Tag Archive for: Real Estate Agent

Creating a First Time Home Buyer Wish List

6 Considerations Before You Begin Your First Time Home Buying Search

(Information and photo 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 list of 6 considerations below may help you clarify your thinking on what is important to you when you are ready to purchase your first home:

  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? Learn more about schools and local housing values!
  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 submit a request for contact, email or call me at any time to learn more about specific areas you are interested in learning more about. I am happy to help you in your research and can give you an up-to-date snapshot of the real estate market.

Real Estate on the River – Country Financial and JWA Part 2

Brandon with Athens Team JWA is Back With Greg From Country Financial

Greg with Country Financial is back on the river with Brandon from Team JWA. This week, we’re talking about what you need to know in the greater Athens area about water and your home! What would you like to know more about, or anyone you’d like to see on the next video segment of Real Estate on the River? Let us know today!

Home Environmental Features in Athens Real Estate

Helping Your Home Be More Efficient in the Greater Athens Area

(Information  and graphic via Keller Williams)

When you’re ready to sell your home, it’s important to know what features home buyers are looking for. Whether their motivation is to save the planet or just to save money, buyers in today’s market are looking for energy efficiency in their homes.

What features do buyers say are most important to them?

Upgrading your home with environmentally friendly and energy-efficient features can attract more buyers to your home and increase your home’s value. Before investing in any upgrades, give our team a call or submit a request for contact and we will help you customize which upgrades are most appealing for your home to buyers in the greater Athens GA area.

ACCA Golf Tournament Presented by Team JWA Success

The weather was perfect, golf carts were full of participants, and the food was delicious!

Our inaugural 2018 Golf Tournament benefiting the Athens Community Council on Aging and presented by Team JWA was a big success! The event was led and coordinated by Rodney England, Kelli McCain and Team JWA’s Brandon McEachern and David Walton. Thank you for your support of this year’s event!

The tournament couldn’t have been a success without the many golfers that came out and played. Thank you as well! We also had lots of tournament sponsors (pictured below), which helped raise funds for the ACCA.

The golf tournament was part of the fundraising effort for the ACCA’s Retro Prom event, which took place this past weekend. With the help of special events like the golf tournament, the ACCA was able to raise a record $55,000 this year! At this Retro Prom event,Team JWA’s David was also named Retro Prom King 2018!

Take a look at pictures below from this year’s event, and be sure to share them with friends! Check back soon too for our next big event. We’d love to see you there.

7 May Home Care Hints in the Greater Athens area

7 Tasks for the month of May to help maintain your home

You can keep your home in top shape with simple tasks throughout the year (information via Keller Williams). This month, be sure to:

  1. 1. Check all decks, patios, porches, stairs and railings for loose members and deterioration.
  2. 2. Check plumbing shut-off valves. Ensure that they turn off and on freely.
  3. 3. Service your kitchen disposal by grinding several cups of ice cubes.
  4. 4. Check vents, louvers and chimneys for bird nests and squirrels.
  5. 5. Check your sprinkler system for leaky valves and exposed lines.
  6. 6. Inspect your home’s exterior siding for mildew. Scrub off as necessary.
  7. 7. Check your air conditioning unit and have it serviced before summer temperatures arrive.

    As always, I appreciate referrals from my friends and past clients. If you know of anyone who is looking to buy or sell real estate, please send them my way! Interested in buying or selling your next home? Submit a request for contact or just give us a call!

This Month in Real Estate May 2018

Interested in what’s going on in your Greater Athens area neighborhood too?

Your “This Month in Real Estate” update for May 2018 is here! Would you like more information on what’s going on with your home in the greater Athens area? Submit a request for contact, or give us a call today! Information via Keller Williams.

