Wayne Long's Blog: All Categories

Currently we have 1900 homes listed in the Columbus GA MLS.  You can search them all from our site.    The same site will also allow you to search the Phenix City AL MLS.  We are only seperated by the Chattahoochee river. 

The system will send you updates of properties that fit your criteria daily as they come on the market and you can save listings that you are interested in!

Shaw high school played for the AAA state championship in football on Saturday.  Well, maybe next year.  Choosing a school is very important when moving to a new area.  In Columbus GA even better than having a state champ in football we have the state champ in academics.  Columbus High School is the top rated school in the state of Georgia for academics.  My son Jason graduated from there and the difference to me in Columbus High and most other high schools is the level of expectation.   If they participate in anything science(they haveexperiments on the space shuttle), plays (look like college plays), baseball (have won the national championship)  - it is expected to be at a high level.  These kids just step up to the plate because they are expected to!  …

The old south is filled with beautiful historic homes (what Sherman left of them).  Columbus GA in particular has a wonderful historic district down by the Chattahoochee river.   There you will find some excellent examples of Victorian and Tudor Architecture.   Columbus has also done an excellent job of preserving the old mill town look by revamping the old brick buildings down town that at one time made use of the river water to run their mills.   These old brick buildings still have the exposed beams and a look that just makes you feel relaxed and and part of history.   It is just gorgeous downtown at night in the Columbus GA historic district overlooking the river with all the lights shining on the water!

As a Realtor I understand more every day that what people want the most in a place to live are really basic items.  When searching for a new home in Columbus GA we want to feel safe, we want our children in good schools and we want job security.   To the Columbus GA community and leaders this means we need to focus on a strong infrastructure of police and fire departments,  school development, and attract industry.   That seems so simple but sometimes we focus on the unimportant and forget to "keep the main thing the main thing".  Read Full Post

The new home market in Columbus GA is a little over built right now.  We have had so much good news with the BRAC military realignment, KIA Plant announcement and AFLAC expansion, that many builders have jumped the gun.   Many builders expected a "sunami" of new arrivals in our community.  As it turns out the influx of people will be over the next 3-5 years.  This is really a much healthier form of growth as it will give the community time to develop the infrastructure needed to support the growth.  The good news for home buyers is that builders are more flexible with providing amenities and working with buyers on closing costs!  With interest rates down it is an excellent time to buy a new home in Columbus GA or Phenix City… Read Full Post

The market in Columbus seems to have stabilized and be improving.   We still have more inventory on the market than last year but that is starting to be reduced.   We have only had a 2% increase in prices this year but this is far from a "Real Estate Bubble".   Mortgage rates are great with the VA and FHA rates at 6.0 %.  Many feel it is going to be a strong market in 2007.   Buyers are realizing that right now they can lock in an awesome rate and that sellers are more willing to help with closing costs and make other concessions.    Read Full Post