If you are thinking of selling your Atlanta or Decatur home this Spring, it is more important that ever to do your homework PRIOR to pricing and listing your home.

Pricing your home correctly the FIRST time can not only get your home sold faster, it can save you thousands.  As of 3Q09, homes that price their home correctly (and didn’t have to reduce), sold their home in 27 days.

Yes,  even in this crazy real estate market, you CAN sell your home in 30 days or less!

As you’ll see in the first chart below, those Atlanta home sellers that had to reduce the price one or more times, they were on the market for 256 days… that’s almost 10 times longer.

If you think you have the patience to wait 256 days to sell your home, consider your pocketbook.  

The  sellers that priced the home correctly the first time, sold their home for 96.8% of the their listing price. 

For those sellers that wanted to “test the market” and start with a higher listing price, they ended up selling their home for 75.7% of the original list price.  

On a $300,000 home, that is a difference of more than $60,000.

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So how do you make sure that you price it correctly the FIRST time?  I would recommend the following:

1)  Interview three local Atlanta real estate agents

2)  Ask them to walk you through the neighborhood sales from the last 3 MONTHS.  The market is constantly changing, so a home that sold a year ago in your neighborhood is no longer a true comparable

3)  Understand your current competition – ask the real estate agent(s) to show you the other homes that are for sale in your neighborhood so you have a clear understanding of how your home stacks up 

4)  Get the agents honest feedback on your home’s value.  If you receive three separate opinions, you should be able to determine the fair market value for your home… and GET IT SOLD!

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 Thank you for visiting our Atlanta Real Estate Blog

Posted by:  Kerry Lucasse – Atlanta GA Real Estate Agent – Atlanta Home Search Team
The ATL Home Search Team is part of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Intown Atlanta and Decatur Real Estate, Foreclosures and Bungalows & Historic Homes

CALL US ANYTIME AT 404.432.1844

SEE MY CLIENT FEEDBACK AT:  http://www.KUDZU.com/merchant/1106107.html

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I think everyone would agree that the ”best of the best” is the Dekalb Farmer’s Market just outside of Downtown Decatur.  With food and wine from around the globe, it’s an experience just walking in the building!  The Dekalb market is open 7 days a week, similar to a typical grocery store.

If you would like to eat hyper-local, the new trend in many of the Intown Atlanta neighorhoods is to host their own Farmer’s Market.  Here are just a few…

*  Piedmont Park – every Saturday

*  East Atlanta – every Thursday

*  Glenwood Park (near East ATL Village and Ormewood Park) – Every other weekend

*  Morningside Farmers Market – every Saturday

*  East Lake – every Saturday

*  Decatur Organic Market – every Wednesday, March thru November

*  Peachtree Road Market (Buckhead) - every Saturday, April – December

 This weekend, try to get out, meet your neighbors and support your local farmers — it’s a great way to start the day! 

 Thank you for visiting our Atlanta Neighborhood Blog! 

Kerry Lucasse – Atlanta GA Real Estate Agent – Atlanta Home Search Team
The ATL Home Search Team is part of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Intown Atlanta Real Estate, Condos, Lofts and Historic Homes

Call us anytime at 404.432.1844.

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MARCH FESTIVALS & EVENTS

March 8 – SPRING FORWARD!  Set those clocks ahead on Sunday morning at 2:00 am.

March 8 - Kirkwood Station Artist Market - The 2nd Sunday of each month from noon to 6 pm.  

March 14 – Glenwood Park Farmers Market in the Square – 10 am to 2 pm.  Get the scoop…

March 28 – Grant Park Co-op Auction & Art Show – Live music, great food, with silent auctions throughout the evening.  Find out more.

March 28 – Castleberry Hill Art Stroll -  On the 4th Friday of every month, local galleries are open from 7 to 11 pm.    Get the full details here.

March 28 — Earth Hour – Join your neighbors around the world in turning off your lights and other electrical equipment between 8:30 – 9:30 pm.

FOR THE IRISH & THE IRISH AT HEART…

March 7 – Lucky Day Celebration – Start the celebration a week early at the Park Tavern.  Live music, DJs and free-flowing green beer.  Entry fee is $10 and the party starts at 7:00 pm.  Get more information and buy tickets.

March 14 – 127^th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade – 12:00 noon in Downtown ATL.  Find out more…

March 17 – Fado Kegs & Eggs Celebration – Festivities start at 7:00 AM.  Get more information.

