaurants and shops including; Barberito's burrito bar, Tails Spin pet store, Bikram yoga studio, Red and White Market and many more. It’s also convenient to two hospitals as well as Abercorn St, Derenne St and the Truman Parkway.  It’s an easy jaunt to Abercorn Walk and Twelve Oaks shopping centers.

626 East 56^th Street 

Listing Details:

Bedrooms: 2
Baths: 1
Living Area: 1313 Sq. ft
MLS Number: 113339

This really is a super-charming cottage with great details! There is a spacious living room with a wall of windows for plenty of light to show off the beautifully refinished hardwood floors. The room is anchored with built-ins, and a fireplace with marble surround. Of the living room as a large laundry room that has access to the backyard. A unique archway feature separates the living and dining room. Off the dining is a sweet built-in banquet breakfast nook that is surrounded by bay windows and a padded bench large enough to seat at least four.

The fully equipped kitchen features stainless steel appliances plenty of windows and entry to the back yard. The two good sized bedrooms have ample light and ceiling fans. The bathroom retains its original charm with tile throughout. There is a fenced back yard with a garage, fire pit, multiple patio areas, workshop and beautiful oak tree. Great south Ardsley location that is close to Habersham Village and all it has to offer. About a mile to the bustling Skidaway/Victory corridor it’s an easy jaunt to the new Whole Foods, Chipotle Grill and Petsmart, and many other large national stores and restaurants. There is also easy access to the Truman Parkway and only its ten minutes to Downtown Savannah!

Outstanding Midtown Ranch for Sale in Savannah, GA

Listing Details

301 Lafayette, Savannah, GA
Price: $275,000
MLS #: 112710
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Square Footage: 3398

You'll Love Entertaining in This Home

A well-manicured front yard greets you in this unassuming mid-century modern ranch. The extremely spacious living room and dining room combination with gorgeous refinished hardwood floors is only a taste of what this home presents. The well lit room is anchored with floor to ceiling wood cabinets and glass shelving to hold all of your entertaining dishware. Off of the dining room is the open U-shaped kitchen with well-crafted and dark stained wood cabinets. The white counters and appliances off set the cabinets beautifully. Windows over the sink and a handsome chandelier provide plenty of light for working in this large eat-in kitchen, with a breakfast bar opening to the family room.

Generous Amount Living Space

The tiled floor in the kitchen continues out to the large family with its vaulted ceilings. The open and airy family room with a floor to ceiling brick fireplace, and adjacent built in bookshelves, has direct access to the rear courtyard and garden. The refinished hardwood floors extend into the three bedrooms. The bay window in the master bedroom provides plenty of light and the ceiling fan keeps you cool during those hot summer nights. The master bath with double sink/vanities that have granite tops is tastefully tiled and to match the bedroom.

Location Location Location

Superbly located on a quiet street behind red-hot Habersham Village.  Habersham Village is a friendly and quaint neighborhood that lays west of historic Ardsley Park. The 'Village', a staple in midtown for more than 3 decades, is filled with a variety of stores, coffee shops and eatery's. Barberito's burrito bar, bar food restaurant/bar, Bikram yoga studio, Tail Spin pet store, Five Spot café and more...there is even a Red and White grocer and a Rite Aid pharmacy. The neighborhood with its own branch of the YMCA is only a 10 minute drive to downtown historic Savannah, 15 minutes to the local mall and 30 minutes to Tybee Island beach. Convenient to two hospitals, Abercorn Street and the Truman Parkway. Also an easy jaunt to Twelve Oaks and Abercorn Landing shopping centers. This is a hot deal in one of the most sought after areas of town.

See more photos of this property here.

Keller Williams Realty Making a Difference In Moore OK

These days it is so easy to get caught up with our own lives and forget the recent tragedies that others are still recouping from. Just over a month ago so many residents of Moore Oklahoma lost their homes, and with it their way of life. We were all mesmerized with the media’s footage of the EF 5 tornado’s destruction, and survivor’s tearful stories of loss and reunions of family members.  The destruction of their homes and loss of their precious belongings was catastrophic. However within a few days the media and our attention turned to other more immediate matters. Gone from our minds are the empathizing feelings for the survivors of one of the worst tornadoes in history.

