The good news:  Athens, Georgia's housing statistics for year end 2006 versus 2007 show a mostly stable market for average home sales prices!

• 6 out of 13 areas in and around Athens, GA had an increase in average sales price

Great News:  Area 6 - Five Points in Athens, Area 10 - Madison County, and Area 13 - Oglethorpe County, have had an increased number of sales in the first half of the year. 

The not so great news:  The number of homes sold in the year 2007 versus the number of homes sold in the year of 2006 has decreased in 10 out of 13 areas in and around Athens, GA.

Average Days on the Market:

• Days on market has actually decreased in four areas.
• Days on market sharply increased in three areas.
• Days on market remained mostly stable with only slight changes in six areas.

       .

Overall, the Athens Georgia real estate market appears to have slowed in many areas, but average sales prices have remained mostly steady. 

All information believed accurate, but not guaranteed. Statistical data compiled from Athens ILS reports.

City of Winder, Georgia Housing Statistics:

• The median single family home price for Winder, Georgia is $163,096*.
• Days on Market for Homes Currently Listed - The average property in Winder, Georgia has been on the market for about 104 days.
• The median price per square foot for homes in Winder is about $96.
• There are currently about 607 properties on the market in Winder, GA.

City of Bethlehem, Georgia Housing Statistics:

• The median single-family home price for Bethlehem, Georgia is $177,136*.
• Days on Market for Homes Currently Listed - The average property has been on the market for about 95 days.
• The median price per square foot for is about $99
• There are about 195 properties on the market in Behtlehem, GA.

City of Statham, Georgia Housing Statistics:

• The median single family home price for Statham, Georgia is $141,271*.
• Days on Market for Homes Currently Listed - The average property has been on the market for about 102 days.
• The median price per square foot is about $94.
• There are about 99 properties on the market in Statham, Georgia.

City of Auburn, Georgia:

•  The median single family home price Auburn, Georgia is $193,075*.
• Days on Market for Homes Currently Listed - The average property has been on the market for about 99 days.
• The median price per square foot is about $100.
• There are about 216 properties on the market in Auburn, Georgia.

Additional County wide real estate information for Barrow County, GA:

• There are currently 1,072 homes listed for sale on GA MLS in Barrow County.
• For the year 2007, GA MLS reports 1,486 homes sold in Barrow County.                                                                                                                     

  *Based on the prior 12 month average.  

(Data compiled 1/6/2008 from several sources including Georgia MLS; Athens ILS, Building Trends, and other sources.  All information is believed accurate, but not guaranteed.)  

On 6/25/2007, AppraisalScoop.com reported that Pamela Crowley, founder of Mortgage Fraud Watch List, which "is a database of addresses, submitted by real estate professionals from all 50 states, where a sale or refinance transaction has suspicious activity" is being sued by eAppraiseIT, an appraisal management company.

According to Brian Davis on AppraisalScoop.com, who has watched as this situation unfolds, "It appears that the controversy centers around a claim by Pamela that eAppraiseIT is unlocking and changing security settings in appraisal reports that pass through them to lender clients". 

Pamela Crowley has asked for financial support to help her battle this lawsuit.  AppraisalScoop.com has done a spectacular job of compiling the issues, responses, quotes from both side and more, so instead of trying to re-post these large documents, I'm going to suggest you read the rest of the story at AppraisalScoop.com and decide for yourself what this situation warrants!

Foreclosure rates are rising, mortgage fraud is rising...unscrupulous lenders and appraisers are being blamed!  Industry watchdogs are springing up to try and get a grasp what is going on and several groups are making headway.  The Georgia Real Estate Fraud Prevention & Awareness Coalition does an excellent job of "watchdogging" and educating consumers, lenders agents, and appraisers of how to spot and prevent mortgage fraud.  The Mortgage Fraud Blog also acts a as "clearinghouse for recent mortgage fraud schemes, indictments and prevention".  There is no question that mortgage fraud has affected almost every market.

Do you think this is an industry watchdog being hounded by an appraisal management company whom she has called out for poor practices or a bunch of hype over nothing?

Mortgage Fraud has been receiving tremendous press in the media lately, leading some to believe these are new schemes and new problems. 

As early as 2003, incidences of mortgage fraud were increasing, as evidenced by the white paper produced by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.  To view the full white paper, click on the following:  The Detection, Investigation and Deterrence of Mortgage Loan Fraud White Paper.