Today I’ll tell you about three things you can do to maximize your home’s value.

There are three specific things that homeowners can do to receive the biggest return on their investment and get the most money when they go to sell their house:

1. Upgrade your kitchen and master bathroom. These are the top two areas in a home where people spend their time, so they’re naturally the spaces that buyers look at first when thinking about buying your home.

2. Spruce up your curb appeal and landscaping. Since you only get one chance to make a great first impression, make sure that your front yard looks fantastic. It should have great edges, and there should be a nice contrast of color between your landscaping, your garden area, and your yard.

Since you only get one chance to make a great first impression, make sure that your front yard looks fantastic.

3. Modify your floor plan. If you have a wall that you could knock down at minimal cost, do it. If you can add square footage to a particular area in your house, go ahead and do it. Clean, open homes usually sell for more money.

If you have any questions about maximizing your home’s value or about anything...

We’ve been in a seller’s market for years, but things may soon be changing.

If you’ve listened to any local news media over the last four years, you’ve been hearing that we’re absolutely in a seller’s market.

However, we’ve done some research and have found that it’s shifting right now toward a neutral market—perhaps even a buyer’s market. We tracked this by using an absorption report that we receive on a monthly basis. On top of this, we’re also seeing an increase in the average days on market for listed homes.

This means that if you’re looking to sell your home within the next three to five years, you should seriously consider getting it sold before the market shifts to favor buyers.

If you have ideas for any video topics we should cover, let us know! Otherwise, feel free to reach out to us with any questions you have or for more information. We look forward to helping you.

We hope your 2019 is filled with joy and love. Here’s our team’s message to you.

Happy New Year to all of our clients and friends. We want to wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2019. It’s been almost 15 years that we’ve been serving clients, and we’re very pleased and thankful for your support. We hope you and your family have a terrific 2019.

Selling Your Home?  Buyer Provide Great Feedback

by: Stan Jones Stan Jones Realty Team Powered By Virtual Properties 

Buyer don't have to say anything to say a lot.  They are not confused in their silence.

Buyers shop for a home and select 5-7 homes online.  They discern the best handful of homes that could match what they are looking for.  Their realtor sends them homes that matche their criteria.  From this, the buyer has a list of homes to see.

When the buyer visits a home they are ready to purchase. When the buyer sees homes of interest they ask more questions and express interest to make an offer. When the homes matches closely the buyer's criteria the buyer usually is making an offer.

What does the feedback tell you when you are selling your home?

1.  If the home is priced right, it gets offers in the first 2 weeks of listing - usually even quicker than that.

2. If you (seller) are getting steady showings and no offers (or low offers) then it is one of two things causing your home to not sell.  Price or condition.  If the conidition is good...then it's price.  Nothing else.

3.  If you are receiving sporadic showings and not offers, then it is clearly price.  There are no other variables.  Buyers can see pictures online and most of the time they can't tell if there are condition issues. So, the only factor is price.  I've heard some people blame their realtor at this point. I've been around this business too long to know that this reasoning is just not acceptable. Why is it that all marketing is consistent across the board for real estate listed homes.  If the agent is consistently selling lots of homes then it is impossible to pinpoint the realtor to say they are not doing a good job on one home and not another one. ...

Get a Review of Your Homeowners Insurance Coverage Annually.  

Why? 

Because you may have coverage shortages. 

Your Rates may have increased.

There may be better plans this year.

Also....

TIPS FOR TALKING WITH YOUR INSURANCE AGENT

Words of Wisdom from Preston Murphy..... please read. 

Winter is coming ???? [for the real estate market]. 

...by the way, it lasts for YEARS, typically. Longer than many of you have been practicing. 

As you see from the photo, from October 2006 to March 2012 our industry LOST almost 30% of the agent population. 

?? Are you prepared? 
?? Will your business survive the impending shift? 

In light of ‘4 million reasons’, most Realtors are currently relying on two things to prop up his/her business in our current market:

Want a better solution? TEXT RECAREER to 474747 and jump start a new path to a real career in Real Estate.

1?? the most robust market we’ve seen in a decade (not actually skill-based results). You happen-upon someone who wants to buy, sell, or invest in real estate because it’s the “thing to do” & you think your business is growing. It’s not. Don’t get caught in that trap. 

...and, btw, we’re actually on track to close fewer deals this year in the USA versus last year (in case you were thinking things are still on the way up nationally)

2?? many of you are also relying on your brokerage’s...

by: Stan Jones                                                                                                                National Real Estate Coach                                                                                         CEO The Stan Jones Team

Selling a home is stressful.  It's likely the biggest investment of a person's life.  Physically moving puts a toil on a person's mind, body, and soul.  Ripping up a person's 'nest' that is layered with memory after memory can be down right overwhelming.  Yet, with this selling a home can be incredibly rewarding as well. Moving to a different area, neighborhood, home style is a breath of fresh air.  New friends in the community.  New layout to decorate and make it yours.

Selling a home can be accomplished in multiple ways. Doing it along by FSBO and hiring a realtor are the most popular.  93% of homes were sold by a professional real estate agent in 2017.

