249 videos about Canton & Cherokee County

K Georgia homeowners, you do not have to wait for a reasonzoning sign to show up before learning what's being built near you. The city actually has a capital projects and developments dashboard, an interactive map where you can click on a project near your street and pull up the details of find it. Find it on kanton georgia.gov under government department's community development. Canton's own GIS team builds and maintains it and it's free. So save this when you are considering a neighborhood deep dive and follow my page for more Ken Center news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Want to try one of the best smash burgers [music] in Canton Georgia? Here's a place you should have on your list. >> Hi, I'm Andy Palermo. You may recognize me as the owner of Pop's in downtown [music] Canton. But today, I want to introduce you to our other restaurant, Bully Run. Our focus here is smash burgers made with certified Angus beef that we grind right here in house, along with our house-made pickles, sauces, [music] loaded fries, chicken strips, hot dogs, shakes, and plenty of other comfort food favorites. A lot of what we do comes down [music] to paying attention to the details, from how the burgers are prepared to what goes into each item. One thing you may not know about us is that because [music] my wife has celiac, making sure people with dietary restrictions can still come [music] and find something great to eat is especially important. That's why we have options like gluten-free chicken strips, dedicated [music] fryer, and gluten-free buns. After all, making great food for our community has been at the heart of what we do and why we love owning restaurants here in Canton. And we want Bully Run to be a place you'll come hungry, try something you're excited about, [music] and leave already thinking about what you'll order next time. Come visit us at The Mill. I think you're going to love it. >> If you haven't tried Bully Run yet, make sure to stop by. And follow my page for more Canton city news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Today I met with Charles, the manager of Finley Farmstead here in Canton. What are some questions that you always recommend a couple asks a venue before choosing where they want to get married? >> Honestly, looking heavily into the contract and the nitty-gritty details of what is included, the fees, the taxes, um, outside vendors and other things that come along with the venue to make sure you're fully educated in knowing what you're getting into. >> Absolutely. One of my favorite things about Family Farmstead is how transparent they are with pricing. So if you are shopping around venues definitely consider them and definitely make sure that you are looking closely at other contracts.

Kitten Georgia coffee lovers Bizarre Coffee just dropped their fall 2026 menu and here is what's on it. First, there's the basic witch with pumpkin, maple, and cinnamon. Next, there is the fresh baked with apple, vanilla, and cream cheese cold foam. They are also serving a miso caramelish bonner for those of you looking for a more espresso forward drink with a fancy name. Next, there is the raspberry blanc with raspberry vanilla cold foam and nutmeg served some matcha or cold brew. And last, there is a pumpkin honey butter oat brew latte. Which one are you going to order? Follow my page for more Kitten Insenter news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia runners, here's a 5K for a great cause. The third annual Brandon English 5K and trail run is September 5th at Boling Park with the run starting at 6:00 p.m. plus live music, food trucks, and a kids fun run. It's hosted by Building Fires, a local non-profit that pours into Cherokee County youth through scholarships, mentorship, and their varsity jacket program. The run honors Brandon English and funds a scholarship in his name for students heading into physical education, health, and wellness careers. Registration is $30 a person and every dollar brings up a local kid. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Cherokee County history lovers, here's a story worth knowing that you might not have heard. Bulgrron actually just unveiled a new historical marker honoring Calvin Farmer, the man who first brought electricity to the town. Farmer ran the power plant at Robert's Dam on Long Swamp Creek, and he lived from 1866 all the way to 1968. The marker sits in Calvin Farmer Park at 325 Old Dawson Road, right beside a water oak that he planted himself in 1968. His 1904 home is long gone, but that tree still stands. Next time you're in Ballground, go take a look and follow my page for more and insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Cherokee County, just wanted to fill you in on a sign of just how fast we are growing. Down in downtown Woodstock, developers just signed a letter of intent for a six-story, 130-room upscale hotel with restaurants, retail, a spa, and 5,000 sq ft of event space right across from the Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater. A hotel this size doesn't get built unless the demand is real, and it tells you everything about where Cherokee County is headed and the growth that they anticipate. I'll keep you updated as the story moves forward. Follow my page for more Cherokee insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

And Georgia homeowners, this update may not sound flashy, but it is a huge deal for downtown Canton. As part of the West Main Street project connecting historic downtown to the Mill on Etowah, the city is moving all of those overhead utility lines underground and rebuilding what's beneath the street, too. That means upgraded water and sewer mains and brand new storm drains, which means better stormwater management for the neighborhoods and businesses nearby. Construction starts in early fall and runs about 20 months, so I'll keep you posted as it gets going if there are any crazy new updates. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia country music fans, clear your Friday calendar on August 22nd, Cody Bolton and the Road Hands are bringing a real honky-tonk show to Canton Ice House at 150 Keith Drive. This Atlanta-based band plays traditional country, classic honky-tonk, and southern storytelling. The kind of night where you're going to grab a couple drinks and actually want to hit the dance floor. So, if you've been wanting a night out and this is something different and fun for you, make sure you check it out. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia foodies with celiac or gluten sensitivity, this video is for you. Bully Run at the Mill on Etowah's now serving gluten-free buns from the local Braise, Canton's dedicated gluten-free bakery over in the Laurel Canyon Village Public Square. Here's why that matters. One of the Bully Run's owners has celiac, so the kitchen takes cross-contamination very seriously, and the local Braise bakes everything in a 100% gluten-free facility. That means that you can finally get that real smash burger on a real bun without the worry. If you spent years ordering your burger protein-style, go treat yourself. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Today I'm here with Dina, the owner of Friendly Farmstead. What do you think makes a wedding truly memorable? >> Taking care of our bride and grooms to make sure they do not have anything to do. We want them to enjoy the whole wedding, the whole entire day, and let us take care of them. >> Absolutely. So, if you want a custom, gorgeous day where you're going to be fully taken care of, definitely check out Friendly Farmstead here in Canton.

Hey Canton, Cherokee County is getting a brand new nature preserve. It's actually donated by two local residents, Tom Kowalski and William Bell, who donated nearly 50 acres of wooded land to the county to become Spring Valley Nature Preserve. It sits up near Ball Ground and it's set aside for passive recreation, not ball fields or crowds. It's just going to be nice wooded calm land. Land like this doesn't come back once it's developed, so 50 acres protected forever is a big win for us. I'll keep you posted as the county decides what kind of trails or opening details it's going to share. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Canton Georgia, just wanted to brag on our Cherokee High School Warriors for a second. Two seniors, Elena Emmett and Bailey German, just brought home gold from the national FCCLA competition in Washington, D.C. beating up with an 8,500 students. On top of that, CHS science teacher Brent Webster was just picked as one of the 25 teachers in the whole country for a national science safety fellowship. Big things are happening in our schools, so go Warriors. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Cherokee County, big changes coming for some Holly Springs neighborhoods. Under a new state law, House Bill 1029, census areas passed to Highway 140 or east of Cherokee Drive will be deanexed from Holly Springs starting January 1st, 2027, meaning that subdivisions like Charlotte's Ridge and the Avon Lee Springs Apartments will no longer sit inside city limits. So Holly Springs actually asked a judge to pause the law while they fight it, but that request was just denied. So it is moving forward. That means that if you live in one of these areas, this affects your city and your November vote. I will keep watching this and keep you posted. Follow my page for more kit insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton women mark your calendar on Friday, August 14th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Sweeties Tea Room at the Mill on Etowah is hosting the Safe Tea Social with the Safe Confidence Academy. It's exactly what it sounds like, an afternoon of tea and treats from Sweeties paired with real practical safety training, situational awareness, and everyday strategies to help keep you safe in the places you go. So, for your mom, your daughters, your girlfriends, anyone who wants to be safe out in public, and reserve your seat on their website. Follow my page for more Canton Center news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Canton, did you know that you can experience live professional wrestling right here in our community? Southern Honor Wrestling brings high energy matches, unforgettable characters, [music] and some seriously talented wrestlers to the Mill on Etowah, right beside Reformation Brewery. >> Hey, what's up? It's Bad News the Tattoos, Kahagas Bravo, with Southern Honor Wrestling [music] here. Our shows are about so much more than what happens inside the ring. From the moment you arrive, you're surrounded by passionate [music] fans, larger-than-life personalities, and energy that is difficult to describe until you experience it for yourself. We bring together some of the best wrestling [music] talent Georgia and all beyond the world, including rising stars, established champions, and wrestlers you may recognize from major promotions like AEW, like myself, from Ring of Honor, like myself, TNA, and WWE. We hold live events several times a year here at the Mill, and whether you have followed wrestling your entire life or you're bringing the kids for their first show, you simply want to try something completely different, Southern Honor Wrestling has something for you. It's more than just watching people fight in a ring. There's stories, there's reoccurring rivalries, there's crazy moves, and all sorts of big personalities. [music] So, keep your eye out for the next big event. I think you're going to love it. >> Definitely check out Southern Honor Wrestling here in Canton, Georgia, and follow my page for more Canton Insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia movie lovers that you have probably watched Our Town on screen without ever realizing it. The historic Jones building downtown now pops was actually a part of the Marvel Universe as seen in the Hawkeye movie. Ozark fans may recognize JD's on the Lake as the Blue Cat Lodge, one of the show's most memorable locations. The Canton Theatre and Cherokee Arts Center actually appeared in The Founder starring Michael Keaton and the Cherokee County Arts Center was featured in Disney's The Odd Life of Timothy Green. Not too bad for a small North Georgia town. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Canton, Georgia, did you know that our city is actually named after a city in China? Back in 1934, Canton's founders renamed the town after Canton, China, now Guangzhou, because they hoped to build a booming silk industry right here. Obviously, Canton never ended up making silk, but it did become a cotton and denim powerhouse, and Canton denim was known around the world. So, the next time someone asks you how Canton got its name, you're going to know. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Craving beach [music] vibes? Dollar oysters one of the best smash burgers in Canton? Or this? You don't want to miss the Salty Mule. >> Hi, I'm Bubba. I'm one of the owners of the Salty Mule here in downtown Canton. The Salty Mule is our little taste of the coast [music] right here in the mountains. We wanted to create a restaurant that felt like a beach side, toes in the sand sort of place [music] with incredible food everyone can afford. No matter who you are, when you come in, you'll be surrounded [music] by friends, cold drinks, live music, and food you'll be craving until you come back again. Our menu has something for everyone. If you're a seafood lover, we have Gulf oysters, Argentine red shrimp, grouper, po'boys, seafood platters, and our famous shrimp and grits. >> [music] >> You can also start with something a little more adventurous, like our conch fritters, gator tail, Cajun or Cajun boudin balls. And if seafood isn't your thing, we have incredible smash burgers, delicious grilled chicken breast, and plenty of other options as well. So, whether you're joining us for oyster specials, meeting friends for a drink, or spending [music] a Saturday night listening to live music, we want the Salty Mule to feel like your favorite beach bar, just a whole lot closer to home. >> [music] >> Come see us at 169 South Church Street, Canton, Georgia. We'd love to meet you. >> If you haven't been to the Salty Mule yet, come out and experience a little taste of the coast right here in downtown Canton. And make sure you follow [music] my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Today, I'm here with Charles Lee, manager of Family Farmstead, here in Canton. What are some questions that you always recommend a couple asks a venue before choosing where they want to get married? >> Honestly, looking heavily into the contract and the nitty-gritty details of what is included, the fees, the taxes, um outside vendors, and other things that come along with the venue to make sure you're fully educated in knowing what you're getting into. >> Absolutely. One of my favorite things about Family Farmstead is how transparent they are with pricing. So, if you are shopping around venues, definitely consider them, and definitely make sure that you are looking closely at other contracts.

Hey Canton Georgia, if you were a fan of the Cajun menu on Keith Drive off of Riverstone, here is the latest news. They've been temporarily closed since June with no official word as to why yet, but their own page does say to keep an eye out for something exciting. So, this may not be a true goodbye. For now, if you are craving Cajun food, check out Flatlands Bourbon and Bayou, who has replaced C'est La Vie in downtown Canton and serves Creole favorites. Follow my page for more Canton Insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Today, I'm here with Charles Lee, manager of Family Farmstead, here in Canton. What are some questions that you always recommend a couple asks a venue before choosing where they want to get married? >> Honestly, looking heavily into the contract and the nitty-gritty details of what is included, the fees, the taxes, um outside vendors, and other things that come along with the venue to make sure you're fully educated in knowing what you're getting into. >> Absolutely. One of my favorite things about Family Farmstead is how transparent they are with pricing. So, if you are shopping around venues, definitely consider them, and definitely make sure that you are looking closely at other contracts.

Hey Canton, when you need something sweet this summer, these are the downtown spots I love. Kilwins at the Mall has handmade fudge and over 30 ice cream flavors. Sweeties is one of my favorites for high tea treats and desserts. A Cone to Pick is great for their delicious milkshakes. And Le Macaron on North Street for authentic French pastries is my go-to. Where is your go-to sweet spot? Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Canton, craving dinner with bowling, arcade games, and delicious cocktails? I found the perfect [music] place for you. >> Hey guys, I'm Adam, one of the owners of B&B Social here in downtown Canton. Uh when we created B&B Social, we wanted it to be more than just a place to go and have dinner. We wanted to give Canton a true social destination, a place where you can go and enjoy good food, order a creative cocktail, watch a game, and actually have fun and do something together. Our menu has something for just about everybody, >> [music] >> from smash burgers to wings to handcrafted flatbreads. Then we have dinner entrees, shrimp and grits, Cajun chicken pasta, and a bunch of shareable appetizers. And after you eat, you can challenge one of your friends to rollerball, fully interactive worldwide darts, skeeball, or one of our arcade games, or simply just relax and grab a cocktail, uh catch your favorite team on one of our TVs. We're also a great option for birthdays, company gatherings. We do buyouts, we do celebrations, we do [music] private events, we do catering, we do all that. So whether you're planning a night out, bringing a group together, or exploring downtown [music] Canton, we'd love for you to come and try B&B Social right here at the Jones Building, [music] 130 East Main Street, Suite 100, Canton, Georgia. >> Come eat, play, and see what makes B&B Social different. And follow my page for more Canton insider news and realistic advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Canton, Georgia. It is patio season. So, here are the spots with outdoor seating you won't want to miss. Try Dive Southern Coastal Kitchen for beach town vibes and cold drinks, Reformation Brewery for a big open patio and a craft beer, The Holler for a great atmosphere, and anywhere at The Mill on Etowah where you can eat, drink, and enjoy their busy schedule of live events. What is your favorite Canton patio? Drop a comment down below and follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton and Georgia homeowners, data centers may be coming to Cherokee County. On July 21st, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to hit pause on new data centers, but they only did a 30-day moratorium while the county writes real rules for how and where these massive facilities can be built. The next step is a public hearing August 18th where commissioners are expected to request a 180-day extension, pushing this decision to early 2027. I'll keep you posted. Follow my page for more Canton Insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Canton Georgia, two local favorites just teamed up in one great farm stand. Blue Hen and Sweet Madeline's Bakery are now open together Wednesdays 3:00 to 6:00 and Sundays 1:00 to 5:00. Fresh eggs, baked goods, and small batch everything all in one stop. If those times don't work for you, catch them both at the Canton Farmers Market every Saturday. Support local, eat fresh, and follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Kinston Seafood Lovers, D's Southern Crystal Kitchen is hosting an all-you-can-eat crab legs eating contest on August 1st, and the winner will be recorded in their Hall of Fame. Can't make this one? They actually host a new contest on the first Saturday of every month, so bring your appetite and prepare to win your bragging rights. Follow me page and work in the center news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia homeowners, a big new neighborhood could be coming to the Kietzburg area. A developer, Targi Partners, wants to build 167 homes with 112 houses, 40 townhomes, and 15 cottages, plus some commercial space on 39 acres at Ball Ground Highway and Fate Con Road. It needs annexation and rezoning first, and there's a public hearing August 5th with a final vote on September 3rd at Canton City Hall on Academy Street. So, if you live near there, this is something to watch. Follow my page for more Canton Insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Today, I met with Annie Palamo, the owner of Pop's in Downtown Canton. What inspired you guys to open this amazing restaurant? >> Well, thank you for asking. This has kind of been a dream of ours for quite some time. I've worked in the restaurant business for gosh, 20, 25 years or something like that. So, owning your own place is certainly a dream. But, what better opportunity than right here in Downtown Canton, our own home, our own community here at this Jones building, which is this historic building right in the middle of Downtown. When this space became available, we knew that that's where our dream could possibly live. And so, to have a great neighborhood restaurant here in our own neighborhood is certainly something very special to us. >> I totally agree. So, the next time you are craving a delicious sandwich or fresh fresh pasta, make sure you check out Pop's in Downtown Canton.

Hey Canton Foodies, J. Michael's Prime is hosting a Spanish paella party on July 30th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. It's a five-course coastal Spanish dinner with seafood paella, gambas al ajillo, espresso flan, and live music, and games, and prizes. Dinner is $90 or $120 with the cocktail package. Seats are limited and reservations are required, so book now. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Canton, Georgia. Craving some delicious seafood with an amazing Southern twist? Let's dive into a local favorite. >> Hi, I'm Kit, founder and chef at Dive Southern Coastal Kitchen. [music] After 30 years in the food and beverage industry, I wanted to create a restaurant that brings together two things I love: coastal flavors and great Southern cooking. Our menu [music] combines delicious seafood and Southern comfort food with a few unexpected [music] twists. Start with our crab and shrimp dip, fried green tomatoes, or our Southern fried lobster roll. >> [music] >> Then try favorites like our grouper sandwich, fish tacos, chicken and waffle sandwich, or pimento cheese bacon burger. [music] We're also known for our Wilkes Beef Market fried pork chops. And as the home of the all you can eat crab legs, [music] we also serve brunch on Sundays that you don't want to miss. But Dive is much more than what's on the plate. >> [music] >> We want you to dive into the adventure and enjoy the beach life, where everyone feels welcome. Come visit us at 135 Reinhardt College Parkway, Suite 100, Canton, Georgia. We're proud to be part of Canton, and we'd love to serve you soon. >> Dive is such a great spot here in Canton, and if you haven't stopped by, you are missing out. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Kitten Georgia, painting with wool is August 25th at Menagerie on Maine. Beginners will use flat needle felting techniques to build a beach landscape with blended colors, highlights, shadows, and three-dimensional texture. Participants will leave with their finished artwork, a 5 by 7 frame, and supplies for additional projects. So, if that sounds fun to you, make sure you sign up soon. Follow my page for more Kitten Insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Today, I'm here with Andy Palumbo, the owner of Pop's in Downtown Canton. What inspired you guys to open this amazing restaurant? >> Well, thank you for asking. Uh, this has kind of been a dream of ours for quite some time. I've worked in the restaurant business for, gosh, 20, 25 years or something like that. So, owning your own place is certainly a dream. Uh, but what better opportunity than right here in Downtown Canton, our own home, our own community, uh, here at this Jones building, which is this historic building right in the middle of Downtown. When this space became available, we knew that that's where our dream could possibly live. And so, uh, to have a great neighborhood restaurant here in our own neighborhood is certainly something very special to us. >> I totally agree. So, the next time you are craving a delicious sandwich or fresh fresh pasta, make sure you check out Pop's in Downtown Canton.

Kent Georgia Beatles fans are getting two opportunities to sing along inside the historic Kent theater. Let It Be Jude one night of the Beatles is coming August 21st and 22nd with performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. The show is described as a high energy journey through the music that changed rock and roll. The theater is located at 171 East Main Street. Follow my page for more Kent and Sutter news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Looking for a date night in Canton, Georgia? Menagerie on Main is hosting its first crafty hour on August 20th at 351 West Main Street. Instead of following one from a class, guests will receive supplies and can choose whatever they want to make during an open studio evening. Follow my page from Work in Canton Center News and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Canton, Georgia Dolly Parton fans have an important date to add to their calendars. Here I Come Again, a nod to Dolly Parton, is coming to the historic Canton Theatre on August 15th from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. The performance combines Dolly's music with stories and trivia about her life, career, accomplishments, and songs. The theatre is located at 171 East Main Street in downtown Canton. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia is welcoming a 15-time Grammy Award-winner to Etowah River Park. Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder headline River Rock on August 15th from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. Skaggs is a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Bring your chairs and get ready for a night of country, bluegrass, and incredible live musicianship. Follow me page for more Canton and Setters news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia runners and walkers, your next 5K can support two local causes. The 13th annual Chick-fil-A Cherokee County 5K is happening August 22nd at Etowah River Park, located at 600 Brown Industrial Parkway. Proceeds support the Cherokee County Educational Foundation and Cherokee County Special Olympics. You don't have to be a serious runner to participate, so start planning your team now. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia just reached a major economic development milestone. CBBE recently broke ground on a new 130,000 square foot headquarters inside Canton Corporate Park. The expansion represents approximately $25 million in investment and is expected to create 70 new jobs in addition to the company's current 85 employees. CBBE will also become the first company located inside the new 50 acre corporate park. Follow my page for more Canton Insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia families, a day at Etowah River Park now comes with an easier way to cool off. The park's snack shack is now offering snow cones, cold drinks, snacks, sweet treats, and games without leaving the park. Follow my page for more Canton and Settler news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Ken, Georgians. If you think you have what it takes to decorate the perfect cake, this event is for you. Sweeties Cafe is hosting a pull-apart cupcake cake decorating class on Saturday, July 18th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Each ticket includes your own decorating station, professional instruction, and everything you'll need to create your own watermelon-themed cupcake cake to take home. Adults and kids are welcome, and one parent can assist a child using the same decorating station at no additional charge. Tickets are $65, and they're available now at Sweeties website. Follow my page for more Ken in Sandy Springs news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Canton, Georgia, more than 3.1 million dollars is proposed to make it easier and safer to walk between downtown Canton and the Mill on Etowah. That includes 2.05 million for the West Main Street corridor and another 1.06 million for a pedestrian crossing. Plans include a 10-ft sidewalk, angled parking, landscaping, lighting, benches, and moving overhead utilities underground. Residents can comment on this project July 16th at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall or email tellus@cantongeorgia.gov if they have questions or comments. Follow my page for more Canton City news and real city advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Canton, Georgia, more than 3.1 million dollars is proposed to make it easier and safer to walk between downtown Canton and the Mill on Etowah. That includes 2.05 million for the West Main Street corridor and another 1.06 million for a pedestrian crossing. Plans include a 10-ft sidewalk, angled parking, landscaping, lighting, benches, and moving overhead utilities underground. Residents can comment on this project July 16th at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall or email tellus@cantongeorgia.gov if they have questions or comments. Follow my page for more Canton City news and real city advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Canton, Georgia, the largest individual project in the proposed city capital budget is a $6.94 million pedestrian bridge near the Mill on Etowah. The Rivermill Bridge is intended to connect the Etowah River Trail system more directly with the Mill in downtown Canton, giving people another way to walk or bike into that area. The funding is not final yet, and residents can comment at the July 16th budget hearing at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. Follow my page for more Canton center news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Kent, Georgia. Don't miss one of the most unique events happening in town this month. Sweeties Cafe at the Mill is hosting its summer garden tea and bouquet social on Sunday, July 19th at 1:00 p.m. Your ticket includes Sweeties signature high tea, a pink lady welcome drink, summer berry desserts, and you'll even build your own fresh flower bouquet to take home. They're also hosting a best garden hat contest. So, if you've ever wanted an excuse to wear that fancy hat sitting in your closet, this is it. Tickets are $60 per guest and advanced ticket sales end July 14th, so don't wait if you're interested. Follow my page for more Kent Insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia residents, city leaders are considering a proposed budget totaling 98.3 million dollars and you still have a chance to weigh in. The proposal includes 34.5 million for capital improvements, 15.2 million for engineering and water, 9.6 million for police, 8.4 million for fire services, and 5.8 million for public works. The formal budget hearing is July 16th at 6:00 p.m. in Canton City Hall located at 110 Academy Street. You can attend and speak or email your comments to tell us at canton.georgia.gov before the planned August 6th vote. Follow my page for more Canton Insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey, Canton, Georgia. If you love fresh pasta, here's a restaurant you need [music] to try. >> Hi, I'm Andy Palermo. My family and I created Palermo's original pasta and sandwiches to bring simple, fresh Italian-American food downtown Canton. We make our pasta fresh in house every day along with [music] our sauces, meatballs, sausage, and dressings. You'll also find sandwiches, salads, desserts, and a market where you can take home fresh pasta and sauce to prepare for your own family. For us, Pop's is about [music] more than serving a great meal. We wanted to create a welcoming neighborhood restaurant where people can slow down, enjoy food, and feel like a part of the family. Whether you're joining us for lunch, grabbing dinner, or picking up something to enjoy at home, everything we do is centered around fresh ingredients, generous portions, and genuine hospitality. Come visit us in the historic Jones building in downtown Canton and let our family cook something delicious for yours. >> [music] >> Pop's is such an incredible addition to downtown Canton and you can truly taste the care that goes into every dish. So, make sure you stop by soon. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Kent Georgia home buyers a brand new neighborhood is opening in the Union Hill area. Brookshire Manor's public grand opening will be happening in July at 1311 Curtis Road. The community offers four two-story plans with approximately 2987 to 3829 square feet, four to six bedrooms, and prices beginning in the mid 600s. Visitors can tour the Hazel model and learn more about the community. So, follow my page for more Kent and Zeta news, and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Kenton Theater parents, your child can officially perform on the historic Kenton Theater stage this summer. The kids only open mic night is August 26th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Young performers can sing, dance, play an instrument, perform with a backup track, or whatever else they want to do. So, sign up your creative kids for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Follow my page for more Kenton Insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Today, I'm out with Joe, the manager of Big Door Vineyards. How has the community helped you guys grow as a business here? >> Well, we've been able to partner with several members of our community. We do the uh education gala every spring. We uh partner with the Great Altoona Lake Cleanup Commission. Uh we also partner with Reformation Brewery. So, you know, there's a lot of partnerships that we have here in the community, and we just love our community support that we get. >> Absolutely. I love a business that goes back that gives back to its community and just works really well with everything local. So, if you're looking to support a great local business, I highly recommend checking out Big Door Vineyards.

Canton, Georgia, runners and walkers, get ready to race along the Etowah River. The Etowah River Park Summer Classic returns August 8th with both 5 and 10K options on a fast, flat course. The event begins at 7:30 a.m. and includes race photos, music, and awards. Follow my page for more Canton and city news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia couples, here is a new local date night idea that includes dinner and a show. The Vine Southern Coastal Kitchen is hosting a clean comedy night July 16th. The $50 ticket includes dinner and three comedy acts with doors opening at 6:00 p.m. Follow my page for more Canton and Setter news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia country music fans, downtown Canton's August first Friday is made for you. Nashville Nation performs Friday, August 7th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The night will also include local shopping, food vendors, and Main Street fun. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton and Ottawa families, you can now go roller skating at the Mill on Edawa. The rink on the river is open Wednesdays through Sundays with music, colorful lights, and themed skating nights. Admission is $10 for a child and $15 for adult and includes your skate rental. Follow my page for more Canton and Ottawa news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia aspiring writers, your life story could become your next creative project. Menagerie on Main is hosting a four-part memoir writing workshop every Wednesday from October 7th through October 28th. Each class runs from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in downtown Canton, but you will need to purchase your ticket in advance on their website, which is why I'm telling you about it now. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia drivers, one of these cities' busiest intersections is scheduled for major improvements. Highway 140 at Marietta Highway and Riverstone Parkway is planned to receive new turn lanes and access changes designed to reduce traffic backups and make the area safer to eliminate accidents. Construction is listed to begin mid-2026, so it should begin soon. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia drivers, a major traffic change is planned near Waleska Road in late 2026. The intersection of Waleska Road and Reinhardt College Parkway is scheduled to become a multi-lane roundabout with additional turn lanes intended to reduce backups that can currently stretch more than 500 feet. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Today, I'm out with Joe, the manager of Big Door Vineyards. How has the community helped you guys grow as a business here? >> Well, we've been able to partner with several members of our community. We do the uh education gala every spring. We uh partner with the Great Altoona Lake Cleanup Commission. Uh we also partner with Re-formation Brewery. So, you know, there's a lot of partnerships that we have here in the community, and we just love our community support that we get. >> Absolutely. I love a business that goes back that gives back to its community and just works really well with everything local. So, if you're looking to support a great local business, I highly recommend checking out Big Door Vineyards.

Take it in Georgia. Did you know that there is a local cafe where you can grab homemade breakfast or lunch and enjoy a full tea room experience? Let me introduce you to Sweeties Cafe and Tea Room at the Mill. >> Hi, I'm Cheryl, the owner of Sweeties Cafe and Tea Room here at the Mill on Etowah. Sweeties began with my homemade chicken salads at the Canton Farmers Market. >> [music] >> When customers kept asking where our restaurant was, I realized Canton was ready for a place like this. Today, you can stop by for breakfast or lunch and enjoy fresh sandwiches, soups, scoop salads and sweets, or make a reservation for one of our full tea room experiences. Our tea room is designed to feel special and create a wonderful experience. You can dress up in your favorite tea party outfit or come exactly how you are and enjoy loose leaf tea, beautiful china, and tiered trays filled with savory bites, scones, and sweets. We also host birthday parties, bridal and baby showers, themed teas, private gatherings, and other special experiences. For offices, schools, and community groups, we offer individually prepared lunch boxes as well. Many of our recipes are family favorites and Sweeties is named in honor of my mother-in-law who taught me how to love people through food. [music] That is what we want everyone to feel when they visit. Welcomed, cared for, and ready to make a sweet new memory here in [music] Canton. We hope you'll come visit us and fall in love with Sweeties Cafe and Tea Room. >> Thank you, Cheryl. So, whether you are planning a tea party, meeting a friend for lunch, or simply craving something delicious and homemade, Sweeties Cafe and Tea Room is such a special place that we have right here in Canton, Georgia. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Can't judge a parent's menagerie on means young artist studio runs July 8th through 10th from 10:00 a.m. to noon for children first through sixth grade. Supplies are included and no experience is needed. So, sign up your kids for a summer they'll never forget. Follow my page for more Canton Center news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia homeowners, the city just announced that they plan to raise property taxes next year. City leaders are considering a tax rate that may collect more money than last year, but nothing is final yet. The first public hearing is July 2nd at 6:00 p.m. at Canton City Hall. So, if you have an opinion on this change, make sure you show up so that your voice can be heard. Follow my page for more Canton and Sutra news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you're looking for a local spot to celebrate life's biggest moments, let me introduce you to Finley Farmstead right [music] here in Canton. >> I'm Dana and my family and I are so proud to welcome you to Finley Farmstead. Throughout the property, you will find several unique spaces, [music] including our sweet bridal cottage, our charming groom's cabin, the vintage open barn, and modern [music] reception hall. Each space has its own personality, which gives couples the freedom to create the wedding [music] that truly feels like them. The wedding party can spend the morning getting ready right here on the property. [music] Enjoy the space and then move naturally from the ceremony into the reception without guests having to travel to another location. We also know how many details go into planning [music] a wedding, so we want couples to feel supported from the moment they arrive. We can help with event planning, floral design, catering, >> [music] >> music, and all the small touches that help the day come together. More than anything, we want Finley [music] Farmstead to feel warm and welcoming. Whether you're here for a wedding, shower, corporate gathering, or any [music] special celebration, our family wants you and your guests to feel comfortable, [music] cared for, and completely at home. We truly love being able to offer such a gorgeous [music] event space right here in Canton, Georgia. It means so much to us to be part of the memories families create here. And we would be honored [music] to host your next event at Finley Farmstead. >> Finley Farmstead is such a beautiful example of these special places we have right here in Canton. So, follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate [music] advice on how to succeed here.

Kindred animal lovers, I have an event you're going to want to hear about. Mayberry Acres is hosting candle making on the farm July 24th at 6:30 p.m. The experience includes time with the farm animals and fragrance blending to make your very own soy wax candle. Follow my page for more kitten and sitter news and realistic advice on how to succeed here.

Big news for Canton Georgia Elvis fans, the king is coming to Main Street in the Elvis experience as it takes over the historic Canton Theater on Sunday, July 26th from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. featuring the famous ballads and rock and roll hits that made Elvis an icon. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Keep an eye out for this new change in Canton, Georgia. Canton is getting a brand new piece of public art. The city recently announced a sculpture installation at the Heritage Park Gateway area, continuing efforts to make Canton more walkable, beautiful, and connected to its parks and public spaces. The sculpture will be called Currents of Canton and will feature the Etowah Darter fish, which can only be found in the Etowah River. The artist's name is Hulani May, and the statue is meant to be a nod to Canton's natural surroundings as well as its industrial past and Native American history. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

King George has plenty of incredible restaurants, but here are three hidden gems most people haven't discovered yet. First, try Wicked Wings near Bridge Mill. Their garlic parm wings are the best I've ever had and their house stromboli is humongous. It's also an awesome sports bar. Next, check out the Big Easy Barbecue. They're a Cajun smokehouse and customers rave about their jambalaya, Cajun poutine, and shrimp and grits. And if you haven't tried Loaded Bites yet, it is quickly become a favorite of mine. The Philly cheesesteak is fantastic and the loaded steak fries are my go-to order. Follow my page for more King and Setter news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Sad news for donut lovers in Canton, Georgia. Giga Monster's Craft Donuts has announced that they will not be renewing their lease at the mill. So, if you have been meaning to stop by for one more donut run, now might be the time. While the business is leaving its current space, this also creates another opportunity for a new food concept to join in one of the busiest destinations in Canton, and they will still continue to have their main location by Bridge Mill. I'll keep you updated as we learn what may be taking over the space. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Did you know that just a short drive from Canton Georgia you can spend an afternoon surrounded by a vineyard [music] and live music and some of the most beautiful scenery in North Georgia? Today I'm taking you inside Big Door Vineyards. >> Hey, I'm Joe. Welcome to Big Door Vineyards. We're located here in the foothills of North Georgia where we [music] grow our own grapes and craft wines that reflect the character of the region. Whether you're a long time wine enthusiast or trying a wine flight for the [music] very first time, we want everyone who visits to feel comfortable and welcome. When guests come to Big Door Vineyard, they're getting much more than a tasting room. [music] You can spend the afternoon enjoying our vineyard views, relaxing by [music] the pond, exploring the property, listening to live music, or just sharing a meal with friends [music] and family. Some people come for date nights, some come to celebrate special occasions, and others simply want a peaceful place to unwind and enjoy the scenery. >> [music] >> What means the most of us is seeing guests return again and again, bringing new friends and making new memories here at the venue. Our motto has always been [music] simple. Come as a guest and leave as family. We hope you'll come visit us soon and experience Big Door Vineyards for yourself. >> Big Door Vineyards is absolutely worth the trip. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here. [music]

It is a great day to live in Canton if you love bizarre coffee. If you have been avoiding it because you could never get a seat, I've got amazing news. They have officially completed their expansion into the space next door, giving customers significantly more seating, additional workspace, and a long bar area that is perfect for bringing a laptop, meeting a friend, or spending a few hours getting work done. For years, one of the biggest challenges at bizarre was simply finding a place to sit. Now, there's so much more room to enjoy the coffee, the atmosphere, and everything that has made it one of Canton's most popular local businesses. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia foodie's stop scrolling. Pops is now serving a Sicilian red pesto pasta, spaghetti Agatha, pasta Monte Carlo, a new summer arugula salad, and garlic bread served with Palmetto's red sauce. But, the item I'm probably looking forward to trying most is the frozen caramel cold brew made with coffee from bizarre coffee, caramel simple syrup, and vanilla cream swirl. So, if you're looking for an excuse to visit downtown Canton this week, Pops may have just given you one. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Living in Canton, Georgia, and love The Voice? The July 1st Friday concert features Bryce Leatherwood, Sequoyah High School graduate and winner of season 22 of The Voice. After performing around the country, he's returning home for a special concert right here in Canton that you won't want to miss. Follow my page for more Canton and Cedar news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you're celebrating Father's Day in Canton Georgia this year, here are three restaurants to keep on your radar. First, Dive Southern Coastal Kitchen is running an all you can eat crab legs Father's Day special for $49 per person. Next, B&B Tavern will be selling the Big Daddy sandwich and a side for $16. Finally, Loaded Bites is currently offering a free order of beignets with a purchase if you mention seeing a post. So, if you are looking for takeout, stop and grab something yummy. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Kindred has just invented the best Saturday activity. It's called bring your own crafts or BYOC and it's happening at the Etowah Mill on June 14th. Bring whatever you're working on, grab a drink or some food, and finally check a craft off your list while meeting some new friends. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Plant lovers of Canton Georgia, this one is for you. The Summer Plant Festival at the Mill on Etowah is happening July 11th. You'll find local vendors and unique plants happening on one of the prettiest backdrops in Cherokee County. So, whether you're building out your garden or just looking for an excuse to be outside, this is a great Saturday. Follow my page for more Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you are spending your 4th of July in Canton, you are not going to want to miss this. The city of Canton's 4th of July celebration will include a parade and fireworks on Riverstone Parkway. Starting time and location will be announced closer to the event, although a start time of 9:00 for the fireworks is likely weather permitting. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you love the Canton Farmers Market, you are going to love this news. The Canton Night Market will happen on July 2nd, putting an evening spin on one of Canton's most beloved community staples. Same great local vendors, summer evening energy, and all the good stuff you love about the Farmers Market, just at a different time of day. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Cherokee Veterans Park in Canton Georgia is getting a serious upgrade. The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners just unanimously approved nearly $300,000 to expand the playground at Veterans Park with brand new inclusive Little Tikes equipment with wheelchair accessibility, with sensory features, braille panels, and more. Construction is expected to begin right after the America 250 event on July 11th. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Looking for something fun to do in July in Canton Georgia? They are hosting an America 250 celebration at Cherokee Veterans Park on July 11th. The event will kick off with a bicycle parade and all-American picnic, live music from Guardians of the Jukebox, and a drone show synchronized to the final songs of the concert. There will also be a ribbon cutting happening for the brand new Cherokee Veterans Amphitheater. So, mark your calendars for July 11th at Cherokee Veterans Park. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Looking for locally grown farm fresh produce in Canton Georgia? Rigan Farm is doing a farm share pick up on June 19th offering locally raised produce straight from the farm. And here's the part that makes it easy. They're actually offering a pick up option right in Bridge Mill. That means fresh, local, no grocery store required. Check out Rigan Farm for details on how to sign up before spots run out and follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Cherokee County just produced the best high school baseball player in the state of Georgia. Etowah High School's Trevor Condon was named at the 2025 to 2026 Gatorade Georgia Baseball Player of the Year. This Tennessee commit is an outfielder out of Woodstock and he has been ranked number one in Georgia's 2026 class all season. This is a program level achievement of for Etowah and a reminder of just how strong Cherokee County's high school athletics have become. Congratulations, Trevor. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

The difference between a home that sells in a weekend [music] and one that doesn't sell at all, it's all in the photos. That's where I come in. I'm Amberly with CD Home. When a buyer is scrolling, you only have a few seconds to make them stop. Gorgeous photos and video create [music] more clicks, more saves, more showings, and more serious buyer interest, [music] giving you the chance to sell a home faster and for more money. At CD Home, we create professional [music] photography, video, drone footage, 3D tours, floor plans, property [music] websites, and branding content that helps your listings stand out fast. Our in-house editors are trained to provide you with a set of beautifully polished [music] content after each shoot, offering additional options like grass enhancement, twilight [music] edits, virtual staging, and detail-focused finishing touches that help every listing look its best online. Our work is not just about one listing, it is about your brand as an agent. [music] Every home is showing future sellers what it looks like to work with you. So, when your listing [music] looks polished, intentional, and elevated, it tells people you take marketing seriously. Our priority [music] is to create a final product so strong that you do not just call us for one listing, you see us as part of your long-term marketing team. [music] Visit our website today to elevate your brand and help your listing stand out and sell fast. I have used CD Home for years [music] and am consistently impressed with their customer service, stunning photos, modern video, and quick turnaround time. So, I highly recommend [music] them. Follow my page for more marketing insight and news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia is hosting something that you won't see just anywhere. The 30th annual Atlanta Koi and Goldfish Show is happening June 12th through June 14th and for the first time ever it is coming to the mill on Etowah right here in Canton. So, if you've never seen a Koi show, these fish are stunning. It's free to check out and right on the river. Only in Canton. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you've got a theater kid who needs something fun to do with their summer, Canton Georgia has you covered. Canton Theatre is hosting improv camp June 8th through 12th for $225 per child and it includes a full week of comedy, creativity, and building confidence right here in downtown Canton. Spots fill up fast, so don't wait. Follow my page for more incentive Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Did you know that Canton Georgia has live wrestling? Southern Honor Wrestling is back at Reformation Brewery in Canton on June 5th. This is part of a recurring series, so if you've been before, you know how fun this crowd gets, and if you haven't, it's exactly like what it sounds like, craft beer and live wrestling, only in Canton. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Today I'm out with Lori of IDK Homegoods. Lori, what kind of beautiful things can people expect when they walk into your store? What what do you have here? >> We have a little of everything here. We have beautiful antique furniture. We have gorgeous lamps, pictures, dishes, China, amazing stemware, Pyrex, Tupperware, just a little bit of anything and everything that you would find for a home. >> Absolutely. As I'm looking around at the store, I see so many things I would love to take home with me. And we even saw a gorgeous like spinning wheel earlier. What did you call that earlier? >> It is like a a spinning spinning wheel. >> description of it. So truly, if you are looking for a treasure, I'm sure that you'll find whatever you're looking for here. They've got a little bit of everything and it's all beautiful. >> Thank you. >> [laughter]

River Rock is back in Canton Georgia on June 20th. In Pandora's Box, the ultimate Aerosmith tribute is taking the stage at Etowah River Park. There will be food trucks, beverage vendors, and a children's area, and tons of fun. And the best part, River Rock is free. So, bring your lawn chairs, bring your people, and get ready for a fun summer night in Canton. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia runners, this one is for you. The Treat Trot is happening June 27th at Heritage Park and you can choose from a 5K, 10K, or 15K to participate in. There's also a kids dash, chip timing, live results, medals, free photos, snacks at the finish line, and race swag. So, whether you're walking, running, or cheering someone on, this is a fun way to kick off a fun summer Saturday in Canton. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Looking for a fun summer night in Canton Georgia that doesn't cost a thing? Screen on the Green is back at the Mill on Etowah and it is one of the best family-friendly events of this summer. Every time First Friday happens in downtown this summer, they will be showing free outdoor movies right on the lawn at the Mill. So, bring a blanket, lawn chairs, and your favorite people. Movies start around 7:00 p.m. and you can either pack snacks or grab dinner from one of the restaurants at the Mill before the movie starts. It's perfect for families, date nights, or just enjoying a summer evening outside in downtown Canton. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Looking for something fun and completely different to do in Canton Georgia? The Canton Theatre is hosting an all called dance class on Wednesday, June 24th at 7:00 p.m. And this is the perfect opportunity whether you've danced or you've never danced before and you just want to sharpen your skills in a fun environment. Spots are only $10, but there are just 12 available. So, this one will probably fill up fast. The class is for ages 16 and up and doors open at 7:00 p.m. Follow my page for more Canton Insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Looking for something fun to do in Canton Georgia? The Mill on Etowah is hosting World Cup watch parties on June 11th and June 12th and it looks like a very fun way for the community to come together this month. They'll have big screen match viewings, food and drinks throughout the property, live music with DJ Louie, and a full watch party atmosphere. So, if you love soccer or just a good reason to hang out at The Mill, mark your calendar. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Looking for some summer family fun in Canton, Georgia? You'll want to check out these summer family movie series in the Canton Theatre at Downtown Canton. Throughout the summer, the theatre will be showing family-friendly movies during the day, giving families an affordable way to get out of the heat and enjoy a classic movie together. Movies start at 10:00 a.m. and tickets are just $1 per person while spots last. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Looking for something fun to do in Canton Georgia on June 6th, national touring comedian Killer Beaz is bringing his best buzz in town tour to the historic Canton Theatre. You may recognize him from the Discovery Channel show Moonshiners, but this is his live show with storytelling, crowd connection, and a full night of comedy right here in downtown Canton. So, if you've been wanting a fun date night or a night out with friends, this is one to put on your calendar. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton, Georgia, just opened the Tanner House. This is a 46-unit apartment complex on Academy Street specifically designed for people who work in Canton, but who can't afford to live here. The units are income restricted, meaning you have to make between 30% and 80% of the area median income to qualify. The city partnered with LifePoint Development Group and secured nearly $12 million in funding, including state tax credits and federal grants. Drop your thoughts in the comments and follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Let's go play some hide and seek in this new listing in Bridgemill. Who doesn't love a beautiful open concept listing? Crazy people, that's who. This house is absolutely beautiful and it's got so many different rooms, plus everything is upgraded. I wanted to show off how many sitting rooms / living rooms there are. So, I hid back here. I told you guys I liked this kitchen and I meant it. Look at all the beautiful colors. I love they chose that blue for the subway tile backsplash and I love the double ovens, too. But, what I really love is where I decided to hide. In the pantry, of course. This is such a special primary suite. You've got, obviously, the gorgeous fireplace, plus a stunning sitting room and you've got a view to the backyard, plus a huge amount of room for the bed and a great on suite bath. I'm talking too much because I'm stuck in a corner. I've hidden back here. If you love tons of clothes and hot showers like I do, you're going to love this bathroom. Not only do they have a custom closet right there, but they've got a large soaking tub, an upgraded shower, two vanities and a second closet, which is why I hid here. If this house would be a great fit for you, drop a comment down below to schedule a showing. I promise we don't even have to play hide and seek.

