Real Estate Information

Hello neighbors,

More good news is starting to surface in the housing market! According to a HouseHunt Current Market Conditions survey, there is strong evidence that the market has bottomed resulting in the emergence of a more balanced housing market throughout the U.S.

Data from the survey which was reported during the first quarter of this year also show price stabilization after very high declines during the past two to four years. In addition, some of these prices are appreciating despite recent foreclosure activity, short sales, reluctant lenders, and etc.

Additional news illuminating from the survey include the buyer-seller ratio which is almost obsolete as well as repeat buyers making up 50% of all transactions in which three months ago they accounted for only 34%.

Another positive change includes the amount of time needed to sell a home. According to at least half of HouseHunt's member agents, sellers are receiving between 95-100% of their asking price.

Hello neighbors,

Are you in the process of selling your home? Well here's one thing to remember, a vacant home does not fair well in today's market. Wondering why? Here are 5 reasons:

People Don’t Simply Buy Houses; they buy the next chapter of their lives

Because purchasing a home can be pretty emotional and emotions play a large role in a buyers decision on what they may purchase and how much they are willing to pay, a vacant home displays no signs of life which leads to a lost of emotional connection for the potential buyer.

Vacancy distracts buyers from looking at the house itself

Buyers may begin to wonder the reason for selling such as: Is this home hard to sell? Is the sell a result of divorce? Do the sellers have financial issues? In this instance the potential buyer may feel the home owner is desperate and make a low offer.

When a house is vacant, buyers focus on flaws

Buyers will take special notice to small things such as nail holes, wear and tear in the carpet, gaps in the molding, and etc instead of paying attention to the actual space and amenities of the home. This can also decrease the price.

People can't visualize how furniture fits

Empty rooms may look awkward to a potential buyer. He or she may not be able to visualize their furniture in the home because they have nothing to go by. Also empty space may confuse a buyer causing them to bypass the vacant home and move on to the next prospect.

Vacant houses don't show as well as staged and occupied homes

An empty home has a tendency to acquire a stale and empty smell, gathers dust, and typically produces an unattractive look especially to potential buyers. This then leads to a cut in showing time and leads to fewer sales.

Hello neighbors,

According to the National Association of Realtors, the rise of pending home sales this past February is an indication of the second surge of home sales in relation to the home buyer tax credit.

The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) showed a rise of 8.2% making it 97.6 compared to 90.2 in January which remains 17.3% higher than February 2009's number of 83.2.

In addition, the PHSI for the Northeast increased by 9.0% to 77.7 in February and increased by 18.9 % in comparison to February 2009. In the Midwest there was an increase of 21.8% to 97.9 which is 18.8% higher than last year. As for our neck of the woods, the South had an increase of 9.2% which produced a number of 107.0 and is 17.5% higher than February 2009's index. Lastly, there was a decrease of 4.8% in the west producing an index 98.0 which is still 14.6% higher than last year.

Economists believe March data can produce even larger improvements!

Hello neighbors,

We have a wonderful 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, Virginia Highland home located at 1343 Northview Avenue. This home is actually much larger than it appears with an over-sized eat-in kitchen with garden window, plenty of cabinets, and large pantry!

Other features of the home you are sure to appreciate include hardwood floors throughout the main level, gas fireplace, and extra closet space. You will also love the home's formal dining room and main bath with marble shower, sunken tub, and dual vanity!

The home's sun filled family room which extends into the back yard will surely come in handy on a beautiful Atlanta day.

For your exterior amenities you will find a relaxing screened porch in addition to your deck and backyard with blooming hydrangeas in the spring!

This home also comes with a full apartment upstairs with separate entry, vaulted ceilings, kitchen, and full bath!

View the virtual tour here!

For more information and the most current price of this home, please call our 24-hour hot-line for free, recorded information at 1.888.510.1884 and enter code 2254.

Areas we serve: Decatur Georgia, Buckhead Atlanta Georgia, DeKalb County, Fulton County, Avondale Estates, Ansley Park, Virginia Highland, Poncey-Highland, Poncey Highland, Morningside, Candler Park, Grant Park, Lake Claire, Druid Hills, Emory, Inman Park, Downtown Atlanta, Midtown Atlanta, Little Five Points, Edgewood, Cabbagetown, Reynoldstown, East Atlanta, Kirkwood, Oakhurst, Medlock, Fernbank, Castleberry Hill, East Lake, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Atlanta lofts, Atlanta condos, Atlanta luxury condos, Atlanta townhouses.

