James Walls's (wallsgroup) Blog

Networking Group in Roswell, Ga.

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:15:18 -0800

Hello everyone. A new networking group is forming in Roswell Georgia and we are looking to fill the following positions: Mortgage Professional Home Inspector Home Appraiser Real Estate Attorney Handyman Painter HVAC If you or anyone you know may be interested then please contact me as soon as possible. Thanks. James Walls, Owner Walls Group Properties / Keller Williams Realty (404) 313-6630 or james@wallsgrp.com www.topgeorgiahomes.com

Need a home inspector in woodstock, ga.

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:53:05 -0700

Good evening. I am looking for a good home inspector that works in the metro atlanta area. I would like to partner with a home inspector and work to build both of our businesses. We have a network referral group in woodstock. We have a really strong real estate sphere and would love to add a home inspector to the group. For more information please contact me directly (404) 313-6630 or email at james@wallsgrp.com

Seller Feedback When the Seller Does Not Want to Hear It...

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:12:23 -0700

Hello everyone. How do you tell a home seller that they are overpriced when they are certain that the price is legitimate? After providing comps, showing current listings in the area and reviewing solds the home sellers still seem convinced they are priced appropriately. What is anyone else doing out there to combat this? This feedback and pricing thing can really turn an otherwise positive client relationship into a nightmare so I would love to know any and all tricks. Thanks.

Best deal in Forsyth County

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:10:13 -0700

Thought you guys may want to know about a special home in Forsyth County that I have listed. This home is truly a gem. Four bedrooms and two baths ranch home in a beautiful swim neighborhood. This home is located in River Hill Subdivision and is on a flat and level lot with gorgeous views and nice landscaping. Now the best part of this deal, the price. We currently have the home offered for sale at $177,900. For more information on this awesome ranch home in Forsyth County please call me at (404) 313-6630 or www.topgeorgiahomes.com

Need a plumber in woodstock georgia

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:29:49 -0700

Hello everyone. I am looking to partner with a Plumber in the woodstock, georgia area. My goal is to establish a long term working partnership with a plumbing professional through my networking referral group. If interested please email me at james@wallsgrp.com or simply respond to this posting. Thanks in advance for your interest. James Walls, 404-313-6630

Looking for a Mortgage Consultant in Woodstock Georgia

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:26:30 -0700

Hello everyone. I am looking to partner with a mortgage consultant in the woodstock, georgia area. My goal is to establish a long term working partnership with a mortgage professional through my networking referral group. If interested please email me at james@wallsgrp.com or simply respond to this posting. Thanks in advance for your interest. James Walls, 404-313-6630

Million Dollar Home in Canton??? Tell me what you think.

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:42:43 -0700

Hello everyone. I have a home listed in Canton Georgia for $999,000 and I would love to get some feedback on what others have encountered for that price range in the area. My home is a two story traditional with four sides brick and sits on approximately four private acres. The home features six bedrooms and six and a half baths with three kitchens all having granite counter tops. The basement is finished and leads out to the pool and deck area in the rear of the home. This home has huge living spaces and a formal dining area. The home sits off a little country road and is not located in a subdivision. The address of the home is: 555 Stover Road, Canton, Ga. 30115 The fmls # of the property is 3761357 Virtual tour can be found at www.cantonluxuryhomes.com Here is the main picture of the home for your comments and thanks...

Can underwriters possibly use less common sense???

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:10:28 -0700

Okay, I just received a call from the appraiser on a deal that is supposed to close in two days. I am representing the home buyer. The underwriter has added a stipulation to the appraisal due to a couple of pieces of furniture that were still in the home when the appraiser shot the pictures of the home during the appraisal. The underwriter added the stipulation to the appraisal with the following logic: If the home still has furniture in it then it cannot possibly be vacant as the listing suggests so I must stipulate that the home must be vacant before I can release funds. Have you all ever heard of anyting this stupid in all of your life? I mean come on, has the underwriter ever heard of a home being staged? Or what if the home sellers are still in the process of moving out when the appraisal takes place (which is what happens about 99% of the time)? Should all the furniture be placed outside the home during the appraisal and then moved back in to the home? I am really scared that the lack of common sense shown by a number of underwriters and mortgage professionals today have a far worse impact on the housing market than that of interest rates that have risen this year or the over supply of homes on the market. Maybe more homes would be sold in todays market if the people that gave the money for buyers to purchase homes would get their heads out of their rears and start thinking of what they do to make a living and applying some level of logic or common sense to their craft.

Funny Presidential Candidate Ad to Fool your Friends

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:03:27 -0700

Hello everyone. I found this funny link today to make a fake presidential campaign video about yourself. Check it out at the following link and send it to your friends and family. I would love to hear what you all think about this. Of course the link is completely harmless and will give you a chuckle. Let me know what you think. Especially funny during this political season. http://www.thelopezfamilyonline.com/aol4pres.php

Anyone interested in building a networking group in crabapple or canton Georgia?

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:32:49 -0700

Just thought I would put this out there to the masses about a possible networking group in the crabapple or canton georgia area? It would be great to start off with a strong real estate sphere of influence if anyone is interested. Please let me know if you have considered doing something like this or if you have tried in the past. If you have tried in the past and it did not go well then please let me know. Thanks.

