Morningside Home Infuses Italian Elements

For fans of clean contemporary architecture, expansive interior spaces, and Italy, this $1.49 million new listing in Morningside could qualify as spectacular. The Italian elements begin curbside, where towering Italian cypress trees  are posted like sentries and continue with the Italian Linea Quattro kitchen (with top-shelf appliances and faucets) and back outside, where the infinity-edge pool features an Italian porcelain waterfall wall and the ability to clean itself.
Built in 2007, this 4,000-square-footer has four bedrooms and ubiquitous white walls to emphasize the artwork. The highlights are many, but the 22-foot "dramatic gallery" with a double-sided fireplace, the custom bathrooms, and multiple terraces shine. And that pool would have to be sweet heaven in a Hotlanta July.

How Crowdfunding Has Changed Real Estate Investing

Crowdfunding has become something of a buzzword among investors these days and it’s been particularly well received in the real estate sector. Though it’s still in its infancy, real estate crowdfunding is rapidly reshaping the way individuals find and invest in properties. This shift has brought benefits not only for investors but also for real estate companies and for the real estate market as a whole. But this rapid growth also means important considerations for investors when choosing a platform to invest their capital with.
The old rules for real estate investing
In the pre-crowdfunding era, investing in private real estate was all about who you knew. Under the Securities Act of 1933, private securities investments (including securities of real estate companies) could not be marketed publicly. That meant that access to private deals was limited to investors who were able to seek them out through connections in their personal network. Or to better phrase it, the old country club model of finding and investing in real estate.
 Once an investor was able to locate a private investment, she would then have to provide the necessary funding. The minimum threshold for gaining access to these exclusive properties could easily run into the six-figure range. These high buy-in requirements and the ban against publicly soliciting for these investments effectively shut the average investor out of a large segment of the real estate market. And for real estate companies, this meant access to capital for deals was also restricted to who they knew thus making capital very inefficient.

How crowdfunding has made access easier
From an investing standpoint, crowdfunding is a relatively new idea but it’s made big waves in the real estate industry thus far. With the passage of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act in 2012, some of the barriers that had previously existed for investors who sought a foothold in real estate were removed.Specifically, Title II of the Act eliminated the restriction on general solicitation. For the first time in nearly 80 years, small businesses and start-ups were able to raise capital and advertise their offerings in a much more public way. That concept quickly carried over to the real estate industry and real estate crowdfunding took off with hundreds of millions of dollars raised through crowdfunding for real estate in 2015.
Through crowdfunding, instead of having to rely on connections to pinpoint real estate deals and having to put $100,000 or more into a single deal, investors can access these deals from the convenience of their laptop or tablet. In addition to better access to pre-vetted deals, crowdfunding platforms also make it possible to begin investing with as little as $1,000.

Rebirth of a Connected City

Atlanta is touted as the best city for millennials. About 13.5 percent of Atlanta’s population is between the ages of 24 and 35, Askew pointed out. The active, varied job market, affordable housing and vibrant nightlife have caused the city to become a desirable, go-to destination for young professionals.
“Kirkwood, Edgewood, Adair Park, Capitol View, Capitol View Manor, Pittsburgh, Peoplestown, Lakewood, Mechanicsville and West End will continue to grow in popularity,” he added. “Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing how the redevelopment of Fort McPherson and Turner Field play out.”
On a side note, Askew also expects the real estate business to see more mergers and acquisitions as larger companies continue to grow their footprints. Conversely, more small, high-tech firms, sans the brick-and-mortar, will open in an effort to attract millennials.
“I think the excitement and popularity of Old Fourth Ward, Edgewood and Inman Park will continue,” Johnson predicted. “Many wonderful projects are being built that create an energy and synergy in the market.”
As more companies bring their businesses back to areas like Midtown, Downtown and West Midtown, Decatur and Buckhead, there’ll continue to be a strong demand for housing in the Intown neighborhoods.
Intown development will be driven by two major forces for several years to come: walkability and the Atlanta Beltline, according to Burell. “Unlike other geographic boundaries like lakes, rivers and mountains that limit and divide regions, the Beltline is unique because it’s a geographic boundary that actually connects neighborhoods which have been isolated in the past. This creates the rebirth of a connected city.”
He added that, at the same time, the Beltline is creating a boundary and limiting the amount of available land within its circle. Developers and investors are purchasing land in and around the Beltline, even in sections of town where it hasn’t been completed, and there’s been a direct impact on home and land values.
Anne Miller agreed that areas near the Beltline will continue their popularity in the coming year. “I also think we’ll see some growth in areas just inside the perimeter, due to affordability and easy Intown access for work or play.”Z
Scott Askew, President of Engel & Völkers Intown Atlanta.