Local Community Enjoys First Event at the Preserve

The taste of Southern BBQ mingled with the sounds of award winning country music as over 300 local supporters made their way to the Luke Dobson “Circle D” arena at the Preserve at Rising Fawn. A sun filled harvest sky reigned at Southern’s Campaign Hoedown, where donations were raised to benefit the re-election campaign of Senator Jeff Mullis as he seeks a fifth term in office in the Georgia State Senate.

“It is a privilege to host Senator Mullis at the Preserve,” said Josh Dobson. “Senator Mullis has worked tirelessly to address the needs of Dade County since he was first elected in 2000.”

Guests enjoyed catering by Sugar’s Ribs “Big Time BBQ” and an appearance by world-renowned country artists, The Forester Sisters. Recipients of the prestigious “Vocal Group of the Year” award by the Academy of Country Music, the quartet has released several best selling CD’s including the chart topping, More Than I Am. Helicopter rides provided scenic aerial views of the Preserve to the most adventurous of guests and world-class horse trainer Rick Wheat, the 2006 National Cowboy of the Year, presented a demonstration of how horse owners can better handle their horses with the Noavel.

The rustic setting of our vacation cabins beautifully situated in the surrounding landscape appealed to many of the visitors, with some logging on to www.SouthernMountainResorts.com to book weekend getaways for the Thanksgiving holiday and other times throughout the season. These reservations confirm that folks are “falling in love” with the Preserve after only one visit.

The accomplishments achieved on so many fronts during this event are due in large part to the dedication and hard work of our Southern employees. Nathan Baker took home a 50 Caliber Black Powder Traditions Spain Muzzleloader, an award for his part in selling tickets for the event.

Our thanks goes out to all of the Southern employees who participated in the day, as well as the many sponsors of the Campaign Hoedown. Each worked with us to bring this first event at our world-class Equestrian Center to fruition. We are grateful for the fundraiser’s success, and look forward to many more opportunities to showcase our Southern hospitality to the local community.

I wanted to inform you about the launch of Southern Mountain Resorts (SMR), a sister company of Southern Real Estate. SMR will oversee and manage the rentals of properties at Southern communities. The first community to have rentals is the Preserve at Rising Fawn, GA - http://sreland.com/preserve.shtml.

The Preserve is a great place to vacation. My family and I vacation there regularly. Currently, the finished amenities include a clubhouse, 53,000 square foot equestrian center with horses for riding, several fishing ponds, hiking trails, golf course (off site with 9 holes ready to play). Early 2009 we will be finishing the pool, baby pool, fitness center, tennis courts, game room, BBQ area, & outdoor hot tubs and in 2010 we expect to finish the spa, restaurant and conference room.

SMR will launch several marketing initiatives in regards to rentals at the Preserve. Some of the programs will highlight the equestrian clinics, spa retreats (once the spa is done), corporate events and much more.

The creation and success of SMR will help us bring life to the new community. SMR is also an important part of our purchasing process to guarantee rents for clients who are building their dream vacation home. Finally, SMR will be included in our fractional ownership (not timeshare) program that will offer partial ownership of a vacation home with the ability to exchange time with other cabins/villas in other resorts in our network around the country.

I’d like to invite you to check out the site – www.southernmountainresorts.com. Look forward to regular news and updates.

Also, I’d like to personally invite you and your friends to come and vacation at the Preserve.

Feel free to call or email me directly with any questions.

