Jun
15
All Categories
| title | comments | date |
|---|---|---|
| Michael & Deb in the Community | 0 | Jun 15, 2009 |
| How to Hold a Successful Garage Sale | 0 | May 20, 2009 |
| How the 1st Time Homebuyer's Tax Credit Works... | 0 | May 13, 2009 |
| Short Sale Activity Climbs During Last Year and Helps Avoid Foreclosures | 0 | Apr 29, 2009 |
| Keller Williams is the 3rd Largest Real Estate Franchise in the U.S. | 0 | Mar 16, 2009 |
| Keller Williams' Technology Intergration Increases Online Exposure... | 0 | Feb 20, 2009 |
| It's NOT about the Market... | 0 | Feb 18, 2009 |
| 2009 Tax Tips | 0 | Feb 09, 2009 |
| Get Organized in 2009! | 0 | Feb 04, 2009 |
| 5 Common Carpet Myths Debunked! | 0 | Jan 29, 2009 |
May
20
Garage sales can be a great way to get rid of clutter — and earn a little extra cash — before you sell your home. But make sure the timing is right. Garage sales can take on a life of their own, and it might not be the best use of your energy right before putting your home on the market. Follow these tips for a successful sale.
1. Don’t wait until the last minute. You don’t want to be scrambling to hold a garage sale the week before an open house. Depending on how long you’ve lived in the home and how much stuff you have to sell, planning a garage sale can demand a lot of time and energy.
2. Get a permit. Most municipalities will require you to obtain a special permit or license in order to hold a garage sale. The permits are often free or very inexpensive, but still require you to register with the city.
3. See if neighbors want to join in. You can turn your garage sale into a block-wide event and lure more shoppers if you team up with neighbors. However, a permit may be necessary for each home owner, even if it’s a group event.
4. Schedule the sale. Sales on Saturdays and Sundays will generate the most traffic, especially if the weather cooperates. Start the sale early, 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. is best, and be prepared for early birds. 
5. Advertise. Place an ad in free classified papers and Web sites, and in your local newspapers. Include the dates, time, and address. Let the public know if certain types of items will be sold, such as baby clothes, furniture, or weightlifting equipment. On the day of the sale, balloons and signs with prominent arrows will help to grab the attention of passersby.
6. Price your goods. Lay out everything that you plan to sell, and attach prices with removable stickers. Remember, garage sales are supposed to be bargains, so try to be objective as you set prices. Assign simple prices to your goods: 50 cents, 3 for $1, $5, $10, etc.
7. If it’s really junk, don’t sell it. Decide what’s worth selling and what’s not. If it’s really garbage, then throw it away. Broken appliances, for example, should be tossed. (Know where a nearby electrical outlet is, in case a customer wants to make sure something works.)
8. Check for mistakes. Make sure that items you want to keep don’t accidentally end up in the garage sale pile.
9. Create an organized display. Lay out your items by category, and display neatly so customers don’t have to dig through boxes.
10. Stock up on bags and newspapers. People who buy many small items will appreciate a bag to carry their goods. Newspapers are handy for wrapping fragile items.
11. Manage your money. Make a trip to the bank to get ample change for your cashbox. Throughout the sale, keep a close eye on your cash; never leave the cashbox unattended. It’s smart to have one person who manages the money throughout the day, keeping a tally of what was purchased and for how much. Keep a calculator nearby.
12. Prepare for your home sale. Donate the remaining stuff or sell it to a resale shop. Now that all of your clutter is cleared out, it’s time to focus on preparing your house for a successful sale!
Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine (REALTOR.org/realtormag) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
May
13
Another subject we have received numerous questions on surrounds the guidlines for the Obama Administration’s tax credit for people purchasing a home this year. Take a look at the release from the IRS below and call us if you have any questions!
