Sunday, January 27, 2013

REALTORS Rally - We fight for Private Property Rights! Heading to Atlanta!!!


Watch the video from Keith Hatcher, Georgia REALTORS Cheif Public Policy Officer



As REALTORS we not only list and sell your properties with ethics that exceed the industry standards, but we fight for private property rights. This is all paid for by REALTORS, not your tax dollars. A REALTOR is not the same as a Real Estate Agent, though Agents are governed by the Real Estate Commission, they do not have a Code of Ethics like REALTORs. Nor do they have ARPAC - Association of Realtors Political Action Committee - but our strength and presence helps all Real Estate Professionals.

Please be thinking of us this week as we rally at the capital in Georgia. I know at times giving up that real estate commission can seem like a lot, especially in these tough times, but we are here to help you in many more ways than you know - constantly fighting to protect your rights and keep the buying and selling process ethical, fair and a pleasurable experience.


Georgia is a great state to work and live in. Our profession is valued here, and with that, comes a value for YOUR private property rights.

Please forgive me for not being available on Tuesday as I will be at the Rally!!!!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Chophouse of Hiawassee - sunshine and yummy food - oh, and a lake view!!



625 Highway 76 W, Hiawassee, GA 30546 (706) 896-3200 - next to Ramada Inn and across the street from Lake Chatuge!!

Thank you Carol Barbour for a spectacular lunch at The Chophouse of Hiawassee!!!

After Hours at Anderson's Department Store in Hiawassee - Warm homemade soup and girls acapella group!





After Hours - January 24th ~ Anderson's Department Store, 10 Bell St
Hiawassee, GA 30546. 706.896.3675

Thank you Holly Tiger for your wonderful warm home-made soup that matches your delicious hospitality! This After Hours gathering went by so quickly! Food, wine, drawings for great prizes, and looking around the Store - which is like several small stores within one store! Let's not forget meeting and networking with the motivated and successful in the region! To top it off - the entertainment was a group of girls from Towns County High School singing acapella - it was fun and beautiful. They need donations to make a trip to Florida, please see Holly about that information.

The next After Hours is February 7th at Licklog Players in Hayesville, NC. I hope to see you there!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Under Contract!

http://www.coldwellbanker.com/property?action=detail&brandType=CB&mode=detail&propertyId=256075903



Wow! A wonderful Seller meets a wonderful Buyer!
It is my pleasure to watch over this transaction and bring it to a cheerful closing without any hiccups!!!

Who's #1 in the Mountain & Lakes Region!? WE ARE!


THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO DO BUSINESS WITH US AND CONTINUE TO MAKE US #1. BY QUITE A GAP, TOO!!!

But, it's not just about numbers and volume to me - it's about customer satisfaction and that's why my testimonials are so important! Make sure you work with a REALTOR who has the reputation of protecting their client's best interest!

There are some other Companies out there who say they are #1 because they mess with the numbers - that should be your first warning sign that they lack integrity! GET THE FACTS! You can always check directly with the Northeast Georgia Board of Realtors to confirm any thing you're told about sales and production.

Overall sales are up in 2012 over 2011 and in 2011 they were up over 2010! So, there is a trend in the number of transactions, but average price is way down.

If you need any information about this market, give me a call!

Or, if you need a larger version of this so you can read it, email me and I will email it to you. You may be able to right click on this and get the larger version!!

Friday, January 18, 2013

Hiawassee, Georgia - sunny and clear! Severe storm misses us completely!

Turns out we did not get 2 to 6 inches of snow. In fact, we didn't get one flake! We barely hit freezing temperatures! But, the four days of rain before that was enough. We didn't have any major flooding. There was only one street that Towns County Emergency notified us about that could be in danger of flooding. The creeks and rivers are high and flowing...the sun is shining in the deep blue sky again...the mountain peaks are clearly seen...and all is good in the mountain and lakes region of Hiawassee, Young Harris, and Blairsville, Georgia and Hayesville and Warne, North Carolina!


Thursday, January 17, 2013

The bottom has hit! Now, what are you waiting for???

See, you have to really listen to the bottom line. It's just like last year - it's not that there is an INCREASE in prices - it's that the reductions in prices are decreasing. That's after homes selling for so much less than the year before and the year before and the year before. This means BOTTOM HAS HIT since last year this time. And the homes that are still on the market, will obviously have to decrease their prices even more to sell this year.

WHAT THEY AREN'T TELLING YOU is how few buyers there are out there. But, that number has increased from the year before and the year before - so we all expect it to increase this year. With the inventory lower and the buyers increasing that does mean it is slightly nudging up to a seller's market! BUT, if the prices started rising or the interest rates - either or both would slow the market again.

LAST CHANCE FOR LOW INTEREST RATES, LOW PRICES, AND GOOD INVENTORY!!!

If you're interested in the mountain and lakes region of NE Georgia and SW North Carolina - give me a call today!!!

http://industry.truliablog.com/housing-market/fewer-markdowns-on-for-sale-homes-this-bargain-season/

Fewer Markdowns On For-Sale Homes This “Bargain” Season
Now is the bargain real estate season: asking home prices typically hit their seasonal low point from November through January. This winter, however, markdowns are harder to find. Among all non-foreclosure homes for sale on Trulia, in early January, 33.6% of homes were priced lower than their original listing price. (For homes originally listed more than six months ago, we compared the current price to the price six months ago, not the original price.) One year ago, in early January 2012, 36.7% of homes for sale were marked down from their original listing price.

