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Real Estate Report July Special Section
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North Atlanta’s
Sponsored Section • real estate report
July 2015
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News and advertising for new homes, realtors, developers, commercial properties and more.
Crye-Leike celebrates opening of ninth office in Georgia Johns Creek, GA. – It’s been ten years since Harold Crye, CEO of Crye-Leike Real Estate, expanded the company's footprint into the Atlanta metro area. Today, the third largest privately owned real estate company in the nation opens its ninth office in Georgia at 9945 Jones Bridge Road lo-
cated in Johns Creek. Crye-Leike is pleased to welcome Tammie Carter as the new Managing Broker. The office has the capacity currently for approximately 50 agents with room to grow as needed. Its agents will serve buyers and sellers in Atlanta and the surrounding North
Fulton, Gwinnett, Forsyth, Dawson, Hall and Cherokee counties. “The Atlanta real estate market is strong and greatly improving like many of the markets Crye-Leike serves," said Cofounder and CEO Harold Crye. "We see a lot of potential for the local market
like Johns Creek and are very happy to be expanding in and around the Atlanta area.” Crye-Leike's Johns Creek office is currently open for business and ready to assist clients with all of their real estate buying and selling needs. The office is also in the process of recruiting and interviewing agents to grow its team. It will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony this summer. Crye-Leike Real Estate Services had a great year in 2014 achieving $5.3 billion in sales volume. Over a nine-state region, 3000 highly skilled CryeLeike agents sold over 30,000 properties. Crye-Leike’s sales outperformed the national average in the real estate market. Crye-Leike Atlanta has sales offices in Alpharetta/Roswell, Cartersville, Cumming, Mc-
Donough Norcross, Smyrna/ Vinings, and Woodstock in addition to a Residential Property Management, Commercial and Relocation division. Crye-Leike is a full service company offering a wide variety of financial services such as home mortgages, insurance, and title insurance. Crye-Leike made several advances in technology support including new personalized mobile apps for agents. The company also upgraded its appointment center system to be more intuitive for home owners and agents. In 2014, Crye-Leike’s Appointment Center scheduled 183,000 showings. Crye-Leike’s website, www.crye-leike.com, received an award from Leading Real Estate Companies in the world for its innovation with property listings.
Eight steps to a more appealing home (NAPSI)—Your house can be more comfortable for you and have more curb appeal for the next owner with a few minor home improvements, including one you can barely see. Here are eight tips that can help: • Get in on the outdoor living trend. Add a few comfortable chairs and table to the front porch or backyard to create an extra room and a welcoming look. An even better idea may be to screen in the porch. • Create an a-door-able view. Your front door is one of the first things people see when arriving at your house and what greets you every day when you come home. Keep it bright and welcoming with a fresh coat of paint and perhaps some shiny new hardware. While you have the paint handy, see if the shutters, mailbox, front porch or window boxes could use a touch-up, too. • Get good screens. Whether on the window, the door or a screened-in porch or pool, there are a variety of styles and mesh fabrics available to meet a number of needs. One such screen, Phifer’s BetterVue®, is designed to maximize the outward view, making it sharper and more brilliant. Think of it as “high-definition” insect screening. BetterVue is woven
from smaller-than-usual yarns to ensure durability and to improve the openness by 10 percent over conventional screening. This enhances the view and improves airflow by approximately 20 percent while increasing protection against small insects by 10 percent. You can install it yourself, watch a simple step-by-step video here, or have it done professionally. • Keep things clear. Don’t let your front walkway or the front of your home look overgrown. Cut back on the shrubbery, and consider plants in pots instead. • Improve the lighting. Consider motion-sensing lights on walkways and the driveway and lanterns on posts near the door. • Opt for an awning. It can make your entryway more impressive and keep you and your family dry when you open the door. • Really rock your yard. Add a stone border around the flower beds. • Count on this idea. Make sure your house number is easy to read from the street.