Hello neighbors,

Get out and enjoy this beautiful Atlanta weather! Look at what the zac team found to do today.

Orchid Daze: Towers of Flowers - Come out and enjoy the power of flowers @ Atlanta Botanical Garden - 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30309, (404) 876-5859. Time: 9am - 5pm. Price: Free with garden admission.

Georgia Aquarium - Come and experience one of Atlanta's most popular attractions @ Georgia Aquarium - 225 Baker St. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30313, (404) 581-4000. Time: 10am.

Cars, Cars, Cars! - Have a love for cars? Bring the family out to the Woodruff Arts Center: High Museum of Art -1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA, 30309, (404) 733-444. Time: 12pm.

Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta Adoption Day - Come out and see adorable Golden Retrievers available for adoption @ Pet Supplies Plus - 2329 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta, GA, 30324. Time: 12pm - 2pm.

Bike MS: Atlanta to Athens Inaugural Fundraiser Bike Ride April 10th-11th  Come out and ride for a good cause @ Georgia State University - Decatur St. and Peachtree Center Ave., Atlanta, GA, 30303, (404) 651-2000. Time: 5pm, Price: $50 registration plus minimum individual or team fundraising total.

April Sunday Share - Come out for this unique dining experience @ Ecco - 40 Seventh St. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30308, (404) 347-9555. Time: 6:30pm, Price: $35 per person.

Marcus Johnson Live at Sambuca - Come out and treat your ears to the sounds of Marcus Jonson @ Sambuca Jazz Cafe - 3102 Piedmont Rd. N.E., Atlanta, GA, 30305, (404) 237-5299. Time: 6:30pm.

Obscura Dance Performance - Come out and view these young Atlanta artist, Choreography and performances by: Ellen Lyle, Sophie Slesinger, and dancers @ Eyedrum - 290 Martin Luther King Jr Dr. South, Atlanta, GA, 30312, (404) 522-0655. Time: 5pm - 6pm.

Greetings neighbors,

How would you like to step into your dream home? Well take a look at this 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home located at 1028 Shady Valley Place.

You will be delighted with the newly designed kitchen that contains features such as a large breakfast bar, stainless steel appliances, and eat-in breakfast nook! In addition you will find other features such as a fireplace with surrounding bookcases, vaulted ceilings, and a wall of windows with a door to the deck in your great room. You will also love the sunny formal dining room!

On the main floor you will find your master bedroom with sitting room and vaulted ceilings, and a master bath with jetted garden tub!

You are guaranteed to love this home's spacious lower level with wet bar, pool table, built-in media center in bonus living room, and screened-in porch!

For you external entertainment you will appreciate the wrap deck with built-in gas grill overlooking the home's fenced in back yard! Other amenities include two-car garage, corner lot, and community pool and tennis!

View the virtual tour here!

For more information and the most current price of this home, please call our 24-hour hotline for free, recorded information at 1.888.510.1884 and enter code 2774.

Areas we serve: Decatur Georgia, Buckhead Atlanta Georgia, DeKalb County, Fulton County, Avondale Estates, Ansley Park, Virginia Highland, Poncey-Highland, Poncey Highland, Morningside, Candler Park, Grant Park, Lake Claire, Druid Hills, Emory, Inman Park, Downtown Atlanta, Midtown Atlanta, Little Five Points, Edgewood, Cabbagetown, Reynoldstown, East Atlanta, Kirkwood, Oakhurst, Medlock, Fernbank, Castleberry Hill, East Lake, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Atlanta lofts, Atlanta condos, Atlanta luxury condos, Atlanta townhouses.

Greetings neighbors,

Have plans yet for this wonderful Saturday in Atlanta? Take a look at what the Zac Team found to do around the city today!

Paul Mitchell Charity Carnival & Yard Sale - Bring the family out for a day of fun @ Paul Mitchell the School of Atlanta - 887 W Marietta St NW, Suite A, Atlanta, GA, 30318 (404) 888-0070. Time: 10am, Price: $0.50 per ticket!

