Broadway in Atlanta, Housing Boom, the Nation's Health IT Capital and more

Lots of great news coming through my inbox this past week—a little something for everyone!

Even though I grew up in New England just a hop away from New York, I never saw a Broadway musical. Now, all I have to do is head down to the Fox Theatre! Fifth Third Bank has announced that Broadway musicals will be coming to Atlanta starting the end of this year, and has announced six amazing shows to take us well into 2014.

I'll give you a hint: The Lion King is coming to Atlanta for the first time ever. Nah, forget hints, here's the lineup:

The 2013-2014 Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta season includes: 

GHOST THE MUSICAL	November 5–10, 2013
THE BOOK OF MORMON	January 28–February 9, 2014
ONCE	March 4–9, 2014
Disney’s THE LION KING	April 10–27, 2014
Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT	Week of April 28
EVITA                                 June 3–8, 2014

I am personally beyond excited for ONCE and AMERICAN IDIOT. Which shows do you absolutely have to see? 

Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta’s 2013-2014 season packages are on sale now with prices ranging from $199—$559 for all six shows.  Season ticket prices will vary depending on the number of shows chosen, the number of performances, show time, day of the week and seating location.  New subscriptions may be ordered online atBroadwayinAtlanta.com, via phone by calling 1-800-278-4447 Monday through Friday, 10:00 am-5:00 pm. Subscriber benefits include access to the best seats available, discounts of up to 30% on day-of-show pricing, free ticket exchanges and ticket reprinting.

Canton, Ga. is seeing a housing boom as sales at Soleil Laurel Canyon begin building momentum in 2013. Soleil Laurel Canyon has contracted on an impressive 31 homes since its new model park grand opening in September 2012 and expects to continue driving momentum in the new year. To cater to customer demands at the award-winning active adult community, the developer has added two additional new home consultants, an asset manager,an additional Discovery Tour home for prospective homeowner visits and released a new phase of construction.

Atlanta is often referred to as the nation's health IT capital with more than 225 health IT companies with a presence throughout Georgia. In 2012, companies announced creating jobs and industry leaders converged to advance the industry.

Streamline Health, a leading provider of SaaS-based healthcare information technology solutions for hospitals and physician groups, opened an Atlanta office through its acquisition of Interpoint Partners, and then decided to relocate its headquarters from Cincinnati. "The selection of Atlanta as our corporate headquarters will help strengthen our ability to drive future growth, hire talented associates and deliver value to our clients and shareholders," said Robert E. Watson, President and CEO. Streamline Health projects up to 150 jobs at its Midtown (City of Atlanta/Fulton County) location.

PointClear Solutions, a provider of healthcare technology products and solutions based in Huntsville, Ala., opened an Atlanta office where up to 75 jobs are projected in Cobb County. "We selected Atlanta as our next office because it has an extensive Healthcare IT ecosystem, has experienced software development and usability professionals in the market and has a large concentration of prospective clients and partners to work with," David Karabinos, CEO, told the Metro Atlanta Chamber. The company's metro Atlanta clients include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Greenway Medical Technologies and SeeMyRadiology.com.

The 3rd annual Health IT Leadership Summit, one of the nation's premier health IT events, brought together a crowd of more than 600 business leaders, healthcare providers, and public and private organizations on December 4, 2012. The discussion focused on meeting future healthcare needs through the use of innovative approaches and technologies to improve the population's health, and the quality and cost of healthcare. The Summit was founded in 2010 by three organizations, all dedicated to supporting the growth of the Health IT industry: the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber and Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) Health.

John Rogers Renovations, Inc. "Best of Houzz" 2013

John Rogers Renovations, Inc. has been awarded  “Best Of Houzz” 2013 by Houzz, the leading online platform for residential remodeling and design.  The the family-owned and operated renovation company was chosen by the more than 11 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.

The Houzz “Best Of Houzz” award for 2013 is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction award winners are based on homeowner members who rated their experience working with remodeling professionals in 12 categories ranging from architects, and interior designers to contractors and other residential remodeling professionals.  Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the community of 11 million monthly users, also known as “Houzzers,” who saved more than 124 million professional images of home interiors and exteriors to their personal ideabooks via the Houzz site, iPad/iPhone app and Android app.

