Wayne Long's Blog: All Categories

One of the different things about GMAC Real Estate companies is that they have a truly independent company survey clients to get feedback on service from our company and agents within our company.  If a client buys or sells a home with us they get a survey about a month later to use for rating us and commenting on our service.  

Shepherd Brokers.com in Columbus GA and Phenix City AL now has a 98% customer satisfaction rating.   This is above the excellent rating that the entire GMAC Real Estate company has of 94%.   We believe that to build a long term client base - excellent customer service is vital!  You can view my personal GMAC Profile here. 

Shepherd Brokers.com has just been awarded the right to Market the Yorktown Subdivision!

Shepherd Brokers.com is the largest and most active Real Estate company in the Phenix City area.   This week they were awarded the marketing rights for Yorktown Subdivision in the Phenix City - Ladonia area.  

Yorktown Subdivision has homes priced in the $164,000 to $219,000 price range with very nice amenities including homes with granite countertops, specialty ceilings, jetted tubs, etc.   Yorktown is located in Lee County and homeowners will have access to the popular Lee county school district.   These homes are really above average for this price range in quality and amenities.   Additionally at this time the builders are willing to pay closing costs or add…

One Reason for attending a National Convention like the GMAC convention in Hollywood FL is for the inspiration.  I was not disappointed as Ronan Tynan was one of the opening day speakers and this guy is incredible. 

 Many would call him disabled.  I would call him enabled!

Ronan is best known as one of the "Irish Tenors" - he is that and much more.   He was born with a lower leg disabilities.  At the age of 20 he made the decision to have both lower limbs amputated.   With in a year he was competing in the paralympics and over a 9 yr period he won 18 gold medals and set 14 world records.    He also decided he wanted to be a physician - so he became one and opened his own practice.    He then decided to compete in a show properly titled "Go For It" and…

Land in around the Columbus GA area is becoming more valuable every day.   In Muscogee Co. land for development is bringing a huge premium and for this reason we are experiencing sprawl.    Harris Co. - just to the north of Columbus - has limited development in several ways including requirements for 2 acre lots in all new subdivisions.   The 2 acre lots almost assure larger homes as the cost per lot is increased.   

For those who enjoy a more rural setting - good deals can be found in the surrounding counties like Marion, Chattahoochee, Talbot, and Taylor.  There is also still a lot of good hunting and fishing in these wooded properties.  A good example is this 1800 acre tract in rural Taylor Co.   It is great timber land and it's proximity to Hwy 19…

Columbus has been doing a great job of preserving the feel of the old downtown next to the river.  In years gone buy the river supplied the power to run the old mills.  The mills are pretty much gone in Columbus but the old brick buildings are being turned into loft apartments and condos.   These make some pretty neat places to live.   Downtown is being revitalized in a lot of ways with the Columbus State University moving its Art and Music departments downtown, the construction of the Rivercenter,  streetscapes, Riverwalk, and other renovation projects in the downtown area.   Because of these renovations new businesses are popping up daily as well.   Many of these are also taking the old brick buildings and creating beautiful restaurants, bars, and… Read Full Post

Luxury Homes in Columbus GA

Columbus is moving away from the plain Jane brick home to homes that have more style and character. 

A good example of this is the home pictured here in Maple Ridge with 3 levels overlooking the signature hole at Maple Ridge Golf course.   It has all the amenities you would expect in a luxury home such as a media room, hardwood floors, huge master bath, large Pella windows to let in the light, and granite counter tops.   It is professionally decorated to bring out the rustic character of the cedar and rock.   This home is located in one of only 3 golf communities in Columbus Ga. 

We have homes with a country setting and charm like the homes in Deerwood.  Combining the best of the old with all the conveniences you would…

When moving to a new area it is always hard to find the right home in the right location.   We have found that our new mapping feature is very helpful when our clients are searching for homes.   There are over 2000 homes listed in the Columbus Ga - Phenix City MLS.    We have had several reports from users that our IDX system, which allows users to search all the homes listed in the area, is the easiest to use in the Columbus area.    Ease of use is very important to our clients.   Searchers can even enter the criteria they are searching for and our system will send emails notifying them when a property that matches their criteria comes on the market!  Read Full Post

TSYS posted higher than expected 4th Quarter earnings which sent their stock to an all time high this week.   The Columbus based payment processor is a centerpiece for business in Columbus residing on a 52 acre complex along the Chattahoochee river.    TSYS has had to weather the loss of Bank of America as a customer but has handled it well.  They are filling the hole by adding clients like Capital One.   What's in your wallet?

TSYS is a subsidiary of the bank holding company Synovus which also posted a very good 2006 earnings and growth report.   The companies both expect 2007 to be a good year for them.  Synovus expects a 9 - 10% growth.

This coupled with the other positive news in the area from Columbus based AFLAC, KIA, and Fort Benning gives us a…