Create a Bidding War on Your Atlanta Home With These 7 Curb Appeal Fixes
Curb appeal is crucial to attracting potential buyers to your home. If buyers have a poor first impression, they likely won't even want to step foot through the door. Even if you're not considering selling your home, some work here can build in instant equity and allow you to enjoy it even more.
Read full storyThinking About Buying A Home in Atlanta? Here's Exactly How To Budget
If you've considered buying a home you probably know that the very first step of the process is to determine your budget. The absolute worst thing you can do is fall in love with a house you can’t afford. Not only is it incredibly disappointing but that house will also set unrealistic expectations for the rest of the homes you see and make it feel like you are taking a significant "down-grade" into homes within your budget. There are a lot of unofficial estimate calculators out there that can give you a general idea of your budget. If you're not familiar at all with the mortgage process, I would also recommend doing your research before you proceed. To get a better understanding of loan options and common terminology and to get access to a mortgage calculator, Click Here.
Read full storyMoving? 18 Critical Hacks To Make The Process Easier
Can we all agree that moving is miserable? Anything that can make the process more efficient or just less frustrating can be a major win. Here are some of the most tried and true tips that can keep you sane as you move.
Read full storyNo, Just Using The Listing Agent Is Not A Good Idea When Buying A Home in Atlanta
Buying a home is probably one of the largest financial investments you will ever make. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just finding your dream home on the market and moving in. There are many steps that are required between submitting an offer and being handed the keys to your new house. Because of the complexity of the process, hiring a buyer’s agent is critical to protecting your best interests and ensuring that the large investment you’re about to make will be a good one. Why? Here are 7 great reasons you should consider:
Read full story1 in 4 Tenants in Atlanta Is Behind on Their Rent. With the Eviction Moratorium Expiring, What Happens Next?
With the 11 month long eviction moratorium set to expire today, many Atlanta residents are left wondering what the repercussions might be. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, approximately 24% of tenants in the state of Georgia are behind on their rent. Georgia actually has the third highest percentage of tenants beind on payments in the nation, ranking behind only Mississippi (29%) and South Carolina (24%).
Read full storyEight Almost Painless Cleaning Hacks...Zero Massive Effort Required
Do you consider yourself a pretty clean person and yet every single weekend find yourself with a messy house, having to spend hours “catching-up” on all of the cleaning tasks that had been neglected throughout the week. Your true “free” time is probably few and far between and you certainly didn’t want to spend that time scrubbing bathrooms on the weekends.
Read full storyHave You Seen It Too? This Atlanta Real Estate Market Has Gotten Weird...
It has been quite a year in the Atlanta real estate world. The market has been incredibly hot this year (and, if we're being honest, pretty wild too). The rules basically went out the window. Houses sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars over list price with more offers than sellers could actually count. Buyers waived inspections, appraisals, and just about any potential contingency they could in order to compete. The truth is, it's not like that anymore for the typical home in Atlanta. Sure, some listings are red-hot and generate the wild interest that occurred for any almost livable house in a desirable area earlier this year, but that's no the norm anymore.
Read full storyHave To Sell Your House To Buy Another in Atlanta? How To Protect Yourself in Today’s Market
The majority of people in the Atlanta area cannot afford to own more than one house at a time. If you need the money out of your current home to purchase a new one, you may be concerned about how you can time the sale and purchase so that you don't end up homeless or footing two mortgage payments. In previous markets, your Atlanta agent could use what is called a "contingency on sale" in which the purchase of your new home is directly contingent on the sale of your current one. It is really the safest option because it contractually prevents you from having to purchase another home while you still own your first. But, in today's hypercompetitive market, that probably isn't going to fly. If you are looking to put an offer on a popular home, the fewest contingencies wins, every time. Most sellers will not consider a contingency on sale.
Read full storyReady To Become a Homeowner? How To Save for Your Downpayment As Quickly as Possible
If you've been thinking about buying a home, you may have already played around with an online mortgage calculator or have a general idea of how much house you can afford. For many people, the primary thing that stands in their way is coming up with a sufficient downpayment. The good news is that saving for a downpayment just takes a little bit of planning and a lot of discipline, but it is completely doable.
Read full storyBuying A House In Atlanta? Be Sure To Ask These Questions First
The home buying process can get overwhelming really quickly. But, knowing the right questions to ask can be critical in helping you decide whether or not a home is right for you. Remember to treat the home buying process as an interview. The goal is to gather as much information as possible about the home so that there are no surprises later. The last thing you want is to move into your dream home only to discover a major hidden defect with the house, that you have nuisance neighbors, or find some unnerving activities going on down the street. Asking the right questions can help ensure that a home you might be falling in love with is the best decision for you. Plus, here in the Atlanta area, there are some things the seller’s agent or seller only has to disclose if asked! In addition, while you may already have the answer to some of these questions, asking again is a good way to cross-check to ensure consistency. The questions also assess how savvy the buyer’s agent is about the home and the area, which can be crucial in negotiation if you decide to make an offer.
Read full storyHow to Declutter Any Space...Quickly
There are a lot of really complex decluttering guides out there with 10-15 steps. Let's keep it simple shall we? Whether you are moving because you are buying or selling a home or because you just want to rid your home of stuff you haven’t used in years, here is your super simple guide to decluttering anything.
