Coweta Fayette Real Estate & Newnan Homes for sale blog by Richard Weisser of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers

One of the advantages of purchasing a Coweta County HUD home for sale is that many buyers qualify for a down payment as low as $100.

You must be buying as an owner-occupant, and you must be able to qualify for an FHA loan for the amount of the bid, plus any rolled in expensed such as the 2.25% up-front mortgage premium.

The one caveat that buyers need to be aware of is that a $500 earnest money deposit is required for bids up to $50,000 and $1,000 for houses over $50,000.  This deposit will be applied as a credit towards the $100 down payment and any closing costs that are not paid by HUD.

For more information contact a Realtor that is experienced in HUD sales!

My friend Michael Thornton asked about the difference in A Picture or a Photograph... and I thought enough about the question to add my two cents worth.

The difference between a picture, or snapshot, and a photograph lies purely in the intent of the creator. If the image is intended as a mere thumbnail of reality that captures a moment in time that documents the location in its chronological state, then it is a picture.

If the photographer endeavors to create interest beyond the obvious by provoking thought or stimulating passion, then it is a photograph. Imagery is a powerful form of communication, and the key is producing a statement that sends the intended message.

It’s not as easy as it sounds. Visual cognition is subjective, and unlike the spoken word, relies on the viewer’s comprehension and interpretation of form, color, contrast and subject matter.

There is something of a knack to effectively achieving the best results over the broadest range of the intended audience. And while it’s not just a hit or miss operation, experience does tend to dictate what works and what doesn’t.

Photography is more of an art than a science. It is seeing what others might miss, or capturing the underlying essence of what lies before you.

And that’s a powerful tool in the arsenal of communication!

Please don’t let this spoil your Memorial Day weekend. After all, Memorial Day is when we pay tribute to our service men and women that have departed this life, and not the ones that are alive and protecting us now.

And if duty calls, and an active serviceman cannot sell his house due to a depressed market, and is forced to leave to a new assignment in a distant place, don’t give a second thought to the fact that your department has had an offer on the property in their hands for over two months, and yet no one in your department has even bothered to look at it.

And never mind that Monday is a holiday, and Tuesday is the first Tuesday of the month, and that your company will be forced to buy the property back on the court house steps for way too much money due to your inaction.

And try not to think about the fact that you had the opportunity to do the right thing and yet you chose to put your own holiday plans ahead of the interests of your customer, your company, and your country.

Have a great weekend but don’t overdo it. I suspect that you will have plenty more free time in the near future.

After decades of advancements in technology, enlightened legislation and uniform instruments, the condition of real estate as a profession is devolving into a free-for-all and it is becoming a scenario of every man or woman for themselves.

Part of the problem is initiated at the hands of some institutional sellers that craft contradictory cryptic conditions that seem to encourage misinformation at best and outright deceit at its worst.

As many of the large, reputable brokerage firms view some of these conditions of listing as “borderline,” and refuse to participate in the gray area schemes, an underground army of renegade independents seem only too anxious to become complicit in taking the buyer back to the days of caveat emptor.

These sellers have the property inspected for adverse material defects at the time of acquisition, and yet refuse to disclose these defects for which they now have actual knowledge, as required by law.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development always allows the buyer to see the entire HUD property report before submitting an offer. And while it’s not a perfect system, at least the consumer has the same information as the seller and at least has some idea of potential problems.

All other institutional sellers should follow suit, not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because it is the law!

Many buyers are afraid of purchasing real estate in today’s volatile market because they fear the investment may not be sound.

And while all investments carry some associated risks, real estate is different because you have to live somewhere anyway. In addition to being an asset in the portfolio, real estate is a functional purchase and you enjoy the benefits of usage during your period of ownership.

The key is to do your homework up front, and hire qualified professionals to assist you with your purchase, your mortgage and your inspection of the property, The best way to minimize risk is to enter the transaction armed with facts and with eyes wide open.

Prices are great and interest rates are low. It’s a great time to buy real estate, and a great time to add real estate to an investment portfolio.

