Louise Scoggins' Blog: Real Estate

After much anticipation, the extension of the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit will be signed by the President as early as Tuesday, providing a sigh of relief to homebuyers desperately trying to close on a home in time to receive the credit, and a new wave of excitement for homebuyers who thought the ship had sailed.

The new homebuyer tax credit will be applied as $8,000 for first time homebuyers closing on a home before April 30th, 2010. Additionally, if you are under contract on something by April 30th, 2010, then you would have until June 30th, 2010 to get the home closed and still get the credit. The $8,000 is literally like cash in hand on your next tax return.

The bill also implements a “move-up buyer” portion. If you are buying your second home, and…

Instant Equity!! Amazing new listing in Smyrna, GA listed for just $500,000. This gorgeous Craftsman style home is Earthcraft certified, and features 5 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. The main floor features a great floorplan for entertaining with formal living room, large formal dining room, and open kitchen and family room. The kitchen boasts gorgeous stained cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite counters, decorator tile backsplash, pantry, and eat-in breakfast area. Large center island doubles as a breakfast bar. Spacious family room features custom built-in cabinets and TV niche, as well as recessed spot lights. Hardwood floors flank the entire main level, and you can also find a powder room and study on this level as well. Double doors lead off…

Help! I have several buyers all looking for homes under $100K. Regular, normal families -- not investors -- who want a nice affordable home. These buyers are highly motivated and want to take advantage of the tax credits, low rates, and great prices. They are smart buyers to be doing just that. The problem is that it’s super hard to find a nice home that’s not a foreclosure or short sale under $100K. Even a decent home and we would settle! Or if the home is OK the neighborhood is questionable. The decent ones are short sales and with my buyer’s tight time frames to purchase (each less than 60 days), taking our chances on a short sale is risky at best.

So what’s an agent to do? I have scoured Cobb County Homes for Sale, North Fulton, Northwest Gwinnett,…

I read a great article recently, written by Suzy Welch. Suzy is the author of 10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea. At a point in her life when her need to people please started reeking havoc in all aspects of her life, Suzy formed the 10-10-10 idea. For any dilemma she faced, she thought about how her decision would affect her in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years.

The story that Suzy told tells about her decision (years ago, before the 10-10-10 rule came into play) to take her kids with her on a business trip. A multitude of mini-disasters followed: her daughter getting sick, her son getting heatstroke, and both kids escaping a hotel-run event and bursting in during her important presentation. It was this series of unfortunate events that caused Suzy to…

Atlanta Foreclosures - New Hope for Foreclosure Victims

There seems to be a little light at the end of the tunnel for foreclosure / pre-foreclosure victims as the Feds announce the creation of “Project Lifeline”. Project Lifeline, formed by six of the nation’s largest financing institutions, allows homeowners who are severely delinquent on their mortgage payments to freeze the foreclosure process for 30 days to try and work something out with their bank. There are some mortgages that will not qualify – those on investment properties and vacation homes, nor will homes already in foreclosure or bankruptcy be eligible – but it seems like overall it seems like a good plan.

I have some clients who were recently able to take advantage of the Project Lifeline…