Chamblee: A Vibrant Community With A Vintage Touch

The City of Chamblee, located in northern Dekalb, is a vibrant, diverse community just 14 miles from downtown Atlanta. Chamblee offers international flair while maintaining its vintage buildings and architecture with plenty of entertaining locations for residents of all ages to explore.

Chamblee is known as a city embodying three entities: dairy, railroads, and the military. Originally known for its dairy farms, this city has become one of the most thriving urban cities with a diverse community. In the late 19th century, two intersecting railroads were constructed, one being used to transport residents between Atlanta and Charlotte, NC. Chamblee was also home to Camp Gordon, a military operation and training facility that was home to 40,000 servicemen during World War I and World War II. The site caused a building boom as a result of the city’s sudden growth in population. After Camp Gordon was closed following the war, it reopened as the Navy Flight Training Center.

Most homes in Chamblee embody a traditional style. Much of its residential development took place during the 1947 blue-collar industry surge after the General Motors plant opened in Doraville. The city’s resident occupancy skyrocketed due to its affordable housing and close proximity to the plant.

Peachtree Park, also known as City Hall Park, is located in the center of downtown Chamblee next to City Hall. Constructed in 1995, this downtown park serves as a modified town square with its elaborate arbor. The park is a favorite spring and summer lunch spot for surrounding office workers with its numerous benches and covered gazebo.

During the early 2000s, Chamblee began growing and become more refined. A new city hall was constructed in 2002. In 2010, Chamblee attached an area that includes Huntley Hills and the population was estimated at 5,000 residents. Peachtree Industrial Boulevard went on to be renamed as Peachtree Boulevard and the city began taking steps to revitalize its downtown area.

Atlanta’s Chinatown Mall is located in the heart of Downtown Chamblee. Opening in 1988, it has been the cultural center for the growing population of Chinese Americans in and around DeKalb County, GA. The I.D.E.A. Gallery has unique energy as a platform for artists to showcase their work in a non-traditional style that creates beautiful harmony between different pieces.

Plaza Fiesta, a 350,000 square-foot retail center that draws 4.4 million visitors a year from all over the Southeast, was first opened in 1968 as the Buford-Clairmont Mall. In 1996 the strip was remodeled as a busy Hong Kong street and renamed the Oriental Mall. Just four years later, new owners spent $11 million to transform the mall into Plaza Fiesta. With over 280 retail and specialty stores, a dozen restaurants, healthcare services, a fitness center and the largest indoor playground in Georgia, Plaza Fiesta is a hub of activity seven days a week.

Over the span of 100+ years, Chamblee doubled in size and continues to expand its thriving city. It now holds a population of almost 30,000 residents. In addition to being a hub of cultural diversity, Chamblee is known for some of the best-in-class festivals and events. The popular Taste of Chamblee Festival is the city’s largest event with cuisine from many of the incredible international restaurants along Atlanta’s International Corridor, Buford Highway.

This up and coming community still has plenty of resources and room to grow. Chamblee residences are in high demand among empty-nesters and other homeowners looking to downsize while remaining close to Atlanta. Chamblee’s revitalization of the historic district is expected to draw even more business infrastructure, robust restaurant selections, residential developments, and plenty of green space for years to come. As new developments continue to emerge throughout the city, there will be a constant aim to make transit easily accessible while also fostering a pedestrian-friendly community.

At Karen Cannon, Realtors, we are local real estate experts for Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and North Atlanta. We live, work, and play here, and our agents are hand-picked for their connections in the community. Our clients know about homes coming on the market before anyone else. And our highly effective marketing program allows us to shorten the number of days on the market. We’ve even put homes under contract sight unseen!

If you are thinking about selling your home, or are interested in moving into Chamblee, Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs or the surrounding areas, call us at 770-352-9658 send us an email at Info@KarenCannon.com. Check out our current listings here.

Seven Spectacular Events to Make Your Labor Day Weekend Special

School is back in session. Your routine has returned to normal. And you’re ready for an extended weekend of leisure. Look no further because we’ve got you covered. Here are seven fun-filled Atlanta events fit for families, friends, and couples!

For Families

Fall Festival At Atlanta Convention Center: Bring the whole family to party on Peachtree for Labor Day. This family-friendly festival starts at 12:00pm and ends at 7:00pm. Bring in the fall season with endless food, games, and activities for everyone. You can find more information on the event’s website.
Stone Mountain Labor Day Weekend: Celebrate Labor Day weekend at the beloved Stone Mountain Park August 31st-September 2nd. This scenic experience will feature the Lasershow Spectacular and an extended fireworks show every night! The fun won’t stop there. You’ll also have the chance to take on the SkyHike® (the nation’s largest adventure course), Geyser Towers®, Summit Skyride, Dinotorium, and much more! For more event details, click here.
Macalicious Vegan 2019 Labor Day Bash: Start your fall by feeling fit at this tasty vegan bash, Monday, September 2nd! You’ll find plenty of vegan and raw food vendors as well as non-food vendors at this free family outing. Dance the day away with the live DJ while indulging in free food and drink samples. Tempting? We think so! Grab more information here.

