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or just wanting in-depth information on Metro Atlanta? |
| Welcome! Whether you are being
transferred by
your company, relocating for a new job, or are just beginning to think
about moving to Atlanta, I hope this page will give you a good start in
preparing for your move.
How soon is too
soon to look at homes? This is a question I hear a lot, and
there's
no one answer. Generally, you should ask this question: Are
you READY, WILLING & ABLE to purchase at this time? Are
you clear on what relocation services your company offers? Do you
have a home to sell or other business to wrap up in your current city
before
you can purchase here? Are you in Atlanta in a rental property,
and
do you have a lease? Have you been prequalified by a reputable bank or
mortgage company? Can you close in 45-60 days? If you have
a home to sell in your home state, be aware that lenders have changed
qualifying guidelines for leases. For years, lenders would
consider 100% of the mortage as a debt, and 75% of rental income as
income when determining debt ratios. Lenders no longer
count rental income, so you must qualify for two mortages.
Obviously, if you are relocating with your company, or for a new job,
your biggest decision will be in which area to purchase a home.
This may be based on your commute to your business or to the airport,
public schools, place of worship, recreation, or availability of homes
in your price range with the features you desire. Very
modest older homes in the suburbs start very low in lower demand
neighborhoods due to the number of foreclosures and short sales.
Areas in higher demand have not dropped as much, but there are great
values out there in 2011! New construction slowed down
considerably in the first years of the recession, but we're beginning
to see builders buying up foreclosed subdivisions and beginning to
build again.
If you are thinking of moving to Atlanta but are not ready to make a
decision, delve into the great information available on the Internet.
Unless you've lived here before, or have visited friends or
family members here, I strongly recommend vacationing in metro
Atlanta to become acquainted with the area amenities, suburbs, and,
yes, TRAFFIC! If you have a suburb in mind, stay in a hotel
in that area and drive around on your own. You may want to
rent for awhile and really get acquainted with the different areas in
metro Atlanta or Gwinnett County. Read local newspapers online,
check out the school reports (good schools generally mean strong home
values). Read the crime reports. You'll find links
below.
Even if you are just in your initial stage of your home search, I would
be happy to create a custom search (or several different
searches) just for you. There is
absolutely no obligation, and every day you'll get new listings that
meet your criteria! Please visit my
home page for much more information, and don't hesitate to contact me
if
I can provide additional information. Pat
Sabin, REALTOR®,
Solid Source Realty, Inc, CORPORATE RELOCATION BENEFITS If your move is due to a job relocation, be sure to check with your firm's relocation department and find out what, if any, benefits it offers to relocating employees. Benefits vary, and may include a fixed amount to be used in any way toward your moving costs, or the company may pay real estate commission, closing costs, movers, or any combination. Particularly when making an offer on your new home, this becomes relevant in structuring the offer.
Your company may
prefer or require you to use a third party relocation firm who will
assist
you in your relocation. If the real estate agent you prefer is
not
on the approved list, it is probable that the relocation company will
be
willing to approve that agent and company. MAPS HOMES AND PRICES IN
METRO
ATLANTA
After you've made
a preliminary decision about where you prefer to live in Atlanta, you
can
search for available homes at GAMLS
When you get closer
to your
move
date,
I can do custom searches for you on based on your criteria and
e-mail
the link to you to view the properties (including driving directions if
you are already in the Atlanta area). Your "Client Gateway" page will
update with any new listings or off markets every night!
Metro Atlanta's housing market is very reasonable compared
to many
cities. However, I must caution that you probably will not find a single
family
home in the neighborhood of your dreams for under
$150,000.
If you find a modest priced home in a stable, thriving
neighborhood, there will be something "not-so-perfect" about the
house.
It may mean that
it
just needs redecorating or updating. It may be an older house
with a floor plan that just doesn't work well for modern
lifestyles. It may be that the overall condition is poor. That doesn't
mean that you should not consider it, you just need to make informed
decisions based on what you can change, fix, or live with. If you
find a great deal in a neighborhood with a high percentage of distress
sales and rentals, consider why this neighborhood is not thriving, and
what that means for you.
Think a
lot about this for your own future enjoyment of your home and
neighborhood and for resale value down the road. OTHER
ADVICE ABOUT SEARCHING
ON THE INTERNET.
