Greater Atlanta Real Estate BlogRecently posted or modified blog postshttps://www.atlantahomestoday.com/blog/Copyright AtlantaHomesToday.com2023-11-28T08:38:05-07:00tag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:5965Walton County Real EstateWalton County Homes For Sale
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2023-11-27T08:14:59-07:002023-11-28T08:38:05-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:5964Barrow County Real Estate Homes for Sales in Barrow County
Winder https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/winder-real-estate/
Bethlehem https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/bethlehem-real-estate/
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Winder https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/winder-real-estate/
Bethlehem https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/bethlehem-real-estate/
Auburn https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/auburn-real-estate/2023-11-27T08:12:03-07:002023-11-27T08:14:15-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:4381Should I Rent?Should I Rent?
<img src="https://dlqxt4mfnxo6k.cloudfront.net/harborhomeswi.com/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5hbWF6b25hd3MuY29tL2J1aWxkZXJjbG91ZC9iZDkzMzI4ZjYyYWQ3ZTg4NjJiOWI2OTJiZDQyOWRhMS5qcGVn/1200/1200" alt="Top 5 Reasons to Buy vs. Rent | Harbor Homes" />
So many buyers are in a quandry over the past few months. Home mortgage rates have increased from 3.625 to 6.25% since January. Home prices have increased nearly 10% Since January. Every sign says a buyer should wait to buy a home.
Not so fast... It's very important to dig deep into the numbers and see where we were and where we are heading. Then, we can make a very educated decision to rent.... or not.
There are a few variables that come into play. Home prices, interest rates, inflation (and cost of living), institutional buyers, and rent rates.
Let's start with home prices. Home prices for the past 10 years have increased. In the past two years they have increased on steriods. What caused this? Low inventory and very low interest rates (helping buying power) helped buyers buy a home that was effectively overpriced. A home owner who owned a home was willing to buy at a premium because they just sold at a premium.
Interest Rate hikes have increased the amount per month a new home owner will pay on their new home. It also decreases buying power for the buyer. A 1% increase in interest means a 10% decrease in the amount a buyer is qualified for.
Institutional buyers have played a huge part in home prices going up. These companies are not worried about losing money and therefore are paying over listed priced. This is taking away inventory from home buyers...thus helping drive prices up. On the flip side...after a year of losing money on each deal they are realizing that a loss is not smart business and they are pulling out of the area... or changing their strategy to buy a home.
Let's talk about wild west of rental homes. First, there are less and less options for renters to find an affordable home to rent. Rental rates have increased drastically in the past two years leaving renters a very difficult challenge to find a place to live.
Since January 2021, Georgia rent prices have increased by about 22% per year. Georgia was ranked sixth in the nation for states with the highest rent increases.
According to the Tenant Protection Act of 2019, also known as AB 1482, landlords are allowed annual rent increases of 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living (Consumer Price Index) per year, up to 10%. So tenants have some protection yet that's still a significant increase year over year.
Let's break down the numbers and decide if renting is best or buying is best -
Renting Benefits - 1. You get to move when you want. 2. When something is broken you call the landlord. 3. Rent rates are usually pretty consistent. 4. Someone else pays for termite control and trash pick up.
Rent Negatives - 1. The landlord could be very slow to fix items. 2. You are locked into 1 year minimum on the lease. 3. You are paying for someone else's mortgage. 4. You cannot write off rent. 5. You are not building equity. 6. Rent rates can potentially go up a lot.
Purchase Benefits - 1. You are paying your own mortgage and paying off the mortgage principal. 2. You are building equity. 3. You have certain tax write offs. 4. You know what your payment will be every month. 5. You can do upgrades/renovations if you want to. 6. Interest rates are expected to increase...so today is better than later. 7. Home appreciation - if you buy now you don't pay for a more expensive house.
Rent - Average rent rates are currently $1,850 per month for a 3/2 slab home. The projection is a 12% increase over the next 12 months. That is $2072 next year. $2320 after two years. (that's an increase of $2664 for second year and an additional $2976 the next year = $5664 in additional rent)
Purchase - If you purchase today the average home price is $300,000. Homes continue to go up in value. Let's just say for the sake of argument they stay the same or go down in value. The mortgage payment would be approx $1850 per month. and would remain that amount no matter the change in the market. And some of this payment will go toward principle balance of the loan amount therefore decreasing the amount owed...and the buyer can deduct all of the mortgage interest. Not only would you save the $5664 in additional rent (mentioned above), you will be able to write off the interest and pay down the principal balance2022-07-27T06:55:00-07:002022-07-28T05:42:05-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:4055Have You Said.....'I'm Just Going To Wait For The Market To Cool Down'?Have You Said....."I'm Just Going To Wait For The Market To Cool Down"?
PLEASE READ BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52557a72e4b07386c5460e93/1383604087449-WYEHEJGH75X9NZOV8R7K/HouseQuestionMark.jpg?format=750w" alt="HouseQuestionMark.jpg" />
We talk with buyers and sellers daily. For those who are waiting the resounding reason, on the front end, is a good one. The market is just too crazy and I'm going to wait until prices (and the market) cool down.
Please take a long hard look at the numbers below and decide for yourself if the short term market pain of today is worth the long term extended pain for a long future.
Market Price Projection - Over the next four years home prices are projected to RISE. This was projected before the huge increase in inflation. So these numberes will likely be adjusted soon to account for a more steady appreciation. Currently home prices are projected to go 35% in the next five years! WOW!
Let's just say home prices stay steady and do not appreciate. The next factor is a dagger right in the middle of the heart of the 'I'm going to wait' strategy.
Interest Rates - in the past 90 days mortgage interest rates have increase 1.25%. Let's put some match to this for perspective because the FED has made it crystal clear that these increases are just beginning. Projections are 9 increases over the next year. (NINE MORTGAGE INCREASES OVER THE NEXT YEAR) ----- <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/mortgage-calculator/">Click for Mortgage Calculator</a>
$400,000 MORTGAGE - INTEREST rate 3.25% (est tax at $3k and ins at $1k) - Monthly payment) $2074.15
$400,000 Mortgage - Interest rate 4.50% (est tax at $3k and ins at $1k) - Monthly payment) $2360.07
total difference = $102,931.20
Let's go further - since the FED is clearly projecting forward multiple mortgage rate increases let's run it at 6% and even 7%
$400,000 Mortgage - Interest rate 6% (est tax at $3k and ins at $1k) - Monthly payment) $2731.53
total difference = $236,656.80
$400,000 Mortgage - Interest rate 7% (est tax at $3k and ins at $1k) - Monthly payment) $2994.54
total difference = $331,340.40
****If we are planning to wait for the market to drop the home price would almost have to be FREE to make sense in waiting. Paying $50,000 over the market price is considerably cheaper than paying a higher interest rate. ***
Please consider your options wisely. The market of 2007-2011 is going to look considerably different than the market of today. It's going to be years before a correction....and all along the interest rates are projected to increase.
Your gut tells you the market is crazy therefore don't participate. You want/need to move in the next couple years. If you wait you will pay an additional $200,000 to $300,000 on your house in interest payments.
Take a step forward. Participate today and alleviate a long term 30 year mortgage pain! Call us today to discuss your best options - 678.647.6441
<a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/mortgage-calculator/">Click for Mortgage Calculator</a>2022-03-30T04:53:00-07:002022-03-30T06:28:18-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:3920Oh No....Interest Rates Are Rising!Oh No....Interest Rates Are Rising!
<img src="/blogphotos/thumb/648/3920-interest-rate-up.jpeg" />
Below is information compiled from multiple real estate economists/strategists. It is hoped this full article can be helpful to you in your discernment to buy (a home) now or buy later
“I anticipate the 30-year fixed mortgage rate to hover around 3.9 percent next month, with the 15-year fixed rate between 2.9 percent and 3.0 percent,” says Nadia Evangelou, director of forecasting for the National Association of Realtors. “Rapidly rising inflation and expectations that the Fed will raise short-term interest rates as soon as this month will continue to push up mortgage rates. March is also the month when the Fed’s asset purchase program is set to end. That means the current economic stimulus policies will conclude very soon.”
Greg McBride, Bankrate’s chief financial analyst, foresees even costlier rates.
“With inflation figures continuing to surprise to the upside, mortgage rates will remain above 4.0 percent on the 30-year fixed and above 3.25 percent on the 15-year fixed mortgage in March. The wildcard is the extent to which news like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine takes center stage, as the impact on mortgage rates could go either way,” he says.
The world is intently focused on Eastern Europe and images of bombs, tanks and troops. Sanctions against Russia could shape the direction rates head in the forthcoming weeks.
“Tensions between Russia and Ukraine might affect global markets. This could cause mortgage rates to fall, as more investors would move from stocks into the safety of bonds,” adds Evangelou. “However, the Fed will likely raise short-term interest rates as soon as this month, thereby moving up mortgage rates.”
An even bigger catalyst on rates than the Ukrainian conflict may be the lingering specter of inflation.
So, what do we do with this? Some say 'don't buy now!' Others say you have to catch the right deal.' And still others are saying 'the economy is still strong and home prices and rates will keep going up...and so it's buy time.'
One thing is certain..there is nothing certain about this climate.
In the days of uncertainty you have to always go to the 'knows'. We know a few things and it should help us make a very wise educated decision.
What do we know? We know that interest rates have gone up in the past six months. Who cares about interest rates? They are what they are correct? Well, not exactly. Let's look at an example:
$400,000 mortgage = 3.25% interest rate - $2074.15 per month (assuming $3000/yr tax and $1000 insurance)
That same $400,000 mortgage = 4.25% interest rate- $2301.09 per month (same assumptions above)
Difference = $226.94 per month = $81,698.40 more in payments over the next 30 years.
This also affects BUYING POWER FOR BUYERS
Rate
Payment
Max Price
Buying Power Difference
3.875%
$1,900
$380,000
$0
4.375%
$1,900
$363,000
-$17,000
4.875%
$1,900
$345,000
-$35,000<br /><br />
When interest rates go up a buyer's buying power goes down. Take the chart above...if interest rates go from 3.875% to 4.875% a buyer loses approx 10% in buying power (ie. $380,000 to $345,000). at 4.875% a buyer can only afford $345,000 instead of $380,000 at 3.875%
What about home prices? Home prices are projected to go up 36% over the next five years (says fannie mae and freddie mac). That is an average 7% each year. A 7% increase in one year on a $400,000 home would make the home's value $428,000 after 12 months. After two years it would be worth $457,960.
Even if prices begin to go down it will take several years to get back to today's pricing due to the overwhelming evidence that our market prices will continue going up for the foreseeable future.
Prices are going up too much so it's best to wait until the market goes back down. A few things to consider with the home prices.
- Less than 2% of home owners are upside down. When the market tanked at the end of 2007 almost half of the homes were leverage and were barely worth what they could sell for.
- Inventory levels - currently there is a 1.4 million home shortage. With supply being way below demand for homes on the market and a tremendous shortage of available homes for sale it's likely to take years to get inventory back in balance.
- There is much talk about 'all these foreclosures' coming on the market. Did you know that 92% of owners removed themselves from the government assistance. This means the foreclosures are not happening like they were projecting.
- inflation - some are saying that inflation is out of control and therefore home prices will fall due to this. In the beginning phases of these steep increases in inflation just the opposite is happening. Investors know they can place their money in real estate and thus shield from inflation...and this is making home prices go up even more.
I'm Selling and Buying - if you are selling and buying a home the ONLY factor to watch is the interest rates. You will sell for a great price and you will pay a great price. It's a 'wash' so to speak. Yet the interest rates are what you carry for 30 years. If you plan to sell and buy do it as quickly. Every day you wait you are losing buying power.
Bottom line: All signs point to the market continuing going up. If the bubble bursts and the market shifts there is great evidence that home prices will slowly decline...yet that is likely going to be a few years from now...and before that will be years of prices going up first. The best advice is - Go buy a home!
2022-03-02T09:48:00-07:002022-03-03T07:13:15-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:3259I Plan To Wait To Sell and Then Buy - This Could Be Our Biggest Mistake?!?<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/20210226-NM.png" width="205" height="295" />
Seller's Market - Why The Phrase "I'm Just Going to Sit Tight and Not Sell!" Could Be Very Costly
Everyone can agree The real estate market is one of the hottest on record. The combination of a Record shortage of homes and a Record number of buyers in the market for a home has climaxed into an explosion in home prices. Why in the world would anyone want to buy a home in this market correct?
Well, you might want to pause for just a minute and evaluate a couple variables before hitching your decision on that wagon. Could be that decision could be very costly. Let me explain.
1. Home prices - in the past 12 months home prices have increased an average 14.1%. What??? A more normal appreciation is 4-6% appreciation. And most economist are projecting the recent spike to calm down...so for the sake of running fair numbers we will present a more 'average' appreciation.