Personal Experience Spreads

Well not everyone has forgotten the tragedy that has befallen families in Moore OK.  In fact the Vice Chairman of Keller Williams Realty, Mo Anderson, was approximately 12 miles south of the tornado when it hit.  “Our heartache for Moore’s residents set in immediately.” noted Mo in a recent KW blog. Soon after the tornado she visited the area, and the site of one of our Keller Williams agent’s home.  “Words cannot come close to describing what I felt during that visit.” Said Mo. Many people had similar feelings, and as such there was an immediate outpouring of help. Keller Williams agents and their families came out and searched among the rubble that had once been homes, for any item that was intact helping those that had suffered such a devastating loss. This story is illustrated by the picture here where   Stephanie Walker (pictured right) is seen handing money she found to John Sacotte, who lost his home.  Stephanie is the daughter of Keller Williams Realty Green Meadow associate Sandi Walker. Together they looked for any valuables from Sacotte’s home.

KW Realty Reaches Out To Help

The need to reach out and help those who were suffering went far beyond local residents of nearby Moore. Thanks to the Keller Williams Realty associates’ generous support, KW Cares, (Keller Williams Realty’s non-profit) has been able to award $95,000 in grants to associates and family members whose lives were upended by this storm’s devastation. In addition to the grants a KW Moore fund was established and has raised more than $32,000 to date for immediate disaster assistance. Many Keller Williams Realty market centers and regions have also sent gift cards and other resources to assist KW families in need.

Having had such a personal experience in Moore OK Mo Anderson wrote on the KW blog her thoughts which reflect what KW Realty is all about:

“Nationwide we have proven that we refuse to run and hide. We are shaken and sometimes knocked to our knees, but we call on our inner strength and courage, very quickly rise to our feet, and compassionately reach out to others during their time of need. We persevere, regroup and regenerate, and for many of us, begin again!”

In Keller Williams Realty one of the hallmarks of the culture is our associates’ deep commitment to helping those in need. On a regular basis, grants are being given to those fighting serious illnesses and recovering from life altering accidents.

KW Agents Share $1 Million Powerball Winnings With New Associate

 

A Keller Williams Real Estate team won $1 million from a shared lottery ticket, and then shared those winnings with a new co-worker that had opted out of the ticket purchase. Administrative assistant Jennifer Maldonado had only been working two weeks, and had yet to receive a paycheck. Based on not having received her paycheck yet, Jennifer opted out of the lottery ticket purchase. The group had purchased $120.00 worth of tickets, and even though a co-worker offered to loan Jennifer the money she turned it down.

Jennifer arrived to work Sunday night and was greeted with screaming and jumping by her co-workers. She thought they were pulling a prank on her until her boss sat her down and told her this was real, and that they were going to share their winnings with her. Each person kicked in a bit of their winnings (undisclosed amounts) to give to her.

“As a team we put together a fat pile of money,” said mega agent Laurie Finkelstein Reader “If we do the right thing and always care about other people, the right thing will happen to us.” “I’m blessed,” she added. “My share of money won’t change my life but so far this has touched many lives — it’s about sharing the happiness.”

What a great example of the Keller Williams culture in action!

Read the full story at the Miami Herald Website.

The Stuff Legends Are Made Of!

From the KW blog:

What are the makings of a legend?

Is it vision, strategy or innovation? Is it charisma, ambition or will? And do you become a legend on purpose? Or is it an organic occurrence?

History tells us it’s all of those things. A person becomes legendary because they are remarkable over and over again. They achieve great things despite odds and become synonymous with a certain level of innovation and ambition.

Similarly, a company becomes legendary when the people who choose to be in business with them believe in the vision and achieve their own dreams through that shared belief. They share in setbacks, successes, innovations and decisions and collectively move forward because of that collaboration.

There are of course, various moments in history that illustrate this point.

A lesson in legend lore

In the book Great by Choice author Jim Collins outlines two explorers who sought to be the first in history to reach the South Pole. If you’ve read the book or heard the story, you know that one explorer Roald Amundsen was the first to get there by researching Eskimos, bringing along the right amount of time-test equipment and by taking his team 20 miles forward every day no matter the conditions. Robert Falcon Scott, on the other hand made the trek in quantum leaps on days when conditions were favorable, relied on untested equipment and “ran everything dangerously close to calculation.”

