Condominiums of Midtown Archives

Condo Balcony Furniture And Why There Are Rules

October 29, 2012 by Thom Abbott

When you live in a condominium, you live in close quarters. I mean, it’s not like a single family home on a one-half acre lot….you do have neighbors right next door. So, that is why you have covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) which are the governing documents that dictate how the homeowners association operates and what rules you have to follow.

Condo Balcony Furniture And Why There Are Rules

As Super Storm bears down on the New Jersey coast line and points inland, we’ve felt outer winds way over here in Atlanta! Wind and high rises are not always a problem..but what’s on your balcony…that is a whole other story! Rules about what you can have on your condo balcony vary widely from building to building. Those buildings like Viewpoint Midtown and Spire Midtown have even more strict rules because of the nature of the design of the balconies and how they cantilever out and are mostly exposed to the elements, including wind.

I took this picture today from the 14th Floor of Viewpoint Midtown. You should be able to see that a chair on each of the balconies has been blown over. The wind force 14 stories up in the air is very different from the street. Couple that with the wind circling around a building and patio furniture, it not heavy enough can be lifted up and over a balcony railing. Can you imagine the force that a piece of furniture would hit the ground 14 stories below? Lethal for sure, if it hit anyone.

I was once on the street in front of another condo building with a pool deck on the 7th floor. While stopped in traffic, an umbrella from one of the tables landed on the sidewalk. Thankfully, there was no one walking anywhere close, but again, it could of been a disaster.

See, there are reasons….Condo Balcony Furniture and Why There Are Rules!

For More Information on how I can best serve your InTown Atlanta Real Estate needs, please fill out the online contact form or call me at 770.713.1505.

I specialize in InTown Atlanta Real Estate single family homes and condomiums. If you are planning to Buy InTown Atlanta real estate, let me help you explore all the possibilities available to you and help you find just the right home you will LOVE!

Need to SELL your Intown Atlanta Real Estate and look for new digs? I’d be happy to talk to you about the market, marketing your home or condo and having you sing the Pending Sales Song! Let me know how we can help you!

Please use the following links to Search for Homes by Intown Atlanta Neighborhoods or Zip codes!

Brookhaven/Ashford Park 30319	Buckhead 30305
Buckhead 30327	Buckhead 30342
Chamblee 30341	Decatur 30307
Doraville 30340	Downtown Atlanta 30303
Druid Hills 30329	Dunwoody 30338
East Atlanta/Ormewood Park 30316	East Lake/Kirkwood 30317
Grant Park 30312	Midtown Atlanta 30308
Midtown Atlanta 30309	Midtown West/Collier Hills 30318
Morningside 30306	Morningside 30324

Are you looking for a specific Intown Atlanta neighborhood to focus on? Contact Thomas Ramon Realty and we can set up a search for any specific neighborhood you are looking for!

National Fire Prevention Week -October 7-13, 2012

October 5, 2012 by Thom Abbott

You know, things just have a funny way of happening.

Just yesterday, I was on the 21st floor of Twelve Atlantic Station with my first-time home (condo) buyer doing the inspection on the condo she is buying. And while we were talking, the subject of water and fire came up.

Water because the home inspector was showing her where the main water shut off was if there was ever an emergency in her condo regarding water. If you don’t live in a high, or mid-rise condominium, the two biggest problem causes are water and fire.

So then this morning, I see that next week is National Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13 to be exact. And it got me thinking about all the high-rise buildings in Atlanta. Of course there are the office buildings, but let’s focus on the residential condominium buildings. And fire safety.

Most of today’s newer condominium towers have pretty advanced life safety systems. But the are not fool proof, and still require human intervention. If an alarm DOES sound, it’s still up the the building’s Concierge or security officer to determine if it’s a false alarm or a real emergency. As I have been told in many buildings, the alarms will sound on the floor above, and below where the actual alarm has been triggered. If not silenced within a certain amount of time (based on there NOT being an emergency) the alarm will then sound in the entire building. Now, I’m not a fireman, or fire marshal, so my understanding of this process should not be taken as the gospel truth!!!

But let’s just think about this for one minute. Heaven forbid, there IS a fire in your building? Do you have an escape plan? Have you really paid attention to where the stairs are located on your floor? You do know the elevators immediately return to the lobby, open and are not operational until a “fire key” is used to turn them back on? Do you know where the stairwell exits out of your building? Maybe National Fire Prevention Week would be a good time to make your plan.

Are you aware that the doors to stairwells in high rises LOCK behind you when you enter the stairwell? (Or at least from a security standpoint most of them do?) There are suppose to be select floors whereby you can get OUT of the stairwell and back into a hallway if the exit via a stairwell is blocked.

Do you have a fire extinguisher in your condo?

Here’s a Saturday or Sunday morning exercise for you. Take the stairs from your condo to the street. Yeah, I don’t care if you are on the 28th or 36th floor. Take the stairs. Find out about locked doors. Find out about points of access back into the building if you needed to.

