Sweet Potatoes–The Traditional “Slap Yo Mama” Good

Savannah can boast of a myriad of great dining places.  Some are large scale and well known and others are in places you wouldn’t expect to find.  Sweet Potatoes is one of those unprepossessing locations.  Situated in a tiny strip center next to a gas station at Waters & Eisenhower, Sweet Potatoes is like an oasis in the desert.  It’s a place you never knew you always wanted to eat in.  For people who visit Savannah, Sweet Potatoes offers an opportunity to experience southern cuisine at its finest.  For an average cost of $15 or less, you can try the peach glazed BBQ chicken, meat loaf, catfish, pot roast, or a number of other entrees.  Sides range from every conceivable type of sweet potato dish; green beans with garlic, onions, and bacon; corn pudding; and much more.  The biscuits are light and fluffy.  And, as touted In a Travel Channel Man Versus Food clip, Sweet Potatoes is heralded as having the world’s best banana pudding.  It may not beat my grandmother’s recipe, but I guarantee it will be a close second!

2014 Savannah Book Festival A Hit

The Savannah Book Festival seems to get better each year.  The selection of authors who come to share their experiences includes so many great choices that there simply isn’t enough time to hear them all.  This year, I was only able to attend the free Saturday lectures.  There was a method to my madness in making the selection to hear: Robin Cook, Brad Taylor, Hugh Howey, Patricia Schultz, and C. J. Box (L to R).  Genre and method of publishing were key.  As a result, I was exposed to medical thrillers, counterterrorism, dystopian society, travel bucket list places, and a modern western hero.

Sometimes, as in many Savannah festivals and events, the attendees also offer a lot.  For example, while waiting for Howey to give his talk, I met the lady sitting behind me, who is an author of over a dozen books published in Australia.  In fact, many of the attendees had been published in just about every genre imaginable.  This made the Q & A portion of the session quite interesting.
So, what did I learn from these five presenters?

• Writers comes in all shapes, sizes, and fashion sense!
• There is no one path to writing and getting published.
• Cook recounted that, if not for his circuitous path to a submarine in the Viet Nam years, he wouldn’t have had the dedicated time to attempt a book. 
• Taylor, a special forces veteran, was a natural for counterterrorism thrillers.  His method is immersion in the terrain of his novels.
• Howey began his adventure by writiing for fun for his wife and family.  He created a blog and posted a novella.  The “what happened next” response from readers encouraged him to self publish.  His books subsequently were signed and a Ridley Scott movie is in the making.
• Schultz simply loved to travel and made the transition from working in a stable of authors for travel guides to creating her own series.  It is possible to make a living from your passion.
• Box took 20 years to publish his first book, had his first agent die on him, but now has a book series under consideration from Robert Redford as a platform for a TV series.
• Write what you know and what you like to read. 
• You have to DO something before you can SAY something.  Nevertheless, experience alone doesn’t guarantee success.  Research is vital.
• Stop studying English and have an adventure.
• Your first novel may be a total bust, but even that can be an opportunity to learn.
• Write every day, even if it’s only for 15 minutes.  Otherwise, your thought process can be completely derailed.
• There is no perfect approach.  Some outline the entire book and others drift along, led by the protagonist.
• Most publishers are not interested in a one-trick pony.  Successful authors sign multi-book deals.
• If you don’t have an agent or plan to self-publish, select a good editing group of three people who can help you test the material as well as catch inconsistencies and errors.
• The timetable described for traditional publishing is incredible:  2-3 years to get an agent; 1 year to get a publishing deal; 1 year from deal to shelf.  This results in a 3 to 6 month shelf life in the store.
• Having a correlating blog for your work in progress can be a terrific value add.  (Howey wrote a blog in the form of journal entries from his main character.)
• Put the reader immediately into the scene from page 1.

Overall, the Festival was worth every minute of my time.  The speakers were not only informative, but personable and funny.  The folks in attendance were friendly and hospitable. The venues were great.  I’m already wishing for next year’s event!

