So, where do I get my charts? I get them from Chartmaster Chuck. I bought them for a couple of years, and now, my broker buys them for me. Shaun Rawls is cool like that. So, we study 36 FMLS geographic areas from Cumming to Rex. The stats on our broad metro charts are pretty similar to our Intown numbers when you break ‘em down, but for my purposes, Intown is where I spend most of my real estate sales time. And, this website ain’t called the Intown Insider for nothing. When we surmise the real estate geography of Intown Atlanta we start with West Cobb with an Atlanta address. True Vinings. Not OTP. Area 71. We also look at Sandy Springs inside the perimeter. My office is there – so are the hospitals on Pill Hill. Meadowbrook and all those cool mid-century neighborhoods in unincorporated Dekalb with an Atlanta address are up there too. We look at three Dekalb FMLS market areas of 24,51, and 52 – I call those Greater Brookhaven, Chamblee, and Doraville, a touch … [Read more...]

“Interest rates are at historic lows but cyclical trends suggest they will soon rise. Home buyers may never see such a chance again,” writes Marc Roth in his recent Business Week article. By the way, the title of this post is ripped straight from Mark – it’s just too provocatively good to not repeat! “Well, you may not be stupid or broke. Maybe you already have a house and you don't want to move. Or maybe you're a Trappist monk and have forsworn all earthly possessions. Or whatever. But if you want to buy a house, now is the time, and if you don't act soon, you will regret it.” Here's why: historically low interest rates. “As of today, the average 30-year fixed-rate loan with no points or fees is around 5%. That, as the graph above—which you can find on Mortgage-X.com—shows, is the lowest the rate has been in nearly 40 years.” Mark’s article is a really good read for anyone interested in where we are at this point in business history. “If you are … [Read more...]