I know I won't be the first person to write a blog about this market being "a Price War and a Beauty Contest" - and I don't think I'll be the last.
I certainly don't take credit for coining the phrase!
I first heard it at a conference about two years ago, as the market started to shift. And since then, I've heard it almost ad nauseum - probably because it truly is an accurate description of today's real estate market.
So what does it mean to you, as a seller? It means that, if you are trying to sell your home or thinking about putting it on the market, there are more things to consider now than ever before.
It means your home needs to be priced right - meaning well within the comparable sales within the past six months. More and more often, appraisers are only looking within the past six months' comps in order to justify your homes purchase price. It doesn't matter where other listings in the neighborhood are priced - it only matters what homes have recently sold for. It also doesn't matter how much you have into your home - what you spent to finish the basement, how much you spent on landscaping, etc. All that matters is the recent comparable sales.
It also means your home has to have on its "prettiest dress"- meaning it must be the best-looking and well maintained in the area, not just in the neighborhood. Fresh paint, clean carpets and flooring, no clutter. A well-manicured lawn, a cobweb-free deck. Having an updated kitchen and master bathroom can make a difference. Buyers are looing at more and more houses these days than they used to - they know they have plenty to look at, with the surplus of inventory on the market, and they know they have time to look, with homes taking longer to sell. Buyers are pickier now, because they can be.
Finally, this can mean that if you don't absolutely have to sell, now may not be the best time to put your home on the market. Of course, if you do have to sell, do your best to make your home the best it can be. Sellers often ask us, "why would I want to put money into a home that I'm about to leave?" The answer, at least in today's market, is that's what you need to do to get it sold.
If you live in the Atlanta area and are thinking about selling your home, call The Gebhardt Group today! We can provide a Complimentary Market Analysis and tell you what your home will sell for in the current real estate market. We'll help you decide if now is the right time for you to sell!
Subscribe to The Gebhardt Group's Real Estate blog today!
Maura Neill, ABR, CRS, MA
The Gebhardt Group
RE/MAX Greater Atlanta
10220 Medlock Bridge Road
Johns Creek, GA 30097
(770) 238-0595
email: Maura@GebhardtGroup.com
website: http://www.GebhardtGroup.com/
blog: http://www.GebhardtGroupBlog.com/
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What are you doing for this 4th of July holiday weekend?
Whether you are planning to enjoy a spectacular fireworks display, cook out, go boating, take a vacation...or just sit back and relax and enjoy a few days off from work, won't you take a few moments to think about those whom we have to thank for our freedom? The brave men and women of our military, who may not get to enjoy days off this weekend - whose work goes on despite the holiday - especially those who are deployed to far-off, hostile lands, fighting for you and for me. Take a moment to hope for their safety, to hope that they may soon come home and see their loved ones.
And if you see someone in uniform this weekend - or any time - pause a second and thank him or her for all they do for our country. Just a simple "thank you" can speak volumes and will be remembered and appreciated.
The Gebhardt Group is already planning our "4th Annual Trick or Treat for the Troops" - our annual event collecting donations for care packages for our troops who are deployed during the winter holiday season. If you want more information about this year's event, or if you know of a member of our military who is or will be deployed, please contact us! You can email me at Maura@GebhardtGroup.com. We'd love to give you more information and to put your loved one's name on our list of care package recipients!
Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
Subscribe to The Gebhardt Group's Real Estate blog today!
Maura Neill, ABR, CRS, MA
The Gebhardt Group
RE/MAX Greater Atlanta
10220 Medlock Bridge Road
Johns Creek, GA 30097
(770) 238-0595
email: Maura@GebhardtGroup.com
website: http://www.GebhardtGroup.com/
blog: http://www.GebhardtGroupBlog.com/
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Photo Credit: "Windy Flag" - Posted on flickr.com by arbyreed - September 15, 2006
TRUTH: When I saw this bar of chocolate in the gourmet chocolate section at my local Fresh Market in Johns Creek, GA, I knew I had to take a picture of it. After all, no one would believe me if I told them I saw a bacon chocolate bar.
