Received this note from Wayne Wilson and wanted to add my THANKS to all Concerned.

Congratulations and many thanks to the “Keep Bent Tree Beautiful Committee”, Sue Bapst, Stan Kameron, and their volunteers and Stan’s guys for the Clean-Up Bent Tree Project this weekend.  Personally I was embarrassed by my absence.  Please check out the areas around our security gate and front entrance, administration building, recycle and dumpster area, Post Office, Library, Gazebo, corner of Little Pine and Little Hendricks.  You won’t believe the stacks and collections of dead limbs and shrub, trees, and logs along the side of the road ready to be picked up and removed.  Many dead trees were cut down and cut up and stacked.  It is amazing how much they were able to accomplish.  We also need to thank the good folks, Carol Slone, Marilyn Kameron, and Libby Adams (hope I didn’t miss anyone) that fixed lunch for all of the volunteers on both Friday and Saturday.  Vicki told me it was much appreciated.  Please check out the area and be appreciative of the efforts of this committee and the volunteers who made it happen.  They not only talked the talk but they walked the walk.  Thanks again!!!

Wayne

Casual Classics Concert Series – Bonus Concert

The Casual Classics Concert Series Presents!

 Pride of Pickens Showcase

Featuring

 Justin Davis, Piano

 Elizabeth Gibson, Organ   

Sam Mullinax, Voice

June 1, 2009 @  7:00 p.m.

New Lebanon Presbyterian Church 

Bent Tree Drive

 Free admission

 

 

 

Elizabeth Gibson

Eliazabeth is a Sacred Music Major with a concentration in organ at Reinhardt College and is the Tate United Methodist Church Music Director. She is a Reinhardt Presidential Scholar and an academic Scholar for having over a 3.9 GPA. Elizabeth is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, the music honor society, and Alpha Chi, the general honor society, received an honors program certificate, and is listed in Who’s Who Among American College Students for 2009. She has served as President and Vice-President of the Reinhardt College Chapter of the Music Teachers National Association and she is an active member of campus ministry and serves as the chapel accompanist. Elizabeth has had two gospel songs published by the Gospel Heritage Music Company.

Elizabeth’s program will include pieces by Handel, Bach, Pachelbel, and Gordon Young 

Justin Davis

Justin is a 2009 graduate of Shorter College in Rome, Georgia with a Bachelor’s of Music in Piano Pedagogy. At Shorter Justin was heavily involved in many musical and non musical activities. He was a charter member of the Delta Sigma Fraternity, Theta Psi chapter and held many leadership positions in other organization: President of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Zeta Epsilon chapter, Shorter Chorus, Northwest Georgia WINDS, Resident Assistant, and a charter member of the Shorter College Band. Justin was the recipient 2009 of the Olin G. Parker Leadership Award for outstanding leadership in Phi Mu Alpha. He has served as pianist and
music leader at many churches in the Rome and Pickens County areas. His piano teacher include Thelma Cagle, Mary Ann Roach, Jan Moody, Patricia Adams, and Prof. Mary Ann Knight. Justin just completed four years of study with Peabody Conservatory graduate Dr. David Oliver.

Justin’s program will include pieces by Mozart, Chopin, and Bartok.

 Samuel Mullinax

Samuel is 22 years old and is from Ball Ground. He is a graduate of Cherokee High School where he participated in the various band ensembles. He is currently attending Reinhardt College perusing a double major in Vocal Performance and Music Education. After graduating from Reinhardt Sam plans on pursuing his Masters degree in Vocal Performance. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family and friends and playing golf.

Sam will be accompanied by Ellen Whitten and his program will include songs by Strauss, Mozart, Vaughan Williams, Gluck, Finzi and Rorem.

 

 The Casual Classics Concerts are sponsored by Jasper Muse, Inc, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supporting the performing arts.

 

This concert was organized by Suzanne Shull, the President and founder of Jasper Muse Inc., and it should be an absolute delight.  Come out and support our local talent!

See you ’round the mountains,

Don

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is time for a Quarterly Update on the sales activity here in Bent Tree and in PIckens County.  Ben Torrey, the Broker and owner of Torrey Mountain Properties, Inc., has just completed his report for our clients and I just posted the update on my Life In North Georgia Blog.  Please click on the Blog Name and it will take you to the report.

