Many people are trying rent to own a home ,before buying.

By Lori Johnston
For the Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/01/08


New sales strategy pops up to benefit both sides in tough market.

The suggestion is offered at the beginning or tacked onto the end of ads for resale homes and is even being used to lure buyers into new neighborhoods from intown to the suburbs: "Rent to own. Will consider lease-purchase."

Individual sellers seeking to unload a mortgage payment and developers with an oversupply of new homes are offering the arrangements. Some sellers say mentioning the possibility of lease-purchase or lease-option results in more showings, and ultimately, a deal.

"If you can match a seller who wants to sell with a buyer who wants to buy, it really can allow both to achieve their goals in a positive way and result in a win-win transaction," said John Adams, a real estate broker and investor. "It is an ideal adaptation of an age-old home buying strategy to our current market situation."

It's something he's seeing more of, especially as some sellers with mortgages on two homes have given up trying to sell and are desperate for someone to cover a mortgage payment.

Tammie Carpenter, a real estate agent with Metro Brokers/GMAC Real Estate, agrees that the perception of a lease-purchase is changing. She's seeing them offered for everything from affordable homes to high-end properties.

"Where we didn't used to like to see a lease-purchase rider on the homes, we're starting to offer that to our sellers, as well as our buyers," she said. "If you're one of those where you've been out there for a while, you can get somebody in there. They're covering your mortgage, and you're going to sell [in] six months, a year."

The fact that new developments, such as Historic Westside Village intown and Millard Bowen Communities' Wildwood neighborhood in Buford, have been using lease-purchases is "absolutely unprecedented," Adams said.

"They are doing this to unload the property. Anything, anything to get them occupied," he said. "They're sitting there empty —- somebody's had to pay principal, interest, taxes. It's just a different way of getting money in the door."

If it's something of interest, whether you're a buyer or seller, here are the pros and cons. Adams estimates that only one in every three such deals actually results in a sale.

"There are some risks, but for the most part, it's a great way to get people in," Carpenter said.

The buyer advantages

1. It gives you wiggle room to improve finances.

The buyer can spend the time improving credit and paying off debts. "In today's market where first-time home buyers have few, if any, conventional mortgage sources to choose from, this is a very real way of trying on homeownership, seeing how they like it and building a down payment and improving their credit at the same time," Adams said.

2. It helps you come up with a down payment.

Carpenter said the security deposit or a certain amount of dollars for monthly rent goes toward the down payment, in most cases. For example, Adams explains that $200 of the monthly rent, for 24 months, could go toward the purchase price. That means there's a $4,800 credit applied when the sale closes.

3. It gets you a home that already could have equity.

If you wait a year, the property could increase in value and cost more. "You purchase the property at today's value, not at the future value," said Monte Murphy with Keller Williams Realty Cityside.

4. It's a chance to test a home, neighborhood

"You get 12 months to date the house, to see if that's the relationship that you really want to be ready for," said Murphy, who did lease-purchase for a home he recently sold in Decatur. "You want to date it to see if you can actually maintain homeownership."

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The Towne Cinema Theatre in Avondale.

I wonder why they don't show movies here anymore.
Big Big mistake.

1937 Magazine ad for Decatur's water tank tower.

Decatur, GA. is the possessor of this 500,000 gal Horton radial cone bottom tank. It's colonial design and graceful, well balanced proportion prove that beauty need not be sacrificed to achive utilty, thus Decatur has at once the many advantages of elevated storage within a stately structure that proudly graves the landscape of this historic southern city.


STEVEATL said: Is this the tank near the East Lake MARTA station? Yes it is.

Decatur Federal Savings & Loans Assoc. 1962

Decatur Federal Savings & Loan Assoc.
opened in downtown Decatur in 1962. I went to the Grand Opening to visit the new building and they gave me a Decatur Federal Savings key-chain,
and I still have it.
The bank has changed names a couple of times since 1962 now it is Wachovia Bank. Soon to be Wells Fargo.

A milestone for Decatur gallery

By Catherine Fox
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/29/08

On Decatur Square: Shawn Vinson has a blueprint for success to survive and thrive for another 10 years in the art business.

