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How Real Estate Professionals Can Help Stabilize Housing Inventory and Affordability

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  The housing market is currently facing challenges with inventory and affordability, but real estate professionals have a significant role in addressing these issues. By gaining a deeper understanding of the industry and taking strategic actions, Realtors, Real Estate Brokers, Loan officers, and Mortgage Brokers can make a meaningful impact on their communities. Here are some steps they can take. Understand the Industry and Its Challenges Real estate professionals must first grasp the complexities of the industry and the various factors contributing to the housing inventory and affordability crisis. This includes recognizing how certain organizations and practices, such as hedge fund investors, “iBuyers”, and built-to-rent communities influence the housing market. Investor Competition While it is commonly believed that the housing affordability crisis is primarily driven by low inventory and high interest rates, a significant underlying issue is the competition from hedge ...

The Hidden Costs of Built-to-Rent Communities

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  The American Dream has long been symbolized by homeownership, a cornerstone of financial stability and personal success. However, an emerging trend in the housing market threatens this dream: built-to-rent (BTR) communities. While these communities offer modern amenities and convenience, they present significant economic dangers for renters and future homeowners, potentially eroding the foundation of homeownership for future generations. The Allure of Built-to-Rent Communities Built-to-rent communities are purpose-built housing developments designed exclusively for renting rather than ownership. These communities often come with appealing amenities such as fitness centers, pools, and communal spaces, making them attractive to a broad range of renters, from young professionals to families. The convenience and flexibility of renting in such a community can seem appealing, especially in a market where home prices are soaring. The Economic Impact on Renters While the upfront costs o...

Zillow's Actions Contribute to the Housing Affordability and Inventory Crisis.

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  In the labyrinth of the modern housing market, Zillow has long been regarded as guiding light, offering home seekers a digital haven to explore properties with ease. However, beneath its user-friendly interface lies a more troubling narrative—one marked by past actions that have significantly contributed to the current housing affordability and inventory crisis. At the core of Zillow's controversies lies its ill-fated foray into iBuying, a practice where the company purchased homes directly from sellers, often using its proprietary Zestimate tool to evaluate property values. The Zestimate heralded as a revolutionary home pricing estimator, has come under fire for inflating house prices, thereby exacerbating affordability issues. This artificial inflation not only distorts market dynamics but also perpetuates a cycle of unattainable prices, leaving aspiring homeowners stranded on the sidelines. Moreover, Zillow's iBuying misadventure had more insidious consequences. When t...

Selling My Home

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  Pricing your home accurately is the most important part of getting a quick sale.  If your home is overpriced it will sit on the market.  The longer a home sits on the market the more difficult it becomes to sell.  Some sellers want a set amount for the sale of their home. However, the price a seller wants to get is not the criteria used to set the asking price for a home.  A home is worth what a ready, willing and able buyer is willing to pay for it, not what the seller wants to net whether there is a loan payoff or not.  It’s important to know what similar homes in your neighborhood have sold for in the current market, and how long they stay on the market.   After coming up with a realistic asking price the next phase is to prepare the home for showings to prospective buyers.  A home that has been occupied has normal wear and tear and can be a little clutter.  Start by decluttering.  Clean underneath kitchen and bathroom cabinets...

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First Time Home Buyer

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Nationwide Home Search Purchasing a home can be an intimidating process, but with the proper guidance, you can accomplish your goals. Luckily there are several outlets that you can go to to help you. A local realtor/real estate agent or a loan officer is the best place to start. Get Pre-Approved or Pre-Qualified Go into the process with confidence. Get Pre-Qualified or Pre-Approved before you start looking at houses. Sellers do not entertain offers from buyers who do not show that they have the means to purchase.   Your loan officer will guide you through the loan process by informing you of the different ways to purchase a home, the different types of home loans, and which is right for you.   The amount that you will be   Pre-qualified or Pre-Approved for, is based on your monthly income minus your monthly obligations such as monthly car payments, utility bills, food, student loans, other monthly payments obligations, and savings for downpayment and clos...

6 Perks to Working with a Realtor

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Find a home visit Century 21 Atlanta GA  Working with a REALTOR  The journey to homeownership can be a daunting process – especially with today’s limited housing inventory and competitive real estate markets. That’s why now, more than ever, it is greatly beneficial to work with a professional Realtor. Here are 6 perks to working with a Realtor: Guidance If you are buying your first home, you will find comfort working with an experienced real estate professional. They can help determine your ideal location, based on preferences and budget. It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole when looking at real estate listings online and you can lose track of what is actually attainable within your budget. A Realtor can help you distinguish between your must-have home features and your nice-to-have features in order to better target your search. Knowledge An experienced real estate professional will have the expertise to provide you valuable information on local home ...

