Living – Nia Knowles:Westside West End Westview Atlanta REALTOR

I often receive emails or calls of potential buyers curious about our neighborhood. Many times they want to know if what they’ve read in online reviews are true….

-High crime, blighted community, depressed, no shops, low-income families – and many more negative comments that would make anyone wonder ‘Why should I buy there..?”

All I can say is “Don’t believe everything you read..!!!” We all know, often times the media does not paint an accurate picture of what really IS. Old stereotypes, opinions, rumors and past experiences can influence our thoughts. When I first moved here (5yrs ago) I spent a lot of time fighting and trying to prove to family and friends just how wrong they were about the neighborhood. Now, I am really enjoying being one of Atlanta’s best kept “Secret Neighborhoods”. I felt,‘ if someone is so foolish to let their opinions on a community be swayed based on rumors than we don’t need that kind of neighbor anyway’. I want more neighbors like those I have- movers and shakers, adventurous, passionate, caring, the challenge seekers, strong, those willing to break down barriers to do what others say ‘can’t be done’ , I need more neighbors who garden (because I LOVE getting fresh veggies from their garden-lol), more neighbors who bake (and drop my kids off cupcakes or make me dinner when I’m sick/prego) The neighbors I have care enough about their kids and education that they didn’t just move to a good school district, they created a charter school, home school and WORK IN the local public schools to MAKE them great.

And when we didn’t have anything to do- we created our own: Chili Parties, Pizza Parties, Historic Holiday Parties, Auction nights, Screen on the Green, Dog Parades, themed dinners! But there are also plenty of public places i.e. Museums, restaurants, Book stores and need I say it.. Krispy Kreme!!

The community benefits of living in West End and Westview are endless…………it depends on YOU!

But if you’re still not convinced and need additional information-here is my New Buyer script:

“Welcome to MY South West Atlanta!

The Historic West End and Westview communities are the best intown Atlanta neighborhoods currently offering Craftsman Bungalows for under 100K! For more neighborhood information please visit their websites and subscribe to their chat groups: www.WestviewAtlanta.com or www.AtlantaWestEnd.com

The city of Atlanta does provide down payment assistance for buyers with an FHA loan and who take the steps necessary to obtain it. One of the steps is working with a lender that has access to the funds, the other is to take a 1day class; please see this site for details(www.atlantada.com) under “Affordable Housing” and “Homebuyers” see the mortgage info.We are hoping to really increase homeownership in 2011 ! We could really use you- so if you’re one ready to think outside the box, or one needing just a bit more convincing then send me an email and let’s discuss the next steps!

Here is a mortgage officer that can tell you more, Vonda Henry vkayhenry@gmail.com , she is also the President of the West End neighborhood association.

Our local schools consist of M.A.Jones Elementry, and Brown Middle School. We also have 2 wonderful, new charter schools that I feel very good about- KIPP Strive Academy (http://www.kippstrive.com/) and Kindezi (http://www.kindezi.org/)

For crime prevention, we have a mini-police precinct as well as Private Security options are available in the Historic West End. Also our neighbors strongly believe in the “Neighborhood Watch” approach and take part in annual training offered by the City.

We believe in being active with City Council and partnering with them to address our needs. www.NPUTAtlanta.org for information about our Neighborhood Planning Unit.

Here is a couple (www.Westviewbungalow.com) who have purchased and restored their home, they have inspired many and are an example of the many new home owners we have.

If you are on Facebook.com please search and “Add” each- to keep up with the latest events!”

@NiaKnowles (Twitter)

404-414-3289

niaknowsrealty@yahoo.com

Some housing trend spotters believe that America’s love affair with sprawling suburbs has ended.

“What we’re already seeing is these new, very cheaply made suburbs showing how little resilience they have to economic fluctuations. I see them becoming not only more desperate, I see them becoming potentially nonviable,” says Jeff Speck, an urban planner and co-author of Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream.

The growth rate in outer-suburban counties fell to 1.6 percent in the year ending July 2008, down from 2.3 percent two years earlier, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by Brookings Institution demographer William Frey.

“I don’t think there’s as much will to build in distant suburbs as there was a generation ago,” says Robert Lang, a director at Virginia Tech’s Metropolitan Institute. “I think it’s not as fashionable.”

But Lang cautions against writing suburbia’s obituary too quickly, pointing out that Americans like big yards and privacy that comes with them. He suggests that development of an economical and convenient transportation option like electric cars could revitalize the suburban dream.

Source: Reuters News, Andy Sullivan (04/10/2009)