real estate agent: Millennials Know What They Want - 02/11/19 07:56 AM
There have been a lot of myths floating around about millennials not being interested in home purchases. Maybe you’ve heard that they still live with their parents due to student loan debt, don’t have a 20% down payment or they have no interest in settling down.
 
In reality, more Millennial homebuyers are taking advantage of purchasing a home rather than waiting to purchase a home based on big life events. Millennials are changing the real estate market because they aren’t waiting for marriage or starting a family to buy a home. In fact, Millennials have been watching their rent go up over … (1 comments)

real estate agent: Is a One-Story Home better than a Two-Story Home? - 10/17/18 12:38 PM
You probably have an idea of what type of home appeals to you most. People will find one-story homes also known as Ranch style more appealing than a two-story home, but that’s a matter of personal taste and architectural style. Whether you have an eye on a bungalow or a colonial house, one-story ranch home has plenty of positive aspects.
Here are some factors to consider on a one-story ranch style home:
Quieter living
Let’s face it, there’s no up-stairs so you won’t hear a lot of jumping and running around from above. If you have kids, a one-story home might be a nice … (0 comments)

real estate agent: Questions You Should Consider Asking a Real Estate Agent - 10/10/18 11:47 AM
 
Are you a first-time home buyer and ready to purchase a home?
Finding the right real estate agent can be a struggle, especially one that meets your needs! So, how do you really know which agent is right for you? 
To help you figure this out, you need to throw a few curveballs by asking them questions. Here are two questions you probably should ask a real estate agent.  
 
If you were looking to buy a place, where would you move and why?
This question will help you align with the right agent. Having a similar lifestyle can make things easier and help … (0 comments)

real estate agent: Property Taxes: What You Need to Know - 08/10/18 12:37 PM
There are things you might not know enough about when it comes to property taxes. For those who haven’t bought a home yet it’s time to break the ice, you need to gain a deeper knowledge about property taxes.
So, what is property tax? It’s a tax on real estate you own, both the value of your home and the land. The funds collected from property taxes are used for road construction, libraries, public schools, and a good number of other programs.
If you are a new homeowner, you probably pay a big property tax bill every year depending on the regulations you … (0 comments)

real estate agent: Considering a Dream Home with a Long Commute? - 07/27/18 02:09 PM
Location, location, location…. After weeks of searching for a home you start to wonder if you will find all the things you want in a home. There’s many factors that should be put into consideration. Let’s face it, we want it all: an easy commute, nice school district, low taxes, and a great lifestyle. The one thing that sticks out is commute. A nice neighborhood with an easy drive to work is golden. However, what if your dream home means a long commute? Is it worth it? Trust me, it won’t be worth driving through traffic countless hours every week.
Getting … (0 comments)

real estate agent: Millennials are Changing the Housing Market - 06/15/18 08:51 AM
More and more of the millennial generation are interested in homeownership. The way that millennials find their home has changed because they are living in a world that is ruled by technology.
 
According to the chart below, Millennials, ages 18-34, cover 42 percent of all home buyers today. First-time buyers make up 47 percent, which means nearly 6 in 10 are Millennials. They are more serious in looking for a home than renting.
 
Millennials are better informed about their housing options than any other generation before them. This research-driven culture is supported by the internet where everything you could want or … (1 comments)

real estate agent: What type of home will you buy? - 05/16/18 10:23 AM
 
It's a tough call between choosing a condo, townhouse, or single-family home when it comes to first-time buyers. When deciding between each potential home market, the type of house you purchase will also impact your down payment plans.  Managing lifestyles and budgets contribute to the buyer's pros and cons. Here are the key questions to ask when deciding which type of home, you should purchase.
 
Does the area suit your lifestyle?
Newlywed couples and young professionals are one of the foremost potential first-time buyers. Young professionals are looking for a place to live that is fulfilling on several levels. The Generation of young … (0 comments)

real estate agent: How To Win A Bidding War - 02/07/18 01:24 PM
It happened, you found your perfect house. Congratulations, you’re one step closer to homeownership! You reach out to the listing agent, only to find out that someone else wants the house too. Now you are faced with a bidding war (wait… what?). Before you start to panic, we’re here to explain how to come out on top!
       Don’t bid more than you can afford Talk to your lender first before you decide how much money you are going to bid. Ideally, you should talk to us before you even start your house search. We will be able to tell you … (1 comments)

