Friday, December 20, 2013

MARKET UPDATE: Atlanta Winter Real Estate Market Brief

     Baby it’s cold outside! But things are heating up in the Atlanta real estate market. November 2013 metro Atlanta market reports are in & we’ve got a handy SlideShare presentation to keep you well informed. Check it out! You know you want to…


                   
               Atlanta Winter Real Estate Market Brief from House Connect, LLC

     So what does this mean for YOU? It means NOWS THE TIME TO SELL! Prices are up & inventory is down creating a HIGH demand for homes throughout Atlanta. Also, days on market dropped showing that you can sell quickly & hassle free. Not to mention, 94.2% of asking price was received! No more low balling to sell quickly! What are you waiting for? List for just $499 today with House Connect to save even more money! Take advantage of the current market & call us to List. Sell. Save today! 770.640.6800



We also offer plenty of Atlanta real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, InstagramGoogle+Twitter, & Pinterest as well as subscribing to this blog. We’re always sharing our insider tips on DIY renovations, home staging ideas, and real estate market trends to keep you ahead of the competition. Not to mention the money you’ll save in commission prices!

Please feel free to post comments, send emails, visit the House Connect website, or call us directly at 770-640-6800 for more info. We have dedicated, knowledgeable professionals waiting to assist you in selling your Atlanta real estate without the pricey commissions.

**House Connect is an flat fee Atlanta MLS listing agency offering an alternative to the high cost of selling your home. We offer a discount realty service which saves metro-Atlanta home owners thousands of dollars versus using the traditional real estate broker.

Monday, December 16, 2013

FAQ Series: How Does House Connect Profit From A $499 Flat Fee Listing?

     Since launching our discount realty company last year, our listing agents have run into a few common questions that home sellers have about our Flat fee MLS Atlanta listing service. House Connect Company President/Owner Mike Prewett has decided to take a minute to answer each question personally, via Google Hangout, so that Atlanta home sellers can better understand what a $499 Flat Fee MLS Listing can do for YOU!

How Does House Connect Make A Profit?



Check Out House Connect Online: 



We also offer plenty of real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on FacebookGoogle+Twitter, & Pinterest as well as subscribing to this blog. We’re always sharing our market-insider tips on current trends, home renovations, and mortgage information to keep you ahead of the competition. Not to mention the money you’ll save in commission prices!

Please feel free to post comments, send emails, visit our social media pages and the House Connect website, or call us directly at 770-640-6800 for more info. We have dedicated, knowledgeable professionals waiting to assist you with selling your home without the pricey commissions.

**House Connect is an Atlanta real estate company offering an alternative to the high cost of selling your home. We offer a flat fee MLS listing service which can save thousands of dollars versus using the traditional real estate brokerage.


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Qualified Mortgage & Ability to Repay in 2014: A Seller's Perspective



Next year a new set of mortgage rules amended to the Truth In Lending Act by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will go into effect, no doubt changing the home buying process. Here is a quick refresher course so that as a seller, you can know what to expect in your future real estate transactions.

Overview:

Home buyers often struggle to understand the type of monthly payment they can afford. If approved for a mortgage bigger than their wallets, results are likely to be delinquency & foreclosure, exemplary in the years leading up to the financial crisis. The Truth In Lending Act was established to hold banks accountable for the size of loans they approve & the documentation needed to support lending.

New Rules:

On January 10, 2014 an amendment to Regulation Z will go into effect requiring lenders to look at a consumer’s financial information and be sure the consumer has the ability to repay that loan. This rule creates a category of more stable loans called Qualified Mortgages and reduces the risk of reckless lender tactics such as “teaser” rates, negative amortization & loan terms longer than 30 years.

How this will affect Home Sellers:

In the past five years since the financial crisis, real estate agents have changed how they qualify buyers drastically. Many agents now require proof of funds or a pre-qualification letter from a lender before they will even meet a prospective buyer to show the property. Expect more of the same with the new rules meaning fewer showings, inquiries & offers for your real estate.

