Atlanta Real Estate Podcast with Melida Potts of Potts Realty

Can You Still Sell Your Home in the Winter?

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 07:51:00 -0800

You missed the chance to sell in the spring and summer markets, but is it too late to sell in the winter? Find out today.

If you missed your shot at selling your home in the spring and summer markets, can you still sell in the winter? Here’s what the numbers say:

This time of year, we do have a lot fewer homes for sale. I don’t have a crystal ball for this coming winter, but in the past, we’ve had up to 50% fewer homes on the market in the winter than in other seasons. This means you’ll have less competition from other sellers, so maybe that’s a good reason to consider selling in the fall/winter. There are also fewer buyers this time of year, but only between 10% and 15% fewer.

In the past, we’ve had up to 50% fewer homes on the market in the winter.

So, you do the math: If there are half as many homes in the winter market than in other times of the year and only 15% fewer buyers, do you think the winter market is a good time to sell? I absolutely do! Interest rates are still down and the buyers are out there.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

You know you live in Atlanta when….

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 11:28:00 -0700

Friends, Clients, and Fellow ATLiens:

Today I’d like to take a break from real estate to talk about something only us Atlantans will understand.

Whether you’re an Atlanta native or a transplant to the city, you know the A is one of a kind. But, between us ATLiens, not everything about living here is so “peachy.”

By now, you’ve probably figured out that I’m talking about our traffic. Because, let’s be honest: If there’s anything Atlantans love to hate, it’s the fact that rush “hour” lasts all day—nevermind the fact that stop signs are basically just suggestions.

Between this and the fact that a single raindrop can induce city-wide panic, driving even just a few blocks can take all afternoon. It’s no wonder so many people like to say that Atlanta is just an hour-long drive from Atlanta.

But no matter how much taking the interstate, the highway, or Peachtree (the only real three options around here) drives you crazy, you do it anyway because the only thing worse than driving in Atlanta is taking public transport in Atlanta.

The good news is that our traffic gives us a lot of extra free time to think—even if most of that thinking is about how to get away with vehicular homicide.

It’s truly amazing how fast Southern Hospitality goes out the window when ATLiens get behind the wheel—almost as fast as we could all be driving if we lived somewhere else.

As much as we complain, though, we know that our apocalypse-level traffic is a small price to pay for living in the slice of Heaven that is Atlanta. And, as your local ATLien Realtor, I’m always here for you, whether you’re looking to buy or sell a home or just to talk about the latest bridge collapse. After all, if there’s anything we spend more time doing than sitting in traffic, it’s talking about Atlanta traffic.

Speaking of which: What Atlanta traffic stories do you have? I’d love to hear about them; so reach out anytime. And as always, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email for any of your real estate needs. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Your friend,

Melida Potts

Balancing Your Home’s Price & Your Agent’s Commission

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Thu, 3 Oct 2019 12:56:00 -0700

What is the right price for your home, and what is a fair commission? We’ll discuss both questions today.

Many sellers come to me saying that they want to find an agent who will help them sell their home for a high price at a low commission. Obviously, no one wants to sell their home for a low price and pay a high commission!

Here’s the issue, though: An agent or company that is willing to put homes on the market for low commission at any price doesn’t really intend to sell your property; they’re using it as bait to attract buyers so they can then sell them something else. The longer your home is on the market with them, the better off they are.

It’s a far smarter decision to put your home on the market at the right price as determined by comparable sales and at a fair commission to the agent.

If you’re wondering what is the right price for your home or what a fair commission rate is, reach out to me. I’d be glad to give you an honest answer about the value of your home and the commission rate I tend to charge. I hope to hear from you soon!

How Does the Internet Help You Price Your Home?

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 12:00:00 -0700

How does the internet help you price your home? Find out today.

I’m often asked by clients how the internet can help them price their home. This also begs the question of what a good pricing strategy looks like.

The internet today has all of the information you could possibly want. In fact, you might say there’s an overabundance of information. What’s the trick to sorting through all of it to find the right information you need?

Well, you could check tax records, which will tell you that your home could be priced within a certain range. However, I’ve seen homes priced in that range that didn’t sell. I’ve seen homes priced higher than that range that have sold. I’ve also seen homes that were priced under that range and have yet to sell. The trick is to find the most relevant information to your case.

"If you’re simply curious about your home’s value, basic online information works fine."

