Mike from Savannah Blog

Savannah home buyers, look!

2012-05-26T19:04:46Z

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/story/2012-05-24/mortgage-rates-0524/55185652/1

It won't be long before banks are paying borrowers to take out loans. These interest rates are the lowest I've seen. Young buyers in the market would be astounded to know that in 1984 a home buyer with really good credit could get a mortgage with a spectacular 13% interest! That's if they had good credit.

I also saw a report today that new home prices have risen by 3.3%. Many buyers took too long to realize they had bargaining power back when the market turned sour, and now many buyers are not recognizing the great opportunity to buy at low prices and incredibly low interest rates.

Of course, when I tell a buyer now is a good time to buy, they think I'm saying that because I'm an agent. No, when prices were too high, I told many buers to wait on certain properties, but to wait right now doesn't make sense, because, during that wait, prices will likely rise along with interest rates. These rates can't stay this low for very long.

Savannah homes -- 6 keys to selling quickly

2012-05-18T17:48:35Z

Although I work mostly as a Buyer Agent in Savannah, Ga., my experience in real estate confirms the below article's 6 keys to selling your home.

http://rismedia.com/2012-05-13/six-keys-to-selling-your-home-in-todays-market/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed.

All six keys are important, but pricing a home is probably the most important key at this stage of the real estate recovery. Having worked with many buyers in the Savannah home market , this recession has caused buyers to have little patience with over-priced homes. If your home is in great condition and is ready to move in without the buyer having to do a lot of work, that's good, but understanding that distressed homes do have an effect on overall prices is important to pricing your home right. Many buyers have made up their minds that they will buy a distressed home and put the work into cleaning it up and doing some repairs if the price is right, so these homes are definitely competitive.

A good listing agent will tell you straight what affects your price. Still, as the ariticle says, curb appeal and no clutter and good condition are still very important, because not everyone wants to do a lot of work after buying a home. So, if you have everything in place, plus a good competitive price, and you negotiate realistically, you shouldn't experience any major problems selling your home. Lately, in Savannah, I've noticed a pick up in home sales, but I've also noticed that pricing is more rational.

Tired of high heating bills -- try hay homes

2012-05-07T00:01:16Z

Haybale homes reduce energy costs. Just keep the cows away. Of course, In Savannah Ga, it's the energy bills during the summer that are out of sight.

New developement in Richmond Hill, Ga

2012-04-20T00:41:02Z

I just received this by email. This sounds like it will be an incredible new developement in Richmond Hill, just 30 minutes south of Savannah:

Four New Homes for WaterWays Township

Increasing Demand Drives New Home Construction Strategy

Richmond Hill, Ga. –April 19, 2012– As a direct result of the increasing interest received from the local marketplace, WaterWays Township, the 2,300-acre master-planned community situated along the
edge of Redbird Creek near Richmond Hill, has announced a change in its new home construction strategy. In addition to activity from the WaterWays Township Featured Builder Group, Savannah Land Holdings, LLC, the developer of WaterWays, has commenced construction on four new homes in its RidgeWood Park neighborhood. The four homes, ranging from 2,200 – 2,400 square feet and featuring four bedrooms, three baths and detailed, low-country architecture, will be marketed by WaterWays Township Realty, LLC.

“Requests for information, tours, and realtor appointments are up 42 percent since the last quarter of 2011,” offered Vance Askew – director of sales and marketing for WaterWays. “With so much interest, we’ve chosen to accelerate the pace of new home construction within our community and to utilize the financial strength of our partnership to respond quickly to the growing demand for new homes in our local marketplace.”

“Response has been so strong that the lots are being prepared, the permits are being pulled and our architects are finalizing the design details,” Askew continued. “And just as we do for all our homes, these four have been uniquely placed on lots to preserve the natural aesthetics of the RidgeWood Park neighborhood and to protect as many trees as possible.”

The developers of WaterWays Township have a long history of creating desirable neighborhoods and great homes for its residents. With award-winning Jacksonville-area master-planned communities including Marsh Landing, Palencia and Baymeadows to their credit, the development team at Fletcher Management understood master-planned communities before the term was coined.