June in Canton, Georgia is packed, and I'm not going to let you miss a single thing. The circus is in town now through June 1st, so if you want something fun and different for the family to do, that should be your first stop. Then downtown Canton First Friday is happening June 5th with the Molly Ringwalds bringing the '80s party vibes. On June 6th, comedian Killer Beaz will be at the Canton Theatre. The Mill on Etowah is hosting World Cup watch parties on June 11th and June 12th. River Rock is back at Etowah River Park on June 20th featuring Pandora's Box, and if you want to run, walk, or just cheer people on, the Treat Trot 5K, 10K, and 15K is happening June 27th. Save this so you don't miss what's happening in Canton this June. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Looking for a new favorite restaurant in downtown Canton? Here's your behind-the-scenes look at Tumi Peruvian, one of my personal favorites. [music] Hi, I'm Jorge, the owner of Tumi Peruvian here in downtown Canton. We serve authentic Peruvian food, and for me, this restaurant is very personal. Tumi started from a dream [music] shared by my family. My brother Victor was a chef, and he always encouraged [music] us to create a place that truly represented our Peruvian roots, our [music] food, and the flavors we grew up loving. After he passed away, I knew I wanted to bring his dream to life as a way to honor him. So, Tumi [music] is more than a restaurant for us. It is our way to sharing his [music] passion and bringing a real taste of Peru to Canton. Peruvian food has so much flavor because [music] it brings together so many ingredients and traditions. You'll taste citrus, cilantro, onions, aji amarillo, garlic, Peruvian corn, sweet potato, and sauces [music] that all have their own personality. One of the dishes >> [music] >> people love is our lomo saltado. It is stir-fry with beef, onions, [music] tomatoes, yellow peppers, cilantro, fries, and rice. And it has the perfect mix of comfort food and bold flavor. We also have chaufa, [music] which is Peruvian-style fried rice. Our head chef Miguel is from Peru, and having him in the kitchen ensures that all our flavors are authentic and delicious. So, whether you already love Peruvian food or this is your first time trying [music] it, we want come visit Tumi and fall in love with Peruvian food and experience we have created [music] here. We are proud to be here in downtown Canton, and we would love to be proud to share our food with you. So, come visit us at Tumi Peruvian. Bring your family, try something new, and experience a real taste of [music] Peruvian right here in Canton. Tumi is one of my absolute favorite spots in downtown Canton and I hope that you'll put it on your list to try. Come try the food, ask about the sauces, and make sure you save room for something new. Follow my page for more Canton insider info and real estate advice on how to succeed here. [music]

Big news for breakfast lovers in Canton, Sweeties is launching breakfast service starting June 1st. They're going to be doing a build-your-own croissant breakfast sandwich starting at just 250 and you add what you want from there. They're also doing crustless quiche for $12 that is gluten-free, waffle bite dippers for $12, buttermilk jalapeno cheddar biscuit for $3, and here's where it gets really good. They also have acai bowls starting at 975 with up to four toppings and then the price goes up more if you want to load even more on. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton, Georgia's just got a huge upgrade. This may not sound flashy, but it is a huge deal. The city just celebrated the completion of its new water pollution control plant, which Canton described as the largest capital improvement project in the city's history. The upgrade increases capacity by 50%, bringing it up to 6 million gallons per day. But, why does that matter? It's because infrastructure is what allows a growing city to actually handle growth. So, that makes us not the prettiest news, but very important news in our quickly growing city. Follow my page for more Canton and Setter news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Live in Canton, Georgia, and can't make it to the beach this weekend? I've got the next best thing. The Salty Mule brings full beach energy right into the middle of Canton with fresh seafood, oysters, shrimp baskets, po'boys, peel-and-eat shrimp, crab cakes, and one of the most fun laid-back atmospheres downtown. Their whole vibe feels like you escaped to the coast without ever leaving North Georgia. Between the seafood, the music, the tiki bar feel, and the outdoor atmosphere, it's the kind of place that makes you forget that you are still a few hours from the ocean. So, if you've been craving beach food, but don't have time for the drive, this might be your move this weekend. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you want to say in the future of Canton Georgia, listen up. The city of Canton just released its 2026 citizen survey and they are asking residents what they actually want the future of the city to look like. The survey covers everything from parks, trails, restaurants, and downtown development to traffic, housing, safety, sidewalks, city events, and even what kinds of businesses and amenities people want to see here. So, if you have ever said, "I wish Canton would." This is your chance to let your voice be heard. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Today I'm out with Francie, one of the two owners of Fricken Frack. Francie, what sets your coffee apart, makes it different than some of the other coffee shops? Oh, I'm glad you asked. We use Dancing Goats brand coffee, and we're using their organic Whirling Dervish blend, which in my humble opinion is just the perfect roast. It just runs right down the middle. It's very pleasing to everyone. Yeah, you guys know I'm a bit of a coffee snob, and I love a lot of the coffee shops here in Canton. I absolutely can can say Fricken Frack has one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had here in the city.

Sad news for Canton Georgia. If you have been meaning to try C'est La Vie, the French fine dining spot on East Main, you are running out of time. They just announced that they are permanently closing after this week, which breaks my heart a little bit because it is such a special place. If you have never been, go now and show your support and gratitude for what the restaurant brought to our community. And if you have been, go one more time before next week hits. I hate seeing them go and will be sure to tell you as soon as I know what is replacing them. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Canton, the farmers market is coming back and it is one of my personal favorite things about living here. If the 2026 Canton farmers market kicks off on Saturday, May 30th and runs every Saturday morning through August 2nd in Brown Park. They feature fresh produce, local vendors, honey, baked goods, flowers, all of it right here in our community. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you are searching for the most authentic Mexican food in Canton, Georgia, Taqueria Oaxaca Kenya is the spot. The pricing is incredibly fair. Tacos are $2.75, sopes are $3.50, and burritos are $7.99. It is a bit of a hole in the wall, but that is its charm. So, if you want real deal Mexican food in Canton without chain restaurant prices, put Taqueria Oaxaca Kenya at the top of your list. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia just received some major recognition. The city of Canton was named a recipient of the 2026 Preservation Service Award by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. Since 2018, Canton has invested nearly $29 million in six major preservation projects. One of the biggest accomplishments is the Jones Mercantile Building downtown. The city invested $3.1 million in exterior renovation, which helped bring in private investments and state and federal tax credits. That 42,000 square foot building is now housing about 25 businesses and around 50 jobs. Canton also saved the former Canton High School on Academy Street from demolition and turned it into the new City Hall. And they're currently rehabilitating the historic downtown fire station from 1928. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you're in Canton, Georgia, and you want food that is quick, hearty, and actually fills you up for a great price, you need to try Loaded Bites. This spot is all about big portions, grab-and-go convenience, and the kind of comfort food that you order when you are hungry. They have loaded fries piled with meat, cheese, sauce, ranch, and hot sauce, loaded bowls with rice, meat, fresh toppings, and sauces that have incredible flavor, Philly cheesesteaks, shrimp po'boys, street tacos, pizza, fried okra, the list goes on. [music] They also have an incredible dessert menu featuring items like strawberry cheesecake, banana pudding, and divine chocolate brownies. It's quick, it's local, it's filling, and the portions are amazing for the price. So, if you are near Sixes Road in Canton, stop by Loaded Bites, grab something loaded, and make sure you come hungry. Follow my page for more Canton insider info and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Did you know that downtown Canton has its own open mic night inside the historic Canton Theatre? Canton City Limits Open Mic Night is happening Tuesday, May 19th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Canton Theatre at East Main Street and admission is completely free. You'll get live performances from local singers, musicians, comedians, poets, and other performers right in one of the coolest historic venues in Canton. Just make sure that you sign up ahead of time if you want to perform as spots are limited. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you are looking for something fun to do in Canton Georgia this summer, River Rock is officially back at Etowah River Park and this year's lineup looks incredible. The concert series happens every third Saturday from May through August from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and it's completely free to attend. You'll have live music, food trucks, beverage vendors, a kids area, and thousands of people out enjoying summer in Canton. This year's lineup includes Departure, a Journey tribute band on May 16th, Pandora's Box on June 20th, country artist Mark Wills on July 18th, and Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder on August 15th. So, grab your lawn chairs, bring some friends, and get ready for one of the biggest summer traditions in Canton. Follow my page for more Canton Insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Kennesaw Georgia, this might be one of the coolest charity events happening here all year. On Saturday May 16th, Curing Kids Cancer is bringing the Fire Truck Pull to The Mill on Etowah and teams of 10 will compete to pull a 30,000 lb fire truck 50 ft as fast as possible. But this isn't just about strength. Every team pulls in honor of a child affected by pediatric cancer and all funds go toward research on childhood cancer at Emory University. And the costumes might be just as competitive as the pulling because we're talking tutus, superheroes, sports gear, camouflage, anything goes. Team registration is closed, but the more attention the event gets, the more money it raises. So go out and cheer them on. Follow my page for more Kennesaw Insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Today I'm out with Franzi, one of the two owners of Fricken Frack. Franzi, what sets your coffee apart, makes it different than some of the other coffee shops? Oh, I'm glad you asked. We use Dancing Goats brand coffee, and we're using their organic Whirling Dervish blend, which in my humble opinion is just the perfect roast. It just runs right down the middle. It's very pleasing to everyone. Yeah, you guys know I'm a bit of a coffee snob, and I love a lot of the coffee shops here in Canton. I absolutely can can say Fricken Frack has one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had here in the city.

If you are looking for a great night out in Canton Georgia, you need to know about The Holler. This place has become one of the best spots for the community to gather, connect, and have a ton of fun. They host regular trivia nights where you can test your knowledge and compete with friends. They've got a run club for anyone looking to stay active and meet new people, and they're constantly adding new events that bring the Canton community together. So, whether you're new to the area or you've been here for years, The Holler is one of those places that makes Canton feel like home. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Not sure where to park in downtown Canton? Here is what you need to know. When street parking on North Street and East and West Main Street are full, what most people don't know is that behind the Canton Police Department on Elizabeth Street, there are 118 free parking spots. The downtown Canton parking deck on West Marietta Street has 102 spots across two levels. The top level even has electric car charging stations. In Etowah Cannon Park, there's a shared lot with 36 spots between the park and the historic Jones Building. All of this is free. So, next time you want to try to eat in downtown Canton or grab coffee at the Buzzard, you know exactly where to park. The city of Canton has a full parking map available also at explorecantonga.com if you want all the details. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

I have a new favorite restaurant in Kennesaw, Georgia, and if you haven't tried Tu Peruano yet, you are missing out. The Lomo Saltado had the most tender, smoky beef I have ever tasted. The Spaghetti Frutti di Mare was equally incredible. It had a bright, hearty sauce and a perfectly tender seafood. Our waitress, Patricia, was incredibly kind, and when we told her how much we loved everything, Chef Miguel actually came out and walked us through how he made the food. It made the whole experience even more special. Now, the prices are a little on the higher side, but this is one of the few higher-priced meals I've had recently where I walked away feeling like the money I spent was 100% worth it. Follow my page for some more insider Kennesaw news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you live in Canton, Georgia, and want a sneak peek at the new Cherokee High School, this is it. The school hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and first look on April 28th, and it made it clear that this is not just a school. It's going to be a state-of-the-art facility with modern classrooms, incredible athletic spaces, and technology that's going to set students up for success. And the community showed up in a big way to celebrate this milestone. Honestly, seeing this investment in the kids and the future of Cherokee makes me so proud to live here. So, if you are considering moving to the area, this is exactly the kind of forward-thinking infrastructure that makes Canton and Cherokee County such a great place to raise a family. Follow my page for more Insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Have you tried the new Cajun restaurant in Canton Georgia yet? I have had no joke like 10 people tell me that I needed to try it. So, I did a deep dive into their menu, reviews, and pricing to see what all the hype is about. First, the menu looks pretty solid with Cajun and Creole comfort food. They've got jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice, po'boys, gumbo, and fried catfish. People are raving about their blackened catfish, shrimp and grits, and their seafood platters. One reviewer even said that the crawfish etouffee was the best they've had outside of Louisiana. Most entrees are in the $15 to $25 range, and reviews say that the portion sizes are generous. So, if you have been craving real Cajun food and don't want to drive to Louisiana, the Cajun menu might just be your answer. It's officially on my list now, and I will report back once I try it. Drop a comment below if you have, so I know what to buy. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

This is the Whitworth plan by Windsong Properties in Legacy Downs, and it is one of the most thoughtfully [music] designed floor plans I have seen in this price range. Let's start downstairs. The primary suite is, of course, on the main [music] floor, and it is luxurious. We're talking a free standing soaking tub, a gorgeous walk-in shower, and a walk-in closet. [music] The kitchen is a full gourmet setup with an island that opens directly into the great room, the dining area, and just creates a general amazing place for hosting. [music] Upstairs, you have a loft, a reading nook, a flex space that you can turn into whatever your life actually needs, and [music] it has four large secondary bedrooms, all with walk-in closets. The with a pickleball court, walking [music] trails, and a dog park all planned out. Pulte is offering 60,000 in savings for a buyer who's ready to move quickly. >> [music] >> I'm K Valley with Homes by Valor, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro. You bring the dream, and I'll bring the road map.

If you care about how Cherokee County is growing, and if you live here, you should, you should know that there was a significant community meeting on April 20th that I want to fill you in on. Cherokee County held a town hall at the Cherokee County Conference Center to take public input on a proposed new zoning category called the large lot residential zoning district. Here's what that means. Basically, the county is considering creating a new type of subdivision and zoning that would require a minimum of five acre lots. Existing parcels that qualify could be subdivided up into 10 lots including the main parcel. The goal is to preserve some of the rural character of the Cherokee County area as growth continues. Representatives from planning firm Kimley-Horn and county staff were there to answer questions, and they haven't finalized or released the details yet, but I will keep watching this and keep you posted on what happens next. Follow my page for more Insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you live in Canton, a new grocery store is coming to Marietta Road, and here is the update I have for you. On April 2nd, the Canton City Council unanimously voted to approve a rezoning request at 631 Marietta Road, which is the old Tyson Foods building that later became a church and has largely been sitting vacant for years. A developer called Proparaty LLC is moving in with a plan to build a neighborhood grocery store and professional office space that on that 1.64 acre site. The building will be fully renovated and a new building will be added to the property with 70 parking spaces. There is still no word on which grocery store is moving in, and that's the detail everyone, including me, is waiting on. I'll keep you posted as soon as that information becomes available, but for now, go ahead and follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

There was a new barber shop in the mill and it is owned by Britney and Ben Phillips who you might already know from Practically Perfect Day Spa and Salon. Ben is a Cherokee County firefighter and the name Engine Bay is a direct nod to his career in the firehouse. How cool is that? This is exactly the kind of local community rooted business that makes Canton such a great place to live. So if you have someone in your life who's looking for a solid barber shop with a great story behind it, go and check them out. Go show them some Canton love and follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you live in Canton, Georgia, and you love the circus, this video is for you. Circus Del Mar is coming to the Mill on Etowah starting May 22nd and running through June 1st. A circus right here in Canton, right at the Mill. Circus Del Mar is a full-scale traveling circus with acrobats, performers, and everything you think of when you picture a classic big top show. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. on May 22nd and continue through June 1st. Tickets are available now online. Just search Circus Del Mar Canton to find them. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Looking for a great date night or something fun to do with your kids in Canton, Georgia? I know just the place. Hi, I'm Megan Lewandowski. My husband and I own Sportwall Family Entertainment right here at The Mill on Etowah in Canton. We created Sportwall because we have two kids. [music] We live in Canton and we got tired of loading everybody up and driving all the way to Alpharetta or Atlanta every time we wanted a real day out. We wanted something right here, something that keeps families moving, engaged, and actually connected to each other. [music] So we built it. Sportwall has five simulator bays with large interactive screens and you have over 50 different sports and games to choose from. Soccer, baseball, pickleball, tennis, reflex games, memory games, geography, music, the list goes on. [music] You use a real ball or your hand to interact with the screen. For the toddlers, we even have pool noodles since we found that works best for them. And it's not just for the kids. This is also a great date night out. It's way more fun than another dinner out. If you come with a group, one of the best things about Sportwall is that you rent by the bay, not [music] by the person. So one flat hourly rate covers your whole group. And we host regular events like toddler morning out. We also host homeschool mornings every Thursday [music] and we do field trips, corporate rentals, and team building, too. We can also do birthday parties in our party room. So give us a call so we can figure out the right solution for you. Book your bay online at sportwallentertainment.com or just walk in and give us a try. We would love to meet you. Businesses like this are what I love about living here. So if you would like to visit Sportwall, check out the link down below to learn more and follow my page for more Canton insider info and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you're looking for new construction in Canton, Georgia, make sure you check out Legacy Downs. This is a Windong Properties community and as a Georgia based builder, they are known for their professionalism and high client satisfaction rates. The quality of what they're putting inside these homes is topnotch with gourmet kitchens featuring quartz countertops, fireplaces, flexible guest suites, lofts, and even primary on main options for buyers who want that extra convenience. One of the things that makes Legacy Downs different from most new construction communities is the size. Although this is an exclusive collection of only 66 homes, they still have incredible amenities including the pickle ball, a gathering pavilion, walking trails, and a dog park, all on site. Location-wise, you are in the Hickory Flat area and are close to shopping, dining, and downtown Canton. There are only a handful of quick move in homes available right now, and the builder is currently offering a $60,000 savings for a buyer who is ready to move quickly. So, let me know if you want to schedule a showing and move into one of these beautiful homes. I'm Keller with Homes by Valor, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro.

One of Cherokee County's most meaningful annual traditions is coming up and I don't want anyone to miss it. The 35th annual Cherokee County Mother's Day Indian Festival and Pow Wow is happening at Boling Park May 9th through May 10th. This Pow Wow is a beautiful celebration of Native American culture featuring traditional dance, music, regalia, and vendors. It's educational, it's moving, and it's one of the events that reminds us of the rich and layered history of the land we all live on here in Cherokee County. Tickets will be on sale at the gate throughout the event. Children under five will enter for free. Children ages 6 get in for $5 and adults so 13 and up will be $15. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Hey Canton, First Friday is almost back. And if you've never been, this is the year you should start. The first one of this year is on May 1st and it is an event that runs monthly through October every first Friday of the month. Downtown Canton closes Main Street to traffic and transforms into a full community block party with live music on stage, food trucks lining the streets, local businesses opening their doors, and thousands of people showing up to kick off the weekend. It's completely free to attend and it's one of the best things about living in Canton. Follow my page for more Canton insider news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you live in Canton, Georgia, and you love a good excuse to wear a fabulous hat, listen up. History Cherokee is hosting their 23rd annual Kentucky Derby Day on May 2nd at The Mill on Etowah. And this one is going to be good. Last year's event raised more than $50,000 for History Cherokee's educational programs and museum collection, and they're aiming even higher this year. Guests can expect an afternoon of Southern charm, a hat contest, bourbon tasting, a pony pull, a silent auction, and of course, watching the Kentucky Derby on the big screen. Tickets are available now, and sponsorships are open as well. All proceeds directly support the Cherokee County History Center right here in downtown Canton. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Let's go play some hide and seek in this luxury golf course home. When I said this home's on the golf course, I meant it. This home backs up to the putting green of one of the holes of this course, so you can watch people hopefully land their shots while doing your dishes, although maybe it's funnier when they don't. Where do you think I'm hiding? The tree, of course. One of the huge perks of this home is the finished basement. They've done such a nice job choosing quality materials, so it doesn't have that basement feel. I really love the kitchenette, but my favorite feature of this basement is where I'm hiding. Can you guess where it is? There's a secret safe room. Normally, I go on all the different floors on one of these hide and seek videos, but I can't seem to get out of the basement in this one. I just love it too much. Can you guess why and why I chose to hide in this one? I'm in the sauna. There's a sauna. I know I mentioned earlier that my favorite part about this kitchen is the view of the golf course, but there's something else I love as well. In addition to being upgraded, do you see that gorgeous custom lighting they have here? They have that all throughout the house, so I wanted to show it off cuz I think it just shows what a luxurious purchase this one is. Where do you think I'm hiding? Probably not that hard to guess. I just popped out right here.

Canton parents, summer heat is coming, which means it is the perfect time for you to try Sportwall Family Entertainment inside the Mill on Etowah. We talk about a lot of outdoor things to do in Canton, and rightfully so, but when it gets hot, the way you know it's about to, and you need somewhere fun to take the kids that isn't your living room, Sportwall is the answer. They have five simulator bays with giant touchscreen walls and over 55 sports and games like soccer, basketball, zombie attacks, pink pickleball, pong, you name it. You rent a bay by the hour for your group, which makes it perfect for birthday parties, playdates, or just a random Tuesday when it's 95° out. And it's located inside the Mill, so coffee, food, and everything else is just steps away. Follow my page for more Insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you are a Bizarre Coffee regular in downtown Canton, I have some news you are going to love. One of the most common things that people say about Bizarre, other than the fact that the coffee is incredible, is that the space is tiny. Three little tables, a hidden nook upstairs, a walk-up window, and it fills up super fast. Well, that is no longer going to be a problem because Sabrina Kaylor just announced that they will be expanding the space next door. This is a huge deal for downtown Canton. Bizarre has become one of the heartbeat spots of this city, and growing means more room for the community to gather there. Keep an eye on their social media for updates on timing, and follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you live in Canton Georgia and love comfort food, you are going to love loaded bites, a new restaurant that just opened up in our city. The menu looks amazing. We're talking loaded fries with chicken, steak, or fried shrimp. They've got loaded salads and loaded bowls over basmati rice, authentic tacos for $2.99, and sandwiches like a shrimp po'boy, shrimp Philly, chicken Philly, and a Philly steak. And then there are the desserts. So far, my favorites that I've seen are the churro cheesecake and the Dubai chocolate brownie with pistachio filling. Have you tried loaded bites yet? planning on stopping by this weekend myself, so I will hope to see you there. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you live in Canton Georgia and you haven't heard about Garden in the Park, this is your sign to get it on your calendar. The fifth annual Garden in the Park is happening Saturday, April 25th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Cannon Park right in the heart of downtown Canton at 130 East Main Street. This is a free community event celebrating spring, plants, and everything that makes downtown Canton a great place to gather. So, bring family or friends, walk around, grab food from somewhere nearby on Main Street, and just enjoy being in this beautiful city. Cannon Park, at least to me, is one of the most beautiful spots in downtown and in spring and it absolutely stunning. So, mark this event on your calendar and bring the whole family. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton readers, this one is for you. Once Upon a Market is happening this weekend, April 25th, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and tons of amazing indie authors and vendors will be there. There's going to be a treasure hunt, A Court of Thorns and Roses trivia on the green, and a raffle you'll get tickets to enter every time you purchase a book from one of the authors or Damsel Book Store. So, you get to meet the people behind the books, shop local, enjoy some fun activities, and pick up your next read all in one afternoon. It's free to attend, so mark April 25th on your calendar, head to the mill, and go show Amelia, the owner of Damsel Book Store and the woman who put all this together some Canton love. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton buyers, if you have been waiting for a chance to [music] get into Bridge Mill with more space and a great investment value, this is the kind of home you need to see. This house gives you over 4,000 [music] sq ft with five bedrooms, four full baths, and a finished basement perfect for a bigger family, guests, hobbies, [music] or working from home. A couple things could use a little bit of updating to really modernize it, but you have a great set of bones here, a grand entry, a two-story living room, a main-level guest suite, and an oversized primary with a sitting area all in the low 600s. The backyard already has the layout to become something really special, too. With multiple outdoor [music] spaces that could absolutely be amazing with the right updates. So, if you are the kind of buyer who wants a large home in Bridge Mill and sees the value in adding your own finishing touches instead of paying for someone else's choices, drop a comment down below so we can schedule a showing. I'm Kivalo with Homes by Valor, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro. You bring the dream, and I'll bring the road map.

If you live in Canton and you're looking for a great organization right here in Cherokee County to support, let me tell you about Goshen Valley. Their mission is to provide hope and healing to foster youth and vulnerable families, primarily young men in foster care, and they've been doing it right here since 1999. They also run Goshen Therapeutic Services, which helps local families get mental health support before they ever reach a crisis point. In 2024 alone, 52 families were reunited because of that program. As for how you, as a normal person, can get involved, they host Second Saturdays at the Ranch in Waleska on the second Saturday of every month. You don't need any skills, just show up from 10:00 to noon. They also host Christmas with Goshen every year, a ticketed dinner event with auctions and live music that's a really fun night out for a great cause. You can also donate or shop their wish list at goshenvalley.org. This is a gem of an organization in our community. Go check them out. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and realistic advice on how to succeed here.

Let's go play hide and seek in this six-bedroom Harmony on the Lakes cabin listing. One of the best things about this home is that in addition to all of the bedrooms, it also has a ton of flex space, including this huge dining room and a huge office. So, I definitely had to show them all off, especially with that gorgeous paneling. I bet you think I'm hiding behind the desk. I'm not. I'm hidden right here. This house also has a really great open concept floor plan. I like the huge island in the kitchen. Initially, I was going to hide there, but I was like, "Psh, that's too obvious." Why don't I hide behind this curtain? The primary bedroom in this home is absolutely humongous. You've got a walk-in closet, a huge sitting room, plus you have views because the house backs up to the woods. So, I love that they did those huge windows over here. That's why I decided to hide behind this door. As if this home didn't already have enough space, you also have a finished basement downstairs with a full bedroom and bathroom, plus this great entertaining area, so it'll make for the perfect in-law suite. Where do you think I'm hiding? There's not much furniture, so this might be obvious. I'm behind the couch. If this house looks interesting to you, go ahead and drop me a comment down below. I'll schedule a showing. I won't even make you play hide and seek.

If you have kids and you haven't taken them to the Cherokee County History Center in downtown Canton yet, put it on the list for this weekend. This is a full free museum at 11,000 square feet that takes you through over 10,000 years of Cherokee County history, six galleries, interactive exhibits, hands-on stations designed specifically so kids can touch and engage with what they're learning. There's a race car simulator, vintage film theater, Native American artifacts, and a collection of over 100,000 items. Adults get in for $5, but kids under 18 get in for free. It's one walk off of Main Street, right next to Brown Park, can make a whole downtown day of it. This is one of those Canton hidden gems that deserves way more foot traffic than it gets. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Let's go play some hide and seek in this stunning Canton Ranch with a three-car garage. One of the things I love most about this house is that it's really accessible. And this bathroom is a really good example. You've got hand holding like bars in the gorgeous tile shower, as well as on the toilet. So, if you need if you have someone who needs a little bit of mobility access, this house is absolutely perfect. I'm hiding right here. >> [snorts] >> One of my favorite things in this whole house is a three-car garage. There's so much storage in here, and so many room so much room for so many things. Where do you think I'm hiding? I hid behind this wall. One of the absolute best perks of this home is the outdoor space. The fenced yard is one of the largest in the whole neighborhood, and if it were me, I would literally spend every single morning drinking coffee on the back porch. I just want you to take it all in for a second, but I'm right here, hiding below the house because there's a walk-out basement. If you are interested in seeing this gorgeous Canton, drop a message down below. I promise I won't even make you play hide and seek.

If you live in Canton Georgia and haven't tried Rock & Roll Sushi yet, I need you to put a date on your calendar and go. It's right here at The Mill. It's locally owned, American-style sushi with a full rock and roll theme, and honestly, the vibe alone is worth the visit. We're talking creative rolls like the Prima Donna roll and the Crowd Surfer roll, hibachi, and a solid kids menu for families with kids who aren't quite ready for sushi. It's a great pick for a casual date night, a family dinner, or just a quick lunch that doesn't feel boring. They're open 7 days a week, and if you have been sleeping on this one, now is the time to fix it. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Today I'm out with Lori of IDK Homegoods. And Lori, what kind of beautiful things can people expect when they walk into your store? What what do you have here? We have a little of everything here. We have beautiful antique furniture. We have gorgeous lamps, pictures, dishes, China, amazing stemware, Pyrex, Tupperware, just a little bit of anything and everything that you would find for a home. Absolutely. As I'm looking around at the store, I see so many things I would love to take home with me. And we even saw a gorgeous like spinning wheel earlier. What did you call that earlier? It is like a a spinning spinning wheel. >> description of it. So truly, if you are looking for a treasure, I'm sure that you'll find whatever you're looking for here. They've got a little bit of everything and it's all beautiful. Thank you. >> [laughter]

If you have ever dreamed of opening a business in Canton, Georgia, there is one address you need to know about, 225 Reformation Parkway. The Mill on Etowah is a 250,000 square foot historic mixed-use development sitting right on the Etowah River in beautiful downtown Canton. It was built in 1900 as a cotton mill, sat vacant for decades, and in 2018 was purchased and completely transformed into what it is today, a thriving destination for dining, retail, entertainment, and community. The tenants you already know and love like Reformation Brewery, Bully Run, Kilwins, Magnolia Villa, Cotton Mill Exchange, all of those businesses went through a leasing process to get there, and currently there are some spaces available. So, if you have a concept that fits, a restaurant, a retail shop, a creative business, a service you think would be amazing, The Mill isn't just a place to visit. For the right kitten entrepreneur, it could be where your story starts. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you've been searching for a six bedroom home in Harmony on the Lakes with some great [music] custom upgrades, you are going to want to see this one. With nearly 4,000 square feet, this home has an amazing [music] space with six bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and a full finished basement. The great layout on the main floor is open concept and it [music] has hardwood floors, a kitchen with an island, a breakfast bar, and a separate dining room that seats 12 or more. There's even [music] a dedicated office space that would also make for a great playroom. The location inside Harmony on the Lakes is hard [music] to beat. You've got trail access directly to Lake Harmony, plus the community clubhouse, pool, fitness center, and [music] playground all right there. It's also in the Sequoyah High School district and just minutes from everything Canton has to offer. [music] This is a very special house and I think you're going to love it. Drop a comment down below if you want more information. I'm Kate Valor with Homeside Valor helping you buy, [music] sell, and invest like a pro. You bring the dream and I'll bring the road map.

Big news for Canton, Georgia. There is a rezoning case on the table that's worth paying attention to. The address is 631 Marietta Road and the request is to rezone the property from O1, which is office use, to general commercial or GC. The plan attached to that variance is a grocery store and an office building on the same site. Now, the details on the specific grocery store and office haven't been confirmed publicly yet, but I will keep watching this one and report back as more details come through, especially because this one is super close to where I live. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Here is one of the best free things happening in Canton Georgia right now that not enough people know about. There is free yoga every Wednesday at the Mill on Etowah. It's outdoors, it's community based, there's no cost. All you need to do is show up with your mat. Now, in full transparency, I am not flexible, like at all. I consider it a win if I can eventually touch my toes sometime in my life, but even I can appreciate that this is a beautiful way to spend a Wednesday morning. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Mondays don't have to be the worst day of the week, at least not in Canton. Kilwins is hosting bingo every Monday now, and if you've never done bingo in an ice cream and chocolate shop, you're absolutely missing out. It's fun, it's casual, and it's the perfect excuse to treat yourself and get out of the house to start the week on a good note. Kilwins is already one of the sweetest spots in the mill, and now it has a standing weekly event to match and bring you tons of fun. Monday nights, be at Kilwins Canton. Bring a friend, grab something good, play some bingo. What could be more fun than that? Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you were looking for something fun to do on Thursday nights in Canton, Trivia on the Green is your answer. It is an outdoor trivia night, fresh air, a great crowd, and the very specific satisfaction of crushing your friends on a category you happen to know everything about. This is the kind of community event that reminds you why you moved to a small town in the first place. Grab your people, come up with a team name you're proud of, and show up Thursday nights in Canton. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

I've got some Canton Georgia news for you guys today. A Canton company just announced 70 new jobs are coming to Cherokee County and here's where that matters to you even if you've never heard of this company before. Commercial Bank and Business Equipment, also known as CBBE, has been quietly operating here in Canton since 1985. They make high-end custom interiors for banks, hospitals, and corporate offices all over the country and now they are going all in on Canton. They just broke ground on a brand new 130,000 square foot headquarters at Canton Corporate Park on Knoxbridge Highway and that's nearly three times the size of their current facility. They're backed by 25 million in capital investment and that's why 70 new jobs are coming to our community. More jobs that means more people moving here, more people moving here means more demand for housing and more demand for housing in a city already growing at 3% per year means one thing for property values. This city is not slowing down. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

As a realtor and coffee lover in Canton Georgia, I'm always looking to learn more about the coffee shops that I know and love here in our city. Today I want to introduce you to one of my very favorite local shops. Welcome to Frickin Frack Market. So, the name Frickin Frack, that's actually my brother and I. Francy and Frankie is Frick and Frack. We're siblings and we've been cooking together our whole lives. Good food [music] has always brought our family together. So, in 2016, we started selling our handmade pasta sauces at local farmers markets >> [music] >> and it just took off from there. I have a degree from the Culinary Institute of America. Frank comes from [music] a career in IT and we kind of make an unlikely pair, but honestly, [music] that's what makes it work. When we found this space out here in Union Hill, we thought this is the chance to build something bigger, not just sauces, but a whole experience. A place where people can come in, grab an incredible cup of coffee, pick up fresh baked pastries, stay for lunch, or grab one of our gourmet frozen meals to take home [music] to their family. We use locally roasted coffee, our baked goods are made fresh every day, [music] and our gourmet meals feature our own recipes and sauces. Whether you're grabbing a lavender honey latte on your way to work or sitting down for one of our supper club dinners, we hand [music] select products that we actually believe in. Our goal is build a community around food and Canton has just welcomed us with open arms and that has meant [music] everything to us. So, if you haven't been out to see us, come on by. We're at 2805 Lower Union Hill Road, right here in Canton. We're open 7 days a week and we'd love to have you. This is exactly the kind of locally owned community-driven business that makes this [music] city such a special place to live. I love living here in Canton and if you do too, you should follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton, Georgia, just crossed the 40,000 resident threshold and it's not slowing down. The city is growing at nearly 3% per year, and since the 2020 census, the population has jumped over 20%. And here's what that means for you if you own a home in Canton right now. You are sitting on one of the fastest-growing cities in the entire Metro Atlanta region. Buyer demand isn't letting up, and with new residents pouring in every month, there are more people competing for the same limited number of homes. And if you're thinking about buying in this area or renting, honestly, don't wait for the market to calm down. With the city growing this fast, the Canton of 2028 is going to look very different from today, especially with the big infrastructure projects they have coming. Canton isn't just a suburb anymore, it is becoming a destination, and the numbers prove it. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Here's an important update if you drive anywhere in your Cherokee County, Georgia. This is going to affect you starting right now. As of March 30th, 2026, Cherokee County School District has installed cameras on the exterior stop arms of all school buses. These cameras are monitoring for illegal passing of stopped school buses across the entire district. For the next 30 days, if you're caught illegally passing a stopped bus, you'll receive a warning notice by mail, no fine, just a warning. But starting May 4th, 2026, that grace period is over. Anyone caught illegally passing a stopped school bus will be mailed a citation for $1,000. Yeah, you heard me right, $1,000 straight to your mailbox. So, the next time you see those flashing red lights and a stop arm extended, treat it as the law it is. A child's life is worth more than the 30 seconds you'll save, and now it could cost you $1,000 to find that out the hard way. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Canton Georgia parents, grandparents, caregivers, this one is for you. Minis at the Mill is happening every Wednesday morning through May 27th and it is such a great free program for your little ones. It's a morning activity built specifically for the youngest kids right here at the Mill on Etowah. So, if you're looking for a way to get out of the house, connect with other parents, and give your toddler or young child something fun and engaging to do midweek, this is it. The Mill has already done a really great job building programming that serves every age group in the community and Minis is the perfect example of that. So, every Wednesday morning through May 27th, bring your little kids and get ready to have a great time. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Big news for the Canton food scene today. JD's on the Lake is opening for the season on April 9th. It's the perfect spot for waterfront views, barbecue, low country boil, fish tacos, live music on the weekends, and yes, if you recognize the location, it's because part of Ozark was actually filmed right there. They spent the off-season building a brand new deck system and new bathroom, so prepare for the season to be better than ever. Follow my page for more insider Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Have you tried Bizarre Spring menu yet? My top drinks right now are as follows. Number one, the Wild Blue, of course. If you haven't had it, just go. I don't want to over sell it, but I need you to try it today, tomorrow. I don't care when, but go. Number two is the Toucan Sam. I personally take off the Fruit Loops because I'm not like a cereal person, but customized or as it is, it's one of the best drinks on the menu and I love that apple syrup that they put in there. What I love about Bizarre is that they make drinks that are worth talking about. I'm even making a whole video about it. So, they have become such a fixture of what downtown Canton feels like right now. And if you want to stay in the loop on Canton local businesses, neighborhood updates, real estate, go ahead and follow this page.

You want the real, honest, local answer for the best pizza in Canton? Here is what I think. First, Brooklyn Joe's on Highway. Go there and order the Bronx Bomber or the New Yorker. Either one is great, both are the kind of pizza that reminds you that chains are bad and local places are amazing. Second, Johnny's New York Style on Riverstone. They've been serving this community since 2018 and the order here is simple, at least in my book. Get the Johnny's Deluxe Pizza. It earns the name and it is literally so good. Third, Parada's Pizza. If you want a meat-forward pizza done right, The Meat Market is the one. They have all kinds of incredible so go there and be brave. >> [laughter] >> Three different options, three great reasons to eat local, and all of them are right here in Canton. So, go ahead and follow my page for more Canton updates and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Wedding season is here and if you're venue shopping anywhere near Canton, Georgia, these three venues are absolutely worth knowing about. First you have Venue 92 in Woodstock, which comes across as modern, elegant, and flexible. They have two ceremony locations and two interior spaces and it's great for a polished event. Of course, you also have the Wheeler House in Ball Ground and that's one that has that classic North Georgia feel with the historic home, custom barn, chandeliers hanging from old oak trees. It's super beautiful. I went there for a wedding a couple of years ago and highly recommend it. There's also the Tate House up in Jasper with 27 acres, mountain views, gardens, and that iconic pink marble mansion. So, if you are getting married this season, I highly recommend shopping local and in the meantime, follow this page for Canton area updates, community news, and local real estate insight.

