CHASTAIN, JENKINS & LEATHERS, LLC is a boutique real estate company located in the heart of Athens, GA comprised of highly skilled and educated Realtors and Associate Brokers. The firm is focused on assisting buyers and sellers with all of their real estate needs. CJ&L specializes in residential and commercial sales and property management services.
Chastain, Jenkins and Leathers incorporates a fresh approach to Real Estate sales, marketing, consultation, and property management. CJ&L provides its clients with the highest and most knowledgeable level of service, guidance, strategic marketing, and expertise.
The firm is involved in all phases of real estate sales including land acquisition, concept development, product design, marketing implementation, and sales to closing.
Ike & Jane has Doughnut Lovers All Shook Up
27 August 2010 | 4:34 pm
Whether you just rolled into Athens or you are an R.E.M era vet, you have probably been to Ike and Jane on Prince Avenue. This cafe is gaining national notoriety for its delectable and decadent doughnuts of all sorts. Take the Elvis doughnut for example: creamy peanut butter glaze, soft bananas, and crispy bacon. Might be good, right?
Whitney Matheson was so dazzled by it, she chose to write about it in her USA Today column Popcandy. Read the full article here.
Atlanta news channel 11Alive compared it to the famed Luther Burger and the fried twinkie.
Over here at CJ&L, we hope that Ike & Jane keeps up the good work!
A Construction Log of the FIRST TWO EARTHCRAFT PLATINUM HOMES in Athens, GA
26 August 2010 | 11:57 am
Agent Veronica Imery writes:
“I am excited to be involved with the construction of the first two EarthCraft Platinum homes in Athens. EarthCraft is a highly respected residential green building program that results in building homes that will save you BIG BUCKS in PERPETUITY. The major driving force behind this construction program is reducing your energy bills by at least 30%-40% of that of your neighbor. These homes have an exceptional Indoor Air Quality, more durability, and provide the owners greater comfort. While speaking with the builder, Luis Imery of Imery and Company, LLC, he pointed out to me that these homes are just MORE SIMPLY BUILT for better living.
Luis is so committed about increasing sustainable building practice that he is making these homes available for the general public to participate in education sessions while the homes undergo construction. If you are interested in learning more about this most efficient building program, the first pre-drywall inspection is scheduled for two weeks from now—-mark your calendars, and lookout for further details to come. If you would like to attend this inspection please do not hesitate to contact me so I can get a head count. This is definitely a tremendous opportunity for anyone looking to understand a bit more about all the things that go into what is EARTHCRAFT and what makes EARTHCRAFT better.”

One of the many features are these Panelized Walls that keep moisture out of the walls and are preassembled on warehouse to reduce waste.
Feel free to drive by the houses anytime at 264 & 268 Wilde Trail, Athens, GA, 30606. They are in the framing stage right now. See what makes the EARTHCRAFT difference that will save you MONEY for the life of ownership!
If you would like to contact Veronica, please email her at veronica@cjandl.com.
Local High Schools added to Newsweek ranking
30 July 2010 | 1:56 pm
Clarke Central and Cedar Shoals High Schools were added to Newsweek’s list of America’s Best High Schools last week. This ranking places them among the top 6 percent of schools in the United States. To read the full article, click here.
Congratulations, Chase and Courtney!
12 July 2010 | 2:59 pm
We are thrilled to congratulate our agents Chase and Courtney Lawrence on the birth of their daughter Breckyn Elizabeth Lawrence! She was born July 11, and weighs 8lbs 1oz. We can’t wait to meet her!
Good Family Fun and a Great Family Price
7 July 2010 | 4:17 pm
Our agent Ceci Churchwell writes:
This summer our family, and several others as it happens, have discovered the great deal of Thursday Night Dinners at Earth Fare. Every Thursday from 5-8 the Earth Fare Café features their "Kids Eat Free" dinner night, but unlike other freebies around town, this one allows you up to 6 kids per paying adult. Plus it's super healthy and features entrees like Organic Grilled Ham and Cheese, PBJ rollups on wheat, Turkey Rollups, Organic Milk and Juice Boxes, Mini Carrots and Dip, Fresh Fruit, you get the picture. Entrees for the adults are also yummy. My personal favorite is the Peppercorn Encrusted Beef Tenderloin Panini with Blue Cheese Crumbles and Caramelized Onions on Grilled Chibata Bread, but I have also enjoyed the Turkey, Cranberry and Brie Panini and the Pesto Chicken Sandwich. Earth Fare also puts out family games like Checkers, Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, Boggle, etc for families to play while waiting for their dinner. We have told so many friends and other families about it that it actually turns into an impromptu party!! Those of you who know me, know that I love a deal, so come join us on Thursday at Earth Fare. Hope to see you there.
Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended!
1 July 2010 | 5:04 pm
“After a close brush with the deadline, Congress has passed an extension of the Homebuyer Tax Credit closing deadline, the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act (H.R. 5623). The extension applies only to transactions that have ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, that have not yet closed. The legislation is designed to create a seamless extension the new closing deadline for eligible transactions is now September 30, 2010. There is will be no gap between June 30 and the date the President signs the bill into law.
