Has the Atlanta Real Estate Market Slowed Down?

Has the Atlanta market slowed down? Find out what’s going on right here.

Has the Atlanta market slowed down? Find out what’s going on right here.

Today’s topic has been on a lot of people’s minds: Has the Atlanta market slowed down? Today, I’ll
share what the numbers have to say:

1. The number of sales is down, even for the season. 
2. However, home prices are still up.
3. The supply of inventory is still the same.

Typically, for the market to have slowed, there must have been fewer sales, with prices having

dropped and supply having risen. So in the end, our market might have slowed down, but not
enough to hinder your real estate plans. If you’re thinking of selling a house, now is still a great
time to do so!

For an individual analysis of your own property, or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach
out to me. I’d love to hear from you.

Can You Sell Your Home Online?

Can you sell your home through the internet? Today I’ll explore this question.

This question is asked fairly frequently, and my answer is yes! We already use the internet to
sell homes. Your real estate expert should be marketing your home through various online platforms.

However, when people ask me that question, they often mean something a little different—they’re
really trying to ask, “Can I sell my home through the internet and pay a lower commission?”

Well, when it comes to online purchases, we tend to buy low-priced items sight unseen. On the
other hand, we don’t often make high-priced purchases online without seeing what we’re buying first. 

If you bought a 70-inch T.V. online but didn’t like it when you received it, you could always send
it back. Even if you’re looking to purchase a car online, you can always have the owner drive
over so you can inspect if before making a decision. A house, however, is a little more difficult to
drive, so you’d have to go out to the home yourself to take a look.

So, can you sell your home through the internet? Yes; it’s already happening. Should you expect
someone to buy your home online sight unseen? I don’t think that’s going to happen
anytime soon.

If you have any questions about our internet savviness or which websites we use to market
homes, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you.

What Do the Numbers Say About Our Atlanta Market?

If our average home price is any indication, our Atlanta market is very strong right now.

What’s been happening in our Atlanta real estate market over the last couple months? There are two numbers that tell the tale: $240,000 and $259,000 The first is what the average home price was on January 1 of 2019. The second is what the average price was as of yesterday. This discrepancy means that we’re seeing more homes in the higher price ranges sell now than we did at the beginning of the year. Right now, our market is amazingly strong, so if you’re ready to put your home on the market or you’d like to know what it’s worth, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

What the Numbers Tell Us About Our North Atlanta Market

The numbers tell us that our market is slowing down, but they don’t tell the whole story.

What’s going on in our North Atlanta real estate market? Let’s look at a few year-over-year statistics

from this last quarter.

• The number of home sales at the beginning of this year was down 8%—however, the ratio of homes that are actually selling versus what’s currently on the market is looking great
• The average sales price rose from $281,000 to $298,000
• The number of units for sale rose from roughly 27,000 to roughly 28,000

These numbers tell us that the market is slowing down a little, but in my experience, 2019

gave us the best we’ve had in the past 15 years. Homes are selling
quickly and at decent prices.

If you have any more questions about our market or you’re thinking of buying or selling a

home, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

What You Need to Know to Sell Your Home This Spring

If you’re looking to sell your home this spring, there are a few things you need to know about the spring selling season.

Spring is a great time to sell your home, but it’s not without its share of drawbacks that you need to be
aware of. There are three, in particular, you should know before starting the home sale
process:

1. It’s more competitive. There are a lot more homes on the market, so the earlier you can list
yours, the better.

2. There are more buyers out and about, which means you’ll have more showings to deal with.

3. It takes a little more work to sell in the spring—both inside the home and outside. On the
outside, people will be looking at your front yard more than they would be in the fall, winter, or
even summer. Inside the home, you need to open up your space and reflect the change of season.

If you have any questions or you need help selling your home this spring, don’t hesitate to reach
out to me. I’d love to help you.

A Few Thoughts About the Best Time to Buy or Sell

Spring isn’t necessarily the best time for you to sell your home. Here are three additional factors to consider.

Here’s a question that I get a lot: Now that it’s winter, when is the best time to sell my house? Here
are three thoughts for you that will help answer the question:

1. The spring has a lot more activity. There are more houses for sale in the spring, as well as
more buyers. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean higher prices for you. Winter sales have a lot
fewer houses, but still a steady supply of buyers. From what I’ve seen, winter sales tend to bring
a little bit more money if you get in at the right time.

