Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio

Vice President and Managing Broker Kelly Stephens with Engel & Völkers Real Estate joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to reveal favored metro Atlanta locations with a particular focus on North Fulton, as well as popular trends in the buying market. Stephens joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment and shares that luxury is not a price point. Selling Atlanta real estate since 1998, Stephens has seen many changes through the years. In 2016, Stephens joined Shirley Gary at her Engel & Völkers franchise and currently runs the Alpharetta location next to the award-winning Avalon development and the Buckhead location in the heart of Buckhead at Peachtree and Piedmont. Stephens said, “We have a great team…We have both a general brokerage division and a new homes division. I’m always excited by the expansion and growth we’ve seen.” A forty-plus-year-old global company headquartered in New York, Engel & Völkers offers an expansive reach to fit every client’s lifestyle, specializing

President and CEO David Chatham with Chatham Neighborhoods joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to share the company’s 74 year history and current product offerings. Chatham joins host Carol Morgan on the Legends of Real Estate series and compares the post-pandemic market to the Great Recession. Growing up learning the business of Chathambilt Homes, Chatham recalls working for the his father early in his life. He  started with tasks such as sweeping houses, stacking lumber and more. During this time he received hands-on education and learned the crucial principles of the industry. Chatham said, “My dad always taught me that a clean, neat, well-kept house would always sell faster and for more money.” Through high school and college, Chatham spent summers working on framing crews and in other various trades. In 1972 during a meeting with his father, he expressed his wish to make a personal mark on the Atlanta housing market by starting his own business and was met with his father’s disappointment.

Partner George Banks with STHRN Hospitality Co. joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to share the inspiration behind Westside Motor Lounge and the property’s history while touching on placemaking, amenities and more. Banks joins host Carol Morgan on the Around Atlanta segment. With a background in commercial real estate, Banks has been a developer in the metro Atlanta area for over 20 years. Founder of Revel, a retail real estate development firm, Banks has a history with Paces Properties conducting intown adaptive reuse projects and collectively formed STHRN Hospitality Co. with the aid of Elizabeth Feichter and Kelly Campbell. STHRN Hospitality Co. runs bars, restaurants and various hospitality venues on behalf of commercial real estate owners. Formed ahead of the pandemic, STHRN Hospitality Co. benefits from the background of Feichter and Campbell, both containing ample experience in large-scale events, design and operations. Both Feichter and Campbell have already made incredible progress i

President Stephen Haines with Artisan Built Communities joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to talk about The Great Home Rush, the company’s popular Red Carpet campaign and upcoming 2022 projects. Haines joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. An industry regular for over a quarter of a century, Haines spent most of his career working with national builders. He currently is president of Artisan Built Communities, a locally owned production builder on the westside of Atlanta. Artisan Built Communities. Artisan Built Communities presently builds in the award-winning Seven Hills NatureWalk and The Georgian. The builder offers three distinct product lines: a farm-influenced product that takes inspiration from rustic Midwestern homes, estate homes ideal for growing families of all shapes and sizes and finally, exclusive active adult ranch plans featuring incorporated covered patios situated in NatureWalk and The Georgian at Seven Hills. Seven Hills is a large master-planned c

Traton Homes Founders Bill and Milburn Poston join the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the company’s history as one of the oldest homebuilding companies in the metro area. The Poston Brothers join host Carol Morgan on the Legends of Real Estate series. In 1971, both Poston brothers were involved in the real estate industry, working for different real estate agencies across the Cobb County and Atlanta area. As the brothers advanced in their careers, they noticed that when they took time for themselves, nothing progressed on their behalf and more importantly, nothing progressed for their clients. This is a common problem for real estate agents today and why the introduction of teams into the industry has been so vital. After a few discussions about common industry pitfalls, the Poston brothers decided to go into business together and found a development company. Milburn Poston said, “It quickly came to our minds that we needed someone to build on the lots that we develop so we got into the

Eric Baker with Keller Williams Realty and Ellen Hill with Atlanta Fine Homes joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to chat about MUST Ministries, how they got started as volunteers as well as the organization’s growth. Baker and Hill join host Carol Morgan on the Around Atlanta segment. Born and raised in Atlanta, Baker has been an active player in the real estate industry for over 10 years, partnering with clients from Canton to Intown metro neighborhoods and everything in between. From the metro area as well, Hill grew up in Marietta and has been a Realtor for nearly a decade. Hill has been named one of the top three agents in the Cobb Realtors group numerous times over the last several years. Celebrating 50 years in the Atlanta area, the core focus of MUST Ministries is homeless rehabilitation, spotlighting housing efforts, food insecurity and other efforts to get individuals back on their feet. The workforce development office gives clients the resources necessary for successful job placeme

