All About Georgia Real Estate

By Bion Grady, Douglas County Real Estate Specialist
(Maximum One Greater Atlanta Realtors)
For many Douglasville residents, the choice of their next Douglasville home is between existing homes and new ones. For those whose initial house-hunting forays produce little more than sticker shock, there’s a third, less popular option: building your own Douglasville home!While there are plenty of examples of success for those choosing the third path, by the time that option is move-in ready, the end result may not have significantly reduced the bottom line. Especially now, with supply snags and inflation weighing heavily on construction costs, building your own Douglasville home isn’t a sure way to greatly ease the financial burden. As dozens of online checklists reveal, building your own home involves many more details than just buying a lot and hiring a contractor. Here’s a shorten...
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By Bion Grady, Douglas County Real Estate Specialist
(Maximum One Greater Atlanta Realtors)
The web has long since upended the public library as the principal dispensary of the latest research on publicly accessible information—so much so that the libraries themselves rate their offering of free computer access as one of the prime reasons why “Going to the library” is “the most common cultural activity in America” (if you find that hard to believe, check out this Chicago Tribune explanation).When Dallas real estate data, like the latest local trends and activity, become a central point of inquiry, the internet’s easy 24/7 accessibility would seem to offer a giant step forward. In some respects, that can be true—but always with the proviso that the trustworthiness of online data should always be confirmed by multiple sources and they should be checked to confirm that those sour...
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By Bion Grady, Douglas County Real Estate Specialist
(Maximum One Greater Atlanta Realtors)
Powder Springs’s Memorial Day capped a weekend that had all the expected Mem Day activities—including the feeling that summer is close at hand. Actual summer may not arrive in Powder Springs until the summer solstice on Wednesday—but especially in years like this one, when Memorial Day is just a few days removed from the start of hurricane season (officially on Thursday), it clearly marks high time to check whether enough charcoal briquettes overwintered from last fall.You don’t have to have a primary or vacation home that might be affected by hurricanes to mark June 1 as the point in the year when summer weather makes news. The official start of hurricane season is said to be when mid-Atlantic storms usually begin to get going in earnest. Ninety-seven percent of Atlantic tropical cyclo...
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By Bion Grady, Douglas County Real Estate Specialist
(Maximum One Greater Atlanta Realtors)
Last week, reporters for Long Island’s Newsday reported an Oyster Bay real estate item that attracted national attention due to its sellers’ identity. Singer/songwriting legend Billy Joel had put his “Middlesea” estate on the market, listing it for a nifty $49 million.That sum would purchase the 5-bedroom, 8-bath, 20,000 sq ft mansion, as well as a 3-bedroom beach house, bowling alley, in-ground swimming pool, and the helicopter pad that enables avoiding those irritating Long Island summertime traffic jams. But a quick sale may be far from a done deal. BJ once tried to sell it for $10 million more than the $22 million he paid for it in 2002, but Newsday writes “no one would put bread in the Piano Man’s jar” back then—so it was withdrawn from the market until last week.The scarcity of re...
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By Bion Grady, Douglas County Real Estate Specialist
(Maximum One Greater Atlanta Realtors)
Even for homeowners who moved into a new Douglasville house as recently as a few years ago, the pace of technological advance is such that it’s easy to lose track of many fledgling household products that use technology in new and useful ways. Whereas earlier introductions often qualified as little more than nifty, fun-to-mess-with gadgets, many newer arrivals are well worth looking into:· More than just a cold storage unit, some smart refrigerators can sport touchscreens that put recipes right there where the ingredients are kept. They allow grocery list inputting—and make online grocery ordering quick and simple. Once Douglasville users get used to the convenience, it’s easy to see why running the household kitchen with a dumb ol’ fridge may one day become a relic of the past.· Smart ...
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By Bion Grady, Douglas County Real Estate Specialist
(Maximum One Greater Atlanta Realtors)
The advantage that is tapped into when an owner decides to engage the services of a professional Powder Springs staging firm has been demonstrated time and again, so you’d think that most sellers would choose to claim that resource. Although no one tracks the Powder Springs statistics, you can bet that the majority of local sellers don’t even interview a professional stager, despite the proven value their service brings. That fact will come as good news for those who do—it creates an advantage that puts them ahead of the crowd.The reasons may include reluctance to grant the power to make decisions about how the property is to be presented to the buying public. After all, it’s THEIR house, not the stagers’! But most owners will agree that the whole point of hiring a pro is to take advant...
