Atlanta Real Estate

The City of Alpharetta, which is located about 20 miles to the north of Downtown Atlanta continues be the premiere suburb for Atlanta real estate. Alpharetta has long been favored for the fantastic public schools and conscientious use of public space for parks and beautification projects. Now Alpharetta has broken the mold of the typical suburb again with projects in the works that will make it feel like its own cultural and shopping center destinations, continuing its independence from Atlanta. Part of the success and popularity realized by Alpharetta also lies in its ability to maintain a small town charm and combining it with the sophistication of larger metropolitan areas. Alpharetta real estate benefits from these projects as well as the excellent schools, low crime and numerous parks.

The exciting new projects planned for Alpharetta include a revitalized downtown district with a new mixed use development known as the Alpharetta City Center. This development will combine retail stores and condominium living embracing the same lifestyle found in another area of Atlanta at Atlantic Station. From a cultural perspective, Alpharetta is in the process of developing Encore Park, an outdoor amphitheater similar to the one located at Chastain Park which will be run by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and will play host to a summer pop concert series as well as events performed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Finally, the new Milton Park, another mixed use development, will combine single family homes, condos and townhomes with the high end Stanbury Residences along with numerous high end shops rivaling anything offered in other areas of Atlanta’s shopping districts. Parks and recreation have always been very high on the list of priorities for homeowners and Alpharetta does not fail its residents here. Alpharetta is recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City and parks such as the Big Park Greenway and Wills park, which is complete with an equestrian center and city pool, along with new park projects and numerous smaller parks offer residents something to do all year around.

These new developments, along with Alpharetta’s parks and recreation department will make Alpharetta real estate the premiere suburb of Atlanta for years to come. Combined with a responsive city government with a AAA bond rating, nationally recognized emergency service which allow for lower homeowners insurance, conscientious and liberal use of public space as parks and excellent public education and you have all of the ingredients that make Alpharetta a great place to call home.

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The northern suburbs of Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell and Alpharetta offer home buyers a rich diversity of neighborhoods and a community environment that combine to provide an excellent location for families, executives and retirees alike. Excellent public schools, high end shopping and dining, numerous Fortune 500 employers and a convenient location to major highways continue to make Alpharetta, Roswell and Sandy Springs a great place to live.

The recently incorporated city of Sandy Springs is north and adjacent to Atlanta. After years of wrangling over the allocation of tax dollars by Fulton County, the city of Sandy Springs now has more control over the use of tax revenue which has dramatically increased the desirability. Due in part to the incorporation, Sandy Springs Real Estate continues to fare well compared with the national Real Estate market.

Roswell, which shares a border on the north side of the Chattahoochee River with Sandy Springs, remains an excellent location to raise a family. Some of the state of Georgia’s best public schools can be found here. Excellent river parks and a sound environmental policy help to create a carefully designed mix of growth and nature. Downtown Roswell, boasts plenty of old southern charm with local cafes and excellent restaurants along with numerous boutique and antique stores. Lavish estates and country clubs, mingle with new construction and first time homeowner communities creating a well diversified and balanced Real Estate market.

The city of Alpharetta is directly north of Roswell and is about 20 miles to the north of downtown Atlanta. Numerous Fortune 500 companies call Alpharetta home including; Sun Microsystems, Microsoft, Lucent, AT&T, IBM, Nortel, Verizon, ChoicePoint, Siemens, E*Trade, Bellsouth, Hewlett-Packard, Rubbermaid, Alltel and Infor Global Solutions. The major business center located off of Windward Parkway provides Alpharetta with a large tax base which is efficiently used by this AAA rated city to create one of the newest and most beautiful public spaces you will ever see. The Alpharetta Real Estate market continues to be strong with new construction homes starting around $600,000 and new townhomes start in the $300,000’s. Alpharetta Real Estate is among the most diverse in the southeast offering homebuyers vast choices ranging from luxury real estate, equestrian estates and country clubs to new and modern townhomes and mixed use communities like the newly approved Alpharetta city center.

Whatever you are looking for in a home, you can find in the cities of Alpharetta, Roswell and Sandy Springs. The convenient location, proximity to downtown Atlanta, ease of access to the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson, numerous career paths and the cost of real estate combine to create an exceptional value for your next place to call home.
Ryan Ward of the Ryan Ward Real Estate Team is a member of the national, state and local REALTOR associations, and resident of Alpharetta, Georgia who specializes in listing and selling real estate in Atlanta. For more information about Ryan Ward and Atlanta homes,visit his Alpharetta Real Estate website or call 404-630-3187.

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EIFS, Dryvet, or synthetic stucco, as it is often called, can create a real problem if you are trying to sell your home. From the outset, many buyers will overlook your home without giving it a second thought no matter what you have done to protect your home from the potential problems that are associated with the product. This is unfortunate for many homeowners who have taken good care of their home because might have a difficult time selling because many Alpharetta buyers will simply not even consider the home. Fortunately, there are certain steps that you can take to improve your chances of selling a home with synthetic stucco.

First, you need to obtain all records you have for any repairs made to the siding. Second, you should obtain a stucco bond for moisture and repair that will transfer to new owners and provide them with the piece of mind they will need to purchase the home. Next, make sure that the siding is not in direct contact with the ground anywhere. Finally, because moisture being trapped behind the siding is the main cause of problems, have a moisture test performed on your home and provide the test results for a potential buyer to review.

