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Georgia Renaissance Realty, LLC
Visit us on the Web at http://www.soldbyruth.com/
404-252-4895
Friday, June 18, 2010
Property values rose in Atlanta! Okay, that is if you live in 30080, 30024, 30004 and 30223. The report also showed that certain areas like Va-Hi, Brookhaven and Decatur lost less than 5%. That is great, especially when some areas are down as much as 30%. This shows that people are still out there buying, but of course are using the market to their advantage and buying in the most sought after areas. http://www.ajchomefinder.com/mortgage-center/what-your-home-gained-528966.html
New homes and age-restricted homes factor in most of the increases. Along with the fact that pending contracts were up for the third straight month and that consumer confidence rose as well are signs of positive trends. http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20100607_realestateoutlook.htm
If you aren’t lucky enough to live in those areas, don’t despair. A positive trend anywhere in this market is a good sign that things are moving in the right direction.
Don’t forget Father’s Day is this Sunday. I think a lot of dad’s would like The Allure of the Automobile exhibit at the High. This coupon code 3OFFADULT should get you $3 off adult tickets. They have Music and BBQ from 2-5 PM and the BBQ plates are $12.
Do you have a blog? Let me know and we can share comments.
Buy it or Sell it? Check out these cool high-tech homes. http://www.forbes.com/2006/07/31/cx_gd_0801homeslide_3.html?thisSpeed=20000
DIY Atlanta in the fall is perfect for enjoying an outdoor fire in the evenings, so get started now and you should be ready by football season. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,1636191,00.html
If you have a DIY project in the works please share before and after pictures.
Let Us Know! Do you have a neighborhood event, charity drive, yard sale coming up? Let me know and I will include it whenever possible sprinkleruth@mindspring.com
Monday, June 21, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Foreclosure Opportunity
This article on Trulia is a great reality check. http://www.trulia.com/blog/taranelson/2010/05/top_10_myths_about_buying_a_foreclosure
There are some big misconceptions out there about purchasing a foreclosure. What I see and hear about the most is the expectation of a price 50% below value. While it does happen, I rarely see it. They are also typically more complex than the average sale, so many find them too frustrating. The current distrust of banks (although really were they ever in the circle of trust?) makes things a bit more emotional too. My advice is that anyone thinking of purchasing a foreclosure should do their research and be prepared, flexible and patient and you’ll be well compensated.
We had a great 40th anniversary dinner at Haven in Brookhaven. I highly recommend it for a special occasion.
There are some big misconceptions out there about purchasing a foreclosure. What I see and hear about the most is the expectation of a price 50% below value. While it does happen, I rarely see it. They are also typically more complex than the average sale, so many find them too frustrating. The current distrust of banks (although really were they ever in the circle of trust?) makes things a bit more emotional too. My advice is that anyone thinking of purchasing a foreclosure should do their research and be prepared, flexible and patient and you’ll be well compensated.
We had a great 40th anniversary dinner at Haven in Brookhaven. I highly recommend it for a special occasion.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Weekend Plans
Have you ever had that terrible feeling when someone else’s troubles make you feel better? The Germans call it schadenfreude. Before you start to think I’m really smart…I learned that word from watching the Simpsons. I got schadenfreuded when I read this article http://www.newsgeni.us/articles/208/Rich_and_Famous_Not_Immune_to_Foreclosure.html.
For those of you who don’t watch local news you may have missed the FREAKING OUT over possible return of Freaknik this weekend. I don’t think it is going to be anything close to what it was in the past, but there are several other big events going on this weekend that on their own will cause some major volume on our highways, including the Dogwood Festival, the Braves are playing at Turner Field, and the Hawks are in the play-offs.
To avoid the mess you may want to stay in…but then you’d miss all the fun too! Craig and I are still deciding what we are going to do.
I recommend MARTA. For the Dogwood get off at Arts Center or Midtown at 10th Street Stations, for the Braves/Hawks get off at 5 Points or CNN. If you look at the top of the screen they have rail alerts where they post real-time delays and important information. Watch the weather as we may have some rain on Saturday. Before you hit the roads check out Georgia Navigator click on cameras and you can see all the highways. The connector and I-20 will be the hardest hit. The good news is that the DOT has cancelled the construction that was planned for this weekend due to the high volume of traffic expected. Whew!
