December Market Update

Keep Your Home Safe

http://www.justlistedincumming.com/community/area/Alpharetta+Distressed+Real+Estate/

Market Update

News as of the end of October:


The national housing market continues to recover, indicated by consistent increases in both home sales and prices. Inventories in much of the United States are primarily balanced, which favors neither sellers nor buyers. However, large pockets of the country are experiencing inventory shortages, which puts pressure on prices. Many of the hardest-hit areas during the downturn now have some of the tightest inventories. The return of price appreciation and a stronger market, particularly in those locations, is a welcome signal of returning market health.

“Some buyers are frustrated with mortgage availability. If most of the financially qualified buyers could obtain financing, sales would be about 10 to 15% stronger, and the related economic activity would create several hundred thousand jobs over the period of a year,” states NAR President Moe Veissi.
Despite difficult mortgage qualifying conditions sidelining some buyers, others are still taking advantage of excellent housing affordability conditions, which is evidence of notable stored-up housing demand that accumulated since 2007. With the housing market coming close to a full recovery and mortgage rates hitting new record lows, the time to buy is now.

Home Sales - Home sales this month rose 7.8% from last month to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.82 million units, a 9.3% increase from last year. Distressed homes (which include short sales and foreclosures that traditionally sell for 15%–20% less on average compared to nondistressed homes) accounted for 22% of August sales, down from 25% of sales last month and 31% of sales last year. Although the amount of distressed properties is decreasing from month to month, they are still high by historic standards.




Home Price

In Thousands

Home prices continue to rise due to shrinking inventory and an increase in demand. The current median home price is $187,400, up 9.5% from a year ago and down just 0.2% from last month. This has been the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year price gains, the largest year-to-date rise since 2005.



Source:  http://images.kw.com/media/shared/tmre/tmire-oct12.html 

http://www.justlistedincumming.com/community/area/Alpharetta+Real+Estate/

How to Invest Wisely in the New Rebound

When utilized wisely as part of a diverse portfolio, real estate investment can be the best move for most Americans to build wealth and subsidize their incomes in retirement. Between passive cash flow, appreciation as a hedge against inflation, and depreciation to offset taxes, it is incredibly attractive. However, there are a few rules which must be followed:

1. Define Your Goals
Before acquiring any property, ensure that you have defined your financial and personal goals and that your investment decisions are aligned with them.

2. Is Your Home the Worst Investment You can Make?
For many, purchasing a home can create forced savings and eventually become the best investment they ever make. However, your own residence and home equity should never be something to gamble with. It's where you live; your investments are for paying for that. Don't confuse the two.

3. Don't Invest in Real Estate Until You Are Financially Ready
Real estate is somewhere to put your money to work for you. No money down real estate investing is possible, and it can be a way to make money, but if you bite off more than you can chew and don't have any savings or reserves, you are asking for bankruptcy.

Make sure you are prepared for the worst, have separate personal savings which are sufficient to carry you through for several months, and have an exit strategy before you get in as well as a plan B and C.

For more information about investing in real estate visit http://www.justlistedincumming.com/miarticles/zip/30004/

Why Do Some Houses Sell and Others Sit?

http://www.justlistedincumming.com/community/area/Forclosures+in+Suwanee+GA/

Great time to List a Home

The supply of houses on the market is at a 50 year low.  WHAT?  Really.  According to CNBC.

Six years ago, inventories were at an all time high.  Mark Kiesel of CNBC states, “You’ve got new-home inventories at 50-year lows, existing inventories at 7-year lows and the shadow inventory has fallen by a million and a half.” 

So what is the conclusion I get from this?  It is a great time to put a home on the market - less competition.

Get more information - http://www.cnbc.com/id/49278310/

http://www.homesjohnscreek.com/subdivision/Medlock-Bridge/Alpharetta/GA/Johns-Creek

Tax Exempt Appliances Weekend

There is going to be another sales tax holiday and this time it is on WaterSense and Energy Star products.  The holiday will run from Friday Oct 5 thru Sunday Oct 7 and is good on purchases for personal use less than $1500.

The products include:

Air conditioners, ceiling fans, washers, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, doors, fluorescent light bulbs, programmable thermostats, refrigerators and windows.  As well as bathroom sink faucets, high efficiency toilets, and sensor-based irrigation systems.

