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Real Estate Report March Special Section
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North Atlanta’s
Sponsored Section • real estate report
March 2015
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News and advertising for new homes, realtors, developers, commercial properties and more.
5 easy kitchen and bath upgrades that take only hours to complete Do your kitchen and bathrooms look a bit drab? If you don’t have the time or budget for a full remodel, there are still many simple updates you can do to refresh these spaces and invigorate each with impressive style. From affordable faucet updates to pretty paints, each takes one day or less to complete, instantly providing a dramatic effect. Freshen the faucet Almost anyone who enters the bathroom or kitchen will use the faucet, which means it’s a functional focal point of the space. Installing a new faucet is a simple way to redefine interior design and reflect your own personal style. The new line of Kohler faucets available at Home Depot offers exceptional quality at an affordable price. For example, set the ambience in your bathroom with the Georgeson line of faucets, inspired by the Gatsby era with chic detailing and unique shapes to provide a decorative, eclectic touch. For those who prefer traditional silhouettes,
the Mistos kitchen faucet’s soft lines and classic aesthetic provide a timeless, upscale look. Update hardware and accessories Cabinet hardware and other accessories do for a room what jewelry does for an outfit - they provide the finishing touches that really elevate the space. Fortunately, it’s simple and economical to swap out dated hardware for new handles, knobs and pulls. Popular metal finishes include brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze and chrome. For bathrooms, update accessories to match your new Kohler faucet - each line includes coordinating accessories like towel bars, showerheads and tub fillers. Experiment with paint Paint is one of the most affordable ways to dramatically change the look and energy of a space. If you have dated tile, research if tile paint is an option for your kitchen or bath. Don’t be afraid to experiment with color - a rich or vivid color on a focal wall can add instant
style, like on the wall behind the tub or stove. Don’t forget the fifth wall: a fresh white ceiling instantly brightens the area and visually heightens the room, which can make the space feel larger and more modern. Frame the mirror Every bathroom has a mirror, and some kitchens and adjacent dining spaces feature mirrors as well. A mirror provides a focal point while reflecting light to make it appear brighter. But if you have a builder-grade mirror, you’re probably longing for more style. Instead of investing in a costly new mirror, simply add a new frame around your current one. You can buy a prefabricated frame or create one yourself fairly easily from supplies at your local craft store. Your boring old mirror will be transformed immediately into an upscale alternative. Swap light fixtures and bulbs If your current bathroom and kitchen light fixtures
evoke nostalgia from a lost era, it’s time for a swap. Pick out a new overhead fixture to instantly dress up the room - modern chandeliers, track lighting and recessed lighting are popular options. For bathrooms, installing task lighting by the mirror can help streamline daily routines. Keep in mind, cool, bright white bulbs
with a high color-rendering index (CRI) closely reflect natural light and therefore are a good option for bathrooms as well as cooking spaces. Harry Norman Realtors®, Forsyth/Lake Lanier Office 1664 Market Place Blvd. Cumming, GA 30041 Used with permission, Brandpoint, 2015.
ryland.com
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In the Atlanta division, on accepted purchase agreements on homes that are signed between January 1, 2015 and January 31, 2015 are eligible to receive $15,000 in Flex Cash; can be used towards MyStyle® Design Center Options and/or closing costs when using RMC Mortgage® and/or lot premiums, finished basement, etc. Incentive offer does not apply to contracts written prior to January 1, 2015. The following communities are excluded from the $15,000 incentive, Bethany Crossing, Bridleton, ManorView and Marketplace Commons. Individual promotions may vary by community. Certain included features may not be available on all plans. Value of package, and products, may vary by community and plan. Homes already under contract prior to this offer are not eligible. Plus for New to-be built homes, buyer eligible to receive up to $5,000 toward closing costs. Individual incentives may vary by community. Closing cost assistance available from Ryland Homes to those financing through RMC Mortgage® Corporation and closing with a closing attorney selected by Ryland. Amount of closing cost assistance may vary by product and community, and is subject to applicable contribution limitations. For all financing promotions, see a RMC Mortgage® Corporation Loan Officer for details. RMC Mortgage® Corporation is located at 1000 Mansell Exchange West, Suite 200, Alpharetta, GA 30022 and is a Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee, license number 24225 and NMLS number 203897. Buyers also eligible to receive Waived 1% Origination Fee through RMC Mortgage®; average value of $4,000 which is based on a $400,000 loan amount. The waived origination fee through RMC Mortgage® Corporation is subject to cancellation or change without notice. Buyers must make a loan application by January 31, 2014 with RMC Mortgage® Corporation (NMLS# 203897) a Georgia Residential Mortgage Lender Licensee #24225. *Buyers must also close with RMC Mortgage® Corporation. Please contact your RMC Mortgage® Corporation Representative for exact quotes. Prices, plans and specifications are subject to change without notice. Ryland reserves the right to modify or cancel these offers at any time. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only. Offer may not be combined with any other promotion or incentives. Information shown believed to be accurate but not warranted. See a Sales Counselor for details on available promotions, restrictions and offer limitations. © 2015 The Ryland Group, Inc.