See you ’round the mountains,

Don

Little Hendricks Mountain & Lake Tamarack in Bent Tree

“Climb Every Mountain” might well be the theme song for sales in Bent Tree this year.  Sales in Bent Tree hadbeen consistently growing in volume of units and dollars for several years, but this year they certainly proved that no trend continues forever.   I have heard some residents – even some Real Estate agents – say that “Nothing” is selling; but that is certainly an exaggeration.   We just had to work a lot harder and climb a lot higher to make it work.  Read the rest of this entry »

Using Home Warranties is an effective marketing tool and we provide one on almost every one of our residential listings.     Perhaps more important than the direct marketing impact is the potential for real support and savings for our sellers and the buyers we need to make a sale.  I am sure that someone will be able to develop some “reasons” why one shouldn’t provide Home Warranties, but for this posting I am just going to concentrate on why we should.

In the interest of full disclosure, I had to say “almost” every listing, because it is possible that a seller might not agree to us providing one or there might be some other extenuating circumstance that makes it impractical or impossible – maybe a foreclosure with no records and a lot of damage.  We don’t do REO or Bank Owned listings right now so that hasn’t been an issue, but I guess it could be.  Read the rest of this entry »

The Bent Tree Property Owners Association has just announced a drive to provide funds for our Troops who are travelling over the Christmas Holidays this year.  ETC, our local cable, phone and itnernet provider, will once again support the USO in providing meals for soldiers who are flying through Hartsfield on Christmas Day.  Due to our distance from the airport it was determined that cash donations was the most effective way for Bent Tree residents to contribute. 

I wrote a blog earlier this week on Life In North Georgia on how our community honors our veterans.  It is really pleasing to see the community where I live continuing to walk the walk and giving that support a tangible face for our military personnel on Active Duty.  Read the rest of this entry »

Sales Reported Through October 31, 2008

Through the end of October 2008 there have been 21 Homes Sold in Bent Tree and one new sale is pending.

New Listing at 904 Fairway Drive in Bent Tree

This is an increase of 5 homes sold since the last report.  I am pleased to report that I participated in two of them.   I represented the Pattersons who left their lovely lakefront cabin on Blue Surf to join family on the West Coast and the Baragars who purchased a house on Southview Trail and have already begun making it their own home.  Three of my clients this year have purchased homes in Bent Tree and are creating dramatic new changes to make their new houses their personal homes.  In the next few weeks there will be a series of articles about all 3 of them.  I hope you will check in to see what progress they are making.

In 2007 there had been 32 sales in Bent Tree through October.  So sales are down about one third, but there are certainly still sales going on.  Because the market is slow there are some lovely homes on the market at very attractive prices.  If your stock portfolio has underperformed this year, it might be a good time to make an investment in a 2nd home or investment property.  If you are looking for a new permanent residence, some of the permanent residences available are just unbelievable values and interest rates are still very attractive.  Just in case you are wondering – local banks have money and they are closing loans.  All 3 of my closings this month were funded on time and closed without a hitch.  Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome,

Don Martin Your Bent Tree Real Estate Advisor

This blog will concentrate on the Bent Tree Community and Real Estate Activity in Bent Tree.   There wil certainly be times when the articles relate to real estate in general; for instance next week I have an article planned on the importance of the Home Warranty in the real estate transaction and why we use one in almost every transaction.   In the near future, I have some articles planned on investing in real estate that I think you are going to find very interesting – particularly in a time where dirt is looking like a pretty solid investment.

This blog is linked directly to my new Bent Tree website (http://bent-treerealestate.com) where you will be able to search not only all my personal listings in Bent Tree, but also all of the homes currently for sale in Bent Tree by all real estate agents.  This is important because, and this may be a surprise to some folks, in most of the home closings today, the buyer is represented by someone other than the listing agent.  I show all of the homes available in Bent Tree – regardless of what agent or firm provides the listing. 

If you have a question or comment about life in Bent Tree, feel free to post that and I will do my best to respond to it.  If you have an article or discussion you would like to see on the site please feel free to offer that up and we’ll see where it goes.

You will also see a link to my other blog http://LifeInNorthGeorgia.com which covers community events, business activity, cultural events and real estate news as well as stories about, you know, Life In North Georgia.

Well that is enough of a note for the foundation.  Let’s just build on that.

See you ’round the mountains,

Don