Are You Leaving Us?

Are you leaving the metro Atlanta area? Are you relocating to another state?

Often people think of their real estate agent as a hyper local person and source of information. However a great professional can help you when you relocate as well.  I have a solid network of trusted and wonderful connections outside the metro Atlanta area.

Contact me when you start the process as I can most likely put you in touch with a local professional that can help you reach your real estate goals in your future new home town.

Don’t wait for the sad goodbye call…give me a call today at @ 404-245-7172  to find out how I can be of help! After all, I’m always here to help, even if you’re leaving us here 🙂

 

The Real Estate Transaction: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Spring is officially here, which means houses will start popping up on the market like flowers! Just in time for that, I wanted to share this great info with you and what can possibly go wrong. As I said many times, buying  a house is a very emotional and stressful process. Reduce some of this stress by choosing a great agent to be your partner in the process. I’m always here to help so start today by contacting me!

So remember – “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” While Edward Murphy was referring to the use of new measurement devices, his rule can be aptly applied to the real estate transaction without a hiccup.

From the very first step – getting preapproved for a mortgage – to choosing a real estate agent to the close of escrow, the process is full of pitfalls.

If you’re considering the purchase or sale of a home, it’s a good idea to know what could go wrong during the process. While some problems are hard to anticipate, others happen with enough frequency that they offer lessons, allowing you to become informed and, hopefully, help you to avoid some of the biggest problems.

Choosing a Real Estate Agent

Your real estate agent is the driver of the transaction. As such, he or she will steer the transaction around common roadblocks and avoid certain pitfalls. That is, if you choose the right agent.

What happens if you don’t? Several things:

• Your house may not be priced properly.
• Your house may sit on the market longer than it should.
• If you’re buying, you may end up paying more than you should.
• A complicated transaction, such as a short sale, may have details that are allowed to fall through the cracks.

 

Avoid these potential problems by hiring an experienced real estate agent. When selling your home, your first concern is getting the most money for the home. An agent familiar with the area is much better able to determine market value than one from outside the area.

An agent with proven marketing capabilities will get your house in front of more buyers than an agent who hasn’t a clue about marketing. If you own a specialized home, such as a luxury home or beachfront property, or you are performing a short sale, you need an agent experienced in these types of sales.

When purchasing a home, you need a savvy negotiator in your corner – an agent who can go to bat for you and get you the best possible price on the home.

Give me a call today for your free consultation at @ 404-245-7172 

Counteroffers

The offer to purchase is a document full of potential pitfalls. Some of these include:

• Price.
• Insufficient earnest money.
• Inappropriate closing date.
• Requests for personal property.
• The buyer isn’t preapproved for a mortgage.
• Requests for repairs or allowances.

 

Of course, there are many, many more, but these are some of the most common. These problems are typically addressed via a counteroffer. This document says to the other party, “I accept the offer as long as the following conditions are met.” This is the nuts and bolts of negotiating, and it’s fraught with perils.

If you’ve done a good job of carefully selecting your real estate agent, this is the time to rely on him or her for advice. The decisions are ultimately yours to make, but expert advice should be considered.

Home Inspection

The home inspection presents another opportunity for a deal to fall apart. Home repairs can be costly. Some can make you want to walk away from the deal. If you decide to remain engaged in the process, you’ll need your old friend the counteroffer to request repairs or a reduction in the price of the home to allow for the cost of repairs.

Appraisal

When markets change rapidly, appraisals become more challenging. When home prices began to stabilize after the latest recession, for instance, appraisers had nothing to base home values on but the depressed recession prices. Foreclosures particularly drag down values, and many homes aren’t appraising for as much as homeowners and their agents expect them to.

If you’re the seller or buyer of a home that doesn’t appraise for the purchase price, your options include:

• Reducing the price.
• Raising the amount of the down payment.
• Challenging the appraisal.
• Walking away from the deal.

 

Closing

Lots of things can go wrong at closing. Some of the most common events are:

• The lender pulls a soft credit report and finds that the buyer has made some large purchases, changing his income-to-debt ratio to the point where he no longer qualifies for the mortgage.

• Your paperwork is delayed by the lender and your attorney pushes the closing to another day.

• The funds don’t arrive.

• One of the parties is unhappy with the information on the HUD-1.

 

Not every real estate transaction has problems. In fact, most sail along smoothly. While it’s hard to hold your excitement in check, the best time to let it loose is when your agent hands you the keys to your new home.

Moving: How to Hire the Pros

 

If you are selling, buying or relocating, whatever the case is – you’ll need to move! So we though the following tips might be useful to you.

Have you ever noticed how busy your friends and family members become on your moving day? Can you blame them? Moving is tough, manual labor. The only reason that folks might be willing to help is in the hopes you’ll reciprocate when it’s their turn to move.

