Monthly newsletter covering the real estate market for Metro Atlanta and surrounding counties. Includes market reports and general articles of interest.
Page 1 April 2013 Reports Trace the History of Your Home-to-Be A house is probably the biggest purchase you’ll make. So finding out all you can about the home-to-be is essential. It’s all about the history of your home, and several companies have sprung up across North America to enlighten potential buyers as they begin their home search. These organizations provide inexpensive reports that include a history of the home dating back years. That means you can find out about additions and repairs through building permits and leaky roofs via insurance claims. Previous selling prices and even some of the more unsavory aspects of the home, such as a history as a drug lab, are available. Some firms also will provide names of the companies that made previous additions (such as swimming pools), so you can follow up if you like the workmanship, or if you don’t. In the U.S., one company offering this service is BuildFax; buyers can obtain a report through their real estate agent. But if you have time and energy, you can also conduct searches yourself; virtually all the information is contained in official records, available to the public at little or no cost. History reports like these can help potential buyers avoid unpleasant surprises at closing time or later down the road. A track record of problems might make a house a lot more expensive to insure, but if a potential buyer knows about the issues before purchasing, he or she could decide against buying the home or at the very least will be prepared for the additional costs. WONDER WHAT YOUR HOME IS WORTH Pricing is crucial How has the price of your home changed in today’s real estate market? Wonder what home’s are selling for in your neighborhood? Call or email me. I will be happy to provide you with current market information with no obligation. Are you or someone you know struggling to make mortgage payments? As a short sale expert, I may be able to help. All information will be kept confi- dential. I have helped many fam- ilies avoid foreclosure. Learn what options are available to you. Call me: 770-617-5146 Or email me: [email protected]SHORT SALE HELP MARKET WATCH Detached - Metro Atlanta January 2013 vs January 2012 January 2013 January 2012 % Change UNITS CLOSED ↓4% AVERAGE SALES PRICE MEDIAN SALES PRICE AVERAGE DOM 100 3,173 $136,000 $185,248 $150,347 3,292 $ 99,000 122 ↓22% ↑19 ↑27%
Transcript
Page 1
April 2013
Reports Trace the History of
Your Home-to-Be A house is probably the biggest purchase you’ll make. So finding out all you can about the home-to-be is essential.
It’s all about the history of your home, and several companies have sprung up across North America to enlighten potential buyers as they begin their home search.
These organizations provide inexpensive reports that include a history of the home dating back years.
That means you can find out about additions and repairs through building permits and leaky roofs via insurance claims.
Previous selling prices and even some of the more unsavory aspects of the home, such as a history as a drug lab, are available.
Some firms also will provide names of the companies that made previous additions (such as swimming pools), so you can follow up if you like the workmanship, or if you don’t.
In the U.S., one company offering this service is BuildFax; buyers can obtain a report through their real estate agent. But if you have time and energy, you can also conduct searches yourself; virtually all the information is contained in official records, available to the public at little or no cost.
History reports like these can help potential buyers avoid unpleasant surprises at closing time or later down the road.
A track record of problems might make a house a lot more expensive to insure, but if a potential buyer knows about the issues before purchasing, he or she could decide against buying the home or at the very least will be prepared for the additional costs.
MARKET WATCH Detached - Metro Atlanta January 2013 vs January 2012
January 2013
January 2012
% Change
UNITS CLOSED ↓4%
AVERAGE SALES PRICE
MEDIAN SALES PRICE
AVERAGE DOM 100
3,173
$136,000
$185,248 $150,347
3,292
$ 99,000
122 ↓22%
↑19
↑27%
Page 2
MARKET ACTIVITY FOR YOUR AREA Detached Homes
Fourth Quarter 2012
AVG SALES PRICE 4Q2012
AVG SALES PRICE 3Q2012
Forsyth 4.71% 30.45% -22.92% 4
Fulton
Gwinnett
Hall 1
Jackson Not Avail-able
Not Avail-able
Not Avail-able
Not Avail-able
N/A Not Availa-ble
-3.05%
$207,401
10 12.92% -14.56%
$196,242
$194,998 $206,605
14 10.33% 11.09% -28.93% $128,648 $142,722
0.84% 11.40% -37.91% $121,386 $122,936
COUNTY RANK
Growth Quarter 4Q2012
Growth 1 Year
Growth 5 Years
Growth rate for Georgia
Rank: 51
Growth 3Q2012: 0.95%
Growth 1 Year: -3.82%
Growth 5 Years: -21.43%
MLS Data retrieved statistical data from: *Office of Federal Housing Finance Agency: www.fhfa.gov ** Courthouse Retrieval System
Growth rate for Atlanta
Rank: 343
Growth 4Q2012: 1.10%
Growth 1 Year: -2.52%
Growth 5 Years: -23.65%
GWINNETT 442
FORSYTH 59
FULTON 554
HALL 111
JACKSON 51
FORECLOSURES COUNTY BY COUNTY and AROUND THE COUNTRY
COUNTY FEBRUARY 2013
ACROSS AMERICA Units
California 18,003
Florida 31,726
Illinois 12,671
Ohio 10,553
Georgia 5,767
Michigan 6,263
Texas 5,411
Arizona 3,999
Washington 4,362
Pennsylvania 3,950
Ask the Agent: This Month’s Question
What do I need to do to sell my
home this spring?