“Houzz provides homeowners with an in-depth, 360-degree view of building, remodeling and design professionals through images of their work, reviews and an opportunity to interact with them directly in the Houzz community,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of community. “We’re delighted to recognize John Rogers Renovations, Inc. among our 'Best Of' professionals for design and exceptional customer service as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

John Rogers Renovations, Inc. is ready to take on your kitchen, bath, room additions, interior design needs and more, including porches and porticos. If you live in Alpharetta, Marietta, Kennesaw, Buckhead, Roswell, East Cobb or Sandy Springs, give them a call!

Home Energy Efficiency—Simple Tips

Whether you've been in your house for years or you're getting ready to move in next weekend, nervy efficiency should always be a topic of conversation. Environmentally-responsible remodeling is the way to go—it helps the Earth so our future generations have a better chance of enjoying it, it can save you money and it's a major bonus to potential buyers if you ever plan on selling your house. 

Lowering utility bills sounds very attractive, while major renovation is not so appealing. Taking time off work and spending major dollars spent should be a last resort. First, try out these small projects that can help lower your utility bill. 

Windows. When's the last time you replaced them? When you moved in, did you have them inspected?  Think of how many windows you have and just imagine how much airflow they're permitting if they're old, damaged or have become even slightly unsealed. Newer windows are usually double-paned and have a type of gas in between the panes to make them more heat resistant. Many newer windows also have UV films on the outside that block sunlight, and therefore help to keep your home cooler. Additionally, vinyl windows tend to be more energy efficient than wood versions because the window frames don’t expand and contract as much with changes in temperature and moisture, so they’re less prone to cracking and then leaking over time.

Radiant heating in the floors. Just like a car seat warmer! I'm from Boston, and while you may have less need for seat warmers down here in Atlanta, let me just promise you they are awesome. You can put radiant heating under tile or hardwood, so whether you're moving into a place that needs new floors or you've been planning it for a while, you've got some flexibility. By the heat coming through the floor, it spreads more efficiently than from a vent in the corner of a room. 

The most cost-effective radiant heating system has heated water pumped from the boiler and into tubing laid underneath the floor, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's website. This energy pay-off comes with the flexibility of heating individual rooms, so you'll only heat and pay for rooms you currently use.

HVAC repair or replacement. Trust us on this, you want this to be updated. HVACs from the 1980s run at about 60-percent efficiency as opposed to those today that run at 95 or 95 percent.

Improve siding. The tighter your home is sealed, the more money stays in your pocket First, repair any problem areas with your siding. If you're opting for new siding altogether, vinyl or stucco siding allows you to put what's called a vapor lining underneath; this minimizes air flow to and from your home. I don't know about you, but that Atlanta spring/summer heat is right around the corner, and I do not want to be pumping my AC out into the swelter!

Speaking of keeping air in, update your insulation. Fiberglass batt insulation, for example, looks like a roll of a cotton-type material, and it can help prevent air leaks in unfinished spaces.

Another option is spray foam insulation—a contractor comes and drills a hole in your walls from either the inside or outside of the house and blows insulation inside it.

According to Energy.gov, the batt insulation is the inexpensive option, but if you can spring for it, the spray insulation is more highly recommended by contractors because it is denser and expands over a period of time. 

AirWatch May Bring 700 Jobs

Sandy Springs-based AirWatch LLC, a mobile software firm, could add up to 700 jobs in Atlanta this year and could go public in a matter of months.

According to The Atlanta Business Journal, AirWatch is in talks with investment banks to raise up to $150 million in an initial public offering as early as the first half of 2013. AirWatch is also considering Atlanta, among other cities, for a workforce expansion to keep pace with growing customer demand.

AirWatch helps businesses manage, monitor and secure employee cellphones, tablet computers and other mobile devices.

More Shopping, Sooner—The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta

Horizon Group Properties, Inc. (OTC: HGPI.PK) and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (NYSE: CBL) have announced that the opening date for a new outlet center being constructed north of Atlanta off I-575 in Woodstock, which will include Michael Kors, OFF 5^th, Brooks Brothers, Cole Haan, Under Armour, Talbots and many other stores, will open in July, a month ahead of schedule.

The 370,000-square-foot initial phase of the center, to be named The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta, is scheduled to open July 18, the companies said in a statement with The Atlanta Business Journal.