If you live in Canton and you own a business, or you've been thinking about starting one, I want to make sure that you know that this is happening right here in our city. UGA is working with the city of Canton and the Cherokee Office of Economic Development to offer a free small business advancement series at the Thrive Canton and the Mill on Etowah. Sessions run from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and they are completely free. Coming up, they have courses like QuickBooks Made Simple on May 12th, Leadership That Works on August 11th, and Financial Fluency on November 10th. Here is why I'm sharing this as a local realtor. Thriving local businesses directly impact property values and quality of life in Canton, and when small businesses succeed here, this city gets stronger. That's good for all of us. I will be personally attending two of the sessions and hope to see you there. And if you want to stay connected on what's actually happening in Canton, follow this page. I cover it all.

If you have been in downtown Canton lately and have been wondering what's going on at the old Plant Daddy's space, here is what you need to know. Buzzard Coffee appears to have expanded into that location. They small batch roast their own coffee for their shops, subscriptions, and wholesale accounts. And this looks like it's going to be a roastery and operations expansion for them right in the heart of downtown. And I want to be honest about why this matters, beyond just coffee and how amazing Buzzard is, when a locally grown brand outgrows its space and reinvests right here in Canton instead of leaving, that's a signal that people are spending money on local small businesses who create a great product and build a well-known brand. Downtown Canton has some serious momentum right now, and that momentum is showing up in property values as well. So, if you are curious about what's happening in the local market, follow this page. I keep a close eye on all of it.

Looking for a home in Canton with space, privacy, and updates already done for you? This one is definitely worth your attention. This home has five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, one half bath, over 4,500 square feet, and it sits on nearly an acre tucked away on a quiet cul-de-sac in Hickory Woods. Inside, you've got light-filled living spaces, a sunroom, a finished basement, three fireplaces, and a layout that works well for both everyday life and entertaining. The kitchen has white cabinetry, an island, a walk-in pantry, and views into the main living area, so everything feels connected and open concept. This home has been thoughtfully renovated from top to bottom, including heated floors in the primary bath, custom closets, updated finishes, and so many upgrades you're going to absolutely love. Outside, you've got a large, private lot, a deck, a screened-in porch, and plenty of room for outdoor living, gardening, play, or just enjoying a little more peace and privacy. So, if you have been waiting for a home that gives you everything you have been looking for, this one is absolutely one to keep on your radar. I'm Keith Valer with Homes by Valer, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro. You bring the dream, and I'll bring the road map.

Let's go play hide and seek in this gorgeous camp listing. One of the absolute showstoppers for this home is the master room and bathroom. The bathroom has heated tiles and so many incredible upgrades. I absolutely love it in here and that bathtub is to die for, which is why I decided I bought it. This house is literally one of the prettiest places I've ever been. It has this incredible open concept living room with the tallest ceilings I think I've ever seen. But instead of hiding in there, I hid in the pantry, which has wallpaper too that's super cute. You guys already got a sneak peek of this incredible closet and there are actually two of them. But I wanted to show it off, so I decided to hide in here. Where do you think I ended up? Bet you didn't know that there was a secret pocket of space area. One of the absolute coolest things about this house is the incredible finished basement. When I tell you this thing is huge, I mean it. It literally goes on and on and on. There's a full bedroom, a huge bathroom, and multiple other rooms, including the one I'm hiding in now. Can you guess where I am? I'm right here behind this cool drum set. Shout out to my dad who plays the drums. If you guys want to schedule a time to come see this incredible house, let me know down below. I promise I won't even make you play hide and seek.

Big Canton food news, Little Alley Steak is coming to the Mill. The Mill has already teased yet and even though the Canton menu has not posted yet, Little Alley's current menus in Roswell and Atlanta give us a good idea of what we can expect as far as food and pricing. No surprise that we are looking at pretty high prices on this one. Appetizers that I'm looking at include the filet mignon Korean style crispy rice cake for about $24.95, the roasted bone marrow canoes for about $24.95, and several others in that same price range. For the actual steak part of the menu, you're looking $55 to $67 for a New York strip or typical ribeye with bigger cuts going much higher with the tomahawk bone-in ribeye coming in at $154.95. Their sides are also pricey at about $14 each with options like the triple cream mac and cheese and mushroom risotto. What do you think about this new restaurant? How does it compare to options we already have in Canton like Downtown Kitchen or J Michael Prime? I'm very curious to hear your opinions. Follow my page for more Canton updates and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you live in the Cherokee High School District in Canton, I have some big news for you. The new Cherokee High School is slated to open August of 2026 and the new school is planned about 473,000 square feet. It's going to be massive. It's designed for 3,000 students and is going to include 152 classrooms and a 4,500 seat football stadium. The district has said that the full Cherokee High School enrollment will move there when it opens with no attendance boundary changes currently planned. One thing that surprised me about the school's new build is that they also included a 1,000 seat auditorium, which means that in addition to investing in sports with a huge stadium, they've also invested in arts in their new campus, which I'm always glad to see. Want more local updates? Follow my page for more local Canton news and real estate advice on how to make smart moves here.

Let's go play hide and seek in this new Bridgemill Ranch. From the second you open the door of this home, I love that you can see through the entire thing. Just shows how open concept and nice and well-lit it is. I had a lot of choices of where I wanted to hide, but I ended up hiding in this closet because I wanted to show off that this place has so much storage and custom painted doors, which really add a nice accent. The next room I wanted to hide in is this beautiful kitchen area, just showing you how many upgrades they've done to this place. It has gorgeous cabinets that are soft close, plus quartz countertops, and tons of that storage I was talking about, which is why I decided to hide by the pantry over there. I'm absolutely in love with this backyard. Not only does it have this absolutely stunning Japanese maple, which is just the star of the show, but it's also fully fenced in, has an incredible party deck, which is perfect for grilling or just tons of potted plants. Like I can just picture so many back here. But when I was looking for a place to hide, this bush really caught my eye, so I hid back here. If you guys want to come see this beautiful house, let me know. I promise I won't even make you play hide and seek.

If you love Bizarre Coffee and have been wanting to try their coffee beans yourself at home, this one's for you. As your local Canton Coffee correspondent, I have actually tried a bunch of them and wanted to rank a few of my favorites for you. My number one is the espresso blend. It has the same espresso they use in shop, and Bizarre describes it as a medium roast made from Brazilian and Honduran beans with notes of caramel, apple, and almond. I'm not that fancy, so I don't taste all of those, but it does have a smooth, balanced flavor that works well for me for my at-home lattes where I just add a little brown sugar. My number two is Brazil. This was my favorite before we started trying the espresso beans and it's one of their best sellers. They describe it as having tasting notes of caramel, chocolate, and nuttiness, and it makes it very easy everyday coffee. My number three is Soulful, and I like this one okay, but I feel like the Brazil has a better flavor for my at-home lattes, so I only order this one if the others are out of stock. And then finally, sadly, fourth on this list for me is Tropics. It's a dark roast blend with chocolate, caramel, and sweetness, and honestly, this is actually one of my top two favorites, but my husband doesn't like dark roast, so this one falls lower for us in our house. Follow my page for more Canton updates and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Let's play some hide and seek in this beautiful new construction Canton home. I love the entryway on this home. It's so nice and bright and white and open. I would talk about it more, but my knees are dying and I'm hiding right by this tiny piece of furniture. [laughter] Look at this incredible kitchen. The island is humongous and I absolutely love that they chose a feature color for the cabinetry. Where do you think I'm hiding? I was going to hide in the walk-in pantry over there, but I feel like I always hide in the walk-in pantry. So, instead I hid by the fridge. I found such a good hiding space in this room. I bet you guys will never find me. I'm hidden somewhere, but don't only only look at the fireplace, okay? Only look at the fireplace. It's so pretty and they have such a nice mantle and it's connected to Alexa. Fancy. The primary bathroom on this house is so incredibly pretty. I love the tile they chose for the shower. There's even a seat in it, so it's easy to shave your legs. Plus, it has dual vanities with a really nice counter top and a huge walk-in closet, but all the things were too nice. I decided to hide by the toilet. If you want to come see this beautiful Canton listing, drop a comment down below. I promise that if we come see it, I won't even make you play hide and seek.

If you were wondering what April looks like in Canton, the event calendar is absolutely stacked. On April 3rd, you've got the Easter egg crawl at the Mill on Etowah, which is a fun family event with an egg hunt, crazy prizes, and even worship on the green later that evening. Then on April 4th, head back to the Mill for the Spring Plant Festival where you can shop for plants, browse local makers, and just enjoy a really fun spring atmosphere. April 11th brings Masters at the Mill, a golf expo with food vendors, entertainment, and community fun all benefiting a great cause. And on April 18th, the Boling Park is hosting the Rock for Rescues Women of Country Benefit Concert, that's a mouthful, with live music, free admission, and donations supporting animal rescue. So, whether you love family events, plants, golf, or live music, Canton is giving you a lot to look forward to this April. Follow my page for more news on what's happening in Canton and for real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Today I'm out with Nick of Riggin Farm, and he's going to show us a little bit about what they have for sale right now. Nick, what kind of beautiful goods have we got behind you right now? >> My wife Ashley likes to make soap, so it's one of her rainy day activities when we can't go outside to garden. We have a huge selection of handmade natural soaps, some shampoo bars, some beard products, body butter. We also are a zero waste farm, so pig skin dog treats, so even the family dog can have something delicious from the farm. Green onions, dogs don't care for those, but they are absolutely delicious and go great as a garnish or as a main component for a lot of delicious recipes. We also have copies of our farm to table cookbook, Foodie Farmers, a culinary journey farm a culinary journey from farm to table. >> Nice. >> We have We talk about the agricultural aspect of what we grow. We also have recipes like here's a chicken pot pie recipe that features our leaf lard in the pie crust, which we sell here at the store. Wow. Um pictures of our pigs hanging out in pasture, um and then delicious tacos al pastor. Yum. Made with not that pig in particular, but one of his babies. [laughter] Nice. That looks amazing. If you want somebody who really knows what you're what they're doing and knows that he could even write an entire book, go ahead and check out Riggin Farm. They've got an incredible selection for you and they are local. Go ahead and check out Riggin Farm on Facebook today.

If you've driven by the Mill on Etowah lately and thought, "Wow, that area looks different." You are not imagining it. The new district on the Etowah apartments have changed the skyline in downtown Canton in a big way. And if you are wondering what they cost, the current pricing on their website starts around 1505 for a studio, about 1575 to 1945 for one-bedroom apartments, and roughly 1950 to just over 2100 for two bedrooms. The property is at 215 Riverstone Parkway, right by the Mill. But I'm curious, what do you think of these apartments? And how do you feel about how much this area is changing? Follow my page for more Canton area updates and real estate advice on how to make the most out of living here.

Looking for a house in Bridgeville under 500,000, I found the perfect option for you. Welcome to this stunning brick ranch. You've got three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and everything on one level, which makes everyday living easy and comfortable. The floor plan is open and modern with a kitchen that has been renovated with quartz countertops. >> [music] >> It opens up for the main living area, so it feels connected and perfect for everyday life and entertaining. [music] When you step outside, this is where it really gets fun. You've got a fenced backyard and a party deck just waiting for grill nights, game days, a birthday parties, or just potting plants in raised beds on the weekend and enjoying this beautiful spring weather. On top of that, you are in Bridgeville with the community lifestyle and incredible amenities people move here for in the first [music] place. So, if you've been waiting for a home that gets you into Bridgeville without crossing that half a million-dollar mark, this one is absolutely one to pay attention to. I'm Keyval with Homes by Keyval helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro. You bring the dream, and I'll bring the road map.

Want to sneak peek at the new Turkey High School? The new Turkey High School is inviting the community to a ribbon cutting and open house on Tuesday, April 28th, 2026 at the new campus. The schedule starts with a reception at 3:00 p.m. and the ribbon cutting ceremony at 3:15, and the community open house runs from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. So, if you've been wanting a first look at the new facility before students officially start classes in August, this is your chance. And the really nice part is that you do not have to be affiliated with the school or have kids to attend. This is open to the community, which I think is such a cool opportunity for people to see what this new major addition to Canton looks like up close, especially since we've sent a lot of tax dollars their way. This is the kind of update I love sharing because schools are such a huge part of how a community grows and how people feel about the future of an area. So, follow my page for more Canton area updates and real estate advice on how to make the most out of living here.

I think I just found your dream house. If you have been looking for a beautiful new construction four-bedroom home in Hickory Flat on nearly an acre with incredible upgrades, this is the one you need to see. This home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, 2,870 square feet, a three-car garage, and it was built in 2025. One of my very favorite things about this house is the stunning kitchen. You've got a huge center island, a gas cooktop, abundant cabinetry, and an oversized walk-in pantry. The whole space feels connected, modern, and perfect for both entertaining and everyday life. The primary suite overlooks the wooded backyard, and the bathroom gives you dual vanities, a tiled shower, and a spacious walk-in closet. Two other secondary bedrooms are also located on this main floor, and upstairs, you've got a fourth bedroom, a full bath, and a bonus room that could easily be your office, media room, gym, or a playroom. When you step outside, you really start to appreciate the beautiful lot. Finding lots this large in Hickory Flat is becoming more and more difficult as the area develops, so don't miss out. If you have been waiting for a home that gives you that new construction feeling, land, upgrade, and a layout that feels as good as it looks, this one is absolutely one you want to pay attention to. I'm Keith Aler with Homes by Aler, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro. You bring the dream, and I'll bring the road map.

Here's a big Cherokee County update to keep on your radar. The Yellow Creek Conservation Area and Trails is a new acre park coming to Yellow Creek Road at the Etowah River in Northeast Cherokee County. This is planned as a massive conservation park with about 15 to 20 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, plus separate trail systems for riders and bikers, separate parking areas, a restroom building, a horse paddock, equestrian primitive campsites, and even a future canoe and kayak launch. Cherokee County broke ground on this area in February of 2026, and the county says that it expects to open to the public in fall of 2026, so a pretty quick turnaround. So, if you love being outside, this is definitely one to watch. Follow my page for more Canton area updates and real estate advice on how to make the most out of living here.

If you are looking for an easy spring outing in Canton, here is one to put on your calendar. Spring at the Mill Plant Festival hosted by the Greenhouse Social at The Mill on Etowah. It's happening Saturday, April 4th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The Mill in Canton. And the event listing describes it as a day of shopping, sipping, and strolling with a plant market, local makers, music, photo ops, and mini drop-in demos with tips on repotting, beginner plant care, and spring refresh ideas. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase. So, if you love plants, local vendors, and a good excuse to wander around the mill on a beautiful spring day, this looks like a really fun one. Follow my page for more Canton area updates and real estate advice on how to make the most out of living here.

Let's go play hide and seek in this new two-bedroom, two-bath listing in Canton. One of my favorite things about this house is the open concept layout. I mean, I love this kitchen, too, don't get me wrong. Quartz countertops are stunning, but I love how everything in the room just feels like a great layout. Thought about a couple of different places, but I decided to hide here because it was the easiest and my knees are tired today. Now you're seeing the master bathroom. I love how upgraded everything is. Again, they have such good taste in this house. I'm especially in love with the closet. Where do you think I'm hiding? Obviously, I chose the gorgeous closet because I could literally just live in here. I finally found a room with space for all my clothes and shoes. This kitchen and living room combo is so nice that I obviously had to feature it twice. There's so much room to hide, right? Except that everything's empty, so it's actually really hard to hide. So instead, I hid out on this screened-in porch over here. If you think this house would be a great fit for you, let me know. We can schedule a tour. I won't even make you play hide and go seek.

A lot of people are focused on the new Cherokee High School, but here's a Canton update I think people really need to be watching. What happens to the old campus next could seriously shape the area. The Cherokee North building is planned to be renovated and reopened as Canton Elementary in August 2028, so that one's pretty simple. But the bigger wild card is the main current Cherokee High School campus because the district just announced that they plan to sell that property. And that campus is so large that whatever eventually goes there is absolutely going to shape how that part of Canton feels and develops. The profits are going to go toward vocational training for students, but that is not a small piece of property. It's the kind of site that can have a real ripple effect on traffic, nearby businesses, future growth, the overall direction of the area, and the the nearby Canton Elementary that they're planning on reopening. So yes, the new school opening is huge news, but I will also be keeping a very close eye on what comes next for the old campus. Follow my page for more Canton area updates and real estate advice on how to make the most out of living here.

Open invitation. Who is going with me to the new Tumi Peruvian restaurant in downtown Canton on East Main? From what I have seen, the food looks amazing and I'm dying to try their new pulpo a la brasa. Thank you, Dad, for the Spanish. AKA grilled octopus. And I love seeing new restaurants like Tumi because one of the biggest signs that downtown is getting stronger is when the restaurant mix gets more interesting. More variety means more reasons for people to come downtown, stay downtown, and keep exploring, which usually means more and more fun events and everything are coming as well. That's a huge part of what I think makes Canton special right now. It still feels local, but it just keeps adding more personality and cool events at the Mill and downtown. And as someone who helps people move here, that lifestyle piece matters a lot to me because buyers are usually not just choosing a home, they're choosing where they're going to make memories, meet friends, grab dinner after work, go on dates, all of that. So, follow my page for more news on what's happening in Canton and for real estate advice on how to win here.

Okay, Canton food review time. I finally tried the new Smashburger spot at the Mill, and here's my honest review. We went right when they opened at 11:00 on Saturday with a group of four, and we were able to get patio seating really easily. Our food came out quickly, which I always appreciate. And what do you tell I thought was so cute was that instead of table numbers, they used little dog breeds for the table markers. Three of us ordered the Smashburgers, of course you got to go with a classic, and I gave mine a solid nine out of 10. The burger itself was delicious, but the thing that really stood out to me was that they used a sweet Hawaiian roll bun instead of your typical burger bun. My husband ordered the buffalo chicken sandwich, and honestly, this was actually the star of the whole meal for me. I ended up eating half of it. It came on a hot dog roll with blue cheese, which I didn't even know that I liked for the record, and it tasted like absolute heaven. I would give that one an 11 out of 10. The fries were a classic crinkle cut fry, and with their in-house bully seasoning and a little ketchup, I gave them a solid eight and a half. We also tried two milkshakes. The chocolate milkshake was a solid eight, and the cookie thief milkshake with cookie dough and Oreo bits was probably a seven and a half out of for me, but that's mostly cuz I personally don't love chunks in my milkshake, so that's a total personal problem. Overall, the experience was great. The ambiance was fun, and the customer service was excellent. I will say that it's definitely a little pricier for a a burger place at around $13 for a burger and $4 for fries separately, but the quality did feel pretty fancy and probably match the price. Just keep it in mind. Have you been to Bully Run yet? What did you think? Follow my page for more Canton area updates and real estate advice on how to make the most out of living here.

If you live in South Canton, this video is for you. The South Canton Park is actively under construction off of Marietta Highway and the plans include a multi-level playground, small amphitheater, pavilion, walking trails, a skywalk in the trees, fancy, and a dog park space for both large and small dogs. The city says that it expects to open in spring of 2027, so that's actually really soon. And honestly, I am a huge fan of more parks in Canton. I think that it's a real quality of life project, and quality of life is one of the biggest things that I pay attention to in real estate. So, parks help neighborhoods feel more connected, more livable, and more desirable over time, which means increasing values. So, this is exactly the kind of local momentum I love seeing in Canton. Follow my page for more Canton news and real estate advice on how to make smart moves here in real estate and just living here.

Today I'm with Lori, owner of IDK Homegoods. Lori, what is the best current hidden deal you guys have in the store? Well, probably the best deal is right here in front of you. This um mattress and frame. It is one of the adjustable motion type beds. You can raise the head, the foot. It even massages. So, you might catch me on this a little bit later on today. Um when I need to massage my back. So, if you visit IDK Homegoods and you can't find Lori, find this bed first. She may be laying here having a good old time, but it's brand new. It's a beautiful piece and they have tons of special treasures like it and unlike it here at IDK Homegoods. Go ahead and check them out. I'll drop their details down below.

The even downsizing I have found the perfect home for you. It is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch, and it is the perfect open concept floor plan with all sorts of gorgeous finishes. You've got custom floating shelves, a beautiful fireplace, and gorgeous countertops that help the kitchen and living area both feel polished and [music] elevated. The primary suite has also been beautifully improved, and it offers features that make daily life feel easier and more comfortable. You've got a spacious custom closet, updated bath with finishes, and even the laundry room located right off the primary bath, which I think is just such a practical detail. Another standout [music] feature to me is the screened-in porch. It gives you a place to relax in the evening, enjoy your morning coffee, or entertain friends while still feeling connected to the outdoors without having a lot of land to maintain. And let's not forget [music] the two-car garage, which gives you plenty of room for parking, storage, or both. On top of all of that, this home is located in Pinnacle Place at River Green, a highly sought-after community known for its charm, strong demand, and great neighborhood amenities. So, with this home, you are not just getting a beautiful house, you are getting a great location [music] and a fantastic overall lifestyle. So, if you have been waiting for a renovated home in Canton that feels easy, stylish, and truly move-in and downsize ready, this could be the one. I'm Kate Allender with Homes by Allender, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro. >> [music] >> You bring the dream, and I'll bring the road map.

If you live in Canton and want to get into pickleball, here are my top three places to play. Number one is Kenny Askew. This is my favorite because the courts are free and you can reserve ahead during busy seasons. Plus, they also have skills and drills on Wednesday nights plus weekend ladder tournaments. Number two is the Y. I usually prefer outdoor courts, but the Y is still a great option because they offer open play, clinics, and tournaments. And open play is free for members or you can buy a punch pass if you are not a member of the Y. Number three is Veterans Park. It's a nice free option and I'm glad we have it, but there are only two courts so sometimes you get there and it's already full, which is why it's at the bottom of this list. Follow my page for more Canton updates and on and more advice on how to make the most out of living here.

As your local Canton coffee correspondent / realtor, here are my top favorites right now and what I'm ordering there. Number one, Bizarre. Obviously, it's spring's their wild blue is back on the menu, which means I'm there like 3 days a week. I also like to buy their espresso beans for coffees at home. Number two, Cafe Florelia. I am currently obsessed with cinnamon. My go-to there is the spicy bee. It's super good hot or iced and there's lots of good seating so you can work there or chat with friends. Number three is Frick and Frack. I only went there recently for the first time and I am obsessed with this place. I just wish that we're a little closer to me. They have great seating and incredible coffee. I like to order the iced cinnamon roll specialty latte and whatever daily homemade hot pocket they have in store. Number four is Stitch Coffee. If you want a milkshake a milkshake that is secretly disguised as a coffee, grab their Stitch Mocha. It's a huge guilty pleasure of mine and will put me to sleep for the rest of the day, but I absolutely love it. Number five is Alma Coffee. If you want actual delicious classic coffee that tends a little bit more true like toward coffee and less toward the dessert super sweet coffee that a lot of these have, this should be your go-to. I currently love their cardamom bun chai and I'm such a sucker for chai. So, as of making this video, I'm realizing I haven't been there in a while and I think I'm going to have to go there right after I finish. In the meantime, follow my page for more Canton news and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you were like me and you want nice curb appeal but you do not want plants that need constant attention, here are three that I recommend from one plant killer to maybe another. First, boxwoods. They're a classic, tidy, and they make the front of a house look polished without needing too much work. Second, loropetalum. I think that's what they're called. They add a great color and they grow really well here in Georgia and they're a lot easier to deal with than fussier plants. Third is a classic with knockout roses. A lot of new construction puts them in because they give you that pretty pop of color without you needing to be out there babying them every 5 minutes. And honestly, especially with the crazy weather we always get here in March, some of our current plants did not make it and for once, at least it's not my fault. Follow my page for more Canton updates and on how to make the most out of living here.

For someone who likes to stay in the know, and you want the insider version of where Canton may be heading next, keep your eye on North Street. The city has shared concept plans for a major redevelopment that includes a parking deck, finally, ground floor retail, upper story apartments, a boutique hotel, and a courthouse related expansion. I honestly think that they're modeling it after the Avalon scene in Alpharetta looking at some of the pictures. So, let me be clear though, this is a proposal or a concept story, not a finished project, but still matters because it shows the kind of long-term vision Canton leadership is trying to mold for our downtown. And to me, that vision is clear. They want more walkability, more activity, more reasons for people to spend time in the heart of the city, so that prices and taxes, of course, go up. That's exactly the kind of bigger picture stuff I like helping clients understand when they're moving here. So, follow my page for more Canton updates and real estate advice on how to thrive here.

Here's a video time and not to spoil anything, but I am obsessed. If you haven't tried Taco Rico on Riverstone, literally what are you waiting for? Here are my quick ratings of what we ate. The ground beef tacos were a nine out of 10. They were delicious, especially when you added the lime and the green sauce. The carne asada burrito was my favorite and a standout. The quesadilla got a seven and a half out of 10 for my friend who ordered it, and my husband gave the chorizo tacos a seven out of 10. Said that they were solid, but not his all-time favorite. Overall, I thought that Taco Rico was filling, flavorful, fast, and definitely worth trying if you want street tacos and authentic Mexican food in Canton. Go ahead and follow my page for more kitten updates, local food finds, and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Want to be a part of a great charity event currently happening in Canton, Georgia? Check out Canton Empty Bowls. This year's event is set for March 21st, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Canton City Hall. The idea is simple. You buy a ticket, enjoy a humble meal of soup, bread, and dessert, and then take home a beautiful handmade ceramic bowl as a reminder that not everyone in our community currently has a full bowl of food. Tickets are listed at $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Follow my page for more Canton updates and real estate advice on how to make the most out of living here in Canton, Georgia.

Let's go play some hide and seek in this beautiful new Camden listing. This house has so many great places to hide. I love how open concept it is. You probably think that I'm hiding around the wall or behind the or behind the fireplace. >> [laughter] >> But I'm right here. I absolutely love this gorgeous kitchen and how they use green and white everywhere. I had to find a place to hide in it, but it was super easy because there's a walk-in pantry over here. This home has a couple of primary suite options, one of which is on the main. I'm in love with both of the closets, but I've been doing too much closet hiding and didn't want you guys to guess where I am, so I hid in the tub. It's such a beautiful backyard here. I love how much you can see of the water and how much acreage you have. At first, I was going to be committed and go ahead and hide in a tree or in the lake, but instead, I stood right here because it rained yesterday and I don't want to get all muddy. But look at it, it's so pretty.

Having a place nearby where you can shop for everything from everyday housewares to rare vintage finds is such a gift. That's why I love highlighting places like this here in North Georgia and why I'm here today at IDK HomeGoods. Hi, [music] I'm Lori with IDK Homegoods. We're a fullervice thrifted homegoods store. [music] And one of the things that make us different is that we go through after the estate sale is done and [music] get everything out of the house. So, you really never know what treasures you're going to find. We carry everything from antiques and [music] vintage to very practical items people need every day. Housewares, tools, lawn [music] care, kitchen items, lamps, pictures, glassware, stemware, crystal, china, pots and pans, Tupperware, pirates. You name it, it's all here. What people really love about our store is [music] our price points. You could come find something for a dollar or several hundred dollar. [music] So whether you're decorating a home, replacing something you need, hunting for collectibles, or just love a good bargain, there's [music] something here for you. Because we buy from estate sales, our inventory is always changing. [music] That means every visit gives you a little bit of a chance to find pieces that you wouldn't see [music] in a typical retail store. And a lot of what we carry has character [music] and charm. And that's part of what makes it so much fun shopping [music] with us. So, if you enjoy beautiful home pieces, vintage items, useful everyday items, and bargains [music] you truly won't find anywhere else, IDK is a place you need [music] to check out. This is exactly the kind of local spot that makes living in North Georgia so much fun. Whether you're furnishing a home, looking for something special, or just love the thrill of finding a great deal, IDK HomeGoods is definitely worth a visit. And if you're thinking about making a move in North Georgia and want a realtor who cares about [music] the lifestyle side of home ownership as well, I'd love to help. You bring the dream and I'll bring the road map. Thank you so much for watching. For more videos on what you need to know while buying a home, head to my channel to check out our buying 101 or firsttime buyer courses. Or if you're thinking about selling and want to understand the ins and outs of that process, check out our seller 101 course or our buying and selling at the same time course. All are here for free on YouTube. I will see you guys in the next

Canton's newest burger restaurant opens tomorrow, and here's what we know so far. Bully Run is a new concept coming to the Mill on Etowah from the owners of Pop's Canton. While the full menu does not seem to be publicly posted yet, they have announced that they're going to serve smash burgers, grilled cheese dogs, gourmet chicken strips, and other elevated comfort food classics, as well as some delicious-looking milkshakes. It's also being described as family-friendly, dog-friendly, and set up for an easy neighborhood hangout vibe with outdoor seating. I'm planning on stopping by next Saturday, so I'll hope you guys there, and I'll plan to report back with info on if it's really as good as it looks. Follow my page for more Canton updates and real estate advice on how to make the most out of living here.

If you've driven by the old Action Church recently and wanted to know why it was torn down and what's going on, this video is for you. The city is working on what they're calling the Hickory Flat Highway Gateway concept plan, which focuses on transportation and improvements heading to downtown. So, I was a little disappointed when I heard that it was going to be a corridor and not an expansion of downtown, especially since I live right around here and would have loved for them to instead of expanded the walkability of downtown instead. But, what do you think? Is this going to help with traffic? Do you think that that area was supposed to be something else? I'd love to hear from you. And in the meantime, go ahead and follow my page for more local Canton insight and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

What if you could have a newly built dream home? Acreage, no HOA, room for animals, a creek in the backyard, and luxury finishes that feel straight out of a magazine. Welcome to this stunning modern European farmhouse set on 2.55 acres of beautiful pasture with a creek lining the back of the property with no HOA. This is the absolute perfect homestead to set up horses, goats, chickens, a large garden, a barn, or whatever vision you've been holding on to and dreaming about. And the best part is that you get all of that freedom without giving up luxury. From the moment you walk in or even drive up to this house, this home makes a statement. The great room is absolutely breathtaking with 21 ft ceilings, a dramatic two-story feature wall, a gas starter fireplace that creates a warm, inviting focal point, and so much more. The open concept design is filled with natural light from expansive windows, and everything inside feels bright, elevated, and thoughtfully designed. The kitchen is a dream for anyone who loves to cook, host, or just enjoy a beautiful space everyday. You have a large granite island, a six burner gas range, stainless steel appliances, abundant storage, and a layout that works beautifully for entertaining. There is even a wet bar and back kitchen, which makes hosting feel effortless and so so luxurious. And on the main level, you also have a mudroom, drop zone, and a perfectly placed powder room that makes daily life easier. The main level primary suite feels like a private retreat. It features a custom accent wall, a soaking tub, an oversized glass shower with custom tiles, dual rain and wall-mounted showerheads, and a spacious walk-in closet. This home has five bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, plus three possible laundry hookups, including one upstairs, and then there's the outdoor living. This setup is just as impressive outside as it is inside. You have both indoor and outdoor fireplaces, a covered patio, an yard is pool ready, and yes, there is even a charming tree swing that makes the whole property feel even more special. You also have a fourc car garage, which is a rare feature that gives you so much room for vehicles, storage, hobbies, and workspace. And the location truly seals the deal. This home brings together modern elegance, everyday function, breathtaking views, and the freedom to build the lifestyle that you want. There really is no place like home.

Here's some more under the radar Canton update that actually matters a lot. ADUs. ADUs stand for accessory dwelling units and it basically means a smaller additional living space on a residential property. Think like a she shed that's been finished. And with one actually going in right next to me right now, and as I see more popping up around the city, I figured it was time to talk about them. So, why do I care about ADUs? In a time where real estate feels less and less affordable, ADUs are a sign that people are searching for more housing flexibility that can help with things like multi-generational living, guest space, rental income, or just a smarter use of the property if they need more money or need more space and they won't find that by moving. And when I see them, it basically just means that Canton is getting busier and becoming a little bit more city-like than it's been. It's one of those policy changes with Canton starting to allow them that may not sound very flashy, but it can certainly have a real impact on how people live and invest here. Follow my page for more local real estate news and advice on how to win in the current market.

What if I told you that in Canton, Georgia, you could have privacy, a pond over 4,600 square feet, and a home that feels like a luxury retreat every single day. Welcome to this stunning farmhouse inspired estate in Holly Springs set on 2.32 private wooded acres with a peaceful pond view, the space, flexibility, and charm that so many buyers are searching for right now. With that huge square footage, four bedrooms, and five bathrooms, this home was designed to give everyone room to spread out, relax, and truly enjoy where they live. One of my favorite features is the main level primary suite. It feels like its own private escape with French doors that open right onto the deck, two walk-in closets, double vanities, a soaking tub, and a separate tiled shower. The kitchen is built for both everyday life and entertaining with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, a built-in oven, convection microwave, abundant cabinetry, and just a great flow that connects the beautifully designed kitchen into the main living spaces. Throughout the home, you'll notice the refined details that make it stand out. Durable, versatile flooring, custom trim and ballasters, designed tile baths, and a cozy gas fireplace that adds the right warmth and character that you're looking for in a living room. And then there's a gorgeous finished basement. This space takes the home to a whole other level. You've got expansive recreation and media areas, tons of room to entertain, and even a boutique style private room that could definitely become a glam suite, custom closet, creative studio, or whatever fits your lifestyle best. Outside, that lifestyle really does come together. This home offers luxury, privacy, flexibility, room to grow, so many other things, all in one of Canton's most desirable settings. So, if you've been looking for a property that feels all of these wonderful adjectives and more, this might be the one. I'm Gabler with Homes by Valor, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro.

Canton, here is one for my food people. A new Smashburger spot called Bully Run is coming to the Mill on Etowah and it's from the owners of Pop's Canton. If you haven't been to Pop's, it's incredible and I highly recommend it, so I'm very, very excited for this new burger place. I'm also excited because it is just another step toward the Mill becoming a place that people visit like the Avalon. It keeps getting more and more of a destination, so over time that's going to make Canton even more fun to live in, but it will also bring traffic. So, just balance those things. These are the kinds of things I watch closely as a local realtor because cities are obviously more than just houses. They're about having places to go, having great date night spots, having awesome places to go with family. So, yes, I'm absolutely watching this one. Follow my page for more updates on what's going on in Canton and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

Here's your quick Canton Insider update. March is stacked. You've got the Shamrock Shuffle Pub Crawl on March 14th across downtown and the Mill, the Northside Hospital Cherokee Easter Extravaganza, also on March 14th at Etowah River Park, and the Wing and Rock Festival on March 21st and 22nd. Not to mention that we have the Wildlife Expo going on this weekend as I'm recording this, as well as the West Main Arts Festival. So, this is why I always tell people that Canton is not just a place for homes, it's also a place with great calendar events going on and an amazing downtown. And that really matters when you're deciding where to live because great communities give you reasons to get out, have fun, go on dates, hang out with your family, and feel connected. And Canton just keeps giving us ways to do that. So, follow my page for more news on what's happening in Canton and real estate advice on how to succeed here.

If you want to see Canton show off a little, go to the Etowah Wildlife Expo March 7th and 8th, 2026 at The Mill on Etowah. It's free, family-friendly, and it draws huge crowds and is a great way to spend the weekend. I personally love events like this because it tells you what Canton is currently valuing and Canton is really leaning into outdoor life, family fun, and creating events that bring people together. It's a great event and tons of fun for kids and adults alike. And if you ask me, events like this are part of what makes living here feel fun, memorable, and why I love Canton so much. So, yes, as your Canton expert, this is definitely one of the weekends I would have on my radar. Follow my page for more news on what's going on in Canton and for real estate advice on how to succeed here.

One thing fun to do today in Canton? Check out the West Main Arts Festival. It's happening March 7th and it brings 40 plus artists and artisans along with performers and food vendors into that West Main corridor. And here's why I like that so much. West Main helps connect downtown Canton to the Mill area. So when you see more energy and events there, you're seeing Canton knit its destination areas together and make a more cohesive downtown. And follow my page for more local Canton updates and real estate advice on how to make the most out of living here.

If you care about your food, what you're feeding your family, and what you're putting in your body, having a farm nearby where you can source locally harvested produce [music] and meat is an incredible option. That's why I love living here in Cherokee County, and why I'm out here today to introduce you to Nick with Riggin Farm. Hey, I'm Nick with Riggin Farm here in Talking Rock, Georgia. My wife Ashley and I run this regenerative farm together. We started Riggin Farm because we wanted to raise food the right way. No shortcuts, no synthetic chemicals, just food grown from healthy soil and [music] animals cared for with respect. If you've been following us for a while, you may have heard us say CSA, and that stands for community supported agriculture. But here's what that means in plain English. You reserve a spot with our farm ahead of time, and then you pick up your food on a regular schedule. Think of it like a subscription, except [music] it's not coming from a warehouse or a mystery supply chain. It's raised right here by a local family farm, and reserving your spot helps us plan our planting and harvesting so we can grow more of what our community actually [music] wants. We have a produce CSA starting March 27th. Each week you'll [music] pick up a rotating selection of whatever's at peak harvest right then. Fresh vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, and other fun surprises. We can give you simple recipes and storage tips to help you [music] know exactly what to do with what you get, and how to keep it fresh. One of our biggest reasons people love a produce CSA is the freshness. A lot of what you take home is harvested the very same day right here on the farm, not shipped across the country [music] and held in storage for who knows how long. Our pork CSA is already underway right now, and the next season starts in May. This year runs for 12 weeks, and each week you'll get a mix of breakfast meats plus one to two dinner meats. And we guarantee bacon every other week. We also send weekly recipes so you always have an easy plan [music] for what's in your bag. And if you want to round out your staples at home, you can always add on farm fresh eggs. What makes our farm different [music] is that we're not trying to mass produce food. We're trying to raise it with integrity. Our animals are born and raised right here, living outdoors on wooded pasture with [music] space to roam and do what animals are designed to do. We believe if you're going to raise animals for food, you owe them a good life, and we take that very seriously every day. We farm in a way that focuses on the foundation, healthy soil. Healthy soil grows healthier plants, which supports healthier animals, and it shows up in the flavor and quality of the food. We also avoid industrial shortcuts. No hormones, no antibiotics, no GMOs, no [music] soy or corn are ever in our animals' feed. You're getting food raised the old-fashioned way, clean, [music] simple, and intentional. We don't use synthetic chemicals on our property, and we keep everything transparent. When your food comes from one farm you can visit, one family you can talk to, you're not relying on a long complicated supply [music] chain. You know where it came from, how it was raised, and how it was handled. That traceability matters. If you've been wanting a consistent way to eat more local, feed your family real food, and support a North Georgia farm, well, we'd love to take care of you. You can learn more and reserve your spot [music] with our CSA at rigginfarm.com/csa. Thank you so much for watching. For more videos on what you need to know about buying a home, head to my channel to check out our buying 101 or first-time buyer courses. Or, if you're thinking about selling and want to understand the ins and outs of that process, check out our seller 101 course or our buying and selling at the same time course. All are here for free on YouTube. I will see you guys in the next one.

