Jazz in the Park Sunday August 30th 7pm-9pm

Every Summer from Memorial Day through September marks the Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Jazz in the Park Series, and this year marks their 20th Anniversary. This is a wonderful outdoor summer concert, and a great way to spend a Sunday evening in the Golden Isles.

Jazz in the Park is held once a month on the lawn of the lighthouse, which is one of the most relaxing places on St. Simons. Be sure to pack a blanket or chairs, a delicious picnic dinner, and your favorite beverage! Come a little early to stake out your patch of grass, and enjoy views of Jekyll Island and the lighthouse.

The concert will run from 7pm-9pm, and features Jazz vocalist Gwen Hughes. Pricing is as follows: $10 adults, $5 ages 6-12, under 6 free; $40 full season pass. You can get more information on this event, and other local events at http://www.goldenislesarts.org/

Hope to see you there!

Weekend Getaway to Tampa Bay with a Little Kenny Chesney and Busch Gardens!!!!

Last weekend I went to Tampa Bay, Florida which is only a 4.5 hour drive from Brunswick, Georgia. Having never been to Tampa Bay I wasn't sure what to expect, but I can tell you this......I had a BLAST!!!!!

After driving the last hour of the trip in a horrific thunder storm the clouds parted as we arrived to the Hampton Inn in Ybor City. Ybor City is Tampa's Latin Quarter, and exudes excitement. If you ever make it to Tampa Bay this should be one of your stops. From the street car, to the wonderful sounds and smells Ybor beckons you to wander it's streets.

Upon arrival at our hotel we hoped into a cab and headed to the Ford Ampatheatre for my first country concert, Kenny Chesney. The amphitheater was packed, and the energy from the crowd was magnetic! Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert were the opening acts, and both were great! I didn't know it, but I actually knew a few of their songs....not to bad for someone who claims not to be a country fan.

The crowd went wild when Kenny Chesney took the stage, and he played wonderfully! The acoustics for the Ford Ampatheatre were fantastic, and by the end of it nobody seemed to notice we were all up to our knees in mud!

The next morning we were one of the first people to arrive at Busch Gardens. If you are a roller-coaster fan Bush Gardens is the place for you. The Shekra has two 90 degree plunges that are not for the weak hearted! Once was enough for this one! In addition to awesome roller-coasters, Busch Gardens has several opportunities for you to interact with wildlife, and enjoy a good show.

If you have the opportunity to visit Tampa Bay....DO IT!!!!!!

Buyer BEWARE! Taylor, Bean, and Whitaker Suspended From Making FHA Loans!

There was a time when closing took 30 days.......As we all know those days are long gone.

Our job as a REALTORS is becoming more challenging as we navigate through today's lending environment. Coastal Georgia has seen an increase in the number of FHA Loans used. It's easy to see why considering buyers are only required to put 3.5% down. As a result of the lower down payment FHA has strict guidelines, and at times you feel like you are having to jump through hoops with well tests, septic tests, required repairs, and the list goes on. Experience shows that getting all of these things done, and having HUD approval is taking longer than 30 days is most cases. It is more important than ever for REALTORS to stay on top of things, and make sure all inspections/repairs are done in a timely fashion. Nobody wants to extend the closing date.
Now there is another possible delay.......and it's not good. The FHA has suspended Taylor, Bean, & Whitaker from issuing FHA loans. This is the same Taylor, Bean, & Whitaker that is not only in the Top 5 for largest originators of FHA loans, but they are also the largest lender to ever be suspended from FHA lending.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is concerned with Taylor, Bean, & Whitaker's financial disclosure and business practices. HUD is sending a warning through the lending community to play by their rules, or don't play at all.

So what does all of this mean?....If you are not obtaining an FHA Loan then not much, but for those who are it could delay closing for an undetermined period of time if the client choose to stay with Taylor, Bean, & Whitaker.

The following link is from an article in the Wall Street Journal that will provide more information http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124940991556305327.html

Increasing Sales Volume for Glynn County Georgia

Glynn County continues to show an increase in sales volume!!!

Our sales began to see an increase in May with 62 properties sold. The upswing continued in June with 69 properties that sold. July brought yet another increase with 77 properties that sold. This increase should hold for August since the Golden Isles MLS is reproting 132 properties under contract in Glynn County. Glynn County is staying strong and proving the national news wrong! NOW is the time to BUY if you want a good selection, low interest rates, and the potential to see significant equity gains in the long run!!! Stay tuned for an update on August's productivity, and Call Katie Brown now (912)258-1075 so you don't miss what's left of this BUYER'S MARKET!