What Sold in 2013–Part 2

The comforting news in Savannah’s 2013 real estate experience was the return to sales consistently over 400 transactions per month, with several months reaching into the 500’s.  This volume of total sales per month has not been seen in years.  Obviously, the trend in sales is reflective of an overall positive trend that should make sellers feel ready to hit the market.  Buyers should look at the 2013 “sold” experience as the death of the cut-rate “deal.”

Monthly Residential Sales through  2013

Of note, the fourth quarter of 2013 was particularly strong, showing a 6.9% growth over 2012 and almost 25% over 2011 same quarter.  Typically, fourth quarter sales are seasonally lower due to the concentration of holidays.  This appears to refute the opinion of many sellers that they should wait for springtime to put a home on the market!

What was the hottest price range?  The data for 2013 showed that both the highest concentration as well as the highest year over year increase was realized in the $100,000 to 199,999 range, which had around a 13.3% increase in sales.  Based on those numbers, it is clear that Savannah’s 2013 residential homes sales remains solidly in the first time buyer and first time move up buyer market.  Higher end market sales remained relatively constant, hinting that the $300k+ price range may take longer to completely recover.

Seashell Exhibit was Phenomenal

Over the weekend, the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens hosted a seashell exhibit that rivaled a day at the Smithsonian.  The seashell collection, gathered from all over the world, was the passion of Mique Pinkerton and the late C.E. Pinkerton of Wilmington Island.  Mrs. Pinkerton was on hand to tell stories of the scuba, snorkeling, and reef adventures.  While her husband was busy diving, Mique added to the collection through snorkeling and beachcombing.  Following Navy assignments and personal travel, the Pinkertons experienced the oceans of Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Belize, Texas, Hawaii , and California.  In addition to collecting their own specimens, the Pinkertons continued to build the collection by good old fashioned horse trading as well as accepting shells as payment for services.

At 93, Mique kept my total attention as she recounted adventures such as nearly stepping on a moral eel and narrowly escaping its bite.  She was an animated host who could reel off facts about any kind of seashell you could imagine.  Mrs. Pinkerton has worked as a shell jewelry maker, published a shell-focused newsletter, was employed by the Smithsonian for a time, and has done paintings for a famous clientele.   In short, she was just as delightful as her seashell collection.








I took dozens more photos of the specimen, jewelry, shell art.  It was a fabulous way to spend some time.  Mrs. Pinkerton is considering establishing a seashell club in the Savannah area.  After all, you’re only as young as you feel!

Spectacular Property–Nothing Like a Deep Water Lot

302 West Penrose Drive, Savannah GA

Can you imagine yourself settling back to gaze at the water and marsh?  Playing with water “toys?”  My pick for “home of the week” is 302 West Penrose Drive.  This Savannah property is between 2-3 acres on deep water at Richardson Creek.  It has been in the same family for decades and is now being sold as an estate sale.  The original bungalow could use a little work, but someone could live there while they build a dream home on the land.  The lot is so large, it could likely be subdivided and you could have the whole family on site.  A dock and small dock house are already there.  All you need is a fishing pole, a boat, or a jet ski.

Multiple outbuildings are also on site.  No restrictive covenants apply!

For more information on this property, please contact me at 912-667-6533!

Savannah Book Festival–Plan Now to Go

One of my favorite FREE festivals in Savannah is the annual Savannah Book Festival.  This showcase of both fiction and non-fiction authors is a great opportunity to get to know the writer behind the books that entertain, educate, or inspire you.  The list of 2014 festival authors has been published.  Each year I’m introduced to authors I haven’t read.  The Saturday presentations are free; the hard part is deciding who you want to hear.  There’s a lunch break, but you either need to plan to bring a lunch or go to one of the nearby cafes --- I always head to Roly Poly’s at 114 Barnard Street.

A few additional presentations, such as the opening and closing keynotes, require a ticket, but the cost of $15 is a bargain! 