Did you know that if you replaced a regular toilet with a WaterSense-labeled toilet, you will save more than 2 gallons of water per flush?

Forsyth County Water is also giving rebates as a incentive during this tax holiday.  Visit www.forsythco.com for more information.

The information came from the Forsyth County News Sunday 9/30/12

http://www.homesjohnscreek.com/p/Johns-Creek/Johns-Creek-Homes-Just-Listed

Who Do You Side With?

I am going against my own advice and talking politics in this one.  I saw an interesting article in The Cumming Patch showing GA results on a quiz asking which presidential candidate is right for you.  

I took the quiz and 89% was Mitt Romney - not a surprise

• 79% was someone I never heard of before 
• and 70% with Gary Johnson (libertarian).  

To be honest, I thought the libertarian would be higher but not the case.  But what is interesting is in the article, the results showed the following:

• 58% of the voters who took it side most closely with Libertarian Gary Johnson.
• 48% are most closely aligned with President Barack Obama and 
• 44% match most closely with Mitt Romney

It doesn't say much else but does comment that the numbers are different than what they were a month ago.  (51% Johnson and equal at 45% for Romney and Obama)

Click here to take the quiz yourself - http://www.isidewith.com/

http://www.homesjohnscreek.com/p/Johns-Creek/Johns-Creek-Foreclosures

My Brokerage Company - Top 3 Best Places to Work

Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners has been recognized as one of Atlanta's Top 3 "Best Places to Work" by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Each Keller Williams office location (called Market Center) is privately owned, like a Chik-fil-A franchise.  The office I work out of is owned by a group called Atlanta Partners.  This company owns many offices in the Atlanta area. 

I am so proud to work for this company!










http://www.justlistedincumming.com/community/area/Johns+Creek+Homes+with+Pools/

Lam Jam

This is really just an advertisement for something going on at Lambert High School - the GREATEST Forsyth County school (which my daughter happens to attend).

The 2012 Lambert High School Music Festival, known this year as "LamJam" returns this Saturday, Sept 15 on the school's practice field, 805 Nichols Road in Suwanee.

The daylong event kicks off about 11a.m. to 7 p.m. at Lambert High School in Suwanee.

This event has been a huge success since its inception in 2010 and this year, with the help of a grant from the Forsyth County Arts Alliance, the Lambert Stampede Booster organization hopes to improve on that, said one of the event organizers.

Expect lots of arts, crafts, music and food from vendors such as Cosmic Deli, Taqueria Los Hermanos, Backyard Burgers and Marco's Pizza.

The festival's featured headlining band, Junior Doctors, who will be performing live on stage at about 4 p.m. They have just come off the 2012 Warped Tour.

Admission is free.

http://www.northfulton.com/Articles-COMMUNITY-NEWS-c-2012-09-11-194987.114126-sub-LamJam-festival-in-Suwanee-to-feature-music-arts-food.html


This is what Lambert's Facebook Page says:

The Lambert High School Band will be hosting the 3rd annual “LamJam” family music festival THIS Saturday, 9/15 from 11am-7pm on the field at the intersection of Old Atlanta and Nichols Rd. Events include: 9 local bands, craft and food vendors, kids play area and more!  The event is free and open to the public.

It sounds fun so if you are in the area, check it out!

http://www.justlistedincumming.com/community/area/Foreclosures+in+Cumming+Ga/

August Market Insights

The national housing market continues to recover, indicated by a balanced supply of inventory and increasing home prices across the country. NAR President Moe Veissi states, “The very favorable market conditions are helping to unleash a pent-up demand, which is why housing supplies have tightened and are supporting growth in home prices.”
However, rising demand has led to tight supplies of affordable homes for first-time home buyers, who now only represent 32% of purchasers. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun claims “a healthy market share of first-time buyers would be about 40%, so these figures show that tight inventory in the lower price ranges, along with unnecessarily tight credit standards, are holding back entry-level activity.”
Regardless, with the market heating up and mortgage rates continuing to hit record-lows, now is one of the most favorable times in history to buy a home.