Are you looking for a Peachtree City Georgia condo for sale?  Many buyers wanting to benefit from all of the amenities that Peachtree City has to offer but don’t want to deal with exterior maintenance may wish to consider a condominium unit instead of a freestanding house.

Peachtree City Georgia was designed from its inception as a completely self-sustaining community, with shopping, restaurants, recreational facilities and an industrial complex interconnected by an amazing web of golf cart trails.

This network of paved trails allow city residents the luxury of remaining completely within the boundaries of the community for all of their needs without the necessity of driving a car!

There are three golf courses, numerous tennis courts and city parks, and the centerpiece of the community is Lake Peachtree.

And nestled on the shore of Lake Peachtree is “Ridgelake,” a condominium swim/ tennis community. The complex is centrally located and minutes from everything that Peachtree City has to offer.

306 Ridgelake Drive is a two bedroom, two bath upstairs unit with a lovely balcony that overlooks the lake and adjoining greenspace. It has a greatroom with a fireplace and an open floor plan.

It’s priced to sell at $137,900. Complete slide-show, details and map to Peachtree City Condo for sale 306 Ridgelake Drive  at CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com.

All properties subject to prior sale.

There is an ever-increasing segment of the population that has no concept of what life was life before the advent of the Internet. And my guess is that about half of the people in business today have never worked in an Internet-less environment.

They have never heard the words “Mimeograph” or “Carbon Paper” although the term “CC” lives on in email nomenclature if not in realty!

And for whatever reason, parents seem intent on getting their offspring wired and connected at the time of weaning, with an eye towards attaining a competitive edge over the other three year olds.

Gone are the days when you could learn something once and commit it to memory and be done with it. In today’s fast paced high technology onslaught you must constantly learn and relearn or you will be crushed by those that would depose you.

Just a few years ago, it was a struggle for Internet dominance. Now, it is a desperate dance of flailing and thrashing just to survive.

I look back to the simpler times with fondness, when business was done over a cup of coffee and a handshake instead of a “tweet: or a “like.”

But if I spend more than a few minutes daydreaming about the "good old days," I will lose valuable ground so it’s back to work for me!

The current real estate market in Newnan and Coweta Georgia is dominated by foreclosures and bank-owned properties. And although there are foreclosures in nearly every price range, the hottest market continues to be houses under $150,000.

If a property is listed under $100,000. there is even more demand. On top of that, many buyers seek low down payment opportunities, such as $100 down HUD homes that also offer a $1000 bonus to the owner-occupant buyers.

USDA loans are also very popular in qualifying areas of the county, but funding for these loans are uncertain at this time. Hopefully, the program will remain available to those buyers looking for homes in the outlying areas of the county.

Overall, the market in Newnan and Coweta County is active and robust, and hopes are optimistic for good sales this summer.

One of my idiosyncrasies is that I am not much of a traveler. I haven’t really seen much of the world or even the country during my time, as my preference is to stay close to home and to sleep in my own bed at night.

But that’s not to say that I don’t have any interest in the world around me. I have always delighted in exploring my environment up close and personal, and I find plenty of “places” to explore in my own region and even right in my own back yard.

Whether the focal point of my interest is a flower in bloom or an assemblage of bricks stacked a certain way, I take delight in simple shapes, forms and colors. If you add fragrance to the mix, I am in Shangri-La.

So while I have never had the opportunity to photograph the Coliseum in Rome or the Eiffel Tower in Paris, I have plenty of plenty of subjects right here that will keep me busy taking pictures for many years to come.

And loving every minute of it!

A lot of my recent posts have dealt with the topic of today’s real estate market and how tough it is to get a transaction to the closing table.

We work so hard, and few realize just how much behind-the-scenes work is necessary each and every day to keep all of the deals in progress alive and kicking.

And it’s a great feeling when we finally close and are awarded our compensation for all of our efforts. It’s always good to have a payday in this business.

But it’s even better when a client shows special appreciation for a job well done. After a closing this morning, my partner Laura Ellen Beckom was presented this bouquet of balloons tethered to two mega boxes of chocolate bars! (Her favorites!)

Laura always does a great job for all of her clients, but this gift is a wonderful testimonial to her dedication to hard work and her professionalism!

