782 Delmar Ave - Grant Park

This charming bungalow / cottage was on the market for over three months with another real estate agent when the Ferguson’s hired me to list — and SELL — their home.   After some creative marketing and a few helpful neighbors, we were able to sell it in less than 3 WEEKS at  99.4% of the listing price!  Needless to say, the sellers were thrilled… and very relieved. 

>>  See the Ferguson’s feedback on Kudzu.com

915 PARK AVENUE – Grant Park

This 3 bed / 1 bath bungalow is just steps from Grant Park.  It had some great bones but needed quite a bit of TLC.  While the sellers prepared the home for sale, I focused on some “Coming Soon” marketing and wow, did it work!    Believe it or not, we had a buyer for the home less than 5 minutes after I installed the “Just Listed” sign in front of the home.   The icing on the cake was that the home sold for $209,500 — that’s just $400 less than the $209,900 list price.

After living in Grant Park for more than 10 years, this charming couple is now off to Florida to open a bed and breakfast…. fulfilling a dream they’ve had for decades.  I’m so happy for them and it is one of the many reasons why my role as a real estate agent is so special!

** I just listed a gorgeous Craftsman-style home in Grant Park, so hopefully I will have another happy, happy home seller in a few weeks!

If you are considering selling your home and would like a no-hassle consultation, please call me, Kerry Lucasse,  anytime at (404) 432.1844.  I would be honored to walk you through my “Coming Soon” pre-listing strategy and internet marketing plans.

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 Thanks for visiting our Intown 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 real estate including Grant Park, Kirkwood, Ormewood Park, and East Atlanta neighborhoods.

CALL ANYTIME -  404.432.1844 

View ALL the homes for sale in Grant Park at:

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Unfortunately, the first quarter of 2010 did not start out on a high note – on a national level and in our Kirkwood neighborhood.  Even with the historically low interest rates and tax incentives for repeat and first time home buyers, the Kirkwood Atlanta home sales were down almost 30% compared to the first quarters of 2008 and 2009. 

Why?  Experts are blaming the sales decline on Mother Nature.  With the poor weather conditions in January and February and the increased number of foreclosures and short sales, homes took 142 days to sell in 1st quarter (compared to 64 days in 2009).

THE GOOD NEWS…

In the first week of April, there were already 14 homes under contract in Kirkwood.  Things are definitely looking up for the 2nd Quarter of 2010!

If have questions about the information above and/or if you’re curious about the value of your home, I would be happy to provide a “no-strings attached” market analysis.    Call anytime at 404.432.1844.

In the meantime, you can view all of the homes for sale in Atlanta’s popular Kirkwood neighborhood…

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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 Kirkwood real estate.

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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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Thanks to incredible leadership, an amazing culture, state of the art training programs AND profit-sharing, it’s not suprising that Keller Williams Realty is not only surviving in this market, we are THRIVING. 

I am VERY proud — and thankful — to be associated with a company like Keller Williams.

There is something to be said about the company you keep! If you or anyone you know is interested in learning more about the real estate industry or Keller Williams, please don’t hesitate to call me at (404) 432.1844.  It would be my pleasure to speak to you about our agent programs, profit-sharing and training programs. 

To follow are just a few of the articles announcing Keller Williams promotion to #3 in North America:

Austin Business Journal: http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2009/03/02/daily9.html

MarketWatch: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/keller-williams-realty-climbs-third-largest/story.aspx?guid={2E5A6EA1-C83D-4777-AE3A-CFE07A817117}&dist=msr_1

RISMedia: http://rismedia.com/2009-03-03/keller-williams-realty-climbs-to-third-largest-real-estate-franchise/

Realty News Now: http://www.realtynewsnow.com/keller-williams-realty-climbs-to-third-largest-real-estate-franchise-in-united-states

Streetinsider.com: http://www.streetinsider.com/Press+Releases/Keller+Williams+Realty+Climbs+to+Third-Largest+Real+Estate+Franchise+in+United+States/4448618.html

Yahoo Finance News: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Keller-Williams-Realty-Climbs-bw-14513634.html

Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS188216+02-Mar-2009+BW20090302

Hot Property, one of the largest real estate sites in the UK, http://news.hotproperty.co.uk/Keller_Williams_Realty_Prospers_in_the_USA_2009030409145044.html

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KERRY LUCASSE  ::  INTOWN ATLANTA REAL ESTATE AGENT  ::  404.432.1844

www.ATLhomesearch.com

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 Atlanta Real Estate – Kirkwood Atlanta homes for sale

The results are in! 

