What to Look for in an Atlanta Relocation Home.....
Atlanta, the sixth-largest city in the Southeastern region and home to over 5.3 million residents, has undergone a transition from a city of regional commerce to a city of international influence. It has been among the fastest growing cities in the developed world for over a decade. And, fortunately for those of us who live here, we see no signs of this slowing down. As a matter of fact, by the year 2020 Atlanta is projected to house over 8 million residents!!! And, with all of the global technology companies and international corporate headquarters such as UPS, Delta, Coca-Cola, CNN, TBS, the Center for Disease Control, etc. there will always be a steady flow of people relocating to the area.
So, when you are being relocated to the sweet tea capital of the world, keep in mind these simple tips when your company or you are looking for your perfect relocation home:
1) LOCATION: How many times have we heard this one?? We'll, you will need to consider this EVEN MORE carefully in Atlanta, as some of the commutes can have you in your cars for days. Most people who are relocating to the area opt for a "suburban feel" with proximity to "the city" where most headquarters are located.....In comes the ideal town of Sandy Springs. Perfectly situated near I-285 and GA-400, this is one of the BEST areas in terms of family life, proximity, shopping, entertainment and more. The air is clean, people friendly and you have access to just about ANY restaurant, store, etc. that you may need.
As a real estate agent, I spend 90% of my time in the car and doing ANYTHING to avoid the ATL grind and I'm happy to say that Sandy Springs/Atlanta has been my home for the last three years. It's just SO close to the city and SO safe and suburban. Remembering your location is the first tip to finding a good Atlanta home.
2) FEATURES-Most people that are being relocated to the area tend to hold high power, high stress and highly time consuming jobs. Renovations and rehab are not items that most are able to do and even if they wanted to or could afford to, just don't have the time. You will want to find a home that has the features you want, so you can move right in and get settled.
3) FINISHED BASEMENTS-While this is really one of the "features" you are looking for, finding a home with square-footage and more importantly, a finished basement will be KEY to your resell value. Atlanta is BIG ON BASEMENTS. And, they MUST be finished. You can find homes that have basements, but don't actually have bathrooms, bedrooms, full kitchens, etc. Having an In-Law/Teen suite DRASTICALLY increases your property value. And, if you CAN'T find a home with an In Law suite, then be sure to have one built out or finish your basement to help compete with other owners.
4) PRIVACY-This goes for both "inside" and "outside" the home. If you've moved here from another location, chances are you will want your friends and family to visit. Be sure to chose a home that has plenty of space, and more importantly, individual suites, rooms and bathrooms, so your guest feel welcome. This also goes for the exterior positioning of your home. You want a home with space that is not too close to your neighbors and boasts an attractive lot.

