First and foremost, let me say to everyone.....

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Secondly, yes, I have been very absent from blogging! I think it's an awesome part of the Internet. I've just been having a challenge working the time into my weekly schedule to blog on a regular basis....as you can see from the date of my last blog! It's not the New Year yet, and you can call it a resolution if you want, but in 2008,

I WILL BLOG!!!!

My Christmas Eve was a quiet one...at home with my partner watching movies. We are like most people, we watch movies for entertainment. Sometimes, you'll watch a movie that has a message you can truly relate to, and want to carry on! I always judge a movie by whether I would watch it twice, or pay to own the DVD. Last night, I found a keeper! It's called The Ultimate Gift....I encourage you to rent it, buy it and watch it! Once you do, I think you will know why I think it's such a great movie!


Let Me know What you Think!

My family is all in Montana....so no white Christmas here in Atlanta! (Altho we did have a bit of sleet this morning...whoopie!!!) I was home back in September, so it was good to see everyone then.

Many times, the holidays can be a depressing time for people. There is the pressure of parties, buying gifts, traveling, being alone. I'm thankful to spend my time with someone I love! And The Ultimate Gift made me realize that I need to be more thankful of the little things in life, and as I read the other day in an article...."Make sure you are participant in life, not a spectator." I take that to mean, get out, and enjoy life! Don't sweat the small stuff!

Not much to say today! Just hope you are having a great time...whether it be with family, friends or loved ones! Just take time to enjoy them...savor the moments, the look on a family members face when they open that gift, the smell of the turkey in the oven (I can smell mine now!) a time for peace.

Merry Christmas!!

Spire Midtown A Condominium Community

In various posts here, I want to introduce you to the various "vertical communities" with in the Midtown Neighborhood. If you have not had an opportunity to "see inside" these buildings, I hope I'll be able to give you that look. Also, if you are considering Midtown Atlanta for your next home, don't forget stop by our website for more information!


Spire Midtown arrived at 860 Peachtree Street in 2005. It was the first new high-rise construction since The Metropolis was built in 2002.(I'll talk about Metropolis in a future blog!) And what a hit it was! The building sold out in a record 3 weeks time! In fact, when I bought my condo there, I had to lean against the wall in the Sales Center and sign my contract on my leg....it was that busy!

Standing 28 stories tall, the views from Spire are awesome. Of course, the higher you are, the better the view! The building features studio, 1 and 2 bedroom homes. The floorplans are unique in that all 1 bedroom homes do not have bedroom doors or floor to ceiling walls. 2 bedroom homes do have doors and full walls. But this makes for some great decorating options! The sizes of the homes range from 606 sq ft to over 1200 sq ft.

When you arrive in the lobby, one is taken back to an art-deco hotel in Miami Beach (I'm always looking for the ocean!) There is a concierge 24 hours a day, but the building has a unique security system in that you can only access your floor, the amenities floor and the parking garage.

Inside the building, the 2-story Club Room is located on the 7th & 8th Floors. It features fireplaces, pool table, Internet stations, catering kitchen, areobics room, weight room and cardio room. Just to the right of this picture is the pool deck.





Spire offers its residents convenience with the street-level retail area. Currently, Fresh To Order, Firehouse Subs, Fune Sushi Restaurant and Midtown Community Bank are some of the services available.





No visit to Spire would be complete without a glimpse of one of the homes.....

Spire is in the Heart of Midtown's Miracle Mile...a mile long shopping district that is still coming along, but will be awesome once completed! Be sure to click on the link to learn more about it!

If you are considering making Midtown Atlanta your home, then consider Spire Midtown. I'd be delighted to show you a variety of homes currently For Sale!

Your Pet and Your Home...What To Consider?

So, you've decided to move! Great! Congratulations! But as you look for that new place, don't forget about that all important part of your family.....your PET! For many of us, they are not pets, they ARE members of our family!

This is Nero who unfortunately left us on January 19, 2007. But he was a very important part of our life. Such that, we delayed moving into our new condo for 7 months because of him. (Who do you think ruled THAT house?) Our situation was different...he was going blind, and could not tell the difference between the door of a condo and a door in the house...so he thought he was locked in a room! And so went the howling! So we could not move until he was no longer with us....he just did not understand the difference between a house and a condo.





As you make a move, be it from house to condo, condo to house or a different combination, there are factors you need to consider. Failing to do your research could leave you in a situation like ours, but not as easy to resolve. (We just kept the house!) As sad as it seems to us, pets are not welcome everywhere! But many communities (condo, townhouse or single-family) are realizing they need to consider the four-legged members of the family! And wisely so! According to the 2007-08 National Pet Owners Survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, the number of U.S. households with pets grew from 56 percent in 1998 to 63 percent! That's a whapping 71.1 million homes!






What ever your reason for a pet, most people have a dog for the companionship they provide. (I use to drive in my driveway and the noise coming from my front door, followed by the wagging tail, jumping, etc was the most welcomed sight of the day!) But when it comes time to take care of them, from walking to grooming and having "friends," not all places are created equal. But times are changing.



When visiting communities, you and your agent should ask about pet policies. And here are some questions to consider.



1) Are pets even allowed?

While more important to ask in a market like Midtown Alanta with our condos and highrises, even in single-family home communities, there could be limits on breeds or numbers of pets. Some breeds, such as Pit Bulls, or Doberman Pinschers may not be allowed. Many condominium developments limit you to 2 pets.



2) What are the neighborhood, county or city rules and regulations?



What if Fido is use to running in your back yard, and now has to be walked on a leash? Might be an issue in teaching an "old dog a new trick!" For example, Nero always got walked on a leash, but he did not "play well with others." Could be an issue when riding the elevator! Find out if the community has any special areas where you can walk your dog. Ask if there is any sort of dog walking group you can join...a great way to meet your neighbors! For us city dwellers, check for "dog stations" where you can pick up doggie waste bags, as well as a place to dispose of them.



