 Let's take a look at the projections on the number of home sales (existing and new construction) we will see over the next two years. Click here for the good news!
 Consumers use technology to do just about everything, including looking for and buying a home. A recent independent poll commissioned by Discover Home Loans shows 89 percent of homebuyers use some form of online technology to help them with the homebuying process. In fact, 76 percent of buyers feel technology made them a smarter homebuyer and 69 percent says it made them more confident.
A Better Buyer Buyers who use technology during the homebuying process feel smarter, more confident and more satisfied.
While it’s no surprise nine out of 10 buyers, 89 percent, use online resources during the homebuying process, two-thirds say looking at online property listings has reached the point of becoming addictive. The top three ways people use online resources in the homebuying process are:
Nearly all, 93 percent, of technology users say technology allowed them to do things remotely they otherwise would have had to do in person. “Buyers are clearly looking to play a larger role in the homebuying process and turning to the latest technologies to find the information they need,” says TJ Freeborn, senior manager of customer experience at Discover Home Loans. “Technology is a great resource for buyers because it gives them access to online property listings, allows them to preview homes and find reviews on real estate agents and mortgage lenders. It’s truly changing the homebuying process, and the result is a more confident, informed buyer.” Technology’s Impact on Real Estate Agents While the real estate agent’s role remains critical, technology has become more important to buyers, and more integrated in the work of both real estate agents and buyers in the homebuying process. Understanding the more informed and confident homebuyer is essential for an effective real estate agent-buyer relationship. The real estate agent’s role is still critical, as 83 percent of respondents reported working with real estate agents to buy their homes. Seventy-four percent of homebuyers feel it’s important for their real estate agents to be tech savvy, with most, 82 percent, saying their agent was tech savvy. In communicating with agents though, nearly all, 98 percent, communicate through phone calls. Of buyers working with agents, 42 percent feel that they did most of the work to initially find properties. The national survey of 1,003 recent homebuyers was commissioned by Discover Home Loans and conducted by Versta Research, an independent survey research firm (http://www.verstaresearch.com), September 5 to September 17, 2014. The sample was carefully balanced and weighted using AHS (American Housing Survey) and NAR (National Association of Realtors) data to ensure an accurate representation of homebuyers by region, age, marital status, and first-time vs. repeat homebuyer status. Source: Business Wire Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved. Want to know what to look for in an agent? Click here for "5 Demands to Make On Your Real Estate Agent" Want to talk to a great agent that meets all these criteria and will go above and beyond to make you happy? Click here! 
 There are many questions homeowners ask themselves during the selling process. "How much will my home sell for? How much should I list my home for? Who should I select as a real estate agent to sell my home? What if the real estate agent overprices my home?" Last but not least, "Is this a good time to be selling a home?" is also a very common question that real estate agents are asked.
As with every decision in life, there are pros and cons, and choosing when to sell a home is no different. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration before deciding when to sell a home. Many homeowners believe selling a home during the fall or winter months is not a good idea and that the spring is the only time a house should be sold. This is the furthest from the truth. Certainly most real estate markets across the United States experience a "spring market rush" every year. There is no doubt that the "spring market" is a great time to be selling and buying real estate, however, the fall and winter seasons may be the best fit for you for many reasons. Here are several reasons why choosing to sell your home now may be a better decision than waiting until the Spring: Less Competition - One way that you can tell the spring real estate market has arrived is by driving down a street in your local community. In all likelihood there will be For Sale signs up all over the neighborhood! One great reason to sell your home now and not wait until the spring market is there is sure to be less competition. The fewer number of comparable homes for sale, the greater the probability that a buyer will look at your home. Simply put, it’s the supply and demand theory. If there are less homes for sale, there are less homes that a potential buyer can choose from, therefore increasing the demand for your home. Not only will less competition increase the probability for showings, but it will also increase the probability that an offer will be received and you will get the maximum amount of money for your home. Serious Buyers Are Out There - Homes are sold and bought 365 days a year, period! Many homeowners believe that buyers aren't out there during the fall and winter months. This simply is not the case. Serious buyers are always out there! Some buyers may stop their home search because it is the fall or winter, but serious buyers will continue to look at homes, no matter what time of year it is. The fall and winter months are also a great time for a potential buyer to see what a specific neighborhood is like. Do your neighbors have pumpkins on their front step? Are there lots of Trick-or-Treaters wandering the neighborhood on Halloween? Do any of your neighbors have any light displays for the holidays? There are buyers out there who will look at these types of things when determining whether your home is in the right neighborhood for them or not. The Best Agents Are Always Up to the Challenge - Any real estate agent who tells you that the fall or winter months are a bad time to sell is not someone you want selling your home! A great real estate agent will know how to adapt to the current season and market their listings to reflect that. A great real estate agent can make suggestions and give some of their tips on how to sell a home during the fall or winter seasons. If a real estate agent doesn't have any suggestions on making your home more desirable for the current season, you should be concerned about the creativity they are going to use when marketing your home. Staging for the Holiday Season - Many sellers believe staging a home is the main reason a home sells. While staging certainly helps sell homes, some buyers have a difficult time envisioning themselves in a home no matter what you do. However, there are some buyers who can easily be "sold" on a home because it is staged. Simple “seasonal” staging such as adjusting the color of the decor or having an aroma in the air that is relative to the time of year can go a long way with some potential buyers and possibly be the difference between a home selling or not. Mortgage Rates Are Low - 