9 Ways to Curb Stress When Selling your Home

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Visit My Website Curb Stress When Selling your Home The moving process can be overwhelming. However, there are ways to help curb stress during the process. Regardless of all that’s going on, there are some techniques to consider to make this process less stressful. Century 21 Atlanta GA offers a few ideas on how to combat the stress you will face through the selling and moving process. Try out these strategies to turn this significant life event into an exciting and memorable one with as little stress as possible. First, take time to choose the right realtor Hire a realtor that is not only capable of handling the market but your expectations as well.  A realtor has the knowledge and experience to get you to the closing table as quickly as possible with little or no setbacks. Here are some tips to look for when finding a realtor. Trust the choice you make . Once you make a decision, trust that choice. You hired this agent for a reason, and they are here to...

Crucial facts about FHA loans

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What is an FHA loan? National Home Search An FHA loan is a mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Borrowers with FHA loans must pay for mortgage insurance, which protects the lender from a loss should the borrower defaults on the loan. Because of the mortgage insurance, lenders can offer FHA loans at attractive (lower) interest rates with less stringent and more flexible qualification requirements to borrowers. Here are some facts about FHA loans. Credit does not have to be perfect!  The minimum credit scores for FHA loans depend on the type of loan a borrower needs.  A credit score of 580 or higher can get a borrower a mortgage with a down payment as low as 3.5 percent.  With credit scores of 500-579, you will need down payments of at least 10 percent. Those with credit scores under 500 generally are not eligible for FHA loans. However, FHA will make allowances under certain circumstances for applicants who have what it calls "nontrad...

IMPROTANT THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN BUYING A HOME

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National Home Search If you are in the market to buy a home, the process can seem overwhelming. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin your home search. Contact a local real estate agent The first step is to find a local real estate agent who is familiar with the market which you are interested in. This alone can be a process, so make sure you are well informed. Do your research and ask questions until you find someone who is experienced and one you can trust. Know what you are looking for Remember it is hard to get everything you want when buying a home. So, think about what most important to you. It’s good to jot down the requirements of what most important to you. What are your must-haves and what you willing to compromise on? Communicate those needs to your real estate agent. Consider the Cost of Homeownership Owning a home costs more than just the mortgage payment so, budget accordingly. In addition to your monthly payments, consider pro...

Security Tips to Keep Your Home Safe and Your Family Protected!

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National Home Search When you sleep to sleep at night, can you rest easy knowing that your family is protected? There may be some neighborhoods that are considered safer than others to live in. However, it is always a good idea to do what you can to help protect your home to avoid unwanted entry. Here are a few things that you can do to protect the safety of your family: Assess the Lighting In and around Your Home Proper lighting is essential to deter intruders.  Good lighting makes it harder for anyone to sneak in undetected. If possible put some lights on automatic to come on in the evening until early morning. Lights on in the evening make it appear as though someone is home even if no one is. In some areas on the outside, you should consider installing motion detector lights. If someone approaches your home and the lights come on it increases the likelihood that they will turn around and leave.  It’s also a good idea to leave a bedroom light on a radio or TV ...

Tips That Will Help Speed Up Your Home Sale

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By Royan Johnson @ CENTURY 21 | January 2, 2017 How to sell my home fast  National Home Search Every seller wants a faster home sale. Make a good impression on buyers to increase your chances of a speedy sale. Not sure how to do that? Here are some tips for every step of the home sale process. Optimize Your Listing:  A picture tells a thousand words. Make sure or your agent takes professional quality pictures of your home. You want to stand out among the abundance of online listings (for all the right reasons). Work with your CENTURY 21 listing agent to write your listing and seller’s marketing plan.  Upgrade Your Curb Appeal:  The outside of your home is the first area a potential buyer will see. Spruce up your yard and exterior (mow the lawn remove debris). If necessary add a fresh coat of paint, a new mailbox, new landscaping, and more.  Clear Clutter:  Getting rid of clutter makes your home appear larger and more a...

Keeping your home functioning safely and efficiently in the winter

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National Home Search When you sleep to sleep at night, can you rest easy knowing that your family is protected? There may be some neighborhoods that are considered safer than others to live in. However, it is always a good idea to do what you can to help protect your home to avoid unwanted entry. Here are a few things that you can do to protect the safety of your family: Assess the Lighting In and around Your Home Proper lighting is essential to deter intruders.  Good lighting makes it harder for anyone to sneak in undetected. If possible put some lights on automatic to come on in the evening until early morning. Lights on in the evening make it appear as though someone is home even if no one is. In some areas on the outside, you should consider installing motion detector lights. If someone approaches your home and the lights come on it increases the likelihood that they will turn around and leave.  It’s also a good idea to leave a bedroom light on a radio or TV ...