IR-2009-14, Feb. 25, 2009
WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service announced today that taxpayers who qualify for the first-time homebuyer credit and purchase a home this year before Dec. 1 have a special option available for claiming the tax credit either on their 2008 tax returns due April 15 or on their 2009 tax returns next year.Qualifying taxpayers who buy a home this year before Dec. 1 can get up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married filing separately.“For first-time homebuyers this year, this special feature can put money in their pockets right now rather than waiting another year to claim the tax credit, ” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “This important change gives qualifying homebuyers cash they do not have to pay back.” Read the rest of this entry »
Apr
29
by John Adams from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution HomeFinder
Last week, John wrote an article addressing the need for lenders to help stem the tide of vacant “bank-owned” homes Metro Atlanta. With the current market shift, “Short Sales” have become a new buzz word. A “short sale,” is a discounted payoff on the sale of the house before it goes into the foreclosure process.This week, In the AJC, John answers some frequently asked “short sale” questions.
Q: How is a short sale different from a traditional foreclosure?
A: In a typical Georgia foreclosure, the lender notifies the borrower that payments on the loan are past due. The borrower is given a reasonable period of time to catch up or pay off the debt. Eventually, the lender forces the sale of the home at a public foreclosure auction. If no one else bids, the lender ends up owning the house. The bank will then try to sell the house for whatever it can get, often taking a significant loss in the overall transaction.In a typical short sale, the borrower tries to sell the house before the foreclosure auction, and finds a buyer willing to offer a sum of cash to purchase the house “as is.” Often, this offer is well below the amount owned to the lender, but may be accepted in order to avoid the likelihood of bank ownership of a vacant house. In many cases, the bank loses less by accepting a “short sale” than they would if they foreclosed and tried to sell in a tough market. Read the rest of this entry »
Mar
16
AUSTIN, TEXAS (March 2, 2009) — Keller Williams® Realty Inc., announced last week at its annual convention in Orlando, Fla. that it is now the third-largest real estate franchise in the United States, surpassing RE/MAX® International. According to Steve Murray of REAL Trends, a leading source of analysis and information in the residential real estate industry, the Austin, Texas-based company claimed the number three spot with 72,794 U.S. associates at the end of 2008. “The success of Keller Williams Realty can be directly attributed to the hard work and perseverance of our associates and the soundness of our economic and organizational models,” said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty, Inc. “While others might be looking at this market and seeing fear and uncertainty, we have always approached it as our opportunity to shine and grow. And that mindset has paid off.”
The company has been gaining ground for the last three years, outpacing pervasive downward trends in the real estate industry. From 2006 to 2008, Keller Williams Realty increased its associate count by 52 percent, market share for its offices increased 83 percent and agent gross commission income went up 35 percent. Currently, the company has 679 offices operating in the United States. The company also shared more than $30 million in profits with its associates in 2008 through its company-wide profit sharing program. “Through profit share, our phenomenal coaching and training and our technology offerings, we are offering agents their own ‘bailout plan’ for this market.” Willis added.
Feb
20
Keller Williams Realty, Inc., and Threewide Corporation have entered into an agreement that will bring value to Keller Williams Realty offices across the country. ListHub, the premier listing asset management network, will integrate seamlessly with Keller Williams Listing System (KWLS). The integration with the ListHub network will provide Keller Williams agents with a single-point of entry for their listing data – one entry into their MLS and all their listing details will also be pushed to the KWLS for posting on more than 125+ home search sites on the Internet.Two years ago, Keller Williams Realty launched the KWLS as a centralized listing database that gives Keller Williams agents control over online marketing of their listings. The KWLS powers distribution of Keller Williams agents’ listings to national consumer Web sites, as well as Keller Williams office sites, agent sites and KW.com, the company’s national site. The integration of the ListHub network with KWLS means that Keller Williams agents and brokers with ListHub – enabled MLS markets no longer need to enter their listings into both the MLS and the KWLS. Now, ListHub can automatically access the most up-to-date listing information in the local MLS database and populate the KWLS.