NAR worked closely with Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to enact this important legislation. Extending the Tax Credit Closing deadline will help provide additional stability to real estate markets across the nation.”
For additional information on the extension visit www.realtor.org/government_affairs.
Tom Ellis Announces His Candidacy for District Five County Commission
1 July 2010 | 10:40 am
Tom Ellis announced his candidacy for Athens-Clarke County Commission (district five) today. Ellis moved to Athens in 1993 and graduated from Terry College of Business in 1998. Tom specializes in quality and thoughtful in-fill and historic preservation, where he has received five historic preservation awards from the Athens Clarke Heritage Foundation. Tom lives in the historic Boulevard Neighborhood with his wife, Sarah Ellis, their three children, and their Labrador Retriever. They are members of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Athens Clarke Heritage Foundation, University of Georgia Alumni Association, and are supporters of the Athens Land Trust.
"I am running for county commission because I know that we can preserve the diversity, character, and charm that everyone loves about Athens while expanding our tax base through quality growth and economic development. I have a great deal of knowledge and expertise working with Athens-Clarke County in well-planned, appropriate growth. This knowledge will help complement our community successfully and thoughtfully, while also increasing our tax base. As the smallest county in Georgia, we have to expand our revenue so that we are not faced with the type of budget situations that require us to raise taxes and cut services."
Agent Courtney Lawrence Receives ABR Designation
3 June 2010 | 4:56 pm
Chastain, Jenkins and Leathers would like to congratulate Courtney Lawrence on receiving her Accredited Buyer Representation Designation. This designation is designed for real estate buyer agents who focus on working directly with buyer-clients. The Accredited Buyer Representation offers valuable real estate education that elevates your skills and knowledge in the eyes of home buyers. This two day course helps one to stay on top of the issues and trends in successfully representing offers. Courtney has a passion for working with home buyers and was glad to have received this designation.
There is Always Room at the Top, Indeed
6 May 2010 | 2:49 pm
Ceci Churchwell is a top agent in our office, and we are so thrilled to have her as part of our team. Read the blog below written by one of her clients, Steve Hardwick with Hardwick Window Cleaning Services (who we also think does a great job and is at the top of his field as well!). You can contact Ceci at 706-247-2682 or 706-559-4520 or ceci@cjandl.com.
“A few years ago a friend decided to venture into selling real estate. She expressed concern at her prospects because there were already thousands of realtors in the area. (Remember the housing boom when it seemed like everyone either was a realtor or was thinking about becoming one?) I had to agree with her, yet I was sure that she was thinking about things wrong. My response to her was, ‘You’re right. There are tons of realtors around here, but there will always be room for a good realtor.’
Perhaps I can boil the concept down like this: There is always room at the top.
Let’s take this concept out for a little test ride. Is ‘There is always room at the top’ an accurate way to think about your industry? (Hey, I think this would be a great learning experience if we collaborated. Give your input to this idea by commenting on this blog post.) Here are a few examples to get the ideas flowing. What do you think?
- No matter how packed the marketplace is . . . There is always room at the top.
- Your competition is undercutting you, but . . . There is always room at the top.
- You need to decide whether to bring your low-priced services into the marketplace or your high-priced services . . . There is always room at the top.
Those are a few to start the conversation.
As it happens, despite the number of other realtors around, my friend still chose to jump into real estate. She has worked hard, studied hard, and now she is recognized as one of the best around. My wife and I have used her, and so have hundreds of others. Interestingly, in the last several years ’tons of realtors around here’ have disappeared. But our friend is constantly expanding her busines. She is living proof that There is always room at the top.”
Read more of Steve Hardwick’s blog at http://www.hardwickwindowcleaning.blogspot.com/.
All the Single Ladies
19 April 2010 | 11:52 am
An article published in SmartMoney magazine entitled The Lady's Turn, draws attention to a new trend in Real Estate that would certainly not have occurred 30 years ago. Homebuilders are aggressively targeting women buyers – especially single ones. This would not have been possible before 1976 when the Federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) made it illegal for lenders to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, or age. The change came when women's groups began arguing that mortgage lenders were discriminating against women by discounting their income on mortgage applications, or denying them simply because they were single, even if they were divorced, widowed, or separated.
In the article, it states that 25% of all home sales are women, an increase from 14% in 1995. Interestingly enough, single women have been less affected by the recession than men. The financial and industrial sectors, predominantly staffed by men, have been hit the hardest, and in 2008, 3 times as many men lost their jobs.
Design Basics, a company that trains and certifies this new breed of "women-centric" builders. These builders focus on convenience and safety, offering larger closets, "drop-zones" for groceries, and serenity packages to drown out noisy laundry machines. The companies that go through the training to become certified can place the seal of approval on their website for a fee of up to $10,000 annually. This may seem exorbitant, but to the companies seeing positive results, the investment has been well worth it.
See the full article here: http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052702304871704575160112777930360-lMyQjAxMTAwMDAwNzEwNDcyWj.html