Now there is a new player in town.  The so called iBuyer.  An iBuyer is a company who buys your home and allows a seller to close and move on their timing.  Wow! Now that is nice!  As a seller you get to control the timing.  In tradition real estate that is not probable.

The question is "At what cost does a seller pay for the convenience of choosing your own closing day/time?"

Take a look at the Forbes article about the iBuyer companies (90% choose not to go with the iBuyer... that's...

Your Home SOLD Guaranteed!

     The Jones Realty Group is excited to serve you with your real estate needs! Our team is ready to serve you and we Guarantee your home to be sold or we will sell it for FREE!

     Schedule your FREE no obligation 30 minute consultation today!  This consultation will provide a true home's value along with a professional marketing plan to get top dollar for the sale of your home.

CLICK HERE and get started NOW with your Guaranteed Sale!

SELL YOUR HOME Guaranteed

How to Make a Competitive Offer in a Multiple Offer Situation

In today’s competitive market, homes can come and go in a matter of days. It’s likely that buyers will be caught in a multiple-offer situation while hunting for their dream home. If you’re looking to move, here are some tricks of the trade that will help make your offer strong and stand out from the rest.

If at all Possible, Pay in Cash

If you’re able to make an all-cash offer, do it. Making a cash offer gives you a competitive edge over other bidders. Sellers love cash offers because there are fewer hoops to jump through before closing. Home buyers who pay in cash can move through the closing process much faster than those who are financing.  Our preferred lenders have the ability to give you a fully underwritten Preapproval letter if you submit documents and start the loan process before you find a house.  This give you the ability to compete as a Cash buyer, thus, highly increasing your Competitive Advantage.

Personalize Your Offer

If a seller has multiple offers, make sure yours Stands Out! We have our clients write their family stories. You could send a handwritten note that tells the sellers all you love about the home and personal details – like how you can’t wait to make the guest bedroom your child’s new play space! If you want to get really personal, include a photo of your family; this will help the sellers put faces to your offer, too! Many sellers want to know...

Mortgage Interest Rates - How Much Do They Affect Buying A Home?

by Stan Jones, Keller Williams Realty 678.467.7554

The Federal Reserve has lifted interest rates, and Chairman Jerome Powell signaled that the U.S. economy wasn’t in danger of overheating. 

What do interest rates do to your monthly mortgage payment?

A $250,000 mortgage amount would look like this

If interest rates rise from 4.5% to 5.5% and the mortgage is for 30 years the total increase in payment for the life of the loan would be approx. $55,185.  

Call us today at 678.467.7554 to learn more how to get qualified for a mortgage and best practice to purchase a home today!

A little about Jerome Powell...

Jerome Powell was confirmed by the Senate in January to become the 16th chair of the Federal Reserve, and occupied his new post on Feb. 3, replacing the successful and widely admired Janet Yellen. The March FOMC meeting will be his first as Fed chair.

The former ...

Real Estate Careers with the Stan Jones Team

The Stan Jones Team is expanding. Full time positions in our organization include benefits, a fun atmosphere, and a strong compensation plan. Our company has great culture and is committed to your success through accountability and training. We are goal oriented professionals who are committed to our clients needs and will do what it takes to achieve the highest customer service for our valued clients and exceed our goals for success

Visit the link below and complete a brief application and then follow instructions below

GENERAL APPLICATION QUESTIONS

Buyer Specialist

We are seeking a driven, achiever with a track record of success to join our growing sales team. If you are persuasive, enjoy meeting new people and have real estate experience - let's talk! Our Exclusive Buyer’s agents earn well over $100,000 and there is no ceiling on how much you can earn. We offer a unique, unmatched opportunity for you to be mentored & learn from some of the best in the real estate industry. Our ideal candidate is conscientious, articulate, committed, results-oriented, loves to learn & is teachable.

Interested candidates send resume to [email protected]

Listing Agent

We are seeking a driven, high performer with a track record of success to join our growing sales team. The right candidate will desire to be a leader and earn the right to be the Lead Listing Agent. The right person is ready to...

Moving your family from one city to another can be a great way to change things up and get a fresh perspective on life. You may be tempted to start organizing all of your things and packing up boxes right away, but you should first do a little research. Knowing which area that you plan to move to and the potential benefits for your family is a critical part of making a successful relocation. For example, would a move to Monroe, Georgia be in your best interest? 

Your life will be completely changed by a potential move, including your children’s schools, the recreational activities nearby, and possibly even your finances. It’s only wise to take the time to thoroughly research these changes so you can anticipate the potential outcome.

Take a short break from your weekend frenzy of cleaning out closets and preparing for your upcoming move to find out what you can really expect from a move to Monroe, Georgia.

About Monroe Schools

Remember: In rural communities where there is a wide diversity of affluence as well as relatively small sample size, it's increasingly difficult to score well on online portal information.  

One of the first things that parents consider before making a major move is the quality of the local public-school district. Every child is entitled to a free and appropriate public-school education, so it makes sense to consider what each area has to offer in advance. Your child’s basic education could be the gateway directly to their future.

