Athens GA Home Prices and Inflation

Success Realty Inflation InfoDid you know that real estate investments can protect you from inflation?  While higher prices can can cause some negative effects you lower the loan to value of your debt & increase equity, but payments remain the same as long as you have a fixed rate mortgage.

Inflation is not good news for buyers looking to get into the market and buy a home right this minute, but overall interest rates are still historically low.

If you already own a home, the increasing value actually acts as a hedge against inflation and can be one of the best protects against rising prices.

There are a lot of factors that have contributed to the real estate market conditions we have right now in Athens, GA.  These include construction delays, inventory levels being at an all time low, supply line issues, and increasing mortgage rates and inflation.

Every potential buyer and seller of real estate has different needs and motivations, although the market may look in flux right now it can still be a good time to buy or sell in our area.  First time buyers have opportunities coming again to get affordable housing, now is the time to get ready.  Our Success Realty agents stand ready to help you navigate this market and have real estate success stories.

 

Happy National Rescue Dog Day!

NATIONAL RESCUE DOG DAY is on MAY 20 to bring awareness to the countless number of amazing dogs in shelters around the country who deserve a second chance at a forever home.   We’d love to help you and your furry family members with all your real estate needs!Facebook Post

Thinking about selling your Athens, GA area home?  Click here to get up to the date market info!

 

Looking for your home sweet home in or near Athens, GA?  Click here and we will be happy to help!

The Top 5 Reasons Your Home Isn’t Selling!

Every day I look in the MLS and see homes that have been on the market for over 90 days and are just not selling in hot markets.  So I got to thinking about what are the top reasons your home may not be selling.  

Price

1. IT’S OVERPRICED!

To be clear, an overpriced home is the #1 reason a home won’t sell. We often times want our homes to be worth a lot more than we may see based on the data, but if you put your home on the market for the number you wish it will bring instead of the price it actually needs to be, your home can sit on the market for months without getting a single showing. If you’re thinking you need to price high to leave room for negotiations, statistics show that views for your property, for buyers in your price range, can drop a whopping 90% if it’s priced too high. Discuss with your agent what the market says the value of your home is, then price it competitively to potentially get a bidding frenzy instead of low offers or having it expire.

 

Motivation concept2. IT IS TOO HARD TO GET A SHOWING APPOINTMENT!

You may WANT your home sold, but the actual process can be daunting.  Your motivation to allow showings may become hard er to find, when your agent starts calling to make appointments.  Making sure the house is clean and having to leave on a daily basis for buyers to tour the home may get a little overwhelming, but it is crucial to have open availability to have your home shown. You could end up missing out on the perfect buyer if you decline too many showings. The longer it sits on the market, the less value buyers will see in it. Talk with your agent about having a 24 hour notice period if the extra time is needed, but make sure your home is available to be shown as often as possible.

 

Strategy concept

3. CLUTTERED SPACE or OVERWHELMING DECOR

It is critical that you use an agent that will be honest with you about creating a stragety that will show your home in the best way possible!  Buyers want to walk into a house and envision their lives in that home. This is difficult to do if your home is cluttered with personal belongings. They are instantly given the feeling of invading someone else’s personal space, instead of the satisfaction of being able to see a future in your home.  It is also critical to address any obstacles including odors and pets.  Make sure your property is clutter free & clean before putting it on the market.

 

key repairs4. UNWILLING TO MAKE REPAIRS

Selling your home as-is may sound appealing at first, but being unwilling to make repairs could cost another mortgage payment that far exceeds the cost of repairs if you don’t take care of repairs before putting your house on the market or if you refuse to work with the buyer on their requests and the home goes back on the market again. It’s wise to be open to repair requests, and simply go over with your agent what you can afford to do and make a reasonable counter offer during the repair negotiations. 

 

key negoiation

5. UNWILLING TO NEGOTIATE WITH BUYERS

It’s important to have an open mind about requests that will come from buyers when it comes to purchasing your home. These requests can come in the form of price negotiations, repair requests, or even requests to cover closing costs or home warranties. With your agent on your side advising you of the best steps to take, it’s best to be open to working with the buyer’s on some of their requests to ensure a successful closing.

If you are considering placing your home on the market please considering talking with one of our #SuccessStories agents to learn how you can avoid these 5 mistakes and how we can help you from day one.  You can reach our office at 706-543-1553!

 

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Why Should You Sell Your Athens, GA Area Home This Summer?

Are you an Athens, GA area homeowner considering selling your home? 

The market is hot, hot, and I mean hot!  With interest rates at an all time low for buyers, the market has turned into a feeding frenzy, and home sales are skyrocketing in prices.

