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2951 Croftwood Trail
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2951 Croftwood Trail
2951 Croftwood Trail Marietta, Ga 30064
FMLS # 5007307
2951 Croftwood Trail is an executive 4 bedroom 3.5 bath brick home on a quiet cul-de-sac lot.
This well maintained John Wieland resale is in the popular Heritage Oaks subdivision and comes with numerous upgrades and a full basement. A recently updated kitchen includes high-end Kitchen Aid stainless steel a
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| (Published: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:37:57 -0400) |
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Negotiating a Better Atlanta Real Estate Deal
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Are you ready to negotiate your way to a good real estate deal? For many Atlanta home buyers, this aspect of purchasing a home is the least understood. In fact, many home buyers rely on the expertise of a great real estate agent to take care of the negotiation end of the real estate transaction.
While employing the help of a qualified Atlanta real estate agent to handle negotiations is a smart
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| (Published: Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:03:29 -0400) |
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What Does The Perfect Atlanta Home Look Like?
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What does the perfect Atlanta home look like? Is it a condo overlooking the city or a small country home that comes complete with a white picket fence?
If you ask 10 people about their idea of a perfect home, you will likely get a decidedly different answer from each person. This is because what you desire and need is likely far different from what your friend or neighbor desires or needs.
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| (Published: Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:15:34 -0500) |
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Avoid Buyers Remorse When Buying Atlanta Real Estate
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The process to buy a home can be anything but short and sweet. It seems like there is an opportunity at every turn for something to go wrong with the volumes of paperwork to sign and documentation to review. When you get worn down, it can get confusing to figure out which steps are necessary to take and which ones can be avoided. Here are some important considerations to keep in mind that you?l
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| (Published: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:54:47 -0500) |
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992,925 Visitors to tinafountain.com in 2011
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If you?ve been a regular visitor to tinafountain.com then you?ve noticed the design and functionality upgrades that we recently launched. Thank you for the many compliments as we continue to tweak and make adjustments.
Customers First
As a boutique Atlanta real estate company our primary focus has always been and will always be our customers, we?re honored to represent a wonderful group of remarkable people in the purchase and sell of some of Atlanta?s finest properties.
We also pride ourselves on being early adopters of the latest technology in real estate and in many cases we have been among the first in Atlanta to employ these technologies. The website that you?re on now will be celebrating it?s 10th birthday next month and it has come a long way since we introduced it in 2002.
992,925 Visitors
The amount of traffic that our site garners continues to amaze us and while we don?t normally tout ourselves we thought that we?d share some interesting statistics:
In 2011 we had: 992,925 visitors, just shy of 1 million, which we will exceed in 2012 11,002,892 page views, that?s right, just over 11 million pages were viewed
We had visitors from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, the top 5 states were: Georgia Florida New York California North Carolina
We had visitors from 174 countries, did you know there are only 196 countries in the world? The top 5 countries were: United States Canada United Kingdom Germany Australia
All this traffic has made for a very busy 2011, if you?d like to join us in 2012 as either a buyer or a seller give us a call at 404-842-1555 or send us a message and we?ll be happy to meet with you to discuss your needs.
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| (Published: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:59:11 -0500) |
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Five Home Flaws You Can’t Ignore When Buying Atlanta Real Estate
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Certainly, there are things about any home you can look past: the stain on the carpet, the peeling wallpaper in the kitchen, or the outdated bathroom sink. But there are five areas of a home that simply can’t be overlooked in terms of damage or flaws. They are:
• Foundation problems – A home’s foundation, and the integrity of it, is of extreme importance because if the foundation is compromised, you can be sure that the rest of home is too. From bowing walls to large cracks or a shifting foundation, there are a number of things that can go wrong with the foundation. Although many foundation problems can be repaired, it is best to get the advice of a professional before making an offer on a home that has foundation problems.
• Moisture problems – Moisture problems can occur anywhere in the home, from the basement and the foundation to near windows and doors. Although moisture problems can often be remedied, the effects of moisture can be long-lasting and can threaten the health of your family in the form of mold. If there is evidence of moisture in the home, make sure a qualified professional may be able to come into the home and use special devices to detect the presence of mold and mildew.
• Roof problems – Roof problems can lead to a host of other problems in the home, all of which typically require a lot of money to repair. Always make sure your home inspector looks at all aspects of the home’s roof, including the shingles, the downspouts, the gutters, etc.
