In Tax Lien Limbo

Should Georgia Counties sell tax liens?  How does this affect local homeowners?  Is your tax bill being sent to the correct address?   Here's a great article entitled In Tax Lien Limbo from the Atlanta Journal Constitution that's worth a read:  http://www.ajc.com/news/north-fulton/in-tax-lien-limbo-854408.html   It discusses the benefits and burdens of selling tax liens on property.  

Existing Home Sales Rise in January

Data from the National Association of Realtors shows that this is the first time in seven months that sales activity was higher than a year earlier. Completed transactions on single-family homes, townhomes,  condos and co-ops went up by 2.7% in January, 2011.    For more info read the entire article: posted on Realtor.org:

http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2011/02/january_above

Home Sale Prices Up in January

In Metro Atlanta, the sale price of single-family existing homes rose nearly 2 percent in January 2011, compared with  January 2010 according to current data.  Here's a great article from the Atlanta Journal Constitution about the Metro Atlanta housing market:  http://www.ajc.com/business/home-sale-prices-up-849558.html  

Cash Buyers Lift Housing

The National Association of Realtors reported that nationally 28% of all buyers were all cash transactions last year.   This is up from 2008 which had only 14% of all buyers closing with all cash transactions.   Phoenix had 42% cash buyers in 2010 which is triple the amount it had in 2008 per Raymond Jame's equity research division.   As you can guess, this is actually helping the US housing market.   Read the article in the Wall Street Journal for more signs of economic recovery:         http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704570104576124502975117950.html?mod=WSJ_RealEstate_LeftTopNews

Brad Nix, Keynote Speaker, WCR Meeting Feb. 17th

The Atlanta Chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors hosted its monthly meeting at 103 West in Buckhead.   Boh Bohorquez, President-Elect, introduced Brad Nix the Co-Founder of RETechSouth as the keynote speaker.   Brad Nix then addressed the changes in communication over time:   letters, talking, telegraphs, telephones, social media, texting, and different forms of marketing.   Before answering an email, sending a podcast, producing a marketing campaign, or making a TV or radio advertisement, we   should pause and remember our target market or audience. 

Brad discuss the five pillars of communication:   1) Resources:   content, brand logo, value proposition, knowledge, and vendors; 2) Signals used to channel your communicaions (verbal, pictures, written, etc.); 3) Tools used to put signals through such as RSS feeds, photo shop, etc.; 4) Channel is the medium used to publish or share the information (website, twitter, linkedin, facebook); and 5) Target market is either an individual or a group.   The more you know about your target market will help in your communications.   Remember who your market is, what  their interests are , their demographics, the needs of the target market, and why would they be interested in the communication. Good communication has DIVE or Data, Information, Value and Experience.  

If you have a chance to hear Brad speak, take it.

GNFCC Feb. 17th Presentation

It was a pleasure to speak yesterday on the current real estate market at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Networking meeting at Johns Creek Emory Hospital.   As interest rates rise the cost of purchasing the same property will increase; therefore, it can be costly to wait to see if housing prices will go lower.   There are some great buys out there and interest rates are still relatively low.   Some of the topics discussed were:   short sales, foreclosures, and deed in lieu of foreclosure.  

In a short sale, you sell the house for less than you owe.  You can't do a short sale without the lender's permisswion.   A short sale is an approved sale of the property to an unrelated third-party for less than is owed on the mortgage preventing a foreclosure on the borrower's credit report.   With a short sale, you make necessary repairs to the house, pay the real estate commission, taxes and government fees and give the lender whatever money is left over - a partial payment.  Talking to your lawyer and your tax accountant will help you to decide if this is right for you.

A deed in lieu of foreclosure allows the homeowner to transfer the property voluntarily to their lender or mortgage company and the debt or deficiency is often forgiven.   Foreclosure laws, regulations, deficiency judgments, right of redemption, and time line vary greatly in each state and are in constant change.   Please consult a local lawyer for specific procedures in your state.   Foreclosures have a negative impact on your credit record.

For more information on the real estate market:    http://www.pam.santoro.harrynorman.com/

Pam Santoro, Realtor
Harry Norman Realtors

Reynolds Plantation to Sell Off Golf Courses

Reynolds Plantation, a Linger Longer Development Community,  is forced to sell some of its assets to remain vital.   Greene County residents and business community are concerned about home values after the sale of the Reynolds Plantation golf course, swimming pools and club house.     For more info:  http://onlineathens.com/stories/020911/new_782878005.shtml

American Business Women Crabapple - Women's Health Issues

Holly Burman, Women’s Health Care Practitioner spoke at the  February 8th ABWA meeting at Sugo's in Roswell.   Holly spoke about menopause and the risks of taking hormones, breast cancer, thyroid issues and more.   She reminded us all to exercise three to four times a week and increase our water intake.   Holly reminded us that caffeine can trigger hormones and complex B vitamins can help.   For more info:  http://www.harbinclinic.com/

Here are some pictures of the meeting:



Kitchen Renovation?

Great article on Kitchen Renovation in the Wall Street Journal.  What's a kitchen remodel worth? 

According to Remodeling magazine's latest cost versus value survey, in 2010 in New England,  a midrange kitchen redo in New England cost $60,038 but returned 71% on resale. In 2011, the cost is expected to be $58,367 and the return 68.7%.  For more info:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704739504576067660024786024.html?mod=WSJ_HomeBuyingSelling_MiddleTopHeadLines

ABWA Crabapple Chapter Feb. 8 at Sugo's

FEBRUARY MEETING

LEARNING ABOUT WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUES

American Buisness Women Crabapple Chapter

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 6:30PM – 8:30PM

SUGO RESTAURANT

408 S. ATLANTA STREET, HISTORIC ROSWELL, GA 30075

COST: $25.00

Our next chapter dinner meeting will be this coming Tuesday, February 8, at 6:30pm, when we’ll learn about women’s health issues from Holly Burman, Women’s Health Care Practitioner.

If you are interested in coming, contact Heather at her twitter handle @detailedheather.

Pending Home Sales Continued Uptrend

Some good news on increasing pending homes sales in the last six months provided by the National Association of Realtors: 
http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2011/01/phs_continue