Read full storySorry Atlanta Home Sellers, Your Prime Window Has Passed
The Atlanta real estate market has been red-hot this year. Homes have sold for six figures above their asking price at a startling rate. But, sorry sellers, these crazy over-list sales prices are no longer the norm. They still happen, to be sure, but primarily in homes that are grossly under-priced, are in a super premium area, are trendy, and are fully move-in ready. Hate to break it to you, but that is just a small fraction of your typical homes on the market.
Read full storyPlanning on Selling Your Atlanta Home? 8 Questions To Ask To Get the Best Agent
Finding a real estate agent to sell your home in the Atlanta area is easy. Finding the “right” real estate agent is the challenging part. Did you know that 70-80% of home sellers will hire the first agent they speak with? That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as long as you are asking the right questions. You may think it doesn't matter who is listing your house since the Atlanta housing market is so hot. After all, everything sells right? Nope. Your agent can either make you or cost you money, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars. Make sure you interview any potential agent thoroughly to ensure he or she is the best fit for you. After all, they will be helping you sell what is potentially your single largest investment. This is a big deal! Not sure what to ask? Here are 8 important questions.
Read full storySelling Your Atlanta Home? 10 Ways To Create Curb Appeal on a Tight Budget
Selling your home in Atlanta? You've likely heard that curb appeal is crucial to attracting potential buyers to your home. The truth is, most buyers won't even look at a home that they're not attracted to by their first impression. In the current hot Atlanta real estate market, it may be tempting to do very little to your home to get it ready for the market. After all, there will probably still be a bidding war, right? Wrong. Not adequately preparing your property to hit the market can cause you to leave thousands of dollars on the table in the sale of your home.
Read full storyThe Avenue at East Cobb to Get A Major Avalon-Style Facelift
Last week, the owners of East Cobb's one-time premier shopping center, The Avenues at East Cobb, entered into a joint venture partnership with North American Properties. This group is a commercial real estate company that also owns the Avalon development in Alpharetta and has been responsible for the creation or remodeling of many open-air shopping centers around the city.
Read full story10 Things You Must Do After Moving In to Your Atlanta Home
Are you moving into a new home in Atlanta? Congratulations! Packing up and moving can be a daunting task and can get overwhelming very quickly. Now that you're finally in your new home there are a few things you should do from a safety, cost, and quality of life perspective. It doesn't matter if you're moving into an apartment, condo, or large single-family home, these little tasks can make the new house feel like home quickly while also maintaining your safety (and budget) but might otherwise get forgotten about in the chaos.
Read full story10 High Impact Kitchen Updates That Can Be Done on a Tiny Budget
In a perfect world, if you wanted to update your kitchen you could just toss out a quick $30,000-40,000 or more for a total kitchen overhaul (the average cost for this type of renovation). Or, even better, buy a home that already has your dream kitchen. That sounds nice, but what if it’s not realistic? And, for a lot of people it probably isn't, especially given this hot Atlanta real estate market. If you've purchased a home recently, you may have had to make some sacrifices to stay within your budget, and kitchen updates may have been one of them. The great news is there are some really high-impact changes that you can make for very little money. Not only will these updates make your kitchen feel fresh and more updated, but they also add value to your home.
Read full storyThe Biggest Threat to the Atlanta Real Estate Industry Isn’t What You Think
Discount and flat-fee brokerages, and people selling their homes on their own tend to be perceived as the biggest threats to the real estate profession in the Atlanta area, and for good reason. The perception that your job can be done for a third of the price or even without you is enough to threaten any professional group. But, in reality, the clients that are seeking the absolute cheapest option should not be your typical agent's market share. There will always be someone willing to do the job cheaper than you. That's not where your value is. If you try to play the discount game you will lose every time.
Read full storyThese 10 Features Have a Larger Impact on Your Atlanta Home’s Resale Value Than You May Realize
If you are considering selling your Atlanta-area home, then, of course, you know that resale value matters. But unless you’re planning on staying in a home forever, considering resale value is just as important when you are purchasing a home too. Sure, cosmetic upgrades generally increase the value of your home, but only to a certain point. There are actually many other factors that play a bigger role than you may realize in the Atlanta area. These things are worth considering, even if you are just purchasing your first home because it can ensure that you are making a good investment. You may be able to change some of these factors, while others may be much more permanent or outside of your control. Curious what they are?
Read full storyUnder Contract on a Home in Atlanta? Here Are 7 Things You Need To Know About Your Inspection
So your offer has been accepted on a house? Congratulations! That's no easy feat in the Atlanta housing market! Even if you haven't gotten an offer accepted yet, it's good to know how to prepare for the next phase of home buying...due diligence and home inspection. Depending on your contract, due diligence can range from several days to two weeks in duration. More common in the Atlanta market over the last few months is the right to request repairs, in which you can only terminate your contract if you and the seller cannot agree to repairs needed on the home. Either way, this is your chance to get as much additional information on your potential new home as possible. The good news? If you find out something you don’t like or that the seller is unwilling to fix, you can walk away un-penalized…as long as you do it before your due diligence expires.
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