Archive for March, 2011

How to Get Thomasville Homes Sold in this Buyer’s Market

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

You know it’s a buyer’s market.  But you really need to sell your home now.  Here are 6 tips to get Thomasville homes sold even in today’s real estate market:

1.    Price your home competitively from the start.  Ask your agent to find out what similar homes in your neighborhood sold for in the last 6 months.  Don’t bother looking at pricing prior to that.  And don’t base your decision on listing prices.  A lot of homeowners price their Thomasville homes high to start with but end up drastically reducing the price in order to get them sold.

2.    Offer incentives.  There are a lot of similar properties on the market, so in addition to competitively pricing your home, you should consider including incentives.  You could offer a home warranty, to pay part of the closing costs or to leave the big screen television that fits perfectly over your fireplace.

3.    Pick the right agent. Look for local agents who are listing, marketing, and selling in your neighborhood even though the market is slow. Interview several of them and ask what price they recommend and how they’ll market your property.

4.    Get your home in tip-top shape.  You cannot afford to let anything slip through the cracks… literally.  If you have cracks in your driveway, walls or foundation, get them fixed before you put your home up for sale.  Make your home shine.

5.    Be flexible on the deposit.  In a slow market, you may need to settle for a smaller deposit than you’d typically require.  If the buyer is pre-approved for a loan and no other offers are on the table, reducing the deposit may convince the buyer to make an offer.

6.    Negotiate.  Buyers can and will be demanding in today’s real estate market.  Prepare yourself for some tough negotiating.  Make sure you’re working with an agent who excels at negotiating, and then let her do her job.

Want to work with local agents who are expert negotiators and know how to get Thomasville homes sold in this buyer’s market?  Give First Thomasville Realty a call today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .

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Loving Your Thomasville Home Equals Loving Your Community

Monday, March 28th, 2011

While some people are hesitant to buy into a real estate market that seems to still be bottoming out, many studies have shown that owning a house is an investment in your future and that of your community. From tax breaks to property taxes, being a Thomasville home owner can put money in the bank.  It also gives you a sense of pride in contributing to community institutions such as the police force, local government offices, fire stations and free medical services. 

Did you know that statistically you and your neighbors are more likely to properly maintain and update your Thomasville homes when you own them rather than rent them?  Maintaining and updating your home boosts the real estate market around you, giving you the chance to increase the value of your property, your neighbors’ property and eventually your entire community. 

4 more reasons why you should buy instead of rent:

1.    Building financial security – While it might take many years for you to actually make a profit on your house, you’ll still have your money secured in a tangible investment that you can pass down for generations to come. 

2.    Investing in your community – If you pay property taxes, you’ll be investing in your community. You could play a part in contributing to more parks, cleaner streets and better schools for you, your children and your neighbors. 

3.    Buying while the housing market is slow – With the high rate of foreclosures and slow real estate market, you can scoop up amazing homes at great prices. Purchase while the market is slow and your investment could grow exponentially within the next 10 years. 

4.    Taking advantage of tax benefits – You’ll receive a federal income tax break, and you’ll get to deduct the interest paid on your mortgage and property taxes — which means more money in the bank! 

Use an online mortgage calculator to determine what you can afford to buy instead of paying rent. While renting can be appealing, you won’t be doing your financial security, your children’s schools or your community any long-term favors. 

Want to discover more benefits of buying instead of renting a Thomasville home? Call First Thomasville Realty at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com  for more information.

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5 Steps to Hiring the Best Contractor for Your Thomasville Real Estate Project

Friday, March 25th, 2011

Whether you need a contractor for a minor project like a plumbing problem or a major project like a room addition, it’s important to evaluate potential contractors before hiring them.  Here are 5 steps to finding the best contractor for your Thomasville real estate project:

Get multiple quotes.  Even if your toilet is overflowing onto your living room’s carpet, take the time to get 2 or 3 estimates.  Haste can cost a lot more than replacing the carpet in your Thomasville real estate. 

