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Reading about Real Estate 2.0 is not Good Enough

By: Brad Nix, Managing+Broker
Posted: March 10th, 2008
Category: real estate news

Real Estate 2.0 is about engagement. Reading about it in Realtor Magazine is not good enough. To fully understand and utilize real estate 2.0, Realtors must engage themselves into it. Start a blog, create a Facebook page, grab a widget, or comment on other blogs - do something. The point is to engage the costumer and have a conversation about real estate. It also helps to engage other Realtors and industry partners. Sharing ideas and thoughts during a conversation is way more powerful than reading about it in a magazine.

If knowledge is power, then a community of shared knowledge is even more powerful.

REtechSouth is a conference designed for industry professionals to engage in a conversation about real estate technology, web 2.0, and the future of our industry.

Engage yourself into the conversation just one day for one hundred dollars. You will leave with more knowledge than you came with and knowledge is power.

Register today to attend REtechSouth.

Discussion: Comments

5 Tips for Buying a Foreclosure in Atlanta

By: Mike Pennington, Sales+Associate
Posted: March 10th, 2008
Category: tips, tools & tech

So you think you are ready to step into a foreclosed property in Atlanta, GA? If you have the intention of buying a bank owned property, take note that the process may take longer than you can wait. If you intend to move into that property, check out my 5 tips for buying a foreclosed property:

1) Get Pre-Qualified for a loan

When you write an offer on a foreclosed property the receiving broker will forward your offer to the lender who holds the property. The lender will in many cases have multiple offers on the same property so your offer needs to shine. If you have cash, send a bank statement - If you need financing, please be pre-qualified not just pre-approved. Many times the best price does not win but the best chance of a successful closing will!

2) Hire an Agent Who Can Really Help You

As foreclosures continue to rise, the backlog of REO files at the lender continues to grow. As a result, the process of buying a foreclosure can take weeks if not months to advance to a stage where the potential buyer and seller have something that symbolizes an agreement. Unresponsiveness from the bank will try the patience of a buyer and will try the patience of the agent responsible for writing the offer. Understand that the Selling Agent earns a living from successful offers and in order for the process to work in your favor, don’t get greedy with trying to save the commission for yourself. As a matter of fact, I know I work harder and longer for a guaranteed thing. Hint: Sign a Buyer Brokerage agreement with your broker. They will hang in there longer and go the extra mile for you if they know they will get paid at the end of the journey.

3) Understand the NEW Real Estate Contract

In Georgia, the GAR (Georgia Association of Realtors) has completed new revisions to many of the contracts and addendums for 2008. There are a variety of changes and items missing from the standard sales contract. In order to cover your assets, make sure the AGENT YOU HIRED has addendums and exhibits to cover financing, appraisal, and inspection contingencies. A basic GAR sales contract says that you can complete the sale for cash.

4) Be Able To Buy Without Having to Sell

If you have to sell your home, buying a foreclosed property may remain a dream for the near future. Contingencies to sell property are almost never accepted. If your home is currently under contract with a firm closing date, be prepared for short term housing as a predictable negotiation and closing on an REO is — well — unpredictable.

5) Make Your Best Offer and Stick with It

After you make your offer you will most likely receive a notice that the lender may have multiple offers on the property. While it may or not be true but if you raise your offer price now, the chance of getting a DEAL slowly dwindles. When buying a foreclosure, make your best offer up front considering after repaired value, cost of repairs, etc. Now is the time for a poker face. Your desire to purchase this property must be less than the banks desire to sell it. Do not allow the listing agent or the bank to know how much you really want the home.

