Kennesaw 
There are currently 7 blog entries related to this category.
Should I Ask the Seller to Pay My Closing Costs?
Tuesday, August 14th, 2012 at 11:56am. 855 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,…
Highest and Best...Good News for the Market?
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 at 4:42pm. 636 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. 1022 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…
$30 Million in Home Sales for Hirsh
Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 at 2:44pm. 735 Views, 0 Comments.
Ben and I were discussing our 2011 numbers this morning and were quite encouraged at Hirsh Real Estate Specialists' performance this year!
Over $30 Million in Sales
It has been another banner year for Hirsh Real Estate Specialists! Our agents have worked tirelessly throughout 2011 to sell more than $30 million in real estate and our clients have reaped the benefits. The road has certainly had its share of hurdles, but one step at a time we are emerging as one of Atlanta's most successful real estate brokerages. If you or those you know are in need of professional real estate services, we would love to talk with you about your needs.
Mortgage Rate Lows
A high point for home owners, mortgage rates have remained unexpectedly low throughout 2011…
Atlanta Real Estate News
Monday, November 14th, 2011 at 5:29pm. 570 Views, 0 Comments.
As we approach the end of 2011, it is still a strong buyer’s market across Atlanta. Mortgage rates have dropped again since the summer and while prices are struggling to recover, certain properties seem to attract all the attention. We are always looking to grow our business, so if you or those you know are in need of professional real estate advice please feel free to give me a call.
So what’s the latest with home prices?
Home prices are actually up nearly 7% in the North Atlanta area around Buckhead and the number of homes sold is up more than 10%, which is good news. Smyrna and Vinings prices are still down more than 10% for the year, but there are a number of great homes pending sale right now, so I do expect the average price and volume…
Mortgage Rates and Interest Payments are Falling
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 at 4:17pm. 531 Views, 0 Comments.
Amid the volatile stock market, economic gridlock in Washington and stagnant home sales, mortgage rates have continued to fall and save buyers thousands of dollars in interest.
Below is a chart showing how mortgage rates in 2011 have continued to drop for 30-year and 15-year fixed mortgages. Data is courtesy of www.FreddieMac.com
So, how does this translate into real numbers for your budget? Consider this, an average home buyer who purchases a $250,000 home today will save nearly $50,000 in interest payments on a 30 year mortgage versus a buyer who bought the same house in February for the same price.
Mortgage rates in February were about 5.05% and mortgage rates today are about 4.15%. A buyer who makes a 3.5% down payment will save…
Kennesaw Real Estate Market Update
Monday, April 4th, 2011 at 12:39pm. 575 Views, 0 Comments.
759 single-family homes sold in Kennesaw during 2010. The average home in Kennesaw sold for $205,000 which was an average discount off of asking price of 6%. On average, these 759 Kennesaw homes were on the market for 85 days before selling.
This year, 154 homes sold in the first quarter in Kennesaw. The average asking price was $209,000 and the average selling price was $190,000. homes sold at 91% of the asking price and were on the market for 89 days. When we compare the first quarter of this year to the first quarter of 2010 we see that the number of homes sold in Kennesaw was nearly identical, but there has been a 7.4% decrease in the average sale price year-over-year.
What does this mean for a buyer who is interested in Kennesaw Real Estate?…