So what conclusions can be drawn from the information?
In the end, if you’re simply curious about your home’s value, basic online information works fine. But if you’re seriously looking to sell your home and want to know it's worth, reach out to me. I’d be glad to give you an accurate measure of your home’s value so that we can price it to sell quickly and for the most money possible. I hope to hear from you soon!
I would love to tell you that it’s easy to establish the price of your own home. But the reality is that you can’t—not because you’re not smart enough, but because there is so much information to sort through on your own.

Should You Buy New Construction?

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Wed, 4 Sep 2019 12:40:00 -0700

If you’re thinking about buying a brand-new home, I’ve got some great advice for you today. Here’s what you need to know about your options.

If you’re debating whether or not you should buy a new construction home, I’ve got some advice to share with you today about the two options you’ll have to decide between.

One option is to buy your own land and hire your own builder to build the house you really want. You’ll end up with exactly what you want, but there are some things you should be cautious about. For example, the things you want now may not be the things you want in five years, and you’ll be stuck with them. Also, building a fully custom home can affect your resale value because the more unique a home is, the fewer the number of buyers who’ll be interested in it. If you build something that’s somewhat unusual, you’ll have a narrower market of buyers.

“

Buying a home that’s already under construction will result in significant savings.

”

The second option is to find a subdivision that’s already in development with a builder who’s already building and buy one of those. Buying one of these homes will result in significant savings for you. Most of the time, builders pass on their bulk building costs to the buyer. This option is less expensive per square foot. Builders have also studied the floor plans that people like and that will increase your resale value moving forward. Personally, this is the option I would go with if I wanted to buy a brand-new home.

Either one of these options is great, but you need to decide for yourself what’s important to you in a home. If you have any questions for me in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Which Is Better: Overpricing or Underpricing?

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 11:37:00 -0700

Pricing a home is tricky, but does it make more sense to price the home for more or less than its worth? The answer may surprise you.

If you’re a home seller, you might be wondering whether it’s better to overprice or underprice your home. Of course, neither is better. The best strategy is to price it just right. However, sometimes the market isn’t very clear and we end up doing one or the other.

I would say that it’s probably more dangerous to overprice because it will result in the house accumulating market time and no offers. You won’t get your home sold. If the market is going up, that’s not a big deal. If the market is flat or moving down, it’s a real big issue.

Underpricing is an easier mistake to deal with.

Underpricing is probably an easier mistake to live with. When we underprice, it’s likely that you’ll have multiple buyers because it’s a good deal. That will result in the market bringing the price back up to where it needs to be.

You should definitely be more afraid of overpricing, but we always strive to price just right. If you have any questions for me about pricing or about real estate in general, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Should You Sell Your Home or Rent It Out?

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 11:19:00 -0700

Should you rent or sell your home? There are three questions that you should ask yourself to help you decide.

Lately, I’ve had a lot of folks asking me if they should rent their house out or sell it.

The truth is that we can help you with either option, but here are some broad guidelines to help you make that decision:

Which would you prefer? Which option is better for you, your family, your portfolio, and your long-term investment possibilities? If your house is under the $250,000 price range, you may be able to make a good investment by renting your property. If your home is above that range, the cost to bring your home up to selling condition will be high.

If your house is under the $250,000 price range, you may be able to make a good investment by renting your property.

Why would you want to rent instead of sell? Is it the income? Is it the ability to cover certain expenses because you don’t want to take a loss on the sale of your home? Your answers to those questions need to align with your long-term goals.

What is the best option for you? Depending on the price of your home, you’re often way better off selling your home, especially if it’s more than 2,000 square feet or if it’s above the $250,000 price range.

If you think the numbers I gave are arbitrary, or if you have any questions, feel free to give me a call. I’d love to talk about this with you in more detail.

Has the Atlanta Real Estate Market Slowed Down?

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 14:07:00 -0700

Has the Atlanta market slowed down? Find out what’s going on right here.

Has the Atlanta market slowed down? Find out what’s going on right here.

Today’s topic has been on a lot of people’s minds: Has the Atlanta market slowed down? Today, I’ll
share what the numbers have to say:

The number of sales is down, even for the season.
However, home prices are still up.
The supply of inventory is still the same.

Typically, for the market to have slowed, there must have been fewer sales, with prices having

dropped and supply having risen. So in the end, our market might have slowed down, but not
enough to hinder your real estate plans. If you’re thinking of selling a house, now is still a great
time to do so!

For an individual analysis of your own property, or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach
out to me. I’d love to hear from you.

Can You Sell Your Home Online?