“We are thrilled to partner with Threewide because of their extensive experience with real estate data integration and the breadth of their network,” stated Cary Sylvester, Executive Director of Keller Williams Realty International. “The integration of ListHub with KWLS is an important step in bringing our offices and agents even closer to having total control of where and how their listings are displayed on the Web.”
ListHub’s network includes more than 100 MLS databases nationwide, including most of the larger MLS organizations and those in major metropolitan areas. These connections provide the ideal technical framework for accessing and repurposing the listing information in real time for use in broad Internet marketing.
“We are honored to add the Keller Williams Realty family to our growing national network,” said Luke Glass, President of Threewide Corporation. “We are looking forward to providing a needed service to Keller Williams offices by supplying MLS data to the KWLS. We have an exciting opportunity to bring immediate measurable value to every participating Keller Williams office through our new relationship.”
Feb
18
It’s NOT about the Market…
Posted by under For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information
It’s NOT about the Market, it is about what you do!
A shifting real estate market offers many opportunities not otherwise seen. The people who take advantage of these opportunities to build thier personal wealth will be rewarded for their foresight. Five years from now, those who don’t take advantage of this time in the market will wonder, “Why didn’t I?”
Our job as real estate professionals is to stay on the forefront of what is happening in the real estate market and keep you informed about how the changes can affect you. Your job is to call us for the industry knowledge, ideas and tools we have available to assist you in making the right decisions during times such as this.
Would you like to take advantage of potential wealth building opportunities? Do you know someone else who would? Call us today at 678.298.1620 to find out how we can help.
Feb
9
2009 Tax Tips
Posted by under For Buyers, For Sellers, For Realty Professionals, General Information, Tips
Can you believe it’s already that time of year? Tax time that is! In economically challenging times, we’re all looking for ways to save money and/or earn more of it. Here are a few tips that can equate to a few extra dollars in your pocket this spring.
- Itemize Your Deductions - Forget the short form, you may save money by itemizing your deductible expenses. Out-of-p
ocket health care charges, business expenses (including some for job searches), and charitable donations are just a few of the items you may be able to deduct. Complete the IRS Form 1040 and compare numbers. If your total deductions are greater than $5,450 (the standard deduction for 2008 for a single person) or $10,900 (for a married couple filing jointly), you’ll save money by itemizing when you file.
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Children Should File a Return Too - Did you know that if your children earn more than $5,450 in a given year (in wages and/or interest income), they have to file-even if you claim them as dependents? Even if they make less than that, they should still file a return because they’ll get back all the money their employer withheld. Help them fill out the paperwork or use one of the popular online tax preparation services. It’s a great learning experience that may earn them some extra ca
- Avoid a Tax Refund - Although some of us look forward to receiving a check from the IRS this spring, it re
ally means you’re lending money (interest free), to the government for the year. Better to have that cash in your account than lend it to Uncle Sam, right? So, if you’ve been getting big refunds or have had a big life change (a marriage, a baby, a divorce, a radical increase or decrease in income), adjust the withholding allowances on your W-4 form. You can do that for your 2009 taxes now at irs.gov. Use the withholding calculator to determine the correct figure for you. Then print a new W-4, fill it out, and give it to your payroll department.
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Avoid “Rapid Refund” Programs - Sure, they sound great. After all, what can be better than getting your money fast? A tax-prep chain might try to get you to agree to one of these “instant” or “anticipation” options. Don’t take the bait. This is not your refund. It’s a loan—and a very high-interest loan at that. The average for 2008 was 123 percent. If you file electronically, even if it’s through a tax chain, the IRS will deposit your refund directly into your bank account within a week or two.
Feb
4
Get Organized in 2009!
Posted by under For Buyers, For Sellers, For Realty Professionals, General Information, Tips
If “getting organized” was on your list of New Year’s resolutions, you’re not alone. Surveys show that getting organized is right up there with exercising, spending more time with family and paying off debt. Organizing your home from top to bottom doesn’t have to be a daunting task, especially if you focus on one room at a time and work in short intervals.