Let's use 5% appreciation to help explain what is could like moving forward. A home valued at $300,000 would cost $315,000 12 months later. Two years later that value would be approx. $330,750. That's a cost of $15,000 for one year wait and $30,750 for a two year wait. (NOTE-Most economist are projecting the appreciation to be higher than 5%)
2. Interest Rates - This is the BIGGEST FACTOR to consider in all variables studied. Any seller/buyer should study this above all other variables. It's the most costly and the most value add possible to your wallet. So, let's run the numbers. 3% interest rate on $300,000 home (for this example we will assume $300,000 is the loan amount - we will keep the down payment out of the equation to make things easy for everyone). 3% interest rate x $300,000 x 360 payments (30yrs) = Total payments over 30 years would be $455,331.60
At 4% interest rate on a $300,000 home mortgage for 360 payments the total payments would be $515,606.40. That's an increase of $60,274.80
A 5% interest rate on a $300,000 home mortgage for 360 payments the total payments would be $579,765.60. That's an increase of $125,434
Ask your parents or grandparents about their first interest rates for a mortgage. We have heard 17%, 12%, 10% etc. We are in unprecedented times with our current rates.
3. "I'm waiting for the market to go down" - Yes, some seller buyers are waiting to sell and then buy right now. Let's face it there is tough competition for a home. And yes, it could be a smart move to wait.... or maybe it's one of the most costly decisions we have ever made.
Let's assume the market begins to soften and starts depreciating. Economist point to a moderate to slow depreciation if/when this takes place. Looking back to the crash of 2008 we see a few key points that are not present now....
The stock market and housing crash of 2008 had its origins in the unprecedented growth of the subprime mortgage market beginning in 1999.
U.S. government-sponsored mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac made home loans accessible to borrowers who had low credit scores and a higher risk of defaulting on loans.
These borrowers were called "subprime borrowers" and were allowed to take out adjustable-rate mortgages, which would start out with low monthly payments that would become much larger after a few years.
Financial firms sold these subprime loans to large commercial investors in pools of mortgages known as mortgage-backed securities (MBS).
By the fall of 2008, borrowers were defaulting on subprime mortgages in high numbers, causing turmoil in the financial markets, the collapse of the stock market, and the ensuing global Great Recession.
This likely means an impending 'crash' or quick decline in pricing will not take place anytime soon. It's more likely that a steady/slow decline on values will happen...if this happens (anytime soon). With mortage rates being at the bottom, home inventory levels at a staggering low(shortage of homes at 4.4 million homes) we have years to work through this to get to a more neutral market...well before the market decides to turn down.
So, where does this leave us? If you are planning to buy a home in the next 3 to 5 years today is the day. If your only variable is to find a home and there are no other life variables going on (ie. not sure about a company relocation, or geographic area) today is the best day to buy a home.
One company that could provide great advice and learn more about your needs/desires is River Oaks Home Group. They use a consultative approach and provide advice based on a seller or buyer's needs. www.atlantahomestoday.com or contact them at 678.647.64412021-07-08T06:04:00-07:002021-07-08T07:25:08-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:2959URGENT - We Need You Sellers! We Have BuyersURGENT Sellers - We Need You!
We have the buyers, buyers, buyers and they are ready to buy a home. We don't have the sellers. Call us if you have a home you want to sell. Or you know someone who might be thinking about selling. Call us at 678.647.6441
<a href="http://www.sellwithapro.com">Find Out Your Home's Value</a>
Here are a few needs below for our buyers...
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/8326834.JPG" width="750" height="496" />
ISO Dacula, GA
Up to $400,000
4 bed min
Basement and swim/tennis
HOT BUYER
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/8329943.JPG" width="750" height="531" />
ISO Hoschton, GA (and around)
$350,000-$500,000
5 bedrooms or more
1 acre
HOT BUYER
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/8334817-3.JPG" width="750" height="493" />
ISO Conyers, Lithonia, Snellville, Stone Mountain
4 bedrooms or more
$160-$200,000
HOT BUYER
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/dacula_best_selling_neighborhoods.jpg" width="2048" height="1430" />
ISO Duluth, GA
12 mile radius of New Life Academy
4 bedrooms
Up to $375,000
HOT BUYER
ISO Lawrenceville, GA
4 bedrooms
Up to $400,000
HOT BUYER
We have many other buyers ready to buy now as well. If you are considering <a href="http://www.sellwithapro.com">selling your house</a> please call us today at 678.647.6441
We have scoured the MLS services. We are thankful for the opportunity to serve our sellers and buyers and appreciate your willingness to share any homes you think could be a fit.
<a href="http://www.sellwithapro.com">Find out your home's value</a>
2021-01-18T10:00:00-07:002021-01-18T10:27:33-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:2829Is Buying a Home Now Really a Good Idea?2020-11-23T09:10:00-07:002020-11-23T09:11:05-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:2274Open Door, Zillow and Others Cancel ContractsOpenDoor, Zillow, Etc. Is Terminating ALL Contracts in GA
I keep getting asked the question "Should I use these companies to sell my home?" There are so many layers with this question it's really difficult to unpackage this with a yes or no answer. And now, in light of COVID-19, there is a new layer that is adding a new element that may answer that question for us. You see, all the so called iBuyes (institutional buyers) are leaving town as fast as they showed up.
iBuyers had a business model around fair price and convenience to the customer. The fair price part was left for the consumer to discern. The convenience piece was attractive. No showings. Control your timing. The cost for this convenience though was sometimes hefty. But i digress.
Now the market is suddenly slowed to a near halt and these buyers are too nervous to 'play ball' during this time and they are terminating their contracts left and right. Some have reported the iBuyer company Zillow is offering $5,000 to the seller to get out of the contract. More and more reports are coming in about all investor/iBuyer offers.
iBuyers stop buying homes in Atlanta, GA <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2020/3/23/21191323/zillow-opendoor-ibuyers-suspend-opterations-coronavirus">https://www.curbed.com/2020/3/23/21191323/zillow-opendoor-ibuyers-suspend-opterations-coronavirus</a>
So, where does this leave you as a seller? Well first, if it's very important to you for the convenience, then choose a more local company like <a href="http://www.housebuyersnorthga.com" title="House Buyer">www.housebuyersnorthga.com</a>.
To get the most for your home it's almost always in the seller's interest to hire a top real estate agent like top performer Stan Jones with Jones Home Group. Statistically speaking, a seller has the opportunity to net a minimum $15,000 or more at closing. Many sales show as high as $30,000 or more available when using a top realtor. Stan's groups sellers over 100 homes per year. A seller or buyer should contact them at 678.647.6441. If nothing else get the facts to you can make the best educated decision.
<a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/real-estate/opendoor-1116-539425/complaints">https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-francisco/profile/real-estate/opendoor-1116-539425/complaints</a>2020-03-30T05:28:00-07:002020-03-31T11:48:29-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:2245COVID 19 and Real Estate
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/Covid-Update-19-SEO.png" width="600" height="315" alt="Covid Update 19" />
<a href="https://laist.com/latest/post/20200321/coronavirus-map-tracker">COVID-19</a> and The Real Estate Market
Hope you are well and making it through the turmoil caused by the corona virus! The downtime has been very nice. At the same time it sometimes brings anxious feelings.
There is much misinformation and lots of good information to learn on a daily basis. Real estate may or may not be a thought for you right now. We wanted to keep you updated anyway incase you wanted to know. First, noone has a crystal ball as to what this will do to the real estate industry. Some say it will only stir it on more after this settles down. Some say it will make prices drop drastically. And some fall anywhere in between.
To be certain it WILL have some affect on us and the industry. If nothing more it was interrupt the next few weeks with the normal flow of showings. Our offices remain open at the current time and we are continuing to work hard to service all of our clients. Yet our Open status looks different. We are prepared to complete virtual showings, virtual meetings and virtual appointments.
Everyone is doing their part to 'slow the curve'. From everything we hear and are learning about this situation the more clarity we are getting to stay home and keep your distance from people for an extended period of time. Then, and only then, will we see businesses/restuarants/etc. re-opening and get back to a more normal flow of life.
The longer it takes, obviously the worse for our market and for everyone.
The <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com">Jones Home Group</a> continues to be positive and show faith not fear. Our hope is to be a faith that people can borrow to be encouraged.
We will be following the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html">COVID 19</a> guidance from our government and trust that this great country will get through this crisis as we have with all previous ones. We believe in this country (and its leaders) to be the best in the world. We are a resilient nation. And our real estate market should follow suit with the strength of our country.
To our SELLERS and BUYERS - we are here for you and are actively monitoring and adjusting our services to serve you. Although no one has navigated this before we are using the most up to date information available to ensure you have the best services for these times available.
As always, please contact us with any questions or if we can help in any way! We trust you will be safe and healthy during these next few weeks/months.2020-03-22T14:11:00-07:002020-03-22T14:46:36-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:2201Should I Stay Or Should I Sell My House?Should I Stay or Should I Sell?
Reminds me of the old song "Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now. If I go it will be trouble but if I stay it will be double."
It's first quarter 2020 and the real estate market has been good for going on 8 years now. Wow, that's a long time and some project the market to shift again soon. But...hold tight...is that really the best indicator whether to sell or buy a house?
Yes, buying low and selling high is very important. What about for most of us who already own a home? Let's run some numbers and see what makes the most sense.
Running the numbers -
If someone decides to wait to buy a house -
Home prices today $300,000 Interest Rates today 4%
They wait one year and buy next year - 4% appreciation Home price $312,000
And let's say the Interest Rates stay the same at 4% Total extra payments $21,000 over 30 years due to the 4% appreciation of the home.
Here is another example I think I’m going to wait to buy?
Let's assume Home price today is $300,000 Interest Rates today 4%
We decide to Buy next year - and the home price does not change. It's still $300,000 next year.
But the Interest Rate goes up to 5%
This will result in Total extra payments of $64,210 over the next 30 years
Here is another example - Home prices go up 4% and interest rates go up from 4% to 5%
Home prices today $300,000
Interest Rates today 4% Approx $1541 / month
Buy next year - 4% appreciation Home price $312,000
Interest Rate from 4% to 5%
Total extra payments $85,402 over 30 years or $1784 / month
$233 extra per month if we wait one year
What if? Buy next year - 4% appreciation and the interest rates go up from 4% to 6%
Home price $312,000
Interest Rate from 4% to 6%
This will mean an extra $145,900 over the next 30 years. or Monthly payment $1979/month
The key is to learn all the facts when making the decision to sell your house. Consult a <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/about/" title="Stan Jones Realtor">top realtor</a> and have a FREE consultation. Waiting can be a great plan. It also can be one of the most costly mistakes for your wealth position. It's very important that you learn the facts. Most economists agree the interest rates are the most important factor when considering selling and buying. Obviously this is after the life factors are considered. If life is not allowing the move (ie. job, family, church, etc.) is too busy currently...then this moving thing should take a back seat to your life.
What about the first time home buyer who wants to get started on the 'right foot' with the best price possible? First time home buyes should monitor home prices and interest rates. Ultimately, though, interest rates will 'trump' home prices so when interest rates are very low it's a great time to buy a house. With this, finding the <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/about/" title="Stan Jones Realtor">right realtor</a> to help you navigate and find the best house and negotiate the price, terms and closing costs is something that is VERY important. A weak agent can cost you a lot of money!2020-03-06T12:08:00-07:002020-03-06T13:13:12-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:2196Providence Club Monroe, GANestled in Monroe, GA Walton County is a sweet gem. Southern charm golf and community. Swim and Tennis. Convenient to shopping, dining and major travel. Come visit us for your taste of the beautiful south. <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/providence-club/" title="Providence Club Community">Providence Club community</a> is a true treasure 2020-03-04T08:40:00-07:002020-03-06T09:47:02-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1907Happy 4th!<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/4thofjuly.png" width="528" height="408" /><br />As we celebrate our freedom, let us not forget to thank those who have fought for our freedom to give us this day. Have a fun, safe, and action - packed 4th of July with your loved ones.<br />We have many reasons to celebrate this holiday.<br />The real estate market is hot! Interest rates are low! And it is a great time to buy and sell.
We love and are thankful for your referrals. If you know of someone who is looking to purchase, sell, or invest in a new home and is looking for professional Real Estate services, let us know. We would love to help. <br />Here is a Link to all of the Fireworks and other festivities happening in your area this Holiday!
<a href="https://patch.com/georgia/douglasville/georgia-july-4-fireworks-parades-concerts-2019-guide">https://patch.com/georgia/douglasville/georgia-july-4-fireworks-parades-concerts-2019-guide</a>
Happy 4th from the Stan Jones Team to you and your family!2019-07-03T09:22:00-07:002019-07-03T09:25:48-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1723How to Maximize Your Home's Value
Today I’ll tell you about three things you can do to maximize your home’s value.
