State and Metro Employment Conditions

State and Metro Employment Conditions

On February 5, 2014, in Economist Commentaries, by Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist

Want a job? Go to the frozen tundra of North Dakota. Massive oil and gas production has helped the unemployment rate to fall to 2.6 percent.   Starting wages for flipping burgers is said to run $15 to $18 an hour, while a truck driver can net near a six figure income. There is no need for complaint  about the minimum wage in a state economy that creates jobs at a rapid pace.

• North Dakota is by far the leader of the pack in terms of job creation over the past 12 months. Florida, Georgia, Oregon, and Texas round out the top five job creating states.
• Though not a state, at the other end of the spectrum, Puerto Rico is bleeding badly. A total of 25,000 fewer people are working there now compared to a year ago. Its bond has not been officially classified into junk status.
• Jobs will be ever more important for home buying as affordability conditions have been coming down. Home prices are rising much faster than income. Moreover, mortgage rates will likely rise over the course of the year.
• The table below lists the full ranking of job growth rates by states and U.S. territories.
• President Obama made the following comment in his recent State of the Union speech: “One of the biggest factors in bringing more jobs back is our commitment to American energy. The all-of-the-above energy strategy I announced a few years ago is working, and today, America is closer to energy independence than we’ve been in decades.” Irrespective of whether the President or private oil producers should get the credit, America is importing much less oil now than in any recent memory. Let’s hope that some of the big oil winners do what Rockefeller, the first U.S. oil producer, did with his oil money. He gave a sizable chunk to charities, including setting up many historically African American institutions of higher learning like Spelman College in Atlanta. As a result, many African American teachers graduated from there and passed on knowledge to poor rural schools across the South. The literacy rate among African Americans went from 20% before the giving to over 80% by the time of Rockefeller’s passing.

5 Predictions for the 2014 Real Estate Market

What real estate experts expect to see in 2014.

We are already two weeks into 2014. So, now’s a prime time to take a look at what’s in store for us this year in the world of real estate.
Signs point to another good year for the housing market, although the recovery most likely won’t clock the same breakneck speed as last year.
Here are 5 predictions, made by experts in the field, to help prepare you for any home-selling or buying activities this year:
1) Home prices will continue to rise: The chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, Lawrence Yun, foresees home prices rising by 6 percent. This is about half of the increase in home values seen in 2013, indicative of 2014’s reduced pace.
2) So will mortgage rates: I’m sorry home-buyers, but the low interest rates of 2013 are not going to stick around.  We go again to Lawrence Yun, who predicts that the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage will climb to 5.5 percent before the year is over.
3) Fewer foreclosures on the horizon: Thankfully, the worst of the foreclosure catastrophe that devastated so many Americans appears to be history.  According to Daren Blomquist, who monitors the foreclosure market at RealtyTrac,  "We're in the home stretch of getting through the foreclosure crisis, but we won't cross the finish line, with filings back to pre-crisis level, until early 2015."
4) Borrowers can expect more ease in securing a mortgage: Although interest rates are expected to rise, Erin Lantz, director of mortgages with Zillow, points to a “silver lining.” Lantz says that “rising rates means lenders' refinance business will dwindle, forcing them to compete for buyers by potentially loosening their lending standards."   That’s encouraging.
5) Rental market to stay strong: Because of items 1 and 2 above, along with other factors such as a decline in home-ownership and a surge in Americans on the move, forecasters at Zillow envision a robust rental market in 2014.

Milton Ranks as Ninth Most Affordable Place in Georgia

High income and low food costs put Milton just below Johns Creek and slightly ahead of Alpharetta in the rankings.

