Fannie Mae economists are predicting incremental steps forward in the housing sector for 2012, albeit refinances will fall. "The second half of the year should outpace the first six months in terms of growth, though fiscal policy and political uncertainty in Washington will likely drive consumer and business activity", the mortgage giant states.

According to Chief Economist Doug Duncan positive consumer activity and challenges in housing and the global economy will equate to moderate growth for the year.

"We're entering 2012 with decent momentum, especially on the employment side, which is fostering positive household and consumer behavior," Duncan said, "Unfortunately, we expect this momentum to slow as we move through the first half of the year."

Total home sales are predicted to increase 3.5% to about 4.74 million in 2012 from 2011 with another 5% gain in 2013 to nearly 5 million, according to the report released last Friday. New home sales are forecasted to  jump 10.4% for 2012.

According to the forecast, the Federal Housing Finance Agency home sales price index, excluding refinances, could dip 1.1% for 2012 from a year before.  Many Economists had predicted the 2011 index would finish 4.6% lower than 2010.

I know, you have enough to deal with already getting through the holidays with your Atlanta home for sale, but as long as your house is on the market anyway, tis the season to be putting a festive face on the place!  Here are some tried and true tips to make the most out of your holiday décor, and give those prospective buyers a holly jolly time while touring your warm and inviting hearth and home.

·         A holiday wreath or pinecone arrangement on the dining table will put buyers in the festive spirit and make them feel right at home.

·         Welcome one and all with an inviting entrance and a front door tastefully decorated for the season.

 ·         Focus on the fireplace.  Nothing says cheer is here better than a colorfully adorned fireplace mantel. Remember to stay within the color theme of your home here. If your décor is normally pale shades of blue, skip the red garlands and stay within your given color scheme for the most appealing display.

·         Keep it simple, seriously! If you have a fireplace or other architectural feature that you would like to accentuate, add simple displays to show off and not distract from it’s natural beauty.

·         Trim the tree, but keep it sweet. Make sure your tree is not overwhelming your space. If you have a two-story foyer then make the most of it with a towering tree, but if space is tight, keep the tree thin and lanky. Go for a modern and uncluttered trimming, with a color theme that enhances the surrounding décor.

·         Keep buyers toasty and warm! When it’s chilly outside keep your buyers wanting to spend more time at your home by setting the thermostat up a degree or two, and if you have a fireplace, light it up. The more time they spend warming themselves by your fire the more likely they are to feel an affinity for your humble abode.

·          Let them see you’re merry and bright by lighting up the yard with lights! Go gently here my friends. A simple string of lights to accentuate the homes appealing architecture or to show off your gorgeous fir trees will do nicely. No one wants to spend Christmas with the Kranks, so leave your inflatable Santa and reindeer set in the garage, please!

·          Santa likes cookies, and so do your wearied buyers! Nothing says holiday cheer like the smell of freshly baked cookies, except maybe the sight of those cookies gingerly laid out for those guests who’ve come to visit, that you would love to stay.

I know what you're thinking "What! sell my house during the holidays....You've got to be kidding me! With all the shopping, baking, tree decorating, parties, and on and on why in the world would I want to put any more STRESS into my holiday season!"

It's fairly common for most sellers to have this mindset, that "Winter" months equals a NO SALE season. Allow me to debunk this common myth. While showings can be stressful during a time when there is family over or on a Sunday while you’re putting up a tree, there are substantial reasons why the end of the year is one of the BEST times for sellers to sell their Atlanta home.

·     LESS EQUALS MORE- During the holidays, many sellers take their homes off the market, which means there are LESS homes available to prospective buyers. Low inventory increases the chance a seller can sell quickly and for more money.

·     SERIOUS BUYER POOL -If you are having showings on Christmas Day (perish the thought!), or any of the weeks leading up to it, you can rest assured that these are not the “looky lous”. These are serious buyers who NEED to buy, so having your home on the market during this time means we are dealing with a SERIOUS buyer pool.

·     RELOCATION, RELOCATION, RELOCATION- Did you know Atlanta is home to the TOP 50 Global Corporations like Coca-Cola Company, NCR,Delta, Equifax, UPS and more?? These companies tend to staff their corporations right before the end of the year to get in their “calendar budgets” for the next year. Keeping your home on the market during this time means that you have a better chance of snagging up a high-powered executive.

·     INTEREST RATES -Interest rates are still at an all time low, so there is even more incentive for buyers to buy.

