"Why Should I Own My Home Rather Than Rent?"

Looking to buy or sell a home in Cobb County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (678) 631-1812 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer your real estate questions.

A recent Harvard study found that there are behavioral factors that play a role in people's home buying decisions - as opposed to financial factors being the sole motivator. Here is a list of 15 benefits of home ownership that take both into account:

1. Paying rent is not a good investment.
   
2. Motivates you to become a better citizen and engage in important civic activities.
3. More living space.
4. A good place to raise children and provide them with good education.
5. It's a good financial opportunity.
6. You can select a community where people share your values.
7. Symbol of success and achievement.
8. Start building your family wealth.
9. It's an investment in your retirement.
10. Owning a home provides tax benefits.
11. The landlord doesn't have the final say on pets.
12. Gives you something you can borrow against if needed.
13. It's a safe place to raise your family.
14. You don't want to be told how you can decorate your home.
15. It allows you to live in a nicer place.

Do these benefits sound like something you would be interested in? If so, give us a call or shoot us an email. We would love to sit down and discuss your options. Hope you enjoyed the tips - thanks, and have a great week!

The 2nd Quarter Market Analysis Shows it's a Good Time to Buy or Sell in Cobb County

Looking to buy or sell a home in Cobb County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (678) 631-1812 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer your real estate questions.

In today's blog, we take a look at the results of the 2nd quarter market analysis for this year. According to the chart, the availability of homes has changed over the last year. For Atlanta homes under $750,000, we are currently in a seller's market, as there are more buyers than sellers in the marketplace. However, we are moving toward a more balanced market, which is achieved when there is between 6 and 7 months of available inventory, according to the National Association of Realtors.

If you have a luxury home in the area, now is a great time to sell. There are a lot of buyers out there, making now a good time to get top value if your home is in good condition and priced right.

But is now a good time to buy in Atlanta, since sellers still have a slight advantage? It is, in fact, a great time to buy. We recently worked with a young couple who were able to secure a 3.87% interest rate! That is unbelievably low and we don't know how much longer rates will stay there. If you want more details from the 2nd quarter analysis, don't hesitate to call. We would be happy to go over some of the finer points with you!

How One Meeting Can Take the Stress and Confusion Out of Buying a Cobb County Home

Looking to buy or sell a home in Cobb County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (678) 631-1812 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Recently, we attended a Q&A panel consisting of 7 recent home buyers in Cobb County who purchased homes over the last year. They were being interviewed by Realtors about their home buying experience. 

As they went through a list of questions, a lot of similarities started to pop up. One curious similarity was that their agents were sending them random listings that weren't in their price range or target area. They were confused as to why their agents would do this. Another similarity was that once each of them purchased homes and went under contract, they had no guidance and had no idea what the next steps were. They felt lost and confused about the home buying process after experiencing these things.

Once more questions were asked and we went deeper into the problem, we found out that only 1 of the 7 had a formal buyer consultation. A formal buyer consultation is a meeting in which the buyer comes into the real estate office where the agent explains everything they can do to help, what happens when you go under contract, and go through all the listings that match your criteria to figure out what you are looking for as a buyer. 

All 7 of these buyers had successfully purchased a home, but they felt lost and confused the whole time. We think having a a buyer consultation is very important and will help make the home buying process much clearer for you. We can provide this important consultation so that purchasing your next home is a fun and enjoyable experience.

If you have any questions regarding Cobb County real estate, or would like to schedule a buyer consultation meeting, please give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help. 

Check Out Our Latest Testimonials

Connie Carlson Reviews Brenda Brooks
How we helped Brenda buy and sell a home in the Kennesaw Area by being knowledgeable about the area

We received great service from Connie and her team. They always gave me answers when I had any questions and was just very courteous to us. She is really knowledgeable about the area which gave us the advantage because she knows what the prices should be. I’d recommend her!



Connie Carlson Reviews Nathan Harris
How we helped Nathan sell his house in 3 days with our good communication

Connie and her team were very quick when it came to the sale of our home. They had very good communication with us throughout the entire process so it was a very good experience. Give them a call and let them prove to you how great they are!