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 13:38:00 -0700

Can you sell your home through the internet? Today I’ll explore this question.

This question is asked fairly frequently, and my answer is yes! We already use the internet to
sell homes. Your real estate expert should be marketing your home through various online platforms.

However, when people ask me that question, they often mean something a little different—they’re
really trying to ask, “Can I sell my home through the internet and pay a lower commission?”

Well, when it comes to online purchases, we tend to buy low-priced items sight unseen. On the
other hand, we don’t often make high-priced purchases online without seeing what we’re buying first.

If you bought a 70-inch T.V. online but didn’t like it when you received it, you could always send
it back. Even if you’re looking to purchase a car online, you can always have the owner drive
over so you can inspect if before making a decision. A house, however, is a little more difficult to
drive, so you’d have to go out to the home yourself to take a look.

So, can you sell your home through the internet? Yes; it’s already happening. Should you expect
someone to buy your home online sight unseen? I don’t think that’s going to happen
anytime soon.

If you have any questions about our internet savviness or which websites we use to market
homes, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you.

What Do the Numbers Say About Our Atlanta Market?

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Wed, 29 May 2019 12:40:00 -0700

If our average home price is any indication, our Atlanta market is very strong right now.

What’s been happening in our Atlanta real estate market over the last couple months? There are two numbers that tell the tale: $240,000 and $259,000 The first is what the average home price was on January 1 of 2019. The second is what the average price was as of yesterday. This discrepancy means that we’re seeing more homes in the higher price ranges sell now than we did at the beginning of the year. Right now, our market is amazingly strong, so if you’re ready to put your home on the market or you’d like to know what it’s worth, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

What the Numbers Tell Us About Our North Atlanta Market

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Tue, 2 Apr 2019 11:21:00 -0700

The numbers tell us that our market is slowing down, but they don’t tell the whole story.

What’s going on in our North Atlanta real estate market? Let’s look at a few year-over-year statistics

from this last quarter.

The number of home sales at the beginning of this year was down 8%—however, the ratio of homes that are actually selling versus what’s currently on the market is looking great
The average sales price rose from $281,000 to $298,000
The number of units for sale rose from roughly 27,000 to roughly 28,000

These numbers tell us that the market is slowing down a little, but in my experience, 2019

gave us the best we’ve had in the past 15 years. Homes are selling
quickly and at decent prices.

If you have any more questions about our market or you’re thinking of buying or selling a

home, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

What You Need to Know to Sell Your Home This Spring

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 13:46:00 -0700

If you’re looking to sell your home this spring, there are a few things you need to know about the spring selling season.

Spring is a great time to sell your home, but it’s not without its share of drawbacks that you need to be
aware of. There are three, in particular, you should know before starting the home sale
process:

1. It’s more competitive. There are a lot more homes on the market, so the earlier you can list
yours, the better.

2. There are more buyers out and about, which means you’ll have more showings to deal with.

3. It takes a little more work to sell in the spring—both inside the home and outside. On the
outside, people will be looking at your front yard more than they would be in the fall, winter, or
even summer. Inside the home, you need to open up your space and reflect the change of season.

If you have any questions or you need help selling your home this spring, don’t hesitate to reach
out to me. I’d love to help you.

What’s Going On In Our Marketplace?

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 14:28:00 -0800

Today I’ll address what’s happening in our market currently and what that means for home sellers.

The big question I’ve been hearing is, “What is the outlook for our market? What going to happen in 2019?” Here are some of my thoughts about the market for you to consider:

1. Interest rates are still amazingly low. When I bought my houses, interest rates were at 12.75%, which really puts into perspective how great our current 5% rate actually is. Compared to last year, however, rates are a whole point higher.

2. Houses are more expensive. Not only have interest rates risen, but home prices have gone up, as well. This is good news for sellers, but less so for buyers.

So what does the combination of these two factors mean to you as a seller? It means that if you price your property correctly according to the market and allow a good agent (like myself) to give it the proper exposure, it’s going to sell for top dollar.

If you have any questions or would like more information about how I can help you sell your home for as much as possible, please reach out to me. I would love to hear from you.

A Few Thoughts About the Best Time to Buy or Sell

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 14:19:00 -0800

Spring isn’t necessarily the best time for you to sell your home. Here are three additional factors to consider.

