Sally English Atlanta Real Estate

Contracts to buy and sell real estate have been flying through my email account this week.  Buyers have lighted up my inbox with sales contracts.  Some sales contracts are offers on houses for buyers I represent.  I have also received sales contracts from buyers making offers on English Team listings.

The past 7 days have been a frenzy of activity. Unfortunately, this activity has not been evenly spread as some listings are getting a bunch of showings and others are getting none.  It is not hard to predict that most offers on English Team listings came in on properties where the activity was high. 

While out showing houses this week I had several occasions where more than another agent was simultaneously showing a house while I was walking my clients through.  It has been a while since this happened to me and it took me by surprise.

Another by-product of the market activity has been a breakdown in the reliability of data on FMLS and especially on the secondary housing Internet sites like Zillow and Trulia. Buyers looking online at houses are seeing a snapshot of the housing market that is at least 24 and probably 72 hours old.  In effect, the data is unreliable.  Houses showing “for sale” on Zillow and Trulia have been under contract for days but the changes do not come through the online listing for several days (or weeks!).

Even my normally trustworthy and reliable Multiple Listing Service is not keeping up with the market.  Brokers are not changing the status of properties when they go under contract.  I am out showing properties that have already been “Sold” AKA “pending sale” and the property is still showing “Active” on the MLS.  This is just wrong.

My remedy has been to go “old school” and call the listing agent to check availability of homes I am showing.  AND I am not wasting a lot of time showing homes where the INFO may be unreliable.  If you are a seller listing with a discount brokerage, you should especially take note.  Unless you are able to QUICKLY respond to requests for showing instructions, I am moving my buyers along to the next house on the list.  We do not have time to wait around for you to decide to call us back, text or email.  Sorry you were in an important meeting and could not respond.  But hey, you are saving money on the commission so missing a sale is not big deal.

And a special shout out to those Brokers listing Bank Foreclosures, you stink!!!!  I mean it.  You make no effort whatsoever to update your information on the MLS.  And you are slow to respond to calls and emails.  More on that in a later post.

SELLERS, if you are not getting showings right now in the Atlanta market, something needs to be tweaked.  Call your listing agent and talk.

BUYERS, have your loan prequalification letter in hand and be ready to move ASAP when you spot a house that works for you.  There will not be a lot of time to mull the decision over.

If you have an Atlanta Georgia home to sell, call me at 770-939-3174 and I will guide you through the process. Want to buy an Atlanta Georgia home, call me at 770-939-3174 and let’s talk.

Sally English and The English Team, Atlanta real estate agents, will be holdingan open house Sunday may 6th from 3:00 till 5:00 pm at 2878 Blackwood Road Decatur Georgia 30033.  The nearest intersection is Briarlake Road near Briarlake Elementary School.

¨ 4 BRs, 2.5 Baths.  Decatur, GA 30033.

¨ First time on market in 28 years. Lovely patina and feel.

¨ Bathrooms gutted to studs and rebuilt in 2012.

¨ New exterior doors installed by Champion.

¨ TROTTER WATER PROOFING in 2011. New interior paint.

¨ HARDWOOD FLOORS in most rooms- main and upper level

¨ TWO CAR GARAGE: Liftmaster door opener, remote controls.

¨ ENTRANCE FOYER features parquet wood floor, coat closet, new front door and hardware, cased opening to den and LR.  Steps to UPPER level of split floor plan. 

¨ FORMAL LIVING ROOM features neutral carpet over original hardwood floors. Triple window.  Open to dining room.

¨ FORMAL DINING ROOM has a chandelier, hardwood floors under neutral carpet, window, chair rail and crown molding. Cased opening to LR. Door to kitchen.

¨ UPDATED KITCHEN features hardwood floors, white cabinets and butcher block laminate countertops. Double bowl stainless steel sink, separate built in desk, painted wood paneling.  Door to garage.  PREMIUM APPLIANCES: KitchenAid sealed surface cooktop, Whirlpool dishwasher, Whirlpool self cleaning oven.  All in black glass. BREAKFAST BAR separates kitchen and family room.

¨ LARGE FAMILY ROOM has a brick fireplace with raised hearth, floor to ceiling exposed brick and custom mantle.  Hardwood floors. Painted wood paneling.  Steps DOWN to lower level of split plan. Double French doors (with built in blinds) open to screen porch.

