Keller Williams Most Recognizable Brand in 2009

Welcome back!

Exciting news for Roswell real estate. The 2010 Swanepoel TRENDS Report details the Top 20 largest real estate brands based on agent count as of December 2009.

In addition, RealSure, the publishers of the Swanepoel TRENDS Report and the Swanepoel SOCIAL MEDIA Report launched a nationwide online survey on December 3rd to determine the “Most Recognizable Franchise Brand in Real Estate.”

According to this survey, the Top 10 real estate franchises, most recognized by the real estate industry as quality national brands are:

1. Keller Williams Realty
2. Coldwell Banker Real Estate
3. RE/MAX International
4. Century 21 Real Estate
5. Prudential Real Estate
6. Sotheby’s International Realty
7. EXIT Realty
8. ERA Real Estate
9. Weichert Real Estate Affiliates
10. Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate

The brands that made it to the Top 5 were to be expected and are also the five largest real estate franchises in the country. The Top 5 also comfortably attracted more votes than the second five on the list, strongly pointing to the industry’s own internal belief that these are the top five brands that agents would like to work for.

Keller Williams Realty’s surprising #1 ranking was most likely due to the strong, above average online and social media presence of their agents and the fact that during 2009 KW surpassed RE/MAX in agent count according to a widely published REAL Trends survey. Click here to read the article in it’s entirety.

Contact us today to learn about the benefits of working with Keller Williams Realty for all of your Roswell real estate needs.

Roswell goes Green and wins Silver

Congratulations to the City of Roswell, who was recently certified under the Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) Green Communities Program at the Silver Level. Roswell is the first city in Georgia to be certified Silver.

“Roswell’s color has always been green,” explains Mayor Jere Wood. “We are proud to be the first City in Georgia to achieve the Silver Level Green Communities Certification from the Atlanta Regional Commission. We plan to be the first city in Georgia to receive the Gold Certification.”

ARC launched the Green Communities Program late last year to foster greater environmental stewardship by recognizing local governments that invest in programs leading to a more sustainable Atlanta region. ARC’s Green Communities program is the only program in the country that seeks to transform a region by promoting sustainability through a “green” certification program for local governments.

The city estimates that it will save $62,000 annually from the replacement of traffic signals and school zone flashers with LED bulbs. The Leita Thompson Park dog park lighting is solar powered.

The city has a no net loss of trees policy, and trees that cannot be replaced onsite will be planted on other government property. The Tree Planting Partnership is a public-private partnership to improve tree canopy and density on public lands. It has resulted in the planting of 788 hardwoods and 3,838 shrubs and flowers.

Roswell offers commute options to staff that include a flexible work arrangements policy provides for telecommuting, compressed work week and flex time. Recycling containers government facilities are located at individual desks and in common areas for traditional and non-traditional recycling. Residents of single-family homes have curbside recycling, and multi-family complexes are required to provide recycling.

Vote for Roswell Fire Department

The Fire Department is participating in the BeFireSmart Pledge Program sponsored by Liberty Mutual. The program offers a $10,000 grant to fire departments across the United States that display a commitment to fire safety.

In order to receive the grant, Roswell is asking residents and businesses to complete a brief 10-question online quiz and vote for Roswell Fire Department. The ten communities with the most completed quizzes and votes will earn grants for their fire departments.

To participate in the online quiz, visit www.befiresmart.com/fire-safety-pledge/default.aspx.

Click the “Get Started” button on the homepage and take the brief fire safety quiz. Once you have completed the quiz, you’ll be asked for your name, city and email address and an email confirmation will be sent to your email account. Verify your email address and cast your vote for Roswell.

The deadline to submit your vote is Monday, December 21st, so log in today!

The Roswell Fire Department needs your vote!

Roswell Chickens Squawk at new Ordinance

On Monday, the Roswell City Council voted 6 to 2 to ban all roosters and restrict the number of backyard chickens subject to lot size. In what turned out to be a shock, the attempt to loosen Roswell’s backyard chicken law resulted in a much tighter law.

Under the most recent version, residents could have kept up to 25 birds in some sort of enclosure at single-family homes, no matter what the lot size. People already keeping more than 25 chickens could have obtained a permit for up to 15 more birds.

However, under the new ordinance, no chickens are allowed on residential lots of 1/3 acre or less. Homeowners with 1/3 to 1 acre can keep six chickens. Homeowners with more than 1 acre can have 12 birds per acre, up to a maximum of 36. The ordinance does not regulate lots larger than 2 acres.

