Get Your Home Prepared for the Cold

Nov 29, 2013 8:21 pm
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While we don’t get much snow cold househere in Atlanta, the cold can still cause damage to your home, which may lead to homeowners insurance claims and costly repairs.  Maintaining your home and preparing for the cold is the best plan.

Here are some tips for preparing for the winter:

  • Check your fireplace and chimney.  Wood burning fireplaces collect soot over time, and can clog the chimney.   The best way to prevent this potential fire hazard is to have a professional inspect both every year, or at least every other year.
  • Have your furnace tuned up.   As with your fireplace, your furnace should be inspected at least every other year for optimum efficiency as well as for leaks and cracks.    Also don’t forget to change your filters regularly.   The dirtier the filters are, the hard it is for your system to work.
  • Drain all exterior spigots and remove water hoses.    Extreme cold can cause pipes connected to spigots to burst.   Once hoses have been removed, you can insulate your spigots from the cold for extra protection.   If you have an irrigation system, make sure that is properly drained for the winter months.
  • Keep your gutters cleaned.   Once all the leaves have fallen, make sure to do another check of your gutters.   If there is a snow fall and your gutters are not clear, once the snow melts your gutter could break if they are weighed down with backed up leaves.
  • Check all weather stripping.   This inexpensive ounce of prevention will save you money during all seasons.     Check with your hardware professional for the best solution for your window and door types.   Caulking, stripping and expandable foam are all great tools for keeping the cold out and the heat in.
  • Keep a supply of salt or kitty litter ready for ice.   Again, while we don’t get much snow, we do get ice – which is much more dangerous.    Make sure to check the walkway and steps for any ice accumulation.  A single accident due to someone slipping on your walkway can be extremely expensive.

As we all know, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Please contact me if you are considering buying or selling, and keep safe this winter!

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

More Good News for Georgia Home Sellers

Nov 27, 2013 4:08 pm
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According to the Georgia Association of Realtors recent monthly indicator report, October continued to be a great month for sellers.    The report shows that home values continued to rise and inventory continued to decline.

Even better news for sellers…  Days on Market was at the lowest point in 9 years and Percent of Original List Price has significantly increased for Georgians!

2013-10 Days on Market2013-10 Percent of Asking

Some of the highlights from the report are:

•           Median Prices rose 34% to $147,150

•           Average Prices rose 23% to $186,362

•           New Listings increased 8%

•           Pending Sales were up 17%

•           Inventory Levels shrank 10%

•           Month’s Supply of Homes for Sale decreased 13% to 5.4 months

•           Days on Market decreased 22% to 75 days

•           Percent of Original Price Received increased 1% to 94.5%

Click here to access the full report.

Please contact me if you would are considering selling and would like to know more.

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

2014 Housing Market Forecast

Nov 19, 2013 3:26 pm
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Housing UpThere was a great article in the Washington Business Journal on the 2014 Housing Market that I thought I would share, quoting two notable Economists.

According to Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors, good things will continue to happen in the housing market in 2014.   Due to suppressed activity during the past four years, rising demand, and a steady decline in inventory, Mr. Yun expects home prices to increase in 2014 as well as 2015, nationally.   He predicts that the nation median existing home prices should increase by 6% in 2014.

“Real estate will be a hedge against inflation, with values rising 15 percent cumulatively over the next three years, also meaning there will be fewer upside-down home owners,” Yun said. “Today is a perfect opportunity for moderate-income renters to become successful home owners, but stringent mortgage credit conditions are holding them back.”

Mark Vitner, Managing Director and Senior Economist at Wells Fargo, predicts that distressed homes (short-sales and foreclosures) will still be around, but will be declining.  “Distressed homes right now are like an after-Christmas sale – most of the best stuff has been picked over, but make no mistake they’ll be with us for a while.”

Yun projects the market share of distressed sales will decline from about 25% in 2012 to 8% in 2014.

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

Traditions – New Lifestyle Community in South Forsyth

Nov 13, 2013 10:17 pm
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While groundbreaking just took place, this new 400-home community in South Forsyth County, Georgia is drawing a lot of interest.