“The WaterWays development team has invested extensive time, money and effort to develop architectural guidelines for the community,” continued Askew. “While each home is unique and different, our architectural patterns help to ensure that every resident will benefit from homes that maintain their value for the long-term. Homebuyers put their trust in us, because they see the decades of experience and the long-term values our developments have produced for those residents.”

With groundbreaking beginning in April, move-in dates for these homes will be in July, just in time for the 2012-2013 school year and the opening of the new Richmond Hill Middle School campus.

About WaterWays Township

WaterWays Township is a 2,300-acre master-planned community framed by more than six miles of Coastal Georgia marsh frontage, navigable Bill Dance-designed waterways and lagoons, and an
impressive collection of planned world-class amenities. Gracious homes on generous lots honor the history of traditional southern, low country architecture as well as the ecologically-sound building practices that pay homage to this native environment. Featuring more than 450 acres of recreation and open spaces, miles of nature and biking trails, and the history of Old Cottenham Plantation Park,
WaterWays offers numerous opportunities to explore, discover, and learn. For more information, www.waterwaystownship.com.

WaterWays Township is developed by Fletcher Management Company, an award-winning national developer with residential, resort and multi-purpose development experience. From TPC Sawgrass and The Lodge & Club at Ponte Vedra to Marsh Landing, Palencia and Seranata Beach Club, Fletcher Management has created coastal communities that leave indelible impressions.

###

A shot in the arm for Savannah Ga business

2012-04-12T01:57:13Z

http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2012-04-11/savannah-harbor-be-deepened-47-feet#.T4WOeFFSTWc

The Corp of Engineers has approved the dredging of Savannah River to 47ft. This means Savannah will accomodate larger ships which will mean more jobs. Savannah is looking good for future growth, and this is good for Savannah real estate.

Reasons to buy a home

2012-03-30T16:39:49Z

http://homebuying.about.com/od/buyingahome/bb/buyhome.htm

Above is a good list of reasons to be a home owner. Unless you work in real estate, it's hard to remember some of the reasons others have told you that it's beneficial to own real estate, or you might not have ever heard of these reasons -- I meet buyers all the time who have no idea that there are tax benefits to owning a home. Most home buyers might think only investors in real estate can work it where they benefit financially, but the average home owner can benefit financially, too. It's true that during the real estate bubble too many people thought they could buy a home and that the price would continue to rise at a good rate forever, but that's not the way it is in real estate on an ongoing basis, but there are still benefits. Buying a home just for the tax benefits probably doesn't make much sense, but on top of pride of ownership and some of the subjective reasons for buying, it's good that you get a break on taxes and have the possibility to build equity in the property.

Savannah Ga Photos

2012-03-23T19:44:47Z

To anyone who has stopped by to look at photos, I apologize for the problems. I think I have the page fixed now.

http://www.mikefromsavannah.com/savannah-ga-photos/

Savannah Ga -- New home permits up across the country

2012-03-21T21:23:02Z

New home permits are up across the country, so this is a good sign. My business has been stronger since the first of the year. We still have a long way to go because of foreclosures, and no one is sure what government will do to deal with foreclosures. Several programs have been discussed to re-negotiate mortgages.

You might get confused if you're waiting on government to decide what to do in an election year. Long term I feel positive about Savannah. I can't speak to foreclosures or government programs, but I know that Savannah has become a popular place for people to live and people need homes, so that's about the extent of my vision.

Seriously, giving advice in this market is dangerous, so I won't give advice. I can tell you, though, that since I moved to Savannah in 1993, I've loved every minute of it, and I don't regret buying my home, even with the downturn of the last few years. I'm in it for the long term, and I feel good about the long term prospects of real estae in Savannah Ga.

