Lake Sinclair Real Estate

Lake Sinclair Real Estate Market

2010-02-08T09:02:58Z

Many property owners think that Lake Sinclair Real Estate sales are somewhat dormant between Labor Day and Memorial Day. It seems logical that demand for lake property would be strongest during the warmer part of the year. Surprisingly, that is not quite so.

An analysis of data provided by Milledgeville Multiple Listing Service on actual sales of listed property on Lake Sinclair for the past year clearly disputes that notion. You might be surprised to find that the fourth quarter of 2009, from October through December, witnessed the highest number of sales of any quarter that year.

As a realtor with Coldwell Banker SSK, I have witnessed a similar uptick in Lake Sinclair home sales activity late in the year. For the past two years, most of the sales of lake properties I have been involved with either as a listing or selling agent has occurred after Labor Day.

You might be surprised at the number of potential lake home and lot buyers looking for property during our ?off season?. Sales volume on Lake Sinclair including Baldwin, Hancock, and Putnam Counties was up cumulatively by 111% in the fourth quarter of 2009 over the same period in 2008. If January 2010 is any indicator, lake sales are on track to exceed last year first quarter sales volume.

With lenders offering incredibly low interest rates to well qualified buyers, now is a good time to be either buying of selling lake homes on Lake Sinclair.

If you have questions about lake homes or lots on Lake Sinclair, you can post me on this blog, email me at jmitchell@cbssk.com, or call me at 478 361-9587.

John Mitchell, Realtor, Coldwell Banker SSK, Milledgeville GA

Tax Credit

2009-09-28T11:09:13Z

Listen up all you buyers. TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR TAX CREDIT. By November 30th, 2009 if you BUY and CLOSE by this date you will be eligible for an $8,000.00 TAX CREDIT.

For more information call me. 478-232-9268. this is my cell phone number call me anytime, if no answer PLEASE leave a message and I will return your call as soon as possible.

THANKS,

Marie Skinner

ColdwellBanker SSK

Affordability returns to housing, and buyers have loads of negotiating power

2009-07-15T12:07:42Z

Hello Everyone! My name is Courtney Tollison and I am an agent with Coldwell Banker SSK Realtors in the Lake Sinclair area. I found an article on marketwatch.com that I thought may be informative to those of you that are thinking of buy a home this year. Take a look below.

FIVE REASONS BUYING A HOME NOW IS WISE

By Amy Hoak, MarketWatch

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- People are afraid to buy a home in times like these, with the economy tanking and home prices continuing to fall. But if you're brave enough to stray from the herd, you might be in for the home-buying opportunity of a lifetime.

Ask for price reductions, improvements, closing costs -- whatever -- and the seller, desperately trying to get a contract, is very likely to work with you, said Jay Papasan, one of the authors of the book "Your First Home." When the market starts improving, your negotiating power starts to diminish, he added "People can get a lot of what they need and almost all of what they want today," Papasan said. "Once a few people get off the fence, there's safety in numbers and you lose your leverage."

If you're qualified to buy a home now, the purchase makes sense for your situation and you're prepared to live in that home for at least five years, there are five reasons why you may be headed for a great deal:

1. Affordability is better than ever

According to the National Association of Realtors' housing affordability index, homes were more affordable in December than at any other point since the group started the index in 1970. The affordability index is a measure of the relationship between home prices, mortgage interest rates and family income.

John and Julie Chilman, for example, recently have been able to stretch their dollars in the Las Vegas area. The listing price for the five-bedroom home they're buying was $265,000; they offered $250,000.

"Our Realtor was like 'Yeah, pipe dream. Like they're going to take that,'" John Chilman said. "And all they did was counter $255,000... and they're paying all closing costs." The home had lingered on the market, and was listed for $310,000 just six months ago, he said.

According to data from earlier this month, prices had fallen 50.7% in Las Vegas from their peak and were about where they were in the second quarter of 2002, according to data from Clear Capital, a real estate valuation and data provider for banks and investment firms.

A recent report from Moody's Economy.com predicted that house prices will stabilize by the end of this year, even though the Case-Shiller house price index will fall another 11% from the fourth quarter of 2008. By the end of the real-estate downturn, prices will have fallen by double digits, from peak to trough, in almost 62% of the nation's 381 metro areas, according to the report. In 10% of the areas, declines will be more than 30%.

Not all markets have experienced huge drops, however, so it's wise to take a look at how far prices have fallen in your area. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight's Web site has a house price calculator that can help.

2. You have a large inventory to choose from

In many places it is taking months to sell a home, creating loads of inventory -- from new homes to existing homes to foreclosures.

There was a 9.6-month supply of unsold existing homes in January given that month's sales pace, according to NAR. For new homes, the inventory hit a 13.3-month supply at the end of January, according to the Commerce Department.

A large selection gives buyers more choices and drives down prices. And home sellers have gotten the picture.

It's fair to say that home sellers have become "increasingly desperate," Papasan said. "People who have had for-sale signs in the yard for six months are starting to become in tune with the reality of the situation," he said. Buyers can take advantage.

But if you put off a purchase until inventory shrinks substantially, you might not get as good a price, said Eddie Fadel, author of the book "Don't Rent, Buy!" And be forewarned: It's nearly impossible to time the exact bottom of the housing market and even if you do there's no guarantee you'll make a killing.

"You buy for quality of life... don't buy on speculation," said Duane Andrews, CEO of Clear Capital. "I wouldn't buy a home expecting the housing market to rebound quickly in the next 10 years," he said, adding that he expects moderate gains in values when the turnaround does happen.