Buying a home? <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/property-search/search-form/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=55308816">Click here to perform a full home search</a>
Selling a home? <a href="http://sellwithapro.com/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=55308816">Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation</a>
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 else related to real estate, don't hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an email. I'd be glad to help you.2019-01-17T08:59:00-07:002019-01-18T09:01:39-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1667January Real Estate Market Update for Atlanta
We’ve been in a seller’s market for years, but things may soon be changing.
Buying a home? <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/property-search/search-form/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=55308816">Click here to perform a full home search</a>
Selling a home? <a href="http://sellwithapro.com/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=55308816">Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation</a>
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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.2019-01-07T11:42:00-07:002019-01-17T10:00:03-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1669Wishing You a Happy and Healthy 2019
We hope your 2019 is filled with joy and love. Here’s our team’s message to you.
Buying a home? <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/property-search/search-form/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=55308816">Click here to perform a full home search</a>
Selling a home? <a href="http://sellwithapro.com/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=55308816">Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation</a>
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 2019.2019-01-02T08:51:00-07:002019-01-02T13:24:26-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1665Buyers Provide Great Feedback When Homes Are On The MarketSelling Your Home? Buyer Provide Great Feedback
by: Stan Jones Stan Jones Realty Team Powered By Virtual Properties
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/625908018-612x612.jpg" width="612" height="408" />
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. That's hogwash!!!
4. If there are no showings in a good market then you (seller) need to get with your realtor and take a serious look at your price. Especially if the realtor has sold homes in the neighborhood recently and now your home is sitting with no showings and/or offers.
Find a great realtor at <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com" title="All Homes In Georgia">www.AtlantaHomesToday.com</a> or contact The Stan Jones Realty Team at 678.647.64412018-12-17T12:33:00-07:002018-12-17T13:14:52-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1663Evaluate Your Home Owners Insurance AnnuallyGet 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
Despite what you might think, though, an insurance review doesn't have to be an involved, time-consuming endeavor. A single conversation or a visit with your agent can help make sure that you're knowledgeable about your coverage and comfortable that your limits are meeting your current needs. <br /><br />Here are some ideas on what you might want to discuss:
"Does my policy provide enough coverage to rebuild my home today?" <br />Many homeowners are surprised to learn that their policy is outdated and does not provide sufficient coverage to rebuild their existing home. Changes in construction costs (they can vary from year to year), upgrades to a kitchen or bathroom, new kitchen appliances, or updates to a basement can all affect the cost to repair or rebuild your home. For example, new finishes in your kitchen can change your existing kitchen from "standard" to one that's considered "semi-custom" or "custom." Since insurance companies replace lost items with "like kind and quality," it is important to estimate the full cost of replacing finishes, appliances, electrical systems and plumbing systems in determining your coverage.
<br />
"How does a newly finished basement affect my policy?"<br />A finished basement may not only increase the cost to rebuild your home, but it may also require <a href="https://www.allstate.com/home-insurance/flood-insurance-main.aspx" data-di-id="#gen_additionalCoverageToProtectItemsFromWaterDamage">additional coverage to protect items from water damage</a>. For example, optional water backup coverage will help protect new furniture and carpet in your basement if a sump pump breaks or a drain backs up.
<br />
"Does my policy provide enough coverage for landscaping or outdoor appliances?"<br />Installing a new sprinkler system, a larger storage shed, a new pool or hot tub, or buying a substantial backyard grill or riding mower are outdoor changes that may require a homeowner's policy upgrade. Updating landscaping and purchasing new lawn equipment or outbuildings can be significant investments that should prompt a coverage review.
<br />
"Do I need extended coverage for valuables?"<br />Your existing policy provides standard coverage for your home and belongings, but this coverage may not be sufficient for all your valuables and is frequently overlooked. For instance, you may need additional coverage for wedding rings, valuable golf clubs or other sports equipment, family heirlooms and antiques, musical instruments or artwork in your home. If you have a new home office that you run a business from, you might consider extended coverage to protect your business property.
<br />
"Do I qualify for discounts?"<br />An annual insurance review can also be an important opportunity to ensure you are receiving all possible discounts on your homeowners policy. For example, you may qualify for a discount if you have installed a security system, a smoke alarm or a hail-resistant roof. Additional discounts may apply if you insure both your car and home with Allstate, if you don't have any claims, or if no one in your household is a smoker.
<br /><br />Like home maintenance, an annual insurance review is something that can go a long way to protecting what is likely your biggest investment. Your local agent will know the details of coverage for your neighborhood, and can help make sure this is a New Year's resolution you actually cross off your list. <br /><br />When was the last time you reviewed or updated your homeowners insurance policy?2018-12-16T14:04:00-07:002018-12-16T14:08:05-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1632ATTN REAL ESTATE AGENTSWords of Wisdom from Preston Murphy..... please read.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/46965840_2001167316585538_1094585055474352128_n.jpg" width="960" height="806" /><br /><br />Winter is coming ???? [for the real estate market]. <br /><br />...by the way, it lasts for YEARS, typically. Longer than many of you have been practicing. <br /><br />As you see from the photo, from October 2006 to March 2012 our industry LOST almost 30% of the agent population. <br /><br />?? Are you prepared? <br />?? Will your business survive the impending shift? <br /><br />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.
<br />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. <br /><br />...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)<br /><br />2?? many of you are also relying on your brokerage’s marketing department (which advertises THEIR brand, not YOUR business, specifically) to help you stay relevant in the marketplace. YOUR value proposition is the only thing that will ensure YOU stay relevant when the market shifts. Remember, when the market shifts you’ll mostly be competing against MEGA AGENTS (because many people will exit the industry) who truly know their value, have MASSIVE SKILLS, know the scripts to handle objections, have a proven and LONG track-record of success, tons of reviews and testimonials, and the “it” factor. If your brand’s marketing department is going to go with you on every listing appointment, then great. Otherwise, it’s probably time you start practicing your value proposition because that marketing department isn’t going to do you much good. <br /><br />...another btw, marketing (unlike prospecting) is considered to be a ‘passive’ approach to securing business and does NOT typically yield the same return on investment. Realtors who operate like true business-people have a Profit and Loss Statement and they’re determined to know their ‘numbers’ inside and out. When they spend their money or time, they understand the return they’ll likely receive. <br /><br />Many of you are now accustomed to working harder, NOT smarter. You’ve convinced yourselves that <a class="_58cn" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/nodaysoff?epa=HASHTAG&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCLdoTKp6sXCttQpw1rzojTYryRfycsOgh49CSzTIXIHm0xcXJ-GqGiVQxzrG1nRe5PA0A1SxI0qGGlg4b8iVwpvb39MdJdQ9HGfMKt-CUybICWkwwakbxk-i4m-buIf_kxdKrZe7i9fq5oQ5ueYi8ylJd_kyoSgS2crInls7PgXwyVlnHfQK73RSMTsQ9GV7oHHQyXFVjTBC7zOy2wF_2lMAgYxasIGefl8WlfOqbFlw&__tn__=%2ANK%2AF" data-ft="{" type="" :104="" tn="" :="" n="">#nodaysoff</a> is the way to live. Unfortunately, when the market shifts, you’re going to have a rude awakening if you’re already accustomed to this thing you call a lifestyle. You will, in fact, be working harder in a shifting market. It’s natural. If you’re already working as hard as you can (in this market) because you lack systems, models, and leverage, I’m not sure what you’ll do. Ask me about that later. <br /><br />...so<br /><br />In a shifting marketing, you need ONE ???THING to obtain the Gross Commission Income you’re hoping to achieve. This is actually the only thing you need in any market, but particularly in a shift.
TEXT RECAREER to 474747 and jump start a new path to a real career in Real Estate.<br /><br />?? A database. <br /><br />The problems that most agents have are:<br /><br />1. You don’t know how many people you must have in your database to yield the GCI results you’re looking for.<br />2. You don’t have a database.<br />3. You don’t communicate with your database effectively.<br /><br />If you’re thinking that’s too simple. It’s not. It’s simple; it’s just not easy. <br /><br />Question ????‍?? Do you realize that Mega Agents understand that closing deals is really just a math formula related to their database? Ask me about that, too. <br /><br />Actually, do you understand these concepts? <br /><br />The conversion rate for Mets. <br />The conversion rate for Haven’t Mets.<br />Capturing.<br />Connecting.<br />Cultivating. <br />Your system for effectively communicating.<br /># of touches for Mets, Haven’t Mets.<br />Campaigns.<br />Mimicking. Mirroring. Matching.<br />Scripts.<br />Handling their objections.<br />Types of closes. <br /><br />?? As a Realtor, my job is to ask my buyers and sellers the tough, probing questions. I hope my posts inspire you to ask yourself the tough questions about your real estate business, too. <br /><br />I’ve failed a lot. Fortunately, I’ve failed forward (through a previous shift) I know real estate & I can help you understand how to have long-term success, too. <br /><br />Reach out. It’s never too late to be open-minded and improve.<br /><br />Make it a powerful and productive day.
Want a better solution? TEXT RECAREER to 474747 and jump start a new path to a real career in Real Estate.2018-11-28T08:43:00-07:002018-11-28T09:13:08-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1608Is It A Good Idea For Me To Sell My Home To A Company And Not An Individualby: 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 9 out of 10) <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesnycouncil/2018/06/05/ibuyers-is-the-convenience-worth-the-cost/#702c5cd957dc"> https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesnycouncil/2018/06/05/ibuyers-is-the-convenience-worth-the-cost/#702c5cd957dc</a>
For as long as real estate has been selling there have been companies or individuals who would buy your home as an investment. Their goal is to buy the home and then fix it up and either flip it or lease it out.
Why is it that now it's appealing to a seller to sell to an investment company?
The appeal lies in the convenience. And sellers to date are paying a big price tag for this convenience. In studies across the country sellers are willing to lose $10,000 to over $40,000 in their own profits just to have the convenience of moving when they want to move.
In our local studies and first hand meetings with sellers we have personally witnessed iBuyer companies purchase a home. Here are a couple case studies.
CASE STUDY 1 Dacula, GA A seller contacted the Stan Jones Team and shared they planned to sell to an iBuyer company. Their neighbor had done it a couple months prior and found it be very convenient. iBuyer offered $198,000 minus 6% marketing/admin fee and $4,000 repair cost. Net to seller = $182,120
After evaluating and a conversation with the seller the Stan Jones Team listed the home at $215,000. Received offer within 48 hours. Sold at $212,000. Net to seller was $196,080. In this Case Study The Stan Jones Team made the seller an additional $13,960
Case Study #2 Hoschton, GA Seller/Buyer contacted the Stan Jones Team to share their great disappointment using an iBuyer type company. (We will call the Seller JOHNSON family). The Johnson family was selling and then buying a home. The iBuyer company has a service that buys homes for families. The Johnson family thought this was a great idea. So they allowed the company to purchase the home for the Johnson family and the Johnson family would pay interest only payments until their current home sold. Following the purcahse the iBuyer company placed the Johnson's home they wanted to sell on the market. The iBuyer company listed the home for $315,000. The home sold and the Johnson family's net after fees and closing costs was $287,280. Initially, it looks like a good deal. After diving in and breaking down the numbers it was an incredible loss to the Johnson family. #1 - The Johnson family's interest only payment was $4,100 per month. The market rate for an interest only loan for the purchase price should have been around $2,100. The Johnson family paid an additional $2,000 per month for four months ($8,000 additional) #2 - The Johnson's family placed their home on the market at the advice of the iBuyer company, at $315,000. The home sold in one day for $312,000 and $6,000 seller paid closing costs. After a little research we realized there were multiple homes at the same style that sold in the past few months for over $335,000 each. And the seller paid an average $3,200 in seller paid closing costs. When selling at average market value approx $335,000 Seller's net would have been $312,000 after any real estate fees and average closing costs paid by seller. In this Case Study That's a loss of $19,720 on the sale of their home and $8,000 in additional payments for the interest only loan $32,720
<br />The great thing for sellers is you are in control. You control who you choose to help you sell a home. At a minimum If convenience is a factor for you then speak with a professional realtor before you go under contract with an iBuyer (investment company). Remember, their company is to make money. And their money comes out of your pocket.
If convenience is your biggest factor then know that The Stan Jones Team offers multiple avenues to sell a home.
* We have a Guaranteed Sold program. We will sell it Guaranteed or we will sell it for FREE.
* The Stan Jones Team will also present an offer to purchase your home.
* We have a traditional sales program to sell your home on the retail market for top dollar.
Our company also specializes in helping families who need to sell and then buy a home. We have 20+ years experience in navigating a very smooth and easy system to help you move from one home to another...without having to carry two mortgages. Call the Stan jones Team today for a FREE consultation to learn more about our convenient steps to selling and buying a home. Our team is ready to serve you!. 678.647.6441.
Is convenience your biggest factor in selling your home? Do you want to get top dollar for the sale of your home? Are you selling and then buying a home and want to navigate it easily? Do you want to sell your home with little hastle? If you answer yes to any of these, call The Stan Jones Team today. We will help with a smooth seamless convenient approach to get your home sold.
