FHA Enhances Credit Policies, Includes Appraisal Enhancements

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner David H. Stevens announced plans to implement credit policy changes that will enhance the agency's risk management functions. FHA will hire a Chief Risk Officer for the first time in the FHA's history. Commissioner Stevens said "to be clear, the fund's reserves are sufficient to cover our future losses, so the FHA will not require taxpayer assistance or new Congressional action. That said, given the size and scope of the FHA and its importance to today's market, these risk management and credit policy changes are important steps in strengthening the FHA fund, by ensuring that lenders have proper and sufficient protections."

FHA is implementing new policies in a mortgagee letter that will be effective January 1, 2010. FHA will reaffirm existing policy on appraiser independence and geographic competence. Mortgage brokers and commission based lender staff will be prohibited from ordering appraisals. FHA's appraisal validity period will be reduced from six months to four. HUD also acknowledges that FHA is considering implementing components of HVCC for FHA-insured mortgages.

Need a good Mortgage Lender- Jennifer Brown

Personable, high integrity, expert, great results - these are the words used by clients and business partners to describe Jennifer Brown. A 10 year veteran in the mortgage industry, she has had the honor of helping over 600 families achieve their dream of homeownership and has assisted hundreds of other families with refinance and equity transactions. In addition she has been named the preferred lender by many of Atlanta's most respected builders and developers, serving more than 30 communities since 2002.

Before joining LoanSouth, Jennifer has was consistently a top producer with Countrywide Home Loans, SunTrust Mortgage and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage where she received many awards for her accomplishments in the industry. She credits her success to surrounding herself with the best of the best. This philosophy drove her decision to leave a well respected national lender to join LoanSouth Mortgage. "When I heard the news that Kim and Bob were founding their own company I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I can think of no better group of people to align myself with. The atmosphere here at LoanSouth is exciting. When you walk through the door you can feel it!"

A native of Alabama, Jennifer is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Auburn University at Montgomery with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. She resides in Cumming, Georgia with her husband Ryan and their two labs, B.A. and Bear.

Featured Home- Glenwood Park $699,000

MAJOR PRICE REDUCTION! Gorgeous Earthcraft home in Glenwood Park- 3 lvls of lux living w/gourmet kit w/ bfst area open to fam rm w/ fp, sep DR, fab outdoor patio w/ dbl sided fp to screened porch, stunning master w/ fp, sep legal apt/in-law suite, finished terrace lvl-pool membership included!

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To view this custom home, please contact me (404) 285-9738 or via email at jon.chapman@nrtdevelopmentadvisors.com

The Stacks Lofts

Condo Trends: From Luxury Condo to Homeless Shelter

by M. Anthony Carr
In a move to ward off foreclosure, a luxury condo developer has turned the units intended to sell for more than a quarter million dollars into a homeless shelter with the help of a New York-based nonprofit.

The Brooklyn units come complete with granite counter, terraces, marble bathrooms and walk-in closets, according to the New York Daily News, and the city is paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars per month ($90 per unit per night) to house homeless families in the city.
"City officials said the condos - which couldn't attract buyers in the fizzled housing market - are part of an effort to help an "unprecedented" number of homeless families who have ended up on the street because of the tough economy," according to the report.
It's the first time luxury condo has gone homeless shelter, according to Steven Spinola, president of the Real Estate Board of New York. Avi Shriki, the developer of the project, says leasing the building for the next 10 years to the Bushwick Economic Development Group, a non-profit homeless shelter group, was the best Plan B he could find.
He can pay the mortgage with the deal and still keep the building, instead of going into foreclosure.

FOR SALE- Foreclosure $299,000

Short Sale, fantastic value. Beautifully renovated 1908, 'four square' pocket doors, 6 fireplaces, hardwood floors throughout, extra large rooms. Great master and ensuite. Exterior just needs paint.

3 bedroom/3 bath, $299,000

For a viewing of this home, please contact me. (404) 285-9738 or via email jon.chapman@nrtdevelopmentadvisors.com

PRICE REDUCTION

Price reduced on A&P Loft one bedroom/one bath loft. FMLS #3881951 $149,900

Forbes: Atlanta among best places to buy a home

Atlanta is the 13th-best American city to buy a house, Forbes magazine said in a new ranking of U.S. metro areas.Forbes also determined average price per square foot of housing space decreased 1.1 percent in Atlanta between February and March of this year, and that transactions declined 7.5 percent between March 2008 and March 2009.“While the majority of the nation’s housing markets are still working toward a bottom, some cities are boasting fundamentals that make them good places to buy a home now,” Forbes reported this week.The Forbes rankings seem geared more toward each market’s current and future potential as a place to buy a home, since some of the cities at or near the top of the list are among those hardest hit by the recession.The report ranked the 25 largest U.S. metro areas on the basis of change in price per square foot, frequency of real-estate transactions, and how evenly distributed home-sales activity is in a metro area.Denver is the best city to buy a home. Phoenix was ranked No. 2, followed by Boston, San Diego and Los Angeles.Forbes listed Las Vegas, Cleveland, Seattle and Detroit at the bottom of the 25 cities.“There, distressed sales have kept home values down and buyers away,” Forbes said.Forbes drew its data from March 2009 RPX Monthly Housing Market Report, distributed by Radar Logic Incorporated, a New York-based derivatives firm.Source: Forbes & Atlanta Business Chronicle

Timing The Market

Pending Home Sales Up Fourth Straight Month

The Basics: 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

Bringing the Dream of Homeownership Within Reach
As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed legislation that grants a tax credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers.
Here is more information about how the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream.