Here’s a question that I get a lot: Now that it’s winter, when is the best time to sell my house? Here
are three thoughts for you that will help answer the question:

1. The spring has a lot more activity. There are more houses for sale in the spring, as well as
more buyers. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean higher prices for you. Winter sales have a lot
fewer houses, but still a steady supply of buyers. From what I’ve seen, winter sales tend to bring
a little bit more money if you get in at the right time.

2. The market cycle. The market is cyclical, but we’re probably at the peak right now. We never
know when the cycle starts or ends.

3. When should you buy and/or sell? Whenever is most convenient for you. Interest rates are
still amazingly low and we’ve sold three listings this week for over their asking price.

If you have any questions for us about buying, selling, or about real estate in general, don’t hesitate
to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

How to Avoid Carrying 2 Mortgages

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 13:57:00 -0800

Don’t get trapped paying two mortgages! Here’s what you can do to avoid that situation.

If you want to buy another home, what should you do with the one you already have? You
definitely don’t want to be stuck paying two mortgages (not to mention taxes, insurance, and
utilities for each), so there are a couple of options you have.

You can rent one of the properties; some of that income will count toward your new mortgage.

If you don’t want to rent, you can simply sell the property. So you don’t end up without a place
to stay in the meantime, we can find with a buyer who will allow you to rent while you search for
a new home to purchase.

Either way, you don’t want the burden of two mortgages on your shoulders. If you’d like some help navigating this process, would like more information, or have any questions, reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Which Houses Are Selling the Most?

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 13:49:00 -0800

To answer the question of which homes are selling the most, we first need to look at who’s buying.

Millennials now make up 45% of homebuyers. This means entry-level homes are moving quickly.
If your home falls in a category that millennials can afford, you’ll find yourself in the perfect market
when you decide to sell.

Generation Xers make up 37% of buyers, and they’re buying in the $400,000 to $500,000 range.

Baby boomers are still 17% of the homebuyers in our market—this generation has the most money,
but the high-end price range tends to be slow because there is such a small percentage of
these buyers.

If you’re looking to buy or sell, need more information, or have any questions, feel free to reach out
to us. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Value-Boosting Qualities of a Home

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 12:44:00 -0800

What are the characteristics of a home that will really increase its value? Today I’ll discuss.

There are several qualities of a home that will increase its market value when it comes time to sell:

1. Being located in a cul-de-sac.

2. Being located on or near a golf course.

3. Access to great mountain views.

4. A view of the lake.

As you can see in the video above, I’m coming to you today from a beautiful lake home with four
bedrooms, a full basement, a new kitchen, and a fantastic view. If you have any questions about what
increases a home’s value or if you would like to see the home featured in the above video, please
reach out to us at Potts Realty.

The Truth About Decorating Your Holiday Listing

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 14:49:00 -0800

Today, we’ll get to the bottom of whether decorating your holiday listing is necessary.

Recently, we discussed the question: “Should sellers list during the holidays?” If you checked out that
message, you’ll remember that the answer was yes. Now that that’s sorted out, though, the next
question sellers must consider is, “Should I decorate?”

Those looking to list over the holiday season might worry that the extra decor will make their listing
look and feel too cramped. So, what should you do?

Well, if you enjoy decorating, then go for it! Just don’t go overboard. Even if you don’t particularly
enjoy decorating, but feel like you should, it won’t hurt to add a little bit of holiday cheer.

However, if you are adamant against decorating, or simply don’t have time, don’t worry about it. All
your home really needs to succeed in the market is to be neat, clean, and well-lit. Seasonal
decor can be a nice touch, but it certainly isn’t necessary.

If would like more information or if you have any questions about how our team can help your home
sell this holiday season, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing
from you soon.

The Truth About Listing Over the Holidays

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 14:44:00 -0800

Today, we’ll highlight the three main benefits sellers can enjoy by listing this holiday season.

With the holiday season just around the corner, many are wondering whether there’s still time to sell.
Is listing over the holidays a good idea? Actually, yes, and there are three reasons why:

1. Less inventory. People assume the market takes a turn for the worse over the holidays.
However, this isn’t the case. Those who are able to look past the rumors will find that listing
over the holidays means you’ll face less competition and have a greater opportunity to make
your home stand out.

2. More serious buyers. While there aren’t as many buyers looking over the holiday season,
those that are still searching for the perfect home are much more committed. As a seller, this
grants you a high degree of leverage.

