When it comes to selling your real estate, Lawrenceville real estate in particular, you’ll want to ensure that you’re not settling for a price that is anything less than you deserve. Buyers looking for real estate in Lawrenceville often have savvy agents that are skilled at negotiating large price reductions. When selling your home, it’s important that you have an Atlanta area real estate agent that not only won’t back down on unnecessary price reductions, but also will sell buyers and buyer’s agents on the benefits of your home at your asking price.

You can identify top-quality seller’s agent by finding out how many homes the agent has personally sold within recent years. It takes an average of selling at least 40 homes per year for a real estate agent to be considered a professional. Be sure to check your agent’s history during times when the real estate market was challenging, not only during the recent boom-time.

A good Atlanta area real estate agent will know how to stage your home in order to make it look as attractive as possible to potential buyers. Staging is the process of arranging furniture to compliment the home’s natural design, eliminating clutter, and increasing curb appeal. According to experts, buyers make up their minds about whether or not they like a home within 10 seconds walking in the front door. Because buying a home is such an emotional decision, the greater the level of attraction, the easier it can be to sell your home at or near your asking price.

Another way to add value to the selling price of your home is to invest in upgrades. It’s important to note that while upgrades will increase the value of your home, that amount normally won’t exceed the cost of the upgrade itself. However, if you’re looking to sell your home quickly, a facelift can make a difference in the speed of the sale.

Different types of upgrades have different returns on investment. For example, adding wood window replacements will, on average, increase the value of the home enough to recoup 85% of the investment. Among the top return-on-investment project are siding (87% cost recouped), bathroom remodel (84% cost recouped), and vinyl window replacement (83% cost recouped).

While external factors like staging and remodeling can help you to get the highest asking price for your real estate in Lawrenceville, nothing is more valuable than choosing the right sales agent. An agent who is skilled in real estate sales can obtain a top asking price regardless of externals. Great real estate agents are outstanding sales people. They help potential buyers to envision the possibilities of the home. On the other hand, a lesser skilled agent may allow buyers to use potential flaws in the home to whittle down the price of your real estate in Lawrenceville and consequently, your profits.

At Realty 1st, we protect your sale price. We’re passionate about selling homes and driven by our lofty sales goals while also delighting customers. In order to excel at both, we take our commitment as sales agents very seriously and devote resources to targeting motivated buyers for your home. Read more about how Realty 1st has helped thousands of protect the value of their Atlanta real estate. Contact us today!

According to top real estate coaches, there is one question that will help you identify the Norcross Georgia real estate agent who will sell your home fastest and for the highest asking price.

That question is “how many homes have you personally sold within the last 12 months?”While this may seem like a simple question, the answer reveals the experience you’re likely to have when selling your Norcross Georgia real estate.

It takes an average of 40 sales per year for a real estate agent to be considered a serious professional. That means selling 40 homes rain or shine, regardless of market fluctuation.

While most Atlanta area real estate agents sell only a few homes per year, the Norcross Georgia real estate agent likely to sell your home fastest and for the highest possible asking price is the one that has a proven track record of doing just that.

Why this question is so critical when selling your Atlanta area Real Estate

When it comes to measuring the success of a Norcross Georgia real estate agent, what really matters isn’t how many billboards an agent has around town or how friendly they seem on the phone, but how many homes they have personally sold. The number of homes an agent has sold within the previous 12 months has proven to be the most telling factor of an agent’s ability to sell your home on your terms.

Selling real estate, especially Norcross Georgia real estate, involves much more than simply listing a home on the MLS and waiting for a buyer. The Atlanta area real estate agent likely to sell your home on your time schedule without sacrificing value will be one that actively seeks out buyers, is well connected with buyer’s agents, and is internally driven to sell your home quickly.

Selling real estate purposefully requires a professional, highly-dedicated, Norcross real estate agent. Just as you might choose a heart surgeon based on the number successful surgeries performed, so too should you choose a Norcross Georgia real estate agent with a proven success record if you’re serious about getting the most value from your home sale.

Interviewing potential Norcross Georgia real estate agents

Many people don’t scrutinize a real estate agent before selecting one to sell their Norcross Georgia real estate. However, those who ask the right questions are generally those who sell their homes first and for the price their home deserves.

