Tag Archive for: buying a house

What Would A Rate Increase Cost You?

The effects of rate increases in the Greater Athens area

Information via Keller Williams)

Securing the right financing is critical when you find the right home. Many buyers put such a heavy focus on low home prices that they miss out on the real opportunity in today’s real estate market – historically low mortgage rates! Now is the time to lock in a mortgage rate to offer you the peace of mind you deserve with your next home purchase.
Submit a request for contact or call us today to discuss how you can take advantage of today’s market. We’re here to help with your every move.
Please share our contact information with anyone you know who may need real estate advice.

Five Ways to Update Your Space in Greater Athens

Five Ways to Update Your Space in the New Year

(Information and photo via Keller Williams)

When the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, we tend to start thinking of all the ways we want to overhaul our lives, but what about our houses? Here are five pieces of inspiration for updating your space in the new year. This may also give you some ideas in a new home that you may be reviewing.

1. Go bold. Paint an accent wall or a piece of furniture an of-the-moment, intense hue – like bright blue, fuchsia, kelly green or purple.

2. Embrace nature. Lacking a green thumb? Try succulents, which are some of the easiest plants to keep alive. Planters in natural materials like concrete and wood extend the organic feel.

3. Play with patterns. Geometric patterns continue to dominate décor designs. Integrate them into your space in a low-stakes way through patterned throw pillows or removable wallpaper.

4. Head toward the fringes. Textile trends are leading toward the tactile, with fringe popping up on everything from bedding to curtains to ottomans.

5. Gild it. Metallic accents make a room pop, and today’s tones can be mixed and layered, so consider trying brass serving trays with polished nickel cabinet pulls.

Looking to buy, sell or invest in real estate? Let’s talk about it. Submit a request for contact or call me today to arrange a personalized consultation.

Millennial First Time Home Buyers in the Greater Athens Area

Millennials Search for Unconventional Down Payment Funds, but at What Cost?

We’ve had several questions from customers recently about unconventional down payment funds, and wanted to share this information with you to potentially help you out! Interested in looking for your first home in the greater Athens area? Submit a request for contact or give us a call today! We’d be happy to walk you through the first time home buyer process and know what to plan on throughout the process!

Information and photo via Keller Williams

By Liz Dominguez decorative image Millennials meeting with REALTOR Rising home prices are standing in the way of millennials who want to buy their first home; however, these challenges are being overcome via some unconventional methods. Millennials are getting creative and finding sources for their down payment by any means necessary. But are these methods hurting the millennial generation financially?

Borrowing from family: Sure, gifted money doesn’t sound bad. But what if the families don’t have the cash to give? Instead, buyers are asking that their parents’ home be refinanced, using the home equity as a way to fund their own home purchase.

Of course, this can be beneficial in multiple-offer situations to get a competitive edge with an all-cash offer, but borrowing from a relative can go south fast. Not being able to pay a bank back can have repercussions like lowering a credit score, but missed payments to a relative can damage familial relations. Is it worth the risk?

Crowdfunding: There are new crowdfunding platforms being introduced every year, and more of them are tapping into the real estate industry. This can be a great way to amass gifted money from friends and family, but not everyone may see it that way. Instead of crowdfunding for their honeymoon, newlyweds are asking their wedding guests to donate toward their first home.

This method can get complicated in the lending world. Buyers will need to look into gifting regulations before accepting any gifted money.

Home Care Tips December 2017

Home Care Tips in the Greater Athens Area

(information via Keller Williams)

Home Care Tips December
You can keep your home in top shape with simple tasks throughout the year. This month, be sure to:

  1. Check your basement windows for drafts and/or cracked panes.
  2. Check on supplies around the home that could will be helpful if there’s a weather related power outage or other emergency. Batteries, non perishable food items, and blankets should be available.
  3. Replace the filter on your furnace to keep it operating as efficiently as possible.
  4. Clean faucet aerators and shower heads.
  5. Reseal grout on counters, walls, and floors to prevent staining.
  6. Drain approximately 2 gallons from water heater to eliminate sediment.
  7. Make sure any decorative lights you put up for the holidays are working properly before hanging them. Anything with a frayed or damaged cord should be discarded.

As always, we appreciate referrals from friends and past clients. If you know of anyone who is looking to buy or sell real estate, please send them our way! Give us a call or submit a request for contact today!

This Month in Real Estate December 2017

Current Real Estate Trends in the Greater Athens Area

(Information via Keller Williams)

December 2017 Market Update decorative image Monthly VideoAccording to the National Association of REALTORS®, existing home sales picked up in October, overcoming ongoing inventory shortages. Healthy job growth and wage increases are fueling continued strong demand in much of the country.
Interest Rates decorative image   Monthly VideoAccording to Freddie Mac, 30-year fixed rates rose from 3.88 percent to 3.90 percent. This rate remains well below the historical average of 8.90 percent.
Home Sales decorative image   Home Sales Graph   The National Association of REALTORS® reported home sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of approximately 5.5 million homes during the month of October. This was an increase of 2.0 percent from September and a decrease of 0.9 percent from October of last year.
Home Prices decorative image   Home Price Graph   The median home price decreased to $247,000 in October, which was down 0.2 percent from September and up 5.5 percent from October of last year. The median home price has increased by approximately $12,900 in the past year alone.
Inventory decorative image   Inventory Graph   There was a 3.9-month supply of housing inventory in October, which was a 7.1 percent decrease from September. The total number of available homes for sale has decreased by 11.4 percent compared to October of last year.

