Caroline Ashe Your Source in Augusta, GA Real Estate January 17th, 2013
Fine Print: These figures are for YTD 2012. All information obtained from the Greater Augusta MLS. Information is deemed to be accurate but not warranted.
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Caroline Ashe Your Source in Augusta, GA Real Estate December 12th, 2012
# of Homes SOLD or PENDING = 17 (all homes are new construction)
Current # of Homes for Sale in Bartram Trail = 10
Average SOLD or PENDING Price = $322,471
Caroline Ashe Your Source in Augusta, GA Real Estate February 19th, 2012
Even in a challenging market, good homes go fast! Smart sellers are realizing that a proactive selling strategy can go a long way in getting their home sold, even when inventories are high. Here are three tips for today’s sellers:
Whether you’re looking to sell today or are thinking of selling tomorrow, please feel free to call and ask for a computer analysis of our recent market activity. We would be more than happy answer any questions you might have.
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Caroline Ashe Your Source in Augusta, GA Real Estate February 18th, 2012
This is the part of the deal I salivate over, as an agent! If you are buying a new home all the pounding the streets looking at home after home is complete. If you are selling your Realtor’s marketing plan has paid off!
So let’s get down to business! If you’ve never bought or sold a home before the real estate negotiations can be intimidating. It doesn’t have to be if you remember these tips and have a knowledgeable agent on your side.
First, try your best to keep your emotions out of the negotiations. In my experience as a REALTOR, this is the hardest part for buyers and sellers. Think big picture and don’t get ‘offended’ by the offer, if you are seller, but instead remember the real estate climate we are in- a buyer’s market. It’s what buyers are conditioned to do in today’s real estate market and think, if you are buying a home after selling you will then have the same want to make an aggressive offer on a home.
Second, know that there are other hidden terms and motivations at play with both buyers and sellers. A good REALTOR can be valuable here if he/she has done their job and tried to uncover any hidden terms or motivations. These could be things like divorce, job loss or a job transfer. Make sure you and your agent do your ‘homework’ and get the scoop!
Thirdly, always have a plan or strategy for how to get to your desired price and terms. Your agent should be able to guide and advise you in developing the best strategy to achieve your negotiating goal. Mix this plan with a large dose of patience and understanding. You should strive for a win-win outcome, don’t come off as greedy or uncaring. Buyers and sellers like to do dealings with people who are caring and honest.
Lastly, work with all parties to problem solve through the terms and conditions of the sale. If a buyer wants to buy and a seller wants to sell all parties should work to find a solution. 99% of the time one can be found, it just may take some work.
Bonus tip – Make sure as a buyer or a seller you have your walk-away price and terms in mind. There comes a time when the deal just will not work for a various of reasons. Timing, financial, etc… Know what this is BEFORE you begin the negotiations.
Want to talk about your next move and want a negotiation pro in your corner? I would like to talk to you!
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Caroline Ashe Your Source in Augusta, GA Real Estate October 24th, 2008
This morning, I took a look through the Augusta MLS to see the number of residential listings for sale today. Then I compared the numbers to my last Augusta real estate market report, which was on April 7th.
Richmond County: 1641, 1591, 3% less homes
Columbia County: 1464, 1568, 6% more homes
Aiken County: 534, 493, 8% decrease in homes for sale
Edgefield County: 68, 67, slight decrease
Augusta, Georgia: 1273, 1240, 2.6% fewer homes
Evans, Georgia: 601, 604, slight increase
North Augusta, SC: 316, 301, 5% less homes for sale
Aiken, SC: 125, 115, 8.7% less homes for sale
[First # is the number of homes for sale on April 7th, 2nd number is homes for sale today, followed by % change.]
The inventory is static or decreasing throughout our area. But one of the most desirable areas that I cover, that being Evans / Columbia County, shows increasing inventory. This is a trend we’ve seen for a while now.
In Augusta there has been an influx of large companies coming into the area over the last year, with hundreds of new jobs being created. That certainly helps explain the decreasing inventory in that area and North Augusta.
Decreasing inventory is great for home owners & sellers, as home values start to rise. Less inventory is bad for buyers and of course your humble real estate professionals, who fight for a smaller slice of the pie. But hey, the cream always rises to the top, does it not? I welcome competition 
.
