Ryan Ward's Blog: Atlanta, Georgia

One of the most important factors relating to the housing market is called the absorption rate. The absorption rate tells us how long it would take, based on statistics, for all homes to sell, if no new homes came on the market during that time. To find the absorption rate you must divide the number of homes available by the number of homes that have sold. Currently there are 5,400 homes for sale in the city of Atlanta and,  according to the Atlanta MLS, the FMLS, 486 homes sold during the month of January. Therefore, the absorption rate for homes in Atlanta is 11.1 months. This number does not include homes that are currently under contract. Traditionally, January is the slowest month of the year for home sales and this year is no exception. If we take a…

The housing market around the country is going through a change; what was a definite sellers market in many area has shifted to a more balanced real estate market and, in some cases, shifted completely to a buyers market. Many factors come in to play when determining the current real estate market conditions, but, one easily measurable statistic is to see if buyers are still in the market buying homes. The direct impact to a seller is that if the number of homes sold has remained steady, you can reasonably expect to sell your home if you price it properly and prepare the home for sale. There is also, a direct correlation between buyer confidence in the real estate market and their willingness to buy a home. We can isolate different aspects of the market…

Here are the 2007 statistics for the Sandy Springs, GA housing market as of February 26th, 2007. I have split the statistics up into three groups; homes under $500,000, homes between $500,000 and $1,000,000 and homes above $1,000,000. The statistics are gathered from the Sandy Springs MLS, which is part of the Atlanta First Multiple Listing Service, the FMLSGA under.

 Homes For Sale Under $500,000

Sandy Springs, GA Under $500,000 2007 Active  74 Pending  23 Sold  23 LP/SP  94% DOM …

The popularity of new construction is undeniable. Many buyers simply prefer to buy a new home rather than to purchase an existing home that has been owned and lived in by other people. I guess it is similar to that new car smell that makes a new car irresistible to some. There is definitely something wonderful about buying a new home you can customize exactly to the style and amenities you prefer. If you are considering buying a new home, you will want to consider some of these suggestions before you walk in to that beautifully decorated model home. In the area where I specialize, Sandy Springs and Alpharetta, new construction is very prevalent so you may find these suggestions timely.

First and most importantly you will want a REALTOR to represent you…

A comparative market analysis (CMA) is the most important,and, should be the first skill that any real estate agent learns how to do well. A CMA should be used to determine fair market value for a home based on certain conditions. The conditions for determining fair market value are that you have a willing buyer, a willing seller and no undue pressure on either party. This is market value. Not what the seller or agent or buyer feels like the value is, but instead, what buyers and sellers have actually paid for similar homes. After all, whether the real estate agent is representing you in listing your home for sale or representing you in the purchase of a new home, what could be more important than the value of the home?

Surprisingly, most real estate…

EIFS, Dryvet, or synthetic stucco, as it is often called, can create a real problem if you are trying to sell your home. From the outset, many buyers will overlook your home without giving it a second thought no matter what you have done to protect your home from the potential problems that are associated with the product. This is unfortunate for many homeowners who have taken good care of their home because might have a difficult time selling because many Alpharetta buyers will simply not even consider the home. Fortunately, there are certain steps that you can take to improve your chances of selling a home with synthetic stucco.

First, you need to obtain all records you have for any repairs made to the siding. Second, you should obtain a stucco bond…

From time to time while negotiating a real estate contract, an agent might try to make a verbal offer on behalf of their client. This is not only bad practice, it is not enforceable. Many reasons can be given why an agent tells you that they need to make an offer verbally - none are good enough to not have it put in writing. During the course of negotiating a sale of real estate, many smaller items do arise and information exchanges can take place to help either party decide what their next course of action should be. When the time comes to make the decision about what to offer or ask for in the transaction, you must make that offer in writing or it is as if it never happened. Do not let someone tell you that it is fine to just converse verbally during the…

We have all driven by a house that seems to just sit on the market forever. At some point we all wonder what's wrong with that house. Why have other houses around sold and this one hasn't? Is it the price, location, what seems to be the problem?

Before I get to what the real problem is with why some homes don't sell while others around seem to sell in a reasonable amount of time, I would like to talk a little bit about some mitigating factors. I know it should go without saying, but I will say it anyway - not all homes are created equal. There are new homes and old homes; some have been updated; others have fresh paint or a front door that is so hard to open that you have to put your shoulder into it just to get it open - my point is that all of these…