All Blog Entries by Brian Sims 
There are currently 63 blog entries published by Brian Sims.
2nd Quarter Atlanta Real Estate News
Thursday, May 16th, 2013 at 12:15pm. 92 Views, 0 Comments.
Around Atlanta inventory is falling, prices are rising and our business is better than ever. Mortgage rates have remained low and even set some new records in the last few weeks. Finally, if you’re interested in selling or buying, give me a call. You can benefit from both sides of the market these days.
Smyrna is a Seller’s Market
If you are considering selling a home in Smyrna, now is the time. We are solidly into “seller’s market” territory with only a 3.7 month supply of homes for sale. Traditionally a balanced market is a 6 month supply. What this means is that at the current rate the entire Smyrna inventory of homes will be sold out in the next 3.7 months if no one else lists their home for sale.
This example is just a small snapshot of what…
1st Quarter Atlanta Real Estate News
Wednesday, January 9th, 2013 at 12:00pm. 11 Views, 0 Comments.
Final numbers haven’t been announced yet but individually and as a brokerage firm, 2012 was our best year yet for Hirsh Real Estate Specialists! The Atlanta market has continued to gain momentum and our clients have continued to reap the benefits. Inventories have decreased and more buyers are scrambling to find the deals and buy while mortgage rates are low. This has started to drive prices higher. So if you are interested in selling your home but have been hesitant due to market value, please give me call. Now might be the perfect time to sell and move up.
Hirsh Numbers
The Atlanta Board of Realtors will share 2012 sales numbers in a few weeks but at this point we can say our brokerage volume was north of $30million. This represents scores of…
3rd Quarter Atlanta Real Estate News
Wednesday, November 14th, 2012 at 4:10pm. 732 Views, 0 Comments.
The end of 2012 is fast approaching and in some ways that’s the best way to describe this year for Atlanta real estate, FAST. Home sales are up significantly, inventories are dropping and mortgage rates remain at the bottom of the barrel.
All of this has led to an official “seller’s market” in some areas, with inventories well below a 6 month supply. The Wall Street Journal even had an article recently on the value of the White House in this market, which you can see on our blog.
Fast Market, Seller’s Market
Homes around Atlanta are selling approximately 20% faster than they did last year and so far the number of homes sold is also up about 10% across the city. Certain neighborhoods are moving even more aggressively, with towns like Smyrna selling…
White House Value Increasing in Sellers Market
Saturday, November 3rd, 2012 at 10:46pm. 784 Views, 0 Comments.
A historic single family home with 16 bedrooms and 35 bathrooms, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC was recently valued by Zillow to be worth a cool $284.9 million. Yes, I'm referring to "that" 1600 Pennsylvania, otherwise known as The White House.
With just a few days to go until the presidential election, I was struck this week by an article in The Wall Street Journal about the value of The White House. There are actually some interesting parallels that can be drawn between the DC market and at that of Smyrna, Vinings, Buckhead and greater Atlanta.
The first parallel and piece of good news is that some of these areas have actually shifted from a buyer's market to a seller's market. As more and more buyers have…
Should I Ask the Seller to Pay My Closing Costs?
Tuesday, August 14th, 2012 at 11:56am. 856 Views, 0 Comments.
A question that comes up with almost every buyer I represent is, "Should I ask the seller to pay my closing costs?" The short answer is, "Maybe," but there are several factors you want to consider before making this decision.
The first question to ask yourself is, "Do I have enough cash to pay my own closing costs and down payment and still have enough in savings for my emergency fund?" If the answer is, "Yes," then it's a good idea to pay your own closing costs.
If you don't have enough cash for all three of these items...closing costs, down payment and savings, then it is usually a good idea to ask the seller to pay a portion, or even all, of your closing costs.
As a side note, closing costs vary but average about 3% of your purchase price,…
Atlanta Real Estate News - 2012 Mid Year Report
Friday, July 13th, 2012 at 2:39pm. 829 Views, 0 Comments.
We are half way through 2012 and there is already great news for Atlanta and Hirsh Real Estate Specialists. Inventory is dropping, mortgage rates remain at all time lows and Hirsh is receiving both local and national recognition for achievements in real estate.
Dropping Inventory
According to a recent USA Today article, of 18 major markets in the United States, 10 had less than a 3 month supply of homes which is incredibly low. While Atlanta's supply is closer to a 6 month supply, the same article noted that the North Atlanta market has seen a 36% drop in inventory since this time last year.
This is actually causing bidding wars among multiple buyers in some areas and as a result prices are starting to rise in those same markets. I wrote a blog in…
Highest and Best...Good News for the Market?
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 at 4:42pm. 638 Views, 0 Comments.
A phrase becoming more common in real estate these days is "Please submit your highest and best offer." Believe it or not, this isn't just because sellers want more money for their homes. Buyers are actually competing to buy certain homes and properties are often selling for higher than list price.
Just in the past few weeks I have had this happen at least six times and it's included condos, town homes and single family homes from Buckhead to Vinings to Marietta. We have won a few bidding wars and lost a few as well. Surprisingly, we have even lost when offering all CASH and more than list price.
These bidding wars aren't just isolated to foreclosures. Some traditional sellers are encountering this as well and even selling for tens of thousands more…
HARP 2.0 - Refinance with NO APPRAISAL
Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 at 12:45pm. 1024 Views, 3 Comments.
Finally, a mortgage refinance program is available for home owners who are current on their mortgage but owe more than their house is worth. And the best part is NO APPRAISAL IS REQUIRED!!!
HARP 2.0 (Home Affordable Refinance Program) allows home owners with a mortgage owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to refinance underwater mortgages. Here are a few of the highlights:
- No LTV (Loan to Value) cap on fixed rate mortgages
- No appraisal required if an automated value can be determined
- Payback time period has been reduced
- The program is available now
Even if you pay your mortgage to a bank or specific lender, it is likely still owned by Fannie or Freddie. Here are a few links to determine who owns your mortgage and also answers…
Buy a House and Save Money on Taxes
Tuesday, March 6th, 2012 at 4:35pm. 511 Views, 0 Comments.
I probably don't need to remind most of you that it's tax time again, but what you might not know is that there are some serious money saving advantages to owning a home, purchasing a new home or refinancing your mortgage.
You will need to consult your CPA or other tax professional for the specifics of your situation but here are a few of the items you can commonly deduct on your tax filing:
- Real Estate Taxes
- Mortgage Interest - including a vacation home or second residence
- PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance Premiums) - some income limits apply
- Points Paid at Purchase or Refinance - always save your HUD (closing statement) for correct documentation
Here is a helpful link from the IRS about Real Estate FAQ's. Also be sure to file…
Valentines Day Deals in Vinings
Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 at 1:52pm. 603 Views, 0 Comments.
It's Valentines Day once again and so we want to share the love in Vinings. Whether you're looking for a dozen roses, you need last minute reservations for a romantic dinner or you just want to support a local business, I have some great suggestions for you.
Flowers - Village Green Flowers and Gifts as well as Floral Creations Florist both have roses, tulips and countless other floral arrangements to choose from.
Romantic Dinner - Soho in Vinings Jubilee, South City Kitchen and Canoe are all local favorites, offering romantic dining for two.
Local Business - With the economy in the news these days we all know how important it is to support local businesses. Vinings Bank first opened their doors in 2007 and has a desire to build relationships…