Check references.  Talk with the former clients of the contractor you’re considering hiring.  Find out what it was really like to work with the contractor.  Two of the best questions to ask are:

What was your favorite thing about the contractor? 

What was your least favorite thing about the contractor?

Call the insurer and licensing board.  Confirm that the contractor you’re thinking about hiring has adequate and current liability coverage and a current license.  Just asking the contractor is not sufficient.

Search for complaints.  Search online on the company name plus the word “complaints.”  It’s often surprising what you’ll find.  Also, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been registered with them.

Negotiate a maximum hourly rate.  If the job goes quickly, you won’t pay what could be a higher estimate. 

I know it’s easier to just hire the first contractor who returns your call.  Don’t do it.  Taking the easy way out can cost you hours, days or weeks of frustration and hundreds of dollars. 

Need the name of a professional contractor for a project on your Thomasville real estate?   We’ve worked with several great contractors and would be happy to give you some recommendations.  Give First Thomasville Realty a call today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .

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What’s the Real Value of Thomasville Homes?

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

As a society, it seems like we’ve gotten away from appreciating our Thomasville homes for their emotional and sentimental worth.  Instead, we focus solely on their monetary value. 

An appraiser can estimate a Thomasville home’s monetary value, but to gain a true concept of your home’s worth, you must also take into consideration:

1.    Pride of ownership.  You don’t buy a pair of Prada shoes because you’re going to be able to resell them and make a profit.  You buy them because they make you look good and feel good.

2.    Security and stability.  Your home provides a roof over your head that’s in your control.  You can decorate it how you want.  You don’t have to worry about a landlord selling the property or asking you to move out.  In the “olden days” (or should I say “golden days”), we called our homes our castles because, as owners, we felt like the kings and queens of our Thomasville homes.  You can still feel that way!  Claim your castle and crown yourself king or queen today.

3.      A safe haven.  After a tough day at work or a day of disappointments, where’s the first place you think of going?  Home!  As Dorothy says, “There’s no place like home.”

4.      A place to make memories.  Your son’s tree house and daughter’s playhouse.  The markings on the wall that tracked your children’s growth.  The porch swing where you start and end every anniversary celebration.    

5.    A neighborhood full of friends.  In the event of an emergency, your neighbors are your first line of defense.  They’re also the simplest, best and least expensive form of security.  Additionally, they may have the exact tool you need for a project; the extra pair of hands you need to complete a project or children to become playmates with yours. Neighbors also give you that much needed in-person, up-close social network.

Even if your home’s economic value has dropped, you continue to benefit from its emotional values of community, stability, security and success.

Thinking of buying a home?  First Thomasville Realty can help you evaluate the emotional and monetary worth of homes and find a home that fits your values and lifestyle.  Give us a call today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .

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Thomasville Real Estate: Buyers are Happier with Local Agents

Monday, March 21st, 2011

According to a recent study, buyers prefer to work with Thomasville real estate agents who live in the neighborhood in which they want to buy a home.  Buyers are happier when they work with local agents because they believe the agents are:

1.    Familiar with the neighborhood.  They know the schools, zoning laws and crime rates.  They can tell you the best places to shop and give you referrals to the best mechanics and home contractors. 

2.    Knowledgeable about the Thomasville real estate market.  Local agents know the history of houses; they know the streets on which properties sell faster and for more money; and they can steer you towards the better deals.

3.    Involved in the community.  Agents who are involved in community improvement projects are doing much more than just selling houses.  They’re contributing to higher real estate values, better schools and less crime.  Wouldn’t you prefer to work with an agent like that?

4.    More attentive.  When an agent knows they’re going to bump into you in the supermarket or hardware store, he’s going to give you the very best service possible.  He wants to ensure that you have no complaints and will give neighbors a glowing review about his real estate services.

If you’d like to work with professional agents who live in Thomasville and specialize in Thomasville real estate, give First Thomasville Realty a call today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .

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How to Brighten the Rooms in Your Thomasville Home

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Ideally, to make a room light and bright you want a lot of large windows that let in natural light. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have large windows in every room of our Thomasville homes.  So, what do we do to brighten those dark rooms?

