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Success Realty
As Broker of Success Realty, (Ga Firm H47230) Athens GA, Michelle is proud be a part of a group of enthusiastic & ethical REALTORS® in providing premium customer service to all our clients.
Michelle has 12+ years of real estate brokerage experience and strives to promote affordable home ownership opportunities in the Athens, GA area and to offer both homeownership and career opportunities to the diverse popluation that Athens Georgia enjoys.
Michelle is also a Georgia Certified Residential Appraiser (License #6547) and the co-owner of Diversified Property Services with her husband, David.
Michelle brings extensive knowledge of the Athens, GA real estate market to the table through longevity in her real estate brokerage & real estate appraisal career and by being a native Athenian!
Contact Michelle at 706-207-2502 or the office at 706-543-1553!
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Active Rain
You can find great local Georgia real estate information on Localism.com Michelle DeRepentingy, Real Estate Broker is a proud member of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, a free online community to help real estate professionals grow their business.Feed List
Is There Another Wave of Foreclosures Coming for Athens, GA?
 Unfortunately, Georgia is still on the top 10 list for states with the highest foreclosure rates during June 2010 according to Realty Trac statistics. According to their statistics, 1 home per 334 homes in Georgia is in foreclosure. In the first half of 2010 there were 71, 949 homes foreclosed upon in Georgia. In June of 2010 Georgia ranked number 8 of the top 10 states with highest foreclosure rates. For the first half of the year, Georgia is ranked #6. What is worrisome is the percentage of homes in Georgia that are in deliquency and "non-current" status (usually defined as being over 30 days late on mortgage payments). Lender Processing Services shows 14.4% of Georgia homeowners are "non-current" and 11% as deliquent. Real estate industry gurus warn that signs of stabilizing markets in some areas could be "derailed" by "shadow inventory". Some analyst report that 6 million more people are expected to lose their homes over the next 2 years due to foreclosures & strategic defaults (know as "walking away" when a home is in a reverse/no equity postion). However, there is some good news...nationally, foreclosure filings are down 7% from a year ago and Georgia is ranked # 6 in the Best State to do Business In!  As for Athens, GA (Clarke County only) currently there are 66 active listings in Athens MLS identified as REO or post foreclosure listings (please note that actual numbers could be higher - it is not required that listings owners be identified). In June 2010, there were 18 identified sales of REO or post foreclosure properties in Athens MLS for Athens, Clarke County, Georgia.  Related Articles: |
Athens, GA Fireworks & Festivities for July 4th, 2010
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Home Buying Tax Credit Extension Available for GA Military
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To qualify, there are some restrictions.
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Real Estate Tax Credit and Incentives Athens, GA area owners, buyers, and sellers should know about!
Whether you are looking for deductions for last year or next year, or just need more information on getting a home and qualifying for the up to $8000 tax credit, here are some links with great info for you.
Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the comments or contact me at 706-207-2502.  |
Athens, GA Real Estate Foreclosure News
| Fannie Mae, is currently offering a 3.5% of sales price incentive for the homes they have now have in inventory for buyers closing on or before April 30, 2010. Click here for more details on the Fannie Mae foreclosures. Some stipulations do apply - I'll be happy to help you figure out if you qualify. The "incentive" can be used for closing cost, or new appliances, or a mixture of the two. So you can qualify for up to an $8000 tax credit if you are a first time buyer, up to $6,5000 for existing homebuyer (more stipulations apply) and save 3.5% in closing cost or get new appliances. Click here to see what Fannie Mae REOs are available in Athens, GA and then give me a call at 706-207-2502 to receive free buyer's agency representation at no cost to you (seller pays!). |
Holiday Shopping & Christmas Parade - Watkinsville, GA 12/5/2009
| You don't want to miss the Watkinsville, GA Christmas Parade this Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 11:00 am! I got to go with several great kids and a best friend last year -see the photos here and plan to have as much fun as ... |
Halloween Fun in Athens, GA 2009
| Kid friendly fun includes Trunk or Treat at the Athens-Clarke County Police Sub Station on Baxter Street from 5pm to 7pm on Saturday, 10/31/2009! For ages up to 12, all trick or treaters MUST be in costume and you need to call to register at 706-613-3601 or 706-613-3603 and it is FREE! |
Athens, GA Homeowners in distress - don't get scammed, foreclosure prevention fraud is rising!
