When searching for a home as an investor, you have to ask yourself if you are investing for an immediate profit or to build financial security for the long run.  It is my advice to purchase investment properties for the long run.  In today's market it is not as easy to flip a home as it was a couple of years ago.  Even if you are in a hot area, houses are sitting on the market a little longer than normal which eats away at your profits.  What ever your goal is with investing, here are some things to consider:  Location-Location can make a difference in picking your investment property.  If the area is already popping with investment activity, you might not get a good deal when purchasing the home. Even the worst home will not be a good price.  If the home is on the outskirts of the pop... 09/28/2007

Have you ever been to a town loaded with fantastic restaurants, unique and inviting antique shops, and trendy boutiques?  No, then visit the county seat of Dekalb County, the City of Decatur.  The City of Decatur is home to the Dekalb County's government offices, its largest and very active library, various historical sites and so much more.  You can find older Victorian homes, small bungalows and million dollar condos, all within walking distance of the local Starbucks and great schools.  Its small town charm really comes out on movie nights in the town square and volley ball on the sand strewn streets of beach night.  And as if that's not enough, listen to free concerts on Wednesday afternoons while munching on lunch from any of the favored restaurants down on the square.  And don't f... 09/17/2007

Decatur, GA is located just a handful of miles from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Atlanta, but it couldn't be further away in terms of having a more small town, intimate, laid-back feel.  It feels like the type of place where everyone really does "know your name".The centerpiece of Decatur, is the historic Downtown area.  Full of quaint restaurant and shops, you will find few chains here (although, there are a few).   Some of the restaurants we enjoy include:Cafe Alsace - a wonderful, intimate French Bistro.  The tables are kind of close, but that only adds to the ambiance.  The food is incredible and a change of pace from the normal chain food.  A real experience.Brick Store Pub - The happening place on the Square.  This place is full of character and serves your typical pub fare. ... 08/30/2007

Rather than saying the harvest, let's say the houses are plentiful here in Metropolitan Atlanta.  With over 100 thousands homes on the market here in Metro-Atlanta, it is a perfect time to be a home buyer.  For those who are unaware, metropolitan Atlanta covers approximately 20 counties in estimated 60 mile radius around the city of Atlanta.  Whew!!! That is huge and we are growing everyday.  Are you thinking of moving to Metro-Atlanta?  Well now is the time to do it.  On average Atlanta's real estate market is still reasonable despite how large we have become.  With the housing market being so plentiful, buyers have the opportunity to really search for the home that fit their needs.  Depending on the motivation of the seller, you have more negotiating power than ever before. Therefore,... 07/06/2007

I just heard that the city of Decatur and Gwinnett County will be rolling out city wide free WIFI, how cool is that.  This is all possible thanks to a grant provided by a grant from State of Georgia.  These two communities are two of six communities that will be awarded this grant.   This will program will be rolled out in phases begining  this summer.  06/25/2007

Numbers speak volumes, don't they? Here is what the real estate market in all of the zip codes that are Decatur, Georgia look like. Decatur continues to be a "buyer's market" because there is a lot of homes on the market. That has not changed in a very long time. What has changed is the average price of homes. It is down almost $20,000.00 over a year ago. That's the result of a few more homes on the market than a year ago. The last graph is a summary of who is getting the job done in the Decatur area. 06/13/2007

This past weekend was very productive.  I had an out of town buyer come in on Saturday and we negotiated a contract on Monday after we saw a total of 28 homes.This is a very typical experience for me.  It usually starts with a buyer finding me by doing a Google search.  They begin to use my IDX home search tool.  They begin to read some of the articles I wrote on my website and decide to give me a call.  They tell me their situation.  If I feel that I can help them, I get them to send me an email with a list of their criteria and a list of homes that they are interested in seeing.This weekend's clients were only going to look at homes on Saturday with me and then spend Sunday driving around and exploring various neighborhoods by themselves.  They were were planning on coming back in a f... 05/30/2007

Looking for homes for sale in Decatur Georgia?  Decatur Georgia is located in DeKalb county Georgia and is near Emory University!  Decatur Georgia is a great place to live,  Decatur has affordible homes, and is close in so it is a very econmical commute to Atlanta.  If you are looking to buy homes in Decatur Georgia.DECATUR HOMES FOR SALE  Decatur Homes for SaleDecatur Homes for Sale $100,000 - $200,000 Decatur Homes for Sale $200,000 - $300,000 Decatur Homes for Sale $300,000 - $400,000 Decatur Homes for Sale $400,000 - $500,000 Decatur Homes for Sale $500,000 - $600,000 Decatur Homes for Sale $600,000 - $700,000 Decatur Homes for Sale $700,000 - $800,000 Decatur Homes for Sale $900,000 - $1,000,000 Decatur Homes for Sale $1,000,000 - 5,000,000 Decatur Homes for Sale $5,000,000 - 10,00... 05/24/2007

Nothing speaks louder than the numbers. Below is a graph of all residentials resales for the past two years. Notice that there is very little fluctuation. Atlanta has a housing market that seems to want to sustain very even growth. Two things control our market: 1.) the housing supply is generally very plentiful because of cheaper labor and construction cost than most other areas of the country and 2.) affordability. Atlanta is the fastest growing city in the United States. People come here because there are jobs. Jobs pay money. Money buys houses. Now there is a lot of hype about a slowing market and the market is a bit slower than normal. It's likely that interests rates returning to normal levels is the cause. But aside from that, Atlanta is steady. Here is the data for supply and de... 04/06/2007

As a NACHI-certified professional home inspector, I have the knowledge and expertise to provide you with a thorough and professional, non-intrusive, visual inspection of your home, from roof to foundation. Outside the home, I will check the exterior walls, roof, driveway, deck, etc., then I will move inside to examine the walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and windows. The heating, air-conditioning,plumbing, and electrical systems will all be examined to ensure that they function as intended. Bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms receive a thorough check, along with the attic and basement or crawl space. Included in the Inspection: Site Overview Drainage Retaining Walls Fences Crawl Space Electrical Air Conditioning Walls Heating Floors Foundation Roof Plumbing Insulation Porches Patios D... 03/09/2007

Dan's Top 10 Reasons to Become a Real Estate Agent10). You control your own time. 9). Real Estate is the safest investment you or your clients can make. 8). You get first dibs on the best deals. 7). You get to help others realize the American Dream of homeownership. 6). You're not stuck in an office all day, or punching a timeclock. 5). You get to use neat techno gadgets. 4). Need a raise? Just sell another house. 3). It's like having your own business, without the major start up costs. 2). It's not physically hard at all. 1). Your income potential is unlimited. But Wait! There's More!*** Lots of fun socials...Realtors are a friendly breed.***You have a built-in excuse to get out of a "honey do" list.***It gives you a good excuse to own a big luxury car.***You get to see lots of nice ho... 12/13/2006