130917_Traditions_Rendering-01

Traditions will feature amenities for families of all ages including playgrounds, sports fields, tennis courts, a signature pool and lakefront clubhouse as well as multiple parks and open spaces sprinkled about the community. All of this will be within walking distance to Fowler Park and the Big Creek Greenway Trail. In addition, a grocery-anchored neighborhood marketplace with pedestrian access from Traditions is planned directly adjacent to the community.

Traditions - Phase 1

The homes, ranging from $300,000 to $500,000, will be designed by the award-winning architecture firm Wakefield Beasley and will include standard features that would be considered extras in other communities.  Local artists and designers have also been contracted to provide unique touches to Traditions homes and its outdoor amenities, creating inspiring outdoor spaces and floor plans for today’s busy family.

Traditions siteplanTraditions is located near top-rated schools (Vickery Elementary School, Vickery Middle School, West Forsyth High School) and is less than two miles from GA 400 and will be the closest residential community in Forsyth County to Atlanta (accessible by either the McFarland Rd. or Hwy 141 exits). Residents will be a short drive to The Collection (formerly known as The Avenue) and many other popular restaurants, shopping and other entertainment venues.

FrontDoor Communities is the developer for this new community.   Terry Russell, FrontDoor’s CEO and Partner said, “Forsyth County is one of the most sought-after and fastest-growing residential submarkets in the area. We couldn’t have chosen a more ideal location for our entry into the metro Atlanta market.”

Phase I should be completed by mid-2014.   If you are interested in this fabulous new community, please contact me before the choice lots have been taken.

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

New Neighborhood Coming Soon in Alpharetta – Woodland Cove

Nov 12, 2013 5:49 pm
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Acadia Homes & Neighborhoods, luxury home1recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as a 2013 Pacesetter, will soon be offering new homes in Alpharetta.   Woodland Cove will be an intimate enclave of 28 executive-style homes in one of metro-Atlanta’s most sought after suburbs.  Priced from the $400’s, the new construction will be a mixture of slab and basement homes.

Woodland Cove will be located off Douglas Road in Alpharetta (1 mile from Jones Bridge Road).

Alpharetta is known as an executive bedroom community; home to many corporate headquarters, upscale communities and great schools.

If you would like more information on Woodland Cove or other fabulous communities in the North Metro-Atlanta area, please contact me.

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789

For more information on Alpharetta, see www.AwesomeAlpharetta.com.  Here’s an excerpt from their site.

Alpharetta’s unique shopping destinations make it a shopper’s paradise. Visit North Point Mall, with the only American Girl Boutique and Bistro in the Southeast, and then explore Queen of Hearts and its 30,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles.

Experience the Historic Downtown district that has maintained its small town charm while gaining a sophisticated stature. Enjoy a concert under the stars at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.  Explore award-winning parks, championship golf courses and outdoor adventures surrounded by tall trees and lush landscaping.

10 Reasons To List Your Home During The Holidays

Nov 5, 2013 3:30 pm
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Christmas house 2Thinking that the holidays are not a great time to sell your home?   Think again. Home buyers need to purchase homes all year-long, and there are some real advantages to placing your home on the market during the holiday season.  Here are the top ten benefits:

  1. People who look at properties during the holidays are serious buyers and are more ready to make a decision.
  2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the holidays; meaning less competition and more for you..
  3. House “shows  better” when decorated for the holidays with the wonderful light and festive colors associated with the season.
  4. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays and often base their decision on the warmth and good feeling they receive when viewing your house.
  5. Buyers have more time to look for a house during the holidays because they have designated time off from work to purchase a home.
  6. Many people want to buy before the end of the year for financial and tax reasons.
  7. January is traditionally for transfers.  Transferees can’t wait until the spring Christmas Houseto buy.  Your house must be on the market to capture these buyers.
  8. You may restrict showings during your own personal family events and still take advantage of your spruced up and decorated “show ready” property.
  9. You can sell now, but specify a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year if you so desire and if agreeable to the other party.
  10. By selling now you have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the spring, when more properties are on the market at lower prices. Sell high – buy low.

Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

The Dinsmore Real Estate Team  |  www.dinsmoreteam.com

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789