Guest Blogger -- A non-real estate topic

2012-03-05T20:30:40Z

I received a request from a local skin care professional, Hollie Jean, to post as a guest on skin care -- below is her article:

Get Rid of the Itch and Achieve Healthy Winter Skin

Winter is a wonderful time of year where the many things on earth get to hibernate before rebirthing in the spring. We unfortunately do not get such a luxury. We must go out into the cold dry weather daily and our skin usually pays the price for our ongoing winter lifestyle. Skin health can be greatly compromised and for people who suffer from skin conditions such as eczema, dandruff, or psoriasis things can get pretty ugly. Worry not; there are steps that can be taken to protect skin from harsh winter weather.

For those of us who do not suffer from skin conditions it is still common to have dry itchy skin during the winter months. According to a WebMD Article “Beat the Itch of Winter” by John Casey, winter weather can send skin into a cycle that causes consistent loss of moisture. It starts with an initial loss of moisture causing skin to become dry and flaky and skin cells to be shed more quickly. This over-shedding leads to more loss of moisture and natural oils. So called luxuries such as indoor heating and hot showers also cause your skin to lose its moisture. Keep in mind that the number one protective force our skin has against the outside world is sebum, the naturally produced moisturizing oil that covers the surface of skin providing an optimal functioning environment. Strip this oil from the epidermis and it compromises skins ability to heal itself and function properly. That is why people who already have skin issues tend to see flare ups in the winter and why people with normal skin become dry and itchy.

So just what can be done to stop this? Well you could migrate to a warm humid area of the world for the winter months. Or, you could change a few grooming habits. It is recommended to bathe once weekly during the winter and bathe places which perspire at the sink when needed. Most people enjoy their daily showers, so try using luke warm water instead of hot. Also, coat yourself with moisturizer before entering the shower, this will help prevent moisture from being washed away. In the shower use a non-lathering cleanser. Lather means a high consistency of soap which is drying. Try using a moisturizing body wash or just plain moisturizer all over. It is fine to use a soap in places that perspire, but try to limit exposure to the entire body. Try using a baby wash cloth instead of a regular one a they tend to be to harsh. Due to the over-shedding of skin during winter it usually isn’t necessary to exfoliate. Once out of the shower, if possible, apply moisturizer, you could even use your favorite oil, immediately before drying off. Then pat yourself dry. Give your skin a few minutes to soak up the moisture. Rubbing with a towel will irritate the skin as well as strip all the hydration. Drip dry, Drip dry.

hese techniques are highly recommended for the body and may also be applied to the face and hair. Hair suffers from winter damage just as much as skin so take care to keep your entire self hydrated. Inside and out! Drinking water is often forgotten due to the lack of sweating during the cold months. However, your body needs just as much water and filtering during the winter as it does during the summer. 8-10 8oz glasses of water daily should do the trick. Also, don’t forget to wear your sunscreen! The sun is still shining during the winter which means you still need to protect yourself from its harmful rays! Nothing is worse than sunburned, wind-burned skin. Stay protected, stay hydrated.

Category: Health

Hollie Jean is a Savannah makeup artist and skin care professional working in Savannah, GA. Her passions are natural health, her two happy puppies, and her loving husband. When she isn't writing she operates a mobile spa and volunteers for NextGeneration.

Visit her website: http://www.holliejean.com/services/makeup-artist-savannah-ga/

Savannah Ga real estate market in 2012

2012-02-27T03:09:20Z

http://rismedia.com/2012-01-22/finding-the-positives-in-economic-and-housing-conditions-in-2012/

There are continuous conflicting reports on the economy and, particularly, the housing market for 2012. I see signs that a slow recovery is under way, although, as reported in the article above and is in the news every minute of the day, a shaky European economy and a Presidental election coming up which creates political uncertainty are still big question marks with no certain answers. Personally, I've seen progress in my business, and others in real estate have told me their business is picking up, but I'm not sure I can extrapolate from this anecdotal evidence and say Savannah real estate is picking up.

Prices are great and interest rates are low, so I can't imagine why 2012 won't be better than 2011. One area of growth is evident, though, and that's in investment buying. Investors are definitely entering the market and buying up the deals. If investors are buying, it usually means that regular buyers will follow.