2. The market cycle. The market is cyclical, but we’re probably at the peak right now. We never
know when the cycle starts or ends.

3. When should you buy and/or sell? Whenever is most convenient for you. Interest rates are
still amazingly low and we’ve sold three listings this week for over their asking price.

If you have any questions for us about buying, selling, or about real estate in general, don’t hesitate
to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

How to Avoid Carrying 2 Mortgages

Don’t get trapped paying two mortgages! Here’s what you can do to avoid that situation.

If you want to buy another home, what should you do with the one you already have? You
definitely don’t want to be stuck paying two mortgages (not to mention taxes, insurance, and
utilities for each), so there are a couple of options you have.

You can rent one of the properties; some of that income will count toward your new mortgage.

If you don’t want to rent, you can simply sell the property. So you don’t end up without a place
to stay in the meantime, we can find with a buyer who will allow you to rent while you search for
a new home to purchase.

Either way, you don’t want the burden of two mortgages on your shoulders. If you’d like some help navigating this process, would like more information, or have any questions, reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

The Truth About Decorating Your Holiday Listing

Today, we’ll get to the bottom of whether decorating your holiday listing is necessary.

Recently, we discussed the question: “Should sellers list during the holidays?” If you checked out that
message, you’ll remember that the answer was yes. Now that that’s sorted out, though, the next
question sellers must consider is, “Should I decorate?”

Those looking to list over the holiday season might worry that the extra decor will make their listing
look and feel too cramped. So, what should you do?

Well, if you enjoy decorating, then go for it! Just don’t go overboard. Even if you don’t particularly
enjoy decorating, but feel like you should, it won’t hurt to add a little bit of holiday cheer.

However, if you are adamant against decorating, or simply don’t have time, don’t worry about it. All
your home really needs to succeed in the market is to be neat, clean, and well-lit. Seasonal
decor can be a nice touch, but it certainly isn’t necessary.

If would like more information or if you have any questions about how our team can help your home
sell this holiday season, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing
from you soon.

3 Reasons to List Your Home During the Fall or Winter

Though spring and summer are often considered ideal times to sell, the fall and winter months carry three unique advantages of their own.

Many people believe the fall and winter months to be a poor time to list. However, this is certainly not
the case. These later seasons actually hold several unique opportunities for sellers, and today we’ll
highlight three such benefits:

There is less competition. Given that fewer sellers choose to list during these months, those

who do will face a lower level of competition. With up to 50% fewer listings on the market during the fall

and winter, the listings that are active during those seasons are sure to see greater success.

Sellers will have fewer showings to prepare for. There are approximately 15% fewer buyers in the

market during the fall and winter, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Those who are in the market at

this time are highly motivated. In addition to that, a lower volume of buyer traffic means sellers will

have fewer showings to prepare for.

There are still many sales taking place during fall and winter. Spring and summer aren’t the only

times of year during which sellers can succeed in our market.

The bottom line is this: You still have a chance to list your home and get it sold, even in the later
months of the year. That said, conditions between individual markets may vary. If you’re curious about
the outlook in your specific area, I would be happy to speak to you about your circumstances.

As always, if you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call
or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Why You May Want to Sell Now

If you’ve been thinking of listing, there are three reasons why now is an ideal time to do so.

If you’re thinking of selling in the next year or so, right now may be the ideal time to make that move.
Why? There are three key reasons:

1. Interest rates are at a seven-year high. As rates continue to climb, homes become less and less

affordable. This discourages buyers from entering the market, which is bad news for anyone looking to list. In other words, it may be smart to put your home out there before rates go even higher.

2. Affordability is at a 10-year low. As indicated in the last point, this means buyers will be increasingly

hesitant to enter our market as time goes by.

3. We may be at the peak of the market. There’s no way to know for sure whether we’ve hit this

point, but sellers shouldn’t risk letting this moment pass in case we are.

All in all, the window of opportunity sellers have available today won’t last forever. Now is the time to list your home and secure top dollar.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me
an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Tips to Help You Prepare Your Home to Sell This Fall

Earning top dollar from your fall home sale means following these important tips.