You can probably guess who made it to the South Pole first with all his men: Amundsen. Scott made it to only to find that he had been beat. He was found eight months later, frozen, just ten miles from their depot.

The moral of the story: Different behaviors cause drastically different outcomes.

Winning Behavior

We’re a resilient and competitive industry and we thrive because of it. We experience successions of successes and a slew of setbacks and there are those that are achieving great things despite odds and gaining positive momentum in a market full of obstacles. They behave like winners.

Every year, we find out who those winners are through industry-wide rankings such as the recently released REALTrends 500 Report. The findings are confirmation that our business practices are getting result and rank us accordingly. And well, let’s face it, we like to win.

We also start to see the same people show up on the list. Can we call them legends? Maybe not yet. But they are certainly on their way to earning that acclaim.

It’s exciting to see who comes out on top, who doesn’t and where we all stand. Keller Williams Realty was thrilled to see our brokerages sweep 11 categories which Inman News detailed in a recent article on their Website.

From Inman News:

“When considering productivity per office, however, Keller Williams brokerages took the lead. Of the top 50 firms with the most transaction sides per office, Keller Williams accounted for 28 and Re/Max brokerages accounted for 15. In terms of sales volume per office, Keller Williams accounted for 27 of the top 50 firms while Re/Max accounted for 12.

This year, Real Trends also ranked the top 50 firms with the largest increases in closed transaction sides and sales volume. Keller Williams dominated the top 50 firms ranked by increase in number of transaction sides from 2010 to 2011, accounting for 19 of the 50. Re/Max accounted for seven, while firms affiliated with Prudential accounted for five.

Keller Williams also made up more than two-thirds, 34, of the top 50 firms with the highest percentage increase in transaction sides from 2010 to 2011. Re/Max accounted for eight.

Keller Williams accounted for 20 of the 50 firms with the highest dollar increase in sales volume in 2011, followed distantly by those affiliated with Prudential and Sotheby’s International Realty, which each accounted for four.

Keller Williams also accounted for 28 of the 50 firms with the highest percentage increase in sales volume, followed by Re/Max at seven.

Also new this year, Real Trends ranked the top 50 firms with the largest increases in transaction sides and sales volume from 2007 to 2011. By transaction count, Keller Williams accounted for 16 of the top 50 firms in that time period, while Re/Max and Prudential each accounted for seven. By percentage rise in transaction sides, Keller Williams accounted for 31 of the top 50 firms, followed by Prudential and Re/Max at four each.

By rise in sales volume dollar count during that five-year period, Keller Williams made up just over half the list of top 50 firms at 26. Re/Max accounted for four. By percentage rise in sales volume, Keller Williams also dominated, accounting for 31 of 50 firms, followed by Re/Max at four.
Keller Williams’ lead in sales volume is partially, but not completely, due to high average sales prices in the areas in which it does business. Of the top 50 firms with the highest average sales price in 2011, Keller Williams accounted for 11, while luxury franchisor Sotheby’s International Realty accounted for 15. Re/Max accounted for four. The bulk of the rest was made up of independent, nonfranchised firms.”

Our congratulations to everyone who made the list. We are especially proud of our Keller Williams associates who continue to outpace the competition, earn more business and secure a better future for their families.

Read the original blog post at http://blog.kw.com/2012/05/21/the-stuff-legends-are-made-of/

Keller Williams Growing

Keller Williams Realty received many accolades in 2010 including:

-- Entrepreneur magazine, No. 1 ranked real estate franchise on the 31st Annual Franchise 500 list

-- J.D. Power and Associates, highest in overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms for the third year in a row

-- Inman News, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board Gary Keller named one of the 100 Most Influential Leaders in Real Estate

-- Training Magazine, highest ranking real estate franchise on the annual Training Top 25

It was announced the other week that Keller Williams is now the second largest real estate franchise in the United States based on total number of sales professionals. Despite industry contraction, Keller Williams associates across North America also showed significant percentage gains in listings taken (+13%), contracts closed volume (+9%) and contracts closed units (+6%).

Additionally, Keller Williams Realty rolled out a paperless transaction system this month. I am thrilled to be helping the environment while helping friends and clients with their real estate needs.

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Real estate market primed for turnaround

Great article in the Savannah Morning News about the current real estate market in Savannah...and check out the spotlight on the great things happening at Keller Williams!

