Executive Director of Park Pride Michael Halicki is in the studio for today’s episode of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio. Joined by co-hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick, the group discusses various efforts by Park Pride to keep Atlanta beautiful through enhancing its hundreds of parks and greenspaces on this Around Atlanta segment of Radio.

Halicki worked with several environmental organizations before landing with Park Pride. His current job as executive director with the nonprofit keeps him busy, but in his free time, Halicki can be found with his wife and children or taking pictures in various parks around Atlanta to display on Instagram and Facebook.

“Seeing the impact that the organization has in bringing the community together, getting to a point where people know their neighbors and get together to enrich the community, is something that really sets Park Pride apart,” said Halicki. “It is a part that I have really come to appreciate over time.

Park Pride is an Atlanta-based nonprofit that encourages communities to activate the power of parks. Formed in 1989, Park Pride is the only nonprofit organization in Atlanta working to improve the parks and green spaces throughout the city. With a mission of contributing to the overall health and well-being of Atlanta, Park Pride has helped raise millions of dollars to support hundreds of parks over the past 30 years.

Composed of 13 staff members, Park Pride works throughout Atlanta, as well as in Tucker and Brookhaven. Halicki and his team work with these local governments to find ways to connect the communities with their parks.

The organization operates on a widespread level by creating "Friends of the Park" groups. These groups get involved in parks nearby and work on several service projects to raise the quality of the area. Park Pride receives grant funding to allocate to these groups for park improvements, including beautification efforts, trails, playgrounds and more. The grant funding is designed to be used by the individual groups to use at their discretion. This way, Friends of the Park are able to closely define what their park or greenspace needs the most. As members of the community, Friends of the Park spend the most time in these areas and can establish what the greatest need is at the time.

“We believe that a great park is not something that is defined by a landscape architect or a park professional,” said Halicki. “Neighbors define what is a great park for them. Neighbors also change in terms of the demographics of the people that live around them. A park that might’ve met the community’s needs at one point might change as different families move in.”

Parks play an instrumental part in keeping communities connected, healthy and happy. From water parks and dog parks to playgrounds, walking trails and rolling fields, Atlanta parks play a number of important roles in the lives of its citizens. Recently, the importance of parks has grown even more as a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Studies show that attendance at parks is not only up as much as 60%, but that the same people are visiting multiple parks in the area.

Over the past 30 years, Park Pride has established several different programs to keep the organization running and working efficiently. One program, the fiscal sponsorship program, was designed so people could raise restricted money for their specific parks through Park Pride. That money raised helps to unlock money from foundations to support larger parks as well, including Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Beltline. In addition, Park Pride helps these smaller Friends of the Park groups write grants to earn even more money for their parks. The grant money can be used towards whatever specific needs each park group has.

“Part of Park Pride’s magic is that we believe your good idea throughout the community is the big idea,” said Halicki. “We’re not there to tell communities what they need,

Owner and CEO of Haven Design Works Donna Mathis is in the studio for today’s episode of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio. Joined by co-hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick, the group discusses several hot 2021 design trends, as well as recent and upcoming projects from Haven Desing Works on this All About Real Estate segment of Radio.

Mathis spent her entire career in the design industry so far, working alongside builders the whole time. After studying interior design at the University of South Carolina and the American Intercontinental University, Mathis began working with a large national model merchandising firm. After several years of learning the trade and gaining experience in the industry, she launched DMD Studios. This company later grew to become a national, award-winning firm. In 2013, Mathis joined forces with fellow designer, Lisa Giles. The two created Haven Design Works.

“I love design, and I love the possibilities that design brings to builders to help them tell their story,” said Mathis.

Located in Suwanee, Georgia, Haven Design Works has been in business for eight years and works with several clients up and down the East Coast. Working in every major city along the coast, Haven Design Works collaborates with builders and developers across a wide range of projects, including master-planned communities, community clubhouses, model homes, model parks, amenity centers and more.

