Welcome to Cotting Court Midtown Atlanta. This beautifully appointed one bedroom, one bath condo is located in the heart of Midtown and is the perfect place to call home. Enjoy a spacious and open floor plan with hardwood floors throughout. The kitchen features stainless steel appliances, granite countertops perfect for entertaining. The living area is light and airy with large windows and a fireplace. The unit also includes a washer and dryer and a private balcony. Enjoy views of Atlanta's skyline from the balcony off of the living room. The master bedroom features an ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet. This unit also features one dedicated garage parking spot. You'll have access to all the amenities the building has to offer, such as a private pool and gym. This amazing property is c... 03/22/2023

At this point - beginning of March '23, the spring market in Atlanta is just beginning to stir. January popped as rates dropped, but the subsequent increases slowed buyers. We're also seeing the shortage of inventory impact sales, just haven't seen the same bump as years past.The key over the next two months is inventory, if it remains scarce the number of sales will remain low and values will continue to hold and increase again. Simple supply and demand.Here's a look at what home sellers around Atlanta should expect.Here's a look at what home buyers around Atlanta should expect. 03/02/2023

This is really shocking, she always seems so fiscally responsible and prudent. That her husband is a former NFL player might be the reason she's here to begin with. Very liberal use of "star" and "mansion"....This community was crushed during the last crash. I appraised a good 25-30 ranging from overleveraged owners in new built homes to just framed to just lots.See homes in The Manor     02/17/2023

Home sellers in the spring 2023 market face the usual challenges, secure the best overall offer. This year however, add to this the mental side - home sellers in the spring of 2023 will not see the same conditions as last spring. Those that understand this will succeed, those that fail to.....Home Sellers in the Spring 2023 MarketHome sellers still hold the advantage in the greater Atlanta market and most areas in general. This is especially true for sellers with accurately priced and appealing homes.Successful Home SellersDespite the efforts of many so called "disruptors" to make it so, successfully selling a home isn't rocket science. Deadfin, Zero, Closed Door....lost well over a billion dollars in trying to complicate something that requires simple hands on attention to detail. Expe... 02/13/2023

In the rush to buy homes, many home buyers left their common sense on the curb. Many errors were made, adverse exterior/locational issues being one of the most common. It's called external obsolescence; what is external obsolescence? This short video provides a real world example.External obsolescence is incurable; there is no solution to it. It's also highly localized and specific to the area. Homes in cities will be universally impacted by noise and activity so a location on a busy street is typical. An airport impacts areas around it; for those homes it's typical. Those factors will be mentioned of course, but appraisal adjustments not made if the comparables are similarly impacted. Buyers will also usually consider those factors "normal" and they will be factored into purchase decis... 02/09/2023

The 2022 seller's housing market it gone and isn't likely to return. Sellers still enjoy an advantage but some will wonder, should I rent my home if it doesn't sell? That decision is not entirely up the seller...Renting a Home That Doesn't SellWhile the owner has obvious control over a home, it's not always unilateral. The vast majority of owners may have to get HOA permission to rent their homes, or the mortgage company, local municipality or other involved parties. Then there are the legal, accounting and insurance concerns.Why Didn't Your Home Sell?It might be best to understand why your home isn't selling. In almost every situation, the answer lies in the mirror. Start with the agent, do they know what they are doing? Is the home priced and marketed accurately? Are you treating this... 02/08/2023

Home buyers are out and busy, the number of Atlanta sales contracts jumped in January. We're seeing this across the north Atlanta suburbs as buyers acclimate to the rates and the weather finally breaks. We see the slow down of buyer activity due to rate increases and the holidays, but look closer at activity after the holidays - Contracts written for homes in Atlanta spiked in January '23 signaling a strong open to the spring '23 season. We see the MLK weekend impact numbers but the prior week was as high as the best week in August.Atlanta is a strong market and there wasn't the pandemic bounce seen in many other areas. Fundamentals are strong here and the region is picked to be one of the better performing markets in 2023.  02/02/2023

