ARCHIVED BLOG POSTS
2014
6
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When you sell your home, just how clean should it be on closing day when you hand over the keys to a new family? My advice is what my grandmother would call "squeaky clean", or "clean enough to eat off the floors" Now you won't find this counsel in any legal manual. Broom clean generally means d...
01/30/2014
As the Madison and Lake Oconee real estate market continues to improve, buyers may be faced with competition for the best deals. Be prepared is the best advice. Be prepared for success - have your finances in order and be ready to prove it with a pre-approval letter or proof of cash. Keep your of...
01/29/2014
Sound advice from an experienced loan officer. Total cost should always be considered, as well as how long the borrower expects to hold the loan before selling or refinancing. Lower rate/higher closing costs can make sense if the loan will be held for a long time - but for most borrowers, lowest...
01/29/2014
Lake Oconee Georgia Market Report: 2013 in review The real estate market at Lake Oconee, Georgia continued to improve in 2013, with more than 940 properties sold - an eyecatching 33% gain from the prior year. With just under $240M in closed volume, this was the best year since the market peaked i...
01/28/2014
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Site built, manufactured, mobile, or trailer? There are plenty of ways to build a home, and families with all sorts of housing budgets need a place to live. The article below is one of the best reviews of how "factory built" housing has evolved since the '30's. One thing to consider when you're l...
01/27/2014
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Buyers and Sellers - have you ever wondered about the biggest closing cost on your HUD statement - the real estate commission paid to your listing agent and buyer's agent? Turns out, those professionals who helped you reach your goals are not the only ones depending on those commission checks to ...
01/27/2014
Greek Revival masterpiece! You can enjoy the best of old and new with this classic reproduction home on the “Old Post Road” in Madison’s acclaimed Historic District. Historic home lovers will recognize the iconic “four over four” interior layout with wide center hallway. The entry hall is 10ft w...
01/18/2014
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Pricing your Madison or Lake Oconee home to sell is no easy task. Our rural and resort market is small, and consists of a group of "micro-markets". In some cases, inventory is in short supply, and buyers are seeking options. In some cases, there seems to be no end to the inventory, and relativ...
01/18/2014
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There are two groups of sellers: 1) those who make it to the closing table (we call them "successful sellers") 2) those whose listings are still on the market, after months, or even years, since signing their first listing contract. With all the market ups and down since 2008, there are plenty of...
01/15/2014
When you buy real estate, you buy more than land and possibly a home. You actually buy a bundle of rights - one of which is "quiet enjoyment", or the right to exclusively use your land. An easement is most often granted to give up a portion of your exclusive use. Common easements are for utilit...
01/15/2014