Georgetown - A popular southside Savannah Community

Located on Savannah's southside is one of the most popular communities in Savannah called Georgetown.  The community started growth back in the 1970s and has continued to flourish with continuous new construction from single family homes to villas and townhomes.Made up of over 20 neighborhoods Georgetown is affordable with resale homes from the 150s to close to a million for homes along the river, and the architecture varies from brick ranch to traditional to Low Country.  

With lots of amenities including pool, tennis courts and playgrounds as well as Georgetown Elementary School Georgetown has been a long time favorite for families.  With the Savannah Mall nearby there's no need to have to go far forshopping, yet with the completion of the Southwest Bypass you can be in downtown and midtown Savannah in under 20 minutes.  The close proximity to Hunter Army Airfield makes Georgetown convenient for military families.

Traffic can get a bit congested sometimes at rush hour off Hwy 204 (Abercorn Extention) but for the most part it's not that bad. If you're considering a family oriented community that's both convenient and affordable you should check out Georgetown.

Some of the neighborhoods in Georgetown include:

The Abbey (Chalis Way @King George Blvd)                       

Knightsbridge (St. Ives Dr @ King George Blvd)

Audubon Park (1400 King George Blvd)                          

Lion's Gate (Lion's Gate Rd @ King George Blvd)

Baron's Place (Baron's Way @King George Blvd)              

 Lott's Landing (Sea Gull Ln @ King George Blvd)

Eagle's Landing (Chevis Rd @ Cormorant Way)              

 Magnolia Woods (Dovetail Crossing @ Avocet Way)

Georgetown Townhomes (1233 King George Blvd)        

 Oxford Apts (Dukes Way @ King George Blvd)

Georgetown Place (777 King George Blvd)                    

 Summerfield (Cormorant Dr @ Misty Morning Way)

Heron's Crest (Wild Heron Rd @ Lion's Gate Rd)              

St. Ives (St. Ives Dr @ St. Ives Way)

Hunter's Green (1401 King George Blvd)                       

Sugar Mill (Sugar Mill Dr @ King George Blvd)

Hunter's Pointe (1211 King George Blvd)                         

Village Green (Westminister Dr @ King George Blvd)

King's Grant (Red Fox Dr @ King George Blvd)                

Wexford (Dukes Way @ King George Blvd)

Thomas Tolbert

Keller Williams Realty

Office 912-232-8580

Direct (Best way to reach me) 912-308-6839

thomas.tolbert@me.com

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Savannah's Historic City Market

Savannah's City Market started back in 1755 was where farmers and fishermen delivered their their wares in horse drawn wagons. Pretty much abandoned in the early 1950s the City Market just couldn't compete with the modern air conditioned grocery stores. Today the City Market, at Jefferson and West Julian Streets is again thriving with  art galleries, unique gift shops, pubs and restaurants to ice cream and candy shops. .

A favorite for locals and tourists alike, the market is busy day and night. Many of the restaurants have outdoor seating for both lunch and dinner.  One of my favorite restaurants in the market is Vinnie Van Go-Go's Pizza.  It's a great place to sit outside and watch the horse drawn carriages go by.

The City market is just a block off of Bay Street and two blocks from River Street in walking distance of most of the downtown hotels and inns, so when you're in town be sure to drop by and check it out!

The Savannah Dog Park and some other Dog friendly Savannah Parks!

If you're a dog lover visiting or moving to Savannah, Georgia you'll probably want to know some great places to take your dogs for a walk. Savannah is fortunate to have some beautiful parks and most of them are dog friendly. Dogs are required to be on a leash in all of Savannah's public parks.

On the east side of town is Daffin Park, especially convenient to the Ardsley Park, Parkside and Gordonston neighborhoods.  Daffin Park is sprawling with sidewalks along Victory Drive and Waters Avenue, a huge, stocked fishing pond and fountain and acres of open grass lined with timeless oaks.  If you or your dogs get thirsty there are water fountains to stop and cool down.  Our Dobermans Xena and Argo are fascinated by one of the ducks who lives there and they usually make a big production when they spot him.  

Another favorite is Forsyth Park in the Historic District surrounded by stately Victorian homes.  Forsyth Park is convenient for downtown residents and at 20 plus acres there is always a lot of activity and it's a great place to take in the scenery. It's particularly important to make sure they are on a leash at all times, Drayton and Whitaker Streets which border the park are busy one way streets with fast moving traffic.