Increase Natural Light

If a room has one large window, make the most of this natural light by placing a mirror opposite that window.  The mirror will scatter and reflect the ambient daylight throughout the room.

Add Artificial Light

Another great way to lighten window-challenged rooms in your Thomasville home is to add artificial ambient lighting.  Ambient lighting, whether natural or artificial, sets the tone and mood of each room. Here are several ways to add artificial ambient light to your rooms:

♦    Recessed fixtures:  Recessed fixtures throw light downward in a cone shape, so place them in an evenly spaced grid pattern.  This allows pools of light to overlap and provide consistent lighting.

♦    Chandeliers:  A chandelier can overpower a room if it’s too big or seem out of proportion if it’s too small.  To calculate the best size chandelier for your room, measure the width of the room in feet.  Double that number to get the diameter of the ideal chandelier in inches.  For example, a room that’s 10 feet wide should have a chandelier no wider than 20 inches in diameter. 

♦    Surface-mounted fixtures:  Unlike recessed fixtures, surface-mounted fixtures do not disappear into the ceiling or wall.  If you want to achieve a unified look, match the color of the surface-mounted light with the color of the ceiling or wall. Surface-mounted lights come in a wide range of styles.  They can be very functional fluorescent types with white diffusing plastic covers or decorative crystal designs that add sparkle and drama to the foyers and hallways.

The best ambient lighting is subtle lighting that comes from all directions and softens the look of your room, making it more livable.

Looking for a Thomasville home with a lot of windows or well-place ambient lighting?  We can help.  Call First Thomasville Realty today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .

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Turn Your Thomasville Home into Pot of Gold with Just a Little Green

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

As houses continue to sit on the market without the slightest sign of interested buyers, sellers are lowering prices and pouring more money into upgrades and remodels. While these updates might help increase sales, you could achieve the same results with your Thomasville home by spending less cash and adding more green. 

With the growing demand for green features, buyers like the idea of purchasing a house that already contains a few eco-conscious elements. From environmentally sound materials to energy efficient windows and doors, just adding one green upgrade could be the ticket to spark interest and sell your Thomasville home. 

6 eco-features buyers love:

1.    Water-saving appliances – Install low-flow toilets and aerators on showers to reduce your water usage and see a surprising reduction in your bills.

2.    High-efficiency filters and air purifiers – Remove even the smallest dust particles and kill bacteria that could be floating throughout your house.

3.    Paving stones – Use paving stones for your driveway in place of concrete. It looks quaint and allows rainwater to seep into the ground, instead of flooding the storm water system.

4.    A sealed garage – Properly seal your garage to ensure poisonous fumes and outdoor contaminates don’t accidentally seep into your living areas.

5.    Solar power – Decrease your energy bill by incorporating these sun soakers into your grid. Just make sure they’re positioned discretely, so they don’t become an eyesore.

6.    Efficient windows – Help regulate your home’s temperature by limiting air leakage. 

If you don’t have the cash to turn your house completely green, just update one or two features and be sure to highlight them when marketing your home. By providing your potential buyer with energy savings, you may also save yourself time and money when your home sells faster and for more money. 

Don’t endure another day of waiting for someone to buy your Thomasville home. With the right updates and marketing, we can help you turn your house green and cash in on your pot of gold.  Call First Thomasville Realty at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com for more information.

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Thomasville Real Estate: Reverse Mortgage Basics

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

If you watch television, read magazines or surf the net, you’ve probably seen ads for reverse mortgages.  Those ads don’t provide many details, so here are the basics you need to know about reverse mortgages.

Are you eligible for a reverse mortgage on your Thomasville real estate?

To be eligible for a reverse mortgage, you must:

♦  Be at least 62 years old

♦  Own your home

♦  Live in the home and claim it as your primary residence

When does the reverse mortgage loan become due?

As the homeowner, you do not have to make any monthly payments on your reverse mortgage.  The loan becomes due when you:

♦  Permanently move out of your home

♦  Sell the home or fail to fulfill other conditions like the continued payment of property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and repair and maintenance.