March 17 – Limerick Junction Block Party - Music starts at noon and the party will pour into the streets of Virginia Highland for a block party at 4:00 pm.  

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home this Spring, please give me a call or visit my website at ATLhomesearch.com.  Interest rates are still hovering around 5.0% and the new $8,000 first-time home buyer incentive makes 2009 a phenomenal time to purchase a home.

See you around town…

Kerry

  Kerry Lucasse  ::  Real Estate Consultant ::  404.432.1844 (p) :: Keller Williams Realty

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INTOWN ATLANTA NEIGHBORHOODS – FOR YOUNG FAMILIES

I work with dozens of home buyers who are relocating to Atlanta and their first question always seems to be “what are the best Atlanta neighborhoods for young people and / or young families?”

Since this is such a common question, I wanted to post it here on ATLhomesearch.com in hopes that I can help other families who are thinking about moving to the Metro Atlanta area.

If you are fairly new to Atlanta, you’ll find that every “Intown Atlanta” neighborhood in has its own unique characteristics, so I’ll be ranking them for you, using the following criteria:

Schools
Home Prices
Parks & Rec
Community
Entertainment / Nightlife
Parks, Recreation, Outdoor Facilities

Over the next two weeks, I am going to be doing a three part series, highlighting the Top Atlanta Neighborhoods for Young Families. To follow are two of the hottest Intown Atlanta neighborhoods:

DECATUR NEIGHBORHOOD DESCRIPTION: Located less than 10 minutes from Downtown Atlanta, the City of Decatur (zip code 30030) is absolutely charming. It has a Norman Rockwell appeal, but with more of an urban hip feel. The Downtown Decatur area offers a wide range of very popular restaurants and shops and the Marta transit system makes it easy to travel anywhere in Metro Atlanta. Decatur has a strong neighborhood and business associations and they organize dozens of festivals and events each year — from Wine Festivals, Arts Festivals, Book Festivals, live jazz on the Decatur Square, 5K runs, and Holiday Tour of Homes.

HOME STYLES: Older brick homes, Craftsman bungalows and cottage homes are abundant in this area. A small number of new construction homes are also available throughout Decatur.

DECATUR HOME PRICES RANGE FROM $275 – $550K for a 3 bed / 2 bath home in the City of Decatur.

DECATUR SCHOOL SYSTEM: The City of Decatur offers some of the best schools in Metro Atlanta. Oakhurst Elementary, Winnona Park Elementary and Clairemont Elementary are at the top of the list. Many home buyers choose Decatur because of the excellent school system. For more information on Decatur schools, you can visit http://www.GreatSchools.com

DECATUR NEIGHBORHOODS: If you are interested in living in the City of Decatur, I highly recommend looking in Decatur’s most popular neighborhood OAKHURST. To view the homes available in Oakhurst – Decatur, please visit: www.inOAKHURSTga.com

RATINGS FOR DECATUR:

Schools — 5 out of 5 Stars
Community — 5 out of 5 Stars
Parks & Recreation — 5 out of 5 Stars
Nightlife — 3.5 out of 5 Stars (great nightlife, but not late night — usually quiet by midnight)

VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS in ATLANTA, GEORGIA

VIRGINIA HIGHLAND NEIGHBORHOOD DESCRIPTION: “The Highlands” is probably Atlanta’s most popular neighborhood for young families and professionals. Developed in the early 1900’s, it consists of six distinct commercial “villages” alternating with short, walkable blocks of upscale shops, restaurants and pubs. The primary intersection is Virginia Ave and N. Highland Ave — hence the name!

HOME STYLES: Tudors, Craftsman Bungalows and four-square style homes are abundant in Virginia Highland. New construction luxury homes are also available, but the prices are usually going to be over $1.0M.

HOME PRICES: For a traditional 3 bed / 2 bath tudor or bungalow style home, the prices range from $450K to $700K for a renovated home in Virginia Highland (zip code 30306).

