St. Simons Island, Georgia
Read our thoughts on real estate. As local REALTORS® and real estate investors, we believe there are many reasons to invest in real estate and in your lifestyle! Buyers and Sellers are encouraged to post any questions they may have on CMA's, home inspections, contracts, etc. We're here to help!
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Aug. 16, 2007
I feel older than Dirt!
I have been reading in our local newspaper articles on new methods in which students are being taught in our school system. Reference has been made to the “smart board” which has taken the place of the old chalkboard my age group was familiar with. These electronic boards sound much like a video game to me with the children using some gizmo at their desks to register their answers electronically! Another recent article spoke of the decline in penmanship of our youth, as they seldom write anything but instead type on their keyboards or text message each other. The task of writing out a paper has become an ordeal that the students of today choose to reject. I, too, only handwrite short notes today and favor a computer-generated letter if the content is of any length. Isn’t it exciting to speculate on what technological advances we will witness in the next decade?
I do admit that the modern practice of companies using an automated telephone system is one that often vexes me. The day of talking to a live person initially wasn’t at all bad! In our competitive business, I believe real estate professionals that remember the art of providing personal service are the ones that get those all-important repeat customers and their referrals. Technology is wonderful when it works hand-in-hand with individual service.
P. S. - Never be afraid to try something new. Remember: Amateurs...built the ark. Professionals...built the Titanic
Aug. 1, 2007
What’s in a name? Lease-Purchase . . . maybe it does smell sweet?
As Shakespeare wrote in Romeo & Juliet of the proverbial sweet-smelling rose, perhaps I need to reconsider my thoughts on Lease Purchase. I’ve previously turned up my nose at the idea of such a contract; however, I’ve changed my view. Markets change and my perception needs to be evolving as well. At our weekly office sales meeting one of our agents mentioned she was working with 2 different clients, and both were interested in a lease purchase. With the inventory of homes for sale perhaps exceeding the number of buyers, there is definitely a place for consideration of a lease purchase transaction. I believe there are some integral factors for the listing agent to consider and relay to the seller:
- A lease purchase contract is one that the seller can recoup at least a portion of the mortgage payment if not all and still enjoy tax advantage of ownership.
- If the buyers are unable to arrange their financing by the end of the lease period, you can retain any deposit & rent monies.
- This tenant/buyer should be very interested in taking care of the home, as they want it to be their own within 1-2 years.
My negativity on the lease purchase contract stemmed from the fact it seemed that few buyers with credit issues were able to repair those problems in the timeframe of the contract. However, if your seller has voiced to you these hateful words “If you can’t sell it, I’m going to have to rent it out,” then perhaps if you advertise the home as one that a lease-purchase would be entertained from the get-go, you can attract just that right potential buyer.
Jul. 23, 2007
Will ‘Eco-Friendly’ be a Hot Topic for Realtors?
Driving along a stretch of I-95 where they have recently cut down the vast majority of trees & vegetation serving as a buffer (now why did they do that???) between the highway and a subdivision that backs up to it, I noticed this BRIGHT green stucco home. This color choice was not a soft pleasing green, but a dark moss that stood out like an eyesore. I thought to myself, “Somebody misunderstood the catch phrase we’ve been hearing of America Going Green!”
In a recent trip to our local home improvement store, I noticed advertisements for ‘green building materials’. It also seems that every magazine I pick up or each time I watch TV for very long there will be a commercial pushing energy-efficient products---from light bulbs, to appliances & flooring materials, etc. I predict that goods & materials that can be promoted as protecting the environment will become more & more a marketing tool in the housing industry. I must admit with the high 90’s° temperatures we’ve experiencing lately, solar energy would be desirable, particularly after I opened my latest power bill! Power saving materials may even qualify for one of those tax credits! For more information, check out:
www.energystar.gov/index.cfm.
Jul. 17, 2007
Combining Two Households
(Without coming between love & romance!)
How many of us have been in the scenario of trying to combine 2 separate households when getting married? Do you sell one of the homes & both live in the one left? Do you sell both & buy a new home together? Or 3rd alternative, rent one out & live in the other? Some practical, albeit not very romantic, factors you need to give consideration to are:
- The strength of the market where each of the properties are located
- The desirability of the individual neighborhoods and the likelihood for one to appreciate more & more quickly than the other
- Your financial situation as a couple, i.e., be fully cognizant of your other half’s financial strength or weakness
Remember, that if you sell a home as a single person, you can claim up to $250K in profit, tax-free, if you lived in it at least 2 years. The deduction is $500K for married couples, but only if you lived together for 2 years in the home. A consult with your tax professional would definitely be in order!
Jul. 9, 2007
Upcoming Funtastic Glynn Co. Event Is Coming up next Month:
Every August, Jekyll Island hosts the Beach Music Festival. This year boasts the 40th anniversary performance featuring the Swingin' Medallions hit of 1966, "Double Shot of My Baby's Love." Shaggers from all over the South will participate in dance competitions while several other bands join the Medallions for the 3-day event.
If Beach Music is not your thing, Glynn Co. features 207 holes of golf & beautiful beaches on the 4 coastal islands. Can you tell I love this very special area? If you haven’t visited yet, I hope you’ll plan a trip to the Golden Isles very soon. Give me a call if you have any questions on getting a “little sand in your shoes.”
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