Tagged : atlanta real estate

I've recently read a ton of news articles and heard a number of folks on news shows talking about why it may not be a good idea for you to buy a home right now. I say FALSE, and so do many who understand not just the financial gain found in home ownership but the quality of life and pride that can be gained as well. A recent article written by Ron Lieber in the NY Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/28/your-money/mortgages/28money.html) mentions a few reasons why buying is still a great idea. I'll touch on his thoughts and then share a few of my own. Its worth noting that I bought my first home in March, 2010 at the age of 26.

Record Low prices combined with Record Low Interest Rates

Have you heard that is a buyers market? If you have a stable…

It's a testament to the quality of 60 Minutes that nearly 2 years after it was first recorded in December of 2008 this 12 minute prediction of what will come to pass has ... well ... come to pass.

We're entering the 4th quarter of 2010 and we are, without a doubt, heading right into the second wave of the Atlanta Foreclosure crisis.

NY Times reporter, David Leonhardt, shares some interesting insight on the connection (or disconnect) between Mortgage Rates and Home Prices.

Not really, David.

The market, for all it's recent folly, is a generally rational experience. And buyers, for all the talk of the "emotional purchase", make rational distinctions.  For instance: The price is how much I pay for a house. The interest rate is how much I pay for financing.

In today's REO (bank owned) driven market -- many buyers pay cash. Would a…

The most successful people are those who are good at Plan B."

Statistics show just 1 in 5 sellers who list their Atlanta home for sale today will successfully sell within a normal 90 day market timeframe.

I'm not foolin'… the facts are 1 in 5.

So what happens if you're one of the 4 who can't sell?

Well ... you go to "Plan B". 

Here's a quick list of options for sellers who simply can't stand having their home on the market for another day, henceforth known as "Plan B".   I will touch on them here and provide detailed explanation of each option in subsequent posts.

"Plan B" #1: Stay Put

Here's a fact:  on an average week I meet with 5 to 6 potential sellers.   These are people who want to sell their homes.  Of those I meet with ... at…

I recently purchased my first home. I thought I'd share my experience and, hopefully, offer a little perspective, advice and a couple key lessons I've learned as an "insider". The process was quick and easy for me. I found my 15 favorite homes online. We (my buyer's agent and I) took 2 days to look at them all. Out of that 15 I picked my favorite 5, saw them once more and then wrote a contract the next week. Why do I share this? Because I want you to know how convenient buying a home can be when you have the right agent, or in our case, the right team on your side. That brings me to a few key lessons I've learned along the way...

Insider Tip #1 - Chill Out...

Buying a home should be a fun and exciting process. Don't let anxiety and fear rule you…

Price Problem #1: Where's the Excitement?

The first problem is... it's hard to get sales people excited.  

And it doesn't make any difference how much marketing you're doing... the problem is the same ... its hard to get sales people excited.

You see ... agents generally know what buyers are willing to pay for similar homes in similar areas in this market right now. 

And when a house is sitting on the market for any length of time not selling, their reaction might be that it's overpriced.  

They won't get excited because they know they can't get their buyers excited.

On the other hand ... when your price your home competitively ... this is what happens:

Agents get excited because they know they can get their buyers excited. 

Excitement is…

With a steady stream of negative news on the economy and real estate market, I think it's important to mention - despite what the media has to say – we’re selling houses!  

My team and I have closed on 10 houses so far this year and, as we head into the spring season, I expect we'll more than triple that number before the tax credit runs it's course on April 30th.

Sure ... it's a taking a bit longer than it did a couple years and prices are, without a doubt, lower today than they were a year ago.

It's times like this I remind myself:

Selling real estate is simple. 

Simple... but not easy.

And selling real estate, for all it's complexity, boils down to very simple rules and universal truths. 

But to hear the truth about selling ... you've got…

Water is the #1 enemy of a home.

In February foreclosure notices skyrocketed 27 percent erasing the memory of declines reported in January. A total of 10,357 notices were published this month compared with 8,181 last month.

The most recent report by Equity Depot also reveals a 34 percent year-over-year (YoY) increase with 7,701 published foreclosures notice in Februray 2009.

What's striking is there is no marked difference in foreclosure rates relative to price range or geography. 

It's seems this recession doesn't discriminate.