10 Things NOT to Do When Buying a Home

Ready to take advantage of the low home prices of today’s real estate market?  Great but whether you are a first-time home buyer or this will be your 5th home purchase, if you require financing, there are things you must not do in today’s ever-changing lending market (that you probably could do 5- 10 years ago) that will jeopardize your real estate purchase.  And, these are not just things to avoid while getting pre-qualified/pre-approved but even up to the day of your closing because if you have not closed yet, your closing may be delayed or forfeited, causing your money spent on inspections, appraisals, etc. to go down the drain.

How to APPEAL The New FLOOD ZONES for Your Home

After the torrential flooding that affected several counties in Georgia a few years ago, many real estate owners can easily understand the need for revisions to the flood zones.  However, you may not agree with Sandy Springs’ finding for your home/neighborhood but did you know you have an option to appeal?

Before going into the appeal process, if you did not know the City Council is considering how to treat certain real estate properties in Sandy Springs that have been indicated by Sandy Springs engineers to be at risk of flooding.  Approximately 170 homes in Sandy Springs are located in a “gray” area that gives the City Council some choice on how those areas are rated for flood insurance purposes.  View the Sandy Springs flood map here: flood map.

How to REALLY Buy a SHORT SALE

You may be a buyer who has heard the horror stories associated with a Short Sale and may be fearful of them.  However, there is no need to be as Short Sales Can Be Your Best Buy.  The key to navigating a Short Sale is understanding the oddities associated with purchasing a Short Sale to minimize your frustration with the process.

As with anything in life, when you have the proper expectations, you are better able to cope with the challenges that may arise.  Here are some things to keep in mind with a Short Sale:

The REAL Houses of Atlanta: Afraid of SHORT SALES? Why You May Be Missing the BEST Deals

In this real estate market, there are many fantastic deals to be had for the real estate Buyer but not just with foreclosures.  Despite the horror stories you may have been told, Short Sales can sometimes be your best buy and here are 5 reasons why:

The REAL Houses of Atlanta: REAL Tips to Succeed as a Rookie Investor

If you are new to investing in Atlanta’s hot real estate market, check out the latest episode with critical tips for your success.  Click here to watch:

About The REAL Houses of Atlanta

The American dream – traditionally it has included home-ownership.  But far too many of us experienced with the real estate bust a rude-awakening from the dreams of grandeur.  Real estate, however, is not our enemy but how we obtain and dispose of it needs to be based in the now-present reality.  This is a journal of purchasing, selling and renting REAL houses in metro Atlanta – no fluff, no props, no makeup just real houses in a real city.

Bought a Home in 2011? 3 Important Tips to Save Money in 2012

Congratulations on making a great home purchase in 2011 (since real estate prices and rates are at historic lows, I know you received a great deal )!  Now that you have landed a great piece of Georgia real estate, here are some tips to be sure to do in 2012 to maximize your benefits.

FILE FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

Tornadoes: Is Your Home Protected?

Sadly, many Americans in the last couple of months have experienced the devastation of a tornado, including those here in Georgia.  As we all know, so many things destroyed by a tornado cannot be replaced but your home should not be one of those things.

To HOA or Not HOA?

Imagine living directly across from the soon-coming (we hope) Streets of Buckhead (Georgia’s version of Rodeo Drive), or being in walking distance to your office on Wall St., or reveling in the sounds of jazz coming from the Detroit Riverfront.  Whether you are in Atlanta, New York, Detroit, or another urban area, townhouses and condos are stylish and maybe the most economical option to allow you to live close to your city’s hustle and bustle.    Moreover, you may love the low-maintenance lifestyle condos and townhouses afford you but there are several questions you should have answered by the Homeowner’s Association (HOA) before making an offer.

Buyer Beware: Caveats of REAL ESTATE AUCTIONS

You hear about a great home being offered at a real estate auction for a fraction of what it should sale for.  This must be a great opportunity, right? Not necessarily.  You may remember seeing sitcoms where someone at an auction accidentally coughs, scratches his head, etc. and then ends up purchasing the auction item at a price they did not want.  Then the rest of the TV show we see them scrabbling to get out of the purchase.  Similarly, with real estate auctions, a Buyer can unknowingly sign-up for a purchase they are not prepared to make.  Thus, it is extremely important for Buyers to understand all the terms of that particular auction house before bidding as the process can be significantly different than a typical purchase from a homeowner.

Bought A Foreclosure Recently? Here’s How to Protect Yourself, Pt. 2

There are some homeowners that believe they were wrongfully foreclosed on and are now attempting to reclaim the foreclosed home.  If you recently purchased a foreclosed home and are concerned that someone may come knocking on your door in an attempt to recover the home, protect your investment today! 

As discussed in the first part of this topic, locate your closing documents and make sure you have title insurance (specifically an owner’s policy), which can be purchased after closing if you did not obtain this at closing.  In case you did not know, the owner’s policy of title insurance insures you against mistakes made in the public record, by the mortgage lender, and even by courts. Additionally, if title is being challenged, title insurance will cover the cost of defense and loss payment.  For more details on the benefits of title insurance visit http://www.homeclosing101.org/whyneed.cfm.

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