Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Thursday, May 14, 2009
More of the Same? No Thanks!
The inventory of new standing housing supply in Troup County is diminishing… down 160 homes since April of last year. Of the 627 homes of standing inventory today, 23% , or 144 are new homes, the rest are resale’s. That gives the new employees being recruited to the market pretty slim “pickens” of homes and neighborhood options to choose from.LaGrange is the one Town that should be catching the lion’s share of the new employee market, but is it? The lackluster sales of new homes in LaGrange is revealing. If employees are being recruited to the auto corridor and not locating in LaGrange, could it be that its homes and neighborhoods are not suited to them? Have they heard of LaGrange? Are new neighborhoods inspiring enough to excite them? Is there enough new home production in LaGrange to grab their attention?
North Atlanta Builders that I’ve talked to recently know that LaGrange is here, but don’t know much about it or what makes it special. When I bring them to downtown they can see its potential. When I explain the vision of Magnolia as a traditional neighborhood within the “New American Town” they get inspired.
Are they inspired enough to relocate their business operations here and accelerate home production? We’ll find out soon as I bring their builders co-op here to Magnolia.
North Atlanta Builders that I’ve talked to recently know that LaGrange is here, but don’t know much about it or what makes it special. When I bring them to downtown they can see its potential. When I explain the vision of Magnolia as a traditional neighborhood within the “New American Town” they get inspired.
Are they inspired enough to relocate their business operations here and accelerate home production? We’ll find out soon as I bring their builders co-op here to Magnolia.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Every Cloud has a Silver Lining
Who would have guessed a year ago that builders would flock from Atlanta to build in LaGrange? It’s not just because of Kia and its suppliers that they’re interested…they’re being driven out of Metro Atlanta! Here are the facts:
Metro Atlanta has experienced an insatiable supply of new housing units since the early nineties. In the last 5 year alone, 55,000 single family permits were issued against an average job growth of 45,000 jobs per year. That 10,000 permit annual surplus contributed significantly to the current oversupply of lots and homes in the Metro Atlanta market.
Metro Atlanta currently has a standing inventory of 150,000 fully improved lots plus 24,000 newly built homes that are waiting for buyers. With our economy still slumping, that inventory may satiate market demand for 5 more years before builders are in production again. That reality is driving builders out of Metro Atlanta toward viable markets in need of housing. LaGrange is the best and closest opportunity for Atlanta’s builders to sustain their business plans and the golden goose for those who position themselves here first.
Metro Atlanta has experienced an insatiable supply of new housing units since the early nineties. In the last 5 year alone, 55,000 single family permits were issued against an average job growth of 45,000 jobs per year. That 10,000 permit annual surplus contributed significantly to the current oversupply of lots and homes in the Metro Atlanta market.
Metro Atlanta currently has a standing inventory of 150,000 fully improved lots plus 24,000 newly built homes that are waiting for buyers. With our economy still slumping, that inventory may satiate market demand for 5 more years before builders are in production again. That reality is driving builders out of Metro Atlanta toward viable markets in need of housing. LaGrange is the best and closest opportunity for Atlanta’s builders to sustain their business plans and the golden goose for those who position themselves here first. Sunday, May 3, 2009
Troup County Sets Development patterns for New American Towns
Economic growth is a regional phenomenom and managing healthy development patterns in the midst of economic prosperity has been a dismal failure in many regions across the country. Evidence of this is seen everywhere in the form of continuous sprawl requiring us all to drive incessantly to work, school, shop, and recreation. And we all know by now that sprawl development patterns have caused us all to erode our atmosphere with tons of hydrocarbons and accelerate our global warming crises.
Troup County has embraced a regional planning approach that confines new development to areas that are serviced by existing infrastructure already provided by towns and cities. Concentrating growth in discreet towns and villages separated by green belts of farms and undeveloped land corridors will break the dysfunction of typical suburban sprawl and allow us to enjoy the emerging "New American Town."
I believe this is critical for the Towns in Troup County in attracting talent to Kia's new auto corridor and its emerging workplace. "Quality of Place" is a core value of the talent pool and a valuable recruitment tool for the employers migrating to the area. Today, Quality of Place owns a seat at the economic development table.