The median home price in Milton is higher than any other city in the study, but property owners are buying more home – like this 5BR/6BA home on a 1-acre lot at 157 Taylor Road in Milton with its asking price of $625,000. Credit: Zillow

Milton is the ninth most affordable place to live in Georgia, according to Movoto Real Estate.
Neighboring Johns Creek ranks seventh, Alpharetta is 11th and Roswell ranks 13th in the report on the most affordable places in Georgia.
The study uses food costs, utility costs, miscellaneous costs, median home price, unemployment rank and adjusted median income to come up with the rankings.
High incomes for Milton residents helped it with the high ranking. Only Johns Creek and Suwanee have higher median incomes than Milton's, which is $73,6116.
Lower food costs in Milton also help its ranking.
What keeps its rank lower in part is having the highest home prices of any other place. Milton's median home price is $462,700. That's $396,100 more than the median price for a home in Waycross, which has the least expensive homes.
Alpharetta has the 10th best median income, helping it slip below Milton's ranking. The slightly cheaper home prices don't offset the lower median income.
Johns Creek has the highest median income in the study. While it ranks as one of the most expensive places to buy a house, the median home price is still cheaper than in Milton. Those helped it rank as a more affordable place for its residents.
Roswell's lower median income – it ranks 15th – kept it below the other North Fulton cities even though its median home price is even lower than Alpharetta's.
The most affordable place in Georgia, according to the Movoto Real Estate analysis, is Warner Robins. The top 10 are:
1. City of Warner Robins
2. City of Hinesville
3. City of Grovetown
4. City of Canton
4. City of Perry
6. City of Woodstock
7. City of Johns Creek
7. City of Thomasville
9. City of Milton
9. Cusseta-Chattahoochee County
Movoto Real Estate created its rankings by looking at the largest places in Georgia with a population of more than 10,000 people, according to the Census Bureau; this included cities and Census Designated Places. An average of all these ranks to created the Big Deal Score. The place with the lowest average rank across our criteria–Warner Robins–was crowned the most affordable.

Realtors® Rate Exterior Replacement Projects Among Most Valuable Home Improvements

Realtors® Rate Exterior Replacement Projects Among Most Valuable Home Improvements