♦  Pass away

Should you get a reverse mortgage on your Thomasville real estate?

The Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, suggests you consider all alternatives to a reverse mortgage before taking the plunge.  Alternatives you may want to consider include less expensive programs offering financial assistance, other lower-cost loans or selling your home.

You may want to get a reverse mortgage if you:

♦   Need additional income and there is no less expensive way to get it.  Use an online reverse mortgage calculator to estimate the amount of money you could get from a reverse mortgage.

♦   Want to stay in your home and retain ownership

♦   Do not plan to leave your home to your children or others who will inherit from you. 

You may NOT want to get a reverse mortgage if you:

♦   Want to leave your home, free and clear, to your children or heirs

♦   Have a less costly means to reach your financial goal

♦   Become ineligible to receive public benefits such as Medicaid or SSI (Social Security Income) by taking out a reverse mortgage.

♦   Will have trouble paying your property taxes and homeowner’s insurance.  A 2010 report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated that more than 20,000 reverse mortgages were in default for nonpayment of taxes and insurance.  You do not want to get a reverse mortgage only to lose your home to foreclosure and eviction because you’re unable to pay your taxes and insurance.

As always, when you consider taking out a loan of any type, do your homework to make sure this is the right move for you, be sure to read all of the fine print and understand exactly what it is you’re signing.

If you’d like some help determining if selling your home, getting a reverse mortgage or some other lower-cost loan is best for you, give First Thomasville Realty a call today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .

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2011 Tax Tips for Thomasville Home Owners

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

It’s the time of year we all dread… time for your 2010 tax filings.  While we are not a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or even a plain old accountant, we do want to share with you some basic tax tips all Thomasville home owners should consider before filing their taxes.

♦    Contact a tax expert.  our motto is always, if in doubt, contact a tax expert.  There’s no way around it; taxes are complicated.  While some don’t want to spend their money on tax experts, we’ve found that they’ve saved us much more money than they’ve cost.  And, the peace of mind they provide is priceless.

♦    Claim your Thomasville home owner’s tax deduction, if you’re eligible.  In 2002, a study was conducted that showed that 61% of eligible home owners did not claim their home owner’s tax deductions on their income taxes.  That means that 61% of home owners who would have saved on their income taxes took the standard deduction and paid a higher tax bill that they needed to.  Don’t miss any more tax savings by automatically taking the standard deduction.  Consult a tax expert to find out how much you can save by taking advantage of your home owner’s tax breaks.

♦    Review your past returns.  If you think you might have overpaid your taxes in the past, have a tax expert review your past returns and help you file an amended return to reclaim your money. 

♦    Start paying back your 2008 first-time home buyer tax break. If you claimed the very first version of the first-time home buyers tax break on your 2008 tax returns, you must now start paying it back.  The credit has to be repaid in 15 equal payments each tax-filing time, beginning with 2010 returns.  The 2008 tax break wasn’t a true credit.  Instead, it was an interest-free loan, and like all loans, it must be paid back.

♦    Claim subsequent home-buyer tax credits.  If you qualified for and used the 2009 (which was extended to June, 2010) first-time home-buyer tax credit or home-owner tax credit, you had the option to claim the credit on your 2009 or 2010 taxes.  If you waited to claim them, now’s the time to do so.

Even though the home-buyer tax credits are no longer available, this is an amazing time to buy a Thomasville home.   If you’d like to learn more about why now is a fabulous time to buy a home, or if you need help finding a home you love, we can help.  Give First Thomasville Realty a call today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .

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Is it Time to Switch to a New Thomasville Real Estate Agent?

Monday, March 14th, 2011

For some frustrated sellers, the answer to “Why isn’t my home selling?” is “It’s the agent’s fault!”  If your immediate instinct is to drop your Thomasville real estate agent for a new one, you might want to take a deep breath and consider the following:

1.    Do you think agents are like lottery tickets?  Going through Thomasville real estate agents as fast as scratch-off lottery tickets isn’t going to get your home sold faster.  In fact, it usually slows down the process.