Home Sales

in millions

While home sales declined 5.4% from last month to 4.37 million units, year-over-year sales increased 4.5%. Distressed homes (which include short sales and foreclosures that traditionally sell for 15%–20% less on average compared to non distressed homes) allotted for 25% of June sales, which is unchanged from May, but is 30% below year-ago sales. However, despite the declining levels seen from past years, it is still expected that distressed property sales will still be largely present and higher than the historic average.


Home Price

in thousands

Shrinking inventory and a decline in distressed properties on the market continue to drive home prices up. The median home price rose 5% from last month, and 7.9% compared to a year earlier to $189,400. This is the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year price gains, which hasn’t been seen since February to May of 2006, a period of peak performance in the housing market.

Inventory- Month's Supply

in months

Housing inventory fell another 3.2% in June to a current 2.39 million homes available for sale, a 6.6-month supply. This marks the seventh consecutive month of inventory at a 6-month supply, the threshold for a balanced market, giving both buyers and sellers an equal advantage. Movement out of the three-year buyer’s market is imperative toward reaching a full-scale housing market recovery.

For more information visit our website at http://images.kw.com/media/shared/tmre/tmire-aug12.html



http://www.homesjohnscreek.com/subdivisions.cfm

Prices on the Rise?

So yeah, prices are on the rise, atleast that was the case in June.  Detroit, Minneapolis, Chicago, and Atlanta recorded the biggest one-month (May to June) gains.

Also, year over year prices are rising.  The last time the year-over-year index increased was in September 2010. For much of that 12-month period though, the government was offering a home-buying tax credit.

The increases partly reflect the impact of seasonal buying. The month-to-month prices aren't adjusted for seasonal factors.  The housing market is making a modest but steady recovery, in part because homes are more affordable: Mortgage rates have fallen to near-record lows. Housing prices are about one-third lower than at the peak of the housing bubble in 2006. Those trends have helped lift sales of both new and previously occupied homes.

For more information visit the source of this information at http://www.cnbc.com/id/48811038/

http://www.homesjohnscreek.com/sellyourhome.cfm

There's A New Sheriff in Town...

And his name is Duane Piper.  In a runoff election, Piper beat the incumbent Sheriff Paxton by a vote of 51% to 49%. 


Taken from his website,http://www.piperforsheriff.com:

Duane is a former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division and a veteran law enforcement professional who has spent the last 25 years protecting the public from criminals.

After a highly successful early career in Banks and Glynn counties and the Roswell police department, he joined the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office in 1995 and quickly ascended through the ranks. After just one year on the job, he was promoted to watch commander, then sergeant and, in 2002, earned the rank of lieutenant.

During his law enforcement career, Duane completed more than 2,500 hours of continuing law enforcement training, including all three levels of supervision training and management training offered by Ga. P.O.S.T. council.

He possesses an unusually broad range of experience in the law enforcement profession having been trained, worked, supervised and managed in nearly every area, including uniform patrol, criminal investigations ranging from theft to homicide, narcotics, internal affairs, crime prevention, detention and Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.).

Duane and his wife Cindy have been married for 27 years and they have two sons, a wonderful daughter-in-law and two beautiful granddaughters. Their oldest son is a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Their youngest is a full time college student and former soldier in the U.S. Army.

He retired from the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office last month in order to campaign full time for Sheriff.

Forsyth County has GREAT Schools!

Not too shabby - Forsyth middle schools are ranked in the top 20 out of 476 schools according to www.schooldigger.com.

Big Creek is ranked #2 and Riverwatch leads the list at #2 just behind Stallings Island Middle School in Columbia County.  For high school, Lambert is ranked #7 with the others following shortly behind.

So for the district level, Forsyth is #2.  I know the superintendent is NOT going to be happy with that.  We want to be #1...!  Look for better results next year!



Tina Hecht
Keller Williams Realty
678-362-3843

ALHS-Accredited Luxury Home Specialist

CFIS- Certified Foreign Investor Specialist
www.JustListedinCumming.com 

www.homesjohnscreek.com

Election Results

Yesterday was voting day.  Did you vote?  I did!



Here are a few results you might be interested in:

TSPLOST - Georgia Mountains District - TSPLOST fails in Forsyth County

YES (NP) 25.20% 7,760

NO (NP) 74.80% 23,032



State Senator, District 27 - REP - Murphy wins.