May 2018 Market Update
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Monthly VideoAccording to the National Association of REALTORS®, existing home sales inched up for the second consecutive month in March in spite of insufficient inventory in many parts of the country. The ongoing strain on available homes has kept housing growth at a slower pace than that of last year.
Interest Rates
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Interest RatesAccording to Freddie Mac, 30-year fixed rates rose from 4.45 percent to 4.47 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 5.6 million homes during the month of March. This was an increase of 1.1 percent from February and a decrease of 1.2 percent from March of last year.
Home Prices
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Home Price Graph
The median home price increased to $250,400 in March, which was up 3.9 percent from February and up 5.8 percent from March of last year. The median home price has increased by approximately $13,800 in the past year alone.
Inventory
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Inventory Graph
There was a 3.6-month supply of housing inventory in March, which was an increase of 5.9 percent from February. The total number of available homes for sale has decreased by 5.3 percent compared to March of last year.
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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.

Real Estate on the River Athens – ACCA and JWA Part 2

Team JWA’s Brandon Talks with Kelli from the ACCA

Learn more about the Meals on Wheels for Pets program at the Athens Community Council on Aging in part two of Real Estate on the River ACCA. We’re happy to be a part of this program and more going on at the ACCA. Look for Jennifer Westmoreland & Associates as sponsors of the ACCA RetroProm 2018! coming up this Friday at The Foundry, featuring The Highballs!

 

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

Doing the Homework on Athens Area Schools

How the neighborhood school can help your home value!

Content via Keller Williams

Even if you don’t have school-aged children, school ratings can have a significant impact on the value of a home. Often, homes that are located within the boundaries of highly rated schools will be highly sought after.

As we search for your new home, we’ll take into account the following:
If you’re a parent, nearby school ratings will likely be a primary concern for you. By supplying you with details on school characteristics and ratings, we’ll make sure you have all of the information you need to make the best decision for your family.
Schools and school districts that show significant ratings improvements over time or areas in which new schools are currently under development could increase the value of nearby homes. This could be an opportunity to find a home that possibly will appreciate quickly.
Our interviews with past clients and members of our community on their firsthand experience with local schools will give you detailed insights and a complete understanding of a school’s quality.

Our commitment to thorough research and analysis of schools is the key to finding your new home.

Contact us today to begin your home search.

 

13 Ways to Help Your Home Sell Faster

13 easy updates by room to improve your home’s appearance

Getting ready to sell your home, or looking for ways to update the appearance to attract more potential buyers? There are several changes and updates you can make by room that may help sell your home in the greater Athens area faster! Below are 13 easy ways to update your home, room by room, to enhance the appearance to a potential buyer. Would you like more information or a customized plan to sell your home? Give us a call or submit a request for contact and we’ll work with you to create a customized marketing plan for your home.

Information via Keller Williams.

In the Bedrooms:

  • Create a master suite effect in your decorating.
  • Depersonalize bedrooms and decorate in a neutral scheme.
  • Make sure that the beds are made and the linens are clean.
  • Organize your closets, remove unnecessary items and put them in storage.

In the Bathrooms:

  • Do no leave towels around and wipe down the sinks and shower areas after each use.
  • Re-caulk the tub if the caulk is not sparkling white.
  • Repair or replace broken tiles in the shower/tub.
  • Replace shower curtains and keep them clean.
  • Put out fresh towels and decorative soaps.

In the Kitchen:

  • Microwave a small dish of vanilla twenty minutes before a showing and place it in an out of the way place.
  • Highlight an eat-in-area in your kitchen with a table set for dinner.
  • The kitchen and bathrooms should always be spotlessly clean.
  • Expand your counter space by removing small appliances.

 

 

Real Estate on the River – ACCA Golf Tournament Update

JWA Talks Golf With Kelli from the Athens Community Council on Aging

Tired of your Thursdays being subpar? A little birdie suggested your friends chip in and join us Thursday, May 3rd at the Athens Community Council on Aging golf tournament at the UGA golf course, presented by Jennifer Westmoreland & Associates! Everyone wants a slice of the tournament, so you must register your team today!