Running an art gallery is rarely a pretty picture. As many an entrepreneur discovers, art is only one ingredient in the recipe for survival. Just as important are location, timing, business smarts, perseverance —- and luck.

No wonder galleries come and go, and no wonder Shawn Vinson finds his 10th anniversary on Decatur's Courthouse Square a cause for celebration.

To mark the occasion, he has filled the recently renovated gallery with a survey of the artists in his stable. A painting by Ruth Franklin, a British-born artist and his wife, greets the visitor. Not just a gallery mainstay, she is behind the gallery's unique niche in British printmaking.

The roster, which has grown through her connections back home, now ranges from Anne Desmet, internationally known for finely detailed miniature visions of England and Italy, to the punky, primitive work of poet/musician/cult figure Billy Childish.

"Vinson is probably the only gallery in Atlanta that specializes in printmaking," says Stephanie Smith, president of the Atlanta Printmakers Studio.

"The printmakers are of really exceptional quality, both technically and expressively, especially the black and white work, which you don't see that often in Atlanta."

Vinson Gallery was one of the few in Decatur when it opened, and its owner has had a hand in building the scene.

"Shawn works hard to promote the arts here," Cheryl Burnette, executive director of the Decatur Arts Alliance, says of Vinson, who is a member of her board. "He initiated the Decatur ArtWalk and got us involved with the Atlanta Gallery Association's events."

Vinson, 38, is a dyed-in-the wool Decaturite.

"I moved here in 1993 because it was affordable, but now I wouldn't think of leaving," he says.

What with the renovated gallery, a devoted Decatur clientele, the nearby Brick Store —- the pub he calls his satellite office —- and his new partner Dominic Richardson, he is ready to take on the next 10 years.

Decatur recommends assistant for head coaching job at Decatur High School

Decatur athletics director Carter Wilson has recommended offensive coordinator Price Jones as the school's new head football coach, pending board approval.

Jones was 35-42 as the head coach at Pelham from 1997-2003 and has been an assistant at several state schools since 1987, including Valdosta, Early County and Monroe Area.

Wilson said Jones' familiarity with the Decatur program factored into the decision.

"The thing that really elevated him over everybody else was the fact that the kids were very comfortable with him," Wilson said. "We felt like he was the right guy at this time."

Jones replaces Sonny Spurlock, who resigned last month after one year in the position. He is the school's eighth head coach since 1995. The Bulldogs were 3-7 last season.

By JEFF HAWS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/05/08

UPDATE on the new Decatur High School Stadium. Will they finish this in time for the football season.?

From the looks of this, I think they are behind schedule. Will they have this stadium ready for the Football season. ?

Comments are welcome.

Looking back at Decatur High School circa 1965

Decatur High's Varsity cheerleaders
and Duke The barking mascot.
also a good look at The North building.

photo from 1966 indecatur.

Sims Radiator in Decatur. circa 1961

Sims Radiator is a part of Metro Atlanta's history. Clay Sims Sr., started in Decatur back in 1949 after coming back home from WWII. He rented a shop from Hoolie Wilburn across the street from Decatur High School and his brother, W.L., joined him soon after. They had been in business for 12 years when this photo was taken.

Buy a Kid a Book !

Let's put more books in the homes of more Decatur children in 2008.


DBA
Decatur Business Association

1965 photo of Decatur looking towards N. McDonough St.

Photo taken from the steps of The Old Court House.
Looking towards N. McDonough St.
You can see The Decatur Theatre on the left side
and on the right you can see the stores that were torn down,
Scott's Pharmacy is one of those buildings .

Photo is circa 1965.
From the 1966 Indecatur.

Decatur Business Association events for May 2008- Blue Sky Concerts on the Square.

DBA Events
Blue Sky Concerts 2008
Wednesdays in May • Noon-1 p.m.
Brought to you by Decatur Business Association and SunTrust Bank.

Enjoy a mid-week lunchtime music break at the Community Bandstand on the square in downtown Decatur. Free. Bring your lunch or purchase a special to-go lunch from a nearby restaurant and enjoy live performances from a variety of artists.