30 more stores have signed on to locate at the center. A list of these can be found here. Which are you most excited about?

Brock Built First to Debut New Home Technology System

From the Atlanta Real Estate Forum: 

Brock Built is proud to announce that beginning with all new homes built in 2013, they will be including Nexia Touchscreen Deadbolt Home Intelligence, a whole home automation system providing homeowners access to their homes from wherever. Brock Built is the first Atlanta home builder to use this high-tech touchscreen system, which was named a 2013 Electronic House Product of the Year.

“Other builders are currently using different Nexia Home Intelligence packages in their homes,  however we will be the first builder with the Schlage Touchscreen Deadbolt in the area,” said Barbara Glore, Sales and Marketing Manager for Brock Built.

With the Schlage Touchscreen Deadbolt, you never have to worry about losing keys, being locked out or hiding a spare. The fingerprint-resistant touchscreen guarantees that the numbers entered won’t be detectable after repeated use. You’ll be able to lock and unlock the deadbolt and turn your lights off even when you’re not at home all with the use of most Internet-enabled smartphones, tablets and computers. Another perk of this technology is that it offers an American National Standards Institute grade 1 security rating, the highest rating available on the market, so you can rest assured your home will only be accessible to those meant to be inside of it.

The newest addition to their included home features list only makes buying a Brock Built home even better than it already is. Other standard included features include energy efficient designs, James Hardie exterior products, luxurious owner’s bathrooms with separate showers and tubs, gourmet kitchens with high quality appliances and granite countertops and a 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty.

Whether you’re looking for real estate in Fulton County or Cobb County, Brock Built has a community for you. With new homes spanning from Roswell to Kennesaw and Marietta to Atlanta plus two new communities coming soon, there is bound to be a home and location that meets the needs of your lifestyle.

Call to Endurance Runners—MS Run the US Campaign

 The estimated 70,000 individuals who are distance runners or athletes involved with the MS cause, are invited to take part in an upcoming adventure relay race. The MS Run the US 2013 Relay, which is slated for April 16th through September 6th and will be divided into 22 segments, is currently seeking 10 Running Partners to take part in each leg of this coast-to-coast run. Each segment covers approximately 140 miles of running over the course of six days. All proceeds raised will support MS research. The never-before-done aspect of the relay will also raise awareness of multiple sclerosis.  

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS affects approximately 400,000 Americans. Worldwide, that figure rises to nearly 2.1 million people. As if the symptoms, which include walking and balance disturbances, muscle spasticity and cognitive dysfunction, aren’t debilitating enough, a new study conducted by pharmacy benefit manager Prime Therapeutics has found that the specialty drug treatment cost for the disease is projected to exceed $50,000 per person annually by 2016. Currently such costs already account for more than two-thirds of the total cost of care.

Equal parts ultra-distance running and fundraiser, the MS Run for the US 2013 Relay aims to raise monies to support multiple sclerosis research so that a cure for the disease might one day be found, thereby elimination both its physical and financial burdens. The 2013 inaugural run of the relay is currently recruiting Running Partners to take part in the event. The course will mimic the 2010 trans-continental run the event’s founder, Ashley Kumlien, ran on behalf of her mother on the 30^th anniversary of her fight against MS.

A fun and thrilling challenge, the MS Run for the US relay will get underway in Los Angeles in mid-April and will wrap up in New York City five months later. In between, participants will take on a 140-mile leg of the cross-country journey, where they will run approximately 20 to 30 miles daily over the course of five to six days. Not for the athletic faint of heart, this grueling endurance expedition offers serious runners a chance to become a unique contributor to the growing movement to end MS. Only 10 slots are available to be part of this charitable expedition of a lifetime.

Distance runners who would like to get in on the inaugural MS Run the US Relay can apply for a coveted Running Partner spot online at http://www.msruntheus.com/.

National Preschool Lights the Night, Donates Across the Country

Teachers, students and staff from Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academies across the country participated in the largest cancer fundraising evening walk in the country and raised more than $30,000. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walks raise funds for high-impact cancer research and crucial patient services.

Kids ‘R’ Kids from Texas, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Missouri participated in the fundraising events. The fundraising efforts were dedicated to Macie Vinson as well as Kids ‘R’ Kids students and teachers who are currently battling diseases or are survivors. Kids 'R' Kids is headquartered in Duluth, Ga. 

