Juan...Two...Three... Real Estate Newsletter

 
 
 
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Juan...2...3... The Good, The Bad and The (local) Facts
Real Estate Newsletter

   

The real estate market continues to change/evolve. As always, real estate is extremely local, and what is happening in Metro Atlanta is different from what is happening in other parts of the country and even from county to county. The charts below compare data from September 2022 to December 2022, the supply of homes is low (experts look for a 6-month supply of homes to have a balanced real estate market ) additionally Metro Atlanta brings approximately 60-70K new residents per year so more houses on the market will be ideal. Pending sales and closed sales moved lower, the time of multiple offers, selling above asking price and waved contingencies, etc. are a thing of the past (with a few exceptions) which should help buyers. 
Take a look at the graphs below and let me know if you like a more specific report (down to your neighborhood/zip code etc), I do believe that because of the low inventory, the right house (location, condition, and price) should still generate a lot of interest and perhaps multiple offers. These are definitely important changes, and they should be considered when thinking of buying or selling real estate, what will happen next is anyone's guess but from real estate history we learn that cycles are inevitable and we are in the middle of a new one.  
 

 
UNDER CONTRACT!
Thank you AEC Homes for the opportunity to assist you with the sale of another beautiful home. Your second home built during the pandemic, it was no easy task to build in the middle of the pandemic however you managed to build truly a one-of-a-kind home, custom designed from beginning to end, the buyers are beyond happy. Congratulations and Thank you again for your trust.
 
 
 
 
 
You were planning on buying a home recently, but your mortgage pre-approval drowned in a sea of rising interest rates. You may still want to buy a home eventually, since home ownership is a cornerstone to building family wealth. But until something shifts, you can use this unexpected extra time to rethink your needs, adjust your expectations, and prepare for buying later. Meanwhile, my advice is to…

Re-evaluate your current situation. In slowing down your house hunt, you've given yourself the gift of extra time. You can reassess what's realistic and desirable for you, without pressure.

Improve your financial position. If you don’t have enough down payment or monthly income to offset higher monthly payments, then you can take more time to build savings through a side job or by increasing your salary.

Adjust your interest rate expectations. You’ll probably need to stomach higher monthly payments for years to come. If rates do drop in the future, you can refinance. If they don’t drop, then you’ll have built equity.

Consider these alternatives. If building wealth through home ownership is more important to you than living in the home you own, then you might consider buying a rental property instead of your primary home. You might also consider qualifying for an ARM (adjustable-rate mortgage).

Even if you can afford to buy now, should you wait for home prices to drop?  Prices will likely come down eventually. But will they come down enough to offset higher rates? Rates are likely to rise even further in the next few months, so locking in a rate now might ensure you of a better monthly payment. And you might be able to negotiate a lower price now, instead of waiting for that same price later.
 
Are you close to retirement? Do you have a job opportunity that requires you to relocate? Do you own another property? Did you recently buy or refinance your loan? Do you want to travel and work remotely? Every situation is different, let's talk about your specific situation and work on a plan. 
Juan Visbal
404-502-4629
 

Should you pay off your mortgage before you retire?

If you have a sizable nest egg ($300,000 or more), and just a small amount left on your mortgage (like $50,000 or less), then paying off your mortgage might make sense. That will still leave you with a large cash cushion, and you'll enjoy being mortgage-free.

However, if your nest egg is small (say, under $150,000), then it doesn't make sense to pay off the mortgage, even if it’s just $50,000, because you’ll need that money for a cash cushion. You can't count on your home equity for extra cash because you might not be eligible for the loan after you retire, or your home might drop in value, reducing the equity.

As you can see, the numbers are not exact, and what one person feels is enough may not apply to another person. Always check with your own financial advisor before making any kind of decision like this. And as always, I'm here if you need any real estate information to help in your retirement planning. ~*|OWNERFIRST|*
 
 

Sherwin-Williams' Paint Color of the Year 2023

Darkroom is the 2023 Color of the Year and is described as 'an alluring and classic shade for an eclectic yet modern look'. We expect the color will dominate paint ideas in the seasons ahead.
 
 

Do you have a retirement backup plan?

Planning for retirement is based on considering present circumstances and making intelligent assumptions about the future. Since both these things change over time, a retirement plan is more of a guide than a hard target. As you plan, you will want to consider both your ideal outcome and possible worst case scenarios. Even if you've never done any retirement planning before, this article is a real eye-opener about retirement planning.
 
 

Just for Fun

 

Architecture for Adults

Sometimes it's out of necessity, and sometimes you wonder what they were thinking.
 

Aug. 3, 2023

Juan, 2, 3 August RE Newsletter

 

 

“The best way to predict the future is to create it" ~Peter Drucker
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Juan-2-3-Real Estate Newsletter

Juan Visbal 
404-502-4629
Georgia Total Realty
 
About 6 years ago I read an article predicting what housing would look like in 2050. At that time, the world’s population had just hit 7.3 billion. Now, it’s 8 billion. Also at that time, the UN predicted the population would be 9 billion by 2050. Now it predicts 9.7 billion.

Many of the thoughts about housing from that article are already coming true, and it’s not close to 2050 yet. One prediction was that by 2050, homes would be too expensive for individuals to buy alone (which was possible 6 years ago). There would be a shift to co-buying, multi-unit conversions, and buying tiny. That's happening faster than expected.

6 years ago, it was thought that ocean-front homes would be underwater, while small cities would explode in size. Today, both predictions are ahead of schedule. Also, the kind of fire danger we see today wasn’t on the radar 6 years ago.

The article also predicted boomer neighborhoods would stay intact. I’m not so sure now, as I see single-family neighborhoods being carved up by owners who are building granny flats and housing for their kids. Old homes are being torn down and rebuilt smaller with more tech. The advent of “AI everything” means that smart homes will change in ways we can’t imagine now.

What does all this mean for you? If possible, plan ahead. Maybe buy near a small college where rents can still cover the mortgage. Or buy now in a place you want to retire. Build a granny flat if you have the space. Sell your small home and upsize, giving you more options later. Or consider a move to a climate-stable location before others do. Of course, 2050 is 27 years away, and you might not want to think about it. But if you do, your future self will thank you, not to mention your kids and grandkids.
 

August Quiz Question


When you work with me, you’re taking steps to find a new story. What am I?
 

Juan's Advice

What should we do with our parent’s reverse mortgage?

