Wayne Long's Blog: All Categories

As a Realtor in Columbus Ga we have clients come to us and say “ I want to purchase a home – where do I start”.   
1) Get pre-qualified for a mortgage loan.  This will help us two ways.  First, we will know the maximum you qualify for and we can search using this as one of our criteria.   Second, you become a strong buyer.  You have cash available to purchase and the buyer is aware.   This puts you in a strong negotiating position. 
2) List the criteria important to you and prioritize these.   Eventually you will probably have to make some compromise between the criteria you select but don’t settle for a home that does not meet your most important objectives.
3) Begin to use the internet to look at homes that meet your criteria.   All websites are not…

     As Realtors we realize the importance of your credit score.  It along with your debt to income ratio are the two most important factors in determining your credit eligibility.   Your debt to income ratio shows the lender your ability to pay and your credit score gives the lender a picture of your credit repayment history.   The lender will be able to combine these two items along with some less important items and tell you how much you can borrow and what will be the best mortgage loan for you.   It is hard to improve your credit score overnight so it is important to start improving your FICO score now!  

1) Check your FICO score - You can request a free report, once a year, from the major credit reporting bureaus like Equifax.  You can also…

Columbus GA is attracting investors right now.   The home prices in Columbus have been on a steady increase for several years.  In 2005 they increased even more rapidly at about a 10% rate while the resort areas increased in many instances 30 – 50%.  In 2006 several of the resort areas had a decrease in prices as has been noted in the press but Columbus again had a year of price appreciation of around 2%.   

      We have a strong economy supported by several different sectors including technology (TSYS), insurance (AFLAC), banking (Synovus), manufacturing (KIA Plant), College (Columbus State University growth to about 7500 students) and the military (Fort Benning). 

     The announcement that Fort Benning would be one of the main beneficiaries of BRAC…

Lake Harding is a popular area just North of Columbus on the Georgia side and just North of Phenix City on the Alabama side.   Georgia Power operates the dam and owns most of the lots along the lake on the Chattachoochee River.  It is an awesome ski and fishing lake.  Homes and lots on the lake are bringing a tremendous price and offer a great value.   The proximity between the Growth of Columbus and the new KIA Plant to the north of the Lake make these homes and lots a great value. 

There are also some great values just off the lake in subdivisions like the Village at Halawaka just a mile from the marina.    Today is just the beginning of spring and the lake was full of boaters shaking off the winter blues on lake. 

Homes come in all shapes and sizes…

      Since launching our first website for the Columbus Ga Real Estate Market in 2002 we have been searching for the best system available for our clients.   The most important feature on our website to our clients has always been the ability to use our system to search and find homes.  

     Real Estate Webmasters has recently created a system for us that is head and shoulders above anything available in our area to search the Columbus Ga MLS.  It includes a google mapping system which pinpoints homes in the area and has a thumbnail sketch of the home pop up next to the pin.   The advancement in technology has been tremendous and it is our goal to provide our clients with the best system possible! 

    We have combined the search and mapping system…

Families were seeing their soldiers off as the last of the 3rd brigade deployed today for the buildup in Iraq.  Most of them expect to be gone from 6 months to one year depending on their mission.   It is always a nervous time for families and the soldiers as they begin their mission.  We will miss them in Columbus as always and will keep them in our prayers as they risk their lives for our freedoms and for those around the world!  Read Full Post

The Fort Benning Infantry Museum is almost 3/4 of the way to raising the $85 million needed to finish the museum at the "Home of the Infantry".   AFLAC pledged $1 million to the cause.  This follows Samsung's announcement that it was increasing it's pledge from $500,000 to $1 million.  The Korean  based company is sponsoring the museum because of the Infantry's key role in preserving liberty for South Korea.   The museum will be located at the southern most part of Columbus GA just before the entrance to  Fort Benning. 

I was shopping mortgage rates for a client today and received back quotes of 6% and below!  Combined with the fact that sellers are willing to give great concessions - it seems like a perfect storm of buying opportunity has been created.  

Sellers are willing to pay most or all of closing costs right now.  Some builders are even throwing in extra amenities for free on new construciton in addition to closing costs.   These "extras" combined with the great mortgage rates available should make buyers willing to capitilize on some great deals for them.  I don't know when they will see this kind of opportunity again.  In addition there are a lot of homes to choose from right now. which makes finding the perfect home much easier.   … Read Full Post