“The staff, doctors, EMS personnel, and City of Johns Creek Police & Fire Departments come together for the Purple Glove Dance Contest to help raise awareness of cancer for the 2nd annual Johns Creek Relay for Life.” 

April 8, 2010
Contact: corprel@freddiemac.com
or (703) 903-3933

“McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.21 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending April 8, 2010, up from last week when it averaged 5.08 percent.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.87 percent.  This is the highest the 30-year FRM has been since the week ending August 13, 2009 when it averaged 5.29 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.52 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.39 percent.  A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.54 percent.  This is the highest the 15-year FRM has been since the week ending December 31, 2009, when it averaged 4.54 percent.”

Mortgage Rate History:
Did you know that between 1978 and 1990 mortgage interest rates were above 10%?  When I got my real estate license in 1983 interest rates were 13.73%.  The highest mortgage interest rate was 18.45% in 10/10/1981.  You can see mortgage rates from 1971 to 2006 here.

So why aren’t you investing in at least one property while rates are historically low?  What other investment allows you the opportunity to live in the investment while you are financing it?  You can’t “live” in a mutual fund.  Real estate is a smart, long term wealth building strategy.  Don’t take my word for it-just check out a few of Donald Trump’s books at your local library.  What does he know that you SHOULD know?

You can easily search the mls database for homes in Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Roswell, Georgia, (and see all member brokers and builders homes) without registration at http://www.TalkAlpharettaHomes.com. Every day you are missing great investment opportunities! Call Rhonda-404-226-2824.  Interest rates have hit bottom and are going up!!

Happy Easter!

Searching for a special home?  Check out our easy home search program program at : http://www.TalkAlpharettaHomes.com No registration required-we make finding homes easy!

The days are longer, warmer and interest rates are flat. It's a perfect time to find a home!

The days are longer, warmer and interest rates are flat again this week. (March 18, 2010)

It is amazing-interest rates in our area are still very, very low.  I keep reading that rates will begin inching up this year and the financial stations I listen to share the same opinion.  It’s an incredible opportunity to invest in a home.  We know home prices will increase.  The lower interest rate allows home buyers to include a few extra upgrades or own a larger home.  When interest rates increase your price range decreases.

During my long career in real estate I have sold homes with interest rates above 13%.   We have weathered many real estate ups and downs in the Atlanta market.  But never have I seen home prices drop AND interest rates hover around the 5% range.  You know it won’t last forever.  This is going to be a once in a lifetime financial investment opportunity.

Have you thought about living in a special neighborhood where your friends or family live now?  Search for homes for sale in Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, and Roswell by “neighborhood” on my website.  Have fun searching with different categories and if you have questions give me a call-I’d love to help you. 

Check out Freddie Macs weekly interest rate update information.

http://www.TalkAlpharettaHomes.com

April 30, 2010: Home Buying Tax Benefit Deadline

At this moment in time there are 109 bank-owned homes for sale in our mls in the North Fulton County cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Roswell, Georgia.

Alpharetta-53 foreclosures

Johns Creek-9 foreclosures

Milton-3 foreclosures

Roswell-44 foreclosures

Thirty-five foreclosures are in the price point of $500,000- $2,240,000.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a home in Atlanta National, The Manor Golf and Country Club, Northshore at Windward and White Columns.  Interest rates are still at historic lows.   Combined with the First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit and the $6,500 Move-Up / Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit, home buyers have a once in a lifetime investment opportunity.  If you want to take advantage of these programs contracts must be written by April 30, 2010, and closed by June 30, 2010.

Why aren’t you taking advantage of these golden investment opportunities?  Time is running out!  If you have questions please call me-404-226-2824-I want to help you.  Search homes and in the mls here and check out the foreclosure home search category.

New home communities will make a stong come back-but not anytime soon.

The North Fulton County cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Roswell have been a hot bed of new home sales since the early 90′s.  We could not build new homes fast enough. People loved the great schools, recreation, golf courses, beautiful office parks, great restaurants and shopping-it was the perfect lifestyle. “Back in the day” builders would drive through competitive new home communities and try to pick up workers.  There were lots of new home contracts and not enough workers to build the homes.  Every builder was working around the clock to deliver homes on tight schedules.   There was little if any price negotiation or concession by the builder.  Home buyers could not “sleep on it” because the next day someone else had sealed the deal on “the home of their dreams”.  Now those years are distant memories for new home buyers and all industries related to new home building.