Who Qualifies?
First-time home buyers who purchase homes between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009.
To qualify as a “first-time home buyer” the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.
Which Properties Are Eligible?
The 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit may be applied to primary residences, including: single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops.
How Much Will the Credit Be?
The maximum allowable credit for home buyers is $8,000. Each home buyer’s tax credit is determined by two factors:
The price of the home—the credit is equal to 10% of the purchase price of the home, up to $8,000.
The buyer's income—single buyers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000—may receive the maximum tax credit.
If the Buyer(s)’ Income Exceeds These Limits, Can He/She Still Get a Credit?
Yes, some buyers may still be eligible for the credit.The credit decreases for buyers who earn between $75,000 and $95,000 for single buyers and between $150,000 and $170,000 for home buyers filing jointly. The amount of the tax credit decreases as his/her income approaches the maximum limit. Home buyers earning more than the maximum qualifying income—over $95,000 for singles and over $170,000 for couples are not eligible for the credit.
Will the Tax Credit Need to Be Repaid?
No. The buyer does not need to repay the tax credit, if he/she occupies the home for three years or more. However, if the property is sold during the three-year period, the credit will be recouped on the sale.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

R.I.P. Farrah Fawcett

$8,000 fast cash for first-time homebuyers

HUD plans to tweak $8,000 tax credit rules so first-time homebuyers can get instant down-payment assistance.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Home prices are cheap. Affordability is at a record high. And the market is littered with distressed properties looking for a buyer.
But there is one big obstacle for many first-time house hunters looking to take advantage of the market: cash for down payments. The typical first-time buyer has only saved enough to cover 4% of the purchase price, according to the National Association of Realtors.
As part of the stimulus package, Congress created a refundable first-time homebuyers tax credit in hopes of helping on-the-fence buyers to take the home-purchase plunge. But buyers couldn't collect the $8,000 credit until tax time, rather than at closing time - when it's needed.
Now the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is planning to change that. The agency is working on a plan that will allow Federal Housing Authority-approved lenders to provide buyers with the tax credit cash up front.
"We all want to enable FHA consumers to access the tax credit funds when they close on their home loans so that the cash can be used as a down payment," said Shaun Donovan, HUD secretary, in a speech last Tuesday before the National Association of Realtors.
States first
Donovan did not reveal many details, but the plan could be modeled after programs in Colorado, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington. To quickly infuse cash into their housing markets, these states created "bridge loans" that allow buyers to borrow against the $8,000 credit and then repay it with their tax refunds.
The first state to launch such a plan was Missouri, which rolled out its Missouri Housing Development Commission Tax Credit Advance Loan program on January 14 - a month before Congress approved the stimulus package. Since then, Missouri has approved applications by more than 300 borrowers and closed on 128 of them.
Lamar Cherry and his wife, Chrishanna, used the program to augment their down payment when they bought their home in Kansas City.
The couple purchased a four-bedroom, three-bath split-level home for $150,000, putting about 6% down. Much of that $9,000 came from the loan program, which they tapped so they wouldn't have to drain their reserves.
"We had money saved up that we were going to use for the down payment," said Cherry. "Now we can use some of that to buy some things we need for the house."
At closing, the Cherrys, like all buyers in the program, signed for their first mortgage, plus a second mortgage issued by the state. The second note is good for 6% of the price of the home, up to $6,750; there is a $350 set-up fee, but no interest is charged if the debt is repaid by June 2010.
In Missouri, borrowers can only access $6,750 of the $8,000 credit for down payments. "We wanted them to have a cushion below that $8,000 in case other tax liabilities show up," said Greg Spurgeon, the single-family homeownership administrator for the Missouri Housing Development Commission.
If borrowers don't pay off the note, it becomes a 10-year fixed-rate mortgage with an interest rate one-half percentage point above that of their first mortgages. For example, borrowers paying 6% on their first mortgages would be charged 6.5% on the second.
So far, Spurgeon said, a significant proportion of participating homebuyers have repaid their loans. He expects most of the others to do the same before the deadline.
Cherry has claimed the federal tax credit on his 2008 taxes, but he hasn't gotten his refund yet. He definitely intends to repay the loan before the 2010 deadline because, he said, not doing so would add about $75 a month to his house payments.