Loan Officer Matt Reyes with New American Funding joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to talk about popular loan products and the new Buyer Accepted cash buyer program. Reyes joins Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment and shares additional details about the program that allows buyers to make competitive cash offers. With seven years of industry experience under his belt, Reyes was inspired to become a loan officer after a positive experience purchasing his first home. His history of financial education served him well as he took a deep dive into the world of home loans. Reyes began his journey with New American Funding in what they called “set up” back in the day stacking files and ordering third-party information such as title appraisals, title work and flood certifications. For the past three years, he has held the role of loan officer for one of the largest lenders, with a consistent stream of five-star reviews! Reyes said, “I’ve kind of been in each different role building up i

It’s the story of availability and affordability Chief Marketing Officer John Ryan with Georgia MLS joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss home sales and inventory in the Atlanta market. Ryan joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. With a 29-year industry history, Ryan has seen numerous evolutions shape how the multiple listing service works and how data is delivered to brokers, agents, appraisers and consumers. When he started work at Georgia MLS, the company still printed listing books. After the evolution of the internet, the company expanded to serve listings online for agents and now Georgia MLS provides increased consumer access to valuable real estate information via the web. Ryan said, “It’s an ever-changing marketplace and it’s what gets me up in the morning to come to work to see what we’re going to face on a day-to-day basis.” Georgia MLS is the largest real estate marketplace in Georgia with listings in the North Georgia mountains, the Georgia coast, an

Founder and Co-Chair Jessica Merriman and Co-Chair Chris Stuckey with MomoCon join the Atlanta Real Estate Radio podcast to talk about their upcoming convention, perfect for fans of anime, comics, tabletop games and more. Merriman and Stuckey join host Carol Morgan on the Around Atlanta segment. MomoCon is an animation, gaming and comic convention that features vendor booths, celebrity guests, video game tournaments and a spacious free-play arcade. From May 26 to 29, the event is located at the Georgia World Congress Center in Building B in Downtown Atlanta. This year, the event showcases double the space as in previous years, providing attendees with ample socialization space, more events and additional partners. An exciting feature, a stranglehold professional wrestling group is hosting live wrestling events all four days. The showcase also features a unique storyline and highlights 40 individuals. Classic wrestlers participating include Sergeant Slaughter, Kane and more! For game fans, MomoCon is partne

President and CEO Bruce Carlisle with North Georgia Land joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss his new book, Top Dollar Dirt, and share how it helps landowners position property for sale. Carlisle joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. Born and raised in Atlanta, Carlisle grew up near Chamblee and Dunwoody. After he picked up playing tennis, Carlisle noticed many of the players he associated with worked in the real estate industry. Starting in 1984 with Property Systems Corporation, he has a 38-year history in the land business. North Georgia Land was created in 1993 after Carlisle learned industry and business practices from Property Systems Corporation. During this period, Carlisle had a brief opportunity to work with Scott Hudgens, a visionary builder and developer in Atlanta responsible for the construction of Mall of Georgia, Gwinnett Place Mall and more. After learning and becoming familiar with the retail market, Carlisle sourced deals from region-newcome

President Carmen Chubb with Columbia Residential joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the importance of DEI and share the company’s mission to provide affordable housing in underserved markets across the metro Atlanta area. Chubb joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. A native Atlantan, Chubb’s entire career has been based in affordable housing. She began in the single-family sphere by working in loan accounting for single-family mortgages. Not far into her career, Chubb had the opportunity to work with the state of Georgia for a state agency that operates as a private entity. Early in her career, Chubb understood the financing related to single-family homes, how loans are made and how to ensure people remain in their homes. As her career grew, she obtained the opportunity to take on more and included rental housing and multifamily programs for individuals experiencing homelessness. Chubb said, “Every aspect of affordable housing that was presented for the stat

President and CEO Scott Shelar with Construction Ready joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to explore preparing the future construction workforce. Shelar joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. A repeat guest, the last time Shelar made an appearance on the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast, he represented the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA). Rebranded as Construction Ready, the organization has been a part of the industry since 1993, inspiring and driving individuals toward skilled trade positions. By providing potential hires with the necessary credentials and training, Construction Ready aids in their search for a successful career in construction, regardless of age or background. Shelar said, “We want the skilled trades to be as valuable as a four-year degree. A big part of our vision is to get society to a point where the true value of a career in the trades.” Construction Ready provides those interested in pursuing a career in the skilled t

Southeast Area Production Manager Tricia Jones with New American Funding joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss mortgages and achieving homeownership in today’s market. Jones joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. After relocating to Atlanta 22 years ago for work, Jones fell in love with the South and has been in the real estate industry for 24 years. From entry-level positions to multiple leadership roles, Jones has been an active participant in every capacity. Jones said, “What I love most about [working in mortgages] is helping people grow. The more my team grows, it seems like the more we can change our lives and the more we can affect families and help them.” New American Funding is one of the largest privately-held mortgage lenders in the United States and a significant purchase lender in the South. With a strong focus on home builders, the organization understands the need for builders to keep inventory moving and the necessity for accurate updates and effi