2.    Is your home priced correctly?  That’s probably the number one difference between homes that sell fast and homes that sit on the market.  A poorly priced home could be your agent’s fault.  Then again, you could be partially to blame.  Did you insist on a specific price even though your agent strongly recommended a lower price?  Did you refuse to lower the price when your agent suggested lowering it?  If you’re inflexible about price, switching agents will not help. 

3.    Did you make the home improvements recommended by your agent?  If your agent suggested you paint, clean carpets, reduce clutter or complete any other inexpensive, easy-to-accomplish task, and you didn’t do it, you’re greatly reducing your opportunity to get your home sold.  You chose to work with your agent because he is a knowledgeable professional.  Take his advice and get those home improvement tasks done now.

4.    Has your listing agreement expired?  If your listing contract has expired, this is the perfect time to consider switching agents.  Go back to the start, identify 3 new agents and interview the agents.  If you find one that fits your needs better than your current agent, let your agent know you won’t be renewing your contract.

5.    Did your agent market your home?  If your agent has not done all the marketing he promised, point this out and ask him when he’ll get the marketing in place.  Follow up to be sure it’s done on time and professionally.  If he still doesn’t market your home like he said he would, it may be time to switch agents. 

6.    Are you being impatient?  If you made all the home improvements recommended by your agent, your home is properly priced, and all marketing tasks are completed, you may just need to have a little patience.  This is a slow real estate market.  That means your home isn’t going to sell overnight.  Ask your agent the average number of days it takes a home to sell in your area, then wait that length of time before thinking about changing agents.

Don’t replace your agent just because you don’t know what else to do.  You’ll be wasting time and effort.  Instead, work with your agent to determine what else can be done to get your home sold.

If you decide to search for a new Thomasville real estate agent, we’d be honored if you’d allow First Thomasville Realty to interview for the job.  Call us at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com  to schedule an interview with one of our knowledgeable and experienced agents.

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Don’t You Just Love Daylight Savings Time?

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Sunday morning at 2 am we will spring forward one hour and remain an hour ahead of standard time until the first Sunday in November.

No more rushing to get home before the sun goes down. After dinner walks with your family, enjoying the patio.

However, with the time change, and change to our routines comes many grouchy mornings for both children and adults.

Here’s a few tips to make the transition easier for both you and your children:

First, stay with your normal bedtime routine. Try not to compensate for the lost hour by allowing yourself and your children to sleep in.

Second, Make sure that you have a comfortable sleeping environment that is quiet, dark, and cool.

Third, Brighten things up by exposing yourself and your children to bright light first thing in the morning.

Finally… and probably most importantly… have some patience. It may take you and your children a few days to a week to adjust to this new time schedule, so give everyone some room to adjust!

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4 Surprising Reasons to Buy Thomasville Real Estate Now

Friday, March 11th, 2011

You already know all the usual reasons agents and other experts think now is a good time to buy Thomasville real estate.  Here are 4 reasons to buy Thomasville real estate now that just might surprise you:

1.    Homes are in tip-top condition. Instead of selling and moving into a more expensive home, many owners have invested their money in home maintenance, repair and updates, so says the Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.

2.    Outstanding homes are coming on the market. Many homeowners who have been waiting for the real estate market to take an upturn are now putting their homes on the market.  And, those homes are in great shape (see #1).

3.    Appraisals reflect reality. We can all be thankful that Fannie Mae adjusted its guidelines so that home appraisals can be more in alignment with today’s real estate market. That means more deals will make it all the way through to closing.

4.    Housing programs. There are still programs to help people buy homes:

a.    Workforce Housing Programs encourage middle-class families to buy houses. Buyers who qualify can get a big boost by combining one of these programs with today’s low mortgage rates.

b.     American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) provides low-income first-time earners (single family: $44,400; family of four: $63,450) with a city loan equal to 6% of the purchase price or up to $10,000, whichever is greater. Each state receives ADDI funds proportionate to the percentage of the national total of low-income households residing in rental housing in the state, as determined by the most recent available U.S. Census data.

c.    Mortgage Credit Certificate Program is a federal tax credit (15% or 20% of the mortgage interest, depending on property location) that helps low and moderate earners qualify for a higher first mortgage and reduced federal income tax.