Then I realized I had to write a blog about it, too, because it was just too good to pass up. (My apologies if you find the correlation to real estate a bit of a stretch - just be entertained by the chocolate bar!)
Forrest Gump said, "Life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're gonna get." Real estate is like that, too.
You never know what your new clients will be like - will they be friendly or nasty, easy-going or picky, analytical or sentimental? The same goes for potential new listings.You show up for the listing appointment - will it be outdated wallpaper or freshly painted neutral colors, chipped laminate countertops or sparkling new granite, well-maintained or cluttered?
Have you ever sampled the chocolates in your Whitman's Sampler - taken a tiny nibble to make sure it's a flavor you like instead of one you don't? Do you ever wish you could do that with your clients - take a little nibble, take them for a test-drive, before committing to them? (After all, some of them do that with us, right?)
Life is like a box of chocolates - I'm just not sure I want to take a bite out of the bacon-flavored one. But perhaps that's part of the excitement of being a REALTOR® - you really never know what you're gonna get!
By the way, if you're interested in trying this bizarre chocolate bar, you can find it online on the Vosges Haut-Chocolat website (those of you in Chicago, New York City and Las Vegas can visit their boutiques). Mo's Bacon Bar is actually listed as #2 on their Top 10 Best Sellers list, which kind of makes me want to try it now! Other interesting flavors include:
I bought the Red Fire Bar: Mexican ancho & chipotle chillies + Ceylon cinnamon + dark chocolate (great with red wine!).
Subscribe to The Gebhardt Group's Real Estate blog today!
Maura Neill, ABR, CRS, MA
The Gebhardt Group
RE/MAX Greater Atlanta
10220 Medlock Bridge Road
Johns Creek, GA 30097
(770) 238-0595
email: Maura@GebhardtGroup.com
website: http://www.GebhardtGroup.com/
blog: http://www.GebhardtGroupBlog.com/
Over a couple of glasses of wine last night, I had a revelation:
In this current market, a good house is like a fine wine.
Now, you might think that I wasn't thinking too clearly or that it was the wine talking, but hear me out: in today's tougher markets, across the country, the homes that are selling quickly and for top dollar (or as close to top dollar as we can get these days) are the exceptional ones. Gone are the days when homes fly off the market, regardless of their condition and upkeep. These days, as I'm sure you've heard over and over, "It's a Price War and a Beauty Contest."
But it's more than that.
Now, I'm no wine expert - heck, I can't even pronounce "sommelier" (well, maybe I wouldn't go that far), but I know what I like and what I don't - the same with houses.
I know that I like homes that are clean. Homes in which the colors are soothing and pleasing. Homes that have a variety of living spaces, from formal to informal, indoor and outdoor, homes with versatility. I like homes that are light and airy. Homes that are updated, homes that don't feel stuffy. Homes that smell good. Homes that feel comfortable. Some of the things that attract me to a home are things that I can't quite put my finger on - they have a certain "je ne sais quoi" about them - some buyers will say, "It just feels like home," even though they can't quite verbalize why. And sometimes with wine I know that I like what I'm drinking but I couldn't tell you exactly why.
Like a good house, wine has to smell appealing, appetizing. It has to be comfortable. It should be versatile. The color should be attractive, pleasing. It should be well-balanced.
That's when I realized it - it's the subtle things. And that is, from what I've heard from those who know much more than I do about vino, the same with wine. It's the subtleties. The hints of "color" and "texture" and "the nose". The things that I don't necessarily understand about wine, but I know they are there.
Subscribe to The Gebhardt Group's Real Estate blog today!
Maura Neill, ABR, CRS, MA
The Gebhardt Group
RE/MAX Greater Atlanta
10220 Medlock Bridge Road
Johns Creek, GA 30097
(770) 238-0595
email: Maura@GebhardtGroup.com
website: http://www.GebhardtGroup.com/
blog: http://www.GebhardtGroupBlog.com/
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Photo Credit: "A glass of wine" - Posted to flickr.com by gutter - December 13, 2008
Are you planning to buy a home in Georgia sometime soon? If so, you may want to act now - or at least before November 30, 2009!