·     COMPETITION-Today, your home is based on the valuation of your current competition, which is less due to low inventories. When the market picks back up in the Spring, sellers will be “competing” with each other to get their sold quicker. While we don’t have a crystal ball, we do know what we are working with RIGHT NOW!

·     BECAUSE I SAID SO! -In my seven years as a real estate agent, November and December has proven to be my most productive months of the year. My proven track record confirms all my previous reasons. 

·     DON'T FAIL!-You only FAIL if you fail to try. Test my theory and see the results for yourself.

·     REAL ESTATE AGENTS LIKE TO TAKE THE HOLIDAYS OFF- so hire one who you know will be in town and can help filter all the calls and continue to market the home.

·     TAX SEASON -Some buyers NEED to buy before the end of the year due to the tax benefits. Don’t deny them the right to capitalize on this pivotal time.

·     MORE FREE TIME FOR BUYERS- And, time is money. Buyers have more time to look during the holidays outside of work hours, so keep your home on the market to ensure every possible buyer is able to see your home.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the average agent sells 8 homes a year. YES, 8 HOMES A YEAR. In a time of anxiety and hardship for many agents, I have sold 58 homes of which 8 were sold in the month of November 2011 alone.

If you’re looking for an Atlanta real estate agent who WILL be in town for the holidays and has a proven track record of producing IMPRESSIVE results and getting sellers TOP DOLLAR for their homes, call Winter Baserva at 678-463-3173. But, don’t take my word for it, just see LIVE testimonials here.

If you’ve been one of those sitting on the sidelines watching others take advantage of the current influx of great deals flooding the housing market, it’s time to get off the bench and get in the game!

Here are the top five reasons why homeownership is a sweet deal right now!

1. Equity:

When you rent you are paying someone else for the privilege of living in their home. You might as well be throwing your hard earned money out the window. You are making your landlord comfortable though, so on his behalf, thanks! While it’s true that initially buying a home will have you coming out of pocket for a downpayment, closing cost (often the seller will pay most of this) and inspections; you will recoup that investment as long as you stay in your home and allow some time for appreciation to occur. This is why it’s called an ‘investment’, you are investing your funds, time, energy and eventually you will reap the reward of ‘equity’. The current recession will end eventually, and historically homes appreciate by about 4 to 6 percent annually. If you doubt this, ask your parents how much they paid for their house forty years ago, and see what it’s worth now!                                                             

2. Relationships:

Renter’s tend to see a high turnover of neighbors in their communities. Many complexes offer limited facilities for neighbors to congregate and hold any manner of social events, which makes it difficult to develop relationships with other renters. Most neighborhoods with homeowners include amenities such as pools, tennis courts, walking/bike trails and often hold community gatherings such as pool parties on special occasions, holidays, etc. where you can get to know others in your community.

3. Predictability:

When you are a renter, you are at the mercy of your landlord as far as how much and how often your rent will be increased. This makes it hard to do any long term financial planning since your housing expenses are unpredictable. When you own your own home your payment will remain basically the same as long as you get a fixed-rate mortgage. For most buyers this is the way to go; so if you’re paying $800 a month now, you will be paying $800 a month 10 years from now, give or take a little for taxes being adjusted. You can also calculate your variable cost for maintenance and life expectancy of appliances, roof, HVAC, etc. and save accordingly for these eventualities.

4. Ownership:

Don’t underestimate the joys of homeownership! Since you ‘own’ your home you can finally paint the whole house pink, or purple, or as most renters like to say ‘anything but boring beige’ which has been the mainstay of rentals for many years now. You can have your own garden, put up a fence, a pool, and renovate to your heart’s desire to make your humble abode reflect your personal tastes, and not someone else’s!

 5.Great Deals:

I know you’ve heard it before, but there has NEVER been a better time to buy a home! With interest rates at all time lows, SERIOUSLY, you will have missed out on the opportunity of your lifetime if you don’t take advantage of interest rates as low as 4% and possibly even lower. That coupled with the fact that there are SO many BARGAINS out there right now, especially if you are buying a home to occupy. There is a plethora of foreclosure homes flooding the market right now, and if you avail yourself of a saavy agent, who knows how to get the good deal for you, you will be singing their praises for many years to come!

Homeownership can be a real joy. It's time to get off the sidelines, and into the house that is perfect for you now! If you are looking for a professional Realtor who can get you into the home of your dreams, give Winter a call at 678-463-3173. You will be glad you did!

HOME OWERSHIP IS ON THE UPSWING!

According to a recent Census Bureau report, the homeownership rate posted a surprising rise in the third quarter, after falling to a 13- year low during the second quarter.