"Back in 2010, our father took out a reverse mortgage, gaining an income of $1,000/mo. Now 2023, Dad has left us, while our mother, now 93, is still in the home. The adjustable-rate mortgage has swelled to $360,000. The interest keeps climbing with inflation. None of us can afford to settle the outstanding balance, meaning it will continue to skyrocket. When our mom passes away, the entire amount will come due. Do you have any recommendations?"

As this person has discovered, reverse mortgages can be a double-edged sword, providing short-term income but long-term challenges. If their mom passes away or moves out permanently, the loan will become due. If there's still equity in the home, they MAY be able to refinance it, then taking on the entire debt as a new loan. They can also opt to sell the home, paying off the underlying balance, and they can sell at any time to avoid the time crunch that might occur when their mom passes. If there's no equity left, the heirs can simply turn the house over to the lender. They won't be on the hook if the mortgage balance is greater than what the home is worth.

If you have parents with a reverse mortgage, please discuss these options with the lender holding the mortgage. Contact me if you need a lender you can talk with about refinancing. You don’t need to use the reverse mortgage holder for the refinance. ~ Juan
 
 

Nuggets of News

 

Real estate is going gray

Like it or not, if you're selling a house, it pays to paint it a color that's competitive. That color these days is a dusky dark gray. A Zillow study reports that homes with a charcoal gray kitchen can sell for $2,512 more than similar homes, while a dark gray living room can bring in $1,755 more than pale neutrals. You can Google gray palettes or check out this site for example.

Need a sleep divorce?

Almost a third of couple say they sleep apart, a practice known as a "sleep divorce." Despite the name, it may save a marriage. When one bed partner has insomnia, snores, has hot flashes, a weak bladder, etc., the other partner gets an almost equally poor night's sleep. Poor sleep can worsen mood and make couples more likely to argue with one another. But when partners who sleep apart also work to create intimacy in other ways, it can improve their relationship. 

The skinny on Lion's Mane

Does Lion's Main Mushroom really help boost cognition and reduce risk of Alzheimer's? There is clinical evidence that Lion's Main does increase levels of a molecule called nerve growth factor (NGF), which increases the length of nerve cell processes. That apparently translates into improved memory and possibly the reduction of amyloid plaques that contribute to Alzheimer's disease. However, the evidence is limited, and so far, there have been no long-term studies to determine effects on dementia. There appears to be very little risk to taking a daily Lion's Mane supplement, and thousands of anecdotal reports speak of its effectiveness in boosting cognition. 

Study your future neighbors!

A top regret of home buyers is that they didn't study their future neighbors more carefully. For instance: "We didn't know the guy next door would drive like a maniac out of his driveway. We have to keep our kids off the sidewalk because we aren't sure he'll look before peeling out. We moved here for a safe neighborhood, but don’t feel it."

You can't prepare for everything, but it makes sense to study your neighbors somewhat before removing buying contingencies. The best house in the world can be utterly ruined by "bad" neighbors. Since “bad” is subjective, talk to multiple neighbors, and drive by the house both day and night.

Superman won’t fly in the Public Domain

Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938 and will enter the US public domain in 2033 (95 years). Whatever is in the public domain can be used freely, without permission or compensating the owner. However, public domain characters can only be used as they existed 95 years ago. When Superman enters the public domain, new uses must be based on how he appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938. That version of Superman didn't fly, and his costume was different from the iconic suit of today. If someone made a flying Superman movie in 2033 based on the 1938 character, Warner Bros. would have a case for copyright infringement. Now you know.

Just for Fun

 

Here's a number puzzle just for fun

In this puzzle, you have to figure out the math rules in each row to come up with the final number (indicated by the question mark). Can you do it? Click here to see the answer.
 
agent image     Juan Visbal
404-502-4629
Georgia Total Realty

Posted in Newsletter
May 18, 2023

Juan, 2, 3 May Free Download

We are hearing and reading negative news about the real estate market. No one really knows what is going to happen in the future, but we can be certain of what is happening right now, locally. Our last home for sale (https://www.atlantaforsalehomes.com/coming-soon-duluth/) received multiple offers, some 10% above the list price. The house was on the market for just 2 days. The amount of buyers in Metro Atlanta is not in balance with the housing inventory so prices keep going up and bidding wars are still commonplace. Below is a graph showing the median sales price for single-family homes (min 3 bedrooms, 2 baths) in four cities for the last 3 years in April. You can draw your own conclusions, but it certainly does not match the national news narrative about real estate. After all, the real estate market is very local, and what happens in Metro Atlanta is completely different from other places, some may say we are blessed and lucky to be in Metro Atlanta but buyers may disagree. If you are thinking of selling or buying let's talk. Navigating this market can be a bit stressful, and there are many disappointed buyers. I feel your pain. Let's talk and create a plan based on your needs. Every case is different, and I would love to chat about your situation. I am always at your service. Juan

 
 
 
 

Is It Cheaper to Buy or Build a House?

In terms of raw numbers, building seems a lot cheaper than buying an existing home. But exactly how do you go about buying land and building a home? And what are the true costs? Let's dig into the details: Here's How to buy land and build a house in 4 steps.
 
Read Now (pdf)

agent image     Juan Visbal
404-502-4629
Georgia Total Realty

 

Posted in Newsletter
March 13, 2023

Juan...Two...Three...March 2023 Newsletter

 

 

 

 
 
 
Meditation isn’t for everyone. Many people have never tried it. Some think it's "woo-woo." Others just don't have the patience for it. But there is a huge body of evidence that meditation is a useful practice for calming a frantic mind, reducing cortisol from stress, controlling anxiety, and gaining fresh energy for demanding tasks.

Meditation means focusing your mind on a single discrete thing to train your attention. With steady practice, the result is a state of mental clarity and emotional calm that many people claim has changed their lives. But meditation takes time, and time is something lacking in our hurried lives.

Fortunately, there is a way to do meditation without sitting cross-legged in front of a lotus flower for hours. You can turn some of your daily tasks into a "walking meditation," which involves very deliberately thinking about tasks that you normally do automatically.

Want to try it? Pick any routine task like walking, exercising, cooking, working in the garden, or eating. Stay completely present with the task. Take deep breaths. Notice what is most vividly tied to the activity--your feet touching the ground, the air through your nostrils, the sensation of food on your tongue. When you feel your attention slipping away from those immediate sensations, just bring your focus back.

How long should you meditate in this way? As long as you like. I don't think there's a rule. Just do it until you don't want to anymore. Then next time go a little longer to see how it feels. Enjoy!

March Quiz Question

Move 1 matchstick to make the equation true.