Macie Vinson is the granddaughter of Kids ‘R’ Kids founders Pat and Janice Vinson. “I could never put into words the amazing feeling that came over me,” said Macie. “My friends, family members, their friends and lots of people I didn’t even know were walking for a cure to help people [like me] fight Leukemia and WIN. I will continue to fight and will walk each year to help those not as fortunate.”

An estimated 47,150 new cases of leukemia were diagnosed in the United States in 2012 (via). The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

“This cause is extremely important to Kids ‘R’ Kids for many reasons,” said Charlene Taylor, director of corporate communications at Kids ‘R’ Kids International. “We are all encouraged by Macie and the Kids ‘R’ Kids students and staff affected by this cause each and every day. Kids ‘R’ Kids will continue to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in any way we can.”

Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academies participated in benefits, donated to the website, sponsored events and sold balloons and T-shirts to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Academy that raised the most donations – an amazing $11,103.00 – rallied around a Kids ‘R’ Kids student currently suffering from leukemia.

Atlanta: the South's Tastiest Town!

From the passionate farmers market-scene to the global flavors and wealth of hotspots, Atlanta wil see your hunger and raise you pure satisfaction for any craving. Southern Living recently voted Atlanta one of the most exciting food destinations in the U.S. 

Readers will pick the winning city/town, so make sure to visit southernliving.com/tasty to cast your vote for ATL! 

To celebrate the many flavors and rich, diverse stories behind today’s Southern cuisine, Southern Living editors convened in its Birmingham-based Test Kitchen to identify the most compelling food destinations across the region. 

“Heritage-minded stars like Linton Hopkins, Steven Satterfield, and Hugh Acheson have put updated Southern traditions on the national map,” writes Southern Living Senior Editor Paula Disbrowe. “Global flavors on Buford Highway (Vietnamese, Korean), a wave of new hotspots, and a passionate farmer’s market scene (sellingeverything from seasonal pizzas to paletas) have made Atlanta one of the most exciting food destinations in the country,” adds Disbrowe.

You will decide the winner. Rally around your hometown flavors or favorite food destination and cast your vote for the “Tastiest Town in the South” from January 10 to February 28 on southernliving.com/tasty or via smartphone by downloading the complimentary Digimarc Discover app and scanning the corresponding image in the magazine. Each daily vote allows a consumer to be entered for a chance to win $1,500 toward a trip to the Tasty Town of his or her choice. 

Brown College of Court Reporting Will Offer New Paralegal Certificate Program April 2013

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree can apply now for classes that start on April 1; the new certificate program is four quarters long, plus a one-quarter externship. 

Brown College of Court Reporting, a leader in the field of court reporting with a national reputation for excellence, has added a new paralegal certificate program. College graduates with bachelor’s degree can apply immediately for classes that begin on April 1, 2013. The new certificate program will provide a more rigorous preparation for the real world than typical paralegal programs, with four-quarters of instruction and training and an additional one-quarter externship. 

“Legal careers are our sole focus, so it was only natural for us to begin offering a paralegal certificate program,” said Sue Schmith, executive director of Brown College of Reporting. “This new program will continue to provide the excellence that distinguishes Brown College. Our students will be trained with the kind of practical field experience that gives them a better competitive advantage in a growing field.” Graduates of Brown 

College of Court Reporting currently have a 98 percent employment rate. 

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, formally trained paralegals have the best chance of success at a career with a demand rate expected to grow 18 percent through 2020. Paralegals work with lawyers to gather documents for transactions and depositions, and file and store critical documents. Much of this work is done in person, which means the paralegal role is less likely to be outsourced than other roles.

The Brown College of Court Reporting paralegal certificate program covers a broad spectrum of legal issues, such as criminal law and procedures, domestic and family law, estate planning and probate, entertainment law, real estate and contract law, immigration and nationalization, and civil litigation. In addition, a 120-hour externship is required that demonstrates real experience to potential employers.

Brown College of Court Reporting will be having an open house Saturday, February 23 from 11 am.-1 p.m. and is located at 1900 Emery St., NW, Suite 200, Atlanta. For more information on the new paralegal certificate program, please go to http://www.bccr.edu/programs/paralegal-program.php or contact the admissions office at (800)849-0703 or admissions@browncollege.com. 

