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According to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac, foreclosure filings topped 300,000 for the 12th straight month last month as 1 in every 418 U.S. homes received a foreclosure filing.
It’s a small improvement from January and a just 6 percent increase over February 2009.
On a per-capita basis, foreclosure density varied by state:
* Nevada : 1 foreclosure filing per 102 homes
* Florida : 1 foreclosure filing per 163 homes
* Arizona : 1 foreclosure filing per 163 homes
* California : 1 foreclosure filing per 195 homes
Also, as in January 2010, foreclosures across the country were concentrated. 10 states beat the national Foreclosure Per Capita average; 40 states fell below. Like everything else is real estate, it seems, foreclosures are local.
For today’s Home Buyer’s in Blairsville and Blue Ridge Georgia, foreclosures represent an interesting opportunity.
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As you can imagine, 2009 presented many obstacles for those of us in the Real Estate and Mortgage Industry. It was a tough and challenging year no doubt, but presented some hope for the future. Although 2010 has not started with record breaking numbers, many are still predicting that this could be the year we finally see “The Bottom.”
My broker Robert Rogers, really does a great job leading our agents and guiding us to success. He is a numbers guy, and he stays on top of the market and keeps all of us at Blairsville Realty informed as to exactly what is going on in the Real Estate Market in the Blairsville, GA., and all of the North Georgia Mountains.
I too wanted to congratulate my associates at Blairsville Realty for being #1 in number of units SOLD in all of the Northeast Georgia Board of Realtors(R) MLS, and #1 in number of units SOLD and Sales Volume in Union County. I am very fortunate and proud to work with such a great group of professionals, but more importantly friends that I consider to be family.
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Reporting on a two-month lag, the government said home values rose 0.7 percent in November.
National home prices are at their highest point since February 2009.
But before we look too much into the FHFA’s Home Price Index, it’s important that we’re cognizant of its shortcomings; the most important of which is its lack of real-time reporting.
According to the National Association of Realtors™, 80% of purchases close within 60 days. As a result, because of its two-month delay, the Home Price Index report actually trails today’s market data by an entire sales cycle.
This is one reason why home values appear to be rising even while new data shows that both Existing Home Sales and New Home Sales fell flat last month. The home valuation report is using data from November; the sales reports are using data from December.
The Home Price Index is a trailing indicator and next month, as the Spring Market gets underway, the government will be reporting data from the holidays.
The same is true for the Case-Shiller Index. It, too, operates on a 2-month lag.
All of that said, however, long-term trends do matter in housing and the Home Price Index has shown consistent improvement over the last 10 months. In many markets, home sales are up, home supplies are down, and values have increased. This trend should continue into the early part of 2010, at least.
If you’re wondering whether now is a good time to Buy a Home in Blairsville, or Buy a Cabin in Blue Ridge, GA., consider low prices, cheap mortgages and an available tax credit as three good incentives. By May, none of them will likely be available. If you have any questions or concerns, please Contact Me, or give me a call at 706.994.8686.
Make it a GREAT day!
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Today (which should have been about a week ago……sorry about that Tonia) I have the pleasure of introducing to you a North Georgia Mountain Native girl who left us (momentarily) for the Big City to pursue her career in Home Staging. I was fortunate enough to become acquainted with Tonia through my social media networking. She has graciously accepted my invitation to guest author a post here on “The Porch!” So without further a due, please meet Tonia Mosteller of Redesign + More of Charlotte, NC.
“Home Staging” is not a new term and it is not interior design, but for many homeowners and real estate agents the concept of “Professional Home Staging” is shedding new light on how to promote a home in the real estate marketplace. In past years, homeowners were left to their own discretion as far as preparing for home showings. How important is it to you for a fast sell? Is your home holding you back?
While Realtors(R) are experts in the field of selling and closing, many do not have the extra time to focus on the staging a home, this is why we offer a Realtor(R) Partnership Program to help provide an outstanding service to local Real Estate companies in the counties we service. At Redesign + More we don’t sell homes, we are experts at helping Realtors(R) sell homes, therefore providing you with a happy client and a fast sell! Your clients are important to you and important to us. Let us show them how home staging can cost considerably less than their ” first price reduction“. Offering your clients a home staging consultation as a listing incentive will set you apart and give your listings the most competitive edge in the market.