Send your answer
 

3 Keys to Making a Good Real Estate Deal


If you or your friends are planning to buy or sell a home, then it's useful to keep your eye on 3 things that can affect your real estate deal in 2023:

First, interest rates for buying. You probably know rates have been going up. But did you know there are ways to keep your rate lower than what you see in the news? You can buy the rate down, increase your credit score, and/or put more money down. All of these will have an impact on what interest rate a lender decides to offer you.

Next, seller concessions. No one likes to give away money! But seller concessions can help a buyer, and the cost may be lower than dropping your price. For instance, instead of dropping the price by $20,000, a seller can offer to pay $10,000 in an interest-rate buy-down, which can benefit the buyer more than the lower price.

Third, strong negotiation skills are a must! In "yesterday's" market, deals were made in minutes, with very little negotiation. Today, knowing how to negotiate and stand firm at the right time are critical factors in making deals. Fortunately, you have me in your corner to negotiate firmly on your behalf. Call me at 404-502-4629 or email me at jvisbal@gatotal.com to start your 2023 home purchase or sale.
 

Nuggets of News

 

How much money do we need to live entirely off dividends?

Dividends are the payouts you get from investing in certain stocks. You can either reinvest those dividends or cash them out as income. Many people invest enough in stocks that the dividend payouts support them. How much would you need to invest to make that happen for you? Is it only for the wealthy? Not necessarily. Here's a good overview from Yahoo Finance of how to figure out the lowest amount you'd need to invest in order to live passively off dividends.

Why Ben & Jerry's Is Chunky and Häagen-Dazs Is Smooth

If you love your fancy ice creams, you might know that Ben & Jerry's specializes in chunky mixes, like Cherry Garcia or The Tonight Dough, while Haagen-Dazs is all about creamy flavoring, but not pieces. The two hardly ever cross each other's turf. Why? Experts suspect the two companies might be engaging in what's known as "tacit collusion," where two parties silently agree to stick to their own territory. It's not illegal, and makes solid business sense for the companies and consumers.
 

Selling? Here's a DIY project that will help attract buyers

In the current real estate market, buyers are looking for big incentives to pull the trigger on a new home purchase. One place sellers can add a lot of "umph" to attract better offers is the kitchen backsplash. Even a dated kitchen can be brought back to life by a trendy backsplash. Fortunately, you can likely add your own, and depending on the materials you choose, it can be quite inexpensive relative to the return you get. You'll wonder why you never did it before!

Strange Real Estate Words: Amortize

The word "amortization" refers to the process of paying off your mortgage, where the interest is paid first and the principal last. The word amortize comes from the Old French word "amortiser," which means "to kill off." Recognize the word "mort" in there -- as in mortuary, mortal, and mortgage? Amortize was first used in the 16th century in reference to religious orders and their practice of gradually buying back land and property that had been pledged as collateral for loans. Over time, the concept was applied to finance and real estate.
 

Where Is the Space Tesla Now?

Remember the red Tesla sportscar that Elon Musk shot into space five years ago? Where is it now? According to the website whereisroadster.com, the car has completed three-and-a-quarter loops around the sun and is 203 million miles (327 million kilometers) from Earth. For all we know, the car may have been obliterated by a meteoroid or eroded beyond recognition by radiation. Chances are nearly non-existent that we'll ever see it again. One scientist estimated a 22% chance of the car colliding with the Earth within the next 15 million years.
 
 

Just for Fun

 
In the tiny town of Indian Hills, Colorado, a guy named Vince Rozmiarek, started volunteering at the local Community Center on April Fool’s Day in 2013. He began adding puns and one-liners to the outdoor message board. They are so good that the Indian Hills Community Sign's Facebook page has 162K followers, which is over 100 times more people than the population of the town. See a few of Vince's signs below:
 
Got Real Estate Questions? Email now!

Posted in Newsletter
Jan. 16, 2023

5 Ways To Reduce Stress When Selling Your Home

5 WAYS TO REDUCE THE STRESS OF SELLING YOUR HOME

ACCORDING TO SOME STUDIES, SELLING A HOME CAN BE AS STRESSFUL AS GETTING A DIVORCE OR GOING THROUGH BANKRUPTCY. YOU CAN'T ELIMINATE STRESS WHEN SELLING, BUT YOU CAN MINIMIZE IT BY TAKING THE STEPS DESCRIBED BELOW.

1. THIS MAY SOUND SELF-SERVING, BUT CHOOSE THE RIGHT LISTING AGENT

Our industry is rife with agents who don't understand business, don't know how to provide customer service, and don't communicate well. They may "know real estate," but they don’t know how to "do real estate." This is evident from start to finish—from showing homes to closing deals. Consider home showings, for instance. As a listing agent who represents home sellers, I frequently hear from my sellers about the bad habits of some buyer’s agents: They don't turn off lights, close doors, or wipe their feet. They let their client's kids run amok, they break things, and they show up unexpectedly. They even steal. Keep in mind, that’s really a minority of agents…but those problem agents do stand out! Ten agents may show up and behave professionally, but the eleventh damages the reputation of the previous ten by doing something unprofessional. It drives responsible agents mad! My job is to minimize negative factors throughout the transaction. That starts with controlling the showing situation by managing the lock box, being strict about showing instructions, and helping you get your house ready for a bombardment of strangers. I'm here to help, and that may even mean helping you pack up your valuables to prevent theft or breakage. No matter how you prepare your home, showing it will still be uncomfortable, simply because you have to keep your home in show-ready condition. Together we can work out a system to make it at least tolerable for the duration of your marketing time.

2. KEEP YOUR HOUSE 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM BEING "SHOW READY"

It is a huge pain to have to show your house. A huge pain. There's no getting around it. And the longer it takes your house to sell, the more painful it is.

SOLUTIONS FOR "SHOWING STRESS":

     1. Move out first. But if that’s not an option…

     2. Pack most of your belongings in preparation for moving. Live minimally in your house.

     3. Clean as you go. For some people that's easy. But if you're the type of person who'd rather play than clean house, you may not always have the tidiest of homes. No judgment there, but if that's you, spend a long time getting everything deep cleaned, then close off areas you don’t need to use. It'll be easier to do maintenance cleaning in the areas you still use while selling. And if a buyer complains that things aren't as clean as they were when he first saw the house, spend a little money to allow the buyer to bring his/her own house cleaner in before moving in. There's an old saying that "no one's dirt is as clean as your own dirt," so no sense in arguing about cleanliness.