July 2015
real estate report • Sponsored Section
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The Milton Real Estate Specialist
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Sponsored Section • real estate report
July 2015
Check out what is in store and on the floor (NAPSI)—This year, homeowners looking for ways to change their living spaces are taking inspiration from the great outdoors. Whether soft or hard surface, Mother Nature is definitely influencing the look of flooring today. Contrasting Textures Are On Trend One of the latest styles growing in popularity is termed “rustic elegance.” The look consists of both raw and refined materials displayed together. Organic elements including hardwood and stone receive added dimension and beauty when juxtaposed with highly trendy porcelain tiles made to look like stratified rock and burnished, smooth metal. Another look growing in popularity is rustic, industrial concrete, commonly associated with outdoor spaces, paired with smooth alabaster marble, glass and other glossy materials. Colors Are Quiet Patterns, Dramatic In all its many shades, gray has become the new beige. Combined with the weathered looks are hues that range from desert to ocean. These calming colors bring warmth and character to interiors. Meanwhile, eye-catching, over-sized geometrics and classic patterns larger in scale than normal are popular in carpeting, rugs and tiles. What It All Means For Your Floors Here’s how the latest looks are translated in each flooring category: • New technology and digital imaging deliver high-quality laminates that put their natural cousins, including hardwood and marble, to the test. Laminate today is highly durable, offers photo-real imaging and enhanced sound absorption, is easy to maintain and, best of all, very affordable! • Porcelain tile today can also look like fabric, metal, even concrete. Long-lasting and affordable tile is always in style. Intricate geometric patterns and mosaics found throughout history are now on tiles in dozens of shapes that come in all sizes. Even the warmth and natural texture of wood can be convinc-
ingly re-created in tile for kitchens and bathrooms. • If it’s stone you seek, here’s something that could rock your world. Stone may be an old building material but it’s getting a new look with unique shapes, etched surfaces, and pairings with other material—both natural and manmade, including glass, hardwood and burnished metal. • Hardwood floors remain popular amidst changing trends. According to the National Association of Realtors, 54 percent of homebuyers would pay more for houses with hardwood floors. Rugged and warm browns from ebony to leather to honey golden are all in, but for different reasons. Dark floors make a bold statement and help highlight a room’s other features; lighter ones are easier to maintain. Understated, weathered gray and muted metallic shades offer a great base and mask imperfections and dirt so they’re good for high-traffic areas. Flax, blond and whitewash add light and modernity. Planks salvaged from old beams and antique flooring, or logs reclaimed from rivers and lakes, are in high demand and short supply, so costs can be high. For a similar effect at a lower price, you can try handscraped or machine-distressed woods. If a patterned wood floor pleases you, good news: Mosaics and parquet designs are back in fashion and are available at most price points and in styles to appeal to every taste, from modern to vintage. • Versatile vinyl is more durable, more affordable and easier to maintain than any other flooring. Yet with today’s advanced photographic and embossing technology, vinyl can be made to look like anything from reclaimed boat wood planks to stone slate tiles. Vinyl is naturally water resistant, making maintenance as easy as a quick mopping, and unyielding against scratches, stains, dents and scuffs. Vinyl is also easy to install, even over existing flooring. • Sustainable and eco-friendly cork and rubber offer classic looks, comfort underfoot, acoustic qualities
and inherent antimicrobial protection. • Legend has it that Cleopatra presented herself to Julius Caesar rolled in a rug. Today, top clothing designers are basing the latest fashions on fabrics and motifs usually found on the floor. One reason may be the beautiful colors, patterns and textures that rugs and carpets can come in. In addition to the classic looks, distressed and striated patterns are popping up in almost every collection. These patterns are very forgiving when it comes to dirt and blemishes. And the distressed looks—well, they’re already distressed, so you don’t have to worry about added wear from your family. The influence from nature is also seen in carpets. From actual natural materials such as wool and sisal to nature-inspired patterns—including animal prints, insect wings and layered rock looks—if you’re a nature lover, you’ll likely fall for today’s soft floors. Some of today’s carpets and rugs even boast permanent, built- in stain resistance that never washes or wears off and man-made fibers that offer the look of wool with the durability and price of nylon. Learn More The World Floor Covering Association has more information on all these trends. Visit www.WFCA.org.