When asking potential agents the most critical question, ensure that the answer reflects the number of homes that the agent has sold personally, not the number of homes sold by the agency as a whole. An agency of 10 people that sold 100 homes last year means that each agent sold only an average of 10 homes per year—a quarter of the number you should be looking for in a professional Atlanta area real estate agent.

Your neighbors will thank you

In today’s Norcross Georgia real estate market, the longer a home sits on the market, the lower the price you’re likely to receive. This isn’t only bad for you, but by lowering your selling price, you essentially lower the value of all of the homes in the neighborhood.

When you choose a Norcross Georgia real estate agent like Realty 1st that actively seeks out motivated buyers and that has a proven track record of success, you’re more likely to sell your home quickly and receive the highest possible asking price.

When first-time home sellers begin searching for an Atlanta real estate agent to sell their home, they normally make a common mistake that costs them dearly. While their initial logic for making this flawed decision is understandable, those with the opportunity to learn from others with experience can easily save thousands of dollars and a great deal of stress.

This mistake, say real estate veterans, is choosing to bargain shop for the Atlanta area real estate agent offering the lowest commission fees. Like any service provider, the value of the service provided by different Atlanta real estate agents is far from equal. Many assume that all real estate agents provide the same services and that those who charge more simply want to keep a larger commission for themselves. In the case of top producing real estate agents, this is hardly the case.

Selling a home quickly involves resources; and those resources come with associated costs. Atlanta area real estate agents that charge bottom of the barrel fees aren’t able to apply those resources toward selling your home. When a real estate agent cannot afford to pay for the services needed to sell a home quickly, the result is often a home that sits for months on the real estate market with a steadily dropping price tag. After several months, you may be searching for a Gwinnett home rental tenant to fill your vacant home instead of buyer.

However, when a professional real estate agent sells a home, he or she doesn’t just list it on the MLS, park a sign in the lawn, and hope someone will happen to buy the home soon. On today’s Atlanta real estate market, waiting literally equates to losing money.

The Atlanta real estate agent that will sell your home quickly and for the highest asking price actively seeks out buyers who are interested in finding a home like yours. They pay sellers agent’s well so that those agents are more motivated to show your home to their buyers rather than the house down the street where the selling agent has cut commissions so low, that there is no longer any incentive for a buyer’s agent to show the home.

Karen, a highly motivated seller, learned this lesson the difficult and expensive way when she entered into a 6 month contract with her real estate agent neighbor to sell her home because she offered to charge a low commission rate. Karen and her husband needed to sell their home within 60 days to relocate for a job opportunity. If they couldn’t sell, they would have to offer their home as a Gwinnett home rental to avoid paying two mortgages.

After several weeks of next to no interested buyers, the agent began dropping the price. After 2 months, the price had dropped by $40,000 and still hadn’t sold. The couple was forced to rent a home in the new city and find a Gwinnett home rental tenant for the home they would have rather sold. In all, the cost and stress the couple ensued greatly exceeded the cost of choosing a professional Atlanta real estate agent charging a full commission.

In short, it pays to pay a real estate agent the standard commission rate rather than bargain shopping for one that chooses to cut their rate in an effort to attract business. It’s better to find an agent who can attract business because they are excellent at what they do, not because they charge the lowest rate. An Atlanta real estate agent that will protect his or her own commission will also protect the sale value of your home, not force you to offer it as Gwinnett home rental instead of a smooth sales transaction.

However, sellers won’t want to simply assume that Atlanta real estate agents charging full commission can deliver what they promise. The very best way to identify the right Atlanta real estate agent is to inquire about the number of homes the agent has personally sold within the last 12 months. There is no other metric more telling of a real estate agent’s success than this number. If you’re serious about selling your home, don’t settle for a real estate agent that sells any less than 40 homes per year.

At Realty 1st, we’re passionate about selling homes and driven by meeting our lofty sales goals while also delighting customers. In order to excel at both we take our commitment as sales agents very seriously and devote resources to targeting motivated buyers for your home. Read more about how, here in Atlanta, Realty 1st has helped thousands of sellers protect the value of their Atlanta real estate.

