Sorry For the Festival Goers!!!

It's doing something we really, really need in Atlanta....BAD! Raining! Like, for two days now! It's so strange, we had forgot what it was like! So here I sit, finding time to blog (note last date I got a posting on here...not good!)

But is also really sucks (sorry, best word I could use) for those people attending the Earth Day Event at Glenwood Park on Saturday or the Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes Saturday and Sunday! I was looking forward to venturing out! We had a break in the rain, a slight peek of sunshine, so I grabbed the ladder and cleaned the gutters (I'm at my house today, not in the condo) and yes, I always remember to clean my gutters once I see all the water pour out of them instead of down the downspout....oh well!

This is my pond at the house....one of the reasons I keep my house AND my Midtown Condo...it's kind of a zel-like retreat from he hustle and bustle...and not a 90 minute drive to the mountains either! Mind you, it does not look quite that good right now from a lack of maintenance, so will be working on that in the coming weeks, to bring it back to life. UGH!...it took me forever to get the water right last time!

Anyway, we had the Midtown Tour of Homes the first weekend in May. We had rain on Saturday, but still had about 175 people visit the home where I was at. Sunday, we kicked butt with almost 400 people coming through! Yippie! The Tour of homes is a fund raiser for the Midtown Neighbors' Association, of which I am a member of the Board of Directors and Chair the Membership Committee.

This was the house where we were House Captains....a great example of a home rescued from a recking ball, and restored to all it's glory!

I love the historic part of Midtown, and when it makes sense, both financially, and physically, I like to see these homes preserved. It sure makes for a great evening walk through the tree lined streets...and then we can head back to our "home in the sky at Plaza Midtown!

Sorry For the Festival Goers! I'm getting my desk cleaned up!

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!!