JACK MURPHY (I) (REP) 50.22% 13,282

STEVE VOSHALL (REP) 49.78% 13,165


Forsyth County Sheriff - R Paxton and Piper will go to a runoff Aug. 21.

LAUREN W. MCDONALD (REP) 24.96% 6,860

TED PAXTON (I) (REP) 47.64% 13,093

DUANE K. PIPER (REP) 27.40% 7,529


County Commission District 2 - R -- Tam wins.

DENNIS TED BROWN (REP) 36.97% 1,952

SCOTT PADIS (REP) 5.30% 280

BRIAN R. TAM (I) (REP) 57.73% 3,048


County Commission District 4 - R -- Bell and Mills go to a runoff Aug. 21.

PATRICK BELL (I) (REP) 26.71% 1,535

TIM HUBBARD (REP) 15.59% 896

CHARLES H. MEAGHER (REP) 5.69% 327

CINDY JONES MILLS (REP) 44.16% 2,538

BILL MULROONEY (REP) 7.85% 451


County Commission District 5 - R  -- Boff wins.
JIM BOFF (I) (REP) 61.46% 3,555

JOHN DERUCKI (REP) 38.54% 2,229


Board Of Education District 3 - R

TOM CLEVELAND (I) (REP) 100.00% 3,669



Board Of Education District 4 - R

DARLA S. LIGHT (I) (REP) 100.00% 4,760



Board Of Education District 5 - R

NANCY ROCHE (I) (REP) 100.00% 4,739


For more, go to http://www.northfulton.com/Articles-TOP-STORIES-c-2012-07-31-194392.114126-sub-Forsyth-County-election-results.html

Take Advantage of Today's Real Estate Market

Are You Ready for Some Football?

I believe I have written a few blogs about my son playing football here in Forsyth County.  Well this year, he moves up to middle school ball and believe me when I say, he is hitting and getting hit MUCH harder this year.  Play has barely begun and he has come home limping and asking for ice packs already.

I saw this and think it is definitely worth sharing.  Please remember that in all sport concussions are a reality.  You can get your child (12 or over typically) a base-line test every year at the new Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at the Avenues with an appointment.  For more information see this article below:

http://www.mothers4concussionawareness.org/

One thing that is worth mentioning is to talk to your child before the season.  Kids feel pressure to return to the game before they should.  They need to stay out until they are ready to go back in and not a moment sooner.  It is not worth it!

Trim Summer Utility Bills

June Market Update From Keller Williams Realty

Forsyth County - A great place to LOVE!

Forsyth County is known as one of the best places to live in the state of GA and in the nation.  With great schools, excellent parks and facilities and access to the city, you can't go wrong in Forsyth County!

May 2012 Market Update

Backdeck Beautiful

We didn't have a very harsh winter but still, the effects of the cooler weather and the rainy season would still take its toll on your deck.  The month of May has long been in my mind in addition to the month of flowers (April showers bring May flowers) but also the month of spring cleaning.  Well it's time to take care of that deck.

1. Sweep leaves and debris
2. Clean any mold or mildew with soapy water 
3. Pressure wash the entire deck - you will see an amazing difference
4. Nail down any loose boards or steps and also those loose nails (I have stubbed many toes that way)
5. Restain/Reseal - there are a multitude of products out there to freshen you deck

Here's a tip:  We had our house painted last summer.  You know you can negotiate price right?  Well, ask them to throw in staining the deck.  What have you got to lose?

NAR - Year of Recovery

According to NAR (National Association of Realtors) chief economist, said 2012 is expected to be a year of recovery for housing.  This is based on the 1st quarter pending home sales (not closings) reaching well beyond last year's level.  Good news.

Not What My Blog Should Be...

I have a rule that my blogs should be positive in nature and provide some entertainment and information but I just have to blog today about an article I read  that has been weighing on my mind.

A father and son both drowned in Lake Lanier last week when the son took off to reach an island about 60 yards away.  He was with his brother - the brother made it but he started to struggle and his father went out to get him.  Neither has surfaced.  These are the first drownings this season.  I am stating these facts bluntly but make no mistake - I am very distressed about this.