Media Contact: Leanne High / 202-383-1290 / Email

WASHINGTON (January 16, 2014) – A home’s curb appeal is crucial because it can be the first thing buyers notice about a home. That’s why Realtors® rated exterior projects among the most valuable home improvement projects in the 2014 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report.
“With many factors to consider such as cost and time, deciding what remodeling projects to undertake can be a difficult decision for homeowners,” said National Association of Realtors® President Steve Brown, co-owner of Irongate, Inc., Realtors® in Dayton, Ohio. “Realtors® know what home features are important to buyers in their area, but a home’s curb appeal is always critical since it’s the first impression for potential buyers. That’s why exterior replacement projects offer the greatest bang for the buck. Projects such as entry door, siding and window replacements can recoup homeowners more than 78 percent of costs upon resale.”
NAR’s consumer website HouseLogic.com highlights the results of the report in its “Best Bets for Remodeling Your Home in 2014” slideshow. The site also provides information and advice on various home improvement projects, including a guide to kitchen remodeling with the best payback  and dozens of exterior replacement projects.
Realtors® judged a steel entry door replacement as the project expected to return the most money, with an estimated 96.6 percent of costs recouped upon resale. The steel entry door replacement is consistently the least expensive project in the annual Cost vs. Value Report, costing little more than $1,100 on average.
Eight of the top 10 most cost-effective projects nationally, in terms of value recouped, are exterior projects. A wood deck addition came in second with an estimated 87.4 percent of costs recouped upon resale. Two different siding replacement projects also landed in the top 10, including fiber-cement siding, expected to return 87 percent of costs, and vinyl siding, expected to return 78.2 percent of costs. Out of the top 10 projects, the fiber-cement siding replacement project improved the most since last year, with costs recouped increasing by more than 15 percent. Two garage door replacements were also in the top 10; a midrange garage door replacement is expected to return 83.7 percent while an upscale garage door replacement follows closely at 82.9 percent of costs recouped. Rounding out the top exterior remodeling projects were two window replacements; a wood window replacement is estimated to recoup 79.3 percent of costs and a vinyl window replacement is estimated to recoup 78.7 percent of costs.
According to the report, two interior remodeling projects in particular can recoup substantial value at resale. An attic bedroom is ranked fourth and is expected to return 84.3 percent of costs; nationally, the average cost for the project is just above $49,000. The second interior remodeling project in the top 10 is the minor kitchen remodel. The project landed at number seven and is estimated to recoup 82.7 percent of costs. Nationally, the average cost for the project is just under $19,000. The improvement project likely to return the least is the home office remodel, estimated to recoup 48.9 percent.
For the report, Realtors® provided their insights into local markets and buyer home preferences within those markets. For 2014, the national average cost-value ratio stands at 66.1 percent, a jump of 5.5 points over last year and the largest increase since 2005, when the ratio increased 6.1 points to reach a high of 86.7 percent. For the second consecutive year, Cost vs. Value data shows that the value of remodeling is up for all 35 projects included in the survey. Additionally, for the first time in four years, improved resale value of residential housing had more of an influence in the cost-value ratio than construction costs. A modest 2.2 percent increase in average national construction costs was more than offset by an 11.5 percent improvement in average national resale value.
The 2014 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report compares construction costs with resale values for 35 midrange and upscale remodeling projects comprising additions, remodels and replacements in 100 markets across the country. Data are grouped in nine U.S. regions, following the divisions established by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the 16th consecutive year that the report, which is produced by Remodeling magazine publisher Hanley Wood, LLC, was completed in cooperation with NAR.
“Every neighborhood is different and the desirability and resale value of a particular remodeling project varies by region and metro area. Before undertaking a remodeling project, homeowners should consult a Realtor® as they are the best resource when deciding what projects will provide the most return upon resale,” said Brown. “Realtors® have a unique understanding of local markets, home features and buyer preferences and know that there are a variety of factors that affect a home’s value, such as location, condition of surrounding properties and regional economic climate.”
Seven of the nine regions covered in the report outperformed the national average, a distinct improvement over 2013, when just four regions performed better than average. Once again, the Pacific region, consisting of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington, led the nation with an average cost-value ratio of 88 percent, due mainly to strong resale values. The next best performing region was West South Central with 76.4 percent, followed by three regions tied at 74.6 percent: South Atlantic, which improved from 63.7 percent in 2013, New England, which improved from 56.2 percent in 2013, and East North Central, which improved from 54.8 percent in 2013.
To read the full project descriptions and access national and regional project data, visit www.costvsvalue.com. “Cost vs. Value” is a registered trademark of Hanley Wood, LLC.
HouseLogic is a free source of information and tools from the National Association of Realtors® that helps homeowners make smart decisions and take responsible actions to maintain, protect and enhance the value of their home. HouseLogic helps homeowners plan and organize their home projects and provides timely articles; home improvement advice and how-tos; and information about taxes, home finances, and insurance.
Founded in 1976, Hanley Wood, LLC, is the premier media and information company serving the housing, commercial design and construction industries. Through its operating platforms, the company produces award-winning magazines and websites, marquee trade shows and events, market intelligence data, and custom marketing solutions. The company is also North America’s leading publisher of home plans.

Roswell unveils 'town green' Hopes to revitalize downtown

(click for larger version) (click for larger version)

February 04, 2014

ROSWELL, Ga. – Roswell's economic heart and vibrancy is held on Canton Street, however the nearby city government buildings stand back, hidden by trees and facing away from the restaurant-packed street.

City leaders hope to change all that with the building of a new town green and public spaces.

The $12 million "Roswell City Green" will sit between City Hall and Ga. 9, in what is now woods where the Faces of War Memorial stands. Around this green would be an open-air amphitheater, pavilions and meeting space.

"It's an exciting concept," said Mayor Jere Wood of the plan. "We're finally connecting City Hall to Canton Street."

The hope, says Monica Hagewood, of the Roswell Downtown Development Authority (DDA), is to use the new civic space to spur public investment along Ga. 9.