Posted: December 29, 2010 - 11:04pm Updated: December 30, 2010 - 8:06am
By Adam Van Brimmer

Charles Dickens didn't have the Savannah real estate market in mind when he penned the line, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

The notion certainly applies, however.

The best of times: Available housing and commercial buildings are as affordable as they've ever been. Even with interest rates rallying off historic lows in the last month, it's a buyer's market. And there is plenty of property to choose from. The supply and diversity, particularly on the commercial side, should be an advantage for Savannah.

With Savannah's economic engines - the port, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers - slowly spooling up in the second half of 2010 and tourism booming, the outlook is for a busy 2011.

The worst of times: The real estate bust has handcuffed those who work in the industry and brought community banks to the brink. The area has lost 3,000 construction jobs since 2007, and the local home builder ranks have been halved over the last two years.

A handful of real estate brokerages now handle the majority of transactions. For example, residential brokerage Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners had several record months in 2010 despite the weak housing market.

As for the banks, the drop in real estate values attracted regulator attention. Two Savannah-based community banks were closed in 2010 as was another bank with a Savannah branch. Two more received a public scolding from regulators. Several others are saddled with loads of non-performing loans.

Yet the underlying reasons for the housing slump - limited job creation, stagnant incomes and constrained in-migration - will dissipate as the economy recovers.

Real estate will follow, according to economist Michael Toma, the director of Armstrong Atlantic State University's Center for Regional Analysis.

"We will continue to grow, because in the long run this remains an attractive place to live, work and retire," Toma said. "And as we grow going forward, we'll do so in a much more sustainable and healthier way economically."


Good supply

Savannah has what home buyers and businesses are looking for - and at a good price.

The average sales price of a home is relatively unchanged compared to a year ago. But buyers are getting more for their money: The average list price is down 17 percent.

Sales are up in Chatham County's traditionally desirable areas such as the Historic District, Wilmington Island, Skidaway Island and Isle of Hope. The areas that benefited most from 2009's first-time homebuyer tax credit programs were off those marks in 2010.

Yet inventory remains high across the Savannah metro area, which includes Bryan and Effingham counties, and the result is low prices and a wide range of amenities.

"We do have a little something for everyone, from starter homes to waterfront," said Monica Spillane, president of the Savannah Board of Realtors.

The commercial real estate sector is "starting to percolate," as one broker in town put it. The oversupply of space that resulted from the Port of Savannah's growth prior to the recession will be attractive to companies looking to expand and relocate.

Chatham County alone has more than 40 million square feet of ready-for-lease warehouse and manufacturing space.

"Savannah has all types of facilities, in different configurations and different increments of space," said David Sink, a commercial real estate agent with Collier Neely Dales. "Somebody coming into this market can get what they want. That's not the case anywhere else in the region."

Undeveloped land, complete with City of Savannah services and close to the interstates and the port, is also available. High-profile locations in Chatham County include the State of Georgia megasite, Crossroads Business Park, the CenterPoint Intermodal Center, Dean Forest Business Park and the Newton Tract.

Bryan County features Interstate Centre and Belfast Commerce Centre, and Effingham County boasts the Effingham County Industrial Park and the Research Forest Tracts.


Stability needed

Just as Savannah's real estate collapse trailed most of the rest of the country, the fear is a recovery may come late, too.

Residential sales and sales prices didn't start to trend down here until September 2007 and didn't enter freefall mode until a year later. Foreclosures began to mount about the same time. Values have dropped about 30 to 40 percent - depending on who you talk to - since the bust and continue to creep down.

Some bankers doubt prices have hit bottom while others believe values are "bouncing along" the bottom.

Stemming foreclosures and selling off repossessed properties will lend stability.

Unfortunately, Savannah's foreclosure rate has been climbing since April, according to foreclosure research firm CoreLogic, and the number of bank-owned properties is double what it was 18 months ago. Savannah's community banks alone count repossessed properties as 2.5 percent of their assets on average.

Throw in the market's big banks - Wells Fargo, Bank of America, SunTrust - and it's easy to see why Realtor signs with "bank-owned" scrawled on them dot seemingly every street in town.

"We're going to have to get through the majority of those issues to see across-the-board stability," Spillane said. "There are just too many things we have no control over. When a bank owns 10 foreclosures in one neighborhood, they obviously can't hold on to those, and that impacts prices. Fortunately, some neighborhoods are through it and have stabilized. Are prices moving up or are they going to move up? I'll let the statistics speak to that."

