Zombie Subdivisions
As I’ve mentioned before, the outlying Atlanta suburbs have really been hit hard by the housing slowdown. The subdivisions that seemed to sprout-up overnight in Forsyth and Fayette county, are now being referred to as “zombie” subdivisions, where only a few homeowners sit among acres of vacant, bank-owned lots. Hopefully, the bankd won’t be changing any of the subdivision names to “Dawn of the Dead.” While there might be small examples of the “zombie” phenomena in the immediate Atlanta suburbs, like Dunwoody and Sandy Springs, it’s more...
Read MoreInterview with Atlanta Home Architect Bill Baker
Bill Baker is perhaps the best classic home architect in Atlanta. I was very excited to see, and read, this interview with Mr. Baker on “Things That Inspire.” If you have an interest in classic home design and have not looked at the “Things That Inspire” website, then you are missing out on a great resource. I recently bought a new home in Buckhead, that has a few years of work and renovations ahead of it. I’m constantly looking at the “Things That Inspire” website, for design ideas. Here is an excerpt from the interview: Q: What’s something you...
Read MoreAtlanta Home Prices are Up
Hopefully it’s not just an anomaly, but Atlanta home prices are up. What’s interesting is the recovery of Atlanta home prices appears to be happening before the national recovery. I’m encouraged by the Atlanta real estate market. I think it’s a great time to be buying a home in Buckhead, or some other North Atlanta communities. Atlanta Home Value Index Atlanta Real Estate Statistics More Atlanta real estate Get this widget If you’re interested in buying Atlanta real estate, please feel free to contact...
Read MoreThe Perils of Short-Sales
I’ve written about short-sales on this blog in the past. A short-sale can be a good alternative for all parties involved, but keep in mind, it can be a very frustrating experience. As a buyer, you are now negotiating with two (or more) parties; the homeowner and the lender(s). The lenders can be very difficult to work with. During this unprecedented real estate market, the lenders are overworked and lack experience in short sales. Here is an excerpt from a recent USA Today article on the perils of short-sales. But many short sales are faltering, largely because some lenders may...
Read MoreSigns of life in the Atlanta housing market
Anecdotally, through some of my recent sales and working with clients, I’ve felt the housing market has been improving. Recently, I have been seeing some market data to back up my intuition. Click on this chart of Atlanta residential home sales to see that the home sale prices appear to not only have stabilized, but are starting to show some strength. The market area for these numbers is roughly North Atlanta and North Metro Atlanta. While I don’t think we are going to get back to pre-2008 prices overnight, I’m encouraged by the direction of the trends. As I mentioned...
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