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Monthly Archives: December 2011

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Thank You

Your Guy for That Friday, December 30th, 2011 1 Comment

For those of you who do not know, today is my birthday. With a birthday just hours before the new year it is always a great time to sit down and reflect on the year past.  As I think of all the wonderful things that have happened this past year I just felt the need to sit down and say thank you.  I have met, or gotten closer to so many people this year. Helping 9 families purchase a home this year, many of them first time home buyers, has been so rewarding. I was also able to assist 6 families either sell or rent a home that was a drain on their monthly budgets. As a bonus, Matt & I, through the assistance of our family, we able to close on our first piece of investment property. It’s right here in the neighborhood we live in, it’s our way to help provide neighborhood stabilization s… Continue Reading Thank You

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Light Bulb Differences

Your Guy for That Friday, December 23rd, 2011 No Comments

Starting in 2012 there will be new mandated efficiency for all light bulbs. No one type of bulb will be banned, but all types must have higher energy standards. here are a few differences between the three most common types of light bulbs.

New Energy Saving Incandescent – The same type as traditional incandescent bulbs, but with new improvements that reduce energy consumption by 25% and last 3 times longer

CFLs – Compact Fluorescent Lamps have a 75% energy savings over standard bulbs and usually have a “curly” shape. they can last 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs and can pay for themselves in as little as 9 months.

LEDs – Light Emitting Diode bulbs are becoming more commonplace. LED bulbs sue even less energy than CFLs and have a much more pleasant light quality. More… Continue Reading Light Bulb Differences

Posted in Green Homes, Home Maintenance

Let Technology Work for You!

Your Guy for That Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 No Comments

If you’re considering making a move, or know someone who is, you’ve probably already searched the Internet to see what’s available.

According to the 2010 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, nine out of ten buyers use the Internet as one of the information sources in their home search process.

Here are just a few of the leading-edge techniques and strategies I provide to make your home buying and home selling process as seamless and rewarding for you as possible:

A free e-mail service that sends out daily alerts about new home listings that meet your unique needs.
Detailed neighborhood information, including school ratings, home values and crime statistics, proving you insight into your next neighborhood, or the value of your current home!
Through the Keller Williams Listing System, … Continue Reading Let Technology Work for You!

Posted in Buyer Tools, First Time Homebuyers, Keller Williams, Real Estate

December 2011 Inventory Report

Your Guy for That Wednesday, December 21st, 2011 No Comments

By the end of October, the total number of homes on the market had fallen 2.2% to 3.33 million homes, which represents 8 months of inventory at the current sales pace. Since a record high of 4.58 million homes in July 2008, the inventory of homes for sale has been steadily declining. When homes sell faster than they come on the market, the market comes from its current favor toward buyers into balance or in favor of sellers. This can trigger an appreciation in home prices and lead the way to a stronger recovery…. Continue Reading December 2011 Inventory Report

Posted in News & Reports, Real Estate

Choosing the Right Flooring

Your Guy for That Tuesday, December 20th, 2011 No Comments

Choosing the right flooring can be a difficult decision. Durability, visual appeal, and ease of cleanup are all things to consider. here are four common types of flooring and their features:

Wood offers a classic look and easy cleanup of spills. It doesn’t hold in allergy causing dust, bacteria or mites like carpeting can. While wood is quite durable, it is still susceptible to gouges, dents and nicks. Synthetic wood products and bamboo are also great alternatives with some classy look.
Carpet has become an essential part of most any home. Carpeting offers the benefits of noise reduction and concealing problems with the sub-flooring. Carpeting does have it’s downsides though. Cleaning carpet of spills, stains and allergens can be a chore.
Ceramic tile is one of the most attractive and … Continue Reading Choosing the Right Flooring

Posted in Home Maintenance

December 2011 Home Price Report

Your Guy for That Monday, December 19th, 2011 No Comments

The national median home price in the U.S. saw a small decline in October to $162,500, from $165,800 in September. This number can be affected by the sale of distressed properties, which typically sell at discounted prices. Distressed properties accounted for 28% of homes sales in October. Yet despite a drop in the median price from last September, the Federal Housing Finance Authority reported that seasonally adjusted prices rose 0.2% in the third quarter from the second quarter in 2011, which could be an early sign of appreciating home prices…. Continue Reading December 2011 Home Price Report

Posted in News & Reports, Real Estate

December 2011 Home Sales Report

Your Guy for That Friday, December 16th, 2011 No Comments

Existing homes sales improved 1.4% in October, or to an annual pace of 4.97 million, a 13.5% increase from October of last year. Even more dramatic, was the jump in pending home sales, which surged in October by 10.4% from September, and were up 9.2% from October 2010. This jump in pending sales could lead to a strong fourth quarter as signs continue to point to a pent-up demand brought on by current lending conditions of mortgage providers…. Continue Reading December 2011 Home Sales Report

Posted in News & Reports, Real Estate

December 2011 Interest Rate Update

Your Guy for That Thursday, December 15th, 2011 No Comments

Mortgage rates continue to push lower, dropping to 3.98% from 4.23% in October of 2010, offering historic affordability to today’s home buyers. While mortgage lending conditions continue to be a challenge, more and more people are seeing the advantage of buying a home sooner rather than later. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said, “Home sales have been plodding along at a sub-par level while interest rates are hovering at record lows and there is a pent-up demand from buyers who normally would have entered the market in recent years. We hope this indicates more buyers are taking advantage of the excellent
affordability conditions.”… Continue Reading December 2011 Interest Rate Update

Posted in Buyer Tools, First Time Homebuyers, Interest Rates, Mortgage News, News & Reports, Real Estate

FHA Maximum Loan Limit Goes Back Up

Your Guy for That Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 No Comments

Just wonderful news to report. Recall that FHA lowered the maximum loan limits effective Oct 1, 2011. For metro-Atlanta, the 1 Unit limit dropped to $320,850. The good news is that FHA is reverting back to the limits that were in place before October 1 with the change effective immediately and in place throughout all of 2012. The FHA loan limits for metro-Atlanta are now back to the following:
1 Unit: $346,250
2 Unit: $443,250
3 Unit: $535,800
4 Unit: $665,850
Also, the Federal Housing Finance Agency has announced that, despite declining values throughout the country, the 2012 Conforming Loan Limits in metro-Atlanta will remain at the existing 2011 levels for yet another year. This will be the 7th straight year that the limits are capped at the following amounts:
1 Unit: $417,000
2 Uni… Continue Reading FHA Maximum Loan Limit Goes Back Up

Posted in Buyer Tools, Fannie Mae, FHA, Freddie Mac, Metro Atlanta, Mortgage News, News & Reports, Real Estate

Should You Have Your Foundation or Crawlspace Insulated

Your Guy for That Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 No Comments

Homes are becoming more energy efficient due to advancements in building materials. One of these materials, insulation, is being used in ways that optimize its ability to keep out moisture and reduce heat loss. A lot of times the foundation is neglected when the home is insulated, but it should always be included in a home energy savings plan.
When you have a full basement, crawl space or slab on grade home, your home’s energy efficiency can be greatly increased by foundation insulation. For instance, on a full basement, up to 50% of a home’s heat loss can occur through an un-insulated foundation.
Having an insulated foundation not only reduces heating costs, but i can reduce moisture issues, increase comfort and turn a basement into a livable area. It is a commonly forgotten piece of a fu… Continue Reading Should You Have Your Foundation or Crawlspace Insulated

Posted in Green Homes, Home Maintenance
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