     4. Have a plan for leaving the house during showings. If you have a dog or kids, this can be a bit harder to arrange but is still important. If you can't leave the home, don't "lurk." Buyers can't wait to get out of a house where they feel the seller lurking in the background. Tell the buyers you'll go read on the patio while they're looking, or you'll take the kids for a walk, or you'll be in the front yard, etc. Just remove your "presence" as much as possible.

3. LET GO OF THE HOUSE EMOTIONALLY

I've sold a fair number of houses and I understand that no one loves your house as much as you do. You love the gardens you worked so hard on. You think your decorating is great. You adore your cherry wood kitchen cabinets. Your brand-new expensive carpeting is the perfect color. But buyers will still want to rip much of it out. They’ll say things that make you spitting mad, like opining that your paint is ugly, your stone fireplace is dated looking, or your light fixtures would have to be changed. Right in front of you, they'll discuss getting rid of your expensive carpeting or chopping down your favorite tree—the one your kids played in as they were growing up. You must view your house as a commodity. Buyers are trying to fit themselves into their own house, not fit themselves into your home. They will want to remove anything that doesn't feel like them...and they want the freedom to talk about it with one another while they're shopping for a home. So if you don't want to hear it, then try to leave the house when it's being shown.

4. DON'T BE A TOUR GUIDE

Buyer's real estate agents spend hours upon hours with their buyers, going from home to home until they're completely exhausted with trying to make the buyer's dream come true. The last thing the buyer's agent (or the buyer) wants is for a seller to start playing tour guide. I've been in homes where the seller spent 45 minutes detailing everything he'd ever done to his home. I knew what he was doing. He was certain that his real estate agent wasn't doing enough to "sell" all the special features of his home, so he was taking matters into his own hands. It doesn't work. Or at least it doesn't work any better than typical showing strategies and takes way too long. Buyers know quickly if this is the house for them, and just because the seller spent $2,000 on "better" quality sprinklers, or the water softener is only 3 months old, the buyers are not going to love it anymore. They'll try to be polite, but they'd really like to leave. A better strategy is to tape a small sign to anything special that you want to call attention to. Then if the buyers are interested in the house, those extras will be a nice touch that can put them over the edge.

5. KNOW THAT YOU WILL HIT TURBULENCE ON THIS FLIGHT

Once you get an offer, let your agent pilot the plane (metaphorically speaking). If you're running up into the cockpit every time there's a bit of turbulence, you'll just distract the pilot...but you won't change the turbulence. It's much better to hire an excellent pilot in the first place so that when turbulence does hit, you are confident he or she will handle it correctly. In real estate transactions, there is ALWAYS turbulence. There is no turbulence. Turbulence will happen. Always. For example, a problem always seems to arise with the house itself, no matter how perfect you think it is, and no matter how many advanced repairs you made. In many cases, that issue is something you didn't know about. Or something you'd always lived with, but never thought of as a problem. There's a better-than-average chance the house issue will arise at the worst possible moment, often at the closing table...just when you think you're finished. Keep in mind that a good buyer’s agent will press for advantages for the buyer, which means they may use the house issue to negotiate for more concessions. Your best security for those last-minute negotiations is what you do in advance to prepare. Here are a few things I suggest, even before you start marketing your home: Have an advance home inspection, which will be in addition to the buyer’s home inspection. Get a preliminary title report, which will prevent any surprises on the title, such as old easements. Take photographs around the house to “prove” that things are where they are supposed to be, which prevents last-minute claims by buyers that you “removed” something (usually light fixtures). Look for the kinds of issues that buyers might notice, such as stained carpeting. If you can fix it, go ahead. If you can’t, don’t hide it…but don’t call attention to it. Even so, there will be surprises that none of us could foresee. Here are a few things that I've encountered:

• A piece of drywall not being fastened down properly, causing the buyers to demand all the drywall be replaced. (Solution: We provided a drywall inspection demonstrating there were no further problems.)

• A damp spot in the ceiling after rain, causing the buyers to demand an entire roof replacement, instead of the simple repair called for. (Solution: We asked the roofing company to certify that their repair would solve the problem, and the seller offered to pay for the repair and an extended warranty.)

• Buyers claiming a repair was done incorrectly and refusing to close until it was re-done…because the repair used average materials instead of high-end expensive materials. (Solution: We stood firm, politely letting the buyers know they didn't have any grounds to prevent closing. Also in this case, we served them with a Notice to Perform, which is a legal way of saying, “you only have 24 hours to close, or you’re going to have a problem if you don’t.”)

CONCLUSION

When it's time for you to sell your home, I'm on your side, and ready to stand up for you. Together we'll try to control the showings, eliminate problems during showings, manage your time effectively, and stand up to the challenges that will create turbulence during the sale. Experience counts a lot when it comes to working with a good listing agent. Call me for a listing appointment the moment you start thinking about selling.

Posted in Newsletter
Jan. 13, 2023

Juan...Two...Three...January 2023 Newsletter

 

 
 
 
SEARCH FOR HOMES
EMAIL ME
Your Home Value
 
 
 

Juan...2...3... The Good, The Bad and The (local) Facts
Real Estate Newsletter

   

The real estate market continues to change/evolve. As always, real estate is extremely local, and what is happening in Metro Atlanta is different from what is happening in other parts of the country and even from county to county. The charts below compare data from September 2022 to December 2022, the supply of homes is low (experts look for a 6-month supply of homes to have a balanced real estate market ) additionally Metro Atlanta brings approximately 60-70K new residents per year so more houses on the market will be ideal. Pending sales and closed sales moved lower, the time of multiple offers, selling above asking price and waved contingencies, etc. are a thing of the past (with a few exceptions) which should help buyers. 
Take a look at the graphs below and let me know if you like a more specific report (down to your neighborhood/zip code etc), I do believe that because of the low inventory, the right house (location, condition, and price) should still generate a lot of interest and perhaps multiple offers. These are definitely important changes, and they should be considered when thinking of buying or selling real estate, what will happen next is anyone's guess but from real estate history we learn that cycles are inevitable and we are in the middle of a new one.  
 

 
UNDER CONTRACT!
Thank you AEC Homes for the opportunity to assist you with the sale of another beautiful home. Your second home built during the pandemic, it was no easy task to build in the middle of the pandemic however you managed to build truly a one-of-a-kind home, custom designed from beginning to end, the buyers are beyond happy. Congratulations and Thank you again for your trust.
 