People are always asking me how are the schools in Cherokee County when they're considering making a move here. That question gives me a chance to rave about the new Cherokee High School and even tell the story of how I met my husband Eric when I was still a student at the old Cherokee High. However, even with the very greatest schools in the world, some kids still need a little bit of extra support to succeed and feel confident. That is where Katie Huller, founder of Kids Can Read and Write, comes in. Hi, I'm Katie Huller, founder of Kids Can Read and Write and creator of the Black Belt Reading Program. I've spent over 30 years teaching kids of all ages to read and write, first in the classroom and then privately because I believe that when a child learns to read and write with confidence, it opens doors and it changes their future. And what I want parents to know is this. Even bright, creative, capable kids can struggle, especially if they have attention challenges, memory issues, or processing differences. When that happens, it doesn't just affect grades. It affects how they see themselves. You might hear them say things like, "I'm dumb. I hate reading. I can't do this." Those are help signals, and that's where I come in. The first step is always getting clarity. I assess what your child already knows, what skills are missing, and what's making reading and writing feel so hard. Then we fill in the missing skills step by step, and start making real progress. We focus on what matters, practice, and improve. We turn I can't into I can, I won't into I will, and I'm dumb into I'm smart. I offer one-to-one tutoring online for those who want a more personal guided approach. We meet online once a week for an hour. No need to drive across town. I review with your child, teach a new skill, help your child get the hang of it, and then send home a structured practice packet so you know exactly what to work on during the week. If your child masters it, we move forward. If they need more time, we slow down. We move at your child's pace, adjusting as necessary, and we help build their confidence and skill set. Another option is the black belt reading program. It's a self-guided online program I created to help you teach your own kids on your own time schedule. It has short video lessons you can watch with your child whenever learning is convenient for you. Practice worksheets so you know exactly what to do to help your child master the skill at hand. And certificates which act like belts so your child can feel proud of their progress as they work through the program and learn new reading and writing skills. You don't need to be a teacher or go through any special training. Just watch the videos with your child. Practice the new skills and enjoy seeing your child progress. Everything is laid out for you so you always know what to do. It's basically tutoring with me in a box. My mission is simple. To turn struggle into success so your child feels capable, confident, and smart again. If you want to learn more, you can visit kidscanonlineacademy.com or kidscanreadandwrite.com. And if you're wondering which option fits your child best, reach out. I'd love to talk through it with you. We are so lucky to have Katie and Kids Can Read and Write here in Cherokee County. So if you have been trying to figure out how to help your child and you want a real plan to finally get them on the right track, get in touch with Katie. And if you decide to get the Black Belt reading program to help your child, make sure you use code Kate 15 for 15% off to show her that you saw this video. And if you are thinking about buying or selling, I would absolutely love to be your realtor. I'm Kate Valor with Homes by Valor. All you have to do is bring the dream and I'll bring the road map. Thank you so much for watching. For more videos on what you need to know while buying a home, head to my channel to check out our buying 101 or firsttime buyer courses. Or if you're thinking about selling and want to understand the ins and outs of that process, check out our seller 101 course or our buying and selling at the same time course. All are here for free on YouTube. I will see you guys in the next

As a realtor, I get a lot of questions about roofs. I'm Kate Valer with Homes Valor, and today I want to introduce you to my go-to roofing expert, Justin Chastain with NBS [music] Roofing. >> Hi, I'm Justin with NBS Roofing. And if you're buying a home, selling a home, or just trying to protect the one you already own, your roof is one of the most important things to pay attention to. A roof protects your family, your home, and everything inside of it. When something goes wrong, people need someone they can trust to show up, tell the truth, and help them make a smart decision. That's what I love most about serving families with what I do. I get to help people in moments that can feel stressful or overwhelming and give them clarity. One of the craziest things about roofing is how often a roof can look totally fine from the ground, but once I get up there, I find storm damage. We find weak spots of ventilation issues or leaks that would have been much bigger problems later down the road. That's why having someone check it out early can save you a ton of money and a ton of stress. [music] For buyers, we help you check the roof before you overpay for a home. We can tell you if it looks like a repair situation or full replacement situation and what the likely cost range is. And that gives you a much stronger negotiation strategy [music] before closing. For sellers, we do pre-list roof evaluations so you can catch the deal killers early. And that means fewer surprises during inspection, less chance of getting a buyer who's nervous [music] and more confidence when you put your home on the market. And for homeowners, especially during storm season, we help with leak calls, wind and hail assessments, documentation guidance, and very fast repairs. If you think you have a problem, give us a call and we'll come out quickly. A small roof issue can turn into major interior damage if it sits too long. So, we prioritize speed and quality of work. At NBS [music] roofing, we believe in honest answers, hard work, and helping people protect what matters most. So, if you need a roof inspection, a repair, or just a professional opinion, reach out to NBS Roofing. We'd be happy to help. >> This is why I love working with pros [music] like Justin Chastain at NBS Roofing. They bring clarity and they explain things in a way that help homeowners make smart decisions without feeling pressured. [music] If you are buying or selling in Cherokee County and you want a roof inspection or honest roof advice, go ahead and reach out to Justin and tell him that you found him through this video. And if you want help building a smart plan around roof condition, or repairs, whether you're listing, negotiating, or trying to understand what matters for [music] value, I'm Kalor with Home Valor, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro. Thank you so much for watching. For more videos on what you need to know while buying a home, head to my channel to check out our buying 101 or first-time buyer courses. Or if you're thinking about selling and want to understand the ins and outs of that process, check out our seller 101 course or our buying and selling at the same time course. All are here for free on YouTube. I will see you guys in the next

If you're a homeowner in Canton and your to-do list is getting longer instead of shorter, you are not alone. As a realtor here in Canton, I see this all the time. Busy families, people getting a home ready to sell, landlords with a turnover, and even families dealing with an inherited home where everything suddenly feels urgent. Today, I want to introduce you to a local resource I [music] trust. Jay Huller with My Handyman Helper. He's the guy you call when you need the little things handled before they turn into [music] big headaches. Hi, I'm Jay Huller and I run my handyman helper here in Canton serving Cherokee County and the nearby areas. My motto is simple. There's no job too small. A lot of people put things off because they think it's not big enough to call someone and I'll get to it later. And then that later becomes months and the list grows. Here are some of the common things I can help you with. painting, touch-ups, yard work, basic home repairs, light plumbing, closet and garage organization, trash removal, air filter [music] changes, the list goes on. If you've got a home project that's just been sitting there, just reach out and tell me what you need. What I want people to know is this. I'm here to make your [music] life easier. I show up. I communicate clearly and I help you knock the things out so you can breathe again, especially when [music] life is busy or when you're trying to get a house in great shape. Here's what the process usually looks like. You message or call me with what you need. Photos help a lot. And I ask a couple of quick questions. Then we set a [music] time. I come in with a plan to get it handled efficiently. If it's a list of small tasks, we can bundle them together and tackle them in one visit. And if you're getting a home ready to sell, that's a big one. Small repairs [music] and clean, simple updates can make a house feel cared for, and that helps it [music] show better. If you have a project you've been putting off, give me a call, and I'll be happy to [music] knock out your to-do list in an afternoon. You can reach me by calling 678-662-3192 [music] or by visiting my Facebook page at my handyman help. I look forward to hearing from you and helping make your life easier. If you're in Cherokee County [music] or anywhere close in North Georgia and you need help around the house with things like painting, repairs, organizing, small projects, or anything else, reach out to Jay with my [music] handyman helper and send him a message. He is going to do a great job for you at a great price, which is why I always recommend him to my clients. And if you are thinking about selling, downsizing, or you inherited a home and you're not sure what [music] steps to take first, I am happy to help you build a plan. You bring the dream and I'll bring the road map. I'm Kate Valor with Homes by Valor. This has been another feature of a small business in Canton. Thank you so much for watching. For more videos on what you need to know while buying a home, head to my channel to check out our buying 101 or first-time buyer course. Or if you're thinking about selling and want to understand the ins and outs of that process, check out our seller 101 or buying and selling at [music] the same time course. All here for free on YouTube. I will see you guys in the next one.

If you inherited a home and you are feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone. As a realtor, I work with families who need a fresh start, downsizing, moving, estate [music] situations, or even hoarding cleanouts. Today, I want to introduce you to Harley with Harley's Hauling and Services. He helps remove junk, cleared inherited homes, and tackle all [music] kinds of situations so my clients can move forward and get top dollar for their home. If you [music] need someone who shows up, treats your situation with respect, and gets it done, Harley [music] is who I call. >> I'm Harley with Harley's Hauling. We haul away unwanted items and help clear homes. Everything from normal cleanouts [music] to inherited homes, estates, and hoarding situations. A lot of our calls are from families who inherited a home and don't know where to start, people getting a house ready to sell, landlords dealing with a move out, or anyone who just feels stuck and overwhelmed by the amount of stuff. What I want people to know is that we treat every home with respect. We show up on time. We communicate clearly [music] and we try to make the whole process easier, not stressful. A lot of these situations are emotional [music] and we're here to help, not judge. Here's what the process usually looks like. [music] You reach out and you can either send photos or we can do a quick walk through. Then we give you a clear co quote [music] and we schedule a time and we handle the lifting, loading, and haul. If you need help sorting things and to keep, donate, trash, we can help with that, too. [music] And if you're dealing with an estate or a hoarding situation, we take it step by step. No judgment. We focus on safety, clearing pathways, and making steady progress while respecting [music] what matters most to you and your family. People also ask a few common questions [music] like, "How long will it take? Do I need to be there? And can you handle the heavy stuff?" Most of the time, we can move pretty quickly. You don't always have to [music] be present. And yes, we can handle the furniture, the appliances, garage cleanouts, [music] and the tough stuff that people don't want to do or can't do on their own. If you're overwhelmed, reach out. Even if you're not sure where [music] to start, we'll help you make a plan and get it cleared. >> Thank you so much, Harley. We are so lucky to have your business right here [music] in Cherokee County, and I always love working with you, and I know my clients do, too. If you need anything at all, hauling away anything in North Georgia, reach out to Harley's Hauling and Services. And if you are thinking about making a move in North [music] Georgia and you want to work with a realtor who knows her stuff and people who are as awesome as Harley, I'm your girl. I'm Kate Valor with Homes by Valor. And if you bring the dream, I'll bring the road map. Thank you so much for watching. For more videos on what you need to know while buying a home, head to my channel to check out our buying 101 or first-time buyer course. Or if you're thinking about selling and want to understand the ins [music] and outs of that process, check out our seller 101 or buying and selling at the same time course. All here for free on YouTube. I will see you guys in the next >> [music]

Have you ever walked into a home and thought, "This is it?" That is exactly what you'll feel when you come and visit 118 Lake View Circle, a stunning 6,000 plus square foot customuilt craftsman that somehow manages to be grand, inviting, and absolutely unforgettable. Inside and you're greeted by natural light pouring through oversized windows, gleaming hardwood floors, and high-end finishes in every [music] direction. Plus, the kitchen is a chef's dream with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a large center island perfect for [music] entertaining. Upstairs, the primary suite is exactly what luxury living should look like. Complete [music] with a private sitting room, a fireplace, and balcony access, and a spa worthy bathroom featuring a soaking tub, marble vanities, and an oversized walk-in closet. The finished terrace level adds even more possibilities with a kitchenet, bedroom, bathroom, and bonus living area, ideal for guests, extended family, or an Airbnb suite. In fact, projections show potential rental revenue for this home at around $135,000 per year with an estimated profit margin near 73,000. This home truly has it all. Five bedrooms, five bathrooms, multiple fireplaces, and a layout that offers space for every lifestyle. [music] Every project has already been completed by a meticulous homeowner who has maintained this property with care [music] and pride. And here is the very best part of it all. All of this is nestled in Wleska, Georgia within one of the most desirable gated communities in North Georgia. With its golf course, two pools, marina, hiking trails, pickle ball, tennis, and boat rentals. You're not just buying a home, you're stepping into an incredible lifestyle. So, if you are looking for space, comfort, and the kind of long-term value that buyers kick themselves for missing out on later on, you will want to schedule a time to see this home in person. I'm Kate Valor with Homes by Valor, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a

One of my very favorite things about living in Canton in the fall is all of these great different scarecrows that the different businesses put up. A lot of them have different reward options like Visa gift card drawings or whatever if you take a picture with the actual scarecrow and post it online. So, make sure that you take time to walk around downtown, see what all the businesses have come up with, and fall in love with Canton all over

[Music] If you're thinking about buying new construction in North Georgia, it's important to know who is building these communities and what makes each builder unique. After all, not all builders are the same, and choosing the right one can make a really big difference in your experience and your long-term home value. So, today I want to go over some of the top builders in North Georgia who commonly build homes in the area and what you should know about each one before you buy. First, we have Smith Douglas Homes. If you are looking for affordability without sacrificing quality, Smith Douglas is a great option. They focus on functional, valuedriven homes in suburban communities, making them perfect for first-time home buyers or anyone really looking for a budget friendly new build. The owner of the company actually grew up in Carterville, so they're a local company as well. Second, you have Meritage Homes. Energy efficiency is Meritage's specialty. They build with cutting edge insulation, high efficiency HVAC systems, and smart home features that help lower utility bills. If long-term energy savings matter to you, Meritage is definitely worth considering. Number three, Toll Brothers. If luxury and customization are what you're after, Toll Brothers is well known for its high-end finishes and beautiful architectural details. Their homes often come with upscale design options, spacious floor plans, and premium amenities. Number four, Venture Communities. This local builder focuses on high-quality craftsmanship at a competitive price. They tend to build in upandcoming areas that are a little bit further out and offer stylish, modern designs and thoughtful layouts. Number five, Triton Homes. A wellestablished builder in the Atlanta area, Triton Homes delivers a mix of town homes and single family homes with attention to detail and livability. They're mostly known for building in desirable locations with easy access to shopping, dining, and major highways. Sixth, you've got Stanley Martin Homes. Stanley Martin is known for building slightly smaller communities and typically builds only spec homes, meaning that you aren't going to necessarily have the chance to do too much customization, and it's going to depend on what they've already pre-selected for which homes you're going to be interested in. They have a great reputation and great reviews, though, and they are an upand cominging company in Georgia. Each of these builders has something unique to offer, and choosing the right one depends on your budget, lifestyle, and long-term goals. That's also where I come in. I help my buyers evaluate builders, compare incentives, and negotiate the very best deal possible so that they can make a confident decision. If you are considering new construction in North Georgia, feel free to send me a text or give me a call. I would absolutely love to have a conversation with you and to help you find the perfect home with the right builder for you. And if you found this video helpful, please be sure to like and subscribe for even more expert home buying tips and selling tips as well. I will see you guys in the next one.

Today, I want to show you one of Canton's bestkept secrets, Alatuna Landing. This is a quiet, well-established community with no HOA, which means that you have the freedom to enjoy your property your way. And while it doesn't offer typical neighborhood amenities, what it does offer is even better. Large lots, traditional homes, and a peaceful setting just minutes away from beautiful Lake Alatuna. Located in Cherokee County, Alatuna Landing gives you access to some of the best tax advantages in the metro area. Plus, it's zoned for the brand new Cherokee High School. Now, let's talk about the homes and what they're like within the neighborhood. Most homes here are traditional style three to four bedroomedroom with two bath to two and a half bath properties built in the 1990s and early 2000s, and most of them sit on nearly an acre of land. They offer mostly two-car garages, spacious driveways, and room for everything from RVs, boats to backyard gardens. It's the kind of neighborhood where homes have character, lots of breathing room, and where you're close enough to Lake Alatuna to sneak in an afterward kayak session or weekend on the water. So, if you're looking for more space, less restriction, and a true Canton lifestyle, all close to downtown Canton, where you'll find cute coffee shops, walkable shopping, and amazing restaurants, Alatuna Landing might be exactly what you've been searching for. I'm Kate Valor with Homes by Valor, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro. [Music]

Welcome to Cherokee Township, a brand new town home community by Triton Homes. Nestled in the heart of Aworth, Georgia, this thoughtfully designed neighborhood offers the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and lowmaintenance living. Located just minutes from downtown Aworth, downtown Woodstock, and the outlet shops at Atlanta, Cherokee Township provides easy access to I75, I575, and Highway 92. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate nearby Lake Alatuna and Red Top Mountain State Park, offering ample opportunities for boating, hiking, and recreation. Cherokee Township features 64 luxurious two-story town homes showcasing the award-winning Brooks and Bryson floor plans. These homes offer three to four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and spacious twocar garages. Inside you'll find open concept living areas with 9 ft ceilings on the main level, stylish kitchens with large islands, and versatile loft spaces perfect for a great home office or even a reading nook. The owner's suit boast of expansive walk-in closets and spa-like bathrooms, while the secondary bedrooms provide ample space for family or guests and great closet space as well. Homes in Cherokee Township are currently priced from the mid300s. Several moveinready options are available now with more homes nearing completion. Residents enjoy a lowmaintenance lifestyle with lawn care handled by the HOA. The community's design emphasis is on comfort and ease, allowing homeowners to spend more time enjoying the home and the amenities and less time on upkeep. If you are seeking a stylish, lowmaintenance town home in a prime location with top rated schools and abundant recreational opportunities, Cherokee Township should absolutely be on your list and could be the perfect place for you to call home. Schedule your tour today and discover the exceptional lifestyle that awaits you. I am Kate Valor with Homes by Valor Realy at Keller Williams Realy Partners, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro.

Thinking about moving to Kennesaw? Let me introduce you to Stylesboro Cove. A quiet established neighborhood that's packed with value and potential. Located right across from Big Shanty Park, you're just steps away from tennis courts, baseball fields, soccer fields, and even an art station. Plus, you're just minutes away from Kennesaw State University and Town Center, which is home to tons of shopping and some great local restaurants like Capers Restaurant and Bar, Virginia Ramen, and Sushiology. The homes here in Stylesboro Cove were mostly built in the late 80s and early 90s and are currently mostly in the mid to high 300s price point. They feature mostly split level layouts with large living rooms featuring fireplaces, kitchens that have generally been updated within the last 5 years or so. Three to four bedrooms, quarter acre lots, and mature trees and landscaping that you just don't see in newer neighborhoods. It's a neighborhood that is perfect for families looking for space and convenience, investors who want solid rental potential, and even parents looking to buy a home for a KSU college student to live in with roommates now and then continue to rent it out after they graduate. If you want to know more about homes in this area, or if you're thinking about making a move, reach out to me anytime. I am Kate Valor with Homes by Valor, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro.

Today I want to show you a hidden gem in Kennesaw that checks all the boxes. Welcome to 706 Steelwood Drive. This home sits on a beautiful private lot with a usable grassy yard, perfect for pets, play, or just soaking in that Georgia sunshine. Inside, the layout flows beautifully. Check out this spacious living room with a cozy masonry fireplace, ideal for chilly nights or movie marathons. The upgraded kitchen features granite countertops and opens up to a light-filled dining room, great for entertaining or quiet family dinners. You also have great access to this large screened in porch, a perfect place to relax, dine or enjoy your morning coffee, all bug-free. The primary bedroom is a true retreat with a generous sized closet and a private on suite bathroom as well. Upstairs, you will find two more spacious bedrooms as well as a full bath. So, there is plenty of room for a family or a roommate setup. Downstairs, you've got a finished basement that works perfectly as a fourth bedroom, home office, or even a game room. And it's actually home to a humongous closet, which gives you great extra storage. And check this out, a fully encapsulated crawl space of clean, dry storage area that you can actually stand up in. Super rare and super useful. There is no HOA in this neighborhood, which means you can bring all your toys, trailers, RV, or even turn this into a great rental property. The home is also just minutes from Kennesaw State University. So, it's ideal for renting out a student housing. Plus, you're directly across from Big Shanty Park with tennis, baseball, soccer, and an art station, which is perfect so that you have access to amenities without the restrictions or payment of an HOA. And when it's time to eat, you have tons of great choices like Capers Restaurant and Bar, Gina Ramen, and Susiology. All sorts of other delicious options as well. This incredible home is for sale now and opportunities like this don't last long, especially in a location as ideal as this. If you would like to see it in person, schedule your showing today with me. I would love to give you a tour and help make it yours. I'm Kate Valor with Homes by Valor, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro. [Music]

Hi, I am Kate Valor with Homes of Valor Realy and today we are taking a closer look at one of Kennesal's hidden gems, the Glen Lake neighborhood. With just a quick drive to 575 and 75 and a 10-minute drive to KSU, it is in the perfect location for a quick commute. But what really sets Glen Lake apart are its beautiful amenities. Residents enjoy access to a private lake with a scenic pavilion perfect for weekend picnics or evening strolls. There's also a neighborhood pool, a tennis court, basketball and pickle ball court. walking trail, two playgrounds, and so much more. Whether you're raising a family or just love being outdoors, there is something here for everyone. The neighborhood itself is peaceful and beautifully maintained with wide sidewalks, mature trees, and a true sense of community. Now, let's talk homes. Glen Lake features well-built traditional homes, mostly with three to four bedrooms, spacious layouts, and thoughtful updates. Inside you're going to find open concept living areas, large Eden kitchens, cozy fireplaces, and private backyard patios, ideal for entertaining or relaxing. Many homes also include updated master bathrooms, ample natural light, and functional space that works for both everyday living and hosting. The neighborhood truly is special, and its location is ideal. Whether you're commuting to Atlanta or just running errands around Kenna, you are only minutes away from shopping, dining, parks, and toprated schools. Plus, you're a quick drive to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. Great for hiking and soaking in some nature. Whether you're a first-time buyer, growing your family, or even downsizing, Glen Lake has something that fits your lifestyle. If you're looking for that perfect mix of location, amenities, and a welcoming neighborhood vibe, Glenlink might just be your next home. Thinking about buying or selling in Glen Lake? Reach out to me. I would love to show you around and help you take the next step with confidence. I'm Kate Balor with Homeside Balor Realy, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro. [Music]

We got the soil test. We got the survey. All we're missing is you. Come on down to Ael Road. 11 acres. Beautiful. The perfect place to build your dream home. Let's go check it out. So, the first thing I want to talk to you guys about is the location of this amazing property. It's located in north of Wlescus, which is a short drive down to Canton or Jasper depending on which way you want to go. Now, guys, this piece of property is so private. It's located in such a lush green part of Allesca that I just can't stop raving about it. It has a pre-cut driveway which will really help if you're really trying to hit the ground running when it comes to building your dream home. Has a nice little cutaway portion right here for the base of a building. And having that survey and soil test that I mentioned earlier will really help you just expedite your entire process. and the process would be worth it because look at this mountain view. Oh my gosh, you guys. It's just so gorgeous. Now, if you're also looking to try and figure out maybe if you can put a barnaminium on the property or something of that sort, I would always recommend reaching out and finding out. So, let's do this thing. [Music]

Welcome to 4009 Glenlake in beautiful Kennesaw, Georgia. Located in the sought-after Glen Lake neighborhood, this home gives you more than just a place to live. It offers a lifestyle. Imagine just being an easy three-door walk down from community amenities like a sparkling pool, a serene lake with a pavilion, tennis court, pickle ball court, and a playground. All perfect for both relaxing and staying active. The home itself is just as special inside. You walk into an inviting open concept layout that flows effortlessly from the stunning two-story living room to the dining area and into a large upgraded kitchen complete with double oven with gas stove, built-in lights, farmhouse sink, upgraded stainless steel appliances, and so much more. There's also a stunning eat-in kitchen setup, which is ideal for entertaining or quiet nights in. Upstairs, you'll find three generously sized bedrooms, including a stunning master suite with a beautifully updated bathroom. Truly, this bathroom feels like your own private oasis and just could not be more stunning. The other two bedrooms are a great size as well. One is currently set up as a great office, and the other would make for the perfect guest room or nursery, and both have easy access to an upgraded bathroom. Don't forget the private backyard patio, which serves as the perfect peaceful spot to unwind and host friends on the weekend. Not only is there a gorgeous deck space, but there is also full granite countertop built-in grilling area, perfect for game day or relaxing with the family. Want to see it in person? Let's schedule your private tour today. I am Kate Balor with Homes by Valor Realy, helping you buy, sell, and invest like a pro.

If you have been searching for the best backyard you've ever seen with a great house to match, I have the perfect option for you. Located in beautiful Jasper, Georgia, this home has all of the upgrades you've been looking for, including an absolutely fabulous backyard that is fully landscaped and fenced in. The inside is just as stunning, featuring an open concept layout, large primary bedroom, complete with gorgeous onsuite upgraded primary bath. I love the separate tub and shower that you have in this bathroom. So luxurious. You've also got a large secondary bedroom right next to your second bathroom and your third bedroom. The layout of this house is incredible. All of the rooms are large and it's just a beautiful, incredible place. I have no doubt that this is a special home and could be an incredibly great place for you and your family. Let me know if you have any questions about it. I would love to show it to you and show you that this home is the one you've been looking for.

[Music] once you've had your professional photos taken you might be wondering what happens next before your listing actually goes live well it turns out there is a lot that happens behind the scenes to make sure that your home gets the best exposure possible first your photos are going to go into a professional editing process which typically takes around 24 to 48 hours while we late for those to come back we get to work on actually crafting your listing we use the seller homework package that you completed to highlight the most unique and special features of your home in the listing description because the right way words can make all the difference in attracting buyers next we're going to input the details of your home as accurately as possible into three different MLS systems fmls Georgia MLS and Nava these mls's reach agents All Over Georgia and allow us to reverse Prospect for potential buyer matches they are also going to ensure that your listing appears on Zillow realtor.com and doesn't of other sites where serious buyers from all over the world are searching during this time we are also going to edit your video walkthrough and schedule it to go live on Facebook and YouTube the day your listing Launches on top of that we also are going to set up a geot targeted campaign to get as many potential buyer eyes on your home as possible this means that we're reaching the right people in the right areas at the right time we're also going to use this time to make sure that everything is perfect so that when your home goes live it gets maximum exposure and attracts the the best buyers if you have any questions during this process just reach out I am here to help and I am so excited to get your beautiful home in front of hundreds and thousands of buyers so that we can find the right one for you [Music]

welcome to Fieldstone a community nestled in the heart of Canton Georgia if you are considering a move to the area let me introduce you to the many reasons why Fieldstone could be the perfect place for you first Fieldstone is one of the best neighborhoods around for those of you who are looking for a minimal HOA payment with good amenity access for only $350 a year as of the time of making this video you get access to a swimming pool a tennis court a playground and street lights not only that but you are in a fantastic Canton location with Qui access to some of its best restaurants and coffee shops living in Fieldstone means that you are never far away from great dining first you've got Williams Sy brose who serves the absolute best barbecue around bizaar coffee with its delicious breakfast and seasonal coffee menus are also nearby and of course you've got a super close Papa John's for fast pizza delivery as for school districts Fieldstone is located within the brand new Cherokee High School District and also feeds into Canton Elementary and Teasley Middle School price ranges for homes are currently in the mid 400s making this one of the more affordable neighborhoods in Canton where you can still find large houses that are relatively modern and a great location now that you know a little bit about the neighborhood itself let's take a closer look at one of the Beautiful Homes you can find within Fieldstone here I want to show you 1074 Fieldstone Drive listed at $459,900 for right around 2400 ft what makes this home so special is that not only is it home to five bedrooms and three baths but it also has its very own pool as well as a fenon backyard and two-car garage you'll find all of this in Canton for under $500,000 which makes it an incredible opportunity and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that it will go quickly it's also a demonstration of the kind of very special home that you can find in Fieldstone if you are looking for a community that offers both tranquility and convenience fieldston in Canton Georgia might just be the perfect place to call home if you would like to get a list of homes currently available in Fieldstone or schedule a showing at one of the ones that is for sale please reach out and I would be happy to meet with you let you know about the area let you know more things that you might love about Fieldstone and use my expertise to show you some of the beautiful homes that are for sale I'm Kate Valor with homeside Valor and I look forward to meeting with you [Music]

this is the home you've been waiting for five bedrooms three baths including an in-law suite in the basement and an inground pool are you kidding me all for under $500,000 in C Georgia almost makes you want to jump right in okay I'm kidding it's too cold for that but let's go see the house 1074 field Stam Drive is truly a special place even beyond the gorgeous pool in the backyard it has just as incredible of an inside beginning with this open Flex space adjacent to the upgraded kitchen complete with beautiful countertop stainless steel appliances and upgraded Cabinetry I love those glass fronts on those cabinets you've got easy access to the dining area as well as the large living room complete with stone fireplace I also love the hardwoods that they have all throughout this main area and all of the natural light that comes in from the windows by the front door the bedrooms are so special bedroom number one is home to this gorgeous mural and it has great closet space and bedroom number two is just as cute and also has great storage then you head over to the primary bedroom which has stunning tray ceilings lots of space and an on Suite bathroom complete with stone surround tub upgraded Cabinetry and stone top vanity then if you go outside you actually have porch access to the backyard directly from this bedroom so you can go out and sip your morning coffee look at the beautiful inground pool the usable yard and the fire pit that is back there for those of you who like hosting parties or spending time making s'mores in the backyard This truly is an Entertainer's dream of a home as we head back through the house you'll also see that there is another full bathroom here on the left for those secondary bedrooms to share then we're going to go ahead and go down to the basement where we have even more space awaiting us you have this whole basement is finished you have easy access to laundry that door shows you the two-car garage that is attached to the home and one of the very special features is this in-law suite that's here it is a combination bedroom and kitchenet area with lots of extra storage and plenty of room for potentially even a living room setup this is such a great option if you have generational living uh if you have your in-laws living with you or you have kids who need more space and you even have a fifth bedroom down here plus they went ahead and they upgraded this downstairs bathroom with full surround Stone shower it is truly an Exquisite work of art down there this home is also located within the Beloved Fieldstone Community the hoe is only $350 a year and is home to a tennis court pool park space and street lights I think you guys are going to love this home let me know if you would like to see it and I would love to set up a showing for you

if you are considering making a move to Canton Georgia you've probably seen some homes from great Sky pop up in your search great sky is one of my very favorite communities here in Canton Georgia because it is surrounded by nature but also has incredible amenities giving you the best of both worlds there's a recently renovated 5,000 square foot Clubhouse a triple pool water park with a slide tennis courts pickle ball courts a basketball court and miles of walking trails it's the perfect place for people who love the outdoors and an active lifestyle it's also huge the neighborhood has over 2,000 homes with a mix of different styles so there is something for everyone new construction homes by Venture communities are also available for those of you who prefer new over resale and their floor plans are absolutely wonderful they currently have four floor plans available first you have the Fair View with 2278 Square ft its open concept Ranch layout and beautiful primary bedroom with two huge closets and upgraded bathroom make this the perfect home for those looking for one Lev living you also have the Windsor with 2882 square feet stunning open concept layout and five bedrooms and a whopping 4 and a half bathrooms they also offer the Fairfax so 2500 square ft a great entertainers layout five bedrooms and four baths this is a great option for those looking for the primary bedroom on the main floor but who still want two stories finally there is the Crest Haven which serves as their model home and has 2494 ft as well as full four bedrooms and three baths there's also a large flex room on the main floor of this plan which would make a great office space or dining room if you're looking for that kind of space home prices throughout the neighborhood vary a lot but new construction is currently offered starting in the 500s with tow houses and resale options occasionally dipping down into the mid 400s for a more affordable option keep in mind that when buying new construction in the neighborhood with Venture communities they are also offering a permanent rate buy down right now for rates to go as low as 4.99% when working with their preferred lender if that helps it make it more affordable for you it is districted to armore Elementary Teasley Middle and the brand new Cherokee high school that they're building which should be complete very soon One Financial perk of living here in great sky is that Cherokee County does offer both Homestead exemptions and retirement tax benefits for those older than 62 overall great sky is a fantastic place to live if you want a beautiful amenity-rich Community with a strong sense neighborhood like any place it has its pros and cons but for many this is going to be a fantastic Community to call home if you want to learn more about homes feel free to reach out this is Kate with home my Valor I would love to work with you [Music]

welcome back to Kate's coffee talk today I'm going to be trying the blueberry coffee from Duncan to see how it Stacks up to the wild blue from my all-time favorite coffee shop Bazaar coffee they have just released their spring menu at Bazaar and the wild blo is on there and I've had three um in the past week and a half so I am somewhat of an expert U but I still wanted to try this one for those of you who are not close enough to Canton or Woodstock to try the absolute magic and deliciousness that is bizarre coffee okay let's go ahead and go for it looks good let's give it a little squl actually I haven't done that yet okay here we go okay it's good but it's definitely not bizarre level I would give bizar a full 10 out of 10 this is probably like a 6 and 1 half out of 10 but still worth trying as for actual real estate your real estate tip of the day is to brighten your house up as much as possible before selling Bri houses feel bigger and in a market where interest rates are making buyers pickier you want to give them every reason to feel like your house is warm welcoming and worth the money as for interest rates we were actually at our 30-day low for the last 30 days obviously at 6.72% with the range being from 6.72 to 6.95 and as for inventory we actually have another day where our highest numbers are our listings that have gone under contract and that have decreased their price meaning that if your home is pric correctly it's going to sell fast and if it isn't you're going to need to decrease let me know what questions you have and have a great day okay

what is up you guys it is Kate Valor with homide Valor and today I am excited to introduce you to the courtyards at ker flat a beautiful new construction active adult 55 and up Community right here in Cherokee County if you have been looking for a low-maintenance neighborhood with fantastic amenities thoughtfully designed homes and great retirement tax benefits this could be the perfect place for you this intimate Community consists of only 64 homes so you are going to have a builtin tight Nick atmosphere where neighbors can truly become friends and speaking of community residents here actually have access to some pretty top-notch amenities not only is there a clubhouse where you can gather with friends and neighbors but there is also a pickleball court for staying active and even a dog park for your furry companions one of the very best things about living here though is that the HOA covers your lawn maintenance so you can enjoy a beautifully maintained yard without Ever Lifting a finger or having to bring lawn equipment to keep in the garage HOA fees are currently $215 a month as of the making of this video but that also includes garbage collection and access to those amenities as well as the lawn maintenance now let's talk about the homes themselves built by traton homes which has actually been voted best builder by cob Life magazine for four consecutive years these ranch style homes are designed with both comfort and luxury in mind each home features Ample Storage Space two or three car garages gmet kitchens with large islands luxurious owner Suites bonus room options and even optional second levels for extra living space and perhaps my very favorite feature a personal Courtyard with every single home if this sounds like the perfect place for you are going to want to act fast because there are only a couple of new construction homes remaining and after that resale homes will be your only opportunity to move in if you would like to take a tour or get more details on available home sites give me a call just to remind you I am Kate with homes by Valor and I would absolutely love to help you find your dream home either here at the courtyards at Hickory Flat or somewhere else I'm really looking forward to helping you find your perfect home and I will talk to you soon [Music]

what is up you guys I hope you're having a great day today I want to show you what it is like to live in BridgeMill in Canton Georgia I'm standing in front of one of the many signs right now because this neighborhood is huge and it has to be to contain all of the luxury upscale houses with Incredible features that they have here in BridgeMill if you're looking for a home anywhere between around 600,000 and well over a million this is going to be a place that is going to show up on your home search so I want you to know what it's really like to live there with top-notch tennis facilities pickle ball courts Golf Course access you name it Bridge Mill has one of the best amenity packages in Kon Georgia as well as very low HOA fees if you are not looking to participate in those amenities so you've got the best of both worlds if you are looking for luxury in Canton Georgia you should absolutely consider BridgeMill let's go ahead and take a tour when it comes to the homes in Bridge Mill we felt this one was very representative of the classic Bridge Mill style let's go ahead and jump right in from the moment you step foot in this house the first thing you'll notice is just how much beautiful natural light there is then you'll fall in love with this gorgeous fireplace and the open concept style of the living room to the upgraded kitchen make sure you see those two double up so if you're a chef you're ready to fall in love you've got this great guest bedroom with full bath right on the main level and then you have an attached two-car garage although there is another garage that you can't see there so it is a total of a three car garage so feel free to bring your toys and all of your cars uh then you've got this great separate dining room I love that Chandelier and the bay windows here and I love the French doors going into this office as well it's such a great space and I again just love all the natural light that's coming in there when you go upstairs you've got this beautiful oversized master bedroom again note all of the windows and this great additional sitting area as you go into the bathroom which features dual vanities as well as a soaking whirl poool tub and separate shower plus I love the custom shelving they did in that closet and that the toilet is a tucked away one just for privacy as you go through this bedroom you'll go back out into the Hall where you have three other bedrooms still on this floor first you have this secondary bedroom which has this great separate sitting room as well you can just tell this home has so much space and I love that it has an attached full bath as well so it's great as another guest room or a kids room or anything you could want it to be look at that closet space on a secondary you just don't see that nearly often enough almost every closet on these bedrooms is a walk-in I love that they put this beautiful upgraded laundry featuring utility sink on the same floor as all the bedrooms plus you've got another great size bedroom with a Jack and Jill full bath into this other bedroom so again note how spacious all of these are I'm even going to pop this Closet open for you look how huge that closet is there are so many storage options there's so much square footage going on in this house I'm telling you it is so great if you have just been looking for more space so what do you guys think of BridgeMill what questions do you have that I can answer would you consider moving there very curious to hear if brid Mill is a great P for you and I would love to answer any questions you have let me know how I can help and let's go ahead and find you guys at home

