RELATED ARTICLES OF INTEREST

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Like everywhere else, Suwanee has felt the impact of the down turn in the economy; and, as a result, the growth which has been experienced in Suwanee for the past 20 years, is also experiencing a temporary slow down:

•  Residential building permits totalled 71 in 2008 - just less than half the number as in 2007 (153). 
• Commercial development  buidling permits were 12 compared to 25 in 2007.
• High commercial and office vacancy rates.

However, Suwanee seems to be able to weather the storm by staying financially fit.  The city's reserves are strong and in order to maintain financial stability, while still serving the community, the City of Suwanee will  tighten its belt.

• January 24 - Suwanee Gateway Branding Initiative - Striving to revitalize this area coming off I-85 @  Exit 111 leading into the city
• March, 2008 - Public Arts Commission - Responsible for enhancing the quality of  life for the city through the use of art while encouraging developers to incorporate art into their projects
• May, 2008 - Pre-Trial Diversion Program - Nearly 68 first time defendants had a chance to have their records expunged by "correcting their behaviors and completing court-instituted conditions."  More than 1200 hours of community serivce has been completed.
• October, 2008 - Sims Lake Park Opened - 62 acre lake, looping trail, playground and stream scape
• Suwanee Gateway PACT - Designed to reduce criminal activity and enhance relations between the city's businessess, police and the City
• New Pulic Works Facility - 12,000 square foot, 20 year old warehouse on Windsor Parkway for the Public Works crews
• Facade Improvement Grant Program - Through BB&T First United Methodist Church received a $2500 grant to spruce up their exterior
• Calling Post System - Communication efforts with City water customers
• Homestead Tax Defferal Program - Established for homeowenrs 62 and older with limited incomes
• City Banners - Banners with the Suwanee Gateway log and tagline were installed at Town Center, along Main Street and along the I85-Lawrenceville-Suwanee corridor. Signs were also strategically placed to mark the city limits.
• Pedestrian underpass was completed behind the current City Hall linking the Town Center with Main Street and historic Old Town

CITY OF SUWANEE - 2008 ANNUAL REPORT

Data is for fiscal year:  2008 - July1, 2007 thru June 30, 2008

City of Suwanee 2008 Full Annual Report 
Suwanee Crossroad Newsletter, February 2009 Edition 

                                                                

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Do you have a photographer inside you just screaming to be let out? Well now is your chance!

Suwanee's City Public Arts Commission will be hosting a photo contest.  The initial winning photos will be proudly displayed during the grand opening of the new City Hall.  Snap Suwanee is an on-going contest where photos are accepted year-round.  However for the City Hall grand opening, photos must be submitted no later than February 16.

• The contest welcomes amateur and professional photographers 
• A limit of 5 submissions per person
• A separate entry is required for each submission
• Any one individual can win once per year
• Pictures must be taken within the city limits of Suwanee (preferably within the past 2 years)

To submit your photos mail to:  

Suwanee Crossroad building
323 Buford Highway
Suwanee GA 30024

or email:  SnapSuwanaee@Suwanee.com

Good luck!

For more information: 
http://www.suwanee.com/pdfs/snap%20suwanee%20photo%20contest.pdf

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BUFORD REAL ESTATE MARKET  2008 vs. 2007

BUFORD SOLDS 2008 Sold Homes: 730 Highest Price: $1,425,000 Lowest Price: $     39,500 List to Sale Ratio: 99% Days on Market: 103     BUFORD SOLDS 2007 Sold Homes: 1031 Highest Price: $1,350,000 Lowest Price: $    29,000 List to Sale Ratio: 92% Days on Market: 111     2008 Breakdown Foreclosures: 151 Corporate Owned:  97 Owner Transfer: 37 New Construction: 261 Lease/Purchase:  18 Resale: 166 2007 Breakdown Foreclosures:   72 Corporate Owned: 46 Owner Transfer: 43 New Construction: 400 Lease Purchase: 13 Resale: 457 2008 vs 2007 Breakdown By Category CATEGORY Foreclosures: Corporate Owned: Owner Transfer: New Construction: Lease/Purchase: Resale: % CHANGE ↑110% ↑111% ↓  14% ↓   34.7% ↑   77% ↓   63.7%

BUFORD SOLDS 2008 vs 2007 By COUNTY Gwinnett Hall 2008 656 74 2007 925 106 % Change ↓29.1% ↓30   % Information has been collected from the First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS). Data is believed to be accurate at the time of collecting data, but is not guaranteed.