May 7
Mike Killeen, Singer/songwriter
Sponsor: Little Shop of Stories, Junior League, Sharian

May 14
Amy Loftus, Country
Sponsor: Tangela Barrie, Sharian, Junior League

May 21
Julie Austin, Children's songwriter
Sponsor: TBA

May 28
Redaction, Indie/pop
Sponsor: Decatur Paper

Concerts on the Square 2008
Every Saturday night in May • 7-9:30 p.m.
Community Bandstand on the square in downtown Decatur

Pack your picnic, bring your quilts and blankets and enjoy an evening of musical entertainment. Brought to you by Decatur Business Association and Wachovia Bank of Georgia.

May 3
High Cotton, Eclectic Americana
Sponsor: Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur

May 10
Jackson County Line, Country
Sponsor: Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur

May 17
Ralph Roddenbery, Rock
Sponsor: Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur

May 24
Baatin & Top Secret, Rock, soul, blues
Sponsor: Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur, Tangela Barrie

May 31
Lindsay Rakers Band, Indie Rock
Sponsor: Sponsor: Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur and Tangela Barrie

The DBA sponsors and supports a full calendar of events, including the Decatur Beach Party, the association's annual fund-raiser. Other events include Concerts on the Square; Blue Sky Concerts; Easter Egg Hunt; July 4 Pied Piper Parade, Concert and Fireworks; and Breakfast with Santa. Volunteers are always needed for these festivals and events.

Is the Krog Street Tunnel an Eyesore or Art ?

After hearing about this place I had to go visit to get a picture of Robert Mitchum
you know, the guy who played in the cult classic movie "Thunder Road". It's only about 4 miles from Decatur High School on Dekalb Ave.
Now I know this tunnel is called the Krog Street Tunnel, but for me, after my vist,
I will now call this "The Thunder Road Tunnel".
Trying to photograph this place your need to watch out for joggers and bicycles, I almost got hit by a guy on a bike.
Read this story about this place.

A story in AJC about the rebirth of DeKalb Avenue contained a rather insulting reference to what I consider to be one of the thoroughfare’s most colorful landmarks.

I’m talking about the Krog Street tunnel.

The story made much ado about how DeKalb Avenue was coming back to life, as evidenced by the influx of the young and affluent to shiny new condos:

It’s a stark contrast to the graffiti-covered train trestle at DeKalb Avenue and Krog Street, just a few hundred feet away. … Such sights once were common along the mostly industrial thoroughfare, which runs parallel to two rail lines. But as condos and apartments go up, slowly the graffiti and other eyesores are disappearing.

Personally, I love the rust and the grit, the imperfections and pure urban-ness of DeKalb Avenue — and the Krog Street tunnel in particular. When I was a teenager exploring the city, such a welcome reprieve from the soulless burbs, it was my favorite stretch of road. I’d hate to see it morph into a replica of the East Cobb homogeny from which I tried to escape.

I’m curious about what you readers think. Krog Street tunnel: eyesore or urban chic?

story by: Mara Shalhoup, Creative Loafing.


If you have a story about this place, please share it.

Is it a eyesore or is it art.

This Blogger thinks it is art.
We need more graffiti artist like the one who did Robert Mitchum.
Hope you enjoy my photos.

Driver's Seat Used Car Lot.

2680 E College Ave, Decatur, GA

before & after photo shop.

Nice you-tube on Downtown Decatur

Filmed by:
Craig Callewaert
Moonbeam Graphic Productions

Photos Craig took while out walking his dog in downtown Decatur, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Second Annual Decatur Run with the Dogs

I found this on youtube, It's great, just watch it. Don't wait, watch it now.


The Decatur Bulldog Athletic Booster Club (DBABC) sponsored its 2nd Annual 5K Frostbite Race on January 5. 2008. The event helps support middle and high school athletics in Decatur, GA.

Decatur High School Homecoming Parade

Photo is from 1966 Indecatur showing homecoming parade on N. McDonough St. in front of Decatur High School.

The old Dekalb Locker Plant & Food Store Gone with the Wind.

Decatur's old Dekalb Locker Plant & Food Store building has been torn down.

Vintage Ad from Decatur High Schools 1961 Indecatur

S. McDonough St. looking towards Downtown Decatur

Street Scene of S. McDonough St.
Photo dated Mar 08

Agnes Scott College

Spring is here at Agnes Scott College