However, the national average of 33.6% hides huge local differences. In January 2013, the share of homes with price reductions ranges from just 15% in Oakland to 48% in Springfield, MA. Among markets with the fewest reductions today, Miami and Fort Lauderdale stand out as the two locales that also had relatively few reductions one year ago, in January 2012. In contrast, Las Vegas and the seven California markets that round out the top-10 list all have far fewer reductions today than a year ago: in these metros, markdowns have become much harder to find.

link for full article...
http://industry.truliablog.com/housing-market/fewer-markdowns-on-for-sale-homes-this-bargain-season/

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Realtors Association 10 Resolutions to get you in a new home for the new year...



Article:
http://www.realtor.com/blogs/2012/12/28/ten-resolutions-to-get-you-in-a-new-home-for-the-new-year/

#4 - Find a REALTOR! A REALTOR is different than an Agent. A REALTOR has a code of ethics that far exceeds staying within the law. Do you believe that the REALTOR you're working with can make a difference in your experience throughout the entire transaction? A buyer doesn't walk into the first house they see and buy it - why do they work with the first REALTOR they make contact with? That's what research shows... It's simple, you don't want to have to go through 100's of REALTORS just like you do for homes, so what can you do? You can google it, but that's still like spinning the roulette wheel - you never know what you're going to get. You can see who shows up on top of searches or real estate sites, but that just means they paid to be there, it doesn't qualify them in any other way.

Think about what you want in a REALTOR...knowledge of the market you're searching in... a strong arm to guide you through the entire process so nothing is missed...knowledge of conditions you are unfamiliar with; i.e., septic systems, wells, lake front/TVA, or basements...someone who is assertive, but not pushing you to buy because they need a commission... competent to see the deal through to closing. Translated, that means you need a REALTOR who has referrals or testimonials that give them a track record of fulfilling these needs. They should have a "testimonials" section on their web site and not two or three brief ones that a client may have felt pressured to do, but testimonials that show there was/is a true client relationship.

To see my testimonials go to...
http://www.mountainlifenow.com/apps/testimonials/

Now is the time! Don't hesitate to contact me!

There are some very important reasons to buy today: 1. Interest rates are so low 2. Prices are at their bottom (until interest rates rise) 3. It's the most solid investment left in the USA There are even more important reasons to buy in the NE Georgia and SW North Carolina mountain and lakes region: 1. Closest mountain ranges 2. Moderate elevation 1500 to 3000 feet above sea level 3. Four mild seasons 4. Unrestricted land for gardens and farming 5. No traffic - a quality, relaxed lifestyle 6. Lots of forestry land, 2 rivers, 3 lakes for all kinds of outdoor fun 7. Most subdivisions have protective covenants and restrictions, not crazy HOAs. 8. No nuclear plants within 100 miles 9. Mountain ranges keep out most big storms; i.e., hurricanes and tornadoes 10.Historically tiny earthquake movement from old tectonic plates 11.Low taxes and insurance costs 12.Southern lifestyle with polite and courteous people What can anyone possibly be waiting for? If you have the money and the sense - now is the time! Don't hesitate any longer!!! Prices will drop, but that will be when the interest rates go up or the economy goes down - neither of those are the perfect scenario - now is the time! Call me today and we will have you in your mountain and lake home in no time!! People are contacting me every day - I feel this surge - you want to be on the front of the wave where the prices and the inventory are the best! The media is telling everyone prices are going up and many will start raising their prices even though that research supports foreclosures, because that has been the bulk of the market for the past three years. The Feds have no choice but to raise interest rates. Time is of the essence. If you don't have the money for a home, we can find you a lot and you can build a home later. If your credit is messed up, we can find you owner financing - you'll just need the down payment of 20%. If you're not quite sure if you're ready for a small-town-living kind of lifestyle, we'll find you a rental cabin to stay in and look around and feel if this is the right place for you. I serve four counties directly and two closely with another agent - expanding your options to find the perfect home in the perfect location. Call me at 706.835.7616 or email at marylynn@MountainLifeNow.com or go to my web site and search properties and area info www.MounainLifeNow.com

Thursday, January 10, 2013

What to expect in the Housing Market for 2013

The price increase is because Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are raising their foreclosure prices. Yes, that will mean the bottom came and went, but that does not mean the traditional seller is going to sell if they try to put a high price tag. Buyers are still few and far between and the banks are strict. Inventory is down, but buyers still won't purchase from the pool, if it doesn't have what they want. It is still the great deals that are selling. Buyers think automatically that means it's a foreclosure or short sale and that's not true. If you're willing to buy a home built and purchased before the bubble, those are the sellers who can sell at a reasonable price and are not upside down like the foreclosure homes. From a real owner/seller you get a general warranty deed instead of a limited warranty deed or deed under power. There are many other pluses, so if you can get a home rather than a house, you'll be better off on many levels in many circumstances. Of course, a professional that knows the market you want to purchase in is your first and foremost decision. Even more so if you are shopping foreclosures. But, before you even do that - go to the bank to get pre-approved, unless you have cash. Mary Lynn - link for story below http://www.forbes.com/sites/stanhumphries/2012/12/26/five-things-consumers-should-expect-from-the-housing-market-in-2013/