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Anyone who visits the trails at Suwanee Creek Park on a regular basis will identify with the experience of enjoying a stroll or nice leisurely jog along the paths, admiring the wilderness and as you can gaze off to the left or the right  "something" catches your eye.  You're not sure what it is, but you know it is something. In fact, the first time I did this, I thought it odd but kept on running having no clue what I saw. "What was it you might ask?"  

"Art on a Limb" was initially created to weave together an appreciation for the arts while at the same time to the wonderful, natural landscapes of the Suwanee city parks. It's just another example of how the City of Suwanee effectively creates a sense of community for all to enjoy.

During the month of May, there will be two pieces of original artwork placed at the Suwanee Creek Greenway or one of the other Suwanee parks EACH day through the month of May.

Remember the old adage: "Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers"?  Well, the artist may not weep, but you will have the good fortune to become the owner of the original piece of art if you  find. 

• City of Suwanee is seeking creative artists
• All artwork must be origina
• Artwork must be received by Monday, February 16, 2009
• Artwork must be able to weather the out side elements
• Artwork must be reproducible
• All artwork must be original

FOR ALL YOU PARK VISITORS:  HAPPY HUNTING!

For more infomation:  http://www.suwanee.com/pdfs/ArtonaLimbguidelines.2009.pdf

The Gwinnett Magazine just released their "Best of Gwinnett 2008" and I  have pulled out the categories that apply to Suwanee.... plus one other- Best Realtor®....Sheila Stevens with the Prudential Georgia, Suwanee office. Everything you see listed here is located within the Suwanee Town Center or names the Suwanee Town Center as one of the favorites.  Please also keep in mind most of the categories have more than one winner!  

• Best Realtor® - Our very own Sheila Stevens! 

• Best Business Address - Suwanee Town Center was named one of the favorites. 

• Best Power Lunch - Olde Towne Tavern was named one of the favorites! 

• Best Barbeque - Dillard's Barbeque (corner of Lawrenceville-Suwanee and Buford Highway) 

• Best Cup of Coffee -  PJ's Coffee of New Orleans 

• Best Happy Hour - Olde Towne Tavern 

• Best Concert Venue - Suwanee Town Center Park 

• Best Place for People Watching - Suwanee Town Center Park 

• Best Park - Suwanee Town Center Park 

• Best Summer Activity - Suwanee Town Center Park concerts 

• Best Local Festival - Suwanee Day 

• Best Downtown - Suwanee Town Center

Here is the link so you may peruse as well: http://www.gwinnettmagazine.com/content.cfm?action=bog08

Sheila Stevens - River Club and Sugar Loaf CC Real Estate (ActiveRain)

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WHAT A SIGHT TO BEHOLD! 

Magnificent!!!

To say the new City Hall is majestic (at 23,600 square feet) would be an understatement. And, there is no doubt in anyone's mind the new City Hall would never have become a realty without the support of its citizens! With a population of just over 16,000 in 2007, cities twice our size don't have the support of their citizens to erect a monument of this magnitude to represent their town.

The ground breaking for the new City Hall began in December, 2007. And, it won't be long before city staff members and officials begin their move into their new home. The expected move is for sometime in February.  Quoting Marty Allen, Suwanee's city manager, from an article in Gwinnett Herald, "With its location along Town Center Avenue across from Town center Park, the New City Hall is an important and visible part of the Town Center. It is an iconic facility that helps establish a sense of place for the city."  Indeed! The building is amazing (to say the least!!!).

The city officials will be saying good-bye to the current City Hall (the second since we moved to Suwanee 21 years ago) built when the population was around 6,500.  The current city hall will become home to the Suwanee Police Department and city court system.

Watch for the grand opening ceremony planned for March of this year!

