The Fourth In The Park - City of Marietta Will Celebrate ON SATURDAY, JULY 3RD 2010!

Festivities kick off with a Parade at 10AM
Food concessions, arts & crafts & other activities will follow
Firewords at dark
Visit http://www.mariettaga.gov/

Kennesaw Concert & Fireworks - SATURDAY, JULY 3RD 2010
Kick off with Bruce in the USA tribute band at The Depot at 2828 Cherokee Street
Food concessions will be available for sale
Admission is free - priority table seating is available for a fee
For more information, visit http://www.kennesaw-ga.gov/

Historic Downtown Powder Springs: Sunday, July 4th 2010 starts at 4pm
Fun activities for kids, food, music, local vendors FIREWORKS START AT 9:30pm
For more information visit http://www.cityofpowdersprings.org/

July 4th Celebration At Cauble Park in the City of Acworth: Sunday, July 4th 2010 starts at 2pm
Music from local bands, fun activities on the lake
Fireworks begin at 9:30pm
Visit http://www.acworth.org/ for more information

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
Jenna Dixon

Associate Broker
DRA Homes
770-374-4230

Atlanta 4th of July Celebration At Centennial Olympic Park!

There is probably no better place to celebrate the 4th of July than Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park! Kicking off at Noon on Sunday, July 4, 2010 with children's activities, including arts & crafts, face painting & inflatables!

You can relax on the lawn and cool off in the Fountain of Rings! Musical entertainment starts at 5pm and includes rock bands, R&B, and bluegrass.

Fireworks at dark will be accompanied by a selection of patriotic music simulcast on Atlanta's Q100 Radio Station and the event will be television on 11-Alive WXIA-TV.

A word to the wise...TAKE MARTA & GET AN EARLY START to claim your spot. The event is attended annually by THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE from around the Atlanta metro.

Exit the West Line at the Philips Arena/Dome/GWCC Station (W-1) or exit the North Line at Peachtree Center (N-1), and follow the signs to Centennial Olympic Park. Glass containers, pets, fireworks, weapons, vending and grills are prohibited. All bags are subject to search. Alcohol may not be brought into the Park; however, it is available for purchase, along with food and nonalcoholic beverages, inside the venue.


HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY, ATLANTA!
Jenna Dixon
Associate Broker
DRA Homes
770-374-4230

Isakson apologizes for ‘unwashed' remark | ajc.com

Isakson apologizes for ‘unwashed' remark ajc.com

The GeoBox is Moving Atlanta In A Green Direction!

Moving, but hate the thought of using cardboard knowing it will end up in a landfill? The GeoBox offers an eco-friendly solution by renting 100% recycled plastic moving boxes for local Atlanta moves.

They also offer biodegradable and recycled moving supplies to make your move even greener.

Do your part to help lower the environmental impact on your next move!

Consider renting GeoBoxes instead of purchasing cardboard boxes.
1-877-4GEOBOX or local # 678-4040GEO or E-mail us at: comments@thegeobox.com

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

DRA Homes Supports A Healthy Environment!

Backyard Farming In Georgia

Getting back to basics is now on the radar for A LOT of people around the country. What could be more basic than growing your own fruits & vegetables? Like many people, I am attracted to the idea of walking out my back door & finding fresh tomatoes & lettuce and the like, BUT I don't have the time or the equipment necessary to put in a large garden.


This article appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently & got me thinking about a new option for fresh food, without all the hassle of hoeing & weeding. I hope you enjoy the information as much as I did and can put some of these ideas to work for you!

Growing food in pots can be easier than planting  | ajchomefinder.com

Don't let the fact that you are selling your home stand in your way of having a garden this year!  In my humble opinion, the beauty of the garden holds great appeal for many buyers and makes your home standout from the crowd.  Make your home feel ALIVE, VIBRANT & HEALTHY with your very own garden!