In 2020, Haven Design Works earned several awards at the Annual OBIE Award ceremony.  The OBIE Awards, presented by the Atlanta Sales and Marketing Council (SMC) on behalf of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (HBA), recognize outstanding achievements within the homebuilding industry and serve as the premier awards given in the Atlanta new home construction industry. Haven Design Works won the following awards at the 40th Annual OBIE Awards:

Community of the Year and Best Amenity Package – Gold Winner

Single-Family Builder, Detached $1 to $1.2 Million – Gold Winner

Best Interior Merchandising, Detached $300,000 to $399,000 – Gold Winner

Best Interior Merchandising, Attached, $299,000 and Under – Gold Winner

Best Interior Merchandising, Attached, $299,000 and Under – Silver Winner

Haven Design Works partnered with Jim Chapman Communities, Chathambilt Homes, Traditions of Braselton and Paran Homes to sweep the board, winning awards for merchandising model homes and amenity centers.

Mathis does not have a specific type of client she looks for when taking on new design work. From small builders to master-planned community amenity centers, Haven Design Works has the skilled team and wide-spread portfolio experience to take on a variety of project types. For Mathis, the perfect client is someone who has a vision she can help bring to life.

“I call it the special sauce,” said Mathis. “To me, the special sauce is when you can partner with your builder and you help them tell their story and help them sell their product in a way that buyers can get and relate to.”

Looking forward, Mathis anticipates a big trend for 2021 to include joy. This feeling is something that was scarcely lacking in 2020 due to the effects of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Looking for patterns, colors and pieces that reflect joy and happiness, Mathis plans to incorporate a variety of design elements into her work in 2021 that reflect the feeling of joy. From soft circular shapes to bright delightful hues, Haven Design Works has a goal of bringing joy and happiness to projects in the 2021.

Another hot trend Mathis predicts for the upcoming year is the purging of formal spaces! The alternative to these formal areas are relaxed, cozy areas within a home or living space. Signifying a state-of-mind, this design trend reflects the shift in at-home life due to the pandemic. Mathis predicts a change from mid-century furniture and style that incorporates clean and elegant lines,

Director of Exhibits and Education at the Children's Museum of Atlanta Karen Kelly is the studio for today’s Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio episode. Joined by co-hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick, the group discusses a new Mo Willems exhibit, The Pigeon Comes to Atlanta! The group also discusses upcoming events, membership and ways to get involved on this Around Atlanta Segment of Radio.

Kelly has worked with the Children’s Museum for the past 14 years and been an Atlanta resident since 1982. With two kids of her own, Kelly’s work at the Children’s Museum speaks to her both on a professional and a personal level.

The Children's Museum of Atlanta is an interactive, hands-on, minds-on museum for children from 0-9 years of age. The museum not only serves metro Atlanta and the state of Georgia but also accommodates visitors from all over the Southeast region of the United States. Right near Centennial Olympic Park, the World of Coke and the Atlanta Aquarium, the museum is in the heart of the best Atlanta attractions. Pre-COVID, the museum welcomed over 200,000 guests a year. The great hands-on exhibits, permanent exhibits and on-going programming help make this museum a fantastic place for children to come learn, explore and have a good time!

The Pigeon Comes to Atlanta! a Mo Willems exhibit is currently being hosted by the museum. This exhibit is all about the popular book series from children’s author Mo Willems. Featuring characters including Pigeon, Piggie, Elephant and Naked Mole Rat, this exhibit was developed by The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in conjunction with Willems himself.

“One of the things I love about Mo Willems and his work, is he wants to give children great situations to work in, but let them figure things out for themselves,” said Kelly. “So, this exhibit is about some of that embedded into the museum itself. Kids learn about resilience and trying things over and over again and having fun.”

Activities for children to participate in at the new Mo Willems Exhibit include launching foam hot dogs at Pigeon, dressing up Naked Mole Rat for a runway fashion show, spinning at the laundromat with Knuffle Bunny, dancing with Elephant and Piggie, trying out Mo Willems art techniques and so much more.

“Children learn in all different kinds of ways,” said Kelly. “It matters that its hands-on because children learn through doing, especially at this age. They are natural scientists.”

With plenty of opportunities for visual, interactive, auditory and other forms of learning, children from a wide range of ages can greatly benefit while also having fun. The exhibit will be up through May 9, 2021, and the museum is asking that visitors make a reservation online before attending here. Due to the risks of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the Children's Museum of Atlanta is taking several precautions to limit the spread of the virus and keep visitors safe. Face masks are required at all times and the museum is implementing social distancing measures. The museum staff also completely cleans the exhibits and areas three times a day in between sessions.

The Children's Museum of Atlanta has a fantastic membership program for parents to utilize to maximize learning and fun. Memberships include unlimited free entry for one year, 10% off general admission for accompanying guests, discounted admission to select ticketed museum events, invitations to members-only exhibit previews and other additional benefits. To learn more about how to become a member, visit https://childrensmuseumatlanta.org/memberships.