While these are just some of the things to look for when relocating to Atlanta, other things such as low taxes and schools will also need to be considered. Although, its hard to find all of the items above in a home, its not impossible.
Recently, this BREATHTAKING Entertainer's Estate with INFINITY Space has recently come up for sale and is the PERFECT relocation home. And, its MUCH MORE THAN MEETS THE INITIAL EYE.....
With a complete renovation from the studs in, this resort-like home proves a luxury living experience with every modern convenience and lavish item available and at only a FRACTION of what you might expect to pay.
Other Detailed Features of this Home Include:
-COMPLETE Chef's Kitchen with MASSIVE Granite Island and View Into Fireside Family Room!
-Custom-Built Cabinets with EXTENSIVE Millwork and Unsurpassed Detail!
-STUNNING Stainless Steel Appliances and Island 5-Burner Gas Stove!!!
-Hand-Placed Rough-Edged TRAVERTINE Backsplash!!!
-LAVISH Master on Main Suite with EXTENDED, Trey Ceilings, and Private Sitting Area!
-MASSIVE California Walk-In Closet!!!
-UNBELIEVABLE Master Bath Renovation that Boasts His/Her's Beveled Granite Countertop Vanities!
-Commissioned Master Bath Steam Shower with European Arches and Travertine Accents!!!
-OVERSIZED Whirlpool Tub!!!
-MIND-BLOWING In-Law/Teen Suite Complete with FULL KITCHEN, Bedroom, FULL BATH and LIVING AREAS!!!
-Terrace Level Access to In-Law/Teen Suite!!
-GRACIOUS Keeping Room with Breakfast Nook and Access to both Screened and Open Porches!!!
-DRAMATIC and ELEGANT Foyer Entrance that Opens into Great Room!!!!
-Pristine Separate Dining Room with Loads of Natural Light!!!
-QUALITY 4-side Brick Construction!!!
-SOUND-INSULATED Media Room!
-BUTLER Laundry Room with Cork-Board Flooring and Own Separate BATH!
-PRISTINE APPOINTMENTS AND TOP-NOTCH FINISHES!!!
-HAND-MADE, RED-BRICK, WEEPY WALL WINE CELLAR!!!
-ENTERTAINER'S DELIGHT DECK with Screened in Porch Areas and Open Areas!!!
-COLOSSAL BEDROOMS!!!
-ABUNDANCE of Closet Space--Most ALL Closets in the Entire Home are Walk-In!
-Professional, MATURE Landscaping!!!
-CROWN MOLDING ON EVERY STITCH OF THE HOME, Including the Basement!
-TWO ADDITIONAL BONUS ROOMS, Can be Used at Bedrooms!!
-ABUNDANCE of Space!! I mean SERIOUSLY, YOUR EYES WON'T BELIEVE IT!!
-OVERSIZED FENCED-IN Corner Lot!!!
-New FLOORING Throughout: Gleaming Oak Hardwoods, Slate Tile, Frizze Carpet, You Name it!
-CUSTOM-BUILT Wine Cooler In Kitchen Island!!!
-Upscale Swim/Tennis Community with PERSONAL Life Guard in the Summer located in the heart of Sandy Springs!
-MINUTES TO Buckhead, Exquisite Dinning & Marta!
-PERFECTLY situated off GA 400 and the malls---LADIES BEWARE!
-COZY Neighborhood Community with Ample Family Activities!!!
-And, SO MUCH MORE!!!
With the historical recognition such as Gone With the Wind, the Braves, the 1996 Olympic Games, and over 32 "Peachtree"-named streets Atlanta is constantly reinventing itself.
And with homes for sale like these at such rock-bottom pricing, it's no wonder why Georgia is On My Mind.
For more information or to schedule your own private tour, visit www.OneWinter.biz or call 678.463.3173
How to Make a 203K Loan Work For You!
AND, Get a Good Deal While You're At it Too!
With the Federal Tax credit is coming to a close, many are scrambling to find their "perfect deal" in a SMALL amount of time. While price, features and location are always the considerations in purchasing a home, its not uncommon to find buyers becoming frustrated as they can seem to only to be able to find 2 out of 3 of the considerations...
Most are able to find house they want, in the location they want, at the price they want, only not with all the "features" they want and they don't have the liquid cash available to make it what they truly feel their home should be. Hence, the catch 22 that many buyers are facing right now....However, there is a SOLUTION!
Programs like the 203k loan and other variations of this program were created JUST for this purpose! So, now you can have your cake AND eat it to!
Basically, the 203k loan is a fancy way of saying a HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN. This program can be used to accomplish rehabilitation and/or improvement of an existing one-to-four unit dwelling in one of three ways:
· To purchase a dwelling and the land on which the dwelling is located and rehabilitate it.
· To purchase a dwelling on another site, move it onto a new foundation on the mortgaged property and rehabilitate it.
· To refinance existing indebtedness and rehabilitate a dwelling.
I know of the PERFECT home, at the PERFECT price, in the most PRESTIGIOUS cobb school district that simply needs a few of your own PERFECT features to make it a STEAL in today's market.
Located in the highly-desired Shallowford Falls school district, this home boasts GORGEOUS BONES and provides the opportunity for a CLEAN CANVAS to customize this home to YOUR tastes!!!
4151 Woodlark Ct., Roswell, GA
Features include:
