Money available for new appliances and energy efficiency
There is currently money available for the purchase of new appliances and home energy efficiency from Georgia Power, the State of Georgia and the Federal government. You better act quickly, because some of the programs will only last for a few more months.
read moreSold with Home Staging
I recently sold a home on Habersham Rd. in Buckhead. The home sold in just under 6 months, which was under the Buckhead average of “days on the market” for that price range. The homeowners had already moved across the country and were getting sick of the hassle of being an absentee owner. After a few months of marketing the vacant home, I discussed with them the idea of having a home staging company place a home manger in the property. I’ve mentioned the benefits of home staging on this blog before, so I was already an...
read moreHDR Photography for Real Estate
HDR is an acronym for High Dynamic Range. HDR photography allows for a greater dynamic range of light within a picture. In many photos, you might have one area with a lot of light and another area that is in the shade. In a traditional photograph, you would have to pick one of the areas for proper exposure, causing the other area to be “blown out” with light or extremely dark. Instead of trying to describe this problem, it will be easier to just show a couple of examples. Here are some photos of a dining room. The first one is...
read moreBait and Switch Short Sales
Essentially, a short sale is the bank allowing a house, it holds the note on, to be sold for less than the loan amount. The bank agrees to this transaction, because it believes there will be less expenses than going through the foreclosure process and taking ownership of the home. They can be complicated and frustrating. Some agents have been advertising their short sale listings artificially low to entice offers. It’s the ultimate “bait and switch” and I wish our Board of Realtors would do something about the problem. A...
read moreHow to Measure the Square Footage of a Home
You would think something as simple as calculating the overall square feet of a house would be simple, but it’s not without controversey. Agents, appraisers and others have very strong opinions about this debate. Their response will usually be unequvivocal and with conviction. The answer given by the Georgia Real Estate Commission, is: it depends. Specifically, the Commission states: Perhaps the best policy for real estate licensees is not to attempt to calculate square footage. If a customer raises the issue, the licensee should...
read moreHomestead Exemptions for Metro Atlanta
The Homestead Tax Exemption provides homeowners in Georgia up to a $2000 cost reduction in their real estate property tax. Homeowners who qualify must use the property as their primary, legal residence (as of January 1, 2010) and you must file with your county by the deadline. In many instances, your County will mail a Homestead Tax Exemption application to the new owner of record; however this is not always the case. Contact your County Tax Commissioner’s / County Tax Assessor’s office. Listed below are several Metro Atlanta county...
read moreTop 7 Most Popular Posts of 2009
As a recap for last year, I thought I would list the pages on my website that generated the most traffic. Being a website that focuses on homes Atlanta, Buckhead, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody; some of the popular pages were expected, but others surprised me. The Atlanta Farmers Market I spent a lot of time on this post, actually taking pictures of all of the various landscape companies, and comparing prices to some of the “bigbox” stores. So it’s rewarding to know people are finding this information. My husband and I buy...
read moreHomebuyer Closing Cost Estimator for Georgia
I’ve been reviewing my 2009 posts and the Georgia Home Closing Cost Estimator was one of the most popular. Therefore, I’ve updated the spreadsheet and reposted it below. When using the spreadsheet, feel free to make any changes, although the green numbers are the ones you’ll most likely change. If you make a mistake, just hit “refresh” on your browser and the spreadsheet will reset. The estimated costs in the spreadsheet can vary widely. I also tried to include the most common line items. If you’re lucky,...
read moreThe Extreme Importance of Real Estate Photography
I’m going to go out on a limb and state there is nothing more important to your home’s marketing plan than its internet photos. In a 2007 NAR survey, 84% of respondents stated they used the internet for their home search. In sophisticated, upscale markets like Buckhead, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody; I’m confident the percentage is even higher. That little, internet thumbnail picture will be your home’s first impression to the real estate market. It’s absolutely imperative you put your best foot forward. Buyers moving to the...
read more6 Homebuyer Tips for a Great Deal on Atlanta Homes
There are some bargains in the North Metro Atlanta and Buckhead real estate markets. The following tips will give you the confidence to take advantage of the Atlanta homes sale: Research comparable sales. In preparing to make an offer, your Realtor should provide you a list of comparable properties that have sold in the neighborhood. During this hypersensitive Atlanta real estate market, I wouldn’t bother going back more than 12 months. It’s these neighborhood “solds”, the more recent the better, that will give you the best idea...
read more
Listings identified with the FMLS IDX logo come from FMLS, are held by brokerage firms other than the owner of this website and the listing brokerage is identified in any listing details. Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. © 2012 First Multiple Listing Service, Inc.