| Be Wary & Aware! Some banks and mortgage companies send out legitimate "loss mitigation consultants" to knock on your door (especially if you don't take the phone calls from collections department personnel) who are able to assist you with modifying your existing mortgage or making alternative plans like attempting a real estate short sale. However, it is critical that you verify with your mortgage company or bank that this is truly their representative. Once of the best ways to do this is to call the customer service number of the company that holds your mortgage and ask for the loss mitigation department. Take a look a the video below, so that you will understand how these scams work and how to avoid having your house stolen from you through mortgage fraud. If you are facing financial hardship, and may be facing foreclosure, it is better for you to be proactive - call your mortgage lender today to discuss your modification options, or call a Real Estate broker who specializes in Athens, GA area short sales today. Please be careful when someone approaches you about preventing a foreclosure, especially if they "promise" to rent or sale the home back to you!
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Answers About Short Sales for Athens, Ga Home Sellers
| As the housing market in Athens, GA continues to be stagnant with it taking more time for fewer homes to be sold, we are getting a lot of questions about "short sales". Over the next few weeks, I am going to attempt to answer some of the real estate short sale questions I am getting asked frequently. Do I have to get an approval from my lender to offer my house as a short sale? The short answer is no. Because every contract offering you may receive from a potential purchaser is going to be different, there is no such thing as an "approved short sale". However, there are many things you can do to get the ball rolling. Your real estate short sale specialist should be collecting the paperwork necessary to submit with an offer including a form that authorizes your mortgage company to discuss your situation with the real estate broker (often called a third party authorization), providing you with the financial worksheet which will document your hardship situation, and advising what other documentation is going to be required.
Do I have to be behind on my mortgage payments in order to short sale my home?
Again the short answer is no. Your short sale may not get priority processing, as it may be placed behind homes that are in foreclosure or moratorium (forbearance) status; however most major lender will consider a short sale where there is documented hardship and declining market situations. It is desirable for the lender to not have your property go into foreclosure which will reflect an even greater loss for them. When should I consider a "short sale"? When you have or anticipate a hardship situation that will cause you to be insolvent (when your monthly expenses exceed your monthly income) and/or your home is worth less than you owe. In order to avoid foreclosure it is critical that you not wait to late to begin the short sale process. If you need immediate assistance and answers to your short sale questions, please feel free to ask your questions in the comments below or contact me now privately, otherwise I will continue to answer questions as they come in. |
Are Houses in Athens, Georgia Selling?
| Below is the breakdown of how many homes in what price range have sold in Athens (Clarke County) Georgia, so far this year. As you can see, homes in the $100,000 to $160,000 range are predominant right now. Some of this can be accredited to the 1st time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8000 that is available through 11/30/2009. This price range is typically considered "affordable housing", and is moving quite well. We are even seeing "bidding wars" and multiple offers in this range right now. Most homes in Athens, GA are taking longer to sell than they did 24 months ago. Currently the median sales price in Athens - Clarke County is $159,376, whereas the average sales price is $140,000. These are very similar to the the median and average sales prices for 2007 and 2008. Activity in the upper price ranges has been very stagnant, which still says something good about the general economy in Athens, GA. Although not many homes are selling, not many sellers are desperate enough to give their home away, which helps to maintain values overall. All real estate statistics above are per Athens MLS and are believed accurate, but not guaranteed. All market interpretations are based solely on the opinion of me  |
We Remember That Fateful Day
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This morning I, like many of you, woke up thinking about where I was and what I was doing 8 years ago. Below Alan May expresses most poignantly many of the things we all remember. I also remember how we all pulled together, the prayers raised and the relationships mended as we looked inward and loved outwardly. I appreciate Alan May for allowing me to share his words with you on this day, may we never forget! > |
With Real Estate listings available everywhere on the internet, why do you need a buyer’s agent?