In such a high demand, Athens GA and the surrounding area are a seller’s market, homes are selling for record breaking prices, which means more money in your pocket.  If you have been considering selling your home, doing so in today’s market will bring you a larger sales price. Don’t wait for the market to shift when interest rates begin to start going up again.

The National Association of Realtors has gathered data to predict a strong 6 months of sales throughout the United States. And with such a large group of buyers hunting for homes during the summer months, you have a great potential to sell your home quickly, and move on to bigger and better or different things sooner.

This is also a great buying opportunity if you are wanting to transition into a new home. Low interest rates equate to more savings. You could potentially end up getting a bigger home for the same monthly payment cost when you buy your next property. And with such a hot market, there are more homes for sale, which means you can find the right one.

If you have not already spoken with an #SuccessStories agent at Success Realty, get in touch with one to get a complimentary CMA. See if the numbers work out for you and/or your family, and if moving is something you want to do. Whether you are re-sizing, or moving to a different state, your agent can get the numbers in order to make sure it’s in your best interest to transition in today’s market. Don’t wait and lose tens of thousands of dollars in your sale price!

Please give us a call at 706-207-2502 to start your Real Estate #SuccessStory today!

Home Buying and Your Credit. Check It out!

Finance concept

Thinking about buying a new home soon? Make sure your credit is in order!  There’s no more important time to work on your credit score than when you’re about to apply for a mortgage for a new home. Improving your credit can save you a ton of money-we’re talking about thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Here are the actions you can take that will have a notable impact on your score.

Pay down your credit card balances Credit utilization is one of the biggest factors in determining your credit score. Your credit utilization should at least be less than 30 percent of your limit, and it’s even better if you can get it below 15 percent. This rule applies to both individual cards and your overall credit limit.

It may even be worthwhile to use some of the cash funds you were planning to use for a down payment to pay off credit card balances.

Do no harm While you certainly want to improve your score if possible, at the very least you’ll want to keep it steady. Avoid opening new lines of credit if you’re applying for a mortgage in the very near future. This will cause a hard inquiry to show up on your credit report.

Take care of negative items It’s good practice to check your credit report for negative items a few times a year-you can get one free report from each of the three major bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) per year.

If you find any negative items (collections, late payments, etc.), write a letter to the original creditor. Explain the circumstances that led to the negative item, and request that it be removed from your report. It can be surprisingly effective, and removing a negative item will improve your credit score in a hurry.


Athens GA Home Seller Tips for Success!

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Make the Most of that First Impression,  a well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome prospects. So does a freshly painted – or at least freshly scrubbed – front door. Rake leaves in the Fall. Plant flowers in the spring.

Clean & Neutral Sells the Fastest!
Here’s your chance to clean up in real estate. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor redecoration. Fresh wallpaper adds charm and value to your property. We know you have to live in it, but first impressions are critical!corner clutter with captions

Check Faucets and Bulbs
Dripping water causes stains and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. Burned out bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the dark. Don’t let little problems detract from what’s right with your home.

Spacious Living
Potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They’re looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic and basement are clean and free of unnecessary items.  Organize the garage. This is often a place that becomes cluttered.

 

Bathrooms Help Sell Homes
Make bathrooms sparkle. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. Enhance your bathroom with flowers, guest towels, and your best mats and shower curtains.

Pay Attention to Detail
Loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, pushed-out screens and other minor flaws can detract from your home’s appeal!

Coloring the Night with Light
Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights – both inside and outside – when showing your home in the evening. Lights add color and warmth, and make prospects feel welcome.

Closets Are Important
Closets look their best when they are orderly and not too full. Be sure the lights work and pack away items unused to make them look more spacious. Great time to box up unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.

Don’t Turn Your Home into a Second-Hand Store
When prospects come to view your home, don’t distract them with offers to sell those furnishings you no longer need. You may lose the biggest sale of all.  And remember it shows best if YOU ARE NOT AT HOME!

Make it Inviting
Be sure the front entrance is clean and inviting. Paint the gutters, downspouts and the front door. Also sweep the walks, steps and driveway.

Touch Up
A small investment in paint for the inside and outside helps. Remember to choose neutral colors.

Avoid Crowd Scenes
Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they’re likely to hurry through. Just don’t be there for showing if at all possible!

Smells – Get them out –see Brutal Honesty 101!

Holly & Bo with milkbone toyThis is one of the most overlooked and most critical tips of all!  I LOVE my dogs, but regardless of how many baths they have – pets still have odors!

Choose a professional Realtor, and seek their advice on how to maximize your profit

Remember it is our job at Success Realty to help you find the things that may be stumbling blocks to selling.

Let us be part of your Success Story and we will promise to be truthful with you about your home.

Contact Michelle today at

706-207-2502 to start your Success Story!

