Posted on

What to know when buying a home October to December

Yes, we know the spring/summer seasons are the most popular time of year for home buyers. And this year, here in Atlanta, it was a crazy, busy, competitive season. Of course, if you were a buyer in this market, you well know what I’m talking about.

If all the craziness had you sitting on the sidelines, or losing out on a few homes, now may just be the perfect time for you to step back into the market. According to data released by Trulia, October through December is the best time of year for buyers as home inventory goes up and prices improve.

Also, in general, there are fewer buyers in the market and sellers are often eager to get their home sold and closed before the end of the year.

The combination of all of these factors make this time of year a great season to be shopping for a home and negotiating a competitive price. Speaking of negotiation – if you know me, you know I love negotiating a great deal 😉 – here are a few of the points of the deal that I like to use as leverage to get you a great deal on your home purchase during the fourth quarter.

Tax benefits

By closing before the end of the year, you will get all the tax benefits to closing in 2018.

Need to close before the end of the year

Often corporate relocations happen in the fourth quarter, so if the seller needs to have their home sold and closed on before the end of the year we can offer a nice, neat closing process to meet their end of year deadline.

Where do we want to spend the holidays?

If the sellers want to spend one last Christmas in their home or be moved out in time to spend it in their new home, this can be a great negotiation piece to make their holiday desires happen.

So, how about it? Are you ready to take advantage of the pendulum swinging closer to the buyer’s favor this season? If so, I’m happy to help you find your perfect place here in Atlanta, all wrapped up in a holiday bow.

~Jess

Posted on

Ready, Set, Fall! Fall kicks off the 2nd Largest Season for Real Estate Sales

Yes, it’s typical. In August, real estate sales can slow down as peak season buyers and sellers get settled in to their new homes, families squeeze out the last days of summer sun, and the kids head back to school. In August there is a lull before the second peak season of the year, the Fall home buying/selling season.

And we expect this year’s Fall market to be robust with the rise of the Millennial buyer and a large pool of Baby Boomer buyers in the market. The fall market is often dominated by those that don’t need to abide by the school schedule. And with the crazy season we’ve experienced during spring/summer, understandably there were lots of buyers that chose to sit out this year’s busy season. This all means that there’s likely lots of buyers out there, and with less competition and craziness in the Fall, we expect it to be a robust Fall home buying season.

So, if you have been considering selling your home, now may just be the perfect time as there are lots of buyers waiting in the wings and mortgage rates remain favorable. This is also a great time of year to capture buyers that are relocating to Atlanta for jobs and new opportunities as many companies do their relocations in the third and fourth quarter of the year.

If you are ready to jump on this prime time to capture Fall buyers, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you prepare:

Take photos sooner rather than later.

In the few weeks now before all the leaves start falling off the trees, get your home photographed. Late summer, while everything is still green and the angle of the sun is good, is an ideal time to have your photography and videography done. Even if you’re not considering selling until later in the fall or winter, getting your home filmed now will set it apart from the stark gray and leafless look of late fall and winter photography.  

List before the holiday lull kicks in.

Once Thanksgiving comes, most folks enter full-blown holiday mode and nothing much moves in the housing market. So, plan accordingly and decide if you’d like to list before or after the holidays.

Hold off on holiday decor.

If you decide to list once the holiday season – including Halloween – begins, keep your decorations modest and to a minimum. You want your home to be the star of the show, not your decorations so keep them subtle so they don’t distract would-be buyers from seeing the true beauty and character of your home.

Do create a cozy atmosphere.

Cooler weather can be a great time to highlight the indoor livability and coziness of your home. Light a fire and make sure each room of your home is well lit to help buyers feel the hominess while they’re out touring during cooler weather and shorter, darker days.

So remember, just because you didn’t list during the summer, doesn’t mean you missed your chance. Fall is a great time to sell and I’d love to help you make the most of this great time of year to list.

~Jess

Posted on

Halloween Fun!

Still looking for something new and different to do this Halloween? With the weekend coming and Halloween on a Tuesday, I feel like we have a fun excuse to make plans for the weekend AND for Halloween. Of course, with little ones, we’ll be Trick-or-Treating on Tuesday night, however, a fun date night may be in order for Saturday night! If you’re like me and looking to make some plans, here are some fun ideas I came up with. Maybe we’ll see y’all around town!

  1. Date Night – Adults-only and super scary – The Sleepy Hollow Experience

This spooky production takes place at night at the Serenbe Stables as attendees follow the action. There’s even a real headless horseman. Yikes! I’ve got goosebumps already! The production will be going on through November 5th but sells out so make plans as soon as possible. Get more info and tickets at www.serenbeplayhouse.com.

  1. Date Night – Fun with lots of laughs – The Rocky Horror Show

This live performance is frighteningly funny and great for lots of singing, laughs, and insane audience participation! If you’re not sure what I mean, watch the classic movie with your sweetie before you go. The production is going through November 5th and being held at the Out Front Theatre Company, www.outfronttheatre.com.

  1. Kid-friendly – Fun outside Atlanta – Scarecrow Trail and Pumpkin Fest, North Georgia Zoo

If you are up for a little adventure outside the city, check out the North Georgia Zoo for lots of kid-approved Halloween fun. Every weekend in October they’ve transformed the zoo into scarecrow themed fun with pumpkin patches, hayrides, and a petting zoo. Visit http://www.northgeorgiazoo.com/scarecrow-trail–pumpkin-fest.html for more information.