 
 
 
 
You were planning on buying a home recently, but your mortgage pre-approval drowned in a sea of rising interest rates. You may still want to buy a home eventually, since home ownership is a cornerstone to building family wealth. But until something shifts, you can use this unexpected extra time to rethink your needs, adjust your expectations, and prepare for buying later. Meanwhile, my advice is to…

Re-evaluate your current situation. In slowing down your house hunt, you've given yourself the gift of extra time. You can reassess what's realistic and desirable for you, without pressure.

Improve your financial position. If you don’t have enough down payment or monthly income to offset higher monthly payments, then you can take more time to build savings through a side job or by increasing your salary.

Adjust your interest rate expectations. You’ll probably need to stomach higher monthly payments for years to come. If rates do drop in the future, you can refinance. If they don’t drop, then you’ll have built equity.

Consider these alternatives. If building wealth through homeownership is more important to you than living in the home you own, then you might consider buying a rental property instead of your primary home. You might also consider qualifying for an ARM (adjustable-rate mortgage).

Even if you can afford to buy now, should you wait for home prices to drop?  Prices will likely come down eventually. But will they come down enough to offset higher rates? Rates are likely to rise even further in the next few months, so locking in a rate now might ensure you of a better monthly payment. And you might be able to negotiate a lower price now, instead of waiting for that same price later.
 
Are you close to retirement? Do you have a job opportunity that requires you to relocate? Do you own another property? Did you recently buy or refinance your loan? Do you want to travel and work remotely? Every situation is different, let's talk about your specific situation and work on a plan. 
Juan Visbal
404-502-4629
 

Should you pay off your mortgage before you retire?

If you have a sizable nest egg ($300,000 or more), and just a small amount left on your mortgage (like $50,000 or less), then paying off your mortgage might make sense. That will still leave you with a large cash cushion, and you'll enjoy being mortgage-free.

However, if your nest egg is small (say, under $150,000), then it doesn't make sense to pay off the mortgage, even if it’s just $50,000, because you’ll need that money for a cash cushion. You can't count on your home equity for extra cash because you might not be eligible for the loan after you retire, or your home might drop in value, reducing the equity.

As you can see, the numbers are not exact, and what one person feels is enough may not apply to another person. Always check with your own financial advisor before making any kind of decision like this. And as always, I'm here if you need any real estate information to help in your retirement planning. ~*|OWNERFIRST|*
 
 

Sherwin-Williams' Paint Color of the Year 2023

Darkroom is the 2023 Color of the Year and is described as 'an alluring and classic shade for an eclectic yet modern look'. We expect the color will dominate paint ideas in the seasons ahead.
 
 

Do you have a retirement backup plan?

Planning for retirement is based on considering present circumstances and making intelligent assumptions about the future. Since both these things change over time, a retirement plan is more of a guide than a hard target. As you plan, you will want to consider both your ideal outcome and possible worst-case scenarios. Even if you've never done any retirement planning before, this article is a real eye-opener about retirement planning.
 
 

Just for Fun

 

Architecture for Adults

Sometimes it's out of necessity, and sometimes you wonder what they were thinking.
 

Posted in Newsletter
June 3, 2022

Juan...Two...Three...June 2022 Newsletter

The Real Estate Market Will Change. Should I Sell or Should I Stay? 

During the past two years, we have seen a double-digit increase in the value of our homes, values have gone up for many reasons (supply and demand in Metro Atlanta being on top of the list with a low inventory of homes and a large pool of homebuyers) the fact is the real estate market in Metro Atlanta has been on fire for the past 18+ months with 20% increase in value year over year in some areas! How long will this last? No one knows, and even though the supply and demand aspect will not change overnight other factors are affecting the market, (interest rates, war, inflation) We can't predict the future but at some point, this hot real estate market will change, how fast, how hard or how long? nobody knows, the question we as homeowners are asking is Should I Sell?
There is no doubt that under the right circumstances this is probably one of the best moments in history to sell your property, whether you should sell or not really depends on your specific circumstances, there is no advantage to selling your house to find yourself unable to find or buy your next home. 
Are you close to retirement? Do you have a job opportunity that requires you to relocate? Do you own another property? Did you recently buy or refinance your loan? Do you want to travel and work remotely? Every situation is different, what we know is that changes are coming, let's talk about your specific situation and work on a plan. 
Juan Visbal
404-502-4629

COMING SOON Duluth Home 
This beautiful home has been cared for and loved for, as you walk in you notice the welcoming oak staircase, upstairs you find three bedrooms and two full bathrooms, one of the secondary bedrooms is larger than the master! All bathrooms have been updated with matching vanity counters. On the main level, enjoy the space of a living room with a fireplace, a separate dining room, and the kitchen with refinished cabinets and granite countertops, you can also access the deck and backyard from the kitchen. The basement has an outside entrance and a separate driveway, it is currently being used as office space but it has one bedroom a full bathroom, and a kitchen. Two-car garage with cabinets throughout and a large storage room in the back. All this is in a convenient location in Duluth within the Berkeley Lake elementary school district. The roof is 3 years old, and HVAC systems (2) from 2017 and 2020 respectively. Recently painted inside and out.  

 
Just SOLD! 
Thank you AEC Homes for the opportunity to assist you with the sale of another beautiful home. Building a home during the pandemic was no easy task but you managed to build a one-of-a-kind home, with a modern design, beautiful finishes, a 4th-level game room with a balcony that was loved by all, an incredible master bathroom, plus a lot more and your attention to detail in every room that made this a beautiful home. Congratulations, and THANK YOU!
 
 
 
You've heard the saying, "If you think hiring a pro is expensive…just wait ‘til you hire an amateur." That's true for real estate agents, too. Most of my clients come from referrals given by happy past clients who recognize that I'm a pro at what I do. Feel free to call with any kind of real estate question...you don't have to be buying or selling right now. I'm here for you and anyone you refer to me. Juan Visbal 404-502-4629
 
 

Real Estate Q&A

Should I buy a Second Home before buying my First?

If you do, you're not alone.

With property prices so high, many first-time buyers and down-sizers are choosing to buy a home somewhere else, while continuing to pay rent for their main home. They're buying condos, homes in down markets, vacation homes, or homes in exurbs with long commutes. After buying, they rent the homes to others, either as Airbnbs or full time rentals.

It's a way to build equity, even though you're still paying rent in your current location. It's also a way to buy into a community that might rise in value. And it offers the peace of mind that comes with having a place to go if needed.