2008 was a challenging year for many areas of Metro Atlanta, but Atlanta’s popular intown neighborhood, Kirkwood fared quite well overall. 

To follow is an overview of the sales activity in Kirkwood  from 2006 and 2008. 

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Information retrieved from First MLS by Kerry Lucasse on 01/04/09 and is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed.

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SO WHAT DO THE NUMBERS ACTUALLY MEAN TO YOU?

• NUMBER OF HOMES SOLD IN KIRKWOOD — The number of homes sold year over year declined 16% from 2006 to 2008, but only 3.3% from 2007 to 2008. 
• KIRKWOOD HOME PRICES — The average home price in Kirkwood spiked in 2007, partially due to a higher number of new construction home sales, high-end bungalow renovations, and the completion of the new Kirkwood Village.  The average list price AND the average sale prices in Kirkwood were much lower in 2008 due in part to the higher number of foreclosure homes.  I will say that the high quality bungalow renovations are still demanding a price similar to 2006 and 2007.  It isn’t an exact science, but quality updated homes are almost always the first to sell in any neighborhood — and even in this market, we are still seeing multiple offers.
• HOW MUCH DID SELLERS REDUCE THEIR ASKING PRICE?  The percentage of list price to sale price ratios remained fairly constant over the last three years, which tells us that sellers and their agents are doing a good job pricing the homes correctly.  Using the average percentage from 2006, if a home was listed at $300,000 the average final sales price would be $291,000.  In 2008, the $300,000 home (on average) would sell for $288,000.
• HOW LONG DID IT TAKE HOMES IN KIRKWOOD TO SELL?  The number of days that a Kirkwood home was on the market has also remained fairly stable — approximately 6% longer from 2006 to 2008.  If you are thinking about selling your home in Kirkwood — or any neighborhood — it is so important to price you home correctly the FIRST time.  Research tells us that your home will sell faster and for a higher price. 

If you have any questions about the sales data or if you would like to understand what your home is worth in today’s market, please call anytime at (404) 432.1844 or email me.

 KERRY LUCASSE   ::   KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY   ::    404.432.1844   ::    KerryLucasse@yahoo.com

**Serving Metro Atlanta and specializing in Atlanta’s Intown Neighborhoods, including Kirkwood, Oakhurst, Grant Park, Ormewood Park, East Atlanta, and Virginia Highlands

 Metro Atlanta Home Search – Marietta GA Real Estate

After MULTIPLE OFFERS , I am happy to report that this charming 4 bed / 2 bath home in East Cobb has officially SOLD for FULL PRICE!

The sellers, Eric and Susanna, worked so hard remodeling their home and it really paid off.  They were such a pleasure to work with and they took all of my recommendations and ran with them. 

I think that we received multiple offers and sold for FULL PRICE for several reasons:

• The home remodel, decor and paint colors were simple and tasteful, which appealed to a wide array of potential home buyers
• Eric & Susanna (the sellers) were very flexible with home showings and so buyers and agents were able to view the house within one hour of scheduling an appointment
• The sellers always kept the home spotless
• We PRICED the home correctly

… and of course, they hired me as their real estate agent!   My agressive marketing strategy targeted first-time home buyers, relocation specialists and local real estate agents. 

CONGRATS, SUSANNA & ERIC!  I am so happy for you both and I hope you enjoy your beautiful new loft in Midtown / Old Fourth Ward.

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Kerry Lucasse proudly serves home buyers and sellers in Metro Atlanta. If you are thinking about purchasing or selling your home in Marietta, Roswell, Smyrna, Decatur and the neighborhoods of Intown Atlanta and want to work with a local area expert, call me at (404) 432.1844.

In today’s competitive market, it is so important that you choose to work with the real estate agent who is knowledgeable in your neighborhood. I provide a results-oriented marketing plan when selling your home.  I do everything in my power to make the process of selling your home a stress-free experience.  Contact me anytime  for an in-home or phone consultation.   