We used to take our kids to the lake and even taught them to waterski when they were but 8 and 6 years old.  To my shock after reading this, I am troubled at how many times they were left to fend for themselves after falling down, waiting for us to drive around and get them.  I even had a few nightmares of them getting hit by other boats and was in a panic anytime one came in the near vicinity.  I am so happy that we don't have that boat anymore!!!

But this is different - I think...maybe I am wrong.

This scares me so much - how easily this happened and how often it happens.  I want to spout off the precautions everyone should take in the lake, warning that it is full of trees and debris that you can get stuck in, islands are farther than they look, boaters can't be trusted, etc.  But I won't.

I started writing this blog entry thinking I had something to say, but I really don't - I am just speechless.  But as I get to the end, I keep thinking this one thing... I too am willing to die trying to save my son.

Get your home ready to sell

             This list is a great start to getting your home in great shape, now, and when you're ready to sell!

• Remove and donate unwanted items, reorganize and clean closets, attic, basement and garage
• Power wash exterior walls, porch floors, deck, patio, driveway and sidewalks
• Clean outdoor furniture, umbrellas and outdoor light fixtures
• Clean out gutters
• Clean out refrigerator and freezer, making sure to vacuum the grill and coil
• Remove lint from the hose attached to back of clothes dryer
• Vacuum baseboards, walls and ceilings, wipe down walls
• Steam clean carpets and area rugs and upholstery
• Reseal natural stone surfaces (travertine, etc)
• Reseal and repair grout in bathtubs and showers
• Clean window treatments, dust and clean blinds and shutters
• Remove items from all shelves, dust and clean
• Oil hinges

If you need help with any of these projects, give me a call and I'll be happy to provide you with a great list of people to call!

www.HomesJohnsCreek.com

Hate to Clean? Sorry!

It's Spring Cleaning Time!


10 easy ways to spruce of your home inside and out:


1.  Wipe down exterior furniture - You will have to do this multiple times to actually get rid of the pollen.  Sturdy cushions could also use a good pressure washing.  


2.  Scrub the grill with warm water and dish soap


3.  Weed the garden - Weeds are already plentiful given our mild winter


4.  Wash driveway and walks - pressure washing again...


5.  Wash those pesky windows!  If you clean on a cloudy day, you will see streaks better.


6.  Scrub sealed countertops, sinks stainless steel and silver with a lemon scrub:  1/2 C baking soda and few drops of liquid soap.  Mix into paste.  Spread onto the inside of a half a lemon.  Use the lemon like a sponge.  Wipe.


7.  Declutter the garage.  This is an ongoing project for those of use with kids.


8.  Detail the deck - I heard Olympic Premium Deck Cleaner works good.  Spray it on, leave for 10 min then rinse.


9.  Clean out gutters - wait, didn't we just do this in the fall?  YES!  


10.  Switch to "green" Earth friendly products.  

Spring Cleaning Ideas

It's Spring Cleaning Time!


10 easy ways to spruce of your home inside and out:


1.  Wipe down exterior furniture - You will have to do this multiple times to actually get rid of the pollen.  Sturdy cushions could also use a good pressure washing.  


2.  Scrub the grill with warm water and dish soap


3.  Weed the garden - Weeds are already plentiful given our mild winter


4.  Wash driveway and walks - pressure washing again...


5.  Wash those pesky windows!  If you clean on a cloudy day, you will see streaks better.


6.  Scrub sealed countertops, sinks stainless steel and silver with a lemon scrub:  1/2 C baking soda and few drops of liquid soap.  Mix into paste.  Spread onto the inside of a half a lemon.  Use the lemon like a sponge.  Wipe.


7.  Declutter the garage.  This is an ongoing project for those of use with kids.


8.  Detail the deck - I heard Olympic Premium Deck Cleaner works good.  Spray it on, leave for 10 min then rinse.


9.  Clean out gutters - wait, didn't we just do this in the fall?  YES!  


10.  Switch to "green" Earth friendly products.  

source:  Lowes Creative Ideas

GA 400 Commute - Hate It? Me Too.

This is a little late, but I wanted to get it out anyways.  The DOT is looking at ways to improve the commute between I285 and Hwy 20 in Cumming on GA400.  They are looking at a few options including tolled  express lanes.

Public Information Open Houses

Georgia DOT has scheduled open houses to keep the public informed about the GA 400 Feasibility Study and seek input as options are developed to improve commute times.

