Why Metro Atlanta is Still Thriving

Low unemployment. Impressive job growth. Deep cultural and historical significance.  Burgeoning business opportunities. These are a few of the reasons Atlanta, GA has been named the #1 place to live in the Top 50 best places to live list by Money.com (Money Magazine). Atlanta continues to attract both transplants, entrepreneurs, businesses, students, and visitors (who end up becoming Georgia Peaches themselves!).

Is Atlanta for everyone? Absolutely not. No place appeals to everyone across the board. However, what Atlanta does offer is this:

1. Headquarters to 15 Fortune 500 Companies (Ranked #2 in the nation)

2. Home to 16 colleges and universities (57 across Metro Atlanta)

3. Home to the world’s most traveled airport.

In addition, the Metro Atlanta area includes approximately 150 cities and towns, providing ample varieties for residential living-from thriving city centers to sprawling rural landscapes. There are countless choices in communities and neighborhoods to choose from, depending on your needs and desires.

Thus, when someone asks why they should consider Metro Atlanta as their next home or what Metro Atlanta has to offer, let them know that the reasons are numerous and have been validated. And if you ever decide to pursue relocation and want to explore other parts of the country, we have you covered. Of course, as most of the Les Maisons Partners team are transplants ourselves, we’re rather partial to Metro Atlanta and Middle GA.

Mastering the Real Estate Market Cycle: What Homebuyers and Home Sellers Need to Remember

Timing is key however, the real estate market waits for no one. You have may have heard that you should wait until home prices decrease; you may have heard about an impending slower economy; or you may have heard that this is still a good time to sell your home and an even better time to buy. No matter what you may have heard, we’ll let you in on a secret that is known but, not often shared: people buy and sell homes in spite of economic factors, inventory, whether it is a buyer’s or seller’s market or any number of factors.

Homebuyers purchase homes (and home sellers sell their homes) for numerous reasons including a change in circumstances such as relocating due to a job change, divorce, estate sale, and a need to upsize or downsize.

While we as agents can never guarantee what will happen, we can certainly provide one piece of advice: the real estate market is cyclical. While we are seeing a return to the spring sales season, we still have buyers looking (nothing like the frenzy and surge we experienced during the height of the pandemic) and not enough inventory in the most sought after budgets and areas.

Selling and buying in this cycle takes vision, motivation, and consistency. Homes, for the most part, are not flying off the market with tens of offers and going under contract within hours. Seller concessions, such as repairs and credits, have returned in many places however flexibility, thinking outside the box, and targeted marketing makes all the difference when selling. Innovative loan products, careful negotiating, and diligence make all the difference for homebuyers. By listening and heeding the advice of those in the market on a daily basis, it can help make the process easier and more seamless. 

Can YOU Live With Your Family? Is Multigenerational Living Right For You?

With continued advances in medical science contributing to the longevity and vitality of older Americans and the average age when couples marry continuing to creep up steadily, many American families are finding themselves living with multiple generations under one roof. The advantages of this type of living situation are numerous, including the cost of living spread across more people, combined incomes often contributing to being able to afford more house, and maintenance and upkeep being done by more people. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 64 million Americans were living in multigenerational housing, driving more people to consider living together in an expanded family situation.

The most important thing to remember is that you can live well together if you have a plan for expectations.

1. Set boundaries early. Especially in the case of adult children, it’s important to establish expectations as to what each family member needs as far as privacy, bills, maintenance/upkeep, and personal preferences.

2. Establish a household budget and plan how everything will be divided. Does the couple in the master suite pay more? Will bills be divided evenly? Who will park in the garage? Questions such as these help everyone feel comfortable since there won’t be surprises.

3. Plan for the challenges. It’s important that you discuss what happens if someone decides to move out, how the proceeds will be divided if the home is sold, and what happens if a family member loses their job or stops paying altogether. While you may hope that these scenarios don’t happen, it’s better to discuss these situations now while everyone can have time to reflect and make a decision without being in a stressful situation.

4. More house for your dollar. By combining funds, you may be able to afford a bigger home or a home in a neighborhood that you want but, didn’t think you could afford. Be on the lookout for en suites, basements, and homes with guest houses. This could allow more family members to live together more comfortably.

While multigenerational living certainly has its benefits, it’s crucial that everyone be completely realistic about whether this living situation could work for them. If this is the right choice for you, contact your local lender and see what the best programs and products are for you and your family’s needs. Cheers to the family home.