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KERRY LUCASSE  ::  Keller Williams Real Estate Agent  ::   404.432.1844

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For those of you who are thinking of moving to Decatur or selling your Decatur GA home, I thought it might be helpful for you to have a snapshot of the number of active listings (homes for sale) versus the number of homes that are under contract in Decatur.

To follow is my update from the Atlanta First Multiple Listing Service (MLS).  It includes Decatur single family detached home listings for sale in Dekalb County as of November 20, 2008:

Active - 1143 Homes are currently available for sale 

See all homes for sale in Decatur

Under Contract – A total 243 homes are under contract:

• Contingency – Due Diligence - 7 Properties Found 
• Contingency – Other - 4 Properties Found
• Pending - 232 Properties Found

The Decatur real estate market has always been quite strong, thanks to the outstanding school system, the active neighborhood associations, charming neighborhoods, and the proximity to Downtown Atlanta, Emory University and the interstates.

If you are thinking about selling your Decatur home, you can see here that there is only ONE BUYER for every SIX HOMES (approx) on the market today.   To sell your home quickly and for the most money, you need to price it correctly and make sure that your home stands out from the crowd.  

If I can be of assistance and/or if you would like feedback on the current condition and value of your Decatur home, please don’t hestitate to contact me at (404) 432.1844 or email.

 

I just returned from the closing attorney’s office and I AM SO PLEASED to say that my client and I just completed a VERY successful house trade.

Here’s a bit of background…

I’ve been working with a local home builder in Marietta for the last year and due to the declining market, we were having trouble selling one of his homes at a price that would allow him to break even.

As many of my fellow Active Rainers know, I do my best thinking (and blogging) at about 2 am.  It was at this late hour that I had one of those “light bulb moments” and came up with the idea of trading properties.  After proposing this to my client, he was a bit skeptical, but said that I could give it a try.  Within TWO weeks, we had a perfect candidate for a property trade.

THE BUYER SOLD US THIS HOUSE…

 AND UPGRADED TO THIS HOUSE….                                         

The Seller received 2% over the asking price for his new construction home, which he was thrilled about!

We put the “trade” house on the market and within 60 days, I was able to sell the ”trade” home at approximately 98% of the list price. 

It was definitely a “WIN WIN” for both parties.  The buyer was able to upgrade to a new home without having to worry about selling his home — which would have been difficult with three children, an infant and an aging grandmother — and my client was able to make a small profit on his home and break even on the ”trade” property.

 If you are looking for a creative real estate agent who will go above and beyond to sell your Atlanta home, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (404) 432 1844.  I specialize in the Intown Atlanta neighborhoods and also work regularly in Marietta, Roswell, Smyrna and Dunwoody. 

I would be honored to assist you and your family.

All the best,

Kerry Lucasse

Real Estate Consultant / Atlanta Listing Specialist

Keller Williams Realty

(404) 432.1844

KerryLucasse@kw.com

VIEW MY CLIENT TESTIMONIALS AT KUDZU.com

Thanks to the phenomenal Decatur GA school system and the outstanding Oakhurst Neighborhood Association, the home sales in Oakhurst have been very stable.  Even with all the “doom and gloom” on the national news, this quaint little neighborhood just outside of Downtown Decatur is doing very well…

• Homes are selling for 98% of the list price
• The average number of days that a home is on the market (DOM) is 65
• The average sale price for a 3 bed / 2 bath home is $340,880
• FULL report available upon request

If you have any questions about the Oakhurst home sales or if you are considering a move to the Decatur area, please contact me, Kerry Lucasse at 404.432.1844.  I work and live in the Oakhurst / Kirkwood area and would love to give you a tour of the Intown Atlanta neighborhoods!

>>> View ALL the homes currently for sale in Oakhurst

or

>>> Search for homes by Intown Atlanta Neighborhoods

or

>>> Get additional information about the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association

CONGRATS, GEORGE!

When I first met with my client, I have to say that I was a bit apprehensive… he wanted to sell his studio condo in Midtown and according to the sales data, not ONE studio condominium had sold in Midtown in more than a year.

I knew that we had a fighting chance if we developed a solid strategy – pricing it correctly (the first time), executing a time-tested marketing plan with a bit of creativity sprinkled in, and my client’s knack for staging his home to sell. 

On the 7th day, we received a FULL PRICE offer and the rest is history!