"When you control that much land in downtown, you've got to lead," Hagewood said.

The DDA argues that an investment of public dollars into a town center can spur reinvestment from the private community dozens of times over.

In Greenville, N.C., the city spent $4 million on a plaza, which encouraged $100 million in private investment. Similarly, Norcross, Ga., invested $4 million in a public park. $100 million in development came around that park.

In Roswell, Canton Street had $1.2 million in streetscape improvements and has turned the street into the heart of the city, with 21 restaurants and at least $20 million in investment.

"That's reinvestment that wouldn't have happened without [Canton Street]," says Hagewood.

Hagewood and her peers on the board of the DDA are tasked with revitalizing Roswell's aging downtown. By creating this green space, they see the ripple effect encompassing all of Roswell.

The town green would have a water feature that could double as a stage for events, an outdoor amphitheater, walking paths and plenty of green space. An outbuilding to the south of the green, along Hill Street, could be built to provide meeting space and cheap concessions – such as ice cream and snacks.

This building would be owned by the DDA.

The Faces of War Memorial, which stands between City Hall and Ga. 9, is the site of Georgia's largest Memorial Day event. The plan calls to move the memorial toward the Smith Plantation property.

The total costs could be about $12 million and completed in three phases – the town green first, then the amphitheater and then the DDA building.

Given Hagewood's assertion of public money spurring private development, she predicted about $206 million in investment thanks to the new green projects.

"This could have such an economic impact on Roswell," Hagewood said. "The timing of this is so important."

One hurdle to clear is Ga. 9, that road which bisects downtown. People may not be willing to cross from Canton Street to the town green if the road is not made more pedestrian-friendly.

A tunnel or bridge is possible, as are more improvements to the road itself to become safer for pedestrians.

Another hurdle is parking. City Hall has 400 parking spaces, and Canton Street has parking lots dotted around it. However, if the town green is as much a draw as it is hoped, more parking will be needed.

Right now, the plans are simply conceptual. There will be much more discussion and meetings to come.

"It's easy to say we like the concept, but there are a lot of details," cautioned Councilmember Rich Dippolito.

The new town green in Roswell is expected to cost about $12 million over three phases:

Phase 1 – $3.4M – Relocate the Faces of War Memorial, build the town green and build the water feature.

Phase 2 – $1M – Build the amphitheater, build support buildings and restrooms and build an art studio or gallery.

Phase 3 – $2M – Build the DDA mixed use building containing meeting spaces and shops.*

*Note: Grant monies may be used to supplement or pay for this phase. Land acquisition may be as much as $5 million.

20 Companies Hiring

20 Companies Hiring In January

These employers are staffing up now.

As 2014 starts, people everywhere are vowing to go to the gym more often, eat healthier and save more money. New Year's resolutions such as these can be easy to make, but they're not always so easy to keep.

If your resolution this year is to get a new job, you hopefully will be able to see this one through, if you take a look at the following 20 companies that are hiring this month. Start your New Year off right by applying to one of these great companies that are hiring across different industries, levels and job functions:
​
1. Advanced Resources
Industry: Office/clerical, finance/accounting, technical, health care and human resources
Sample job titles: Senior accountant, tax manager, receptionist, Web developer, human resources manager
Location: Greater Chicago area

2. Advanced Tech Support
Industry: IT, call center, sales
Sample job titles: Sales executive - inside sales - inbound sales (call center/IT sales), inside sales representative (IT sales call center)
Location: Boca Raton, Fla.