¨ OVERSIZE SCREEN PORCH has a waist high brick wall and screened panels above.  Lovely views of fenced and private back yard. Screen door.

¨ LOWER LEVEL of split floor plan: BR, laundry-half bath and rec room.

¨ LAUNDRY ROOM (and access to POWDER BATH) off lower hall. Vinyl floor, washer-dryer connections, storage cabinets. Door to half bath.

¨ BEDROOM # 4 would make a great home office, teen suite or special purpose room. Carpet.

¨ REC ROOM on lower level has wood paneling, carpet, lots of windows, glass doors to patio and built in bookshelves-desk.  Another option for home office.

¨ UPPER LEVEL of split floor plan has 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths.

¨ MASTER BEDROOM features hardwood floors, ceiling fan and light, double door closet.  RENOVATEDMASTER BATH features all new plumbing, fixtures and ceramic tile.  Walk-in shower, ceramic tile walls. Pedestal sink.  New ceramic tile floor.  Window.

¨ SPACIOUS BEDROOMS # 2 and 3 have hardwood floors, windows, ceiling fan-light, double door closets.

¨ RENOVATED HALL BATH features NEW plumbing, fixtures and ceramic tile.  NEW white vanity cabinet with simulated marble top and sink, NEW ceramic tile floor, NEW tub-shower combination with NEW ceramic tile wall.

¨ LARGE FENCED BACK YARD with level grassed lawn, play house.

¨ GARAGE space to park two cars. Automatic door opener.

¨ Walk to Twin Lakes private neighborhood swim-tennis club.

¨ Easy Walk to       Briarlake ES

¨ Henderson MS.

¨ Lakeside HS (National award winner)

Sally English and The English Team just listed the home at 2416 Bradcliff Drive Atlanta GA 30345.  This homes is priced at $259,900 and is ready to move in now. 

¨ 3 BRs, 2 Baths.  Atlanta GA 30345. Totally renovated.

¨ 1960s BRICK RANCH updated to meet your 2012 expectations.

¨ Partial BASEMENT ready for your finish or special use

¨ NEW BATHS: gutted to sheetrock and re-built.  All new ceramic tile, plumbing fixtures, vanities and finish.

¨ NEW: Roof, gutters and exterior paint (2011). New carpet (2012).

¨ NEW: water heater 2009

¨ NEW: HVAC (2010).

¨ FAMILY ROOM ADDITION.

¨ TWO CAR GARAGE: Overhead door with remote controlled opener. Storage closet. 2 windows.  Room for storage.

¨ ENTRANCE FOYER FROM GARAGE features wood floor, 2large picture windows, sky light, cased opening to dining room.

¨ VERY LARGE FORMAL DINING ROOM has a crystal chandelier, hardwood floors, bay window, cased opening to living room. Shadowbox molding under chair rail.

¨ MASSIVE FORMAL LIVING ROOM features hardwood floors, 3 floor to ceiling windows, front door with radius window, open to dining room.  Door to back hall.

¨ ORIGINAL FAMILY ROOM: pine paneled walls with light stain finish.  Neutral Berber style carpet.  Generously sized room with lots of flexibility. Openings to kitchen, new family room, back hall, back foyer.

¨ UPDATED KITCHEN features custom built cabinets with light stain finish and beadboard doors.  White marble countertops and backsplash. Stainless steel sink with pull out gooseneck faucet. Garden window above for your indoor plants. Under counter lighting.  Recessed lighting above.  Ceramic tile floor. Work island with real butcher-block top for food prep. PREMIUM APPLIANCES: Corning solid surface 4 burner cooktop. Additional Thermador 2 burner cooktop. Whirlpool ventahood. Kenmore self cleaning oven. KitchenAid built in microwave oven.

¨ NEW: FAMILY ROOM ADDITION has a stone fireplace with raised hearth, gas logs, glass doors and custom mantle. Wet bar with glass cabinet above.  Built in bookshelves.  Sky light.  French door to deck. Neutral Berber style carpet. Vaulted ceiling and exposed beams. Stain finish on moldings and trim.