Today there are several new communities in foreclosure.  Chains greet you at the subdivision entrance to keep folks from dumping trash on the lots.  It’s a sea of weeds as far as you see and it’s very quiet.  Oh how we wish to hear to hear the familiar noises of new home construction going seven days a week.

In the North Fulton area there are less than 200 new homes available in the local mls today.  There are very few current new home starts-most of the homes are old standing inventory.  When will that improve?  Not any time soon, according to the Associated General Contractors of America:

“Friday, February 5, 2010

CONSTRUCTION DRAGS U.S. EMPLOYMENT FIGURES AS 75,000 IN INDUSTRY LOSE JOBS, ONE IN FOUR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE UNEMPLOYED

Stimulus, Especially Highway Funding, Appears to Be Lone Bright Spot in “Dire” Employment Report As Construction Industry Continues to Suffer from Depression-Era Unemployment Levels

 Overall U.S. job growth continued to be undermined by the severe downturn affecting the construction industry as another 75,000 construction workers lost their jobs in January 2010 and the industry’s unemployment rate jumped to 24.7 percent, according to federal employment figures released today.  Excluding construction job losses, nonfarm payroll employment actually rose for the second time in three months, the Associated General Contractors of America noted.”

If you have your home for sale today, price it right now, get it sold and move on with your plans.   This is your best opportunity to sell because you are not competing with the new home market.   There will be such pent up demand for new home communities once the economy turns in North Fulton that new home construction will drive home sales for years to come. 

Search for homes for sale and learn about the area here!

Now is the time to find "THE" home with lake views-this view is Lake Windward in the Windward community in Alpharetta. Windwrad homes for sale range from $239,500 to $5,000,000.

I am still amazed how low 30 & 15 year fixed interests rates have remained.  These rates are absolutely incredible.  Add the Home Buyers Tax Credit program (deadline is April 30, 2010) and you have a BIG win-win INVESTMENT opportunity of a lifetime.  Check out the latest Freddie Mac interest rate update for the week of February 19, 2010.      Search Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Roswell homes now at  http://www.rhondamapp.com/.  Oh by the way, I can help your friends and colleagues find a great home.

If price was not a consideration, what would you like in your “ultimate” dream home?  Why settle for home when you could have an “estate”?  This estate is currently on the market.  Because we have a reciprocity agreement with the listing broker you can take a photo tour at my website-information is at the end of this blog post.   

• Private 18 hole, par 72 golf course views with easy access
• On-site amphitheater so you could easily entertain your friends
• Doomed wedding chapel for special occasions
• Asian tea garden-ultimate relaxing experience
• 32,000 heated and cooled sq ft (approximately) in the main house
• Conservatory
• 3 acre man-made lake
• Property is on approximately 50+ private acres, some borders the Chattahoochee River
• French and Italian gardens and pavilions
• 3,000 square foot master suite (approximately)
• 24 carat gold sink
• Separate carriage houses and ample parking

And more…MUCH more…

To see more details about this fabulous estate go to my website and in the left margin click on “Search Homes” and then enter the FMLS #3912300 and take the photo tour-it WOULD be the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift! 

Check out ASPCA’s guidelines for special pet safety tips during Valentine’s Day.

I’ve listed a few pet adoptions organizations but there are many in the North Fulton friendly cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Roswell, GA. To get a good overview check out Petfinder.com-you can enter your preferred pet criteria and many adoption organizations upload to this website. 

Camp Bow-Wow Valentine’s Day Adopt-a-thon Event Feb. 13, 2010

GoodMews.com-a very special cat animal shelter

One of my favorite places to find the widest variety of unique and cute things for your cat or dog is Top Dogs Pet Boutique in Roswell on Mansell Road.  They have EVERYTHING and more. Don’t let the name mislead you-they have a feline product & accessory line too.  They carry Weruva brand no grain “human grade” cat and dog food.   They are always cheerful and it’s just a fun place to go to get friends pet gifts or something special for your furry family member.