Prepare Yourself: Greater Athens Real Estate Predictions for 2014

Looking to buy or sell a home in Athens, Georgia? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price  Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (706) 612-1094 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Last time we wrapped up with what had happened in the 2013 Athens real estate market, and I'm here again to tell you what to expect for 2014.

• In past years, sales have been up in the area. As this demand for homes increases while the supply decreases, you can expect to see property prices continue to rise in 2014.
• Interest rates are expected to rise to between 5% and 6%
• My advice to buyers: purchase your property sooner rather than later to avoid higher prices later in the year.
• My advice to sellers: You can wait and sell for more, but either way, 2014 will be a good year to sell.
• Bottom line: The Athens Real Estate market in 2014 will be markedly improved from 2013 as prices continue to trend upward.

Home Sales and Prices Are Up! 2013 Market Recap

Click here to find out what your home is worth or to search all area homes for sale.

Welcome back! Now that 2013 has come to a close, you might be curious about how the market compared to 2012 and what you can expect for 2014.

In Clarke county the number of total transactions for 2013 was 1,120. That's a 19% increase from the 931 transactions in 2012.

The average sales price in Clarke county also rose by about 10%.

In Oconee county the number of transactions increased from 409 to 530; that's a 30% increase. That means buyer demand is up and we expect that to continue on into 2014.

I also wanted to take the time to thank you. Our team had a great year and we helped more than 100 families with their real estate needs. We can't wait to help even more this year.

So if you know of anyone interested in buying or selling, give us a call today! Thanks for watching!

Should I Sell My House First or Buy the Next One First?

It's time to buy a new home. How do you get started? There are pros and cons to both buying or selling first. Let's take a look at the three things you should consider.

1. Are you willing and able to make two mortgage payments for a short amount of time? If you decide to buy first, you will need to make a payment on both homes until your old one is sold.
   
   If you aren't able or don't want to make two mortgage payments, it's best to sell first. This doesn't give you as much time to find a home, but we can normally negotiate you a little extra time once your home is sold to find another.
2. Do you need the funds from the sale to put a down payment on your new home? If you need the funds or want to transfer the equity, you must sell first.
3. Are you outgrowing your home? Sometimes if you have too much stuff in your current home or if it is difficult to maintain while showing, it may be best to buy first and then sell the house empty. Homes sell best when they are removed from clutter and look exceptionally clean.

If you have any questions about what's best for you situation, please give me a call. We can talk about the pros and cons of buying or selling first for you.

Thanks for watching!