Helpful Money-Saving Tips From Georgia Power

Sure, most of us Atlantans would love to keep the house a comfortable 75 degrees or higher all winter long so Georgia summer never really feels too far away, but let's face it—it's cheaper to don a sweater or two. Here are a few money-saving tips from Georgia Power to keep energy costs low at your house.

• Keep your thermostat at the lowest comfortable setting.
 Georgia Power recommends 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Every degree above 68 can add three percent to the heating bill.

• Keep heating vents and registers clear. 
Make sure they are not blocked by draperies or furniture. Vents should also be cleaned regularly with a vacuum or broom.

• Caulk, re-caulk or add weatherstripping around windows and doors.
 This helps keep the cold out and the heat in. If caulking or weather stripping is cracked, remove it and reseal with new materials.

• Let the sun shine in.
 On sunny days, open drapes or blinds to allow natural solar heat to warm the house.

• Change air filters. 
Dirty filters can increase heating system operating costs. Change filters every month or so to help the unit run properly.

• Wrap water pipes. 
This will reduce heat loss from hot water lines and help to prevent pipes from freezing.

• Dress warmly, even indoors.
 This will allow a lower thermostat setting without sacrificing comfort.

• Make sure fireplace dampers fit tightly, and keep them closed when not using the fireplace.
 Add a glass fireplace screen, if possible.

• Have your heating system professionally checked to make sure it's running properly. 
This can prolong the life of the system, as well as reduce operating costs.

• Remove window air conditioning units during winter months.

Kevin B. Morrow Named Director of Operations for Marketing RELEVANCE

ATLANTA – Sales and marketing veteran Kevin B. Morrow joins the mRELEVANCE, LLC team as Director of Operations for the Atlanta office. In this newly created role, Morrow will oversee marketing, interactive, public relations and communications to deliver an excellent, unique and rewarding client experience.

“Kevin is very well known in the industry for his knowledge of and experience with not only sales and marketing, but also innovative online sales and marketing strategies. He has a reputation for developing and implementing highly successful programs, and I am incredibly excited to have such talent on our team,” says managing partner Carol Morgan. 

In Morrow’s more than 25 years’ experience in sales, marketing and operations, he has worked in direct new home sales for small and custom builders. Additionally, he has developed marketing campaigns and managed sales teams for regional and national builders and developed and implemented operational policies and procedures.

“Kevin is a great addition to our team because he can think like a client,” continues Morgan. “He will help our clients identify goals and create strategies to reach those goals, which ties in perfectly with the Marketing RELEVANCE mission of making all marketing RELEVANT.”

Kevin is an active member of the Sales and Marketing Council of the Greater Atlanta Homebuilders Association, most recently serving on the Board as communications chair and writing several articles for the association’s quarterly publication, Atlanta Building News. He has been featured in industry publications such as the NSMC’s Sales and Marketing Ideas, served as guest editor for the Atlanta edition of the national real estate blog Curbed.com and is one of 13 people on the Huffington Post Twitter list of local celebrities, journalists and other personalities in Atlanta, GA.

$9.8 Million Project--First Stand-Alone Memory Care Community Coming to Towne Lake

The LaSalle Group is announcing its plan to build a cutting-edge nearly 28,000 square foot, $9.8 million memory care community that will exclusively care for residents with Alzheimer’s, dementia and memory impairment.  Autumn Leaves of Towne Lake will provide a home-like environment that includes a family approach and expert care from dedicated staff with highly specialized training.  Autumn Leaves of Towne Lake (1962 Eagle Drive in Woodstock) will be the second Autumn Leaves memory care community in Metro Atlanta.  The project is the result of a partnership with The LaSalle Group and Silverado Interests. 

 

“We are excited about this opportunity to bring our expertise to families living with Alzheimer’s and dementia in Towne Lake,” said Brenda Brantley, chief financial officer of The LaSalle Group.  “Towne Lake currently has no communities offering memory care, and we are going to fill that gap for families that need our services.”

 

Autumn Leaves of Towne Lake will also offer free programs to the public including

seminars, support groups, memory testing, and free respite care for five hours on Wednesdays to give caregivers a break.  Autumn Leaves of Towne Lake is expected to open fourth quarter of 2013. 