New Marietta, Ga. Dog Park Opens Saturday, May 22, 2010

Paw-ty at grand opening of dog park May 22

Saturday, May 22 at Wildwood Park off South Cobb Drive in Marietta, Ga.

You know Daisy won't miss it! Bring out your pooch (sorry, no Rotties or Pitbulls) to enter them in the DOG MODEL CONTEST so they can be famous all over town and appear in the city advertising campaign.

The Park is located at 1050 Barclay Circle in Marietta, near Life Chiropractic College.

The weather is going to be beautiful & it should be fun for all!

There are separate off-leash areas for large & small breed dogs. Goodie bags while supplies last.

For more information visit: THE CITY OF MARIETTA

Decatur Equine Rescue Facility To Close July 1

As a long time horse-lover, I was saddened to see that the Decatur, Ga. Equine Rescue facility will be closing soon.  As the economy continues to worsen, the need for facilities like this will only increase.  I hope that some of you out there can put organizations that rescue animals on your charity radar.  Whether it's a monetary contribution or just volunteering to help, we can all make a difference!

The beauty and grace of the horse and it's willingness to share it with man,

is unmatched in the animal kingdom!

Decatur Equine Rescue Facility To Close July 1 - 11Alive.com WXIA Atlanta, GA

Oil spill emboldens Georgia wind-energy advocates | ajc.com

Oil spill emboldens Georgia wind-energy advocates  | ajc.com

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Attention Real Estate Consumers in Metro Atlanta

Welcome to the real estate market. We are happy that you are considering buying, selling or leasing and as industry professionals, we want to help you.

Realtors, real estate agents and brokers work under “agency” relationship agreements with clients and customers. The shorthand explanation is that the agency agreement binds the real estate professional and the client/customer together in a mutually beneficial relationship.



You, as the client/customer, HIRE the real estate professional to work on your behalf. They are expected to locate properties that meet your criteria, arrange showings, gather pertinent information about the property, assist you in determining fair market value, help you to craft a legal, beneficial contract with the other party, assist you in the negotiations, ensure that inspections, financing, & closing take place according to the schedule outlined in the contract, and a myriad of other details that I will not take the time to itemize.

You as the client/customer, agree to allow the real estate professional to seek compensation in exchange for performing their services.

Once you engage the services of a real estate professional to assist you, there are a few things that you should know about what happens when you go outside of the agency agreement and speak directly to other agents on your own behalf:



1. you often reveal too much information about yourself and your financial standing to the agent who is representing the other party.
2. you compromise your negotiating position by revealing too much information
3. you jeopardize your real estate agent’s ability to adequately represent you in the transaction
4. you have engaged the services and the time of another agent who will likely not be compensated for assisting you
5. you have put at risk the compensation of the real estate professional that you engaged through an agency agreement

Most listing agents in Metro Atlanta do not offer compensation to co-operating agents who do not handle the transaction from start to finish. If I have a rental listing and the co-oping agent does not attend all showings, walk through, signing of the lease and delivery of the funds, I will not pay a co-op fee to that agent. The same can be said of for sale listings, my standard disclaimer is that if I show another agent’s client my listing, I will pay a drastically reduced commission to the co-oping agent.

As a real estate professional, I expect my clients to remain loyal and in compliance with our agency agreement. I respect the agreements that exist between other agents and their clients/customers. I always ask whether you are currently working with another agent, and if you are, I respectfully request that you contact your agent directly so that they may gather information on your behalf.

When you enter into an agency agreement with a real estate professional, please respect the time, effort, resources and expense that the agent has put to use on your behalf.

Real estate is our chosen profession and we love what we do, but the fact remains that this is our job and we expect and deserve to compensated for what we do.

More gardeners opting for organic lawns | ajchomefinder.com

More gardeners opting for organic lawns  | ajchomefinder.com

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Is It The Market, Or Is It Me?

As I have gotten older and grown more into myself, I have had to accept that my personality is not warm & fuzzy. I just don't have it. And I can't fake it. I do not fit into the social norm when it comes to this.