On Monday, May 11, Governor Sonny Perdue signed the Georgia Homebuyer Tax Credit Bill into law, enabling all homebuyers who purchase a home between that date and November 30, 2009, to be eligible to receive a credit on their state taxes. This is for all homebuyers, not just first-time homebuyers!
Though not nearly as exciting as the $8,000 Federal First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, the state tax credit is still a breakthrough - proving once again there has never been a better time to buy a home! The government is basically paying you to buy a home!
There are a few things you need to know, however, to be sure that you are eligible for the credit. The follow single-family structures (including townhomes and condominiums) are eligible for the tax credit:
"a) Any residence (including a new residence, one occupied at the time of sale, or a previously occupied residence) that was must have been for sale prior to May 11, 2009 and that remained for sale after May 11, 2009; or
b) A residence with respect to which a foreclosure event has taken place and which is owned by the mortgagor or the mortgagor's agent; or
c) An owner-occupied residence with respect to which the owner's acquisition indebtedness was in default on or before March 1, 2009." (from the Georgia Department of Revenue Informational Bulletin CRED-2009-05-19 Eligible Single-Family Residence Tax Credit)
Because the purpose of this tax credit is to reduce existing housing inventory, the date the property was listed and the amount of time it has been on the market is very important. In order to be eligible for the credit, you must purchase a home that was on the market prior to the bill being signed into law and remained for sale after that date. Your REALTOR® can help you to determine whether the homes you are looking at are eligible.
The tax credit is worth 1.2% of the sales price, to a maximum credit of $1,800, spread evenly over three years' taxes. For example, if you purchase a home for $150,000, then your credit would be $1,800.00. Meaning you will get (if you file the correct paperwork at tax time next year!) $600 per year on the next three years' taxes, the maximum amount allowed under the law. Purchase a $100,000 home and your credit will be $1,200.00, equaling $400 per year for three years. Purchase a $300,000 home and you would still receive the maximum amount, etc.
And don't forget, if you are a first-time homebuyer, this state tax credit is in addition to the $8,000 Federal First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.
If you have any questions about buying a home in Georgia, please give The Gebhardt Group a call today! We would be happy to answer any questions that you have and help you achieve your tax credit!
Subscribe to The Gebhardt Group's Real Estate blog today!
Maura Neill, ABR, CRS, MA
The Gebhardt Group
RE/MAX Greater Atlanta
10220 Medlock Bridge Road
Johns Creek, GA 30097
(770) 238-0595
email: Maura@GebhardtGroup.com
website: http://www.GebhardtGroup.com/
blog: http://www.GebhardtGroupBlog.com/
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Serving the North Metro Atlanta area for over 15 years! (Alpharetta, Roswell, Norcross, Cumming, Suwanee, Duluth, Peachtree Corners, Sugar Hill, Decatur, Dunwoody, Buckhead, and the *new* Johns Creek)
We are a top-producing real estate team in the North Metro Atlanta area. Comprised of four experienced agents, each with our own specialties and strengths, we work together as a cohesive team to make each client's home buying and/or selling experience the absolute best it can be. We are:
Pam Gebhardt, CRS, ABR, CRC, GRI, CLHMS, e-Pro, Associate Broker, a REALTOR® for 15 years, and her team of support staff expertly and patiently guide you through the home buying or selling process. Her clients feel that they can call on her for help or advice long after the sale is completed. She is involved in the community and knows what is going on! Her annual customer appreciation parties help her to stay in touch and show her appreciation to everyone. Specializing in Buyer Brokerage, Relocation, and Exclusive Seller Representation, Pam enjoys a business that is complimented by returning clients and referrals from past clients - a sure sign of satisfied customers!
Nancie Torrence, ABR, CRC, a REALTOR® since May 2001, she earned a BS in Education from Miami University in Oxford, OH, and is a former corporate sales executive with Fortune 500 companies. As a REALTOR® Partner with The Gebhardt Group, Nancie uses her business background to help make your experience with The Gebhardt Group effortless. In 2004, she was ranked in the Top 100 in Communities Magazine and in the top 25 RE/MAX teams. She is a member of the RE/MAX Team Platinum Club, RE/MAX Team Chairman's Club and the Million Dollar Club.