One thing I have seen is that the rental market is staying strong. While I don’t handle rentals, it’s not unusual to get several queries a week about them. Despite interest rates being low, and the housing market offering lots of inventory at great pricing levels, many people still choose to rent. It’s a perfect storm for landlords- being able to increase their number of units at low pricing levels with strategic buys, and keep them occupied. I work with several high volume landlords, and they are certainly taking advantage of great interest rates to increase their holdings.
As always – when selling anything in a highly competitive market – marketing and pricing mean everything.
Promotion of my listings over a number of websites is one thing I do, along with a competitive market analysis to make sure I set the price right. I make up fancy flyers to distribute around the area & make available for web users to download. Often times I’ll even go door-knocking around the neighborhood to see if the neighbors have any friends looking to relocate. I also send out an email to the thousands of registrants to www.NorthoftheSavannah.com. Usually within 24 hours of promoting a property online, I can get several hundred interested buyers looking at it, resulting in several in-person showings during the next few days.
I also have a fine-tuned network of fellow Realtors that I leverage in my seller’s favor. For my recent listing on Barbara Lane, I managed to show the home to over 40 real estate agents on the first day of listing. I’d say that’s EXPOSURE!
If you want to list a home in the area, please give me a call at 803-270-5005 or contact me for a listing presentation. You can also contact my buyer’s agent, Susan MacEwen, at 706-294-6795. Either of us would be glad to answer questions or help you with your real estate needs.
Caroline Ashe Your Source in Augusta, GA Real Estate June 23rd, 2008
This morning, I took a look through the Augusta MLS to see the number of residential listings for sale today. Then I compared the numbers to my last Augusta real estate market report, which was on April 7th.
Richmond County: 1641, 1641, no change
Columbia County: 1464, 1617, 9.5% increase in homes for sale
Aiken County: 534, 545, 2% increase
Edgefield County: 68, 68, no change
Augusta, Georgia: 1273, 1268, slight decrease at 0.04%
Evans, Georgia: 601, 635, showing a 5.4% increase in homes for sale
North Augusta, SC: 316, 326, 3% more homes for sale
Aiken, SC: 125, 137, 8.8% more homes for sale
[First # is the number of homes for sale on April 7th, 2nd number is homes for sale on July 23rd, followed by % change.]
The inventory is static or increasing throughout our area. But the most desirable areas that I cover, that being Evans in Columbia County, and the city of Aiken in Aiken County, both show near 10% increases in the amount of homes for sale. The summer months when the kids are out of school is usually the busiest season. Still, let’s hope when can get all these homes sold soon!
In Augusta there has been an influx of large companies coming into the area over the last year, with hundreds of new jobs being created. I would have thought if anything the number of homes on the market would stay static or even decline with all the new buyers coming in.
One thing I have seen is that the rental market is staying strong. While I don’t handle rentals, it’s not unusual to get several queries a week about them. Despite interest rates being low, and the housing market offering lots of inventory at great pricing levels, many people still choose to rent. It’s a perfect storm for landlords- being able to increase their number of units at low pricing levels with strategic buys, and keep them occupied. As a matter of fact, I’ve got one apartment complex for sale right now.
As always, when selling anything in a highly competitive market, marketing and pricing mean everything.
Promotion of my listings over a number of websites is one thing I do, along with a competitive market analysis to make sure I set the price right. I make up fancy flyers to distribute around the area & make available for web users to download. Often times I’ll even go door-knocking around the neighborhood to see if the neighbors have any friends looking to relocate. I also send out an email to the thousands of registrants to www.NorthoftheSavannah.com. Usually within 24 hours of promoting a property online, I can get several hundred interested buyers looking at it, resulting in several in-person showings during the next few days.
And for my recent home listing in Shadowmoor, I’m hosting a catered (Sticky Fingers!) Realtor Open House this Thursday to make sure my peers see the interior of this beautiful home. It’s just a few of the things I do to bring everything I can to the table for my clients.
If you want to list a home in the area, please give me a call at 803-270-5005 or contact me for a listing presentation.
