Tag Archives: First-time homebuyer

“I should have bought that stock….”

Posted on October 7, 2009 by | 3 Comments

By: Lenny Rindsberg

How many times have you said “I should have bought that stock”….after learning that the stock doubled or tripled in price.  Remember when Google stock IPO’d for $80?  If only we all bought shares then.  Today that same stock is worth $510.  Although I can’t guarantee the same returns in real estate, now is the time that you CAN be able to buy and KNOW you bought at the right time.  Several reasons include:  Continued Historically low interest rates, 1st time Home buyer credit (if you qualify), reduce priced inventory, foreclosures, auctions, etc.  There’s no guarantee that the rates will remain low or that the tax credit will be extended…so why not test the waters to see what kind of deals are out there.  There are some amazing deals out there!!! Don’t take a risk and say “I should have purchased when I had a chance”.  That time is now!  Take advantage of this buyers market today!

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Posted in First-time homebuyer, Real Estate, Sales and Marketing

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Fall is in Air… Can you feel it?

Posted on September 28, 2009 by | Leave a comment

By: Leslie Williamson

I woke up this morning and felt a cool breeze signaling the first of Fall…. the changing seasons signal transition to let go of the old and welcome the new, hopefully new growth and inspiration. This new growth and inspiration can apply to the economy.  Over the last several weeks several of the economists have been stating that economic activity has picked up and the recession is over. With the start of Fall I hope to see new growth in our economy and a breath of new inspiration in the housing market!

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Posted in Real Estate

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Great Start to the Day!

Posted on September 17, 2009 by | Leave a comment

By: Collin Ellingson

What a great start to the day.  I hosted Coldwell Banker NRT Development Advisor’s first-time homebuyer webinar this morning, along with Matt Peters of Coldwell Banker Home Loans.  We discussed the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, as well as the different types of loans that are available to first-time homebuyers.

 The 30-minute webinar – including the presentation and audio – is posted online for any agents or buyers who’d like to hear more.  Click here to access it. 

 We hope to conduct similar webinars in the future, so please e-mail me if you have any feedback or questions that you’d like to see addressed in future webinars!

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Educating First Time Home-Buyers Webinar

Posted on August 31, 2009 by | Leave a comment

It is important for all home buyers to be educated.  First time homebuyers have unprecedented buying opportunities that currently exist.  We are hosting a free Webinar on Thursday, September 17 at 10 am during which experts from Coldwell Banker NRT Develpment Advisors and Coldwell Banker Mortgage discuss the tax credit, loan options and more.

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Posted in First-time homebuyer, Real Estate, Sales and Marketing, Uncategorized

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Industry Pushes to Extend Home Buyer Tax Credit

Posted on June 10, 2009 by | Leave a comment

By: Leslie Williamson

As the online edition of the Wall Street Journal states, positive steps were made today to reinvigorate the US Housing Market.  An association of chief executive officers of leading US corporations issued a set of recommendations for the White House and Congress that are aimed to jumpstart the housing market in order to stimulate a broader economic recovery!

The recommendations are very targeted, i.e. keep mortage rates at historically low levels (below 5%) for at least one year, and are critical next steps for a housing recovery  that will in return boost the economy as a whole.

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Posted in Real Estate, Sales and Marketing

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More Condo Auctions – Good or Bad for the Atlanta Market

Posted on April 24, 2009 by | Leave a comment

By:  Leslie Williamson

As reported in the recent AJC Article two more new condo communities will be on the auction block.  What are the pros and cons in relation to the Altanta market?

1) The auctions aid in moving inventory of new product off the market quickly. 

2) The auctions also set or reset the  current Atlanta market prices among new condo communities and resales.

3) The auctions stimulate the economy and bring ready, willing and able buyers to the table, excited to take advantage of the discounted pricing!

4) Auctions take buyers out of the market  - many buyers wait and see the response to the actual auction before moving forward with their own buying decision.

If you are looking for a deal or a steal, take advantage of the auctions, but also do your research, the same deal could be just around the corner offering auction pricing with the auction.

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Posted in Auction, First-time homebuyer, Real Estate

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Fulton County Taxes Going Down!