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By Bion Grady, Douglas County Real Estate Specialist
(Maximum One Greater Atlanta Realtors)
At last week came the long-awaited official pronouncement of the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to interfering with almost every aspect of U.S. economic activity, it had played havoc with the usual patterns expected for Douglasville’s spring selling season. This year, although the week may have ended on a decidedly positive note, up until midweek the national real estate news looked less like what you’d expect in May and more like what’s normal for the middle of a sleepy summer: that is, nothing much happening.That didn’t stop U.S. headline writers from creating positive-sounding ways to embellish the ‘not-much-happening’ details. Typical was Mortgage News Daily’s lead story, “Mortgage Application Volume Boosted by Fed Comments.” That certainly sounded good—both home purchase...
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By Bion Grady, Douglas County Real Estate Specialist
(Maximum One Greater Atlanta Realtors)
With Powder Springs housing activity up and down, one impactful facet remains: there still aren’t enough properties to choose from. To many, this fact is a downer: a drag on home sales totals, an impediment to buyers who face stubborn seller's market asking prices, and a stubborn roadblock to many would-be homeowners whose incomes won’t quite stretch.But (as the old saying goes) in adversity lurks opportunity. When it comes to how that might apply to Powder Springs housing, The National Association of Realtors® spelled it out in last month’s Real Estate News article. The advice was intended for their readership—the nation’s brokers and agents—but “4 Property Investment Opportunities Created by the Downturn” can be equally enlightening for their clients.The piece isolated four main point...
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By Bion Grady, Douglas County Real Estate Specialist
(Maximum One Greater Atlanta Realtors)
Dallas real estate observers got a welcome end-of-the-week boost from Friday afternoon’s USA Today housing market report. Although its headline included a question mark (“Housing market on the rise?”), there was little question that some of the factors that had been weighing down national activity were shifting in a positive direction. Singled out in housing and economy correspondent S. Ramaswamy’s report:· Mortgage bankers’ latest numbers showed “both mortgage and refinance applications” increasing over the previous week.· Average rates on 30-year fixed mortgages dropped for the second week in a row—a “welcome departure” from previous trends.· From Freddie Mac, a finding that inflation’s rate of growth has moderated “and is expected to decelerate over the remainder of 2023.”· Elevated ...
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By Dagmar Sands, International Real Estate Agent, CIPS, FIPC, ABR
(Real Estate International, Inc.)
Image via Unsplash; Article by Alice Robertson.------------------------------------------------------------------------Homeownership continues to be the American dream, even for those with less-than-stellar credit. If you are in this boat, then consider these tips from All Racing Products for improving your credit report, saving for a down payment, and getting your piece of the American dream.Focus On Fixing Your CreditIf you have poor credit, the first thing you need to do is review your credit report and get your finances back on the right track. When reviewing your report, you want to check for errors. If you notice any false charges or loans you didn’t take out, report this to the credit bureau immediately.Next, you want to use the information on your credit report to decide what ca...
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By Paul Eastwood, Buying Buddy IDX CRM
(Buying Buddy)
Attention agents and brokers! Big news: Buying Buddy® IDX CRM has formed a new relationship with Georgia MLS (GAMLS) for a new data feed integration. This means GAMLS members can use Buying Buddy's advanced lead capture tools, customizable property search, and intelligent lead management on their real estate websites, thanks to this powerful IDX plugin.With Buying Buddy, you can easily manage leads and contacts from your real estate website, all from a simple dashboard. The platform's automated drip campaigns and action plans are integrated with property data, making it easy to follow up with leads and stay top-of-mind with your prospects. And with the intelligent lead management, you can track and analyze a lead's home search activities.This integration between Buying Buddy and GAMLS i...
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By Jeanne Dufort, Madison and Lake Oconee GA
(Coldwell Banker Lake Country)
One of the benefits of longevity in the business is helping clients work though the stages of life.I met the sellers of this custom brick ranch home on 5 acres more than 10 years ago, when they were wrapping up a long time in the horse world - breeding, training, and showing horses. They were approaching retirement age, and it was time to sell the custom cape cod home on 17 acres with a beautiful 8 stall barn. Once I found the buyer for their last farm, I helped them buy this lovely ranch home - the 5 acres had just enough pasture space for their last retired mare to graze, and the unfinished basement had plenty of room for storage.They really loved this home - but health concerns led them to choose a local assisted living facility. So once again I was called in to help them find a new ...
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By Manfred Lewis Leslie Horne & Associates, Realtor Spartanburg and Greenville SC
(Leslie Horne &Associates )
Stop waiting for the perfect moment to buy your dream home; it may never come. Houses are selling fast, and the time it takes you to decide to take the leap on your dream home may be all the time it takes for somebody else to snatch it up. Send me a message, and let's make your homeownership dreams a reality today! 🏡💙 #thehelpfulagent #home #houseexpert #house #listreports #househunting #realestate #realtor #realestateagent #dreamhome #happyhome #happyhomeowners
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By Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTACONDOS.COM, Associate Broker
(Harry Norman, REALTORS® )
This spacious and modern one bedroom, one bath condo is located in the desirable Brookhaven area of Atlanta. It is conveniently located and close to major highways such as GA400, I-85, I-75, and the MARTA station. The unit has been recently renovated and features an open floor plan, granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances giving it a modern and stylish feel. Residents at Peachtree Place will enjoy the resort-style amenities of the 24-hour gated community with a swimming pool, spa, two level fitness center, a business center, theater, and billiard room. Within a short distance to major shops like Lenox Square Mall, Phipps Plaza, fabulous restaurants, parks and many more entertainment venues. All this just one mile north of Lenox Road in Brookhaven with Dekalb taxes. This is an ex...