  1. Kid-friendly – Super cool trick-or-treating – Legoland

This is the final weekend that Legoland is hosting its unique take on Halloween with “Brick or Treat.” Stop by for a scavenger hunt, costume contest, and trick or treating…all Legoland style. You can get more information at https://atlanta.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/whats-inside/events/brick-or-treat/.

Happy Halloween y’all! Have a great weekend and Halloween night! Do you have any unique and fun ideas for Halloween? Leave a comment below and let us know how you will be spending it.

~Jess

P.S. My passion as a Realtor® is helping folks just like you have an uncomplicated real estate purchase or sale here in Atlanta. As a 3rd generation Atlantan and practicing real estate attorney, my expertise is at your disposal for expert advice and experience. Let me know how I can help you!

Posted on

Checklist Before You List

So, you’ve heard that Fall is a great time to list your home for sale and you’ve decided to put your home on the market. What’s next? If you want to earn top-dollar on your sale, you’ll need to get your home in ‘top-dollar’ shape. I would be happy to help you determine what needs to be done and prioritize based on your specific home. However, to get you started, I’ve listed here the checklist that I go over to get a home ready to list:

  1. De-clutter – Box up and clear out any unnecessary items and furniture in your home. You’ll be packing it and moving it all anyway so this is a good chance to get a jump-start.
  2. Refinish hardwood floors – If your hardwood floors need some love, now is the time to schedule a refinish so that they’ll look shiny and new for potential buyers.
  3. Paint interior and exterior – If it’s been more than 10 years since your home’s exterior has been painted or it’s looking weathered, this is a great excuse to get it scheduled and done. For the interior, a fresh coat of paint goes a long way to impressing buyers; and if you can make the walls a basic, light color it will help buyers focus on the home as a whole and not be distracted by paint colors.
  4. Walk through the entire home and critique it like a buyer – Once you’ve decided to sell, you are in the business of making your home as appealing to buyers as possible. Take a walk around your home imagining that you’re viewing it as a buyer.
  5. Take down personal photos and personal items – Removing as many personal effects in your home as possible will enable would-be buyers to see themselves in the home rather than being distracted by your personal photos and mementos.
  6. Steam-clean carpets – If you have any carpeting, make sure it has been professionally cleaned and stains removed.
  7. Organize closets and drawers – Just as you de-cluttered the rest of the home, you need to de-clutter your closets and drawers that buyers will be viewing. The storage spaces will look more expansive and attractive with less stuff in them.
  8. Critique your curb appeal – Go out to the street and take a look at your home. Critique your curb appeal. Is your landscaping well maintained? Is your driveway and sidewalk clean? Is your entryway neat, freshly painted, and welcoming?
  9. Get a professional deep clean of your home – Make your home sparkle for potential buyers by calling in the professionals for a deep clean. It’s worth every dime!
  10. Consider professional staging – Speaking of professionals, having your home professionally staged is a great way to make it stand out with buyers. A good stager can make your home look like a showpiece! In fact, I’m interviewing a local interior designer to get her inside tips for DIY staging for an upcoming blog post, so keep an eye out for that one and make sure you subscribe to the blog so you get notified.

The purpose of this list is to help your home’s beauty shine through. Find ways to highlight your home’s best features, whether it’s your magnificent hardwood floors or the breathtaking view. Connect back to why this home is so special to you to help you prepare it for others to see.

And remember, each home is unique, so I’m happy to review your home with you to prioritize and decide what will make the largest impact for your sale.

~Jess

Posted on

My Favorite Fall Festivals in Atlanta

Some of my favorite weather here happens in the Fall and what better way to get outdoors and enjoy a fun, family day than to go to local festival. Since we have two young daughters, we usually end up at family-friendly events. Here are a few of our favorites that you and your family may enjoy. Hope to see you there!

Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival – September 30-October 29, 2017

Fall would not be complete without attending a pumpkin festival and the Stone Mountain Pumpkin Fest is likely the best there is. Of course it’s all about the kids with storytelling, games, a kid’s carnival, a pumpkin patch and pie-eating contest. For details, visit: www.stonemountainpark.com/Events/Pumpkin-Festival.

Taste of Atlanta – October 20-22, 2017

If you like food, like I do, the Taste of Atlanta is a must-do! It’s a three-day shindig with four live cooking stages and food from over 80 restaurants for sampling. There are local and celebrity chefs as well as lots of demonstrations and great interactive activities for the kiddos. Bon Appetit! For more info visit: www.tasteofatlanta.com

Porches and Pies – October 21, 2017

This is a great local event that benefits local charities. And who doesn’t love pie?! There are also lots of great fun activities for the kids…and grown-ups too with live music and great food and drinks. For more info visit www.porchesandpies.com

Country Living Fair – October 27-29, 2017

Since I love just about anything having to do with home decorating and entertaining, the annual Country Living Fair is always a fun treat. There’s lots to look at and learn as well as great food and drinks. The vendors are a great mix of one of a kind items, antiques, and new trends. They also have lots of decorating and cooking demonstrations as well as live music. For more info visit: www.countryliving.com/life/a4126/country-living-fair-atlanta/.

Enjoy your fall! And remember, Fall is also a perfect time to list your home. December is historically the biggest month for closings between September and March every year. So, if you would like to explore your options and know how much your home is worth, give me a call. I’m happy to help!

~Jess