Columbus, GA Real Estate News

This is the View when exiting Sam's Club and the new SuperWalmart located on Whittlesey.  Just when we thought we had all the franchises conveniently located, up sprouts another.  Construction of Schools, homes, businesses and half a dozen new hotels has contruction crews busy all over Columbus.  This strip mall has become one of my favorites because it is conveniently located just 3 miles from home in North Columbus. Shopping and Dining are great and traffic is usually moderate. 03/23/2008

  Drive Carefully!  Interstate 185 is being widened! Three miles of Interstate 185 connecting Columbus Ga to Ft Benning are still under construction.  The crews have made tremendous progress moving earth and erecting barriers.  Utility lines and sewer lines seem to have been taken care of and construction has begun on the bridge expansions required for the six lanes of traffic that will lead to Fort Benning and South Columbus.  03/23/2008

Wonderful 3 bedroom 1.5 bath home for sale.  This property is 1400sq ft heated.  It is located in East Columbus and includes a very large and updated eat in kitchen.  The Family room has a fireplace and it is open to the living room.  The lot is level and the back yard is fenced.  This home is in perfect condition.Realtor, Columbus Ga  -  Realtor Ft. Benning Area  -  Columbus Ga Ft. Benning Homes and Real Estate 02/13/2008

Your first home purchase can seem like an overwhelming task but it is really not that hard.  Here we go. Step 1 - Research professional Realtors in the area you would like to find a home.  That is a pretty easy task now with the internet.  Just Google your City, State, Real Estate and then begin to check out their websites.  You will want to look for several items on the website:a) A good Realtor website will have an excellent search engine capabilities for you to search all the homes listed on the MLS - not just that Realtors' listings.  It should have mapping and ease of use!  b) Info about the agent - not just that he or she is a nice person and the "best" agent - but info about  their accomplishments, education, and experience.  Even time as a Realtor can be a poor indicator as thei... 01/30/2008

As a stager, I considered it easy to 'stage' a house...until I tried to stage my own!  I found that following my own staging recommendations is infinitely more difficult than staging a house belonging to someone else.  Why, you may ask, is it so difficult?  Well, it is my house...where I live and play...I like my things...and I like the way I decorate.  I recently received an e-mail from a respected 'fellow-stager' who experienced the same thing when she staged her home.  The upgrades, repairs, and renovations that you make are for someone else, not you.  As a homeowner it can be difficult to separate what will appeal to the largest market of buyers vs what appeals to you and your family.I have a friend who has a large, beautiful house in a country club.  With their own sense of decorat... 11/29/2007

   Most successful investors say to "buy - low and sell - high"!    This is always easier said than done but if you ask when would be the best time to buy real estate in our area - I think it would be when the following criteria is in place.  1) Low interest rates2) Plenty of inventory3) Motivated Sellers 4) Off season.  Wow!  I think those criteria are in place now.  :)  I really do think it is an excellent time to buy a home as interest rates have just fallen and we are at point where sellers are willing to make a deal.  I don't know exactly when this buyers market will turn but I know that it will turn and I think we will all look back and say 2007 was a great time to buy a home!  Use this link to search the homes in Columbus Ga and the surrounding area.    11/25/2007

Lakebottom Park is a hub of activity whether the temperatures are soaring into the upper nineties or near freezing.  I recently visited Lakebottom which is located between Garrard St and 13th Street and found people of all ages utilizing the walking trail.  Mothers and infants were busy on the playground, a few brave souls were playing tennis and one lone sprinter was utilizing the track.  Late afternoons, evenings and weekends you will find the ball fields filled to capacity and an occasional concert.This is a great area for a brown bag lunch.  It is a fantastic place to sit in the shade and watch the world go by for an hour.  Driving around the park you will see some interesting architcture and homes in all price ranges.  St. Elmo's shopping center is located on Garrard Street across ... 10/10/2007

Wayne and I love living and working in Columbus Ga.  In this blog I hope to share some of the reasons we like Columbus so much.   I will share information about dining, recreation, and the easy access to everything from the panhandle of Florida to the mountains of North Georgia and of course all that Atlanta has to offer!  10/07/2007

More good economic news for Columbus is that Cessna broke ground this week for a new manufacturing plant.   The 100,000 sq. ft. plant will be located on 40 acres of the technology park in east Columbus.   Officials said that the business climate in Columbus coupled with a willing and able work force helped them make the decision to locate here.   The Witchita based company started in Columbus in 1996 with 60 employees.  They now have about 600.  The new plant should be completed the later part of 2008.   Cessna Aircraft is the largest manufacturer of general aviation aircraft in the world.    This is more good news for a thriving Columbus Ga economy.    09/21/2007

   Columbus Ga had the winner of the Little League world series last year so we know how elated Warner Robins Ga is this year!   It is fun to be the best in the world at anything and I know those boys are still floating on cloud nine after there walk off home run against Japan.      We love baseball in this area if you cannot tell.   Phenix City won the national little league championship a few years ago!  Columbus and Phenix City have produced some great ball players including big Frank Thomas and Tim Hudson!   08/28/2007

We have 2 new schools opening this year joining Northside High School.    Veterans Memorial Middle School is going to be open for business on time on Aug 13th.    It is a 13 million dollar project paid for by the 2003 splost and will be a great addition to the already open Northside High School as we have had tremendous growth on the North side of Columbus.   Additionally Eagle Ridge Academy will open on Schomberg road a little late at the 1st of October.   This is also a 13 million dollar project and will house approximately 750 students in 2008.   For this year the school will only be at about 50% capacity.    Both schools are welcome additions and should help to alleviate some of the overcrowding in our current schools.   07/25/2007

