Matt Thomas

One of the best homebuying opportunities you'll ever see is available right now, and most people don't really know it (or believe it).

In an effort to spur economic growth and revive the housing industry, the US Government is offering an $8,000 tax credit for homebuyers that purchase a home in 2009. I've offered below a comprehensive (yet, in Lehman's terms) explanation of the rules and regulations. Please click on the link below to download the file, and call or email me anytime with additional questions after reviewing.

Tax_Credit.doc

If, after reading the file, you agree that 2009 is the right time for you to buy your first home in Athens, GA or the surrounding area, please visit our Athens, GA real estate website for a free personalized list of homes matching your search criteria.

It's a rare occasion here, but homes in Athens, Georgia and the surrounding area were covered by 5-10 inches of snow over the weekend.
At my house (pictured here), we had around 6 inches, but I've heard stories of 8-10 inches from owners at neighboring Madison County homes.
It was alot of fun while it lasted, but the last few days have been difficult to manage with power outages and icey roads. But, on second thought, a loss of power forces us to slow down our frantic pace, which is a good thing - so long as it's occasional, I welcome the snow, and the temporary change of pace it brings

The very industry that most believe pulled down the economy didn't get much attention in the recent $789 million economic stimulus plan passed by Congress last week.
The Senate had originally proposed a $15,000 tax incentive for homebuyers, but it was watered down before the bill passed. Now, homebuyers that buy before December 1st, 2009 will receive a tax credit of $8,000 instead ... and, the revised incentive is only available to first-time buyers.
There are several other minor
Personally, I don't agree with the stimulus package in general, but if the money was going to be spent, it would seem that more attention would have been paid this "problem area".

My firm, Atlas Real Estate Advisors, has recently been working on a market study to determine rental rates for student-oriented real estate in Athens, GA.

I remember just 10 years ago when I was a student, $250/bedroom would go a long way towards a reasonable rental unit, but times have changed. Based on what we discovered in our market study, the range is now $250-750 per bedroom, with variations caused by numerous factors. Obviously, location is important, along with quality, age, amenities, etc. Another trend is that cottage-style detached rentals have stolen market share from the more traditional apartment mega-plexes. And, the fewer # of bedrooms a unit has causes the price per br to go up ... a 1-bedroom might be $750/mo in the same complex as a 2-bedroom for $500/mo per bedroom.

Newer properties such as The Summit, The Lodge, The Retreat, The Verandas, etc average out in the high $400's per bedroom, while some of the older units (the ones that were popular when I was in college) like Woodsong, Whistlebury, River Club, Polo Club, etc are now in the $300's per bedroom on average.

If you'd like more detailed information on the report we've compiled, please email or call me anytime to discuss.

As a Realtor in Athens, one could easily assume that times are slow for me right now ... not the case! Home values have leveled off and declined in some instances, and traditional home sales are not selling at the frantic pace of a few years ago ... BUT ... transactions are still taking place out there.
Investors are buying up distressed and foreclosed properties in Athens, and traditional homebuyers are realizing value in the current low financing rates and rock-bottom pricing.
There are certain segments of the market still struggling (new construction, land, development), but this is a great time of opportunity for anyone considering a purchase. There are soooooo many deals out there right now!
Please call me anytime if you're considering real estate in Athens, GA or the surrounding area ... I'd be happy to provide you with a detailed market study and list of the best deals available matching your criteria.