Purchase decisions influenced by social media up 14% in last six months!
July 8, 2011 by admin
The process of making purchase decisions
You’ve all been told you need to be using social media and some have even pitched to you that it is the end all be all, and although we wildly disagree and remind people it’s simply a communication channel people are coming to expect you to be on (much like when telephones were introduced, people slowly adjusted as did business). But does social media have enough of an influence over purchase decisions (like hiring a Realtor or where to buy) to demand your presence?
Foreclosures…..Is the Worst Behind Us?
April 22, 2011 by admin
Last year was a rather volatile one for the economy. While the economy did improve, unemployment remained at elevated levels. Housing affordability was at record levels and mortgage rates extremely favorable for homebuying – but even some qualified borrowers had challenges in obtaining mortgages. Inflation remained tame, but consumer confidence still struggled to improve.
2010 was a volatile year for foreclosures as well. Last year around this time we examined the question of shadow inventory. We noted then that shadow inventory could be defined in a number of ways. Some consider all loans with at least one missed payment as part of shadow inventory while others account for cures through modifications and short sales in determining shadow inventory. In terms of foreclosures, things appeared quite dismal last March. So, is the worst behind us?
How Satisfied are you with your Realtor? A Buyers Testimonial!
October 24, 2010 by Greg Saunders
Hey folks, you probably have heard this old adage, “Nobody knows how much you know until they know how much you care…”
It’s ironic because my wife and I often accuse each other of assisting people too much sometimes. Just so you know, she is a human resources professional at a company that has a staff of over 200 employees. But believe it or not, she made it her business to know the names of each and ever associate. In fact, she may also knows the names of many of their spouses, significant others, and/or kids. For each of us, customer service takes on a whole new meaning!
Life After the Housing Tax Credit?
May 17, 2010 by Greg Saunders
Okay Peachtree City, I apologize because it has been a minute since I’ve posted an article. But honestly I have been swamped with assisting first time home buyers get their deals closed by the deadline which was April 30th. After I finally got a chance to take a breather I had to stop and think about what would happen now
that the tax credit is gone. Did this initiative help stabilize our fragile economy or was it all just a waste of taxpayers monies to the tune of approximately $35 billion?
Mediterranean Villa Offered for Sale at 310 Watermark Drive, Peachtree City, Georgia 30269
February 8, 2010 by Greg Saunders
Hey Peachtree City….Can you feel it???? Ahhhh yeah, love is in the air! As Valentines Day approaches many of us are still in the hunt…..searching for something uniquely different to surprise that special loved one this year.
So what could be the most awe-inspired gift that would restore your appropriate title of King or Queen of Hearts and place your special someone on that well deserved proverbial pedestal? 
Maybe a 2nd honeymoon adventure or a romantic island rendezvous? How about something rare and exotic? Okay….all of the above but maybe a bit more intimate this year you think? I know, you have finally made that decision to step up and DREAM a little bit bigger this year….right?
No Property Tax Increase In Peachtree City for FY 2010!!
September 28, 2009 by Greg Saunders
Hey Peachtree City…City Council recently voted by a margin of 3 to 2 not to increase property taxes for fiscal year 2010! However, Council did agree to increase the millage rate to 5.711 mils.
The increase in the millage rate would prevent the usage of cash reserves for the FY 2010 budget. Just in case you are wondering were the money is going….approximately 16.5% is headed to Peachtree City, 67.2% goes to Fayette County School Board, 15.5% goes to Fayette County and 0.7% goes to the State. Three public hearing were scheduled (as required by law) to advertise the increases.
Market Begins Stabilizing As Unit Sales Levels With 2008!
September 17, 2009 by admin
Hey Peachtree City….Following a month that saw the first year-over-year improvement in four years, August results in the REAL Trends Housing Market Report were level with August 2008. While these results were not as good as the July results-where unit sales had been up marginally-it does show that the floor of housing unit sales may have been reached. Nationally, unit sales were down 0.2% in August 2009
over August 2008. The Western region again showed the greatest strength with unit sales up 7% while the South region lagged other regions with unit sales down 3.3%. On the pricing front, the South showed the best results with average prices for all homes sold down 9.5% while the Western region continued to suffer the largest price declines with a decrease of 18.2%.
Unit and price declines were mixed across the regions. The Northeast region was down 1.5% in units a significant improvement over the prior months while the Midwest and South were down 2% and 3.3% respectively. The Midwest region saw average prices decline 10.4% while the Northeast was down 10.7%.
“The August 2009 results were not as good as July’s but were not off by much. What we are seeing is evidence of a bottoming out in unit sales on a year over year comparison with prices continuing to decline from the year ago period. The good news is that price declines do not appear to be accelerating but are staying similar on a month to month basis,” said Steve Murray, editor of REAL Trends.
“With the economy continuing to shed jobs and incomes shrinking, this is likely the best result we can expect-that housing sales on a unit basis are flattening out and that price declines are at least not getting any worse for the moment. While we know that there are substantial challenges ahead, with a predicted rise in foreclosures and continued downward pressure on prices as a result, it would appear that we are closer to the floor of this recession in housing than we have been at any time in the last four years.”
Housing Market Report
August 2009 July 2009
(Versus same month a year ago)
Closed Sales AVG Price Closed Sales AVG Price
National
-0.2% -12.1% +2.8% -10.4%
Regional Report
Northeast
-1.6% -10.7% -1.2% -13.9%
South
-3.3% -9.5% -1.7% -8.7%
Midwest
-2.0% -10.4% +3.7% -10.9%
West
+7.0% -18.2% +12.3% -11.3%
Peachtree City, GA Voted As One of the Top 10 Places to Live in America In 2009!
July 16, 2009 by Greg Saunders
Kudos to you Peachtree City…Again! Money magazine has graciously awarded the city the recognition as being one of the best small towns to live in the US. That’s some awesome bragging rights baby!
Coming in at #8, Peachtree City and it 34,000 plus residents will all tell you that there is no better place to live and raise a family on this planet! Personally, it would be pretty hard to disagree and not acknowledge their strong sense of community. Besides…what’s not to love?
Federal, State Partners Announce Multi-Agency Crackdown Targeting Foreclosure Rescue Scams, Loan Modification Fraud!
May 27, 2009 by admin
Hey Peachtree City have you recently been victim to a barrage of phone calls, mail and email solicitation from folks targeting you to either Refi or modify your mortgage. Well, before you engage any firm please beware that there are unscrupulous companies out there looking to prey on their next victim….hopefully it won’t be you! So before you act, here is some information that may prove helpful!
As homeowners and communities throughout the country continue to face devastating consequences from the deep contraction in the economy and the housing market, the Obama Administration announced a new coordinated effort across federal and state government and the private sector to target mortgage loan modification fraud and foreclosure rescue scams that threaten to hurt American homeowners and prevent them from getting the help they need during these challenging times.
Governor Purdue Signs Georgia Housing Tax Credit Bill!
May 16, 2009 by Greg Saunders
Greetings Peachtree City! Well it finally happened! Governor Sonny Purdue signed into law the highly debated House Bill 261 on May 11, 2009. How much controversy was behind this bill? Well, as far as the Georgia Association of Realtors were concerned, it was at the top of their 2009 agenda.
From the side of the opposition however, this bill seemed unnecessary because it was felt that the credit would not pose to be a huge incentive for folks that were preparing to buy anyway. Critics also stated that Georgia is facing a $3.1 billion deficit in fiscal year 2010 and projected deficits projected at $746 million in 2001 and $1.7 billion in 2012.
Greg Saunders
