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.

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.

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.

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!

Small Things That Can Make (Or Break) Your Selling Success

Small Things That Can Make (Or Break) Your Selling Success

When people decide to sell their home, you might think that it is a matter of connecting with a Realtor®, placing the listing on the MLS and then waiting and watching for an offer to come in. That does pretty much sum it up in a nutshell but there are some important things to consider in the interim that, if the homeowner is not mindful of, could jeopardize the sale. Here is a look at four seemingly little things that could have a big impact on whether or not your home sells well.

Motivation
Until and unless you are motivated to sell your home, there is a strong likelihood of things not going well. If less than fully motivated, some people may not do all they can to present the home in its best light or be accommodating to buyers’ requests to see the home. Furthermore, homeowners that do not feel pressed to sell their home do not take the time to prepare their home, declutter or update the space as would be necessary to attract a good pool of buyers.

Flexibility
Any homeowner that is currently trying to sell their home will say that it is not an easy feat to continue with daily life while constantly preparing the home for showings, leaving when necessary, allowing their agent to host open houses or keeping up the home while it’s on the market. These are all things that require a fair amount of flexibility and without that flexibility there is a fair amount of risk. The risks include a much slower process to get the home sold or worse yet, the home not selling at all! You can be flexible on things other than price, such as closing date, other terms or seller concessions.

Discretion
This is a very important aspect of selling a home that too many people neglect to realize. Whether casually discussing the motivation of your sale to coworkers or mentioning details of a contract underway to someone in the family – disclosing details can and do pose a threat. It is critical to keep confidential terms of the contract and other things that may have an impact on others’ perception.

Stay Neutral
When you set up your home, try to imagine what buyers will be thinking as they walk through. Is there so much personal stuff that they are unable to see past it and envision their own lives in the home? Do brightly colored walls or outdated wallpapered walls hinder a buyer’s ability to see their own tastes fitting in? Be sure to heed your real estate agent’s advice when they share insight as to what buyers would likely respond to.

For more tips on how you can successfully sell your home for more money, in the least amount of time with as little hassle possible, contact us today! We look forward to helping to sell your home!

How to Get the Most Money on Your Home Sale

Welcome back!  If you’re getting your home ready to sell, it’s important to know how to appeal to buyers. What is it that they want to see when they view your home? Here are three important elements of preparing your home.

1.    Paint. You’d be amazed at what a simple coat of paint or touch up does for a home. Remember to stay neutral.

2.    Wallpaper and floor coverings. If you have wallpaper you need to either remove it or paint over it (depending on the condition). If your carpet is worn down, it’s time to replace it. Don’t worry we know some vendors who can help you for a very inexpensive cost.

3.    Landscape. You don’t have to plant all new bushes, just have a well-kept lawn. Trim the bushes, mow the lawn, etc.

These are three easy tips that have a huge impact on the appeal of your home. If you have any questions, please give me a call at 770.396.6100

Thanks for watching!

3 Reasons to Sell Now

Welcome back to my video blog. I have had a lot of people ask whether now is a good time to sell or if they should wait until next year. If you can get your home on the market now, it’s the perfect time for three reasons.

1.    Interest rates are still historically low. While they have increased a bit in the past couple of months, they are still a phenomenal rate.

2.    A lot of people are taking their home off the market during the fall months. That means less competition for you!

3.    In the last quarter of 2012, 7,531 homes were sold. Buyers are motivated to buy during the fall months.

Give me a call so we can get your home ready to list! Thanks for watching!

Selling Your Home During the Fall

Welcome back to my video blog! A lot of buyers and sellers have asked me is it too late in the year to sell?

Well, I have four points to consider when getting ready to sell your home.

1.    Weather: We’ve had a lot of rain lately and it has caused some delays in our market.  The activity that normally happens in May and June has been pushed back to the earlier fall months.

2.    Schools: Yes, school is back in session, so many of the families who were looking to move before then have already purchased their home.

3.    Supply and demand: We have a shortage of inventory, which puts your new home in high demand!

4.    Financing: There is plenty of financing options for buyers to purchase your home.


These are just a few things to consider if you are thinking about selling your home now. Of course each situation is different, so if you would like more help or have any questions, please call me at 770.396.6100! Thank you for watching!

Where are interest rates headed?

Hello again! Welcome back to my video blog!

This week’s theme is increasing interest rates. The recent jump has had a lot of people worried.