2018-10-24T11:27:00-07:002018-11-04T07:27:09-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1607Help! I Need To Sell My Home! 2018-10-23T17:09:00-07:002018-10-23T17:09:04-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1591Stan Is LocalYour 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 <a href="https://form.jotform.com/81956710484161" title="Sell Your Home GUARANTEED">consultation</a> 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.
<a href="https://form.jotform.com/81956710484161" title="Sell Your Home GUARANTEED">CLICK HERE</a> and get started NOW with your Guaranteed Sale!
<a href="https://form.jotform.com/81956710484161" title="Sell Your Home GUARANTEED">SELL YOUR HOME Guaranteed</a>2018-07-15T14:22:00-07:002018-07-15T15:48:09-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1557How to Make a Competitive Offer in a Multiple Offer SituationHow to Make a Competitive Offer in a Multiple Offer Situation
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/images1.png" width="250" height="166" alt="Competitive Offer" class="img_box_right" />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.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/PayinCash.png" width="250" height="166" alt="Cash" class="img_box_left" />
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<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/family.png" width="250" height="166" alt="family" class="img_box_right" />
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 who they’re selling their home to. Warm family stories pull at their heartstrings and sometimes get you picked over the rest.
Shorten All Contingencies in the Contract
When you make your initial offer, shorten your Due Diligence timeframe to as short as possible. This will show the seller that you are serious. Next make your financing and appraisal contingencies very short, or even better, don't have a contingency at all.
Overpay<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/overpay.jpg" width="250" height="192" alt="Overpay" class="img_box_right" />
If you’ve found your dream home, don't be afraid to offer high. If you plan to live in this home for many years, paying a little more upfront will only mean a few extra bucks per month over the course of a long-term mortgage. You can also offer a higher amount of Earnest Money to show the Seller how serious you are about their home.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/repairs.png" width="250" height="183" alt="repairs" class="img_box_left" />Ask for Few or "NO" Repairs
If you can, take all the cosmetic repairs off your “to-fix” list before placing your offer. Part of homeownership requires that you know or learn how to do some things. The seller will see your bid as "Stronger".
Remember these tips as you're browsing the market so that you and your agent can make the strongest offer possible!!
Call us at The Stan Jones Team to learn more about our Strategies that help you Win! 678-542-1380
<a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com">www.AtlantaHomesToday.com</a>
2018-05-09T13:19:00-07:002018-05-11T08:40:13-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1553Mortgage Interest Rates - How Much Do They Affect Buying A Home?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.
<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/21/watch-fed-chairman-jerome-powell-give-his-first-news-conference-live.html"><img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/watch-live-slate-1920x1080.jpg" width="350" height="197" alt="Mortgage Interest Rates" title="Mortgage Interest Rates" style="margin: 10px;" /></a>
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 <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=2&vote=00019" data-linktype="contentInline" data-ctaposition="1" target="_blank">confirmed by the Senate</a> 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 <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/17/business/banker-joins-dillon-read.html" data-linktype="contentInline" data-ctaposition="2" target="_blank">private-equity banker</a> and Fed governor has big shoes to fill. Yellen and her predecessor, Ben Bernanke, navigated the nation’s central bank through turbulent waters, implementing unprecedented policies that helped the nation’s economy recover from the worst recession in generations.
Powell faces different challenges, including unwinding the Fed’s <a href="https://www.bankrate.com/banking/federal-reserve/fed-balance-sheet-and-your-bottom-line/" data-linktype="contentInline" data-ctaposition="3">tremendous balance sheet</a> without disturbing markets and increasing short-term interest rates without stymying recently improved economic growth. He’ll also have to contend with <a href="https://www.bankrate.com/investing/winners-and-losers-if-inflation-skyrockets/" data-linktype="contentInline" data-ctaposition="4">stubbornly low inflation</a>, and weak wage growth, which bedeviled both Bernanke and Yellen.
The path he sets will impact the paychecks, and <a href="https://https/www.bankrate.com/banking/savings/rates/" data-linktype="contentInline" data-ctaposition="5" target="_blank">savings accounts</a>, of millions of Americans and investors around the world.
Is buying a home in your future? <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/" title="FIND A HOME - LOWER INTEREST RATES TODAY"> </a><a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/" title="FIND A HOME - LOWER INTEREST RATES TODAY">ACT NOW!!!!</a>2018-03-22T06:20:00-07:002018-05-09T13:26:44-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1552We Are Committed To Your Success - We are Hiring for many positions
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
<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zVA14_Kzdarc0MeQMVnURgS_cWU7UkqOIqCWVGS7OrA/edit" title="GENERAL APPLICATION QUESTIONS">GENERAL APPLICATION QUESTIONS</a>
<a href="https://youtu.be/UxwmLA-WWM0"></a>
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 jonesrealtynetwork@gmail.com.<a href="http://bit.ly/2siiWRE" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><br /></a>
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 take the next step in their career to partner with us and grow an organization.
Our team is systematic and fast-paced. If you are a team-player and thrive in this type of environment we are looking for you! Stan will share his systematic approach to getting homes sold faster and for a higher price than the average agent. For the right candidate, the opportunity to leverage our existing systems, staff and reputation will result in a high number of listings taken and sold. The primary focus will be to contact (daily prospecting/min. two hours per day) and meet with Sellers, establishing an expected selling range, getting the listing agreement signed and communication during the marketing period. All the details are handled for you so you can get more listings! Our ideal candidate is driven, committed to prospecting, a team player, results-oriented, loves to learn and is teachable. You have a desire to grow and earn the right to be the Listing Agent.
Interested candidates send resume to jonesrealtynetwork@gmail.com.
Inside Sales Agent
Responsible for: Developing business and nurturing relationships within specific geographies served by The Stan Jones Team. Achieving productivity, appointment setting and revenue targets while responding efficiently to customer inquiries (usually in form of sales leads) and cold calling. Primary duties include outbound calling, e-mail communication, coordination and scheduling of real estate buying and selling opportunities and overall management of sales pipeline through the sales cycle. Must LOVE the phone (you will spend 80%-90% of your day on the phone). This is not a “work from home” position, you will work from our office in Roswell, GA. Our ideal candidate is aggressive, highly disciplined and systematic, and people-oriented.
Interested candidates send resume to bettercareeratsjt@gmail.com and complete the <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zVA14_Kzdarc0MeQMVnURgS_cWU7UkqOIqCWVGS7OrA/edit" title="GENERAL APPLICATION QUESTIONS">GENERAL APPLICATION QUESTIONS</a>
Internship/Marketing
Are you a student looking for an Internship this semester? Do you want to learn real world skills in business, sales, real estate and marketing? We have an opening for a Marketing & Administrative Internship. The real estate is fast-paced and will expose you to many areas of business, customer service and marketing. Marketing, Blogging & SEO, design skills and a great attitude. Interested candidates should provide resume, marketing/design samples & references. Flexible schedule will allow the intern to work around any classroom requirements.
Please email resume to jonesrealtynetwork@gmail.com
<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zVA14_Kzdarc0MeQMVnURgS_cWU7UkqOIqCWVGS7OrA/edit" title="GENERAL APPLICATION QUESTIONS">GENERAL APPLICATION QUESTIONS</a>
2018-03-19T10:29:00-07:002018-07-23T12:51:02-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1548What You Need To Know Before Moving To Monroe GA<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/monroe-houses.png" width="350" height="265" alt="Move to Monroe" title="Move to Monroe" style="margin: 10px; float: left;" />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.
What can a move to Monroe, Georgia mean for your child’s education?
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/monroehomes.png" width="350" height="263" alt="Moving to Monroe" title="Moving to Monroe" style="float: left; margin: 10px;" />On GreatSchools, all of the schools in the area rate between a three and a six. While an average school would tend to receive a rating between four and seven, anything lower than this represents a school that could be floundering.
Schools with the lowest rating in the area will probably be avoided by most parents. These include two elementary schools, Harmony Elementary School and Monroe Elementary School, that serve prekindergarten through fifth grade. Both of these campuses scored low when it comes to state test scores, student progress toward improvement each year, and equity between their lower-income students and their peers.
The two schools with the top ratings were Atha Road Elementary School (6) and Walker Park Elementary School (5). The two upper-level schools, Carver Middle School and Monroe Area High School, both received ratings of four.
All four of these campuses scored higher on state test scores and student progress. However, the main category where all schools fell short was in equity. Students from lower-income households tended to be further behind their more advantaged peers. This creates a large gap in student achievement that could be responsible for some of the lower test scores.
Overall, these ratings may not be a huge concern for parents who are considering moving to Monroe, Georgia. The primary worry seems to be more for students who are at a lower socioeconomic level instead of poor quality academics. This may be something to consider for families who do have a low-income household.
Otherwise, it seems that these schools are approximately in line with the state averages when it comes to reading and math test scores. They should adequately prepare students for the future and set them up for success in the college years.
Parks and Recreation In Monroe GA
Compared to many of the areas in the state, Monroe is home to a wide array of public parks. Their citizens are privy to a host of recreational activities and leisure pursuits that you can get involved in. This is often one of the top concerns for potential residents who are considering moving into a particular area.
The good news is that a move to Monroe, Georgia isn’t likely to disappoint in this regard.
You have the opportunity to sign your kids up for a wide variety of youth athletic programs through the county. They have an extensive list of available sports, including:
Baseball or softball
Basketball
Cheerleading
Football
Track and field
Adapted Sports Program
Adults aren’t left out of the fun and games either. You could sign yourself up for an adult recreational league to help you make some connections in your new community. They are currently offering basketball and baseball for adults at the Felker community Center and Meridian Community located in the nearby town of Loganville. Senior fitness programs are also available, if applicable to you.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/monroe-ga-real-estate.png" width="450" height="346" alt="Monroe Real Estate" title="Monroe Real Estate" style="float: left; margin: 10px;" />People move into the Monroe area for a variety of reasons, and the extensive parks system is definitely a contributing factor. You won’t have to struggle to come up with low-cost or even free things to do with your family on the weekends. Allow your kids to burn off a little energy and enjoy the sunshine in these scenic park settings. Meanwhile, they can also easily connect with kids their own age through the recreation sports leagues available in the county.
These are great ways for your family to make the transition into life in Monroe, GA with greater ease. After all, your new friendships will be an important part of helping to build a life here and helping you to feel truly at home.
About the Monroe Real Estate Market
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/monroe-real-estate-market.png" width="350" height="148" alt="Monroe Real Estate Market" title="Monroe Real Estate Market" style="margin: 10px; float: left;" />A home is one of the largest assets that you will ever own in your lifetime. It holds the most financial value and the most sentimental meaning among many of the common household purchases. Whenever you plan to move to a new area, purchasing a new home can be an emotional task that leaves you feeling distraught and worried.
You can ease some of the tension by considering the financial burden associated with buying a new home in advance.
If you move to Monroe, Georgia, what can you expect a new house to cost?
You might want to plan on moving into this area much sooner rather than later. Over the past year, they have seen an extremely turbulent real estate market with major price increases in the home values. Over the course of the past year, home values rose more than thirteen percent. Real estate experts are predicting that the trend is far from over, resulting in a 5.6 percent increase spread out over this year. <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/monroe-real-estate/" title="Monroe Homes For Sale">Homes for sale in Monroe</a> go fast despite the rural nature of the market.
Renting is also an affordable solution to your housing dilemma if you move to Monroe, Georgia. The median rent price comes in at $1,175 per month.
Much like in the area of <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/loganville-real-estate/" title="Loganville Homes For Sale">Loganville, Georgia</a>, Monroe is a relatively safe city to live in. There are infrequent crimes, particularly when compared to the more western city of Atlanta. Crime rates are significantly higher in the major metropolis of Atlanta. Moving to Monroe, GA allows you to have access to the attractions available in this major city without fear of the near-constant crime.
Many people who move into this area stay for a long period of time. To date, the current median move-in year is 2003, which demonstrates that most homeowners have lived in Monroe for fifteen years or more.
If you have been thinking about making a move to Monroe, GA, the housing prices indicate that this may be the ideal time to do so. Your family could definitely benefit from buying a home now before the prices continue to rise.
Cost of Living Comparison In Monroe GA
Most people strive to find a place of residence that is relatively affordable. In bigger cities, your monthly budget doesn’t tend to stretch as far as it can in smaller towns. Everything from housing to health care tends to be more expensive in areas that have a higher cost of living. If you prefer to stay well within your financial means, moving to an area with a lower cost of living is the perfect way to reduce your monthly expenses.
Before you move to Monroe, GA, you should be aware of how their cost of living compares to other parts of the country. How far will your dollar be able to go on the common household expenses each month?
One of the best places to find information and ratings of the cost of living is through Sperling’s Best Places. They consider the national average cost of living to equal an even 100, and other cities then get compared to this benchmark. A score lower than 100 means that an area has a lower cost of living, and the opposite is also true.