It’s a good life,

Amir

My wife, Cindy and I recently had the opportunity to spend a long weekend at the Preserve along with our two married daughters, son-in-law and two infant granddaughters. We were looking forward to the opportunity to be together, but we were not sure how we would stay busy since most of the amenities are under construction. We were pleased to see there were multiple options for all of us. Rob and I were able to play a couple of rounds of golf at the community course, Southern Trace. Some of the greens are being updated, but there were nine holes open for play. The girls found plenty to entertain themselves with in the community and the surrounding area. The first day for them was a quick drive down to Scottsboro to visit the unclaimed baggage outlet. They did find a few deals. The favorite pastime for all of us had to be visiting the horses in the Equestrian Center. We made a few trips to Lazy Bones for everyone’s favorite BBQ and we found ourselves stopping to see the horses on every trip. During one visit we were even surprised to find a new litter of kittens in one of the stalls. The grand kids really enjoyed this. There was also time to talk a walk around the lake, play in the creek and just sit in the rocking chairs on the porch. All in all, it was a very nice weekend.

Wayne Tingle

 Dear Friends:

I hope this letter finds all of you doing well and in good health.  The letter you are now reading has been sent to serve several purposes.  First, I would like to inform you of some new and exciting amenities being added to the Preserve at Rising Fawn and to also update you on the infrastructure completion schedule.  Second, I would like to introduce you to the newest member of the Southern family; our new rental company, Southern Mountain Resorts, LLC.    Finally, I want to share my vision on how all of us can continue to be successful in this very challenging real estate environment. So, let’s get started.

The time is near!  All of you have heard me speak about “creation of value” versus “appreciation.”  The Preserve will serve as a great example of this process and will be doing so in the very near future.  In my opinion, Southern went overboard with the addition of an Equestrian Center, Restaurant, and Spa inside the development.  These amenities should be the icing on the cake that makes the Preserve a premier development in the Northwest Georgia Mountains. 

The Luke Dobson Equestrian Center is a 52,000 square feet structure that houses sixty-four premier stalls, a large indoor riding area, two indoor warm-up pens, 7,000 square feet of office space, four community office areas, and a high-end media system.  Southern has hired the 2006 National Cowboy of the Year, Rick Wheat, to manage and brand the equestrian center.  My father, Tommy felt that Mr. Wheat was second to none when it came to “horse whisperers” across the nation.  The equestrian center will feature nationally televised seminars that will give The Preserve unbelievable exposure.  Most of you would agree, once someone comes to this beautiful property the land sells itself.  More information on the Luke Dobson Equestrian Center will be posted within the next two weeks on the www.sreland.com website.

Another tremendous addition to The Preserve will be the restaurant.  We are getting ready to convert the clubhouse into a one-of-a-kind, fine dining experience.  The restaurant will feature an organic menu that highlights Southern traditions.  Southern is still in the infant stages of planning, but we plan to start remodeling by the first of 2009.  The goal is to be able to seat over one hundred guests plus maintain an additional bar area.  Everyone will be kept updated on the progress of the restaurant through the newsletter and website.

Last, but certainly not least, Southern has signed Debra Stone to build a signature destination spa inside the Preserve.  The facility will be a full service destination spa that will feature an array of services.  Mrs. Stone has over twenty years of experience in the spa industry and just completed a forty million dollar project in Birmingham.  The facility will be over 10,000 square feet and will feature natural architectural styling consisting heavily of wood, rock, and glass.  I personally feel that the spa will draw heavily from the twelve million people within a two hour driving distance of The Preserve.  An important thing to remember is that most spa clientele are the exact people that we are targeting as potential second home buyers.  This amenity should produce many prospective buyers. 

The Preserve is developing into one of the finest communities in the tri-state area.  The development is on schedule and moving forward in regards to the actual improvements and infrastructure.  Construction on the Amenities Complex is well underway and the structures are looking great.  The vision of the architect, Mr. Wamp, is coming to fruition and definitely possesses the “WOW” factor.  Electricity and water are moving forward so that people can start building the home of their dreams.  Weather permitting; all infrastructure will be completed on schedule.

Many of you have heard me talk about an on-site management company at The Preserve.  That is why I’m happy to announce the opening of Southern Mountain Resorts.  This company will focus on giving potential renters unparalleled service when visiting The Preserve.  I want people to experience the highest level of customer service in a relaxed mountain setting.  My hope is that they will come for a weekend, but leave wanting to stay for a lifetime.  We plan to start renting homes on October 1^st, 2008.  Please visit our website for more details.