The Good News:

Loans often fall through in the home selling process after the property has gone into Under Contract status, cutting off potential buyers who may be more qualified to purchase your “Active” property. Also, this new rule lessens the chance that you will be tied up with tedious paperwork from buyers who are not financially able to close your real estate transaction.

 So while it may seem like you're not getting as much traffic as you have in a previous transaction, it is important to be aware of the changing mortgage laws and adjust your expectations accordingly. Remember: “It’s Quality Not Quantity.”





We also offer plenty of real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on FacebookGoogle+Twitter, & Pinterest as well as subscribing to this blog. We’re always sharing our market-insider tips on DIY renovations, home staging tips, and Atlanta market trends to keep you ahead of the competition. Not to mention the money you’ll save in commission prices!

Please feel free to post comments, send emails, visit our social media pages and the House Connect website, or call us directly at 770-640-6800 for more info. We have dedicated, knowledgeable professionals waiting to assist you with listing your Atlanta real estate without the pricey commissions.

**House Connect is a Metro Atlanta flat fee MLS listing agency offering an alternative to the high cost of selling your home. We offer a discount realty service which saves Atlanta home owners thousands of dollars versus using the traditional real estate company.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Atlanta Real Estate Market: New Construction on the Rise

     One of the biggest indicators of a recovering real estate market is the rise of new construction. Here are the latest stats from The US Census Bureau & the National Association of Home Builders.


  • Privately Owned housing units authorized by building permits in Oct were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,034,000 - a 6.2% increase over Sept 2013 & a 13.9% increase over Oct 2012.
  • Single family authorizations in Oct were at a rate of 620,000 - a .08% increase over Sept 2013.
  • In the South in Oct, 259,000 New Homes were sold compared to 183,000 in Oct 2012 in a steady incline. 

     At House Connect we're ahead of the curve on what's trending. If you're an Atlanta area builder, our flat fee listing service can save you THOUSANDS on new construction homes. Call us today to see how we can help you unload your inventory. Now is the time!






We also offer plenty of real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on FacebookGoogle+Twitter, & Pinterest as well as subscribing to this blog. We’re always sharing our market-insider tips on DIY renovations, home staging tips, and Atlanta market trends to keep you ahead of the competition. Not to mention the money you’ll save in commission prices!

Please feel free to post comments, send emails, visit our social media pages and the House Connect website, or call us directly at 770-640-6800 for more info. We have dedicated, knowledgeable professionals waiting to assist you with listing your Metro-Atlanta real estate without the pricey commissions.

**House Connect is an flat fee Atlanta MLS listing agency offering an alternative to the high cost of selling your home. We offer a discount realty service which saves Atlanta home owners thousands of dollars versus using the traditional real estate company.


Monday, November 25, 2013

Atlanta Real Estate Marketing: Don't Overlook Social Media

There is one vital element to selling your property quickly: EXPOSURE!





While the best form of exposure is to make sure your listing is in both Atlanta Multiple Listing Services, another form of internet exposure should not be overlooked: social media. 

Here are 10 statistics that explain who social media exposure is important.

  1. 90% of home buyers begin their real estate search online.
  2. Home buyers are 26% more likely to contact us via social media platform than they were just a year ago.
  3. Total number of minutes spent on social media sites is up 21% from 2011.
  4. One in three social media users prefer contact via social media or “social care” over contacting a business by telephone.
  5. The median age of first time buyers is 31 –Generation Y.
  6. 96% of Generation Y uses social media sites, outnumbering baby boomers.
  7. Home buyers who use the internet take just over two weeks to find the real estate of their choice. However, a traditional buyer takes close to two months to make a decision.
  8. Online buyers are clear about the type of real estate they are shopping for, making it easier & quicker to complete a deal.
  9. Customers who watch a YouTube video of a product or service are 85% more likely to purchase.
  10. 55% of consumers share their purchases socially on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest & other social sites.


At House Connect, we’re ahead of the curve on what’s trending. Your listing will be advertised on all major social media platforms to guarantee maximum exposure for your property. 

Don’t take my word for it: Check out House Connect online to see for yourself.




