So, What Exactly is the Fair Housing Act?

Sep 4, 2014 7:21 pm
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My-interracial-nuclear-familyWhen it comes to real estate and most forms of housing, the Fair Housing Act creates a blanket of sorts that envelops those looking to purchase or rent a residence.  In essence, while there are still stipulations, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability cannot be a deciding factor in things such as refusing to rent or sell housing, set different terms or conditions, or deny a dwelling.

Dating back to the 1960’s, the large political movements pushing to outlaw discrimination also set their sights on a broad range of housing transactions—to include mortgage lending, advertising, zoning, and homeowner’s insurance.  Termed fair or open housing, President Lyndon B. Johnson urged congress to finally pass the federal Fair Housing Act, which sought to create a cohesive housing market in which a person’s look, culture, or background would not limit their access to property.

WHAT IS PROHIBITED?

In the sale and rental of housing, no one may take any of the following actions based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability:

  • Refuse to rent or sell housing
  • Refuse to negotiate for housing
  • Make housing unavailable
  • Deny a dwelling
  • Set different terms, conditions, or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling
  • Provide different housing services or facilities
  • Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale, or rental
  • For profit, persuade owners to sell or rent (blockbusting)
  • Deny anyone access to or membership in a facility or service (such as a multiple
  • listing service) related to the sale or rental of housing

In mortgage lending, no one may take any of the following actions on the basis of:

  • race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability
  • Refuse to make a mortgage loan;
  • Refuse to provide information regarding loans;
  • Impose different terms or conditions on a loan, such as different interest rates, points, or fees;
  • Discriminate in appraising property;
  • Refuse to purchase a loan; or
  • Set different terms or conditions for purchasing a loan

Individuals who feel that they have been discriminated against in the housing process can lodge a complaint with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity (FHEO), where the issue in question will be forwarded to the state; however, it’s important to note that local agencies will be investigating the case instead of FHEO.

If you have any questions, I would love to be of service.  Please do not hesitate to contact me for assistance.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.dinsmoreteam.com | 770-712-7789

In Progress: Mountain Crest by Lennar

Sep 2, 2014 4:59 pm
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7630562014AvalonFrontwebAs the second largest homebuilder in the United States, the Lennar Corporation has announced that they are securing the permits to build a large neighborhood of houses and townhomes just West of Cumming.

As part of Forsyth County, the Georgia division of the Miami-based company says the new division—covering 444 acres and entitled Mountain Crest—will consist of 572 single-family homes and 124 townhouses along Chamblee Gap Road.

The project, which will hopefully connect to the Big Creek Greenway’s trail network, has a completion date of 2022; however, the first initial phases are expected to be open by 2016.

The actual development calls for 1.6 units per acre, but Lennar is promising an unprecedented 200 acres of green space within the community.

For now, Lennar is going through the process of getting approval through the county, as well as the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission (which is required for all developments with 300+ lots).  Once all comments are addressed through the GMRC, Lennar will be looking to reduce the area’s required commercial and office use from 25% to zero, while also reducing the stream buffer from 50 feet to 25 feet.

Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to seeing this wonderful new development become a reality!

Lennar-sized

 

Appraisers vs. Online Automated Valuation: Know the Difference

Aug 15, 2014 3:42 pm
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AVM-copyBig news came down the wire last week when it was announced that Zillow had acquired Trulia for $3.5 billion in stock options.  While a lot of people may not see how this merger will directly impact their life, for home buyers or sellers, it’s always a good idea to understand the difference between “zestimates”—home value estimates taken from Zillow—or Automated Valuation Models (AVM) and real people.

When it comes to AVM’s, they tend to work best on “cookie cutter” homes where most of the properties look relatively similar to one another.  Therefore, it should come as no surprise that very few lenders rely solely on AVM’s for loan decisions since they can’t always accurately value unique properties such as those sitting on Lake Lanier, various upscale golf courses, and homes with a great deal of acreage.

Therefore, the following is a list of things that an automated or non-appraiser valuation (such as the kind you would find on Zillow) won’t tell you.  Before you consider purchasing a home based on these types of online valuations, it’s important to understand the difference.

1.)    IS THE PHYSICAL HOUSE STILL STANDING WITH ACCURATE SQUARE FOOTAGE?  Sites like Zillow obtain their information from courthouse and property data regarding location and square footage, which means it’s not based on an actual appraiser’s home measurement.  If you’re considering a house, you’ll obviously want to know for sure that it has things like four walls and a roof; therefore, it’s not always smart to assume that a computer is the best source for up-to-date data.

2.)    ARE THERE UNIQUE FEATURES WHICH MIGHT ADD OR DETRACT FROM THE PROPERTY VALUE?  Sure, the computer might value a property at $300,000; however, that number might be subject to extenuating circumstances such as the train tracks just down the road or the desirable parks right outside the neighborhood.

3.)    WHAT VARIABLES IMPACT COMPARABLE SALES?  While a computer might compare your property to similar, recently sold property a ¼ mile away, it doesn’t mean all of the other variables are in line.  The properties might be in a different school district, sit on different roads, be flood-prone, or have been sold under duress.