Historically, real estate appreciates about 5% a year over the long term, said Nancy Flint-Budde, a Salem, N.Y.-based certified financial planner. But as the country crawls out of a recession, many markets probably won't see huge home-price gains any time soon.

3. Builders are offering big discounts

Home builders are getting even more aggressive with their pricing.

In fact, Fadel recommends looking at completed new homes first because builders are offering such steep discounts. Plus, you'd have a warranty not only on the home itself, but also on the home's appliances, he said.

"[Builders] want to save their credit, save their brand, save their reputation and clear out inventory," he said. "They can go buy cheap land today with that cash."

His advice: Walk in with a preapproval for a mortgage, make an offer, then walk away without making a deal if you have to. Chances are, a builder will call back and reconsider that offer rather than let a potential buyer get away.

4. Mortgage rates are historically low

It's not just the price of the home that will affect affordability; mortgage terms will also affect your monthly payments. These days, rates are very attractive for conforming loans, those that can be purchased by mortgage agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (The current limit is $417,000, although that can rise as high as $729,750 in high-cost markets.)

Earlier this year, rates on the popular 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a level not seen in decades, and rates have stayed relatively near that low for weeks. This week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.07%, according to Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage survey.

But low rates don't mean lenders are handing out mortgages easily. You'll need good credit, a substantial down payment and a willingness to document your income in order to qualify for those great rates, if you can qualify at all.

5. You can get a federal tax credit

There's now a federal credit of up to $8,000 for home buyers who haven't owned a home in at least three years. Unlike the previous credit, this is money that doesn't have to be paid back.

That extra cash will come in handy: The average first-time home buyer spends about $6,000 in the first six months of owning a home, said Flint-Budde.

Waiting for further federal developments, however, might sap a buyer's negotiating power, as more people get back into the market and competition returns, Fadel said.

"The more Washington gives, demand will increase," he said.

Amy Hoak is a MarketWatch reporter based in Chicago

I hope you all enjoyed this article. I would be happy to help you get started in your search for that perfect home. I build a lasting relationship with trust, honesty and dependability. Don't miss out on the greart buys that are out there - call me today!

Courtney Tollison

478-456-6275

ctollison@cbssk.com

Career in Real Estate - Career Night

2009-07-10T03:07:54Z

CAREER NIGHT - August 4, 2009 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm

Searching for a new career? Investigate real estate.

Unlimited earning potential
Flexible work schedule
Powerful personal rewards
Milledgeville's best training program

If your job isn?t moving you closer to the lifestyle you want, maybe it?s time to consider a new career. One where there?s no time clock, no boss, and no limit on how far you can go.

Coldwell Banker SSK, Realtors brings an excellent opportunity to those who are considering real estate as a full time, professional career. Our Salespeople are considered to be the highest caliber professionals in the industry. One of the reasons for this is the superb training available through Coldwell Banker SSK, Realtors of Milledgeville Georgia.

For more information please contact:

David L. Dysart

478-453-4200

ddysart@cbssk.com

cbssk.mobi - Search Properties from your Phone!

2009-07-02T11:07:20Z

http://cbssk.mobi

mobile service designed for BlackBerry®, IPhone, Treo, and most any web-enable SmartPhones

Search all Residential Homes for sale in Middle Georgia

Get access to four multiple listing service databases (MLS) at work, home and any where you have web-enabled mobile phone service with the best Real Estate mobile site in Central Georgia: CBSSK.mobi Our mobile website has been designed to work on your BlackBerry®, IPhones, Treo, and most any web-enabled SmartPhone on the market.

Stay connected with CBSSK.mobi for current information on the market?s listings of Residential Homes and Rental Properties. You can find out the details of the home that you are looking at or just drove past by pointing, clicking, and scrolling. Our mobile services are available 24/7 and can be accessed anywhere in the world with our new mobile site. Just type this URL into your phones? browser: cbssk.mobi and search by street name, subdivision, and more...find the answers to your questions and possibly your next dream home!

*Carrier charges may apply. Check your wireless plan for details.

Lake Sinclair History

2009-07-02T06:07:16Z

Lake Sinclair...

Middle Georgia's...

Vacation Wonderland

Fishing, Pleasure Boating, Skiing, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Camping...
It's one of the Georgia Power Company's largest Lakes, impounded in 1953 to operate a hydroelectric generating station, it created a 15,330 acre, 500 mile shoreline, deep water recreational area. Wallace Dam, at the north end of Lake Sinclair east of Eatonton, stabilizes the lake level fluctuations. Unlike an Army Corps of Engineers Flood Control impoundment, (i.e., Lake Lanier), our lake's more stable water level protects its panfish and game fish beds. Lake Sinclair rises and falls and average of 1.8 feet per day. The Department of Natural Resources monitoring of the various fish species, selected stocking and breeding skills has brought Lake Sinclair to a respected position among top angling lakes. Largemouth bass up to 12 pounds, growing Striper bass, and a newly created hybrid bass touted by many to be the strongest game yet. Let's not forget our great annual Crappie runs, and also those fine eating clear water catfish which grace many a restaurant table throughout the year.
Ownership of real-estate on Lake Sinclair takes three forms. Ownership to the full pool level at the 340 foot contour; ownership to the 350 foot contour, with Georgia Power retaining ownership from the 350 to 340 foot contour; and leasehold improvements with Georgia Power retaining ownership of the land. Of Course docks, seawalls, and boathouses are permitted when registered with Georgia Power.

Check out the "E Teams", that's Tom & Mary Ebbers, web page at www.tmebbers.com for other local information, some great property listings and informational Links

Tom & Mary Ebbers

Coldwell Banker CEO

2009-07-01T02:07:20Z