If you’re preparing to put your home on the market this fall, there are a couple of important steps you need to take in order to earn top dollar for it. First, don’t make your home look like it’s still spring outside. In other words, use the fall foliage—it works just fine for a fall sale.

Fall foliage works just fine for a fall sale.

Inside, make sure the home’s paint and flooring look nice and crisp. To hear my full message about how to prepare your home for a fall sale, watch my latest video.

Why Fall Is Still a Great Time to Sell Your Home

Fall is still a great time to sell your home, and there are a couple reasons why.

If you’ve made all the necessary improvements to your home but you think you can’t get it sold because you missed the summer selling season, don’t worry. The fall is also a great time to sell your home.

" In the fall, there are still lots of sales. "

Lots of sales happen during the fall, and by listing it during this time, you won’t have to deal with as many showings and you’ll face less competition. I check the market every day, and every day there are fewer and fewer homes being listed. To hear my full message about the benefits of listing in the fall, watch my latest video.

How Is Our Summer Market in North Atlanta Doing?

What is happening in our North Atlanta real estate market? Let’s take a look at three key factors.

What is going on in the market? For one thing, interest rates are on the rise and are now sitting at
between 4.5% to 4.8%. Yet, historically speaking, these rates are still very low. When I started working
in real estate back in 1985, my first deal had an interest rate of 14.75%. 

Additionally, inventory is still low and prices remain high, as well. Those who are thinking of selling 
should know that now is a great time to do so. To see my full message, watch this short video.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

What Should You Do When Your Property Receives Multiple Offers?

Today I would like to review a three-step guide on how sellers can navigate a multiple offer situation.

In a hot market like what we are seeing today, multiple offer situations are very common. It takes
just days for a property to see three, four, or five or more offers. That being said, how can you handle
these circumstances as a seller? There are three steps I recommend.

1. Identify the situation. When your home has just been listed and your agent is already receiving calls
after call inquiring about the property’s availability, it is a good sign that multiple offers are in store.

2. Set a time limit. Such a high level of competition over your listing may seem overwhelming, so the
best way to proceed is by setting a time limit. This will give you the chance to review and compare
offers.

3. Choose the best offer, not just the highest. While the highest-priced offer and the best offer are
usually one in the same, this is not always the case. The important thing is that you, the seller, are able
to accept an offer that fulfills your wants and needs. And because multiple offer situations can result in
bidding wars, it is important to make sure a potential buyer will be willing to make up the value
difference in cash in case the property does not appraise accordingly.

The important thing is that you, the seller, are able to accept an offer
that fulfills your wants and needs.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me
an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Why You Can Expect Great Results From a Winter Home Sale

What can you expect from a winter home sale? I’ll explain why you can expect great results.

Last time, we talked about preparing your home for a winter sale. This time, we’ll go over what you can expect from a winter sale.

The good news is that you can expect great results.

For one thing, inventory is the lowest it will be for the rest of the year. From here on out, inventory starts building and reaches its highest point in June or July, which means more competition for you.

A lot of people say, “Yes, there’s low inventory, but there aren’t any buyers.” This is where people miss the boat. There are 15% fewer buyers in the market, but the ones that are looking for homes are highly motivated and ready to buy.

Winter buyers are highly motivated to make a purchase.

Some of these buyers are those who sold their homes last week, those who are being transferred, and those who need to buy for tax purposes.

Ultimately, the combination of low inventory and motivated buyers will help you get great results.

If you have any other questions about selling your home this winter, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

What Happens When You Sell Before You Buy?

If your home sells before you find the next one, don’t panic. Assuming that you haven’t already started searching for a property, there are three things you can do. 

 If you sell your home before you find your next one, what are your options?

Well, the best thing to do would be to start looking when you put your home on the market. That way, you have an idea of what you’re looking for and you can jump on the house you want once your current house is sold. Assuming that you didn’t do that, there are three things you could do:

1. Rent your original home back from the new owner. Rent-backs are very common. You get to stay in the home for a few weeks before closing and since you sold your home, you have money in your pocket for the next one.

2. Find a short-term rental. Most people rent properties long-term, but you can find somewhere to live for less than six months while you go out and look for your next home. You do have to move twice, but you have more time to make your decision.