Save the date for the 2014 Festival, taking place President’s Day weekend, February 13-16, in and around Telfair and Wright Squares.  This venue is a block from a parking garage, so it’s very convenient.

What Sold in 2013–Part 1

The Savannah area real estate market is roughly defined as Chatham, Bryan, and Effingham Counties.  Chatham County typically has the highest level of activity.  In 2013, a total of 3,749 Chatham homes were sold.  These sales reflected that the most popular areas  by total sales were West Chatham (predominantly Pooler), Southside Savannah, and Midtown (including both the Victorian District and Ardsley Park):

Area	Includes:	Total Sales	% Total
1	Historic District	179	4.8%
2	Victorian District, Eastside, Ardsley Park	738	19.7%
3	Southside, Highway 17 Corridor, Quacco Road	864	23.0%
4	Wilmington, Whitmarsh, Tybee, Isle of Hope, Dutch Island, & Burnside	686	18.3%
5	Landings	221	5.9%
6	Chatham County, Other	90	2.4%
8	West Chatham, Pooler, Southbridge, Westbrook	971	25.9%

The implication is that the opportunities available in new construction/newer homes has drawn buyers farther away from the core of Savannah.  Typically, where sales are strongest, the balance of power in negotiations tends to swing in favor of the seller.  These numbers for West Chatham, plus the low months’ supply of inventory in those areas, signals that buyers will need to work hard to get the terms they need.  It is critical that the Realtor involved in the transaction carefully develop a negotiating strategy based on market dynamics.  If you plan to buy in 2014, let me help!

Aire Flamenco Turns Up the Heat in Savannah–Part 2

For the benefit of those who weren’t able to attend the Flamenco exhibit at the Jepson, I wanted to share some of the dance:

The dancers were either from Spain or studied there

Speed and feeling are apparent in this demonstration

Aire Flamenco Turns Up the Heat in Savannah–Part 1

Aire Flamenco, a dance troupe from Atlanta, recently visited the Jepson Museum in conjunction with the focus on Spain this month and provided both flamenco lessons as well as a dance exhibition.  Woven in between the dances, a history of flamenco and the dance styles contained was given.  The exhibition was standing room only. 


The exhibition included dances from three different dancers, singing, and guitar solos.  I would make a bet that the steps were faster than those I saw in Riverdance.  Check out Part 2 for video to prove it.  Thanks to the Jepson for continuing to bring fascinating and entertaining programs and exhibits.

Savannah’s Best Christmas Event: The Journey

Who would have guessed that you could get to Bethlehem by way of Savannah GA?  Well, Savannah Christian Church has made that possible with a very life-like recreation of the little town where Christmas began.  The Journey is something that SCC has done for several years, but this year marks a first.  The new Bethlehem market place is phenomenal.  SCC event creators even got some pointers from Disney.

The Journey combines music (while you wait to leave for the Journey), a boat ride across the sea, encounters with Roman centurions, and multiple live-action drama vignettes that tell the story of Christmas. In addition, the kids will enjoy seeing camels, donkeys, goats, sheep, and more.  It is outside and there’s a lot of walking.  However, golf carts are on hand for special needs and elderly guests.  Over 1000 volunteers are needed to make The Journey a great experience.  My advice – Get there early!  Over 2000 guests enjoyed the opening night this week, including me!  SCC projects that as many as 20,000 people will make The Journey this year.   The cost is $5/person (or maximum of $20/family).  You can pay when you get there or buy tickets in advance from the SCC book store.  It's worth every penny and is guaranteed to get you ready for the holidays!


Photos taken by SCC Volunteers

2013 Holiday Boat Parade on Savannah River

The City of Savannah continues to develop great family opportunities.  The most recent was the 2013 Boat Parade along the Savannah River, complete with a variety of boats and motifs as well as fireworks.  It was great fun for all. 
(Photos by Lyndsey Mixon)

Spooky Savannah Squares

Aren’t the squares downtown delicious day or NIGHT?  Savannah has been voted the most haunted city in the US.  I have no trouble believing it!

