How Does the Internet Help You Price Your Home?

How does the internet help you price your home? Find out today.

I’m often asked by clients how the internet can help them price their home. This also begs the question of what a good pricing strategy looks like.

The internet today has all of the information you could possibly want. In fact, you might say there’s an overabundance of information. What’s the trick to sorting through all of it to find the right information you need?

Well, you could check tax records, which will tell you that your home could be priced within a certain range. However, I’ve seen homes priced in that range that didn’t sell. I’ve seen homes priced higher than that range that have sold. I’ve also seen homes that were priced under that range and have yet to sell. The trick is to find the most relevant information to your case.

"If you’re simply curious about your home’s value, basic online information works fine."

So what conclusions can be drawn from the information?
In the end, if you’re simply curious about your home’s value, basic online information works fine. But if you’re seriously looking to sell your home and want to know it's worth, reach out to me. I’d be glad to give you an accurate measure of your home’s value so that we can price it to sell quickly and for the most money possible. I hope to hear from you soon!
I would love to tell you that it’s easy to establish the price of your own home. But the reality is that you can’t—not because you’re not smart enough, but because there is so much information to sort through on your own.

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’s Going On In Our Marketplace?

Today I’ll address what’s happening in our market currently and what that means for home sellers.

The big question I’ve been hearing is, “What is the outlook for our market? What going to happen in 2019?” Here are some of my thoughts about the market for you to consider:

1. Interest rates are still amazingly low. When I bought my houses, interest rates were at 12.75%, which really puts into perspective how great our current 5% rate actually is. Compared to last year, however, rates are a whole point higher.

2. Houses are more expensive. Not only have interest rates risen, but home prices have gone up, as well. This is good news for sellers, but less so for buyers.

So what does the combination of these two factors mean to you as a seller? It means that if you price your property correctly according to the market and allow a good agent (like myself) to give it the proper exposure, it’s going to sell for top dollar.

If you have any questions or would like more information about how I can help you sell your home for as much as possible, please reach out to me. I would love to hear from 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 Value-Boosting Qualities of a Home

What are the characteristics of a home that will really increase its value? Today I’ll discuss.

There are several qualities of a home that will increase its market value when it comes time to sell:

1. Being located in a cul-de-sac.

2. Being located on or near a golf course.

3. Access to great mountain views.

4. A view of the lake.

As you can see in the video above, I’m coming to you today from a beautiful lake home with four
bedrooms, a full basement, a new kitchen, and a fantastic view. If you have any questions about what
increases a home’s value or if you would like to see the home featured in the above video, please
reach out to us at Potts Realty.

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.

The Truth About Listing Over the Holidays

Today, we’ll highlight the three main benefits sellers can enjoy by listing this holiday season.

With the holiday season just around the corner, many are wondering whether there’s still time to sell.
Is listing over the holidays a good idea? Actually, yes, and there are three reasons why:

1. Less inventory. People assume the market takes a turn for the worse over the holidays.
However, this isn’t the case. Those who are able to look past the rumors will find that listing
over the holidays means you’ll face less competition and have a greater opportunity to make
your home stand out.

2. More serious buyers. While there aren’t as many buyers looking over the holiday season,
those that are still searching for the perfect home are much more committed. As a seller, this
grants you a high degree of leverage.

3. Interest rates are still historically low.  Though they have risen in recent months, interest rates
are still low compared to historical averages. Back in the 1980s, for example, it wasn’t uncommon to see rates above 12%. At just below 5%, rates today are still fantastic. 

If you have any other questions or would like more information, 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's It Like to Sell in the Summer?

What should sellers know about listing in the seller months? There are three main points to focus on.

The summer is here and things are certainly hot here in Atlanta, including our market. Sellers are
currently in a favorable position, so, with that said, what must be done to take advantage of these
conditions? There are three factors to consider when selling your home in the summer:

1. There is less activity. It may sound counterintuitive, but a smaller pool of buyers can actually be beneficial. Having fewer offers to choose from can sometimes make your role as a seller easier.

