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Selling and Buying tips in the Current Atlanta Market

     March 2020 was the start of a new market in Real Estate. As most businesses were closing down due to COVID-19 and the economy was going to a standstill, mortgage rates dropped to some of the lowest rates in history. This encouraged many to buy homes but not as many were interested in selling. This is what we call a Seller's Market when there are more Buyers than Sellers and there is a shortage in inventory. For Sellers, this can be classified as a great thing! Seller’s get top dollar for their homes and this often helps the property values to increase in the surrounding areas. For Buyers, however, this can make looking for a home a bit of a challenge.      One thing to keep in mind when Selling during a Seller's Market period is that oftentimes Buyers are going to be competing for your home.    This means that they will possibly be offering over the asking price, will not ask for any Seller's concessions, and will do other things to make thei...

No Showings. No Open Houses.

     There are a lot of companies out there offering to buy people's houses directly. Companies like Zillow, Opendoor, and Offerpad tell you that they will send you an offer and you can pick when you close, no hassle. But is this a good deal? You may actually be losing thousands.     When a Seller reaches out to these companies out to get an offer on their home, the initial offer is not where it may end up at. For starters, the initial offer is without the company even viewing your home. Even though they ask for pictures of the home and they encourage to send as many as possible, they still, like a traditional sale, will request an inspection be done. From there you will start seeing the Net of the Sale go down. These companies will deduct any needed repairs from the offer price, and they will also deduct commissions and closing costs.      It is important for Sellers to do their homework before they decide to go that route. This can save you thou...

The Process After You Go Under Contract to the Closing Table

     What happens after you go under contract on a home? Most people are confused about what happens next. The process is almost the same regardless of how you're purchasing, with a loan, or with cash. One is a little quicker than the other and may require fewer steps but for the most part, it stays the same.      So once you go under contract, your due diligence period begins (unless you opted out of a due diligence period). The due diligence period is for just that, the Buyer to do their due diligence. At this point, if you haven't already, you need to research your schools, neighborhood, etc., and make your home inspection. While home inspections are not required, they're highly recommended! Home inspections will let you know if there are any minor or major repairs that need attention and it's a useful instrument to use when negotiating with the Seller's to make the repairs or if the Seller won't be making any repairs, you can know what to budget for in ...

Tips on Getting Your Home Ready to Show/Sell

     Whether you are using a Realtor to sell your home or you are selling it by the owner, you want to make sure that your home is ready for showings. Having it ready can save you a lot of time and sometimes even money. A move-in ready home sells faster and most often at a better, higher price.      The first thing you may want to think about is the presentation. Presentation is key in catching the interest of potential Buyers. The first thing the Buyer is going to see when they arrive at your home is the exterior. Make sure that your lawn is maintained, bushes and hedges are trimmed and there's no trash or other debris. You want your home to have that curb appeal that makes people say "Honey, stop the car!"      Make sure that your home is clean and decluttered. Making sure that clothes are picked up from the floor, dishes are washed and put away, and beds are made during showings and in the marketing pictures can actually make a difference ...

How To Get Started On Your Real Estate Purchase

     One of the most common American Dream is homeownership but most people don't know how to get started. First and foremost you have to prepare yourself for the process, mentally and financially. While the notion of homeownership is a very delightful one, the process is not always easy peasy. A lot of things can go wrong and sometimes it can be  a quite stressful transaction. Don't get me wrong, I've seen some very smooth transactions too, but the smoothest ones were usually from people who came well prepared.       First things first, unless you are buying a home in cash you will need to apply for a loan. There are many different types of loans out there in the Mortgage market and so many different lenders to choose from so you may want to do some research on what loan type is best for you and shop around for the best interest rate. If you're not sure where to find a lender, your Real Estate agent (if you have one) may be able to guide you in t...