Searching for a new place to call home can be exhilarating, exhausting, stressful, exciting—and just about every other strong emotion you can name. When shopping for real estate where emotions run high, it’s important to have an objective 3rd party on your side to help you balance the decision between emotion and logic.

It seems that even when you predetermine all of the things you’re searching for in the perfect piece of Gwinnett real estate, that list can all go out the window as soon as you begin visiting homes and emotions start clouding your logic. That’s normal! And that’s when having an Atlanta area real estate agent that you can trust makes all the difference.

Shopping for your new home should be fun and you should feel like you have the freedom to fall in love with new options that you may not have previously considered. However, there are some things, such as school districts and expensive hidden home repairs that you may regret compromising on after emotions have settled.

An outstanding Atlanta area real estate agent isn’t someone who is out to sell you a property quickly and walk away, regardless of whether or not you’re happy 6 months into the future. A professional, top-selling real estate agent uncovers the fundamental elements that will make your next house a fulfilling home, and then keeps you on track to find them while still opening your eyes to new and exciting possibilities.

You’ll also want to find a real estate agent that is knowledgeable about Atlanta real estate. Knowing which questions to ask Gwinnett real estate sellers about things such as structural repairs, concealed defects, and other factors can save you a fortune in dollars and happiness when they are revealed before the purchase.

Good seller’s agents know exactly how to make a house look appealing to the emotional home buyer while glossing over possible problem areas. Your Gwinnett real estate agent should protect you from this problem so that you can feel free to dream when you walk into a home without feeling stymied by caution. When you can trust your real estate to ask the right questions and view each perspective home with an objective eye, you get the best of both worlds.

An effective real estate agent will get to know you and really dig into the reasons behind why you’re shopping for particular characteristics in a piece of Gwinnett real estate. For instance, while you may say that you want to remain in a particular school district, it may really be that you want your child to benefit from the music program at that school. An Atlanta real estate agent that understand the local nuances, and that takes the time to understand the reasons behind your checklist of requirements, can open your eyes to exciting new possibilities in Atlanta real estate that you may have never considered.

You should never feel like you have to “settle” on the best of the choices in that you’ve been shown if you don’t really feel passionate about the selection. You should fall in love with your next property so that it transforms from a house to a home when you move in. The right Atlanta real estate agent won’t let you settle for anything but your best.

At Realty 1st, we are passionate about helping buyers find their dream homes. Our goal is to help you to find a home that will help you to realize your dreams for yourself and your family. By knowing the right questions to ask to differentiate between a smart buy and a poor one, we give you the freedom to dream without fear of making a choice you’ll regret later. Contact us and let us help you find your dream home today!

Every homebuyer has unique requirements when house hunting. Some buyers might want a swimming pool while others are looking for a place close to work. Parents who are shopping for real estate in the Atlanta area are concerned with the quality of the local schools. If you are looking for homes in cities such as Peachtree Ridge or Meadowcreek, you’ll be happy to hear that Gwinnett schools have a lot to offer your children.

High academic standards

More than 100 Gwinnett schools serve over 150,000 students and more facilities are being built to meet the needs of the county’s growing population. Nearly 30 new schools are planned by 2011. The county has more than 200 teachers who have earned National Board Certification, a voluntary assessment program that requires the teachers demonstrate subject matter knowledge and efficient teaching skills.

Gwinnett County has developed Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) to ensure that students at each grade level K-12 are being taught what they need. Developed by teachers, parents, and the community, the AKS guidelines act as a foundation that each teacher can build an individual curriculum upon. The AKS are aligned with standardized tests such as the SAT and the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) to ensure that students are prepared for these exams.

Character education is part of the program

Gwinnett schools support the Georgia General Assembly’s mandate that all students must learn proper character as well as facts. The school administration agrees that a society has common beliefs that are taught in the home and should be reinforced in the schools and other community programs.