If you're looking for an Off Leash Dog Park then you may want to consider "The Savannah Dog Park". The Savannah Dog Park is located on 41st St and Drayton streets in the "Starland Connunity.  The dog park offers a shaded, fenced in area where dogs can play and socialize with other dogs off the leash. They do ask for a modest donation to become and member and the money goes to the upkeep of the park.  Members are given a card key for access to the park. They have a lot of fun activities for members and their dogs like "Doggie Carnival" and An Annual Halloween Doggie Costume Party.

Thomas Tolbert

Keller Williams Realty

Office 912-232-8580

Direct (Best way to reach me) 912-308-6839

thomas.tolbert@me.com

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Savannah's Beautiful "Isle of Hope"

Early maps refer to Isle of Hope in French as L'Isle Desperance.  Legends abound of Pirates using the island to hide their booty, and generations of children have been digging for treasure there.  Legend also says that the island was used as a place of refuge for french Huegonots fleeing persecution.

Isle of Hope has been the location of quite a few movie productions including the origingal Cape Fear and Forrest Gump.  It's a great neighborhood for strolls or dog walking along the waterfront.  You'll find a variety of homes from quaint bungalows to grand mansions.  Because of the close proximity to the Truman Pkwy you can be in Historic Savannah in about 20 minutes.  Home prices range from around 300,000 into the millions.

A great place to live or take a Sunday drive!

Thomas Tolbert

Keller Williams Realty

Office 912-232-8580

Direct (Best way to reach me) 912-308-6839

thomas.tolbert@me.com

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Great Video Tour of Savannah, Georgia

I found this great video of Savannah for you to enjoy!

Savannah: The Creative Coast from Fitz Haile on Vimeo.

Thomas Tolbert

Keller Williams Realty

Office 912-232-8580

Direct (Best way to reach me) 912-308-6839

thomas.tolbert@me.com

SEARCH THE MLS

Savannah's Historic Gordonston Neighborhood

One of Savannah's most charming older neighborhoods, Gordonston is located on the east side of Savannah.  The newest neighborhood in Savannah to be named to the National Register of Historic Places, Gordonston is definitely worth considering.  Nestled between Skidaway Rd to the south, Pennsylvania Avenue to the east and Gwinnett St. to the north, this subdivision formed in the early 20th century boasts a variety of architecture from Neo-Classical, Colonial Revival to Arts and Crafts. 

 Beautiful overhanging trees draped in spanish moss, manicured lawns and the beautiful Juliet Gordon Low Park make Gordonston one of Savannah's most prized jewels.  Named for the noted Gordon family of Savannah, their most famous family member being the founder of the Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low.  Quite similar to Ardsley Park in many ways, the smaller subdivision of Gordonston is just a short drive to downtown Savannah and the Islands.

  The east side of Savannah has seen a lot of expansion in recent years with revitalized shopping centers and major retailers attracting homebuyers and businesses to the area.

Thomas Tolbert

Keller Williams Realty

Office 912-232-8580

Direct (Best way to reach me) 912-308-6839

thomas.tolbert@me.com

SEARCH THE MLS

Stubbs Tower Implosion, Savannah, Ga

Stubbs Tower's, a high rise senior citizen residence built in the late 1970 had been evacuated several years ago and the city had it demolished a couple of weeks ago.  There are plans to put a park on the spot.  Stubbs Tower's was located on the east side of Savannah, about 4 blocks from the historic Gordonston neighborhood.  Since I live in the area, we walked over to watch the implosion in person..........it was so surreal and amazing!  Over very quickly as you can see from the video.

Thomas Tolbert

Keller Williams Realty

Office 912-232-8580

Direct (Best way to reach me) 912-308-6839

thomas.tolbert@me.com

SEARCH THE MLS

Why You Should Use A Buyer's Agent

One of the biggest mistakes made by a new or veteran home buyer is to purchase a listed property without the use of a buyer's agent.  Many buyers incorrectly believe that if they don't use a buyer's agent they can get a discount in lieu of paying the full commission to the listing agent.  This is almost always wrong!  The seller enters into a listing agreement with the listing broker for an agreed upon amount or percentage.  Once the property is listed in the MLS, that fee, is shared with the agent who sells that property.  If the listing agent sells the property, they keep 100%.  That means not only do you not get a discount equal to the shared fee,  but you also are letting the seller have an advantage over you in the negotiations.  On the other hand,  having your own buyer's agent can save you a bundle.

