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Owner/Broker Rick Andrews
Century 21 Scenic Realty
t. 828 557 9139
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Fixed Mortgage Rates Hit Record Lows…Again
Freddie Mac recently released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates again hitting new record lows. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 3.79 percent continues to remain well below 4 percent and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages are also slightly down at 3.04 percent. Additional details from the PMMS: -30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.79 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending May 17, 2012, down from last week when it averaged 3.83 percent. Last...Continue Reading!
Forbes Best Cities to Raise a Family
Forbes based its rankings on median income, overall cost of living, commuting time, crime, school quality, and housing affordability. 1. Grand Rapids, MI 2. Boise, ID 3. Provo, UT 4. Youngstown, OH For the complete list visit www.forbes.com For FREE access to local market information click MARKET INSIDER. I assist buyers in Hiawassee GA, Young Harris GA. Blairsville GA, Hayesville NC and Brasstown NC. If you have any questions regarding mountain real estate you can reach me at 828-557-9139 or email me at [email protected] Continue Reading!
Steps to Make Your Offer More Desirable Than Other Bids
The Hiawassee GA market is still a buyers' market. Even in a buyer's market, there are often multiple offers on a property. This can be a stressful and frustrating time for perspective buyers, and they should rely on their professional real estate agent to guide them through the process. The sellers evaluate the offers and decide which to accept. Here are some tips to put your offer above the competition. Money talks - A cash offer is a serious contender with...Continue Reading!
Gardening Mistakes to Avoid
Whether you are a garden novice or a seasoned green thumb expert, avoid common gardening mistakes with these tips Pay attention to your property. Observe what areas receive the most sunlight and if there are areas that are often shaded throughout the day. Is there an area that collects an excess of water? Read care instructions on trees, shrubs nd plants. Learn and adhere to proper spacing instructions. Remember, spacing may seem excessive at first, but as plants grow and flourish they will...Continue Reading!
Good News for Those Seeking Employment-and ultimately, for Commercial Investors
As commercial real estate investors know, any improvement in the employment market bodes well for commercial real estate. After all, as companies increase their employee headcount, they're likely to need more space. That in turn creates a stronger demand for commercial properties, both for leased and purchased space. So commercial investors will be happy to hear that according to CareerBuilder, hiring plans in the U.S. are returning to pre-recession levels. The firm released a survey on April 5 showing that one-third of...Continue Reading!
Six Keys to Selling Your Home in Today’s Market
According to the National Association of Realtors®, more than 4.25 million homes sold in 2011. That's a lot of real estate and such numbers raise the question: How are sellers doing it? "Because individual homes are unique, there isn't one single strategy that works equally well for every property," says Wendy Forsythe, the executive vice president of a real estate company. "The real trick is understanding that today's marketplace is cash driven, quick and highly competitive. Owners who understand their local...Continue Reading!
Tips for Buying and Selling Homes at the Same Time in Hiawassee GA
When you are buying a property while selling a property in Hiawassee GA your real estate agent is more important than ever. A qualified and competent agent should be able to give you an accurate estimation of the price your current property may trade for, which is crucial if the sale of the property is contingent on the purchase of another. Follow the same basic rules when selling your home: get organized by disposing or donationg unused items, stage your property, and...Continue Reading!
New Report Shows Family Rental Markets with Highest Returns
There's some good news for investors in single-family homes-particularly if you choose to rehab and rent, rather than sell, them. A recent report by CoreLogic, a Santa Ana, Calif.-based provider of consumer, financial and property information, provides some insight into the single-family rental market and even indicates which markets across the United States have the highest rental cap rates. With the recent emphasis on REO-to-rent programs, this is valuable information for single-family home investors. According to CoreLogic's April MarketPulse report, the West Palm...Continue Reading!
79 Percent of Refinancing Homeowners Maintain or Reduce Mortgage Debt in First Quarter
Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) released the results of its first quarter refinance analysis showing homeowners who refinance continue to strengthen their fiscal house. In the first quarter of 2012, 79 percent of homeowners who refinanced their first-lien home mortgage either maintained about the same loan amount or lowered their principal balance by paying-in additional money at the closing table. Of these borrowers, 58 percent maintained about the same loan amount, and 21 percent of refinancing homeowners reduced their principal balance; the...Continue Reading!
Union County Georgia Home Sales
Union County Georgia Home Sales – by Month Active SOLD 2012 SOLD 2011 SOLD 2010 January 391 29 17 20 February 396 23 38 20 March 415 31 32 32 April 441 31 23 18 May 35 32 June 37 20 July 31 30 August 47 37 September 43 30 October 33 33 November 25 40 December 32 29 TOTAL -------- 114 392 342 Union County Georgia Home Sales – by Price Range -2012- -2011- -2010- Under $99,999 40 124 91 $100,000 - $199,999 54 179 155 $200,000 - $299,999 13 54 43 $300,000 - $399,999 3 23 13 $400,000 - $499,999 2 6 2 $500,000 - $599,999 1 3 1 $600,000 - $699,999 2 3 $700,000 - $799,999 1 $800,000 - $899,999 $900,000 - $999,999 1 1 Over 1 million TOTAL 114 392 309 Union County Georgia Home Sales Summary 2012 2011 2010 Total Sold 114 392 342 Average Days on Market 175 161 180 Average...Continue Reading!