If you follow these steps you will be able to minimize a potential buyers concerns and reservations they might have with buying a stucco home. While there is generally nothing you can do to attract a buyer who does not like the look of stucco, you can help yourself by recognizing the concerns a potential buyer may have. Being prepared for the concerns is your best defense against losing a buyer.

Ryan Ward of Keller Williams Realty Consultants is a member of the national, state and local REALTOR associations, and resident of Alpharetta, Georgia who specializes in listing and selling real estate in Atlanta. For more information about Ryan Ward and Atlanta homes,visit his Atlanta Homes For Sale website or call 404-630-3187.

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The community of Windward has long been considered one of the most convenient locations and a wonderful place to live in Alpharetta. The community of Windward itself surrounds the beautiful, 195 acre Lake Windward and residents are welcome to use the lake which is complete with a marina. Among the many other amenities enjoyed by residents of Windward homes are the nationally recognized, Golf Club of Georgia, numerous parks and ball fields, numerous tennis courts and an Olympic swimming pool equipped with an enormous slide. Comprised of nearly 100 individual neighborhoods, Windward, is one of the largest communities anywhere in Atlanta.

A number of reasons make Windward such a great place to live. Among the most important for residents is the safety. Well known by the city of Alpharetta, the Windward neighborhood watch is among the finest anywhere. Another very important reason that that Windward has been such a great place to call home is the fantastic public education system that the children attend. The elementary school is Creek View and is among the finest in the state of Georgia. Webb Bridge Middle School and Alpharetta High School are equally rated. The price of homes in Windward range from the mid to high $200,000’s up to and beyond $5,000,000 for luxury estates with premium lake views. Another reason that Windward makes a great place to live is the location. Windward and North Point Parkways have both become major employment centers and both centers are literally around the corner from Windward.

Communities in Windward consist of luxury gated neighborhoods on the Golf Club of Georgia and Lake Windward as well as numerous smaller enclaves that make up the majority of the neighborhoods. With an extremely active and safety oriented homeowners association, Windward residents can always find something to do and the homeowners association is extremely vigilant about safety in Windward. Each neighborhood basically has a captain who looks out for the neighborhood and if any unusual activity is noticed, the entire homeowners association is notified. Because of this, Windward homes are always more popular than other areas of Atlanta when you compare market statistics.

Many of the neighborhoods are within walking distance of the swimming and tennis facilities and the community is very active. Driving through Windward you are likely to see people jogging, walking or bicycling around the lake and generally enjoying the outdoors and beautiful landscape. The Windward Lake Club is the heart of the outdoor activity and consists of an 18 acre facility with swim, tennis, racquetball and lake club. Outdoor recreation in Windward is at the heart of this vibrant community for adults and children alike. If you enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, buying a home in Windward might be a great choice for you.

Ryan Ward of the Ryan Ward Real Estate Group is a member of the national, state and local REALTOR associations, and resident of Alpharetta, Georgia who specializes in listing and selling real estate in Alpharetta and Windward. For more information about Ryan Ward and Alpharetta homes,visit his Alpharetta Real Estate website or call 404-630-3187.

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If you are planning to relocate to Atlanta, there are a number of considerations you must take into account prior to your arrival. Some of the most important factors include the location of your employment, quality of schools, commute times, how much home you can afford to buy and what activities are important to you. Your best option is to contact someone in Atlanta who specializes in dealing with newcomers to our city. For all of the online resources at your disposal, nothing can replace the knowledge and personal attention necessary to make your Atlanta relocation transition as smooth as possible. Here are some of the important things for you to consider when relocating to Atlanta:Location – Atlanta is a very sprawling city. When you know that you are moving to Atlanta, it is a very good idea to get a good feel for what type of commute you might expect from different areas and what amenities are important to you. If you travel frequently, you will want to consider your travel time to the airport. Many of Atlanta’s best areas are nowhere near the airport.

Schools – If you have children of school age, you should look for homes in area that have better schools. This will help you for resale value even if you intend on educating your children in private schools.

Amenities – Do you enjoy shopping and eating out? If so, some areas have a much higher density of excellent restaurants and shopping.

Parks and Recreation – If you enjoy the outdoors, you will find it more convenient if you relocate to an area that has these features close to where you move.

Housing Costs – Every area around the country is different and even within a city, real estate prices can vary greatly. Knowing your price range will dramatically help to narrow down your search and save you tremendous amounts of time. These are just a few examples of important things for you to consider for your Atlanta relocation. You will be best served by contacting a local area REALTOR before you make your initial visit to the Atlanta area. That way you will have some of your homework figured out from a professional who specializes in knowing and understanding Metro Atlanta. Relocating to a new city is a very difficult and sometimes extremely stressful proposition. With the help of a real estate agent, you can begin to better understand the area and start to narrow down areas of importance to you so that you don’t spend your time and energy on activities that will not be helpful in your move.

Ryan Ward of Keller Williams Realty Consultants is a member of the national, state and local REALTOR associations, and resident of Alpharetta, Georgia who specializes in Atlanta relocation. For more information about Ryan Ward and relocating to Atlanta visit my Atlanta Relocation website or call 404-630-3187.

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