Things to do in Marietta

Marietta Art Walk

Spring is finally here, or at least that’s what the calendar claims! Even though I look out the window and all I see is rain I am hopeful that mother nature will soon decide its time for me to wear my new spring dress! So for all of you sick of the cold and being stuck inside your home here are a few ideas of some things to do in Marietta in the upcoming weeks.

April 5, 2013
First Friday Art Walk
Where All The Arts Come Alive
Historic Marietta Square
Fri 5pm – 9pm

Art Walk is a free self-guided tour of the Marietta Square’s eclectic art scene. Galleries, museums, cultural venues, restaurants and boutiques host artists within their businesses from 5pm to 9pm on the first Friday of every month, rain or shine. Look for an official Art Walk banner in the window to identify the participating venues.

For more information visit www.artwalkmarietta.com

Foreclosures Explained

Foreclosures Explained by Ana Hodge, your Marietta GA Real Estate Consultant with Atlanta Communities. Serving home buyers and home sellers in Marietta, Kennesaw, Acworth, Dallas, Smyrna and Powder Springs There are a lot of alarming statistics out there about foreclosures. …

Bad Neighbors Can Decrease Property Values courtesy of Realtor.org

I came across this article and thought that many of us could benefit from it. While making improvements and keeping our house in good condition is vital when resale time comes around, the truth is that many buyers wont even consider buying your house if your neighborhood is not well kept. So take the time to drive around your neighborhood and stay current with your HOA plans. Trust me, it is in your best interest.

Bad Neighbors Can Decrease Property Values
Daily Real Estate News | Thursday, January 31, 2013

A bad neighbor can bring down the value of a home, possibly by even up to 10 percent, according to the Appraisal Institute.

“I’ve seen many situations where external factors, such as living near a bad neighbor, can lower home values by more than 5 to 10 percent,” says Richard L. Borges II, president of the Appraisal Institute. “Home owners should be aware of what is going on in their neighborhood and how others’ bad behaviors could affect their home’s value.”

What qualifies as a bad neighbor — or “external obsolescence” in appraisal speak? Home owners with “annoying pets, unkempt yards, unpleasant odors, loud music, dangerous trees and limbs, or poorly maintained exteriors,” according to the Appraisal Institute.

The organization recommends home owners take action. For example, banding together with other neighbors to approach the “bad neighbor” together and check if the home is violating any municipality codes or subdivision restrictions that you can report. In some cases it may be worth hiring an attorney. “If all else fails, the cost of an attorney likely will be less than the home’s potential loss in value,” according to the Appraisal Institute.

Source: The Appraisal Institute

As Rates Rise, Mortgage Applications Drop

As Rates Rise, Mortgage Applications Drop.

Interest rates continue to increase but to be able to purchase a home and lock an interest rate of 3.75 for 30 years its still a gain for any person that is looking to buy.

Looking to buy a home, sell a house or invest in real estate in Marietta? Contact me. It will be my honor to help!

5 Reasons why you should list your home NOW

5 Reasons You Should List Your House TODAY! taken from the The KCM Blog.
Ana Hodge -www.buyahomeatl.com

People are usually asking about the market and the overall idea, and the reality until recent months is that the buyers have had the upper hand, and many people was able to acquire really good properties for almost nothing. Well, things are changing. The effect of low interest rates keeps bringing more and more buyers into the market, and now the challenge for those wanting to buy before interest rates climb is that inventory of homes for sale is low. reality is right now in Marietta, GA we are in a sellers market and this are 5 reasons why this is a great time to get off the fence and list your home.
1.) Demand Is High
Homes are selling at a pace not seen since 2007. The most recent Existing Home Sales Report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) showed that annual sales in 2012 increased 9.2% over 2011. There are buyers out there right now and they are serious about purchasing.
2.) Supply Is Low
The monthly supply of houses for sale is at its lowest point (4.4 months) since May of 2005. The current month’s supply is down 21.6% from the same time last year. Historically, inventory increases dramatically in the spring. Selling now when demand is high and supply is low may garner you your best price.
3.) New Construction Is Coming Back
Over the last several years, most homeowners selling their home did not have to compete with a new construction project around the block. As the market is recovering, more and more builders are jumping back in. These ‘shiny’ new homes will again become competition as they are an attractive alternative to many purchasers.
4.) Interest Rates Are Projected to Inch Up
The Mortgage Bankers’ Association has projected mortgage interest rates will inch up approximately one full point in 2013. Whether you are moving up or moving down, your housing expense will be more a year from now if a mortgage is necessary to purchase your next home.
5.) Timelines Will Be Shorter
The dramatic increase in transactions caused many challenges to the process of buying or selling a home in 2012. We waited for inspections, dealt with last minute appraisals and prayed that the bank didn’t ask for ‘just one more piece of paper’ before issuing a commitment on the mortgage. There are fewer transactions this time of year. That means that timetables on each component of the home buying process will be friendlier for those involved in transactions over the next 90 days.