Use these helpful tips to get started:
1. Begin with a plan. Make a list of projects you want to complete during the year and prioritize them. You don’t have to do everything in January and February; pace yourself so you won’t feel overwhelmed.
2. Take three simple steps. Every organization project starts with three basic steps: purge the items you no longer want or need, analyze what’s left to determine how you use it and measure the space you have to figure out what will fit where.
When you’re organizing, use a three-box system: keep, discard, and don’t know. When you’re finished, seal the don’t know box and put it away. If you haven’t opened it in a year, you don’t really need whatever is in there. Throw it away without looking inside.
3. Clean out the closets. Get everyone in your household involved by competing for the “cleanest closet” award. When organizing a closet, frequency of use is an important consideration. Things you reach for at least once a week should be stored at a height between your shoulders and your knees. Lowe’s has a variety of closet organizers to handle hanging garments, shoes, sweaters, and all types of accessories. 
4. De-clutter the kitchen. The kitchen is often a catch-all for clutter. Review what’s on your counters and move small appliances and cookware you use most often to easy-to-reach cabinets. Purchase a Lazy Susan Corner Unit to maximize your corner cabinet storage space.
5. Tidy up the bathrooms. Clean out all the drawers and cabinets by tossing out expired products and items you haven’t used in at least a year. Then sort your products in a drawer organizer.
6. Make laundry day a breeze. Keep a plastic shoe box in the laundry room to store items you find such as lipstick, buttons and money. Set up a three-basket hamper system in your closet or bathroom so you can sort your clothes the moment you take them off, making laundry day that much easier.
7. Organize your home office. Customizable closet systems aren’t just for bedroom closets. Consider using shelves, drawers and hanging storage for your home office closet. Lightweight storage bins are great for files you use often and come in decorative canvas, metal, wood and plastic styles.
8. Don’t forget the basement and garage. Oil drips, grass clippings and racked in mud make basements and garages a challenge to keep clean and organized. The best way to organize these areas is to create “zones” and keep the tools and products you need in their respective zones, such as lawn care (mower, tools, potting soil), car care (antifreeze, oil, car wax), sports equipment/toys, and general hardware/tools.
Jan
29
5 Common Carpet Myths Debunked!
Posted by under For Buyers, For Sellers, For Realty Professionals, General Information, Tips
Carpeting has been the most popular floor covering in America for decades for good reason - carpets feel soft, reduce noise and insulate rooms. But some common misconceptions deter people from buying carpets.
Myth 1: Asthma and allergy sufferers should not have carpet in the home. Fact: EPA scientists concluded that carpet fibers, in 
trapping and immobilizing potential allergy-causing particulates, help people with allergies. If allergens are in the carpet, they’re not circulating in the indoor air stream. Shaw recommends using a HEPA-filter vacuum to fully remove such particles from the indoor environment.
Myth 2: Carpet is hard to maintain: it stains and wears out very easily. Fact: Simple steps can extend the life of your carpet and keep it looking new. Frequent vacuuming removes soil particles before they get below the surface of the pile, where they are far more difficult to remove. Carpet in a typical household should be thoroughly cleaned every 12 to 18 months. Hot-water extraction systems provide the most effective cleaning. Professional carpet cleaners generally get the best results.
Myth 3: Carpet is outdated and boring. Fact: Carpets come in patterns ranging from traditional hounds tooth to exotic zebra, and in stylish colors like chocolate or mint green. Many consumers use a mix of carpet, hardwood and tile in their homes.
Myth 4: Carpet emits harmful chemicals that cause health problems. Fact: Carpet is one of the lowest emitters of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) among household furnishings and building materials.
Myth 5: Carpet is bad for the environment. Fact: Floor manufacturers now provide many eco-friendly options for environmentally conscious consumers.
Jan
21
Fresh air and natural landscapes invigorate and relax hikers, bikers and other outdoorsmen. But city and town dwellers don’t have to live without flora - natural accents can turn any home into a nature escape.