To learn more about permanent and special exhibits at the Children's Museum of Atlanta, visit https://childrensmuseumatlanta.org. Also, be sure to listen to the full interview above.

Never miss an episode of Atlanta Read Estate Forum Radio! Subscribe to the podcast here. You can also get a recap of any past episodes on the Radio page.

Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee,

Vice President of Multicultural Lending with New American Funding Frank Fuentes is in the studio for today’s episode of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio. Joined by co-hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick, the group discusses Fuentes' journey with New American Funding, multicultural efforts within the organization, 2020 successes, plans for the remainder of the year and more on this All About Real Estate Segment of Radio!

Frank Fuentes started with New American Funding 20 years ago. Born and raised in California, Fuentes was born to two hard-working immigrants who moved to the United States in the 1960s. For work, they picked strawberries in Orange County. Fuentes’ mom always told her children that her dream was to provide for her kids so they could work with their brains and not their backs. This saying planted the seed in Fuentes’ head to work within the real estate industry.

As young as ten years old, Fuentes was inspired by finding information through reading, research and discovery. In addition to working several odd jobs over the years, he would read bank and stock information to his family. When Fuentes entered college, he started to focus his learning on real estate. This included economics, finance, legal appraisals and other aspects within the industry.

When Fuentes turned 25, he found New American Funding. CEO and Co-Founder of New American Funding Rick Arvielo put an advertisement in a lesser-known newspaper for a position at the company. The only requirement for the job was the candidate must speak Spanish. Fuentes called Arvielo and accepted the job at New American Funding. He has been with the company ever since!

New American Funding is a privately owned, national direct lender that has a presence in 49 states. The company is a direct seller servicer to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, meaning it works directly with the agencies and has little to no overlinks. The professionals at New American Funding also service a majority of the loans it originates and offers a “make sense” approach to underwriting.

“One of the things we are proud of at New American Funding is that we manually underwrite a high percentage of the loans we originate,” said Fuentes.

As the first bilingual Latino loan officer with New American Funding, Fuentes helped lead a revolution in the mortgage industry. When he started, there was a tremendous need for Spanish-speaking loan officers. Fuentes was one of the trailblazers who joined the industry to better serve his community and others like it.

“The reason Rick Arvielo hired me is because he had the great idea of adding ‘Se habla español’ into a marketing piece that he was mailing out 2,000 – 3,000 of a week,” said Fuentes. “Because of that little blurb he added to the marketing piece, the phones started lighting up and they didn’t know what to do with all those calls. So, here comes Frank Fuentes to handle all the leads!”

While there was a huge need for bilingual loan officers in 2000 to bring in Spanish speaking clients, the necessity is still present in 2021. Especially in areas like Atlanta that are considered immerging markets, a bilingual team is essential to providing homeownership to everyone.

In addition to programs and initiatives inside the company, New American Funding also supports the Hispanic market in metro Atlanta by aligning with impactful organizations, including the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals® (NAHREP). Marietta Branch Manager Jose Placesncia, a past president of NAHREP, and Loan Consultant Marco Sanchez, a current member on the Board of Directors of NAHREP, both work with New American Funding to provide homeownership to the Latino community. Learn more about how Plascencia creates homeownership for the underserved community in a previous Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio interview here.

“It’s actually very simple, the main reason we align with them [NAHREP] is because their mission is right in line with ours which is increasing ...

Marketing Brand Manager of Boral Stone Division, Allie Roqueta, is in the studio for today’s All About Real Estate segment of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio episode. Joined by co-hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick, the group discusses Boral’s new outdoor living brand, Kindred Outdoors and Surrounds. The group also dives into some of the company’s most popular outdoor and indoor products, all of which can be installed by a builder, landscape artist or homeowner.

Boral North America is one of three divisions of the Australian-based international building and construction materials group, Boral Limited. The company’s North American division is primarily focused on construction materials and the manufacturing of high-quality building materials, including, stone, veneer, brick, roofing, siding, windows, shutters and trim.

Roqueta has been working with Boral for three years. She focuses heavily on the company’s digital marketing and brand strategy for its six stone brands, as well as its recently launched lifestyle brand Kindred Outdoors and Surround.