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Three tips for saving money in a seller’s market (NAPSI)—If you’re planning—or even just dreaming— of buying your first home, a few tips and trends may prove intriguing. According to the National Association of Realtors, home prices are up and accelerating because there are more buyers than homes for sale. Here are three tips for first-time buyers looking to purchase in this seller’s market: Know your budget and stay within it: Before you start shopping, find out what you can afford with a preapproval from a lender so you know how much money you can borrow. When determining your budget, consider the other costs of home ownership, including taxes, insurance and utilities. When listings are scarce, home prices tend to rise as bidding wars drive them higher. Don’t get caught up competing against other buyers and counteroffering above what you can comfortably afford. Winning a bidding war could feel like losing if you end up spending above your means. Stay patient and walk away if the price surpasses your budget. Identify needs versus wants: No home is perfect and many people have to compromise on features when buying an existing home. At the same time, you don’t want to end up settling for a house you don’t love. Separate and maintain your focus on what you really want in a home against what you can live with (or without). A home in a certain school district or close to your job most likely falls into the former while a kitchen with a fancy backsplash is something you can add at a later date. Work with a Realtor who knows the area: When housing supply is tight, an attractively priced home will likely draw multiple offers. Find a Realtor with experience serving clients in your desired area. He or she can provide invaluable market information, including how fast homes are selling and for what price. A Realtor can also help you with a negotiation strategy to make your offer stand out. To find one, go
to www.realtor.com/realestateagents and enter the zip code of the area where you want to buy. Buying a home is arguably the most important
financial decision you’ll make in your life. Working with a Realtor and following this advice can give you the advantage you need.
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In the Atlanta division, on accepted purchase agreements on homes that are signed between January 1, 2015 and January 31, 2015 are eligible to receive $15,000 in Flex Cash; can be used towards MyStyle® Design Center Options and/or closing costs when using RMC Mortgage® and/or lot premiums, finished basement, etc. Incentive offer does not apply to contracts written prior to January 1, 2015. The following communities are excluded from the $15,000 incentive, Bethany Crossing, Bridleton, ManorView and Marketplace Commons. Individual promotions may vary by community. Certain included features may not be available on all plans. Value of package, and products, may vary by community and plan. Homes already under contract prior to this offer are not eligible. Plus for New to-be built homes, buyer eligible to receive up to $5,000 toward closing costs. Individual incentives may vary by community. Closing cost assistance available from Ryland Homes to those financing through RMC Mortgage® Corporation and closing with a closing attorney selected by Ryland. Amount of closing cost assistance may vary by product and community, and is subject to applicable contribution limitations. For all financing promotions, see a RMC Mortgage® Corporation Loan Officer for details. RMC Mortgage® Corporation is located at 1000 Mansell Exchange West, Suite 200, Alpharetta, GA 30022 and is a Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee, license number 24225 and NMLS number 203897. Buyers also eligible to receive Waived 1% Origination Fee through RMC Mortgage®; average value of $4,000 which is based on a $400,000 loan amount. The waived origination fee through RMC Mortgage® Corporation is subject to cancellation or change without notice. Buyers must make a loan application by January 31, 2014 with RMC Mortgage® Corporation (NMLS# 203897) a Georgia Residential Mortgage Lender Licensee #24225. *Buyers must also close with RMC Mortgage® Corporation. Please contact your RMC Mortgage® Corporation Representative for exact quotes. Prices, plans and specifications are subject to change without notice. Ryland reserves the right to modify or cancel these offers at any time. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only. Offer may not be combined with any other promotion or incentives. Information shown believed to be accurate but not warranted. See a Sales Counselor for details on available promotions, restrictions and offer limitations. © 2015 The Ryland Group, Inc.