okay welcome back to today's episode of the Canton podcast as per usual we are your hosts we are your only people here who are talking great to see you again if you've missed our other episodes or don't know our faces by now I'm Kate and then this is my husband Eric yep we uh we run homes by Valor together we both live in and love Canon and so we just like to kind of chat each week about what we're loving about Canton some real estate news little advice things and then we always end up with with coup's trivia which either brings us closer together or drives us apart for the week you never know find out today right exactly but I figure you know we always kind of start off with what we've been up to this week it's kind of a little summary for you guys and also just a way to to stop it from being such a cold open so yeah it's a great time so you want to start a sopt cake sure I this week it has been all about tennis for me really I have been absolutely loving that the weather has been a little bit cooler now it has been nice when I say cooler I don't mean it's cold enough for me yet but I can usually make it through the first 45 minutes of tennis without extreme sweat and then only the second part of tennis is Extreme sweat so that's a big win for me that's a big upgrade from the normal summertime the fact that we've been seeing things in the 65 Dee range oh my gosh I love it it's been nice for us could be a little bit happier we talk about the garden we'll talk about the garden later our poor Garden we never should have been trusted they should have turned us away at Sprouts when we went to Sprouts to buy that's not what it's called what is it called it's uh it's Pikes Pikes why did I call it sprouts sprouts F grocery store right around there obviously I have good name for Nery to Pikes they should have turned us away at Pikes other than honestly I think the the tea Olive is doing really well the IND thorn yeah the both of those the purple bushes whatever those are called fabulous owners of those but the gardinas and aelas the Lazarus purple plant that we got what are you talking about the one that's in the the potted plant in the corner oh that one was awesome it was crazy it was completely dead dri a bone put some water on it and it it came back honestly that was miraculous and beautiful for a while I hope it still has one flower so I hope we're able to keep that alive but like like we were saying other than you know gardening and that it's been nice being outside the temperature been really good I mean it was even nice when we did the uh the 5K recently oh yeah that was really nice I think we talked about this on one of the other episodes but if you have not signed up for a 5k around Canton I would say it's it's turning the ideal time of year for it um they usually start really early in the morning so you are catching that kind of cold weather I know um bizarre when I talk about bizar all the time you'll later my dream is to get the owners of bizar on to this podcast I want to interview them and like see where all their ideas came from and all of that and Alma coffee would be great as well if you were a local business owner who would love to be on our podcast we would love to feature you by the way direct shout out because I would love to get some more voices to for from the community like talking about what it's been like to live in and work in Canton so just putting that out into the universe I'm talking to you if you have any sort of connection to Canton and you're a business owner please let us know we would love to feature you on our podcast and give you a you know a place to talk about what it's like to be a business owner here so completely true great great uh plug right there well I you know I talked about tennis and and that's by the way CTC Cherokee Tennis Center is in Woodstock so not technically in Canton but if you're looking for a great place to play I'd absolutely recommend going to them for great drills they do drills Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday mornings and every evening as well for an hour and a half for $15 courts look like they've got nice courts I mean I don't really have a a strong description but L of them there there are a lot of quarts I think they probably have 15 total or 12 total so it's like an entire tennis center it's a really nice place and all the people are really great and and it's a it's a fun way to get together so I did want to highlight that as well because for a long time when I graduated I didn't have a place to go and play tennis since we don't have one in our neighborhood and so if you are someone like that who wants a community who loves playing tennis definitely check out TC that's a good one I mean in the same vein of like hitting stuff on a court I've been really into pickle ball like I've been popping off on the pickle ball love pickle ball too honestly you might be converting I mean we talked a little bit about it maybe uh earlier um in another podcast we play prob did we've we've been playing a lot so we probably have talked about it but I love how many courts are available to the public in Canton you have Kenya SKU veterans uh over on coming highway you know there's so many public opportunities to go and just be able to play outside and like it's really quality there's been a huge Parks initiative that K's have been executing I love that I saw that they're putting in another Park um in ballground as well so I I have been so incredibly pleased with Cherokee County and the infrastructure they're building in for green spaces and Parks cuz I think we have so much growth coming and I love to see new housing opportunities and everything like that too that also makes me happy but fact that they're reserving these great green spaces for parks and play and kids to go and and used like as a nice healthy safe space i' love that I completely it's only going to become more important to have green spaces the more and more developed you know Metro Atlanta gets and and I also love that we can live in a neighborhood that doesn't have amenities but still have access to so many amenities it means that we can stay in our house longer before we need to move and you know like it's it's one less thing that's pushing us us to to have to upgrade houses or anything like that it's a very quality thing to have access toan good job Canton good job Canton and Cherokee in general I've I've been super pleased um well I guess that we kind of talked about what we've been up to but I guess just a lot of sports and enjoying the weather we have a busy social week coming up too not like I I'm I'm feeling almost a little nervous about it I'm like so excited to see everyone but I'm like okay Friday coffee date Friday evening friends and board games and Saturday friends come into town Sunday we have another like like we are fully booked this week your resident socialites don't mind us but we're excited I think it'll be a really nice time I'm I'm excited to see a lot of the people we even seen in a long time I think that's going to be great so yay I guess we can go ahead and talk about then the best thing we ate or drank around C this week um I think we both are thinking we've mind melded here we went by the farmers market and all that good stuff was so nice I feel so ashamed that we have lived in Kon for so long and we've never gone by the farmers market in for those you who don't know every single Saturday morning yep in Downtown Canton there's I want to say it's from like 8:30 to 12 or something like that somewhere in that range it's the morning time right morning to midday there's just a Canon farmers market that goes on and it's so cute there were so many like businesses that had stands cut like set up they had everything from um fancy fresh made macarons to hot sauces to locally butchered meat like just all sorts of great stands that that were fabulous and and it was really nice Ambiance to walk around there was music playing there a couple of the stands had like bubbles bubes I didn't like the bubbles it was not only great to just sort of like walk hand in hand and have like a little nice morning but it was also just fun to kind of see what's going on around and especially like going back to the earlier touch the temperature getting cooler oh my gosh it was all fantastic it was I don't know if you guys have ever seen like Gilmore Girls I honestly felt like I was in Gilmore Girls like walking around and enjoying local small town life and like meeting everyone it was really really nice so I highly recommend that that and then like First Fridays we've talked about a little bit I I love that Canton has focused focused so much on building in local events for people to meet other local people exactly I think it's really nice they're trying to build those you know interlocal business relationships and you know you prosper as a community 100% well we talked all about that but then we didn't talk about the best thing we ate or drink or Canton this week was around the farmers market which is bizar coffee yeah I know we already talked about bizar coffee I can't ever stop talking about them this is the problem this is why they need to come on our podcast but here here's the twist I didn't get coffee this last time I know well here's the thing you're not a huge coffee guy right I've converted you a little bit but it's taken some persuasion it's just a lot of bean water to me you know oh the Heartbreak not the bean water oh my gosh see this is why they have to come on they have to convert you fully but what did you get instead because you did enjoy it have a lot of other options that are fantastic even if you don't like coffee right so I'm a fan of their teas their chai I this past time got a matcha apple cider blend they were doing yeah what was it called like a the wicked Apple I think is what that was yes Wicked apple adderin right there yeah it it looks crazy any like if you can picture matcha it was basically like green on top and then like um apple cider below and they had like their different densities so they were resting one on top of the other until you it all around they complimented Each Other Well I liked it I get it again honestly I tried it I liked it once it was mixed I did not like it before it was mixed and you tried the other apple cider one too right just like the crisp Orchards crisp Orchard I think is what it's called where it's just locally sourced apple cider cider I also think is so cool and lemonade oh right and has cinnamon in it I forg cinnamon I did like the cinnamon that one that one was good too I'm such a sucker for cinnamon everything good in life has cinnamon involed I um what did I get I have now tried three of their new coffees from their fall I have to Avid anything that has pumpkin in it I don't I don't want to say it's I think it's only been a week I think I've gone three times this week I how embarrassing that I had to publicly announce that but you know what I am and proud about my bizar never embarrassing to support a local business that's what I'm saying I I love it yeah exactly there you go it's for the podcast yeah right I'm doing community research I've got to try the flavors but which has been your favorite that you tried that's a hard question I really like stick season actually that was a really good one I wish you wouldn't ask that I think it had sticks you know I can't remember it was such a good cozy drink though it had like chai Vibes I want to say or or maybe it wasn't chai but it had like the cinnamony Cozy sort of on it I remember you describing it to me I think that one was the one that didn't have foam the one that did have foam was cozy something I I didn't write it down but it was oh no fresh baked that's the one I'm talking about that one had apple and a cheesecake topper and like it sounds so good and it was good but I think my favorite is the one that I just had and that's golden hour golden hour it is so good it is a mocha I think it had caramel in it too so it's like a very it's like eating a cookie out of the oven it was like so sweet and delicious and I got it iced but I bet it would even be good warm like like a hot coffee wow that that means something from you com from me that is wild folks she does not like hot coffee I used to actually the Kate lore I used to only drink I used to only drink hot coffee until like four years ago and then I I like my sister was like I love iced coffee I was like ew why do you want it to be cold isn't that like gross and and then I tried it one time with her and it turns out she was right all along you want it to be she usually is so you can fight like entropy and stuff you know oh yeah me fighting entropy every chance I get that's that's why I make all my food choices the way I do um but anyway yeah so iced coffee now but I think that one would be especially good either way cuz it's so like mocha and yummy I had a it was pretty good honestly we should stop on the way back it was pretty good for bean I'll say it oh my gosh get him out of here all right so in you guys know we always like to do um a little bit of real estate talk too we love our local community but part of loving our local community is making sure that you guys are prepared to to be as successful as possible in real estate may even live in it and it turns out we know a thing or two uh we try and so we want to give you guys a few tips this week as far as real estate goes um one of the things that I wanted to kind of start out with is because we're seeing some kind of of big changes in the real estate world right now big shifts and like where money is coming from you know and who's paying agents and things like that and so one of the things I wanted to let you know is I genuinely think it's more important than ever I'm looking at you you see I'm not even looking at him I'm looking right at the camera it's more important than ever to choose an agent who you genuinely feel is a true Advocate and a true expert and professional For You especially as a buyer um right now we're in a a situation where they are no longer publishing um com compensation offered to agents on online which means that some sellers will continue to offer it no problem like you know no worries at all and then others might stop offering it and and you will need an advocate to either come in and help you get your agent's compensation paid for so that you do have a true Advocate who can write you the offers who can get you the door who can provide expertise um and so you really want to choose someone wisely you don't just want to go with your friend's sister who's been doing this for 6 months and who seems cool like you want someone who has hundreds of deals of experience if you know and and who works on a team who's been around for a while who has the resources to be able to give you that support and and who can have real conversations about the best way for you to navigate changes that are happening in the market the thing is I don't like at least right now we're not seeing crazy changes in day-to-day life but I think in the next few months we're bound to see some and so you just want someone who is who you feel completely confident not only wants to advocate for you but has the tools in their tool belt to advocate for you absolutely so just make sure like interview your agents thoroughly really have good talks with them about how what what sets them apart how are they going to look out for you in the current market and and how do they on their business in a way that's going to put you in a good position to make a good purchase or a good sale of your current home I think that's really good advice for such a moment of flux in the industry yeah for sure because the thing is and you know that was such a serious note but people are always going to buy houses people are always going to sell houses and so you just want to make sure that you choose a great advocate for you for whichever part of the process you're partaking in it's all going to be okay just make sure that you choose someone who who knows how to make it okay exactly so that's my little advice there good job good little advice thank you what did you want to talk about today well I want to talk about on maybe a less somber note uh the FED recently announced jome pal leader of the FED that there might be some rate Cuts in her future yeah rate Cuts R Cuts I know I know to be excited about that what does that mean rate Cuts mean that you can afford more on your loans so basically it means the interest rates are going down yeah but but the material how that affects you right is that you can qualify for larger loan amounts yes because your interest rate goes into how large your monthly payment is going to be like let's say you're borrowing you're you're buying a house for 300,000 you're putting down 40,000 that means you're borrowing $260,000 if you're paying 6% interest versus 5% interest on that $260,000 that's going to make a huge difference per month in your monthly payment and so the fact that rates are going down is fabulous news with the small like so what would you advise people do now so right now the cuts are not in effect right they've just said they're going to be they said they're going to be so and we have been seeing them Trend down I will say they have been kind of trending down um I think right now the FED has them at 5.3 uh uh again that translates to an actual nominal interest rate of a little bit higher on their real estate side it depends on your credit and how much you're all of that but their plan or what they've announced is their plan is that sometime in the middle of September they're looking at maybe dropping by either a Quarter U basically a point interest rate or even up to a half maybe so we might get down to 5% or something a little about we might go to 4.5 we might go to just five like it it's it's in response to uh the labor market getting a little bit more yeah uh dicey right I mean I don't know how I we I have definitely seen more people looking for jobs and so I'm glad that they're doing to housing more AFF because it's gotten so expensive around here that's great news with my only caveat being since we know that this rate drop is potentially coming we saw what happened you know when when the rates were down at 2 you know 5 2.75 you know really really low housing prices went straight up and so my best advice to people is honestly go ahead and start looking if you've been holding off for while find your house get it under under law and then refinance when it gets lower now refinancing is not always necessarily super cheap so find a lender who will allow you to maybe do it one time for free within the first few years or you know where that's built in where you can choose a new rate within the time that you've done a temporary rate by down whatever like that's a lot of lingo throwing out there so like feel free to reach out to ask particular questions but don't wait until the rates hit rock bottom or you're going to be fighting every buyer who also wants that same rate exactly you want to be on whenever you know rates are on the down slope you don't want to be at the valley exactly because otherwi that's when the prices are going to get significantly higher especially depending on how everything goes and how the timing works if that happens around spring Market we all know I mean even those of you who have not been in the real estate industry probably know spring Market is about the craziest time for housing anyway if those two things interact it's going to be bananas again soly you don't necessarily want to buy in a Banana's Market you want to buy in a market where you have a day to think about things to negotiate back and forth to get some closing costs paid for to get you know to to have more advantages in your favor in a more even market so just keep that in mind we obviously don't have a a crystal ball we can't see the future but I do think that if rates continue to drop and get very very competitive more and more people will be able to afford the houses that you're thinking about buying exactly pushes up competition and makes it harder to buy the house exactly you know just find that great balance there work work with an agent again just goes back to work with someone who has your best interests at heart and who who teaches you how to do this in the best way possible exactly and talk to your loan officers know their programs they have available and all that good stuff too oh I'm excited I just looked down at my list about the next thing I want to talk about and I do think this one's very important too it's a very different kind of note than what we've been talking about but it also comes down to thoughtfulness okay one thing I've been seeing a lot with my buyers who are starting to turn around and sell is that maybe 20% of them really wish that they had thought more longterm when they were purchasing and they didn't know that they would be in a financial situation to hold on to this house and then buy another one but if they had they might have considered more if they could rent it out or not because I'm having some buyers who were like hey I'm excited to buy my next house I really like this one I actually think it can make a great rental only my HOA restricts it oh you know how are they restricting that basically HOAs have covenants and and I'm not anti-a for just so you know I think it helps increase your value substantially it helps make sure that you don't have a terrible neighbor who drives you crazy because there are some rules they have to abide by but it's worth examining the HOA bylaws if you think there's any chance that you might want to rent out your home one day because sometimes they do limmit whether you can do that or not some some neighborhoods are they Pride themselves in not being renter friendly they Pride themselves in being owners only and that goes for short-term rentals it goes for long-term rentals it goes for all of those sorts of things so one thing to do if you re I know you can't know necessarily if you're going to be able to hold on to your current house you're going down the list you know and you're checking off all right here's I'm getting to my extras list I'm seeing what would be good for me to look at uhhuh as well then potentially consider that or even The Best of Both Worlds is when an HOA is limited on how many rentals it allows but you put yourself on the list when you first move in so that when a spot empties out okay maybe it's time for you to buy that next house that upgrade you've been wanting the bigger one you've wanted and rent out your current place so that you're you're still holding on to the increasing equity in that home anday paying your mortgage by by using that rent to pay for it so basically just that all sums down to try and think ahead of time when you're buying a house not just about renting but where are you going to be in 5 years do you think is this house still going to serve you or do you think you're going to want to sell it in that time and what current elements of this house make it great to sell in 5 years you know is the area growing would holding on for it holding on to it for two more years make a big difference like just try to think about that whole bigger picture instead of just getting excited about what the kitchen looks like do that too get excited love the houses that you're looking at but just also if you can keep in mind the bigger picture and how this is also a really great investment for you I think that's so good and it actually leads perfectly into what I was going to talk about I love it when that happens I know right funny uh I was actually going to talk about instead of the house and Covenants of that sort of stuff looking at land yeah right and rules that come along with land almost like covenants but on the county level or city level that restrict your enjoyment of that land yep yeah absolutely I I have a client right now who's been building and I recruited you to help put together a spreadsheet for them of here is how all of the different counties treat subdividing Parcels gifting land to family allowing little short-term rentals or accessory dwellings to be I mean just to give some examples uh in North Georgia right it varies County to County first of all if zoning exists un County doesn't have zoning that is crazy to me that's so crazy to me because they're one of the most important departments in most of the counties I work with so assuming zoning exists right call the zoning department you can get these answers there uh but basically you know there's a minimum acreage that you can reduce a parcel down to so say you got five acres you want to go ahead and parcel that into I don't know I want to give three and a two a three and a two or something like that sometimes you can do that if it's Zone Agricultural and a lot of them minimum five acres yeah you that makes a big difference right because you definitely like five acres you would think oh I've got so much land I can do whatever I want with it but it turns out that depending on the zoning it currently is you are still restricted even if you're not necessarily in an HOA or anything so minum acreage is something to think about also something that maybe not a lot of people think about is that you need to have a certain amount of Road front oh yeah that Mak huge difference so Road Frontage for those of you who don't know so say like that's basically how much your property butts up against the road uhhuh right so in a lot of uh counties it's 150 ft or it could be even down to 60 ft you know it just depends on the zoning and what the restriction and how busy the street is and all of that like a lot of that makes it difference one of the things that they definitely want is enough room for a good driveway to go in and still have buffer room so that it's not driveway driveway driveway driveway right suppos to be right if it's supposed to be like an agricultural area they don't want it to feel like Suburbia or or the Heart of the City and so they do want you to have enough Road Frontage that you're spread out and it still feels like you're you're in the country if you're zoned agricultural another thing a lot of counties don't like having more than one dwelling per parcel that's very important even if it's like I don't know you're building a small cabin in like the corner of your property or a guest house or something like that mother-in-law absolutely sometimes it has to be connected via Breezeway to even count for you to even start construction or they won't allow it at all and you have to parcel off a little bit of it if you have enough land to even do so you have enough land to do so and Road Frontage Road Frontage as well it's complicated man and that it's not even getting into short-term rental stuff right say you wanted to I know I got 10 acres I'm sitting on over in uh Towns County right and I'm just over here and I'm like all right well maybe I can parcel off a little bit of this and make a little bit of income on the side you know yeah put put a tiny little one-bedroom Airbnb little romantic you know cabin make your you may not be able to do it unless your your county allows it unless your county allows it some counties actually have to they make you go through an entire process of rezoning yeah and rezoning is kind of as complicated as it sounds don't you have to like submit like you have to submit an application to a board and then they approve it usually it takes months and then it can be denied yeah right so just things to be aware of you know getting the brain cogs chugging it doesn't mean that it is going to be but be prepared yeah think about everything all the time all at once but of course you can't do this so that's why you got us you can't yeah exactly that's what we're here for and also that's why we take this one step at a time right problems feel a lot easier when you can actually just know the steps you might have to take in order to see if it's possible so I mean how how do you eat any meal that's in front of you it's one bite at a time bite at a time one bite at a time yep wow that's very wise put that on a hat and a shirt double or [Laughter] nothing all right fantastic good real estate section real estate yeah good job the next one that we always like to talk about is date ideas around Canton ideas you know we kind of already talked about mine so I'll keep it short and sweet but we had such a nice time walking around the Farmers Market at Canton this Saturday that I would highly recommend you do the same grab yourself a coffee grab yourself a breakfast walk around the city and just enjoy like it's a very walkable little downtown it's lovely it for so the exact location of it is actually centered around Brown Park yes in Downtown Canton yeah such a cute little park there were tons of kids playing and enjoying the weather giant playground man it was fantastic yeah and then they had music going and they had the bubbles like I said like so it was just great Ambiance and then you kind of walk all around Brown Park where like you have stands set up on either side of the street rounding the square around ites it felt super casual no one was like poaching us trying to talk to us it just felt so nice and downtown like coziness it was very fall Vibes honestly it made me very proud to be a part of Canton I agree completely I was just sitting there going man I love where we live and I think that pretty often we love where we live but it it was like a little extra glimmer of of like Soul Joy going on so a good one I think that's a really good spot if you guys um like the whole like grab a coffee and Yap kind of situation for a date that's absolutely a good way to do it what you what's your dat so mine is a little bit more I don't know how you'd say it maybe a little bit more d style right I'm definitely I don't know between the two of us I feel like I'm maybe a little bit more of a home body that's probably true I do like to go out occasionally but I'm not we match up pretty well it's not like I like that much a double date board game night with a couple friend we're doing that W we're doing that this week what we're doing that multiple times this week oh my gosh we are aren't we I I think that's such a good dat idea I'm so excited for it honestly you know I sound a little bit sarcastic but I actually really enjoy a good board game night order in food from a local business you know yeah I'm excited I don't know where we're going to get it yet I I think we might get P which is not super local but still it's owned it's a franchise yeah owned by someone who lives in the community so that's a really good one um but anywhere you want to order in from that's local still support a local business if you can but just hang out and enjoy your house or your apartment or wherever like you don't always have to go out sometimes it's so nice to just relax at home we're totally same page it's a good one what board game should we play I haven't really thought about that maybe some munchkins no oh my gosh munchkins I have never been angrier at Eric than the one time we played munchkins I'm a highly competitive person highly competitive you don't give those vibes at all I need to win I don't think you understand it's important that I win and Munchkins is basically like a head-to-head like you like can cause you you can cause someone else to lose and like go back down Eric had it out for me the last time we played munchin we fought so much it was so bad we've recovered since then but I don't know that we've recovered enough to ever play M Spades inad I love Spades or photosynthesis that's a really that's a really beautiful board game it's maybe more in the strategy category for those of you who aren't maybe board game efficient nerds like us um but that's a really fun one I like that one a lot and what else have we been enjoying we've been enjoying medium your super Skills game super skills is so fun oh my gosh if you are not like a board game person but you like like sports super or like minute to win it if you ever watch minute to win it it's basically minute to win at challenges and they're so fun maybe we'll end up playing that that could be really good that could be a good time honestly it's fun it's I think we should play that with Alex and Sam oh they would love that I think they would have a lot of fun with it PR sure good okay well those are date ideas this week which means it's time for couples's trivia I'm getting more dramatic every week I'm going to need like a megaphone at some point or like a voice modulator to for sure to announce do you want to go first you want me to go first I can go first um sure so we we set a category each week and this week's category we started off with like Dreamhouse and then we decided that was too specific so we went down to just house General like personal house like personal homes like what we want like all that whole category exactly so my easy question what is my biggest pet peeve about our current house uh there's no basement what what do I hate about it come on you know this it's something we did but never finished is it that we haven't painted is that we never pain painting we oh my gosh we we bought this house and we were like ah the color it needs you know some painting need a little bit updating which is fine yeah we and we were fine with that we we got all the paint we needed we painted 95 lot from people who love us we got a lot of help from his mom in particular and then my family helped us with our bedroom and stuff upstairs but the problem is we got all of that done and then we were ready to move in we'd been painting so long we're like we'll finish the bathrooms yeah once we move it's only like two tiny bathrooms so easy we moved in all our stuff and then we've never finished the bathrooms it's it's bound to happen eventually it's been 3 years I'm not kidding I'm going to ask for it for Christmas or something this year like I'm going to go crazy if we don't finish it so so there we go putting it out in the universe our house will be finished painting this year it's been so long that if we put up the new paint it might not it might be a different color might have to paint everything no well that's better than not having it painted no you're right you're right you're right sorry next question okay so maybe half Point WR okay you got it in the end but it took a lot of hints I I do want a basement too by the way so that's a good answer but it's not my pet peeve it doesn't make me upet my bad I misunderstood the question all right medium question what have I said that I want to put in at our house that I would probably regret hint think outside is it like a Jacuzzi yes oh okay you got that exactly right I go through phases where I think that I am an outside lady who loves to sit in hot tubs and be in the world and it turns out I hate mosquitoes and I also love air conditioning and so I really think that if we got that it would be really nice but I don't think we'd use it nearly as much as as I think you were smart to talk me out of that basically so you get a point for being right and you get an extra half point for being the good common sense one when I get excited about the Costco Jacuzzi man will just have to wait for his next customer they are selling those at Costco right now they're pretty not going to lie got I got my eye caught a little bit um okay the hard question let's see where do I want to buy a vacation house if we can ever get one like and add it as a short-term rental is like genre of place or exact place exact place is it hilen head H head okay and so Hilton the Head South Carolina for people who aren't familiar I think it's such a cute little Beach town and there's so much tennis and pickle ball I just think we'd have a really nice time there and I love the idea of like being able to go up there with family every year and and everything I just I get such a warm cozy feeling from that from the beach there so those are my questions you did great well done you did mostly great J good questions I got like what two points two and a half two and a half and pretty good appreciate it all right now I have to beat that all right so here's my easy question for you you ready okay what is a must have I need in our next home like like we talked about it recently like a computer room or whatever like an office style thing think more even more recently we talked about it a pool yeah a pool honestly I really want a pool in our next house okay well we'll have to look and see that's interesting because I do think it would be fun I still think we might want to put one in in our current place but I do we have such a rocky backyard it's why and gardinas are probably dying no fault of ours I don't think the gardinas are dying any they're dead they're dead you're right you're right okay well a pool very interesting and you want that because you want our future kids to learn how to swim I grew up with a pool honestly the main for a pool doesn't like turn me off of it see it frightens me because I like saw my dad out there every day like having to do it and I was like that seems awful I mean it's another to do it it's a daily routine chore right water the garden you know hey sign me up I don't I certainly don't mind having a pool I think that would be Lov any that was the easy one love it okay no I'll give you half a point okay my medium question if I were so like this is like a pretext right okay what is my super villain house feature that I've talked about before that I thought would be fantastic specifically where it's like in the wall where you can it's an entire wall of like a basement or something yes this was this is what Eric would have been without me so your welcome world for tamping down his his secret wants of ant farmhous be cool it would be wild one crack in the glass and you're ruined what do why would the glass crack cuz sometimes glass cracks it's plexiglass why would it crack aquariums sometimes have stuff happen bad things can happen I'm just saying that's horrifying to me sounds think aesome that you have to like dress in all black and wear a cape it could all times if you have an ant wall why a cape to show you're you're angst I don't know like you have to like walk around like vampires keep it's giving vampire energy all right all right I think I wanted one because I always really enjoyed going to zoos and Aquariums and stuff and I was like that'd be really cool well I'm glad you've abandoned the dream yeah abandoned the dream okay squashed it suffocated it buried it deep down we'll see if I have my super villain Arc later in life or not oh my gosh please no all right now this last one is actually very hard I don't know it's okay the easy one was hard how many houses have I lived in and ju just to give you more of a span as a child I don't know this yeah I know that you lived in Mount Olive Church for like forever but you were born in Texas so there was at least one other but my guess is there were probably a couple more between there so what's your final guess I'm going to guess number four childhood homes before you like went to college that's a close one is it three it's three okay cuz I built in too much buffer no you're good well I guess I don't know exactly when I was a super small child but I know born in Houston lived in the Houston house then moved to Van Austin little town outside of San Antonio for those you don't know Liv there then moved to Georgia and then I lived in that house from you live in an apartment or anything like in a temporary anything when you before you m in no darn I mean it was like a Best Western for like a week I wanted to be right we could you know what the Best Western count your third home the third home perfect nailed it stuck The Landing 10 out of 10 lovely well that's fun I'll have to count out how many homes I've lived in at one point Texas or three Texas Marietta and then Lake Arrowhead Lake Arrowhead I guess that's it no no there were two in maretta there was two in maretta yes there were two in maretta one was like chimney Springs or something and then the other one was Post Oak so I think I've I lived in four wow four there you go you you got yourself correct uhhuh yeah I I assumed everyone was the same as me but maybe we moved around more than that I I'll have to ask my parents cuz my Early Childhood is such a blur I know right it's important to know your own lawy right you're it is well I don't have anything else to talk about do you I guess now that we're done with coup's trivia I think it's a good spot to to end it off to wrap it up well thank you guys for joining us today I so appreciate you tuning in and enjoying our content we love making it but we also love creating like the sense of community with you guys as you comment and you know engage with it so help us get bizar coffe owners on here or or any other local business I really do think that could be a really fun element of this podcast so we hope you're having a great day go out enjoy the city you're living in even if it's not Canton and we'll talk to you next time absolutely take care bye