Talk with a mortgage specialist or Thomasville real estate professional to find out which programs your state has funded.

Now isn’t just a good time to buy, it’s one of the best times ever.  If you’re ready to buy a home, First Thomasville Realty can help.   Give us a call at 229-226-6515 or email us today at info@FTRealty.com .

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Easy Bathroom Makeover for Your Thomasville Home for Sale

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

Before you put your Thomasville home up for sale, you want to make sure it looks as attractive and modern as possible. Buyers usually walk away from a Thomasville home for sale with outdated color schemes and fixtures. This is especially true of bathrooms. Even if you lack the budget and space to turn your bathroom into a spa-like retreat, you can still give this room a quick facelift.

1.    Get creative with color. If you don’t have the time or budget to replace dated ceramic tile, try camouflaging it with towels, rugs, and other accessories for a more modern color scheme. For example, you can pair pink with brown or bright blue with light green.

2.    Replace your fixtures. Brushed aluminum and pewter bathroom fixtures are more modern than the shiny chrome fixtures from years ago. They are also easier to clean because they don’t show water marks as easily.

3.    Find new lighting. A bathroom light can do more than just illuminate the space; it can create an atmosphere. Sconces placed on either side of a mirror tend to look better than harsh overhead light. Track lighting can be arranged to provide light in dark corners of the room.

4.    Accessorize. Put your personal touch on your bathroom with shower curtains, soap dispensers, and scented candles. Don’t feel like you have to stick to the bath accessories aisle, either. A clear vase can display bath salts. Baskets can hold rolled-up towels. A beautiful serving bowl can be filled with potpourri.

Preparing your Thomasville home for sale is an important part of the process. We can help you prepare you home to sell it faster and for more money. Call First Thomasville Realty today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com  to schedule a free consultation.

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Who Would Want an FHA Loan to Buy a Thomasville Home?

Monday, March 7th, 2011

Some Thomasville home buyers have an advantage that others don’t in today’s housing market.  They can qualify for an FHA loan.  

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans help Thomasville home buyers who would otherwise have trouble being approved for a mortgage.  You can qualify for a loan if you have less than perfect credit.  FHA loans are available even after bankruptcy and foreclosure, if you have maintained good credit for the following two to three years. 

What are the requirements for FHA loans?

FHA loans have strict home appraisal guidelines.  The appraisal value helps determine the FHA mortgage limit.  Each state has its own rules regarding maximum loan limits. 

What are the advantages to FHA loans?

One advantage of an FHA loan is lower down payment requirements.  You may qualify for a down payment as low as 3.5 percent of the purchase price of the property.  Additionally, most of your closing costs can be included in the loan, so you’ll have less out of pocket expenses. 

An FHA loan can also be used to buy a house that needs improvements.  If you need cash to make the repairs, you can apply for a loan to cover the cost of the expected repairs.  The FHA also has energy efficient mortgages which include the costs of energy improvements. 

What are the terms of FHA loans?

An FHA loan can take many forms: it may be a fixed-rate loan, an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) or a reverse mortgage.

♦    A fixed-rate mortgage has a set interest rate for a set amount of time.  Typically, it will be a 15 or 30-year loan.

♦    An ARM has a variable interest rate for 15 to 30 years.

♦    The reverse mortgage pays a set amount of money to the homeowner for the entire time they live in the home. 

Whether you’d like to finance a Thomasville home using an FHA loan or a non-FHA loan, we can help.  Give First Thomasville Realty a call today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .

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2011 Thomasville Chamber Citizen Award Recipients

Friday, March 4th, 2011

First Thomasville Realty would like to congratulate the 2011 Citizen Award Recipients:

Woman of the Year                          Catherine Smith 

Man of the Year                               Dr. Gary Bonvillian 

Lifetime Achievement Award           Josh Herring 

Humanitarian Award                       Mae Hatcher 

Community Service Award              Jane ‘Sugar’ Blount

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Is FSBO the Way to Go When Selling Your Thomasville Real Estate?

