How to Find the Best Place to Live in Atlanta – Part 2
December 31, 2007
Your lifestyle is your choice – you’re in the driver’s seat. By definition, “lifestyle” is a way of living which reflects one’s priorities. At different stages of life we have different responsibilities and priorities. Since where we live affects how we live, at times we need to change our habitat to change our habits.
Thinking about the lifestyle we desire allows us to choose a place that will be conducive to or foster that lifestyle. Reflect on what prompted you to think about a move to Atlanta in the first place. Warmer weather? More outdoor recreation? Proximity to family? Better schools? Work?
Life is a journey and relocation is a part of the journey that allows us to expand our circle of friends. Think about ways for creating new relationships. To build new friendships, look for people with common interests. Many Atlanta communities are designed with “social architecture” or centered around diverse cultures. Look for public venues and social activities in Atlanta neighborhoods that will encourage meeting other people. If you’re moving with school-age children, check to see what schools, clubs and organizations exist for children.
What type of community interests you?
- Urban
- Suburban
- Private/Gated
- Family-friendly
- Age-specific
Yes, you are truly in control; we are simply here to guide your relocation. Our mission is to enhance your comfort and peace of mind as you prepare to move.
There are onlines tools and services that put you in control of the home search. See photos. Get driving directions. Identify the schools, and more at www.SearchMultipleListings.com
Need a master bedroom on the main floor? Must have a finished basement? In love with a particular school district? Spell it all out at www.SeeAtlantaHomes.com . Properties meeting those needs are emailed directly to you.
You’ll find our Relocation Guide (a pdf download) to be a helpful resource. It’s provided at no cost or obligation to you as a way of saying, “Thanks for letting us be a part of your relocation!”
How to Handle Real Estate Data Overload
December 27, 2007
This morning, I was reading a blog post from Chris McKeever, Center for Realtor Technology in which he stated:
…as a consumer, part of how I would choose an agent is that they can outperform me on finding the perfect property by having access to more area knowledge, refined searching techniques and experience I just can’t gain through even the best website. Just cause I use one website to search, doesn’t mean that is the broker/agent I have decided to use.
In his post, Chris makes a good point that an individual agent, or broker, is going to be hard-pressed to compete on technology with the big boys with deep pockets. On the other hand, the big boys with deep pockets are aggregating data on a national level. Real estate is, and always will be, a local issue.
So, it doesn’t really matter what website works for your personal search for Atlanta real estate. Ultimately, if you choose to work with an Atlanta Realtor, you want someone whose knowledge and expertise moves beyond the aggregated data.
You also want the Realtor to incorporate technology into their business model to enhance the exchange of that knowledge at a personal level. Do they respond to email in minutes, the same day, weeks later or never? Can they text listing information in a mobile format? Do they have an online network of specialists, vendors and colleagues who are also technologically proficient?
How to Find the Best Place to Live in Atlanta
December 26, 2007
How do you go about finding the best place to live in an unfamiliar area? First, examine your reasons for moving.
- Are you seeking to escape ice and snow or escalating taxes?
- Maybe you want to pursue the possibilities of year-round outdoor recreation.
- Perhaps you’re dreaming of doing some traveling with the extra money you’ll save with a lower cost-of-living.
- Or maybe your employer has transferred your position.
These are just a few of the many reasons that millions of people move each year, purchase Atlanta real estate as an investment or buy a home in Atlanta.
Our expertise is in providing peace of mind by helping you envision your lifestyle, compare places conducive to your desired lifestyle and help you decide where you want to live in Atlanta.
To help guide guide your relocation, we will pose several questions as we strengthen our relationship.
If you are currently pricing homes in the Atlanta market, you might be interested in a Listings Alert service, which sends you up-to-date information on listings as they become available. The service is free and can be found at SeeAtlantaHomes.com.
Thanks for visiting our site!
Mortgage Fees Rising, Even for Prime Borrowers
December 11, 2007
Getting a mortgage is getting more expensive, even for borrowers with good credit, thanks to the subprime crisis.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two government sponsored entities created to promote homeownership, are slapping new surcharges on loans they either buy for their portfolios or for which they provide guarantees. If you’re not familiar with Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, they’re likely behind your last closing. Regardless of the lender that is doing the funding of the new mortgage, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac is behind the scenes. Therefore, after March 2008, any of your clients with FICO scores below 680 will be paying higher closing costs or a higher rate. Again, this will not be lender specific but across the board for everyone.
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