You are currently browsing the monthly archive for May, 2008.
Jenny Pruitt & Associates, Realtors is pleased to announce that they are now offering clients the opportunity to enroll their home in the Preferred Mortgage Rate Home Program. A unique offering to the Atlanta area, the Preferred Mortgage Rate Home Program combines the proven strength of utilizing preferred financing to sell homes with a unique marketing strategy.
“Clients of Jenny Pruitt & Associates who choose to enroll their homes in the Preferred Mortgage Rate Home Program receive the benefit of a comprehensive marketing plan designed to increase home viewings, broaden the target market, reduce negotiations and sell homes quicker,” says Dan Parmer, President & CEO of Jenny Pruitt & Associates. “We believe this program will increase the exposure of properties to a broader base of individuals; thus, putting Jenny Pruitt & Associates one step closer in getting our client’s homes sold sooner, smoother and more efficient, which is our ultimate goal.”
The Preferred Mortgage Rate Home Program’s distinctive marketing strategy is what sets it apart from other special financing programs. Exceptional marketing pieces customized to your home are created to highlight it in a way that’s unique to the marketplace. Included in the program is prominent exposure on the Jenny Pruitt & Associates website with an area dedicated to homes that are participating in the program, home showcase postcards to be sent to potential home buyers, selling agent postcards to be sent to agents selling homes in your area, neighborhood postcards, yard sign riders, listing flyers and our special seller’s advantage program.
To get learn more about the program or to enlist your home today, please contact your Jenny Pruitt & Associates, Realtors® sales associate or a loan representative from HomeServices Lending. Visit our website additional information at www.jennypruitt.com.
Dan Parmer, President and CEO of Jenny Pruitt & Associates, has announced the addition of Allen Crosta, part of the Utana Bluffs development team, to Jenny Pruitt & Associates, REALTORS®.
“We are pleased to welcome Allen to Jenny Pruitt & Associates and are looking forward to including the Utana Bluffs Development in our second home and resort division,” says Rob Owen, Sr. Vice President and Managing Broker for the Buckhead office where Crosta will be based. “We are delighted that Allen has chosen to be a part of Jenny Pruitt & Associates.”
Crosta is a member of the Atlanta Board of Realtors®, the Georgia Association of Realtors®, the National Association of Realtors®, and attended the DIRE School of Real Estate.
According to the development’s website, Utana Bluffs, less than an hour and a half from Atlanta, is located in Gilmer County, just south of the Cohutta Wilderness Area. Comprised of 40,000 pristine acres, residents of the Utana Bluffs enjoy mountains, rivers, waterfalls and hiking trails. The master plan incorporates large, heavily wooded home sites accessed by paved roads with underground utilities. Green space incorporates picnic and lookout pavilions, ponds, meadows and access trails to the Chattahoochee National Forest.
For more information on Utana Bluffs, visit their website.
Jenny Pruitt & Associates, REALTORS, in partnership with Billian Publishing, released the spring issue of The Atlanta Collection magazine on May 1, 2008. This latest issue marks the company’s twelfth year of production and first ever companion “green” edition of the magazine, which was produced to offer an additional efficient means of distribution.
President and CEO of Jenny Pruitt & Associates, Dan Parmer explains, “As a company, our agents and staff take pride in being on the leading edge of new industry practices. With the help of Billian Publishing, we were able to develop a customized digital version of the popular publication known as a “digizine.” The digital edition of The Atlanta Collection was created to showcase the publication in an electronic format that can be e-mailed to existing and prospective clients.” The digizine concept is unique in the sense that the viewer can “virtually” turn the pages of the magazine, flip to any page instantly, and it is 100 percent environmentally friendly. Additional benefits include increased distribution capabilities with online links on Jenny Pruitt & Associates’ website www.jennypruitt.com, our blog, and the magazine’s own website www.atlantacollection.com. 
More environmentally conscious efforts were put in place during the magazine’s production when agents were offered an online ad submission process enabling the company to eliminate excess paper waste. Rather than using traditional means, such as paper submission forms, sales associates utilized a unique online “form” further promoting the company’s efforts to “go green.”
Since its debut in 1996, The Atlanta Collection has reached a wide array of residents in metro Atlanta and the US. There are more than 120 outstanding homes presented in this issue, with a median sales price of more than $1.8 million. With a total print distribution of over 40,000 copies, The Atlanta Collection is direct- mailed to many of Atlanta’s most affluent residential areas including Brookhaven, Buckhead, Dunwoody, Midtown, Morningside, Druid Hills, Sandy Springs, Vinings, East Cobb, Alpharetta, Roswell, and Duluth.
Jenny Pruitt & Associates, Realtors today announced the appointment of David Kaufman as associate broker of the Johns Creek office. In his new role, David joins Rhonda Haran, senior vice president and managing broker, in overseeing the office’s daily operations. He is responsible for marketing initiatives, advising sales associates and building an outstanding team of agents.
Previously, David was a top agent in the Johns Creek office ranking among the top five agents companywide in 2006 and top ten in 2007.
Dan Parmer, president and CEO of Jenny Pruitt & Associates, said, “I am very excited to have David as our new associate broker. His professionalism, deep knowledge of the real estate industry and leadership capabilities make him an outstanding choice for this position.”
David joined the company’s North Fulton office in February 2003 as a new agent and achieved Million Dollar Club status his first year. In 2005, David was a founding member of the Johns Creek office and was honored as the number one sales associate.
