Comments on: Atlanta intown building bonanza backfires

By: Andisheh Nouraee

Andisheh Nouraee — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:24:19 +0000

Sellout — for what it’s worth, when I wrote a real estate column for Atlanta Peach (RIP) I would always ask people about fuel prices and the intown housing boom (also, apparently RIP).

The “expert” opinions I solicited always cited intown amenities and suburban traffic as reasons people moved in. They never cited fuel prices. Of course, these same experts by-and-large denied that there was a housing glut in Atlanta.

Fuel prices probably have some effect, but I would guess that the accelerated decline of the local intown market in 2008 is a function of tightening credit and the overall recession.

A stat worth watching for intowners — Atlanta Regional Commission predicts a massive influx of people to Atlanta proper over the next 25 years. Off the top of my head, I think they say 150,000 new people (to a city with roughly 500,000 today).

They’re not all gonna want to live in 1 bedroom high-rise apts in Midtown. Some will want houses with yards. ‘Hoods with nice old bungalows (Capitol View, Sylvan Hills) should do well.

(Full disclosure: I own a house in Capitol View).

By: Sellout

Sellout — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:00:32 +0000

Let’s not underestimate another cause — Falling gas prices. When my wife and I were looking for homes earlier this year, we noticed that intown sales and resales was still pretty brisk.

BUt with plummetting gas prices, people are rethinking Woodstock, Norcross and other points outward again.

And least that’s my unprofessional analysis.

By: Thomas Wheatley

Thomas Wheatley — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:07:19 +0000

Viva the echo chamber, mi amigo!

By: B King

B King — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:28:07 +0000

I really like that you quoted a blog post and included the piece where I linked back to one of your articles. It is a festivus miracle of circular promotion and linkage!