Suzuki Spring Artist Market - Come out and view a wide variety of vendors @ Suzuki School - 443 East Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA, 30305, (404) 869-1042. Time: 10am - 7pm, Price: Free!

March 26th at Mason Murer Fine Art - Come and view new work from artist such as Karen Hollingsworth, Virginia Parker, Thomas Boone, and others @ Mason Murer Fine Art - 199 Armour Dr., Atlanta, GA, 30324, (404) 879-1500. Time: 12pm - 5pm, Price: Free!

Studio Spring Break - Come out and make your own car @ Woodruff Arts Center: High Museum of Art - 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA, 30309, (404) 733-4444. Time: 1pm.

Enchanted Closet 8th Annual Prom Dress Giveaway - Know someone going to prom and need a dress? Come out to Rialto Center of the Arts - 80 Forsyth St. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30303, (404) 651-4727. Time: 9am - 2pm, Price: $10 Processing Fee, Dresses and Accessories are free!

The Great White Wine Tasting at The Mercantile - Come out and utilize your taste bugs @ The Mercantile - 1660 Dekalb Ave., Atlanta, GA, 30307, (404) 378-0096. Time: 12pm - 3pm, Price: Free!

UFC 112 Viewing Party - Fan of the UFC ? Cheyenne Grille and Sports Bar is where you need to be - 2391 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30305, (404) 842-1010.Time: 1pm.

"Feed Your Soul" Art Exhibit - Come out for an evening of soul @ Urban Grind Coffeehouse - 962 Marietta St., Atlanta, GA, 30318, (404) 724-0605. Time: 6pm - 9pm, Price: $15-$350.

Atlanta Sneaker Ball 2010 - Come out and celebrate the different people of Atlanta at this formal engagement where sneakers are actually allowed @ The Gallery at King Plow Art Center - 887 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30318. Time: 7pm, Price: $75 per person.

David Gray - Come out and enjoy the English singer-songwriter @ The Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center - 395 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, GA, 30308, (404) 523-6275. Time: 7:30pm, Price: $38 - $53.

Sol Saturdays at Room Service Lounge - Come out and enjoy soul, classic hip hop, and drink specials @ Room Service Lounge - 1937 Piedmont Circle, Atlanta, GA, 30324, (404) 249-7775. Time: 8pm - 3am, Price: Free Admission all night!

Greetings neighbors,

Looking for a reasonably priced home here in Atlanta? Well this may be the place for you! Check out this 1 bedroom, 1 bath renovated top floor condo at 3091 Colonial Way G4 in Georgetown Atlanta.

You are guaranteed to love the floor plan's open living room and dining room with an abundance of natural lighting. In addition, the newly remolded kitchen will prove to be a cook's dream with Ikea cabinets, butcher block counters, and marble flooring!

Other amenities of the Georgetown community include pool, tennis, gym and much fabulous location close to highways, shopping and much more!

View the virtual tour here!

For more information and the most current price of this home, please call our 24-hour hotline for free, recorded information at 1.888.510.1884 and enter code 2954.

Areas we serve: Decatur Georgia, Buckhead Atlanta Georgia, DeKalb County, Fulton County, Avondale Estates, Ansley Park, Virginia Highland, Poncey-Highland, Poncey Highland, Morningside, Candler Park, Grant Park, Lake Claire, Druid Hills, Emory, Inman Park, Downtown Atlanta, Midtown Atlanta, Little Five Points, Edgewood, Cabbagetown, Reynoldstown, East Atlanta, Kirkwood, Oakhurst, Medlock, Fernbank, Castleberry Hill, East Lake, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Atlanta lofts, Atlanta condos, Atlanta luxury condos, Atlanta townhouses.

Greetings neighbors,

As mentioned in one of our previous post "4 Good Tax Laws for Homeowners...", homeowners do have a few things to look forward to in today's improving market. Here are 3 other tax laws many home owners should be aware of.

Surviving Spouse Home Sale Tax Exclusion - Did you know that a widow or widower can receive some tax relief in relation to the sale of the family home due to a provision in the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007?

