There are many reasons people are moving down south to the beautiful Peach state of Atlanta. Robb Realty Group has compiled a list of reasons...

1. Affordability
Although Atlanta is the ninth-largest city in the United States with a population of 5.8 million people, it remains a fairly affordable city. In fact, when compared to New York City, we are 44.4% cheaper! If you're searching for the perfect home to buy Robb Realty Group has a VIP Buyers Program to assist you.

2. A Great Place for Foodies
Are you a foodie? Then you'll be happy because Atlanta offers some amazing food options from highbrow to food carts. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll be able to find. Take a stroll through the Farmer’s Market for some garden fresh vegetables and sandwiches or check out many of Atlanta’s amazing restaurants. Atlanta has some of the best food experiences.

3. Excellent Weather
Yes, Atlanta is known as "Hotlanta" however our average temperature is 61.4 F with a low of 52.5 F and a high of 89 F. Atlanta gets over 200 days of sunshine but we also get enough rain to keep the city green with grass, trees, and flowers. The long summers and mild winters make for a beautiful city with lush foliage. There are lots of ways to beat the heat with splash pads, pools and water playgrounds in the city.

4. Business is Booming
Many businesses have moved to Atlanta to take advantage of everything it offers. With its sprawling size and low rent, there’s something for everyone. Employment growth is above the national average with many jobs in a variety of industries to choose from: hospitals, restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, and technology. 

5. Booming Cultural Scene
Atlanta offers plenty of attractions from festivals and conferences to an amazing music scene. And for the artsy folks you'll love the “city of murals” with some of the best street art and picture opps throughout the city.

6. Sports
 Atlanta is a great city if you’re a sports fan. Atlanta has a 3 professional sports teams in basketball, baseball, and football. And they even have a hockey team – the Atlanta Gladiators. Atlanta has some of the nicest sports venues where you can catch a game.

7. Colleges 
There are an abundance of colleges in Atlanta. You can choose from prestigious schools like Emory, Georgia State University, and Georgia Tech. One great program that Georgia State University offers is a senior application. If you’re over 62, you can apply as a GSU-62 student. If accepted, the college will waive tuition and fees. So you can choose to learn a new topic for free!

8. Atlanta has 3 Distinct Downtowns
Atlanta is one of the few cities with three downtown areas. The official downtown is more of a business center where you can find several Fortune 500 companies.
For nightlife you’ll want to head over to Midtown for some great food and cocktails. 
If you you’re looking for a more trendy and upscale experience, you’ll want to go to Buckhead, often called the “Beverly Hills of the South.”

9. Public Transit
Atlanta has the MARTA train that will take you to a variety of places throughout Atlanta, including the Hartsfield-Jackson airport. 

10. Parks 
Atlanta has been called a city in the forest with a variety of outdoor activities. There are many miles of walking trails and parks throughout the community.

Atlanta is a city brimming with culture, food, and entertainment at a much lower price tag than other major cities making it a highly sought after place to live. Robb Realty Group would is here to help you find your home and get settled in our wonderful city.

Looking for July 4th Fireworks in Atlanta? Check Out Robb Realty Group's Favorites 

Fantastic Fourth Celebration at Memorial Lawn at Stone Mountain Park
Come & see a fireworks display following the Lasershow Spectacular. July 1-5.

Independence Day Celebration at Newtown Park
Music, activities, food and fireworks. July 2.

Independence Day Celebration in Peachtree City
9AM Fourth of July parade at Village on the Green on Peachtree Parkway. Fireworks take place over Lake Peachtree at dusk. July 3.

Fourth of July Parade, Festival and Fireworks at Glover Park
A parade, concerts, museum tours, arts & crafts, food, carnival games and fireworks. Parade begins at Roswell Street Baptist Church and ends at North Marietta Parkway. July 3.

Red, White & Boom! at Lillian Webb Park
Fireworks, food trucks, inflatables, music and more. July 3.

Kennesaw’s Salute to America in Downtown Kennesaw
Pre-Fourth celebration including two stages of live music, food vendors and other activities. July 3.

Duluth Celebrates America at Duluth Town Green
Celebrate Independence Day with a fireworks display, live music, food trucks and more. July 3.

Sparks in the Park at E.E. Robinson Park
Fireworks, food and drinks and live entertainment. July 3.

Cumming Fourth of July Celebration at Cumming Fairgrounds
Festivities include a dance contest, food, vendors. July 3.

Fourth of July Celebration at Dellinger Park
Concert, fireworks, children’s area, food and more. July 4.