4 Home Staging Tips To Attract Buyers

“What are some of the things buyers look for in a new home? Many times they look for things they don't have in their current home, like a 'showcase' bedroom. What is a showcase bedroom? It's a bedroom that looks like it came right out of a major magazine. More than that, it's a room where buyers can imagine themselves living in the home. Here are four tips for creating a showcase bedroom:
1. The furniture needs to be clean. Furniture should pass the 'white glove' test, and mirrors and windows should be spot free.
2. The bed linens should be fresh and luxurious to the eye. Maybe just a new duvet cover with matching pillow shams propped up will do the trick. You can also add some contrast with a smaller pillow in the center.
3. The color choices should be neutral and should match. Try to match the bedding colors with something else in the room like the paint trim or a small rug on the floor.
4. Remove any exercise equipment and de-clutter the closets. People often move because they want MORE space. In general, you can remove anything that does not need to be in the master bedroom. Where do you put all the items you took from the closet? Try using plastic storage containers that will slide under the bed and out of site. If there is left over space in your closets they will think that all their clothes and other items will fit!
The bedroom is a personal space for the buyer. Creating a great bedroom isn't just about the furniture, but it's about turning an ordinary bedroom into a place that will comfort a buyer to escape from the rest of the world. So spend a little time and energy to really look at the bedroom from a buyer's eye and your house will sell faster.”

Pending home sales jump 3.2%

Buyers defy expectations with an increase in sales contracts signed during March.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Is the housing meltdown ending?
Pending home sales rose in March for the second consecutive month and are up year over year. The Pending Home Sales Index from the National Association of Realtors showed a 3.2% gain to 84.6 from February, when it was 82. The index stands 1.6% higher than a year ago.
The consensus forecast of industry experts polled by Briefing.com had predicted no increase in the index.
0:00 /2:45No help for homeowners
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It may still take a while before the market gains enough momentum to firmly state that the downturn has been reversed, according to Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist. And, the upturn may have been boosted by the first-time homebuyers tax credit, a temporary measure that will lapse in December.
"We need several months of sustained growth to demonstrate a recovery in housing, which is necessary for the overall economy to turn around," said Yun. "This increase could be the leading edge of first-time buyers responding to very favorable affordability conditions and an $8,000 tax credit, which increases buying power even more in areas where special programs allow buyers to use it as a down payment."
The index is understood to be a forward indicator of home sales trends since it measures contracts signed, not completed sales. The up-tick may indicate that home prices have fallen low enough for buyers to get off the fence.
Feeling for the bottom
Yun is not calling a bottom yet, however, because the index is still at a relatively low level. Instead, he's looking toward the summer selling season to determine what direction the market will take. Plus, he would like the number of homes on the market to drop to a more normal level of six to seven months of supply.
"If inventory goes down - it's at just under 10 months now - to below eight months, that would mean we're on the way to a sustainable recovery," Yun said.
Anecdotal evidence indicates that trend may be happening. Realtors and other industry insiders are seeing rising open house attendance and multiple bids on some particularly desirable properties. Plus, pricing has become sharper, according to Sherry Chris, the CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.
"Overpricing seems to be ending," she said. "Properties are coming onto the market and selling quickly."
And buyers are feeling a little more urgency, she added. In many markets, buyers have not felt any pressure to make an offer. "They said to themselves, 'I don't have to act immediately. It will still be on the market two weeks from now,'" she said.
Today, buyers are more likely to bid because they perceive the market as at or near its bottom. An April Gallup Poll reported that 71% of Americans thought it was a good time to buy a house.
They don't, however, believe there will be price increases soon; three of four buyers think prices will stabilize or even decline in their areas over the next 12 months, according to Gallup.
Pat Newport, a real estate analyst for IHS Global Insight, is putting less emphasis on pending home sales than he once did for his housing market analyses. There has been a disconnect lately, he said, between the number of properties going into contract (pending home sales) and the number that actually close (existing home sales).
He speculates that this is because buyers are making offers and signing contracts but, because of financing problems, many deals are falling through.
Regional differences
The South saw the largest gain of any region, with pending home sales jumping 8.5%. Pending sales are 7.7% higher there compared with a year ago.
The Midwest gained 3.9% from February and 1.7% year-over-year. Northeast sales fell 5.7% and are off 24.1% compared with March 2008. The West dropped 1% for the month but are up 8.2% year-over-year.
Low home prices continued to help to drive sales, although NAR's affordability index actually fell 2.3% from February, when it hit a historic high. This index is based on family income, home prices and mortgage rates.
"Compared to a year ago, the typical family can pay much less in mortgage costs for the same home, or buy a better home without necessarily increasing their monthly payment," said NAR President Charles McMillan, in a prepared statement. "For buyers who've been on the sidelines and have good jobs, the market has never looked more favorable.