As I stated earlier, the time is near.  This is my “vision of” and “attitude towards” the current real estate market.  This is not a time to be afraid or stagnant as most are stating.  We must all dig deep and find the attitude and drive to succeed, not just survive.  My father has taught me that from a very young age that failure is not an option.  When things get tough, we must get tougher and resolve to be successful.  I’m not saying that these are easy times, but I am saying that we all must come together and stay the course.  I personally feel that this is a great time to be aggressive.  The cream will rise to the top during these more challenging times.  Southern is committed to staying the course to succeed in becoming a premier development company in the Southeast.  I have taken some extreme measures to make this dream a reality.  I’ve committed a large sum of money to introduce Southern Properties to Atlanta.  I have also set in motion the introduction of Southern in Birmingham and Nashville.  When most developers have suspended marketing; I have made it a priority.

Also, I have made a very large investment in the Southern Mountain Resorts.  I am insisting that this company be the absolute best in the area.  This entity will bring a lot of attention to our development, which will help tell the world about one of the best kept secrets in the Southeast.  Finally, I have committed to personally stay at The Preserve until there are 75 homes built.  The Preserve is a signature development for me personally and I will stay here until it is a healthy community.

In closing, we are facing a challenging real estate market but the time is near.  We must all persevere and have an attitude of progression and victory.  We are blessed to be in the best industry in America and we will overcome the challenges.  We all have come too far and overcome too many obstacles to slow down now.  We must all remember that the real estate market is alive and goes through cycles. That is why we must remember that the time is near!

Josh Dobson

Owner

For any questions or inquiries, feel free to email Amir - apeleg@sreland.com

Please come visit and see all that’s going on.

It’s a good life,

Amir

Wow! What an amazing vacation we had!

My friends Steve and Kim, and their kids, joined my family and me Thursday afternoon at the Preserve. They drove all the way from Maryland and they were ready for a nice weekend. None of us expected much. After all, most of the amenities at the Preserve (pool, game room, playground, etc.) are still being built. We thought we’d enjoy each others’ company, enjoy the mountain setting and have a relaxing time – especially, when the kids go to bed. It ended up as one of the best vacations ever. We’re all excited to do this again next year once the amenities are done.

Steve and Kim have invested at the Preserve, so the first thing we did was ride around and see all the development and changes that Southern has done since the last time Steve and Kim were here. They were very impressed with it all.

Afterwards, we had some time together reconnecting. There’s something about the outdoors, the beautiful surroundings and the fresh air that simply relaxes you. Once the kids were in bed, we sat on the porch, on the rocking chairs and simply talked and laughed for hours. Steve got to smoke a great cigar as we listened to the sounds of the mountains.

Friday arrived. By the time I woke, the kids had been playing together for hours, Kim had finished her exercising by walking several miles within the Preserve and my wife, Tali, was ready to go. We got in the minivans and started driving towards Hales Bar Marina. We had rented a double decker pontoon boat with a slide on it. Unfortunately, as we started driving, we realized that we’re in eastern time zone and the marina is on central time, so we were an hour early. It took us about 30 minutes to get to the marina and the people there were wonderful. They set us up and let us go early. We were a bit nervous since none of us had any experience with boats and we didn’t know what the water would be like. We got some assistance to get the boat out of the marina and we were on our way. After about 10 minutes we found a great spot. We lowered the anchor, turned on the music, turned the water on in the slide and Steve was the brave soul who got on the slide to show the kids how easy it is.