• Electrical problems – Electrical problems are of particular concern because, if left unanswered, could lead to a house fire and could risk the safety of your family. A home inspector will inspect the home’s electrical panel, as well electrical connections throughout the home.
• Plumbing problems – Plumbing problems could lead to major water damage throughout the home, which could cost you thousands of dollars. A comprehensive home inspection should never be complete without a thorough inspection of your home’s plumbing and plumbing fixtures.
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| (Published: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:27:49 -0500) |
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Five Home Flaws You Can?t Ignore When Buying Atlanta Real Estate
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Certainly, there are things about any home you can look past: the stain on the carpet, the peeling wallpaper in the kitchen, or the outdated bathroom sink. But there are five areas of a home that simply can?t be overlooked in terms of damage or flaws. They are:
? Foundation problems ? A home?s foundation, and the integrity of it, is of extreme importance because if the foundation is compromised, you can be sure that the rest of home is too. From bowing walls to large cracks or a shifting foundation, there are a number of things that can go wrong with the foundation. Although many foundation problems can be repaired, it is best to get the advice of a professional before making an offer on a home that has foundation problems.
? Moisture problems ? Moisture problems can occur anywhere in the home, from the basement and the foundation to near windows and doors. Although moisture problems can often be remedied, the effects of moisture can be long-lasting and can threaten the health of your family in the form of mold. If there is evidence of moisture in the home, make sure a qualified professional may be able to come into the home and use special devices to detect the presence of mold and mildew.
? Roof problems ? Roof problems can lead to a host of other problems in the home, all of which typically require a lot of money to repair. Always make sure your home inspector looks at all aspects of the home?s roof, including the shingles, the downspouts, the gutters, etc.
? Electrical problems ? Electrical problems are of particular concern because, if left unanswered, could lead to a house fire and could risk the safety of your family. A home inspector will inspect the home?s electrical panel, as well electrical connections throughout the home.
? Plumbing problems ? Plumbing problems could lead to major water damage throughout the home, which could cost you thousands of dollars. A comprehensive home inspection should never be complete without a thorough inspection of your home?s plumbing and plumbing fixtures.
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| (Published: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:27:49 -0500) |
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What Does a Buyer’s Market Really Mean?
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You may have heard about todays market being a buyers market. But what exactly does this mean?
In general, a buyers market refers to a real estate market that is beneficial to buyers. A buyers market means that a number of factors are in the buyers favor creating buying opportunities. This usually means the following:
• There is a larger inventory of homes In a buyers market, you can be sure that there are a lot of homes on the market from which to choose. In other words, the supply is greater than the demand. As a result of more sellers and less buyers, the price of homes during a buyers market usually drops. In addition, buyers may be able to negotiate better prices and terms with sellers because sellers may be anxious to sell their homes after an extended time on the market…which brings us to our next reason:
• More time on the market In a buyers market, because there is more supply than demand, homes tend to stay on the market for a longer period of time. A home that has been on the market longer than the local average may be a better deal because the sellers may be quite anxious to sell their home after waiting it out for so long.
• Stricter lending standards Todays buyers market is unique because it also comes with stricter lending standards. Of course, tighter lending standards are just one piece of the pie when it comes to this buyers market. However, in general, because fewer buyers are being approved for home loans, the number of potential buyers drops even lower, creating even more of a chasm between supply and demand.
• Smaller pool of potential buyers - Stricter lending standards create a smaller pool of buyers in todays buyers market, thereby creating less competition in the market. Less competition and an increased inventory of homes on the market mean that buyers have their pick of real estate,and sellers are likely quite anxious to sell their home to the first buyer that comes their way.
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| (Published: Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:40:16 -0500) |
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Staging Your Atlanta Home to Sell
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Home staging is an important step in the successful sale of your home. Sprucing up your house inside and out can pay off big dividends in your final sale price. The art of home staging is often best left to Atlanta real estate professionals, but there are a number of steps you can take to get your house market-ready as well. We have four steps to home staging to help you attract buyers and a higher price tag.
• First Impressions Count
Potential buyers form an opinion of your home within 30 seconds, which means curb appeal counts. Lawns should be freshly mowed, flowers tended and walkways swept. Clean your front door and touch up paint if necessary. Invest in a hanging basket or flower pot by your entrance to provide a welcoming touch.