While it’s still true that foreclosures are still  putting the squeeze on some homeowners, and reluctant buyers are still holding off for the proverbial 'bottom'; this third quarter rise is posted as the first rise in two years.

 However encouraging, the 0.4 percent increase, which increased the homeownership rate to 66.3 percent for the third quarter, was not large enough to post an annual increase. The current homeownership rate remains at 0.6 percent below the rate recorded in the third quarter of 2010.

In addition, according to the Census report, when the current rate is seasonally adjusted – which brings it to 66.1 percent – it is “not statistically different from the rate last quarter” – an even 66 percent.

“Meanwhile, the homeownership rate remains at a level that suggests America’s love-affair with housing is still on the rocks,” Capital Economics adds.

The Midwest was the region with the highest homeownership rate, with a rate of 70.3 percent, with the West chiming in with the lowest at 60.7 percent homeownership. The Northeast and South fell respectively in between at 63.7 percent and 68.4 percent.

West Virginia had the highest homeownership rate at 76.1 percent; followed closely by Mississippi with a 70 percent homeownership rate.

The lowest homeownership rates were seen in the District of Columbia with a 44.3 percent rate for the quarter with New York following at 54.4 percent.

Nevada and California – states hard-hit by the housing crisis – were also in the bottom five with homeownership rates of 55.3 percent and 55.9 percent respectively.

What is it about homes in Roswell, GA that make them so special? For one, Roswell is perfectly situated off of GA-400 about 7 miles north of Sandy Springs making it a very convenient and highly desired location.

Furthermore, you can get a WHOLE lot of house for the dollar too. And, with the holidays coming and buyers on the prowl, its easy to see why Roswell is one of the area's HOTTEST real estate markets...But, Why???

The reason so many flock to this area is its plethora of Roswell Parks and Recreation such as Roswell Park, and the Chattahoochee Nature Center, Roswell Restaurants like Sugo, and Aqua Blue, STELLAR schools, and QUALITY CONSTRUCTION for less than what you would expect to pay.

I may be a little biased because I was raised in Roswell off of Holcomb Bridge Rd. in Martin's Landing. When I was a kid, I loved having all my friends in my neighborhood. I went to Mountain Park Elementary when I used to live in Brookfield West and then went to Holcomb Bridge Middle followed by Chattahoochee High School. To say I know and love the area is an understatement, but its not what I know, its what BUYERS WANT...and Boy, do they want to be here!!!

This LAVISHLY-DESIGNED John Wieland Pottery Barn PERFECT home boasts the ultimate in pristine appointments and luxurious finishes, all in a highly-sought out area known for its top-rated schools and acess to some of Roswell's BEST recreation! Perfectly situated near all the major highways, your eyes won't believe this hand-tailored renovation masterminded over the years.

From the STUNNING chef's kitchen complete with breakfast bar and breakfast area to the fireside family room to the LAVISH master suite, you are sure to experience the LUXURY life, all for a fraction of what you might expect to pay.

The hard-to-find PRIVATE Back Yard, Fully-Fenced with a MASSIVE Entertainer's Deck and mature landscaping make it the ULTIMATE entertaining experience.

But, don't take my word for it, call Winter Baserva today at 678-463-3173 to set up your own private showing.

Looking for the quickest way out of an emergency situation?  Well now there's an app for that!

I recently came across an interesting article describing how an Austin woman has developed an iPhone application to protect herself and others called Real Alert. Michelle Jones, a realtor, wanted a way to protect herself while showing homes and meeting with strangers. One of her friends in the business was attacked during an open house in Austin. "You just never know when you are going to meet with someone who is a creep," Jones said. She and her husband brainstormed ways to keep her safe on the job.

From one screen, REAL ALERT allows you to save precious moments with Quick tap “Call 911” and a Quick tap “ALARM” to ward off potential attackers. It also allows you to speed dial your emergency contact with Quick tap “ALERT A FRIEND”. You can also use it to LOCATE the nearest HOSPITALS using your current GPS location and record “CREEP DATA” – details about a suspicious person before they are forgotten.

After coming up with a solution that would make her husband comfortable and her feel safe, Michelle approached a programmer she knew and hired her to program the app. “I’m not an overly technical person and definitely not a programmer,” says Michelle. “I developed REAL ALERT to satisfy my own safety needs and quickly realized that it is a perfect solution for anyone, regardless of age or profession, that wants to protect themselves from potentially dangerous situations. I’m confident that it will help save lives.”

REAL ALERT is currently available on iTunes at a price of $1.99. It is listed in the ‘Lifestyle’ category and is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. REAL ALERT is available for download at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/real-alert/id436455476?mt=8.