My husband, my children, my parents, a few friends and more than a few clients have adapted. And to a man, they will tell you that it was worth it.

It is not that I am not sympathetic, not empathetic, or uncaring...I wear my heart on my sleeve. I am a problem-solver. I am logical. I believe in action. I believe in facts. I am fiercely loyal. I have an unwavering commitment to truth, integrity and ethics. I will cry with you, hold your hand, and give you the advice and direction that you need. I will not tell you what you want to hear, just to make you feel better.

The problem is that in residential real estate, that does not always go over very well. Hell, sometimes in life that doesn't go over very well.

Especially in the reality of the real estate market today, my personality stings. Or stinks, depending on who you ask! But believe me when I tell you, once I am on your side, I will "go to the mattresses for you!" You cannot have a better ally.

If what you are looking for is warm & fuzzy, maybe I am not what you need.



If you are looking for a fierce ally, who always
and only has your very best interests at heart, PICK ME!


Jenna Dixon
Associate Broker
Dixon Realty Advisors
D R A Homes
770-374-4230

Call today and let me tell you what you NEED TO KNOW to get moving in Metro Atlanta.

Marietta, GA Needs Volunteers For Earth Day Clean Up

Grab your gardening gloves & tools and come out to pitch in to "Keep Marietta Beautiful". On April 24th, 300 volunteers will be needed to help pick up trash & install spring plantings at various sites around the city.

You can visit the Marietta, GA website for a list of sites where the work will be performed and you can also sign up to volunteer.

If you don't live in or near Marietta, check with your local government office for similar programs taking place on Earth Day!

If you do live in the Marietta area, SEE YOU THERE!

Jenna Dixon
Associate Broker
Dixon Realty Advisors
DRA Homes
770-374-4230

How Do You Explain "Highest & Best" to a Buyer? When Highest, Isn't Always Best...

Let's clarify that I am speaking about REO & Short Sale listings since that is the primary situation in which we encounter the call for Highest & Best Offer in a multiple offer situation in todays real estate market.

To a REALTOR, this is nothing new, unexpected, or all that confusing.

To a buyer, it seems, that this spins them off their previously stable axis. How do you explain to your buyer that there are competing offers on their CHOICE PROPERTY and you, their trusted representative, have no idea what those competing offers entail?

Buyers seem to be mystified by the idea that I am unable to find out the prices, terms, or even the number of competing offers. They cannot understand the concept that they may have to offer well over the "advertised" price for the property to have a chance of getting their offer accepted by the bank holding the property.

And how can it be that the offer with the HIGHEST PRICE might not be considered to be the BEST OFFER?

So, here is a list of information to try to explain this to the confused buyer:

1. Just like every home is different, EVERY SELLER IS DIFFERENT. That includes banks & asset managers. Negotiations proceed differently with different personalities, different times of the month, different times of the year. These are variables which are in play on every transaction.

2. The Highest Offer is NOT ALWAYS the Best Offer. Every seller takes into consideration all of the terms of the offer. Not just price. Contingencies can break the deal. Financing, inspections, appraisals, homes to sell, approval of the property by a third party, etc. There is virtually no way to anticipate how these variables can be mixed together to arrive at a decision on The Best Offer.

3. Ford Made 500,000 Expeditions (this is a hypothetical number, corrections are not necessary), but This is ONLY ONE HOUSE. You would not get into a bidding war over a new car, because in most cases Supply far exceeds Demand on any given day. Bob's Ford sells out on that Green Expedition you had your eye on. NO BIG DEAL. Just head across town to Jim's Ford and get an identical one from him for the same price. But this 1 house, on this 1 lot, in this 1 subdivision, on this 1 lake IS SPECIAL. Try not to make comparisons between other market segments and real estate. There is a difference.

4. You arrive at YOUR HIGHEST & BEST OFFER by considering your own desire for the property and your own financial situation. You have no control over the motivations or veracity of any other party. It is pointless to consider them. This is very important when dealing with REOs and Short Sales as the banks involved have no emotional attachment to the property. Likely, they have only seen it in a photograph or described in a BPO or appraisal.

