What You Need To Know About Property Taxes

Today, we're going to talk about property taxes. The good news is property values are up. The challenge is that when property values go up, so do your property taxes.

If you have a homesteaded property, you definitely have good news. Thanks to Save the Home protection, many people saw almost no increase in taxes on their homesteaded property, even though the property's value went up.

If you own a second home, commercial property, or investment property, you probably saw your taxes increase by as much as 13%. Property values are only going to continue to rise, so make sure your budget allows for property tax increases in 2017.

Now, if you purchased a homesteaded property in 2014, you were probably surprised with a big jump in your property taxes. You do get that homestead protection, but you lost all the savings that the previous owners collected over time.

If you're thinking of buying, you need a real estate agent who can help you maneuver all those situations. They are there to help you maximize the property's value and make the right decisions. If you own an investment property or second home and aren't sure what to do from here, we can help you as well.

If you have any questions at all about property taxes, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would be happy to help you!

Should You Hire An Agent When Buying A New Construction Home?

Many people don't know that buying new construction property is not the most transparent process. That's why we recommend working with an agent when you're buying property of any kind.

New construction is back here in Atlanta - and in a big way! Within the Atlanta area alone, there are over 350 new construction communities going up. Many people have asked us what is fueling this rapid growth, and we think there are a few explanations. For one, people love Atlanta; it's a great place to live and raise a family. Also, winters are harsh in many places throughout the country, and people are looking for a place to go to avoid the cold. In addition to the great wealth, our job industry is doing fantastic, as the tech and health fields are growing here in Atlanta!

With conditions as fantastic as they currently are, many buyers of new construction feel they can make a deal without an agent representing them. Here's the thing: the people sitting in the beautifully designed sales centers are there to represent the builder and don't necessarily have your interests in mind. In order to get the best results, you need to sit down with an agent and go over your needs and wants. That way, we can find the best communities, the best properties, and the best builders for you!

If you have questions about how to make the new construction process go as smoothly as possible, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to help you make the most of the process!

What First Time Buyers Should Know

For those of you who wanted to know, “What does the process look like for a first-time home buyer?” I have your answers for you!

If you are looking to buy a home, you are at the point where you feel financially stable and want to invest in your future instead of throwing away your money by renting. The best way to determine all of this is to reach out to an agent, who can sit down with you and walk you through the process from A-Z. (If you’re looking for an agent, let me know! I have a few recommendations).  In a buyer consultation, they will make sure that all your questions are answered and everything is outlined for you, so you can determine if it’s the time for you to buy.

If you’re thinking about buying a home, or know somebody who is, please reach out to me! 1) I can set you up with a realtor. 2) I can get you pre-approved for a mortgage (which is the first step.) We will take the time to listen to your needs and give you the no-nonsense truth about what you are in for. Talk to you soon!

Why You Don't Need A Big Down Payment To Buy A Home

It's unfortunate, but many people think that they can't afford to purchase a home because they don't have a large down payment saved up. Today, I discuss some down payment assistance programs that are available to homebuyers.

Down payment assistance programs provide buyers money to use as a down payment on their purchase. These are state, federal, and local programs designed to encourage homeownership, and there are several programs that are currently available to you.

Many of these down payment assistance programs target first-time home buyers. It's odd, but people who haven't owned a home for at least three years, even if they have in the past, are considered first-time homeowners by these programs.


One program offers up to $15,000 in down payment assistance! While these programs generally require that you have income below a certain level, the income thresholds can be pretty high and, for some programs, they only consider the individual who is on the mortgage rather than the entire household income. In other words, these programs are more inclusive and apply to a lot more people that it might initially see.

Combining the historical low interest rates with a down payment assistance program could allow you to buy a home now and get really favorable terms, so it's something you should consider. To learn more about these programs, or if you need mortgage assistance of any kind, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I would love to hear from you!

Why You Need To Get Pre-Approved

Today, we will discuss the importance of the pre-approval process. You should get pre-approved before you begin your home search.

By speaking to a lender before you begin your search, you will find out what price range you should look in. This ensures that you know what you can afford. If you don't know what you can afford before you start looking, you might fall in love with a $200,000 house when you can only afford a $150,000 house. Every home you see after that will fall short of the $200,000 house you fell in love with but can't afford.

It's very easy to obtain a pre-approval. First, give us a call! The benefit of working with a local lender is that we know the area, and we are much more active as far as keeping us updated on your progress throughout the transaction.

Local lenders also have the advantage of knowing the market and what loan types are commonly accepted by sellers. We will tell you what loan you should apply for, how much you can afford, and what you need for the down payment. Most lenders can get you a pre-approval through a simple online process.
Getting pre-approved before you start looking for a home gives you a huge advantage. You are able to move quickly when you find the home you want. We are still seeing a lot of multiple offer situations, and most sellers are asking that buyers attach pre-approvals with their offers. If you aren't pre-approved already, you could miss out on that house you really wanted.