We also offer plenty of real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on FacebookGoogle+Twitter, & Pinterest as well as subscribing to this blog. We’re always sharing our market-insider tips on DIY renovations, home staging tips, and Atlanta market trends to keep you ahead of the competition. Not to mention the money you’ll save in commission prices!

Please feel free to post comments, send emails, visit our social media pages and the House Connect website, or call us directly at 770-640-6800 for more info. We have dedicated, knowledgeable professionals waiting to assist you with listing your Atlanta property without the pricey commissions.

**House Connect is an flat fee Atlanta MLS listing company offering an alternative to the high cost of selling your home. We offer a discount realty service which saves Metro-Atlanta home sellers thousands of dollars versus using the traditional real estate agent.




Thursday, November 14, 2013

FSBO: Why Listing Your House in the MLS is Important

Selling your real estate yourself, AKA For Sale By Owner (FSBO) may seem like a great opportunity to save money, but you risk missing key exposure that is vital to selling your property quickly.

Some background...

The idea behind FSBO is that you save on the listing commission. As you may or may not know, the home seller is the person who pays both agents in a real estate transaction. Typically 3 (sometimes up to 6) percent of the sales price will come out of the final payday and go into each real estate agent's pocket.

Ex. For a sales price of $184,000 (the Atlanta average) 3% = $5520. Totaling $11,040 to the agents instead of the seller.

While there's almost no avoiding the buyers agent commission since 92.4% of home buyers use a real estate agent, a home seller that opts out of using a listing agent can still save over $5000. Not too shabby.

The bad news...

The problem is that selling your home yourself cuts out your property's exposure - most notably MLS exposure. By listing your Atlanta real estate in the two Atlanta MLSs your house is exposed to over 55,000 Georgia real estate agents and then syndicated to real estate sites such as Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com and the 90% of home buyers that begin their serach online.

Also, using a real estate agency means brand recognition, a team of experts to help handle the contract-to-close process, an agent to show your property, and several other tasks that help effectively market your real estate.

However...

This doesn't mean you HAVE to forego that 5 grand by using a traditional real estate company. House Connect offers a flat fee Atlanta MLS listing service where you pay a flat fee of $499 upfront no matter your sales price & in return, we list your property in both MLSs, syndicate your property to over 100 real estate websites, provide you with a lockbox & yard sign for added exposure, AND help you every step of the way from showings to contract negotiation & closing.

The catch…

There is none! The only additional fee you pay is the transaction fee ONLY once your property sale is final which is .0015 of the sales price ($276 in the example used earlier).


With House Connect you CAN have your cake & eat it too...and $775 versus $5520 sounds like a no-brainer to us! Give us a call today for a free Comparative Market Analysis & to learn more about what House Connect can do for you! 770-640-6800 






Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Simple Steps to Selling Your Atlanta Real Estate

Selling your Atlanta real estate can be a quite complex. House Connect has simplified that process for you while also saving you thousands of dollars! In fact, here’s a simple infographic of how simple selling your home with our simple flat fee Atlanta MLS listing service can be!







We also offer plenty of real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on FacebookGoogle+Twitter, & Pinterest as well as subscribing to this blog. We’re always sharing our market-insider tips on DIY renovations, home staging tips, and Atlanta market trends to keep you ahead of the competition. Not to mention the money you’ll save in commission prices!

Please feel free to post comments, send emails, visit our social media pages and the House Connect website, or call us directly at 770-640-6800 for more info. We have dedicated, knowledgeable professionals waiting to assist you with listing your Atlanta property without the pricey commissions.

**House Connect is an flat fee Atlanta MLS listing company offering an alternative to the high cost of selling your home. We offer a discount realty service which saves Metro-Atlanta home sellers thousands of dollars versus using the traditional real estate agent.




Friday, November 8, 2013

FAQ: My Atlanta Home Is Not Selling; Should I Rent It Out Instead?

Since launching our discount realty brokerage back in January, our flat fee MLS listing agents have run into a few common questions that Atlanta home sellers have about our Metro-Atlanta MLS Real Estate service. House Connect President & Owner Mike Prewett has decided to take a minute to answer each question personally, so that our readers can better understand what a Flat Fee MLS Listing can do for YOU!



