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