Posted on April 2, 2009 by | Leave a comment

By: Maria Mena

Last week I received a letter from the Fulton County assessor and couldn’t believe my eyes…

Fulton County taxes are going down!

Fulton County has increased the basic homestead exemption from $15,000 to $30,000 over the next three years starting in 2009. And the best part about it is I don’t have to do a darn thing to get it! Since I am already getting the homestead exemption at $15K it will automatically transition to the new higher amounts.

I don’t know about you but I can really use that $5000 for numerous other things including paying for the higher cost of healthcare which seems to be sky rocketing, do a little shopping, take a quick trip to see my family in Miami, there are some needed home repairs, etc. etc.

The City of Atlanta is also giving folks over age of 65 as well as those with disabilities a break on their city taxes if they make less than a certain amount of money a year so if you know someone that may qualify check it out at the website www.fultonassessor.org.

For many years persons looking to purchase a home have eliminated housing in Fulton County due to the perceived higher property taxes. Not anymore – if you do not own a home and are thinking about buying, this tax break coupled with the additional incentives from the recently approved stimulus package creates a wonderful opportunity to buy a home.

Also, the increased homestead exemption dollars will aid current struggling homeowners keep their house.  I hope this is just the beginning of a trend of changes that will be occurring for home owners in Fulton County.

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Posted in First-time homebuyer, Fulton County Taxes, Real Estate

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One in Five Americans Plan to Buy a Home

Posted on March 29, 2009 by | Leave a comment

By: Leslie Williamson

As stated in the Fox Business article “one in five Americans plan to buy a home despite economic conditions” and 50% of these buyers will be first time home buyers.  In Atlanta, we certainly have the inventory to offer these buyers.  As sellers, we need to make the inventory palatable for these buyers to take action now and, as agents, we need to be equipped with the tools to overcome current buying objectives.

What makes the inventory palatable? In a recent market sentiment survey by Metrostudy, 56% of the builders surveyed stated that reduced pricing on inventory was the most effective incentive.

 As agents, we need to understand all competitive pricing, as well as acknowledge that today’s buyers are now paying closer attention to home values and have researched their buying decisions for several months prior to actually contacting an agent.  Agents need to be able to verbalize and illustrate to the buyers that now is the best time purchase. Coldwell Banker NRT Development Advisors has taken initiatives to educate their agents on the following:

 -       First Time Homebuyers Tax Incentive

-       Knowledge of the competition

-       Up-to-date financing information

-       Establishing a relationship with the buyer

Because of their knowledge of the above,Coldwell Banker NRT Development Advisors agents have been able to provide a viable selling proposition to successfully close sales.

 Per Move, Inc. CEO Steve Berkowitz, ‘It’s not all doom and gloom.  We found Americans are optimistic about homeownership despite concerns.”

 

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Posted in First-time homebuyer, Real Estate, Sales and Marketing

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There’s never a second chance to be a first-time homebuyer

Posted on March 10, 2009 by | 2 Comments

By: Leslie Williamson

There are many firsts in life that I wouldn’t care to do over again – my first day of school, my first date or my first job interview.

But I would love to be in the process of buying my first home all over again.

I wish I had the same opportunities that first-time homebuyers do now.  Prices on new homes – including single family, condos and townhomes – have been discounted and interest rates are at an all time historical low. Developers and home builders are pushing the $8,000 first-time home buyer stimulus as well as offering alternative incentives to entice contracts.  Many of our developer clients are offering stimulus packages that include FHA financing, alternative financing choices, buy-down interest rates, buyer bonuses, and paid closing costs.

And there seem to be plenty of first-time homebuyers taking advantage of these opportunities.  The auction of condos at The Element illustrated that there are first time home buyers in the market.  In fact, CNN’s lead story today talked about the great opportunities for first-time homebuyers and focused one homebuyer who went to an auction planning to purchase a home for his family.  As he told the CNN reporter, “I just have a feeling that in six to nine months, we’re going to start to see a resurgence in the market. So, I think now is the time for us to get into it, if we can.”

This is a great opportunity for the first time home buyer to get off the fence and take advantage of a real estate opportunity that will not get any better.  I just wish I could be one of them.

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Posted in Auction, FHA financing, First-time homebuyer

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