Will The Younger Generation Be Able to Afford a Home?

Many economists will not commit to announcing a housing recovery in the US.  It seems that for every positive indicator (supply of inventory, major market price appreciation, drop in foreclosures), there are negative indicators (rate increases, increased mortgage regulation, prospect of inflation) to balance the equation.  Realtors understand a theorem that ‘all real estate is local.’  While that’s true and recovery can often be neighborhood-specific, there are global forces at work that are more difficult to manage. 

I read an article this morning (http://www.housingwire.com/blogs/1-rewired/post/27895-globalization-could-be-stunting-the-housing-recovery) wherein the economist projects that the younger generation will be unable to afford purchasing a home.  His thesis is simple:  With median household income falling and the globalization of jobs (i.e., sending jobs outside the US), the future buyer's income will dry up.  Harsh?  

I have long held the opinion that the link between jobs and home purchasing is more important than what new regulation is coming down the line affecting mortgages. After all, people were still buying houses back in the day at 18% interest rates and have not stopped shopping more recently as credit became harder to find.  It’s not rocket science:  no job, no income, no savings, no down payment, no home.  I understand what the economist is trying to say.  Even if globalization is more focused on off-shoring lower paying manufacturing jobs, the entire economy is still affected.  

So, what's the answer?  People who have been sitting on the sidelines of politics need to get more involved.  This country needs jobs! I heard a report today that 1.5 MILLION more people are unemployed than this time last year.  I'm not sure how to correlate that to the government reports of declining unemployment rates.  Many say that folks are just giving up on looking for employment.  It's a confusing time.  However, one thing is certain.  The traditional "American Dream" has always included owning your own home.  It would be a travesty for the younger generation to miss out on that opportunity.

Savannah Cobblestones

When I was a little girl, my family told me that the ships that delivered cotton and other wares to the Savannah harbor back in the day used to unload their cobblestone ballast as well as their goods.  These cobblestones, in turn, were used to pave the river front, factor’s walk, and build up the bluff on which Savannah sits.  I made up stories about the people who delivered the cobblestones and where they might have originated.  While the cobblestoned areas are beautiful, they can also be treacherous if you don’t watch your step.  Likewise, my stories had more than a sample of pirates and ne’er do wells handling the stones.  The cobblestones have always maintained a mystique to me.

Historians guess that the cobblestones that pave Savannah’s waterfront area hale from the American northeast, Canada, the British Isles, Spain, Portugal, and Madeira.  I imagine an expert could trace the stone’s origin by its content.  It doesn’t really matter to me what the expert says.  The word itself simply signifies a rounded lump of stone, implying a large size, which has been rounded by the flow of water.  No matter what the true origin, I think I’ll stick with my childhood fantasy that assured me that the person who brought them to the ship to be used as ballast salvaged them from some stream bed in a magical forest.  Isn’t that more fun?

Hats off to our Veterans!

After WWI, President Woodrow Wilson established November 11th as Armistice Day.  It was a day to celebrate world peace and was a memorial for those military members who sacrificed their lives in WWI.  At the end of WWII, a veteran suggested that the focus of the day be changed to honor all veterans, not just those who gave their lives.  However, the change wasn’t made official until 1954, when the “Armistice” was replaced with “Veterans.”  Today, November 11th stands to celebrate ALL veterans who are serving or have served.  As a military town, Savannah GA could not be any prouder to take up this celebration.  We love our military!

Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood

Savannah Buyers often express the opinion that finding the “perfect neighborhood” is more important than finding the “perfect house.”  After all, homes can be updated over time and be made to accommodate any needs the Buyer might have.  I agree.  The neighborhood chosen has a huge impact on lifestyle—safety, available amenities, and convenience all play their part.  In addition, Buyers want to live where there are individuals and families who have similar interests and would make good friends.

