6 Questions to Ask When Building Your Real Estate Wish List

Building Your Real Estate Wish List in the Greater Athens Area

6 questions to ask to figure out what type of home you’re looking for in Athens

Photo and information via Keller Williams

You’ve started your search, but do you know in detail what type of home are you looking for? There are so many choices that it is important to have an idea of what you want and need before you begin looking. Consider making a checklist of amenities that are essential and those you would like to have in your new home.

The checklist below may help you clarify your thinking on what is important to you when you are ready to purchase.

  1. What neighborhood(s) would you like to live in?
  2. What price range do you have in mind?
  3. What type of home interests you? (One-story, two-story, split-entry, townhouse, condo, duplex)
  4. Are schools a factor? Do you need to be close to public transportation?
  5. How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? How many do you want?
  6. What other interior and exterior features are important to you?

Please feel free to email, call us or submit a request for contact at any time to learn more about specific areas you are interested in learning more about. We are happy to help you in your research, and can give you an up-to-date snapshot of the local real estate market here in the greater Athens area.

 

Copyright 2017 Keller Williams® Realty, Inc. If you have a brokerage relationship with another agency, this is not intended as a solicitation. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Opportunity Housing Provider. Each office is independently owned and operated. 

This Month in Real Estate August 2017

This Month in Real Estate – August 2017

Information Provided by Keller Williams!

Below is information provided by Keller Williams. Interested in what’s happening in your neighborhood as well? Submit a request for contact, or give us a call today for a personalized home value report and market update!

August 2017 Market Update
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Monthly VideoAccording to the National Association of REALTORS®, existing home sales dipped slightly in the month of June. While demand for homes remains high, inventory, especially in the starter home category, remains constrained. With so many interested buyers waiting for more homes to become available, now may be the perfect time to sell.
Interest Rates
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Monthly VideoAccording to Freddie Mac, 30-year fixed rates ticked up from 3.90 percent to 3.96 percent. This rate remains well below the historical average of 8.90 percent.
Home Sales
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Home Sales Graph
The National Association of REALTORS® reported home sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of approximately 5.52 million homes during the month of May. This was a decrease of 1.8 percent from May and an increase of 0.7 percent from June of last year.
Home Prices
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Home Price Graph
The median home price increased to $263,800 in June, which was up 4.5 percent from May and up 6.5 percent from June of last year. The median home price has increased by approximately $16,200 in the past year alone.
Inventory
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Inventory Graph
There was a 4.3-month supply of housing inventory in June, which was up 2.4 percent from May. The total number of available homes for sale has decreased by 6.5 percent compared to June of last year.
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.

Steps in the Real Estate Home Buying Process

Steps in the Real Estate Home Buying Process

Let Team JWA guide you through your next home purchase in the Greater Athens area

You need a good representative who will work hard for you. Our real estate team is dedicated to helping you find the right home, at the best price. We want you to find the home that will make you happy and successful in real estate ownership.

When you hire us to help you buy your home, we want to know what you want and how much you can afford. Then we’ll find a way to merge these two priorities and find a residence that you’ll enjoy owning.

Keep your objectives in mind when visiting a home. Sometimes the idea of owning a home can overwhelm your practical sense, so keep your feelings in check. Keep a list handy of the features that you need and want in a home, and judge each home by the list instead of by details that could distract you from your goal. When you’re alone with your real estate professional, you can go over the pros and cons of each home. We can help you stay on track while still keeping our eyes out for a great property.

Engage the services of a good real estate lawyer. We can recommend several lawyers in the area who might be a good fit for you. Interview them to ensure that you get someone you can work with. The legalities of transferring land ownership can be dodgy, and a lawyer can be your best defense against future legal troubles. A good lawyer can charge several hundred to over a thousand dollars for their services, but the thousands of dollars saved in legal fees later on makes this a good expense.

Make the offer. This can be a maze of “buyer”, “seller”, “chattels”, “deposit”, and “completion”. We’ll be happy to prepare the paperwork and go through it with you before submitting it. Remember, the seller may reject or counter your offer, so even at this late date, avoid setting your heart on the home you hope to own. You’ll probably have to write a deposit check to the seller’s broker that proves the seriousness of your offer.

Get all necessary inspections done. A home inspector will check for signs of harmful materials like asbestos, lead paint and mold. They’ll also check for evidence of pests, faulty wiring and leaks. This is a crucial part of the home purchase. Not getting an inspection done means that you could be stuck in a home with a bad case of black mold and no recourse other than to pay for its removal. Inspections will cost a few hundred dollars, but again, this is more than worth it in the end. There are several inspectors in the area that we’d be happy to recommend.

Do a final walkthrough before closing the deal. We’d be happy to do this with you to make sure that everything agreed upon is completed prior to the final signing.

From the first interview that determines your requirements to the moment that you receive the keys, we can help you with the complicated process of buying a home. Don’t hesitate to submit a request for contact or give us a call to find out more about how we can make the home buying process easier!

2018 Jennifer Westmoreland & Associates Dog Calendar

Submit your favorite dog in support of the Athens Area Humane Society

Does your dog have what it takes to be in the upcoming 2018 JWA Dog Calendar to benefit the Athens Area Humane Society? Interested in supporting this new idea? Submit your favorite dog pictures to hannah@thejwa.com today, and your pet may be included in our new calendar! Please include any cute stories or special talents your dog me have (although not required!) We will select several dogs for this year’s calendar, and will be distributing this calendar to our customers, and will also offer calendars for sale, with proceeds benefitting the Athens Area Humane Society. The submission deadline will be soon, so be sure and send in your dog today!