Additional Article of Interest:  http://www.brph.com/story.asp?id=67
Suwanee is steeped in History:  http://www.suwanee.com/aboutsuwanee.history.php

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	DULUTH  REAL ESTATE  2008 vs. 2007
	DULUTH SOLDS 2008 Sold Homes: 812 Highest Price: $3,028,817 Lowest Price: $     38,500 List to Sale Ratio: 92% Days on Market: 95     DULUTH SOLDS 2007 Sold Homes: 1108 Highest Price: $2,800,000 Lowest Price: $     90,000 List to Sale Ratio: 97% Days on Market: 75     2008 Breakdown Corporate Owned:  84 Foreclosure:  150 Owner Transferred:  40 New Construction:  100 Lease/Purchase:  20 Resale:  418 2007 Breakdown Corporate Owned:  56 Foreclosure:  79 Owner Transferred:  47 New Construction:  144 Lease/Purchase:  14 Resale:  768 2008 vs 2007 Breakdown By Category CATEGORY Corporate Owned Foreclosure: Owner Transfer: New Construction: Lease/Purchase: Resale:  % CHANGE ↑50% ↑90% ↓15% ↓31% ↑43% ↓45.6%
	DULUTH SOLDS 2008 vs 2007 By COUNTY Gwinnett Forsyth Fulton 2008 627 61 124   2007 846 54 208 % Change ↓74% ↑13% ↓40% Information has been collected from the First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS). Data is believed to be accurate at the time of collecting data, but is not guaranteed.

                                     
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SUWANEE REAL ESTATE MARKET 2008 vs. 2007

SUWANEE SOLDS 2008 Sold Homes: 823 Highest Price: $5,500,000 Lowest Price: $ 60,000 List to Sale Ratio: 95% Days on Market: 102     SUWANEE SOLDS 2007 Sold Homes: 1121 Highest Price: $3,020,000 Lowest Price: $ 119,000 List to Sale Ratio: 97.3% Days on Market: 82     2008 Breakdown Foreclosures: 111 Corporate Owned: 74 Owner Transfer: 53 New Construction: 210 Lease/Purchase: 25 Resale: 350 2007 Breakdown Foreclosures: 37 Corporate Owned: 44 Owner Transfer: 73 New Construction: 272 Lease Purchase: 21 Resale: 674 2008 vs 2007 Breakdown By Category CATEGORY Foreclosures: Corporate Owned: Owner Transfer: New Construction: Lease/Purchase: Resale: % CHANGE ↑200% ↑68% ↓27% ↓23% ↑19 ↓48%

SUWANEE SOLDS 2008 vs 2007 By COUNTY Gwinnett Forsyth Fulton 2008 541 267 15 2007 741 355 25 % Change ↓27% ↓25% ↓40% Information has been collected from the First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS). Data is believed to be accurate at the time of collecting data, but is not guaranteed.

MY SUWANEE HOME.com

Who do you believe? We can listen to the main street media and take on the attitude the current economic nose bleed will last forever - or at least they make you feel that way. Or we can look at some other indicators which might cause us to stand up straight, throw our shoulders back and feel optimistic about what lies ahead!

For instance, I had an article sent to me recently: "Decision Analyst U.S. Economic Index for December Holds Steady, Signaling Economic Recovery in 2009".  The index is a leading indicator on where our economy is headed. And according to the article it says, "The U.S. Economic Index has remained stable for the last nine months of 2008." Meaning what? According to this article, we will see our economy find its bottom mid-2009.

Additionally, in late December, an article was published by Realtor Magazine showing an increase in mortgage applications: Refinances accounted for 62.6 percent of the applications while mortgages to buy new homes increased a "seasonally adjusted" 10.6 percent.

And January is typically a slow real estate month in Atlanta. However, as soon as we said good-bye to the Holidays, my phone was ringing (which was music to my ears). Buyer's Agents were out with their clients looking at property and the cycle has continued....slowly but it has continued.

So what does this all mean? In my opinion, if we take the news that also came out last week saying the Feds plan to buy mortgage backed securities which should drive interest rates as low as 4.5 percent and add this to the slow trickle of activity taking place NOW along with the steady tick from the U.S. Economic Index plus the increase in NEW mortgage applications, we should have the perfect recipe for a housing market recovery which will then translate to having a positive effect on our economy in 2009!  So...Stand up straight, shoulders back...and...SMILE!!!       

Realtor Magazine Article: Source: Mortgage Bankers Assoc.  & Market Watch  (12/24/08)

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