Mike Pennington is a full-time licensed Realtor with Maxsell Real Estate in Woodstock, GA

Discussion: Comments

Maxsell Real Estate joins RSS Hugger

By: Brad Nix, Managing+Broker
Posted: March 9th, 2008
Category: tips, tools & tech

I am always looking for better ways to promote properties listed by Maxsell Real Estate. Obviously, I feel that the internet is one of the best mediums for delivering property information and real estate news. Since we are constantly promoting our properties and services on the web, then it only makes since for us to optimize our website to appear as credible and authoritative in the eyes of Google and other search engines. One of the ways we accomplish this (there are many) is to submit our rss feed to website directories. These directories index our site into a specific category and create a link back to our site (a notch of credit in Google’s eyes). However, these directories fall in and out favor from Google over time and my goal is to always partner with the best of directories.

Today, I stumbled across RSS Hugger as one of the best directories available. Why? Because they understand search engine optimization (SEO). I learned about RSS Hugger from Mary McKnight, RSS Pieces. Mary is an excellent resource for real estate SEO and she had this to say about RSS Hugger:
"Anyhow, when it came to RSS Hugger, a blog directory that combines Technorati, rss directories, and search engine optimization into one, I LOVED the way they required the reciprocal link. Instead of some rediculously useless chiclet, they want me to write a review of their site. This a makes perfect sense, they get a high quality backlink and some press. Now, what do I particularly like about RSS Hugger? I have the ability to post my RSS feed, get listed in their directory and I am dealing with a service that actually understands SEO."

So now Maxsell is partners with RSS Hugger. Your business should be too!

http://www.rsshugger.com

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St. Charles Square- “East Cobb Spotlight” Swim/ Tennis Community

By: Jennifer Cowan, Sales+Associate
Posted: March 4th, 2008
Category: Marietta Real Estate

"East Cobb Spotlight!"

St. Charles Square

With homes priced from the high $200k’s to the mid $300k’s, this great swim/ tennis community of St. Charles Square is conveniently located to I-75/ I-575 off of Sandy Plains Rd in Marietta, GA..
St. Charles Square has it all! You will definitely get that "Welcome Home" feeling as you drive through this community. There are also plenty of lighted- walking sidewalks located throughout the community. You will not want to miss relaxing at the community gazebo that sits on St. Charles Lake that is always inviting you to come sit and enjoy! The pool house, pool, and lighted tennis courts are great highlights to this community!

St. Charles Square has a very active ALTA Tennis community with men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles tennis teams. If you have never played tennis before, joining your neighborhood tennis team is a great way to meet your neighbors! Even if you are a beginner! My husband and I joined one of our subdivision’s tennis teams and have had so much fun! We have made great lasting friendships and we always have some fun social event going on. Take advantage of the fun the sport has to offer and social opportunities and friendships your neighborhood tennis team will bring.

Besides being convenient to I-75/I-575, St. Charles Square has many great conveniences located just around the corner! Publix Grocery Store, QuickTrip Gas station, Chevron Gas station, all the big name banks, The Home Depot, Target, Kennestone Hospital, Mountain View Aquatic Center , Town Center Mall, Costco, La Bella’s Pizza ( the absolute best pizza in Cobb County), the Marietta Square, and many great restaurant choices nearby make living in St. Charles a great place to be! If you and your family love going to the Marietta Square, you will be glad to know that you can enjoy all that the Marietta Square has to offer and it only takes aprroximately 5-7 minutes to drive there from St. Charles Square.

Here are some quick statistics about St. Charles Square that you will want to know.

Number of Homes Currently on the Market: 10

Price Range of Homes Currently Listed: $275k- $355k

Number of Homes Sold in 2007: 16

Avg. Selling Price of Homes in 2007: 3 bedrooms- $ 289,500 , 4 bedrooms- $305,800 , 5 bedrooms- $317,000.

Avg. Days on Market: 48

HOA Dues , includes Swim/Tennis : $454- 2007

Schools: Kincaid Elementary, Daniell Middle School , Sprayberry High School

If you would like more information on East Cobb real estate, Marietta real estate, or buying or selling a home in St. Charles Square or East Cobb, please contact me!

Stay tuned for the next "East Cobb Spotlight"……

More Local Info:

Dog Owner? Great East Cobb Dog Park!

East Cobb Park

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