What is Home Staging?
Professional home stagers are experts in the “art” of preparing a home for resale and appeal to the largest number of buyers. Home staging transforms a home by highlighting the best features and creating warmth, eliminate clutter, edit and arrange furniture, and even create “slam on the brakes” curb appeal for your home. With the aid of a professional home stager, your house can make a notable first impression on potential home buyers. For vacant homes, home staging with just the right amount of accessories and furniture creates a living space the buyer can “see” themselves living in. Properly executed staging leads the eye to attractive features while minimizing flaws and creates a fast sell.
Top 5 Benefits for a Realtor(R) to use a Professional Home Stager
1. Avoid having to communicate negative aspects of your client’s home.
2. Marketing exposure for your listing that will provide national exposure, will be featured on our website and other sites with a link to your listing page.
3. It’s a fact! Staged homes are shown more often, increasing Realtor(R) exposure.
4. Staging your listings builds a reputation for excellence in marketing.
5. Save money and precious time: Shorter marketing time means less money spent on advertising and earn more commission.
Staged Listings sell quicker and receive higher offers than non-staged homes.
First Impressions
As the real estate industry often stresses, the “first impression” is the key factor in selling your home. A potential buyer has made up their 
mind 15 seconds after they step in the front door. They were already forming an opinion of your home as they pulled into your driveway! That really doesn’t leave too much room for fault does it? Remember, “The way you live in your home, and the way you market and sell your house are two different things.”
“To achieve the greatest possible outcome,” a home should always be presented at its best the first time around. So make your home stand out from the rest, and set the stage. You shouldn’t worry about the stresses of getting your home ready for the market. Did you know in most cases home staging is LESS than your first price reduction? Which would you prefer “Sold” or “Price Reduced”? Contact Me or give me a call today at 704.651.8878 for your home staging consultation.
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November 6, 2009, Congress voted to extend and expand the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit program. There’s 100 days left to claim it.
The expiration date of the up-to-$8,000 tax credit has been pushed forward to spring, requiring home buyers in Ellijay, Blue Ridge, Blairsville and all of North Georgia to be under contract for a home no later than April 30, 2010, and to be closed no later than June 30, 2010.
In addition, “move-up” buyers were also added to the program’s eligibility list meaning you don’t have to be a first-time home buyer to be eligible for the tax credit. If you’ve lived in your home for 5 of the last 8 years, you meet the IRS requirements.
Move-up buyers are capped at a total tax credit of $6,500.
The tax credit’s basic eligibility requirements remain the same:
- You can’t purchase the home from a parent, spouse, or child
- You can’t purchase the home from an entity in which they’re a majority owner
- You can’t acquire the home by gift or inheritance
- All parties to the purchase must meet eligibility requirements
The new law includes some notable updates, however.
First, the subject property’s sales price may not exceed $800,000. Homes sold for more than $800,000 are ineligible. And, also, household income thresholds have been raised to $125,000 for single-filers and $225,500 for joint-filers.
And lastly, don’t forget that the program is a true tax credit — not a deduction. This means that a tax filer who’s eligible for the full $8,00 credit and whose “normal” tax liability totals $5,000 would receive a $3,000 refund from the U.S. Treasury at tax time.
The complete list of qualifying criteria is posted on the IRS website. Review it with a tax professional to determine your eligibility. Then mark your calendar for April 30, 2010.
There’s just 100 days to go. So if you are looking for a Home For Sale in Blairsville, or a Cabin For Sale in Blue Ridge, GA., please Contact Me or give me a call to set up an appointment.
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Saturday I woke to two children screaming that there was snow outside! I rolled out of the bed…….mind you on a Saturday morning, and sure enough, it had snowed. It was a snow white winter land…..well except for the roads.
I am often asked in Real Estate, “How often does it snow in the North Georgia Mountains?” My usual reply is simple, “Sadly….Atlanta usually gets more than we do!” That is true to some degree. Now we have our fair share of light dustings, and occasional ice storms, but we don’t usually receive the kind of snow that most would think being here in the higher elevations of the mountains. I would say that our biggest winter hurdle here in North Georgia would be the freezing rains. It is extremely rare to have blizzards here in North Georgia. Our last blizzard, was the Blizzard of 1993 .