Gwinnett schools feed the body as well as the mind

The school administration is well aware of the problem of poor nutrition and obesity in today’s children and has taken steps to provide the nutrition required to develop healthy minds and bodies. The nutrition program employs registered dieticians to be sure that students are receiving the right kinds of meals. Nutri-Café, their virtual cafeteria, lets students and their parents see the nutritional values of all food served and encourages healthy eating habits. Federal programs allow these nutritious meals to be offered for free to qualifying students and at a reasonable price for paying students.

Find the right schools with the help of a real estate professional

There is more to being a real estate agent then sifting through MLS listings. A qualified agent should know about Gwinnett schools to help you find the best schools for your children and the best home for your family. Agents need to have access to all the information that might be important to you, whether it’s access to commuting arteries or proximity to the best shopping centers.

At Realty 1st we know real estate in Gwinnett County and other areas around Atlanta. We can guide you to the best Gwinnett schools and help you find the perfect location for all your family’s needs. We don’t want to put you in a house; we want to put you in a home. Contact Realty1st today and let us put you in your dream home.

It happens every year. You get the mail and you see that dreaded envelope with a Gwinnett County return address. You know it’s your annual property tax bill and you tense up as you open it. You aren’t alone. No one likes paying taxes but you can take some comfort in knowing that Gwinnett taxes aren’t as steep as in many parts of the country.

Gwinnett taxes are some of the lowest in the nation

A study by the Tax Foundation shows that Gwinnett County property taxes are well below the national average. In 2004, Georgia homeowners paid average state and local property taxes of $880 per capita when the national average was $1086. In fact, there were 33 states that year that paid higher property taxes than Georgia did.

Another study by the Tax Foundation shows that the total state and local tax burden for Georgia is lower than the national average as well. The tax burden includes income, sales, and property taxes. In Georgia in 2006, the average state and local tax burden was 10.4% compared to the national average burden of 10.6%.

These low Gwinnett taxes make buying real estate in the county an even better investment than in much of the nation. With less of your money going to taxes, you can enjoy more of your income or even buy a larger house. It makes it that much easier to achieve the lifestyle you want.

Take advantage of property tax exemptions

You can make those low taxes even lower. There are many exemptions to Gwinnett taxes that reduce the taxable value of your home:

• Homestead Exemptions are available to new homeowners who occupy their house as the primary residence
• Senior Citizen Exemptions apply to homeowners who are 62 or older, depending on age, income, and disability
• Disability Exemptions can be claimed by homeowners who are 100% totally and permanently disabled. If the disability was related to service in the armed forces, the exemption extends to a surviving and unmarried widow or widower
• Value Offset Exemptions protects homeowners against sudden increases in property values in the booming Atlanta real estate market

Start with a qualified real estate agent

There is no need to face the anxiety of house hunting alone. A real estate agent can help you find homes you didn’t even know existed. An experienced professional will have access to all kinds of information about schools and other community services that will help you find the ideal location for your new home.

A good real estate agent can help you find the best property in the Atlanta area. You need to use an agent who understands your needs and knows the market. At Realty 1st, we pride ourselves in providing exceptional service to our customers. We listen to what you want and help you find your dream home. Contact Realty1st today and let us help you realize your dreams of home ownership.

As people search for Atlanta real estate, they would be smart to consider many of the outlying communities as well as the city itself. For example, real estate in Doraville is very affordable right now. You have the advantages of small town life combined with a short drive to the amenities of a large city. With easy access to I-285, I-85, and the MARTA rapid transit system, Doraville is within 15 minutes of any major event in Atlanta.

Housing prices are booming all through the Atlanta area and real estate in Doraville is no exception. As the population in the city grows, more people are moving to outlying communities like Doraville. Your house is not only your home, but a profitable investment as well.

Great for the kids

When you buy real estate in Doraville, you can be assured that your children will receive the education they deserve. Cary Reynolds, Hightower, and Oakcliff Elementary Schools provide education for children from preschool through the 5th grade and Sequoyah Middle School provides for them after that. The 10,000 square foot city library provides a variety of services including story time and internet access.

When they aren’t studying, your kids have plenty of opportunities to get out and have fun in one of Doraville’s parks. You can find basketball courts, playgrounds, a BBQ pit, and a nature center among the many recreational facilities in the city. Kids have plenty of opportunity to exercise and play instead of parking themselves in front of the television.