real estate agent: How Can A Pre-Approval Simplify Your Home Search? - 01/10/18 01:02 PM
If you're thinking about buying, how do you find out how much home you can actually afford? This is a question we get all the time, and would love to answer for you.
The very first thing to do if you want to buy a home is to get pre-approved. The pre-approval is free, and you can figure out exactly how much house you can afford.
Once you have been pre-approved, you can begin looking at all your financial options and figure out the plan that works best for your needs. Often, you will be approved for more than you can really afford, … (0 comments)

real estate agent: What Should You Avoid When Purchasing A New Construction Home? - 11/15/17 01:53 PM
Are you thinking about building a new home from scratch? If so, take note of these three things you need to avoid! We have a lot of experience in new construction properties and would love to make the process as smooth as possible for you.
1. Hire a Realtor. An experienced Realtor knows what to look for when buying any type of property. Sure, the new construction builder has a Realtor on site, but that agent is only there to advocate for the seller. For guidance and representation, you need to hire a Realtor who will advocate for you! If any issues … (0 comments)

real estate agent: How Home Inspections Benefit Buyers And Sellers - 08/09/17 01:24 PM
Today, we'll discuss the home inspection process. The home inspection is a crucial part of the process for both the buyer and the seller, although it is designed primarily to protect the buyer.
 
 
When you're looking at a house, you want to be able to focus on whether or not it's the right house for you. You don't want to worry about the nuts and bolts of the home. Once you have your house under contract, there will be a contingency that allows you to have an inspector examine the nuts and bolts for you.
 
Inspectors keep an eye out for safety concerns … (0 comments)

real estate agent: Why Is The Pre-Approval Process So Important? - 06/07/17 11:12 AM
Today, I’ll discuss the importance of the pre-approval process. The pre-approval process is imperative and essential to be completed prior to you making any offers. The listing agent and seller typically require a pre-approval letter to accompany your offer with the Realtor you work with.
This process can happen a couple of different ways. The preferred methods are to either do this in person or over the phone. You can also go to my website and fill out an application there. I typically conduct a follow-up call after you submit an application.
Ultimately, we need to ask you all the necessary questions. Depending on … (0 comments)

real estate agent: What Should You Ask a Buyer's Agent Before Hiring Them? - 06/01/17 11:01 AM
Are you thinking of hiring a buyer's agent? If so, there are questions you should ask to ensure you hire somebody you can trust. Here are a few to keep in mind:
 
 
●     Are you a full-time agent?
●     Do you work exclusively with buyers?
●     Do you have a team behind you?
●     Do you have testimonials from past clients?
●     Do you do a comprehensive buyer consultation?
 
These are all very important questions you should know the answer to, especially the last one. A comprehensive buyer consultation is a very important part of the buying process because it provides an opportunity for the agent and … (0 comments)

real estate agent: Finding the Right Agent - 04/01/14 02:43 AM
 
Finding the Right Agent
 
Now that you’re ready to start house hunting, you’re probably wondering if you really need a real estate agent or if you can just do all the work yourself. Well, you can look all you want on the internet and go to open houses every weekend but you really don’t know the real estate market like an agent does. Just as you know your job inside and out, a good agent knows the ins and outs of finding a home. Your best bet for finding the right home is finding the right agent.
 
To … (0 comments)

real estate agent: How a REALTOR Can Help? - 02/14/14 06:05 AM
 
A real estate agent can help you understand everything you need to know about buying a home.
The process of buying a home generally starts with determining your buying power; that is, your financial reserves plus your borrowing capacity. If you give a real estate agent some basic information about your available savings, income and current debt, he or she can refer you to a lender that is best qualified to help you get pre-approved to buy a home.   
 
Once you know how much you are able and willing to invest in a home purchase, the next step is … (0 comments)

real estate agent: Should I use a real estate agent to Buy my First House - 03/05/11 06:52 PM
In a word YES! It’s good advice for any home buyer to use a qualified Realtor, but this is especially true for first-time home buying. A real estate agent can assist a buyer get appointments to see houses, negotiate with sellers, negotiate offers, and recommend a good inspector.
It is best to find a Realtor who lives in teh area. Locally-based agents will be able to give more valuable insights on the town including practical information about area shopping and restaurants, public schools, neighborhood atmosphere, and other community offerings.
My advice is to hire an experienced Realtor through trusted recommendations. If … (0 comments)

 
Stephen Katz, Branch Manager, CMPS (Katz Mortgage Team, a branch of VanDyk Mortgage Corporation)

Stephen Katz

Branch Manager, CMPS

Atlanta, GA

More about me…

Katz Mortgage Team, a branch of VanDyk Mortgage Corporation

Address: 800 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite C, Atlanta, GA, 30342

Office: (770) 552-1000

Mobile: (770) 824-9777



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