Here we go, the spring housing market around Greater Atlanta is starting to perk. Successful home sellers will find it a completely different market than a year ago. However, the Greater Atlanta area remains a seller's market. While the months of inventory is in the balanced range, sellers with highly desirable, accurately priced homes will see plenty of action. But DO NOT think it's spring of 2022.Balance is good, both home buyers and sellers benefit. Home sellers diving into the spring 2023 housing market can easily enjoy success. While the data shows balance, quality homes that are accurately priced and well presented will shine. Buyers will pass on the trash - last year they were infected with FOMO and everything sold. Last and most obvious key to success - only work with a full tim... 01/26/2023

Centrally located in the booming intown Atlanta’s Old Forth Ward and historic neighborhoods at Irwin and Randolph, just one block from Krog Street Market and the Beltline Eastside Trail, close proximity to top dining, parks, schools and businesses. Spacious floor plan with high ceilings and open yet well-defined living spaces offer the best of both worlds. Lots of natural light, recently painted and new carpet, granite counters and stainless appliances in the kitchen. Enjoy everything any city can offer including Krog Street Market, the Beltline, StudioPlex, and Ponce City Market, Freedom Park. Very convenient to I75/85, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Mercedes Benz Stadium, and much more. For more details, contact the listing agent: Anthony Acosta at (404)797-9907or click on this link:  01/23/2023

How's the market in Alpharetta, GA? Alpharetta is one of the most desirable North Atlanta suburbs and a great indicator of real estate market trends in the greater Atlanta area. A current look at the Alpharetta, GA real estate market using Altos Research data:This week the median list price for Alpharetta, GA is $897,000 with the market action index hovering around 40. This is less than last month's market action index of 42. Inventory has decreased to 136.The drop in inventory is evident but coming into the early spring market we expect inventory to increase. Look for this over the next 30 days as the spring market opens. Days on market increased due mainly to seasonal trends and rising interest rates. This will drop as interest rate sticker shock subsides and the spring market starts.... 01/17/2023

Well who didn't know this was going to happen? Since no one is  is personally responsible for their actions, it's only right to find blame. Even better, sue for damages - including the emotional duress. Over 70% of home buyers have regrets about their purchases, but were they forced? Were they coerced? Or were they keeping up with their social media nonsense, FOMO to the point of stupidity.That said, the real estate sales industry will never be accused of impossibly high standards; if the check doesn't bounce the license is valid. But the buyer is the single decision maker and trying to sue anyone involved in their decision, is frivolous.Hopefully the courts see through this nonsense and tell these whiners where to go.   CLICK TO READ  01/06/2023

How to Get Rid of PMI on Your Mortgage  Want to drop your private mortgage insurance (PMI) payments like a pair of cheap sunglasses?  Don't know where to start?  Look, when interest rates were moving lower and property values were moving higher, the headache of canceling PMI took a back seat. And why not? In that climate, homeowners typically just refinanced and both dropped PMI and got a lower rate. But when interest rates move higher and home values flatten or even go lower, many owners strive to preserve their great mortgage rates and focus on getting rid of that extra monthly insurance payment through cancellation.   Whether borrower-requested, lender-required or value driven, let's rock all the ways you can eliminate PMI!  Got me under pressure,  Rob SpinosaSVP of Mortgage LendingG... 01/04/2023

Cue Sinatra..."Regrets, I have a few...". Last survey taken (Q4 22), over 70% of home buyers had regrets about their purchase. Chalk it up to FOMO, the pandemic, the free money, the low rates...whatever. Experienced agents knew the last two years were a buyer minefield, most did what they could to keep clients from stepping on one. The rookies and pandemic agents....who knows.The results of the survey are not good: 70% of buyers in 21-22 were first timers 33% of these buyers found the process more difficult than expected 22% of home buyers were unsatisfied by the buying process 31% paid over list price, paying a median price of +65K 80% made offers on more than one home, 41% on five or more 36% made offers without physically visiting the home 20% bought homes in locations they did not p... 01/02/2023

Yeah, I know, touchy subject. No one put a gun to a home buyer's head, but did anyone slow them down, have them take a minute to think? Did realtors get home buyers into trouble? Many, including the industry as a whole, certainly acted as enablers.Why so Many Agents?This is not a new question. Over three decades I've asked this countless times. Why are there 2M+ agents? There is absolutely no need for that many. The answer is one word "fees". Desk fees, license fees, membership fees, training and classes, equipment...brokerages could care less if sales are made, just pay those fees. So at every level, real estate is pitched as the ideal part time hustle, beat your "spear" of influence to death and make a cool couple hundred grand a year. The idiotic idea that a real estate transaction i... 12/30/2022

