Atlanta Condos For Sale

Hawaii Residents Enjoy A Winter Snow! Yes…SNOW!

by

Hawaii Residents Enjoy A Winter Snow! Yes…SNOW!

If you have never been to Hawaii….GO! But, on the Big Island of Hawaii (my Mom and I own a Timeshare there) you have have the best of both worlds…beach AND snow!

The last time I was in Hawaii, we drove up to Mauna Kea to the observatories. Of course, it was not winter, but it was still in the 40’s by the time we got to the top. And you have to hike up the road as rental cars are banned from the steep road due to people burning out breaks or transmissions as they come down!

But a good friend of my, Susie Blackmon who use to live in Hawaii, shared this video from the Big Island Video News site. I could not include it here, but please click on the link to watch the story.

We get snow here in Atlanta every once in awhile….last year we got a really nice blanket…..

Atlanta Snow 2010

Jobless Benefits? Where Can I Get Help?

by

Jobless Benefits? Where Can I Get Help?

Jobless ManIt’s no secret that if you are not employed, you are probably NOT going to be buying a home. You could call it the Perfect Storm! Unheard of interest rates, and you can’t take advantage of them.

While somedays, selling real estate FEELS like being jobless, it’s probably not quite the same. But, when I learned about this web site that has information on over 1,000 benefit and assistance programs, I just had to spread the word.

Life can be pretty tough out there right now…I know. So if I can help by passing along some information, I’ll feel I am a better person for helping someone. Just click on the picture below to be taken to the official benefits website of the U.S. Government for jobless benefits and where you can get help.

Government Benefits

Just The Way You Are — A Shout Out to My AR Peeps I've Come To Know!

by

Just The Way You Are — A Shout Out to My AR Peeps I’ve Come To Know!

I still have never figured out exactly HOW I found Active Rain. It’s a website where I have another real estate blog that you may have found as well. If not, checkout RealtorThom on Active Rain!

I just know the two very significant dates.

Activated My Profile – August 18, 2007

My First Blog Post – August 25, 2007

You ask, “What do we, your readers, care about this place called Active Rain?” Well, it’s made me a better real estate broker by teaching me many of the things I use to day in marketing YOUR home or condominium For Sale, or tips I’ve learned when negotiating on your behalf to purchase your next home! It’s some pretty good stuff!

WOW! Since that time, I’ve come a long way baby! My blogs have gone from simple to complex and multi-part.

Pictures and graphs and links and kinks….

I’ve learned about everything from SEO to Animoto.

But above all else, the technology, the tips and heck ya even real life LEADS and CLOSINGS…..

My Midtown Mojo Blogging Inspiration

It’s the people I’ve met, and the friendships I’ve formed that have truly made Active Rain and awesome and wonderful place to spend the countless hours that I spend.

Many of you I’ve met in person, and many I have not.

If we met in person, that first meeting was like two old friends catching up after months, or years apart.

It felt like we knew each other already!

If we haven’t met in person, I look forward to that day when we too will share that same feeling.

I won’t mention names for fear I could miss someone.

You know who you are.

You know where you are.

And I Thank you….Just The Way You Are!

College Football Hall of Fame Selects Atlanta Site

by

College Football Hall of Fame Selects Atlanta Site

College FootballIt appears that the “tourist center” of Downtown Atlanta is going to gain another attraction! The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported last month that the College Football Hall of Fame appears to have selected their preferred site…a parking lot on Marietta Street, close to CNN Center and Centennial Olympic Park.

The article states there are several issues to we worked out before any deal is signed however. And that will be some 8-10 months in the making. This might be a good thing, giving the economy time to rebound and travelers willing to spend money on such attractions.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame that Atlanta bid on and lost (darn it…that would have been a good one…or so I thought) which opened in Charlotte in May of this year has been running a deficit and has had challenges with visitors. The museum set an attendance goal of 50,000 people per month, but attendance for BOTH July and August totaled 55,000 people.

College Football Hall of Fame Site
College Football Hall of Fame Site

This map shows the proposed location of the College Football Hall of Fame and its proximity to many of the Downtown Atlanta attractions, such as World of Coke and the Georgia Aquarium. This is all good as Atlanta NEEDS to work on its draw for tourists and convention attendees. While the city has great hotel rooms and the Georgia World Congress Center, it lacks in the way of entertainment for both tourists and convention attendees.

We will keep tabs on this project and let you know how things develop for the site and the projected date of opening.

Winter Driving Tips

by

Winter Driving Tips

Car on road in winter.

In the next week or so, many will take to the highways for the holidays. Off to visit family and friends, people will choose to drive so they can get all those holiday presents to their destination, along with the family. But driving during this time of year means taking extra steps in a majority of the U.S. states.

The American Automobile Association has some winter driving tips:

  • Pack your cell phone with your local AAA’s telephone number plus the number of people you are planning to visit, plus blankets, gloves, hats, food, water and any needed medication in your vehicle. Keep your cell phone connected to it’s car charger to keep it fully charged in case you no longer have power in your car!
  • If you become stuck, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Don’t try to walk in a severe storm. It’s easy to lose sight of your vehicle in blowing snow and become lost.
  • Pack a cellular telephone with your local AAA’s telephone number, plus blankets, gloves, hats, food, water and any needed medication in your vehicle.

You can read more of their tips at AAA Exchange, Winter Driving Tips.

Also, during this time of year, things are hectic for everyone. Rushing to get shopping and holiday preparations done, holiday parties, and of course, the long distance trip we talked about above. Remember these other important tips:

  • Keep your eyes on the road. Dialing your phone, programming a GPS, etc all take away from your primary function when driving….paying attention to the road. Remember, texting and driving in Georgia is against the law!
  • Leave some space between you and the car in front of you. You might be paying attention, but maybe they are not. In fact, try to “look through the car in front of you” for what may be happening in front of them…like brake lights!

Thomas Ramon Realty wishes you and yours the safest of travels this holiday season. In fact, we will be on the road to New York City and will be keeping these winter driving tips in mind as we hit the road!

Thom Abbott

Associate Broker, REALTOR(R)
905 Juniper Street, NE Suite 110
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
770.713.1505 Direct
404.876.4901 Office

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

HomeSmart