Date	Location	Time
March 15, 2012	Piney Grove Middle School 8135 Majors Road, Cummings,GA 30041	5 PM - 7 PM
March 20, 2012	First Baptist Church Sandy Springs 650 Mount Vernon Hwy, Sandy Springs, GA	5 PM - 7 PM

Unable to Attend?

Please visit the public involvement webpage to view the Virtual PIOH, meeting documents or to submit your comments.

Please take the GA 400 Express Lane Survey to share your thoughts about this study.

source:  http://www.dot.ga.gov/travelingingeorgia/expresslanes/ga400/Pages/default.aspx

March Market Update

Opportunities in the housing market continue to grow for buyers and sellers. Home affordability, driven mostly by record low interest rates, is among the lowest it has ever been. According to the National Association of Realtors, and based on national averages, the payments on a home today represent 12.8% of the median household income. This is both a good sign for those looking to purchase a home, and for the economy overall as consumers are keeping more money in their pockets.

If you're a seller, the housing market shows signs of transitioning from a buyers' market to a more balanced one. This means that home owners should start to see prices stabilize and begin to grow, presenting more favorable opportunities for those looking to sell their homes. In regards to the number of homes on the market, a key indicator of the health of the housing market, Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said, "The broad inventory condition can be described as moving into a rough balance, not favoring buyers or sellers."

With continuing job creation, the improving housing sector, and signs that the banks are beginning to lend more, 2012 looks to offer promising opportunities to both those looking to buy or sell a home.

Source: National Association of Realtors   


Brought to you by KW Research.          

Don't You Just Love Farmers Markets?

It's that time of year!  Well almost.  Can't wait:

Efficiency

Whether saving money or saving the planet is the motivation, there are thousands of simple "green" choices we can each make in our lives, and our homes, that will provide for a healthier, wealthier,
more sustainable future.

Here are some quick tips to help you conserve water, energy (and money) in your home!*

1. If you don't have it in your budget to upgrade to a low-flow or dual–flush toilet, put a brick or full 2-liter bottle in your toilet tank. These will take up volume and help you save water every time you flush!
2. Turn down the temperature on your hot-water heater by at least 2 degrees and wrap your unit in a blanket.
3. Replace your burned-out incandescent light bulbs with CFLs or LEDs. Simply swapping out the most commonly used incandescent bulbs in your home can save you $60 to $100 a year.

Call me if you're interested in learning more efficiency-boosting changes for your home!

And as always, when you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate,
I'm here to help!

Current Rates and What it Means to You - the Buyer

Example - $250,000 loan amount

Current Rates:

30 Year Fixed (Conforming) 4.250% payment before T&I is $1,229.85

15 year fixed (Conforming) 3.500%  payment before T&I is $1,787.21

5/1 Arm (Conforming) 2.500%  payment before T&I is $987.80

30 Year Fixed (FHA) 4.250%  payment before T&I is $1,229.85

15 Year Fixed (FHA) 3.500%   payment before T&I is $1,787.21



Information provided by Anchor Funding 3/5/12 - www.anchorfunding.com
  

Forsyth County Massive Population Growth

I saw this on Focus on Forsyth Facebook page.  I have no idea where it came from - it wasn't sourced but thought even if it isn't completely accurate if FEELS like it is when I'm crawling 20mph on GA400 around 5:00pm with many many others!

Unless you are cash poor or just plain stupid...

Have you heard that phrase lately?  Well it is in reference to buying real estate as investment properties.  It is simple supply and demand really.  Buy low.  That is the #1 phrase they teach in investment property school.  And it is apparently followed by Warren Buffet himself.  In an recent interview he was quoted as saying he'd "buy up 'a couple hundred thousand' single family homes if it were practical to do so".  Buffett says along with equities, single-family homes are a very attractive investment right now.

And I agree!

LUCKY SEVEN Tips for Buyers

Interest rates at favorable levels and a good selection of homes provide an opportunity for buyers. Here are a few things to for buyers to keep in mind:

1. Know what you can afford before you fall in love with your dream home.

2. Consider additional expenses that come with owning a home like property tax, insurance, and repairs.

3. Be flexible on the little things. It would be wonderful to find a home with everything you want, but those are hard to come by – distinguish nice-to-haves and must-haves early.

