Area Real Estate News & Market Trends

You’ll find our blog to be a wealth of information, covering everything from local market statistics and home values to community happenings. That’s because we care about the community and want to help you find your place in it. Please reach out if you have any questions at all. We’d love to talk with you!

Down Payment Assistance Programs Can Help Pave the Way to Homeownership

 

Down Payment Assistance Programs Can Help Pave the Way to Homeownership

If you’re looking to buy a home, your down payment doesn’t have to be a big hurdle. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 38% of first-time homebuyers find saving for a down payment the most challenging step. But the reality is, you probably don’t need to put down as much as you think:

Data from NAR shows the median down payment hasn’t been over 20% since 2005. In fact, the median down payment for all homebuyers today is only 15%. And it’s even lower for first-time homebuyers at 8%. But just because that’s the median, it doesn’t mean you have to put that much down. Some qualified buyers put down even less.

For example, there are loan types, like FHA loans, with down payments as low as 3.5%, as well as options like VA loans and USDA loans with no down payment requirements for qualified applicants. But let’s focus in on another valuable resource that may be able to help with your down payment: down payment assistance programs.

First-Time and Repeat Buyers Are Often Eligible

According to Down Payment Resource, there are thousands of programs available for homebuyers – and 75% of these are down payment assistance programs.

And it’s not just first-time homebuyers that are eligible. That means no matter where you are in your homebuying journey, there could be an option available for you. As Down Payment Resource notes:

You don’t have to be a first-time buyer. Over 39% of all [homeownership] programs are for repeat homebuyers who have owned a home in the last 3 years.”

The best place to start as you search for more information is with a trusted real estate professional. They’ll be able to share more information about what may be available, including additional programs for specific professions or communities. 

Additional Down Payment Resources That Can Help

Here are a few down payment assistance programs that are helping many of today’s buyers achieve the dream of homeownership:

  • Teacher Next Door is designed to help teachers, first responders, health providers, government employees, active-duty military personnel, and veterans reach their down payment goals.
  • Fannie Mae provides down-payment assistance to eligible first-time homebuyers living in majority-Latino communities.
  • Freddie Mac also has options designed specifically for homebuyers with modest credit scores and limited funds for a down payment.
  • The 3By30 program lays out actionable strategies to add 3 million new Black homeowners by 2030. These programs offer valuable resources for potential buyers, making it easier for them to secure down payments and realize their dream of homeownership.
  • For Native Americans, Down Payment Resource highlights 42 U.S. homebuyer assistance programs across 14 states that ease the path to homeownership by providing support with down payments and other associated costs.

Even if you don’t qualify for these types of programs, there are many other federal, state, and local options available to look into. And a real estate professional can help you find the ones that meet your needs as you explore what’s available. 

Bottom Line

Achieving the dream of having a home may be more within reach than you think, especially when you know where to find the right support. To learn more, reach out to a real estate professional who can guide you through the available resources.


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Nov. 13, 2023

November 2023 REMAX Newsletter

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REMAX Paramount Properties & The Salerno Group

Fall things to do in Georgia 

 

GEORGIA FALL BUCKET LIST

 

From leaf watching to apple picking, here are six things you absolutely must do to fully experience fall in Georgia. 

 

In Georgia, fall is one of our favorite seasons because it means cooler temperatures, brilliant foliage and tons of activities set against scenic backdrops from the mountains to the coast. Fall also is when football kicks off, apples and pumpkins are ripe for the picking, farms swing open their gates for harvest-time fun, and crackling fire pits offer cozy settings for ghost stories and s’mores.

After Labor Day, Georgia’s fall fairs and festivals kick into high gear, offering endless options for things to do on the weekends. Don’t waste a minute this fall trying to decide where to go next. Use this list to plan your adventures and make the most of each precious, perfect fall day.

 

🍎 Apple Cider and Pumpkin Patches 🎃

https://www.exploregeorgia.org/things-to-do/blog/georgia-fall-bucket-list

 

Here are the latest housing market statistics for Alpharetta, GA! If you'd like more detail on the market, what's available or how much your home might be worth, let's set up a meeting to discuss! #houseexpert #housingmarketexpert #house #home #listreports #localhousingdata #areaexpert #realestate #realestateagent #househunting #homeowner #hometrends #housingtrends

 

Check out your area market report

 

Stay on top of your local Real Estate market

Get a FREE Market Report that outlines the average listing price, price reductions, new listings, and more!

