Winter Baserva, Realtor Atlanta, GA Homes For Sale

For years Georgia did not have a buyer agency law in place. As a matter of fact, the only party to have representation in the transaction was a seller. However, the state of Georgia passed a law that provides the buyer to have the representation as well, but with a few provisions.

First, the buyer needs to put his request for representation in writing by signing a contract with a real estate broker. And, this request needs to be in writing before going to look at houses and certainly before writing a contract. Without this request in writing, every agent the buyer talks to is technically representing the seller according to the way the law is written. So, why would you want everyone in the transaction representing the seller??

Well most don’t. However, the way the law is written, without a buyers agreement, the agent is obligated to protect the sellers price and interests and is NOT allowed to offer advice or opinion to the buyer.

Unfortunately, what this means is that any agent the unrepresented buyer talks to should not be given any confidential information as it may be used to the advantage of the seller, whom legally, the agent represents.

So, let’s say that a buyer, who decided not to sign a buyers agency agreement, decides to put an offer in on a home. The buyer has to tell the agent exactly what they want in the offer, without any advice or guidance being offered by the agent and the buyer may or may not understand the contract or the real estate process, can find himself in a world of hurt.

Ideally, the buyer should seek representation as soon as they are ready to look at houses. I recommend even before hand because there is a lot of education that goes into lending laws, pre approvals, etc that can save a buyer a boat load of time.

And Just a Few More Tips When Hiring a Buyers Agent:

· When you Google the Agent, What Do Their Clients Have to say about their services?

· If you are concerned about the commission, remember the commission is paid by the seller and can be negotiated with a for-sale-by-owner seller as well.

· Meet with the agent first; see if there is a comfort level with both the person’s knowledge and personality.

· ASK QUESTIONS!

Remember, it doesn’t cost you a thing to have us represent you, but it could end up saving you a fortune. Visit http://www.seasonsrealtygroup.com/Our-Team.html to learn more about how our EXCLUSIVE BUYERS AGENTS can help you succeed in a world of uncertainty!

Fannie Mae economists are predicting incremental steps forward in the housing sector for 2012, albeit refinances will fall. "The second half of the year should outpace the first six months in terms of growth, though fiscal policy and political uncertainty in Washington will likely drive consumer and business activity", the mortgage giant states.

According to Chief Economist Doug Duncan positive consumer activity and challenges in housing and the global economy will equate to moderate growth for the year.

"We're entering 2012 with decent momentum, especially on the employment side, which is fostering positive household and consumer behavior," Duncan said, "Unfortunately, we expect this momentum to slow as we move through the first half of the year."

Total home sales are predicted to increase 3.5% to about 4.74 million in 2012 from 2011 with another 5% gain in 2013 to nearly 5 million, according to the report released last Friday. New home sales are forecasted to jump 10.4% for 2012.

According to the forecast, the Federal Housing Finance Agency home sales price index, excluding refinances, could dip 1.1% for 2012 from a year before. Many Economists had predicted the 2011 index would finish 4.6% lower than 2010.

I know, you have enough to deal with already getting through the holidays with your Atlanta home for sale, but as long as your house is on the market anyway, tis the season to be putting a festive face on the place! Here are some tried and true tips to make the most out of your holiday décor, and give those prospective buyers a holly jolly time while touring your warm and inviting hearth and home.

· A holiday wreath or pinecone arrangement on the dining table will put buyers in the festive spirit and make them feel right at home.

· Welcome one and all with an inviting entrance and a front door tastefully decorated for the season.

· Focus on the fireplace. Nothing says cheer is here better than a colorfully adorned fireplace mantel. Remember to stay within the color theme of your home here. If your décor is normally pale shades of blue, skip the red garlands and stay within your given color scheme for the most appealing display.

· Keep it simple, seriously! If you have a fireplace or other architectural feature that you would like to accentuate, add simple displays to show off and not distract from it’s natural beauty.

· Trim the tree, but keep it sweet. Make sure your tree is not overwhelming your space. If you have a two-story foyer then make the most of it with a towering tree, but if space is tight, keep the tree thin and lanky. Go for a modern and uncluttered trimming, with a color theme that enhances the surrounding décor.

· Keep buyers toasty and warm! When it’s chilly outside keep your buyers wanting to spend more time at your home by setting the thermostat up a degree or two, and if you have a fireplace, light it up. The more time they spend warming themselves by your fire the more likely they are to feel an affinity for your humble abode.

· Let them see you’re merry and bright by lighting up the yard with lights! Go gently here my friends. A simple string of lights to accentuate the homes appealing architecture or to show off your gorgeous fir trees will do nicely. No one wants to spend Christmas with the Kranks, so leave your inflatable Santa and reindeer set in the garage, please!

· Santa likes cookies, and so do your wearied buyers! Nothing says holiday cheer like the smell of freshly baked cookies, except maybe the sight of those cookies gingerly laid out for those guests who’ve come to visit, that you would love to stay.

I know what you're thinking "What! sell my house during the holidays....You've got to be kidding me! With all the shopping, baking, tree decorating, parties, and on and on why in the world would I want to put any more STRESS into my holiday season!"

It's fairly common for most sellers to have this mindset, that "Winter" months equals a NO SALE season. Allow me to debunk this common myth. While showings can be stressful during a time when there is family over or on a Sunday while you’re putting up a tree, there are substantial reasons why the end of the year is one of the BEST times for sellers to sell their Atlanta home.

