MaryAnn McReynolds' Blog: Market News

A prospective client contacted me recently with some criteria for their new home search. They had almost made up their mind on  the Riverwalk Douglasville Community but weren't enamored with the current inventory. They were leaning towards purchasing a lot and having a new home constructed. A pretty pricey subdivision, these clients are planning to spend a good deal of money and want to be sure that they get exactly what they want in a new home.

Many agents would leap at this, these potential clients know what they want and are ready to pull the trigger, a rare case these days it seems. Adhering to my philosophy of providing the most information possible and allowing clients make their own decisions, I felt it was my duty to advise these clients of some…

The stunning swim/ tennis community Riverwalk in Douglasville offers potential Douglasville real estate buyers an active lifestyle and spacious custom homes with generous included upgrades. These 3-side brick homes feature every modern convenience, gourmet kitchens are standard with granite countertops and Kohler sinks. Riverwalk on Dog RIver builders are currently offering a $3000 appliance allowance as well. Custom touches are included throughout including all tile bathrooms, crown moulding,trey ceilings, $4000 lighting package, spacious master suites with walk-in closets, and more.

Community amenities include expansive pool area, lighted tennis courts, clubhouse, playground, and of course there is easy access to the Dog River Park with camping,…

Now that I have your attention I would like to shed a little light on what I consider an unsavory practice that some Douglasville real estate agents have been known to participate in. I checked into it and apparently it is perfectly legal, most things are when written into a contract properly. Ethical is another matter, as this practice is frowned upon by every agent that I know of except the two that started it.

Two agents working exclusively for a Douglasville builder found a way to actually co-opt the sale of these new homes three ways! I learned of this practice the hard way as I brought a client to this new subdivision and sold her a home there. The onsite agent working for the builder prepared the contract as is typical with new construction in the…

Let's dispense with all of the media hype and doom prophecies and get down to the real numbers. Many consumers fail to realize that real estate markets are local in nature and the bubbles popping around the nation have little to do with the Douglasville real estate market which never saw the ridiculous appreciations that other markets did. The many foreclosures coming onto the market have helped to swell the inventory but have more to do with poor lender judgement than any problem with real estate.

People are convinced that this is not a good time to sell a home due to what they have been told repeatedly, but what if I told you that home prices were actually UP 9.5% for 2007 YTD over 2006 in Douglas County? The median price of a home sold in 2006…

Atlanta Hangar Homes are one of the niche markets that sell very well due to the the busiest hub in the country, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Many Delta pilots have chosen to settle down out west in such places as Fairfield Plantation to be close to the hub but now have a new option. Lyon's Landing Hangar Homes in Carroll County offer the unique opportunity for pilots to actually live with their planes. These custom luxury homes have every convenience for plane and pilot alike. Gourmet kitchens with granite countertops and maple cabinets are typical of the highest-end products used throughout these gorgeous new homes. Oversize garages keep aircraft safe and the attached apartments are perfect for fly-in guests. Heavy duty hangar door…

Judgments based on a first impression are not always correct but what else do people have to go on? We are constantly evaluating the people and places we come in contact with and form our perceptions based on what we can see. Most real estate agents are aware that the currently overstocked market means that you have to present a client's home in the best possible manner to have any hopes of competing. Many Douglasville builders have felt the pinch from the recent slowdown and have delayed new starts until their current standing inventory sells. Developments that were just getting started when the slowdown occurred had no choice but to press on.

Several new construction developments have opened in the greater Douglasville real estate market this year. I…

Georgia's '100-Year Drought' has sparked controversy throughout the region and has already had an effect on area real estate transactions. I have personally been involved in two deals in rural West Ga involving homes being purchased that both used wells which had recently run dry. One of these homes did not have county water supplied yet, the now-dry well was the only source of water for the home. A competent home inspector discovered the situation and the switch-over to county water had to be worked into the transaction. Shallower wells are drying up throughout the region.

A low priced foreclosure, if an investor had snatched this home up without an inspection the additional $3000 needed to convert to county water would have been a hidden cost to…

The innovative mega master planned community Tributary at New Manchester Georgia has seen a decrease in home sales from last year but continues to sell at a more rapid rate than other new communities in the Douglasville area. Tributary is one of the two top selling developments in Georgia, having moved at least 33 units by the end of July. Located in the southeast corner of Douglas County, Tributary's 2500 acres are located on the banks of the Sweetwater creek adjacent to Sweetwater State Park.  The development successfully markets itself as an alternative to driving further west for Atlanta commuters and the expansive greenspace, parks, running trails, and gracious amenities promote an active lifestlye. Work is underway on the Village Center which will…