The City of LaGrange has the "bones" to lead the charge as Troup County's New American Town. It is already a "Micropolis Town" distinct from suburban Atlanta with an identity and energy of its own. Casting its unique personality, and vision of the future loud and clear to new businesses and residents will positon it "first to market" and capitalize on the lions share of the region's new found wealth.
Troup County has embraced a regional planning approach that confines new development to areas that are serviced by existing infrastructure already provided by towns and cities. Concentrating growth in discreet towns and villages separated by green belts of farms and undeveloped land corridors will break the dysfunction of typical suburban sprawl and allow us to enjoy the emerging "New American Town."
I believe this is critical for the Towns in Troup County in attracting talent to Kia's new auto corridor and its emerging workplace. "Quality of Place" is a core value of the talent pool and a valuable recruitment tool for the employers migrating to the area. Today, Quality of Place owns a seat at the economic development table.
The City of LaGrange has the "bones" to lead the charge as Troup County's New American Town. It is already a "Micropolis Town" distinct from suburban Atlanta with an identity and energy of its own. Casting its unique personality, and vision of the future loud and clear to new businesses and residents will positon it "first to market" and capitalize on the lions share of the region's new found wealth.
Friday, May 1, 2009
City of LaGrange Georgia to become a bloggers paradise?
I attended a forum of stakeholders yesterday in the City of laGrange Georgia, located about 1 hour southwest of Atlanta. The purpose of the gathering was to explore ways to make LaGrange known as the community of choice for new employees and businesses migrating to the the new Kia auto employment corridor surrounding LaGrange.
The town of LaGrange is one of the few authentic American towns that remains in our country not yet polluted by suburban sprawl development patterns, boasts a downtown main street featuring a central town green with civic fountain, cinema, and college within walking distance. Culture and recreation abound, the schools are good, and it's now positioned in the epicenter of a perfect storm of economic growth...something strange to even say in the midst of our economic crises!
LaGrange is a lovable and affordable place to live and its City and County leaders are determined to properly control growth patterns in the region. But they need to learn to get the word out in an authentic way that will reflect its own authenticity in order to become known as the "community of choice" for new residents migrating into the area.
So how does a Town enlist the help of the social network to reach recruits to this new employment corridor promising 20,000 new jobs? The auto companies won't co-operate and this is a perfect opportunity to engage the public in the creation of the New American Town. This appears to be a bloggers paradise!
The town of LaGrange is one of the few authentic American towns that remains in our country not yet polluted by suburban sprawl development patterns, boasts a downtown main street featuring a central town green with civic fountain, cinema, and college within walking distance. Culture and recreation abound, the schools are good, and it's now positioned in the epicenter of a perfect storm of economic growth...something strange to even say in the midst of our economic crises!
LaGrange is a lovable and affordable place to live and its City and County leaders are determined to properly control growth patterns in the region. But they need to learn to get the word out in an authentic way that will reflect its own authenticity in order to become known as the "community of choice" for new residents migrating into the area.
So how does a Town enlist the help of the social network to reach recruits to this new employment corridor promising 20,000 new jobs? The auto companies won't co-operate and this is a perfect opportunity to engage the public in the creation of the New American Town. This appears to be a bloggers paradise!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Kia Recruits Locating to LaGrange Get Perks
Magnolia Unveils Exclusive Rent2Own Program Tailored to Transferees
Magnolia announces a unique homebuying incentive called Rent2Own exclusively developed by its parent, the Marquette Companies, offering both home sales and leasing incentives for new residents of Magnolia. This program is exclusive to Magnolia and provides powerful incentives in attracting candidates seeking employment from Kia and its suppliers who are relocating to the LaGrange area and need temporary homes to rent until their residences can sell back home. It is designed to be used as an effective recruiting tool for new employers to the market who seek high quality talent seeking to live in an innovative, best-in-class community catering specifically to their relocation needs.
