Wednesday, May 12, 2004

ALM looking to improve on 2003 success

Building upon a record-breaking year in 2003, Coldwell Banker American Land Mart in Conyers appears destined to at least similar, if not better success in 2004.

During 2003, the company established a new company record by selling 346 houses for total volume of $77,016,832.

Individual agents affiliated with the company also produced high sales volumes, led by Betty Denio, whose $14.2 million set a new company record and also led the Rockdale Board of Realtors in production. Ten other company agents also produced over $1 million in sales for the year, including Linda Lindsey with $11.7 million, Sandi Austin with $11.5 million, Ann Bell with $10.5 million, Debbie Hall with $6.7 million, Bobby Denio with $3.2 million, Mackey Whitmire with $2.9 million, Brandi Williams with $2.5 million, Anna Parham with $2.4 million, Les Conway with $1.4 million, and Gerald Shepard with $1.3 million.

Early in January, Alton Housworth Jr., who founded American Land Mart in 1986, announced the sale of his company to the Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty organization, the largest Coldwell Banker franchise in Georgia. At the time of the sale, Housworth noted that “they have assured me that they don’t anticipate making any drastic changes. Both the overall Coldwell Banker network and the Bullard organization have the expertise to make things go smoothly.”

Housworth, one of the East Metro area’s largest developers, is continuing to be active in real estate development with Coldwell Banker American Land Mart marketing his communities. Housworth, who has been in real estate since 1978, is keeping his real estate license with Coldwell Banker American Land Mart, working with land and commercial real estate, and he will assist the company’s new management.

Asked recently if he feels things have proceeded as expected, Housworth expressed satisfaction with the way the company has progressed since the sale.

“The association with Coldwell Banker will add more sales to the company and will offer many additional services to the company, its agents and its customers,” he explained. “I expect the company to improve and grow, and it will have the experience and the expanded services to sell homes better and faster.”

Rick Schlosser, who has served as managing broker for Coldwell Banker American Land Mart since the sale, emphasized that the company intends to continue operations in the tradition established by Alton Housworth. “Our working relationship has been excellent and we look for both Coldwell Banker American Land Mart and Alton’s development projects to continue to grow and thrive,” he said.

Schlosser reported that according to MLS figures, 137 homes priced over $250,000 were sold in Rockdale County between April 1, 2003, and April 1, 2004, and 90 of them were sold by American Land Mart. He said that in the above $300,000 market during that same time period, 56 sales were recorded in the county and 46 were sold by American Land Mart.

Coldwell Banker American Land Mart is also in the process of introducing several new communities, including Fontainbleau, a new 115-home upscale community along the South River in the southern part of Rockdale County. Located near the Newton County line, Fontainbleau is being developed by Alton Housworth Jr. and Gerald Shepard of Prime Home Properties LL and will have homes priced from the mid $300,000s. Forty-three of the large homesites will back up to the South River. Other upcoming projects include Cheval, Holly Hill, Jackson’s Creek, and Stanley Park Phase 3.

Coldwell Banker American Land Mart, an independent real estate company handling the sales and marketing of numerous subdivisions in the East Metro area, has its offices at 889 Commerce Dr. (Suite A) in Conyers. The telephone number is 770-483-2323.

The oldest and largest real estate company headquartered in the Metro South area of Atlanta, Coldwell Banker Bullard has its headquarters in Jonesboro. The company, which also purchased the Conyers office of Coldwell Banker Gerri Murphy Realty in late December and established a Conyers/Rockdale County branch, now has other offices in Griffin, McDonough, Jackson, Peachtree City, and Newnan, plus it new branch office in Conyers and the separate but affiliated Coldwell Banker American Land Mart.

The Bullard organization, founded in 1956 by the late Cliff Bullard, worked out a franchise agreement with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation a few years ago. Current president and owner Steve Bullard has been with the company for more than 30 years.