3) Does your Pet fit with your new home?



Like I mentioned at the beginning, Nero did not understand the difference between being locked in a room in our house, or the front door of our condo! Greyhounds, because of their low body fat and bones, don't really like to lay on concrete or hardwood floors! Do you have room for a nice bed for him/her? How about rugs? Is it a single story, or a townhouse? Some dogs, such as Dachshunds do not do well with stairs! And imagine a St. Bernard in a 800 sq. ft condo with two people? Hmmmmm......



4) Fences?



Certainly NOT a concern in a high-rise, but if you buy a home, again, you want to check those covenants. Some new communities are now going with only invisible fencing! Again, could be another "new trick" that your dog may not adjust to!



We love our pets! So as we look for our new home, remember...it will be THEIR new home as well!
If you have a four-legged member of YOUR family, I can relate! And can help you find just the right home for both ouf you! Be sure to check out our Website and let us know how we can help you and Fido!!

Excuse Me...A Change of Scenery!

No, I'm not in Atlanta...or Manhattan. But is does start with a "M" As in marvelous, magnificant and majestic....and it's called Montana!

I'm back here for a few days to visit family....in case you didn't know that fact about me, I was born and raised in Livingston. I lived here till I was 19, then moved to Houston, Texas to finish school at the Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. All of my family is still here. One sister and her husband run a guide and outfitting service, and the other sister just built the most awesome special event facility, Deep Creek Grange

What a place for a wedding, family renuion, or you could even hold a meeting or corporate retreat there. And they built all of it themselves (well of course 8 concrete trucks came to do the floors, but....)

Coming out here always gives me time to reflect. Reflect on my life, my business, etc. I use the flying time here to read and get caught up on some things. (This flight was about blogging...LOL!) I take a nice long walk in the afternoons and check in with my office to see what's happening back in Atlanta! And it gives me a chance to realize how lucky I am. Lucky to of had great parents (my Father passed away in 1994), lucky to have grown up in such a beautiful place, and now, lucky to live in a dynamic, exciting city like Atlanta, Georgia.

Life is really simple here....I went to a rural, country church on Sunday....much different than the big grand churches you find in the city!

I had probably one of the best steaks I've had in years at The Stockman Bar....which to many would look like a "hole in the wall" but don't let the looks decieve you....it was great!

And today, we are driving up to Big Sky, Montana....what was once a sleepy ski resort, but has now turned into the Vail of Montana!

Montana....Big Sky Country! Atlanta.....I'll be back home on Thursday! I miss you!

City Lights, City Sights

As I sit here, 27 stories above the hustle and bustle of Midtown with that picture out my window (yep, just took it 10 minutes ago!) I remember back to my thoughts of how I could ever leave my suburban home, for "city life." Now let me explain something first....I grew up on a 200 acre ranch in Montana!!! You can't get much more room around you than that! But, my home in the "burbs" here, is only 7 miles or 10 minutes from Midtown, depending on which way you want to measure it. A California-style ranch, built in 1960 that I have been renovating for a few years. 1800 sq.ft with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, hot tub, big yard with lots of trees, fishpond and my gas grill! It's pretty cool!
Now, after a day of walking to the High Museum to take in the last day of the Louve Exhibit, then to Joe's on Juniper for a delicious burger and fries, and finally back to my condo to continue some upgrades, I wonder, HOW could I have ever NOT Lived here! It's been a REAL "labor day weekend" with the installation of new window treatments and now ceiling fans (good grief, now I know why people pay for this!)
This place is actually one of two I have in Midtown. (Guess you can guess I like it now?) This one is smaller, perfect for a weekend getaway or a single person. I let my friends use it when they visit me from LA, Chicago Miami and New York. My actual "home" in Midtown is a larger, 2 bedroom unit at Plaza Midtown.

One day this may be just my office....and what a view to inspire you to sell, sell, sell Midtown............

Just thinking about standing on the balcony, talking with a client about their pending purchase of a new condo in Midtown....it gives me goose bumps!!
And the landscape...she be a changing here!

This use to be my view from the left side of my balcony...

and now it has become THIS over the past few months....
Here comes Viewpoint Midtown!

What's my point? City Living is AWESOME!! Sure, I hear some sirens, but my small town upbringing just makes me jump up and look at what's happening! I want a drink, a great bar is just an elevator ride away! Want a late night snack....gosh....where should I start? And when it's time to lock the door, and head to the airport, the train is just a couple blocks away! What more can you ask for?

Yep....I have to admit it! I'm Hooked! It's in my blood now! I'm living the City Lights and the City Sights!

Wanna join me? I'd be happy to help you!!

Thanks For Stopping By!

Well....if you're here...you've found one of my new Blogs! It's a new venture for me, but I hope that you will check back often and see how it looks, what it says and add your "insights" as you see them.

I will say in this beginning entry....technology is so amazing! Just imagine if you could tell someone from the 1800's that you can sit in front of this little box (laptop) and on a screen in front of you, words will appear and then with the push of a button (key) you can send information to literally ANYONE in the world in seconds! Case in point....one of my clients was on her honeymoon and I thought she had already returned, so I sent her a text message on her cell phone. In just a couple moments, she responded back to me...and she was still in Tahiti.....on the other side of the WORLD! Sometimes, it still boggles my mind!

Anyway, my goal is to give my readers info they may, or may not know about the place I call home, Midtown Atlanta! I learn something new, or something old everyday it seems. And I hope to share that knowledge with people. And if you're ever in the market for Midtown real estate, that you will consider me your Midtown Expert!

So, bookmark this site, and I hope to see you here often!