Ryan Ward's Blog: Atlanta, Georgia

The popularity of new construction is undeniable. Many buyers simply prefer to buy a new home rather than to purchase an existing home that has been owned and lived in by other people. I guess it is similar to that new car smell that makes a new car irresistible to some. There is definitely something wonderful about buying a new home you can customize exactly to the style and amenities you prefer. If you are considering buying a new home, you will want to consider some of these suggestions before you walk in to that beautifully decorated model home. In the area where I specialize, Sandy Springs and Alpharetta, new construction is very prevalent so you may find these suggestions timely.

First and most importantly you will want a REALTOR to represent you…

A comparative market analysis (CMA) is the most important,and, should be the first skill that any real estate agent learns how to do well. A CMA should be used to determine fair market value for a home based on certain conditions. The conditions for determining fair market value are that you have a willing buyer, a willing seller and no undue pressure on either party. This is market value. Not what the seller or agent or buyer feels like the value is, but instead, what buyers and sellers have actually paid for similar homes. After all, whether the real estate agent is representing you in listing your home for sale or representing you in the purchase of a new home, what could be more important than the value of the home?

Surprisingly, most real estate…

EIFS, Dryvet, or synthetic stucco, as it is often called, can create a real problem if you are trying to sell your home. From the outset, many buyers will overlook your home without giving it a second thought no matter what you have done to protect your home from the potential problems that are associated with the product. This is unfortunate for many homeowners who have taken good care of their home because might have a difficult time selling because many Alpharetta buyers will simply not even consider the home. Fortunately, there are certain steps that you can take to improve your chances of selling a home with synthetic stucco.

First, you need to obtain all records you have for any repairs made to the siding. Second, you should obtain a stucco bond…

From time to time while negotiating a real estate contract, an agent might try to make a verbal offer on behalf of their client. This is not only bad practice, it is not enforceable. Many reasons can be given why an agent tells you that they need to make an offer verbally - none are good enough to not have it put in writing. During the course of negotiating a sale of real estate, many smaller items do arise and information exchanges can take place to help either party decide what their next course of action should be. When the time comes to make the decision about what to offer or ask for in the transaction, you must make that offer in writing or it is as if it never happened. Do not let someone tell you that it is fine to just converse verbally during the…

We have all driven by a house that seems to just sit on the market forever. At some point we all wonder what's wrong with that house. Why have other houses around sold and this one hasn't? Is it the price, location, what seems to be the problem?

Before I get to what the real problem is with why some homes don't sell while others around seem to sell in a reasonable amount of time, I would like to talk a little bit about some mitigating factors. I know it should go without saying, but I will say it anyway - not all homes are created equal. There are new homes and old homes; some have been updated; others have fresh paint or a front door that is so hard to open that you have to put your shoulder into it just to get it open - my point is that all of these…

About 15 changes have been made to the Purchase and Sale Contracts for residential real estate in Georgia for 2007. Some of the changes are more significant to parties involved in the transaction so we will cover the important changes here.

The biggest change that was made is in the method of payment section of the contract. Under the old sales contract, a buyer had until up to the day of closing to qualify for the loan and this did not provide any protection for the seller if the buyer could not qualify at the last minute. Sellers could have moved or purchased another home and been left to clean up the mess. The new contracts have a financing contingency period. This places more responsibility on the buyer to obtain a loan in a negotiated time period. If…

The North Fulton cities of Alpharetta, John's Creek, Milton, Roswell and Sandy Springs may find themselves in a new (old) county by 2010. Legislation has been introduced in the Georgia General Assembly that would begin the process of reviving the County of Milton from Georgia's past. During the Great Depression, when the area to the north of Atlanta was mostly rural farmland and Milton County was having financial troubles, Milton County merged into Fulton County. Now that all unincorporated areas have been either annexed into existing cities or incorporated into new cities, legislators and many residents believe that the future of North Fulton will be better served with a more responsive local county government. The biggest complaint voiced by residents…

If you are considering partnering with a real estate agent to buy or sell a home, I strongly recommend that you ask your agent if  they are a member of the National Association of Realtors. Ensure that your agent is also a Realtor so that you will have the best representation for your real estate transaction. Realtors are required to complete additional education to help protect consumers and they also are required to abide by a written code of ethics.

The National Association of Realtors represents over one million Realtors nationwide and has one of the largest political action campaigns in Washington D.C. The NAR is constantly working on behalf of Americans by lobbying congress for personal property rights and against eminent domain abuses by…