• Make a Grand Entrance
Once Atlanta real estate hunters are wowed with your curb appeal, consider what they see when they walk through your front door. Enticing entryways are bright, airy and clutter-free. Smells also greet home shoppers at the door. Opening windows for about 10 minutes prior to a showing can help your house smell fresh and clean to potential buyers.
• Say Goodbye to Clutter
The 50 percent rule states that you should eliminate at least half of all the clutter in your home. This especially applies to personal items like photos, mementos and souvenirs that may be meaningful to you, but detract from the overall look of the home. Removal of clutter makes your home look larger and makes it easier for prospective buyers to imagine themselves living there.
• Scrub Until it Gleams
Your whole house should be spotless before a showing, but there are a few key areas to focus on. Spend extra time on your kitchen and bathrooms and scrub and vacuum floors daily. Clean windows let in more light, so consider hiring a professional service to make yours shine before you put your house on the market.
The extra effort you spend staging your home will make all the difference in the impression you make to buyers. Homes that are properly staged typically sell faster and for a higher price than the rest of the houses in the neighborhood.
Blog This Here
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| (Published: Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:17:02 -0400) |
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Loan Approval Factors Considered by Lenders
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If you are nervous about the home loan process of today, youre not alone. Most consumers understand that banks are decidedly more particular when it comes to lending money to home buyers, but not many people thoroughly understand all of the factors that go into the process of determining whether an individual is qualified to borrow money from the lender.
Here is a list of the main factors considered by lenders when determining home loan approval:
Your Debt Load Many consumers of today carry a high burden of debt when compared to their income. Although you may have religiously made payments to all of your creditors in the past, the sheer amount of your debt could prevent you from obtaining a home loan. Lenders consider debt load because it often determines your ability to continue to handle your debt.
Your Payment History In addition to your debt load (also called your debt-to-income ratio), lenders will look at your payment history. From rent payments to credit cards and utilities, lenders look at how well you manage every type of debt.
Your Past Credit Inquiries If you want to apply for a home loan, avoid applying for any other type of credit or loan around that time period. Lenders do not want to see you applying for other types of credit because it indicates that you may be taking on more debt than you can handle.
Your Types of Credit The type of credit you take on is important in the eyes of a lender, as they want to see proof that you are able to manage a number of debts, including credit card debts, installment loans and the like.
Your Employment History A strong employment history is incredibly important in the eyes of a lender because it shows financial stability. In other words, it is best to avoid changing jobs or changing occupations if you plan on applying for a home loan in the near future.
Your Cash on Hand - A lender will determine your financial stability by the amount of money that you currently have in savings or have set aside for the purchase of the home. Your ability to save money indicates that you are likely conservative with your finances and are therefore a good credit risk.
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| (Published: Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:56:40 -0400) |
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Home Inspection Issues: How to Handle Them
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Most Atlanta real estate buyers know a home inspection is good protection against purchasing a piece of property with significant problems. But what if issues arise during the home inspection? Sometimes it can be difficult to know when to ask for repairs, a home allowance or simply walk away from the deal. Check out these tips for taking home inspection problems in stride.
Reading the Report
Once your home inspection is complete, go over the report carefully. There are nearly always a few items on the inspection report, which could range from very minor DIY repair projects to major structural issues. Determine which problems you can handle and which will require a professional. These are the issues that you will need to address with the seller prior to the closing of your new Atlanta real estate purchase.
Let the Negotiations Begin
There are a number of ways to handle negotiations after the home inspection. First, you can ask the seller to make the repairs prior to the closing, providing you with proof that the work was done. Second, you can request additional funds in escrow after the closing of the home so you can make the repairs yourself. Finally, you can also ask for a lower purchase price to help offset the repair costs once the home is officially yours.
In some cases, the seller may not be willing to make the repairs for you, either due to time or financial restraints. While many buyers opt for the lower purchase price to accommodate for the repairs, this decision means you will have to come up with the money for repairs yourself, since you won't see actual cash handed over. If you choose instead to have money left in escrow, you will have funds readily available to handle the repairs right away.
In extreme cases, the best choice with a problematic home inspection is to walk away from the deal. While this can be difficult, the large inventory of Atlanta real estate ensures you will find a comparable home without as many problems. Finding a house that is as structurally sound as it is beautiful will ensure your family can live there happily for many years to come.
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| (Published: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:05:17 -0400) |
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Steps to Grabbing a Mortgage Loan at a Low and Affordable Rate
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Nothing can be worse than settling on a wrong mortgage loan and suffering throughout the repayment term. Shopping around for the best mortgage loan is a necessity if youre keen on saving your dollars on the outrageously high interest rates.
