Main Content

Home » Archives for blairhuck

Author Archive

Bill

“After relocating enough times to buy 11 houses and sell 10, and dealing with agents all over the country in a mixture of markets, I must say Ms. Branch was the most efficient, professional and effective REALTOR I have ever dealt with. It turns out I did not hire a rookie, but rather an all-star, MVP, and future hall-of-famer."

Caroline

“Blair helped us buy our first house and we could not have asked for a better real estate agent. She was there every step of the way and had excellent follow-through. Blair is extremely reliable, professional yet personable, and always had our best interest. We now live in a home that exceeds our expectations of a “starter house” and this is all thanks to Blair!”

Homebuying Do’s and Don’ts

Spring is here and the Atlanta spring market is in full frenzy! Check out these tips for buying real estate in this crazy market from our lead buyers’ agent Kristen Feldman. If you’re getting a loan, DO get prequalified! This is SO important! Not only do you need to know the price range of what you can afford, in this ultra-competitive market, most sellers will not even take a second glance at an offer that lacks a prequal letter from a reputable lender. I encourage you to shop around and see which bank and loan officer you feel the most comfortable with and who can offer you the best rate. Once you get the thumbs up from your lender, contact your agent and you can begin your sea...

Read more

Lights, Camera, Listing!

As I mentioned in a previous blog post (here), professional photography can mean the difference in getting buyers through your door or having them discard your home into their pile of “no’s.” But professional photography can only do so much. To ensure your home truly shows its best online and in marketing materials, you need to do the prep work! Below, my checklist for getting your home picture perfect! Focus Your Efforts Photos of kitchens, master bedrooms, master bathrooms, and living rooms tend to be heavily featured in marketing materials and buyers specifically focus on these areas when browsing photos. These areas should be top priority when getting your home photo-rea...

Read more

How Long Does the Buying Process Take?

This is one of the most often asked questions from buyers. The problem is, there is no simple answer. Everyone’s journey is different. Getting Your Finances in Order Before you even visit your first property in person, you might need to spend time examining your credit profile or saving money in order to qualify for a home loan. Checking your credit scores before you begin your home search can help you determine if you need more time to build your credit. (There are various services that allow you to check your credit scores for free, including Credit.com.) The minimum down payment amount for a conventional loan is 3%. FHA is 3.5%. Scraping together enough cash to simply meet those...

Read more

A Short Guide to Short Sales

When the real estate market hit the bottom, the number of short sales reached record highs. Due to the high volume of distressed sellers banks were faced with, and the lack of experience/preparedness, the odds of a short sale making it to the closing table were slim. And if it did make it to closing, it was a several months (and sometimes years) long process. The short sale environment has certainly changed and is much more streamlined now. There are systems, processes, and third party programs to facilitate a smooth transaction. For a buyer looking for a “deal,” a short sale may be a great fit. What exactly is a short sale? A short sale has nothing to do with the time frame in ...

Read more

Don’t Make These Mistakes When Selling Your Home!

With the Spring real estate market quickly approaching, many sellers will be scrambling to get their home ready to put on the market. Around this time, I am often consulted to help sellers decide which home improvement projects will yield the best return, how their home should be staged to show its best, and which maintenance items they should spend their money on. But even the most beautifully staged, impeccably maintained, newly updated home won’t sell if the it’s overpriced. Or the seller is stingy with letting buyers in to see it. This infographic from ActiveRain illustrates some of the top mistakes sellers make. With the selling season upon us, make sure you don’t find yoursel...

Read more

What Fees Do Sellers Pay When Selling Their Home?

This is one of the first questions sellers ask me prior to listing their home. And many are shocked by my response. Commission. That’s pretty much it! In Georgia, the buyer is responsible for the transfer tax on the sale of the property, as well as all attorney and title exam fees. Additionally, if they obtain a loan the buyer will incur closing costs associated with the loan. The seller is only responsible for paying the commission agreed upon between them and their real estate professional. (In Atlanta, this is typically 6% of the contract price.) During the negotiation of the contract, a seller may agree to pay part of the buyer’s closing costs, or offer some concessions i...

Read more

3 Mistakes Buyers Make

Purchasing a home can be extremely rewarding, both financially and personally. But for a first time buyer (or even someone who has purchased before) the process can be extremely stressful. Below, a few common mistakes to avoid when purchasing your home. Not getting preapproved by a mortgage lender. This is by far the most common mistake buyers make. Many buyers think just because they have good credit and a great salary they’ll have no problem qualifying for a home loan. This is simply not true. Aside from these key pieces, buyers also need to show steady employment history (especially those who are considered “independent contractors” or work on commission) and their debt-t...

Read more

13 things to consider when buying a condo

I recently showed a first-time homebuyer his first condo on our home search. We walked into the unit, I turned on the lights, and he just stood there. “What do I do?” he asked. “What am I looking for?” I was a bit taken aback. I show so many condos and most buyers just sort of make themselves at home and start walking through. It was a good opportunity for me to have a refresher in showing property (and gave me a great idea for this blog post!) Condo Considerations HOA dues! How much are they? What do they cover? How will the monthly dues affect how much you can spend? What style of condo are you looking for? The Atlanta condo market has a multitude of available styles...

Read more