Connie Carlson Reviews Rod Parks
How we helped Rod buy his home by working with his busy schedule

Within the first day of working with the Connie Carlson team, we saw 3 houses. Our agent was really great about working with us and finding out where we wanted to go. There was a time that she showed us a house early in the morning before we went to work which we really appreciated. I think they just really care about their clients.

The Top Five Home Improvements for Maximum Return on Investment in Cobb County

Looking to buy or sell a home in Cobb County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (678) 631-1812 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Welcome back to another edition of "Coffee With Connie". Today we're talking about home improvements. Making improvements to your Cobb County home won't always mean a higher sale price. It's important to understand that some improvements will actually cost you money in the long run. So we're going to focus on the top 5 improvements that bring the best return on your investment.

5. Repair your plumbing

Fixing the plumbing in your home may sound expensive, but it is definitely worth it. On average, plumbing repairs before you sell will get you a 327% return on your investment.

4. Landscaping your front and back yards

Having a visually pleasing lawn will not only impress potential buyers, it will give you a sense of pride in your home as well.

3. Lighten and brighten your home

Home buyers want to see plenty of light and bright colors when they enter a home. Open up the blinds and windows and turn on the lights when you have a showing, and paint any dark walls a light, neutral color. This fix will get you, on average, a 572% ROI.

2. Home Staging

Having your home professionally staged before you put in on the Cobb County real estate market will get you a great return on investment. On average,  a $300-$400 investment will get you a 586% return!. Every listing that the Connie Carlson team sells in Cobb County has professional staging (paid for by our team) so you can take advantage of this key improvement.

1. Clean and de-clutter

The most financially rewarding things you can do when getting ready to sell your home are cleaning and de-cluttering your home and yard. Clean out closets, put away trinkets and pictures on the wall. Taking care of this simple step will get you an 872% return on investment.

If you're looking to make improvements specifically to raise your sale price, be sure to contact us today. We'd love to help you make those strategic decisions so you get the highest value out of the improvements you make.

Exciting News! You Could Win $10,000 Toward a Down Payment on a New Home in Cobb County

Looking to buy or sell a home in Cobb County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (678) 631-1812 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

You have the Chance to Win $10,000 Towards Your Down Payment and Possibly a $100,000 Grand Prize!

In today's Coffee with Connie, I'm proud to announce that I have partnered with a group of Realtors to give back to our community. We've formed an amazing sweepstakes so that you can win $10,000 toward the down payment on a new home, or even to renovate your existing home. The choice is yours!

We will be giving away $10,000 every two weeks starting now until January 2015.

Better yet - there will be a $100,000 dollar grand prize given away in January to cap off this sweepstakes. 

In order to enter for a chance to win, click here and provide us with your information. 

www.georgiahomegiveaway.com

As always, if you're interested in buying or selling a home in Cobb County, please feel free to contact me!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 21 years and older. Ends

1/31/15.To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, and prize descriptions and how to enter without

pre-qualifying for a mortgage, visit www.TheGreatHomeGiveaway.com . Void where prohibited.

Top 5 Ways To Annoy Home Buyers When Showing Your Atlanta Home for Sale

Looking to buy or sell a home in Cobb County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (678) 631-1812 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Selling your Atlanta home? Don't make these 5 mistakes!

A recent survey asked buyers what kinds of things annoyed them when they view a home. These mistakes should be avoided at all cost because they could cost you the sale of your home. With spring and summer approaching in Cobb County, now is not the time to chances on the sale of your home!

The Top 5 Offenses Homeowners Commit when Showing Their Property (according to buyers interviewed by Realtor Magazine):

1. Being present at the showing: This will always make the buyer very uncomfortable, and it makes them feel like they are intruding on someone's privacy. If you have a showing, make sure you're not in your home while it is going on. Just take a hike and get some coffee. This can make the situation less awkward for everyone involved.
2. Pets: Animals are nice, but not to people that they have never encountered in their home before. Even if your pet is well trained, you never know how it will react to a guest in your home. Even when caged, they can still bark or growl, which can ruin the buyer's showing. 
   
