If you are selling your home, you should make it as attractive and appealing as possible! Potential buyers want to see a clean and tidy home that they can picture themselves in. This is easiest when the home is kept clean and free from clutter that can take away from a space.

As you will see in this video, it is a good idea to start cleaning and caring for your for-sale home as soon as you list it. You never know when potential buyers might drive by, and a first impression can make or break your sale. Make sure your front yard looks great and use paint to touch up any marks or scrapes on your home’s exterior. Work with your family to clean and de-clutter your home’s interior for potential buyers.

A real estate agent can help you figure out what to do to make your home as appealing as possible, leading to the best sales in the shortest amount of time.

Whether you are interested in buying or selling a home, it is important to know how to get answers to your questions! You are likely to have a lot of questions during this process, but a little research and the right team can help you answer these questions and have a successful experience.

One of the first questions buyers and sellers have pertains to the difference between a realtor and a real estate agent. In order to become an official REALTOR®, agents must meet certain expectations set forth by the National Association of REALTORS®. Another common question asks about the differences between being pre-qualified and being pre-approved. The first simply means a loan officer has helped you figure out what you can spend. The second means a lender has approved your financial situation.

Do you have other questions about real estate ? Working with a professional real estate agent is the best way to get the answers you need to find the home of your dreams or sell your current home for your dream price!

It is common these days to hear about people who owe more on their house or real estate investment than it is currently worth. This is known as negative equity. A property management company in Atlanta can help determine the right course of action if you find yourself struggling to pay your mortgage and dealing with negative equity. Continue reading to find out more about tackling this issue.

When this situation arises, there are loan programs that may help. If you are able to renegotiate your loan, a lower interest rate may make it possible to catch up on your mortgage payments and avoid foreclosure. Some loan options to check out if you find yourself with an upside down mortgage are the Freddie Mac Relief Refinance Mortgage, the Fannie Mae Refi Plus, and the FHA Insured No Appraisal Streamline Refi. Another choice that some homeowners consider is to return the deed to the lender in lieu of foreclosure.

If renegotiating your loan is not an option, you may decide to rent out your home with help from a rental management company. If you are unable to do this, however, you might want to consider contacting a short sale real estate agent.

Working with a real estate agent is the best way to navigate through the selling or buying process. These experts can also provide extra support and knowledge when going through the process of a short sale. Check out these tips for getting through the short sale process with your real estate agent near Atlanta:

Learn About Your Options
Is a short sale really your only option? It is a good idea to meet with a real estate agent to learn more about short sales and discover any other options you might have. Some homeowners are able to renegotiate with their lenders and choose a loan modification instead of going forward with a short sale. Even if you decide to go through with a short sale, this step will help you feel more confident with the process!

Get Your Documents in Order
A short sale is different from a traditional sale, which is why your real estate agent should help you determine what documents you need for the process. Your lender will decide what documents you will need in order to comply with their terms for completing a short sale. Lenders typically require homeowners to provide at least a couple of months’ worth of bank statements along with income tax records, a copy of the purchase contract, listing agreement, proof of assets, and a letter detailing their current financial situation which resulted in the need for a short sale.

Attract Buyers
Once you have completed the steps set in place by your lender, you and your real estate agent can focus on attracting buyers to your home. No matter what type of sale you are holding, it is important to make sure your home is in great condition so that it attracts as many potential buyers as possible. If you are happy with an offer, you and your real estate agent will work together to complete a proposal packet for your lender. If the lender is happy with the packet, you can move forward with the sale.

Owning real estate in Atlanta can yield a tremendous profit. Renting out property requires a certain degree of expertise, however. In order to maximize on the potential of your rental, you will want to make sure that all property-related business is executed in an efficient and timely manner. A management company may help save you a lot of valuable time and energy.

Finding Tenants

What are the top websites for finding tenants? What kinds of photographs are most likely to attract the kind of prospective renter you are looking for? How much information is too much on an ad? These kinds of questions can be difficult to answer on your own. A rental management company will help fine-tune your advertising process so that your rental is presented in the best light, and all of your properties are filled.

Screening Tenants

Sometimes, more than a gut reaction is necessary when finding the right tenants. It is important to pay attention to a potential tenant’s credit score, history of litigation or eviction, and income. A rental management company can provide tenant screening to help ensure that rent is paid consistently and reliably.

Maintaining Property

Whether you are the landlord of a single-family home, a duplex, an apartment building, or a variety of properties, a management company can help make sure your real estate remains in good shape. It takes a lot of time and experience to find the right companies to execute property maintenance and repair. It is also a bit of a hassle to juggle multiple requests for maintenance all at once. Your property management company will already know of reliable local contractors, and will manage maintenance requests for you. When repairs are handled quickly and successfully, tenants are more likely to remain where they are.

Dealing with Evictions

If you find that someone has not paid rent, it may be time for eviction . However, asking a tenant to leave requires a detailed understanding of the lease agreement. Rental management companies have experience with the ins and outs of the eviction process, and will correctly initiate this process on your behalf.

Are you looking to get into the real estate market as a landlord? If so, knowing the right steps to take and contacting a company that provides tenant screening services and rental management in Atlanta will be important for your success. You can find out more by watching this video clip.