2013: The Year to Finally Renovate

Whether you're relocating to Atlanta and have a few home improvement projects ahead of you for your new Atlanta home or you've been in the Peach City for years, renovation can seem daunting—and costly. If you have been holding off on a renovation project for whatever reason—the time not being right, the finances not being ready, or you haven’t been sure which direction to go in—2013 is finally the time to stop suffering in an outdated kitchen or bathroom! The Construction Resources family of companies are here to help with an expanded main showroom and will soon have two additional showrooms to help show you the best in new products which make evolving your living space both easier and more affordable than ever.

Construction Resources showrooms offer:

• Selection – You can find more at these showrooms to choose from and play around with than you could find online. From luxury Italian marble to gorgeous and cost-effective granite countertops, they have the widest offerings of counter surfaces in Georgia. In addition, they offer solutions for everything else required for your home, from flooring to bath specialty items and more.
• Expertise – Design professionals can help you both discover new materials and options you may not have found online and help you make smart decisions for any given space you have chosen to renovate or remodel. These design experts can also help you refine down a notebook or idea board into a cohesive design plan perfect for your project.
• See it in action – While you can appreciate a color or design in photographs or online samples, there’s nothing like experiencing it yourself. From being able to touch and feel the material, to testing it under different lighting conditions, there is so much with home improvement that still needs a personal touch to really get right.

In addition to all of these design and material solutions, Construction Resources offers comprehensive service from the moment you walk in through the door to when your additions are installed. To learn more about how to help make your 2013 the best ever for your home, stop by their design centers at 224 Rio Circle in Decatur or at 10700 State Bridge Road in Alpharetta. Later this month, two more showrooms will be opening in Buckhead and Buford, so stay tuned!

The Greater Atlanta HBA 2013 Board of Directors

From the Atlanta Real Estate Forum:

The Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (HBA) and HomeAid Atlanta invite you to join them as they celebrate the housing industry’s top honors at the installation of the 2013 Board of Directors. This event will be held on Thursday, January 10 beginning at 4 p.m. at Villa Christina (4000 Summit Boulevard, Atlanta GA 30319).

Event highlights include a celebration of our successes in 2012, installation of the 2013 HBA, The Housing Institute and HomeAid Atlanta Boards of Directors, and presentations for the Presidential Award, Builder of the Year, Trade Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year awards.

Those planning on attending this momentous event can register online. The cost of attendance for members is $35 and $45 for non-members. Seating is limited to 150 people, so don’t wait until the last minute!

The Greater Atlanta HBA is a non-profit trade association dedicated to promoting, preserving and protecting the Atlanta homebuilder industry. Today, the HBA is made up of 10 geographic chapters and eight specialized councils with more than 1,200 member companies including builders, suppliers, lending institutions, utilities, real estate companies, attorneys, accountants, engineers, architects, designers, title companies, building materials manufacturers and more.

HomeAid Atlanta, a non-profit organization dedicated to building and renovating transitional housing for temporarily homeless men, women and children in the Atlanta area, is the official charity of the HBA.

For more information or to join the HBA, please visit www.AtlantaHomeBuilders.com. For more on HomeAid, visit www.HomeAidAtlanta.org.

Increased Confidence in the Housing Market

House members officially passed the fiscal cliff deal. While many Americans spent the holidays wringing their hands in anticipation of the House of Representative's vote, citizens continued showing increased confidence in real estate, the housing market and the direction of the economy. Fannie Mae’s November 2012 National Housing Survey showed positive responses regarding the housing market, and continued strengthening in the housing sector is likely to support overall economic growth. 

“Consumer attitudes toward both the economy and the housing market continue to gather momentum, with many of our 11 key National Housing Survey indicators at or near their two-and-a-half-year highs,” says Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist of Fannie Mae. “On the housing front, attitudes about the current selling environment continue to improve, with a significant increase in those saying it would be a good time to sell. This growing confidence in a housing recovery, in addition to other factors, may reinforce growing consumer optimism regarding the improving direction of the general economy.”

We're excited to see the results of the December 2012 Monthly Housing Survey from Fannie Mae! Happy New Year from KNOWAtlanta--it's going to be a great one.