After seeing the effects of the pandemic and homeowners seeking to repurpose their outdoor and indoor living spaces, Boral launched Kindred Outdoor and Surround in Fall 2020. The new brand is developed to help homeowners create different focal points within their homes where they can gather and reconnect safely. Focused on craftsmanship and artistry, these products are designed for both indoor and outdoor spaces and act as statement pieces that can elevate any indoor or outdoor space.

Kindred Outdoors and Surround offers a wide variety of products including outdoor cabinets, outdoor kitchens, outdoor fireplaces, fire bowls and fire pits. The company’s fire bowls are currently the best seller due to their wide variety of color, finish and style options, as well as their low fuel consumption and natural gas or propane options. The new product line also offers signature outdoor kitchen and cabinetry pieces, featuring three setups made of glass, fiber and reinforced concrete that is lightweight and easy to install. These DIY cabinets can be arranged into several unique designs and include everything needed to install. Homeowners can complete any outdoor kitchen area by adding Boral Stone in for a touch of character amidst their own trusty appliances.

Fireplaces and firepits are two other popular options offered by Kindred Outdoor and Surround. The new product line offers two fireplaces with wood-burning and gas-burning options, along with a gas-burning firepit. These two outdoor fire products make it easy for homeowners to enjoy their outdoor space year-round. Of course, Kindred Outdoor and Surround also offers indoor fireplace features such as fireplace surrounds. Designed to emulate natural limestone, this indoor feature frames the fireplace to bring warmth and elegance to any space.

While most products like the fireplaces and firepits can be easily ordered online, shipped and shipped directly, DIY cabinets and kitchens require the help of nearby dealers who distribute their products. Boral works with builders, landscapers and homeowners offering concierge services to help figure out the best design plans, match them with the right products and connect them with dealers nearby for additional design needs.

To learn more about Kindred Outdoors and Surrounds and Boral Stone Division, listen to the full podcast above. You can also visit www.mykindredliving.com to view products and gain inspiration for your new indoor/outdoor living space through the site’s gallery page.

Never miss an episode of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio! Subscribe to the podcast here. You can also get a recap of any past episode on the Radio page.

Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee, License #22564. NMLS ID #6606. Subject to borrower and property qualifications. Not all applicants will qualify. New American Funding and Boral Stone Division are not associated.

Marietta Branch Manager for New American Funding, Jose Plascencia, is in the studio for today’s episode of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio. Joined by co-hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick, the group discusses how New American Funding serves the underserved, what makes it unique, its recent successes and more on this All About Real Estate segment of Radio.

Plascencia has been in the mortgage industry since 2008 and with New American Funding for the past three years. He joined the Atlanta team for several reasons, including the ideals and family feeling the organization provides. Most notably, Plascencia also joined because of the efforts and initiatives in place to provide homeownership to the Latino community. In line with the New American Funding mission, Plascencia believes in providing sustainable homeownership for everyone.

“When I mean everyone, I’m talking about the underserved groups, everyone across the board,” said Plascencia. “When I mean sustainable homeownership, we’re not going to loan shark you into a loan with potential for failure. We make sure that we put you with the right product that fits your needs and sets you up for success throughout the life of the loan.”

2020 saw huge successes for New American Funding and Plascencia. The company is gearing up to expand to the growing Cartersville area, and Plascencia was nominated to be part of the Latino-focused leadership program from New American Funding’s corporate office. Plascencia was selected out of thousands of New American Funding employees to be on the leadership team of only five members.

“I am super happy and humbled to be able to support and represent the Southeast region,” said Plascencia.

Jose Plascencia uses a unique approach when dealing with potential, current and future clients. He believes in treating everyone like family and working to not only earn but to also maintain the trust of his homeowners. In addition, Plascencia is focused on inclusion and serving the underserved in his everyday responsibilities at New American Funding.

One of the many factors that make Plascencia and his team unique is they are all bilingual. Oftentimes, potential clients and borrowers wish to submit information in person as opposed to online. Plascencia believes in doing whatever is most comfortable and easiest for the customer. Because of this, it always helps to have a bilingual team to aid in the lending process. Any person in the Latino community can partner with New American Funding and feel comfortable speaking in either English or Spanish. This strategy is going to be applied in the new Cartersville market as well.