8 August Home Care Tips in Greater Athens GA

August Home Care Tips in Greater Athens

Keep your home in top shape with these 8 August tasks

Can you believe it’s already August?! Back to school is coming up, and Fall weather is right around the corner. With the start of a new month, it’s a good time to review this checklist of 8 August tasks to keep your home in top shape. Info via Keller Williams!

  1. Test smoke detectors
  2. Drain approximately 2 gallons from water heaters to eliminate sediment.
  3. Clean dryer vent duct.
  4. Vacuum bathroom vent covers.
  5. Replace or clean furnace filter.
  6. Clean out basement window wells.
  7. Clean coils in rear of refrigerator unit.
  8. Clean around air conditioning compressor.

Have you taken care of your home over the years and are now thinking about moving, or know someone that is? We’d love to help you with the process! Submit a request for contact, or give us a call today.

Copyright 2017 Keller Williams® Realty, Inc. If you have a brokerage relationship with another agency, this is not intended as a solicitation. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Opportunity Housing Provider. Each office is independently owned and operated. 

2017 Oconee School Supply Drive a Success

2017 Oconee School Supply Drive a Success!

A record amount of school supply donations were presented to area schools

Oconee schools were presented with your school supply donations today at the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to your support and our community partners, we were able to help provide a record number of school supplies for the 2017-18 school year. Special thanks to our community partners, including Athens First Bank and Trust, Banksouth, Fox’s Pizza Den of Oconee, Matt Dixon/Briscoe Family Foundation, the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce and Target of Athens. We’re happy to support education in our community, and look forward to the success of the new school year.

From People To Pets – Everyone Deserves A Home

From People to Pets – Everyone Deserves a Home

Jennifer Westmoreland & Associates and the Athens Area Humane Society

From People to Pets – Everyone Deserves a Home! Community is important to us, and we are so happy to support the AthensArea HumaneSociety! Along with a top local real estate team, you are also supporting your community when you work with us at Jennifer Westmoreland & Associates in buying or selling your next home! #foryoureverymove #athensga #aahs #honestathensagent

Jennifer Westmoreland & Associates
Keller Williams Realty Greater Athens
706-389-9953 / 706-316-2900

 

Staging Your Home in the Greater Athens Area

Staging Your Home in the Greater Athens Area

Staging your home isn’t just de-cluttering. Let us show you!

www.ForYourEveryMove.com
Seller Insights
When you’re ready to sell, staging puts your home’s best foot forward. De-cluttering and de-personalizing common rooms is important to the process, but don’t overlook these factors that will leave lasting impressions on buyers (info and photo via KW):
1. Curb Appeal – Make a lasting first impression on buyers by mowing the lawn, power-washing the driveway and sidewalks, and keeping hedges trimmed.
2. Outdoor Social Areas – Adding comfortable seating and games to front porches or covered patios can highlight outdoor features of the home.
3. Storage Space – Buyers are attracted to homes with great storage space. Organize pantries, walk-in closets and utility rooms, and keep doors to these rooms ajar so that buyers know to look inside.
Did you know we have a specialized home staging service? We can walk you through the benefits of staging and show you techniques that will attract the right buyer for your home. Call us today or submit a request for contact to discuss what staging strategies and resources we have available to increase the marketability of your home.

 

Not Finding Exact Real Estate You’re Looking For Online

Not Finding Exact Real Estate You’re Looking For Online?

Let us show you the whole picture in the greater Athens area!

NOT FINDING EXACTLY WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR, ONLINE

Info Via KW


Personal Photo Real Tips from a Real Estate Professional
Most people these days start out their real estate search online, but it’s easy to feel like you’re not getting the full picture. Seeing properties in person is really the only way you can narrow down your search and really get the buying process started.
Call me today and I can help you put together a list of properties that we can view together in the greater Athens GA area. If you don’t have a solid idea on what you’d like to see, we can even plan on just touring a few open houses together.
And one more question – Often people start searching online to try and gain an understanding of their own home’s value. Is this the case with you? If so, I would love to give you an online, no hassle estimate or an in-depth broker price opinion. Submit a request for contact, or ask for a customized home valuation guide for your current home today!

Mallard Cir

Homes Just Reduced in the Greater Athens Area

Homes Just Reduced in the Greater Athens Area

Your dream home may only be a few clicks away!

Are you searching for homes in the greater Athens area? The Jennifer Westmoreland and Associates team has lots of listings that may be just what you’re looking for today! We have some listings that have recently been reduced, and probably won’t last long. Click the pictures for more information on each home listing, and submit a request for contact or give us a call to learn more about these fantastic opportunities.

Whitlow Creek Drive

Whitlow Creek Drive

Academy Woods Drive

Academy Woods Drive

Hearthstone Way

Hearthstone Way

Stevens Grove Church Rd

Stevens Grove Church Rd

Mallard Cir

Mallard Cir

River Shoals Dr

River Shoals Dr

 

Milledge Ave

Milledge Ave

675 Riverhill Drive

Riverhill Drive

Whitrlow Creek

Whitlow Creek

Long Creek Drive

Long Creek Drive