Metro Atlanta

by Christina Mlynski

The next generation of homebuyers has different expectations of the real estate process, and who can blame them?

They are facing a different set of realities from their parents.

The average Gen Y currently has, on average, $27,000 in college loans to repay, which they may spend the better part of a decade doing — exactly at the same time when past generations were usually saving up for a down payment, writes Doorsteps, a real estate search site.

As a result, the real estate industry has to revamp itself and reimagine how the home selling process will transition in the coming years.

Doorsteps, a real estate search site that develops relationships between buyers, sellers, lenders and service providers, has created a very informative info graphic to show … Continue Reading First-time homebuyers face harsh housing realities

An on-camera testimonial about your house and neighborhood could draw more traffic for open houses and showings and even sell your home faster or at a higher price.
By Melinda Fulmer of MSN Real Estate

© Tim Robberts/Getty Images

Home sellers should get ready for their close-ups.

More real-estate agents are asking owners to take a starring role in short videos touting the best features of their home and neighborhood. These videos, designed to make a home stand out in Web searches, can move homes faster, because they draw more traffic for open houses and showings. Some agents believe they can help sellers fetch a slightly higher price for their home, even in a sluggish market.

“It generates more people that might be interested,” says Terry Burger i… Continue Reading One ‘new’ idea to sell your home: Make a video

 by Megan Hopkins

With housing starts on the rise, new homes are popping up all over the country. But many homebuyers prefer older homes that are often considered a piece of local history.

Trulia ($34.88 0%) gathered information from the past two years and discovered the unique characteristics of homes built in each decade.

The oldest homes on the market were built before 1900 and are heavily concentrated in New England and upstate New York. These old homes are far more likely to mention exposed brick, pocket doors, carriage houses and grand staircases than homes built more recently.

A large portion of homes built in the 1900s can be found in San Francisco, while homes from the 1920s are easiest to find in New York, Los Angeles and several Ohio markets. Homes from… Continue Reading Something Old Bought New: Some buyers prefer a piece of local history

To finish up our week-long series on Fixer Upper Homes…
Dirt and clutter can be your best friends when it comes to finding a bargain property

By Julie Cazzin | MoneySense Magazine

When Bill and Carole Dobson went looking for a home, they knew exactly what they wanted to find, a run-down house with a depressing exterior and a drab, dingy interior.

They found it. The front lawn of one property they visited was a blank rectangle, with sparse grass but not a single shrub or tree to break up its unappetizing appearance. From there, things rapidly got worse. The backyard was littered with dog poop and looked onto a seedy back alley. The interior of the two-storey, 158-sq-m house was full of worn carpets, dark paint and faded wallpaper.

But it was a solid house in a leafy n… Continue Reading Diamonds in the rough: How to find the perfect fixer-upper