Congratulations to Laura on a job well done!

And I hope that her thoughtful clients enjoy their new home for many, many years to come!

The real estate business typically can be very cyclical, with very busy periods followed by lulls in activity that might encourage taking a ‘breather” every now and then.

It’s easy to rest on our collective laurels, immersed in the satisfaction that results from a job well done and its accompanying compensation.

But like every other sales jobs, all of the completed transactions are just water over the dam. And while we may have worked very hard to get previous jobs done, it’s time to move on to the next one with new clients and new challenges.

The flow of real estate business is dynamic and constantly evolving. If we are to survive, we need to continually adapt to the every changing demands of the marketplace.

Because the way we did business last year, last month, or even last week may not be good enough to get the job done today!

Yesterday I was invited to play golf with some company associates by an executive that had won a free round for a foursome at a charity golf event.

And even though it has been nearly two years since I have picked up a golf club, the idea of playing again for free appealed to me.

In addition, it was a gorgeous day in Newnan Georgia blessed with clear, bright sunshine and low humidity. The condition of the course was perfect, so the stage was set for a nice round of golf.

However, what was NOT in good condition was ME! I’m in my late fifties and golf makes some rigorous demands on the body the requires twisting, turning, and accelerating the entire set of bones and muscles through the ball and hopefully in the right direction.

The result was a mediocre start that quickly deteriorated into hacking as weariness set in. But I plugged away and played through the pain and was content to be out of the office with good company and pleasant conversation.

But the body is a mysterious and wonderful thing, and throughout the night continually reminded me of the folly of my excursion by accompanying even the slightest amount of movement with excruciating pain.

If there is a moral to this diatribe, it is this: Never assume that something that you did routinely years ago will work as effectively today as it did back then. Times, trends and attitudes change and unless one remains honed sharp and sure and ready to go, the consequences of a period of inactivity can be a real pain in the neck.

And I mean that literally!

As more and more distressed properties appear in the market, the location and the condition of the property must be carefully assessed before making an offer to purchase.

Many buyers assume the obvious when considering incurable defects. Houses on busy streets, adjacent to landfills, close to airports, or in high crimes area have inherent flaws associated with location that cannot be remedied by the homeowner.

But some incurable defects are less obvious and yet are just as worthy of consideration. These pertain directly to the condition and inhabitability of the property.

And while many of these issues may be purely cosmetic in nature, that does not mean that the fix is easy or inexpensive. Even something as simple as replacing carpet and flooring could fall into the category of an incurable defect if the cost is significant enough.

By definition, an incurable defect is any one that is so expensive to repair that the cost can not be recovered in the market value of the property. If you purchase a house at $5000 below market value that needs a $10,000 roof, the defect is incurable.

The key is to know the true cost of repairs either before making an offer to purchase, or during the inspection period. Never assume that because the list price seems very low that the house is a good buy. A careful inspection accompanied by a cost to repair analysis is an essential element of due diligence.

Avoid the stress with distressed properties by doing your homework and getting good professional assistance.

And know for certain that a “bargain” is really a good deal!

In the warmer months, I spend my morning time on the back deck, catching up on emails and writing blog posts. And although it is considered to be a “quiet” time of day, there is a daily symphony that is available for those that choose to listen.

The performance is courtesy of the vast variety of indigenous songbirds that have commenced their daily concert performances. And the music is incredible!

The twittering of the chickadees and titmice are accompanied in harmony by the cardinals and finches. The soprano section is often punctuated by the mysterious deep call of a pileated woodpecker or the honking of Canadian geese.

The haunting call of the mourning dove (yes it is “mourning” and not “morning”) adds an underlying somberness to the cacophony.

It is a pleasant reminder that there is a real world beyond the frame of my LCD. And it is there each and every single day.

If you are interested in purchasing a Coweta County HUD home, you need to understand that bids must be entered before the deadline!

And typically, those deadline days of the week follow a specific pattern. When a HUD home is placed on the market, the bid period is typically until 11:59 P.M. on the second Sunday following the initial listing.