On the commercial side, all rates and prices are negotiable. Vacancy rates have risen from 7.5 percent at the end of 2007 to close to 20 percent currently. Lease rates are averaging $3.73 a square foot for warehouse space and $8.14 per square foot for office space, according to a report by Gilbert & Lattimore Commercial Real Estate.

Commercial values won't stabilize until inventory shrinks and then will likely rise rapidly as no speculative construction is under way or in the planning stages.

"Once the current oversupply of inventory is absorbed, the real estate market should turn around very quickly," said Harvey Gilbert of Gilbert and Lattimore. "It's really just a matter of when."

View original article: http://savannahnow.com/exchange/2010-12-29/real-estate-market-primed-turnaround

Buying a Foreclosure

Interested in buying a foreclosure or a short-sale? Check out Keller Williams' Distressed Property E-book.

From KW.com:
The truth is: these markets demand most of the same things an ordinary market demands of buyers—only more intensely and pointedly:

Money: Buyers must be financially qualified and ready to buy. The best properties go quickly. Buyers must look strong to lenders.

Motivation: Buyers must be motivated to compete successfully. Keller Williams agents urge their buyers in this market to be clear about both their “motivating why" and their criteria for the property itself (size, location, condition, floor plan, etc.)

Location: Contrary to the rumors, prime buying opportunities exist in almost every neighborhood and price range.

Condition: Buyers should understand that repair costs are not necessarily large. The Keller Williams Distressed Property Buying Survey shows the average cost to repair to be $5,000—that’s less than 3 percent of the median purchase price in the U.S. today.

Expert Help: Finally, smart buyers know they need to be even smarter—they become a team with a local expert agent who knows local property, pricing, lenders, and the best listing agents. A strong listing agent can be a critical advantage in seeing a distressed property through from contract to close.

Keller Williams Realty Named Highest Ranked in Home Buyer Satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates for Third Straight Year

AUSTIN, TEXAS (July 30, 2010) —According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Home Buyer/Seller StudySM, Keller Williams Realty, Inc., the third largest real estate company in the United States, has received the highest overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms for the third year in a row. The company also ranked second among home sellers in the study for the second year in a row.

“We are incredibly proud of our associates for earning this distinction and want to thank them for their commitment to their clients and communities," said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty. “We see this honor as demonstration of our company philosophy that it is the agent’s brand that matters most and no amount of money spent on advertising can replace the influence and reputations our agents have in their local communities. Our associates have earned this on their own, by building relationships in their communities."

The study was produced by J.D. Power and Associates to measure home buyers and sellers customer satisfaction. The results of the home-buying experience were determined by three factors including the buyer’s experience with their agent, the real estate office and a variety of additional services. Keller Williams Realty performed particularly well in the agent and office factors. And, overall satisfaction of buyers for the industry was up over last year.

Additionally, the study noted that the importance of real estate agents has increased substantially in the past year, with buyers and sellers relying on the negotiating skills of their chosen agent and help in navigating the market.

“It is thrilling to see our firm, once again, get public recognition for its incredible focus on customer satisfaction from such a prestigious group. Our associates continually demonstrate that it is possible to deliver the highest level of customer service in one of the toughest real estate markets on record," said Mary Tennant, president and COO of Keller Williams Realty. “We feel incredibly fortunate to be in business with them, and want to congratulate them on their hard work and dedication."

In the past year, Keller Williams Realty has continued to grow despite the well-publicized turmoil in the real estate industry. In addition to becoming the 3rd largest real estate company in the U.S., surpassing RE/MAX®, Keller Williams Realty was ranked as the No. 1 real estate franchise on the 31st Annual Franchise 500 list by Entrepreneur magazine and was voted the Most Recognizable Brand of Real Estate Franchises and the Trendsetter of the year for 2009 in an industry-wide survey for the Swanepoel TRENDS Report.

8 Steps to Buying a Home

Looking for a new home can be an exciting and challenging experience. Having a real estate professional that takes the time to understand your unique needs and lifestyle is important.

Following this link to visit the Keller Williams 8 Steps to Buying a Home guide.

This Month in Real Estate by KW

Check out the latest video from Keller Williams Realty International.