Doraville is expanding

Real estate in Doraville has been limited lately since the city has expanded to its borders and very little new building has been happening. There is an ongoing initiative to annex some unincorporated portions of Dekalb County and expand the city’s borders. This will create new opportunities for growth and prosperity in the city.

In addition, over 150 acres of prime land will soon be becoming available near one of the area’s most important transportation junctions. A recent report by the Georgia Tech’s City and Regional Planning Studio gave some concrete strategies on how this area can be used to create a commercial and industrial boom in the area.

Real estate agents help you find real estate in Doraville

As with anywhere else, you need a qualified professional in your corner when you are shopping for real estate in Doraville. You need an agent with a proven track record of sales throughout the Atlanta area. Don’t settle for a part-time agent who won’t give you the full support of a professional real estate agency.

Realty1st has been helping residents of Atlanta and surrounding cities buy and sell their homes for over 15 years. We provide the resources, services, and good old hard work you need to make your real estate transaction painless and profitable. Contact Realty1st today and make your move to the small town life.

If you are renting a home or an apartment in the Atlanta area, real estate agents will always say you are better off buying a home. They’ll tell you that you are throwing your money away every month. They’ll talk about building equity. Buy buying a home takes money and you are struggling from month to month. There’s no way you can buy a home – right?

You might be surprised. It is easier than ever to buy a home in the Atlanta area. Real estate agents can help you by educating you on some of the special programs available to people who think they can’t afford a new home.

FHA loans are a good start

According to Atlanta area real estate agents, one of most common reasons renters think they can’t buy a home is that they can’t manage a down payment. FHA loans were created exactly for these kinds of situations.

The FHA (Federal Housing Administration) was created in the 1930s to offer a loan guarantee service that would allow people in the struggling economy to afford homes they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to.

Borrowers using an FHA secured loan don’t have to come up with the normal 10% down payment. Typical FHA loans have a 3% down payment and some lenders offer zero-down home loans.

The FHA offers other loan programs such as the Good Neighbor Next Door Program which offers a substantial discount on home purchases for police, teachers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians.

Other programs to help the first-time Georgia homebuyer

The Georgia Dream Homeownership Program helps low to moderate income level families purchase a home. Georgia Dream’s First Mortgage offers low-interest loans to first-time home buyers. Georgia Dream’s Second Mortgage provides 0% interest rate loans to help buyers with down payments and closing costs.

Some non-profits also offer help to homebuyers in the Atlanta area. Real estate agents may have more information on organizations such as Nehemiah, HART, and Consumer Debt Solutions. These programs help with down payments, closing costs, or even reductions in sale price.

Talk to Atlanta area real estate agents for more information

Atlanta area real estate agents are a great resource for programs in your area. They don’t only help you find a home, they can help you connect with the resources you need to realize your dream of home ownership.

First time homebuyers, particularly buyers who are struggling with down payments, often fall into the trap of using bargain agents. They need to save money so look for Atlanta area real estate agents who promise low commissions. This ends up being a false economy. Many low-commission agents are struggling part-timers who aren’t well educated in the subtleties of Atlanta area real estate. Agents who are skilled in negotiating for you can shave thousands of dollars of the purchase price, easily earning their commissions.

Realty1st has over 15 years of experience selling Atlanta area real estate. Agents from Realty1st are well educated in all aspects of the Atlanta area from schools to shopping to recreation. We can find your dream home in the perfect location, and we can help negotiate the price you want to pay. There is no obligation, so come to Realty1st and let us show you just how easy home buying can be.

Renting a property that you own can seem like a good way to pull in some extra income. However, becoming a landlord involves more than just putting out a “For Rent” sign then cashing the checks each month. Running a rental property requires a significant time commitment and a level of knowledge that the typical owner may not have. Rather than running the properties themselves, many landlords choose to employ rental agents.

Qualified rental agents bring knowledge of property management that can help a landlord avoid problems ranging from minor annoyances to major lawsuits. Rental agents oversee a variety of duties that free the landlord from some of the more tedious aspects of property management. They also save the owner from having to personally travel to the property regularly, which can be impossible if the rental property is far away.