4. Have imagination and look beyond paint colors, wallpaper, or other easy and affordable things you can change.

5. Don't compromise on the big things, such as enough bedrooms to accommodate additions to the family or space for an office if you work from home.

6. Always inspect even if the surface looks great; it's important to know if anything major is wrong and what it will cost to fix.

7. Think about the future in regard to the neighborhoods, surroundings, schools, and developments.

            

Market Update - Part Three

Existing home sales continued their rise, up 5% in December, to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.61 million. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for NAR, said, "The pattern of home sales in recent months demonstrates a market in recovery. Record-low mortgage interest rates, job growth, and bargain home prices are giving more consumers the confidence they need to enter the market."

Homes prices for December were down 2.6% from a year ago, at a median price of $164,500. One factor contributing to lower prices has been the high level of distressed properties being sold. In December, these properties began to show signs of price stabilization and increase. Foreclosures were selling at 22%, a 2% increase from a year ago, and average prices for short sales prices had risen by 3%.

The housing inventory dropped 9.2% in December to a 6.2-month supply, or 2.38 million homes, at the current level of sales. These are the lowest inventory levels of homes for sale since March of 2005. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for NAR, said, "The inventory supply suggests many markets will see prices stabilize or grow moderately in the near future."

                     

                     

Brought to you by KW Research. For additional graphs and details, please see the This Month in Real Estate PowerPoint Report.   The opinions expressed in This Month in Real Estate are intended to supplement opinions on real estate expressed by local and national media, local real estate agents and other expert sources. You should not treat any opinion expressed on This Month in Real Estate as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy, but only as an expression of opinion. Keller Williams Realty, Inc., does not guarantee and is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of information, and provides said information without warranties of any kind. All information presented herein is intended and should be used for educational purposes only. Nothing herein should be construed as investment advice. You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision. All investments involve some degree of risk. Keller Williams Realty, Inc., will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on information contained in This Month in Real Estate.                   

February - Market Update Part Two

Interest Rates:

Another slight drop for mortgage rates as they continue to set historically low records. With homes being so affordable and the economy continuing its recovery, home prices are stabilizing, as increased sales are expected. NAR President Moe Veissi stated, "The American dream of home ownership is alive and well. We have a large pent-up demand, and household formation is likely to return to normal as the job market steadily improves. More buyers coming into the market mean additional benefits for the overall economy. When people buy homes, they stimulate a lot of related goods and services."

                        

New Rec Centers in Forsyth County

Opening in March:


Old Atlanta Park - 810 Nichols Rd


Fowler Park Center - 4110 Carolene Way

"So What's Going on in the Market?"

2012 is off to a promising start. Mortgage rates continue to drop and have remained under 4% for nearly two months. Home sales are strengthening and pending home sales, a measure to gauge future sales, are at their highest levels since March 2010.





Job growth has been increasing for most of 2011, with unemployment dropping to 8.4%. As more people are getting jobs, consumer confidence has also been increasing. However, underemployment continues to be a problem for a stronger recovery. The underemployment rate is 18.1%, and there are still a significant number of people working part time, who would like to have full-time work.






Even with substantial national improvements, this continues to be a "one neighborhood at a time" recovery. Payroll jobs were up in 25 states, but down in 24, demonstrating the delicate state of the U.S. economy. Global factors such as the European debt crisis are also complicating a more robust recovery. Strong guidance is needed from local and global leaders to continue this growth, as well as allow for business to maintain momentum toward building and expanding upon the opportunities that exist.





Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Association of Realtors

Your Duty...

Voter registration deadline for the March 6 presidential preference primary and special election is Monday, Feb. 6.

Forsyth County residents wishing to register to vote or to change their name or address on the voter registration list may do so at the Forsyth County Voter Registrations and Elections Office, 110 East Main Street, Suite 200 in Cumming.

Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A voter registration application can be downloaded from the county website.

What is That Flashing Yellow Light?