Being able to round up enough people to help with the move is just one consideration when determining whether to hire a moving company or just do it yourself. Here are a few other considerations:

• Time: How much time do you have to devote to the move? If you’re relocating because of a new job and you’re on a time crunch, professional movers will save you a lot of time.

• Distance: How far away are you moving? Interstate moves involve a lot of driving with possible overnight stops along the way. Do you feel safe leaving your belongings in the parking lot overnight?

• Money: If you’re on a tight budget, a full-service mover may be out of the realm of possibility for you.

 

Types of Moving Companies

Moving companies have evolved from the days when the massive truck pulled up to the house and loaded pre-packed boxes and furniture for the move to a new location. Today, you have a number of choices to consider when hiring moving assistance:

• Pack it yourself and hire professionals to load and deliver.

• Hire professionals to pack, load and deliver. Some companies offer unpacking services as well.

• Hire a professional with a truck. You pack, you load and he drives.

 

Of course, like most things in life, the more services you desire, the more you’ll pay.

Choosing a Moving Company

Finding the right moving company for your needs is probably one of the most challenging aspects of the moving process. Ask friends, colleagues and family members for a referral. If that doesn’t work, the National Association of Realtors® suggests that you choose a mover that is a member of the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA).

Interview representatives from several companies and ask lots of questions:

• Ask about the moving company’s responsibilities if items are damaged while in their care.
• Are employees bonded?
• Verify the mover’s license.
• Check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints against the company.
• Don’t accept telephone quotes. The only way to get an accurate quote is for the mover to assess your situation in person.
• Ask for an itemized breakdown of all fees the company charges and explanations of any that you don’t understand.

 

Federal law requires movers to supply you with the booklet: “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move.” In it you will find information about your mover’s responsibilities and how to make the move go smoothly.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) warns consumers to never sign a mover’s blank documents. These papers are binding contracts and should be read thoroughly before signing. If there are blanks, other than one for the weight of your items, line them through or refuse to sign until the blanks are filled in.

For help with choosing a mover and information on how to protect yourself and your belongings during the move, visit the DOT’s website.

The Hardship of Relocating – Can You Make it Easier?

Moving to a new place is an experience accompanied by mixed feelings: there’s the sadness of leaving the old and familiar from one hand, and the excitement of a new beginning. But when you add to the mix relocating to a new country and unfamiliar area, the fear of the new kicks in, and this can be stressful.

How do we look for a house? Where should we live? Is there a shortcut to work? How will we make new friends?  Is this a good school? How do I find a daycare for my toddler? And more…One of the questions that probably comes up is “who should I work with? Should I work with an American or a local Israeli Realtor?

Beyond the immediate benefit of speaking the same language, allow me to share with you the advantages of working with me.

One of the biggest advantages is the fact that I was new here once as well. I also moved my family across the ocean to a new place, with a baby – a place I knew nothing about and didn’t know anyone there. And I remember, till this day, how it feels not to know where the supermarket is, where to buy furniture or what to do if I need a physician. Moreover, I remember the loneliness: not to know anyone, when there are no friends to ask for help, there’s no one to ask for a cup of sugar like we say in Israel. Therefore, as a real-estate agent, I made it my business to help couples and families who move to this area to become part of the local community – whether by introducing them to similar families, or refer to a pediatrician or to the best priced supermarket.

It is true that as a real estate agent I’m “only” supposed to help you find a house, and there are other realtors that speak Hebrew that can help you with this, but because of my experience, it is my top priority to help you become part of the community and make it a pleasant and painless process. Since I live and work here for more than 8 years, I have strong ties to the local Israeli and Jewish community and I can help you make new friends, recommend a Mediterranean restaurant and tell you where to buy Israeli pickles.

The buying/ renting process here is very different than the one in Israel, and even varies between states within the U.S. Just like in any profession, the real-estate world has its own jargon, which newcomers are not familiar with. There’s a seller agent, a buyer agent, a landlord agent and a renter agent and even dual agent, and you need to know who you work with and why. As someone who knows how it works in Israel and how it is here, I’m very aware of the issues, questions and concerns you might have through the process, and I’m always here to help, answer any questions and address your concerns.  Working with someone who knows and understand your culture (yes, yes, with the typical Israeli honesty and directness), and is highly experienced in the local one is PRICELESS.

So if you are relocating to the metro Atlanta area, contact us today and I’ll be more than happy to talk with you, get to know you and understand yours and your family needs, whether it’s work-related, school for your kids or your pets. I’m always here to help you find a new place to call home, become part of the community and make the whole experience joyful as possible!

Why did I become a Real-Estate Agent?

It is my passion to help people materialize their real estate dreams. I make sure my clients get ALL the information they need to make the best decision for themselves.  In addition, I relocated twice: once from Israel to San Antonio, TX and from there to Alpharetta, GA and in both times I was facing numerous difficulties with no one to help!  This is why I decided to pursue a career where I can help make people move easier, helping them from A to Z in whatever they need.