If you've read about real estate in the past year, it's likely you've read that the mortgage rates are very low. You also probably read that there is an expectation that the rates will increase very soon. Since mortgage rates are so low right now, buyers are able to afford more expensive homes. If mortgage rates increase over the fall and winter months while you're waiting for the spring market, it could cost you thousands of dollars as it could eliminate many buyers from the real estate marketplace! Less demand for your home will mean less money. Bottom line: take advantage of selling your home while the rates are this low. Quicker Transactions - Right now, there are fewer real estate transactions than there will be in the spring. The fewer number of transactions means the mortgage lenders have less loans to process, attorneys have less closings to do, and home inspectors have fewer inspections to do. All of these factors should lead to a quicker transaction and closing for all the parties involved. One of the most frustrating things for a seller to deal with while selling their home is not getting answers in a reasonable amount of time. A quicker transaction is going to be less stress for you. By considering all of the reasons above, you will be able to determine whether now is a good time to sell or if you should wait until the spring. By Kyle Hiscock Kyle Hiscock is a top producing Webster, N.Y. real estate agent with Nothnagle Realtors, based out of Rochester, N.Y. He has helped hundreds of buyers and sellers move in and out of the Greater Rochester, N.Y. area. In addition to his vast real estate knowledge, Kyle is very active on many different social media websites. Connect with Kyle on Google+. View the original post on RISMedia's blog, Housecall. Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved.  Homes in Gwinnett County - November 2014 from http://www.homesofgwinnettcounty.com
There are currently 3086 active homes for sale in Gwinnett County. The average listing price for Property in Gwinnett County during the month of November is $301,040. The median list price in November for single family residential and condo/town home properties in Gwinnett County is $220,000. The typical home for sale during the month of November in Gwinnett County is a 4.07 bedroom, 2.78 bath home built in 2000. To break down pricing further we can look at price by bedrooms in Gwinnett County. During the month of November a 3 bedroom homes average for sale price is $172,015 while a 4 bedroom homes average for sale price is $251,199. The 5 bedroom homes are listing for an average of $388,017. All market data and statistics are pulled directly from the local MLS data as of November 2014. For more comprehensive Homes data you can go to our website at http://www.homesofgwinnettcounty.com. Gwinnett County Market Statistics Summary Total Homes for Sale - 3086 Average List Price - $301,040 Median List Price - $220,000 Typical Gwinnett County Home 4.07 Bedrooms 2.78 Baths Median year Built in 2000 Average Price per Bedroom 3 Bedrooms - $172,015 4 Bedrooms - $251,199 5 Bedrooms - $388,017  Obviously, as Real Estate professionals, one of the most frequent questions we get asked is: How are the schools? Surprisingly, we aren't allowed to discuss the quality, or competence of the schools. I know this sounds absurd, but it is true. In some ways, this is good. Everyone's standards differ and what is a good school to me, may not meet your criteria of a good school. I encourage all of my clients to do their own homework.
First and foremost, unlike a decade ago, there is an abundance of information about schools on the internet. Here are a list of websites that can help with your initial search. ' Great Schools This is great first step. You can search for any school district that you are considering to see how it ranks. It will rank schools on a numerical scale from 1-10. School Digger This website begins to give you a little deeper statistical analysis of how the schools rank. Niche Rankings This is a yearly ranking by Niche. This is based on several different statistics as well as reviews from students. U.S. News ranking of High Schools in Georgia. And, finally, this is a ranking is by U.S News. This is based on four key metrics listed on the website. What next? All children and all parents are not the same. So, a great school for one student and parent may not be a great fit for another. Pay attention to things like student-teacher ratios, or whether a school offers a specific program that engages something that you child loves. Some schools have video, photography, or broadcasting classes. The key is to find the school that is right for your child. If you are seriously considering a home, head to the neighborhood when school lets out, and talk to some of the parents. Head to the school and talk with the principle and ask for a tour. Walking through the school will give you a first hand look at what your child will see everyday. And, finally, remember, that regardless of the schools ranking, the success of your particular student can be directly influenced by your involvement, and your student's hard work. Please feel free to reach out to me with any suggestions or feedback that you may have. Every quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts and investment & market strategists about where prices are headed over the next five years. See their projections here  |
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