Here are some tips for homeowners looking to get back to nature in their own homes:
Landscape Your Living Room
Potted plants can provide soothing finishes in living areas and bedrooms. Home gardeners love ficus plants or fig trees, because they’re adaptable and require little maintenance. Orchids, which grow in either natural or artificial light, provide tropical color
Transform You
r Bathroom
The right touches can turn your bathroom into an exotic retreat. Flowers provide elegance, while new, vanity lighting creates a luxurious note. Organically inspired bathroom collections can turn regular rooms into spas.
Use Natural Colors
Natural hues, whether warm or cool, revive indoor spaces. Green, the color of foliage, creates a back-to-nature feel, while the right blue can turn any room into a beachside retreat. Pinks, yellows and oranges can add floral touches. To bring the outdoors in, consider brightly colored window treatments. The right curtains can seamlessly blend outdoor colors with indoor décor.
Reflect on Nature
A mirror, strategically hung to reflect an outdoor scene, can make a room feel more natural - while also making rooms feel larger and more airy.
See an Aromatherapist
Refreshing, natural scents can really set a mood. Whether fresh, like cotton or linen, or floral, like lilac or gardenia, aromas can make rooms soothe. Eco-friendly scented candles, like the soy or beeswax candles burn cleaner than normal candles, helping to reduce indoor air pollution. Placing orange or lemon peels in small bowls around the house can create flame-free scents.
Jan
12
Get Your Finances in Order: To-do List
Posted by under For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, Tips
With the New Year comes resolutions…Lose weight, save more money, take the family on an unforgettable vacation and the list goes on. Studies show that by the begining of February, most people abandon the resolutions they set only a few weeks prior! So whether you have plans to purchase a house in the near future or just need general guidance, here are a few tips to get your finances in order; tax season is just around the corner!
1. Develop a household budget. Instead of creating a budget of what you’d like to spend, use receipts to create a budget that reflects your actual spending habits over the last several months. This approach will factor in unexpected expenses, such as car repairs, as well as predictable costs such as rent, utility bills, and groceries.
2. Reduce your debt. Lenders generally look for a total debt load of no more than 36 percent of income. This figure includes your mortgage, which typically ranges between 25 and 28 percent of your net household income. So you need to get monthly payments on the rest of your installment debt — car loans, student loans, and revolving balances on credit cards — down to between 8 and 10 percent of your net monthly income.
3. Look for ways to save. You probably know how much you spend on rent and utilities, but little expenses add up, too. Try writing down everything you spend for one month. You’ll probably spot some great ways to save, whether it’s cutting out that morning trip to Starbucks or eating dinner at home more often. 4. Increase your income. Now’s the time to ask for a raise! If that’s not an option, you may want to consider taking on a second job to get your income at a level high enough to qualify for the home you want. 5. Save for a down payment. Designate a certain amount of money each month to put away in your savings account. Although it’s possible to get a mortgage with only 5 percent down, or even less, you can usually get a better rate if you put down a larger percentage of the total purchase. Aim for a 20 percent down payment.
6. Keep your job. While you don’t need to be in the same job forever to qualify for a home loan, having a job for less than two years may mean you have to pay a higher interest rate.
7. Establish a good credit history. Get a credit card and make payments by the due date. Do the same for all your other bills, too. Pay off the entire balance promptly.
Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine (REALTOR.org/realtormag) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Dec
17
Easy Fall Lawn Care (Part 2)
Posted by under For Sellers, General Information, Caring for Your Home
MULCHING & COMPOSTING
• The best time to mulch is early fall, spring and summer. Mulch retains heat and moisture.
