Posts with tag 'Homes for Sale'

NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO BE A BUYER OR A SELLER OR BOTH

The best selling/buying time of the year begins about the middle of February to the first of March. People start to look around for finding a bigger or smaller house in the spring, plus those who plan to move when school lets out begin the process in the spring.

This year, the interest rates are behaving and are still historically low. Rates will probably go higher by 2020, so the time to take advantage of these low rates is now. Do not be a fence sitter because these opportunities do not last forever.  It is a great time to be a buyer.

Inventory levels are still low in our area, so demand is high. Multiple offers are now commonplace. Offers are usually on the higher end, so it is a great time to be a seller, too.

Spring into Spring and list your home, then buy or build your dream home or one that better me...

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The "Slow Season" of Real Estate

The Holiday Season is a time for being with your family and friends and celebrating. You would think real estate is the furthest thing from someone's mind. It is not uncommon, in our business, for a homeowner to take their listing off for the holidays or wait to list a property until after the first of the year. The general opinion is that buyers will not be focused on a home search around the holidays. Most corporations will not relocate an employee this close to the end of the year either. Many people believe that properties take a longer time to sell and average sale prices drop, during the holiday season, but is that true?

The spring time is considered our busiest time in real estate...

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One of the most common questions I receive is what happens if we have a low appraisal? Most real estate contracts are contingent upon the property appraising for the sales price. The appraisal is ordered by the lender but typically paid for by the buyer, unless negotiated otherwise. A low appraisal can be common in a hot market where home values are rising faster than the comparable sales can keep up. The good news is that a low appraisal does not mean the deal is over. In fact, we are able to work out most low appraisals.

One option you have is to appeal the appraisal. This is when you need to lean on your Realtor to find suitable comparable sales that will support your contract price. Appraisers can make mistakes and overlook sales. Make sure you or your Realtor look at off-market sales and not just transactions on the local MLS. Once you have some transactions that you think will support the value, the buyer's lender will send these to the appraiser to see if they warrant...

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Tax-Free Exchange for Dummies

You probably have heard of tax-free exchanges or maybe you have completed one yourself. If you are a real estate investor and you are not using 1031 Tax-free exchanges, you certainly should be. With a 1031 exchange, you are able to defer paying taxes on the sale of a property. If you reinvest the proceeds in a new property, this is considered an "exchange" rather than a sale. This will allow you to avoid a large capital gains tax.

The legislation and "rules" for tax-free exchanges are constantly changing so it is important to stay up to date with the latest changes. As it stands now, both properties involved must be investment properties, whether you intend to lease the new property or flip the home for profit. For example, you cannot sell an investment home, then put the profit into a property that you intend to live in yourself, and avoid taxes. Also, the home or property you are buying must be equal to or worth...

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Spring Selling Season Continues

The spring time is the best time to sell your home. More homes are sold from, the spring time to the fall, than any other time of the year (per GAMLS). Real estate correlates with both the weather and school year. Buyers prefer to look at homes when the weather is nice. Families prefer to move their families once the school year is over. Children are already out of school then and do not have to change schools mid-year. The last day of school for Coweta County, in 2018, is May 25^th. When considering the average market time to sell, a 30-60 day closing process, its best to list in the spring to accomplish a late spring or summer move.

The first day of spring, officially, began on March 20^th. As a Realtor, we have seen activity pick up tremendously the last two months. Home owners have listed their homes for this busy time and contacted real estate agents for assistance in pricing and market...

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