¨ MASTER BEDROOM features hardwood floors, closet. French door to deck. RENOVATEDMASTER BATH gutted to sheetrock and re-built. All new plumbing, fixtures and ceramic tile.  Walk-in shower, ceramic tile walls, hand held sprayer. New vanity cabinet and sink.  New ceramic tile floor. Window.

¨ BEDROOMS # 2 and 3 have hardwood floors, windows, double door closets.

¨ RENOVATED HALL BATH features new plumbing, fixtures, ceramic tile.  New vanity cabinet and sink, new ceramic tile floor, new tub-shower combination with ceramic tile wall.

¨ DAYLIGHT BASEMENT has double doors to BACK YARD with level grassed lawn. Nice privacy hedge along rear property line.

¨ DECK accessed from Family Room and Master Bedroom. Steps down.

¨ Neighborhood swim and tennis clubs located nearby.

¨ Convenient commute to Emory-CDC. 

¨ Hawthorne ES

¨ Henderson MS.

¨ Lakeside HS (National award winner)

Can't wait to get this house on Braithwood Drive on the market.  

This new listing on Braithwood Drive is coming soon. Owners are wrapping up some repairs and sprucing up.  Should hit the market ina week or so.  Call me if you are interested.

Huge fenced back yard.

Henderson Mill Elementary School - Lakeside High School.  Easy commute to Emory University and CDC.  

Call Sally English at 770-939-3174 to schedule an appointment to see this new listing on Braithwood Drive.

Are you looking to "hit the pool" this weekend?

We have some awesome homes with swimming pools in the Northlake - Tucker neighborhoods.

Starting with:

2432 Cardinal Way Tucker GA 30084 $249,000

MORE HOMES THAT HAVE SWIMMING POOLS in the 30345 and 30084 Zip Codes.

Swimming pools are a "must" for some home buyers and a "must not" for others.  If you are concerned about maintenance, we have great news.  Help is right around the corner in Tucker:

Dillard Swimming Pools, Inc.

4505 Hugh Howell Rd. Tucker, GA 30084 

Tel: (770) 934 7611 Fax: (770) 938 8077 

Email: dillardpools@bellsouth.net

Website: aqualanta.com

This is a great source for everything from advice to a full service maintenance contract.  It will take all the hassle out of being a pool owner.

Sally English and The English Team listed, marketed and have under contract the home at 2567 Cosmos Drive Atlanta Ga 30345 and we need more homes in 30345 to list and sell.

Are you thinking about putting your home on the market in Atlanta Georgia.  Call us at 770-939-3174 and we can get you started with a FREE market analysis of your home.  

1. We can pull comparables from recent sales and help you determine a reasonable sales price for your home

2. During a walk-around tour of your home we can suggest easy to complete tasks that will help you sell your home faster - even in a down market.

3. Do you have some delayed maintenance or repair items - we have a "black book" of contractors who are hungry for work and have reasonable prices.

Call Sally English at 770-939-3174 and we can find a convenient time to help you determine the marketability of YOUR home.

April 25th is early for these roses.  But I am loving the excitement of roses in bloom.

So many roses and so little time!

If you are a beginner rose gardener, try these easy to grow favorites.

1. "Knock out" roses: lots of flowers in a variety of colors.  Shrub type rose that blooms all summer.  Requires almost no maintenance.

2. "New dawn" climbing rose.  Pink flower in on of the photos above.  Vigorous grower that covers walls and fences.  You will get a carpet of roses in May (normal years).  Must do some pruning after they bloom each year to keep in check.

Here is the lead story in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution today: Metro Atlanta housing prices plummet

"We kicked off the week talking about the economic challenges facing metro Atlanta and the region’s need to adapt to suit the modern real estate marketplace.

Yesterday, we got a rather harsh confirmation that change is indeed necessary. According to the latest S&P Case-Shiller numbers, housing prices in the 20 largest metro areas fell by 3.5 percent from February 2011 to February 2012.

In the 28-county metro Atlanta region, however, the year-to-year price decline was 17.3 percent, easily the largest drop in the nation. The decline was twice as large as that in Las Vegas, the second worst-performing metro region in the country"

No surprise here for anyone who has been trying to sell their house.  Buyers are out there and homes are selling, but prices have dropped big time in the past year.

Latest report from Case-Schilling