Buyer's agents are agents who work with home buyers to look out for their best interests and get their client, you the buyer the best deal.  They are paid by the seller or builders listing agent but owe no loyalty to the seller in negotiations,  only their client, the buyer.

Here's an example.  Let's say that you are in the market to buy a very a very specific car and walk into a dealership to find one.  Guess who those friendly sales people work for?  The dealer of course.  They're all trying to get you to buy using every tactic in the book.  Do you feel comfortable?  Of course not.

Now,  what if you could hire an independent consultant to find you the vehicle you are looking for from among all of the dealers in that region.  Someone to handle all of the negotiation, at your direction.  Someone who knows the market and the costs associated with this vehicle as well as how long a dealer typically takes to sell this car.  All of this information is vital to getting the best deal.  To get all of this at no cost to you,  you simply sign an agreement with that individual that outlines the following:

That the consultant is to look out for your best interest (they are legally bound to do so).

You agree to allow your consultant to be paid a pre-determined fee from the dealership in which you decide to buy.

That the consultant will help you find the best deal.  Performance based compensation.  If they don't find you what you want they don't get paid.

You agree to work exclusively with that consultant.  (This ensures that there is no pressure on you to buy because that consultant knows that they will eventually be rewarded by their efforts to help you.

You agree to buy from dealerships that pay your salesperson a finders fee.

Now, substitute the car for a house and the consultant for a real estate buyer's agent and you've

accomplished the same thing,  which in real estate is known as buyer's agency.

Services that Buyer's agents offer to their clients:

The original purchase price of the house.

Evaluating improvements that the sellers may have made.

Comparative market analysis for similiar houses in the neighborhood.

Knowledge of their local market and experience negotiating the best deal for their client.

Knowledge of special promotions and buyer's incentives.

Information on property taxes.

The average drop in list price to sold price and the average days on market.

Introduction to reliable mortgage lenders, home inspectors, closing attorneys, etc.

If new construction they can keep you up to date on the status of your home as if goes

through various stages of completion.

You worry about deciding on the perfect house....they take care of the details.

Thomas Tolbert

Keller Williams Realty

Office 912-232-8580

Direct (Best way to reach me) 912-308-6839

thomas.tolbert@me.com

SEARCH THE MLS

Savannah's Coastal Neighbor - Richmond Hill

One of my favorite communities!
Just minutes from Savannah is a picturesque community with more than 10,000 residents, yet still manages to keep it's small town feel and charm. Known as the city that Henry Ford Built, it is formerly the home of industrialist Henry Ford,  it was named Richmond Hill in 1939 after the name of Ford's winter residence. On  August 16, 2004 Laura Bush designated Richmond Hill among the nation's Preserve America communities.

A family oriented community, Richmond Hill's public school system is considered among the best in the coastal Georgia area. For more information on schools you can visit the Bryan County Schools website.

Whatever your looking for in a coastal community, Richmond Hill has to offer, from boating and fishing, to golf, shopping, great seafood, and fun outdoor community events like the Annual  Great Ogeechee Seafood festival, the Annual Christmas Parade, Annual Chili Cook-off  and the Annual Great Ogeechee Open Vehicle Show.

Because of the convenience to both Hinesville - Ft. Stewart base and Savannah's Hunter Army Airfield, Richmond Hill is a favorite among military families as well.  

Due to the popularity of the community there are a lot of new construction communities throughout as well as older neighborhoods with mature landscaping. Median home prices are about $175,000 to $350,000.  Many homes offer larger lots, often close to a half acre and beyond.

If you are considering moving to the area this is one community you don't want to miss!

Let me know if you would like more information on Richmond Hill or what's available in your price range.

Thomas Tolbert

Keller Williams Realty

Office 912-232-8580

Direct (Best way to reach me) 912-308-6839

thomas.tolbert@me.com

SEARCH THE MLS

Why not just have the listing agent show me a home?

Let's say you're searching the internet for homes or just driving around a neighborhood and see a house you like.  You just call the listing agent and ask to see the home, after all it's their listing, they know it better than anyone.   Sounds like a good idea , but here's the problem.......the listing agent represents the seller!  The listing agent is bound by a fiduciary responsibility to the seller to act in the seller's best interest creating an agency relationship with the seller.  The listing agent's job is to get the best price for the seller's home and on the seller's terms.

Sure, the listing agent can write an offer on your behalf and submit it to their client, the seller.

But remember, that agent's  duty is to get the best deal for their client, not you as their customer. 