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Sponsored Section • real estate report
July 2015
Why to sell with a REALTOR® Brought to you by: BILL RAWLINGS Vice President/Managing Broker, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty There are many reasons why homeowners attempt to sell their home on their own. Some sellers are tempted to try a ‘For Sale by Owner’ (FSBO) transaction because their local community is in the midst of a seller’s market and they think they can sell easily without help. Others try it because they want to maximize their profits and think they do not
need a real estate professional to sell their home. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, less than 10 percent of FSBOs actually sell. Choosing to sell with a professional rather than on your own makes sense for a variety of reasons: • It is fairly common that FSBOs price their home too high, which can significantly hinder the chances the home sells. Studies show that homes priced right when they are first listed sell more quickly and for a higher price than those that linger on the market. A
REALTOR® has access to market data about recent sales and other homes on the market that can be used to price your home apRAWLINGS propriately. • A REALTOR® can show your home when you are not available, can respond to inquiries from potential buyers and offer valuable feedback – all things that save you time. • A REALTOR® can screen visitors to your home, which provides a measure of safety that FSBO sellers do not have. In addition, by checking to see if the buyers are legitimate and can afford to purchase your home, a REALTOR® can help you avoid wasting time showing your home to unrealistic buyers. • REALTORS® have the tools to provide exposure that FSBOs do not. REALTORS® have professional marketing expertise, contacts with other REALTORS® who work with buyers and the support of a brokerage that can market your home more widely than you can as an individual. • Real estate contracts are loaded with lots of clauses, timelines and also many common contract contingencies, such as mortgages and inspections. A REALTOR® can help you negotiate a contract that not only brings in an appropriate price for your home, but also negotiate specific parts of the contract, if needed. Before you decide to sell your own home, remember the chance you will be successful is less than 10 percent. Not only could you end up selling your home for less money, you could leave yourself open to potential legal problems. The majority of homeowners prefer to work with a professional rather than risk an unsatisfactory selling experience. Article adapted from USRealty.com.
July 2015
real estate report • Sponsored Section
Smart steps in a military move (NAPSI)—According to Department of Defense data, about one in three military personnel moves every year. If you’re among them this year, heeding 18 hints can help make the move smoother: Ahead Of Time • First, schedule your move by making an appointment with the military base property transportation office. • Inform the base landlord or housing office of your departure and arrival. • Estimate how big a truck you’ll need and reserve it. • Get boxes and supplies for packing. • Pack out-of-season and non-essential items early. • Lighten your load. Donate unwanted items to charity or hold a garage sale. • Consider travel arrangements for any pets. • Make copies of medical records, birth certificates and so on. Store all needed documents in one place. • Change your address with the post office, banks, credit card companies and magazines. • Call service providers and utilities to schedule turn-on. • Secure moving-day help. • Work with companies that understand each military branch’s different rules and regulations, especially if you’re involved in a quick turnaround move made with little notice. Penske Truck Rental, for example, has a specialized toll-free call center at (844) 4TROOPS ((844) 487-6677) to assist active and veteran members of the U.S. military and their families with do-ityourself moves. All call center associates are either veterans themselves or have a family member who has been or is currently in active or reserve duty. To make your move easier, the company not only provides great trucks at over 2,000 convenient locations, it has a military discount of 10 percent. If you book your rental online, you’ll save an additional 10 percent automatically. Plus, Penske will match any competitive offer on one-way truck rentals for active military personnel or veterans.
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What’s more, it’s the only national truck rental company with free unlimited miles on one-way rentals anywhere in the United States. • Pick up your rental truck the day before to save time on moving day. Moving Day • Finish packing, taping and labeling boxes. • Prepare major appliances and electronics for the move. • Secure dresser drawers and appliance doors with rope and tape. • Assemble a moving-day
kit, including directions, map, GPS, checkbook, credit cards, military and other IDs, eyeglasses, sunglasses, prescription drugs, flashlight, water, snacks, games for kids, and old and new house keys. • Watch your weight. Since a military do-it-yourself move requires that you weigh your vehicle before you load it and after, Penske offers a free Certified Public Scale Locator to make finding a scale easier. Learn more at www.pensketruckrental.com/discounts/ military.html.
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Sponsored Section • real estate report
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