Interested in more information on what’s happening in your neighborhood in the greater Athens area? Give us a call, or submit a request for contact today!
decorative image   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.

5 Tips for Christmas Tree Safety

Christmas Tree Safety in the Greater Athens Area

(Information and photo via Keller Williams)

 

It’s hard not to get into the holiday spirit when you bring out the ornaments and decorate your tree. Keep in mind however that both real and artificial trees can pose a hazard in your home if they are not properly cared for. Here are a few tips and reminders on how to keep your tree and your family safe

  1. If you are using a natural tree, make a fresh cut across the tree’s base before setting it in the stand and immediately place in water. Keep the tree’s water container full at all times, checking the water level daily.
  2. Place the Christmas tree well away from the heat registers, space heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves, televisions, computer monitors and other heat sources.
  3. Check all Christmas tree lights, other electric decorations and electrical appliances for wear (frayed cords, for example). Use only UL approved electrical decorations and extension cords.
  4. Unplug tree lights and decorations when out of the room or sleeping.
  5. Place the Christmas tree clear of doors to keep the emergency escape route clear of trees, packages and furniture.

Happy Decorating!

Let’s Talk Turkey in Athens GA


(Information and photo via Keller Williams)

It’s Thanksgiving again, and Americans everywhere will be sitting down for a hearty meal with friends and family featuring the star of the show – the Thanksgiving turkey.

Did you know these fun facts about the turkey?

1. Contrary to popular myth, Ben Franklin did not advocate for the turkey to become the national symbol of the United States. In a private letter to his daughter, he did write that the recently adopted drawing of the bald eagle in the Great Seal of the United States looked a lot like a turkey, and in jest told her that, “He is besides, though a little vain and silly, a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on.”

2. The wild turkey is one of the world’s fastest birds, capable of flying short distances at speeds up to 55 miles per hour and running up to 30 miles per hour. Most commercially raised turkeys cannot match the speed and ability of their wild counterparts. They are bred in such a way that their large breast muscles prevent them from flying at all.

3. The first meal eaten on the moon by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin was a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

We hope this holiday season finds you with many reasons to give thanks!

 

Holiday Special at Lee Ridge in Watkinsville

New Construction in Oconee County

Looking for new construction in Oconee County?
Take a look at this holiday special, then submit a request for contact or give us a call today!

Learn more about Lee Ridge and what’s available here.

Village at Kay Place Athens 3 Homes Under Contract Recently

3 Homes in Kay Place in Athens Under Contract Recently!

New construction at Kay Place in Athens GA could be the location of your next dream home

These 3 beautiful homes have gone under contract this week at the Village at Kay Place! Kay Place, located in the heart of Athens and just minutes from shopping and restaurants on the Westside, can include features like granite countertops, custom cabinetry, master on the main and more!

 

 

 

 

Did you miss out on these Kay Place homes this week? Looking for new construction in the greater Athens area? We have homes available in Kay Place as well as other neighborhoods in our local community. Take a look at our current Village at Kay Place listings, submit a request for contact, or give us a call today! We’d be happy to provide you with custom home listings especially for you.

21 Popular Things to do in Athens GA

Looking for things to do this summer in Athens?

TripAdvisor compiled a list of 21 top Things to do in Athens according to travelers! These might also make fun places to visit for those living in Athens and looking for “staycation” ideas. With such so many options how could you not love living in the classic city? How many have you visited?

Here they are!

  1. State Botanical Garden of Georgia
  2. Sanford Stadium
  3. Georgia Museum of Art
  4. University of Georgia Performing Arts Center
  5. The Georgia Theatre
  6. University of Georgia Golf Course
  7. Athens Welcome Center
  8. Iron Horse
  9. South Lumpkin Street
  10. Cine BarCafe
  11. T.T.R. Cobb House
  12. Bear Hollow Zoo
  13. World of Wonder Playground
  14. Taylor-Grady House
  15. Double Barreled Cannon
  16. Tree That Owns Itself
  17. Seney-Stovall Chapel
  18. Ware-Lyndon House
  19. We Let the Dawgs Out Public Art Exhibit
  20. Georgia Museum of Natural History
  21. Athens Heritage Tour

We love the Athens community and are happy to have been a part of it for many years! Need more information on moving to Athens or surrounding areas? We would be happy to talk with you about it! Send us a request for contact, or give us a call today. Do you have other places that you like to visit? Go to our Facebook page or twitter page to share your favorite things to do in the greater Athens area as well!