The cost of living in Monroe, GA is ranked at 84.9. This clearly demonstrates that the area boasts extreme affordability for its residents, particularly when it comes to the housing costs.
They indicate that the average rental cost for any size apartment is much lower than the state and the national average. However, your utilities and miscellaneous costs like entertainment also rank lower than the national average. Top categories such as groceries, healthcare, and transportation are relatively close to average amounts in other parts of the country.
Have you been searching for a place to live where you can stand on better financial footing? A move to Monroe, GA could give you the opportunity to create more balance in your life financially. If you are attempting to live below your means, this could an excellent move based on their overall cost of living.
Ready To Move To Monroe GA ?
What can you really expect from a possible move to Monroe, Georgia? Parents will have to weigh the overall quality of the public-school system. While it doesn’t tend to be a terrible school district, you will want to be careful about where you move to ensure you are zoned for one of the better-rated schools.
On the other hand, the area does offer some very advantageous parks systems, as well as a lower cost of living. This area could be ideal for a family that is highly motivated to spend more time together in the great outdoors and to spend less money doing so. You will have to consider what your priorities are before you make a commitment to move to the area.
Take some time to evaluate whether this city could be right for you and your family today. A move to Monroe, GA may just be the very thing your family needs in the upcoming year.2018-03-13T06:12:00-07:002018-03-14T08:40:14-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1546Just Listed Homes MarchJust 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 stanjonesteam@gmail.com.
<a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/property-search/detail/71/5959010/1092-pathview-ct-dacula-ga-30019/"><img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/8319314.JPG" width="287" height="191" /></a><a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/property-search/detail/71/5966128/3960-triton-ives-dr-auburn-ga-30011/"><img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/8326834.JPG" width="260" height="190" /></a>
1092 Pathview Court, Dacula 3960 Triton Ives Drive, Auburn
<a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/property-search/detail/71/5968641/2629-white-aster-ln-dacula-ga-30019/"><img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/8329943.JPG" width="288" height="204" /></a><a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/property-search/detail/71/5972693/85-benson-st-lawrenceville-ga-30046/"><img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/8334817-3.JPG" width="286" height="202" /></a>
2629 White Aster Lane, Dacula 85 Benson Street, Lawrenceville
<a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/property-search/detail/71/5972858/3850-cheyenne-ln-jefferson-ga-30549/"><img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/8335009-1.JPG" width="287" height="223" /></a>
3850 Cheyenne Lane, Jefferson
For more information on any homes available in Georgia <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/">click here</a>. Call the Stan Jones Team if you have interest in selling, buying and/or investing in real estate. 678.467.7554
2018-03-09T06:54:00-07:002018-03-12T12:29:19-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1530Moving To Dacula GA Relocation Guide<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/dacularelocation.jpg" width="300" height="200" alt="Dacula Relocation Guide" title="Dacula Relocation Guide" style="margin: 10px; float: left;" />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
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/parksindacula.jpg" width="350" height="234" alt="Moving To Dacula Guide" title="Guide to Relcating to Dacula" style="margin: 10px; float: left;" />
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 public-school system in this city is relatively well run and promotes a strong academic system. None of the schools in the area are poorly rated, so parents don’t have to fret about which areas they should avoid around town.
According to the popular rating scale used by <a href="https://www.greatschools.org/georgia/dacula/schools/">GreatSchools</a>, all of the public schools rate at a seven or higher. All of the schools have above average ratings, but the most highly rated schools are located mostly in the northern parts of the city.
The most highly rated school is Puckett’s Mill Elementary School, which serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It receives a perfect score of ten for its 1,011 students and is located near the upper limits of the town.
Living in Dacula, Georgia, you may be zoned for a school within the same district that is technically located outside of the city boundaries. You could also be zoned for any of the below schools:
Mulberry Elementary School
<a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/mountain-view-high-school-homes/" title="Homes For Sale In Mountain View High School District">Mountain View High School</a>
Frank N. Osborne Middle School
Freeman’s Mill Elementary School
Fear not if you’re zoned for one of these schools that are located outside of Dacula, GA. These also receive extremely high ratings of eight or more. Frank N. Osborne Middle School is actually the higher rated school (with a score of nine) when compared to Dacula Middle School (which received only a score of seven). Similarly, Mountain View High School received a score of nine, while <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/dacula-high-school-district-homes/" title="Dacula High School Homes">Dacula High School</a> only received a seven.
Overall, many parents are impressed with the overall quality of the education their students will receive through the public-school system in Dacula, GA.
You should keep in mind that Georgia isn’t one of the top states in the country when it comes to education. In fact, they score close to the bottom at number 37 on the ranking of best states listed by <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/education">U.S. News & World Report.</a> They score slightly higher when it comes to higher education opportunities, taking the 32nd spot. Keep in mind this includes all of Georgia, most of which is rural areas. In addition, the city of Atlanta schools are not the best and bring down an otherwise great school system in <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/gwinnett-county-homes/" title="Gwinnett County Real Estate">Gwinnett County</a>.
If you want your child to receive a thorough and decent education, you may find exactly what you’re looking for in the town of Dacula, GA. Be sure to consider all of the data and the specific schools your home is zoned for prior to making an official move into the area. This can often help you to make a better and more informed decision about where to live when moving to a new area, including Dacula, GA.
Here's a list of all the high schools in Gwinnett County case you'd like to start searching for a home in Dacula based on the school. <br /><br />CONCLUSION
Now that you have all of the necessary information, it’s time to make a final decision. Is moving to Dacula, Georgia going to be right for your family? They offer some very highly-rated schools and reasonable housing expenses, alongside extensive parks systems. This could be the move that your entire family has been waiting for.
Moving to Dacula, GA certainly has the potential to improve your overall way of life. It could be a great opportunity to simplify things for your family, particularly if you are moving from a bigger city. Think about all of the wonderful opportunities that await you in this small town in Georgia.
With a reasonable cost of living that presents the area as relatively affordable, you may not even have to think twice about whether this area is truly for you. <br /><br />DACULA PARKS AND RECREATION
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/movingtodacula.jpg" width="350" height="233" alt="Move To Dacula" title="Relocate To Dacula GA 30019" style="margin: 10px; float: left;" />
One of the biggest draws for any city is its major attractions, parks, and the recreational activities that its residents can pursue. For many individuals, they will make a decision about moving to a particular area based on these things. Parents of young children, in particular, will want to consider what amenities and recreational leagues are available to get their children connected to the community.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IN DACULA, GA?
In the center of the town is a massive 76-acre park, known as <a href="https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/portal/gwinnett/Departments/CommunityServices/ParksandRecreation/OurParksandFacilities/GuidetoYourParks/DaculaPark">Dacula Park</a>. This area is one of the biggest draws for citizens because it offers almost every activity you could possibly be interested in pursuing. Consider some of the park’s main features and amenities:
Outdoor pool
Football field
Youth baseball and softball fields
Playgrounds
Sand volleyball court
Grills and picnic tables
Paved trails
Pond
They even have an activity building, which houses further events and sports centers for citizens. This building holds a large community room that can be rented out or used to host various events, as well as tennis courts. This is also where youth sports are managed.
<a href="https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/portal/gwinnett/Departments/CommunityServices/ParksandRecreation/OurParksandFacilities/GuidetoYourParks/RabbitHillPark">Rabbit Hill Park</a> is another major attraction that many citizens love, and it offers some of the same features as Dacula Park but with a few additions. This park center also holds a dog park, allowing your canine companion to get out his energy as well. You can allow him to play off-leash here or take him for a jog on the 1.5-mile paved trail.
Meanwhile, your children can play on the playground, organize a game of soccer, or play some sand volleyball. There is also access to the river channel here which is open seasonally. For more information on the activities available at Rabbit Hill Park, you can see the list below:
Playground
Pavilion and grill
Pond
Football fields and lighted walking track
Baseball and softball fields
Restrooms
If you’re more interested in the rugged side of parks, you may prefer to visit <a href="https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/portal/gwinnett/Departments/CommunityServices/ParksandRecreation/OurParksandFacilities/GuidetoYourParks/HarbinsPark">Harbins Park</a>. This separate area maintains non-paved trails for equestrian use, mountain biking, and hiking. The mountain biking track is the longest at thirteen miles, while the others are either seven miles or 4.5 miles. There is equestrian trailer parking at a separate entrance to this park.
Otherwise, you can enjoy the same amenities found at Rabbit Hill Park at Harbins Park as well. These include sports fields, paved walking trails, restrooms, grills, and pavilions.
No matter which park you choose, they all make excellent locations for a weekend picnic or a rousing round of catch with your kids. You can bring the whole family along for a little fun in the sun at these classic parks.
As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities for families to get out into the community and enjoy the beautiful weather. Dacula, GA is an ideal spot to raise a family in the laidback atmosphere and easygoing pace of life in the area. Whether you prefer to participate in a new sport with each season or just to enjoy the feeling of the earth beneath your feet, the park system in Dacula, GA has a lot to offer new residents.
Dacula HOUSING PRICES
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/move-to-dacula.jpg" width="350" height="233" alt="Relocate To Dacula" title="Relocate To Dacula GA " style="float: left; margin: 10px;" />
Over the past few years, the United States has seen one consistent trend in the real estate sector. Housing prices in the vast majority of the country continued to increase, with some areas seeing far more growth than others. Because the market has been relatively unstable and unpredictable in recent years, it’s more important than ever to ensure that you can afford to live in a new area.
Housing expenses are one of the most important budget items that need to be accounted for prior to a move. Can you afford to purchase your own home, will you need to rent, or is it fiscally irresponsible for you to move into this area? These are important questions you need to consider prior to relocating to Dacula, Georgia.
The same housing trends that appear across the country are also consistent in Dacula, GA. Over the past year, housing prices have increased by six percent. Experts are predicting that there will be another four percent increase before the calendar year is over.
WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN FOR A PROSPECTIVE HOME BUYER WHO MAY BE MOVING TO DACULA, GEORGIA?
The median home value in this city is $243,900. However, the median value of <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/dacula-real-estate/" title="Dacula Homes For Sale">Dacula homes that are listed for sale</a> is much higher at $283,950.
This presents a great opportunity for homeowners who didn’t want to move into an extremely expensive area. Even the rent prices in Dacula, GA are relatively affordable at $1,550 per month.
The majority of people who live in Dacula are homeowners versus renters. Eighty-eight percent of the population are homeowners with a median age of thirty-five.
Crime is almost non-existent in this area. Compared to surrounding towns such as Duluth that have higher crime activity, Dacula has almost none. In fact, there is little crime activity to be found on popular sites that monitor crime activity. No matter where you move in the area of Dacula, GA, your home is bound to be relatively safe in comparison to more dangerous areas of the state.
Dacula COST OF LIVING COMPARISON
We have already seen that the housing expenses in Dacula are more affordable than they may be in other areas of the country. While this is indeed a positive indicator that the area is relatively affordable, we have to take a look at a different figure to assess just how far your dollar will actually go if you move to Dacula, GA.
The best place to look for the cost of living comparisons is Sperling’s Best Places. This rating compares a particular city to the national average cost of living, which equals one hundred. Cities that obtain a higher score will represent a higher cost of living, and lower scores indicate the opposite.
Compared to the national average cost of living, Dacula received an overall score of 108.
The biggest factor that rated this city as slightly higher than the average was the housing cost. Compared to apartments and rental homes in the rest of the state, Dacula, GA has significantly higher rent rates. However, they are not that far off from the average rental rate in the rest of the country.
Housing expenses are balanced out by slightly lower costs on groceries. Other areas that will be slightly more expensive than the rest of the country include healthcare costs, utilities, transportation, and even entertainment.
Bear in mind that a move to Dacula, GA isn’t necessarily a commitment to the most expensive part of the country. You will have a slightly higher cost of living, but it should still be manageable. You may want to consider talking to your employer about a cost of living raise, depending on where you would be relocating from.
The best idea before making a final move to Dacula, Georgia is to consider all of your monthly expenses and the projections for what they would cost after the move. Looking at these alongside your current budget will give you a more realistic idea of whether you can afford to live in this area.
Here's a list of all the neighborhoods in Dacula. <br /><br />We know all these choices can be a bit daunting and while we'd love to personally walk you through the process of moving to Dacula GA, we know that sometimes you'd like to do some research yourself. So here's a list of searches we set up based on lifestyle options. 2018-02-06T07:39:00-07:002018-02-06T08:20:43-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1523Atlanta Relocation GuideATLANTA 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.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/atlanta-relocation-guide.jpg" width="400" height="266" alt="Atlanta Relocation Guide" title="Need To Know before relocating to Atlanta" style="margin: 10px; float: left;" />
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 <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com/duluth-real-estate/" title="Duluth Homes">Duluth</a>, 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 <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/gwinnett-county-homes/" title="Gwinnett County Real Estate">Gwinnett County</a> 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.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/relocate-to-atlanta.jpg" width="300" height="450" alt="Relocate To Atlanta" title="Move To Atlanta" style="float: left; margin: 5px 15px;" />
Based On Play
Whether you were sent to Georgia based on a job or chose it based on the weather, Georgia parks do not disappoint. The state is covered with them. There are several "hot spots" in the city that you might want to be aware of. Like Schools, you'll find the most to do for families near North Fulton, Gwinnett and Cobb counties. However, if schools don't matter, then that opens up pretty much the entire "metro" area which is 22 counties.