Maura Gebhardt, ABR®, REALTOR® Partner, has been with The Gebhardt Group for 7 years. She works as a Buyer Specialist and specializes in working with first-time homebuyers and enojys walking them through the process of finding and buying the perfect first home. With an MA in English Literature from Florida State University, she is also in charge of all marketing and advertising for the team, including team promotions, listing marketing, and websites. Maura writes The Gebhardt Group's blog and has recently started a new division focusing on women as homeowners and property owners, Smart, Successful Women Own Real Estate. Maura is also a member of the Million Dollar Club and the RE/MAX 100% Club.
We are The Gebhardt Group!
Deirdre Graf, ABR, e-Pro, a licensed REALTOR® and Buyer Specialist, earned her BA in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire. Her focus is to expertly guide her clients through the buying process. Deirdre's role is to monitor the market and provide up-to-date information for our clients about available properties and current trends in the marketplace. To that end, she works specifically with buyer clients to help identify their particular needs, assist in arranging mortgage financing, and negotiate offers to help you get the home you want for the best possible price. Deirdre is also a member of the Million Dollar Club.
The Gebhardt Group is a full service real estate team. We specialize in the North Metro Atlanta area, from condos and townhomes, to luxury and country club properties, with list prices ranging from $100,000 to $4.9 million. We work with buyers and sellers. We love working with relocation clients and helping them get to know the area. Our business is 90% referral-based and we are proud of that!
With specialized systems in place to help with your home buying or selling process, we take care of each detail, to make your experience the best it can be.
With cutting-edge technology in place, we make your home search easy and market your home to the highest degree. Please visit us at:
http://www.SmartSuccessfulWomen.com/
http://www.NorthAtlantaRealtyBlog.com/
With a team of four REALTORS® who are always available to answer your questions and meet your needs.
With an emphasis on education, provided in part by RE/MAX Greater Atlanta, the number one RE/MAX franchise in the world.
We pride ourselves on our top-notch client care - from the moment they become a client, through contract and closing, and beyond!
I wanted to thank you for doing such a great job on handling the sale of our home (in Country Club of the South). I have sold 7 homes and this was one of the best experiences we have had with selling real estate. The entire reason is because of how professionally you handled the entire transaction from beginning to end. ~ Bob Hasty
Thank you for the very professional way you handled the listing and selling of our son Jim's home in Cumming, GA. Jim had used other Realtors but none of them treated him with the respect and guidance you provided. Your feedback system is a great tool and we never had to guess what potential buyers thought of the property; you kept us informed and negotiated a sales price that was more than we expected to receive in such a tough market. I would tell anyone who wanted to buy or sell a home to call you FIRST! ~ Donna Hanrahan
Pam is a highly competent Realtor with a great sense for the area. She is extremely professional and has more patience than one can imagine (I had to drag her through at least 125 houses or more). She is highly responsive and is a great communicator- everything you'd ever want in a Realtor. I'm convinced that Pam was not focused on just finding us a house-she wanted to help us find a home. ~ Jeff Barna
It is a rare exception when I take the time to write a complimentary letter to recognize a professional such as yourself, but felt that your work representing me, both as a seller...and then a buyer, warrants such action on my part... I want to applaud your total dedication and professionalism. You make me always feel that I was your only client, although I know you had many others. You invested your time above and beyond what was expected, dealt with me honestly and worked on my behalf at all times. For that I thank you. You're the best of the best! ~ Nick Pierce
[Pam] goes the extra mile...no, ten miles! She services each client as if YOU are her ONLY client. It is a rare, wonderful and refreshing experience to have the opportunity to recognize superior performance and to say "Thank You" for the pleasure of our experience working with Pam to both buy and sell my home. ~ Trent Tetterton
We've owned a number of homes, in many areas of the country, so we've dealt with many Realtors. You rank right at the top. You were professional, helpful and knowledgeable. ~ S. Michael Sharp, Ph.D.
We felt you did a wonderful job in helping us get the house ready for the market and in preparing all the advertising materials. You were always there for me, by phone and in person. I can't thank you enough for your assistance and personal support. ~ Barb Alderson
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