 

 

 

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Brutal Honesty 101 – Tips for Athens GA Home Sellers

Dear Potential Success Realty Seller,

You know that carpet in your house that you really don’t like….newsflash….nobody else does either and you are fooling yourself by saying “it’s not that bad”.

Perhaps one of the most valuable things a REALTOR® can help you with is an honest opinion coupled with a lot of market knowledge.

It can be hard for your friends and family to be honest with you about certain things.  When you consult with the Success Realty team, we will lay it on the line.  Saying “we’ve got a problem to discuss” isn’t meant to hurt your feelings.  It is meant to resolve a potential problem!

Man holding smelly socks and clogged nose over black backgroundHave you heard of Nose Blindness?  If you live in a house every day you become accustomed to whatever is going on there, whether it be food odors, pets, or just minor things like fragrance.  Smells greatly affect people, even minor odors can put a potential buyer off.

Inventory levels are LOW!  But even with low inventory, buyers are still particular.  It is still critical that your home be shown in the best light that it can be and that means from photo number one on the internet to the day they walk through the door.

We know you have to live in your home, but clean the stuff off the front of the refrigerator, move as much clutter into covered areas as possible, and touch up minor needed repairs!  When we consult with you, we will walk through and give you an honest and open evaluation of your property.  Please, just promise you won’t be offended and that you will join the team effort to sell your home by resolving any problems.

Best foot forward…many buyers today would rather have a move-in ready home than purchase a fix it up potential or sweat equity project.  Between their work schedules and family time, they may just not have the time to consider the projects that need to be done.  So talking about get your home in good condition to maximize your profit and minimize time on the market is crucial!  If that sounds a little overwhelming to you, don’t worry!  We have relationships with some great folks in the area that can help you with all the things needed to get ready.  

So if you are considering selling your home, and want a brutally honest evaluation that gives you all your options, contact us today because we are dedicated to your Real Estate Success Story!

 

We look forward to being of service!

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Click here to view our Featured Homes for Sale

Click here to search all of the Athens MLS

 

 

 

 

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Oglethorpe County, Georgia Real Estate Market Report 6/2015

Oglethorpe County 6-15

 

WOW, one of the exciting pieces of this story is that median home values in Oglethorpe County, GA have recovered/increased a whopping 17+% over the prior 12 months!

That means your home may be worth more than you think! If you have been considering selling, but thought you had lost too much equity to do so right now we’d love to show you what we can do.

The Days on Market above is for the prior 12 months; the Days on Market in Oglethorpe County for sales in the prior 90 day is MUCH lower at only 83 days!

And if you want more no obligation information,

just register here: http://bit.ly/OgleMktRep

We want to help you get started on your Real Estate Success Story today!

Madison County, GA Real Estate Market Report 2/2015

The real estate market report is looking good for Madison County, GA!

Madison County Market Report 2-2015

Affordable Athens Georgia Homes For Sale!

Are you beginning that search for an Athens, GA area home? 

Are you a student planning to attend the University of Georgia?

Are you currently renting? 

Did you know that it’s very possible to find a home with a lower monthly mortgage payment than what typical rents are in Athens, GA?

Are you searching for affordable Athens, Georgia homes for sale?

If so, welcome!  At Success Realty, we can help you find the perfect, affordable home for needs in the Athens, GA area!  In many instances, your mortgage payment will be less than what you would pay for rent for a comparable home in the Athens area.

Below are a few of our affordable, featured properties at this time, but if you don’t see what you are looking for, please call us at 706-543-1553.  We have many more Athens, GA area homes on the market and will help you find the perfect home to purchase.  You are also invited to search the Athens GA MLS, just click here.

 

Home for sale at 611 Piedmont Road, Hull, GA 30646 ~ offered for $115,000

Front

New on the Market and Newly Remodeled! More photos coming soon!  New on the Market and Newly Remodeled! Tip top shape from top to bottom, features a fully updated kitchen with new cabinets, new countertops, new stainless appliances, and new flooring. Baths have been updated with new fixtures and tile recently. New laminate wood floors in the living room and hallway. New tankless water heater – super efficient! New light fixtures, including gorgeous ceiling fans. New exterior doors. New windows! New paint on interior and exterior! New moisture barrier! Pretty much updated everything! Features great fenced rear yard, and a huge covered patio.

 

Home for sale at 809 Sandy Cross Road, Lexington, GA 30648 ~ Offered for $79,900

809 Sandy Cross Road

RENOVATED!  New carpet, new vinyl flooring, new lighting fixtures, new countertops in the kitchen and the bathrooms and some new door hardware.  New HVAC!  Move in ready home features 3 bedrooms and 2 baths and is situated on 0.99 +- acres.

Click here to see more listings!

You are also invited to search the Athens GA MLS, just click here.