Top Ranked Franchisee Joins Keller Williams Realty

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Top Ranked Franchisee Joins Keller Williams Realty
Joe Rothchild to lead Keller Williams Signature in Houston, Texas

AUSTIN, TEXAS (April 12, 2010) — Keller Williams® Realty Inc. announced today that Joe Rothchild, formerly a top ranked Re/Max franchisee and the leader of Houston’s #1 selling real estate team in dollar volume and number of closed transactions in 2009 (Houston Business Journal, March 2010), is now at the helm of the Keller Williams Signature office in Houston, Texas. The Joe Rothchild Team closed 779 transactions for $155 million in volume last year.

“Keller Williams Realty has shown that their model can adapt to any market, which was one of the driving forces in my decision,” said Rothchild, who has left Re/Max after 20 years as a franchisee. “I have been researching and contemplating for more than two years, and I discovered that I needed to reinvent my business to revitalize it. We were implementing some of the same philosophies and mirroring the Keller Williams system, so finally, one day we said…why reinvent the wheel? And, the answer was clear.”

Rothchild added, “KW’s philosophy of putting agents and ownership on the same side of the table and training on the most critical issues facing us in today’s market were also incredibly important to us.”

“We are thrilled to be in business with a talent like Joe. For the last 15 years, Joe has been one of the top 10 teams in Re/Max, and was number one worldwide for three years in a row! When a top franchisee from one of our competitors chooses to join us, we consider it a true honor and confirmation that we have unbelievable momentum behind our growth,” said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty.

Many of Rothchild’s current associates will be joining him at the Keller Williams Signature office. Among them, Dale Ross, an industry veteran with 29-years of experience under his belt, 25 of which have been with Re/Max. “When I factored in the Keller Williams Realty systems, training and support, and realized it was the place I needed to be,” said Ross.

This announcement comes on the heels of a year of positive growth for Keller Williams Realty throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company outpaced the downward trend in the real estate market and grew in every category – opening 30 new franchises, ending the year with a 16 percent year-over-year increase in the number of contracts closed per agent and more than 76,879 associates across North America (up three percent). In addition, the company gave back more than $32.2 million in profit share to its agents.

In addition to recently becoming the 3rd largest real estate company in the U.S., surpassing Re/Max, according to Steve Murray at REAL Trends, Keller Williams Realty received the highest overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms from J.D. Power and Associates for the second year in a row, and was ranked as the No. 1 real estate franchise on the 31st Annual Franchise 500 list by Entrepreneur magazine.

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About Keller Williams Realty, Inc.:
Founded in 1983, Keller Williams Realty Inc. is the third-largest real estate franchise operation in the United States, with 677 offices and more than 77,000 associates in the United States and Canada. The company, which began franchising in 1990, has an agent-centric culture that emphasizes access to leading-edge education and promotes an economic model that rewards associates as stakeholders and partners. The company also provides specialized agents in luxury homes and commercial real estate properties. For more information, or to search for homes for sale visit Keller Williams Realty online at (www.kw.com).

"National surveys show growth of Keller Williams"

According to two of the industry's most comprehensive annual surveys, Keller Williams Realty brokerages continue to expand.

RISMedia's Power Broker Report and REAL Trends' 500 rank the largest residential real estate brokerages in the US based on transaction sides and sales volume. This year, Keller Williams Realty had more brokerages on both lists than any other real estate brand.

In the REAL Trends 500 report, Keller Williams Realty dominated, with its offices comprising more than a quarter of the entire list. Of all the major brands represented in the report, Keller Williams was the only company to boast growth in both number of agents added to its ranks and in total transactions closed.

Within RISMedia's Power Broker Report, Keller Williams Realty again had the largest majority on the list - accounting for 35 percent of all the brokerages listed. The report also ranked Keller Williams Realty #1 in number of agents and total closed transactions.

"These results prove what we already knew - Keller Williams Realty is experiencing the next phase of our growth during this shift," said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty, Inc. "Our agents and offices are capitalizing on the opportunities presented in today's market and powering forward."

"We're confident we're in businesses with some of the most talented and focused individuals in the industry and we are so proud of all they've achieved," added Willis.

(Published August 2, 2009 in Southern Homes Weekly Savannah Morning News)

We're at the top!!!