If a HUD bid is awarded, and the property comes back on the market before it is closed, the deadline day is typically the first Tuesday following placing the property back on the market. Occasionally, if the property comes back on the market early in the week, the deadline could be on Thursday night.

If NO bid is accepted by HUD and the deadline expires, the property goes on day-today status, with bids accepted until 11:58 P.M. by either owner occupants or investors. This will continue every day until an offer is accepted.

The best way to correctly bid on a HUD home is to work with a buyer’s agent experienced in HUD transactions. They can guide you through the process from start to finish.

For more information on Coweta County HUD homes visit CowetaFayetteRealty.com or call today!

Bidding on HUD homes for sale in Newnan Georgia is still competitive, even after the expiration of federal tax credits. There are several reasons why a HUD home should be considered by a prospective home purchaser.

First and foremost HUD homes are correctly priced based on a recent appraisal and inspection performed on the property.

Second, the bidding process is both fair and unambiguous. All owner-occupants have the same change of acquiring the property based on their bid!

Third, homes that qualify for an insured loan can be purchased with as little as $100 down by owner-occupants. In most cases, these purchasers will also qualify for a $1000 bonus! And HUD will also pay up to 3% of the purchase price for closing costs!

For more information on Coweta County HUD homes visit CowetaFayetteRealty.com or call today!

The past few weeks have been hectic with closings and HUD bids and several new listings. I haven’t had time to catch my breath.

And while I don’t have any appointments or time sensitive tasks scheduled for today, I have plenty to do. Because all of those chores that I put on the “back burner” have been simmering far too long and I really need to get them off the stove and on the table.

And that means that there is no rest for the weary, unless you consider a little less stress to be restful! These ancillary tasks need to be done, and I should be able to catch up on a lot of to-do’s today!

And believe it or not, I am looking forward to it!

I have been a photographer for many, many years. My trusty old Nikon SLR 8088s film camera served me for nearly twenty years, and it still works perfectly today.

But when professional quality film started becoming more and more scarce, I finally went digital in 2006. I chose a Nikon D80 SLR because all of my lenses and filters still function beautifully on the standard D-Mount, and the photos are excellent.

But digital technology evolves at a staggering rate, and my four year old camera is already ancient. And although it still operates as intended, advancements in digital photography have almost made the once state-of-the-art device almost obsolete.

And so it becomes necessary to replace a device that is still functioning and fully operational. Like a computer, the lifespan of a digital camera is short. And with both cameras and computers, 3-4 years seems like the maximum useful life expectancy.

And so I’ll start shopping for a new camera this month with the next four years of picture-taking in mind.

God-willing, I’ll need to buy another one in 2014!

When the tax credits expired on April 30^th, many feared that the real estate market would soon follow suit. Initial indications are that is not only has there NOT been a slowdown, but that the market is actually robust and moving forward.

Lenders are suddenly able to process loans a bit more quickly and with an increased level of confidence, and interest rates are still incredibly low.

Credit and the ability to purchase has always been the underlying engine that drives the housing market. If there is a way to get investors back into the borrowing game, things would improve dramatically.

So as the market gains steam, it is important that the throttle is left set to “full speed ahead.”

And we’ll arrive at recovery ahead of schedule!

Here’s an interesting trivia question: What is the only word in the English Language to have five consecutive vowels in it?

Give up? The answer is “queueing.”  As a noun, a queue is a line. We stand and wait patiently in a queue at an amusement park or a fast food restaurant. "Queueing up” simply means get in line and wait.

So you can imagine my dismay yesterday when I called to inquire about the progress of a short sale offer I had submitted and I was told that it was “in the queue.”

That’s a very polite way of saying that nothing has happened yet, and that probably no one has even looked at the file. It is stagnating in a database somewhere, with perhaps hundreds or even thousands of similar hardship cases chronologically preceding it.

It is nerve-wracking to see a home listed in the foreclosure notices with the only potential relief offered is a possible last minute postponement of the announced sale on the courthouse steps.

But at least we are in the queue. So now we wait, And watch the calendar.

Note: BTW an alternative spelling is "queuing," that's what makes it a good trivia question!