·     LESS EQUALS MORE- During the holidays, many sellers take their homes off the market, which means there are LESS homes available to prospective buyers. Low inventory increases the chance a seller can sell quickly and for more money.

·     SERIOUS BUYER POOL -If you are having showings on Christmas Day (perish the thought!), or any of the weeks leading up to it, you can rest assured that these are not the “looky lous”. These are serious buyers who NEED to buy, so having your home on the market during this time means we are dealing with a SERIOUS buyer pool.

·     RELOCATION, RELOCATION, RELOCATION- Did you know Atlanta is home to the TOP 50 Global Corporations like Coca-Cola Company, NCR,Delta, Equifax, UPS and more?? These companies tend to staff their corporations right before the end of the year to get in their “calendar budgets” for the next year. Keeping your home on the market during this time means that you have a better chance of snagging up a high-powered executive.

·     INTEREST RATES -Interest rates are still at an all time low, so there is even more incentive for buyers to buy.

·     COMPETITION-Today, your home is based on the valuation of your current competition, which is less due to low inventories. When the market picks back up in the Spring, sellers will be “competing” with each other to get their sold quicker. While we don’t have a crystal ball, we do know what we are working with RIGHT NOW!

·     BECAUSE I SAID SO! -In my seven years as a real estate agent, November and December has proven to be my most productive months of the year. My proven track record confirms all my previous reasons. 

·     DON'T FAIL!-You only FAIL if you fail to try. Test my theory and see the results for yourself.

·     REAL ESTATE AGENTS LIKE TO TAKE THE HOLIDAYS OFF- so hire one who you know will be in town and can help filter all the calls and continue to market the home.

·     TAX SEASON -Some buyers NEED to buy before the end of the year due to the tax benefits. Don’t deny them the right to capitalize on this pivotal time.

·     MORE FREE TIME FOR BUYERS- And, time is money. Buyers have more time to look during the holidays outside of work hours, so keep your home on the market to ensure every possible buyer is able to see your home.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the average agent sells 8 homes a year. YES, 8 HOMES A YEAR. In a time of anxiety and hardship for many agents, I have sold 58 homes of which 8 were sold in the month of November 2011 alone.

If you’re looking for an Atlanta real estate agent who WILL be in town for the holidays and has a proven track record of producing IMPRESSIVE results and getting sellers TOP DOLLAR for their homes, call Winter Baserva at 678-463-3173. But, don’t take my word for it, just see LIVE testimonials here.

If you’ve been one of those sitting on the sidelines watching others take advantage of the current influx of great deals flooding the housing market, it’s time to get off the bench and get in the game!

Here are the top five reasons why homeownership is a sweet deal right now!

1. Equity:

When you rent you are paying someone else for the privilege of living in their home. You might as well be throwing your hard earned money out the window. You are making your landlord comfortable though, so on his behalf, thanks! While it’s true that initially buying a home will have you coming out of pocket for a downpayment, closing cost (often the seller will pay most of this) and inspections; you will recoup that investment as long as you stay in your home and allow some time for appreciation to occur. This is why it’s called an ‘investment’, you are investing your funds, time, energy and eventually you will reap the reward of ‘equity’. The current recession will end eventually, and historically homes appreciate by about 4 to 6 percent annually. If you doubt this, ask your parents how much they paid for their house forty years ago, and see what it’s worth now!

2. Relationships:

Renter’s tend to see a high turnover of neighbors in their communities. Many complexes offer limited facilities for neighbors to congregate and hold any manner of social events, which makes it difficult to develop relationships with other renters. Most neighborhoods with homeowners include amenities such as pools, tennis courts, walking/bike trails and often hold community gatherings such as pool parties on special occasions, holidays, etc. where you can get to know others in your community.

3. Predictability:

When you are a renter, you are at the mercy of your landlord as far as how much and how often your rent will be increased. This makes it hard to do any long term financial planning since your housing expenses are unpredictable. When you own your own home your payment will remain basically the same as long as you get a fixed-rate mortgage. For most buyers this is the way to go; so if you’re paying $800 a month now, you will be paying $800 a month 10 years from now, give or take a little for taxes being adjusted. You can also calculate your variable cost for maintenance and life expectancy of appliances, roof, HVAC, etc. and save accordingly for these eventualities.

4. Ownership:

Don’t underestimate the joys of homeownership! Since you ‘own’ your home you can finally paint the whole house pink, or purple, or as most renters like to say ‘anything but boring beige’ which has been the mainstay of rentals for many years now. You can have your own garden, put up a fence, a pool, and renovate to your heart’s desire to make your humble abode reflect your personal tastes, and not someone else’s!

5.Great Deals:

I know you’ve heard it before, but there has NEVER been a better time to buy a home! With interest rates at all time lows, SERIOUSLY, you will have missed out on the opportunity of your lifetime if you don’t take advantage of interest rates as low as 4% and possibly even lower. That coupled with the fact that there are SO many BARGAINS out there right now, especially if you are buying a home to occupy. There is a plethora of foreclosure homes flooding the market right now, and if you avail yourself of a saavy agent, who knows how to get the good deal for you, you will be singing their praises for many years to come!

Homeownership can be a real joy. It's time to get off the sidelines, and into the house that is perfect for you now! If you are looking for a professional Realtor who can get you into the home of your dreams, give Winter a call at 678-463-3173. You will be glad you did!