The past few frosty mornings in the Atlanta area have confirmed that it is indeed, fall again. My summer totes are making their way to the basement...goodbye Espadrilles! It is time to assess the condition of my foliage to see what needs pruning, pulling, or even moving to make a graceful transition to the inevitable cooler days and season that is upon us.

Well we all know good things have to come to an end, but there are many ideas afoot to make that enjoyment last just a wee bit longer.

There are many plants available that can stand up to a degree of cold or even a little frost. Your more fibrous and woody plants will be the kinds of plants to look for . There are also many varieties of tall grasses that have become available with in the last few years that make a great addition to your fall garden. There is such a collection of colors, heights, and plumage, you will find it hard to choose! The best thing about the grasses is that they are maintenance free.

In late summer and early fall there are many varieties of mums that can be planted. You will find them to be most hardy when dealing with the cold weather of October. Another great plant that can add a lot of color to your landscape is Kale.

There are many colorful trees for fall that you can plant in your yard. You can go from bright yellows to fiery red. Some of the premium choices are sugar maples, birch, ash ginkgo, redbud, beech, hickory, butternut, honey locust and the tulip tree to name a few out there. Do some research on the internet and you will find there are many new hybrids coming out every year.

With the phethora of gourds, pumpkins, cornstalks, hay bales and potted plants to be found at this time of the year there is no limit to the fun and great ideas you can come up with decorating your yard for fall. You could build a straw or hay bale stack on both sides at the end of your driveway and create an arrangement of fall colors. Cattails would make a nice addition to your fall collection as well.

Obama’s HARP is playing in Washington for homeowners who may be underwater with their mortgages!

The current Administration’s Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) has been designed to assist homeowners in refinancing their mortgages – even if they owe more than the home’s current value.  The program allows refinancing of qualifying loans if the borrower owes up to 125 percent of the home’s value. Since its inception however, 9 out of 10 of eligible homeowners have failed to take advantage of this government program.

The HARP program will allow homeowners who have made timely mortgage payments in the last year to refinance even without the equity in their home that traditionally they would need to refinance.  One important aspect of the stipulations to note is that homeowners current mortgage would have to have been sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac before May 31, 2009. The HARP program will be presented in phases with loan applications starting at December 1, 2011 or after.

The enhancements to the HARP program will include:

·     Eliminating certain risk-based fees for borrowers who refinance into shorter-term mortgages and lowering fees for other borrowers;

·     Removing the cap on loan-to-value (LTV) – previously set at 125 percent – to allow far more borrowers to qualify (effective sometime in the first quarter of 2012);

·     Extending HARP through December 31, 2013; and

·     Streamlining the process further for borrowers.

HARP generally reduces the borrowers’ monthly mortgage payment by providing a new loan at a lower interest rate, and may also be used to replace an adjustable-rate or interest-only loan with a  fixed interest rate loan.  To find out  if you may qualify for the HARP program please contact your local Mortgage lender.

STABILITY RISING FOR PERIMETER HOUSING PRICES

Things are looking up for home sellers in the Perimeter area! Whereas prices have not returned to the pre-recession days, they are no longer falling and have leveled out considerably. The Perimeter, which consists of neighborhoods including Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, etc. are centrally located to the city and are comprised of numerous established neighborhoods.

“Prices have stabilized”, said Smart Numbers President Steve Palm. “You’re able to get more bang for your buck than in other areas.” According to Smart Numbers data the average sale price for homes in Perimeter were $403,645 in 2011- up from $397,426 last year but still well below the 2007 high of $459,463. Comparatively speaking the prices were still above average from metro Atlanta, which saw greater drops in prices.

The Perimeter has fared better than most areas around Atlanta, and although is not seeing a return to the former ‘glory day’s, prices are more stable than most other areas. According to Steve Palm, “Considering that one out of four homes in metro Atlanta are being sold for less than $50,000, the Perimeter submarket has fared well.”

2011 has shown marked improvement also in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody  with the amount of days houses are staying on the market  before selling.   In the Atlanta housing market overall there is a larger percentage of distressed inventory than in the Sandy Springs and Dunwoody market.  According to Todd Emerson, senior V.P and managing broker of Harry Norman Realtors in Perimeter, “One of the secrets to a healthier single family home market here is better pricing. Homes that did not reduce their sales prices sold in an average of 56 days compared with an average of 110 days for those that dropped their prices.” In the Sandy Springs, Dunwoody area home sales are up close to 9% this year.