The end of spring/summer real estate season is time to catch up on personal business, analyze trends and plan ahead.
Armed with flashlight, screwdriver and little gray cells here’smy look around the housing industry
Mega-trends
I’ve worked for up-and-coming multi-degreed professionals, investors, software engineers/designers/managers, medical professionals, first-time buyers, retirees, divorced and widowed persons; everyone except my main source of income; the middle-middle class. Many homes are still underwater…. there are mega-reasons it’s taking Atlanta so long to recover:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/28/how-the-recession-turned-middle-class-jobs-into-low-wage-jobs/
Atlanta
Accessible Atlanta is fact, and not just with Millennials. Walkable Urban Places, WalkUPs, are where the money is: http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/2013/10/03/new-report-reveals-historic-shift-in-real-estate-demand-in-atlanta-ga/
Contractors, Permits and Appraisals
Most inspection defects aren’t the fault of reputable contractors-they’re caused by homeowners who believe they can do it with just a click of the mouse and a trip to the big box DIY store. http://www.freep.com/story/sponsor-story/hire-it-done/2014/09/26/contractors-are-people-too/16258659/
Un-licensed homeowners, flippers and jackleg contractors cost morein the long run. Here’s a list of trades requiring licensure. http://www.contractors-license.org/ga/Georgia.html
Revised appraisal rules taking locally established professionals out of their literal areas of expertise, are a mixed blessing
http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=21080260
Water Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Healthy Home
The oft-misunderstood DeKalb Water Conservation Ordinancediscussed in detail: http://dekalbrealtors.com/realtor-tools/
Energy improvements offer above-market returns, not to mention healthier air and better comfort. Here’s a link to certified energy contractors http://www.bpi.org/tools_locator.aspx?associateTypeID=CT
Builders get the first part of the “Build it tight, ventilate it right”equation, they’ve yet to master the second. Here’s a good first step to understand how to breathe easy.
http://www.southface.org/ez/media/gapoweriaqbooklet.pdf
Next time: History Lesson: Why 1995 was the 9/11 for Atlanta housing.
Put in a good word for Dan Curl and Comprehensive Home Inspections at Google Review
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