3. Keep in mind that selling your house is a good thing. Depending on the market, selling before you buy might be the best option for you. Don’t just hurry out and buy a house once your home has sold; you may end up regretting your decision later on. Find some kind of temporary housing and take your time finding your next home.

If you have any other questions about buying and selling a home at the same time, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

How Can You Find an Agent Who Won't Let You Down?

Buying an Atlanta Home? Search all homes for sale
Selling an Atlanta Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report

Now that the fall is here and you're thinking about selling your home, you're probably debating whether you should hire an agent to help you. With so many agents out in the field, how can you choose one who will really go the distance for you? After 30 years of selling real estate, I think the best thing you can do is ask each agent you interview these three questions:

Can they sell?
 
Nobody wants the pushy type of salesperson representing them. You want somebody who is fluid, persuasive, and comfortable in their own skin.

Do they have a track record?
 
No agent is walking around with a sign that says how many homes they have sold. Many agents look like they can do their jobs, but you really need to look at their track records to find out which agent is truly the best. Nowadays, the Internet can help you do this easily!

Do they have references?
 
Find people they have actually worked with. Find out whether they did a good job and were easy to work with. People who have had past experiences with the agent you plan to hire are great resources.
 
If you have any questions about what you can do to find a great agent, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!

Who's Buying Homes in Atlanta?

Buying an Atlanta Home? Search all homes for sale
Selling an Atlanta Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report

When you sell your home, it's important to know who might be buying. If you have an audience that you know will be interested in your home, it's much easier to market your property to them.

I've done some research and come up with some statistics on who's buying homes in North Atlanta.

• 34% of our buyers are Millennials (age 34 and younger). This is creating a move-up market because they are buying starter homes, and then the sellers are moving up into larger homes.

• 27% of our buyers are 35-49 years old.

• 31% of our market are the Baby Boomers, who are 50-68 years old.

• Only 10% of our market consists of buyers that are 69 or older.

What does this mean for you? It means that you have a good chance to move up into a better home because of the push from Millennial buyers.With interest rates as low as they are right now, this is a phenomenal time to move up into a nicer, better home.

If you need help buying or selling in North Atlanta, please don't hesitate to contact me!

How Does Supply and Demand Affect Real Estate?

Buying an Atlanta Home? Search all Homes for Sale

Selling an Atlanta Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report

Hey there again, thanks for joining me today. Our topic this time is supply and demand.

When we talk about supply and demand, we are talking about the number of homes available for sale relative to the number of buyers out there in the market. As buyers purchase homes, demand for them decreases. Conversely, if we don't have a fresh supply of buyers, the market slows down and homes sit there, stagnant. When homes come off the market, unless we have a fresh supply, things get a little lopsided.

Finally, what actually controls both supply and demand is interest rates. Interest rates demand that either you buy or don't buy. If they are low enough, buyers are going to buy no matter what. I'm not quite sure exactly where we are in the cycle at the moment, but the market is still strong right now.

If you are thinking of buying or selling, or know somebody who is, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to speaking with you!

Should You Buy First, or Sell First?

Atlanta Real Estate Agent Melida Potts reviews the pros and cons for both buying before selling, and vice versa.

There are many great Atlanta area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (678) 488-8927 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Recently, a lot of buyers have entered our market. It seems that they are all asking the same question, "Should I buy before I sell, or should I sell before I buy?" Well, let's go through the options, spelling out the advantages and disadvantages of each, and you can decide for yourself which to do. Let's get to it!

If you choose to buy before you sell, you have the advantage of getting to choose your home very deliberately. There's no pressure for you to buy, because you still own your current home. The disadvantage of this route, of course, is that you may end up owning 2 homes at once for a period of time. However, if you aren't married to your price, and prepare your home correctly, you shouldn't have any problem selling.

Now, if you choose to sell before you buy, the huge advantage here is never having to worry about paying for 2 homes at once, because you can make an offer on a home that is contingent on the sale of your current one. The disadvantage here is that the pool of homes you are choosing from may not be as large. You may also feel a little pressure to buy, especially if you have to be out of your home by a certain date. However, you should still see plenty of options to choose from in our market, especially this spring.

So, which one should you do? It depends on your own tastes. If you would like my thoughts as to what you personally should do, please give me a call or send me a quick email. After helping people buy and sell homes for 30 years, I have done everything and I have a lot to share with you.