Making an Offer on a Short Sale? What You Need to Know

Are you looking to buy a new home? Are you thinking that now's a great time to find bargains? Before you make an offer, it pays to know a little about the seller's situation.
If a home is being sold for below what the current seller owes on the property—and the seller does not have other funds to make up the difference at closing—the sale is considered a short sale. Many more home owners are finding themselves in this situation due to a number of factors, including job losses, aggressive borrowing against their home in the days of easy credit, and declining home values in a slower real estate market.
A short sale is different from a foreclosure, which is when the seller's lender has taken title of the home and is selling it directly. Homeowners often try to accomplish a short sale in order to avoid foreclosure. But a short sale holds many potential pitfalls for buyers. Know the risks before you pursue a short-sale purchase.
You're a good candidate for a short-sale purchase if:
You're very patient. Even after you come to agreement with the seller to buy a short-sale property, the seller’s lender (or lenders, if there is more than one mortgage) has to approve the sale before you can close. When there is only one mortgage, short-sale experts say lender approval typically takes about two months. If there is more than one mortgage with different lenders, it can take four months or longer for the lenders to approve the sale.
Your financing is in order. Lenders like cash offers. But even if you can’t pay all cash for a short-sale property, it’s important to show you are well qualified and your financing is set. If you're preapproved, have a large down payment, and can close at any time, your offer will be viewed more favorably than that of a buyer whose financing is less secure.
You don’t have any contingencies. If you have a home to sell before you can close on the purchase of the short-sale property—or you need to be in your new home by a certain time—a short sale may not be for you. Lenders like no-contingency offers and flexible closing terms.
If you're serious about purchasing a short-sale property, it's important for you to have expert assistance. Here are some people you want to work with:
Experienced real estate attorney. Only about two out of five short sales are approved by lenders. But a good real estate attorney who's knowledgeable about the short-sale process will increase your chances getting an approved contract. Also, if you want any provisions or very specialized language written into the purchase contract, a real estate attorney is essential throughout the negotiation.
A qualified real estate professional.* You may have a close friend or relative in real estate, but if that person doesn’t know anything about short sales, working with him or her may hurt your chances of a successful closing. Interview a few practitioners and ask them how many buyers they've represented in a short sale and, of those, how many have successfully closed. A qualified real estate professional will be able to show you short-sale homes, help negotiate the purchase when you find the property you want to buy, and smooth communications with the lender. (All MLSs permit, and some now require, special notations to indicate that a listing is a short sale. There also are certain phrases you can watch for, such as “lender approval required.”)
Title officer. It’s a good idea to have a title officer do an initial title search on a short-sale property to see all the liens attached to the property. If there are multiple lien holders (e.g., second or third mortgage or lines of credit, real estate tax lien, mechanic’s lien, homeowners association lien, etc.), it's much tougher to get that short sale contract to the closing table. Any of the lien holders could put a kink in the process even after you’ve waited for months for lender approval. If you don’t know a title officer, your real estate attorney or real estate professional should be able to recommend a few.
Some of the other risks faced by buyers of short-sale properties include:
Potential for rejection. Lenders want to minimize their losses as much as possible. If you make an offer tremendously lower than the fair market value of the home, chances are that your offer will be rejected and you’ll have wasted months. Or the lender could make a counteroffer, which will lengthen the process.
Bad terms. Even when a lender approves a short sale, it could require that the sellers sign a promissory note to repay the deficient amount of the loan, which may not be acceptable to some financially desperate sellers. In that case, the sellers may refuse to go through with the short sale. Lenders also can change any of the terms of the contract that you’ve already negotiated, which may not be agreeable to you.
No repairs or repair credits. You will most likely be asked to take the property “as is.” Lenders are already taking a loss on the property and may not agree to requests for repair credits.
The risks of a short sale are considerable. But if you have the time, patience, and iron will to see it through, a short sale can be a win-win for you and the sellers.
* Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. A REALTOR® is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and is bound by NAR’s strict code of ethics.

Note: This article provides general information only. Information is not provided as advice for a specific matter. Laws vary from state to state. For advice on a specific matter, consult your attorney or CPA.

Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood

Your neighborhood has a big impact on your lifestyle. Follow these steps to find the perfect community to call home.

Is it close to your favorite spots? Make a list of the activities — movies, health club, church, etc. — you engage in regularly and stores you visit frequently. See how far you would have to travel from each neighborhood you’re considering to engage in your most common activities.
Check out the school district. This is especially important if you have children, but it also can affect resale value. The Department of Education in your town can probably provide information on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college, and special enrichment programs. If you have school-age children, visit schools in the neighborhoods you’re considering. Also, check out http://www.schoolmatters.com/.
Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Ask the police department for neighborhood crime statistics. Consider not only the number of crimes but also the type — such as burglaries or armed robberies — and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime. Also, is crime centered in only one part of the neighborhood, such as near a retail area?
Determine if the neighborhood is economically stable. Check with your local city economic development office to see if income and property values in the neighborhood are stable or rising. What is the percentage of homes to apartments? Apartments don’t necessarily diminish value, but do mean a more transient population. Do you see vacant businesses or homes that have been for sale for months?
See if you’ll make money. Ask a local REALTOR® or call the local REALTOR® association to get information about price appreciation in the neighborhood. Although past performance is no guarantee of future results, this information may give you a sense of how good of an investment your home will be. A REALTOR® or the government planning agency also may be able to tell you about planned developments or other changes in the neighborhood — like a new school or highway — that might affect value.
Make personal observations. Once you’ve narrowed your focus to two or three neighborhoods, go there and walk around. Are homes tidy and well maintained? Are streets quiet? How does it feel? Pick a warm day if you can and chat with people working or playing outside.