| Greg Swann, at Bloodhound Realty in Phoenix, AZ explains why a buyer needs an agent much more eloquently than I ever have, a huge thank you to Greg for permission to "steal " and share this information! "Here’s an intriguing question: Given that it’s so easy to search for homes on the internet, why do you need a buyer’s agent? Face it, if you use the MLS search tool on my web site, you’re seeing exactly the same listings I see. And you know better than I ever could what you like and what you don’t like. By now, the home search process is at best a partnership between the agent and the buyer. In some cases the buyer and I will work together to perfect our search criteria. But many buyers simply search the available inventory on their own, emailing me the MLS numbers of the homes they want to see. So why do those buyers need a buyer’s agent? Realtors hoarded the MLS data for so long that even they came to believe it was the source of their value to buyers. But this is very far from the truth. You don’t need me to search for listings, although I’m happy to do that. And you don’t need me to open lock-boxes. You need a buyer’s agent to guide you through what is in fact an arcane and perilous process — potentially a financial disaster. You might not need me to find your next home, but you need me to make sure that you get it — or that you pass on it, if that is what is truly in your best interests. A skilled buyer’s agent will write the kind of purchase contract that will prove surprising to you at every turn, with every term and condition tailored to achieve your best advantage. Your agent will supervise the inspection process and negotiate the optimal solution to the repair issues. Your agent will be prepared for every pitfall in the escrow process. If you bought and sold houses every day, you could do all these things yourself. It’s because you don’t — and because the seller and the listing agent are looking to take advantage of your naivete at every turn — that you need a skilled buyer’s agent as your steadfast champion in the home-buying process." Now, if you are ready to begin your search for Athens, GA homes - with no registration, just click the button below to search the Athens MLS via IDX, or feel free to contact me with any questions you may have!
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Buyer Prequalification - It's an offer, no maybe it is or isn't!
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Whoo Hooo...then reality sets in, the "prequalification letter" wasn't worth the paper it was printed on when it rolled out of my fax machine!
So now instead of being able to present this to my sellers in a positive manner, I have to temper their enthusiasm with some realism, the buyer may never be able to close on this loan! You see, Mr. & Mrs. Seller, instead of blithely moving ahead with the purchase of your new home, we have to make sure you are protected - so that you don't wind up with 2 houses! I've already made the loan officer unhappy, and I risk offending the buyer, while trying to protect the seller and make sure this is fair to everyone. Unfortunately for the potential buyer, we cannot take their offer very seriously. In the past, buyers would start their home search and when they found their perfect home, the next call would be to a mortgage lender or bank to get pre-approved. In today’s market, it is critical to get pre-approved financially by a mortgage lender or bank before your search begins! Based on general questions about your income, debt, assets, and credit history, lenders can estimate how much mortgage you qualify for. Pre-qualification and Pre-approved are different things. Pre-approval means that you have applied for a mortgage; you have filled out the mortgage application, received your credit report, and verified your employment, assets, etc. When you are pre-approved, you know exactly what the maximum loan amount will be, and you won’t have any surprises. A pre-qualified letter is not verified and just does not count for much if you are competing with other buyers who are pre-approved, which is happening often on the best deals in the Athens, GA market area. When you are pre-approved, you and the seller know exactly how much house you can afford. It gives you credibility as a buyer and lets the seller know immediately that you will qualify for a loan. In addition to being pre-approved, it’s important to be pre-approved with a legitimate lender, the Internet has given rise to many non-local lenders. In some instances these lenders are less than reliable. So potential Athens, GA real estate buyers, do your lender research carefully!Common sense questions go a long way:
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Think about this if you are considering buying Athens, Georgia real estate!
| There are some reasons that it may be a good time:
Now, click here if you would like to search for Athens, GA real estate, including the surrounding area. |
Athens, Georgia Fireworks for July 4th 2009 & other area celebrations!