And remember, by listing with House Connect you pay just $499 instead of the standard listing commission (usually 3-6%) so you can afford to lower your asking price to keep your listing from stagnating on the market! Give Us a Call & Let's Get Moving! 770-640-6800



Check Out House Connect Online:   




We also offer plenty of real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on FacebookGoogle+Twitter, & Pinterest as well as subscribing to this blog. We’re always sharing our market-insider tips on pricing your listing, real estate marketing, and Atlanta market trends to keep you ahead of the competition. Not to mention the money you’ll save in commission prices!
Please feel free to post comments, send emails, visit our social media pages and the House Connect website, or call us directly at 770-640-6800 for more info. We have dedicated, knowledgeable professionals waiting to assist you with selling your home without the pricey commissions.


**House Connect is an Atlanta Flat Fee MLS Listing Service offering an alternative to the high cost of selling your home. We offer a discount realty service which saves Atlanta home sellers thousands of dollars versus using the traditional real estate agency.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Sales Prices Are Up & the DOM Total is Down. Why Aren't You Selling?

     It’s November in Atlanta…we all know what that means. The temperature is dropping, Falcons football is in full effect, seasonal Holiday candy is back in stock, and (most importantly) the September Real Estate Market statistics are in. Here are some key highlights.



September 2013 Atlanta Market:
However

This dramatic shortage of available inventory has caused a huge drop in sales. Demand is up and supply is down; the houses just aren’t there to buy. So why aren’t Atlanta home owners selling? Market confidence could be the answer, but one look at these numbers proves now is the time to get back out there.

So…are you a Metro-Atlanta home seller looking to avoid paying a pricey commission? Try out our Flat Fee MLS Listing service to sell quickly & save THOUSANDS!  Call us today & LET’S GET MOVING!



House Connect also offers real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on FacebookGoogle+Twitter, & Pinterest as well as subscribing to this blog. We’re always sharing our market-insider tips on Atlanta real estate trends, DIY home renovation ideas, and home staging tips to keep you ahead of the competition. Not to mention the money you’ll save in listing commission prices!

Please feel free to post comments, send emails, visit our social media pages and the House Connect website, or call us directly at 770-640-6800 for more info. We have dedicated, knowledgeable professionals waiting to assist you with selling your home without the pricey commissions.

**House Connect is an Atlanta Flat Fee MLS Listing agency offering an alternative to the high cost of selling your home. We offer Metro-Atlanta home sellers a discount realty program which saves thousands of dollars versus using a traditional real estate consultant.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Meet the Team - Shannon - Customer Care Representative

Reading our employee’s profile is a way to learn how diverse the positions at House Connect are! We employee educated Georgia real estate professionals dedicated to making the most out of your flat fee MLS listing experience. Check out their intro videos below as well as their professional social media pages. We’re proud of who’s working for you & want you to be too!



Meet Shannon - Customer Care Rep

Shannon Douglas is the Customer Care Representative & Liaison for House Connect. Unlike most Atlanta Flat Fee Listing Agencies, House Connect prides itself on customer communication. Shannon is our customers’ main contact person so that House Connect home sellers can reach someone who is knowledgeable of their listing Monday through Friday whether our agents are in the office or out on appointments.  Shannon is an Atlanta native who resides in Roswell with her husband & two children. When she’s not helping home sellers promote their Metro-Atlanta residence for a reduced flat fee, Shannon enjoys running & going to the gym.





Check Out House Connect Online:      
                   


We also offer plenty of real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on FacebookGoogle+Twitter, & Pinterest as well as subscribing to this blog. We’re always sharing our market-insider tips on home staging, DIY home renovations, and Atlanta market trends to keep you ahead of the competition. Not to mention the money you’ll save in commission prices!
Please feel free to post comments, send emails, visit our social media pages and the House Connect website, or call us directly at 770-640-6800 for more info. We have dedicated, knowledgeable professionals waiting to assist you with selling your Metro-Atlanta home without the pricey commissions.

**House Connect is a Flat Fee Listing company offering an alternative to the high cost of selling your home. We offer an Atlanta discount realty service which saves thousands of dollars versus using the traditional real estate agency.