Your parents probably told you not to "judge a book by
its cover," and your parents were right. If there is no
photograph, it probably is a new listing - check again in a few
days. If there is only a photograph of the front of the house but
no interior photos, it may be because the interior doesn't show well
(which may just be decorating), or a listing agent who is not tech
savvy. If the photographs are bad, it's not
necessarily the home's fault. It may just be a bad photographer,
a bad weather day, or a home that's difficult to photograph because of
surrounding trees. If it's a good neighborhood and has the price
and features you're seeking, don't rule it out without seeing it in
person! Also, be careful about searching zip codes, as one zip code may include a wide range of neighborhoods and school districts. Do your homework, and make informed decisions! I sell homes in northeast metro Atlanta, primarily in Gwinnett County, and some in north DeKalb, south Hall and south Forsyth Counties. If you are looking in another area of Atlanta and I can't help you, I would be happy to refer you to a trusted associate in that area. |
    Atlanta
enjoys mild temperatures most of
the year, along with four distinct seasons. Situated in the
Appalachian
foothills, winter temperatures often dip below freezing but
frozen
precipitation may only occur once or twice a year. |
For current weather conditions, visit
http://atlanta.cityvisitorsguide.com/weather.htm
Atlanta
Traffic
|
THINGS YOU MAY NOT
KNOW ABOUT ATLANTA & NORTH GEORGIA
The population of metropolitan Atlanta is over 4,000,000 Atlanta was called "Marthasville" until 1845, when the name Atlanta was adopted. Atlanta is hilly, located in the foothills of the Appalacian Mountains. Most of metro Atlanta is 700-1,000 feet above sea level. Lawrenceville is about 212 miles to the historic city of Savannah, GA and the Atlantic coast, and Lilburn is about 252 miles to Charleston, South Carolina and the Atlantic coast Suwanee is 47 miles to the north Georgia "Alpine" town of Helen, Georgia and 85 miles to Highlands, North Carolina (even closer to Sky Valley ski resort!). GEORGIA FACTS Milledgeville was the first capital of Georgia, and it's historic buildings make it a great weekend destination. For more history and day and weekend trip information, visit Roadside Georgia. Georgia's state flower is the Cherokee Rose Georgia's state bird is the Brown Thrasher English was declared the official language of Georgia by an Act of the Georgia General Assembly, April 25, 1996. Corporate Headquarters Located in Metro Atlanta
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Atlanta Braves Baseball |
LINKS TO
MORE INFORMATION
TO HELP YOU MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS
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MAPS METRO
ATLANTA PROPERTY TAXES
TOWN
& CITY WEB SITES FOR GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIA
City
Data. Com (Georgia towns and cities) 2000 Census Info Metro
Atlanta Demographics (including metro suburbs) Georgia
Public Policy Foundation Sperling's Best and Worst Cities
for cost of living, crime,climate, etc. Migrations
In and Out of Metro Atlanta - AJC
UNEMPLOYMENT
STATISTICS - METROPOLITAN AREAS AROUND THE COUNTRY NEWSPAPERS ONLINE Gwinnett
Daily Post (general news) AJC
- Gwinnett County Section
TELEVISION
STATIONS ONLINE WSB-TV
(CHANNEL 2) ABC NEWS FOX
- CHANNEL 4 11
ALIVE - NBC NEWS - CHANNEL 11 CBS
ATLANTA - WGCL TV - CHANNEL 46 TEMPORARY
HOUSING UNTIL YOU BUY SINGLE FAMILY, CONDO, TOWNHOUSE: GEORGIA
MLS ATLANTA
JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION RENTLIST.NET APARTMENTS AND EXTENDED STAY HOTELS Apartments
for Rent Extended
Stay Suite Hotels (just a few) PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION
HOME SEARCHES - RESALES (SOME NEW) GAMLS HOME SEARCHES - NEW COMMUNITIES http://www.atlantacommunities.com/ OTHER HELPFUL INFORMATION AND SITES Sierra Club, Gwinnett
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E-Mail
Pat
The information contained herein
is believed to be accurate and timely but no warranty as such is
expressed or implied.
©
1999-2012 Pat Sabin