The Real Estate Agent Blog

As a REALTOR working in metro Atlanta, the market is picking up. Buyers are out, sellers are contacting us weekly and banks ARE lending easier than last year. Just listed a home in Conyers today, went under contract at a condo at StudioPlex in Atlanta and tomorrow writing an offer on a condo in the Ridenour complex in Kenessaw. Real estate is definitely picking up, for sure. Buyers are about to lose out on getting the amazing deals with the tax credit going away, interest rates increasing and other factors in purchasing a home.

Hey there,

Just wanted to write a quick note to happily inform my readers, my Real Estate business has picked up amazingly, the true reason for my lack of posts.  Sorry about the HUGE delays between posts, I’m going to try to start a routine of posting at least once a week.

I’ve been working with an investment group dealing with flipping properties (current deal we’re working on can earn these investors ~$34,000; my potential commissions, for the buy and then the sell total ~$5,900).  Also, this investment group has asked if I knew anyone else that currently had money to invest, making for a quicker build-up of the investment group’s funds.  With current funds, we are finding decent, but stressed properties in “so-so” school districts and horrible properties in hot school districts around Gwinnett Co. and immediate surrounding areas.

Other buisiness includes the short-sale of 2 residential quadraplex buildings in Snellville and (sad, but true) an old friend of mine having to short-sell his home a mile from Lake Lanier.  Turned out not to be sad after all; we ended up negotiating with the mortgage company, they were willing to drop his monthly payments down to a number he could comfortably afford.  Keyword = “comfortably”.  Anyone needing assistance with the gloomy situation of not being able to afford your home, please go get help from a local REALTOR.  Its difficult to ask for help for many reasons when dealing with financial woes, but talk to someone who works in real estate and remember that its NOT JUST YOU HAVING A FINANCIAL CRISIS.

Working with investors and the difficult talks to my clients who are financially distressed about their last options for saving their homes and/or credit has pretty much been a full-time job for me.  Also juggling a submitted contract on a short-sale property, a seller which ‘had’ a close date, on their ranch home, of Dec. 30th from a legitimate buyer, somehow has been delayed for over a month, 4 buyer referrals received within a months time, 2 clients who either need to rent or find owner financing available properties and (believe it or not) I just had to take a 30 minute break away from typing this post while I took notes about another buyer referral sent to me.  Yay!

Anyhow, I’d best get to working.  Be back soon with more of my interesting “insider” articles & posts for you all!

God bless,
-Craig Miller

By Craig Miller
Published on: April 8, 2008

This market snapshot of Ivey Pointe Subdivision is an example of what foreclosures can do to a community’s housing values. The market data was collected April 8, 2008 from FMLS Atlanta. Ivey Pointe S/D is located in the city of Lawrenceville which is Gwinnett County’s City Hall, northeast of Atlanta.

The Data:
The average sales price in Ivey Pointe is currently $153,199. Four houses have sold in 2008. Out of the four that sold, were two foreclosures(f) and one short-sale(ss). Cost of homes were $124,000(f), $154,000(ss), $155,000(f), & $179,796 which ranged, in size, from 3 bedroom / 2 bath to 5 bedroom / 2.5 bath.

Currently, 12 houses are for sale, 1 is a foreclosure and 1 short-sale. The active listings range from $148,497 – $215,000, and from many 3 bedroom / 2.5 bath houses to a 6 bedroom / 3.5 bath house with a basement, respectively. Average listing price is $178,741 for Ivey Pointe S/D.

On a side note, 6 of the 12 active listings are 2 story with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths on a slab. Those 6 common houses range in price from $155,000 – $184,900 with an average at $171,450.

Want a Market Snapshot of your subdivision? Contact Me!

Craig Miller – Realtor
Published on: February 29, 2008

If you travel down HWY 20 (Grayson Highway) then I’m sure you know the Department of Transportation is working to make HWY 20 a divided highway. I can’t wait until they finish working on HWY 20.

The DOT is also working on Phase I of an extension of Sugarloaf Parkway. The extension will take Sugarloaf from where it dead ends into HWY 20, to HWY 316 in Dacula. This project consists of many bridges, making Sugarloaf a limited access avenue. Roads that will have interchanges Sugarloaf’s extension include: New Hope Road, Martins Chapel Road, Campbell Road and HWY 316. Many properties will be or have been purchased by Gwinnett County. View detailed maps located at the bottom of THIS PAGE.

If you would like to relocate away from Sugarloaf Parkway’s planned expansion, then its time to get started on selling your home. I have lived in this area for 22 years and know it well, therefore I can assist you in the sell of your home while finding you a home not so close to where you’ll hear road noise all night. Call me for a FREE estimate of the “fair market value” of your home at: (404)421-9666 or email me @ Craig@MillerCribs.com‘.