Step 2: Get Familiar with the surroundings.
We recommend picking a county to start with, but then honing that down to cities are school districts. This allows you find out what churches, parks, and shopping are in the area. How far do you want to live from a major mall, the airport, etc all will influence these choices.
For some they will start with Gwinnett County but feel that <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/dacula-real-estate/">Dacula</a> might be too far from work and later (after following step 3) might find that <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/loganville-real-estate/">Loganville</a> will work best.
Step 3: Call the Stan Jones team
Ok, so that's a bit biased, but seriously you should talk to a local expert. This will help you even further get a sense of what neighborhoods are good and which ones might be best avoided.
Step 4: Drive the neighborhoods
Once you've talked to the Stan Jones Team you'll be able to get a list of the best neighborhoods. You can then drive them and see if they are the kind of place you'd like to move to. In addition, to just seeing the neighborhood, try out different routes to work, school and other places that you might go to.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/move-to-atlanta.jpg" width="300" height="216" alt="Atlanta Relocation Guide" title="How to prepare to move to Atlanta" style="float: left; margin: 10px;" />Step 5: Decide iF buying now is right
The Stan Jones Team can walk you through this process but sometimes when relocating to Atlanta it might make more sense to rent for 6 months than to buy. Honestly, the rent rates are very high so if you're coming from a home and moving to Atlanta, you might prefer a home. However, you won't really know unless you plan.
Bonus Tips: Common Misconceptions About Relocating To Georgia
Not every home has a pool, in fact, in-ground swimming pools are rare
Many Georgia homes have basements but 99% of the basements are daylight basements. No cellars in Georgia
Atlanta is a sprawling city, so even a city that is 1 hour outside of Atlanta is considered Atlanta. Areas that you might think are rural are usually not.
Images courtesy of Unsplash
<br /><br />If you read our guide or know you want to search by school district, see the Gwinnett County School Info below. 2018-01-30T06:39:00-07:002018-02-06T02:44:02-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1484Is Winter The Worst Time To Sell My Home?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 <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/dacula-real-estate/">Dacula home</a>?
Note: Many times these national outlets use national numbers vs local numbers, so it could be like comparing <a href="http://www.thepernateam.com/">Detroit real estate</a> to say <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/snellville-real-estate/">Snellville real estate</a>. 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.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/dolesshomessellduringholidays.png" width="664" height="608" alt="Should I sell my home in winter" title="Should I sell my home in winter" class="img_box_center" style="vertical-align: text-bottom; margin: 10px;" />
The first thing you'll notice here is that the worst time to expect a closing is actually in January. So if we use what we said above, then that means that the actual home was listed in October or November before it went under contract. So when is the worst time to sell? Well by this graph I'd say November might be the worst month to list your home.
Seasonal Home Sales
The graph above represents 9 years of data! So clearly it's seasonal. Interesting, we identified the worst month to list as November, but is there another time during the year that seasonality affects home sales? Yes, November is also a low month for closings. Using the same thought pattern about counting backwards by 60 days we can see that September and October are months that might be less than desirable to sell.
Anyone in <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/gwinnett-county-homes/">Gwinnett County</a> reading this knows why those months are poor performers. School starts in late August and September in Gwinnett County so it makes sense that's there's a drop off for real estate traffic. Interesting we looked at counties known less for their school systems and the seasonality is still a strong factor, albeit less of one. 2017-12-21T12:25:00-07:002017-12-21T13:01:09-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1471How Much Money Do You Need To Buy A Home In Atlanta, GAThis 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.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/loganville-real-estate-market.png" width="430" height="200" alt="Loganville Real Estate Market Media Price" title="Loganville Real Estate Market Media Price" style="margin: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" />
Keep in mind we're talking about <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/" title="Atlanta Real Estate">Atlanta real estate</a> here which includes areas like Buckhead. So there's more affordable homes all over the city as well as the suburbs. Take <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/loganville-real-estate/" title="Loganville real estate">Loganville real estate </a>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? If you take a look at this infographic, the only thing missing is the closing costs. Closing costs can add another 3% to 5% to your home purchase according to<a href="http://www.thepernateam.com/"> Michael Perna, an Ann Arbor, Michigan real estate agent</a>. While that is a substantial cost, you can sometimes negotiate these costs with home sellers and/or have the lender work them into the loan. <a href="http://honestrealestateagents.com/buyer-guide/much-money-need-save-buy-home/"><img src="http://honestrealestateagents.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/How-Much-Money-Down-INFOGRAPHIC.png" alt="How Much Money Do You Need To Save To Buy A Home?" width="800px" border="0" /></a> Source: <a href="http://honestrealestateagents.com">http://honestrealestateagents.com/</a>
Cost Breakdown of Home Buying
Down Payment
The down payment for standard FHA loans is 3.5%. An <a href="http://honestrealestateagents.com/loan-advice/fha-loans-everything-you-need-to-know/">FHA Loan</a> is the most common loan in America and is often remarketed as a "<a href="http://honestrealestateagents.com/buyer-guide/ultimate-first-time-home-buyer-guide/">first time home buyer</a> loan." Conventional loans have the ability to go down to as low as 3% and VA loans, for our Veterans go as low as 0%. On top of all of this you some cities and non-profit organizations offer assistance to move into certain locales with little or no money down.
Earnest Money
Earnest Money is handled differently from state to state. It's essentially, the security deposit that holds the home for you while you negotiate and close. While legally you could do as little as $10 in most states, it's not recommended to go that low. It's common to do a minimum of $500, but agood rule of thumb is 1%." Earnest money does get credited back to the buyer at the closing. So if you did 1% that could be almost 1/3rd of your down payment.
Inspections
If you ask any real estate agent, you'll hear the same advice. Every home needs to be inspected, yes every home. "Yes, Even Condos," explains <a href="http://www.yoururbanlife.com/edina-neighborhood-directory.php">Ben Ganje, a Realtor in Edina, MN,</a> "getting an inspection isn't just about the broken stuff, it also gives you an idea of how old and functional appliances are." While most inspections are seen as a deal breaker type of thing in the transaction, they really can give you, the buyer, piece of mind about the overall condition of the home.
According to the <a href="http://www.homeinspector.org/">American Society of Home Inspectors</a> (which may be the only "certification" an inspector may get outside a business license), the average cost is $370. Which is why we used $400 for our infographic. When choosing an inspector be sure to ask for an example of the report as well as what they do during the inspection. For example, do they take photos of the problems and the appliances?
Appraisals
Appraisals are a necessary evil in today's real estate. The appraiser is likely the <a href="http://www.gahomesdigest.com/blog/the-most-powerful-person-in-real-estate.html">most powerful person in real estate</a>. The appraiser is paid by the buyer, hired by a third party that is hired by the buyer's lender to come up with a value for your home purchase. The appraiser sees the contract, so it's not a blind appraisal. Appraisals can cost around $350 to $500.
Incidentals
There are incidental or unforeseen costs to buying a home. These can come in the form of paying for a credit report from a lender, getting an additional inspection on something like an air condition or simply paying for the inspector to inspect repairs. Does every transaction have "incidentals?" No. However, we thought it would be safer to include them. "Extra costs can kind of creep in,"<a href="http://www.premierpartnersdfw.com/richardson.php"> Jennifer Laws, a Realtor in Richardson TX</a> explains, "you could have the pool inspected, the HVAC system inspected and need to overnight something." These costs rarely exceed a few hundred dollars.
In Conclusion, How Much Money Do You Need To Save To Buy A Home?
For a $550,000 home, about $20,500. You could need more for closing costs (about another $6,000) and of course, you might need more money to furnish the home. However, this post is all about out of pocket, liquid assets (aka CASH needed) to purchase a home. So if your goal is to purchase a home in 2018, then all you need to get started is just a little over 4%.2017-11-30T15:10:00-07:002017-11-30T15:25:59-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1467Top 10 Reasons to List Your Home During The HolidaysTop 10 Reasons to List Your Home During the Holidays...
I pull this list out every year, as it's a good reminder. There are good reasons to go ahead and put your home on the market in <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/" title="Atlanta Real Estate">Atlanta</a>, rather than waiting until the dreary January. So...Here are the Top 10 Reasons to List Your Home During the Holidays...<br /><br />1. People who look at property during the holidays are serious buyers and are more ready to make a decision.<br /><br />2. Serious buyers usually have fewer houses to choose from during the holidays, so the property has less competition.<br /><br />3. Houses “show better” when tastefully decorated for the holidays with the wonderful lights and festive colors associated with the season. So much so, that you'll see families drive through <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/hamilton-mill/" title="Hamilton Mill">neighborhoods like Hamilton Mill</a> to see the lights.<br /><br />4. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays and often base their decision on the warmth and good feelings they receive when viewing the home.<br /><br />5. Buyers have more time to look for a house during the holidays because they have designated time off from work to purchase a home.<br /><br />6. Many people want to buy before the end of the year for financial and tax reasons.<br /><br />7. January is traditionally the month for transfers. Transferees can’t wait until the spring to buy. These buyers need a home now and houses must be on the market to capture these buyers.<br /><br />8. Sellers can restrict showings during personal family events and still take advantage of their homes being spruced up and decorated “show ready” property.<br /><br />9. Sellers can sell now – but specify a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year if it is agreeable within the negotiations of the contract.<br /><br />10. By selling now sellers have the opportunity to buy during the spring – when more properties are on the market.
Contact our team at 678.467.7554 if you would like to have a FREE no obligation consultation.
2017-11-12T14:30:00-07:002017-11-29T09:25:59-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1461Best Selling Neighborhoods In Dacula GA For 2017It's getting close to the end of the year and we thought it would be an excellent time to look back on the last 6 months and see what are the Best Selling Neighborhoods In Dacula GA For 2017. You might remember that we looked at the <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/blog/whats-the-real-estate-market-like-in-dacula/">Dacula GA Real Estate market</a> earlier. As a courtesy to you we include more than a top 10 because Hamilton Mill and Apalachee Farms will likely also lead the pack due to the number of homes for sale that they have at any given time in Dacula, GA.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/dacula_best_selling_neighborhoods.jpg" width="400" height="279" alt="Neighborhoods In Dacula GA" title="Neighborhoods In Dacula GA" style="float: left; margin: 10px;" />Best Selling Neighborhoods In Dacula GA For 2017
Hamilton Mill - This the perennial leader in home sales of course. With 77 homes sold in Hamilton Mill in the past 6 months, it's the clear winner. The average price of <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/hamilton-mill/" title="Homes For Sale in Dacula">homes for sale in Hamilton Mill</a> that sold was $386K. Which also tops this list.
Apalachee Farms - Seemingly playing second fiddle to Hamilton Mill in terms of sales and quantity and frankly publiciity, Apalachee Farms sold 25 in 6 months with an average price of homes for sale in Apalachee Farms coming to $347
Best Selling Neighborhoods In Dacula GA For 2017 NOT Named Hamilton Mill
Daniel Park - We often refer to Daniel Park as Dacula's best kept secret but after reviewing the numbers, it's clearly not a secret to anyone. With 18 homes sales in 6 months and an average price of <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/daniel-park/" title="Homes for sale in Daniel Park">homes for sale in Daniel Park</a> at $305K... the cat is out of the bag.
Aplachee Heritage - Not officially part of the Apalachee Farms community, Apalachee heritage comes in with 16 homes that sold and a more affordable price of $256K for homes that sold in Apalachee Heritaget.<br /><br />Ivey Chase - <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/ivey-chase/">Ivey Chase</a> ties Apalachee Heritage for number 2 with 16 homes sold as well. The average price of these homes was $301K<br />Incidentally, the <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/blog/homes-sold-in-june-2017/">Stan Jones team sold 16 homes in June 2017 alone</a>!
Fairmont On The Park - Fairmont is quickly becoming a crowd favorite in Dacula, it's convenient to everything and affordable. With 14 homes sold and a price os $226K on average, <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/fairmont-on-the-park/">Fairmont on the Park</a> ranks 3rd.
Del Mar Club - Del Mar Club (as well as the next two neighborhoods) represent the highway 316 side of Dacula. <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/del-mar-club/">Del Mar Club had 12 sales in 6 months</a> at an average price of $269K.<br /><img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/top_selling_neighborhood_for_dacula.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Neighborhoods In Dacula GA" title="Neighborhoods In Dacula GA" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 10px;" /><br /><br />Harbins Landing - With 12 home sales of their own, Harbins Landing (and Harbins Landing Estates) are tied with Del Mar Club. The average price of homes for sale in Harbins Landing? $293K
Wolf Creek - The original "it" community on the 316 side of things, Wolf Creek had 11 sales wiht an average price of $242K.
