In the past week or so, we’ve reported that:

A. Sellers are paying some or all closing costs in about 71% of Intown transactions

B. Most Listing Agents and Sellers, most of the time are off by about 7% List vs. SOLD on Intown sales

C. The Median Sales Price is down 10.1% through the first half for the Intown neighborhoods we surveyed

Here’s what we looked at…

1. Ansley Park and Morningside southward to Inman Park and Reynoldstown - that includes Midtown and VAHI

2. Eastside Atlanta Dekalb - the neighborhoods East of Moreland and Briarcliff, plus Johnson Estates and southward to Edgewood and Kirkwood - all North of I20

3. Southside Atlanta Fulton - Grant Park, Summerhill, Boulevard Heights, Ormewood Park, EAV

4. Greater Decatur - South of Mercer U, down to I20 at South Dekalb Mall

So, those who get this get the quick sale. We’ve found that most of ya want a quick sale, don’t ya?

The Rootdown Group gives good advice to Sellers - call us. We would appreciate the opportunity to earn your business.

Sellers in Intown Atlanta and Decatur paid some, or all, of their Buyer’s closing costs in 71% of the transactions through June, 2008, which is nearly the same as in the last two years…

Seller Paid Closing Costs

1. Ansley Park and Morningside southward to Inman Park and Reynoldstown - that includes Midtown and VAHI

2. Eastside Atlanta Dekalb - the neighborhoods East of Moreland and Briarcliff, plus Johnson Estates and southward to Edgewood and Kirkwood - all North of I20

3. Southside Atlanta Fulton - Grant Park, Summerhill, Boulevard Heights, Ormewood Park, EAV

4. Greater Decatur - South of Mercer U, down to I20 at South Dekalb Mall

Based on my experience, these numbers seem even higher  - like 90% of the time or more. That being said, I’ve also experienced two transactions this Summer where appraisal almost caused the deal to fall apart and the Buyers ended up paying their own closing costs, among other concessions, in order to make the deal work.

It’s business as “unusual!”

Here’s another eye opener…we’ve seen this trend for a long, long time - at least since The Rootdown Group got started in April 2004…but…in Intown Atlanta, which we define thusly:

1. Ansley Park and Morningside southward to Inman Park and Reynoldstown - that includes Midtown and VAHI

2. Eastside Atlanta Dekalb - the neighborhoods East of Moreland and Briarcliff, plus Johnson Estates and southward to Edgewood and Kirkwood - all North of I20

3. Southside Atlanta Fulton - Grant Park, Summerhill, Boulevard Heights, Ormewood Park, EAV

4. Greater Decatur - South of Mercer U, down to I20 at South Dekalb Mall

…We see, that for the first half of 2008:

1. The median of the sales price as a percentage of the original list price dropped to its lowest level in three years during 1Q 2008 and, although higher than in 1Q, remained historically low through 2Q 2008

2. The 2Q 2008 percentage is nearly the same as in the greater metro Atlanta area

So, at 92.6% of original list price most listing agents and sellers are missing significant sales by overpricing - overpricing by over 7% on average.

Median Sales Price as a %age of Original List Price

Does your Realtor get this?

In October, a new congress of venture capitalists will gather in Atlanta at the CNN Center. That’s good news.

I read this in my daily Atlanta Business Chronicle update e-mail.

“…Metro Atlanta and Georgia start-up companies will be presenting their plans and investment opportunities to venture capitalists and investors from across the country,” said Sam A. Williams, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. “Metro Atlanta is among the fastest growing high-technology metro areas in the nation, and continues to attract high-tech companies as our strength in this sector grows each year…

The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta CEO Council and the Technology Association of Georgia have teamed up to put together the biggest venture capital event in state history — Venture Atlanta 2008.

Set for Oct. 15-16 at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, the Venture Atlanta is expected to link top-tier venture capitalists, investment bankers, entrepreneurs, service providers and technology executives with Georgia technology companies…”

I might go.

The “Made in Georgia” exhibition begins on June 5, and it should be worth seeing. You can drop during the day at the Museum of Design Atlanta - MODA which is located in downtown within the Lobby and Garden Levels of the Marquis II Office Tower near the Marriott Marquis Hotel and the Peachtree Center Mall.

“This exhibition is curated by Carie Davis, Design Manager for Coca-Cola & President of IDSA Atlanta and is in conjunction with the Industrial Design department at Georgia Tech. Building off the success of Japanese Design Today, Raymond Loewy: Designs for a Consumer Culture and Design at Play: The High Design of Cartoon Network, MODA’s most popular product design-based exhibitions, MADE in GA will look close to home and feature contemporary product design that has its roots in Georgia.”

Go downtown for lunch or dinner one night and see what’s up at MODA.

2 Rock Stars and one reunited 4 piece band that is back on stage where they belong!

If you are an agent with Keller Williams Realty International, and if you have not registered for the Family Reunion annual convention, to be held in my hometown - downtown ATL, then click on this link and join the crowd!

Register Here

Gary Keller will be highly engaged with the agents in attendance. He’s brilliant and inspirational. He’s the best real estate business coach in the world.

I’ve attended only one of these, way back in 2000. The company has grown so radically since then, when Georgia only had 4 Market Centers, and this year’s Family Reunion event is an example of the remarkable growth of the real estate company that is “the real estate brokerage of choice for a new generation of agents.”

The dates are February 9-13, 2008. Registration is $499.00.

If I make it to every hour of the event, then I will be very surprised - my wife is due to deliver our first child on February 10th!

Also, Van Halen is in town at Philips Arena that night. It’s the night of the KW Red Bash, but come on, I know that some of you wanna see Van Halen! Go to the bash early, then walk over to the arena and pick up a street ticket. (see my post on the Best Concerts of 2007, and you’ll see my glorious recommendation of why you should see Van Halen). Here’s a live mix of the best of some recent shows…

Seth speaks on Tuesday at 9am to the Keller Williams family. I love this guy.

Seth is the author of many books and he is a guru of modern, savvy marketing. His latest book, The Dip focuses on what you can do to power through tough times and low points, and how superstars set themselves apart from the pack by escaping dead ends quickly, while staying focused and motivated when it really counts.

Godin has changed the way people think about marketing, change and work.

His 9 best-selling books have been translated into more than 20 languages, and his ebooks are among the most popular ever published. His irrepressible speaking style and no-holds-barred blog have helped him create a large following around the world.

Check out Seth’s blog, get your real estate on in 2008, and send your Intown Atlanta and Decatur, Georgia referrals to Lee Taylor at The Rootdown Group!

Seth’s Blog

It’s gonna be a terrific week, and none of this matters as soon as my baby girl arrives into the world!