For Couples

Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival: What could be more romantic than a peaceful hot air balloon ride or watching the beautiful display soar into the distance? The magical weekend begins with the spectacular Friday Night Balloon Glow, where dozens of balloons will light up the night. You’ll also be able to enjoy delicious food and drink specials, resort amenities, and scenic views for those Instagram posts! Can you say perfect Summer send-off? Click here for more festival details!
VinoTOSA Wine Tasting: This national wine-tasting is the ultimate haven for wine lovers. Taking place August 20th from 8:30pm-11:00pm in Downtown Atlanta, VinoTOSA is the Country’s largest wine tasting of African American winemakers! Guests will get to sample a vast inventory of wines and the first 200 guests will receive a complimentary wine glass. This lovely night will also consist of contemporary artwork and music! Find tickets and details here!

For College/Young Adults

Dragon Con: Add a little variety to your Labor Day weekend with DragonCon! This festive event is the largest multi-media pop-culture convention for science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, and much more. So, grab your best Syfy costume and join the party! Click here for more event details!
Taste Of Soul Atlanta: Food & Music Festival: This free tasty festival is the country’s premier food fest for Soul Food and Music. The weekend will be full of irresistible food, sensational sounds, and unforgettable fun. This is definitely the place to be for foodies on Labor Day weekend. Click here for details and ticket information.

At Karen Cannon, Realtors, we are local real estate experts for Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and North Atlanta. We live, work, and play here, and our agents are hand-picked for their connections in the community. Our clients know about homes coming on the market before anyone else. And our highly effective marketing program allows us to shorten the number of days on the market. We’ve even put homes under contract sight unseen!

If you are thinking about selling your home, or are interested in moving into Dunwoody, Sandy Springs or the surrounding areas, call us at 770-352-9658 send us an email at Info@KarenCannon.com. Check out our current listings here.

5 Extracurricular Activities That Will Improve Your Child’s Cognitive Function

Now that school is back in session, many parents wonder if the school’s curriculum is enough to promote their child’s cognitive development. Fortunately, opportunities for young minds to think, reason, and grow don’t stop when the last bell rings.

Here are five extracurricular activities that will help improve your child’s memory, information processing, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

STEM Clubs

Extracurricular activities that involve critical thinking are an excellent way to boost brain function. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) clubs have become increasingly popular over the last decade at all education levels and are available through many after-school programs. Unlike the typical classroom, these clubs encourage experiential learning. Children involved in STEM activities develop stronger problem-solving skills and are more likely to remain interested in science and mathematics courses through high school and college.

Athletics

Physical activity is a fantastic way to promote a healthy mind and body. Sports and other recreational activities improve cognitive functions through social, psychological, and fine/gross motor skill development. These activities also promote achievement and recognition, which directly affect a child’s self-esteem. Children who have confidence in their self-worth become better problem solvers and decision-makers. If your child isn’t a fan of team sports, there are plenty of individual sports like tennis, swimming, golf, and fencing in your area that are equally beneficial.

Art Classes

A child’s capacity for creativity plays an important role in how they process new information. Time should be made available for both structured and unstructured creative activities. Unstructured creativity also allows a child to more effectively process, reflect upon, and absorb traditional subject areas in their academic curriculum. Structured creative projects combine the freedom of imaginative thinking with the logic and reason required to complete a task or goal. Art classes, clubs, or camps are a wonderful way to engage both halves of the brain and promote cognitive development.

Scouting

Scouts BSA and The Girls Scouts are accessible in almost every community across the country with millions of scouts in thousands of troops across the nation. In addition to survival and citizenship education, scouting organizations teach self-reliance and decision-making skills. Many of their activities provide an outlet for children to apply these skills in real-world scenarios or incorporate aspects of the other activities listed above. Scouting at a young age is intended to be a family activity and a fantastic way to actively engage with your child.

Virtual Teams

In moderation, screen-time doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Schools are investing in the eGaming industry, which may even become part of the Olympics by 2024. Competitive games improve strategic thinking and making decisions under pressure while creative world-building games improve spatial perception, logistics, and cooperation to achieve a common goal. With the appropriate guidance and structure, virtual activities can be so much more than a way to pass the time.

Nearly all of these activities are already available in your area. Offering a healthy and fun outlet for children to learn and grow is essential for their mental development. Cognitive development is all about change. Extracurricular activities like these are the perfect way to start your child on a path for success in an ever-changing world.

At Karen Cannon, Realtors, we are local real estate experts for Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and North Atlanta. We live, work, and play here, and our agents are handpicked for their connections in the community. Our clients know about homes coming on the market before anyone else. And our highly effective marketing program allows us to shorten the number of days on the market. We’ve even put homes under contract sight unseen!