March 2015
real estate report • Sponsored Section
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Sponsored Section • real estate report
March 2015
Find the perfect neighborhood By: Bill Rawlings Vice President/Managing Broker Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty Before you begin the search for the perfect home, take time to scout out neighborhoods. Selecting the right neighborhood plays a critical component in your everyday life. Take into consideration the factors most important to you – do you want to walk to the park? Have a short commute to the office? Reside in an awardwinning school district? Enjoy easy access to shopping and restaurants? You can begin the process from the comfort of your home by visiting AtlantaFineHomes. com/videos and clicking on the 'Community Profiles' tab. Our 'Live the Life' video series showcases more than 50 of Metro Atlanta’s most popular cities, neighborhoods, areas and communities. The videos provide insight on pricing, home styles, community events, surrounding schools and nearby shopping and dining. Once you have your short list of possibilities, hop in your car and drive around to determine what neighborhoods appeal to you. Explore the area and consider talking to residents who are out and about. Give consideration to the appearance of the homes in the neighborhood, noting if they are well maintained and nicely landscaped. Our Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty agents are experts in the field and their familiarity with all the neighborhoods in the area can help guide you in making the right decision. You benefit from an agent’s expertise and intimate knowledge of the schools, crime and home values. Every neighborhood has its strengths and weaknesses and a REALTOR® can assist you in determining the most important factors to consider. School districts Even if you do not have children, buying a home in an award-winning school district will be in your best interest. If and when you sell in the future, neighborhoods with great schools are often a top priority for homebuyers. There are several sites on the Internet in which school reports based on
geographical area and zip code are just a few mouse clicks away. Do your due diligence: • Ask your REALTOR® to share school rawlings information. • Talk to people in the neighborhood, especially people with children. • View standardized test scores (available on the Internet). • If you have children, visit the schools and take a tour to form your own opinion. Crime statistics No matter where you live, you cannot escape crime. Although the suburbs generally have lower crime statistics, you may have to drive a little further to the store or to work. Living in a city may offer more convenience, but often you will find a higher crime rate. Homestore is a website where you can search for crime data by city or zip code. Research crime statistics: • Talk to neighbors. • Talk to the police or sheriff's department. • Keep an open mind. If you are gravitating toward living in the hustle and bustle, you may not be able to get away from everything you consider unappealing, such as noise and traffic. Think about now – and the future There are a multitude of components to consider before buying a home. Envision your current needs and factor in what may be of greater importance five to 10 years down the road. The community and neighborhood you select become an integral part of your identity. With spring finally on the horizon, make your ultimate neighborhood wish list so you are ready to hit the ground running. At Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, we are dedicated to providing you with an exceptional experience throughout the buying and selling process. If I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. Article adapted from Realty Times.
March 2015
real estate report • Sponsored Section
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Atlanta magazine
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The above information is believed to be accurate but not warranted. Offer subject to errors, changes, omissions, prior sales, withdrawals without notice.
