Oconee County

What Do We See in the Real Estate Market Today?

Due to the rapid appreciation of real estate and a higher interest rate climate these days, everyone has an opinion about the real estate market- some good and some bad. The market is different today, but not in the ways most people think. Here are some questions our agents have been receiving along with our response.

Want To Sell Your House? Price It Right.

Last year, the housing market slowed down in response to higher mortgage rates, and that had an impact on home prices. If you’re thinking of selling your house soon, that means you’ll want to adjust your expectations accordingly. As realtor.com explains:

What’s Actually Happening with Home Prices Today?

One of the biggest questions people are asking right now is: what’s happening with home prices? There are headlines about ongoing price appreciation, but at the same time, some sellers are reducing the price of their homes. That can feel confusing and makes it more difficult to get a clear picture.

What Does an Economic Slowdown Mean for the Housing Market?

According to a recent survey, more and more Americans are concerned about a possible recession. Those concerns were validated when the Federal Reserve met and confirmed they were strongly committed to bringing down inflation. And, in order to do so, they’d use their tools and influence to slow down the economy. All of this brings up … Read More

How To Approach Rising Mortgage Rates as a Buyer

In the last few weeks, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac inched up to 5%. While that news may have you questioning the timing of your home search, the truth is, timing has never been more important. Even though you may be tempted to put your plans on hold in hopes that rates will … Read More

Introducing Our New “Accepted Offer Home Buyer Program”

Over the course of 2021, we saw substantial changes to the real estate market. The low supply of homes for sale coupled with pent-up demand made buying a home a daunting task not only for the home buyer but for sellers as well. One out of every two homes sold for over asking price and in most cases with multiple offers. We found that many home buyers were losing out on multiple properties and in some cases they would get so discouraged that they decided to quit and leave the housing market all together.

What Buyers and Sellers Need To Know About the Appraisal Gap

It’s economy 101 – when supply is low and demand is high, prices naturally rise. That’s what’s happening in today’s housing market. Home prices are appreciating at near-historic rates, and that’s creating some challenges when it comes to home appraisals.

Experts Weigh-In on the Remarkable Strength of the Housing Market

Experts Weigh-In on the Remarkable Strength of the Housing Market America has faced its share of challenges in 2020. A once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, a financial crisis leaving millions still unemployed, and an upcoming presidential election that may prove to be one of the most contentious in our nation’s history all continue to test this country in … Read More

Mortgage Rates Hit Record Lows for Three Consecutive Weeks

Mortgage Rates Hit Record Lows for Three Consecutive Weeks Over the past several weeks, Freddie Mac has reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropping to record lows, all the way down to 3.03%. Last week’s reported rate reached the lowest point in the history of the survey, which dates back to 1971 (See graph below): What does this … Read More

Impacts of Covid-19 on Athens Real Estate: The Good and The Bad

This area of the market has performed very well as I noted above. May and June were ahead of 2019 by 30% in pending home sales, and overall values appreciated by an average of 4% from 2019. Most of this gain was seen in homes under $600,000. In some cases, properties over $700,000 have seen a small drop in listing price, but those reduced prices are still in line with values from 2019. We have seen a pent-up demand drive a lot of this activity. Home buyers came out of the gates strong in May and so far the activity remains strong.