For whatever reason, HGTV captures views like cheese captures rats. Everything looks dicey at first, then a bit better and down the trail they go. 22 minutes later, everything is wonderful...except when it's not. The flip home before the flip is certain to have a ton of issues that either won't be caught or not considered by the flipper when budgeting for repair. And just like the rat, home buyers can find themselves in a very bad spot.This home is a great "flip home before the flip" example. Located in the Marietta area of north Atlanta, it needed mostly cosmetics. But there is more than paint and cleaning...Mold is almost certain to be present, full remediation is needed along with treatment of the HVAC system. In this case, a septic tank was present which also needed a good once over... 12/27/2022

How to Rock the 2023 FHA Loan Limits!!!  I ain't foolin'! Even though it seems like there's been nothin' but a whole lotta interest rate hikes in 2022, thankfully FHA borrowers, including first-time homebuyers, will see an increase to the FHA loan limit in 2023. This means that where the one-unit conforming limit was $420,680 in 2022, it will become $472,030 in 2023.  That puts a house purchase of nearly $490,000 into range with FHA's lowest down payment requirement of 3.5%. And in high-cost (aka high balance) metropolitan statistical areas like much of CA, NY and other housing-expensive counties, you will see the FHA limit go from $970,800 all the way up to $1,089,300.  And that means that the maximum purchase price with the minimum down payment approaches $1,129,000 in those counties!... 12/18/2022

How to Rock an Interest Rate Buydown!!!  R U gonna let the interest rate elevator bring you down? Look --- it's a tough real estate environment right now.  Sellers and builders still would die 4 to get the list price and buyers would laugh in the Purple Rain to keep their rate and payment as low as possible. So what if lenders offered a temporary interest rate buydown, like a 3-2-1 buydown or a 2-1 buydown, that made it all possible?  Let's go crazy!  Rob SpinosaSVP of Mortgage LendingGuaranteed RateNMLS: 22343 Cell/Text: 415-367-5959 rob.spinosa@rate.com Marin Office:  324 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo, CA  94960 *The views and opinions expressed on this site about work-related matters are my own, have not been reviewed or approved by Guaranteed Rate and do not necessarily repre... 11/11/2022

November 2022 - First GratitudeGratitude walks with me every day. Whenever things get difficult, I stop and think about how to re-frame to acknowledge what I feel grateful for in my life.Real estate as a career enhances my daily life. What a wonderful path - helping others realize dreams! Seeing my Clients in their new spaces is a continual joy.Real estate knowledge allows me - after stating clearly every single time that I am neither an attorney nor an accountant - to share answers with Clients. One very crucial aspect is making sure that our Clients understand all details of the contracts they are about to sign.  We remind our Clients that as they initial each page of the Buyer Agreement, they are stating that they both have read and understood the contents of each page. Are the Purch... 11/03/2022

  Top Places to Live in the USA: Atlanta Georgia  Atlanta, Georgia topped Money Magazine’s 2022 list of “Best Places to Live.”  The magazine cites trendy examples for Atlanta’s popularity.  These represent the frosting.  The grace and beauty, creativity and ingenuity of the Atlanta area has long taken the cake. A destination itself, the Southern city lies in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.  Atlanta features the densest urban tree coverage of any major city in the United States.  Its rolling hills and lush greenery produce a calming effect midst the city bustle.A Sense of BelongingAtlanta happens to be the number one place where “anyone can feel like they belong.” The medium-size city itself is home to under 500,000 residents.  The culture and economy overcome much.  Some wri... 10/25/2022

How to Rock an FHA Home Loan!!!  Are FHA loans just for first time home buyers?   Is an FHA mortgage the best choice if you have bad credit? What if you have a low down payment, or even no down payment from your own savings? If you're ready to quit renting right here and right now, let's learn how to rock an FHA home loan:  Watching the world wake up,  Rob SpinosaSVP of Mortgage LendingGuaranteed RateNMLS: 22343 Cell/Text: 415-367-5959 rob.spinosa@rate.com Marin Office:  324 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo, CA  94960 *The views and opinions expressed on this site about work-related matters are my own, have not been reviewed or approved by Guaranteed Rate and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Guaranteed Rate.  In no way do I commit Guaranteed Rate to any positio... 10/06/2022