Another program New American Funding practices to be more inclusive and accessible is working with work permits and visas. Plascencia notes that having a work permit means a person is well on the way to receiving a permanent resident card and eventually citizenship. Many other lenders only work with specific visas or United States citizens. Even if these lenders are willing to work with work permits, it is not widely known. This leads to potential homeowners feeling discouraged or uncomfortable applying for loans with just a work permit. Plascencia and his team pride themselves on looking over every case individually and finding out how to help any and all customers achieve homeownership.

With a strong focus on serving the underserved, New American Funding looks at each client as an individual, not a piece of paper with numbers. Plascencia and the other professionals in this business are passionate about helping people, including the Latino community, achieve homeownership in whatever way possible.

To learn more about New American Funding, Jose Plascencia and the initiatives in place to help serve the Latino community, visit  www.NewAmericanAtlanta.com. You can also listen to the full interview above.

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Government Affairs Director with the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (GAHBA), Codeye Woody, is in the studio. Joined by co-hosts Todd Schnick and Carol Morgan, the group discusses Woody’s new position, what is going on within the GAHBA, how members get involved and more on this All About Real Estate segment of Radio.

Woody recently moved to Atlanta from Orlando. He spent seven years in Florida, residing as the Director of Legislative Congressional Relations for Orange County Public Schools, which is the eighth largest school district in the country. After several years working with schools, Woody decided he wanted a change and to help lobby for different issues. He then decided to move to Atlanta and work with the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, which also happens to be the eighth largest home builders association in the country! Woody has been in his new position in the GAHBA for the past five months.

“Right now, my job is to just be the voice of the members and lobby on behalf of their issues,” said Woody. “There’s a plethora of issues. There might be some communication issues from a county, or it may just be some legislative issue that is coming down. My side is making sure the meetings are coordinated and communicating on behalf of the builders and making sure I’m reaching the right elected official so they can hear our issue.”

To Woody, the most exciting part of the job is meeting new people and creating tangible goals to make sure the members are getting the help they need. Currently, Woody is busy handling the tree protection ordinances. He is working with builders to make sure elected officials in Atlanta understand their three priorities, which include fully utilizing the buildable area, incentivizing new planting and economic impact analysis.

To help connect the builders’ thoughts and ideas to the legislators making decisions, the Woody and the GAHBA created a professional ordinance subcommittee. The committee is composed of around five to eight builders in the Atlanta area. Woody arranges the builders and the proper elected officials in one meeting so the members can give a first-hand perspective on their current issues and voice any notable concerns.

Another subcommittee was recently created to help alleviate communication issues between the Planning and Sustainability Department in DeKalb County and the members of the GAHBA. The communication bottlenecks were largely due to members on both sides not knowing who to contact or being in the same place at the same time. Woody created the subcommittee to help compile all the relevant issues and recommendations in one place. This way, the delivery of concerns is streamlined and always given to the appropriate parties.

To learn more about what Codeye Woody is doing as the Government Affairs Director with the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, listen to the full interview above. You can also visit https://atlantahomebuilders.com. Connect with Codeye Woody directly at 678-775-1428 or [email protected].

Never miss an episode of Atlanta Read Estate Forum Radio! Subscribe to the podcast here. You can also get a recap of any past episodes on the Radio page.

Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee, License #22564. NMLS ID #6606. Subject to borrower and property qualifications. Not all applicants will qualify. New American Funding and The Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association are not associated. Click here to view the terms and conditions of products mentioned during the show. Corporate office 14511 Myford Rd., Suite 100, Tustin, CA 92780. Phone: (800) 450-2010. (January/2021)

New American Funding is a family-owned mortgage lender with a servicing portfolio of over 123,000 loans for $30.4 billion, 198 branches, and about 3,100 employees. The company offers several niche loan products and has made Inc. 5000’s list of Fastest-Growing Companies in America six times. It has a state-of-the-art career training facili...

President and CEO of Crosby Design Group, Jennifer Crosby, is in the studio for today’s Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio episode. Joined by co-hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick, the group discusses recent and upcoming projects, including Seven88 West Midtown, Sunny & Ranney, The Ivy at Ariston and more on today's All About Real Estate segment of Radio.

Crosby started the company 21 years ago after graduating from the Art Institute of Atlanta with a degree in interior design. The company now has two studios, a residential design studio in Roswell, and a commercial design studio in Midtown. When not spending time running her company and working with its several prestigious clients, Crosby spends time with her three children and husband on their home on Lake Lanier.