Georgia doesn’t exactly rank as one of the best states in the nation for education. It comes in solidly in the middle of the pack, so it’s imperative that parents find a school district that has good ratings to make the most of what they do offer....

Just Listed Homes

  For more information about the newest listed homes for sale in Atlanta, or to get a qualified Realtor with local knowledge of Atlanta working for you, contact Stan Jones Team @ 678.467.7554 or send us an email at [email protected]

1092 Pathview Court, Dacula                                          3960 Triton Ives Drive, Auburn

2629 White Aster Lane, Dacula                                     85 Benson Street, Lawrenceville

...

Have you been considering making a move to Dacula, Georgia? Many families are drawn to the southern way of life in 30019. The south tends to represent days that are long and slow with summers that never end. You can enjoy the warm weather, clear sunshine, and a friendlier way of life by moving to the southern parts of the United States. 

Unfortunately, deciding to relocate to Dacula, GA does require a lot of research before making a final decision. You wouldn’t want to uproot your family from their beloved hometown without knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt that your new town is the perfect place for everyone. The school system, recreational activities available, and the projected cost of living are all incredibly important factors to think about before you make a move. 

You can hold off on taping those boxes shut just yet. First, you need to find all of the information you should know about moving to Dacula, GA.

DACULA School Information

Academics should be one of your top priorities if you have children and plan to make a major move with your family in the upcoming years. There is no substitute for an excellent education, regardless of what extracurricular activities or parks and recreation departments may be available in the area. The public-school system can be a clear indicator of your child’s future academic success in higher education through college and potentially even grad school. 

How do the schools in Dacula, Georgia compare to others around the country? 

Fortunately, the...

ATLANTA RELOCATION GUIDE

If you're relocating to Atlanta from Florida, California or the North East you are not alone!   Atlanta is a very transient city and many large corporations like IBM and Publix will fly families into Atlanta to be trained and then send them back out to their other locations.

Step 1:  Determine The "general" Location.

Based On Work

The best first step is to narrow down where you want to live.  You might think to yourself that Atlanta traffic can't be that bad, but you have no idea.  What looks like a 20-minute commute is an hour, it's always an hour.   Proximity to your employer is huge.  If you get to telecommute and you want to stretch out to the suburbs then you can move to refine this a bit. 

Typically there's options in Atlanta proper, but also in Duluth, Marietta and Alpharetta (which incidentally is where many of the best schools are).

Based On Schools

If you want to search by the best schools you're looking at the top half of metro Atlanta.  Luckily, there are a few good schools in every county, but Cobb and Gwinnett County boast the top schools and Gwinnett is the largest school system in the state.  If you would like to search by schools, just look below. 

Based On Play

Whether you were sent...

When preparing this blog to answer the question, "Is Winter The Worst Time To Sell My Home?" I googled and found a variety of answer.  One national brokerage suggests that summer is the worst time to sell and that winter is the best.  Everyone's favorite real estate miss-information site suggest that Spring is the best time to sell.   With all these different opinions how is one to know when is the best time to actually sell your Dacula home?   

Note:  Many times these national outlets use national numbers vs local numbers, so it could be like comparing Detroit real estate to say Snellville real estate.  They are likely to behave completely differently. 

Before we answer this question (don't peak), it's worth noting that we believe the best time to sell is when your family needs to move.  Trying to time the sale of your home can be a scary ordeal.  The reason is that the information we have regarding the market is usually 90 days behind.  By the time we notice the market shifting it's already shifted. 

In addition, (if you didn't read ahead) when you look below you'll see what has actually closed.  Real Estate closings do not happen overnight or within 30 days.  Rather, they can take 60 to 90 days.  So a closing in December likely started in November or October.  

The first thing you'll notice here is that the worst time to expect a closing is actually in January. So if we use...

This question comes up from time to time in various forms, from, "how much money should I save before buying a house" to "how much money do I need to put down?" or "How Much Money Do You Need To Buy A Home In Atlanta, GA?"  While there are financial entertainers out there that will give you a different opinion there is a "facts-based" answer to this.   One such entertainer, Dave Ramsey, suggests 20% down.  He's so popular that even popular websites like credit.com and forbes.com recommend this same amount.  If you put 20% you'll be way ahead of the game and that's outstanding, however, with a median price of $330,000 in Atlanta, GA, that's $66,000 cash that most don't have.

So, How Much Money Do You Need To Buy A Home In Atlanta, GA?

Fortunately for you, the answer is far less than 20%.  If you're looking for what is required to buy a home for the average American, it's about 4% of the purchase price.   On a $330,000 median price point home, that's roughly $11,550.   This amount includes a 3.5% down payment as well as money for incidentals, appraisals, and inspections while using an FHA mortgage. 

Keep in mind we're talking about Atlanta real estate here which includes areas like Buckhead.  So there's more affordable homes all over the city as well as the suburbs.  Take Loganville real estate for example, with a median price point of $194,000, you have a better example that matches the infographic below.

 So what are we missing? ...

Top 10 Reasons to List Your Home During the Holidays...