Brian Vanderhoff's North Fulton Real Estate Blog: December 2010

SEOUL, South Korea-- South Korea's president vowed a relentless retaliation against North Korea if provoked again, saying Monday he is not afraid of a war with the communist North.

The two Koreas have ramped up their rhetoric since North Korea shelled front-line Yeonpyeong Island near the tense western sea border last month, killing four South Koreans. Both sides accuse each other of provoking first.

On Monday, President Lee Myung-bak used much of his regular radio address to vow to get tougher with any new provocation by North Korea.

"We have now been awakened to the realization that war can be prevented and peace assured only when such provocations are met with a strong response," Lee said. "Fear of war is never helpful in preventing war."
He said South Korea's military "must respond relentlessly when they come under attack."


Lee urged South Koreans to be more united on national security because North Korea tries to take advantage of any divisions in public opinions in the South.

"There can be no difference between you and me when it comes to national security because our lives and the survival of the nation depend on it," he said. "They always have their eyes open to take advantage of any opportunity if they detect any divisiveness in our minds and thoughts."

South Korea has staged a series of military drills -- including one on Yeonpyeong Island on Dec. 20 -- in a show of force against the North since its Nov. 23 artillery bombardment. The South also has threatened airstrikes if hit again, ordered more troops on front-line islands and is pushing for upgraded rules of engagement to allow for a more forceful response to future provocations.

North Korea, for its part, has also kept up rhetoric around last Friday's 19th anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's appointment as the North's supreme military commander. Kim's military chief threatened last week to launch a "sacred" nuclear war against the South.

The North's main newspaper issued a warning Monday that South Korea's recent exercises are "reckless military provocation" that could lead to the South to face a self-destruction. "There is limit in our patience," said the Redoing Sinmun commentary carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.
On Friday, North Korean soldiers appeared on a state TV program and bragged of participating in the artillery barrage on Yeonpyeong -- the country's first attacks on a civilian area since the 1950-53 Korean War.

The two Koreas are still technically at war because their 1950s conflict ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. In recent years, several bloody naval skirmishes occurred near their disputed western sea border -- drawn by the U.N. at the close of the Korean War.

A quiet low-maintenance community with a lake that is still in the mix…Who wouldn’t want that? Acadia Homes and Neighborhoods’ Crabapple Crossing offers just that. Conveniently located between Crabapple Road and Rucker Road in North Fulton County, this community of 41 craftsman style homes priced from the $290,000s has become the “it” place to live. With only a few homes still remaining its only a matter of time before this neighborhood is completely sold out.

Why all the fanfare you ask? Price and quality construction obviously play a large part. Potential homeowners have the opportunity to choose between three-bedroom garden homes with 2.5 or 3.5 baths and a bonus room/ loft or single-family homes with four bedrooms and 3.5 baths and walk-up attic. Crabapple Crossing is also a low maintenance community, meaning homeowner’s dues pay for landscape maintenance for individual homes and common areas.

If you love the little things that make a home luxurious, these are the homes for you. Each house is filled with today’s most popular accoutrements, including granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, tons of hardwood and tile, and abundant trim.

For more information call 678-469-1413 or visit www.acadiahomes.us.

Apple announced that the Mac App Store will open for business on Thursday, January 6. By bringing the revolutionary App Store experience to Mac OS X, the Mac App Store makes discovering, installing, and updating Mac apps easier than ever. The Mac App Store will be available in 90 countries at launch and will feature paid and free apps in categories like Education, Games, Graphics and Design, Lifestyle, Productivity, and Utilities.

Labels: Apple, Mac App Store

Imagine buying a house near Marietta Square and all of Cobb County’s top destinations from the $240,000s. Traton Homes just announced they will offer just that at Rockford Township near historic Marietta Square when the community opens for sales later this month.

How is Traton able to do this you ask? Because Traton was able to acquire remaining homesites at Rockford Township at a reduced cost, they can in turn pass the savings on to some lucky homebuyers.

The community is ideally located in the heart of Marietta near both Marietta Square and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. A little know fact is that the community itself is located on 27 acres of the historic Smith-Manning ante-bellum estate.

Still not sold? Rockford Township is also part of the award-winning Marietta City Charter School district. It is one of only two school districts in metro-Atlanta and one of only 27 school districts throughout the state whose students achieved 100 percent Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in 2009-2010.

Interested in seeing more? To visit Rockford Township from the Marietta Square, head west on Whitlock Avenue to the second traffic light and turn left on Manning Road. Go about one mile until you reach a stop sign. Go through the stop sign to the Rockford Township entrance.

For more information on Rockford Township, visit www.tratonhomes.com or call 404-428-2725.