Buy it or Sell it? So what kind of inspection is recommended for these homes? Cliff and Mountain Homes
Don’t Forget! There are only 15 days left to take advantage of the first time homebuyer's tax credit of $8000--it expires April 30th--a house has to be under contract by then and close by June 30 to take off taxes this year. Click Here for IRS.gov info on First Time Homebuyer Credit.
For those of you who don’t watch local news you may have missed the FREAKING OUT over possible return of Freaknik this weekend. I don’t think it is going to be anything close to what it was in the past, but there are several other big events going on this weekend that on their own will cause some major volume on our highways, including the Dogwood Festival, the Braves are playing at Turner Field, and the Hawks are in the play-offs.
To avoid the mess you may want to stay in…but then you’d miss all the fun too! Craig and I are still deciding what we are going to do.
I recommend MARTA. For the Dogwood get off at Arts Center or Midtown at 10th Street Stations, for the Braves/Hawks get off at 5 Points or CNN. If you look at the top of the screen they have rail alerts where they post real-time delays and important information. Watch the weather as we may have some rain on Saturday. Before you hit the roads check out Georgia Navigator click on cameras and you can see all the highways. The connector and I-20 will be the hardest hit. The good news is that the DOT has cancelled the construction that was planned for this weekend due to the high volume of traffic expected. Whew!
Buy it or Sell it? So what kind of inspection is recommended for these homes? Cliff and Mountain Homes
Don’t Forget! There are only 15 days left to take advantage of the first time homebuyer's tax credit of $8000--it expires April 30th--a house has to be under contract by then and close by June 30 to take off taxes this year. Click Here for IRS.gov info on First Time Homebuyer Credit.
Monday, April 5, 2010
New Trends
How to Take Advantage of 6 Housing Trends I thought this was some great advice from Money Magazine. Here in Atlanta there are currently about 3,700 Active listings marked as foreclosure or corporate owned. However, that requires the listing agent to mark it as such when they enter the listing, so that amount is probably even greater. At my company we are seeing a lot of investors and first-time buyers due to the amount of foreclosures on the market and that new homebuyer credit.
Buy it or Sell it? Rock On! Click here for an interesting tribute to music. Click Here to See a Rockin' Home
Don’t Forget! There are only 30 days left to take advantage of the first time homebuyer's tax credit of $8000--it expires April 30th--a house has to be under contract by then and close by June 30 to take off taxes this year. Click Here for IRS.gov info on First Time Homebuyer Credit.
Let Us Know! Do you have a neighborhood event, charity drive, yard sale coming up? Let us know and we will share with our audience whenever possible. sprinkleruth@mindspring.com
Buy it or Sell it? Rock On! Click here for an interesting tribute to music. Click Here to See a Rockin' Home
Don’t Forget! There are only 30 days left to take advantage of the first time homebuyer's tax credit of $8000--it expires April 30th--a house has to be under contract by then and close by June 30 to take off taxes this year. Click Here for IRS.gov info on First Time Homebuyer Credit.
Let Us Know! Do you have a neighborhood event, charity drive, yard sale coming up? Let us know and we will share with our audience whenever possible. sprinkleruth@mindspring.com
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Current status
Relief for (about 45,000) Under Water Borrowers – Some think this is a great idea, some think sends the wrong message or is unfair, what do you think? Click here to watch this video and weigh in on my blog or send me an e-mail at sprinkleruth@mindspring.com
Quicken Loans, Inc. CEO comments on Housing, Not at Bottom Yet? I though this interview with Bill Emerson was interesting. He thinks that we have hit the bottom in some areas, but not in others. When I look at our inventory in Atlanta as of this morning, we have 37,587 active homes and 1,104 of those active homes are under contract. In February 2010 we had 8,761 new listings come onto the market and 2,712 homes sold. When we compare that to last February we had more new listings coming on the market with 9,278 new listings, and less sold with a total of 2,607 sold in that month. It is this type of trend that we need to see consistently before we are in recovery. I think we are on our way now, but there will be ups and downs as we steadily correct this market.