Fourth of July Parade and Rotary Celebration in Downtown Newnan
A patriotic, hometown parade starts at Veteran’s Memorial Park and ends at Greenville Street Park; followed by entertainment and food at Newnan High School’s Drake Stadium directly after parade; fireworks at dusk. July 4.

July Fourth Concert and Fireworks at Cauble Park
Food vendors, live music in the afternoon and fireworks at dark. July 4.

4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza at Roswell Area Park
Watch the skies light up over Roswell with live music, entertainment and food trucks. Bring chairs and blankets. Fireworks start at sunset. July 4.

4th of July Celebration in Avondale Estates
Community-led parade starts at 10 a.m.; fireworks begin at dusk at Lake Avondale. July 4.

July Fourth Fireworks at Wills Park
Watch a brilliant display of fireworks at dusk. July 4.

July 4 Fireworks in Downtown Decatur
Fireworks display that will launch from the top of DeKalb County Parking Deck. July 4.

Sandy Springs Stars & Stripes Annual Fireworks Celebration at City Green
Enjoy live entertainment at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. at this family-friendly gathering. July 4.

Dunwoody Fourth of July Parade at Dunwoody Village
Celebration features marching bands, floats, clowns and animal units who will march from Mount Vernon Road and Jett Ferry Road to Dunwoody Village. July 5.

July 4th Spectacular in Woodstock
Celebrate with a festival, a parade and fireworks. July 5.
Beyond Atlanta

July 4th Weekend Star Spangled Beach Party at Callaway Gardens
Beach activities, live music, food trucks, contests and the annual Fireworks Extravaganza. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. July 2-4.

July 4th Fireworks at Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
Celebrate America’s birthday with this fireworks extravaganza. July 4.
 

It’s no secret that the real estate market has become competitive for buyers who are in the market to purchase a home. From the unpleasantness of multiple competing offers and rising prices it’s understandable that buyers may want to wait out the market, despite the fact that interest rates are at historically low rates. As a buyer it’s a lot more pleasant to purchase a home when there’s an abundance to choose from and you’re not competing against other buyers for the same home. 

Many people think waiting for a Buyer’s Market is the better time to buy a home however, that’s not really the case. Home values actually decline in a Buyer’s Market because there are more homes for sale than there are buyers to buy them. While that sounds like a dream come true as a buyer, the reality is that it’s better to buy in a Seller’s Market because your home will appreciate right after you buy it. 

Summer season is usually characteristic of a “summer slowdown” in the housing market as kids are out of school and people go on vacation. However, this year we’re seeing the end of forbearance for many homeowners. During the pandemic homeowners with federally backed loans were able to ask for forbearance – which means they could pause or reduce their mortgage payments for a period of time. While the vast majority of forbearances have ended with homeowners staying in their home, anywhere from 16%-20% have resorted to selling their home, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, which means we should see an increase in supply over the next few months. 

The bottom line for buyers is don’t wait for the market to balance out the current real estate market is a win-win for both savvy buyers as well as sellers so don’t give up.

Let’s take a look at some of the key housing market data for 2021, including housing market trends and predictions for 2021 & 2022. Over a year ago, the ongoing pandemic put the housing market on hold for several months, but the real estate market bounced back and is unusually strong this year, with increased housing demand in almost every region of the country.

The question on everyone’s mind is how long will this housing boom last or will the market eventually crash? Here we are halfway through 2021 and the housing market continues to be HOT resulting in higher home prices and quick-selling homes. One major concern is that housing supply continues to fall well short of demand with the most recent housing market trends don't suggest that inventory is likely to improve soon. Find out the current value of your home with Robb Realty Group's Instant Home Valuation.

The latest data released by the National Association of Realtors shows existing home sales declined for the third straight month in April, which is the result of low inventory and rising housing prices. The supply of homes for sale at the end of April was down 20.5% from one year ago. There were 1.16 million homes for sale, representing a 2.4-month supply. The market continues to be a seller's market.

The lack of housing supply has been affected by the disruptions in the labor market and expensive home-building materials such as lumber that are driving up the cost of new housing, making it difficult for homebuyers to find homes to purchase. Despite the drop in home sales the housing market remains strong with mortgage rates hovering around 3%. The median existing home price in April was $341,600, a new record high that represents a 19.1% increase from a year before. That is both the highest median price on record and the largest annual increase on record.

Mortgage rates are expected to remain low which will help maintain strong housing demand in 2021. The supply-demand dynamic will continue to push home prices up Even with rising mortgage rates and higher prices, the housing market should remain strong due to very tight inventories and increasing demand as more millennials are projected to buy houses this year. Low mortgage rates are great for buyers to get into the market.