3. Interest rates are still historically low. Though they have risen in recent months, interest rates
are still low compared to historical averages. Back in the 1980s, for example, it wasn’t uncommon to see rates above 12%. At just below 5%, rates today are still fantastic.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send
us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

3 Reasons to List Your Home During the Fall or Winter

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 10:00:00 -0700

Though spring and summer are often considered ideal times to sell, the fall and winter months carry three unique advantages of their own.

Many people believe the fall and winter months to be a poor time to list. However, this is certainly not
the case. These later seasons actually hold several unique opportunities for sellers, and today we’ll
highlight three such benefits:

There is less competition. Given that fewer sellers choose to list during these months, those

who do will face a lower level of competition. With up to 50% fewer listings on the market during the fall

and winter, the listings that are active during those seasons are sure to see greater success.

Sellers will have fewer showings to prepare for. There are approximately 15% fewer buyers in the

market during the fall and winter, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Those who are in the market at

this time are highly motivated. In addition to that, a lower volume of buyer traffic means sellers will

have fewer showings to prepare for.

There are still many sales taking place during fall and winter. Spring and summer aren’t the only

times of year during which sellers can succeed in our market.

The bottom line is this: You still have a chance to list your home and get it sold, even in the later
months of the year. That said, conditions between individual markets may vary. If you’re curious about
the outlook in your specific area, I would be happy to speak to you about your circumstances.

As always, if you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call
or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Why You May Want to Sell Now

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 15:11:00 -0700

If you’ve been thinking of listing, there are three reasons why now is an ideal time to do so.

If you’re thinking of selling in the next year or so, right now may be the ideal time to make that move.
Why? There are three key reasons:

1. Interest rates are at a seven-year high. As rates continue to climb, homes become less and less

affordable. This discourages buyers from entering the market, which is bad news for anyone looking to list. In other words, it may be smart to put your home out there before rates go even higher.

2. Affordability is at a 10-year low. As indicated in the last point, this means buyers will be increasingly

hesitant to enter our market as time goes by.

3. We may be at the peak of the market. There’s no way to know for sure whether we’ve hit this

point, but sellers shouldn’t risk letting this moment pass in case we are.

All in all, the window of opportunity sellers have available today won’t last forever. Now is the time to list your home and secure top dollar.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me
an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Tips to Help You Prepare Your Home to Sell This Fall

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 13:56:00 -0700

Earning top dollar from your fall home sale means following these important tips.

If you’re preparing to put your home on the market this fall, there are a couple of important steps you need to take in order to earn top dollar for it. First, don’t make your home look like it’s still spring outside. In other words, use the fall foliage—it works just fine for a fall sale.

Fall foliage works just fine for a fall sale.

Inside, make sure the home’s paint and flooring look nice and crisp. To hear my full message about how to prepare your home for a fall sale, watch my latest video.

Why Fall Is Still a Great Time to Sell Your Home

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 14:32:00 -0700

Fall is still a great time to sell your home, and there are a couple reasons why.

If you’ve made all the necessary improvements to your home but you think you can’t get it sold because you missed the summer selling season, don’t worry. The fall is also a great time to sell your home.

" In the fall, there are still lots of sales. "

Lots of sales happen during the fall, and by listing it during this time, you won’t have to deal with as many showings and you’ll face less competition. I check the market every day, and every day there are fewer and fewer homes being listed. To hear my full message about the benefits of listing in the fall, watch my latest video.

How Is Our Summer Market in North Atlanta Doing?

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 14:44:00 -0700

What is happening in our North Atlanta real estate market? Let’s take a look at three key factors.

What is going on in the market? For one thing, interest rates are on the rise and are now sitting at
between 4.5% to 4.8%. Yet, historically speaking, these rates are still very low. When I started working
in real estate back in 1985, my first deal had an interest rate of 14.75%.

Additionally, inventory is still low and prices remain high, as well. Those who are thinking of selling
should know that now is a great time to do so. To see my full message, watch this short video.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

What's It Like to Sell in the Summer?

mpotts@youneedresults.com (Melida Potts) — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 12:39:00 -0700

What should sellers know about listing in the seller months? There are three main points to focus on.

The summer is here and things are certainly hot here in Atlanta, including our market. Sellers are
currently in a favorable position, so, with that said, what must be done to take advantage of these
conditions? There are three factors to consider when selling your home in the summer:

1. There is less activity. It may sound counterintuitive, but a smaller pool of buyers can actually be beneficial. Having fewer offers to choose from can sometimes make your role as a seller easier.

2. There are fewer sales.

3. Prices are still higher. This means sellers are able to ask for more money when listing their home.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send
me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.