Real Estate News

I am Jim Parker, Exclusive Buyer Agent in the Atlanta Metro marketplace...770-265-7293 - jim@abuyeragent.com

1. Mortgage Rates - I cover a few of the basics and tips, but here's a general discussion and relationship to the 10 year treasury notes.  The Treasury Department sells all bills, notes, and bonds at auction with a fixed interest rate. When demand is high, bidders will pay more than the face value to receive the fixed rate. When demand is low, they pay less.  The Treasury Department pays the interest rate every six months.  The yield is the total return over the life of the bond. Since Treasurys are sold at auction, their yields change every week. If demand is low, notes are sold below face value. The discount is like getting them on sale. As a result, the yield is high. Buyers pay less for the fixed interest rate, so they get more for their money. When demand is high, they are sold at auction above face value. As a result, the yield is low. The buyers had to pay more for the same interest rate, so they get less return for their money.  If Treasury yields increase, then the interest paid on these riskier investments must increase in lock-step.   And don't miss my Steps to the Mortgage Process tips on my website www.abuyeragent.com or www.accessbrokerage.com.
2. New Homes and Builders in Metro Atlanta - Great source to find new home developments in the Metro Atlanta area - Don't hesitate to give them my contact information so I can help you with any one of the new homes listed in this website. - http://www.atlantacommunities.com/search-bymap.php 
3. iBuyers: Is The Convenience Worth The Cost? ... The “i” stands for “instant”.  This is happening across the country...Zillow,  Opendoor, Knock, OfferPad, etc...are some of many "cash" investors offering people a quick way to sell their homes in generally good condition without agents, normally at a discount for repairs/upgrades and a fee.  They capture those sellers interested in just getting out of a property ownership and may not want to take time to market their homes for sale (i.e., don't like the inconvenience of the process) or have the resources to spend for those repairs/updates to get their properties ready for the current market quality and conditions demands.  Each company has a slightly different profit model, but according to this Forbes article,  the iBuyer will typically charge a full commission, plus build in a  discount to fair value to compensate for the risk they take by  providing you with “instant” liquidity.  Some estimate that these costs can add up to more than 10% of the fair  market value of a home compared to 5-6% in commissions with a  traditional agent.

References to products and services are not a specific endorsement, but the user must perform their due diligence and investigate whether the product or service is right for them. I welcome any or all comments that would help others.  Also, consult legal expertise in any of these areas and do not rely strictly on information presented here is this podcast.