Intown Atlanta Real Estate Archives

Black Friday Bash at Atlantic Station| November 23, 2012 2-9pm

November 20, 2012 by Thom Abbott

Finally, something about the Thanksgiving holiday that is not what time the stores will open or what are you eating! How about a concert in Central Park with the Jam Out at Black Friday Bash @ Atlantic Station!

What Is Atlantic Station?

If you’ve just landed in Atlanta for the holiday weekend, or just have not ventured ITP (Inside The Perimeter) from the burbs of Atlanta, Atlantic Station is one of the most successful brownfield redevelopments in the country! (The name comes from the Atlantic Steel Mill which use to occupy this site.) Now, Atlantic Station is an almost model live-work-play community located across the Downtown Connector from Midtown Atlanta proper. ( Exit 17th Street via I-85/75 North or South to get to Atlantic Station)

Some 45 merchants and restaurants await you when visiting Atlantic Station. The list (and their hours of operation on Black Friday are below!)

Who Will Be Performing at Black Friday Bash?

Some great groups will be on hand to entertain from 2pm until 9pm!

You Said There were some 45 Merchants at Atlantic Station?

Yes…I did…and it even kind of surprised ME!

I just might be dancing on the streets and in the Park! Hope to see you there!

Midtown Atlanta Condos Under $100,000

November 18, 2012 by Thom Abbott

Midtown Atlanta Condos Under $100,000

Why Do People Live in Midtown Atlanta?

Midtown Atlanta is a central location in the metro Atlanta area, and the walkability of the area is a key factor in why people live in Midtown Atlanta. Also, often called the “Heart of the Arts,” Midtown features the High Museum, Woodruff Arts Center and the Fox Theater, just to name a few. Step out the front door of your condominium and a host of dining options await you. From a walk in Piedmont Park to afternoon cocktails at Gordon Biersch Brewery on Peachtree Street, Midtown Atlanta is all about getting out on the streets and leaving your car in the garage. From most of the major condominium buildings you are walking distance to the CVS Pharmacy on 6th and Peachtree and the Publix Urban Market locate in the Plaza Midtown condominium building at West Peachtree and 8th Streets. All over Midtown Atlanta you’ll find restaurants serving up everything from salads to sushi.

Looking for a Condo in Midtown Atlanta?

Interested in Condos For Sale In Midtown Atlanta Under $100,000? Click that link to find all the currently available condos for sale in this area of Atlanta.

What’s the Neighborhood Like?

There is a variety of condominium homes to choose from in Midtown Atlanta. Finding one under $100,000 will certainly limit you to the buildings you can look at, but in that price range, you should be able to find a 1 bedroom ranging in size from 600-800 sq. ft. Most likely y0u won’t find your home in a high-rise building, but more so in the mid-rise condo buildings. Your condo may, or may not offer a balcony to take in the sights and sounds of Midtown. In smaller buildings located in the Historic Midtown area you may also have on-street parking rather than a garage or even a parking lot.

What’s Going on Nearby Midtown Atlanta?

Midtown still has some work to do when it comes to the shopper….but never fear, you have options. Atlantic Station is located across the Downtown Connector at 17th Street. It’s just far enough, you will have to break your car, or bike out to visit this one. Lenox Mall and Phipps Plaza are located in Buckhead, and you can use the MARTA train to get to and from there if you wish. Midtown West is an up and coming area with shops and restaurants. And you are within walking (or a MARTA train ride) from Downtown Atlanta where you will find the Georgia Dome (Home of the Atlanta Falcons football team) the Phillips Arena (concert and basketball central) and just on the other side of Downtown Atlanta is Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves baseball team.

What Schools will the Kids Attend?

If you have school age children, Midtown is served by Springdale Park Elementary, Inman Middle School and Grady High School. There are also some private schools, such as The Children’s School.

Now You Really Want to Find a Condo Here, Right?

If you are interested in the current Condominiums For Sale Under $100,000 in Midtown Atlanta, click on the link! My For Sale property information is a direct feed from the First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS) and us updated multiple times per day.

Where is Main Street in Atlanta? Do You Know?

November 17, 2012 by Thom Abbott

If you’ve lived in Atlanta for more than a week, you know that Atlanta is all about naming streets Peachtree Something.

But, Where is Main Street in Atlanta? Do You Know?

The street naming in Atlanta gets downright confusing….are we on Peachtree Street, Peachtree Road, Peachtree Industrial Blvd, or Peachtree Parkway? (That is how many times Peachtree Street, leaving Downtown Atlanta changes names as it heads North all the way to Cumming!)

