Full Circle Real Estate Group: Athens Real Estate, Sustainable Real Estate

A home listed by Full Circle Agent Michael Littleton is featured in The New York Times today in a story for their Real Estate section called, "What you get for...$210,000."

The article gives a snapshot of what you can get for that price in a few cities across the country. Click HERE to check it out!

In an effort for you to get to know the individual characters who make up Full Circle Real Estate Group, we are starting a new series called "The Full Circle Five". We'll ask each Agent in our office the same five questions and give you their very candid answers right here in the blog. This week, meet one-of-a-kind Agent Michael Littleton...

1. What brought you to Athens?

Quest for enlightenment...Acutally, my parents packed my suitcases after graduating from high school and dragged me to Athens, hoping I'd find some enlightenment.

2. What do you like to do when you’re not slaving away at Full Circle?

Honestly, that doesn't leave much time these days, though I need to recapture my mojo (which was stolen along the way). I love the creative design aspect to restoring old homes/buildings, playing hoops (though it was more fun with a more youthful body), reading, finding those occassional zen moments, watching The Daily Show/Colbert Report - which brings both insight and laughter to the end of each day, and well, a plethora of things...

3. What are you going to do in 2010 to lessen your carbon footprint?

Try to breathe slower.

In an effort for you to get to know the individual characters who make up Full Circle Real Estate Group, we are starting a new series called "The Full Circle Five". We'll ask each Agent in our office the same five questions and give you their very candid answers right here in the blog. This week, meet Agent Brant Rackley...

1. What brought you to Athens?

Music and friends. I grew up in North Atlanta and have been coming up here since I was in high school. The music that helped put Athens on the map, so to speak, was a huge draw for me. I had a lot of friends who came here for school and music. I just naturally gravitated here, for good, about 17 years ago.

2. What do you like to do when you’re not slaving away at Full Circle?

I am part time at most everything I do, but the list is long so it ends up that I work more than most people think I actually do. My wife, Melissa, and I live in the Boulevard area with our two children, Polly (almost 5) and Sam (almost 2). We have two pets, Ketchup (dog) and Zora (cat). That crew I just mentioned is who I prefer to spend my time with most. Outside of that, I'm a drummer with a few bands, do studio drumming, and tour every once in a while. As far as the other fun stuff, I am a self-admitted gadget or tech geek, and I like spending time figuring out how all these blasted gadgets I own work. I like traveling. I love me some sports too. Playing or watching. Running, golf, tennis,baseball, whatever sport is put in front of me, I'm usually in.

     In an effort for you to get to know the individual characters who make up Full Circle Real Estate Group, we are starting a new series called "The Full Circle Five". We'll ask each Agent in our office the same five questions and give you their very candid answers right here in the blog.

First up? Broker Patrick O'Brien

1. What brought you to Athens?
    The  desire to raise my son in a place where you can spend your time doing things besides being stuck in traffic.

2. What do you like to do when you’re not slaving away at Full Circle?
    Finding beauty in the suffering while pedaling my bike in the mountains, listening to music with the windows down and the volume up, lounging with my dogs, drinking good beers, practicing yoga, and doing pretty much anything with my son.  

3. What are you going to do in 2010 to lessen your carbon footprint? 

    Bike more, drive less, consume sensibly, and plant a garden.

4. Dogs or Cats? Beer or Wine? Books or Movies?

    Dogs, Beer, and Books

5. What’s in your iPod?
     A mixed bag, but heavy on the indie rock. Presently addicted to the new Built to Spill record.

For more on Patrick's background, click HERE.

Part-Time Agent, Part-Time Rock Star! Full Circle Agent and rockin’ drummer, Brant Rackley, is currently touring France and Switzerland with acclaimed Atlanta singer-songwriter and musician, Shannon Wright. PASTE Magazine posted a photo blog today featuring shots of the band’s recent pre-Europe gig at The Earl in Atlanta. You can see the photos HERE. Shannon’s new LP, Honeybee Girls, was released this Fall.
Athenians best know the talented Mr. Rackley as drummer for local instrumental band, Japancakes. Shannon Wright's tour wraps up in Périgueux, France, on Oct. 24th. To hear her music, click HERE.

The Red and Black newspaper just published an article on Full Circle's collaboration with J.W. York Homes and UGA LEED-Certifified Professor Megan Lee and her design students. The class has been working for the last month to design a spec home for The Cottages at Hilltop, a sustainable-concept community.

Full Circle Broker Patrick O'Brien is quoted in the article as saying The Cottages at Hilltop project is important for those involved in real estate and housing because it will increase their focus on building at a sustainable level.

The students "are essentially leading the way for design and development with an eye on sustainability," he said. "It's a vital experience for them."

The students are expected to complete the project this month.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE FROM THE RED AND BLACK

If you are in the Boulevard neighborhood, swing by and check out Full Circle's new native plant garden at 148 Virginia Ave. Landscaping with native plants helps reduce water usage, saves money and helps our local ecosystem.

Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home writes, "Unless we modify the places we live, work and play to meet not only our own needs but the needs of other species as well, nearly all species of wildlife native to the United States will disappear forever. This is not speculation...it is playing out across the country and the planet as I write."

Landscape Designer Laura Hall used various native plants in Full Circle's landscaping including Southern Shield Ferns, Virginia Bluebells, Mayapples, Crested Iris, Goldenrod, Columbine, etc. Click HERE for a list of trees, shrubs and plants native to Georgia.