David has continued to achieve Million Dollar Club status and is now a lifetime member. In 2006, he earned his Broker’s license and ranked 26 companywide.
David brings over 11 years of management experience to our team and spent eight years pursuing his passion for golf, which he still enjoys and often participates in “long drive competitions.”
A native of Lakeland, Florida, David resides in Dunwoody. In his leisure time, he enjoys golf, tennis, bowling, softball, and is an avid supporter of the Breast Cancer 3-Day Benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Jenny Pruitt & Associates, REALTORS® proudly announces the addition Simone Hoffman to its East Cobb office. As a licensed REALTOR® since 1988, Hoffman brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the metro Atlanta area to Jenny Pruitt & Associates. Her familiarity with housing trends, homebuilders, and Atlanta’s vast real estate markets and area neighborhoods make her an expert in the industry.
Jeanne Linden, senior vice president and managing broker for the East Cobb office, says, “I have known Simone for more than 20 years. I am absolutely thrilled she will join our team of outstanding sales associates at Jenny Pruitt & Associates. She will be a great asset to our company and team of agents.”
Hoffman has helped buyers and sellers with their most important financial commitment of buying a home for 20 years. She specializes in relocation and represents the new construction market, as well as traditional resales. Hoffman is a Phoenix award recipient - denoting over 10 years in the Atlanta Board of REALTORS® Million Dollar Club. She has been the Cobb County Board of Realtors Top Agent for 2001-2002 and 2006-2007. Hoffman has been in the Communities Top 100 Realtors for seven years and is a member of the John Wieland Board of Councilors. In addition, she is a Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer Representative and a Luxury Home Marketing Specialist.
Source: Parade Magazine
Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, you need a competitive edge to get ahead in real estate today. Here are some solid strategies to help you get the most out of the market.
If you want to buy…
Be an attractive risk. Your credit score determines the interest rate a bank will give you on a mortgage. The difference between decent and terrific credit can add tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. To improve your rating, pay down your credit-card bills. Lenders want to see that your debt doesn’t exceed 30% of your available credit. But don’t close an account once you’ve paid it off - doing so actually will hurt your score.
Buy only what you can afford. Most banks now require a down payment of 20%, but if you’re an attractive borrower, 10% may suffice. Still, the less you put down, the more you’ll pay in fees and interest. Spend no more than a third of your total pre-tax income on housing costs: mortgage, homeowners’ insurance, maintenance and property tax. Figure maintenance to be about 1% of the value of your house each year.
Choose your loan carefully. Many homeowners are in trouble because they took out adjustable mortgages with low interest rates that later spiked. A 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage is your best bet - adjustable mortgages don’t offer the rate breaks they did during the boom. Use the Internet to do your research. You’ll find articles, statistics and general resources that will help you determine which banks offer the best rates in your area and around the country.
Lowball ‘em. Bidding wars over a house are uncommon in today’s climate. Sellers anticipate having to drop their asking price, so don’t bite at the listing price. Bid low and see if the seller will come down.
If you want to sell…
Think twice before you sell. This is a bad time to expect big returns. If you don’t have to sell now, don’t. Make inexpensive improvements and wait until the market factors are more in your favor.
Find the best broker. A year ago, you could have asked agents to cut their commissions because houses sold themselves. Now you’re better off paying the full 6% to ensure you’ll get the best service. Local agents are best. They know the selling points of your community - and your house - and can be present to show it to buyers at a moment’s notice. Look for pros with at least eight years experience. If they worked in the business before the boom, they’ll do more than just weigh the best offers.
Make sure the price is right. A good agent will know what numbers get the best response from consumers. Studies show what buyers react to break points, or psychological limits. For example, a buyer with a budget of $250,000 may be willing to pay $249,000 but not $251,000. If your home is valued at $310,000, consider listing it at $300,000 or even $299,000 to maximize its sales potential.
Know which way the wind is blowing. Pricing in a free-falling market is dicey. Bard Inman, publisher of a real-estate trade publication, recently helped his parents sell their condo in Las Vegas. Pricing it at a market value of $185,000 to $195,000, he says, would have been a disaster. “We had to anticipate how much prices would fall in the time it would take to close [30 to 60 days].” So they listed the condo at $175,000 while comparable condos lingered on the market until owners cut prices by $10,000 to $20,000. “You want to avoid time on the market to stay ahead of the falling knife,” says Inman.
Senior Vice President, Managing Broker - Cobb office
Source: TodayShow.com
Before taking the plunge to buy a new home, find out if it’s a good deal
So you think you have found the house you want. It’s been a long search, and you feel about ready to give in and move in. Before you take the plunge though, you should stand back a moment; this is a big commitment and there are a lot of things that could stand between you and the happiness you seek in your future home. There is also a good chance you can get a better price.
Why not put your broker to work and ask some key questions? They will help you determine whether or not the home you’re about to buy is actually a good deal. These are tough questions that could save you a bundle:
Why are the owners selling?
The broker doesn’t have to tell you (they’re getting divorced, they’re moving to Dallas, etc.), but when you uncover the reason they’re selling, it tips their cards and is the best indicator of how anxious the seller might be. This in turn lets you know how willing they might be to negotiate.
How long has the house been on the market? Can you give me its pricing history?
A house that’s been on the market for two months with three price reductions gives a whole different message than a house that’s been on for two months with no price reductions. The owner of the first house is far more negotiable. Read the rest of this entry »
