Renters Now Rule in Region

Metro Atlanta: "For Rent"

That is the picture painted by new housing data released this week by the US Census Bureau. From 2000 to 2010 the supply of new housing units outpaced demand by 50 percent in the four largest counties.(Fulton, Gwinnett, Dekalb, and Cobb) The result: In those four counties alone more than 143,000 houses, condos, apartments and other units were vacant in 2010- and 67,000, or nearly half, were for rent. That's good news for renters and bad news for landlords and often for neighborhoods.

The recession also converted many owners to renters, often against their will. I have a rental property, which is now lived in by a man who can easily afford to buy his own house. However, due to the current market, he is scared to purchase a home he may be stuck with for years to come.  Owners still outnumber renters across the 28 county metro region, but the balance has shifted in the direction of rentals, according to the census data. A lot of landlords are having a hard time finding people willing to pay the same rate as their mortgage, because there is so much competition. I did not experience this problem; due to the fact my house is located near a college. So there is a higher demand for rental properties. The old adage location, location, location rings true.

Despite the grim census figures taken one year ago, housing experts say that Atlanta's rental market is looking up and will continue to improve in coming years. According to a real estate market analyst, there is a tremendous growth in home rentals in Atlanta and surrounding areas.

Total vacancies: Percent change from 2000 to 2010

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Georgia Lightning Awareness Week: June 19-25, 2011

Lightning is one of the leading causes of weather deaths in the United States. From 1995 to 2010, lightning caused 26 deaths in Georgia. Most lightning deaths occur in the summer months - usually in the afternoon and evening hours. Also, most deaths occur when people are caught outside during a storm.

Lightning results from the buildup and release of electrical energy between positive and negative charges between the earth and a thunderstorm. A single lightning bolt can be as hot as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit - hotter even than the surface of the sun. This rapid heating and cooling of the air creates a shock wave which we hear as thunder. Lightning will usually strike the highest object in area. This includes trees, antennas, a boat on a lake, or a person standing in a field.

 So, what should you do to protect yourself?

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VACATION CHECKLIST: Things To Do Before You Leave

It's summertime and that means vacations for most families. Unfortunately, your vacation buzz can be lost too quickly when you get home and realize that you forgot to take care of a few essentials. Your vacation should be an enjoyable and relaxing time, so before you head out here are a few things to be sure to check off your list so that you can come back to your home in the safe condition you left it.

• Hold mail and newspapers.
• Pay bills that will be due while gone.
• Make arrangements for a neighbor or friend to have a key to your house or apartment - or at least know where one is. Give them a number where you can be reached.
  • Hold mail and newspapers.

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Hurricane Season Predictions 2011

Have you prepared an emergency plan for your family in case a natural disaster strikes your area. It's a fact that weather related disasters are on an increase in this country and throughout the world. The following is the current forecast for the upcoming hurricane season.

Weather forecasting teams are predicting an active hurricane season for 2011, calling for an above-average number of storms to form in the Atlantic Hurricane Basin.

Earth Networks’ WeatherBug meteorology team foresees a lower number of expected hurricanes in comparison to 2010, but its numbers are still trending above what is considered to be a normal tropical storm season.

Specifically, Earth Networks expects a total of 13-14 named storms to form, with 7-8 becoming hurricanes. Of those, it expects four will become strong enough to be classified at “intense” storms—Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

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Metro Atlanta Events for June 2011

June 3rd - 5th:
Spamalot at the Fox Theatre Atlanta

June 4th:
Miranda Lambert at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta

June 4th - August 12th:
Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain

June 7th:
Katy Perry at The Arena At Gwinnett Center in Duluth

June 12th:
Willie Nelson's Country Throwdown Tour at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville

June 15th - 19th:
The Color Purple at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta

June 17th:
Adele at The Tabernacle in Atlanta

June 18th:
Def Leppard with very special guest Heart at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood in Atlanta

June 24th:
Steve Miller Band at Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta

Are Refurbished Mattresses REALLY a Bargain?

In one word, NO.

CBS Atlanta came to Champion Construction Systems, Inc to help investigate refurbished mattresses. I like to save money but these things are not a bargain! Watch tonight at 11pm. Also check www.championcsi.com for details. Click on the Cleaning column. Champion is an IICRC certified company and one of our many services include mattress cleaning. Of course, as you will see tonight. Some things are not worth cleaning.

Icela Reets - Marketing Coordinator

Spring Cleaning 101: Kiss Clutter Goodbye

If you’re planning to do some serious spring-cleaning, the first step is clearing out everything that’s been piling up around the house all winter. For those of us with a tendency to horde, de-cluttering can be daunting, but the real hurdle is just figuring out where to start. We compiled this expert advice to kick-start your journey to a clutter-free home:

Take it one room at a time. Unless you’re a housekeeping dynamo (in which case you probably wouldn’t be reading this), you’ll find tackling household clutter far more manageable if you don’t think of it as a mammoth basement-to-attic chore. Tackle one of the lesser problem areas first, then ease your way in to the more challenging rooms once you’ve gotten into the de-cluttering groove.

Reclaim your storage spaces. If closets, basements, and utility rooms are crammed with stuff you barely recognize, let alone use, clear those out first. Recycle or throw away anything you don’t truly need, and find a home for the items that you decide are really keepers. Once you’ve freed up space in your storage areas, you’ll be amazed at how much you can actually store in them.  

Don’t neglect the small places. Your desk drawers, the medicine cabinet, even the “junk drawer” are all places we tend to stash stuff and forget about it. Do you really need that dried up inkpad or that rusty protractor? You definitely won’t be taking that expired ibuprofen or the prescription allergy pills from 2007. Purging the junk from your small storage spaces will create room to stow away items you use but don’t necessarily want on display.

Sources: Parentables.com, unclutterer.com

Lisa Moore -  Job Coordinator

Atlanta Area Events for May 2011

May 6th and 7th: Zac Brown Band at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta

May 7th & 8th: The Cotton Pickin' Fair in Gay, GA

May 14th: Bon Jovi Live 2011 Tour  at Philips Arena in Atlanta

May 17th -22nd: Hair at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta

May 20th: Kenny Chesney's Goin' Coastal Tour with Billy Currington & Uncle Kracker at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood Atlanta

May 24th: Jimmy Buffett at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood in Atlanta

May 28th - 30th: Atlanta Jazz Festival at Piedmont Park in Atlanta

Should I buy Earthquake Insurance?

This following information is from United Policyholders:

The horrific images and aftermath of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami should be a call to action for property owners and public officials, and not just in California. There are known (and unknown) faults in the mid west and throughout the United States Use UP's Earthquake Insurance Shopping Guide to compare policies by what they cover and cost "apples to apples." Read our earthquake insurance buying tips for homeowners, and tips for renters to get a clearer understanding of how the policies work. Yes, typical earthquake coverage is expensive for what you get. Most policies don't pay until the loss is more than 15% of your total coverage.Even so, a 15% deductible is a lot less painful than the 100% you'll have to shoulder if you have no insurance at all. (See recent L.A. Times article, "Are you insured for the Big One?")The decision whether or not to buy earthquake insurance is an individual, financial decision. Key factors to research and consider are:

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Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at Callaway Gardens

This is an event that I am really really really excited about. On April 29th the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will perform at Callaway Gardens. Lawn seats are still available. Pack a picnic dinner and enjoy a concert under the stars.  For add'l details check out http://www.callawaygardens.com/info/calendar/calendar.aso.event.aspx

Icela Reets - Marketing Coordinator