• For best results throughout the growing season, use a lawn mower that can be easily converted from a mulcher to a bagging unit or leaf shredder. • Get started on a home compost program. Save lawn waste (which includes grass clippings, shredded leaves and chopped brush) for the compost bin. WINTER GREEN • With the first freeze, a warm season lawn begins to
change from green to brown. This period of dormancy is part of the natural life cycle of turfgrass. If you find an amber field undesirable, there is a choice. Fall is a great time to overseed your dormant lawn to maintain a green appearance. • Overseed with annual or perennial ryegrass or blends of cool season grasses. Bermuda grass tolerates overseeding better than Zoysia, centipede, or St. Augustine. Time the overseeding 2-4 weeks before the first killing frost. Annual ryegrass is often chosen because of its quick rate of germination. Perennial ryegrass is more tolerant of cold, disease, and drought. GROUND COVER • There are options for locations in your yard that may be too shady or moist to grow healthy grass. Fall is a great time to plant perennial ground covers such as mondo grass, liriope and juniper to fill the void. They will cover the area year-round and reduce the amount of grass you must maintain.
These How-To’s are provided as a service from Lowe’s, the Original Home Improvement Warehouse of How-To information for the World Wide Web. The information in Lowe’s “How-To” clinics is intended to simplify jobs around the house. Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes and local regulations change; therefore, Lowe’s assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any project. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed professional if in doubt about any procedures.
Nov
24
January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Since transferees cannot wait until spring to buy, you need to be on the market during the Holidays to capture that market!
- Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons!
- Buyers have more time to look for a home during the holidays than they do during a working week!
- Buyers are more emotional during the Holidays, so they are more likely to pay your price!
- Houses show better when decorated for the Holidays!
- Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home! Less demand means less money for you!
- Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the Holidays and less competition means more money for you!
- People who look for homes during the Holidays are more serious buyers!
- By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer in early Spring, when many more houses are on the market for less money! This will allow you to sell high and buy low!
- You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year!
- Even though your house will be on the market, you still have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days around the Holidays!
- Appraisers look at comparable homes for the past 3-6 months; your Winter sales price will be compared to late Summer (higher priced) home sales. Spring sales are compared to late Winter (lower priced) home sales.
Nov
19
Easy Fall Lawn Care (Part 1)
Posted by under For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, Caring for Your Home
Fall is a great time to give your lawn that extra boost it needs to make it through the winter months. Cool-season grasses especially need a fall feeding to get ready for nextspring. Below are a few tips on how to winterize your lawn. Lowes is happy to provide this information as a service to you.
FERTILIZING
- Cool-season grasses such as ryegrass, fescue, and bluegrass should be fertilized in September, October, or November.
- Warm-season grasses such as Bermuda, Bahia, centipede, St. Augustine, and Zoysia should be fertilized in July, August, or September. Do not over-fertilize centipede.
- Specially formulated winterizing fertilizers are higher in potassium than regular lawn food. Potassium is the nutrient that makes grasses more winter hardy. Winterizers should be applied as the last fertilizer application of the growing season
CONTROLLING LAWN DISEASE, WEEDS AND INSECTS
• To help prevent lawn diseases during the fall and winter, be sure to remove leaves from your yard. Leaves left on the lawn encourage disease by preventing sunlight and air from reaching the grass. Either rake the leaves and add them to a compost pile, or go over them with a mulching mower, chopping them into a fine compost for your grass.
• For weed control during the winter months, apply a pre-emergence weed killer. Some products feature a combination fertilizer and weed killer, called weed and feed.
MOWING & WATERING
• There is no need to water your warm-season lawn during the winter - most grasses go into dormancy.
• Before putting the warm-season lawn to bed for the winter, lower the mower to an inch below normal setting and use a grass catcher attachment. This will pick up any weed seeds in the lawn and the closer cut will allow for better air circulation.
These How-To’s are provided as a service from Lowe’s, the Original Home Improvement Warehouse of How-To information for the World Wide Web. The information in Lowe’s “How-To” clinics is intended to simplify jobs around the house. Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes and local regulations change; therefore, Lowe’s assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any project. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed professional if in doubt about any procedures.
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