Johnston & Smith, LLP

02/26/2026

Agents and Loan Officers, Please take a look:

Local Communities   Albany   Athens   Atlanta   Columbus   Gainesville   LaGrange   Middle Georgia   Newnan   Rome   Savannah   Tifton   Valdosta  

09/18/2024

The Federal Reserve slashed interest rates by a half percentage point Wednesday and charted a course for two additional cuts this year followed by four more in 2025.

10/06/2023

Facebook friends. I am looking for 3-4 tix together for the UGA KY game tomorrow night. I say 3-4 cause I got a freshman daughter up there that can sit in student but says she would like to sit with the family. Pm me if you have any or know of anyone trying to dump some.
Thanks in advance.

09/18/2023

Johnston & Smith, LLP is looking for an experienced real estate closing secretary/paralegal. If you are interested or know someone who is please have them contact me at [email protected].

03/19/2023

See my below post on the residential squatter in Chicago but also watch this video on how squatters can affect commercial and residential rental properties. ALWAYS get Enhanced Owners Title Insurance on any real property purchcase because the only way to fight squatters is in court. Law enforcement will not come to your property with red capes on and throw the squatters out by their necks. The cops hands are tied when it comes to this and the only way to win is in court and that takes time and money. If you didn't get owners title insurance when you purchased your property you can still get it now. Come see us at Johnston & Smith, LLP and we will get you covered.

Seattle City Council candidate Ari Hoffman joined 'Fox & Friends First' to discuss how squatters have returned following a SWAT raid in Washington.

03/19/2023

Always get Enhanced OWNERS Title Insurance when you buy any real property to protect yourself from this people. Yes it is happening is Augusta. If you opted not to get it when you bought your property you can still get it today. Come see us at Johnston & Smith, LLP and we can get you covered.

Chicago resident Darthula Young says a man with a long criminal history began squatting in her home in September and she has not yet been able to remove him.

09/16/2022

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/redfin-predicts-sharpest-turn-housing-market-since-2008-crash

The housing market is looking up for both buyers and sellers, real estate experts said. Homes are selling for lower prices, but high mortgage rates are still impacting affordability.

03/20/2020

https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-gov-gavin-newsom-announces-statewide-stay-at-home-order

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOU? If you are in the middle of getting a home loan and your lender has its processing center in California chances are your loan is going to get delayed because the people working on your loan cannot go to work now. Maybe they are wired to work from home maybe not. If North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia or Florida get a shelter in place order I guarantee your loan will get delayed. That being said, don't harass your loan officer or their assistants. I promise you they want to lend you money and get your file closed. The more you call, email, or text them the more time they have to waste responding to those than working on your loan.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday evening announced he's enacting a "statewide order" for its nearly 40 million residents to "stay at home," a wide-reaching order for the most populous state in the country as the coronavirus spreads.

03/19/2020

**NOTICE**

The Columbia County Commission voted to close all county offices effective at the close of business on March 17, 2020 and reopen March 30, 2020.

• The Columbia County Building inspectors will continue performing inspections by inspectors who are coming in on a volunteer basis. Our staff levels may change day to day but we are working to get as many inspections as we can each day. Inspections will be scheduled in the order they come in and a confirmation email will be sent out when your inspection is scheduled
• The Permit Office is now staffed with limited staff to issue permits but the doors will remain closed to walk-in traffic. You can call (706) 868-3420 for permits however due to minimal staff it will take longer than usual to get someone one the line.
• CO’s may be requested through normal means.

Thank you,

Paul Scarbary
Columbia County Building Official

10/10/2019

https://www.wjbf.com/csra-news/a-new-building-breathing-new-life-into-an-old-part-of-augusta/

Contractors demolished the former Silverstein’s Dry Cleaners to make way for the complex. The big question is what will happen to Squeaky’s Tip Top.

10/10/2019

http://metrospirit.com/central-avenue-at-monte-sano-development/

New Commercial Development Coming to Central Avenue at Monte Sano The former Silverstein’s Dry Cleaners, located at 2568 Central Avenue next to the former Squeaky’s Tip Top, was demolished to…