The program allows residents who rent a home in Magnolia to earn SmartRent credits toward the purchase of their new home purchase in Magnolia. The credits can be applied to transaction fees, closing costs and/or the purchase price of their new home. SmartRent credits are accumulated for the length of the leased term and can be redeemed anytime within two years of renting a home in Magnolia for up to 5 percent of the purchase price of a new home built in Magnolia.
For example, if a resident is renting a Kia Cottage for $1,200 per month, he’ll accumulate SmartRent credits valued at $14,400 per year. That full credit can be applied to any new home in Magnolia valued at $300,000 or more. After renting for two years, up to $28,800 could be earned to offset the purchase price of his new home in Magnolia up to 5 percent of the purchase price. Any unused SmartRent credits are transferable to a friend or family member who chooses to purchase a new home in Magnolia should he choose not to use all the SmartRent credits.
For Kia and its suppliers offering a housing stipend to new employment recruits, the SmartRent Program can be offered as an exclusive savings plan for the purchase of a new Magnolia home, which will enable recruits to immediately relocate and rent a new home in Magnolia while earning purchase credits for their new home purchase. This home purchase innovation facilitates the recruiting efforts of Kia and its supplier chain by eliminating the need for a recruit to sell his residence back home before moving to LaGrange and increasing his home purchasing power by relocating now.
Three types of rental home products are offered for the Rent2Own program at Magnolia and both are woven into the fabric of the community. The Kia Cottage is a two-story attached single-family home with a carriage home on one lot offered exclusively for rent. Magnolia’s innovative live/work units feature two-story townhomes above business commercial space on the ground floor. All Rent2Own product lines are offered to builders as investment products to serve the needs of the new savvy home-buying market.
Kia Cottages, unique to Magnolia, provide new, high-quality rental housing choices for recruits attracted to LaGrange’s growing employment market.
Magnolia announces a unique homebuying incentive called Rent2Own exclusively developed by its parent, the Marquette Companies, offering both home sales and leasing incentives for new residents of Magnolia. This program is exclusive to Magnolia and provides powerful incentives in attracting candidates seeking employment from Kia and its suppliers who are relocating to the LaGrange area and need temporary homes to rent until their residences can sell back home. It is designed to be used as an effective recruiting tool for new employers to the market who seek high quality talent seeking to live in an innovative, best-in-class community catering specifically to their relocation needs.
The program allows residents who rent a home in Magnolia to earn SmartRent credits toward the purchase of their new home purchase in Magnolia. The credits can be applied to transaction fees, closing costs and/or the purchase price of their new home. SmartRent credits are accumulated for the length of the leased term and can be redeemed anytime within two years of renting a home in Magnolia for up to 5 percent of the purchase price of a new home built in Magnolia.
For example, if a resident is renting a Kia Cottage for $1,200 per month, he’ll accumulate SmartRent credits valued at $14,400 per year. That full credit can be applied to any new home in Magnolia valued at $300,000 or more. After renting for two years, up to $28,800 could be earned to offset the purchase price of his new home in Magnolia up to 5 percent of the purchase price. Any unused SmartRent credits are transferable to a friend or family member who chooses to purchase a new home in Magnolia should he choose not to use all the SmartRent credits.
For Kia and its suppliers offering a housing stipend to new employment recruits, the SmartRent Program can be offered as an exclusive savings plan for the purchase of a new Magnolia home, which will enable recruits to immediately relocate and rent a new home in Magnolia while earning purchase credits for their new home purchase. This home purchase innovation facilitates the recruiting efforts of Kia and its supplier chain by eliminating the need for a recruit to sell his residence back home before moving to LaGrange and increasing his home purchasing power by relocating now.
Three types of rental home products are offered for the Rent2Own program at Magnolia and both are woven into the fabric of the community. The Kia Cottage is a two-story attached single-family home with a carriage home on one lot offered exclusively for rent. Magnolia’s innovative live/work units feature two-story townhomes above business commercial space on the ground floor. All Rent2Own product lines are offered to builders as investment products to serve the needs of the new savvy home-buying market.
Kia Cottages, unique to Magnolia, provide new, high-quality rental housing choices for recruits attracted to LaGrange’s growing employment market.
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