5. What is best for you is to know your limits. Whether you are purchasing a property as an investment, or because you love it ("Investors" are not investors if they must LOVE IT to BUY IT!) your highest & best offer, is the price at which you say to your self "I will not pay ONE MORE PENNY than XXX".

If you are a buyer seeking guidance in purchasing a bank-owned property or a short sale, please contact me for assistance.

Visit my website to start your home search at www.DixonRealtyAdvisors.com

Jenna Dixon
Associate Broker
Dixon Realty Advisors
Parke Avenue Realty
770-374-4230
www.DixonRealtyAdvisors.com

Dixon Realty Advisors Atlanta Flat Fee Listing Service Is NOT A FSBO!

In response to the changing real estate market, Dixon Realty Advisors has adopted an Atlanta Flat Fee Listing Service for homeowners that allows our clients to Save Thousands (or tens of thousands) of Dollars in Real Estate Commissions.

We think of the program as an EQUITY PROTECTION mechanism for Metro Atlanta homeowners.

In our Atlanta Flat Fee Listing Service arrangement, our fee is set up-front as a one-time charge for marketing your home.

This gives you the flexibility to choose a commission for the cooperating buyers' agent that is comfortable for you, the choice is yours. This flexability allows you to position the selling commission at a higher rate as an incentive, attracting more agents to your home or to offer to pay for closing costs, repairs or other buyer incentives.

The only other fee is paid to the MLS service at closing at a rate of .0012 of the sales price. THAT'S IT!

Unlike most Atlanta Flat Fee Listing Service programs offered by other brokerages, Our Atlanta Flat Fee Listing Service Program DOES NOT Mirror a For Sale By Owner with MLS benefits.

You do not make your own fliers, you do not take your own pictures, you do not advertise the property yourself & YOU DO HAVE A PROFESSIONAL REAL ESTATE AGENT REPRESENTING YOUR INTERESTS!

There are No Hidden Charges For "Add-On" Services such as virtual tours, lockbox rentals, signage, additional photos, or hosting open houses.

We provide every listing with a Full-Time PROFESSIONAL to service and market your home at a drastically reduced cost.

Call us today to get started!

Jenna Dixon

Associate Broker

Dixon Realty Advisors

Parke Avenue Realty

770-374-4230

New Construction in South Forsyth UNDER $300K-Majors Mill Crossing

I found this wonderful neighborhood last Fall when I had the pleasure of helping my brother find a new home. His requirements were very specific and I was a little concerned that we would not be able to find everything he was looking for in his price range.

And then, I discovered Majors Mill Crossing in Cumming, Georgia. The homes offered a wonderful value with all of the charming Craftsman details we were searching for!

The homes have wonderfully detailed elevations, thoughtful architectural details throughout, and are situated on a manageable lot that includes a complete maintenance package through the homeowners' association. The community also has a nice amenities package, including a sparkling pool!

Majors Mill Crossing is located just off Ga. 400 at exit 13. Here you can take full advantage of everything that Peachtree Parkway in South Forsyth County has to offer without sacrificing a long commute back to the freeway.

The Avenues of Forsyth Shopping Center is just moments away and includes wonderful restaurants & a movie theater.

Lowe Properties & Homes By Brumby are still actively building in this NEARLY COMPLETE neighborhood. On our transaction, we worked with Lowe Properties & they were wonderful, very helpful & responsive.

If you are searching for A HOME IN SOUTH FORSYTH COUNTY, contact me today for more information about this community and many others in the area.

If you have a home to sell, be sure to check out our ATLANTA FLAT FEE LISTING SERVICE that will help you save when it's time to sell.

Jenna Dixon

Associate Broker

Dixon Realty Advisors

Parke Avenue Realty

770-374-4230

http://www.dixonrealtyadvisors.com/