All rental agencies are not equal. Landlords turn over a great deal of responsibility to their rental agents and it is important that they be sure the agents are up to the job. Landlords need to do thorough research and interviewing to be sure they find the rental agencies that will provide the service they need.

Here are a few tips to help landlords find the best rental agents:

• Insist on experience. Not all real estate agents have worked as rental agents before. It is common for real estate agents to offer rental services to supplement the primary income that comes from buying and selling homes. That’s fine, but be sure they have extensive experience specifically with rental properties.
• Research potential candidates. A background check is essential on prospective rental agents. Landlords can be held legally responsible for the actions of the rental agencies that run their properties. Rental agents who have successful complaints of discrimination or other problems should be avoided.
• Demand regular contact. Landlords are still responsible for the property. Some fall into the trap of allowing rental agents to run the property unsupervised, then are surprised months down the road when problems arise. Rental agencies should give regular reports on the status of properties and new tenants.
• Work out the tenant selection process. One advantage of using rental agents is that they can interview and screen potential tenants. Landlords need to decide just how much of the process will be handled by rental agencies. In any event, landlords should always have the final say on any new tenant.
• You get what you pay for. Landlords need to trust that their rental agencies will protect their interests. Owners who contract with rental agents based on nothing more than their low fees often get disappointed. If landlords constantly have to check up on their work, it defeats the purpose of having them in the first place. Hiring rental agencies that charge a little more often gets landlords much better service.

Realty1st has a team of highly-qualified rental agents ready to help property owners with the details of running rental properties. We are committed to providing the best service you will find from rental agencies. When Realty1st is on the job, landlords can relax. Come talk to one of our representatives at Realty1st and find out just how easy renting your property can be!

Buying and selling real estate in Georgia immerses people in a world of new terminology. As they struggle with terms like "points" and "MLS" they may mistakenly assume they understand some of the other jargon. For example, people often assume that real estate agents and real estate brokers are the same, but this isn’t the case at all.

Real estate agents are licensed by the Georgia Real Estate Commission to handle real estate sales. Real estate agents in Georgia are technically called "salespersons" under state law, but are commonly referred to as agents. They have passed a criminal background check, have had 75 hours of pre-licensing real estate education, and have passed the real estate licensee qualifying examination.

Real estate agents are not allowed to work alone. They may only offer their services on behalf of licensed real estate brokers. All listings are put in the names of the real estate brokers and they collect the commissions, which they will share with the real estate agents making the sales.

Real estate brokers must have been actively licensed as salespersons for at least three years. They must complete another 60 hours of pre-licensing coursework before obtaining their brokers licenses.

Real estate brokers can operate independently, dealing with customers directly. However, many real estate brokers oversee groups of real estate agents who do the actual customer interaction while they handle the management and administrative duties. The real estate brokers make their experience and education available to the agents.

Neither agents nor brokers should be confused with REALTORS®. A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and operates under that organization’s Code of Ethics. Most of them also act as real estate brokers or real estate agents, but some operate as appraisers, property managers, or other real estate professionals.

Since real estate agents work under the supervision of real estate brokers, the difference isn’t that important to customers. Instead, customers should look at the sales history of the agency as a whole. It’s easy for real estate agencies to make sales in a hot market. When the market cools down though, good agencies still can move lots of homes. This is where the experienced real estate brokers and agents separate from the average as they tap into their years of experience and education to move properties that other agencies can’t.

Some customers shy away from premium real estate agencies because they often charge higher commissions. They think that selling a home is a straight-forward process that is the same no matter who performs it, when in reality hiring a real estate agent is entering in to a service contract that can yield very different overall experiences. Sellers who choose bargain real estate agents are surprised when their home doesn’t sell and buyers often grow frustrated when they watch the homes they want slip away to other buyers. In the end, bargain commissions generally bring bargain service.

With more than 15 years experience with Georgia real estate, Realty 1st offers the qualifications you are looking for in real estate brokers and agents. We help our sellers get the price they need, and find our buyers the homes of their dreams. Contact Realty1st at 678-221-3333 and hire the best work for you.