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Sponsored Section • real estate report
March 2015
Your house, picture perfect By: Jennifer Pino, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty Are you thinking of listing your home for sale sometime this year? In these last bleak days of winter, this is the perfect time to consider when to photograph your home. The listing photographs of your home will be blasted onto the Internet and will create the first impression for the future buyer. Consider this: Getting ready to sell your home is like Cinderella getting ready for the ball. She would not dream of going to the ball without the right dress, shoes, jewelry, perfect hair and makeup. Just as Cinderella looked her best when she met her prince, so should your home when introduced to its future buyer. There is an artful time to photograph a home to capture it in its best possible light. Think about your home and grounds. There are likely a couple of times a year when your property looks its absolute best, blooming in all its glory. Is it when your cherry trees are blossoming or when the hydrangeas are in full bloom? This is the magical moment you want to capture. Think about the moments you have enjoyed your home the most throughout the seasons, and surely there will be a time that is ‘picture perfect.’ Once you have identified the upcoming ideal time for your exterior photography, start preparing. Tend
to the landscaping, trimming, weeding and mulching. Arrange to have the driveway, walkways and patios pressure washed. Feel free to put the cushions on the outdoor furniture, but stay away from holiday-specific outdoor decorations.Next, call a real estate photographer and schedule an appointment. Work with the photographer to determine the best time of day to photograph the exterior, based on lighting and the direction your home faces. If you have already identified a REALTOR®who will help you sell your home, include them in the process. REALTORS® often provide professional photography for their listings. This may be something you can take care of together so that the exterior photos are ready when the timing is right to sell. You may want to take exterior photos at a different time than interior photos, especially if the interior is not ready for its ‘close up.’ If you still have details to work out, you can archive the photos for when you need them, whether you have a REALTOR® or not. With a little thought and preparation for your exterior photography, your house can make the best first impression possible. As we are on the cusp of spring, and with a healthy real estate market predicted for 2015, this is the time to plan for success. For any of your real estate needs, please contact Jennifer Pino at Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, 305-310-6114, jenniferpino@atlantafinehomes.com.
530 Oakleaf Way This expansive executive home located in convenient, close-in Milton offers it all. Built on a quiet cul-de-sac lot, this four-sides brick home offers privacy and a pristine wooded sanctuary. The wide front porch welcomes you into the inviting two-story entry, separate living and dining rooms and a two-story great room with a fireplace. Quality details including transom windows, layered moldings, walls of windows, iron balusters, hardwood floors, stone countertops and arches adorn this Milton masterpiece. 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, offered for $649,900
2014 Be Best of Trulia Top Age Agent Award
JENNIFER PINO REAL ESTATE ADVISOR, NORTH ATLANTA c. 305.310.6114 o. 770.442.7300 jenniferpino@atlantafinehomes.com ©MMXV Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. A Realogy Company. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity.
March 2015
real estate report • Sponsored Section
Spring Market By: Babs Price, Broker Associate Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty If you are anticipating moving this Spring now is the time to get your home ready to go on the market. While the temperatures are still cold, utilize this time to complete a checklist to make you current home look its best. Organizing and cleaning your home from inside out will ensure that you receive top dollar for your home and get the property sold quickly, so that you may move on with the next adventure of your life. Organize the “dreaded” storage area. Many times this is the most difficult area to clean and organize, but the most rewarding to you when the movers arrive to take your possessions to their next destination. Purchase a label maker and bins. Group like things together in each bin. Put a label on each bin which lists the contents. Stack the bins. Your storage space will look much larger this way. Buyers will be impressed with the space. Buyers will be peering in your cabinets, cabinet drawers, and closets. Clean cabinets and drawers and put new lin-
ers in each. You may want to purchase more bins to organize your closets. Next make the rest of your home sparkle. Clean price windows inside and outside. Clean ceiling fan blades and chandeliers. Replace burned out bulbs in light fixtures. Wipe down all woodwork and cabinets. If you live in an older home you may need to have some updating. For example, having the interior of the home painted an updated neutral color, replace carpet, replace kitchen appliances, and replace counter tops. All though the year 2015 is still very young we are seeing brisk sales. The home inventory is still a bit low. There will be a huge influx of homes for sale in the Spring. Get your home ready to sell now and list it for sale now and be “ahead of the curve.” For all your real estate needs, please contact Babs Price at Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. 404-697-2008, babsprice@atlantafinehomes.com
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