Typically a seller can exclude up to $250,00 in profit from the primary residence. If sold by a married couple filing a joint return, the tax free amount is $500,000. Previously surviving spouses could take advantage of the full sale exclusion of $500,000 only if the sale occurred during the same year of the spouse's death. If the primary home was sold after the year of death, the surviving spouse was entitled to only $250,000 of the exclusion amount.

However, now the surviving spouse can exclude up to the full amount of $500,000 if the home is sold within two years of the spouse's date of death. In addition, the surviving spouse will still need to meet the regular ownership and use requirements which are the surviving spouse must have utilized the property as their primary residence for two of the five years.

Note: The Surviving Spouse Home Sale Tax Exclusion is currently a permanent law.

Energy - Saving Home Improvements - These particular tax breaks started to appear in the 2005 energy bill and in 2009, those tax benefits were expanded. If you have made qualifying improvements to your home between Feb. 17, 2009 and the end of this year, you are eligible to claim a tax credit up to 30% of the cost of products. The maximum credit cap is $1,500 per homeowner for all home improvements combined. If a homeowner uses more extravagant energy saving improvements such as fuel cells or solar heating equipment they may receive an even larger tax savings.

Second Home Sale Limits - Beginning early 2009, tax laws regarding second home sales were changed to assist in paying for the new housing related tax breaks.

Before, those who owned more than one home could utilize one of the homes as a primary residence for two years, then sell the home, and keep any gains tax free up to $250,000 if single or $500,000 if owned by a married couple filing joint returns. Now, it is taken into consideration the total amount of time the property was used as an investment property or second home. Now, owners will owe tax on part of the money gained based on the length of time the home was used as a second home opposed to a primary home.

Note: This is currently a permanent tax law change.

This coming Sunday, April 11th, 2010 is Open House Day across the U.S.! We invite all of you to visit our zac team open houses listed below between 3-5 p.m. on Sunday!

946 Rosedale Road a restored 4 / 4.5 Virginia Highland Craftsman with wine cellar!
FMLS 4035513  |  Full info: http://www.zacsellsatlanta.com/property/946-Rosedale-Road-Atlanta-Georgia

756 Elkmont Drive a 3 / 2 brick bungalow in Virginia Highland near Piedmont Park!
FMLS 4036043  |  Full info: http://www.zacsellsatlanta.com/property/756-Elkmont-Drive-Atlanta-Georgia

3287 Ferncliff Place a 4 / 3 gorgeously updated home in Pine Hills
FMLS 4017987  |  Full info: http://www.zacsellsatlanta.com/property/3287-Ferncliff-Atlanta-Georgia

971 Taft Avenue a lavish traditional 3 / 2.5 in Midtown walking distance to Piedmont Park!
FMLS 4001565  |  Full info: http://www.zacsellsatlanta.com/property/971-Taft-Avenue-Atlanta-Georgia 

 1199 Arborvista Drive a lovely 4 / 4 Biltmore Estates home on a corner lot!
FMLS 4040810  |  Full info: http://www.zacsellsatlanta.com/property/1199-Arborvista-Drive-Atlanta-Georgia 

481 Harold Avenue a 3 / 2 remodeled bungalow in Lake Claire!
FMLS 4036211  |  Full info: http://www.zacsellsatlanta.com/property/481-Harold-Avenue-Atlanta-Georgia  

972 Wylie Street a custom 3 / 2 home in Cabbagetown with elegant master suite!
FMLS 4022388  |  Full info: http://www.zacsellsatlanta.com/property/972-Wylie-Street-Atlanta-Georgia  

1113 Morningside Place a 2 / 2.5 Morningside townhome with 2-car garage!
FMLS 4032504  |  Full info: http://www.zacsellsatlanta.com/property/1113-Morningside-Place-Atlanta-Georgia 

 2979 Randolph Road a 3 / 3 classic ranch with screened porch in Randolph Estates!
FMLS 4046010  |  Full info: http://www.zacsellsatlanta.com/property/2979-Randolph-Road-Atlanta-Georgia 

 1942 Delano Drive a 3 / 2 Craftsman walking distance to the heart of Kirkwood!
FMLS 4024267  |  Full info: http://www.zacsellsatlanta.com/property/1942-Delano-Drive-Atlanta-Georgia 

 2384 Melinda Drive a 4 / 3 in Echo Hills with updated kitchen and stylish tile!
FMLS 4045605