There are some simple points of evaluation a Buyer can address to assure that he/she narrows down the neighborhood options.

1. Make a list of the activities—movies, health club, sports, church—engaged in regularly and/or stores visited frequently. The first test is whether the neighborhood options would require too much travel time to maintain those activities. Certainly, Savannah is not so large that a person couldn’t get just about anywhere within 30 minutes.  However, our society is a convenience-oriented one.  Too much time in the car will become burdensome.
2. Check out the school district.  Even if a Buyer is single or without children, this is still an important element of the neighborhood search.  Buying a home is a significant investment.  Unless a Buyer is planning to stay put in a “forever” home, future resale potential has to be part of the equation.  Realtors are prohibited from advertising that a home is in a “great school district.”  However, there are several websites that can provide information on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college, and special enrichment programs. These include:  http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/CRCT-Statewide-Scores.aspx (where you can download school-specific test scores; and http://www.greatschools.org/search/search.page?search_type=0&q=Savannah&state=GA. If you have school-age children, also consider paying a visit to schools in the neighborhoods under consideration.
3. Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Ask the police department for neighborhood crime statistics. Consider not only the number of crimes but also the type—burglaries, armed robberies—and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime. Also, is crime centered in only one part of the neighborhood, such as near a retail area? Again, this is a topic that Realtors are prohibited from discussing.  However, the information is readily available at: http://www.savannahga.gov/index.aspx?NID=1245.  This site lets you see summaries as well as interactive crime maps for specific neighborhoods or residential blocks anywhere in Chatham County.
4. Determine if the neighborhood is economically stable. Check with your local city economic development office to see if income and property values in the neighborhood are stable or rising. What is the percentage of homes to apartments? Apartments don’t necessarily diminish value, but they do mean a more transient population. Do you see vacant businesses or homes that have been for sale for months? This is definitely a characteristic for which a Realtor can provide both data and insight.
5. See if you’ll make money. A Realtor can provide information about price appreciation trends in the neighborhood. Although past performance is no guarantee of future results, this information may give you a sense of how good an investment a home or neighborhood will be.   Likewise, the local planning agency also may be able to outline planned developments or other changes in the neighborhood—like a new school or highway—that might affect value.
6. See for yourself. Once you’ve narrowed the focus to two or three neighborhoods, go there, and walk around. I always recommend checking out a neighborhood at different times of day as well as on the weekend.  Are homes tidy and well maintained? Are streets quiet? Pick a warm day if you can and chat with people working or playing outside. Are they friendly? Are their children to play with your family?

There are so many ways to take the anxiety out of the home buying process.  if you have questions about these steps or any others related to buying or selling, don’t hesitate to call me at 912-667-6533!

What Not to Overlook on a Final Walk-through

When Buyers enter the last week before closing on a new home, the level of excitement becomes apparent.  Making big changes in life, such as buying a home, are certainly cause for celebration.  However, in real estate, the deal’s not over till it’s over.  A very important step to address prior to closing is the final walk-through.  Almost all Buyers have a home inspection done early in the buying process.  Then, there’s as much as a 30 to 45 wait until the property closes and the Buyer gets the keys.  A lot can change in that time frame.  in addition, the Buyer may have negotiated a list of repairs.  As a result, the final walk-through is a critical piece of the process.
Typically, within 48 hours of closing, the Buyer and his/her Realtor should schedule the walk-through to be sure that:

• Repairs negotiated have been made. Sometimes these are easy to check.  For example, if a broken window pane was to be replaced, the repair will be obvious.  Other repairs, though, are not so easy to discern.  Therefore, it is important to obtain copies of paid bills and any related warranties that have been performed as part of the contract.  Not only does this provide documentation of exactly what work was done, but it also gives the Buyer a point of future contact for questions or additional work in the future.

• All items that were included in the sale price—draperies, lighting fixtures—are still there.  Items included in the sale are noted on the Seller’s Property Disclosure.  However, if the Seller utilizes a professional mover, mistakes can be made if communication is not clear.