Get Free Report

 

 

Southern Living🍎🥧

Fried Apple Pie https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/fried-apple-pies

Ingredients

 

Dough:

3 cups (about 12 3/4 oz.) all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface

3 Tbsp. granulated sugar

1 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 cup vegetable shortening, cubed

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 cup whole buttermilk

Filling:

3 large (8 oz. each) Honeycrisp apples, peeled and chopped (about 3 cups)

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2 Tbsp. unsalted butter

2 tsp. cornstarch

1 tsp. grated fresh ginger

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

Pinch of kosher salt

1 large egg, lightly beaten

Additional Ingredients:

Canola oil, for frying

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Cooking Directions

Sept/Oct 2023

 

4 Metro Atlanta Counties | YTD Through September | 3-Year Trend

 

 

Median Sales Price with Forsyth with the biggest gain!

For your report email info@searchhomesatlanta.com

Average Cumulative Days on Market

Months Supply of Inventory-Average Showings to Pending

Average Sales Price vs.List Price

 

 

Fall Home Maintenance

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

A combination of lists but with all items relevant to our climate in Georgia!

 

How to Fix Drafty Windows

Easy and long-term fixes from HouseLogic

 

Family Handyman: Fireplace Cleaning

Experts agree that you should clean your chimney once a year. The Mad Hatter is offering $20 off coupon its chimney sweeping services this fall!

 

3 Options for DIY Gutter Cleaning:

·         Gutter Cleaning Solutions- No Ladder ... Use Your Leaf Blower

·         No Ladder ... Use Your Vacuum

 

 

Greetings, Advice for fall from Walter Reeves, The Georgia Gardener

Fall Lawn Chores    Tips on When to Plant Bulbs

 

 

We hope that our eNewsletter finds you and yours safe, healthy, and enjoying your beginning of fall at home.

Cozy Adult Fall Drink: Spiced Rum and Cider drink it hot or cold

 

Under guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security, real estate is defined as an essential service ... but it's certainly not business as usual. A focus on home, health, and the safety of loved ones is more important than ever in this unprecedented period of social distancing and escalating uncertainty. And the real estate industry as a whole is creatively adapting to accommodate Buyers and Sellers who must make a move. 

 

This month's featured articles are selected to highlight projects for home and family, along with activities for you to enjoy in your own backyard:

 

·         Fall in Atlanta: The market is still moving

 

·         Printable Fall Home Maintenance Checklist with great tips

 

·         Inspiring deck, patio and pergola designs for year-round enjoyment

 

·         Tips for healthy lawns, ideas for container gardening, and native plants

 

·         Creative activities and resources for staying at home

 

Should you have any questions about your home's value, the market, or about how to navigate these unusual times, please give me a call. I would love to hear from you.

 

REMAX Paramount The Salerno Group info@SearchHomesAtlanta.com

www.SearchHomesAtlana.com

 

P.S. In honor of Earth Day: Escape via drone to the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands. Experience the color and imagine the fragrance of seven million tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths .... World's Biggest Flower Garden.

 

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If you need a mortgage

 Call or email The Riggs Team at Movement Mortgage

Joe Riggs  |  Sales Manager

NMLS 966672 

Click here if you would like to schedule a call with me 

Mobile (770) 335-7705

lo.movement.com/joe-riggs

 

 

Posted in Market Updates
July 31, 2017

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Curious about local real estate? So are we! Every month we review trends in our real estate market and consider the number of homes on the market in each price tier, the amount of time particular homes have been listed for sale, specific neighborhood trends, the median price and square footage of each home sold and so much more. We’d love to invite you to do the same!

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We can definitely fill you in on details that are not listed on the report and help you determine the best home for you. If you are wondering if now is the time to sell, please try out our INSTANT home value tool. You’ll get an estimate on the value of your property in today’s market. Either way, we hope to hear from you soon as you get to know our neighborhoods and local real estate market better.

Posted in Market Updates