Author: Admin

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension has selected 15 professionals from throughout the state to participate in the 2024-25 cohort of the Extension Academy for Professional Excellence, a program aimed at developing the next generation of Extension leaders.

The program, which launched in 2003, was developed to provide leadership skills training to early- and mid-career Extension agents, state specialists and faculty from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Participants in the leadership program are current and emerging professional and academic leaders interested in enhancing their leadership skills.

2024-25 leadership cohort

Following in the footsteps of 187 past graduates of the program, this year’s Extension Academy participants are:

• Valerie Bennett, 4-H Extension agent, Colquitt County, Southwest District
• Brett Blaauw, associate professor, CAES Department of Entomology
• Georgeanne Cook, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension agent, Tift County, Southwest District
• Kristen Ford, 4-H Extension agent, Worth County, Southwest District
• Ashleigh Geurin, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension agent, Candler and Evans counties, Southeast District
• Randie Gray, 4-H Extension agent, Hancock County, Northeast District
• Laura Lee Hughes, 4-H Extension agent, Ben Hill County, Southwest District
• Rolando Orellana, UGA Extension Urban Water Management agent
• Victoria Presnal, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension agent, Carroll County, Northwest District
• Samantha Price, 4-H Extension agent, Houston County, Southwest District
• Abbie Salmon, 4-H Extension agent, Floyd County, Northeast District
• Katrina Searcy, 4-H Extension agent, Cook County, Southwest District
• Robyn Stewart, county Extension coordinator and Agriculture and Natural Resources agent, Lincoln County, Northeast District
• Savannah Tanner, county Extension coordinator and Agriculture and Natural Resources agent, Emanuel County, Southeast District
• Jennifer Tucker, associate professor, CAES Department of Animal and Dairy Science

The program is comprised of three institutes held during the academic year, each focused on personal and professional growth, leadership style, conflict resolution and more.

“Extension Academy for Professional Excellence empowers individuals to enhance their leadership skills and fosters a culture of continuous learning. Graduates from our program frequently take on leadership roles within UGA Extension, demonstrating the impact of our training. By equipping participants with the tools and knowledge they need to excel, we are investing not only in their professional growth but also in the future success of our organization and the communities we serve,” said Lauren Griffeth, UGA Extension leadership specialist and organizer of the academy.

In communities across Georgia, UGA Extension professionals are giving their neighbors access to the full scope of resources available at UGA, the birthplace of public higher education in the United States. To learn more, visit extension.uga.edu.

S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) today released the July 2024 results for the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices. The leading measure of U.S. home prices reached a new all-time high with a decelerating trend for July 2024. More than 27 years of history are available for the data series and can be accessed in full by going to https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/index-family/indicators/sp-corelogic-case-shiller/.

YEAR-OVER-YEAR

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported a 5.0% annual gain for July, down from a 5.5% annual gain in the previous month. The 10-City Composite saw an annual increase of 6.8%, down from a 7.4% annual increase in the previous month. The 20-City Composite posted a year-over-year increase of 5.9%, dropping from a 6.5% increase in the previous month. New York again reported the highest annual gain among the 20 cities with an 8.8% increase in July, followed by Las Vegas and Los Angeles with annual increases of 8.2% and 7.2%, respectively. Portland held the lowest rank for the smallest year-over-year growth, notching the same 0.8% annual increase in July as last month.

MONTH-OVER-MONTH

The U.S. National Index, the 20-City Composite, and the 10-City Composite upward trends continued to decelerate from last month, with pre-seasonality adjustment increases of 0.1% for the national index, and both the 20-City and 10-City Composites remained unchanged on the month.

After seasonal adjustment, the U.S. National Index posted a month-over-month increase of 0.2%, while both the 20-City and 10-City Composite reported a monthly rise of 0.3%.