4.)    ARE THERE MARKET FLUCTUATIONS?  Since automated online systems utilize data from recent, nearby sales, they may not account for neighborhoods that are beginning to experience upturns or downturns.

5.)    IS YOUR APPRAISER QUALIFIED?  When you work with an appraiser, you’re generally aware of the person’s qualifications and whether they will complete your project with professionalism, solid ethics, and judgment; however, when it comes to free online services, you have no idea who is behind the values and either way, they will never compare to the work of a physical, on-site appraiser.

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Specialist | The Dinsmore Team | www.dinsmoreteam.com | 770-712-7789

Two Years Running: Marie Dinsmore Receives 2014 Five Star Real Estate Award

Aug 15, 2014 8:00 am
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five starFor the second year in a row, The Dinsmore Team is thrilled to announce that Marie Dinsmore has been selected as a Five Star Real Estate Agent award winner.  The Five Star Professional program is now the largest and most widely published venue for real estate awards in North America and is carried out using market-specific research throughout the U.S. and Canada.  With a focus on identifying service professionals who provide quality assistance to their clients, Five Star’s main research objective is to create a list of real estate agents who demonstrate impeccable levels of integrity, professionalism, knowledge, and concern for their clients. In short, less than 7% of real estate agents in a given market are given this prestigious award.

To qualify, client satisfaction is measured on a yearly basis through recent homebuyer lists, consumer & home buyer evaluations, agent regulatory history, and license information.

Unlike other awards of this nature, real estate professionals do not pay a fee to be represented in the research, which makes us thrilled to know that what we do on a daily basis matters to our customers. Real estate truly is our passion, so we couldn’t be happier about this latest accolade.

To learn more, Marie was featured in the August issue of Atlanta Magazine and further information about the Five Star Real Estate Award can be found on their website.

Thank you for giving us your confidence and your support.  Referrals truly are the heartbeat of what we do, so we look forward to years of continued service.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.dinsmoreteam.com | 770-712-7989

Featured Neighborhood: ManorView – a Ryland Community

Aug 8, 2014 11:15 pm
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Bflplarge_13076751uilt by Ryland Homes, who is known for producing the nation’s first master-planned community in 1967, ManorView features 71 homesites and is located off Hopewell Road in the prestigious city of Milton, GA. With easy access to Fowler Park, the Big Creek Greenway, Birmingham Park, and The Manor Golf & Country Club, this gated community features luxurious homes from the high $500’s in seven unique floor plans (3,215-4,411 sq feet).

For potential buyers with young children, ManorView is close to Summit Hill Elementary, Hopewell Middle, and Cambridge High Schools; however, for those families looking into higher education institutions, the neighborhood is within easy driving distance of Emory University, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State University, and Georgia State University.

 

 

image_640_480 (1)For buyers looking to truly make their home unique, they offer MyStyle® design consultants who work with each customer to make sure their house reflects not only their needs and personal taste, but their budget as well.  For exterior options, they offer finishes in brick, stone, stucco, and siding, as well as a variety of paint colors and design details that compliment the each home’s distinctive streetscape.

 

 

 

13104728In regards to the interior, bonus rooms and sunrooms can be added to any home, while various indoor features come in an array of options including the elegance of hardwood flooring and granite countertops, as well as a variety of brand-new, top-of-the-line appliances that are not only energy efficient, but available in a number of finishes and styles.

This neighborhood is actively selling, so if you’d like to learn more, take a look at their website or contact me.

CONTACT

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team | www.dinsmoreteam.com Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789.

Home Buyers: Avoid Counterfeit HVAC Refrigerants

Jul 31, 2014 6:20 pm
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297354Sadly enough, for every high-priced or in-demand product, there is often a market of counterfeit options that leave unsuspecting customers feeling angry and cheated.  While fake purses and watches tend to be a common—and even accepted—part of our society, additional counterfeit products are showing up on the market that fail to be harmless knock-offs.

Over the last few years, we’ve seen the cost of R-22 Freon skyrocket, which has left in its wake a trail of counterfeit and alternative refrigerants capable of damaging your HVAC system.  Therefore, if you find yourself in a position where you’re in need of refrigerant replacement, it’s important to understand the difference.

GENUINE REFRIGERANTS: These have not only been laboratory tested, but they are also approved by the EPA and HVAC manufacturers for use in their equipment.

ALTERNATIVE REFRIGERANTS: While these are approved by the EPA, they are not approved by the manufacturers for use in their equipment.  Although using these refrigerants is completely legal, it can void your manufacturer’s warranty.

COUNTERFEIT REFRIGERANTS: These are 100% illegal to use or sell, which obviously means they have not been approved by either the EPA or equipment manufacturers.  Generally comprised of some form of genuine refrigerant and a concoction of additives, these “cocktails” can be toxic and/or explosive, and generally require specialized hazmat methods for cleanup.

With this in mind, it’s important for home buyers to consider having all HVAC systems checked by a trusted HVAC specialist instead of a standard home inspector.  While general inspections are obviously necessary before purchasing a home, HVAC experts can spot alternative or counterfeit refrigerants, in addition to other potential issues which may require correction before closing.

If you need assistance and would like the referral of a great company, please contact me for more information.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.dinsmoreteam.com | 770-712-7789