10 Questions to Ask the Condo Board

Before you buy, contact the condo board with the following questions. In the process, you’ll learn how responsive — and organized — its members are. You’ll also be alerted to potential problems with the property.

1. What percentage of units is owner-occupied? What percentage is tenant-occupied? Generally, the higher the percentage of owner-occupied units, the more marketable the units will be at resale.

2. What covenants, bylaws, and restrictions govern the property? What grandfather clauses are in place? You may find, for instance, that those who buy a property after a certain date can’t rent out their units, but buyers who bought earlier can. Ask for a copy of the bylaws to determine if you can live within them. And have an attorney review property docs, including the master deed, for you.

3. How much does the association keep in reserve? Plus, find out how that money is being invested.

4. Are association assessments keeping pace with the annual rate of inflation? Smart boards raise assessments a certain percentage each year to build reserves to fund future repairs.To determine if the assessment is reasonable, compare the rate to others in the area.

5. What does and doesn’t the assessment cover? Does the assessment include common-area maintenance, recreational facilities, trash collection, and snow removal?

6. What special assessments have been mandated in the past five years? How much was each owner responsible for? Some special assessments are unavoidable. But repeated, expensive assessments could be a red flag about the condition of the building or the board’s fiscal policy.

7. How much turnover occurs in the building? This will tell you if residents are generally happy with the building. According to research by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, owners of condos in two-to-four unit buildings stay for a median of five years, and owners of condos in a building with five or more units stay for a median of four years.

8. Is the condo building in litigation? This is never a good sign. If the builders or home owners are involved in a lawsuit, reserves can be depleted quickly.

9. Is the developer reputable? Find out what other projects the developer has built and visit one if you can. Ask residents about their perceptions. Request an engineer’s report for developments that have been reconverted from other uses to determine what shape the building is in. If the roof, windows, and bricks aren’t in good repair, they become your problem once you buy.

10. Are multiple associations involved in the property? In very large developments, umbrella associations, as well as the smaller association into which you’re buying, may require separate assessments.

5 Feng Shui Concepts to Help a Home Sell

To put the best face on a listing and appeal to buyers who follow feng shui principles, keep these tips in mind.

1. Pay special attention to the front door, which is considered the “mouth of chi” (chi is the “life force” of all things) and one of the most powerful aspects of the entire property. Abundance, blessings, opportunities, and good fortune enter through the front door. It’s also the first impression buyers have of how well the sellers have taken care of the rest of the property. Make sure the area around the front door is swept clean, free of cobwebs and clutter. Make sure all lighting is straight and properly hung. Better yet, light the path leading up to the front door to create an inviting atmosphere.

2. Chi energy can be flushed away wherever there are drains in the home. To keep the good forces of a home in, always keep the toilet seats down and close the doors to bathrooms.

3. The master bed should be in a place of honor, power, and protection, which is farthest from and facing toward the entryway of the room. It’s even better if you can place the bed diagonally in the farthest corner. Paint the room in colors that promote serenity, relaxation, and romance, such as soft tones of green, blue, and lavender.

4. The dining room symbolizes the energy and power of family togetherness. Make sure the table is clear and uncluttered during showings. Use an attractive tablecloth to enhance the look of the table while also softening sharp corners.

5. The windows are considered to be the eyes of the home. Getting the windows professionally cleaned will make the home sparkle and ensure that the view will be optimally displayed.

Source: Sell Your Home Faster With Feng Shuiby Holly Ziegler (Dragon Chi Publications, 2001)

Flickr and Twitter

I'm now on Flickr and Twitter. Check it out!

http://www.flickr.com/ (jonsatlantarealestate)
This is a great opportunity to check out my lastest pictures of any of my listings and all real estate related pictures. What a cool site!

http://www.twitter.com/ (jchapmanrealty)
Find out what I'm doing in the crazy world of Atlanta Real Estate. New listings, homes sold, and all sorts of good information. But, fun of course! ;)

Let me know if you know of anyone looking to purchase or sell real estate in the near future. I would love to help!