Putting your house on the market this spring? Be ready to grab a vacuum and basic toolkit.
Keeping your home well maintained and clean may be more effective – and economical – than attempting costly renovations.
So, mow the lawn, trim the bushes, and weed the garden. Bring the spring weather inside with quality flower arrangements at the front entrance.
Paint your walls in neutral colors; it will make rooms look brighter, and it will be easier for new owners to paint over if they choose.
Put out fresh guest towels for tours by potential buyers, and keep your home clutter-free.
Some people hire professional cleaners to come regularly while their home is on the market, while others rent storage space. Hold a garage sale. Just remember to store your sale items behind closed doors during viewings.
Why Not Pass Me
to a Friend?
If you’ve enjoyed this newslet-ter and found its information useful, please pass it to a
neighbor, friend or co-worker.
And if you have any com-ments about it, don’t forget to give me a call or send me an
Spring has sprung, the grass has riz … I wonder where the plumber is.
This riff on the poem, “Spring in the Bronx,” highlights other rites of the season: renovating and redecorating.
There’s nothing quite like sunlight pouring through our open curtains to inspire us, so every year at this time we start to think about changing our surroundings.
Spring’s latest trends may be just the thing to bring new life to your old home.
And because it’s even more important if you’re thinking about selling, you’ll be pleased to know there are some inexpensive quick fixes to brighten your surroundings.
This year is all about color: Pastels are everywhere (Benjamin Moore’s color of 2013 is called Lemon Sorbet), but so are muted blues, which have been proclaimed the new neutrals.
Pastels are a great way to lighten and brighten without dominating. For the potential seller, an accent wall in soft yellow complements neutrals and won’t turn off buyers.
While summer is still months away, bring the look of the outdoors in now. Let garden furniture assume center stage, and introduce the sunshine with sheer window coverings; it’s the best way to establish a link with nature.
This year, we’re reacting to our high-tech lifestyles by connecting to all things earthy.
A “new” traditional style features classic with a twist, such as a sofa with simple lines upholstered in a strong color.
It’s a sea change from last year's whimsical folk art and reclaimed furniture look, which nevertheless remains popular this year.
If you need new appliances, there’s a big surprise in store. Black is the new stainless steel, and even white is trending.
Lastly, you can give your home curb appeal with new door hardware in the latest metallics: brass, copper, bronze or gold. Don’t forget to paint the door in one of the new colors. Then sit back and enjoy the compliments.
Bring Home 2013 Design Trends This Spring
Craving an Out-of-This-World Vacation? If you’re looking for an out-of-this-world-vacation, you might be able to do just that … literally! Astronomers have discovered what could be another Earth.
They have been studying five planets orbiting a star called Tau Ceti, similar to the Sun. If these planets are really there, one of them is roughly the correct distance from the star to host life, oceans and mild temperatures.
But don’t book time off work just yet the discovery still needs to be confirmed.
Astronomer Mikko Tuomi at the University of Hertfordshire in the U.K. and his colleagues looked at more than 6,000 different observations of Tau Ceti from telescopes around the world. They believe small changes in the way Tau Ceti moves in space could be caused by gravitational tugs from these five planets.
Only one of the five planets (about four times as big as Earth) could host life. The others are too close to Tau Ceti. As a resident of this new Earth, you’d see a bright yellow sun in the sky, but your year would be much shorter – only 168 days.
Page 3
THIS MONTH’S QUOTE:
“We are what we
repeatedly do. Excellence,
therefore is not an act but
a habit.”
ARISTOTLE
U.S. property values continued to recover through January—the 11th consecutive month of rising prices. (FNC Residential Price Index® (RPI))
Low housing supply and declining foreclosure sales are contributing to the recovery of underlying property values.
Average list-to-sale price ratio increased to 93.5 in January, compared to 90.3 during the same period a year ago.
Smart Numbers reports 75,000 homes sold in the Metro Atlanta mar-ket for 2012—up 7% from 2011
RealValuator shows for Atlanta: 60% of transactions in 2010 were short sales and foreclosures; 47% in 2011; and, 37% in 2012.
New homes and re-sales are beginning to outpace distressed proper-ties.
Article printed from RISMedia: http://rismedia.com
URL to article: http://rismedia.com/2013-03-16/january-home-prices-rise-0-3-percent/
URLs in this post:
AtlRealEstateScoop.com
January Home Prices Rise 0.3 Percent
JANICE’S CONTRACTOR PICK OF THE MONTH
Caliber
Roofing & Construction
I have used Caliber Roofing and Construction for years —both personally and professionally. Reputable Dependable Trustworthy Knowledgeable
From roofing to screen porches to home additions or home im-provements! I would highly recommend them for your bigger home improvement jobs. Ben Mashburn 770-355-5496 Chad Mashburn 770-355-1887
NEWS YOU CAN USE Janice Slaven, REALTOR, ABR
ACTIVE PHOENIX MEMBER
This newsletter and any information contained herein are intended for
general informational purposes only and should not be construed as
legal, financial or medical advice. The publisher takes great efforts to
ensure the accuracy of information contained in this newsletter.
However, we will not be responsible at any time for any errors or
omissions or any damages, howsoever caused, that result from its use.
Seek competent professional advice and/or legal counsel with respect
to any matter discussed or published in this newsletter. This
newsletter is not intended to solicit properties currently for sale.
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