You know what? I’m having some knee problems, so a stairwell trip would be a real challenge for me, but I think I may just try it myself.

I’ll report back to you about what I found. And if you DO take this challenge, let me know by posting a comment here.

For MORE Information about fire safety and prevention, visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website.

Midtown Atlanta Market Report | Tuscany Condominiums August 2012

September 30, 2012 by Thom Abbott

The Midtown Atlanta Market Report for Tuscany Condominiums for August, 2012 shows an interesting “balance” of inventory. There are 5 Active Listings, 3 Under Contract, and 4 Solds for August.

Of the current listings in Tuscany Condominiums Midtown Atlanta, they are broken down as follows:

3 One Bedroom homes ranging in price from $99-199,000
2 Two Bedroom homes priced at $160,000 and $174,000

The Sold homes are all 1 bedrooms ranging in price from $109,000 – $115,000. (So the $199,000 might have challenge selling!)

In August, 2011, there was only ONE sale in Tuscany Midtown Atlanta and it was a 2 Bedroom at $185,000.

Tuscany Midtown Atlanta condominiums represent a good value for the Midtown Atlanta condo buyer that does not want to be in a high-rise building, and is looking for a lower priced home. It is good to remember that most homes will not have upgrades like granite and stainless appliances unless the previous owner made these changes to the home. When this community came on line, these were not features that were always offered in a building.

Tuscany Midtown Atlanta would make a good alternative to GATech parents looking for a condo for their kids to live in while they are going to school. But, it’s not as convenient to campus as other buildings. However, students can walk down 10th Street or Peachtree Place and be at the Midtown MARTA station (where the TECH Trolley stops) in about 4 blocks.

Learn more about Tuscany Midtown Atlanta here!

For More Information on how we can best serve your Midtown Atlanta Real Estate needs, please fill out the online contact form or call us at 770.713.1505.

We specialize in Condominium homes in Midtown Atlanta and other In Town areas of Atlanta. If you are planning to Buy or Sell real estate, let us help you explore all the possibilities available to you and help you find just the right home you will LOVE!

For a Quick Look at Midtown Atlanta Condominiums:

Midtown Atlanta High Rise Condominiums

Midtown Atlanta Mid Rise Condominiums

Perhaps you are interested in Historic Midtown? Take a look at Homes For Sale In Historic Midtown Atlanta

Midtown Atlanta Market Report | White Provision West Midtown | August, 2012

September 25, 2012 by Thom Abbott

One of my favorite Midtown Atlanta living options is actually in West Midtown. White Provisions. I’ve shown here numerous times but have yet to connect a Buyer. And the opportunities to own new construction are faded in this building!

As the Midtown Atlanta Market Report for White Provision, August, 2012 shows, the inventory is slowing disappearing!

White Provision currently has TWO 1-Bedroom homes listed at $225,000 and $240,000. The remaining homes are two and three bedroom floor plans. The 2 Bedrooms range from $296,000 up to $817,000. And the 3 Bedrooms range from $430-807,000.

Pending Contracts and Sales in August:

Under Contract – 1-3 Bedroom at $395,000; 2 – 2 Bedrooms at $271,000 and $289,000.
Sold – 2 bedroom at $259,000

My recent showings have had 2 bedroom homes in the mid $300,000 price range. Another example of the lower price points disappearing in the Atlanta condominium market.

There is lots of activity in the Westside and the White Provisions District. With restaurants and shopping just outside your door, and Downtown and Midtown in the distance, this is a pretty cool living option in West Midtown. You really need to check out White Provision!

For More Information on how we can best serve your Midtown Atlanta Real Estate needs, please fill out the online contact form or call us at 770.713.1505.

For a Quick Look at Midtown Atlanta Condominiums:

Midtown Atlanta High Rise Condominiums

Midtown Atlanta Mid Rise Condominiums

Perhaps you are interested in Historic Midtown? Take a look at Homes For Sale In Historic Midtown Atlanta

Midtown Atlanta Market Report | The Dakota Condominiums August 2012

September 24, 2012 by Thom Abbott

As we look at Market activity for Midtown Atlanta condominium buildings in August, you will see the marked decrease in available inventory, such as is seen in the Midtown Atlanta Market Report for The Dakota Condominiums, August, 2012.

The Dakota Condominiums have always been a popular Midtown Atlanta alternative to high-rise living. The floor plans are spacious and there is one building that offers two story town homes as well. But for August, 2012, there are no active listings in the building!

A 1 Bedroom is Under Contract at $219,000 and a 2 Bedroom sold for $250,000. This was a “flat” and not a town house style.

If you are a Buyer looking for Midtown Atlanta real estate, don’t look at something you like and think about it to long, it very well may be gone before you know it.

You can learn more about this building at the community page for The Dakota Condominiums.

You can see All the Market reports I’ve done for this building at the Dakota Condominiums Market Reports.