Can you see how a little love, can go a LONG way?? Recently reduced almost $20k, its HARD to find such a solid property in a posh location for under $300,000. and, lucky for you, this one is ONLY $269,900!
For more information on how to snatch up this KILLER deal or find ways to incorporate a 203k loan to make your home the one that's PERFECT for you, please call me at 678-463-3173 or visit www.onewinter.biz
PRESS RELEASE
Media Contact:
Winter Baserva, Realtor Extraordinaire
winter@onewinter.biz
678.463.3173
For Immediate Release
LOCAL REALTOR FEATURED IN UPCOMING EPISODE OF HGTV'S HOUSE HUNTERS
Realtor®, Winter Baserva, Defies Odds in a Down Market
ATLANTA, GA-September 22, 2009 - Local real estate agent, Winter Baserva, of ERA the Good Broker will be featured in an upcoming episode of HGTV's House Hunters. The popular show, which only filmed a total of three episodes in Atlanta, takes viewers behind the scenes of the emotional experience of finding and purchasing a new home. Shot over four days, Baserva's episode will air in Spring on HGTV.
"I was approached directly by the show because of my out-of-the-box approach to buying and selling in today's real estate market. We ran a test shoot, and within a week, my clients and I were approved to do the show," said Winter Baserva, realtor extraordinaire, ERA the Good Broker. "Our episode shows my clients and I searching for a home in the Brookhaven area and will feature many of the unique restaurants, shops and features of homes that are conducive to ‘inside the perimeter' properties."
In a time where most agents are struggling for business, Baserva is defying the odds and has set ground-breaking records within her brokerage. "I have worked with some of the top agents in the Greater Atlanta Market, and I would rank Winter as one of the very best. She has a special way that she connects to her clients. I truly believe her winning attitude, knowledge of every market she works, attention to detail, and the true desire to make a difference in her clients lives are the biggest factors in her success. It's truly a pleasure supporting the efforts of a true real estate superstar," said Joe Eman, qualifying broker, ERA the Good Broker.
She has also set records for her own personal production. "More millionaires were made during the Great Depression than any other era in U.S. History," said Baserva. "I specialize in GOOD DEALS. Those come in many forms whether they are short sales, foreclosures, distressed properties, regular sellers, or properties that are not even on the market. There are tremendous opportunities in today's market for those willing to find them."
While buyers still have the upper hand, Baserva says her sellers are benefitting from today's market as well. "My sellers are also seeing the benefits a down market can bring, especially if they are looking to upgrade or purchase a second home. Many don't realize whatever they may lose on the ‘sell side', they can easily make up on the ‘buy side.' Furthermore, with ERA's Seller Security Plan, if ‘I Don't Sell Your Home in 180 Days, ERA Will Buy it!®'. But, because my background is in marketing and public relations, I've never needed to use the program. However, it's a great security blanket to have in these uncertain times."
It's this type of resourcefulness and mindset that has landed Baserva a spot on a national television show. For more information, please contact Winter Baserva at 678-463-3173, winter@onewinter.biz.
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As an expert in all aspects of real estate from buying and selling to investing and REO properties, Baserva builds her business based on honesty, respect, and trust by empowering her clients with the education and tools needed to make an informed decision. Raised in Roswell, GA, and a graduate from Chattahoochee High School in Alpharetta, she moved back to Atlanta in 2007, after working for a residential brokerage and commercial developer in Florida.
Her career originally started out in communications, marketing and public relations. Baserva has previously held positions with the Miami Art Museum, Miami Children's Museum, Grove Garden Luxury Residences, and others helping them grow their businesses through publicity management and strategic marketing campaigns. Her skills have received attention from highly-accredited publications such as Interior Design, Time Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Atlanta Journal Constitution, and many others. Currently, she is the top-producing sales volume agent company-wide for ERA the Good Broker.
She is active in many organizations and donates to several community causes including Alzheimer's Association, EA Association and the Healthy Start Coalition. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Baserva graduated from The Florida State University with a bachelor of science in communications with an emphasis in public relations. She currently resides in Sandy Springs.




