Selling your home by owner, also known as For Sale By Owner (FSBO), is appealing to some in this exceptionally robust market. Not dealing with agents is nice, but can money be saved selling a home by owner? About 7% of homes nationally sold without a listing agent, of those over half were between parties that already had the transaction arranged.  Data shows that around 25% of FSBOs don't sell; and for those that do, they sell between 6%-26% less than agent assisted homes. Consider…

Buyer Agent Interaction

Some buyers' agents may be less inclined to show FSBO properties to their clients, knowing they will be doing double work, may receive a below average commission or even no commission. This might limit the pool of potential buyers for the…

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Let's take a southern home tour! Whether it is a historic home or new build, we love the architecture of the south. Our team member and resident photographer, Mary Miller, fills her Instagram (@glimpsesofthesouth) with beautiful southern homes that highlight their architectural details, gardens, and holiday style. She features Historic Marietta homes, Charleston homes, Downtown Woodstock homes include farmhouse style homes, cottage style and old southern mansions - we love them all!

Southern Home Tour ... 

Southern Home Historic Marietta home 

We start our southern home tour in beautiful Marietta, GA.  Like many Marietta homes the Historic James T. Anderson House goes all out for the 4th! We love the classical details on this home - ionic columns, dental molding and that gorgeous…

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As the spring market heats up, home buyers will examine all options. Many will consider new construction, often visiting the projects and sales reps or calling the information lines. Seemingly innocent inquiries which often result in them being unrepresented by a buyer’s agent if they move forward. Builders love unrepresented home buyers. Not using a buyer's agent when building a home is the single biggest mistake new home buyers make and it will result in problems over the build.

What is Procuring Cause

Every home buyer should work with an experienced buyer’s agent. The buyer agent fee is almost always paid by the seller, there is no reason to be unrepresented.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) says procuring cause means the agent who…

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“Should I rent my home if it won't sell”? Well, that question has many layers. But that off the cuff declaration by an annoyed seller might be a bit dramatic and premature. For owners unsuccessful at selling, “I’ll rent it” seems to be a knee jerk response. Best to take a step back, breathe, and examine all of the mitigating circumstances that contributed to this situation. For owners, selling a home usually has a significant emotional component; it’s unavoidable. To home buyers, it is just another home. Motivations, objectives, and personal situations are different and before anything rash is done, slow down. Start with figuring out why the home didn't sell.

Why Didn’t My Home Sell?

Assuming the home is/was placed on the market, why didn’t it sell?…

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If it bleeds it leads, even if it's not accurate. Despite the constant caterwauling from the mass media about a housing crash, we are not seeing distress around the greater Atlanta market. That message however, is often taken at face value and some home buyers expect a bargain basement spring. Best advice as to what home buyers should expect in the spring of 2023...understand that it's not the spring of 2011.

Home buyers had a rough couple of years. While rates were certainly favorable, the lack of inventory resulted in a punishing home buying experience. FOMO, the "work from home" chatter and pandemic circus contributed to the beating; buying a home was not a pleasant experience. That's over; and while rates jumped, balance has returned as has the…

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As the 2023 market opens, home sellers face a daunting challenge. It’s not a physical one, but a rather simple mental one; acknowledgeheads in sand the current housing market. Best advice as to what home sellers should expect in spring of 2023...understand that it's not the spring of 2022.

The single most important thing sellers must do is accurately price their home. The market conditions now (end of Jan 23) bear no resemblance to the market conditions a year ago. The current market is largely balanced with a slight edge to sellers. However, that is not universal, some micro markets are balanced and some areas/price points lean to buyers. As with everything real estate, each micro market often varies.

Interest Rates Jump

The most critical and obvious change…

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Take a couple of minutes and save several hundred or more dollars. It's never been easier to file for the Georgia Homestead Tax Exemption. Georgia homeowners are eligible for this exemption if the home was purchased in 2022, occupied on January 1st, 2023 and is their primary residence . The exemption is not eligible on investment or vacation homes. This is not automatic, the homestead exemption must be filed in the property owner's county. It's quick and easy; there's no reason not to save this money.

Click the image below, that will open a page with multiple links to county sites around the greater Atlanta area. Each hot link opens and the sites will provide details on what's needed and how to file for the homestead exemption in Georgia.

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As 2023 opens, the economic hangover due to the free spending and pandemic handouts continue. One of the craziest segments of fire a real estate agentthe last two years was real estate. Prices and inventory of course, but the massive influx of "hobby agents" over this period was a lesser covered negative result. The number of real estate agents soared to record highs, as did buyer remorse and complaints. It is likely that a frequent question in 2023 will be; can you fire a real estate agent in Georgia? YES, but the devil is in the details of the brokerage agreements.

Fire a Buyer’s Agent in GA

EVERYTHING hinges on the buyer brokerage agreement that was signed. These change annually, sometimes more frequently. Some agents add stipulations and conditions. Buyers MUST READ…

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The art of persuasion, it’s a beautiful thing. Books have been written about it, master classes offered and expressions like “he could sell ice to an Eskimo” coined. Home buyers and home sellers dabble in the “persuasion” arena during the purchase process as they roll through the deal. The typical real estate agent doesn't dabble, they will do whatever necessary to secure their commission. Someone certain to be on the radar of all is the appraiser; sometimes an ally, sometimes an enemy. More on Karen later...

Home Sellers & Appraisers

When an owner decides to list, their first move to solicit a real estate agent. Unfortunately, most sellers fail to properly vet an agent and many agents lack the ability/expertise/desire to speak candidly to…

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Fear sells. The speed at which surveillance devices became "the norm" after 9/11 is mind-boggling; from satellites to cell phones, cameras are rolling. Out shopping for a home, always assume that you are being recorded when you step onto that property. The idea that home surveillance devices are now essential is marketing gold, not to be fully ensconced in "protection" could easily result in your or your loved one's demise. The result? Continuous growth of home security systems, from Ring to full video/audio surveillance; inside and out. Homebuyers are being recorded and there's no obligation for anyone to disclose that.

Smile for the Camera

Under federal and Georgia law, some types of surveillance are legal, and others are not. Whether the…

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