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If you are thinking of making an offer, Century21.com has some great advice! Here's some of there tips on things to consider!

How Much?

If you are in the market for a home, but not quite ready to buy, consider a Lease Option. Century21.com provides a general description of a Lease Option. If you decide this is right for you, give us a call! We have several home available for Lease!

If you are thinking of buying a home, Century 21.com has some great advice for home buyers! Below is some information from their website. If you are interested in other topics, you can get all of the information at www.century21.com!

Getting Started

What are the advantages of owning a home?

Answer: There are many. Among the most appealing: you own it, which gives you, instead of a landlord, control of your living space. Other benefits stem from potential tax savings and the build up of equity as your property likely appreciates in price over time. Equity can be used to help put children through college, purchase a second home, or make home improvements. The mortgage interest paid on a home loan is tax deductible, as is the local property tax. If you get a fixed-rate home mortgage loan, you also can invest more wisely knowing your monthly mortgage payment, unlike rent, will not change substantially.

What is the first step to buying a home?

Answer: Make sure you are ready - psychologically and financially. Ask yourself the following questions: Do I have steady income? Is my debt lower than my total income? Do I have enough money to pay for the down payment and closing costs? Am I working hard enough to improve bad credit? A house needs constant care and attention. Also ask yourself if your budget will allow for unexpected repairs and upkeep. Once you can honestly answer "yes" to these questions, you are several steps ahead of the game and that much closer to becoming a homeowner.

How much can I afford?

Answer: The general rule of thumb is that you can buy a home that costs about two-and-one-half times your annual salary. A good real estate agent or lender can determine how much you can afford and estimate the maximum monthly payment based on the loan amount, taxes, insurance and other expenses. To find out now how your income, debts, and expenses can affect what you can afford, use the CENTURY 21 calculator to figure out how much you may be able to borrow to purchase a home.

Is it best to save for the ultimate dream home or begin with a less expensive starter home?

Answer: It can take a long time to save for that perfect dream home. Meanwhile, the market has been flooded with some of the most favorable mortgage interest rates in years. Low rates make housing more affordable, which is why so many buyers have jumped on the home buying bandwagon. Home-price appreciation has also been strong, making very solid gains in communities across the country. In fact, home prices are expected to increase 2.5 percent to 3 percent annually over the next five years. If you purchase a starter home today, you can potentially begin to build value that can lead to the purchase of a larger, or more desirable, trade-up home in the future.

How do you decide whether to add on to an existing home or purchase a new one?

Answer: There are a few things to consider, including cost, individual needs, and what will add value down the road. Also important: your emotional attachment to the existing home. As designer and builder Philip S. Wenz, the author of Adding to a House: Planning, Design & Construction, notes, an addition is much cheaper than building a new home and can offer a "new" home without the heartache of moving. Other considerations:

• Can you finance the home improvement with your own cash or will you need a loan?
• How much equity is in the property? A fair amount will make it that much easier to get a loan for home improvements.
• Is it feasible to expand the current space for an addition?
• What is permissible under local zoning and building laws? Despite your deep yearning for a new sunroom or garage, you will need to know if your town or city will allow such improvements.
• Are there affordable properties for sale that would satisfy your changing housing needs? Explore your options.

UNDER CONTRACT!!

We received an offer on 2006 Mill Pond Way on May 14, 2008. It is now Under Contract set to close around the first of June!!

Congratulations to the Seller & Buyer!!

Price your House Right from the Start!

A key part of the marketing plan is setting the list price. If a home is priced too low, you won’t benefit from the optimal profit. If a home is priced too high, potential buyers may be scared away. To determine the best asking price review the cost of recently sold homes, evaluate the competition and study marketplace trends. CENTURY 21 Sales Associates are trained to use this information to help you reach the right asking price. It is also helpful to discuss other terms and conditions, such as timing and items that can be included with the sale of the home. Both of these can make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

1)Location: You can't get away from this one. If your house is located in a desirable area that is in demand, you will be able to get a higher price than you can for the same house in a less desirable area.

2)Condition: A house that has been better maintained and shows better will always sell for more than one that has had deferred (neglected) maintenance and needs work.

3)Desirable amenities: If a house has amenities that are currently popular in the marketplace, it will bring a higher price.

4) Calculate the price per square foot: The average price per square foot for homes in your neighborhood shouldn't be the sole determinant of the asking price for your home, but it can be a useful starting point. Keep in mind that various methodologies can be used to calculate square footage.

A formal written appraisal can be useful if you have unique property, if there hasn't been much activity in your area recently, if co-owners disagree about price, or if there is any other circumstance that makes it difficult to put a value on your home. Appraisers consider the location of the home, its proximity to desirable schools and other public facilities, the size of the lot, the size and condition of the home itself and recent sales prices of comparable properties, among other factors.

Our Grand Re-Opening!

On April 29th we had our Grand Re-Opening!

Thanks to all of you who took time out of your busy schedules to stop by and see our newly renovated office! We had an AWESOME turnout!

If you didn't get to stop by the Grand Re-Opening, please stop by anytime!

Below are some pictures from our Re-Opening!

Thanks again to everyone for stopping by!!

We need more properties to rent. We have a huge demand for rental properties and not enough properties listed. If you have a property that is not selling because of the oodles of foreclosure saturating the market, RENT IT!

We handle property management for residential and commercial properties!

We handle everything from locating and screening a tenant to the day to day management of the property.

We have a unique program for out tenants to help them reestablish their credit. This program is beneficial to tenants as well at property owners. It is a win win situation for all.

Please contact us for more information.

Century 21 American Realty

5338 Hwy. 53 Braselton, GA 30517

706-654-1938