REAL ESTATE
PROGRESS
SUNDAY, FEB. 22, 2015
11BB
MARIETTA
REAL ESTATE REBOUND HILARY BUTSCHEK
hbutschek@mdjonline.com
T
he real estate market came back strong in 2014, and real estate agents said it will continue to be a buyer’s market this year. Rhonda Duffy, who has been ranked the No. 1 agent in the nation for recent sales by Zillow and the No. 1 agent in Georgia for the past 10 years, said the residential real estate market is at a record high since the Great Recession. “I think (the market) will grow even more because I think people are starting to realize, ‘Hey, people in our neighborhood have sold.’ They’re seeing the activity, and they’re seeing that it’s happening quickly. So, they’re finally getting out and investigating whether things can actually be sold,” Duffy said. Duffy said the 2014 market brought good news to many residents selling their homes. “In 2014, a lot of sellers became very happy because they not only received multiple offers in some 1,200 Home building permits issued situations and very quickly, but they were able to go out and buy at a variable interest rate somewhere else,” Duffy said. 1,000 Dane Ellison, CEO of Atlantabased RE/MAX Regional Services, agreed with Duffy that 2014 was a booming year for real estate. 800 “Overall, 2014 was a strong year for metro Atlanta’s housing market and for RE/MAX of Georgia,” Ellison 597 said. “None of us have a crystal ball, 600 however, based on current market 491 trends and conditions, we remain very optimistic about 2015 and expect this trend to continue.” The market grew so much that 400 there aren’t enough houses for sale to go around, Ellison said. “While many homeowners have recouped some equity in their homes, 200 255 they still may not be ready to sell in 2015,” Ellison said. 176 Duffy said the 35,000 homes on the market in the metro Atlanta area are 0 not enough for the number of people looking to move near Atlanta. “(Since the recession), we have never gotten back up to what exactly has been the right amount of inventory for this amount of people,” Duffy said. Duffy said anyone thinking about selling their home should put it on the market as soon as possible because people are desperate to buy. “People need to stop focusing on making their house perfect before they put it on the market. Just put it on the market and then make it better,” Duffy said. “In this market, you don’t have to be perfect to get your house sold. Buyers are looking for
houses, and the inventory is still really low.” Duffy said homeowners should make sure their houses are clean and presentable to guests before placing them on the market, but renovations or remodeling aren’t necessary in today’s real estate environment. “Get it on the market right now. Don’t piddle around with the things that aren’t necessary, that you think somebody is going to tell you that you have to do: ‘Well, I’ve got to remodel my bathroom. 1,175 Well, I’ve got to update my kitchen,’ 1,119 No. You’ve got to show flexibility in what you’re offering people, and it’s not about the sales price. It’s really about decorating allowance available,” Duffy said. However, cleanliness is necessary for 837 a quick sale, Duffy said. 919 “I think what buyers really want is a sense of clean, safe, fresh. So, that’s why 803 797 it’s been proven that a clean home sells 3 percent higher than a dirty home,” Duffy said. Making sure the home doesn’t have Single Family Homes any obvious personal items sitting around also makes it more attractive, Duffy said. Multi Family Homes “If you can clean up your house that’s great: de-personalize, de-clutter. That’s great, but buyers are very forgiving right now because they need something to buy,” Duffy said. Duffy said an interesting spot to watch for 2015 is the residential area around the new Atlanta Braves stadium — SunTrust Park — being built in Cumberland and set to open in 2017. The stadium construction and opening could cause a shift in the people living in that area, Duffy said. “Only time will tell. We’ve already seen some houses appreciate, and we’ve seen other pockets where people are like, ‘I’ve got to ditch this.’ You know what I mean? It’s like, ‘I don’t want to be over here when all that happens. I’m not interested in the Braves. I’m going to hear the stadium from where I live,’ and so they freak out. Other people are like, ‘I’d love to hear the stadium. Instead of listening to it on TV or on the radio, I’ll just sit out on my back deck and hear the crowd,’” Duffy said.
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REAL ESTATE TOP 10 I N C O B B
INDIVIDUALS:
MAX Around Atlanta —
♦ Tony Williams, RE/MAX 480345, Marietta Unlimited — 480288/448, Kennesaw
TEAMS:
♦ Helen Durrence, RE/
♦ Matthew Hester, RE/
MAX Around Atlanta —
MAX Greater Atlanta —
480345, Marietta
48013, Marietta
♦ Cathy A. Meder, RE/
MAX Pure — 480457,
♦ Wendy R. Bunch, RE/
MAX Pure - 480457, Mar-
Marietta
ietta
♦ Deborah P. Forrester,
♦ Kimberly B. Jones,
RE/MAX Unlimited —
RE/MAX Unlimited —
480288/448, Kennesaw
480288/448, Kennesaw
♦ Angela Barner, RE/
♦ Elaine M. Conn, RE/ MAX Around Atlanta — 480345, Marietta
♦ Christine Coffman, RE/MAX Unlimited — 480288/448, Kennesaw
♦ Kimberly Galletta, RE/
MAX Unlimited — 480288/448, Kennesaw
♦ Malinda Smallwood, RE/MAX Unlimited — 480288/448, Kennesaw
♦ Arlene McCoy, RE/ MAX Around Atlanta — 480345, Marietta
MAX Greater Atlanta —
♦ Rodney Oberg, RE/
480131, Marietta
MAX Around Atlanta — 480345, Marietta
♦ Pamela Rogers, RE/
♦ Deon Cannon, RE/
MAX Unlimited —
MAX Pure — 480457,
480288/448, Kennesaw
Marietta
♦ Scott A. Tufford, RE/ MAX Greater Atlanta — 480131, Marietta
♦ Gail K. Holman, RE/
♦ Oscar Melara, RE/MAX Pure — 480457, Marietta
♦ Christine M. Topham, RE/MAX Unlimited — 480288/448, Kennesaw