Founder of Foxcreek Properties, Piedmont Residential and a myriad of banks, Bill Evans joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to recount his impressive career in homebuilding and land development. Evans joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment and touches on his history in banking. Evans started working in the construction industry in 1974.   With a mother who was a builder and a father with a background in mechanical contracting, he has a long history with the industry and he always knew he wanted to be a developer. Evans began his development career in Stone Mountain, his hometown, and after developing a few projects, found himself in the middle of a recession. Evans said, “Everybody had land, and nobody had a way to get out of it.” During this time, banks offered loans with a contractual agreement that the home had to sell before the loan was due which caused issues for many builders and developers. The first four homes built by Evans and his team were constructed within 30

Chief Real Estate Officer Rachel Carey with Westside Future Fund joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to share how the organization supports rental housing, homeownership, financing and anti-displacement on the Westside. Carey joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. A member of the organization for the last four years, Carey moved to Atlanta from New York City five years ago and has spent her career immersed in affordable housing finance. When she moved here, Carey had a goal to work with Westside Future Fund to take its community development in a new direction. Westside Future Fund launched in 2013 as a public-private partnership when the city of Atlanta committed funding to the development of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In addition to the arena development, there needed to be contributions to the communities west of the stadium. The neighborhoods served by the organization are English Avenues, Vine City, Atlanta University Center and Ashview Heights. Carey said, “The thought

Homebuilder Partnership Manager Rajat Agarwal with Opendoor joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to share how Atlanta consumers can benefit from digital homebuying (often referred to as iBuying). Agarwal joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment and discusses the leading digital iBuyer platform for buying and selling real estate. For the last three years, Agarwal worked for the Greater Atlanta Home Builders’ Association, starting in marketing and working his way up to the government affairs unit. In his new role with Opendoor, an innovative digital real estate platform, Agarwal is the newest member of the team that helps people sell, buy and move with ease and certainty. Agarwal said, “It really took what has been a historically complex traditional home transaction and simplified it and made it convenient.” Today, Opendoor serves 45 markets, including large cities like Los Angeles and Washington D.C. and booming metro areas such as Phoenix, Dallas, Raleigh and Atlanta. In 201

Publisher Sherry Gasaway with KNOWAtlanta joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the benefits of sharing vital resources with new metro area residents. Gasaway joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. With a true love for Atlanta, Gasaway started with KNOWAtlanta in sales and 15 years later, she is the publisher of the premier relocation magazine. In her position, she hears and develops content, reports and provides valuable information to people seeking new information about our growing city. A local market staple for 30 years, the primary goal of KNOWAtlanta is to offer easily digestible content that showcases valuable information. Whether it’s turning the lights on in your new home or exploring growing city centers, the magazine also spotlights the market’s top builders by sharing marketing information and upcoming developments. Published quarterly and available online, the current KNOWAtlanta issue includes a feature about Atlanta’s condo market and shares ins

Program Associate with Annie E. Casey Foundation Chantell Glenn joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the redevelopment of Pittsburgh Yards. Glenn joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. A proud alumnus of Spellman College, Glenn’s professional background of over 20 years is concentrated in community and equity development. In her current role with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Glenn oversees the development and operations of Pittsburgh Yards. The foundation places a strong focus on place-based work in Atlanta and is a primary investor and advisor for the redevelopment project. Glenn said, “Pittsburgh Yards is an unprecedented opportunity to spur economic equity, job growth and entrepreneurship for the residents.” Through years of collaboration amongst locals and community stakeholders, the vision of Pittsburgh Yards came to life. Once completed, the project will be a vibrant space for residents to work, create, shop, play and aspire. The project will catalyze li

Senior Director of Capital Projects Neale Nickels with the Historic Oakland Foundation joins the Atlanta Real Estate Radio podcast to share the rich past and preservation of Oakland Cemetery. Nickels joins host Carol Morgan on the Around Atlanta segment and discusses upcoming events and ways to support the iconic Atlanta landmark. Not native to Georgia, working for the Historic Oakland Foundation allowed Nickels and his family to connect with the rich history and the city of Atlanta in a unique way. Oakland Cemetery was founded by the city of Atlanta in 1850, back before the capital was the great urban center we know today. A small but growing community, Atlanta was in need of a municipal cemetery. As the cemetery developed, there was a shift in thinking regarding cemeteries internationally, transitioning from considering graveyards to cemeteries which translates to a final resting place for family and loved ones. Since 1976, the foundation's mission has been to preserve, restore, enhance and share Oakland

Vice President of Development Brittani Sanders with Portman Residential joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to share the importance of development and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in a corporate space. Sanders joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. A relatively new company, Portman Residential is the latest addition to the Portman Holdings family, a staple in the homebuilding industry for over 60 years. Founded by a prolific architect, John Portman, the company was previously known for designing abundant office and hotel projects and recently decided to expand into the mixed-use development sector with the creation of Portman Residential and Portman Industrial. Sanders said, “It really is a great company and has really exciting mixed-use projects across the country.” Growing up in a small town south of Chicago, Sanders shared that diversity and inclusion are a deeply personal topics. From a young age, she was fascinated with the Chicago skyline but never knew how