Vinings Real Estate 
There are currently 41 blog entries related to this category.
2nd Quarter Atlanta Real Estate News
Thursday, May 16th, 2013 at 12:15pm. 122 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. 17 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…
White House Value Increasing in Sellers Market
Saturday, November 3rd, 2012 at 10:46pm. 788 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. 862 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. 840 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. 641 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. 1031 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…
Valentines Day Deals in Vinings
Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 at 1:52pm. 607 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…
$30 Million in Home Sales for Hirsh
Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 at 2:44pm. 742 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. 575 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…