Charleston Park - Charleston Park features the lowest average price of a home for sale with a price of $193K. At that price Charleston Park sold 9 homes in 6 months.
Apalachee Crossing - The next four neighborhoods all are tied with 8 homes sold in 6 monhts. Apalachee Crossing homes for sale went for $228K on average.<br />Evergreen - Not to far from Apalachee Crossing (logistically speaking) is <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/evergreen/">Evergreen with an average sales price of $196K</a> , making it the second most affordable neighborhood on this list.<br />Nichols Glen - Has an average sales price of $279K bringing it more in line with the overall average.<br />Windsong Park - Rounding out our list is Windsong Park with an average sold price of $242K
That rounds up our look at the Best Selling Neighborhoods In Dacula GA For 2017! If you don't see your favority neighborhood above, have a look at the list of neighborhoods in Dacula below.2017-11-01T11:18:00-07:002018-02-06T02:45:02-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1456What's the Real Estate Market Like in Dacula<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/dacula_real_estate_market.jpg" width="350" height="241" alt="Dacula Real Estate Market" title="Dacula Real Estate Market" style="margin: 10px; float: left;" />Whether you're thinking of selling now or later, it's worth while to know What's The Real Estate Market Like In Dacula, GA.
Today's real estate market is still going strong! <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/30019-homes/" title="Homes For Sale in 30019">Homes for sale in 30019</a> are still selling strong! Even with all the positve news it's worth looking at a couple of real estate statistics though. Let's dive into Dacula Real Estate.
Dacula Market Report
Dacula Sales Volume
Sales in September 2016 compared to Sales in September 2017 show a few changes. Sales Volume September 2016 was $20,292,373 and September 2017 was $21,901,391. That's increase in sales volume. With this, however, number of<a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/dacula-real-estate/" title="Homes For Sale In Dacula GA"> homes for sale in Dacula</a> went down from 80 sales in 2016 to 77 sales in 2017. This is the first decline in number of sales in September in the past five years.
For a list of the sales for the last 6 months you can check out our blog post titled: <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com/blog/best-selling-neighborhoods-dacula-ga-for-2017/"> Best Selling Neighborhoods In Dacula GA For 2017</a>
Dacula GA Days On Market
Total days of market also increased from 43 days on market September 2016 to 50 days on market September 2017. Although 50 days on market shows a very healthy market and sales turnaround it is something to take note that number of days on market has increased.
Dacula GA Absorption Rate
Another variable to take note is the Absorption Report. An Absorption Report shows whether a market is a Buyer's Market or Seller's Market. Currently, The Dacula, GA shows that a shifting market is coming soon. The report breaks down price points for home sales and shows how many months of inventory there are remaining. If there are over 6 months of inventory then the area is in a buyer's market. Under 6 months of inventory the area is in a seller's market. The report shows sales at $400,000 and above the market is 'soft'. Home sales are either neutral or declining in price.
Under $300,000 in Dacula, GA sales are clearly a seller's market. Sales are going up in price. And days on market are low.
If you would like to learn more about Dacula, GA real estate market, contact the Stan Jones Team at Keller Williams Realty @ 678.467.7554.
2017-10-12T04:56:00-07:002017-11-01T13:23:41-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1329Homes Sold in June, 2017<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/JUNESOLD2017BLOG.png" width="560" height="315" />
The Stan Jones Team has gained some momentum in the month of June. The team is projected to close 16 homes this month. The members worked extremely hard to reach their personal goals. This number wouldn’t be possible without their hard work each and everyday. According to Homesnap, the Gwinnett County Real Estate market, the overall sales numbers in the last 30 days have remained above the monthly average (2,098.9) with 2,329 homes sold. Prices have begun to increase from price medians $225,900 to $227,000 in the Greater Atlanta Area. If you are on the search for a new home, or looking to sell your current home, our team would love to connect with you. Interest rates will begin to rise as we approach July and August. If you have any questions about the real estate market, our current listings, or how buying or selling right now could best benefit you rather than waiting, call us at 678-542-1380. We look forward to connecting with you soon!
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/stanjonesteam/"></a> <a href="http://www.instagram.com/stanjones_team"></a>2017-06-22T12:44:00-07:002017-09-13T06:38:18-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1270June 2017 Listings!<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/bloguesssss.jpg" width="779" height="438" />
The Stan Jones Team has listed a handful of homes already for the month of June!
Our team has listed some great homes & outstanding pieces of land over the last two months. Potential buyers should note that prices on inventory planned to to increase as time moves forward into the months of July and August. If you are considering to buy or sell your home, right now would be the best time! Interest rates are low, but will begin to rise. Don’t lose out on the opportunity to be a part of this market. To view all of our listings, visit our home page at www.AtlantaHomesToday.com<br /><br />We have a team of agents that are ready to help serve you into your dream home. <br /><br />If you have any questions or want to connect with one of our agents to begin your search for a new home or to get your home sold, we would love to help you! Call us today at 678-249-9635.<br /><br />Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We want to keep you in the know!<br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/stanjonesteam" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/stanjonesteam</a> & <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stanjones_team/" target="_blank">www.instagram.com/stanjones_team</a>2017-06-14T10:44:00-07:002017-09-13T06:32:38-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1268We Are Growing! Real Estate Administrative Assistant Wanted!<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/Jointheteam.png" width="450" height="107" />
Keller Williams Realty - Stan Jones & Associates Realty Team Invites you to apply!
< Experience Required >
Do you enjoy helping the team run smoothly, and that everything is done “right”? Stan Jones & Associates Realty Team - a division of Keller Williams Realty is seeking an executive level Administrator who is passionate about providing world-class customer service and ensuring a successful and enjoyable transaction for our valued home buyers and sellers. This is your opportunity to join a hyper-successful team where you won’t just earn a living, but be part of a growing family that invests as much in each other as we do our clients. We are fully engaged in your professional and personal growth in a way that few others offer. We would love to have you join the family! Responsibilities
Supports the sales agents in the maintenance, documentation and follow-up of all their escrow related paperwork.
Managing all aspects of real estate transactions process from processing sales in our database to auditing and maintain the related transactions file.
Responsible for verifying all properties have been entered into the closing system
Creating Clients for life
Work closely with escrow and the selling agent to retrieve any and all documents needed to close the files
Verify and sign off on all documents received for correct signatures and dates
Follow up with agents for missing documents.
Contact buyer's agent to request disclosures to be returned
Support Listing Team in getting listings live.
Communicate with clients to ensure a smooth process until close.
Run errands for team lead
Monitor Social media and post closings and listings
Manager leads calendar, maintain leads schedule and event calendar
Open, read, route and distribute incoming mail/email and or other materials and answer and routine/file/client/counterparts and attach necessary correspondence if necessary in replies.
Manage and monitor leads email.
Prepare lead for Appointments, schedule and confirm appointments for clients, customers, or supervisors
Database updates
Daily Check lists to keep everyone up to date on task completed
Supervise other clerical staff and provide training and orientation to new staff
Must sometimes establish work procedures or schedules and keep track of daily work of clerical staff.
Develop and implement Policies and Procedures manuals
Develop,implement and support daily work flow guidelines for all members of team.
Make Copies of correspondence or other printed material
Answer phones, check voicemail, take messages, or transfer calls to the appropriate individuals.
Serve all visitors to the organization.
Learn to operate new office technologies as they are developed and implemented
Order and dispense supplies
There are also additional responsibilities that are required and or added as needed based on the business needs.
The Stan Jones Team MVVBP
MISSION "Making Moves Meaningful." To be the most giving, service with a purpose, real estate organization in each local, national and worldwide network. Serving and loving people to the next best place in their lives.
VISION "To maintain the highest level of integrity and professionalism while serving our valued clients"
Buyers & Sellers choose us because they trust us. We help them buy or sell their home at the best price and most favorable terms the market will bear. We accomplish this as quickly as possible and with great smoothness. "I must talk with The Jones Realty Network to buy or sell a home."
Realtors, colleagues and vendors like to work with us because we make the process smooth and easy.
We are the real estate team that every real estate professional wants to be a part of. We operate at an ultra high level, very efficient, run profitably and have fun.
VALUES "God, Family and then Business." We are committed to serve our real estate clients in this order and run our lives with great balance serving our clients with great integrity.
BELIEFS At the core of Keller Williams Realty is a conviction that who you are in business is what matters. We believe that the company we keep can contribute to our lives in untold ways. To help cement this understanding, we've formalized a belief system called the WI4C2TS that guides how we treat each other and how we do business.
PERSPECTIVE We are a learning based company driven by the desire to learn more to do more. We are placed where high-minded professionals gather together to achieve more than one can do itself. We believe in success through others. We are a business that raises the bar and sets an example.
Qualifications
Ability to work in an office in Duluth, GA
Friendly, Helpful and Committed to Excellence
Dedicated to Creating Happy Clients
Excel, word, PowerPoint, Google Docs, etc.. experience,
Able to handle high pressure and consistent change
Adaptive
Primary Objectives – What are the major objectives or outcomes to be accomplished by the person in the job?
Build, implement, and manage all systems for sellers, buyers, lead generation, database management, information management, and back-office support
Responsible for all financial systems, including maintaining the books, paying the bills, handling payroll, assuring the collection of commissions, maintaining the budget, and generating financial reports
Oversee all contracts through closing
Create and maintain an operations manual that documents all systems and standards
Coordinate the purchase, installation, and maintenance of all office equipment
Be the first point of contact in handling customer inquiries or complaints
Keep the lead agent informed regarding any problems or issues that need to be handled
Responsible for hiring, training, consulting, and holding accountable all additional administrative team members
Regular Work Activities – What are the most frequent and essential work activities in this job?
System development, implementation, and management
Information management
Oversight of contracts through closing
Customer/vendor relations
Bookkeeping (P & L)
Responsible for hiring, training, consulting, and holding accountable all additional administrative team members (future responsibility as the organization continues to grow).
Key Skills – What behavioral traits, attitudes, and skills are required?
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Exceptional organizational and project management abilities
Bookkeeping skills
Great ability to focus
Concerned about doing things the right way
Calm under pressure
Learning based
Service-based attitude
Proven ability to succeed
Full Time position with lots of growth potential. Salary plus bonus opportunities for rock star talent.
Send resume to bettercareeratsjt@gmail.com2017-05-30T11:57:00-07:002017-05-30T13:30:43-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1267April Listings, 2017The Stan Jones Team listed 3 homes during the month of April!
There has been some great inventory come into the market the past few months here in the Gwinnett County area. Approximately 1,969 homes sold in the month of April and that number is increasing by the day. Don’t lose out on the opportunity to be a part of this market. To view all of our listings, visit our home page at <a href="http://www.AtlantaHomesToday.com">www.AtlantaHomesToday.com</a>
We have a team of agents that are ready to help serve you into your dream home. Call us today at 678-542-1380 and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know!
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/stanjonesteam">www.facebook.com/stanjonesteam</a> & <a href="http://www.instagram.com/stanjones_team">www.instagram.com/stanjones_team</a>2017-05-09T09:13:00-07:002017-05-12T06:06:20-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1262Spring is here and Summer is near. Let's get your home sold!
The market is HOT and the Stan Jones Team has sold many homes this month!
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/Copy_of_SOLD-3.png" width="560" height="315" />
Our agents are working closely with our clients to make sure they receive the satisfaction they deserve. Whether it be listing appointments, showing appointments, or hosting an open house, our agents do what it takes to serve each client well. Our focus is to help educate and offer resources to our clients and community. We understand that purchasing a home can be very difficult and stressful at times. By choosing to list with The Stan Jones Team, Your agent will do their best to guide and advise you to meet your every possible need you may have, and grant you their input by helping educate you, increasing your awareness for every circumstance, and also answering any questions or concerns you may have in relation to selling your home. Contact us today and lets get your home sold! For information on our current listings, <a href="http://www.atlantahomestoday.com">visit our home page</a>. Homes are flying off the market quick, so call us! We look forward to Serving You Home.
Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook! <br /><br />
<a target="_blank" title="Facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/stanjonesteam">wwww.facebook.com/stanjonesteam </a>& i<a title="Instagram" href="http://www.instgram.com/stanjones_team">nstagram.com/stanjones_team</a>
2017-04-20T10:15:00-07:002017-04-27T11:31:00-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1261Appraisals - What is important to know?Appraisals! They can be great and they can be a nightmare! The most important items to know are the basics of how it all works.
So, what does an appraiser do and what are the guidelines he has to follow?