The single-family market is stabilizing and despite this El Nino weather pattern building activity held firm. NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe is even predicting a 25% gain in new home construction.
“With the deadline for purchasers to take advantage of home buyer tax credits fast approaching at the end of April, improvement in single-family building activity was expected and may have continued into early March. Moreover, the very thin inventory of new homes now on the market, the pent-up demand from three-plus years of low household formations and good affordability conditions will provide the platform for a 25% gain in new-home construction in 2010 over 2009.”
The Federal Reserve has also promised to keep rates low with dissent from only one member who fears inflation; the low rates are good news for buyers. I don’t think (and I certainly hope we don’t) we will reach the levels we had a few years ago, but I know that I have felt a shift in sentiment recently. Our listings are getting shown - and sold - and there are buyers out there that need homes. While there are of course those that will wait for the bottom and perhaps miss these low rates, many others want a house for a pretty simple reason, to live in it. To have a place called home, to escape noisy upstairs neighbors, for a big basement for family gatherings, to make room for new little ones and to scale down on household responsibilities so you can fulfill that bucket list.
While in the long term a home is always a good monetary investment in the short term a home is an emotional investment that I see pay off when I hear how my clients love their home. Click here to watch the video. Read more here http://mizrealty01.wordpress.com
Buy it or Sell it? This is cool, see if you recognize these homes from popular movies. I wonder what the neighbors think? http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoffarth/sets/72157616316553286/
Don’t Forget! There are only 36 days left to take advantage of the first time homebuyer's tax credit of $8000--it expires April 30th--a house has to be under contract by then and close by June to take off taxes this year. Click Here for IRS.gov info on First Time Homebuyer Credit.
Let Us Know! Do you have a neighborhood event, charity drive, yard sale coming up? Let us know and we will share with our audience whenever possible. sprinkleruth@mindspring.com
Quicken Loans, Inc. CEO comments on Housing, Not at Bottom Yet? I though this interview with Bill Emerson was interesting. He thinks that we have hit the bottom in some areas, but not in others. When I look at our inventory in Atlanta as of this morning, we have 37,587 active homes and 1,104 of those active homes are under contract. In February 2010 we had 8,761 new listings come onto the market and 2,712 homes sold. When we compare that to last February we had more new listings coming on the market with 9,278 new listings, and less sold with a total of 2,607 sold in that month. It is this type of trend that we need to see consistently before we are in recovery. I think we are on our way now, but there will be ups and downs as we steadily correct this market.
The single-family market is stabilizing and despite this El Nino weather pattern building activity held firm. NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe is even predicting a 25% gain in new home construction.
“With the deadline for purchasers to take advantage of home buyer tax credits fast approaching at the end of April, improvement in single-family building activity was expected and may have continued into early March. Moreover, the very thin inventory of new homes now on the market, the pent-up demand from three-plus years of low household formations and good affordability conditions will provide the platform for a 25% gain in new-home construction in 2010 over 2009.”
The Federal Reserve has also promised to keep rates low with dissent from only one member who fears inflation; the low rates are good news for buyers. I don’t think (and I certainly hope we don’t) we will reach the levels we had a few years ago, but I know that I have felt a shift in sentiment recently. Our listings are getting shown - and sold - and there are buyers out there that need homes. While there are of course those that will wait for the bottom and perhaps miss these low rates, many others want a house for a pretty simple reason, to live in it. To have a place called home, to escape noisy upstairs neighbors, for a big basement for family gatherings, to make room for new little ones and to scale down on household responsibilities so you can fulfill that bucket list.
While in the long term a home is always a good monetary investment in the short term a home is an emotional investment that I see pay off when I hear how my clients love their home. Click here to watch the video. Read more here http://mizrealty01.wordpress.com
Buy it or Sell it? This is cool, see if you recognize these homes from popular movies. I wonder what the neighbors think? http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoffarth/sets/72157616316553286/
Don’t Forget! There are only 36 days left to take advantage of the first time homebuyer's tax credit of $8000--it expires April 30th--a house has to be under contract by then and close by June to take off taxes this year. Click Here for IRS.gov info on First Time Homebuyer Credit.