• All appliances and systems (HVAC, water heater) are operating.  These are checked as part of a regular home inspection, but appliances can break with normal wear and tear.  It is also helpful to determine whether instruction booklets or existing warranties are on site.

• No plants or shrubs have been removed from the yard.  Normally, if a Seller wants to remove a plant for sentimental reasons, this is clearly stated in the disclosures.  Unfortunately, some Sellers don’t get to this level of detail and assume it won’t be a problem if they take “the rose bush that grandma gave me.”  Knowing about these changes prior to closing will enable the parties to the contract to address any issues.

• Garage door openers, other remotes, pool keys, etc. are available.  It is often helpful to have a checklist of those type of things to assure that the subject is addressed.  It is very easy for a Seller to drive away from a closing with the garage door opener still clipped to his car visor.

• All personal items of the Sellers and all debris have been removed.  Only a small fraction of Sellers leave items behind, but it does happen.  In addition, the Georgia contract stipulates that the Seller need only have the property “broom swept” clean unless the contract calls for professional cleaning.  After many years in the business, I can attest that one person’s definition of “clean” doesn’t always match another person’s.  If the outside trash cans are piled high with trash, it will be important to note the pick up schedule.  Often, city crews only pick up large items (too big for cans) once per month.

The final walk-through is an important process element that assures that any last minute fixes can be made before property transfer.  Doing the walk-through will also facilitate a happy and smooth closing environment on the big day.

Savannah Doors - #5

This Savannah door faces Wright Square in historic downtown Savannah.  It has graced the area for decades as the entrance to the Lutheran Church. 

Marketing Gone Wrong?

I have to admit.  I love clever marketing.  However, I had to scratch my head when I pulled up next to this truck today in my travels.  They had to really step out on a limb to adapt memorable dialogue from a long ago TV series.  Would this encourage you to give them a call?  Or to simply “flush” the idea from your mind?

5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score

in recent years, the economy and job fluctuations have challenged consumers.  The real estate market has recorded epic numbers of short sales and foreclosures.  Thankfully, the market in and around Savannah, GA, has rebounded and many consumers are readying themselves to purchase real estate.  A foundational consideration is the potential Buyer’s credit score.  Credit scores range between 200 and 800. Scores above 620 are considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. Certainly, the higher the score, the more likely a buyer will receive better rates or fees from the lender.

These factors will affect your score:

1. Your payment history. Basically, a lender wants proof that you paid credit card obligations on time. This gives them confidence that you will also pay your mortgage on time.  Buyers are often unaware that having a “late” payment on a credit report can rule them out of getting a mortgage.  Your payment history must be squeaky clean for 12 months prior to getting through the mortgage underwriting process.
2. How much you owe. Owing a great deal of money on numerous accounts can indicate that you are overextended.  No matter how much a lender wants to work with you, he/she cannot move forward on approving a mortgage unless you meet the test of having the right ratio (percentage) of income to expenses. 
3. The length of your credit history. In general, the longer the better.
4. How much new credit you have. New credit, either installment payments or new credit cards, are considered more risky, even if you pay promptly. If you are planning on buying a home in coming months, think twice before opening any new accounts.  When considering buying a home, a Buyer will be told by both the lender and the Realtor that it’s a sin to establish new credit during the process.  In fact, I often tell my Buyers, “Don’t spend any money on anything other than food and gas!”
5. The types of credit you use. Generally, it’s desirable to have more than one type of credit—installment loans, credit cards, and a current mortgage, for example. This can sometimes be a challenge for first time Buyers.  Occasionally, the type of credit you might have is unplanned, such as major medical expenses.  More often, however, Buyers simply don’t keep track of accounts, letting some go dormant.

For more on evaluating and understanding your credit score, go to http://www.myfico.com.  For more specific information, you might consider calling a lender to have them review your credit score and report and consult with you on ways to strengthen or protect your score during the buying process.  Call me for a referral to a superior local Savannah lender.