2. There are fewer sales.

3. Prices are still higher. This means sellers are able to ask for more money when listing their home.

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 Can You Do to Increase Your Atlanta Home's Sale Price?

Buying an Atlanta Home? Search all Homes for Sale

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

Last week we discussed what determines and who determines your home's price, and today we'll be speaking about how you can determine your sale price and increase it. I have four separate ways in which you can do this.

1. Make sure your home is in great condition. Make sure all of your landscaping is taken care of and fix any minor issues before they become problems for prospective buyers. When buyers look at a home they don't like to see broken screens, leaky faucets, or squeaky doors. Be proactive and repair these things so that you can rake in extra cash at closing.
2. Well-lit homes sell well. It's a fact. Open your windows and turn on all your lights. Buyers need to see the home that they're buying. 
3. Don't forget about potential odors. If you have pets, or if you have been cooking with more aromatic ingredients like curry or cabbage, be sure to neutralize the smells in your home. One trick is to bake cookies before a showing to fill the home with a pleasant smell. However, this can sometimes backfire, so aim to make your house scentless. Opening up all the windows in a home can help to do this.
4. Vacant versus staged homes can make a big difference. Some people like vacant homes and others like them staged a bit so that they can see what the property looks like when it's full of belongings. Statistics do show that vacant homes sell twice as well as staged homes, but it's really up to you to decide whether you want to move out all of your belongings. 

Hopefully, these pieces of advice can help you to put some extra cash in your pocket when you sell. It doesn't take a whole lot of effort to get more for your home, but if you need any assistance whatsoever, please don't hesitate to contact me.

I'm always ready to help you with your North Atlanta real estate needs!

ATL real estate continues to build momentum after a watershed year in 2013

The most notable change in our real estate market began sometime in October/November of 2012 when, all of a sudden, we started seeing a leveling in our market. Statistics were finally showing promising trends, indicating long-awaited stability and steady activity.

Just a few months later, in the early part of 2013 our market did stabilize for the most part and we started seeing month-over-month stats climb. Year-over-year statistics skyrocketed. In fact, the market shifted before the end of the first quarter and we enjoyed such unprecedented sales volumes and spikes that many of us in the industry had the best year of our careers.

Low Interest Rates Sparked Market Activity and Low Inventory
During the depressed market that took over our housing industry in 2008 and the years that followed, the Fed diligently worked to keep interest rates low so the economy would continue to surge. Also, market activity increased and inventory levels went down significantly.

Strong Consumer Demand Helps Spike Median Home Prices
Today, we are dealing with an extremely scarce number of homes available for sale, both nationally and locally. For this reason we remain in a positive market driven by strong consumer demand. More prevalent in some areas where there are good traffic patterns and strong buyer interest, prices are going up dramatically. Conversely, other areas where there may be less demand there is some lagging behind which is causing prices to either stay steady or not go up much.

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To learn how your specific area is doing in terms of price increases and market recovery – contact us today! We will take an in-depth look at your local neighborhood and study the activity, evaluate the marketplace and see how we can help you achieve your real estate goals!

Call or email us today.

770 396 6100 - main office
678 488 8927 - Melida’s cell
Melida@PottsRealtyInc.com

Happy New Year!

Happy 2014! Last year was a great time for the real estate market and you may be wondering what's in store for next year. Well, here's what's happening now. Interest rates are still at 4.5%, but they are predicted to increase!

We are also still at a 15 year low in inventory. That means now is one of the best times to sell. The holidays are over and there are buyers looking for a home. The problem is there are very few options for them. They need your home!

Give me a call today! Thanks for watching!

What to Expect from 2014

Can you believe 2014 is almost here? Before we start looking ahead, let's go over what happened in 2013.

First, we saw historically low interest rates despite the increase in May from 3.5% to 4.5%

Second, inventory is still at a 15 year low. Buyers do not have much to choose from.

Third, in the overall market, we've seen a slight decrease in sales, but for our team, we've seen an 80% increase! Thank you so much for your support. Without you, none of this would be possible.

If you have any questions, please give me a call today. Have a safe and wonderful holiday!