If you are thinking about selling your home, or are interested in moving into Dunwoody, Sandy Springs or the surrounding areas, call us at (770) 352-9658 or send us an email at Info@KarenCannon.com. Check out our current listings here.

4 Questions to Ask Yourself about Downsizing

For years after moving out on your own, you spent your time earning, building, and collecting. Maybe over the years, you raised children that are leaving for college or are now adults, or your love for traveling made stuff and space seem less exciting. Have you become an empty-nester? How do you know when it is time to consider downsizing?

At Karen Cannon, Realtors, we see many people and couples wrestle with these thoughts when it comes to their home. We’d like to share our expertise on how you can identify when it is time for you to downsize. Here are four questions you can ask yourself to determine if it is time for your family to downsize.

1. Are you an empty nester?

This is the most obvious question, with the easiest answer because either yes – your children are grown and have moved out, (and hopefully… it will stay that way!) Or the answer is no – you have kids that need you to keep providing a roof over their head – or maybe they just love your home and neighborhood so much, they don’t want to leave. If you’ve spent years with a full house and the wonderful chaos of parenting when the kids move out you may find yourself feeling like your house is too big now. Empty bedrooms can contribute to that. Avoid giving yourself the space to collect more junk or harbor childhood items long forgotten by downsizing to a home that feels more full – even with less space, or the right space.

2. Are you finally retired?

For years, you have worked and saved, and that sweet day is finally upon you: retirement! While everyone’s picture of retirement looks a little different, many people decide to travel more once retired, or to have homes in multiple places. A great way to achieve this is to downgrade to a smaller home that won’t cost as much to maintain, giving you more money to see the world.

3. Are your home improvement and maintenance days over?

When you first move into a home, the idea of projects around the house can sound exciting! But after years of home improvement cutting the grass, and fixing the garage door, you may be ready for someone else to worry about those projects. Moving to another home could give you less to take care of, and offer you more time to do the things you love. Some homes even eliminate yards altogether! Might as well sell the lawnmower too while you’re at it.

4. Do you need a master on the main level?

As much as we try to fight it, age can take a toll on our bodies. Suddenly things like climbing a flight of stairs get harder to do – and can even put you at risk. A home offering one-level living can offer you the space and comfort you’ve been looking for.

If you answered yes to any of these and you’re considering downsizing, give us a call. We have helped so many people downsize and find a great place to fit their needs, and we have contacts to help you every step of the way including estate sales, donating/consigning items, removal of old items, and more.

We aren’t just here to buy and sell homes – we understand that leaving a house full of years of memories is difficult, and our team will walk beside you each step of the process and help you find a house that can truly feel like home in the season of life you’re in.

Call us at (770) 352-9658 or send us an email at Info@KarenCannon.com to get started, and check out our current listings here.

Tidying Up with Karen Cannon

If you are even remotely interested in interior design or optimizing your home’s storage, then the name “Marie Kondo” is probably familiar to you. While her method and her books have been around for quite some time, she became a household name after Netflix produced the series, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, where the queen of organization shares her methods with those who live in chaotic homes.

While we may not have Marie Kondo’s tidying clout, here at Karen Cannon, Realtors we have picked up a few tips about organizing your home when you are preparing to sell and show it off to buyers.

Here are three tips from our team for tidying up before selling:

Half-way Empty Your Closets

This tip may sound strange, but when you’re looking for a home, what is one thing you are subconsciously searching for? Storage! Storage is a huge draw for buyers, and one of the best ways you can prepare your home is removing half of the items from your closet and organizing the other half. This shows potential buyers that there is plenty of room for everything they need to store, plus more. Also, remember buyers may snoop around, so chose what you display – in and out of your closets – carefully.

De-personalize Your Home

Although this process may seem a bit premature, removing your personal items from your home allows those looking to envision their family and lifestyle fitting into your home. A great rule of thumb for this is for every three pictures/ personal keepsakes, keep one out and pack away two. This will allow you to get a head start on packing and will allow prospects to imagine calling your house their “home.”

The First Impression is the Only Impression

In order to sell to a buyer, you need to think like one. What is the first thing a buyer sees when they pull up to your property? It’s not the kitchen or the awesome living room – it’s the exterior of the house! Your curb appeal matters, so take the time to tidy up your porch, garden, and yard by pulling those ugly weeds, sweeping mulch off and pressure washing your sidewalk, trimming those shrubs, and fixing or replacing anything with peeled paint. The front door of your home is an extremely important space as the buyer will be analyzing this area while their agent is opening the lockbox/unlocking the front door. Knock down the cobwebs, clean the sidelight windows/porch lights, plant fresh flowers, and provide touch up the paint where needed as these few simple and easy chores will make all the difference when a potential buyer first sees your home.

Tidying up in these three areas are just one way you can fast track selling your home and finding your next one. If selling your home seems overwhelming, the team at Karen Cannon, Realtors is here to walk with you through each stage of the home selling and buying process.

Click here to contact us by phone, or fill out the form at the bottom of the page and someone from our team will contact you shortly!