We had so much fun with the boat at the lake. It’s simply amazing. The water temperature was perfect. The water was clean. The slide was a lot of fun. Both the older kids loved it and they kept going on it. The little kids were scared, and even after we “helped” them once to slide down, they were not too happy and didn’t want to do it again. Still, they were very happy to just swim in the lake and have fun. Next time, we plan on renting a jet ski, also. It’s amazing to think that you can have all the water sports and fun you want and be so close to the Preserve. It’s definitely a great local amenity.

By the time we returned, we were all very tired. Steve’s brother, Mike, arrived from Atlanta and joined us for a great Jewish Friday night dinner at the clubhouse. John, an agent from Virginia who happened to be there, also joined us. We got the food from Lazy Bones, which is 5 minutes from the Preserve, and it was delicious. After dinner, we put the kids to bed, and returned to our favorite spot – porch, rocking chair, and Steve with another cigar.

Saturday arrived and we waited for Sam and Andrea, and their kids, to arrive from Atlanta. They arrived and brought the rain with them. It was disappointing at first, but then it cleared up and the weather was excellent again. We all went to the equestrian center and the kids took turns riding around. They were so excited to ride the horse and then to feed the many horses in the center. We also had the opportunity to watch as the manager trained a new horse.

Later we got to ride golf carts throughout the Preserve and on the trails. We all enjoyed the ride and the tour of nature. We ended up at one of the cabins on the water and tried our best to fish. Since we’re all city folk who’ve never fished, we had no luck. Still, it was fun and relaxing. To conclude the day, we had a chance to sit on the deck near the lake, hear the sounds of nature and see the beautiful sky.

Sunday was our last day. After packing up, the Cohen family and us, went to Rock City. It’s a beautiful local attraction and we enjoyed the trail and the scenery.

And thus concluded a fantastic vacation at the Preserve.

It’s time you experienced for yourself how much fun it can be.

It’s a good life,

Amir

Over the last decade, Chattanooga, TN has reinvented itself. It has many attractions, activities, beautiful scenery and much more. Most recently, RelocateAmerica.com selected Chattanooga as one of the top 10 places to live in 2008 - http://top100.relocate-america.com/. See copy of article below:

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga has many educational and job opportunities with for nearly any field of study or profession. Having only occasional snow or ice in the winter, usually in Feb. is also a large drawing card for the area. The Tennessee River provides a place to play, fish and recreate the soul. Business opportunities are everywhere in franchising or entrepreneurial endeavors. This is the Bible Belt and churches abound from every denomination.

Due to moderate weather, I-75, I-24, I-59, the airport, the TN. River, many job opportunities abound. Commercial office space is rarely found empty. Educational facilities are among the best in the country. In addition, another university, Lee Univ. is located just 30 min. away in Cleveland, TN. Population is steadily increasing as more outsiders find their way here. The greater Chattanooga population exceeds 400,000, but is spread out over a 13 county region.

We invite you to check out the city and the area. Come stay at the Preserve at Rising Fawn which is only 30 minutes from downtown. Hope to see you soon.

It’s a good life!

Amir

We had a fun, busy and interesting weekend. We had a great group of potential clients visit us at the Preserve to learn about several of our communities. When clients visit we often have an opportunity to learn from them about ideas and other experiences they’ve had that may improve our own communities.

One of the topics raised was green building. The couple, from California, who are planning on building a second home at the Preserve asked about our definition of green building and how it comes into play in our communities. Their experience has shown that although many builders use the term, often it’s simply one little aspect that the builder is doing and then calling himself green.

There are many aspects to building and developing green, especially if the goal is to be green and not just use it as a marketing gimmick. Southern promotes green development when we select a green builder to build on our property (www.collierbuild.com), when we focus on removing as few trees as possible and more. The covenants and restrictions of the community require approval for the design of each lot when homes are being planned, in order to minimize their effect. The covenants, however, do not define green building practices for the homes that will be built. Instead, green building practices will be encouraged and builders who are certified and use the appropriate materials and practices will be promoted.

If you have any thoughts or suggestion, please share with us by posting a reply.

It’s a good life!

Amir