RATINGS FOR VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS:

Schools — 5 out of 5 Stars
Community — 4 out of 5 Stars
Parks & Recreation — 4 out of 5 Stars (three small parks with Piedmont Park nearby in Midtown)
Nightlife — 5 out of 5 Stars

SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS: Morningside, Lenox Park, Johnson Estates and Midtown Atlanta all border Virginia Highlands and are still close enough that residents can walk to the to the Virginia Highland shops and restaurants. To view ALL the homes for sale in these charming Atlanta “Intown” neighborhoods, visit: http://www.ATLhomesearch.com/Neighborhoods.html

If you have any questions about the top neighborhoods in Metro Atlanta, please don’t hestitate to call me at (404) 432.1844.  I’d be honored to show you around my favorite city!

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All the best,

Kerry Lucasse

SEE MY CLIENT FEEDBACK AT http://www.KUDZU.com  [just enter "Kerry Lucasse" into the Kudzu search bar!]

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KERRY LUCASSE    ::    Atlanta Real Estate Consultant   ::    404.432.1844

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‘Tis the season for Holiday Tour of Homes in our Atlanta neighborhoods! 

There is quite a line up this year and several neighborhoods in Atlanta & Decatur are highlighting their most beautiful homes and celebrating the holiday season.

I’ve been able to participate in the Decatur and Virginia Highland home tours over the years, and it really is a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season.  You could spend every weekend in December visiting holiday homes in Decatur, Oakhurst, Virginia Highlands, Avondale Estates and Grant Park.

To follow are the details for each neighborhood:

 This is the 26th year of the Decatur Candlelight Holiday Tour of Homes and this year there will be a special focus on “Living Green” — most of the homes have been built or renovated in an eco-friendly manner.

DATE:  December 5 & 6

TIME:  5:30 to 9:30 pm (both days)

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.  Proceeds will benefit the Decatur Preservation Alliance and the Decatur Youth Fund.

FOR TICKETS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CLICK HERE

Presented by the Virginia-Highland Civic Association, the VaHi Tour of Homes will now include local artwork and food tasting from local restaurants, from Vine, La Tavola, Atkin’s Park, Noni’s and more. 

DATES:    December 6 & 7

TIME:      10:00 to 5:00 on Sat & 12:00 to 5:00 on Sun

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the event.  Proceeds will go towards a new neighborhood park (on the corner of North Highland and St. Charles Ave).

GET MORE INFORMATION & PURCHASE TICKETS 

The GRANT PARK CANDLELIGHT TOUR OF HOMES includes a full range of holiday activities, with an artist’s market, childrens workshop, caroling and even hayrides!  The Tour of Homes will feature some of Grant Park’s historic Victorian and Craftsman-bungalow homes and is sure to give you lots of ideas for decorating your own home for the holidays.

DATE:    December 13 & 14

TIME:     6:00 to 10:00 pm

PLEASE NOTE:   “Let it Snow” Childrens Workshop will be from 4 – 6 pm on SAT ONLY.  The Grant Park Holiday Artists Market will run from 5 – 9 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

If you would like to do the Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes, the ticket prices are $12 in advance and $15 on the day of the event.  Proceeds will benefit the Grant Park Coop Preschool, Parent Network and the St. Paul United Methodist Church.  All of the other Grant Park Holiday Events are free. 

GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE GRANT PARK HOME TOUR & PURCHASE TICKETS 

The 16th Annual Avondale Estates Tour of Homes and Holiday Market is just down the road from Downtown Decatur and is going to be another wonderful event.  Eight homes will be featured and range in style from Classic Bungalows, cottages and new construction homes — all of the homes have been restored in keeping with the period.  In addition to the holiday homes, the Waffle House museum will also be open during the tour.  Be sure to stop by the Avondale Estates Holiday Market, as you’ll be sure to find a few special and unique gifts for friends and family.

DATE:    December 14, 2008 

Tickets for the Tour of Homes are just $12 in advance and can be purchased at several local shops around Avondale and Downtown Decatur.  You may also purchase tickets for $15 on the day of the event. 

GET ADDITIONAL HOME TOUR INFORMATION

 If you fall in love with one of these charming Atlanta Intown neighborhoods and want to view all of the homes for sale by neighborhood, please visit:

Oakhurst Decatur Homes for Sale

Virginia Highland Homes for Sale

Avondale Estates Homes for Sale

Grant Park Atlanta Homes for Sale

VIEW ALL ATLANTA NEIGHBORHOODS

Have a SAFE & HAPPY Holiday Season!

Kerry Lucasse

Real Estate Consultant, Keller Williams Realty

ATLhomesearch.com

(404) 432-1844