2021 has seen an active housing market that’s been driving up prices by double-digits and causing homes to sell quickly in competitive market conditions. Currently, there is an extremely tight supply of homes on the market, the lowest on record since the turn of the century. Further home price gains are expected until either supply ramps up or demand eases. Contact Robb Realty Group to discuss listing your home or taking advantage of the current low interest rates to purchase a home. 

Are you wondering if now is the right time to buy a home?

Maybe you’re renting and want to make the jump to homeownership but you’re just not sure or perhaps you’re a homeowner whose home no longer fits your needs and you’re ready to make a change.

What factors should you consider if you should buy this year or wait? Ask yourself if you think home values will be higher a year from now? What about mortgages, will rates be higher a year from now if I decide to wait?

Looking at market data, most recent projections from industry forecasters expect home prices will continue to increase and they are estimated to increase by more than 7%. That means prospective buyers will have to put more money down as well as borrow more by just waiting a year to make their move.

So where will mortgage rates be a year from now?

Currently rates are around 3% however experts expect them to rise as the economy continues to recover. An increase in mortgage rates means an increase in a buyer’s costs.

Here are the projections for the first quarter of 2022 by these major industry forecasters:

Freddie Mac – 3.5%

Fannie Mae – 3.5%

National Association of Realtors – 3.5%

Mortgage Bankers Association – 3.9%

What happens if home values and mortgage rates increase?

It means a buyer’s mortgage payments will be higher monthly than if they were to purchase at today’s current rates. Not to mention with the increase predicted, if a buyer were to purchase now they would experience home appreciation as rates increase. 

Based on the data, the financial benefits make it clear that purchasing now is much more advantageous than waiting a year from now.

Robb Realty Group can sit down with you and assist you with your home buying needs in this competitive market. We have the tools and resources to help you put together an offer that the seller will want to accept.

Is there a trick to getting offers accepted in a Seller's Market? 

You’ve found your dream home and have submitted your offer, even over asking price and you’re convinced it’s a sure thing that your offer will be accepted, right? Not so fast.

Being in a seller’s market means there are more buyers than there are homes for sale and unfortunately means a full price offer isn’t necessarily going to cut it. So, what is a buyer to do? Here are some guidelines to help push your offer to the front of the line.

Submit a Clean Offer 

Presenting a clean offer means not making your purchase contingent on the sale of another property or attaching other financial constraints to the offer. Additionally, submitting an offer that does not ask for seller concessions, such as closing costs, puts you in a much stronger position to have your offer accepted. Removing contingencies such as the loan contingency, appraisal, and inspection from your offer is another way to improve your chances because it will make your offer more appealing to the seller. For a buyer’s protection it is best for them to have their loan fully underwritten, meaning they have completed the entire loan process with the lender before submitting an offer on a home. 

Don’t Bog Down the Offer by Asking for Personal Property

You may be wowed by some of their furniture, but our advice is don’t ask for it. Asking for items from the seller that are not part of the contract could weaken your offer and put you in a lesser position.

Write a Personal Letter

One way to strengthen your offer is to write a personal letter to the seller. Sellers are emotionally attached to their homes and want to be sure their home is going to a good family or individual, they want to know your story and why you have fallen in love with their home. They want to be sure their home will be in good hands, especially if they’ve lived in it for many years. Your personal statement as to why you love the house could make a big difference when it comes to bidding wars.

Submit an Offer Over Asking Price

Submitting a low-ball offer will not work in this market. If you really want the house, you’re most likely going to have to make an offer above asking price. Doing this will indicate to the seller you’re serious about buying the home, keeping in mind of course the value of the home.

Appraisal Contingency

If you’re financing the home with a loan the lending institution will require an appraisal however, you can waive the appraisal contingency and not make it part of the offer. Meaning there will still be an appraisal, but the lending institution will only loan you the amount of money the property appraises for, so you as the buyer will have to come out of pocket for the difference. By waiving this contingency you’re telling the buyer you’d be willing to do so. Be sure you’re in a strong financial position to waive the appraisal because you are taking a risk.

Increase Your Downpayment

Offering to put more money down is another sign of good faith to the seller and shows that you have more skin in the game and are serious about buying the property.

Escalation Clause

An escalation clause means your offer will be higher than other offers up to a maximum price set by you and your agent. Robb Realty Group’s experienced real estate agents are well versed in writing escalation clauses and will write one to go along with your offer.

Cash Offer

Cash offers show that the buyer is serious and has the financial means to expedite the closing. Cash offers are typically more desirable to the seller.