Jon Chapman (404) 285-9738 or jon.chapman@nrtdevelopmentadvisors.com

FEATURED LISTING- Historic East Atlanta LOFT

One bedroom/One bath unique and authentic New York style loft with original oversized factory windows, concrete floors, concrete columns, and exposed brick walls. A&P Lofts building is located in an excellent East Atlanta location that is growing at a rapid rate. The loft building features roof top terrace with incredible Atlanta skyline views, clubroom/fitness center, 1 assigned parking space with plenty of guest parking on site. Convenient to I-20 and 85/75. TAX INCENTIVE until 2020 and LOW monthly HOA fees. This is home is offered and priced to sell at $157,900.

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Mortgage rates drop to record low

Freddie Mac survey says mortgage rates fall to lowest in 38 years after Fed aids market

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rates on 30-year mortgages fell this week to the lowest level on record after the Federal Reserve launched a new effort to assist the staggering U.S. housing market.
Mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac said Thursday that average rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages dropped to 4.85 percent this week, from 4.98 percent last week. It was the lowest in the history of Freddie Mac's survey, which dates back to 1971 and was down a full percentage point from a year ago.
The previous record low of 4.96 percent was set in the week of Jan. 15. Rates fell after the Fed last week said it will pump $1.2 trillion into the economy in an effort to lower rates on mortgages and loosen credit.
Rates on 30-year mortgages traditionally track yields on long-term government debt.
Though the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note initially plunged by about 0.5 percentage points after the Fed's move, lenders did not pass the entire drop on to borrowers. Bond yields rose after worries about what some saw as lackluster demand at a government debt auction Wednesday.
"There was a honeymoon effect initially" after the central bank's announcement, said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst with Bankrate.com. "The reality of large government deficits and the need for substantial government borrowing is setting in with investors."
Mortgage applications surged last week, mostly from borrowers looking to refinance and save money on their monthly payment. The Mortgage Bankers Association said Wednesday its weekly application index climbed more than 30 percent for the week ended March 20.
Nearly 80 percent of applications came from borrowers seeking to refinance home loans at lower rates, rather than purchase homes.
In Freddie Mac's survey, the average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 4.58 percent this week, down from 4.61 percent last week.
Rates on five-year, adjustable-rate mortgages fell to 4.96 percent, compared with 4.98 percent last week. Rates on one-year, adjustable-rate mortgages rose fell to 4.85 percent, from 4.91 percent.
The rates do not include add-on fees known as points. The nationwide fee averaged 0.7 point last week for all mortgages in Freddie Mac's survey except for one-year adjustable mortgages, which had an average fee of 0.6 point.

Best buyers market forecast

Despite the gloomy national economic outlook, the best buyers' real estate market in at least four years will develop by late summer in most housing markets, according to a new Housing Predictor forecast. Lower interest rates will draw buyers to make purchases of homes more than in years. Increased buyer activity in housing and more home sales will demonstrate the first signs of a recovery.

How long will it take before we get out of this mess? Conditions are moving in the right direction for a correction in housing markets to develop, but the unprecedented level of foreclosures will hamper the recovery for sometime. Economists just aren't sure how long that will take.

Housing prices are not yet forecast to appreciate as a result of the Fed's actions, but are efforts to stabilize markets, according to real estate analysts. As a result of the Fed's actions mortgage rates dropped the day following the Fed's move and are likely to drop further as mortgage companies react in coming weeks.

FALLING RATES! GREAT NEWS!

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rates on 30-year mortgages plunged this week to the lowest level since January, and are poised to fall further after the Federal Reserve launched a new effort to prop up the flailing housing market.

Mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac said Thursday that average rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages dropped to 4.98 percent this week.
That was down from 5.03 percent last week. It was the lowest since the week of Jan. 15, when it was at 4.96 percent.

The rate quotes included in Freddie Mac's survey were taken before the Fed said Wednesday it will pump $1.2 trillion into the economy in an effort to lower rates on mortgages and other and loosen credit. That is expected to drive mortgage rates down further.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Simple Tips for Better Home Showings

1. Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too.

2. Wash your windows and screens. This will help get more light into the interior of the home.

3. Keep everything extra clean. A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well-cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator. Polish your doorknobs and address numbers. It’s worth hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.

4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows to air out the house. Potpourri or scented candles will help.

5. Brighten your rooms. Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned-out bulbs in closets. Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of neutral color paint.

6. Don’t disregard minor repairs. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well-maintained.

7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters. For added curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch holes. Repair any holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9. Add a touch of color in the living room. A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room. Buy new accent pillows for the sofa.

10. Buy a flowering plant and put it near a window you pass by frequently.
11. Make centerpieces for your tables. Use brightly colored fruit or flowers.

12. Set the scene. Set the table with fancy dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help buyers picture living there. For example, in the basement you might display a chess game in progress.

13. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light. Show off the view if you have one.

14. Accentuate the fireplace. Lay fresh logs in the fireplace or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.

15. Make the bathrooms feel luxurious. Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and fancy guest soaps. Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of sight.

16. Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that’s not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (ideally in the basement), and let the real estate practitioner know where they’ll be to eliminate surprises.