To make this work, you may need to put 20% down, and you'll need to buy 'right' based on the rental market in your target location. If it's out of our area, you'll want to connect with a local Realtor there (I can refer someone, if you like). And if it's local to our area, I can help you do the analysis. This method of "buying the second home while still renting your first" does open up the entire country for buying without moving. Let me know how I can help.
 
 

Road Trippin’ with Fido (or in my case Frankie)

Some of these may seem obvious to you, but there might be a gem or two you can use here.
  1. Teach them to love the car. Long before your road trip, take them on as many local drives as possible, and give them treats and toys to make the car fun.
  2. Consider comfort from multiple perspectives. Make sure they'll be cool I'm the backseat. Give them a blanket from their own bed. Offer water several times during the trip.
  3. Expect your trip to take longer. Dogs will need a break every couple of hours to walk around and sniff. Make sure to leash them securely before opening the car door, as even the most docile dogs can get frightened and bolt.
  4. Plan ahead so you know where an emergency vet can be found along the way.
  5. Consider what you'll do with your dog at your destination. For instance, if it'll be locked in your hotel room while you go to dinner, you'll want to do a long walk first. If it's a barker, you may need to plan to eat in, or find a pet friendly patio eatery so it can accompany you.

The Wrong-Way Driver

An elderly woman is watching the news on TV. They're reporting on a wrong-way driver that's making cars swerve all over the road to avoid him. The woman quickly calls her husband's cell to warn him. When he answers, she shouts, "Don't take your usual way home today, dear. There's a crazy wrong-way driver on that road."

He shouts back, “Just one? Heck, there’s a whole bunch of them!”
 
 



Posted in Newsletter
June 8, 2021

Juan...Two...Three...June Newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

Juan...Two...Three... Newsletter!

 
 
 
Friends and clients,
While the average sales price of your home keeps increasing (at record levels) the number of homes available for sale remains low. The seller's market is still here, experts are divided as to how long this will last, a few experts believe this is a real estate bubble, and the majority believe the market has enough legs and momentum to continue the trend for the remainder 2021 and perhaps beyond. As all things come to an end, this will pass, and although many have opinions, no one knows. What we know is that real estate is very local,  the graphs below use data from 4 or the largest Metro Atlanta counties,  if you are interested in a more specific area (down to the subdivision level) feel free to contact me at 404-502-4629 or simply visit my website and run your specific market report.                         
 

COMING SOON TO THE MARKET


This beautiful home located in the sought-after Trotters Ridge Subdivision is getting ready to come to the market. My clients have enjoyed this house for years and have done an incredible job updating the house, their next project could have been adding a pool and building a third car garage but instead decided to sell. That is your gain, the list of upgrades and additions is very impressive. 

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

I am very grateful to all my friends and clients that trust me when buying or selling their homes. The market is very competitive for buyers, having someone to trust you and listen to you during the process makes a world of difference and the results show, a successful transaction is impossible if we don't work together and that's exactly what you've done. 

Thank you MARIAH AND CODY, you were a pleasure to work with and I am super happy we found a house for you, I have no doubt you will be very happy in your new home! Save me some blueberries! :) and see you at the house warming party!
Thank you LEONARDO, this is our second transaction together and you are always a pleasure to work with, very clear in what you want and what you are looking for, I am glad we found something for your mother and family to enjoy. 
Thank you ROB AND KATIE, for your positive view and contagious optimism! Moving from out of state and having a time frame is always challenging but you made it happen, we worked hard and everything fell into place to find a house for you and your family with time to spare!  Welcome, Y'ALL. Enjoy your new Atlanta home. It was a pleasure.
Thank you LEO AND ALVARO, this was our 5th time working together and I am glad to say selling your house was an incredible experience and a fast-moving process, with multiple offers, and great communication and trust, thanks for the opportunity again.
Thank you MAURICIO AND SANDRA, I have to take my hat off to you and your family for tackling your house flipping project with such enthusiasm, we received multiple offers and it was hard work but it paid off!!  
 

HOW'S THAT NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION COMING ALONG?


Remember back at the start of 2021? We were all hopeful about the coming vaccine and looking forward to a sense of normalcy. And because hope springs eternal, we made New Year's Resolutions like we always do, imaging a brighter future.
For some of us, our resolutions revolved around the pandemic...getting rid of the extra 15 pounds we gained over 2020, or saving a bigger emergency fund for "next time," or just getting our job and life back. For others, it was buying a house, exercising more, taking a vacation again, or hugging relatives. 

Now we're six months in, and it's a good time to reassess and re-imagine our resolutions and goals. Things have changed — perhaps more slowly than we anticipated — but they have changed. Now is a good time to take a walk-through of your life and assess where you're at, where you want to go, and how you'll get there given the new realities of the world at large.

Here's a great post with a ton of goal-setting ideas that can get your thoughts flowing. The content comes from James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. As always, if real estate is in your plans — or in the plans of someone you know — please reach out to me for help.  
 

DIY HOME REPAIRS THAT CAN BITE YOU IN THE END 

I love the idea of an independent home owner. However, before diving into your DIY repairs, here are a few common places where a pro might be cheaper than doing it yourself in the long run.

Cutting down large trees. If you have the right tools and can do so safely, it may be perfectly OK to cut your own trees. But check with local regulations first. If you cut a tree and it causes an accident or damage, you may be liable.

Replacing an electrical panel. Again, if you have the knowledge and tools, you may be able to do it. However, this is one household improvement you probably shouldn't do yourself, given that you may need a permit, and it needs to be done to code.

Replacing your stove. You can probably manage replacing an electric stove with another electric stove, but it might be harder to replace an electric stove with a gas stove. That is best done by a licensed professional.

Removing a wall. You may like the idea of an open living space, but if you remove a supporting wall, you'll have more open space than you bargained for if your ceiling collapses. If you want to do it yourself, first have a contractor confirm it's not a supporting wall. 

Replacing a water heater. Replacing one is a simple matter, if you have the right tools and know-how. You need to make sure you're running the right sized electrical wiring for the load required by the new heater. You'll also need to be comfortable working with a gas line if it's a gas heater.

Making roof repairs. This isn't necessarily difficult, but it is dangerous. Roof falls is one of the more common household injuries. From adjusting satellite dishes to fixing roof tiles, it pays to have the right safety gear on.
It's a good question. The answer is yes and no...

Any kind of LISS (low-intensity steady state) exercise, like brisk walking or jogging, will help you build lung endurance, improve heart health, and burn fat. But even if you walk or jog a lot, you still need to eat right to be fit. As one fitness expert puts it, "If you have a large gut when you start jogging, it'll stay large unless you also change what you put into it."