Buying,selling or investing in real estate in Marietta or Cobb County? I would welcome the opportunity to help you have a successful and financially rewarding transaction.

This month in Real Estate provided by KW Realty

Do you want to sell your home in Cobb county by the beginning of Spring? According to KW research it takes an average of 2 months for buyers to decide to buy a specific home.Then you should consider listing it now to get ahead of the many sellers that wait for the Winter to be over to list their home.

Biding wars continue to get worse in some areas. Another reason why you need a professional on your side!

Biding wars continue to get worse in some areas. Another reason why you need a professional on your side!

Tight inventories of for-sale homes all over the country are to blame for the biding wars on homes for sale in recent months. Buyers in the Cobb County and Atlanta metro areas in general are competing with investors and other cash buyers that are ready to snatch a good buy before home prices climb again.
The situation is causing frustration for people as they face rejected offers and are forced to get competitive by in some instances having to offer above listing price in order to secure a contract. According to the California Association of REALTORS®, as cited in Realtor.com, Daily Real Estate News, “nearly six in 10 homes were selling with multiple offers because of tight inventories.”
For buyers this mean that now more than ever they should seek the assistance of a professional Realtor to help them understand the market and be competitive as they approach the home buying process.
For sellers or anyone waiting for the right time to sell a home, this are very encouraging news as we enter into the new year. Homes are receiving an average of four offers, according to CAR’s 2012 Annual Housing Market Survey report. Forty-one percent of homes are selling without a discount too, which marks the highest number since 2005.

What are your resolutions for 2013?

Provided by Ana Hodge with Keller Williams Signature Partners.

Whether you live in Cobb County, Dekalb, or Fulton, we all look forward to the new year to accomplish some goals. Some lists are longer than some others; however, most of them are made of personal and professional goals that we would like to accomplish. Here are a few ideas to help you stay on track and make 2013 a very successful year.

New Year’s resolutions often begin with “I will lose five pounds” or “I promise to quit smoking.” But, without keeping the following suggestions in mind,
your resolutions may become nothing more than fodder for frustration.

Be committed.

You must think through what you want to change and commit yourself to the long-term process. You then need to come up with a realistic plan to help you reach your goals. For example, if you want to shed some pounds, create a weight-loss schedule and an achievable diet and exercise plan. If your family and friends are supportive, tell them about your goals. They can provide encouragement and reinforce your commitment to change.  If necessary, seek professional help to assist you.
Be prepared for setbacks.

Don’t think of them as complete failures, don’t dwell on them, and don’t let them make you give up your goals. After a setback, try to get back on track to reach your objective. Plan ahead on how you’ll deal with setbacks. For example, if you do have a cigarette when you’re trying to quit, your plan may include reviewing all the reasons you listed for wanting to stop smoking and why reaching that goal will make you happy.
Track your progress.

Motivate yourself by celebrating your successes and by getting positive feedback from supportive family and friends. A good approach is to evaluate yourself every week or two. However, don’t over-monitor yourself by doing a self-assessment every day. That’s just likely to end in frustration. Don’t compare yourself to others. Accomplish your goal in a way that’s best suited to you.

Click on the link below to see entire article.

New Year Resolutions

Buying a home?

The process of moving can be quite intimidating; that’s why having all the information and resources you need is fundamental to make your transition as smooth as possible. Click on the link below to get access to market trends in your desired area. A home is a big investment, one that will impact you and your family life in a great manner, so before you purchase your next home look at the information I have for you. I hope it can be of your benefit as much as it has been for many of my clients.

Market Insider