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Conversations about Atlanta Real Estate

MLS Moments Introduces North Atlanta Real Estate Market Updates by Zip Code

[ 1 Comment ] 03/31/08 | Kathy Drewien | Filed under: MLS Moments

Kathy Drewien - Straight Talking WYSIWYG Atlanta Realtor who loves Delta Blues and my Jeep WranglerThis week we are introducing real estate market updates for North Atlanta by zip code.

In partnership with Altos Research, Atlanta real estate market data is now available in two formats on our real estate blog. One, you can download a pdf report including real estate market activity for the week, median prices, market trends. Each report gives a city overview and market activity for the specific zip code.

The second market report is a real time graph of real estate data. 

Tonight, we have uploaded the following updates:

We'll be adding the additional Atlanta zip code areas defined as our North Atlanta real estate market area.

Now, for the mls listing report.

The mls listing data (compiled by me, not the mls) year-to-date reports the current number of houses for sale in the defined North Atlanta geographic area. Properties that have sold and pending closing are also year-to-date. (NOTE: the directional changes relate to our last report on the same markers).

  •  7506 active mls listings UP
  •  826 are "under contract" pending closing UP
  •  1062 sold and closed UP
  •  $381,781 average sales price UP
  •  94 average days on market. UNCHANGED

Real estate activity in our North Atlanta market area has been brisk the last couple of weeks. Sellers are bustling to get their home listed for sale in time for the "spring market". The weather has been nice, so buyers have been shopping and writing contracts.

Let's keep an eye on the number of properties closed and the number of houses for sale.

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REtech South in Atlanta, One Day, Endless Value

[ 1 Comment ] 03/29/08 | Kathy Drewien | Filed under: Atlanta Real Estate, Technology & Real Estate

Kathy DrewienREtech South delivered on their promise, one day, endless value. A huge “atta boy” to Brad Nix and Matt Fagioli for their initiative in launching this event!

On March 11, at the Atlanta Real Estate Bloggers networking group, Brad and Matt met for the first time, came up with an idea, and launched one of the most productive real estate technology events I’ve attended in a over a year.

It was exciting to be in a room full of young, energetic real estate professionals who are second generation web users. They understand the power of social networking. They know how to connect with real estate buyers and sellers online. They are developers of new real estate systems designed to enhance the home search process. They blog, they twitter, they connect. In short, they get it.

They remind me of another group of real estate professionals I met in 1996. As you scroll through the pictures of these first generation web users, you’ll quickly see we’re about 25 years older than the folks at REtech South. But, our online real estate experiences are the same.

Our static websites were designed to enhance the real estate experience of buyers and sellers. Email was our method of starting conversations. We took lots of pictures of houses, and put them on single property web pages to market our listings. We were early adopters of tech toys and software (like visual tours, egg lenses, and handheld scanners).

We met the people that lived in our computer. We helped them buy and sell real estate. And, because we’re older than the Web 2.0 folks, we’ve helped a lot of these buyers and sellers move more than once.

Our peers said (and continue to say) the same things you hear:

We laughed all the way to the bank!

Now, just because I use the past tense in the above paragraphs, don’t think this original group has lost their passion for technology in the practice of real estate.

We blog, we twit, we video. We still meet nice people who live in our computer. Some of them are buyers and sellers. Some of them are real estate professionals. And, when we meet eyeball-to-eyeball, we are old friends.

I’m glad REtech South gave me the chance to meet some of the folks I’ve been following online: Mary McKnight, Rudy Bachraty, Jason Benesch, Dustin Luther, Kevin Boer, Pat Kitano, Christian Sterner

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Showing Houses to Buyers Can Be Dangerous

[ Add Comment ] 03/26/08 | Vivian Lacy | Filed under: Alpharetta, Buyers

Showing Houses to Buyers Can Be Dangerous

Without proper preparation for showing houses to buyers, I could be losing more than my time. My life could be snatched away by a dangerous buyer.

A couple of days ago I read a post by Jennifer Kirby, Minneapolis real estate professional and fellow blogger, who talked about real estate, time management, and client loyalty.

Like Jennifer, I am a full-time professional Realtor with a full-time calendar of appointments. More often than not, my clients understand the need for flexibility in scheduling times to look at houses for sale.

On a rare occasion, I get a phone call from someone I don’t know who’s sitting in front of a house in Alpharetta, urging me to come show them the house.

My first response is to be helpful, explore their needs, and try to arrange a mutually convenient time for us to meet. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn’t. Bottom line… I don’t disrupt my schedule, jump in my car, and travel across town. That’s how newbie agents work.

My second response is, “I don’t have a clue who you are; or what you want.”

This past week I was reminded of the need to meet buyers in my office. A real estate agent was killed by a man while showing houses.

So, when you are ready to start looking at houses, let me know in advance. I’d like to reserve time for you on my calendar.

And, plan to meet in my office where we can comfortably review your housing needs, wants, and the benefits of representation.

We’ll also talk about our company vision of bringing peace of mind to your real estate transaction.

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Digging for Bargain Houses

[ Add Comment ] 03/25/08 | Elisa Gumbel | Filed under: Atlanta Real Estate, Buyers

Elisa Gumbel - Loyal FanDigging for Bargain Houses

I love finding a deal. In retail stores I love sorting through clearance bins digging for that perfect bargain. So, when my friends are looking to buy a house for a bargain, I am the first person they contact.

Digging through the Internet for the best house and the best deal is as fun, if not more fun, than digging for clothes. Because when you find that perfect house for someone, they keep it for a very long time and you have the satisfaction of knowing you made that match possible.

It is kind of like being the best dating site on the Internet, but for people and their homes.

I have to admit, as much as I love to dig through the Internet, I am not the most Internet savvy person. What makes me good at the “great home search” is that I don’t mind putting in the time and effort to sort through all the real estate information the Internet has to offer.

My searching standards are probably pretty archaic when it comes to surfing the net, so I start off very basic. I go straight to Google and enter “homes for sale + city, state”. The sites listed below are typical responses that I get on my first search.

Usually these sites are good for digging, and take some time to find something that peaks your interest, but there are lots of hidden jewels.

I do have one complaint though: finding where these houses and condos are located…

In most cases real estate agents attach a Google maps link to the home’s info page, and it appears to be very easy to figure out where these listings are located. But, when I try to orient myself to the location Google has directed me, I get confused and can’t figure out where it is. I finally realized that if Google doesn’t recognize an address, then it places you in the center of the listed city. And in Smyrna, apparently Creatwood drive is the epicenter.

One day I ended up driving all over Creatwood drive trying to find all the great houses I found that day, and that’s when I realized that none of them are there. I know that sounds like something simple to overcome, but it took me three separate house hunts to figure that one out.

As I am sure you can tell, I have always been intrigued by the Real Estahttp://maps.google.com/maps?f=te industry. Real estate used to seem like this thing of mystery, that one day I would have to walk into it blindly. But now that I have found my love for the house treasure hunt, I realize what a fun experience house hunting can be.

Before my revelation, Realtors always seemed like money-hungry people who were looking for a fast deal. Spend no time, waste no time. After my first experience with my Sister and my Realtor, Kathy Drewien, I realized how wrong I was.

Realtors are there to make sure you are happy, and to help you find exactly what you are looking for. They are a teacher, and counselor, and a confidant (tip: if they cannot fill those roles for you… get a new Realtor). As long as you are prepared to spend serious amounts of time dedicated to your search, they will be just as dedicated — if not more. After all, this is your home that you plan on living in, and you want to love every second!

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