Winter Baserva, Atlanta Realtor, to be on Upcoming Episode of HGTV's House Hunters!!!!
When I got the call from High Noon productions that they wanted me to run a test shoot for an upcoming episode for HGTV's House Hunters, I was beside myself. I asked them how they found me and why they were interested in me and they said they were looking for really fun agents that were having smashing success in a down economy. I guess my making fun of Brittney Spears was noticed by someone...

My clients and I did a test shoot and within a week found out we were approved for our very own episode. I found out later that we were actually the last episode that was shot in Atlanta and only one of three total to ever make it to the big screen. That means out of 46,000 licensed agents in Georgia, I was selected to be one of the three to ever air in the Atlanta area...To say I'm humbled is an understatement.
Since the shoot, I have to say, I have a WHOLE new respect for the entertainment industry. A lot of time and money spent is spent on these shows. House Hunters flew in a film, sound, and production crew from Denver and spent approximately four, 10-hour days making this a reality for me and my clients.

So, what is my episode about????
Buyers Brian and Kelly are looking for the PERFECT Brookhaven home and have selected me to help them embark on the most important decision they've ever made...

So, did they choose the:
*4 bed/3.5 ba, 3200 sq. ft home for $469,900
*5 bed/ 4 ba 3200 sq. ft. home for $470,000
*4 bed/2 ba/2 half bath 3000 sq. ft. home for $474,900
We'll I can't give away the show, but I can say we had some great "out-take moments" that I would love to get my hands on! I don't have the outtakes, but I do have some of the more memorable parts of the experience to share.
The drive scene..not easy to drive when you're wired! Smile...you're being watched by millions!
"Wow, look at the crown molding and millwork detail"

"This is a 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath with 3200 square feet and is listed for $469,900"
All and all, I'm completely humbled by the opportunity, effort, money and time that High Noon productions put into my episode. I LOVE what I do and I work extremely hard at it. I feel so blessed to be able to show the world a bit about the real estate profession.
The episode airs early spring, so be on the lookout for the launch date. And, if you would like to start your own house hunt with me, please give me a call at 678-463-3173.

Buyer, Brian; Agent, Winter Baserva, Buyer, Kelly
The TOP 5 Mistakes Buyers Make When Searching For Buckhead Foreclosures!!!!!!
Morris Brandon, Warren T. Jackson, Sarah Rawson Smith, Oh My! Just one of the many reasons why people flock to the very-well-know section of Atlanta known as Buckhead.
In a time of discount prices, distressed sellers and shorted mortgages, many are searching for their "deal of a lifetime" through acquiring a Buckhead Foreclosure or Buckhead Short Sale...As with any area in Atlanta, there ARE good deals in Buckhead, so let's clarify the most common mistakes people making when searching for a Buckhead Home.
MISTAKE 1: ONLY FOCUSING ON BUCKHEAD FORECLOSURES OR BUCKHEAD SHORT SALES.
While getting a deal from these parties is possible, you need to keep in mind there are many other VULTURES out there looking for properties labeled with the Scarlett "F." Because there is such a large pool looking in this area, banks sometimes receive up to 15 offers on those properties...
In addition, Buckhead Short Sales CAN be rewarding, but they come with their fare share of challenges.... Typical issues you will encounter are primarily time for acceptance and lack of firm pricing decisions. Quite often, lenders can take 30 days or more to respond to an offer due to the approval process they must go through once an offer is received. I've seen short sales in Atlanta take up to 6 months before there is a response. This lengthy and exhausting approval process can very frequently result in even "full price" offers being rejected. Sellers and lenders are under no legal obligation to accept even a full price offer. They can change their mind at any time and they often do.
MISTAKE 2: FORGETTING ABOUT MR. & MRS. SELLER
Oh yeah...the people that have probably lived there for a long time and bought their home before peak prices and probably have a little mortgage or may even own their home outright...Those guys, who actually HAVE the opportunity to decide what their home will sell for unlike the multitude of asset managers and bank officials...Don't forget about this market segment. I have made MANY great deals come together by going after the sellers that DON'T have an offer on the table and are wiling to play ball!
MISTAKE 3: NOT BEING PRE APPROVED
Yeah, yeah, yeah...HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HEARD THIS?? We don't say this to bug you; we say this because your time is valuable. No need looking at things out of your budget or WORSE, finding out you can afford more than you thought. Furthermore, once you find that deal, ALL offers will require a letter of approval to accompany them. ESPECIALLY on bank-owned and short sales...Once you find that deal, you will need to move FAST...which brings me to my next point.
MISTAKE 4: NOT MOVING FAST AND "THINKING" ABOUT IT BEFORE ACTING ON IT...
Now, I know what you're going to say....and my response is simple DUE DILIGENCE. You have between 10-14 days to decide if you want to keep it or not without putting yourself in harms way whatsoever. SO, if that good deal pops up TIE IT UP FIRST and then think about it later...You'll thank me for it!!
MISTAKE 5: NOT HIRING A FREE BUYERS AGENT THAT SPECIALIZES IN GOOD DEALS TO HELP YOU WITH THE INS & OUTS....
All day, EVERYDAY, I'm on the lookout, scouting, towering, just like a VULTURE, waiting to go in for the kill. Do you REALLY think you'll find that GOOD DEAL before me?? I make it my job to know more about good deals in Buckhead than anyone, so make sure that you work with someone who is DEDICATED to capitalizing on today's market place...
Point in case...This STUNNING 1941 Buckhead Beauty that sits on over an acre of land on one of the FINEST streets in Buckhead came on the market...within 12 hours, my buyer and I had our offer in....there were four offers put in that day, but because I speak the banks language, and specialize in getting my clients good deals, our offer won! This home appraises at $1.4 million in its current condition (yes, it does need some work) and although I can't disclose what we paid, let's just say it was WELL under that price....

You do have choices when finding your Buckhead good deal:
It doesn't cost you a thing to have a buyer represent you in the buying process, but it could end up saving you a FORTUNE!
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