Submit a Complete Offer

Make sure your offer is complete it’s a competitive market and sellers are receiving multiple offers, unfortunately mistakes could result in your offer getting tossed. Be sure to cross all of your “t’s” and dot all of your “I’s”. Robb Realty Group will partner with you to be sure your offer is complete and in the best position for the seller to accept it.

The Bottom Line

Be sure to establish that you’re a serious buyer, with the financial capabilities to meet all obligations. That is the surest way to a seller’s heart. The Robb Realty Group team of agents and preferred lenders are here to help. Call us at 770-331-1590 or email ericrobb@robbrealtyatlanta.com if you have any questions about buying, selling or refinancing, we're here to guide you through this important, exciting time.

The current real estate market is full of amazing opportunities for both buyers and sellers. If you’re thinking of buying your first home, moving up to a bigger one, or selling so you can downsize, there are major perks right now that you can take advantage of. The biggest perk for buyers is low interest rates with the 30-year fixed rate averaging around 3% making purchasing a home very attainable for hopeful buyers.

On the selling side of real estate, sellers are seeing major gains in their net worth thanks to owning a home. As a result, we’re seeing more of those currently renting starting to enter the market to purchase a home.

The biggest perk for sellers right now is low inventory. It seems there just aren’t enough homes on the market for the number of buyers looking to make a purchase. According to Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com: “Total active inventory continues to decline, dropping 50 percent. With buyers active in the market and sellers still slow to put homes up for sale, homes are selling quickly and the total number actively available for sale at any point in time continues to decline." Robb Realty Group has a VIP Sellers Program to assist you with the sale of your home and to get the most amount of money in the least amount of time.

The lack of houses for sale continues to challenge the market, and with low mortgage rates fueling buyer demand, homes are hard for buyers to come by. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average house is now receiving 4.1 offers and is on the market for a little over 15 days. Robb Realty Group can assist buyers to navigate the process and get their offer accepted in this competitive market.

Buyers are ready to purchase but because of the shortage of inventory, they’re often entering bidding wars. This is one of the factors keeping home prices strong and giving sellers the upper hand in the negotiation process.

Homeowners who are in a position to sell shouldn’t wait! Listing your home this spring with low inventory and high buyer demand, will potentially yield a greater profit and your home will most likely sell quickly!

Bottom Line

Whether you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, there are major perks available in today’s housing market. We have several options available if you need to sell first before buying and would love to discuss the options with you. 

Find out what the value of your home is with our Instant Home Valuation tool and let's schedule a time to chat about listing your home.

With home prices escalating both buyers and sellers are worried that the housing market is just too good to be true and real estate agents are getting asked the question, “Are we in a housing bubble?

Here are the factors that suggest we are not in a housing bubble:

Housing Supply – Unlike the housing bubble that occurred in the mid 2000’s the major factor currently driving up home values is that there is a huge deficit of homes on the market for sale. A balanced real estate market has around a 6-month supply of inventory however, the current inventory is around 1.9 months which is historically low. In comparison the inventory level from 2005 to 2007 went from a 5-month supply to an 11- month supply creating a vast over-supply of homes that drove prices down.

Housing Demand - The biggest indicator of price appreciation is supply and demand. So, what is taking place in today’s market? Millennials, the largest generation in the US, are finally ready for homeownership, The health crisis has homeowners re-evaluating their current homes to determine whether it meets their needs, which is driving even more buyers into the market. These two big factors, along with historically low mortgage rates, make purchasing a home today a good financial decision. More than 38% of homeowners have paid off their mortgage “free and clear,” and another 18.7% have paid off over 50% of their mortgage. This positive equity perspective puts the current housing market in a much stronger place, minimizing risk of foreclosure and stabilizing home values across the U.S.

At the end of the day, knowledge is the most powerful tool. Robb Realty Group analyzes the data, provides insights and communicates what is going on in the market, which is key to helping you make the best real estate decision. Find out the value of your home with our Instant Home Valuation tool.

What does it mean to be in a seller's market? Home sales have continued to rise in the first few months of this year. Buyers are snatching up every new listing as soon as it comes on the market. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 71% of homes sold in January were on the market for less than one month. While most of the economy has felt the lingering toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, the housing market has been the one bright spot with sales remaining high and home prices continuing to rise, adding equity to home sellers. 
The housing outlook for 2021 continues to look positive which is great news however, low inventory continues to be a challenge for buyers. 
Here’s a closer look at key indicators from NAR’s existing-home sales report, reflecting January sales data:


HOME PRICES: The median existing-home price for all housing types in January was $303,900—a 14% jump over a year ago. Get more for your money by moving up or downsizing while mortgage rates are low. It's a seller's market!