Flashing yellow lights will be added onto the traffic signals at the following six locations in Johns Creek by March: 

• State Bridge Road & St. Georgian Common
• State Bridge Road & entrance to Parkway Baptist Church
• State Bridge Road & entrances to Home Depot/Whole Foods Market
• McGinnis Ferry Road & Hospital Parkway
• McGinnis Ferry Road & Johns Creek Parkway 
• McGinnis Ferry Road & entrance to Johns Creek Town Center

These lights will allow the can to turn left if the way is clear, but yield to crossing pedestrians and oncoming vehicles.  These lights will keep traffic moving.  Have you ever been stopped at a red light, waiting to turn left and have to sit through the light even if there are no cars coming?   This is very annoying when your side is going straight but you have to wait for them PLUS the oncoming traffic light to go from red to green back to red again for your dedicated light to turn green for you to make that left-hand turn.  

Wow!  I can't wait for this feature and hope it spreads to other areas quickly.

Forsyth County Milage Rate 2011 Breakdown

New Listings in Area 224 Forsyth County over the last year

AREA 224

Comparable Activity Report

		New Listings
	Date	Activity	Average Amount
7-12 Mos	Jan-11	22	$193,357
	Feb-11	40	$265,220
	Mar-11	27	$339,930
	Apr-11	25	$364,692
	May-11	32	$308,044
	Jun-11	36	$309,225
4-6 Mos	Jul-11	14	$229,371
	Aug-11	29	$349,941
	Sep-11	13	$264,269
1-3 Mos	Oct-11	23	$323,448
	Nov-11	21	$230,138
	Dec-11	19	$240,850
Grand Total		301	$284,874

This Month in Real Estate

              January 2012 Market Update

2012 shows signs of an improving housing market as the U.S. economy continues its forward-moving yet slow road to recovery. Although there are economists projecting housing prices will decline further, aided by distressed property sales that sell at a greater discount, these prices are expected to rebound considerably later in the year and continue into 2013.

Factors that continue to impede a speedier recovery in the housing are consumer confidence, job-growth uncertainty, and tough lending standards that keep many otherwise qualified buyers from financing a home purchase. However, consumer confidence may be showing signs of improvement according to a report released by Fannie Mae on December 7, which revealed that consumer sentiment toward home prices is stabilizing and that, for the first time in six months, more people believe that prices will soon begin to rise. This is an encouraging development, as much of our economic vitality depends upon the overall confidence of the consumer, and could trigger even stronger home sales as more people feel confident that prices will go up.

As the new year begins, many consumers appear to be in a holding pattern, waiting to see how the economy reacts to the different demands both here and abroad. Yet with steadily increasing sales and record-breaking affordability, now is the time to take advantage of these opportunities to buy or sell a home.

Sources: Fiserv, Fannie Mae

              Home Sales

Mortgage rates continued to push historic lows in November, dropping another .08 points, to 3.99% for a 30-year fixed mortgage. "Rates on 30-year fixed mortgages have been at or below 4 percent for the last eight weeks and now are almost 0.9 percentage points below where they were at the beginning of the year, which means that today's homebuyers are paying over $1,200 less per year on a $200,000 loan," said Frank Nothaft, Vice President of Freddie Mac.                        

Sales among existing homes rose in November by a seasonally adjusted 4%, to 4.42 million units up from 4.25 million in October, and are 12.2 percent above last year at this time. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for NAR said, "Sales reached the highest mark in 10 months and are 34 percent above the cyclical low point in mid-2010 – a genuine sustained sales recovery appears to be developing." les among existing homes rose in November by a seasonally adjusted 4%, to 4.42 million units up from 4.25 million in October, and are 12.2 percent above last year at this time. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for NAR said, "Sales reached the highest mark in 10  months and are 34 percent above the cyclical low point in mid-2010 – a genuine sustained sales recovery appears to be developing."Home Price

While median home prices in November rose to $164,200 from $162,500 in October, they are down 3.5% from a year ago. David Stiff, chief economist at Fiserv, stated, "Housing affordability has improved dramatically because of declines in both prices and mortgage interest rates. The monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced single-family home is now $700, compared to $1,140 in 2006—a decline of nearly 40%." (Based on 2011 Q2 figures) nventory

With increased levels of sales, the inventory of homes on the market continued to decrease, falling by 5.8% in November to 2.58 million homes available for sale, or an equivalent of a seven month supply at the current sales pace. This positive sign of increasing sales and lower inventories are keeping the housing market on track for stabilizing home prices and a stronger housing sector.