Let Us Know! Do you have a neighborhood event, charity drive, yard sale coming up? Let us know and we will share with our audience whenever possible. sprinkleruth@mindspring.com
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Updated foreclosure information
U.S. Foreclosure Activity Decreases 2% in February 2010 – Every little bit of good news helps in these trying times. According to RealtyTrac the foreclosure rate for February was down 2% from the previous month, this was still 6% above what was reported in February of 2009. Also that 6% increase from February 2009 to 2010 was the smallest increase we’ve seen since 2006. While it would be nice to say that this meant less people were losing their homes, what it probably indicates is that foreclosure prevention programs are helping homeowners. Read more here http://mizrealty01.wordpress.com Or click here to read the full article.
I know someone that used NACA to help avoid her foreclosure. It has taken her a long time, about 18 months, but she is finally getting some relief.
Buy it or Sell it? So that amazing weather we had earlier this week got me thinking of the beach. Wouldn’t you love to be here? Sea Island Home It is always fun to dream!
Please remember to turn your clocks back. This Sunday daylight savings time begins, so set your clock forward before you go to bed on Saturday.
Don’t Forget! There are only 49 days left to take advantage of the first time homebuyer's tax credit of $8000--it expires April 30th--a house has to be under contract by then and close by June to take off taxes this year. Click Here for IRS.gov info on First Time Homebuyer Credit.
Let Us Know! Do you have a neighborhood event, charity drive, yard sale coming up? Let us know and we will share with our audience whenever possible. sprinkleruth@mindspring.com
I know someone that used NACA to help avoid her foreclosure. It has taken her a long time, about 18 months, but she is finally getting some relief.
Buy it or Sell it? So that amazing weather we had earlier this week got me thinking of the beach. Wouldn’t you love to be here? Sea Island Home It is always fun to dream!
Please remember to turn your clocks back. This Sunday daylight savings time begins, so set your clock forward before you go to bed on Saturday.
Don’t Forget! There are only 49 days left to take advantage of the first time homebuyer's tax credit of $8000--it expires April 30th--a house has to be under contract by then and close by June to take off taxes this year. Click Here for IRS.gov info on First Time Homebuyer Credit.
Let Us Know! Do you have a neighborhood event, charity drive, yard sale coming up? Let us know and we will share with our audience whenever possible. sprinkleruth@mindspring.com
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Buying Opportunity
Housing Most Affordable in 18 Years – The HOI shows that 70% of homes sold at the end of 2009 were affordable to those families earning the national median income of $64,000.
Buy it or Sell it? Would you like to buy or sell Vatu Vara Island? Also known as Hat Island it is a cozy little hideaway near Fiji surrounded by a coral reef, lagoon and beaches for a cool $76 million…why not?
Better safe than sorry! Make sure anyone doing work on your home is licensed where required bonded and insured. Protect yourself from lawsuits from workers injured while working on your property and damage that may be done to your property.
Timing is everything. At least in this case it is! There are only 57 days left to take advantage of the first time homebuyer's tax credit of $8000--it expires April 30th--a house has to be under contract by then and close by June to take off taxes this year. Click Here for IRS.gov info on First Time Homebuyer Credit.
Let Us Know! Do you have a neighborhood event, charity drive, yard sale coming up? Let us know and we will share with our audience whenever possible. sprinkleruth@mindspring.com
Buy it or Sell it? Would you like to buy or sell Vatu Vara Island? Also known as Hat Island it is a cozy little hideaway near Fiji surrounded by a coral reef, lagoon and beaches for a cool $76 million…why not?
Better safe than sorry! Make sure anyone doing work on your home is licensed where required bonded and insured. Protect yourself from lawsuits from workers injured while working on your property and damage that may be done to your property.
Timing is everything. At least in this case it is! There are only 57 days left to take advantage of the first time homebuyer's tax credit of $8000--it expires April 30th--a house has to be under contract by then and close by June to take off taxes this year. Click Here for IRS.gov info on First Time Homebuyer Credit.
Let Us Know! Do you have a neighborhood event, charity drive, yard sale coming up? Let us know and we will share with our audience whenever possible. sprinkleruth@mindspring.com
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