<a href="http://www.grec.state.ga.us/PDFS/About/newsarticles/2012DECGRECRENews.pdf" title="Appraisal Guidelines from GREC">http://www.grec.state.ga.us/PDFS/About/newsarticles/2012DECGRECRENews.pdf</a>
A definition that is important is - Gross Living Area. Scott Murphy from the appraisers association stated the article below about living area. (this helps to understand how square feet are calculated)
Probably one of the most important elements of a home, in terms of value, is the overall living space or gross living area (GLA). It is probably one of the most misunderstood elements as well. There are a number of standards for calculating GLA but the one that is used by appraisers is the “ANSI” – American National Standard Institute. The ANSI standards define "finished area" as “an enclosed area in a house suitable for yearround use, embodying walls, floors, and ceilings that are similar to the rest of the house.” Measurements must be taken to the nearest inch or tenth of a foot, and floor area must be reported to the nearest square foot. Garages are specifically excluded. The way I explain it is that if you put your foot on the floor of any given level and any portion of that floor is below the grade of the ground, it is considered below grade space and CAN NOT be included in GLA. Another way to think of it is that if you could not put a door on any part of the perimeter than it is below grade space. This comes into play in parts of the country where there are homes with basements and other home styles such as split level and split foyer homes where some levels are below the grade of the ground. The appraiser then will take the areas above grade and count the rooms. The appraiser will count the total number of rooms, then the number of bedrooms and then the number of bathrooms. The room count will only include rooms which are above grade; bedrooms and bathrooms below grade will not be included in the room count. Foyers, breakfast areas, laundry rooms and bathrooms are excluded from the total room count. So for example, we might have a typical two story traditional home. The first floor has a foyer, living room, dining room, family room, kitchen, breakfast area, laundry room and a half bathroom. The second floor might have four bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Our total room count is eight (living room, dining room, family room, kitchen and four bedrooms), our bedroom count is four and our bathroom count is two and a half (8-4-2.5). Let’s define a bedroom before we go any further. A bedroom is a room of “adequate size” – which is defined as no less than 100 square feet. It must have a closet, a window, a door; it must be heat/cooled and finished to the same quality as the rest of the house. It must be ABOVE GRADE to be counted as a bedroom. And the most forgotten or unknown factor in defining a bedroom is that it must have ready access to a FULL bathroom. A full bathroom is one which has a shower or a tub as well as sink and toilet. Think about it, if you have a bonus room finished up over a garage; it has a closet, window, door, heated/cooled and finished to the same quality as the rest of the house but you have to go down the stairs and across the house to use the bathroom – that does not function on a long-term basis as a bedroom. Another common scenario is that you might have four “bedrooms” on the second floor of a house. Three of the bedrooms have private baths. How is someone in the fourth bedroom supposed to get to the bathroom?
So, what does this mean for a homeowner? It means a couple things.
1. Square feet valued for $ per square feet is valued for square from the front door of the home and above. No finished square feet below 'grade' are included in square feet analysis.. An appraiser cannot use terrace (basement) level in the same way as main and upper square feet.
2. Bedrooms are calculated as a bedroom if they are above grade.
There are several other items in this article (see attached) that are important for each of us if when we are considering selling a home or refinance.
Contact the Stan Jones Team of Keller Williams Realty for more informaiton about appraisals and home valuations. 678.542.1380. <a href="https://www.atlantahomestoday.com" title="Stan Jones Team Real Estate Website">www.AtlantaHomesToday.com</a>2017-04-02T13:05:00-07:002017-04-02T18:08:49-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1260Is Getting a Home Mortgage Still Too Difficult?<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/getting-a-home-mortgage.jpg" alt="Getting a Home Mortgage" title="Getting a Home Mortgage" class="img_box_center" width="750" height="410" />
There is no doubt that mortgage credit availability is expanding, meaning it is easier to finance a home today than it was last year. However, the mortgage market is still much tighter than it was prior to the housing boom and bust experienced between 2003 - 2006.
The Housing Financing Policy Center at the Urban Institute just <a href="http://www.urban.org/urban-wire/overly-tight-credit-killed-11-million-mortgages-2015">released data</a> revealing two reasons for the current exceptionally high credit standards:
Additional restrictions lenders put on borrowing because of concerns that they will be forced to repurchase failed loans from the government-sponsored enterprises or Federal Housing Administration (FHA).
The concern about potential litigation for imperfect loans.
What has been the result of these concerns?
6.3 Million Less Mortgages
The Policy Center report went on to say:
“It was so hard to get a mortgage in 2015 that lenders failed to make about 1.1 million mortgages that they would have made if reasonable lending standards had been in place. From 2009 to 2014, lenders failed to make about 5.2 million mortgages thanks to overly tight credit. In total, lenders would have issued 6.3 million additional mortgages between 2009 and 2015 if lending standards had been more reasonable.”
In an <a href="http://www.dsnews.com/daily-dose/11-25-2016/opening-access-mortgage-credit">interview with DSNews</a>, Laurie Goodman and Alanna McCargo of the Policy Center further explained:
“Our Housing Credit Availability Index (HCAI)* measures the probability that mortgage borrowers will become delinquent on that mortgage for 90 or more days, which we refer to as the default risk. This measure indicates that the probability of default rose from 12 percent in 2001 to a peak of 16.5 percent at the end of 2005/beginning of 2006, before declining to the current level of 5 percent. Stated differently, lenders are currently taking less than half the credit risk they were taking in 2001, a period of reasonable credit standards.”
The cost to the economy if we’re writing fewer loans…
Goodman and McCargo put it best:
“…fewer households will become homeowners at exactly the point in the economic cycle when it is most advantageous to do so… [They] will continue to miss this wealth-building opportunity. The median family wealth for homeowners is $195,400, with their home the most valuable asset for most; the median family wealth for renters is $5,400… Fewer potential homebuyers means the housing market will continue to recover more slowly. At the same time, fewer buyers create a strain on other benefits to the economy which homebuying brings such as spending on home goods and an increase in construction jobs.”
Bottom Line
The housing market boom and bust caused many mortgage providers and lenders to tighten their lending standards in an effort not to repeat the recent past. This paired with many homebuyers disqualifying themselves before they even apply for a loan, due to the fear of rejection, has led to many households not yet becoming homeowners.
*The HCAI measures the percentage of home purchase loans that are likely to default—that is, go unpaid for more than 90 days past their due date. A lower HCAI indicates that lenders are unwilling to tolerate defaults and are imposing tighter lending standards, making it harder to get a loan. A higher HCAI indicates that lenders are willing to tolerate defaults and are taking more risks, making it easier to get a loan.2017-02-10T16:33:00-07:002017-02-10T16:34:20-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:12593 Questions to Ask Before Buying Your Dream Home<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/3-questions-to-ask-before-buying-your-dream-home.jpg" alt="3 Questions to Ask Before Buying Your Dream Home" title="3 Questions to Ask Before Buying Your Dream Home" width="750" height="410" />
If you are debating purchasing a home right now, you are probably getting a lot of advice. Though your friends and family will have your best interest at heart, they may not be fully aware of your needs and what is currently happening in the real estate market.
Ask yourself the following 3 questions to help determine if now is actually a good time for you to buy in today’s market.
1. Why am I buying a home in the first place?
This truly is the most important question to answer. Forget the finances for a minute. Why did you even begin to consider purchasing a home? For most, the reason has nothing to do with money.
For example, a recent survey by Braun showed that over 75% of parents say “their child’s education is an important part of the search for a new home.”
This survey supports a study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University which revealed that the four major reasons people buy a home have nothing to do with money. They are:
A good place to raise children and for them to get a good education
A place where you and your family feel safe
More space for you and your family
Control of that space
What does owning a home mean to you? What non-financial benefits will you and your family gain from owning a home? The answer to that question should be the biggest reason you decide to purchase or not.
2. Where are home values headed?
According to the latest Home Price Index from CoreLogic, home values are projected to increase by 5.3% over the next 12 months.
What does that mean to you?
Simply put, if you are planning on buying a home that costs $250,000 today, that same home will cost you an additional $13,250 if you wait until next year. Your down payment will need to be higher as well to account for the higher home price.
3. Where are mortgage interest rates headed?
A buyer must be concerned about more than just prices. The ‘long term cost’ of a home can be dramatically impacted by even a small increase in mortgage rates.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), the National Association of Realtors, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have all projected that mortgage interest rates will increase over the next twelve months as you can see in the chart below:
<a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/kcmmedia/2016/10/07153646/Mortgage-Rate-Projections-STM.jpg" rel="lightbox[39504]" title="Mortgage Rate Projections | MyKCM"><img class="img_box_center" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/635/image/Mortgage-Rate-Projections.jpg" alt="Mortgage Rate Projections" title="Mortgage Rate Projections" width="750" height="563" /></a>
Bottom Line
Only you and your family will know for certain if now is the right time to purchase a home. Answering these questions will help you make that decision.2017-02-10T16:32:00-07:002017-02-10T16:33:15-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1258Selling in the Winter Attracts Serious Buyers<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/selling-in-the-winter-attracts-serious-buyers.jpg" alt="Selling in the Winter Attracts Serious Buyers" title="Selling in the Winter Attracts Serious Buyers" class="img_box_center" width="750" height="410" />
A recent <a href="https://www.redfin.com/blog/2016/11/home-sellers-spring-is-great-but-listing-in-winter-pays-off-too.html">study</a> of more than 7 million home sales over the past four years revealed that the season in which a home is listed may be able to shed some light on the likelihood that the home will sell for more than asking price, as well as how quickly the sale will close.
It’s no surprise that listing a home for sale during the spring saw the largest return, as the spring is traditionally the busiest month for real estate. What is surprising, though, is that listing during the winter came in second!
“Among spring listings, 18.7 percent of homes fetched above asking, with winter listings not far behind at 17.5 percent. While 48.0 percent of homes listed in spring sold within 30 days, 46.2 percent of homes in winter did the same.”
The study goes on to say that:
“Buyers [in the winter] often need to move, so they’re much less likely to make a lowball offer and they’ll often want to close quickly — two things that can make the sale much smoother.”
Bottom Line
If you are debating listing your home for sale within the next 6 months, keep in mind that the spring is when most other homeowners will decide to list their homes as well. Listing your home this winter will ensure that you have the best exposure to the serious buyers who are out looking now!
The study used the astronomical seasons to determine which season the listing date fell into (Winter: Dec. 21 – Mar. 20; Spring: Mar. 21 – June 20; Summer: June 21 – Sept 21; Autumn: Sept 21 – Dec. 20).2017-02-10T16:31:00-07:002017-02-10T16:32:27-07:00Stan Jonestag:atlantahomestoday.com,2012-09-20:1257Have You Saved Enough for Closing Costs?<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/648/image/have-you-saved-enough-for-closing-costs.jpg" alt="Have You Saved Enough for Closing Costs?" title="Have You Saved Enough for Closing Costs?" class="img_box_center" width="600" height="315" />There are many potential homebuyers, and even sellers, who believe that they need at least a 20% down payment in order to buy a home or move on to their next home. Time after time, we have dispelled this myth by showing that many loan programs allow you to put down as little as 3% (or 0% with a VA loan).
If you have saved up your down payment and are ready to start your home search, one other piece of the puzzle is to make sure that you have saved enough for your closing costs.
Freddie Mac <a href="http://myhome.freddiemac.com/buy/down-payments-closing-costs.html">defines</a> closing costs as:
“Closing costs, also called settlement fees, will need to be paid when you obtain a mortgage. These are fees charged by people representing your purchase, including your lender, real estate agent, and other third parties involved in the transaction. Closing costs are typically between 2 and 5% of your purchase price.”
We’ve recently heard from many first-time homebuyers that they wished that someone had let them know that closing costs could be so high. If you think about it, with a low down payment program, your closing costs could equal the amount that you saved for your down payment.
Here is a list of just some of the fees/costs that may be included in your closing costs, depending on where the home you wish to purchase is located:
Government recording costs
Appraisal fees
Credit report fees
Lender origination fees
Title services (insurance, search fees)
Tax service fees
Survey fees
Attorney fees
Underwriting fees
Is there any way to avoid paying closing costs?
Work with your lender and real estate agent to see if there are any ways to decrease or defer your closing costs. There are no-closing mortgages <a href="http://www.zillow.com/mortgage-learning/closing-costs/">available</a>, but they end up costing you more in the end with a higher interest rate, or by wrapping the closing costs into the total cost of the mortgage (meaning you’ll end up paying interest on your closing costs).
Home buyers can also negotiate with the seller over who pays these fees. Sometimes the seller will agree to assume the buyer’s closing fees to get the deal finalized, which is known in the industry as ‘<a href="http://smallbusiness.chron.com/seller-concessions-work-14296.html">seller’s concession</a>.’
Bottom Line
Speak with your lender and agent early and often to determine how much you’ll be responsible for at closing. Finding out you’ll need to come up with thousands of dollars right before closing is not a surprise anyone is ever looking forward to.2017-02-10T16:28:00-07:002017-02-10T16:31:19-07:00Stan Jones