You can markedly increase your fitness level by adding weights to your routine. Lifting weights burns carbohydrates and fat to literally "build" muscle and bone density. Furthermore, lifting weights will also increase the "after burn" effect, where you have a higher Resting Metabolic Rate that continues to burn calories for up to an hour after exercising. And weights will improve bone density.

So walking will make you fitter than not walking, but eating right and lifting weights to build muscle will make you much fitter than walking alone.
 
 

WHAT FOREIGNERS FIND STRANGE ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN HOMES

If you've ever watched International House Hunters, you might have noticed North American home buyers commenting on the "strange" things in foreign homes. Like small refrigerators, door-less kitchen cabinets, or combined toilet and shower areas. Those things are perfectly normal in many countries, but often deemed "weird" or "unacceptable" by North American buyers. But the reverse is also true. When foreigners house-hunt in North America, they're often shocked at some truly weird things to them, like separate laundry rooms, vast front lawns, garbage disposals, ice makers in (very large) refrigerators, and wall-to-wall carpeting.

 

JUST FOR FUN

KINETIC ART TRANSFORMS BEFORE YOUR EYES

I thought this was cool. Painter Sergie Cadenas has developed a technique for painting "moving" images...entirely using paint and canvas, with no actual moving parts and no digital technology. To see how he does it, watch this interview from Euromaxx. To see more images, visit his Instagram here.

 

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Juan Visbal
Broker-Owner
Georgia Total Realty
404-502-4629
broker@gatotal.com

Juan, Two, Three...SOLD!

Posted in Newsletter
April 1, 2021

Juan...Two...Three...April 2021 Newsletter

 

April showers bring May home buyers! It's not a great rhyme, but it's a perfect description of the real estate season, however, we still have a low inventory (see homes for sale graph) and a high number of buyers which is one of the factors that fuel the incredible price increases that we are seeing (see average sales price graph), which according to the experts will continue for most of 2021, that is very good news for sellers not so good for buyers. 
Enjoy the beautiful forecasted weather for this first weekend of April and Happy Easter!

The graphs below are monthly and each data point is one month of activity.

Buying Soon? Watch this.

Find Your Home Value

Thanks,
Juan Visbal 
Broker-Owner
Georgia Total Realty

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➤ Search for HOMES
✔ Your Home Value
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HOUSE HAIKU - IT'S POETRY TO MY EARS


April is National Poetry Month, so I dug up some fun house-related poetry for you. These are Haiku, which is a type of non-rhyming poem that contains 3 lines with a total of 17 syllables. (The first line contains 5, the second 7, and the third 5, although that's not set in stone.) Try creating one of your own...it's a fun mental exercise.
PLANNING AHEAD
Dreamhouse - we see our
children climbing the pear tree
that's not yet planted

HOME FROM WORK
Good neighbors all 'round;
Coming home is a joy from
car door to front door
THE HARD PART'S DONE
These clouds overhead
where I bought my house today
will give way to sun

Or my personal favorite:
Time to sell your house,
but so much complexity!
Call your Realtor now
 

HOME IMPROVEMENT IN 15 MINUTES A DAY


We all tend to go "house blind" to things we live with day in and day out. We stop noticing stains on the carpet or dated light switch covers. We hardly see the crumpled and threadbare couch cushions. We tolerate the mismatched lamp. If you suspect you've gone "house blind" to these kinds of details, here's a fun exercise for a fresh perspective:
 

STEP 1

Start by sitting in any room and simply noticing all those tolerations with a fresh eye. Maybe you notice that your colors look faded, or your curtains look dated, or your paintings are crooked. Your list might be short, or long. It doesn't matter. What does matter is what you do next...
 

STEP 2

Once you have a list, prioritize it. Start with the items that you can change in 15 minutes or less.  Then order the remainder of your list by time or cost involved. 
 

STEP 3

Decide if any of those larger projects can be broken into smaller chunks. Group those chunks into one project, but you don't have to do the chunks all at once.
 

STEP 4

Finally, post the list where you can see it (not buried in your phone where you can forget it exists), and start knocking off items one after another when you can.

If your best home improvement strategy is to find a new home, call me for an appointment to get started. Juan Visbal 404-502-4629
 
 
 

HOW TO RECOVER YOUR SENSE OF SMELL 

Whether due to COVID or another reason, if you’ve lost your sense of smell, smell training can help you recover.

You will need four different strong fragrances, ideally Lemon, Rose, Cloves, and Eucalyptus to activate different smell senses. This is your smell training kit. These are usually essential oils, but there are other ways to create your own strong odors. Investigate these on Google.

To do smell training, sniff the four fragrances, each, in turn, every day. Just lots of short, light, little inhales - bunny sniffs, not hard snorts - just taking air into your nose. Spend about 20 seconds on each smell.

Improvement may be slow or hit and miss. But give it time and you will likely recover all or most of your sense of smell. Here's a video that explains more. I recommend starting the video at mark 2:15.

 
You can't always tell what will delight a home buyer. Often it's some small detail, like the crown molding around your living room ceiling, your red front door, or the delightful container garden you've staged your front entry with.

What? You don't have a delightful container garden staging your entry? You can, and it will add a fun detail that could be the thing to put homebuyers in a buying mood. Or it's just fun for your family to enjoy. Here are 4 quick tips. 
  1. Use Google to look up container arrangements and ideas.
  2. You don't need to buy expensive pots; a thrift or second-hand store will have pots you can use. Make sure there's a drainage hole. Select a variety of sizes and shapes.
  3.  Use good potting soil from the garden center.
  4.  Visit your garden center and choose a variety of bloom shapes and colors, stem heights, and leaf sizes.

FUN GREEN TEA BUBBLE RECIPE

 
It's oddly satisfying to suck up chewy tapioca balls through a fat straw. Here's a quick & easy recipe.

REAL LIFE SHORT STORIES WITH A TWIST

  • "I am traveling around Ireland. Decided to take a funny photo with a sheep wearing my glasses. So if you meet a sheep in Ray-Ban shades..."
  • "4 days before our wedding, my bride broke her left ring finger."
  • "I asked a trainee to make 150 copies. She made only 50. When I told her about it, she threw the already-made copies into a garbage bin... and went to make new ones."
  • "Today in the park, I met my classmate that I hadn't seen since school ended. She was with her husband and 2 kids and I was catching Pokémon with my friends."
  • "I fell asleep on a train and slept for only several minutes. When I woke up, everyone in the wagon was looking at me with strange smiles. I still don't know what I did."
  • "Today I got a strong urge to buy my wife flowers. She accepted them with tears in her eyes saying, 'Darling, you didn't forget.' I still don't know what she was talking about, but at least I dodged that bullet!"
 