Rates have increased by about a point, 3.5%-4.5%. This is a jump, but those of us who bought homes in the ‘80s, we saw interest rates as high as 14%-15%. So 4.5% is still a fantastic rate.

Now, where are interest rates headed? Will they come back down? We really don’t know the definite answer.

If you have any questions about your home or your neighborhood, please call me.  I would be more than happy to help!

3 More Industry Secrets to Maximize the Sale of Your Home

Thank you again for watching my blog! Last time we spoke, we talked about three industry secrets for getting the most money on the sale of your home. This week, I have three more!

The first is ‘stay in front of the market.’ You want to hire an agent who will proactively look for buyers for your home. You want an agent, like us, who has a 96% sale to price ratio and an average of 46 days on the market.

The second tip is to offer flexibility. Be flexible in your terms and possession, more than just price.

The third secret is to choose a good agent. You want someone who has your best interest and will proactively find buyers for your home!

If you have any questions or are ready to sell your home give me a call at 770.396.6100 or send an email to melida@pottsrealtyinc.com 

Thanks again for watching!

3 Secrets to Selling for Top Dollar

The market is on fire! Partly because of the time of year we are in and partly due to the dramatic shift in our marketplace. As of just a few months now, we are completely in a seller’s market where there are far fewer homes for sale than there are buyers. So how does a seller in this environment get top dollar on their property? It’s more than just time of year or general buyer trends; it’s a matter of actively, aggressively going after the best outcome. Here are three tried and true strategies that we use to get our sellers top dollar.

Price Your Property Effectively

We’re not suggesting you set a price lower than everyone else in the neighborhood to get it sold. But we are saying it’s critical to know and understand the market pulse in your area as it relates to today. The key word here is today. It’s no secret that one of the most prevalent methods used to determine market value is by evaluating comparable properties.

Appraisers and Realtors® in general, look at homes sold in the last 6 months to a year when considering values. However, when we are dealing with the drastic change that is our housing market today, it’s important to look at under contract values. This is what shows the truth of what buyers and sellers value in the market right now.

Follow the Laws of Supply and Demand

In any marketplace, whether real estate or otherwise, the basic principles of supply and demand play a huge a role in market activity. With real estate, we tend to see an upswing in activity beginning the spring months and it stays active until the fall when people slow down from their home search. Listings also follow closely with those trends.

When there is increased supply, demand goes down. Conversely, the fewer homes available for sale will dictate increased demand – a phenomenon we are experiencing these days. This translates to the spring and summer markets being better for sellers, with the expectation they will earn top dollar if the home is well priced.

Promote, Promote, Promote!

You can have any number of homes on the market but until and unless the word gets out, they will just sit there. Promotion is the key word and the way you promote your listing is also critical. In today’s fast paced, very NOW world – it is essential to cater to buyers’ needs. That means putting your property on social media, on every syndicated property home search site possible and advertising in other locally preferred ways.

Kick it up one more notch by working with a broker that has an extensive database of active buyers that are just waiting to be matched with the right property. Imagine – finding a buyer that is willing to pay over and above your asking price because your home is exactly what they’ve been looking for!

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The first step to getting top dollar on your home is to know and understand your local neighborhood’s buying and selling trends. Contact us today for an updated market analysis that’s catered to your locale. We’ll give you real time values so you can move forward with your listing with all the leverage you need to come out on top!

Assessments Coming to a Mailbox Near You

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To determine the property tax that is due, a city assesses the value of your home. At this time, all counties, such as Fulton, Cobb and Forsyth, are sending their assessments to homeowners. A few points we wanted to share with you include the following:

1. There was a formula error in Fulton County’s assessments so their assessments were, of course, figured incorrectly.
2. Remember the assessment is not a bill.
3. Compare this year’s assessment from Fulton County with last year’s to ensure the millage is the same.
4. Although we’re not tax accountants, we know about property taxes in our area so call us if we can be of any help.

Remember, the city’s assessment often doesn’t correspond to the true value of your home. Real estate agents use a different method—the comparative market value approach—to value a home. The realtor comes up with the value by looking at similar homes sold in the past 6 to 12 months to tell you what you can expect to get out of your home. This is a more accurate approach.

If you’d like us to let you know your home’s value or if you’d like to learn how to be successful in this market, please call us at (770) 396-6100 or email us at Melida@PottsRealtyInc.com.