INVENTORY: Total housing inventory at the end of January was 1.04 million units, down nearly 26% from a year ago. Unsold inventory sits at a 1.9-month supply at the current sales pace. There is a lack of inventory. If you're thinking of selling contact  Robb Realty Group .

DAYS ON THE MARKET: Properties typically remained on the market for 21 days in January, down from 43 days a year prior. Find out why it's a good time to sell now at CityLifestyle. 

FIRST-TIME BUYERS: First-time buyers comprised 33% of sales in January, up slightly from 32% a year earlier.

CASH SALES: All-cash sales accounted for 19% of transactions in January, down from 21% a year ago. Individual investors or second-home buyers tend to make up the biggest bulk of cash sales. They accounted for 15% of sales in January, down from 17% in January 2020.

With a shortage of inventory in the current market, buyers are looking for homes but are unable to find the right home to purchase. Demand is strong so now is the time for sellers to take advantage of the fact it's a sellers market and list their homes for sale. Robb Realty Group has a comprehensive VIP Seller's Program to help you navigate the process to get the highest sales price. The first step is to find out the value of your home with our Instant Home Valuation tool.

Cost of Living

Atlanta is known for its affordable real estate market and booming, stable economy with many businesses calling Atlanta home including 16 Fortune 500 companies which include The Home Depot, The Coca-Cola Company, UPS, and Delta Airlines just to name a few. It also boasts jobs across a variety of industries including healthcare, restaurants, hospitality, technology, and entertainment. And with mild weather year-round there’s lots to do in the community from hiking, parks, enjoying the many lakes to taking a day trip to one of Georgia’s quaint towns or visit an adjacent state. The state of Georgia borders Tennessee, Alabama, North and South Carolina and Florida.

Shopping

Atlanta is known for unique shopping experiences from boutiques, to outlet malls to high-end shopping locations it has something for everyone. There are several mixed-use gathering places Avalon and Halcyon with curated shops, restaurants, creative loft offices, modern hotel rooms, beautiful residences to buy or lease, and a common green area at the center. All of it seamlessly integrated and thoughtfully designed to complement the surroundings, allowing community and connections to happen naturally. On any given day there are farmer’s markets throughout different communities in Atlanta where you can purchase fresh flowers, fruit, or delicious homemade food items. You’ll find you feel right at home, all while exploring areas of Atlanta and maybe even meeting new people along the way.

Easy Access to Travel

The Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is the busiest airport in America with hundreds of non-stop flights. Hartsfield-Jackson earned the title of world's busiest airport after it saw more than 107 million passengers in 2018. That's nearly 300,000 passengers going through the airport every day. For comparison, the busiest theme park in the world, Disney World's Magic Kingdom, sees less than a fifth of that attendance every day. A fun fact…Hartsfield-Jackson is located on an abandoned racetrack once known as the Atlanta Speedway. A whopping 63,000 people work at the Atlanta airport, including airline, ground transportation, concessionaire, security, federal government, City of Atlanta and airport tenant employees, making the airport Georgia's largest employer. There are 6 Starbucks coffee shops in the airport so if you're catching a flight in Atlanta, you'll have six opportunities to visit your favorite coffee chain. 

Weather Forecast

Atlanta is known for its mild climate, although it does experience all four seasons it is mild in comparison to other areas of the country. Summers in Atlanta tend to be humid, but there have also been days in December that were warm enough to go without bundling up. Sometimes called Hotlanta because it can be toasty in the summers however, coming from California one thing you’ll appreciate is the affordable utilities and the ability to run your air conditioning as needed.

High Ranked School Systems

Families moving to Atlanta and looking for a good education will be happy to know that the school systems in Atlanta have received high ranks. Niche published a list of Best Public Schools in 2015, Atlanta schools were at the top and in 2020 Niche named Forsyth county one of the best counties to live in in America, largely based on the school system.

Traffic

Well you take the good with the bad and unfortunately Atlanta is known for traffic congestion. As with any major city there are certain times of the day when traffic congestion is at its height, so it’s recommended to adjust work schedules accordingly. There is public transportation on the MARTA system which helps alleviate traffic congestion closer into the city. Atlanta is a progressive area so many companies have gone to remote working some or all of the week which keeps many drivers off of the roads during peak times. Native Atlantans tend to think the traffic is bad because they’ve never experienced California traffic or majorly congested traffic in other cities on a day-to-day basis.