There will be fireworks in Athens! The STAR SPANGLED CLASSIC event in Athens, GA starts at 6:00pm on 7/4/2009 at Bishop Park and includes "concessions, family games, inflatables, patriotic arts and crafts for kids, and music. The community birthday cake, donated by Publix, will be served, as well."
The fireworks are scheduled to start at about 9:30pm. The event is free and open to the public! Athens, GA has a long history of fireworks at Bishop Park, but they had been cancelled due to budget cuts for 2009. However, the community has stepped forward and thanks to the following - we are having fireworks in Athens on July 4, 2009!
PeachMac, the Star Spangled Classic 2009 Presenting Sponsor
- Advanced Asphalt Coating, the Star Spangled Classic 2009 Contributing Sponsor
- Athens First Bank & Trust, the Star Spangled Classic 2009 Contributing Sponsor
- Jordan, Jones & Goulding, the Star Spangled Classic 2009 Contributing Sponsor
- McDonald's, the Star Spangled Classic 2009 Contributing Sponsor
- Silver & Archibald, the Star Spangled Classic 2009 Contributing Sponsor
- TSAV, the Star Spangled Classic 2009 Contributing Sponsor
- The Athens Banner Herald, Star Spangled Classic 2009 Media Sponsor
- Magic 102 FM, Star Spangled Classic 2009 Media Sponsor
Rise and shine early Saturday, July 4th 2009 to get a great spot for the Colbert, GA Fourth of July Parade. The parade features antique cars, tractors, horses, and lots more! Bring a bag for the candy thrown out to the kids! Colbert is located about 15 minutes east of Athens off Highway 72 in Colbert. The parade starts at 9am, with a festival following which features arts & crafts, concessions, and gospel & country music.
Watkinsville, GA (about 10 minutes south of Athens on Highway 441) will also play host to special Independence Day celebrations, starting Friday 7/3/2009 with First Friday on Main and a free art tour from 6pm to 9pm. On Saturday the 4th of July the Eagle Tavern will be the site of free watermelon, popcorn, cotton candy & more. There will also be music, concessions and more from 10 am to 2pm.
Be safe and have a Happy Fourth of July 2009!
Athens, GA ranked #5 for Best Cities for Jobs!
| Kiplinger's has ranked Athens, Ga as #5 in their top 10 Best Cities for Jobs and calls Athens one of the "safe havens during the recession". Are you considering relocating? Seems like Athens, Georgia should be on your list of places to consider! Here is some additional info about Athens and feel free to ask us for a full relocation package.  |
Stage your Athens, GA home for a quicker sale and more money!
You live in every day, so maybe you don't notice the little piles and dinged corners, but when it comes time to sell your home, some strategic "staging" may make all the difference in mnimizing the time your home is on the market and maximizing your profit.
So put a few dollars and a few hours of work in place and get ready to sell!
For your viewing enjoyment, and hopeful education, I present the following "Stage Your Home" video.
Got a best tip, staging trick? Please feel free to share it in the comment below!
Award Winning Athens, GA
Those of us who already live in Athens, GA already know just how cool of a place it is, but recently Athens made the list of 2009'sTwelve Unique Cities to Visit as awarded by The National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Here's a highlight tour of Athens:
Take a look at some of the other awards and ranking for the Classic City of the South.....Athens, Georgia!
Convinced Athens is a great place to be? Check out what your money can buy and
start your search for Athens, GA real estate here.
Let me know if you need help, I'd love to show you my hometown!
Winterville, GA Marigold Festival returns this weekend for 2009!
Don't Lose Your Home, Don't Wait Too Late!
| It seems I am talking to more and more people who are behind on their mortgage payments or fear they are going to have to file bankruptcy or go into foreclosure on their home.
Source: Controller of the Currency (04/21/2009)
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