The council debated over roosters, but in the end there wasn’t enough support to allow roosters to be included in the ordinance, which resulted in total ban on those early morning noise makers.

The law takes effect right away, but residents were given a 90-day grace period to comply.

Roswell Candlelight Tour 2009

December 12, 2009
5:00 pm	to	9:00 pm

Visit all three of Roswell’s historic sites in beautiful candlelight and enjoy festive holiday decorations and entertainment on Saturday, December 12 from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. One renovated private home in The Bricks, the oldest apartment building in the south that housed mill workers from the cotton mill on Sloan Street, will be open to the public on this day only.

Barrington Hall’s theme, “I Collect Christmas” will display decorations from personal Christmas collections, Bulloch Hall will be celebrating “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and Smith Plantation will feature “Winter Wonderland on the Plantation” featuring decorations by the Roswell Garden Club highlighting historic flora and fauna.

Adults: $20 in advance/ $25 at the door; Children: $10 in advance/ $15 at the door.

Roswell Road Project Information Meeting

December 10, 2009
6:30 pm	to	8:30 pm

The Roswell Transportation Department will hold a public information open house on the proposed Big Creek Bridge Road at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Doubletree Hotel, 1075 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell.

The city wants to build a two-lane road with bicycle lanes and a multi-use trail that will connect east and west Roswell across Ga. 400. The road would relieve traffic on Holcomb Bridge Road and connect bicyclists and walkers to city trails and parks.

Representatives from the city will attend to answer questions.

For information, call the Roswell Transportation Department at 770-594-6420.

Now that the Roswell election is over…

Well, that was fun. Now that the election is over, what now. Roswell Mayor Jere Wood beat David Tolleson by only 77 out of 9,123 votes cast. Obviously, that doesn’t go down as an overwhelming vote of confidence. But it sounds like Mayor Wood understands how divisive the election was and his goal is to work on unifying the city of Roswell.

Top on Wood’s priority list will be constructing a bridge over GA 400 and a new road to connect Old Alabama and Warsaw roads. Such a project would help to connect the city together.

This project won’t happen overnight. It’s a long-term project with a big price tag — Wood estimates $40 million to $50 million — and uncertain funding. But he feels the bridge is critical as Holcomb Bridge Road is now the only bridge connecting the two sides of town.

The project would take years to complete but would unclog roads and spur redevelopment.

Second on the mayor’s agenda for Roswell is to redevelop blighted areas, something not expected to be easy during this recession.

Wood’s third priority is supporting the re-creation of Milton County. Expect this topic to continue to heat up as economic concerns can only increase the strained relations between the North Fulton County cities of Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton and Johns Creek.

2010 Roswell Real Estate Market

Short sales, foreclosures and REOs are expected to make up a greater segment of the marketplace in 2010 than they did this year. Half of all closed transactions in 2009 involved properties that were in some form of distress.

Our team is dedicated to helping homeowners who are in a distressed situation to understand your options and provide solutions. Understanding your options to avoiding foreclosure is important. We have created a resource on avoiding foreclosure and are available for private consultations with homeowners. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of working with us.

Our knowledge in the arena of short sales and foreclosures also ensures we can provide unparalleled service for Roswell home buyers who are interested in buying a home, but concerned about the ramifications of purchasing a short sale or disclosure. Contact us to set up a homebuyer seminar where we will address the top keys to buying a great Roswell home.

Roswell Town Square Holiday Lighting

December 5, 2009
5:15 pm	to	8:30 pm

The cool weather is upon us and we’ve just past Thanksgiving. That must mean it’s time to join with family and friends and enjoy the annual lighting of Historic Roswell Town Square. The celebration will be held on Saturday, December 5th beginning at 5:15.

The event will include music and a special reading of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas with Roswell Mayor Jere Wood. We are also anticipating a visting from none other than Santa Claus.

After the lighting celebration, Santa’s Secret Gift Shop will be open for children 12 and under. There will be a trolley to transport folks from Founder’s Square to the Gift Shop, which is located at 555 South Atlanta Street and will be open on Saturday, December 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Sunday, December 6 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. 

This event offers the opportunity to shop for mom, dad, brother, sister with a selection of items priced $8 and under. Santa’s elves will help the children through the shop. Button making, color art, and loads of fun!

Proceeds from the Gift Shop benefit the Roswell Ramblers Senior Citizen Club.