If all parties are in agreement, the listing agent can represent both the seller and the buyer in what is called dual agency, but that can be tricky because then the agent is limited to ministerial acts and is not allowed to help either party to negotiate the best price.

On the other hand, if you have your own agent,  that agent has an obligation to work on your behalf to help you negotiate the best price and the terms most favorable to you, his client.  A buyer's agent can give you objective advise on the home, the neighborhood, the current market value of the property, help you with financing, the inspection process all the way through the closing process, looking out for your best interest the whole time.  

 When you are ready to begin looking for a home be sure to find the right realtor to represent you as a buyer!

Thomas Tolbert

Keller Williams Realty

Office 912-232-8580

Direct (Best way to reach me) 912-308-6839

thomas.tolbert@me.com

SEARCH THE MLS

Ardsley Park - A Savannah Favorite

Ardsley Park is an extremely popular Savannah, Ga neighborhood.  Most of the homes were built in the first half of the 20th century and are a mixture of large two story homes and smaller "bungalows". Savannah's first suburb, laid out in 1911, is a mixture of prestigious four and five bedroom mansions and quaint, craftsman style bunglalows situated on tree lined streets.  The Arsley Park area, located in Midtown and loosely bounded by Victory Drive on the north, Waters Avenue on the east, 55th Street on the south and Bull Street on the west- has become one of the city's hottest neighborhoods favored by young professionals and families.

Real estate prices range from about 200,000 to $350,000 for to up to a million and beyond for very large homes.  Located about 10  minutes from both the southside business areas and the downtown Historic District helps make Arsley Park a convenient neighborhood.  Only a 20 minute drive to Wilmington Island and a 30 minute trip to the beach.

Definitely an area to check out if you appreciate the appeal of an older home.  Lots of hardwood floors and beautiful architectural details are found in many Ardsley Park homes.

For more information email me at thomas.tolbert@mac.com

Thomas Tolbert

Keller Williams Realty

Office 912-232-8580

Direct (Best way to reach me) 912-308-6839

thomas.tolbert@me.com

SEARCH THE MLS

New Homes Communities in Greater Savannah area

Savannah, Pooler, Richmond Hill, Rincon, Guyton and Port Wentworth have all seen a huge growth spurt of new construction is the past few years.  In the current market there is a lot of competition so builders are offering lots of incentives to attract buyers.  Some may offer to pay closing costs, free upgrades like granite counters or hardwood floor, upgraded cabinets, lighting packages and more.  Typically, the farther out from the immediate Savannah area, the more you can get for your money and often the lot size is much larger. Most of these communities are a short commute from midtown Savannah between 20 and 40 minutes drive.

If you're not familiar with the outlying areas, a local realtor can give you information to help you decide which communities are convenient to your needs

It always amazes me that so many new construction home buyers just drive up to the model home by themselves.  Remember, that smiling face that greets you at the door works for the seller!  They are happy to see you come in on your own and have an advantage when you come in without your own realtor and can have you in their design center picking out flooring and kitchen counters before you know what happened! 

 A local real estate agent is familiar with many home builders and can objectively provide you with the comparison you need to make a decision.  We're constantly updated with builder special, discounts and incentives from their competitors and can help you negotiate to get what you want.  I'm often amazed at the flexibility they have when an agent walks in with a buyer.  They know that the agent is looking out for the buyer and are most likely taking them to other communities so they have to be as competitive as they can.

Your own agent can objectively help you decide which community is right for you, and guide you through the whole process.  If an agent accompanies you to the community and signs you in then the builder is the one paying the agents commission, not you, but you will have someone on your side.   

I recently represented a buyer in a purchase in a new homes community for a buyer relocating from out of state.  It was down to the wire and the family was set to close on the property in just a couple of days and move in right away.  They were at their old home hundreds of miles away packing a moving van.  I stopped by their new  home to make sure everything was being finished properly on time.  To my surprise I  found that the gourmet kitchen that was included in the price, with double ovens about to be installed with only one oven and that the surrounding cabinets were being configured around the single oven.  I immediately called a meeting with the sales manager and the builder and got my buyer the ovens and cabinet configuration she had been promised and avoided a disaster.  

Any number of things can pop up,  you really need someone looking out for your best interests.

Whether you choose me or another agent, please do yourself a favor and get your own agent!

Thomas Tolbert

Keller Williams Realty

Office 912-232-8580

Direct (Best way to reach me) 912-308-6839

thomas.tolbert@me.com

SEARCH THE MLS