As you place your home as collateral, you must make sure that you make timely payments on the loans so that the lenders cant think of foreclosing your house in an attempt to recuperate the payments. Though there are loan modifications and mortgage refinancing options that you may resort to when you fall back on the monthly mortgage payments, yet you must make sure that you take all the steps so that you dont need to resort to any further options to repay your home loan. Here are some important steps that you must take in order to get a loan at the best rate.
Get information from several lenders: Various companies offer home loans of different types and each type have its own eligibility criteria. Different lenders may ask for different price on your home loan and if you want to get the loan at the best rate, you need to compare and contrast the rates that are being offered by various companies so that you know who is offering the best loan in the market. You should consider contacting more than 2 mortgage lenders before settling on a particular mortgage loan.
Get all information about the costs involved: When you take out a mortgage loan, there are some important facts that you need to consider like the interest rates, points, fees and the exact down payment that you require paying on the home loan. Apart from the interest rate that you need to assess by staying aware of the present market rates, you also have to check the points that are the fees that are paid to the lender or broker for the loan and this is most often linked with the interest rate. The fees may include the loan original fees, underwriting fees and the transaction and closing costs too. Every broker will be able to provide you with an estimate of the fees that you may have to pay. Check all such details so that you can choose the best loan in the market.
Boost your credit: While there are lenders in the market that can lend you a mortgage loan with a credit score of 720, there are some others who cannot lend you a loan with a credit score of 720 as they need something more than that. Therefore, if you want to take out a loan within an affordable interest rate, you need to improve your credit score at the very beginning. Pull out a copy of your credit report so as to take the steps to boost your score.
Lower your debt-to-income ratio: The debt-to-income ratio is another figure that is checked by most lenders in order to assess the risk in lending you a mortgage loan. If you have a high DTI ratio, this implies that you have too many debts to control and this will create an impression that you may not be able to repay your mortgage loan on time. Work towards lowering your DTI ratio by repaying the high interest debt.
So, if you do not want to go for mortgage refinancing and take the required steps before, you must follow the points mentioned above and then apply for a mortgage loan. Grab the best loan in the market so that you can repay the loan without having to fall behind on your other debt obligations.
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| (Published: Sat, 10 Sep 2011 10:13:46 -0400) |
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The Impact of Short Sales on the Atlanta Real Estate Market
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Atlanta Short Sales
The abundance of short sales across the country has made for affordable Atlanta real estate for buyers, but it has also had a direct impact on the housing market overall. Whether you are in the market for cheap Atlanta real estate, or thinking about selling your own home, it is important to know what a short sale is and how it can affect your own real estate transaction. We have the lowdown on the state of the short sale market today.
What is a Short Sale?
Short sales occur when a borrower is a number of months behind in mortgage payments, and the mortgage company agrees to accept a lower amount than what is actually owed on the property. The buyer benefits because he can unload a property he can no longer afford, avoiding foreclosure. The lender manages to recoup a large portion of the loan amount without getting saddled with an unwanted property. The biggest benefit is to the person who purchases the short sale because he buys a property at a price well below that of comparable Atlanta real estate.
Potential Problems with Short Sales
While a short sale on the surface sounds like a win-win for everyone involved, there are some drawbacks as well. First, short sales can drive down the purchase price of Atlanta real estate in the same neighborhood, which is not good news to sellers hoping to make a profit on their property.
Second, short sales are not a guarantee for a buyer, since they are subject to bank approval and do not always make it to closing. When they do, competition for short sales, as well as scrutiny from the bank, may result in a much higher price than the original short sale listing.
Because there is no streamlined process for short sales, there are also unforeseen problems that may arise in this portion of the Atlanta real estate market. If you decide a short sale is the best way for you to purchase a piece of Atlanta real estate, it is important to find an Atlanta real estate agent experienced in short sales to ensure your transaction is a success.
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| (Published: Tue, 06 Sep 2011 08:41:27 -0400) |
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Factors Which Determine Interest Rates
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The world of mortgage is indeed complicated. And the sudden rise and the fall in the rate of interest in mortgage loans have added more complexity to it. In fact it is because of extremely complicated series of relationships between several factors which determine the mortgage rate. The Fed, the market, the inter bank rate of interest and of course, peoples willingness to spend money, determine the rate of interest on a mortgage loan.