3. Aerotek 
Industry: Recruiting and staffing services
Sample job titles: Software engineer, medical coder, welder, industrial engineer, project manager, clinical research associate, chemist, architect
Location: Nationwide

4. Atria Senior Living Inc.
Industry: Health care
Sample job titles: Resident care director, sales director, executive director, activities director, licensed practical nurse
Location: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia

5. Children of America
Industry: Child care
Sample job titles: Pre-kindergarten teacher, infant teacher, bus driver, lead teacher, assistant teacher, substitute teacher
Location: Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Wisconsin, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina

6. Edge Systems
Industry: Medical equipment
Sample job titles: Sales representative, regional trainer, administrative assistant
Location: California, Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Illinois, Arizona, Colorado

7. EVO Payments International
Industry: Sales and IT
Sample job titles: Sales representative, technical support operations supervisor, business system analyst, director of treasury, financial analyst, great plain/business intelligence, staff tax accountant
Location: Moorestown, N.J.; Melville, N.Y.; Denver; Phoenix; San Antonio, Texas; Boston; Columbus, Ohio; Jacksonville, Fla.

8. Home Instead Senior Care
Industry: Home health care
Sample job titles: Caregiver, home health aide, certified nursing assistant
Location: Nationwide

9. Insight Global Inc.
Industry: Information technology
Sample job titles: Entry-level recruiter, Java developer, cable tech Wi-Fi installer, software engineer, helpdesk
Location: Atlanta; Dallas; Chicago; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Charlotte, N.C.; Seattle

10. Kavaliro
Industry: IT staffing
Sample job titles: Software developer, project manager, project coordinator
Location: Orlando and Tampa, Fla.; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Charlotte, N.C.

11. Langan Engineering & Environmental Services
Industry: Engineering and environmental consulting
Sample job titles: Geotechnical engineer, environmental engineer, civil engineer, environmental compliance manager, GIS programmer, network engineer, survey technician, laser scanning technician, accounting compliance manager, senior accountant, marketing coordinator
Location: New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, North Dakota, California

12. Mattress Firm
Industry: Retail
Sample job titles: Sales manager, sales manager in training, sales associate, warehouse manager
Location: Nationwide

13. Real Estate Mortgage Network Inc.
Industry: Mortgage
Sample job titles: Mortgage loan officer, branch manager, area manager
Location: Nationwide

14. Related Management
Industry: Real estate
Sample job titles: Regional manager, property manager, concierge, maintenance technician, maintenance superintendent, leasing consultant, administrative assistant, multi-site property manager, accounts receivable associate, administrative manager
Location: New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, California, Texas, New Jersey, California, North Carolina, Colorado, Virginia

15. Roche Bros. Supermarkets
Industry: Food industry
Sample job titles: Assistant kitchen manager, assistant meat manager, meat cutter, cook, line cook
Location: Boston and surrounding areas

16. South Bay Mental Health
Industry: Mental health
Sample job titles: Early childhood educator, speech and language pathologist, mental health clinician/clinical social worker, occupational therapist, social worker
Location: Brockton, Worcester, Lynn, Boston, Plymouth, Dorchester, Lowell and Swansea, Mass.; Hartford, Conn.

17. The Community Builders
Industry: Nonprofit/housing
Sample job titles: Property manager, maintenance technician, development project manager
Location: Boston; Chicago; Cincinnati; Worcester, New Bedford and Holliston, Mass.; Tory and New York City, N.Y.; Coatesville, Pa.; Washington, D.C.

18. ULINE 
Industry: Shipping and packaging - office supplies - equipment, packaging, retail
Sample job titles: Customer service, distribution manager, director of talent acquisition, inside sales, IT, marketing, recruiter, supply chain, warehouse
Location: Nationwide

19. Ultimate Staffing (part of Roth Staffing Companies)
Industry: Staffing for administrative, customer service, call center and human resources
Sample job titles: Administrative assistant, customer service representative, call center representative, human resources representative
Location: Nationwide

20. Virtustream
Industry: Cloud technology
Sample job titles: Storage engineer, .Net engineer, software sales
Location: Bethesda, Md.; Atlanta; Vienna, Va.; Dallas, Texas; Tampa, Miami and Jacksonville, Fla.; Chicago; Denver; Phoenix; Las Vegas 

Living Large in Smaller Homes

The answer to affordable housing lies in less space and more peace of mind.