3. Bad Smells / Odors: Pet odors, cigarette smoke, and strong odors from cooking can deter many buyers from your home. I had a client who lost $35,000 dollars in value because she could not get the stench of cat odor out of her carpet. 
4. Bad / Odd Home Renovations: If you like doing your own remodeling but are not so highly skilled, you might want to consider having some repairs made onto your renovated areas. It's fine to renovate your home by yourself, but sometimes it is best to leave the job up to the professionals. 
5. Dirty / Cluttered Homes: People can absolutely not stand a dirty home or a cluttered home. It is surprising how often I see this, too. When you show your home, it needs to be sparkling clean. No dirty dishes, and no laundry should ever be left out. You need to make a good first impression with strong staging, and your home must be clean and orderly to do that. We have a professional stager who can view your home and give you tips about how to best prepare your home for a showing.

Hopefully this information has been helpful to you. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me. Consider me your #1 resource for real estate in Cobb County!

Cobb County Market Conditions are Perfect for Moving Up

Looking to buy or sell a home in Cobb County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (678) 631-1812 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

3 Reasons to Sell Your Cobb County Home Now

Welcome back to Coffee with Connie. Today I will be discussing three different reasons why it might be a good time to sell your Cobb County home. 

1. Demand is about to Skyrocket: Atlanta real estate is very seasonal. For example, people want to move during the summer so their children don't have to switch schools mid-year. This is why Cobb County gets a great deal of demand during the summer. April, May, June and July are probably the biggest months for home sales, so don't miss out on this opportunity.
2. Less Competition: There is a lot less competition right now than there has been in a long, long time. For the last year, we have been in a really strong seller's market. This means that there are more buyers in Atlanta and Cobb County than there are homes to buy. On average, our homes are selling in less than 2 weeks. When buyers see good homes, they jump on them.
3. Great Time to Move Up: In the 10 years that I have been involved in real estate, there has never been a better time to move up. Prices are supposed to increase by 4% this year and possibly 8% next year. Interest rates are also extremely low right now, so you can buy more home for less money. As long as these two trends continue, it will be a great time to be a move up buyer.

If you're in Cobb County and considering selling, then call me and we can set up a free consultation. We will give you an accurate value for your home and discuss ways to sell it for top dollar.

So, if you're looking to buy or sell in Atlanta or Cobb County, then please do not hesitate to contact me. I am always here to help you.

Thanks for tuning in!

Use an Experienced Team to Pinpoint Your Perfect Cobb County Home

Looking to buy or sell a home in Cobb County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (678) 631-1812 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

How Can I Help You Find Your Dream Home?

You might be used to seeing me in my Coffee with Connie videos, but I'm here to bring you more educational info and advice so you can make more informed decisions in the real estate market here in Cobb County.

One reason to hire me is that I have over 20 years of experience in Cobb County. I know about the community, the schools and the people. I have sold hundreds of homes in Marietta, and there is no reason why yours couldn't be my next sale.

I employ an aggressive marketing campaign, and I'm always looking for new and innovative ways to market properties. On average, I sell homes 30 days faster and for 3-4% more money than the average agent in Atlanta. 

My service is always intended to satisfy my clients, which is one reason why 75% of our business comes from referrals of former clients. 

If you're looking to buy in Cobb County, then you'll be in good hands with my team. We consult with you about your needs instead of directing you to properties throughout the Marietta area. We listen to your needs, and then help you pinpoint the perfect home. We also have a Buyer Guarantee, so if you're not happy with the home we found for you, we will help you sell it in the first two years for free. 

So if you're looking to buy or sell here in Cobb County, Marietta, Powder Springs, Kennesaw, or Acworth, please give us a call. We would be more than happy to help you.


Don't forget to visit www.LivinginCobb.com for our other great real estate resources!