hi everyone and welcome back to today's episode of the Canton podcast I feel like we haven't sat down and done this in a little while like I feel like we've been so busy it's been nonstop that we haven't had a chance to go and sit down so I'm excited I'm excited to just kind of sit down and chat with you today cuz even though like obviously we're married and and we get to talk to each other all the time this podcast has become such a nice way for us to like sit down and not only focus on what we have going on in our lives but also the real estate stuff and all that so I just wanted to say that I'm really enjoying making this podcast I mean I reciprocate the sentiment right I I completely agree I think it's nice it's also an opportunity to kind of organize uh some thoughts on maybe some more uh miscellaneous topics yeah well I I I figure we'll go ahead and start just like we normally do by kind of talking about what we've been up to what's been keeping us busy cuz so much has been keeping us busy so do you want to kind of start off ball rolling there yeah I mean it's been non-stop uh got new insurance recently woohoo new threeyear plan right yeah nothing says exciting life events like a new insurance maybe it's a sign of like coming into adulthood but knowing that like you have secure insurance and you don't have to think about it for a few years I know I was being sarcastic but I actually do feel thrilled that we have all our insurance worked out and everything exactly and then I put it right to use went to the dermat dermatologist got a clean bill of health good stuff amazing I was very glad to hear that if you have not been to the dermatologist this is your Public Safety reminder get checked at the dermatologist go get it checked you know as as someone with like a big family history of skin cancer I just couldn't recommend it more wear your sunscreen go to the dermatologist like you know just take care of yourself because you know I know we're here to be experts on Canton and and on real estate but you can't enjoy either one of those things if you're suffering medical ailment so anyway just definitely do that prevention is the best cure right exactly else and then besides that actual work rated we've been doing so many CMAs recently and CM being comparative market analysis basically uh upcoming listings yeah we have always had a a I would say our team the past few years had more of a balance toward buyers and and you know maybe 20% 30% listings but right now we're seeing so many listings people who are coming out of the woodwork who wanted to wait to sell who you know we're running at about maybe 7030 right now 70% listings 30% buyers and and just as a heads up to me if if that is a larger reflection of the market that's coming that means that we're going to have buyers with a little bit more negotiation power more inventory to choose from less drastic increas increasing in inflation of the value of houses so to me that reads as a much more balanced Market if we're closer to that 6040 you know but 5050 one way or another exactly exactly I mean moving into that sort of environment it can be good to help balance out the other good news that inflation is starting to go down a little bit abolutely and that interest rates are starting to you know depress a little bit so we're good I feel like I shouldn't have said that so loudly like I should be like whispering and walking around like no sudden mov well it's up to the FED we'll see what they do later this year but you know there's promising outlooks yeah I just had someone lock in a 15-year 5.99% interest rate and 15 years are lower than 30 years but still I was really glad to see someone back in the fives after I'm pretty much I've pretty much just been seeing High sixes low sevens for the past few months completely I hope that Trend continues affordability of housing is such a top priority for us we work with so many firsttime home buyers and you know we also work with people who are buying their forever home in neither of those circumstances do you want to lock in an interest rate that's crazy high exactly so um i' I've been really excited about that good news there and all that good stuff how about you what have you been up to this past week I have been so busy so we've been doing the things that you just talked about and then we also have had so many people visiting us and staying with us which has been really nice but I feel like I don't know which way is up like we had my uncle and Aunt visit from Florida and we get to see them once or twice a year so it was really really nice to see them we watch the Olympics with them oh my gosh I just got to go into side tension about the Olympics I have been crying at the Olympics like watching all of the different events and hearing the stories and like it just warms my heart so much everyone trying so hard everyone trying so hard it really it really gets me and like seeing the stories like all the stuff about the gymnastics team um I got into rugby last year and so watching the women's the women's rugby team win win bronze was like I was literally crying and I kept show I've shown so many people that game so um no no it's awesome stuff it's really cool it's like almost distilling all of humanity and seeing what Rises to the top and seeing just Humanity at its finest almost right to me it's just wild to see all of these people come together and especially like I I know we're not old but the fact that we are old compared to so many of the people who were there like understanding that these people are teenagers who are so excellent at the things they do but they're also just real people like they're real young people who are representing their country it's something that they love like it 100% if that's not a situation for me tearing up I don't know what is like I cry at little kids basketball games because they're trying hard so this feels like that times like aund exactly but that's been a really fun little Pastime for the past few weeks the last event that we watched was uh the breaking competition which was breaking's break dancing for those who are not in the no and it's the first time it's ever been in the Olympics so that I was like oh we should watch that and and to be honest it came across my like Tik Tok feed and my Facebook feed videos of of the Australian woman who was dancing who had a very different style than the rest of them hers was maybe a little goofier she didn't make it to the finals but going in and then watching the finals it's just such a strange engaging sport like I I to be I thought I was going to end up just making fun of it but really I ended up being really impressed with what a lot of people were able to do so no no absolutely it was really impressive the amount of stamina cardio that they have to have and also willingness to just take eatings on the ground oh my gosh I know they're like when they go down to the ground they're like body slaming the ground and then they're still smiling and dancing show sping around and all that stuff what do you think your favorite event was in the end like after watching as many as you did I was actually surprisingly probably the biggest fan of Surfing I thought you might say that I really like the surfing competition for some reason never watched surfing in my life I really I mean first of all beautiful scenery yeah gorgeous kind of sound font going on with the waves constantly and just really impressive what the athletes have to do in the competition right because not only are they at the whim of the ocean but they also have to apply some sort of strategy I mean this is get a little bit inside I guess surfing right but there's a system of priority and it's actually a lot deeper than you know one might think yeah I got a little bored watching it to be completely honest that's fair it's also the perfect background sport because not something's not happening all the time and I think that was my problem like Meanwhile my favorite was probably the rugby where it's seven people on each team and each half is 7even minutes so every like each game is only 14 minutes and which makes every second count so much so that was more my speed where it's just constant Adrenaline Rush everyone like working as hard as they possibly can every moment I was I was solidly addicted to R rugby for like a solid week was a good one that was absolutely a good one I I can't wait to watch a couple of the highlights that we still haven't seen yet and I'm excited that it's coming to the US in four years too in Los Angeles I don't think we'll make the trip no me either but it'll be fun yeah it'll be cool to know that it's in the US it'll be more on our time zone a little bit instead of having to like wake up at 4:30 a.m. to see although I almost liked that a little bit because it was on off working hours for the most part so we could like watch more than I think we'll probably be able to if it's a similar time but I mean we'll see right beyond the Olympics like I said we've had people staying with us that's been super nice to catch up with them like even my sister and her fiance they stayed with us uh recently this last weekend and that was so nice like I they were thinking about moving closer um now that she's in the Working World and he only has one more semester before he graduates and it's going to be so nice so we're going to kind of be on the lookout for houses for them and you know start trying to figure that out and that just warms my heart so much because I love helping all of our first time home buyers sister her when I just it excites me she's moving close and it excites me that she's taking charge of her finances in that way she she's probably one of the most financially Savvy yeah uh individuals of her like age group that I've ever met I totally agree yeah she's doing a fantastic she's read like multiple books on budgeting like she she's the whole nine yards really impressive and like just to reiterate her age they both just graduated from school right so they're very very young and and working to buy their first house and I think it'll happen within the next year so absolutely it proves that it's possible if you plan right like we talk all the time about how inaccessible it sometimes feels to buy that first house especially with especially around Canton with with you know all of our increasing Equity so quickly and and all of that but you know it's looking like it's going to be very possible for them they may end up they end up in Woodstock but both of those areas you know are growing so much and and are such great areas live that either way I think they'll be really happy yeah I I completely agree with that yeah well beyond that I guess now that we kind of chatted a bit caught up a little bit talk about life we should do our typical segment of best thing we ate or drank around Canton this week right since I started last one do you want to start this one sure I will happily start this one so anyone who has heard the other episodes of our podcast knows that I am a coffee ftic oh she loves her coffee folks and that bizarre coffee has always been like my Top Choice around here and I Love Bizarre coffee but I have also discovered another place that I definitely want to plug on here for my fellow coffee lovers who especially want a little bit more space to get work done inside of the coffee shop I love bizaar but they have such a cute little hole in the wall place that there aren't that many seats inside so if you're looking for somewhere that you want to go and work for four or 5 hours study you know anything like that kind get the coffee shop aesthetic right elma's coffee is so good like their coffee is amazing the workers are so kind the Ambiance is incredible and I went there last week because I had just quite a bit of work to do and I really just needed to sit in a place that would keep me focused for a while um to just reach out and do all the cmat we're talking about and you know do all of that and I tried I wrote it down so I don't get it wrong the Strawberry Fields latte okay that sounds pretty cool it was so good so it's got and again I'm going to look at this because it's like got so many things in it that I can barely keep it keep track of it but it's a strawberry lavender and honey syrup combination with a strawberry and blue pea flour cold foam on top yeah which doesn't sound okay it's a flow let's go from Blue to pea flour it's a blue pea flour not blue Pea on top of it no it's delicious not nasty it was so good like I've been craving it ever since with how floral was it cuz that's lavender you saying blue PE Stu it sounds like it would be more floral than it was I would say that it tasted more like your typical espresso with strawberry and honey and maybe a little bit of an undercurrent of like Fruity goodness grass not like you know what I mean kind of that like herbal flavor that you get when you're doing like matcha or something like that it wasn't a matcha a little bit Herby but it was so good like I have been craving it ever since which is the wrong time to start craving it because they just switched to their fall menu yeah and that looks really good too they have um a version of my favorite drink at bizar actually it's like I think there's this called spiced apple pie chai or something like that or apple cinnamon chai I don't know exactly but they've got that one they have of course a pumpkin spice and they've got um like a few other things that sound really good so I may just have to try those out and report back and let you guys know if the fall menu is as good and addicting as their summer menu was well it's so bold of you to take that sacrifice on for people I know I'm nothing if not a public servant what can I say you need coffee tried I'll do it I'm your girl all right well that sounds fantastic a really good time so good and I I you know I just feel so proud like whenever there is a local business that's doing as well as I see Alma's doing I complely agree like like seeing bizarre flourish and seeing almost it it used to be someone's house and they converted it and then you know they all of their their coffee beans from from I can't remember where it is but like a family member lives there and they do like 6 months like I was reading their whole bio on the website like the supply Chain's all like personal it's like such a nice family business and I think that it's so cool to see things like that around Canton like sure I've gone to Starbucks I've gone to Duncan but I feel no connection to those places versus supporting an actual local family feels so nice on top of the fact that the coffee is better like it I think the coffee is and usually it's a very similar price if not slightly less expensive so if you are someone who loves Starbucks loves Duncan no shame I I love those places too but definitely try out like Bazar or almma we've got really great coffee in Canton we're so fortunate and I will say like I have tried like Starbucks Duncan really yeah like they don't even hold a candle to Bazaar and stuff like and I haven't had the chance to try Alma so I'll have to put on the list I have to bring you one one day maybe I'll like I said if I'm taking on the the heavy burden of trying on all of their new fall items one maybe the heavier burden of trying them with you yeah exactly so well we'll have to report back and let know how the let them know how the fall menu turn but what was your favorite thing that you've had well speaking about supporting local families uh I'm actually talking about something I learned how to cook recently oh interesting okay oh you're supporting our local family ours I love it hey any meal I don't have to make I'm a fan of so I I probably do the majority of cooking in the house it's true I don't get me wrong K can make a mean lasagna that's true I weirdly can make really good lasagna I've invested all of my cooking points into lasagna everything else stresses me out okay well but dayto day I I tend to emotionally I don't do well cooking it's fine it's fine I'm meant for a life of luxury what can I say but anyways I've been learning how to cook guoa and those my gosh I'm glad you're talking about this for those of you who don't know what guoa is think of like a dumpling but almost like a little bit pan fried on the bottom right yeah it's got like a crunchy exterior kind of so uh we've actually been getting a few guas from Costco which can I just say so convenient that it's so close to our home like 15minute Drive Max I love living in the part of Canton we Doo because we're not quite Holly Springs we're very close to Downtown Canton but we're so close to Woodstock to like Milton we're so like I just any direction we go we can be there in like 20 minutes and it's entirely different cities I I so Costco is is your best thing you or had although and I will say I I'm remembering we had gosh what was it the chicken bake at Costco oh don't talk about that that was so bad I I don't mean to yuck anyone's Young we had been told that the chicken bake is like the thing to get my cousin swore up and down that the chicken bake all C all credibility loss it it was rough at least the one that we had we ordered it we waited like 20 minutes for it was a long time I was starting to get worried about our Frozen I know exactly and then it came out cuz they've got if you haven't been to Costco before um they have like all of the shopping that you can do and then right after the checkouts they've got like a food court style thing it's like a lead situation right they've got like huge Pizza huge hot dogs like you know it's it's Costco everything's big you get like a foot long hot dog and a drink for a150 yeah so you know if if you're looking for a meal on a budget that's totally something you could do but our recommendation don't get the chicken bake we had such like why was it so bad you know maybe giving them the benefit of the doubt maybe it was just like a rough chicken baked day cuz it took forever to come out and it came out it was basically a charcoal brick well call me harsh but I'm not giving them a second chance however that guoa we get from there absolutely good there's 12 little dumpling things that come in and the yoza sauce I know you didn't like it your sister loved it my sister said she would drink it drink like it was that good so it's not like just a soy sauce I don't think it's got like an extra something in it there's some more more going on in there okay but anyways that that's what I I honest love that because like like we said it is so nice to live somewhere where Costco is close and all these local restaurants are close like even if it's not actually in Canton It Feels So Close by that it doesn't even matter I completely it's like Atlanta is like the Nexus of the South and I feel like Canton is the Nexus of North Georgia yeah the one grocery store we're not close to which makes me a little bit sad is Trader Joe's I love Trader Joe's I went to a Trader Jo where was it I think it was in coming um or something like that but the good news is when we were checking out we were like why is this not closer we had so much fun going here the lady who was the cashier said that one is coming to Wood stock now I haven't been able to like validate that or verify the build plans on online yet but that would be so nice for because I that's like the one store that feels so like nice and and pre-made food and everything that we're missing so hopefully that will come either to Canton or Woodstock soon exactly awesome good stuff so that kind of actually I I I'm going to maybe do things in a different order than we normally do but the fact that like seeing the kinds of things that are coming to our area soon I know we were going to talk about something like that real estate related today and you were going to take the rain on you want to start us off yeah we can pull an audible right here so basically I was going to touch on uh external things that might affect your home's value right oh yeah yeah so of course proximity to grocery stores proximity to Medical Services and then like Transit as well all these things come it's a giant Confluence of things that affect your home value and often times it can seem like well why are they doing that you know why is my local government deciding to repave this road where did this come from I think it's honestly one of the coolest things that Cherokee County does I'm a little bit of a nerd when it comes to this all right so so bear with me but basically what they have is something called a comprehensive plan right and big big bold words comprehensive plan right it is almost like a guideline Point BYO sheet for what are the goals of the government for the next X amount of years MH to basically develop and help continue supporting the communities inside the county right okay so it'll give you information on like all right there's a small town called wesa in Cherokee County small toown Vibes I grew up the the the it has one like Big Brand restaurant and that's Subway yeah and Subway can exist anywhere that that's proof because alasco is so small growing up it's going to grow it's going to grow it's going they get public sewer now they they still you know they they outlined things actually I printed out a little bit of a Chi-Chi right here right um they say so what you're going over right now is the Cherry Cherokee County comprehensive plan yeah the Cherokee County comprehensive plan includes things yeah such as their plans for what they want to do to grow wesa okay got it interesting and not just Wes but also industrial areall grounds on there and also free home okay got is actually one of the big areas so yeah uh those are the big three that they're focusing on wesa ballground and free home so how does that what does that mean for people what should like should they look at this comprehensive plan like I mean for a lot of people it doesn't it might not actually affect them that much but it could affect home value if you know like all right they're going to be focusing on on promoting new construction of homes nearby me yeah right like is that a good thing like what kinds of good things should people look out for versus maybe be a little more concerned about think I I think it's all in the eye of the beholder right yeah because maybe you moved to wesa to escape all the traffic and all the population and all that sort of stuff so mini Farm exactly so hearing that the local government might be trying to maybe shift the Dynamics of how that PRI exactly meanwhile if maybe you're trying to find a place to live that's affordable you'd be really excited because house prices in that area would be lower and will likely increase Equity quickly because they're focusing so much on developing that I think it it's all situational right it means different things to different people and you can find good things in all of it and you can find some things that maybe you wouldn't enjoy so where do you find this if someone wants to look it up just they have access to it Lally just on like the Cherokee Government website Google just Google Cherokee County comprehensive plan and it'll come up okay they do a good job about you know making sure it's out there it's not hidden or anything and it's really interesting has a lot you know I can't recommend it enough honestly yeah Eric loves this sort of thing and I actually think it's very important to pay attention to this sort of thing because it does have such an influence on who's going to want to buy your house you know whether you want to live there or not and if you should be getting involved in your local government right because you may find things you disagree with and if that's true you certainly want to go and use your voice at the county level to see talk to your representatives talk to you know you're a constituent ex yeah you live in C and you should have a say and so you know I definitely think that having an eye on that can is one of the best ways you can influence how you know kanton will develop in the future and make sure that it still reflects what you want it to ex I mean I was listening to NPR the other day and they were saying that there are over like 240 new uh apartment construction programs going on uh along like the 75 Corridor north of Atlanta wow and that made NPR interesting yeah wow so there's been a huge push for more affordable you know housing situations within absolutely I mean anyone who has done any searches on rentals or anything like that recently they've they've gotten so expensive since when we had to rent so I think about like again and Anna right they're having to rent a one-bedroom apartment now they live in Atlanta right now and but it's over $2,000 a month for a one that's crazy and the fact that that is the most affordable safe you know whatever option is wild so I I certainly can understand them wanting to put in apartments but I can also understand you know you if if you have a big beautiful Farm them putting up a huge apartment close by may not be what you want so I I definitely do think that looking at that comprehens is a way to make that you're still excited about you want to live and it can be a good idea to kind of Judge this is exting I think my Equity is about to increase or something like that as well exactly or maybe you want to you know buy another property yeah planning out where the best investment strategy is if you're buying a secondary you know incom producing property and keeping an eye and at least being in contact with someone who knows what's going to be going on and that sort of stuff and I'll use that to kind of transition into what I wanted to talk about how like we as agents Cho like decide how much your house could sell absolutely right we're not just pulling the number out of magic hat I wish it was that easy I really wish it were that easy and and to be honest overtime most agents do develop the gut instinct right we know the area well enough that we can kind of walk like walk by a house and go hey 425 hey 350 like it's my little party trick like we'll be driving down the road with our friends and they'll be like how much could you sell that one for I'm like okay I give that 560 you know what I mean like so we develop a good Instinct but if you as a consumer are trying to get a general idea for how agents are gathering that information I just kind of wanted to go over that a little bit because I know more right we've trained in this but I think it's really important that you have tools to advocate for yourself as well and so when you know a listing agent comes into an appointment you at least speak their language and it doesn't feel like they're just throwing a bunch of numbers or throwing information at you so it's nice to be up to date on the vocabulary exactly so as far as I I specifically want to talk about why we choose the comps we do when we're doing CMAs and again a CMA is a comparative market analysis where we are pulling usually five listings or so that have sold around the home we're trying to evaluate around being and how far around being I try to stay within 0.25 miles that's usually my SE radius now sometimes I have to expand to.5 miles or a mile like for example if you live in BridgeMill I'm probably only going to have to do 0.25 miles right because you have so many houses concentrated in that area that are going to be the best comparison for your home close by right you've got some really nice streets some slightly less expensive streets etc etc it wouldn't make sense for me to pull one from outside of the neighborhood or so that's why I keep it small versus if you have a farm that has 10 acres obviously me pulling homes within 0.25 miles is is not going to get me five comps right exactly so within 0.25 miles give or take a little bit it needs to have sold or gone pending or be active within about 180 days that's my ideal now we'll go to 365 sometimes if I have to just to get the right number but 180 is ideal so that you're getting an idea of the actual current market versus like think about how crazy the market was a couple years ago right if I pulled comps from there it's just not a reflection of where we are right now the current day so distance time yes and then I try to find the most similar house possible what I mean by that is it should be within about 500 to 800 square fet similar to the current property and that matters whether it's above ground or finished basement if your hous is on a basement you really want to find comps that have a basement ideally if there are enough around that are the same way and you don't want to compare your 3,000 ft house to a 1,000 ft house that's sold down the road because those are very different people who are shopping for those two houses and so it's not a properly comparable item yeah I also try like if your home has a pool I'm going to make sure that at least one or two of my comps also has a pool to try figure out how much that's influencing how fast it's going to sell what it's going to sell for etc etc so those oh and also how updated it is that's the final piece that's very very important when I'm trying to pull a comp I'm going to try to find one that's as updated as yours if yours needs some upgrades I'm going to try to find some that also maybe need a coat of paint don't have the granite countertops and stuff like that I was going to ask what are some common upgrades that you look to try and match gr countertops and updated K are a huge one because people are often looking at kitchens when they decide whether to go see a home or not I also tend to look for things like upgraded bathrooms that's another really good place to see and deterioration of a property like for example if if you inherited your parents house and they just did not have enough money to upkeep it at the end and it really needs some deck work or it really needs some new carpet things like that I'm going to find comps that are in a similar status to the best of my ability because obvious ly that's going to sell for a different price than one that's been totally upgraded is absolutely in perfect condition could move right in so those are the ways that I'm evaluating when I'm pulling comps is there anything else you would add that you definitely want to make sure of when oh and acreage how large your lot size is that's the other thing AC the house obviously someone who wants to buy 10 acres is not going to be the same person who wants to buy 0.1 acre right so making sure that you're either quantifying how much that 10 acres you know is potentially a able to to sell for in that area or or ignoring it completely is the ideal so what would you add to all I mean the only other thing are more Niche things right so if there are any like environmental leans on the property or something so like if it's in a conservation and it can't be subdivided stuff like that or if it has solar panels or something you a little bit more funky like that yeah yeah exactly yeah I think I think those are pretty much the main things we keep and like you said like if if one is next door to a gas station or like a huge like a chicken plant you know something like that yeah that that will definitely impact you know how much someone's going to want like how many consider it oh yeah Lakes pool you know anything like that there's a lot of stuff yeah so I I basically wanted to go over that to give you a general idea when it comes to actually changing how much like like see deciding how much square footage should subtract so let me talk again deciding how much square footage should subtract When comparing that's the kind of thing I'd really recommend going to an agent for but if you're just trying to get a general idea or understand when you're conversing with your agent know that that's kind of what we are doing when we're pulling comps I just think transparency is so important in this industry that the more you know as the consumer the more you can look out for yourself and and make sure that you work with an agent who cares about you exactly like us so and we're extremely transparent with the whole process we'll walk you through the numbers how we got them and we'll show you all the comps that we use to pull absolutely because I think it's so important like I as a home owner have a very different relationship to my home I have a lot of pride in it I have a lot of like sensitivity to it versus seeing a random House online and going oh that one is terrible you know or whatever they they should have done this this this this this so if you as the homeowner can speak the same language as us and we can show you I love that you have raised your you know your three kids here this has been a home to you but truly the reason I'm saying it's worth it could sell for a little bit less than this one is because of these reasons exactly being able to show the actual reasons I feel like makes such a big difference so that it doesn't just feel like someone's coming in and either insulting your home or just boosting your ego to get the sale like cuz our our job is to help sell your house for the most money on your timeline yes exactly exactly yeah I think that's a great way to put having a little bit of like a crowbar separation of like I'm not necessarily saying that you should take like what I'm talking about the house personally like it's just matter of fact and this will help get to that end result of getting you the most money at the end of the day and at the same time like we understand that it can feel personal like so that's why we try to leave with facts and compassion I I would say in most of our clients end up becoming close friends of ours like we have several dinners over the next few weeks with past clients because we genuinely love the people we end up working with like I feel so fortunate to be in this job because of that completely agree with that and and so I feel like developing that relationship Capital with someone also helps soften the blow and and and make it make sense when we're like hey I genuinely think you're going to get more money for your if you do this like I've been in this industry long enough I do this every day you trust me let's do this and it's going to make a difference for you homes live Val we make it make sense yeah exactly that should have been our tagline all along so in case you guys don't know our actual tagline is feel right at home it's a ni One um which took many late nights of of coming up with this we were trying to be marketing experts even you know before we started all of this so it's uh it's insurmountable we're great yeah so anyway I hope that that clarifies things a little bit um absolutely the next thing we wanted to kind of touch on it's kind of a dual element where we both talk about kind of different things but we wanted to talk about how to keep up with your Equity absolutely so there's a few different ways you can actually keep up with your Equity one you know like Kate was saying earlier you can reach out to your real estate agent you reach out to us yeah uh and we can help you know Mark up a CMA I guess more Rel C CU it's been done within the past 6 months or so um of where your home kind of stands on the market if you were to go on and you know what you could expect days on Market to look like the price you'd go in at maybe how many clo how much in closing costs you might be having to give and that's that sort of stuff yeah um we'd also know what kind of Market it'd be seller mixed buyer y all that good stuff so reach out to your local expert another way is actually there are programs that are available right everyone knows a Zillow the zestate yeah that can be um it can be hit or miss I will say I'm not nearly as much of a Zillow hater as some people are I'm I'm we are both 100% on transparency so the more tools that help buyers and sellers like know things the better but a estimate is basically taking all of the homes that have sold from around you rather than picking and choosing it's not a personalized context and so it's not going to give you as accurate of a number as someone who is handpicking which I wanted to give you those skills too in case you're like too shy you're you're you don't want to talk to an agent about it say instances where Zillow estimates are like not applicable to you if you've done any additions to your home yep uh they're not going to account for that right they don't know they they don't know why would they know right right if you haven't sold your home within the past I'd say 10 years probably it's not going to keep up at a good right sort of rate with that I agree with that for sure and then also if you have a much larger parcel or or smaller parcel or something like that than the other homes around you or if your home is strikingly different than the ones that are around you because then it's going to be taking all of the average you know price per square footage of the homes around you and if they're not like yours well there's your problem exctly um so that's that's definitely a good way and I know you were talking about programs I would love to talk like do you want to chat a little bit about homebot why we like it take the lead okay homebot is a program that we started using with our team not sponsored by the way we literally pay to use we pay to use them so want we'll like consider it because I think it's a great program um we use it for all of our clients who have closed on homes or who we're working with um and basically what we do is we put in their home like what the home sold for and when the loan closed basically we put in like our CMA information that we've done yeah plus when they're loan closed so that they can keep an eye on how much true Equity they have it auto subtracts how much they owe still on the loan and also because you're putting in your interest rate it will also like send you little ding ding ding hey interest rates have gone below exactly what you ended up paying you may want to consider refinancing this is what that process looks like like we are even as agents able to plug in individual videos that we've made to be like hey the Market's kind of cold right now this is what that means the market is really hot right now and it would be a great time to sell this is what that means so it feels really personalized and then whenever you have a question you can directly reach out to us so I that sounds mostly like it's us Centric but what it really is is you get to take charge and really keep an eye on if I went to sell my house today ex how much cash could I walk away with and put down on another house exactly I'd say out of all of the you know tools we provide our past clients that is the most used one yeah so even if you're not past client of ours if you have any interest in like using that sort of tool let us know reach out to listings homes valor.com or just comment on this video and we'll be happy to set it up even if even if you're like never talk to me you know like I I just want you if yeah exactly I mean we've had multiple people in our neighborhood who have been like you know how much is my home worth because you know we sold a neighbor's house in the neighborhood exactly how much could I sell it for if I sold today if I sold in six month so just we throw them on the program and then they're getting that constant like almost Insider scoop it's like twice a month I think it sends like an email digest being like this is what the market around you looks like this is how long it would take you to sell most likely and this is how much you would walk away with most likely right now if you went to sell so I just think that it's fantastic your home is one of the biggest Investments you can make so you certainly want to stay on top of how much you would actually make if you went to sell it but the other part of that speaking of equity that we wanted to to talk about is how do you make sure your house is increasing how do you keep up with the maintenance how do you keep up with all all that sort of scope exactly when it comes to being a homeowner and there are a million things that you can do but a few of the main ones that I would absolutely recommend is number one get your AC serviced oh my gosh every time I go to an inspection the inspector is like by the way you can extend the lifespan of this by just having service twice a year it's like $75 or $100 to have it service and and cleaning off the coils like getting rid of all of the junk that builds up is absolutely something that will extend the life and then it won't be deteriorating like if you go to sell a home and you have window units in versus a working AC conditioner that's going to detract on how much how many people are willing to buy it right same with things like decks right keeping up with your deck making sure it's still safe there are so many things that can feel out of your control when it comes to being a homeowner the things like the Cherokee County development plan those things are not necessarily within your control so if you want to do the things within your control to keep up Equity Just Do Your Home Maintenance yeah I couldn't agree more with that it's just like I was talking about earlier with a dermatologist right ounce of prevention better than a pound of cure absolutely true yeah absolutely so going through that process I mean I I a little side anecdote actually I was changing out the air filter on our furnace the other day it's in our attic you know yeah at the spot for oh my gosh I know what you're going to say this was crazy there we we had a huge Windstorm come through recently really rough stuff our course all of our you know furniture on the porch went flying everywhere I think we're still missing on the porch literally gone forever but what I hadn't realized is that there were like three shingles in our backyard I was like that's weird yeah it's probably fine you know yeah we were like no big deal we our roof is struggling a little bit probably just a normal one but it ends up I go up there and I'm like it's a little bit brighter up here than normal oh my gosh there's just broad daylight streaming in like like I'm like that's probably not good so I bust out the Drone do a little fly over there's a hole probably about like the size of like a child literally it was like this big and and this wide across where just if it had rained immediate problem it would have been bad if it had R it was right on our Ridge line it yeah it was the capping shingle right it had the wind shear had been so significant that it had torn off the capping shingles oh my gosh it was crazy I had never been more stressed it like it was bad he had to do like Matrix moves to go and like put a bucket underneath this because it looked like it was going to rain we got our roofer out there like same day so everything it's important to have a roofer if you don't have a roofer your real probably has one in their book absolutely yes so all that to say no no all it's it's good I love a good side tangent but all of that to say is keeping up with being familiar with your home is bound to prevent problems which will grow and decrease your Equity we want Equity to grow we want it to go up we want you to make money because you own a house that is the good life right the bad life is owning a house you don't take care of and it ends up sucking your money in stad take care of your house the best you canly doesn't take too much most of the time prevention and focus and and it's going to be a great investment for you most of the time don't let your Equity evaporate by in action exactly exactly well enough of all of the real estate stuff we'll quickly go over um what our date ideas are for this week and then we'll jump into trivia so sounds good yeah all right do you want to start with your dat idea I think I'd like to start because this is actually we've done this a few times with family and friends and I think it's a pretty good data idea it's actually how are you going to woo me this week week by talking about uh painting classes oh I love those so like the group paint alongs where like you have people set up sometimes they're sipping sometimes they're not right yeah and uh there's actually a local business called Eminem mertile oh that's at the Mill it's over at the Mill exactly uh so they have classes every now and again and honestly like having almost like a take-home sort of like momento from the occasion I feel like like is so nice to have for a date I think so too I think that's a really good one we've gone to a few of them and you know I mostly love them and then the other part of me has never felt more rage right I need to be good at everything I do that's just the sort of rule about me you absolutely are a rule follower and you'll do exactly what the instructor is doing I'm like the opposite you're going you're going wild I I go surreal with my art you know yeah you know they'll say pain a sun I'll I'll start painting a black hole that's sucking in all the different environment yeah welcome to angsty Eric guess I'm in my angsty phase what can I say put on some My Chemical Romance but the thing is even if you're drawing an angsty thing you're happy happy versus I'm like my line did not look exactly like the instructor wor is Just Happening like I get weirdly competitive at things like that but then I enjoy it in the end like they there's I don't know that I'm great to be around during a painting class but then afterward I'm very happy I'll take one sometime I think that's a fun little date night especially for those of you who are more soothed of spirit I am who who you know are able to enjoy that but that's definitely fun and I love the mill anytime we can go and spend time with the mill it's a great spot how about yourself where are you taking me this week okay so this week um for those of you who have heard this podcast before you know that we have done a great job with half our garden and we have killed off the other half we have done a lot with that we have yeah our poor gardinas are cooked cooked but the tea Olive is popping off yeah it's great it's got a PR mantis on it oh pray mantis literally lives in it it's so cool it's very cute so um my my date idea that I think is super fun is to go to a local plant nursery and pick out a plant and either like put it in a pot or like plant it in the backyard learn about the instructions of care together and like have this thing that over time grows well so even if you're in an apartment like like I said like get a you know on your little back patio out a out a little plant or make it an indoor plant you know it doesn't matter but there are a couple of plant nurseries um around here one is Pike's Nursery Pike or Pikes I can never remember Pike Nursery we had such a good experience going there the lady who helped us was so kind she worked with us for like 7 hours helping us plan out how much space we needed which plants would do well together which ones needed sun which ones needed shade how much we should like water them it she was extremely informative extremely knowledgeable honestly I I think that's a fantastic date location cuz I still have such great memories of the time we went together when we're picking out for our garden yeah and there is another one that's popped up on Canon I don't know really anything about it I know that it's brand new and I've heard pretty good things about it from people who have gone but its plant Daddy's Nursery oh I've driven by that a few times it's very close to where Sanctuary is and kind of on the way the yeah exactly BR Park area yeah so I think it could be like you know I love seeing cool new businesses come and it's another locally owned one I'm like 99% sure so that's another place you could totally try that's actually in Canton versus Pike Nursery is in Woodstock but it's still so close like we're talk about so that's my date idea for this week I think we should go replace our gardinas so yeah well thanks to Pike Nurseries we be able to exchange it exch them yeah if you have one die like within a year you get one creepy so that's really nice for those of us who have you know maybe not done our our parently duties to our plants the aelas are fine the tea Olive the India Hawthorn but those gardinas and our wild flowers are doing pretty well too well yeah but we didn't get those from I know those were from Costco back from Costco and they're so hury okay on to the most dramatic section of our podcast couples trivia good stuff um this what's the category for this week we're doing Foods last week we did family this week we're doing Foods we're doing Foods we're doing Foods so that's fine my questions are for foods do you want to go first or do you want me to go first I'll go first you ready go for it do you want easy medium hard or hard medium easy medium hard all right you sure you don't want to do medium easy sure they all feel hard anyway it's okay all right first one you ready recently what has been my go-to beverage that is not water I know this one I know it because it makes me upset and only a way that a wife can be that with their husband it is mango nectar juice you buy it in jugs that are this large and just every time I see you you're like sipping mango juice grab it by the gallon I can't tell you why it makes me irrationally angry but it does I it's really good this stuff is delicious just about sip so that I know that one it's ingrained in my brain it is mango nectar juice yeah that's good why you even recently why is it like your go-to right now it's just been it's been nice to have something sweet to sip on and and that sort of stuff well you know what if it makes you happy I love you and I'm really glad ites you happy thank you we'll see if you keep making me happy with question number two you ready yeah I'm ready all right what is my favorite spice blend I use blackening seasoning it's blackened seasoning blackened seasoning I always call it blackening seasoning but yeah I it does that too it's really good on meat and stuff right it's like Sal turkey it's got paprika it's got a whole red it's red yeah it's really good it's really good you do a really good job we mostly eat ground turkey that's like our main go-to cuz we put like we used to put ground beef and everything and ground turkey just feels a little healthier so we usually make a you usually make a huge batch of ground turkey at the beginning of the week with the black and seasoning and all that it's so good so keep on using it that's a good favorite all right now the hard one I don't know if you'll be able to get it okay so no pressure okay no expectations oh so many expectations what is you know going I asked what my favorite one was what is my least favorite spice and I I have a hint if you want to H okay I'm going to need a hint Because unless it's the one my family uses I don't I don't know the hint is is that this spice is popular in some Indian cuisines uhoh oh I don't know we got some serious food poisoning from Indian food like see I have a mental B five years ago and so I don't eat Indian food at least not yet like it's going to take some time I have another hint okay start with letter C it's not like cloes or something is it clov is my le it's my second least favorite I don't know I lose it's human I wouldn't have ever come up with that I don't think why don't you like it I don't know something about the flavor profile okay well this is not my favorite I feel like it over everything else in it fair enough um I have a question about spice stuff too but I'm going to that's my medium one so we're going to start with easy all right what food am I allergic to like phys B like oh pumpkin yeah what happens when I have pumpkin so this is actually crazy I think we need to see a specialist about this I need to this is like a very interesting reaction I feel like made it up or something but I haven't right you've been around it when it's happened it's been kind of crazy so basically whenever Kate handles um pumpkin like Jackal pum like Jackal pumpkin how we found it out like like a raw pumpkin right her hands just start melting almost well no no no no it's more like it they segment into weird little like scale looking things come off exactly they start coming off in sheets it's like you're melting your skin off yeah really gross it doesn't hurt I don't I don't know what's going on you probably need to be studied I I should definitely be studied for sure um and yeah the pumpkin thing that's super good job you got it um medium what food that I think was too spicy when I was a kid that you always judge me for I mean it's like half judging right is it black pepper yeah it's black pepper I was such a picky kid like I had so many foods that I wouldn't eat and pepper was definitely one of them like I just it like frightened me or something I could see it on the food I was like that's true oh my family growing up we always told to reach for the pepper before we reach for the salt right and and I tend to do that more now to be honest I've grown a lot I've changed a lot you know your girl is working on embracing the spice life you you've had Leaps and Bounds of growth I've been really you can't improve if you already start at 10 out of 10 so I just wanted to set the bar low as a child so I can continue to impressed you have that you know v-shape recovery yeah exactly um okay my hard question I you might know this I don't know I think you probably will there's who knows I believe in you I don't know what food did always request on my birthday when I was a kid and this was what my parents would make this was not going out to a restaurant no no no you're not going to cc's don't worry no watch Teen Titans is it the H creation of the appetizer no but that was such a good one as a kid then second guess is it sausage balls nope wait third guess I don't know if you get a I don't actually know then we're going to have to describe what the appetizer is by the yeah we'll we'll Circle back the real answer to this is London Royal steak I am such a steak girl and London Ro was like the cut of meat that you could get at the store that was steak but it wasn't like crazy expensive and my parents cooked it so well on the grill like I still crave their London bro like I'll take their London Broil which is like not as nice of a cut of steak over most places like fet Min exactly number one The Nostalgia but number two they're very good they do a good job you know your mother does a great job in Mar ating and your dad's an expert on the gr yeah as far as the appetizer thing I literally my mom and dad used to be like you want to make an appetizer like meaning a food before the other food but I thought that this food that I always make was actually called an appetizer so until I was like eight or nine I thought like the word appetizer only referred to this and what what is the this I've got a hiccup sorry I'm ready it made me emotional to talk about my childood no it is a piece of bread cream cheese yeah a piece of bread mayonnaise and cheddar cheese on top actually makes me like shut a toaster oven and cooked and oh my gosh it was heaven when I was a child that's when you gross I it sounds so gross but I'm telling you it was like my goto love of my life food well I mean this is also coming from someone who like loves cheese no no I hate cheese right you're right you you got grilled cheese traumatized I got grilled cheese traumatized when I was a kid you know having like eight layers of craft you know Slice on a single it does something to a kid and it is not a good thing well we both got two out of three today I think that's pretty good we you know we've done a good job um I'm proud of us we'll do better next week we'll aim for three out of three maybe we'll shake hands next week May yeah maybe if we actually get three out of three we earn an actual handshake but um thank you for sitting down with me today thank you guys for watching I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Canton podcast we're looking forward to recording our next one for you and thanks for continuing to keep up with it let us know if you have any questions to we'd love to do kind of a question answer segment of the podcast instead of us just information everywhere that yeah we will keep doing it but if you actually have specific things you want to know we'd love to help we will see you guys in the next one take care bye

they say location everything when it comes to land and let me tell you 133 Ridgeway Court in ath Georgia might just have what you're looking for let's go check it out [Music]

hi everyone and welcome back to this week's episode of the Canton podcast Eric do you kind of want to start us off with what we've been up to this week we' had kind of an exciting week we've had a really awesome week actually we just got back from mymar Beach just outside Dustin Florida it's about a 6-hour drive down um really nice M mainly Interstate but ah just had a blast visiting family and whatnot so if you're seeing the tan burn on my face that is what that is from um we had an amazing time and as much as I'm excited to talk about Canton this week I we just had such a nice little trip oh absolutely I mean we played pickle ball we did various Beach Games various board games oh yeah we were board game Maniacs this week I don't know if any of you guys have played like bounce off or we what was the one Neanderthal poetry poet so much that your favorite was mad skills or super skills super skills oh my gosh okay if you were someone who cannot sit still for more than 5 minutes me right here play super skills because it was it's such a fun like if you remember the show minute to win it it's basically like 120 Minute to Win It game cards which all use either some number of pingpong balls a rope two chopsticks and like 10 Solo cups so you don't have to drag around a lot of stuff but it has all of these like head-to-head miname style things you can do and I I'm an extremely competitive person I'll be honest it's a flaw it's you know we're but we're diving in we're committing to it and it was such a fun way to like hang out with family and and see where everyone excelled or didn't Excel you know it was good to see the SP it was really cool and you have the solo challenges and there's also Co-op challenges within that where you need a partner for some of them like you have to go back to back and then somehow manage to throw a ping pong ball behind you that the other person catches yeah it is like a million things that you've never tried to do in your life like one of the games we played was you had to take like this plastic Chopstick and use it almost like a b CU to send a pingpong ball into like a plastic cup so I don't know who's naturally good at that but you find out very quickly yeah I know it was a really good time that that was a fun fun little week other than all of like the board games though like I will say having that great of a Beach town with really beautiful beaches and Clear Water 6 hours away was so nice like you know we spent so much time staying in Canton and working and living here that I almost forget how centrally located we are to some of those great vacation spots absolutely I mean Canon itself is a little Nexus but Atlanta at a larger picture you have so many different interstates that just go right through 85 75 20 I mean literally you can go anywhere you want you can go straight down to Orlando on 75 you can go up to North Carolina following 85 like it's really convenient and nice I love that like I always think about the road trips that I did as a kid with my family like heading up all all along thatn coast and the highway system here is so decently good that you can pretty much reach anywhere really quickly and like I know visiting your family in Louisiana it's a straight shot over there too so you know I feel you know as sad as I am to have a vacation over I feel really lucky to live somewhere that has such great access to so many cool places and I'm glad we got to visit one of them this week completely agree yeah that was fantastic yeah so I guess now that we are back home we should talk a little bit about one of one of the segments that we always like to do which is the best thing that we ate or drank around Canton this week and I'll let you start out if you want Yeah by all means you know even though it was really nice to be in Destin for a little bit I got to say we went to a couple different you know Latin American Mexican food spots and and they were Hit or Miss they they were good they were good but I was missing my local spot La hakena over there next to the Engles on Merida Highway oh man excellent excellent food I get the soes the J soes really great and extremely affordable it's like two bucks for a soap my gosh be that their burritos are also really good like I will say it was a little bit of an intimidating place to me for a while it's like it's one of those places where you definitely want to walk in and you want to speak Spanish you to get like which is amazing right you're going to get the best food ever but finally I was like I really want a burritos so the last time we went in the burritos were humongous so big they're like the size of my forearm yeah it was it was and it was so so good um but it's it's funny that you mention your local spot cuz I've also I I was going to say the same thing as much as I enjoyed all of the food that we had in Destin and we had some really really good food us going out to Mexican twice made me just be like oh I miss laara so much like I want my order at lapara which is usually the tekenya steak it what I love about that one is that it's a so I don't love this part it's a little bit pricey but it comes with a ton of food you've got like a piece of steak like that big I feel like and then it comes with um I think one or two cheese enchiladas it comes with guacamole it comes with beans it comes with rice absolutely and so if you are hungry or if you want two meals out of it you can absolutely do that and they cook it so well every time the flavors are so good I can't tell you how many times I have looked up online like dup tekena steak and then it's like slow roast things for 8 hours and I'm like okay well no I guess we're just going to go to laara again exact exactly I I definitely miss laara and then I actually you're you're so right about laa Kenya it's it's delicious like that's a really good spot great stuff and it's right next to a little um diand so basically like like a Latin American sort of grocery store and you can pick up fun drinks there you can pick up like a fun juice I restock my hot sauces when I go by and I will say it's someone who like when I was first figuring out where he was even talking about when we first started dating when you look up La there are two places that are named that one of them is close to like the laundromat and the store in like um the part of Downtown Canton by that the gas station downtown that's not the one we're talking about we we haven't been there actually it could be fantastic but we haven't gone we're talking about the one to the north of yes in the paring Les area close to like what else is around there Pap and stuff so and the Staples yeah the Staples as well so that's the one we're talking about if you want really good pretty affordable Mexican food that's super authentic absolutely stop by there we're so lucky to have like a great little hole in the wall spot and I love that they've kept the prices affordable you can get a ton of food like I think we were going to go there with my family the other day and and we could have fed everyone for like $30 or something like that everyone having a ton of food there's like four to six people going if you're looking for like a budget date night or a budget like grab food for the whole family but you really don't want to cook that's a really good place to stop by for really fantastic food and if you like spicy things I recommend the red sauce to go on stuff oh my gosh I don't because I'm afraid of it if you have anything like if you have a mouth like mine don't do it but if you love spicy stuff definitely listen to him he's got pretty good taste in hot sauce from what I've heard I don't dare to to try his you know his favorite ones but um what kinds like you like more habanero based sauces I like more more habanero yep for sure I mean I I've recently actually found a couple like jalapeno ones that I like but that surprises me for a long time you were super anti jalapeno yeah I I still probably am in that camp but you know you're still a hater jalapeno hater I'm trying to grow as a person I love that for you expand the palette um okay well I guess the other thing that we should kind of swing into is talking about what this podcast is sort of all about what sort of real estate advice do we feel people should hear that we can help out with this week abut um and so I think you do you want to get that one started or do you want me to I think uh sequentially it makes sense for you to get it started okay yeah we planned out this segment a little bit ahead of time and so um my my little part's going to lead into hits so I guess I'll start first I was working with um a first-time home buyer this week and we were having a long conversation on the phone they're about a year out so this conversation was about a what kind of money do you need to save up B what even is like a loan on a home how do you go about doing that and then like the final thing we talked about was how do you choose a good home online when all this professional photography makes every home look amazing like what kinds of things can you look for on Zillow to be like oh this is a great home or ooh that's kind of a red flag so I taught my buyer a little bit how to look at a home online like a real estate agent okay um and so when we were talking a few of the things that I wanted to that I communicated to him and that I also want to communicate to you as as viewers not you you know you're well I always enjoy a refresher you know but I I want to start out by saying days on Market is key always look at days on Market in the market that we're in right now I expect most homes to sell uh most great homes to sell in in between five and about 25 days and what do you mean by a great home h a great home meaning it's priced well for the condition it's in there aren't any huge red flags where when you drive up you go I understand why they didn't take a picture of that one or like weird condition issues or smells like a great home is one that if you see 10 homes in a day that's going to be the one that you choose in your price range because it's got a great layout condition location etc etc so a home that's a great home will likely sell right now in between around 5 and 25 days um depending on the price range of course like the more expensive ones will probably be closer to 25 and the less expensive ones probably closer to five if you look at days on market and you see 200 or even 95 or 150 and that seems strange for your Market that immediately is a red flag to me going oh why hasn't anyone else picked this up yet so always look at days on Market first another thing while you're in that little area on Zillow or redin or wherever you know you're looking at these homes there are so many there's a lot of different portals you can go to homesmy valor.com if you want just Shameless plug here but Link in the description l description but whatever site you choose to use I I honestly believe you get pretty much the same information but you should look at in addition to days on Market you should look at how many saves the home has had um if they're publicly listing that information on the site for a great home again I'm expecting to see at least 50 and up to around 200 if it's been on the market for at least like 6 days or something like that that's a decently healthy amount beyond that information you should scroll all way to the bottom to look at the price history see how many price decreases they've made and see if it recently sold for a significantly like lower amount of money to find out if it's a flip exactly that's especially useful if you look at the home and the home is empty in photos or it has that weird grainy furniture that you can tell has been virtually staged that's a huge um choice of flippers because it doesn't cost as much money to physically stage the home but still gives people an idea of of how you could lay it out so look at Price history look at days on market look at how many saves and then as you're looking through the pictures you should always look for what rooms are missing if for some reason there's a really like they don't have all the bedrooms or they don't have all the bathrooms or there's a basement and they're not showing it exactly why you know think about that sort of question if you can the other thing is to look at doorways see if there are weird cracks look at carpets see if there are strange stains look at walls see if you've got kind of odd paint textures and this is all in the pictures yeah this is all from before you even have to go to the house and look at the roof you know see if it's got like kind of flipped up shingles and weird stuff or or if the sighting has issues all of these things could save you time even having to go out to a house um or or it can just give you an idea of oh that's why this is priced this way you're going to have to use this as a fix a repper so I once you've done that part we can transition into the part that I know you're going to talk about EX so say you've all done all this homework already you know you've seen the house the pictures look good enough or maybe they're ambiguous enough that you want to go and spend your time actually viewing it and walking it uh I'm going to now talk about that part y love that for you okay fantastic all right so basically the observations should start when you start getting about a mile two miles out from the actual house so maybe look around for various grocery stores and you know just see if the area has been slated for you know maybe there's a huge cleared section that a development is going to go into and that's going to cause traffic to go up or things of that nature just or value to go up or value to go up you know both sides of the coin just being cognizant of your surroundings as you're going to the home itself MH next once you're pulling up to the home a couple things I try and notice are the driveway look for cracks look for the steepness look for obvious signs of whenever there's a downpour how the drainage flows because you want to know those things cuz they're not going to happen every single day right they're only going to happen maybe once you're in the home and you're experiencing it so as much information and knowledge as you can absorb as you're going you know be a sponge yeah um like Kate said earlier look at the shingles on that on the roof sometimes it's a little bit harder to see in photos but in person you should be able to see if there's a couple missing shingles if you can get a good enough angle on it and way you know if you need to hire uh you know a roofing consultant to go out and see the home during due diligence if you want to put an offering on the home yep now let's go ahead and walk into the house itself besides the door itself that you're going to be walking through I would also recommend looking at the porch if there is a porch seeing any wood rot any you know chip paint that sort of things because it could be indicative of something larger yeah moving into the home itself you know let's look at the roof or ceilings more so ceilings are a big one are big cuz they can either be freshly painted because there was some sort of reason to paint it or there's just obvious water stains yep and then if there's water stains there's going to be something else you want to know about or whatever and often times in the uh sellers property disclosure if there is one for a property they'll have addressed it you know maybe there was a leak two years ago that they fixed and they just hadn't you know taking that time to actually paint the ceiling you say often times though I will say many of the houses I walk walk there especially if they're investor owned or if passed away or anything a lot of times people just don't know that much about their houses they're not even necessarily trying to be like secretive about what's going wrong a lot of people just don't know so you want to absolutely go beyond the property disclosure and use your own eyes before you go out and spend money on an in on an inspection to see what is wrong with this house absolutely I definitely need to be cognizant about this let's warn the inspector about this that's a great point or often times attribute one thing to another situation and cuz I mean no one's necessarily a professional yeah we're not living in our ads most of the time right so we don't necessarily know what's going on up there or anything like that I think all of those are are really good points and again like doubling down on looking up at ceilings that's a really important I would also double down on what you said earlier as far as looking for cracks on the corners of doorways and basically you know the meaning of joints yeah because that can be indicative of poten po settling you know maybe it's no big deal but it could be you know a sign of something larger like a foundation issue and I will put the disclaimer of we are not inspectors we're not trained in that way but we do know that there are things that if we see them we're we always recommend hey have the inspector check this out for sure when they're out there um and we always try to attend inspections and learn as much as we can that will never make us qualified inspectors I'm kind of basically highlighting what we are looking at while you're enjoying the layout while you're enjoying the layout thinking about where you're going to put your couch where your kids are going to sleep all those of things exactly yeah for sure and then the other thing I will say that I should have mentioned on mine that you were so right is the porch to me is often very indicative of how often a homeowner chooses to do maintenance on their home right as long as a porch doesn't fall down a lot of buyer a lot of owners will be like yeah it's fine it's working great like Grandma hasn't stepped through any planks yet so we're all set yipp for that yipp for Grandma um but other homeowners who are very meticulous where everything is going to be done their porches are going to be gleaming ready repaired like I love seeing a beautifully maintained porch because it makes me trust the seller a lot more to be honest it's just one of those weird things where it's just to me indicative of okay this person really loves their home it's like to me that's the equivalent of someone who gets out and mows their lawn like three times a week and fertilizes in a like it's just a little extra touch that makes we go okay you've got passion for this home for sure and keeping an eye out for if there's handrails yeah you know absolutely for various loan uh eligibilities as well as if there's any safety hazard safety hazard as well um and if there's any wood in direct contact with the soil because that'll come up on a termite flag right yeah absolutely yeah I think all those are really good are there any other things that you usually like to look at I mean things that you things you can't see in a photo would be the smell of the home oh absolutely always lead with your nose there have been so many deals that I have thought would be the perfect match for my client and then we walk in and like walk right back out yes the biggest smells are smoke issues pet issues mil like moldy smelling houses some microbial growth going on yeah exactly things like that are immediately going to be turn offs for buyers so if you're a seller and you're looking to sell your home make sure your house doesn't stink like get your honest friends in there and go hey does my house smell like my cats cuz it is hard if you're living in the home you get adapted to it yeah you get adjusted to it absolutely and you don't necessarily notice smells that other people would when they're walking in and you know a realtor can be brutally honest with you too right yeah the the best agents will be very honest in a kind way but they're going to so listen to your agents like if they tell you hey this is going to knock like $50,000 off of the potential selling price of your home if we don't fix this fix it put your feelings aside if you I know it feels a little bit bad for someone to come into the house that you call home and go it smells bad in here but it's so much better for you to be able to have time to address that than to have everyone think that when they walk through the door and you leave money on the table leaving money on the table you're feeling bad because you didn't do it in the first place and and often times it's it's as simple as going to Home Depot getting one of those like odor absorbing buckets and then just putting it out in a few spots or even just really cleaning the floors and walls like there are all sorts of tricks that you can do that aren't covering up a smell but are truly fixing it so you know just advice there and and keeping in mind that all the advice I had about seeing them online you can't see a smell so make sure that you at least if you're ever buying a house you know from across the country have someone walk inside never just buy a house without ever bu a house without walking into it holy yeah that's the worst that makes me so anxious to even think about cuz every house looks so perfect online like get it now I it's price this way exactly so okay the the next thing I wanted us to kind of talk about is we're at the end of you know July right now as we're recording this podcast and and we're not ready for fall yet but we're kind of headed in there and I sort of wanted us to to chat a little bit about what should buyers and sellers expect as we're seeing a shifting of the seasons so so I would say generally you can expect uh buyers bargaining power to increase as we get more into winter and sellers to have to give more concessions yeah I will absolutely say that even now Late July as people and families are starting to go back to school we're seeing a few fewer buyers and so we're seeing more price decreases we're seeing more sellers with extended days on Market I'm seeing more closer to that 50 60 day Mark that are good houses but they priced at Spring prices and now here we are are oops they didn't sell during the height of the market and so um they are making price adjustments or offering incentives and things like that exactly true exactly true yeah yeah I would say um as we get closer to the holidays you know people just don't necessarily want to uproot you know they want to go ahead and winter bunker down all that stuff which which will also you know it always kind of we said that there were fewer buyers and fewer sell like there are fewer Sellers as well right inventory tends to go down in late fall and winter because it's a less convenient time to move exactly but you are as a buyer I I will say it's a really good time to be a buyer during that time because even though the lower inventory might limit your options a little bit the sellers who want to sell during that time like the sellers who put their home on the market during Thanksgiving during Christmas during you know whatever holidays they celebrate they're motivated right no one no one wants to do that unless they truly are ready to move so it's a great time to get a deal as a buyer if you need your closing costs covered if you know really need something that's slightly above your price range and you want to get a deal on it we're we're headed into the time where it's it's your era uh and I will also say you know we this year is a little bit different we're headed into an election year that always kind of freaks people out anyway so to start clutching their wallets a little bit more during an election cycle exactly so we may see you know even even beyond the typical Trends we're talking about there's probably going to be a little bit of flux and we'll have to see I will say no matter who wins 50% % of people always freak out you know and that's just kind of The Way of the World um and and then so far we've always figured it back out again you know what I mean so um that's just the other element that we could see potential shifts because of coming up um that and with uh the lawsuit and everything coming up on the real estate side of things you know we're just we we're headed for a month of of probably some change where things settle back in people are figuring things out but overall people will still need to buy people will still need to sell and they're still going to be taking their price cues from homes that have sold before they're still going to be you know talking with their lender and qualifying for the same amount they would have qualified for two months ago like so the world goes round and round and it's all going to be okay yep Time Marches forward yes it does uh I think that's about it as far as real estate advice that I had this week is there anything else you want to kind of chime in with and and mention or do you feel like we covered everything we wanted to I feel like we covered a lot of the good stuff honestly okay good then we get into my next favorite after all the food you know food's the way to my heart but I also love a good date night and so our next segment we're going to talk about is our typical what is a good date night recommendation that you have for people around Canton this week for sure I think you should go first on this one okay I can go first so um we when we were down in Destin we actually signed up for a pickle ball round robin and I can't remember if we've talked about this on the podcast before but we love pickle ball I am a tennis player by Nature i' I've played pretty much my whole life I'm you know my name's Kate I'm tennis addict like you know I truly I love tennis all the time but what I've actually started to lean into is pickle ball because it feels so much more accessible we can play with friends we can play with each other without you having the years and years and years of tennis experience and they actually have some pickle ball drills and quick start classes at KY skew Park on Wednesdays um in Canton Georgia and that's like 5 minutes from our house so it's the perfect location for us but even if it's a little bit it's a group of peopleone seems we've actually we've only watched from AF we've been there Wednesday nights just playing the two of us and we see all the fun they're having beside us and I want to sign up I really it's not something we've done yet but I'm so ready to it's held by top pickle ball they also run top tennis in Woodstock um so they're a great reputable company I really love working with them and you know I I I think that that would be a really really fun date night that I think we should do next week to be honest if you're up for it consider it done I'm ready to go kick some pickle ball butt right and hopefully not get my ego checked I don't know I feel like you're pretty good well we'll see I we did pretty well in the Destin one we didn't embarrass ourselves so I was I was pretty proud of us we hadn't never played against anyone other than like immediate friends or family so I was a little nervous like to to see if we thought we were decent and then we weren't but we did pretty well we held our own we represented Canton Georgia well we did we did well Kate did a little bit better but you well it was fine we only had we only had four courts so Eric and I started at the bottom court and then it was basically like if you win as a partnership you move up to the next court and swap partners with the with the couple that just lost on the third Court the classic split and swap so then you swap Partners so we only played together that one time and then we both pretty much moved up the ranks pretty well um I was proud of usly we did a great good job go Valor go Valor what about your date night idea what do you recommend this week if people looking for something fun to do and and spend some time together so continuing in the kind of outdoor and fresh air vein I think going on a hike to amicola Falls it's oh that's a good one it's a really great spot it's about a 40 minute drive uh from Canton depending on what part of Canton you're in and it's a really great spot they have an awesome Welcome Center that has a couple animals in it which is really cool honestly they like eight snakes they had like eight snakes and like a couple birds and stuff one of the snakes when we were there was doing that whole like thing from the Harry Potter you know it was slithering up like the side of it so they were pretty active they seemed happy they seemed healthy they seemed you know very like awesome cool my favorite part of the amicola um experience if you will is the 600 plus flight of stairs that you're going up my least favorite part but we did have fun I I say least favorite part but we had a lot of fun it's a great time it's a little challenge you get to see a beautiful waterfall it's it's awes it's an awesome experience all together for date night or to go with some friends just leave yourself time for breaks I will say like you don't realize how exhausting it is to walk up 600 flights of stairs until e you get halfway up and then B you have to go back down them so leave yourself enough energy in the tank to turn to go back down and I will also say I I loved it we had such a nice time but if you don't like heights kind of prepare yourself because the stairs are made of like a great like a graded metal so you can see through them and so getting very TI and marching up you know 600 flights of stairs and looking down at your feet to make sure you don't miss a step you start to see the ground getting further and further away so that's why you take at least one Brave friend that you can all latch to yes exactly yeah I I still had a fantastic time in spite of the few moments of fear that I did have I'm really glad we went I would totally go again exactly so for context we did go recently so that's why I was on my R yeah we went like a month ago and it really was a great time and keep in mind we went during the dead of Summer my it was hot but it has a decent amount of tree covering and you're right by the waterfall so of all of the summer activities you can do you will be drenched but you won't be as like sweaty awful dying hot as maybe playing pickle ball for being right next to a waterfall there was a lot of tree cover yeah it was really nice it actually like truly as far as temperature goes if you're going to go on a hike or spend a lot of time outside that's the kind of thing to do that's going to keep you relatively cool so I think it's a great time good idea that was a really good one all right so we're going into this last segment the oh gosh the that always makes me the most nervous good old couples trivia I think you went first last time I can go first this time if you want sure let's get it out of the way all right so the the theme or the genre of the questions this week is going to be uh incorporating family yeah we've decided that like going forward or at least most weeks when we have our Logistics together we're going to like set a theme and then we have to come up with questions within that theme so that we kind of have like a a focus point for that week so this one like he said is family um pretty open-ended category so we'll see so it'll be a good one so my easy question are you ready the easy one always stresses me out the most no no it's good in which states do my sisters live in okay this one I do have so Stephanie lives in Colorado and Megan lives in California correct ding ding winter that I feel like they've also lived all over the place they've gone all over the place I mean it was probably a medium level question theyve lived in huras they've lived in they Liv in Mexico foro for a while they've gone around they're Anthropologist archaeologists following their own beat of their own drums you know yeah very cool yeah very very cool but yes got that one right very nice right what's the next one the next to make it a little harder than that well I don't know this one's kind of like a medium easy one right okay in my family specifically my mom's side of the family what is our Collective favorite holiday Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is correct yes okay good I got nervous for a second but I remember that when you guys used to all celebrate Thanksgiving you would have a huge family reunion get together and when I say huge I don't know if we talked about how big Eric's family is on here it's huge how many brother this probably should have been a trivia question well it might be the next one is it one how is it how many brothers your mom has yes oh darn it oh gosh okay well we'll we'll we'll talk about okay I need to start counting is that actually the next question yeah okay all right so the next question the hard one here is going to be how many brothers does my mother have and what for bonus points name them okay so we have JY who we just went on vacation with we have and how many kids does he have no we're not doing that we're not we won't go that far I will never stop talking if we start talking about how many brothers and how many kids we'll cut that okay so we've got JY who we just went on vacation with and then we've got David who lives in Alabama and then we've got Mark who lives in Louisiana and we've got Jimbo who lives in Louisiana and then we've got Dany who passed away last last year or two years ago who used to live in Georgia man I love Danny I'm so sad he's not around anymore he was a really cool dude um and then I know they had another sibling when they were young who passed away but I don't know their name is the middle name of all of Jimbo's children uh oh I'm sorry Brandon Sten everyone or all all the men anyways gosh I don't know that's that's too deep in the family lore for me I'm afraid all I know is that he passed away it's uh it's actually Steven Steven okay well I even said not their middle name not I'm thinking about it so it was a false false clue false clue both fail you're trivia but did I miss anyone or did I get everyone I'm trying to think of anyone else I could have missed out on you got JY Jimbo Mark Danny Stephen and David yes good okay well I did pretty well and all of them have just for context have like at least six five kids I think so and then Jessica and Jimbo have what 11 they have 11 kids so that's why Thanksgiving was so much fun it's so much fun like I have a pretty small family and marrying into such a huge family has been amazing like they have such fun holiday everyone's goofing off and there are so many people our age that it just makes it so exting it was so wild when Kate told me she had two cousins total yeah because I have two sisters yeah literally I I went from like that kind of feel to oh yeah there are 100 of us here right now we had enough people to get up to some Shenanigans let me tell you like we would go to Disney World and my cousin Casey would dress up as Peter Pan and we'd form like a like a fake kind of line to get autographs we just people joining in we we got up to such menaces yeah we had such a nice time with your family on this trip too and it always reminds me just how goofy like you got to keep two eyes on the pil right like otherwise there can be some Spades cheating and stuff like but in a fun lovable way like all I I love your family so much I couldn't feel luckier to to have married into such a good one hit me with yours okay I went kind of a different direction with some of these so we'll see if you know them go and I definitely did a poor job in how easy to hard my questions were so my easy one may actually be the hardest let's let's start with it so who was Anna's favorite musician growing up that she learned about from Uncle Chris uh I'm going to go with a good old Weird Al Yankovich that is exactly right it's so funny because I feel like there are you know how I don't know if everyone else's brain works this way but for me when I think of someone and and like growing up with them what I think of an I I think of like four different things and one of the main things is that she loved weird owl so much growing up like The Yoda Song and stuff like that like it was like a soundtrack of my childhood so I just think that's so funny that's a good one good one all right one good job I'm impressed that you knew that okay the second one can you name all of my aunts and uncles all right so you have your Uncle Chris yes um would I also count Aunt Bo you can yeah sure fine all right uh you have your a Jennifer uhhuh uh oh gosh your dad's sister is Aunt chrisy yes you're right all right um and then my mom has the two bonus Brothers the bonus brother they're kind of the age of cousins oh golly what are their names Bobby and Tommy yes and then who's Bobby married to this is the hardest one cuz we haven't seen in a while yes you did great so gold star for Eric shout out to all my family out there if you're watching this I talk about you enough that my husband knows let's go there we go very nicely done okay then the final question a little bit of um parent lore were about to drop here how did my parents meet oh so I know their first date was at White Water yes or Six Flags I can never remember but one of those it was White Water okay I'm sure you're right because like your mom was a lifeguard there and like okay so you know all of that that's yeah I know I know that part Y where they met was it like a party or something that one of the friends put on it was in college I don't think so so I don't actually completely Fair the reason I ranked this one as hard is because I don't actually know which of two scenarios it is I would have taken either one number one my mom was actually a photographer in college for the newspaper and she took a picture of my dad running a race um for for the college so there's a picture that she took of him before they ever met where he's like yeah like winning the race or running or maybe I'm exaggerating the like beauty of that shot maybe it was just a sweaty random shot who knows he was passing Lance Armstrong on the left oh yeah you know um so it's either that one or he was actually the roommate of one of my mom's friends in college and she went to go like I I think she like stayed at that the house one time to shower or whatever and then on her way out she met him and they like connected or whatever so I think it was that that seems right I think that was more of when they're like meat cute and the one before it's like wo we knew each other all along you know but yeah good job I I would give you like a third of a point for that you knew it was college so you you have an Immaculate records still and I have so true no I missed one on the very first podcast we did I think I don't even remember yeah I I only got close I got I got about as close to that one as you got to was it all like the pets all the pets I had it was the dang pets you have too many pets is fine we're both great I know we should start keeping a running tally though my my competitive side says make it a competition but anyway that's about all we've got for this week thank you for joining in again to this episode of the Canton podcast if you're looking for a realtor in the Canton area we would love to help you make the process super clean and easy and if you're just looking for a Canton expert we're happy to help with that too we love recommending delicious food delicious you know I guess that's about it we love delicious food but also activities there you go I went with delicious twice was delicious activities that activities yeah feeling poetic sounds like a fondue situation but anyway if you want any sort of advice please feel free to reach out and we look forward to talking with you guys again in the next one absolutely have a good one see you guys there