 

Struggling with the high cost of housing? Want to be a homeowner but wondering how you can afford it? There’s a solution: think smaller.

A smaller home not only costs less in monthly payments, but costs less to maintain, to furnish, to decorate, to clean, and especially to heat and cool. With less space to look after, you can free up not only money but time.

“The reality is housing represents a huge debt that has become unsustainable for the average family,” said Susan Milewski, who worked as a realtor for 23 years and is now a proponent of affordable housing. “The rule of thumb for housing used to be between 25-29 percent of one’s paycheck to be applied toward housing. Now it's more like 75 percent and this leaves less disposable income for food, clothing and other essentials. Never mind a savings plan.”

Milewski advocates smaller homes with fewer amenities and for using solar, wind and geothermal energy.

The average size of a new home in 2012 topped 2,500 square feet, according to the US Census Bureau—that’s compared to 1,660 square feet in 1973. At that time, 23 percent of new homes had four or more bedrooms. Today, 41 percent have four or more bedrooms – and nearly a third have three or more baths. Cleaning a bathroom is onerous—why clean three (or more)?

In areas of the country, e.g. Florida, where a McMansion might seem affordable, do buyers consider how much it will cost to heat and cool?

The average single family home racks up $2,200 in energy bills each year, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (46 percent of that for heating and cooling). Fewer rooms and smaller rooms = lower bills.

Have you ever shopped for window coverings, only to be shocked at how expensive they can be? It makes a big difference to need to dress up only a few windows vs. many. The same goes for furniture, decorations, repairs, and the time or cost to clean.

Another bonus of smaller-space living: less room for storage means thinking twice before shopping. That leaves both money and time for other pursuits.

“The more stuff we own, the more mental energy is held hostage by them,” wrote Joshua Becker, author of the book Simplify, in a blog post, “12 Reasons Why You’ll Be Happier in a Smaller Home.” “The same is absolutely true with our largest, most valuable asset. Buy small and free your mind.”

Crooked Creek, Milton Georgia Community

Crooked Creek, Milton Georgia Community

Crooked Creek is one of Milton, Georgia's largest communities complete with Swim, Tennis and Golf. The community is organized around the Alpharetta Athletic Club of North Fulton County.  This community of over 600 stunning custom homes on over 500 wooded acres is a great place for families and those who especially love tennis and golf.  Crooked Creek offers access to the highest-rated schools (both public and private) in the Atlanta metro-area. Children who live in Crooked Creek will attend the following public schools: Elementary: Cogburn Woods; Middle: Hopewell; High: Cambridge.
Neighborhood amenities include: 6000 square foot community clubhouse, basketball court, playground, 11 lighted tennis courts, junior Olympic swimming pool and separate kids pool / waterpark area with many splash features and a 140 foot water slide.
The private Alpharetta Athletic Club East Golf Course features an 18 hole Michael Riley championship design that has been the center of the Crooked Creek community for over 14 years.  Known as one of the Atlanta’s best golf courses, the Alpharetta Athletic Club Course also offers a practice range and learning center.
The Golf Clubhouse provides a 28,000 square foot full service facility with a restaurant and fully stocked pro shop. The clubhouse is also available for special events and corporate outings.
Located in prestigious North Fulton County, Crooked Creek is minutes away from downtown Alpharetta, as well as Verizon Amphitheater at Encore Park, Northpoint Mall and The Collection at Forsyth, many different parks, athletics facilities and Georgia Highway 400.

Dawsonville Bill Ellott Son Drives Nascar Now!

http://bcove.me/0oxxymhs

Alpharetta Reviews Restaurant, Townhomes for Avalon

The Alpharetta Design Review Board meets Friday at City Hall.

Townhomes planned for the Avalon mixed-used development at Westside Parkway and Old Milton Parkway will be under review by the Alpharetta Design Review Board (DRB) this Friday, Jan. 17.