ANALYSIS

“Accounting for seasonality of home purchases, we have witnessed 14 consecutive record highs in our National Index,” says Brian D. Luke, CFA, Head of Commodities, Real & Digital Assets. “While the S&P 500 has achieved thirty-nine record highs and the S&P GSCI Gold TR hit thirty-five record highs, housing is following a similar trajectory. The growth has come at a cost, with all but two markets decelerating last month, eight markets seeing monthly declines, and the slowest annual growth nationally in 2024. Overall, the indices continue to grow at a rate that exceeds long-run averages after accounting for inflation.”

Luke continued, “We continue to observe out-performance in most low-price tiers in the market on a 3 and 5-year horizon. The low-price tier of Tampa was the best performing market nationally with 5-year performance of 88%. The New York market was the best market annually, posting a gain of 8.9%. New York’s low-tier index, which include home values up to $533,000, helped drive that growth with 10.8% annual gains. Over 5-years, markets such as New York and Atlanta, saw low price tiered indices outperforming their market by as much as 20% and 18%, respectively. The relative outperformance of low-price tiered indices has both benefited first time homebuyers as well as made it more difficult to for those looking for a stater home. The opposite is happening in California which has the most expensive high-price tiers in the nation, all well over $1 million. The rich are getting richer in San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco where their high price-tiered indices outperformed on a 1- and 3-year basis.

Regionally, the Northeast remains the best performing market, with New York the top performer for 3-months running, followed by the Midwest region. All markets in the Northeast and Midwest recorded an all-time high. The south reported the slowest gains regionally but includes five of the seven best performing markets since 2020,” according to Luke.

Table 1 below shows the housing boom/bust peaks and troughs for the three composites along with the current levels and percentage changes from the peaks and troughs.

Table 2 below summarizes the results for July 2024. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices could be revised for the prior 24 months, based on the receipt of additional source data.

Table 3 below shows a summary of the monthly changes using the seasonally adjusted (SA) and non-seasonally adjusted (NSA) data. Since its launch in early 2006, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices have published, and the markets have followed and reported on, the non-seasonally adjusted data set used in the headline indices. For analytical purposes, S&P Dow Jones Indices publishes a seasonally adjusted data set covered in the headline indices, as well as for the 17 of 20 markets with tiered price indices and the five condo markets that are tracked.

For more information about S&P Dow Jones Indices, please visit www.spglobal.com/spdji.

Traton Homes is pleased to announce its new townhome community, River Walk Place, is now selling by appointment only. Priced from the high $300,000s, this community offers 40 townhomes near lively downtown Lawrenceville.

“We are excited to add another community for our Atlanta home shoppers,” said Kimberely Garwood, Director of Marketing for Traton Homes. “Lawrenceville has so much to offer, so we are pleased to put down roots here with a new slate of townhomes.”

Homes at River Walk Place offer three or four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, two-car garages and a plethora of modern amenities. Gourmet kitchens with expansive islands await, coupled with open interiors and spacious owner’s suites. To promote a lower-maintenance lifestyle, lawn care is included with HOA membership.

Lawrenceville is full of rich culture, putting residents near its weekly farmers market, as well as local restaurants and shops. The city is also known for its vibrant outdoor concerts and festivals at the Lawrenceville Lawn amphitheater. 

Major throughways such as I-85, I-985, Hwy. 20, US-29 and GA-316 are easily accessible, taking minutes off residents’ daily commutes. For healthcare professionals, the proximity to Northside Hospital Gwinnett adds an extra layer of convenience to daily life. Nearby attractions like Lake Lanier, Coolray Field, Chateau Elan and Freeman’s Mill and Rhodes Jordan parks, offer ample recreational opportunities. Located in the Gwinnett County school district, children at River Walk Place attend Taylor Elementary, Creekland Middle and Collins Hill High schools. 

The community model home is under construction and scheduled to open this fall. In the meantime, prospective buyers can learn more or schedule a community tour by contacting onsite agents Jayme Brundidge and Paula Burr by calling 678-391-9491 or via email at RiverWalkSalesTeam@TratonHomes.com.