Keller Williams has risen to the top. We have been top in sales in the Savannah Multi-list for each of the months June, July and August. In an increasingly tough market our support systems and education have put us ahead of all the companies in Savannah. I am excited to be a part of this company.

What sets Keller Williams apart is its culture

Well, I returned from Keller Williams Family Reunion on Wednesday, and have been busy catching up with work since then. I was not able to sit until this morning to add this piece about my wonderful experience at Family Reunion in Atlanta.
I attended the inspirational breakfast on Wednesday morning and it really made me recognize what a great move I made joining this company. I sure am glad I went.
The bottom line is, we work with some pretty exceptional people at Keller Williams, and I found my self asking the question: Does Keller Williams attract a high concentration of selfless people, or do the cultural tenents set out by Mo, Mark, Mary and Gary bring out the best in those that embrace them?
I guess the answer is somewhere in the middle. I think the culture defined by KW is unique, and helps us all to understand there’s more to our job than just selling homes, and I think a unique group of people are attracted to that concept.
At the inspirational breakfast, we heard the stories of KW Agent, Scott Thornhill of Greensboro, NC. I top producing agent in his MC, and a civic-minded citizen of his community. Scott teaches in the MC, coaches his son’s soccer and basketball teams, and volunteers at this church, all while being legally blind. I can see just fine, and some days I have a hard time getting out of bed. It’s pretty humbling.
We also heard the story of Gilbert Tuhabonye. Here is an excerpt from his web page:
While attending the Kibimba school, Gilbert began running competitively. Running barefoot, he won an 8K race while only a freshman. As a sophomore, he met a man who taught him how to change his running technique by getting his knees up and holding his arms correctly. The coach encouraged him to work hard and try for the Olympics. Gilbert became national champion in the 400 and 800 meters as an 11th grader. As a senior, Gilbert was already an extraordinary runner whose goal was to get a scholarship to an American school, get an education and return home to Burundi.
Fate had another plan for Gilbert.
On October 21, 1993, the centuries-old war between the Tutsi and Hutu tribes erupted in horrific reality one afternoon as Gilbert and his classmates were in school. The Hutu classmates at the Kibimba school, their parents, some teachers and other Hutu tribesmen, forced more than a hundred Tutsi children and teachers into a room where they beat and burned them to death. After nine hours of being buried by the corpses of his beloved friends, and himself on fire, Gilbert used the charred bone of one of his classmates to break through a window. He jumped free of the burning building and ran into the night, on charred feet, the sole survivor of one of the most horrible massacres in the long Tutsi-Hutu war. He ran from that horror into a new life.
Now, 12 years later and more than 8,000 miles from Burundi, Gilbert Tuhabonye is a celebrity in the world of running. He went on to graduate college at Abilene Christian University where, despite being covered with scar tissue from his extensive burns, he was a national champion runner. He is now, by all accounts, the most popular running coach in Austin, Texas where he lives with his wife Triphine and two daughters, Emma and Grace.
Pretty amazing guy … that’s all I have to say. I would not have been able to do what he did, and I was honored to be at an event that would honor someone of his character and strength.
Finally, we heard the story of Jim Hoekenschnieder, and Agent at the Huntsville MC. By Jim’s own admission, he was a person only focused on his business, and as he said,”I made sure I was my primary focus.”
Jim’s life at KW changed when he sold a home to a young family transplanting from Florida, Joe and Lori Hennessy, and their five year old son, Chris. As he put it, “they were the perfect family and I quickly grew attached to them.”
The day after closing Jim stopped by to drop off a housewarming gift. After knocking on the door for some time, five year old Chris answered the door and Jim his mother was “dead.”
Jim discovered Lori inside the house, laying face down, dead from a sudden aneurism. When Jim asked Joe what he could do to help, Joe told him he just wanted to take Chris back to Florida.
The entire MC jumped into action and did everything they could to help Joe and Chris, and get the house resold. When Jim called Joe to tell him they’d found a solution to the house, Joe, having been so touched by the generosity of people who barely knew him, informed Jim they were staying.
Pretty amazing stuff. Mo honored the entire MC with a song from Ken Medema, and they deserved it.
What I took away from this event, and from the rest of the events I attended at Family Reunion, is that we are fortunate to work together, and we’re a great group of people. We are also a driven group, with a tremendous force of will, and a real desire to improve our business and our lives.
See you next year!