In this video, you’ll hear the answers to some common questions about how to responsibly invest money. One of the issues that is addressed is whether or not it is a good idea to invest in a duplex as a rental property. The experts in the video clip— a financial analyst and a money coach—use their expertise to offer sound financial advice to potential landlords.

In difficult times, it can be hard to know the best solution for overcoming financial turmoil. If you are behind on mortgage payments for your Atlanta home or real estate investment, a short sale might be the right option. A property management company in Atlanta can help you decide whether or not this is the best step. Your short sale real estate agent can also guide you through the process of compiling the necessary documents for a short sale package, listing the house, and securing a buyer.

Put an End to Mortgage Payments
There are many reasons that mortgage payments can become unwieldy. Maybe you already tried to refinance or alter your mortgage. Perhaps you owe more than your house is worth. It is also possible that you have tried unsuccessfully to sell your home at a value that would cover your mortgage. If any of these situations sound familiar, a short sale may be your best bet.

Avoid Foreclosure
When someone fails to make payments or defaults on their mortgage, the mortgage company might eventually decide to repossess the property, a process otherwise known as foreclosure. This eventuality can have a serious effect on your credit score, and it may not even prevent you from owing the deficient balance on your mortgage. It is actually beneficial to both the mortgage company and the homeowner to avoid this costly and time-consuming process. A short sale may not seem ideal, but it is often a better option than foreclosure.

Get Out of Debt
When you have a short sale realtor from a property management company facilitate a short sale on your behalf, there are some benefits. You will be able to reduce or even eliminate the debt you owe on your mortgage. It is also possible to begin work to improve your credit score more quickly than if you had foreclosed on your property. If you are interested in purchasing a home in the future, this route may help you qualify for a mortgage sooner than if you had gone through with a foreclosure.

Choosing a real estate agent is an important step when selling or buying a home. You will work closely with your realtor during the preparation, sale, and closing process. Selecting an Atlanta real estate agent with whom you feel comfortable will ensure your experience is a positive one.

Check Licenses and Awards
Before selecting a real estate agent or company, check to ensure they hold a valid license. You can also check with a local regulating service to view any recent complaints or actions filed against the company. Additionally, check to see if potential real estate agencies have won any recent awards—particularly those awarded by a branch of the National Association of Realtors. These peer-based awards can point you in the direction of an outstanding realty company.

Choose Based on Specialty
Real estate agents often specialize in certain areas of their field. Some focus on regular home sales and purchases, while others are primarily short sale realtors. Still others specialize in rentals and property management. Once you’ve found your desired real estate agency, look within that agency to find a realtor with the credentials most relevant to your needs. Choosing a real estate agent with knowledge and expertise in your desired field will ensure you’re getting the best advice and guidance for your sale, purchase, or rental agreement.

Meet In Person
Keep in mind that you will be working closely with your real estate agent throughout your transaction. Each realtor has a unique personality and business sense, so it’s important that you feel comfortable and confident working with your agent. Meeting in person and getting answers to your questions can give you a good idea of whether your personalities will mesh so you can create a positive working relationship. Whether you want to buy, sell, rent, or lease a home, the right real estate agent is waiting to provide the help you need.

Are you a landlord who is considering residential property management in Atlanta ? There are many benefits of owning rental properties, one of which is the tax benefit. Tenants rarely get any tax benefit from paying rent, but the tax systems in almost every state greatly favor landlords. In fact, real estate has more tax benefits available than many other types of investments.

Tax Deductions
Mortgage interest and real estate taxes will likely be your biggest deductible expenses, but there are plenty more that you can take advantage of. You can also deduct all operating expenses related to your rental properties and your rental company, from maintenance costs and utilities to travel expenses, employee salaries, and office supplies. You are also able to deduct the cost of your insurance premiums and legal services. You can also get back the expense of your real estate investment through depreciation, or making a tax deduction for part of the cost of the property over several years.

Taxpayer-Friendly Sales
If you end up selling a property that you have owned for at least a year, the federal tax rate of the sale cannot exceed 20%. The appreciation of your rental property will not be taxed until you sell, and you can access a tax-free portion of the appreciation prior to selling by refinancing the property or taking out a second mortgage on it.

Tax Losses
Even tax losses result in deductions for landlords. If your property produces a tax loss that is offset by passive income, you can deduct for that loss. Additionally, there are greater tax benefits for owners of rental properties who are considered active managers. If you vet your tenants via tenant screening practices like background checks and credit checks, you may qualify as an active manager. Active managers can deduct up to $25,000 in losses.

When you need to sell or rent a property in Atlanta, an experienced real estate company can help ensure your experience is a positive one. Realty 1st of Atlanta has the expertise and experience you need; we aren’t just real estate agents—we are realtors who can provide many real estate services. We represent a range of clients throughout our many departments: sellers, buyers, landlords, tenants, and investors. Our real estate agents can help you price, list, and show your home or lot. Realty 1st’s short sale realtors can also help you successfully navigate the short sale process. Furthermore, we offer Atlanta-area rental property management of homes and condos, as well as rent-to-own purchase options. We will take care of tenant screenings, eviction management, and property preservation management so you can enjoy the benefits of renting your property without the hassle.

Realty 1st is proud to be a real estate company serving the Atlanta area. If you have questions about home sales, property management, or investment and acquisitions, contact your local Atlanta real estate agent today.