Crosby Design Group is unique in the world of interior design because it captures a broad range of services with two completely different business models and clientele. With experience in both residential and commercial design, Crosby Design Group is the one-stop-shop for all types of clients. On the residential side, Crosby Design Group focuses on builder developments, working to create exterior streetscapes, interior finishes and high-end custom homes. On the commercial side, the design group works with 55+ communities, student housing, multi-family developments, corporate design, retail, hospitality and more.

To finish off 2020, Crosby Design Group completed work on The Ivy at Ariston. This residential apartment community in Buford near the Mall of Georgia offers spacious layouts and wonderful amenities. The interior layout offers a thoughtful design reminiscent of the incredible location right on the Ivy Creek Greenway.

Another recently finished project includes the highly-anticipated Seven88 West Midtown high rise condo development. With inspiration drawn from a Manhattan modern design palette, the Seven88 sales center offers high-performance materials, clean lines and a unique blend of textures and colors. With industrial and modern finishes, the interior design work incorporates mixed materials, including iron, glass brick and concrete to create a sophisticated and clean look. To read more about the design work on Seven88 West Midtown from Crosby Design Group and its awarded success, click here.

To kick off 2021, Crosby Design Group is working on The Exchange @ Gwinnett, a new live, work, play community. This residential development offers over 100 acres of restaurants, shops and entertainment opportunities, including TopGolf Andretti Indoor Karting and an arcade. The development also houses Center Stage at the Town Green for live and streaming events.

In addition to commercial and residential developments, the company recently finished a project with its favorite nonprofit, Sunshine on a Ranney Day. Crosby Design Group partnered with the nonprofit to complete Sunny & Ranney Home Furnishings and Décor. Located in downtown Roswell, this new business sells designer home goods and furniture for home makeovers. Each purchase supports children with special needs. Every purchase from Sunny & Ranney goes directly to Sunshine on a Ranney Day. To read more about the partnership on Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio, click here.

To learn more about Crosby Design Group and its current and upcoming projects, listen to the full interview above. You can also visit www.CrosbyDesignGroup.com.

Never miss an episode of Atlanta Read Estate Forum Radio! Subscribe to the podcast here. You can also get a recap of any past episodes on the Radio page.

Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee, License #22564. NMLS ID #6606. Subject to borrower and property qualifications. Not all applicants will qualify. New American Funding and Crosby Design Group are not associated. Click here to view the terms and conditions of products mentioned during the show. Corporate office 14511 Myford Rd., Suite 100, Tustin, CA 92780. Phone: (800) 450-2010. (January/2021)

Rebeka and Nathan Self, co-owners of Georgia Glamping Company, are in the studio for today’s Around Atlanta segment of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio. Joined by co-hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick, the group comes together to talk about Georgia Glamping’s one-of-a-kind glamping opportunities, its exciting new campsite locations and fun ad-on options.

Married for 12 years, Rebeka and Nathan came up with the concept for Georgia Glamping after a less than stellar Florida vacation in which their children found themselves more entertained by their I-Pads than the sandy beaches. On the road trip home, the two brainstormed ideas on ways they could get their family to spend time outdoors while still enjoying the comforts of a traditional vacation. Combining Rebeka’s childhood love for camping with Nathan’s appreciation of nice hotels, the couple came up with the idea of creating a business that provides “glamping” opportunities as a brand-new way to escape.

In the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia Glamping Company was forced to shut down due to Forsyth County regulations. However, after reopening on May 1, the company experienced a strong demand for glamping opportunities. In fact, from May 1 through the season-closing day on November 30, the company had a 100% occupancy rate compared to a 58% occupancy rate the previous year. After just recently reopening its site for 2021 bookings, the company has been overwhelmed by the responses and continues to look forward to the new year and the new opportunities ahead.

Georgia Glamping Company’s original location is set along the beautiful shores of Lake Lanier at Shady Grove campgrounds. In addition to restrooms, playgrounds and a courtesy dock, the campsite also offer three glamping options including canvas bell tents, canvas safari tents and a retro RV featuring remodeled, modern farmhouse interiors. Each tent offers glampers a true camping experience outside the tent walls and a mini-hotel experience within them. Inside the tents, glampers will find real memory foam mattresses, hotel-style bedding, coffee makers, mini-fridges, air conditioners, heaters, lamps, rugs and other features to create a space that is comfortable and enjoyable for all.