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By Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTACONDOS.COM, Associate Broker
(Harry Norman, REALTORS® )
Welcome to Cotting Court Midtown Atlanta. This beautifully appointed one bedroom, one bath condo is located in the heart of Midtown and is the perfect place to call home. Enjoy a spacious and open floor plan with hardwood floors throughout. The kitchen features stainless steel appliances, granite countertops perfect for entertaining. The living area is light and airy with large windows and a fireplace. The unit also includes a washer and dryer and a private balcony. Enjoy views of Atlanta's skyline from the balcony off of the living room. The master bedroom features an ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet. This unit also features one dedicated garage parking spot. You'll have access to all the amenities the building has to offer, such as a private pool and gym. This amazing property is c...
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By Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTACONDOS.COM, Associate Broker
(Harry Norman, REALTORS® )
This condo is rarely available as one of only 12 of the larger floorplans in the building. Unit faces south with spectacular panoramic views of entire Atlanta skyline! Three large bedrooms with ensuite baths, a powder room plus a den/office or media room. Other special features are a marble clad fireplace in the open concept family room, recessed lighting throughout with dimmers, custom paint and built ins in the living room and den. Beautiful hardwood floors throughout with carpet in the bedrooms, tile backsplash and granite counters in the kitchen with stainless steel appliances. One Vinings Mountain has exceptional amenities including: infinity-edge heated pool and hot tub, health club, pet-park, indoor golf room, fireside game room/library, complimentary coffee bar, workshop, confer...
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By Hank Miller, SRA, Associate Broker & Certified Appraiser
(Ansley Real Estate/Christie's International)
At this point - beginning of March '23, the spring market in Atlanta is just beginning to stir. January popped as rates dropped, but the subsequent increases slowed buyers. We're also seeing the shortage of inventory impact sales, just haven't seen the same bump as years past.The key over the next two months is inventory, if it remains scarce the number of sales will remain low and values will continue to hold and increase again. Simple supply and demand.Here's a look at what home sellers around Atlanta should expect.Here's a look at what home buyers around Atlanta should expect.
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By Hank Miller, SRA, Associate Broker & Certified Appraiser
(Ansley Real Estate/Christie's International)
If you see this siding on a home, light the caution lamp. Known by many names, Louisiana inner seal siding failure is routinely found in homes mainly across the south and midwest. LP/GP siding, OSB siding, fiberboard siding....they all share a main disastrous trait - delamination.in brief, water seeps into this siding mainly on the edges and nail holes. Once that happens, think of how a dry sponge soaks up water. Then consider the impact over years and years...the siding get to the point where it falls apart.See more - The Problems with Louisiana Pacific siding.
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By Rick Ferguson, ATL Commercial Real Estate 678 209 3100
(Georgia Brokers Real Estate-Atlanta, Georgia)
Client of this commercial property has leased in the past to tree companies and general contractors. The reason is it's central location, nice office layout and large yard for material and equipment. The issue is these working type of companies are hard on the property, the yard becomes a mud pit, the building gets banged up etc.So I am attempting to change direction and lease to a creative type of company; photographer, artists etc.Please give me your thoughts!Thank youRick678 209 3100Rickferguson@ATL-cre.com  New Creative Space is Available on a Large Property Office/Studio/Retail- 1,872 sf on approx. 05 acre 3913 Flowers Rd Atlanta, GA 30360 $3,850.00 per mo. Incudes Office Building, Rear Studio & Lot Completely Renovated Close to Assembly & Third Rail StudiosPerfect for: Photographe...
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By Hank Miller, SRA, Associate Broker & Certified Appraiser
(Ansley Real Estate/Christie's International)
I feel no empathy for any of these home builders as they whine and snivel about losing money. None. Zero, Nada. Home builders just don't care.Buyers of mine in the Atlanta area have a 950K home under construction, the finishing looks like it was done using a chainsaw free handed. From over cuts to gaps to smashed and chipped wood - and the builder could not care less. "It's to standard"....the routine answer.New home buyers that go in unrepresented are making the biggest mistake possible. They have no idea what they are in for at every step of the way. The site agent is legally bound to represent ONLY the builder, any issues will go their way. Additionally, those buyers that think they'll be "credited" the buyer commission are sadly mistaken, that will not happen. Test that; tell the si...
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