17. Lock up valuables, jewelry, and money. While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing or open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.

18. Leave the home. It’s usually best if the sellers are not at home. It’s awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.

Last Years Atlanta Tornado

Before and after picture of The Stacks Lofts from the March 14, 2008 Atlanta Tornado.

Lofts Show Off Tornado Renovation

ATLANTA -- The tornado that hit downtown Atlanta one year ago did a lot of damage to the lofts at the old Fulton Cotton Mill, but today the lofts, known as The Stacks, are back.
This weekend, the doors of The Stacks will be open for a special open house.

"It takes a lot of time to put something like that back together," said Tom Aderhold, president of Aderhold Properties and owner of The Stacks. He appeared on 11 Alive News Saturday Today.

"The damage was bad enough that everyone had to leave for quite some time," he said. "We had between 700 and 800 people, and they had to find somewhere else to live for several weeks."

One resident suffered minor injuries. A dog that was missing was discovered by firefighters days later. He was unharmed.

Everyone has since returned, and now The Stacks is ready to show off some newly-renovated lofts that are on the market.

Saturday's Open House runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Sunday, it runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 170 Boulevard Avenue, SE. For more information, call 404-588-2728 or log onto http://www.stackslofts.com/.

The property was originally the Fulton Bag & Cotton Mill which was built in 1881 and was one of Georgia's most successful late 19th century textile mills.
In 1999, it was the scene of a dramatic rescue of a crane operator by an Atlanta firefighter during a raging fire.

The Stacks is a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) approved property, which means homebuyers to take advantage of a 3.5% down payment.

Additionally, the First-Time Home Buyers Tax Credit included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 makes an $8,000 tax credit available to first-time home buyers for the purchase of a principal residence until December 1, 2009.

2 bedroom/2 bath condo- Piedmont Crest

Beautiful corner home that sits right on Piedmont Park.10' ceilings, heavy moldings, granite, stainless steel appliances, 2 master suites with large walk-ins, 2 parking spces. Walk to all that Midtown has to offer! This is your chance to get an AMAZING deal & live on the park!!

Priced at $445,000

To view this spectacular park side condo, call me today. (404) 285-9738.

Arts Festival- March 14, 2009

OPEN HOUSE- THIS WEEKEND!

FEATURED LISTING- The Stacks Lofts! Cabbagetown

Two Bedroom/Two Bath Multi-level LOFT! $239,900

The Stacks at Fulton Cotton Mill

170 Boulevard Ave. SE, E201

Atlanta, GA 30312

Corner 2 bedroom multilevel loft with soaring 25' ceilings, concrete floors, industrial windows with skyline & green space views, spectacular finishes in kitchen & bath, & flat screen TV in master bath. Enjoy pool, fitness, controlled access property, assigned parking space included. FHA APPROVED! HOA monthly fees $258.

Call me today for a private/personalized tour! (404) 285-9738.

How Big of a Mortgage Can I Afford?

Not only does owning a home give you a haven for yourself and your family, it also makes great financial sense because of the tax benefits — which you can’t take advantage of when paying rent.

The following calculation assumes a 28 percent income tax bracket. If your bracket is higher, your savings will be, too. Based on your current rent, use this calculation to figure out how much mortgage you can afford.

Rent: _________________________Multiplier: x 1.32Mortgage payment: _________________________

Because of tax deductions, you can make a mortgage payment — including taxes and insurance — that is approximately one-third larger than your current rent payment and end up with the same amount of income.

Lender Checklist: What You Need for a Mortgage

*W-2 forms — or business tax return forms if you're self-employed — for the last two or three years for everyperson signing the loan.
*Copies of at least one pay stub for each person signing the loan.
*Account numbers of all your credit cards and the amounts for any outstanding balances.
*Copies of two to four months of bank or credit union statements for both checking and savingsaccounts.
*Lender, loan number, and amount owed on other installment loans, such as student loans andcar loans.
*Addresses where you’ve lived for the last five to seven years, with names of landlords if appropriate.
*Copies of brokerage account statements for two to four months, as well as a list of any other major assets ofvalue, such as a boat, RV, or stocks or bonds not held in a brokerage account.
*Copies of your most recent 401(k) or other retirement account statement.
*Documentation to verify additional income, such as child support or a pension.
*Copies of personal tax forms for the last two to three years.