hi everyone and welcome back to the Canton podcast we're on episode two today and now that you kind of know us a little bit better we won't worry too much about introductions for those of you who didn't join us last week we're a married couple who works real estate in Canton Georgia uh but mostly we're just two people who want to explore Canton a little bit with you and and make sure that you love it as much as we do so absolutely Eric do you want to kick us off by just kind of chatting about what you've been up to this week and then I'll do the same absolutely I mean today you know it's always a busy week in real estate but this past week has been especially busy getting clients under contract helping out team members with their contracts walked a piece of land got covered in poison ivy oh my God I forgot about your poison ivy that has been the drama of the week in The Valor household for there's just something about skin rashes that I don't like I'm telling you I think Eric is the most allergic to poison ivy of anyone that I've ever met either that or he just loves calamine lotion I will come home after he's walked a piece of land and like his whole legs are pink it's like he's slathered bubblegum all over the place but seems to help so I need to to relieve that it's either that and try and stop it or I take a bath full of Oats you know that's the only thing that helps me it's crazy this is marriage folks I mean you you love each other in sickness and health right through Poison Ivy and and non rash times I guess exactly what about you K what have you been up to what have I been up to I feel like it's also been a really busy week for me we've got a few upcoming listings I feel like inventory is really starting to increase again or at least we're getting more phone calls than than I'm used to for about this week in the year I feel like a lot of times this time of the year people are thinking more about vacation and you know only the people that have been planning on moving are the ones that are calling me or I'm calling them and we're getting things set up but I feel like I've gotten several more than I'm I'm used to and other than that oh my gosh other than that I'm sad about our garden that's been the main thing on my mind I feel like our garden was going so so well in the spring was so proud of us I mean we planted our first flower garden ever at our house this year and it was beautiful we had tea Olive here and gardinia is here that was a trial in itself yeah putting that in our backyard was rough you can go ahead and explain why but I mean we we decided to take the whole entire project on ourselves sure we could have hired a professional but what's the fun in that right we're great at this right we know what we're doing I would definitely say h professional next time definitely hire professional but anyways we went at it on our own and uh we called a couple friends and we were just out there shovels pickaxes like it was an operation it turns out we basically live on Bedrock is what we discovered so um we got a lot stronger that day and maybe some permanent nerve damage to like elbows that's kindy to chop down hon really really good U piece of plot area right there that we ended up planting okay yes so I feel like after all that after all the struggle we actually put in a really beautiful garden I was really happy with everything and feel like our flowers were blooming really well for a while but now the leaves are like turning yellow like they've gotten some sort of sickness and I've done some research I think we need to just increase the the nitrogen or something in the soil I don't know plants being near them kills them I'm I'm not to be trusted so that the fact that they lived this long is wonderful but we definitely need to do some some First Aid on them I think for sure and maybe it's the heat right just that it's hot maybe we planted a spring garden and it's becoming summer you know maybe well if anyone has really good gardening tips and you're like the friend with the green thumb that everyone turns to please be our friend with the green thumb because we we'll take it we could use one we we've already used our friends up for the manual labor for putting in the garden and none of them know how to take care of it so I would love any advice you have um we it's been so nice to have it in the backyard so it has been really nice just like an impact on morale be able to look out the window see something pretty it's great absolutely speaking of impacts on morale I know we always do the segment that's what's the best thing we ate or drank around Canton this week and my emotions are directly tied to my stomach so we could probably talk about that next uh do you want to start us off what is the best thing that you ate or drank around Canton this week so this past week I got to say my favorite restaurant we stopped by was willson Brothers Barbecue oh that's a good one oh my gosh over there Mara Highway really great southern food barbecue my favorite that we get there is the you know pound of chicken get the nice marinade on it and honestly the the Cuda gr there is the macaroni and cheese I knew you were going to say that yeah I I love the macaron so soft and creamy and fantastic I could go there every week for every day of the year our our favorite order when we go there is we don't like order the the meals or anything that they offer we like to go and we get a pound of chicken a pound of beef and then the macaroni and cheese and then sometimes we'll get our buns through Williams and Bros and then sometimes we'll just like go to C like Kroger or Publix and pick up a bag of like the soft good barbecue get like the bonus buns like the Brio exactly we love doing that and then we honestly I hate to cook sorry I do he is the better cook in the family and so the longer we can get a meal to last the better so we love doing that and bringing all that like meat home and being able to turn it into sandwiches or put it on so long you know you know put it with potatoes or whatever like it feels like it's a meal most days as long as you find little ways to use it but that's a really good one yeah so that was my pick for this week how about you C what was my pick for this week oh right okay Peta that is my pick for this week and I know that this is not a Canton exclusive and really I mostly want to highlight just local businesses around Canton but Peta Mediterranean street food I have been loving their food recently I feel like it took me a really long time in life to become to to break the shell of picky eater but now that I'm outside of it and I you know try I'm willing to try pretty much any food Mediterranean food has turned into one of my favorites and I think pea is actually really decent Mediterranean food especially for like a chain style restaurant around Georgia AB I love Peta so much it's really good the portion sizes are huge yes that's what I was going to say is like Williams and Bros I feel like it's one of those restaurants where you can go in and you get your meal but you're also getting your next meal too because I almost never finish I usually get the Euro Bowl I used to get the steak fries and are so so good but when I'm being a little more health conscious I get the Euro bowl and it's delicious it's got this great taziki sauce on it the meat's incredible and the rice is really good too and it comes with this like garlic pita bread so you've still got that um like extra flavor to put in there so that's that's one of my favorites what are you ordering these days from pea is it the the EUR platter which is basically what you get except it's a little bit bigger and also comes with a side that could be fries it could be whatever you want I get the red pepper hummus cuz I like to make it extra creamy around well that's why I like the bowl too I feel like we put it in the bowl like I put the taziki sauce in and everything and mix it all up and then everything's so creamy and good and it warms up really nicely too like sometimes I feel like when you get like creamy sauces and stuff like that I start it could like get gross getting sketchy like mayonnaise Vibes you know little bit of Separation thank you I've I've really been enjoying pea recently I feel like like whenever we have kind of like a night where we're like hey I don't want to cook and you don't want to cook where should we go it's been either like Williams and Bros or petas it's a great one because it's the dinner and like you said it's also potentially the breakfast yeah my favorite is to go and get it for lunch and then have the leftovers for dinner that way it's like a continuation of the joy and you know you're not cooking for the rest of the day great pick great pick honestly the next thing that I I know we always try to highlight a little bit is just talking about some of our insights into real estate felt we've talked with cents just because I know real estate when you're not in the industry feels so different than when you're actually working in it so I love to use our platform for giving good advice and making sure people understand things the way that we get the chance to every day absolutely right so do you want to do you want to talk about like the first thing that we were kind of discussing this we absolutely so I think you know to start it off why staging a house makes a world of a difference when it comes to being on Mark photos the whole yard oh yeah right do you want to start sure okay go for it so I mean other than of course immediately increasing how people can perceive your property as far as value goes it helps people be able to think of themselves inside your house that you're trying to sell and and before we get too much further talking about staging I really want to Define like what it even means to us because staging can mean a ton of different things and it's a slider you know you can minimally stage you can maximally stage yep sometimes staging can literally just refer to decluttering and getting the home ready for people to walk through if you already have really nice furniture if you already have you know a pretty photo ready space then staging can truly just mean fluffing up the pillows and you know putting the right color blanket or removing the blanket entirely to create clean lines or making sure there's only one thing per kitchen counter instead of six things basically pretending that you live in a magazine catalog instead of in an ual house that's the first level of staging but some teams and you know what I really recommend is like if you have an empty house or you it goes all the way to that extreme of actually bringing in furniture and staging the entire home so that you don't walk in and go ooh no one lives here there's probably going to be a weird smell uh why is no one living here like did they leave because of a condition issue like all of us have walked through houses you know when we're buying one and gone this is I why is it empty like it just creates a weird feeling even just on a physical level right all that furniture helps create a little bit of noise surpression so it's not e a and that helps the feeling of the showing absolutely so I would just say as far as staging yeah when it comes to our team we're always emphasizing how important it is because I've seen too many houses that leave money on the table just because they didn't take an afternoon to go and clean up the house and and so then it felt cluttered and pictures now we are not going to judge like that's the other thing I will say is when you're choosing a real estate agent make sure you choose someone you feel comfortable with and who can tell you hey dude like that is a really cool motorcycle poster but your house is going to sell for less like and you be able to have an Open Candid conversation about what's going to appeal to buyers and and what isn't because I think having that report makes a big difference so you don't end up feeling insulted at the end of the day our house so not photo have to do a ton and you would have to do a I would have to do a ton as well take down the personal items you know make it more of a cookie cutter template than something that's personal to you and that helps like I said earlier the next person coming in be able to project themselves on the home exactly and the other thing about making it seem like it is the cleanest and easiest house in the world to live in is people go through and they they're like wow I'm going to be this clean and and everything's going to be so lovely and I'll never have dishes in the think again if I move to this place so we're just kind of presenting that image and helping people visualize the best case scenario of living in your house that Mak sense ex and staging is like great absolutely if you can do it but it's not necessarily like going to syn the house it's an empty house you can still sell a house if it's empty but you're not going to get as much money as you would yeah if it were exactly and and when we talk about that I kind of refer to new construction when we're trying to decide with a homeowner if they want to actually bring in furniture it a lot of Lis effort deines if theet staging may be an option still but it might not be like full out staging ex or if you're going on the market in a time where that furniture is going to have to sit there for a little bit if you're going on the winter month and you think it's going to be on the market for 1 two three whatever how many months often times the staging furniture is there on a contracted period yeah so all just things to think about but basically we just wanted to talk a little bit about what the word staging even means in real estate cuz we throw it out all the time like I know in our brochures it's like staging will make your home sell for x% amount more and it's true but it also has different meanings for different homes and how much of an extent your home needs to be stag just like Kate's saying different homes need different levels of staging yeah and it's it's all a slider and that's why someone like us can help you know yeah illuminate that area and and it's all okay if your house needs a lot of staging we are not judging you house needs a lot of staging so we we totally understand and honestly the more kids you add in the more you know like cool projects you've done in the house like if you have a workshop down in the basement that's amazing we want to call attention to it but that sometimes means you know decluttering a little bit 100% that's that's that on uh staging we also wanted to talk about interest rates since obviously those have been a huge topic of conversation for the last you know about a year now since they started to really creep up um and you know I I have a few things I want to say but mostly I just kind of wanted to reiterate what I think people aren't talking about enough in that we the interest rates we're seeing now feel so incredibly High compared to the 275s and stuff we were seeing for a little bit but when we look historically we still are not anywhere near how high things have been even in the memory of one generation back so exactly I mean just look at the early 80s right we had a interest rate like nominally of around like 16% think of that 16 16% is crazy and like I will add obviously 16% on a house that probably cost $80,000 or something is substantially different so I'm not at all trying to compare apples to apples but it is very interesting to consider that even though they feel high now at least they're not where they were then and the other thing that I want to throw out is like a 7% interest rate can feel very high but there are options to bring it down if you want to pay for points and you have a little bit more cash up front or you want to ask for closing cost from the seller to help buy down your rate a lot of people are doing that and that's helping make it work at least in the short term um permanent rate Downs buy Downs are always safer temporary buy Downs are less expensive of course but just I really want to communicate that you want to talk with your lender and make sure it's a lender you trust so that when you're having those conversations they looking out for your best interest um because it really can make a huge difference in in making sure you are actually happy with the house that you bought exactly exactly understanding maybe where you think rates are going to be going in the future too right because I mean recently rates have been staying pretty constant with a potential slight decrease forecasted for later this year you know we'll see if it happens with the inflation and everything that's up to the FED yeah uh we're just living in it yeah they're trying to keep it I think they said it about 2% or so 2% which this past month has been pretty good for them yeah um that being said uh going into a loan and thinking that oh I'll just refinance it down the line is maybe not the best strategy yeah I get really worried especially when my first time buyers say that just because I think that's in theory a really great idea but I would hate to count your chickens before they patched and end up with a payment that's too high as taxes are increasing and everything too like tax bills just came out for Cherokee County for a lot of people their mortgages are now going to increase because their taxes have exctly by hundreds of dollars in some instan I think ours was like $180 increase or something that's that is substantial and number one make sure you contest it if you think your home is not actually worth that amount although surprise it might be I mean Cherokee especially has increased substantially in the last there's a of companies there's specific companies that can do it your local real estate agent can do it we can do it yeah we can we can help look and and see what C looking like on your home and at least get an idea of if it's accurate potentially or if they've way blown your value out of the park because there are you know you can contest it if you feel it's unfair so you know and that's also something else to keep in mind keeping up with the value of your home yeah absolutely that's definitely a good idea so if your agent is not sending you CMAs every so often or whatever come to us we will help you um or just ask them if if you really like your agent I highly recommend you know staying with them and just asking hey how much do you think I could sell my house for I'm not looking to sell but just what kind of value am I sitting on because for some people at least having access to a home equity line of credit is interesting even if you want to avoid using it if you don't have to take out so all that as far as interest rates go I guess the whole point of the story is no matter what interest rates are make sure your payment is Affordable and that an increase based off of taxes or an increase in your home insurance or something like that make sure it will not send you into a panic because life happens your house will increase in value that's part of the reason you wanted to buy it in the first place exact um and you want that to always feel like a good thing and not a scary thing exactly is that does that about sum up what kind of you wanted to talk about today absolutely I think hammering home that point like getting into the real estate market like at least have a hook in right so that you can ride the wave up or wherever it goes right yeah but if you're not actually in it then you're just seeing the wall get higher and higher and it's harder and harder at least mentally to be able to like break into it there was a quote I was looking at today and I don't know if it exactly applies but it's now ringing around my head so I'm going to say it and it's quit looking for a needle in a Hast stack and just buy the Hast stack like I think for a lot of people they're looking for the deal in this market and the best deal was 5 years ago and that's always been the case in real estate you know what I mean so just the longer you wait I I think at least with all the growth I'm seeing happen in Cherokee County and all the Road expansion they're doing and all the new construction that's going in exactly waiting is probably not going to be your best option is my my opinion now we can't foresee everything obviously but I do think at least if we look at historical exactly increases it's it's a good idea to get your foot in the door as soon as you can as long as you're putting yourself in a good financial position I mean I was looking at our local MLS uh earlier today and like the median household price is $400,000 that's wild a lot of first-time home buyers that's absolutely not approachable yeah exactly and and what makes me sometimes feel a little sick is like when we're listing a home for let's say it's 350 and it still has pretty decent condition issues or whatever I mean you know that happens all the time because that's what the comp show that's what the home is you know it's worth that much exactly and so as as a buyer I guess my my recommendation for first time buyers is talk with a lender you know and trust talk with an agent you know and trust and really make a plan like go in with your eyes open and know your level of ability when you're going to buy a house like if you're not a big DIY person make sure that you have someone in your corner or have someone who's going to give you good affordable prices to fix up the parts of the home that you need or buy something that doesn't need as much fixing up if it's still within your price range so I I wish I had better advice than that but it really comes down to a person a personal consultation to see what makes the most sense we've we've had some really good success with first-time home buyers this year and making sure you know payments are low with either 0% down payments or 3% down payments or you know things like that like you can even get a 3% down payment on a conventional loan in a lot of cases So eventually that PMI can go away versus the 3.5% FHA but it's just all going to be a person Byers basis and K why would I want to go in with like a conventional loan rather than like an FHA or something that's a great question so there are a few different reasons the conventional itself um one of the main reasons is that PMI will eventually go away PMI standing for private mortgage insurance basically you're just paying extra money every month to in to for insurance for the lender because you haven't put down a substantial amount of money their collateral is less strong exactly so the fact that PMI will go away with a conventional loan once you reach that like 20% threshold goldish um is great because then your payment may go down enough to combat all the increase in taxes you've experienced you know in the time you've owned it versus FHA it's stuck with it for the duration of the loan and there are some advantages with FHA like the interest rates tend to be slightly lower sometimes um but it's just a person Byers basis again I'd speak with your lender to clarify which one is makes the most sense for you the other 100% with the one other thing to add about an FHA loan is that there are often not often there are sometimes repair required that also come along with an FHA loan um when the appraisal is being conducted and that's way less common with a conventional loan yeah exactly is there anything else you'd add there and as going off of those repair requirements like those are good Provisions to have as a buyer right they're meant to be there to protect you to make sure you're moving into someplace that's great but they're just not as competitive sometimes right so if you're submitting an offer on you finally found that needle in the H stack right like you finally found one for 325 and it's a great house but man it's missing a handrail sometimes that matters and and a seller may look at your offer and go o FHA sometimes really has an issue when there's not a handrail and I don't have the money to put in to to fix this and so then if there's a nice juicy conventional offer sitting right next to it just it can end up making you or I mean even just not conventional like cash you know yeah cash absolutely cuz that's the other thing if it's a non-a neighborhood there are a lot of cash buyers that are buying up investment properties and they competing with first time home buyers anyway all oh boy all that to say I I know that went slightly Doom and Gloom so I just want to reiterate it is possible to buy a house it is a great financial choice for most people to buy a house it just takes planning it takes forethought and it takes a good team so make sure you're working with people you like and Trust who have your financial well-being and your happiness at the for Forefront of the deal all right that sounds good the final thing I kind of wanted to talk about um which which kind of plays in a little bit to some of the stuff we've been talking about but it's from a seller perspective why pricing your home too high will leave money on the table that is an excellent excellent point honestly MH let me just form it up in as short of as sentence as I can if you price too high no one will want to see your home yeah I mean honestly I I always tell my sellers pretend you're buying your house right now and we all we go and we do a search you know and we look at okay this is a four-bedroom house close to downtown Woodstock it was built in 1995 and we're in a Nona area we've got 2400 ft let's look and see what's similar and when we're finding the the comps I pulled or the active competition feels substantially nicer at the price point the sellers want to list why would the buyers buy your home at that price exactly versus if you are the best or equal to the other Homes at the price range that you're listing at you're way more likely to actually get an offer and have a buyer be excited about your home or multiple buyers be excited about your home keeping your days on Market low and your competition high and that days on Market is a really important Point as well because I mean personally as an agent if I see a home that has 60 90 plus days on the market is blood in the water right you're going to be getting offers that are below your asking point probably below what was recommended even and then you're going to be walking away with less than you would have yeah we have going on at we have sellers a decent bit who go I'm not really in any rush so can we just try this and my answer to that is I mean I am here to serve you first of all but I wouldn't be doing you a proper service if I didn't tell you that I think after about 60 days of sitting at this price you're going to want to make a price decrease to the price that I originally recommended because we're going to get one showing every two weeks and and you're going to feel too overpriced those are going to be the people who you happen to fall into their stretch range or they can go higher and you're now the worst home in their bracket and we don't want either one of those situations no exactly so almost always you'll end up making a price decrease after a substantial amount of days and then you've already once you've made a price decrease online that's an indication that you're motivated right so it's always better to to price accurately right away when you can and keep your days on Market low so that you don't start to seem desperate yeah and while you might go into the process thinking like oh I have plenty of time your timeline will only shrink from there right yeah exactly and I I it's it's like dating people always say that right like when when other people seem to like your house your house seems more attractive right like when the agent when your buyer agent goes to schedule a showing and they go only four spots left today you know when they tell you that or when you show up and someone's leaving and someone's chasing you out the door when when we're on the scheduling like application and we see there's 13 book showings for the next two days like what happened on one of our recent showing yeah that did happen on one of our recent ones but um just basically saying there's a whole psychology behind this that when sellers don't consider I feel like they leave money on the table so it's our job to educate them and and since you're not actively sitting at with us at a listing appointment this is our version of trying to tell you and give you the background knowledge so that you can walk away with the most amount of money possible when you go to sell so I think that's a great Point that's all the little real estate tidbit stuff I've got today so we'll get a little lighter again and I wanted to to focus back in on Canton and just kind of do our typical segment on the best date idea recommendation you have for this weekend yeah well recommend well what would I recommend I think I want you to go first this time okay well last week we did what walking around around downtown with Bazaar and yours was bowling so going off of that I I wanted to go a little bit more into downtown just um but maybe an evening date this time instead of like a coffee date in the morning um and I really like the idea of catching a movie or a performance at the Canton theater oh yeah and then eating maybe downtown kitchen getting a steak there I really like the Ambiance in downtown kitchen I think it's got this like really nice candle light Tavern like it lands somewhere really in that like dark Moody vibe that feels really nice for an evening date and then the Canton theater um when you're looking stuff up for it right now cuz I was looking to see what was upcoming keep in mind that they're running kids programming right now well I mean it's the summer so you know there's more availability there yeah they they're offering $1 movies for kids or for families I think during the summer families for a dollar no I think it's $1 per person but for family ored movies they're playing things like meind and I think some of the Harry Potter movies and like Disney movies like new Disney movies that's absolutely amazing really fun if you're with the family but then date night still exists they've got things like I think there's an orchestra coming um or they're doing like classic film showings if you want to get a little retro so that would be probably my recommendation for this week as as sort of a memorable lean into the history of Canton kind of thing and do something that you know you can go to the movie theater anytime but going to a cool old historic theater and getting dinner downtown and maybe even grabbing like an ice cream afterward at a cone to pick making an evening of it you know that's fantastic that's a really good one I think so too mine's a little bit more uh humble if you will go to the park edal River Park to be precise gorgeous landscape open areas have yourself a picnic walking Pathways Trails it's got it all I also really like edwat River Park because it connects to another Park called Heritage it goes across the edal um really fun little Boardwalk area there and they're actually expanding Heritage Park into the mill area even further down W I didn't know that that's wild yeah yeah I mean they're they're working their way down the river so it's going to be something really awesome that's amazing when I think of Wild River Park the the main thing I think of is we do the Chick-fil-A 5K there uh or we did it last year we're planning on doing it again I'm so afraid of this year I last year we did such a good job we were running with my dad I was feeling good I was like oh I can jog a 5k if necessary I there is a solid chance I die this year like I'm not I'm not convinced I'm going to make it how are you feeling about it it's it's going to be in the dead of August y i I'm already more sweat than human at this point in the year I don't know what I'm going to be by August I mean you know how I am I am definitely more on the nervous side on this one cuz we have done zero prep so far for for reference we're we're in like the middle of June right yeah we've got some time but we are not using it wisely no we we don't have enough time really to get up the par but it'll it'll be fine it's going to be fine what the worst case scenario we walk it I mean I guess that's there's a real chance that happens but yeah we need to we really need to get on it our next date night really does need to be River Park go for a run see what our Baseline is and go for there because it's a deal then I'm getting I'm getting anxious I'm getting stressed but I am excited I do like doing that run every year it ends up being a really good crowd most of the time it's a good time good activity with friends maybe take the family honestly yeah we're going to do it with my dad and he and and our friends who helped us do the garden actually and my dad for those of you who had him as your high school teacher seor huller shout out uh he is a really good runner he did like country in college he ran against Lance Armstrong didn't he in like college yeah they did a triathlon or whatever together so yeah my Lance Lance is the athlete right I always get Lance Armstrong and Ian Armstrong mixed up and I can't remember which one which everyone did not walk on the moon and which did do the cycling is the one that Dad ran against I'm sure you're right Neil Armstrong is the one on okay then who's Ian there's no Ian armstr with an Ian arm I really great guys I probably had too much coffee today but anyway yeah so he is a really good runner I'll get notifications on my watch all the time being like Jay just ran seven miles or whatever and I'm like he runs a 5k Every Other Day I don't this man's made a different stuff yeah he is very impressive and I did not inherit it genetically I I darn it but anyway I think I definitely think we should go in practice for that cuz I all right I know we're going to get up by my dad but I'd at least like to be able to greet him at the finish line and not have passed out halfway through so sounds good it's a date okay sounds good all right well I guess we now move on to the next area which is coup trivia this one always makes my adrenaline race I'm like okay here we go how do you want to do this one do you want to do all three of yours first and then I do all three of mine or sure yeah we can we can do that I think that's good anyway cuz I kind of went with like a theme this week okay well please my theme is Pets p and all the questions that that I have about my childhood with pets so number one we'll start easy hopefully okay what was my first cat's name first cats well like my cat like my personal cat that I loved and who loved me cat well I mean I'm going to have to go with the woole yes you're exactly right bonus point do you know where I got the name woole it's from the the wind of the Poo right yes it's that weird like they had like the Woozles and Heffalumps or whatever in it my for some reason I thought that the Woozles or whatever looked like a cat so little I was probably like four four-year-old me thought wole was a cute name and it stuck well four-year-old you was correct fouryear old was it it's a really good name for a cat it was fun it was funky I've never heard of another cat named woozle so it definitely never got uh confused with anyone else at the V okay good job moving on up what kinds of this okay this one should have been my hard one I think I think I've sabotaged you a little bit but what type of dog two of them did my parents have when I was first born golly did they have Pomeranians yes okay good I was so impressed that you got that because that's such it feels so distant even in my head it feels made up because I was like so small when we had they had foxy and stormy I would not have been able to name them you know I barely can like that's way back there in the recesses of my brain so good job okay and then finally I think I brought this up a couple weeks ago so maybe it's not hard after all it randomly came up but what kind of animal did I make multiple PowerPoint presentations to my parents trying to get as a child so we talked about this once like four plus years ago so I would have never remembered it but we did talk about it again recently with our friends like a couple weeks ago that's probably why uh it would be huskys yes you're exactly right did I explain why or why do you think I wanted a husky because they looked cool they that's literally the only reason I my my the whole logic piece wasn't really work mean this is also young Kate right so that's obviously the biggest you know triangle there you go yeah I those were some great PowerPoints though they had uh Transitions and they have animations effects you know they had animations I was trying to get myself a dog absolutely well you know you had your cat yeah it never worked um mostly I will credit this to the fact that my sister is extremely allergic to dogs so you maybe don't want a dog maybe I want a dog I think I ended up like having slides on hypoallergenic mixes with huskys that still look like huskys or whatever you know I wasn't as convincing as I hoped I'd be it's I never joined debate team you know so is Husky still your favorite breeda dog that's a good question I don't know we have gotten like in our little cat area I feel like I don't crave any kinds of dogs I do like golden retrievers I do like Huskies Italian Greyhounds are adorable okay you're you're right they are so goofy they're such goofy dogs I there's definitely an affectionate place in my heart for like the goofy style of dogs right where you're just like oh man you look wild and you have no teeth like all right all right so you're ready for my questions I don't know let's just go for it all right easy one is a soft one but you should be able to get that's what makes me the most nervous is when I miss E I think that's what happened last week okay all right what is my favorite SL most used hot sauce Valentina Black Label Black Label absolutely it can't be the normal Valentina it has to be sweet it is not it's sweet neither one is sweet they are both spicy and I want that on the record actually that makes me think are you you're ready I'm not ready this Father's Day we're doing the hot ones challenge with my Dad I am so afraid we did it for your birthday and I literally I I was sobbing there were tears streaming T your eyes you'll be fine I have never eaten what was it that I had limeade sherbet or something like a rainbow sherbet that did not sit well no it didn't so I'm really worried about this weekend it'll be fun but I'm I'm nervous about it so anyway glad I got that right and you always rise to the occasion my little bonus thing is you like to pair your black Lio Valentina with tahen really what kind of tah they're original are their types low sodium sodium because I'm looking out for my health solid gold star for Eric yeah there's a lot of salt in that yeah okay what's the next one all right you know let's go with what was the oh here what is the name of my childhood black labs sugar sugar is correct sugar is correct I only remember that because that's pretty much the only pet you talk but you had so manyet that's actually going to be my next question can you name every type of pet I had no as a kid I okay let's go through it you can try guinea pig right because you inherited that from a classmate and then you had dogs dogs of course obviously you had cats yeah your dad had horses yes this is where it gets sketchy though cuz I don't know if you went into like the lizard zone or something like that lizard I don't think you went lizard I think that's where it stops but maybe no I think you guys ate a rabbit one time I don't think you we also ate a rabbit once it was a fry rabbit for Christmas like 2012 or something or at least I didn't make that up it was a really good rabbit we sourced it from a local butcher uh in Cartersville it was a good time did you guys ever have you didn't have pigs or goat maybe you had goats we had goats at one point we had four goats that feels like the extra hard level that I've just unlocked we started with two goats and then we had four goats total and then we had no goats did you did they die or did you eat them no we didn't eat them okay you ate a goat that one time you did yeah this is when we started dating and I was like whoa I'm being definitely introduced to like different culture here cuz they are for Christmas was it Christmas or Thanksgiving Thanksgiving you guys what you buried and yeah so we made like an ingr like slow cooking oven it's really good I recommend it it was slow cooked all day basically you dig a hole then you build up the middle a little bit so you can put like your your tray where you have your meat that you want to slow cook and then you surround up with like coals and stuff and just let that go for hours and hours it gets so tender I bet it does it's like barbecuing I mean we love barbecuing obviously but it's like barbecuing to the max really good one so I'll go I miss any I'll go ahead and let you know you didn't mention fish oh you right you had that whole Aquarium of fish and then you put too much goo and they had I also had a hamster was that a different one than the guinea pig or did I replace the guine Hamer and then we also had bunnies you did have bunnies we did have bunnies when did you have bunnies how old were you when we had the guinea pigs at the same time they were they were in a Shar Mount Olive Church house yeah I should have known you had bunnies it's all right oh wow I I still feel pretty good the fact that I at least remembered goats feels good and then I'm sad that I replace the hamster with the Pig but it is what it is you did great anyways thanks well done well that is all we have for today unless there's anything you wanted to add but thank you guys again for joining in for another episode of the Canton podcast we will be back sometime soon so far we've had no regular schedule or anything like that so we'll see if we get super consistent or not but so far we've been really enjoying recording the podcast I think it's fun to sit down and just chat for an hour I feel like I completely agree this is the most we've gotten to like directly talk in a while been so busy going so fast right but it it's good we make sure to go on that date in at a wal Park where we run yes and the other thing I'm going to do I keep seeing this online is like the little um wrist weights or whatever like if you run with them it's supposed to like tone your arms too so maybe I'll do that maybe I'll add that on it's we have so we'll be good so anyway I hope you guys have a really good week thanks for tuning in thanks for watching we love having you here make sure you um stop at a local restaurant enjoy something delicious in Canton this week and let us know if you have any questions about real estate or Canton we would love to help her we can yep take care bye

what is my favorite type of vacation to go on cruise absolutely and thank goodness we both align with that I literally it's been such a problem Anna is on a cruise right now and I'm like little sister by the way last minute cruise deals like we haven't signed up for one yet but I'm itching too I mean you get some really good deals on the cruises for like the last minute booking cuz they're just trying to shove whoever they can where they but we love cruises so highly recommend and I'm glad I got that one right okay maybe I just don't know the easy ones and now the hard one now this one's probably going to be actually pretty difficult what was the name of the street that I grew up on when I moved to georia Olive Church Lane oh you got it ding ding ding ding I actually went to that house so that one is not like but it's a mouthful so I thought it was going to be you know you have to get three or four whatever no no I nailed it that's good I'm glad I only missed the easy one but it's all right it's also tricky you know

especially when we have such good local options around 10 years ago maybe be like no go to Walmart but you know now we have really really great local options like if you haven't been to the mill that's another really good place to go I can't believe it I walked through there the other day and I was like this is amazing this place has changed so much it has good food it has good shopping it has cool places so the Mill's fantastic the huge Park initiative Ken's been putting on you know at River Park is getting just absolutely shot down the owall so by that I mean they're adding Bridges across you know Wonderful green spaces you any sort of sports you want right

yeah so if you are let's say a year out two years out and you're really thinking I think I'm going to be ready to buy a house soon I've been saving I've been doing this but I don't know what my credit's like and don't just take your FICO score on your Wells Fargo app or your Chase app or you know whatever kind of app you're looking at because from what the lender explained to me from their end there are like three actual scores that they pulled that they take an average OFA and all them and it's like a deeper score than what you are seeing you're seeing kind of a cosmetic helpful thing but it's not the end all Beall so really talk with a lender give yourself time to fix things that come up so that you can be eligible for the best rate possible when you go to buy a house yeah I think that's excellent advice right there

so you're not going to be able to get away with it you do have to have that the perk test done so that you can that perk test is something very important to actually know so in order to figure out where you can put a setic tank on a piece of land you need to get something called a level three soil survey or colloquially known as a perk test P RC by the way it's it's for perkal not like oh a perk of this is I learned to use the bathroom right yeah exactly exactly love that perk yeah um so you know the rates on those uh vary you know from company to company but generally it's going to be around $800 or so dollars [Music]

and it has so much moisture and it's cooked perfectly every time but my life hack there is when you're ordering a burger if you want kind of that Wing taste as well or you're missing like you can't decide which one to get go ahead and get fries or tots on the side and then order a dipping wing sauce so I love their garlic parmesan wings but I love it because of the sauce like the wings are amazing but the sauce like I just want to drink it you live for the sauce you can order the delicious burger and then order a side of fries and just get the dipping wing sauce on the side I think it's like a dollar and you feel like you've had both meals exactly that's really good there's your brilliant life hack it's already been worth listening to the podcast so you're welcome [Music]

we actually were doing some filming for some of our upcoming videos around Canton and so we went and we stopped in there so definitely add it to your list if you haven't gone and you should add it more to your list so that I feel less guilty about my obsession with that we can both love them together all the time fair you're definitely more of a coffeee head than I am I know it's it's so bad but I've chosen to lean in and just accept the identity and and drink all the coffee right ex you got to do it you'll drink enough for both of us sounds sounds good to me that is an acceptable plan [Music]

so if you're recommending the garlic parm I'm going to recommend the Chipotle Citrus that is a wonderful glaze it has a little bit of kick but also has a nice Citrus kind of inlay on it it's really nice how spicy do you think it actually is because for those of you who don't know he literally his his spice level tolerance is insane like I I cry just being around his food and I do have baby mouth but just be warn no no Kate always tells me all the time that something probably happened in my early childhood where my taste buds got burnt off I think you must have eaten lightning like I literally don't understand how you get through such spicy things and they don't even phase you like so realistically I don't know if I'm the best measure of spice but I'd probably rate it as like a two out of 10 on the spice level so probably give it like a four or five out of 10 just double it and stay safe but I think that's awesome [Music]

but anyway for those of you who don't know me very well um like he like he said we and like I said earlier we both grew up in Georgia we've lived here forever um and we actually I don't we're both married um we're married to each other specifically um we let's let's get that written down just in case write it down write it down uh we've been together about 10 years now we went to Cherokee high school and that's where we met uh and then we've been married about 4 years now so time has flown by and we haven't gotten sick of each other yet uh so I count that as a win well I'm glad to hear that cuz I'm definitely not sick over here [Music]