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Posted in Newsletter
March 11, 2021

Biggest Homes Seller Mistakes

Data provided by ActiveRain.com. ActiveRain is an online community of real estate professionals who exchange best practices, write real estate blogs, and get free education from the industry and their peers.

Posted in Sellers Reports
March 1, 2021

Juan...Two...Three...February 2021 Newsletter

It is hard to believe but February is already gone! Below you will see charts reflecting homes for sale and days on the market, the data is for the month of February for the past three years. The inventory of homes for sale remains low, and the days on the market (from listing day to under contract) have decreased dramatically. You hear and read the stories about our real estate market, hopefully, these charts give you a clearer picture. Let's talk for a free consultation if you are thinking of buying or selling a home.

BUYERS VIDEO CLICK HERE

SELLERS FIND YOUR HOME VALUE HERE

Juan Visbal Broker-Owner Georgia Total Realty 404-502-4629

 

Real Estate Newsletter

Your image will appear here     Juan Visbal, Broker-Owner  ●  404-502-4629
Georgia Total Realty
Juan...Two...Three... SOLD!
➤ Search for HOMES
✔ Find Your Home Value
♥ Map Search
 

DO YOU REALLY NEED TO NEUTRALIZE YOUR DECOR BEFORE YOU SELL? 

Sometimes you don't. When tastefully done, bright colors and unique embellishments can add to a home. For instance, imagine a bright orange wall that compliments your mid-century modern furniture. Or a huge custom fireplace mantel that enhances your masculine leather seating. Buyers can imagine themselves living in that beautiful space. But if you remove the furnishings and are left with just an orange wall or chunky mantel, buyers focus more on the changes they'll need to make.

While your strong décor choices might appeal to some buyers, a neutral interior appeals to the broadest range of buyers. Seriously. There's just too much data out there to think otherwise. You get more, better offers from neutral décor than from strongly unique décor. Of course, there's a broad range between strong décor and neutral décor, so be sure to get impartial feedback if you're unsure.

What if you don't want to go through he cost or effort of neutralizing? I have two thoughts. 1) Keep your space staged so buyers can imagine themselves there. 2) Offer a sign that says something like "We will have this professionally repainted before closing if you prefer."

Need impartial advice about preparing your house for sale? Set an appointment with me for a walk-through. Juan, 404-502-4629 Email Me Here 

HOW ORGANIZED IS ORGANIZED ENOUGH?


According to the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, the more clutter you can see, the less efficient your brain is. Competing visual stimuli put demands on your attention, resulting in less focus and greater stress.

The study wasn't addressing creativity. In fact, I've seen competing articles that say clutter can help a creative person think out of the box. The study was saying that in normal every day life—like doing laundry or paying bills—clutter is a detriment. Think of the stress when you lose an important bill, or have to search the house for your car keys every other day.

But being organized doesn't mean we need to sort the mail alphabetically, or hang up our clothes by color, or group books by size (unless you want to). It does mean having a place for everything and putting everything in its place. The bills always get stacked on the same corner spot. The keys always get placed on the same hook.

If you need to get better organized at home, consider using a method like the one offered by Marie Kondo, which helps you let go of things you don't really need any more. It can be fun and freeing. And if you feel that you need to move into a new house in order to get organized, I can help with that. Let’s go house-hunting! Juan, 404-502-4629
 
 
THE SECRET OF PERFECTLY BAKED SWEET POTATOES

Love sweet potatoes, but don't love how hard the are to bake to perfection? Here's a secret: Freeze them first. By freezing them, the inside becomes ice. As crystals form, they break up the cell walls within. This essentially macerates the uncooked flesh, so that once it bakes, it takes on a smooth mashed potato-like texture. It’s important that the skin isn’t punctured.
 

STORY TIME...

IT'S ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE

A hiker came to a fast river. Though he looked up and down the bank for a while, he couldn't see a way across. Eventually, he gave up and was about to retrace his steps when he spotted an old man standing on the opposite bank, staring at him.
 
He yelled across to the man, “Excuse me! I'm stuck here. Can you tell me how to get across to the other side?”

The old man looked up the river, then down, then behind him. Finally he looked at the hiker and shouted, "Seems to me you're already on the other side." 

 

3 BACKUP POWER SOURCES FOR YOUR HOME

Threats to household power can include forced blackouts during heat waves, downed lines during storms, grid shut-downs during wildfires and floods, and random events. It makes sense for us to equip ourselves with at least minimal back up power. Here are three types of backup power:

1. Hand-sized solar devices. If you just want to keep your phones, tablets, and laptops charged, there are a plethora of small solar generators available for under $100 that will do the job. This power source is ideal for everyone to have in a power pinch. It also makes a great gift.

2. Whole-house generators. If you need continuous power to sustain a freezer or life-support system (such as a sleep apnea device), then you may want to spring for a small generator. Gas-powered or lithium-ion generators range in price from $2,000 to $5,000, and you may be able to find them used.

3. Rooftop solar panels are an option for some home owners. The cost starts over $10,000 and up, but you may be able to take advantage of rebates and savings provided by the government. Power generated by your array will offset your monthly electric bill, eventually paying for itself.
 

HOW TO REMEMBER PEOPLE'S NAMES

USE THE METHOD EXPERTS USE


How often has this happened to you? You're at a social event (maybe not right now, but soon), and you're talking to a stranger. As the conversation wraps up, the other guy calls you by name. At that moment, you realize you have no idea what his name is, even though he told you minutes ago. 

What can you do? You can apologize and ask his name again, or you can make an awkward comment, like "Yeah, you too." 

Or you can resolve to try a memory technique for your next encounter. For example, you can make associations that stick in the mind like a TV commercial jingle. Here's how that works:

Link information you want to remember to people, characters or things you’re already familiar with. Suppose you meet a person whose name is Scott Morrison. You might picture a Scottish terrier chasing the Doors’ Jim Morrison. Of course, you'll use images that are familiar to you. You'll also want to practice picturing the person's face as you make the association.
 
 

Remember to contact me to buy or sell your next home.

Contact me now ➤
owner's business image  
      

Juan Visbal, Broker-Owner
404-502-4629

Georgia Total Realty




Posted in Newsletter