Tag Archive for: watkinsville

Rent or Buy in the Greater Athens Area

Is now the right time for you to buy a home?

 

(Information and photo via Keller Williams)

You have many options to consider and choices to make. Buying a home is a big responsibility, financially and emotionally, but, most people want to own a home. Homeownership often is referred to as “The American Dream.” Why is it so special? Among the reasons: Real estate often is an excellent investment, perhaps the number one source of wealth-building for families.

 

“…Owning a home also qualifies you for tax benefits that may assist you in dealing with your new financial responsibilities…”
Owning a home has many benefits. When you make a mortgage payment, you are building equity – and that’s an investment. Owning a home also qualifies you for tax benefits that may assist you in dealing with your new financial responsibilities – such as homeowners’ insurance, real estate taxes, and upkeep, which can be substantial. But given the freedom, stability, and security of owning your own home, they are definitely worth it! Owning your own home also can be a great source of pride and stability.

But homeownership may not be for everyone. It’s a big financial commitment – starting with the initial shock of your purchase (including a down payment and fees paid to a real estate agent, the lender and others) followed by years of monthly mortgage payments, real estate taxes, property insurance, and maintenance costs. When you decide to purchase a home, you accept responsibility for paying for these expenses. They are additional costs to your monthly mortgage payment and should be included in your budget estimates: Property Taxes and Special Assessments, Home/Hazard Insurance, Utilities, Maintenance, Home Owner Association (HOA) Fee if applicable.

One of the advantages of renting is being generally free of most maintenance responsibilities and the flexibility of moving almost as soon as you decide. But by renting, you lose the chance to build equity, take advantage of tax benefits, and protect yourself against rent increases. Also, you may not be free to decorate without permission and may be at the mercy of the landlord for your housing needs. Consider these 4 questions when making your choice:

  1. Do you want to spend several years in a house and in a neighborhood?
  2. Do you enjoy lawn and garden work?
  3. Might you need to move suddenly to care for family?
  4. Do you want to keep your assets accessible in the bank, or do you want to invest long-term in a home?

Interested in learning more about the home buying process? Submit a request for contact or give us a call today. We specialize in knowing all about the greater Athens area, and would love to be your local agent!

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.

Take Team JWA With You This Summer

Show your JWA gear on your travels away from Athens

What fun trips outside of the greater Athens area do you have planned for the Summer of 2018? Or are you planning on staying close the the classic city and enjoying some of the sites, tastes and events that Athens has to offer? We want to hear from you! Be sure to stop by and pick up your Team JWA logo merchandise like koozies, tumblers and more, before you start your big adventures. We would love for you to share your travels by showing your Jennifer Westmoreland and Associates gear wherever you go!

Be sure to tag Jennifer Westmoreland and Associates so that we can be sure to see it and thank you for your share! Who will have the most interesting Summer trip or event, and who will travel the furthest? We hope you have a safe and happy traveling season!

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.

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.

 

4 Home Staging Ideas To Stand Out From The Competition

4 Home Staging Ideas in the Greater Athens Area

60 percent of homes sell during the summer months, making now the peak season for home showings. When you’re serious about selling your home for top dollar, these staging tips will help your home to stand out against the competition:

(information via Keller Williams)

1. Install an Air-Conditioning Timer – Regulate the temperature to be an optimal 70 degrees Fahrenheit when buyers arrive.
2. Clean Up Outdoor Areas – Rent a pressure washer to clean a patio, deck or driveway, and sweep up debris around the pool.
3. Show Off Built-In Features – Arrange neutral items in small clusters on built-in bookcases, shelves and wall cutouts to show off attractive architectural elements of your home.
4. Stage the Unexpected – Show buyers how livable the home is by staging something fun and inviting. Arrange some rolled up towels by the pool or place a novel next to the rocking chair on the front porch.

 

Interested in learning more about home staging? Visit our professional home staging page. We’d also be happy to provide a custom review of your home in getting it ready to sell! Submit a request for contact today, or give us a call.

Welcome Mark Adams to Team Jennifer Westmoreland and Associates

Team JWA in the Greater Athens Area is Growing!

Jennifer Westmoreland & Associates is happy to announce the addition of Mark Adams to the team! Mark will be bringing a wealth of market knowledge and a wide variety of background experience. He’s very excited to begin working with JWA and the Keller Williams team.

Mark is recently licensed, and has always had a love for real estate. He’s looking forward to working on the JWA / Keller Williams team and working with our clients to help find their next home. He has been involved in Sales and Sales Management for 30 years. Most of that time has been spent selling technology to the Cable TV industry for ARRIS. Mark spent 10 plus years as VP of Sales at ARRIS covering Latin America so he’ll be a great asset for our Spanish speaking clients.

Mark grew up in Athens, and graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Economics. He and his wife have lived in Chicago, Phoenix, Alpharetta, and Santiago, Chile. They currently reside in Athens.

Mark and his wife, Pam, have 3 boys and 2 daughters-in-law, Drew and Brittany, Will and Brooke, and Kyle. They are active members of Athens Church, and are passionate about cheering on the Dawgs. Mark enjoys golf in his free time. Please join us in welcoming Mark to our team at the JWA!

8 Home Care Hints for April 2018

You can keep your home in top shape with simple tasks throughout the year

(Information and photo via Keller Williams)

Here are 8 helpful home care hints for your house in the greater Athens area. This month, be sure to:

  1. Test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.
  2. Drain approximately 2 gallons from your water heater to eliminate sediment.
  3. Clean your clothes dryer vent duct.
  4. Vacuum your bathroom vent covers.
  5. Replace or clean your furnace filter.
  6. Clean out your basement window wells.
  7. Clean your refrigerator’s condenser coils to keep it operating efficiently.
  8. Clean around your air conditioning compressor and make sure that it gets sufficient air flow.

As always, we 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 our way! Give us a call or submit a request for contact.

Love Your Dog and Your Beautiful Back Yard

Two Tips For Landscaping and Your Dog in the Greater Athens Area

Here are two tips to help you keep your landscape looking top shape for you and your best friend (information and photo via Keller Williams)

1. Set Some Boundaries: Even the smartest pooch in the pack can have a hard time telling which areas of the yard are off limits. Your flower bed or vegetable garden can easily look like fair game, so adding permanent or temporary barriers to these areas may be the best way to keep the peace between you and your pet.

2. Hate those Brown Spots? Watering regularly and keeping your grass a little longer than is typical can help reduce the appearance of brown spots in your grass, but it won’t solve the problem entirely. If you can’t live with the burn marks that come from the nitrogen found in your dog’s urine, consider creating a new special place for your dog to eliminate. A fenced off area or a section of the yard with some gravel that can be easily sprayed down from time to time are great options.

As always, we appreciate referrals from our 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 send us a request for contact today.

Jennifer Talks Real Estate with the Oconee Chamber

Team JWA’s Jennifer Westmoreland Sits Down with Clint Watson of the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce

Thanks to the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce for the opportunity to talk about real estate, current market trends and more! Watch this video and you can even learn if Jennifer prefers ice cream or potato chips!