I'm so excited cuz I know that this is the house that you've been looking for let's go check it out so right at the top I just really need to highlight just how wonderful this backyard for this home is it's gorgeous but more than that in a moment we're going to walk right into the large living room here of this fantastic home plenty room for the TV couch perfect for game days really great spot next we're going to go ahead and take a peek into the front yard really really beautiful kind of grassy shaded area and this great room is fantastic beautiful fireplace and it even has easy access into the kitchen for any quick snacks you might need heading into the sun room here oh my gosh you guys beautiful view to the backyard finished porch once again really great stuff and there's two skylights in the center room that really just give it so much natural lighting that I don't know about you but I love and looking into this kitchen fantastic it has an eaten breakfast area tons of Cabinetry even has a built-in wine rack on the upper Cabinetry there on the right if you can spy that walking into the main living porters of this uh home you have the primary bedroom really great spot two windows and this primary bathroom has a beautiful tile work shower I mean look at that just absolutely gorgeous walking into the second bedroom it's really a great spot too two windows plenty of closet space really just a great spot to be in you know same story with this third bedroom really great natural lighting and anything you'd really need for a bedroom walking into now the secondary you know Hall bathroom this thing is huge beautiful tub shower and then that vanity is something special huge mirror there all right now we're going to go ahead and walk our way over to the stairs leading to the downstairs portion of this property and you'll see that it's actually also a two-car garage with a hobbyist workshop attached really nice spot uh you have a laundry area here on the right and walking into this area uh this space right here is really something nice for storage you could finish it out make it into its own kind of almost bonus game area and then even a fourth bedroom down here if you're really looking for something to expand into it really has a lot of great expansion opportunities in this house an even additional Workshop area here so you can paint your figurines or do what have you for your times of leisure but anyways we'd love to help you get into this home and if you're interested please feel free to reach out to the number below and thank you for your time

I genuinely think it's because we have the mountains here versus Texas too like I have such distinct memories of driving through Texas and how flat that it feels that whenever we came back to Georgia as a kid I was like oh my gosh trees and we go up and down a little bit we're not just like driving flat H that's one of my favorite Parts about Georgia Over Texas would be the trees I I love just the burd and greens and stuff and that was something that personally I was really missing in Texas at the age of two yeah I know we were we were both very hoyy toyy even while young we said Mom Dad please move us to this random state of Georgia [Music]

my name is Eric Valor as my beautiful wife introduced uh I've been a lifelong resident of Georgia ever since the age of three where my parents came over from Texas and I'm excited to be able to talk about this state that I've grown to love so much I whenever you tell that story I think it's so interesting like the fact that we were both born in Texas and then moved here and then met here I just think that's so wild so um it's wonderful like Eric for those of you who don't know I've also grown up most of my life in Georgia we we I moved over I think I was like three as well so pretty much the exact same thing and then something was going on in Texas where our parents everyone was fleeing to Georgia um it's funny we get people moving from Texas I feel like relatively often now too and then New York and California I feel like that's happening a lot Exodus from the major metropolitan areas just right on down for a little bit of acreage in Georgia [Music]

hello everyone today we are sitting down for a very exciting thing we have not done this podcast in a really long time and it used to just be little old me doing it but now I have Eric awesome Eric sitting down with me we have decided to make this a joint effort and bring you guys some more information on what it's like to buy a house and also just kind of sit down and chat with us about how how life is going so Eric you want to introduce yourself tell them a little bit about you since they haven't met you before yeah absolutely so my name is is Eric Valor as my beautiful wife introduced uh I've been a lifelong resident of Georgia ever since the age of three where my parents came over from Texas and I'm excited to be able to talk about this state that I've grown to love so much I whenever you tell that story I think it's so interesting like the fact that we were both born in Texas and then moved here and then met here I just think that's so wild so um it's wonderful like Eric for those of you who don't know I've also grown up most of my life in Georgia we we I moved over I think I was like three as well so pretty much the exact same thing and then something was going on in Texas where our parents was fleeing to Georgia it's funny we get people moving from Texas I feel like relatively often now too and then New York and California I feel like that's happening a lot it's a mass Exodus from the major metropolitan areas just right on down for a little bit of acreage in Georgia I genuinely think it's because we have the mountains here versus Texas too like I have such distinct memories of driving through Texas and how flat that it feels that whenever we came back to Georgia as a kid I was like oh my gosh trees and we go up and down a little bit we're not just like driving flat that's one of my favorite Parts about Georgia Over Texas would be the trees I I love just the bird and greens and stuff and that was something that personally I was really missing in Texas at the age of two yeah I know we were we were both very hoyy toyy even even while young we said Mom Dad please Mo us to this random state of Georgia um but anyway for those of you who don't know me very well um like like he said we and like I said earlier we both grew up in Georgia we've lived here forever um and we actually I don't we're both married um we're married to each other specifically um we let's let's get that written down just in case write it down write it down uh we've been together about 10 years now we went to Cherokee high school and that's where we met uh and then we've been married about four years now so time has flown by and we haven't gotten sick of each other yet uh so I count that as a win well I'm glad to hear that cuz I'm definitely not sick over good good me either and uh the reason that we're both on this podcast and and why we wanted to kind of sit down and talk to you guys is we both run homes by Valor we're a real estate team and so there is a lot of stuff that we see in our industry that I feel like I wish more people knew about and I wish that real estate felt more accessible uh just because I think for a lot of people the idea of owning a house especially for those people our age there's this whole myth that it has become impossible that it's become too expensive and while it has become very expensive this whole podcast is going to be focused around number one like I said getting to know us a little bit better but also giving you guys the tools that you need in order to make home ownership accessible and exciting so yeah I think that's an extremely admirable goal that we're going to be trying to strive for every single episode yeah and I'm excited to see where it goes awesome so we wanted to go ahead and kind of start out with a little bit of a fun segment that we hope you guys enjoy and that we want to make a regular part of the podcast and that is going to be the best thing that we ate or drank around Canton this week um just because we we both try to to get out at as much as we can and enjoy the delicious restaurants and coffee shops and everything that have popped up around Canton I I'll let you talk about this too but to me it's crazy how many really cute restaurants and things have popped up the last few years especially so absolutely I'm so proud of how many mama pop shops have been able to spring up in the Canton and honestly Cherokee County area has been wonderful and this segment's a wonderful excuse to be able to get out there and try those awesome places I'm really excited that like as we look forward to doing this segment each we can like oh gosh for work Eric we've got to go out and have a delicious meal I'm like darn it I just have to get a coffee I'm sorry to do understand this donut is purely for business it's not that I want that you didn't no no yeah we just we have to so um why don't you go ahead and go first you can talk about your favorite thing CU I think they're different we I'm excited to hear about yours we've kind of keeping our answers hidden from each so it's a little bit more of a surprise Factor when we talk so my uh place I chose today was actually Wicked Wings so specifically the location over on Sixes Road right in front of the bridge Mill entrance and oh my gosh they have so many Fantastic foods to choose from my my entree of choice from there is actually the sixes Burger this is It's a smash Patty double smash patty fried egg on top oh my gosh that melts in your mouth with the Brio bun on top woo yeah that's that is a really good one we have spent so much money at Wicked Wings in the past like four years that we've lived around them like I I really love the sixes Burger too for those of you who are listening for our culinary expertise um that's a really good one they actually switched over from like a big juicy Patty to those Smash Burger style like maybe like six months ago but it's so good and it has so much moisture and it's cooked perfectly every time but my life hack there is when you're ordering a burger if you want kind of that Wing taste as well or you're missing like you can't decide which one to get go ahead and get fries or tots on the side and then order a dipping wing sauce so I love their garlic parmesan wings but I love it because of the sauce like the wings are amazing but the sauce like I just want to drink it so you live for the sauce you can order the delicious burger and then order a side of fries and just get the dipping wing sauce on the side I think it's like a dollar and you feel like you've had both meals exactly really good there's your brilliant life hack it's already been worth listening to the podcast so you're welcome so if you're recommending the garlic parm I'm going to recommend the Chipotle Citrus that is a wonderful glaze it has a little bit of kick but also has a nice Citrus kind of inlay on it it's really nice how spicy do you think it actually is because for those of you who don't know he literally his spice level tolerance is insane like I I cry just being around his food and I do have baby mouth but just be warned I know Kate always tells me all the time that something probably happened in my early childhood where all my taste buds got burnt off I think you must have eaten lightning like I literally don't understand how you get through such spicy things and they don't even phase you like so realistically I don't know if I'm the best measure of spice but I'd probably rate it as like a two out of 10 on the spice level so probably give it like a four or five out of 10 just double it and stay safe but I think that's awesome and I do highly recommend Wicked Wings so I think that's a really good what was yours then H mine I have two loves in life you and bizar coffee in Canton Georgia I'm not kidding I love bizar coffee so much and I I always go a little bit into morning when they go from Spring to summer because the spring menu always has the wild blue coffee on it and for those of you who haven't gone to bizar their whole thing is that they make like bizarre coffees so sure you can go and get a delicious caramel latte or a vanilla latte or whatever but I highly recommend going and getting one of their funky spring or summer flavors the wild blo is like blueberry with Macadamia cold foam and Villa and it is so good like that fruity element the first time I saw it on the menu I thought it looked disgusting to be honest I'm a picky person so when I see something that seems weird my my initial instinct is to go oh no I could never but I ordered it because one of my clients I met them for coffee they recommended it and it has been my addiction ever since so I wish I could tell you that was what I'd had this week but unfortunately they just switched to the summer menu and their summer coffees are really good too um the summer stob is what I'm having right now which the analog almost yeah it's also very good I actually like to order it without the strawberry sprinkle style things on top just because they like slightly trigger my texture issues and we don't need to lean into crazy we need to lean away so I really love the summer straw it's got delicious flavors it's still got that like Fruity styl to it so I love that and when I went there I splurged a little bit and I got their what is it called it's basically their breakfast sandwich with a croissant like like a egg croissant sandwich I don't know what it's called but definitely that was worth getting to I don't know if you've had one of those yet but you definitely think I have um I've had the honey bun from there which is exactly what it sounds like it's basically a honey bun and coffee MH I I really enjoyed that and then also the apple pie chai oh that one is so good it's always available so you don't have to worry about the cyclic style of the of the other yeah the apple pie chai is a solid go-to if you like almost like that cinnamony but sweet style flavor it almost reminds me of like um like a Snicker doodle but with a little bit of um almost fruit sweetness too so that's a really good one but yeah that's my that's my favorite thing I've had around Canton this week even though it's not my wild blue it was still incredible coffee and I'm really glad I got to go well that's fantastic I think it's a fantastic place not only just to go and indulge for a little bit but it's a fun outing for some friends totally agree yeah we I I love going with my one of my friends Kayla we actually were doing some filming for some of our upcoming videos around Canton and so we went and we stopped in there so definitely add it to your list if you haven't gone and you should add it more to your list so that I feel less guilty about my obsession with them we can both love them together all the time fair you're definitely more of a coffee head than I am I know it's it's so bad but I've chosen to lean in and just accept the identity and and drink all the coffee right exctly you got to do it you'll drink enough for both of us sounds sounds good to me that is an acceptable plan um the next thing I kind of wanted to to use this podcast for is to talk about some of the questions that we get all the time uh just because like I said I want this to be a really fun and entertaining podcast but I also want people to learn something out of it so I looked at the camera because I want you to learn something out of it I want everyone to kind of get an idea of what it's really like to buy a house and what kinds of things you can do to make it easier and what kinds of questions people ask us that immediately make me go woo okay they don't know a ton about this so let's teach them let's make this easier exactly education is such a big part of being a real estate agent absolutely that it's almost all encompassing in every Avenue you know yeah we're definitely like teachers first psychologists next and then like sales people at the bottom of the list I feel like so um one of the first questions that I wanted to make sure we talk about because you're such an expert on it and I'm so glad you're doing this podcast with me is when people are looking to build and they're trying to look on Zillow or realtor.com or our website for um homes by valor.com by the way when when they're looking for land what kinds of things should they even be looking for what's the whole deal with building like what does that process look like when people are so desperate because they don't see the ideal house already existing exactly I I completely hear that I get that question all the time personally I think approach the situation as you would when you're trying to find an actual home mhm what kind of location do you want to be in are you moving because it's going to be a second home is it going to be one of you're going to retire in what do you want to be close to as far as location wise that honestly has such a big impact on what kind of inventory for land that is available and not just inventory but quality of inventory is really big so in a place like Jasper there can be a ton of plots of land but some of them can be you know side of a mountain yeah and that's not good at all yeah unless you're going for like a double basement or double basement or something crazy often times these Parcels lands AR aren't even really usable yeah I I'll just go ahead and interject there I had a client reach out the other day about an $88,000 piece of land and like $88,000 is a lot of money so this is not me saying oh it was only $88,000 but unfortunately when it comes to land if you're seeing an $8,000 piece of land especially in an area that's already pretty populated that thing is going to be a flood zone or it's going to be straight on the side of a cliff and incredible unable or you're going to have a lot of infrastructure you have to develop that will make up for that cost I mean what kinds of ranges are you seeing as far as actually good pieces of land that people are are actually liking when they go so for generally usable pieces of land and I'll just continue with the Jasper area uh it's around 10 to $20,000 per acre you and it varies within that you to on location how far away from City centers if there's water available on it you know and and a lot of times most of these Parcels are B right we're not looking at one acre parcel so you can't get by with spending 10 to 20,000 most of the time it's going to be a 5 acre parcel or at least a 3 Acre parcel and generally a lot of these are pretty big you might have 12 acre or 15 acre because the owner wants to sell everything it wants they don't want to parcel it into tiny little pieces and spend that money to do that at the county 100% true that's very important to keep in mind often times these Parcels are 10 or greater yeah in a lot of instances and then when they're not is whenever it's already been kind of subdivided and there's going to be a surplus uncharged because a lot of them have been cleared already that's another aspect you need to look into not just the land itself but how do you get to the point where you're actually able to use the land and enjoy the land yeah right so there's a couple of things that you want to keep in mind when you're going to be you know potentially building on a parcel and of course you should have these conversations with your Builder as well cuz they're going to have more updated information possibly you know more input on this but that you should keep in mind at least in your back pocket is where am I going to put a septic tank yeah cuz a lot of these Parcels out in where you're going to have the Privacy that you want are not going to have access to public sewer yeah because most of the time as long as it's at least 0.5 or larger five acres I mean you're going to have to have your own septic tank so just just keep that in mind because you need toilets I assume and so you want to be able to put them in and and even if you are randomly someone doesn't think you need a toilet the the government will think that you will and and they're going to require septic permits Before You buil So you you're not going to be able to get away with it you do have to have that the perk test done so that you can that perk test is something very important to actually not so in order to figure out where you can put a septic tank on a piece of land you need to get something called a level three soil survey or colloquially known as a perk test yeah P RC by the way it's it's for perk alation not like oh a perk of this is I learn bathro yeah exactly exactly love that perk yeah um so you know the rates on those veryy you know from company to company but generally it's going to be around $800 or so dollars yeah uh and also when you're looking at that timeline nowadays I mean those scientists are so far pushed back I know recently I think they're running around five to six weeks currently yeah that's a long time I mean that's a really long time so make sure that if you're working with an agent other than us you make sure to have that conversation before you ever submit an offer because you want your due diligence to last that long so that if for some reason the land doesn't perk you aren't stuck buying this piece of land that you can't even build a home on or risk losing your earnest money so just make sure those protections are in place cuz you're want to do you're going to want to do the perk test uh and then if you have to have a survey done you want enough time for that to happen as well exactly that's another really good point to make often times on the large pieces uh or larger Parcels pardon uh you'll find that there might not be an accurate survey that's currently filed with the county so that's going to be another expense and honestly task that needs to be carried out before you close yeah what other kinds of expenses do you typically see because I know that this is not typically done before closing but I also do want to give people an idea it's not just buying the land and then plop there goes the house like there's also going to be grading to think about grading the driveway how far back your house sits from the main thorough that's going to be on well well drilling well is a huge deal exactly how far down you need to go for groundwater or an aquifer what have you yeah you know they charge by the foot they have to drill and sometimes that can be over 600 feet so budgeting for that and keeping that in mind is extremely important a lot of times there's not a way to like contact the neighbors to find out how much they spent but it can be helpful if you do happen to have some sort of connection or if you can speak with them regarding that because even though it's not going to be the same as it is helpful to know how long they had to drill to get um groundw or to get to the place where you can put in a well so that's one little piece of advice or if it's an area that's you know properly being developed you know rapidly often times a well company will have gone out there and have some numbers of at least you know within a mile this is what it's looking like so yeah cuz that can be a really significant number and I I just think that a lot of people they see these like plans online and maybe there are rough estimates of this one will take $200,000 to build or something like that but by the time you buy the piece of land for $80,000 for a small piece of land and then you develop the land you're already at 150,000 or something and then you have to do this and then you have to do that and like it just keeps you end up spending maybe $200,000 more than if you bought a similar resale product now that's not guaranteed it's going to depend on your Builder but a lot of times when people come to me saying oh I just want to put a tiny little house in the middle of the Woods we have to have the conversation of okay let's work our way through this will it save you money and so far every time the answer has been no now it has been worth it for a few clients to build because they want something very special they want something unique they want the 30 Acres but if you're doing building to save money that's where I just think it's really important to have that larger conversation and there's the one and then there's also the financial capability right right absolutely so if you're looking at maybe trying to finance this through like a construction loan or often times that construction loan rate is only locked in for a year of building and then it goes to the market that's pretty scary because I know that a lot of Builders they stay really busy and a lot of these things like are dependent upon how quickly the county approves permits so it's not even just in your Builder's hands I would always recommend finding a builder who is an expert in that location yes who has relationships with people at the county who is building another house right now because they'll have an idea oh yeah that permit took two months to get or oh it only took a month or it only took two days you know having them be an expert in that field that's that's beyond us a little bit we can help connect you with some of you know with good Builders and stuff like that but just make sure that you have a whole team that you trust who is going to look out for you is that what you would say do you have any other good advice completely agree with that I figuring out your your team who can get things done for you and look out for your best interest is Paramount and honestly every single Avenue of life but especially when you're making a purchase this large absolutely I I will say just as like a kind of nightmare not to give you nightmares but I have seen a few um I'm working with an investor right now and we have come across four different halfway finished houses uh because people started building and they took too many draws from the loan in the beginning and they overspent based off of what they were doing in the beginning and they ran out of money before the end so there are houses where the loans are big and are starting to be due and they didn't finish them right and so that is such a nightmare every time I see those like I get so sad and that's the last thing that I want to happen to someone so just make sure you do your research before you start building because you know it's it is one of those loans that if you don't really understand what you're doing you can get in trouble pretty quickly yeah so so advise caution advise every single thing that we can as far as being careful slightly nervous like this is one of those things where I think you building a product from the ground up and that's incredible you should do it but before you do it you should just make sure that you have all the knowledge that you need so that you don't end up with a half finished house and like very very sad outcome you have to sell that exactly it's a great question wonderful one I like it yeah I thought so too another thing that I wanted to kind of bring up today um is it worth getting an inspection since that's on kind of the other side of things from building it comes across with resale I wanted us to kind of talk about why I I'll go ahead and spoil it yes get an inspection please get an INSP get an inspection definitely get an inspection I think that's the smartest and most financially intelligent thing you can do when buying a house say say an expens inspection costs like 500 or so dollars you could probably find enough things that you can negotiate down that 500 and recoup your cost right then and there and you have so much more of a knowledge base to jump off from getting into this house figure out all right maybe what kind of water heater I have and how long that's going to last for now it's just it's such a wealth of knowledge that is hopefully understood but needs to be reiterated absolutely I would say that 99% of the time my people get an inspection done we are able to either negotiate you know more money than what they spent on the inspection toward closing cost as a contribution or if it's bad we can leave and they protect their earnest money and they're not buying a house that they don't feel comfortable living in exact I I think getting an inspection is is just the smartest thing you can do because hopefully you won't find much but you'll find enough that you can help that you can have the seller fix for you before you move in and it's nice that the Market's actually been kind of Shifting more towards the middle cuz we actually have time for inspections again absolutely as opposed to just throwing caution to the wind and sort of going okay I'm just glad to have a house please just let me live here and going from there so the seller gets to name my first born but at least I get to to move into a house exactly and and then I I will say that as far as inspections go one thing that some people don't do is I actually encourage inspections on new construction as well so when I say new construction in real estate talk that basically means a house that usually Builders build by community so they'll come in and they'll put in you know 100 houses or 200 houses or whatever it's not you doing what we talked about before and buying land and doing it all yourselves in the case of new construction through that Builder where they're doing a whole immunity if you do a new construction inspection a lot of times they'll treat that almost as like a checklist and they'll go through and they will correct things because with every house there's going to be a few things that come up right it's going to be a few shingles that weren't laid properly it's going to be oh this window was installed late at night and by someone who really wanted to go home and it wasn't done quite right so I do recommend inspections on new construction as well even though it feels brand new it's usually a good idea just for peace of mind and because the builders will typically treat it like a checklist unless they're being difficult or unless your inspector is someone who's mentioning primarily cosmetic things and not things that the county would require so do you have anything else about inspections or any stories you want to tell or anything like that maybe also go into when you receive that inspection report having you know a level head about it maybe maybe oh that's such good advice oh that makes me think of go for please no share I was going to say go to your inspection if you have the chance to do it make sure that you go to your inspection because it feels so so scary to just receive a 60 page report a 40 page report of here is what is wrong with your dream home like that's very scary but as much as I love inspectors and I encourage it seeing those things in person often gives you way better context and makes you go oh okay they're saying crack IND doorway but this is what that means and it gives you a chance to ask your inspector while you're there hey I I see this what does this mean you know yeah on a scale of 1 to 10 how much Panic should I be having right now exactly I and one of the best things I like to do is ask the inspector what would your top three concerns be right if this were you order them for me right what what would be your big would your big deals be you know and a lot of times that helps you kind of get things ordered in importance and context in your brain so that you're not just going it's falling apart everything is terrible so um I definitely recommend attending if you can um that's my big shebang what about you any anything else you want to add there I think we covered a lot of the bases look at us go we're so helpful already right uh the other question that I wanted to just kind of bring up is is there anything if you're saving to buy a home you know let's say there's a first-time home buyer out there what should they do to get prepped to buy their first home and is if they're dealing with credit cards and stuff like that like what what do we normally recommend to our clients who who are think thinking about buying but who maybe aren't totally ready I would say it is worth your time to talk to a lender I agree with not just any lender though like a local lender or one that your realtor recommends because those are the people that they trust to get you know anyone that they recommend across the Finish Line yeah a lot of times we'll have clients come in and they're like oh I got such good news I just I went through Wells Fargo and I got pre-qualified for $700,000 and the questions I always ask are did you do this through a computer or did you talk to someone and did they pull your credit yes because a lot of times these online sort of very helpful tools that feel so easy to use and very modern and user friendly will not actually do the work of looking behind the scenes they'll just ask you to input how much you make and then they'll run some numbers based off of the portion of your profile that they can see but they don't always take into account the debt or if You' had poor credit history that that's going to affect not only the rate you can get but if you can get qualified at all and that work in Linder speak that Kate is talking about is called the underwriting process yes absolutely yeah so I definitely recommend actually talking to someone that your real estate agent recommends we do this all the time we get paid at least us we don't get paid anything by lenders I wish we did because we we work very closely with a few of them and you know I I trust our lenders very like I they make the deals work I wouldn't recommend our buyers to lenders that couldn't get the deal closed right that I that I wouldn't trust cuz I don't get paid until the closing table you don't get paid till the closing table we recommend people that will get you there as long as it makes sense right like I think having someone that you can call or text at 700 p.m. because you were like oh my gosh I didn't even think about it but I I'm about to have a really big credit card payment like I'm going to pay this but what do I do someone someone who will work with you to make sure that you're making great financial choices that set you up for success and say say you're an ordinary person and you've gone through a wonderful life but you've made some credit mistakes in in that right it happens to everyone we know we've all been there they often have they the lenders often have credit recovery programs yeah that can help you get on the right track to buying your first home yeah so if you are let's say a year out two years out and you're really thinking I think I'm going to be ready to buy a house soon I've and saving I don't know what myedit like and don't just your FICO score on your Wells Fargo app or your Chase whatever kind of app you're looking at because from what the lender explained to me from their end there are like three actual scores that they pull that they take an average Equifax and all them and it's like a deeper score than what you seeing so you're seeing kind of a cosmetic helpful thing but it's not the end all be all so really talk with a lender give yourself time to fix things that come up so that you can be eligible for the best the best rate possible when you go to buy a house yeah I think that's excellent advice right there okay that is pretty much all the questions I wanted to cover there but I did want to do one other fun little segment um let's see actually I've got two but let's go ahead and start with one and if we've got time we'll do one more but uh I wanted to ask you and we'll both kind of give what our date night recommendation for around Cherokee County might be for those who are not as familiar with the area or are thinking about moving here or who live here but have been home bodies and are ready for some inspiration I think I wanted you to go first on this one okay I will go first on this one uh let's see what do I want to say I was going to potentially recommend bizarre coffee if you're going on a little morning walk around I really recommend grab a coffee walk around town hit a few of the little shops there's this really cute one called beloved that's right on the corner but I really want to highlight the fact that Canton is doing First Fridays again and that is is it's like the first Friday of every month they have all of these vendors go and sit out on the street and have all this fun going on and they even got live music going the live music is a great selling point just to go by sometimes they incorporate car shows it's it's honestly a really great time it's really great and you don't have to pay for it generally you just get to go and and have a great time so if you're looking for something to do I think that's a really fun way to get to know other people in your community who are wanting to just go and have a fun Friday night so I would def figure out some of the local buses that you can help get in contct with you know I'm always a big proponent of buying local supporting local absolutely all that sort of stuff especially when we have such good local options around not hard 10 years ago maybe be like no go to Walmart you know now we have really great local options like if you haven't been to the mill that's another really good place to goas area I can't believe it I walked through there the other day and I was like this is amazing this place has changed so much it has good food it has good shopping it has cool places so the Mill's fantastic the huge Park initiative Ken's been putting on you know River Park is getting just absolutely shot down the ow wall so by that I mean they're adding Bridges across you know Wonderful green spaces any sort of sports you want right absolutely okay I'm curious to hear what is your date night recommendation mine's more of a classic spot it's actually it's Cherokee Lan so you guys can see I'm a Pampered woman at my bowl I'll have you know in high school it was the place to be to take all your friends and or prospective Partners that's true hey I had my first kiss in Cherokee Lanes so you it can definitely be a solid date night place I hear youly it's a great spot so for those of you who don't know Cherokee Lanes is a bowling alley yep that's gosh it's been with Cherokee and Canon for for as long as we can remember anyway I think they put it in before the courthouse no I'm just kidding it's just been there forever but exactly they added laser tag didn't they have laser tag they have a mini golf course it it's getting crazy but I think my favorite part about it personally is how affordable it is yeah it is a really good spot if you're just looking to like go for a fun little affordable date night or you want or even go with friends you know yeah we've gone with friends a few times the last few years we always have a really good time I mean it's it's bowling it's classic so I I actually think that's a really fun recommendation for those who like more of an activity date and aren't who just want aren't just wanting to go and eat a fancy dinner or or whatever more of an activ good recommendation okay kind of on that I wanted to end with spouse trivia now this has nothing to do with real estate but I thought it would be kind of fun just my chair a little bit to add at the end of the podcast and see how we're how we're doing how we know things about each other or whatever we'll see if it's the only time we do this but probably not um so Eric do you want to start I know we both prepared three questions each ahead of time kind of secret easy medium and hard level question do you want ask yours first I'll see if I fail so I think we'll start off pretty easy Kate what is my favorite color a sea foam blue better be right so it's close you got the Blue-ray but I like Iceberg blue a little bit more you've changed that over the years then because I definitely I move the post every now and again I'll admit it when we were in high school I still have this whole notes like in his contact information of all the different questions and stuff that we asked each other and it was seafoam Blue Back Then I still have written proof of I have that on your profile still so we'll go back and we'll check after the tapes that's fun oh well I've failed the easy question which doesn't bode well well I can only go up from here right okay give me hit me with the medium one U for my medium what is my favorite type of vacation to go on cruise absolutely and thank goodness we both align with that I literally it's been such a problem Anna is on a cruise right now and little sister by the way last minute cruise deals like I haven't signed up for one yet but I'm itching too I mean you get some really good deals on the cruises for like the last minute booking cuz they're just trying to shove whoever they can but we love cruises so highly recommend and I'm glad I got that one right okay maybe I just don't know the easy ones and now the hard one now this one's probably going to be actually pretty difficult what was the name of the street that I grew up on when I moved to Georgia Olive Church Lane oh you got it ding ding ding ding I actually went to that house so that one is not like but it's a mouthful so I thought it was going to be you know you have to get three or four whatever no no I nailed it that's good I'm glad I only missed the easy one but it's all right it's also tricky you know okay for your easy question who is my favorite author I'm gonna have to go with Stephen King yes unexpected but true I absolutely cannot watch a scary movie to save my life but I really like Stephen King's writing so that is a good one I talk about it all the time so that's why I figured it was easy exactly I think you you're reading gosh like the 12th book by him now or something at least I I read everything by him it's what's your favorite steing King book that you would recommend um I really like pet cemetery that's really good and I don't know that I'd recommend any of these to be honest they're all kind of horrifying but he's really good at writing character development like I cry every time I read one of his books because someone does something very touching I think he does a good job of like ex having people Express joy out of fear like they've gone through hard things and it brings them closer together and I'm such a softy like you know I cry at like little kids basketball games cuz they're trying so hard and stuff so that kind of thing to me people persevering people pushing really hard to like save the people they love for some reason that just gets me so horrible things unfortunately have to happen first in the Stephen Kings books but um there you go uh second one oh I'm probably putting myself on blast here and this is honestly embarrassing but what gross thing did I do as a child specifically I I'll give you a hint but my mom and sister talk about this all the time it was like a one times thing this wasn't like a habit I golly I mean which one from the list right yeah okay it was something I no no I'm kidding I'm kidding okay uh I honestly did you eat worms I ate one Worm but yes you're right that was that was what I was going for I had forgotten all about it and then we were at Easter this year and and it was like look Kate there's a worm eat it I was like what the heck I haven't done that alive worm or was no it was it was dead but I was like 8 months old or something like it was a gross one time thing but good job you nailed it I think I've turned red I don't know why I brought that up I'm like sweating it's all right we got one more it's fine okay the next one isn't embarrassing but what level of tennis do I play do you know your de okay so the different levels are like ABC and then it's numbers and then there are numbers yeah you're definitely High end of B if not low a you're like B2 B1 what's your final answer sir B1 okay yes you're pretty much right I have been B1 but we won this year and so we're moving up to A8 I believe oh my goodness okay well there you go that's all right I had to overcome the worm thing I had to be like yeah sure it's a baby she ate gross stuff but now like how cool she is it sounds like it gave you some sort of tenis superpowers I know absolutely so there's there's our life hack folks like you're eight month old grow become an incredible tennis player but I guess that's all I've got for today unless there's anything you wanted to add any any you know quick goodbyes you want to give to the people any last minute advice or anything like that um you know be kind to others yeah I I think that's a really wonderful thing I was GNA I was going to say something about real estate so now I'm like sorry um no no no go do it do it well I was just going to say that if you are looking to try and set yourself up for financial success you should at least consider buying a house because if you're not paying your mortgage you're paying someone else's and that is not a bad thing in in some phases of life but once you're established enough that you can afford to pay your own mortgage and you want to start building Financial wealth I absolutely recommend buying a house now I know I'm a little biased but I'm biased because I see what a financial difference it's made in our lives and and the lives of others yeah even if you don't think you can for house look into the process yeah talk to a lender see how far away you are from that goal cuz often times people can you know afford houses they they don't even know yeah because of government programs that are available a whole whole slew of options absolutely so so do all of that and be kind to people and and that's what we've got for you guys today hope you have a good one y have a nice one have a good one

[Music] one of my favorite things about living in Canton is all of the amazing unique and very special restaurants that we have here in the city so today I wanted to go over a few of my top favorite ones for you so that if you're visiting or if you're looking to try more things in Canton you can definitely know the ones that should be at the top of your list number one I've got downtown kitchen which I'm actually standing outside of right now it's one of my favorite spots for a cute date night or an upscale business lunch and one of my favorite things to order here is the Black Hawk wagu Burger the aoli on it is memorable and delicious and it should definitely be on your list I also really like queenies it's got this sort of elevated Southern Charm feel and you're going to leave feeling both full and happy um one of my favorite things to get there is actually the Georgia salad with grilled chicken on Top If you're looking for something a little bit lighter or you've got the more traditional southern style cooking you've also got Goen Coastal in downtown and it is such a cute Seafood spot I love it anytime I get to go there I'm always thrilled my favorite thing to order there are the shrimp tacos cuz that's a personal favorite of mine but anything you order you're going to be impressed by if you're more of a steakhouse kind of person or you're really looking to go celebrate and spend a little bit more I highly recommend J Michaels Prime Steakhouse it's not in downtown but it's pretty close by and it is delicious you've got topnotch cuts of steak my favorite is the ribeye but anything you order there you're going to be impressed by and you're going to leave feeling very satisfied finally I wanted to make sure to get Riverstone corner beastro on the list that has been a longtime favorite of mine it's affectionately referred to as RCB by the locals so if you ever hear that that's the place they're talking about and they were actually so popular that they had to move from their original location to an even larger one so now they've got this gorgeous Rooftop Bar set up and it is absolutely a very cool memorable place to go and visit so be sure to put it on your list any of these rest resturants are going to impress you I really think canton's food landscape has become incredible over the last few years especially given the size of the city you have so many great options and I think you're going to be really impressed I love living here in Canton and I think that you will too so go ahead and reach out if you have any additional questions about things you might want to know about Canton whether it's where to get your coffee where the best restaurants are you know whatever it is I'm happy to help we also are currently offering a Canton relocation guide which has all of that information and more so go ahead and comment down below or send me a DM if you have any additional questions or would like to receive that guide you can also reach out to our team directly at 678-242-1356 [Music]

if you are thinking about moving to Cherokee County I have a neighborhood that you should absolutely add to your must SE list I'm standing right now in the Cherokee Reserve area of Canton located in the Hickory Flat region and it's absolutely gorgeous not only does it have a great pool for the kids and you to potentially swim in in the summer but it's also got this great Clubhouse overflow parking and gorgeous homes that are probably exactly what you've been looking for the price range right now as of early 2024 ranges from the mid 500s all all the way up to 700,000 depending on the size and Grandeur and upgrades of the home so I hope that you have a chance to go out and see Cherokee Reserve I really think you'll love it let me know if you have any questions at [Music] all

Big Canoe is one of those hidden gems in North Georgia that the instant you step into it you will feel like you are in a mountainous Paradise everywhere you look you have beautiful mountains and lakes everything you can imagine you have guarded security access 24/7 luxury homes everywhere you look and just a lasting appreciation for a natural beauty there's also a clubhouse and a golf course in the neighborhood you can see here it's beautifully kept you feel right within nature the whole time you're playing golf they also have a pro shop and golf cart rentals everything you can imagine so that you can play while surrounded by gorgeous North Georgia Mountains once you're done playing golf you can go and check out the clubhouse here are a few pans of it so you can get an idea of just the gorgeous space that it offers if you're hosting an event or even if you just want to go and grab a drink at the bar or food it's an absolutely incredible spot they've also got a golf store within the clubhouse if you need to go and grab a few knickknacks or anything like that the beach club is one of my favorite spots in Big Canoe as well you have an entire pool overlooking the lake with great places for the kids to play in the sand it's also directly next to the wellness center which even when it's cold is a great place to go visit not only does it have state-of-the-art gym equipment but it also has an indoor tennis court an indoor pingpong area and an indoor pool so even when the weather's bad there's plenty of fun to be had there's also the Racket Club if you are more of an outdoorsy person they have several tennis courts as well as a full area dedicated to pickle ball there's also a team that plays out of the neighborhood so you have a great Community already built in if you are a tennis player looking for new friends there's also a tennis shop inside if you're looking for adorable new apparel or more little knickknacks to do with tennis the marina is incredible as well you've got this gorgeous place where you can store your boat where you can um just look at the amazing beautiful mountainous surroundings around the gorgeous Lake they've also got this little restaurant style area if you're wanting to grab a snack while walking around truly there is no doubt in my mind that you will fall in love with this place because every time I go there I just feel so at peace and in love with how well it's been built it's so obvious how much thought and energy went into designing a place that is supposed to feel like home you know you are so tucked away in the mountains that you might worry you feel a little isolated but they have come up with so many ways to make this gorgeous natural Paradise feel luxurious and offer everything that you could possibly need here so whether you are looking to make this your permanent home or whether you're just looking to stay a while in a short-term rental this is the neighborhood hood for you reach out if you have any questions at all we would love to answer any that you have

hi everyone today I'm out at 905 Ranch Drive and I cannot wait to show it to you what's happening I'm jumping why on Earth are you jumping because I can't wait to jump into this house oh let's do it I just can't get over how cute this house is I love the flooring that they chose to go throughout I love how open concept it feels I love those bright pink colors here's the master bedroom it's got that same lvp flooring in the room itself and the ensuite bathroom and I just think that it makes the whole place feel so cohesive and beautiful and Airy I love the way they have the furniture set up in here as well in this upgraded kitchen I love that the cabinets go to the ceiling completely and that you've got great access to the backyard you've also got this second room back here that feels honestly like another master bedroom it's large it has an ensuite bathroom and it's so private which I like a lot as well if you keep going throughout the house you get to the other side of it where there are two more bedrooms as well as another bathroom so you really do have quite a bit of space here I like that this bathroom is perfect for visitors but also for these bedrooms I also love that there is absolutely no carpet throughout it makes the place feel modern and clean and move in ready I think that you guys will absolutely love this one it's even got a great yard as well it will be perfect for dogs or kids since it's already got that fence going around let me know if you guys want to go sketchula showing at this house it really is gorgeous and I think you'll love it

Equity yeah it does a few more brush Strokes in this place we were thousands more come on in let's go see it I really love the layout of this house I love that as soon as you come in you've got this affordable dining room that could be an office or playroom as well and then you've got this large open concept space with still a great sort of tucked away kitchen area and those High ceilings in the living room you've also got really easy access from the garage to that kitchen for easy drop off of groceries and all of that a little bit of paint would go such a long way in here just to really make the place Pop I mean look at this entertainment space you've got this gorgeous back deck great flat usable backyard it's not currently fenced in but would make a great yard for a dog and then here's a little bit more of a space where some paint could come in handy this purple is definitely fun but if you are looking for elegance and just a really great home that shows beautifully I think house could be an incredible purchase as long as you're willing to get out the paint rollers and just neutralize it a little bit and add in your favorite touches upstairs I love the layout as well you've got all very large secondary bedrooms with great closet space and natural light as well the carpets are also in fantastic shape and this bedroom has an ensuite with a Jack and Jill access to the hallway this one also just look how big those bedrooms are so rarely do you find ones that are that large that have step-in closets and good bathroom access I also like that you don't have to worry about pushing you know decorations up the stairs or anything like that for the closet it in such a great neighborhood as well you're in River green so the amenities are fantastic I really think you guys will love this one reach out if you have any questions I'd love to show it to you [Music]

oh my gosh you guys look how flat this land lies it is so rare to find three acres of such usable land in Talking Rock Georgia surrounded by luxury properties this one's special let's go see it [Music] I am absolutely in love with this beautiful piece of property as you saw in that Drone footage it is nestled in the hills of the North Georgia Mountains but it blows my mind just how flat and usable and walkable the piece of land is with its location I love that it's surrounded by already built luxury homes there's even one right down the street that's listed for seven hundred thousand mobile homes are not allowed on the street but covenants are very very light so you've got the freedom to do what you want this is the place you've been looking for come out build your dream home and make it your own we'd love to hear from you foreign [Music]

welcome to 216 Astor Court it is located in the beautiful 55 and up community of Soleil we want to tell you a little bit about this community before we get into the house so come on with us let's Jump Right In the community has several gorgeous pools but this one is private just for Soleil residents don't forget your sunscreen they even have an amazing golf course it stands throughout the neighborhood and is absolutely stunning and golf cart accessible this is the wonderful Community Center exclusive to only Soleil residents whether you want to play cards work out at the gym or just hang out with friends this place has it all even an exclusive tennis and pickleball facility here at the Soleil whether you prefer clay or hard courts that got some welcome back it's time to check out the house we are absolutely in love with this beautiful home when you first enter you'll see the office space which is naturally lit and large and then you have bedroom number one which has great closet space and is adjacent to the guest bathroom which is really well upgraded for visitors to use if you go across then you'll arrive at the master bedroom which has tons of Windows great natural light and a really large master bathroom complete with two vanities a separate tub and shower now if you go back out into the living room you'll notice that it's very open concept and the kitchen is well upgraded you've got granite countertops as well as an adjacent laundry room on the main floor and also you'll go ahead and see that it's got this two-car garage for easy access for groceries if you go downstairs you'll see the full unfinished basement which I think would make an incredible addition to this house if you were to come in and finish it or you could just use it for storage if you're not looking for more heated or cooled finished space this home is absolutely gorgeous it's got a back porch it has privacy and I know it's going to make the perfect home for someone reach out to us at homes by Valor if you want more information