Meet Susan Salisbury!

Are you considering a career as a Real Estate Agent but not sure where to begin? 

Follow the four steps below on how to obtain your real estate license from start to finish and you will be on your way to an exciting career in real estate.

Step One:  Meet The Requirements

In order to become a licensed real estate agent, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Be at least 18 years of age

2. Be a resident of the state you are applying a license for (unless seeking a non-resident license)

3. Be a high school graduate or the holder of a certificate of equivalency

4. Complete a 75-hour salesperson pre-license course

5. Pass a state real estate examination

(Research your state requirements as they may

By Alex Griffin | Investment Associate | Beman Group
Blanchard and Calhoun Commercial

A new decade has begun, being led by what is certain to be an interesting year: 2020. The Roaring Twenties have begun again and this year will bring about uncertainty in politics (election year), the economy (longest expansion in US history and ongoing trade wars), and geopolitical concerns (Iran, Russia, China, etc.). With real estate, I expect there to be a lot of surprises as well, and I hope to highlight a lot of the news in real estate throughout the year. That being said, here are 3 news stories to kick start your 2020!

Heitman Names Top Real Estate Markets
Real estate investment manager, Heitman, has named their top three metro markets for global real

Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate had another successful year of providing the CSRA with real estate, mortgage, and insurance services while making strong connections and strengthening relationships.  From awards to business growth to victories, 2019 has truly been good to us and we would like to share with you some of the highlights and success from this year.  

2019 Highlights

Celebrating 100 Years of Service

Blanchard and Calhoun proudly celebrates 100 years of service. That’s a whole century of working together to serve the CSRA, growing our business and developing relationships.  Blanchard and Calhoun has grown tremendously and now includes Blanchard and Calhoun Insurance Agency, Inc. and Augusta Mortgage Company.  To celebrate our

by Alex Griffin | Investment Associate with Beman Group
Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate Commercial

Last Thursday morning, I had the opportunity to attend Augusta University's 12th Annual Economic Forecast Breakfast. Along with various business and education leaders in our city, I left confident knowing that our economy continues to grow to record levels! Dr. Simon Medcalfe, an economics professor at the Hull College of Business at AU, gave the keynote address and pointed out using various metrics that Augusta is performing at a steady rate. For example, our current unemployment rate (see graph below) is 3.4%, a record low for our MSA, and the labor force is above 270,000 people, also a record high. Strong employment will continue pushing up real

Ready to buy a home and not sure where to begin?  Unless you have your own funds to fund your purchase, you will need to find a mortgage lender to obtain a loan. A mortgage is a loan from a bank or financial institute that is used to help finance your home.  Finding a knowledgeable loan officer can help you with every step of the loan process.  To start here is a six-step guide to your next mortgage.

Step One:  Getting pre-approved

Shopping for a new home is very exciting but you don’t want to “put the cart before the horse” you must get pre-approved first and you will need a lender to pre-approve you.  Pre-approval means that based on your income and credit, you should be able to get a loan (for a specific amount) as long as nothing changes

Enjoy festive activities for the whole family all December right here in the CSRA.  From Christmas lightings to Santa sightings we’ve narrowed down some of the jolliest events to attend this holiday season. 

Aiken Downtown Tree Lighting

Date: December 6th

Time: 6:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.

Location: 1072 Bank Mills Rd SE

More Info Here

Christmas Light Up Spectacular

Date: December 6th

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Location: Augusta Commons

More Info Here

Christmas on Liberty Square

Date: December 6th

Time: 5:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.

Location: Downtown Waynesboro

More Info Here

Christmas Tree Lighting at Village of Woodside

Date: December 6th

Time: 6 PM – 8 PM

Location: The Village at

Guests and Holiday Season go together like marshmallows and hot chocolate; it’s what makes this time of the year so exciting.  Getting your home ready for family and friends may seem like a daunting task, but these few simple steps can get your space ready in no time.

Clean and Declutter:  First things first!  Before decorating for the holidays,  a quick clean up is all it takes. Begin with making piles of for sale items, trash, and charitable items to make room for decorations, overnight guests and new gifts.  A nice, clean, and clutter-free space is an easy way to create an inviting home. 

If the thought of cleaning and decluttering is overwhelming or simply too time-consuming, consider using a cleaning service to help.

Decorate the Main

Downtown Augusta offers a variety of eclectic dining options. While we genuinely think every eatery downtown is great, here are ten dining spots that the locals have dubbed as a must visit.

New Moon Café:  You can’t go wrong with any of the trendy coffee shops downtown, but The New Moon Café is pretty cool!  This upbeat artistic café offers freshly roasted coffee beans, homemade pastries, smoothies, and an awesome breakfast menu. Not a breakfast person? Try a combo special on their lunch menu! Bonus: New Moon Café is pet-friendly; enjoy a specialty coffee on the patio with your favorite furry friend.

Hildebrandts: This cozy deli has a train view! A family-owned, German-inspired delicatessen with a heaping helping of Southern Hospitality.

Millennial homebuyers are most definitely changing the Real Estate landscape. Although the internet has changed things for almost everyone, these digital natives are far more reliant on the internet than the previous generations. Millennials research everything and they know exactly what they want.  With tons of options and available resources, Gen Y’ers, are very informed decision-makers. When looking for a home, they will most likely turn to the internet and not from a computer, but from their phones. So, a real estate app with professional photos opens the door to millennial homebuyers. 

With a long wish list, Millennials are expecting everything to be just right before signing a contract. Research shows the top FIVE things Millennials look for