Before delving into what determines mortgage rates, you need to understand the market itself. It is to be kept in mind that from the point of view of both the lenders and the home buyers, mortgages are nothing but investments. If you are a home buyer, you view mortgages as investments. Again, from a lenders point of view also, mortgages are investments. Suppose a lender provides a mortgage loan of $100000 at an annual simple rate of interest of 5% to a home buyer. Here the lender will receive an annual payment of $5000.
Now, as long as there in only one lender in the market place, he/she can charge prettily high rate of interest. However, if there are many lenders in the market, offering mortgage loans, the rate of interest associated with mortgage loans will come down because of increased competition. If the rate of interest on mortgage loans goes to very low levels, buyers will look for other form of investments where chances are more to obtain higher rate of interest.
Again, suppose a lender has certain amount of money with him/her. Now as the number of home consumers who want to borrow the money rises, the lender can charge comparatively higher rate of interest. In other words, more home consumers imply higher rate of interest. Apart from these, these are many other factors which influence the mortgage rates which include the expected yield by the investors, number of investors in the market, number of dwelling buyers in the market and many other things.
Apart from these, of course, there are banks, lending institutions and the FED which are responsible for influencing the rate of interest on mortgage loans. It is not the case that banks and the lending institutions sit together and do all the mathematical works themselves to calculate the interest rates on mortgage loans. Many a times, it has been seen that mortgage rates are pegged to some other rates. One such index is the interest rate associated with US Treasury bonds. Some times, the mortgage rates are kept slightly higher than the rate of interest on mortgage loans. Since the US Treasury bonds are secured whereas there are chances of default in case of mortgage loans, generally the rate of interest associated with mortgage loans are higher than the rate of interest on US Treasury bonds.
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| (Published: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:31:22 -0400) |
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Washington Avenue Office Space Available
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Great opportunity for office space in The Fountain Building on historic Washington Avenue in Marietta. Less than a two block walk to the new Cobb County Court House and three blocks to the Marietta Square.
The building offers 6 individual offices and the common area includes a conference room, kitchen / break area, and restroom. There is ample parking for tenants and their clients.
Contact Tina Fountain at 404-842-1555 for additional information and to schedule a private showing.
Currently Available Space:
Upper level 2 office suite with private restroom and storage room.
Tina Fountain Broker owns and operates licensed real estate brokerage firms in the state of North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, and is also the owner of company that holds title to property. If you are currently listed with a real estate company, this is not a solicitation for your business. Equal Housing Opportunity. All information contained on this website is believed to be accurate but not guaranteed and subject to errors, omissions, withdrawals, solds, leases, and changes without notice.
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| (Published: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:25:39 -0400) |
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A Checklist for Choosing Your Atlanta Dream Home
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Shopping for the perfect metro Atlanta home for your family can be an exciting prospect, but it can also be an overwhelming one. With a wealth of inventory in most markets, the mere number of homes to consider can make the process of choosing your dream home a confusing one indeed. So how do you know which house will meet your needs the best? We have a house-hunting checklist to get you started.
Location
Is the house located near your work, shopping or schools? Is the school district highly-rated? What about other amenities, like a park for the children to play or a community swimming pool? When considering the location of your dream home, determine what you want to live close to and find communities that match your needs.
Neighborhood
What type of neighborhood would you like to live in? The answer may range from a quiet, tree-filled street lined with older homes or a new, covenant-controlled community with pristine, albeit smaller, yards. Determine the type of community you want so your Tina Fountain REALTORS agent can lead you to homes located in neighborhoods you like best.
Home Style
There are many styles of homes available from rambling ranches on large lots to compact condominiums. If you have pets and children, a large home and yard may be a must, while empty-nesters may prefer a smaller one-story home with a maintenance company to handle outdoor tasks.
Amenities
What do you want in a dream home? A gourmet kitchen and formal dining room for entertaining guests? How many bedrooms and bathrooms? Make a list of the features you want in your home so you can check off those amenities for every house you look at.
Home Value
If the resale of the home is a possibility in the future, the home value will also become a factor in the selection of your home. While the largest home on the block may meet your family's needs, the value may not rise as quickly as a moderately-sized home in the same area.
Finding the right house for your family can be a challenge, but there are ways to make the process easier. With a checklist of the features you want in a house and with your Tina Fountain REALTOR, you can find your dream home.
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| (Published: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:56:31 -0400) |
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