The DRB will review new facades, new signage and new construction, including that of Sterling Jewelers at 6250 North Point Parkway. Both the construction of the Oak Steakhouse restaurant at Avalon and townhomes to be built at the mixed-used development also are on the agenda.
In downtown Alpharetta new signage for Remixx Luxe Lifestyle Emporium at 64 North Main St. and wall signage for Tin Roof Kitchen at 52B North Main St. will be under review.
The meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Friday in Council Chambers at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 South Main Street. 

Cypress Dunes, Santa Rosa Beach, Beaches of South Walton, Florida North West, 30-A ,Florida, USA (Min. to Sandestin Resort, Shopping, Restaurants & Airport)

Location: Cypress Dunes, Santa Rosa Beach, Beaches of South Walton, Florida North West, 30-A ,Florida, USA (Min. to Sandestin Resort, Shopping, Restaurants & Airport)

Accommodations:  House, 4 Bedrooms + Loft + Den, 4 Baths (Sleeps 10-14)

 Single Family Home

 20 Min to new Int. Airport. Book Dates Now Before Summer/2014 Fills Up! This is a NEWER home in Cypress Dunes, on the beach side of 30-A (west end) with stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico. This 4 bedroom gulf-view home in Santa Rosa Beach has everything you will ever need at the beach. Huge granite kitchen stocked with free standing icemaker and 9 foot island has gorgeous views of the Gulf. The Great room opens to a tremendous screened porch, overlooking the water.

 

Three open air porches, one on each of this three level home, will make you feel like you are living on the beach. Three bedrooms on main level all with DVD/televisions include bunk room and 2 queen size bedrooms with private bathrooms. The 3rd Floor Master Suite has a private balcony with gorgeous view of the Gulf of Mexico and private large bath with huge GLASS shower that views ocean. Our Game Room / Den on 3rd floor features queen size futon pull out. BOSE Surround sound with speakers throughout home (each room has speaker volume control) and every convenience you could dream of makes this the perfect vacation home for you!

 

Cypress Dunes is nestled between Topsail State Park / Nature Preserve and the Gulf of Mexico. Although Cypress Dunes does not have direct access to the beach because of the stunningly beautiful but very protected State Park Dunes, the local beach access are but a short bike ride or drive away. This John Willis Nhood has two tennis courts, walking trails and an amenity packed clubhouse with huge infinity  pool overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, fitness center, locker rooms, Huge hot tub, outdoor fireplace, and tremendous party room all with fantastic views of the GULF. Do not miss this opportunity to stay in your dream vacation home. Because it is a new community with some construction, our prices will be starting out low but will go up each year so book it now and save!

You will not be disappointed!

 

www.santarosabeachhouse.com   cut and paste in your browser

Owners: Bob & Sue

 Atlanta Georgia

404-210-1921

404-558-1756

The Alpharetta Department of Public Safety issued a scam alert today.

The Alpharetta Department of Public Safety issued a scam alert today.

Alpharetta police officers are not calling North Fulton residents about red light camera citations, according to the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety. The calls are a scam and the department is issuing an alert to the general public.
Recently, a number of North Fulton residents have received telephone calls by persons identifying themselves as an Alpharetta police officer, according to George Gordon, spokesman for the department.
The person who takes the call is told to send monies to pay for a red light camera citation or they will be charged with contempt of court.  Gordon said the caller often uses the name of a valid Alpharetta police officer.
"At no time, will an Alpharetta police officer or any other public safety employee contact a person by telephone requesting money. No Alpharetta police officer would physically go to a residence or meet with any person in an effort to collect money," Gordon said in the scam alert.
For anyone who receives a red light camera citation, an Alpharetta police officer by law verifies the recorded infraction. Only the company vendor who operates the system will make initial contact with the person involved for the infraction.   
Alpharetta DPS is asking those individuals who are contacted using this scam to call their local law enforcement agency and to file an incident report. Please retain the telephone called from and any other information that may be useful to legitimate law enforcement officials.