 A press release late Tuesday says that Harric Co. which adjoins Columbus to the north has a commitment from 3 businesses to the NW Harris Co. business park.   One manufacturing plant and 2 other businesses intend to invest $11 million dollars and hire 140 people.   This is the beginning of some of the hoped for spin off from the new KIA plant coming to West Point.    This continues the trend of positive economic news for the area! Columbus Georgia Real Estate - Fort Benning GA Real Estate 07/11/2007

     Columbus Ga., fourteen area homes went under contract this week end.  More than a dozen purchasers stopped looking at homes and  made the decision to buy a new or existing home.  Three homes were sold in the Alabama area, two in Meriwether County and nine in the Columbus area.  The price ranges were $449,900 to $49,900. The average price was $186,000.  What does all this mean in the grand scheme of things?  Not much!  It is a fact that people will always need and buy homes.  It is a buyers market, particularly for homes that have lingered on the market a bit longer than usual.  Is it a good time to buy a home?  Always, depending on your needs.      The absolute best way to make an informed decision is to find a reputable realtor.  Shop around, find someone you make a connection wit... 07/09/2007

Today is a great time to get together with family and friends.  Kids are looking forward to fireworks.  Everybody has a grill smoking.  Flags are waving on every street.  It is a great day in the USA.Keeping all that in mind, there is a small group of people working hard to make the day special for Veterans.  The Local VFW works tirelessly to provide some sort of comfort for Veterans at Tuskegee.  I am  certain there are  red white and blue cupcakes being delivered today.  The Ladies auxiliary is always baking cakes either for delivery to the Veterans at Tuskegee or for a bake sale to raise money for the Veterans.  Along with cookies and cakes the ladies bring news, reading materials, razors, socks, stationary and a whole list of things that make the day a bit more comfortable.I would l... 07/04/2007

There are a lot of great things to do around Columbus on the 4th of July.    For example we could go down to "Thunder on the Hooch" at the River downtown.  It is a family friendly art, crafts and fireworks event.    We chose to go to Callaway Gardens today.  The will have a flying circus with performers from Florida State University along with all kinds of beach activities and fair like fun.   We will eat some barbeque and Corn cooked in the shuck slathered with butter.   Tonight the Swinging Medalions will play beach music and fireworks will begin at dark.  Callaway is definitely one of the 10 best things about living in Columbus GA.   Wherever we are we all need to remember the men who risked their lives and continue to risk their lives so that we can be free.    Columbus Georgia Real... 07/04/2007

Columbus Ga native and Columbus High Graduate hits his 500th Home Run.  This is probably his ticket to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.    Columbus Ga has a proud baseball tradition with World Series little league champs in 2006.  National Little league Champs.  High School national Champs.  Even Columbus State University played in the College World Series for division 2.   We are proud of our home town slugger! AP/Jeff Chui Columbus Georgia Real Estate - Fort Benning Realtors 07/03/2007

I think this is absolutely the best time I can remember to buy a home.   Why do I say that?   Interest RatesInterest rates are great.  They are up about 1 point to a 1.5 points above their absolute lowest level.   When they were at that very lowest level there was a frenzy to purchase and so buyers were paying a premium for homes and not getting any concessions.   They got a slightly lower interest rate but more than made up for it in other costs.  Builder ConcessionsSome builders right now will pay your closing costs and throw in other concessions like a new fence, refrigerator or other upgrades at no cost to the buyer.   Some will even pay your mortgage for you for 6 months.   So right now you could move in a home with virtually no money out of your pocket and not have to start paying... 06/25/2007

This week the federal government will come out with a new report giving national numbers for the housing segment.   I thought I would run down a few local numbers for Columbus, Phenix City and the surrounding areas.    The following are new home starts based on building permits.Muscogee Co. (Columbus GA) housing starts are down 29% from 2006 which was down 21% from 2005.   This means we have about 50% less housing starts this year than 2 years ago.Harris Co.  is down 42% this year but was only down 6% last year.  This still is a total drop of 48% since 2005. Lee Co.  AL is down 55% in 2007 but was actually up in 2006 about 8% for a total drop of 47% since 2005.  Many builders jumped the gun in building for the impact expected from the growth at Fort Benning and are now having to slow up... 06/25/2007

The Columbus area has had an abundance of positive economic news in the last year or two.   AFLAC has been a part of the positive news with their intention to add 2000 employees.   The first phase of this expansion is now complete with their new building that will house approximately 550 employees.   The new building is out at the corporate ridge campus.   2 of my current clients work there and say that the expansion is job security for them as they are both trainers.    Find a Home in Columbus Ga or Fort Benning Home 06/25/2007

The Columbus Ga, Fort Benning and Harris County area of Ellerslie Ga., will be affected by opposition to a new development proposed by developer, W.L. "Lynn" Willet.  The proposed development by Willett is a subdivision to be placed on 73 acres and adjacent to Qual Ridge Subdivision.  Rosie Richards a retired army spouse is leading the opposition to the development.  Her concerns are traffic safety issues concerning the size of Maria Lane, water supply and disturbing the peace and tranquility of her neighborhood.  Since Harris County already has a lot limit size of 2 acres the existing 73 acres would accomodate approximately 33 homes in the $300 to $450 thousand price range.Willett has proposed to widen the road base of the existing paved Maria Lane and to asphalt the unpaved section of... 06/22/2007