Expanded Tax Break Available for 2009 First-Time Homebuyers

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that taxpayers who qualify for the first-time homebuyer credit and purchase a home this year before Dec. 1 have a special option available for claiming the tax credit either on their 2008 tax returns due April 15 or on their 2009 tax returns next year.
Qualifying taxpayers who buy a home this year before Dec. 1 can get up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married filing separately.
“For first-time homebuyers this year, this special feature can put money in their pockets right now rather than waiting another year to claim the tax credit," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “This important change gives qualifying homebuyers cash they do not have to pay back.”
The IRS has posted a revised version of Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit, on IRS.gov. The revised form incorporates provisions from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The instructions to the revised Form 5405 provide additional information on who can and cannot claim the credit, income limitations and repayment of the credit.
This year, qualifying taxpayers who buy a home before Dec. 1, 2009, can claim the credit on either their 2008 or 2009 tax returns. They do not have to repay the credit, provided the home remains their main home for 36 months after the purchase date. They can claim 10 percent of the purchase price up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately.
The amount of the credit begins to phase out for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is more than $75,000, or $150,000 for joint filers.
For purposes of the credit, you are considered to be a first-time homebuyer if you, and your spouse if you are married, did not own any other main home during the three-year period ending on the date of purchase.
The IRS also alerted taxpayers that the new law does not affect people who purchased a home after April 8, 2008, and on or before Dec. 31, 2008. For these taxpayers who are claiming the credit on their 2008 tax returns, the maximum credit remains 10 percent of the purchase price, up to $7,500, or $3,750 for married individuals filing separately. In addition, the credit for these 2008 purchases must be repaid in 15 equal installments over 15 years, beginning with the 2010 tax year.

Fannie Mae to Drop Four Financed Property Rule!

In August of 2008, Fannie Mae announced the implementation of a restriction on loans for rental property. Known as Fannie Mae Letter 08-22, it stated that investors would be cut off after their credit report revealed any four or more "financed properties." Lenders stopped taking applications from investors almost immediately after that announcement.
Prior to this change, Fannie had in place a "ten financed property" rule, but the lending industry often provided ways around that limit by offering portfolio loans that were underwritten to Fannie Mae standards. These portfolio loans vanished simultaneously with FNMA's announcement.
The devastating effect of this change has been to sideline almost all veteran home investors at a time when the nation's supply of bank-owned homes is strangling our real estate market. In Atlanta alone, it is estimated that there are over 8,000 bank owned homes clogging the market, making it impossible for the market to begin any type of recovery.
However, editors at the Georgia Real Estate Report have learned that internal meetings at Fannie Mae have revealed that FNMA intends to eliminate the "four financed property" restriction on lenders, and revert to the "ten property limit." According to this same source, the change will be announced "within a few weeks."
This information was revealed Thursday, February 5, but could not be confirmed by FNMA spokespersons in Atlanta.
If this change occurs, and it appears that it will, this could spell the beginning of the end for the abysmal performance of real estate during the current economic environment.
It is unknown whether or not lenders may once again offer "portfolio" loans that are underwritten to Fannie guidelines once this change occurs, but it seems logical. Remember that investor loans have always carried some premium both in rate and points, making them more attractive to lenders than traditional loans. It stands to reason that if these investor loans are "full doc" and require a reasonable down payment, they can be easily as safe as an owner-occupant loan.
© 2008 The Georgia Real Estate Report. All rights reserved.

6 Creative Ways to Afford a Home

1. Investigate local, state, and national down payment assistance programs. These programs give qualified applicants loans or grants to cover all or part of your required down payment. National programs include the Nehemiah program, http://www.getdownpayment.com/, and the American Dream Down Payment Fund from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, http://www.hud.gov/.

2. Explore seller financing. In some cases, sellers may be willing to finance all or part of the purchase price of the home and let you repay them gradually, just as you would do with a mortgage.

3. Consider a shared-appreciation or shared-equity arrangement. Under this arrangement, your family, friends, or even a third-party may buy a portion of the home and share in any appreciation when the home is sold. The owner/occupant usually pays the mortgage, property taxes, and maintenance costs, but all the investors' names are usually on the mortgage. Companies are available that can help you find such an investor, if your family can’t participate.

4. Ask your family for help. Perhaps a family member will loan you money for the down payment or act as a co-signer for the mortgage. Lenders often like to have a co-signer if you have little credit history.

5. Lease with the option to buy. Renting the home for a year or more will give you the chance to save more toward your down payment. And in many cases, owners will apply some of the rental amount toward the purchase price. You usually have to pay a small, nonrefundable option fee to the owner.

6. Consider a short-term second mortgage. If you can qualify for a short-term second mortgage, this would give you money to make a larger down payment. This may be possible if you’re in good financial standing, with a strong income and little other debt.

It's Been Worse for the U.S. Housing Market

Historically, this housing decline has been a bear, but not the worst of the bear housing markets.The Winans International Real Estate Index calculates that new home prices in the United States are down 23 percent since March 31, 2007. New homes sales have fallen 71 percent and new property listings are down 34 percent in the same time period.Sounds bad, but the worst decline of new home prices in the last 150 years was the 68 percent decline from 1929 to 1932. The longest housing bear market was from 1853 to 1858."This bear market will probably not end in 2009. Past real estate bear markets ended when the average time it took to sell a new house dropped to 3 1/2 months. Currently, it is taking over 9 months for transactions to close due to tight credit conditions," says company founder Ken Winans.Source: Winans International (02/03/2009)

HELLO OBAMA!