Are referrals the way to go to build your business or is it just internet presence?

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:25:12 -0700

What do you think about building your business through referrals? I mean not just agent to agent referrals but netowrking with friends and family to build your business. With all the focus today on internet presence and advertising I wonder if we have lost focus on the personal touch of communicating with your sphere of influence to grow your business. I would be very interested to know what everyone thinks about building your business through referrals or internet presence and marketing. In the Atlanta Home market I see many realtors relying on internet presence to get leads and build their business so I thought this to be a valid topic. Let me know what you think.

The Best Domain???

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:46:30 -0700

I have just registered a new domain to potentially use as my real estate web site domain and would like to get some response as to which domain would be more desirable to the user audience. I know that content once people are browsing your site is important but I want to know about the name and what may drive more people there initially. The two domains are: topgeorgiahomes.com (current domain) coolatlantahomes.com (new domain perhaps) I have both domains pointed to my current real estate web site so I am only inquiring about which name would be preferred. So what do you think?

River Hill Subdivision Best Value in Forsyth County

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:16:05 -0700

Buyers looking for an exceptional value in a home should seriously consider River Hill Subdivision in North West Forsyth County. Just minutes from GA 400 and Cumming, Ga. this neighborhood has approximately 128 homes ranging from the 3 bedroom 2 bath ranch home to a 5 bedroom 3 bath two story traditional. The best thing about this neighborhood is the value that potential buyers can receive. Nowhere else in the county are we seeing a four bedroom 3 bath ranch on a basement lot go for in the 170's! The homes are all less than 10 years old and the neighborhood features a beautiful swimming pool. River Hill really is a hidden gem.

Buyers agreement sent to Listing Agent as Part of Contract

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:05:27 -0700

I just had a buyers agent send me an offer on a home that listed her buyers agreement as an exhibit to the purchase and sale agreement. I understand that you have to include exhibits with the contract if you have exhibits but I do not see the need for inclusion of the buyers agreement. I have never included either brokerage engagemet (exclusive buyer or exclusive listing) as an exhibit to the contract. My understanding is that the buyers agreement is an agreement between buyer and their agent and nothing of consequence to me as the lisitng agent. Anyone have any insight on this practice?

Three Branches Subdivision Woodstock Ga - Hidden Gem

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:11:38 -0700

This neighborhood will have approximately 53 homes when complete and is a tremendous bargain in the mid $400's for a Five bedroom, four bath home with gourmet kitchen, hardwoods on main, three sides brick home. Located centrally between Roswell, Marietta, Alpharetta, Canton and Crabapple you will find it very convenient to just about everywhere you travel. Three Branches Subdivision has experienced great appreciation over the past two years so the value is real.

What can home sellers do to get their home sold?

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:50:17 -0700

I get asked all the time what sellers can do to improve the "saleability" and appeal of their home to prospective buyers. One thing I continually see in the field is sellers will often times have rooms in their home that confuse potential buyers as to the normal use of the room. This comes in to play many times in the family room where people will have the treadmill that they use while they watch television. It is amazing to think that a potential buyer would not understand what the room would be used for just based on the exercise equipment but it is certainly an issue and will keep the home on the market for a longer period of time. I have also seen the desk / office setup in the breakfast area off the kitchen. Although this arrangement may be quite convenient for the current homeowner but potential buyers will see a smaller breakfast area if any at all and miss the overall usability of the space. There are endless examples that I could list with the above two however I thought it enough to get the point across. My advice to home sellers is to make every room look like what it is supposed to be. Take the exercise equipment out of the family room and the desk out of the breakfast area to declutter and redefine the space for the purpose which it was intended. Buyers will understand the intended use of the space as well as be able to mentally arrange their furniture in the room which is a major step in the right direction towards getting the home sold.

Now is time to Buy a Home

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:14:05 -0700

Hello again. Buying a home should be on the minds of most people these days as interest rates are still very low compared to recent history and the supply of homes on the market has dramatically increased over the last several years. What this means in simple economic terms is that there is plenty of product out there to purchase and money is cheap. Prices have bottomed out I beleive in my hometown of atlanta georgia and I am expecting some sort of recovery to the market for next year. Anyway, while money is cheap and the supply of homes are up then you as a buyer stand a very good chance of getting a great deal on the home. Thank you. James Walls

Part Time Realtors

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:20:35 -0700

With the state of the housing market today being the way it is many realtors have been forced to take part time jobs to "pay the bills". I am concerned about the level of service in the real estate market when Realtors solicit clients knowing full well that they will not be able to give full time service. I see this as a reduction in customer service and something that could adversely impact the sale or purchase of most people's most expensive asset. When looking for a home in metro atlanta or when interviewing agents to list and sell a home in metro atlanta, potential buyers and sellers should ensure that their Realtor does not divide their time between part time jobs. James Walls topgeorgiahomes.com

Welcome to My Blog

James Walls (Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:56:01 -0700

Hello. Welcome to my blog. I will be updating content daily so check back often. For more information about metro atlanta real estate please check back soon. James Walls