In addition to its Lake Lanier location, Georgia Glamping Company is also excited to introduce two new campsite locations. Located in Henry Country, Iris Lake offers 22-acres of campsites set along a private lake. Here, glampers can experience a peaceful vacation with a non-motorized boating lake, nature trails, a gathering lodge and an exciting new “tabin” experience that combines the best features of a tent and cabin to create a desirable resort-style glamping option. Rebeka and Nathan are also excited to take on four new sites in Augusta at Clarks Hill Lake this coming March, offering even more lakeside glamping experiences.

Of course, the glamping experience wouldn’t be complete without the add-ons. Because roughly 80% of Georgia Glamping’s customers are first-time campers, the company strives to offer a variety of add-on options to allow for a more customized experience. When booking a stay on the website, glampers can choose from a variety of add-ons to enhance their experiences, including kayaks, beach cruisers, gourmet smores kits and much more.

For more information about Georgia Glamping Company and to book an upcoming glamping experience, visit www.georgiaglamping.com. Weekend and fall glamping dates book quickly, so be sure to schedule well in advance!

Never miss an episode of Atlanta Read Estate Forum Radio! Subscribe to the podcast here. You can also get a recap of any past episodes on the Radio page.

Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee, License #22564. NMLS ID #6606. Subject to borrower and property qualifications. Not all applicants will qualify. New American Funding and Georgia Glamping Company are not associated.

Broker and Owner of Intown Focus Realty, Joan Shorter, is in the studio for today’s episode of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio. Joined by co-hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick, the group discusses what makes Intown Focus Realty unique, the popular areas Shorter and her team sells in, available housing options and more on this All About Real Estate Segment of Radio.

Shorter, originally from Buffalo, New York, relocated to Atlanta in 1993. After 27 years of living in Atlanta, Shorter officially considers herself a native of the fabulous city. Intown Focus Realty was created 10 years ago in 2011 with a focus on giving experienced agents what they need, allowing more focus to be put on the client.

“We’re all very experienced, very personable and very personal with our clients,” said Shorter. “It’s not just transaction-based because we’re trying to hit numbers. We’re all about the customer experience.”

The experts at Intown Focus Realty are licensed in the whole state of Georgia and consistently work all throughout the metro Atlanta area, but its office is located in Hapeville. Most of Intown Focus Realty’s business is focused in Hapeville, East Point and Historic College Park. Most recently, Shorter added a new realtor in the Midtown area and plans to continue to grow and expand the Intown Focus Realty expertise throughout 2021.

The three cities Intown Focus Realty is known for working in deliver affordable, high-quality homes near everything metro Atlanta has to offer. With plenty of opportunities for living, working and playing, Hapeville, East Point and Historic College Park have it all!

Shorter notes that the city officials in these three up-and-coming cities listen and care about their citizens. With a focus on healthy living, East Point is implementing several biking and walking trails throughout the city. It also has new food initiatives for healthy eating, available for both the underserved and anyone just looking to elevate their lifestyle to include fresh and local food options. Community gardens, weekly farmers markets and other sustainable options are available or coming soon in East Point.

In addition to healthy living, East Point is also embracing local culture and accepting the film industry into the fold. With notable corporations, including Tyler Perry Studios, several film industry professionals flock to East Point due to its incredible central location, one-of-a-kind scenery, filming opportunities and more.

Intown Focus Realty chooses to work in some of the finest metro Atlanta cities with a client-focused sales process. This means Shorter and all her agents make sure to communicate thoroughly with their clients in order to learn all goals, wants and needs in the home buying process.

“Even if you’re buying a home to live in for yourself, you’re still making an investment in your future,” said Shorter. “We really try to talk to them [clients] about the dimensions of their needs before we go out looking or create a marketing plan with a pricing strategy. I find a lot of agents are just like ‘get qualified and let’s go spend your money.’ That is not our goal to spend top dollar. We want to know where people’s comfort levels are and as we’re out looking, we really get to know them.”

By getting to know clients, the experts at Intown Focus Realty can better understand how to serve each individual homebuyer. This strategy allows for clients to be happy with their investment at the end of any homebuying experience.

Potential homebuyers looking to move to the Hapeville area need to keep The Landings at Virginia Park on the radar. These upscale townhomes offer spacious floorplans that truly feel like single-family homes. In an incredible Hapeville location near all the city conveniences, including newly added bike lanes, this new development has it all. The remaining unites are priced from $365,