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Real estate snapshot: Mixed report for January

The Greater Rome Board of Realtors saw more activity in January vs. a year earlier but the value of total homes sold was down by nearly 23 percent.

-Board President Jason Free of Keller Williams Northwest reports the number of active listing was down -- as were the number of foreclosures.

-Free cautions that the foreclosure rate could climb this month and next as some held off on foreclosure around the Christmas holidays.

-The average number of days it took to sell a home in January was 212, down 10.5 percent from 237 days a year earlier.

-For more, please click Board of Realtors

Unemployment rate rises in December; 15,650 without jobs

Source: Georgia Department of Labor

The jobless rate in the five-county area ticked up again in December vs. November reports but was lower than the same month a year earlier. -State Labor Department reports show 15,650 people were listed as jobless last month in the region, down from 17,011 a year earlier.

-The most significant year-over-year change was in Chattooga -- almost 400 fewer people listed as unemployed.

- "The rate increased because there were fewer employed residents and the number of jobs declined by 300 (in Rome), 100 in state government and 200 in the private service-related industries," a media release reports.     
-The state rate dropped because 11,500 people went back to work in December. Statewide, there were 600 new construction jobs and manufacturing grew by 400 jobs. Job gains also came in information services and trade and transportation.

-Another factor: temporary sales jobs created by the Christmas shopping season.

Citizens First Bank ends centennial year, exceeds goal

-Media release: Citizens First Bank ended a year-long celebration of its 100th birthday and exceeded its goal of completing 100 Good Deeds. The theme was “Celebrating 100 Years with 100 Good Deeds.”

In making the announcement, Angie Lewis, President and CEO of the bank, said, “We are thrilled to announce that our team members rose to the challenge and completed 113 Good Deeds in our community. Our intent was to celebrate this milestone year in a unique and special way and we believe we have accomplished that goal quite successfully. We appreciate the trust and confidence that our customers have given us these past 100 years and look forward to continuing to be their trusted financial partner in the years ahead.”

From the beginning of 2011, team members were encouraged to submit good deed ideas. The enthusiasm and excitement was contagious and throughout the year CFB team members invested over 2,000 hours as they touched the lives of literally thousands in the Rome community.

They reached out to groups, organizations and individuals who needed a helping hand by participating in such events as organizing fundraising yard sales, supporting Teens for Jeans, working the Community Kitchen, inventorying the Habitat warehouse, collecting sports balls at Christmas and honoring a local World War II veteran.

Every team member participated in some way and at least 26 team members championed or led a deed. The vast majority of the deeds were done on the individual’s own personal time. A result of this effort has been an increased awareness of volunteerism ‘caught’ by many.

One team member commented, “For me it was an eye opener as to how lucky I really am and that my family and I should learn to focus more on the things we do have, instead of what we don’t have. I enjoyed participating.”

Another commented, “I was really honored to help the community doing things I normally would not have done. It made me realize that no matter how small the deed, it was really appreciated by those who were on the receiving end. What a wonderful way to celebrate our birthday.”

Citizens First Bank is a Synovus Bank.