So, I’m going through a Google Alert (stick we me on this train of thought so you can see how I got here….) The Alert leads me to a post about a GATech fraternity that’s in trouble, to health scores on restaurants, that leads me to a post at Midtown Patch about a perfect score for Five Guys Burgers. Ok, I’m thinking the location at Spire Midtown Atlanta. But no, they reference the “Main Street Five Guys Burgers and Fries located just north of Midtown.”

But Where is Main Street, Just North of Midtown?

Well, a couple of clicks later…I found it. It’s the Five Guys Burgers located at Lindbergh Center and the Lindbergh MARTA Station. WOW! Really? It took me some 3- 5 clicks to find something I should of found on the FIRST post, if they would of called it Five Guys Burgers Lindbergh Center.

In real estate, I often see a s-t-r-e-t-c-h in describing where a home may be located. But, in reality, if you just say where it ACTUALLY is located, you will probably be much further ahead in people finding your home For Sale or your burger restaurant.

DeKalb County Breaks Ground on New Senior Center in Chamblee

November 14, 2012 by Thom Abbott

I had the pleasure to see the results of a community that works together to improve itself. Today, I attended the Groundbreaking ceremony for the North Dekalb Senior/Community Center in Chamblee. And old office-type warehouse building will be torn down and replaced with a new 15, 000 sq. ft. building.

Groundbreaking Ceremony Attended by Dekalb County Officials and Chamblee Mayor

On hand for the event was Burrell Ellis, CEO of DeKalb County, Kathie Gannon, Commissioner, District 6, Jeff Rader, Commissioner District 2, and Sharon Barnes Sutton from District 4. Additionally, Mayor Eric Clarkson of Chamblee addressed the cold but excited audience of some 60 people who were in attendance. Also, Former Mayor Evelyn R. Kennedy addressed the group, obviously proud of the progress Chamblee has made with new development around the Chamblee MARTA station. (This new building is directly across from the 3400 Malone Condominiums which have some prime first floor commercial opportunities available!)

New Community Center Will Offer Variety of Services and Activities

The facility will have a commercial kitchen, community meeting rooms, a computer lab, fully equipped fitness room, access to walking trails and senior sitting areas both inside and around the grounds of the building. (I’m not sure what constitutes a “senior sitting area??”)

The Main Dining Hall will accommodate up to 120 people for dining and is designed to easily convert and serve as meeting space for educational seminars, and community/civic events.

Activity rooms will be made available for ceramics, billiards, and games such as chess, bridge and backgammon. A large social lounge will also be part of the facility.

While located in close proximity to the Chamblee MARTA station, it may be to much of a walk for anyone with a disability. But it certainly will be a great addition to the area, and the neighboring cities of Doraville and soon-to-be Brookhaven should be green with envy they did not land such a great addition to the community and what will sure to be a well used facility for Seniors!

How Many Apartments CAN Atlanta Handle?

November 12, 2012 by Thom Abbott

From a Buyer and Seller perspective, the market is improving. Midtown Atlanta condominiums are getting multiple offers and bidding wars! If you’re a Seller and you want to Sell, and can price it right…it WILL sell!!

But, rewind back to 2007-2008 when there were several new construction projects selling in Midtown Atlanta. As I looked at the skyline grow, it was exciting! But in the back of my mind, I just had to think…

“This is all fine and wonderful, and looks amazing, but WHERE are the people going to come from to fill all these condominiums they have built?”

Well, it’s taken us from then, until now to eat up most of that inventory, and give already existing owners a chance to sell their homes! Ah yes, we still have challenges between what they paid and what they can sell for, but at least we know we are headed in the right direction.

I wonder if we can say the same about apartment buildings. I mean it takes one hand to count the projects under construction, or proposed right now…and this is JUST in Midtown/Midtown West:

Sky House – Developed by Novare Group – West Peachtree Street (Scheduled Opening December 2012)
77 12th Street – Developed by Daniel Realty/Selig Enterprises – 12th Street (Scheduled Opening May, 2013)
100 6th Street – Developed by Novare Group – 6th Street next to Viewpoint (Proposed and in development stage)
Ponce/North Avenue – 300 units in a building on the block where the Abby is located
West Midtown – 14th and Howell Mill — Construction underway on a new apartment building

Are you seeing a pattern here? Once again, I’m asking the question, “Where are all the people coming from to fill all these apartments?” Or, the $100 question, how long will they BE apartments before they are converted to condominiums?

We are either going to have a HUGE glut of apartments, or a bunch of new condominium inventory on our hands in the next 2-3 years. What does that mean for the real estate market? Well for those of you that either own investment property, or are owners that have obtained a leasing permit, you are going to feel some pressure on what you are going to be able to charge for rent. If your place is not the new and shiny penny, the renter’s maybe looking elsewhere. Or it will push down your rental rates if everyone if flocking to the new and shiny penny.

Or, there will be sales……