Friday, March 4th, 2011

Considering selling a home ‘by owner’ has been a fairly consistent desire in the Thomasville real estate market over the past few decades. Everyone wants to save a buck and some think they can save a lot of money by selling their homes by themselves.  But would you really save money by doing it yourself?

To start off with it should be said that there are indeed people who can sell their homes for sale by owner (FSBO), and even save a few dollars doing it. Those are the people who have five important skills:

1.   They know how to market and advertise their Thomasville real estate both online and offline without spending a fortune.

2.   They are excellent sales people.

3.   They know how to pre-qualify buyers to be sure they’re actually able to afford the home.

4.   They’re great at negotiating.

5.   They know how to execute real estate contracts and all the other associated legal work necessary to sell a home.

Additionally, they need to have plenty of time to:

♦    Market and advertise their home.  A lot of time can be spent writing ads, creating flyers, taking photos, and loading everything to a wide variety of real estate websites.

♦    Show their home to potential buyers at times that are best for the buyer.

♦    Negotiate with buyers.

♦    Execute the real estate contract.

If you do not have those five skills or the extra time needed to perform all the necessary tasks, selling your Thomasville real estate by owner probably isn’t a good idea for you.

Instead, you can hire a real estate agent to do it all for you.  A professional real estate agent is more than just someone who puts their name on a sign on your front lawn.

♦    They are the person who is your first line of defense when it comes to dealing with buyers. They know how to be sure the person coming to look at your house really has the qualifications to actually make a purchase, not just some Sunday shopper.

♦    They also have the marketing know-how and the advertising power of a real estate company behind them.

♦    They have vast connections and relationships with professionals such as home inspectors, title offices and mortgage companies.  They work with these people many times a month year in and year out.

♦    They’re skilled negotiators.

♦    They understand what legal work has to be done and how to keep it on track. 

Obviously, a professional real estate agent saves you time, but they also save you money.  Statistics show that homes sell for more money when sold by an agent, especially in today’s real estate market.  How can that be?  People who buy a FSBO know you’re saving money on commission and expect you to pass those savings on to them.

If you’d like more information on how a real estate agent can help save you time and money by selling your home, give First Thomasville Realty a call today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .

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Avoid One of the Biggest Thomasville Real Estate Flipping Mistakes

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

House flipping is still a profitable way to invest in Thomasville real estate, if you know what you’re doing. I’m going to share one of the biggest mistakes prospective home flippers make and how to avoid it.

Choosing the Wrong Thomasville Real Estate to Flip

Nothing will make your venture into the world of house flipping a bigger nightmare than a finished product that will not sell. To avoid this, learn all you can about what’s currently selling the fastest and for the most money in your real estate market.

It doesn’t mean you have to pick expensive homes in up-scale neighborhoods.  In fact, those may be the worst properties to try to flip, depending on your market.  Typically, there are houses you can flip for profit in every price range.

Choosing the Right Thomasville Real Estate to Flip

The things you need to avoid when buying a home you’re planning to flip are basically the same things you would avoid if you were purchasing that same home as your primary residence.  Here are three things to avoid when choosing a home to flip:

1)      Distractions that would make living in the home undesirable such as nearby railroad tracks, cluttered shopping malls or major highways.

2)      Crazy floor plans that cannot be easily fixed in a quick and inexpensive remodel.

3)      Homes with major structural damage. Getting a home inspection is the best way to avoid this.  However, if for some reason you cannot get a home inspection, always make provisions in your operating expenses for unexpected major repairs. 

If you would like more information on how to turn a profit by flipping Thomasville real estate, give us a call today at 229-226-6515 or email First Thomasville Realty at info@FTRealty.com .

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Thomasville Georgia Downtown Featured on MSNBC

Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Despite a population of just 20,000 people, Thomasville, Ga., is a star among many struggling small towns. NBC’s Roger O’Neil explains how the community remains vibrant.

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