So if you are looking for a home for sale in Blairsville Georgia, or a cabin for sale in Blue Ridge, GA. and you are expecting 4′ snow drifts, or to go out snowmobiling across the Appalachian Mountains, you better head a little more West!
If I can help you with any of your North Georgia Mountain Real Estate needs, I would be grateful for the opportunity to go to work for you. Please call me with any questions or concerns you may have at 877-633-8186, or you can Contact Me through this website.
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Pending Home Sales Data Forecasts Higher Home Values Ahead
When a home seller accepts a contract on an MLS-listed property, the property’s status changes from “Active” to “Pending”.
This means the home is scheduled to sell, but not yet sold.
Each month, the National Association of Realtors® tallies the number of pending homes and publishes the data as the Pending Homes Sales Index report.
In October, for the 9th straight month, the index gained. It’s the longest such streak in Pending Home Sales history.
Because a “pending” home sale is just a contract between buyer and seller, it’s not as important to the economy as actual home sales. However, the Pending Home Sales Index can be a fine predictor of future activity.
Historically, 80 percent of homes under contract “close” within 60 days, and most others close within 120 days. Recent Existing Home Sales data corroborates this. Home sales activity is at its highest pace in nearly 3 years.
The Pending Home Sales Index does have some shortcomings, though:
1. It doesn’t account for newly constructed homes, a small but important part of the real estate market
2. It doesn’t track For Sale By Owner properties and other non-MLS listed homes
3. Its sample set is small, measuring just 20 percent of all MLS-listed sales
Despite this, however, Pending Home Sales is a terrific measure of real estate market strength. Homes are going under contract at a dizzying pace. It’s thinning out home inventory supplies and pressuring prices to rise.
This chain reaction is what makes Pending Home Sales Index worth tracking. As the number of homes under contract increase, home prices can’t be far behind.
I am hopeful that these national statistics and predictions will hold true for the Value of Homes in the North Georgia Mountains. If I can assist you with any of your Real Estate needs in the North Georgia Mountains, please Contact Me or just pick up the phone and give me a shout! My number is 706.994.8686. I would be grateful for the opportunity to assist you with those needs. Should you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please bother me!
Make it a GREAT day!
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Hope everyone has a very Happy and Safe Halloween. Remember, if you are in the North Georgia Mountains, we have the Halloween Safe Zone in Blue Ridge, GA. and Halloween On The Square in Blairsville, GA. These are really great events for Halloween here in our North Georgia Mountains.
Trick Or Treat!
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2009 Hometown Halloween On The Square in Blairsville, GA.
When: Halloween Saturday October 31st
5:30 – 7:30 P.M.
Where: On the Square in Downtown Blairsville Georgia
If you have never participated in Blairsville’s Halloween on the Square, you have to come out this year and experience it. It is nothing like you have ever seen before!
Trick or Treat on the Square with over 80 businesses, churches, and community organizations gathered around the Old Courthouse in downtown Blairsville.
There will be costume contests with “Secret Judges”, and a Food Bank Drive with prizes for people making a 6 or more can donation to the Union County Food Bank. “Haunting on the Square’” Food, Games, and lots of fun for the kids and the entire family. Don’t miss it!
2008 Halloween on the Square Video
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE4_SpgkdNQ[/youtube]
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Blairsville Realty has a quarterly listing brochure that we distribute all throughout the North Georgia Mountains. This brochure features listings from all of our agents within the office. Among the listings within the brochure you will find Homes for Sale in Blairsville, Blue Ridge, Hiawassee, Ellijay and many other North Georgia Mountain, Tennessee, and North Carolina Communities. You will find listed in our brochure many Vacant Lots, Developments and Commercial Properties. Also we are pleased that you will see many local advertisements from supporters such as United Community Bank, Kenya Patton Attorney at Law, Jimmy Carter’s Inspect-A-Home….(No not President Carter) and Blue Ridge Mountain Surveying, Inc. who we owe a lot of thanks to for helping make this brochure . Thank You.
If you have any questions or concerns after viewing the 2009 Fall Brochure, please call me at 706-994-8686 or you can simply Contact Me through this post. Sometimes the listing information can be hard to read, so if you find that to be the case, just let me know and I will be more than happy to forward to you a Full MLS Data Sheet.
As always, Thanks for visiting me on “The Porch!”
Make it a GREAT day!
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