The Liz Moore Market Watch Blog

Is your lease up this Summer?  Timing the end of a rental lease and the purchase of your first home doesn't have to be stressful.  Here's what you need to know.

Start with a local real estate agent who can help you manage your timeline. 

Your agent will help you:

Step 1: Get pre-qualified so you know how much you can comfortably afford.  There is grant money available to help you with down payment and closing costs…ask us more!

Step 2: Start your home search.

Step 3: Find the ideal home for you, and negotiate a contract with terms to suit your budget and your timetable.

Step 4: Love your first home!

If your lease is ending, let one of our agents guide you through the next steps.  Click here to get started!

By: Liz Moore

Welcome to Market Talk!

I’m Liz Moore, President of Liz Moore & Associates, and today  we’re going to talk about what’s happening in the local real  estate market. This past year was a roller coaster ride, and  it has left many people questioning whether now is a good  time to move. The market is actually pretty complicated  these days, and it’s important to have a solid understanding  of what’s happening and how it will affect YOUR move.

My goal is to bring some clarity about what’s really happening in the market, and how you can leverage that to accomplish your personal real estate goals.

So, let’s get to it!

By: Lauren Cummings

Some homeowners may argue that selling your home in the winter season is the best time of the year to be on the market. Here are a few reasons why:

• Prospective home buyers are serious, motivated, and ready to buy.

• Fewer choices on the market lead to less competition and receiving closer to your asking price.

• Some houses show even better over the holidays.

If you adjust your marketing approach to align with the advantages of the winter  season, the process will be exciting and inspiring for you and potential buyers. 

First Impressions Matter

• Buyers aren’t expecting to see lush green lawns in the wintertime, but lawn upkeep is a noticeable 
first impression. Trimming, edging, and discarding  leftover fall leaves and debris will go a long way 
toward impressing potential buyers.

• Outdoor lighting is especially important in the  dark winter months. Illuminate the pathway to 
your porch as a courtesy and the exterior of your  home to showcase it.

• Holiday lights are a decorative advantage of the season. Don’t hesitate to put up exterior lights;  however, leave room for potential buyers to use  their imagination – refrain from making it too 
visually cluttered.

Placing Interior Décor

• The same advice for interior holiday décor applies;  holiday décor adds to the beauty of the home, but 
keep in mind not to cover any marketable aspects that buyers will want to see, such as the stair railing. 

Creating a Warm Ambiance

• Lighting the fireplace, playing calming music, and  using subtle scents are great ways to make your home 
warm and inviting for showings.

• Adding throw pillows and throw blankets is a nice  touch and adds to the cozy ambiance. 

• Always leave the heat on for showings. Keeping  a warm temperature in the home offers a welcoming 
atmosphere and prevents chilly distractions. 

Applying this marketing strategy will compel the buyer to visualize their own space, creating excitement for the wintertime in their cozy new home.

Ready to get started?  We can help!  Click to find an agent in your area who can help you get your home sold this winter.

By Leslie Pearce

Spending quality time indoors with your pet is one of life’s great enjoyments. With that in mind here are some helpful tips to make sure both you and your pet are as happy inside as outside.

A big question to think about, where are your pets going to sleep? Under the kitchen table? In a dog bed, kennel, sofa or with you? Your pet will appreciate a quiet place and their own bed where they can catch a quick nap before looking for their next adventure.

Animals need plenty of toys to chew on, otherwise the remote and your glasses can be mighty tempting! If you like open windows, make sure your screens are secure. Give your cat an alternative to the couch such as a scratching post.

Waterproof luxury vinyl and tile are the best options for flooring. Buy furniture with pet hair and claws in mind.
Silk, velvet, denim, and woolen fabrics are magnets for animal hair. Leather and its alternatives are good choices. Rugs with non-skid pads are a must for safety. Cats love rubbing against something scratchy or lumpy so AVOID textured walls or embossed wallpaper.

Cats and dogs play and drink in toilets, close lids. Chocolate, avocado, tomatoes, and other tasty snacks can be
harmful to your dog or cat. Keep cords from blinds secure, a dangerous enticement for animals.

Having a well thought out indoor environment for your pet is always a great idea!

Brandon Wilson, Director of Media at Liz Moore & Associates, took home a silver award at the 2021 Telly Awards in The Best of Branded Content category for a video he produced highlighting the company’s culture and values.

“We are beyond thrilled to receive this award. The marketing team at Liz Moore & Associates does such a great job of supporting our Realtors®. Brandon consistently creates impactful videos and we are so happy to earn our first Telly,” said Bob Halloran, Director of Marketing at Liz Moore & Associates.

The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work created within television and across video, for all screens. Receiving over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents, Telly Award winners represent work from some of the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies and publishers from around the world.

To see Wilson’s work, visit lizmoore.com/TV.

By: Courtney Efird, Ameris Bank, NMLS#: 659400

Are you looking to start the home buying process?

Ameris Bank is proud to partner with many state and county government agencies to provide down payment assistance in the form of forgivable or repayable grants or forgivable or repayable second mortgages.

A forgivable grant or second mortgage means that the down payment assistance funds are forgiven over a predetermined length of time you own the home. One agency in particular we work with closely is the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. Their grant funds are released in the 1^st quarter of the year and a specific amount is allotted to each participating bank.  The money can be used until it runs out, so in this real estate market it is better to act fast!

Below are two of their offerings that can be used toward down payment or closing costs to purchase a new home.

FHLB Grants and Assistance - $7500
This program offers funds for the purchase of an existing unit by a first time homebuyer (not having owned a home or lived in the home they own in the last 3 years).  

Program Highlights:  

• Must be primary residence with forgivable loan options after 5 years 
• Homebuyer counseling required 
• Grant funds can be used for down payment and closing costs 
• Household income limits may apply 

FHLB Community Partners - $10,000
We offer a unique financial opportunity for current or retired law enforcement officers, educators, health care workers, firefighters and other first responders as well as employees of these accredited institutions.

Program Highlights: 

• Maximum assistance is $10,000, homebuyer must contribute at least $1,000 
• Eligible homebuyers include veterans and active-duty military, or their surviving spouse, essential workers, law enforcement officers, educators, healthcare workers, firefighters or any other first responders 
• Eligible for primary residence purchases 
• Income limits apply 
• Homebuyer education course required 

This is an amazing opportunity to help you get in to the house or your dreams, but funds are limited so don't delay.  Click here to find out if you qualify.

The Liz Moore & Associates Update Now Pay Later Program helps sellers get their homes market ready with minimal investment, knowing the right enhancements that will result in more money in their pocket.

As part of the program, Liz Moore & Associates will advance the homeowner the money and arrange contractors to maximize the bottom line. If the home is then listed with Liz Moore & Associates, the seller doesn't pay until closing!  Getting started is easy.  Simply set an appointment for a free, no-obligation, market-ready assessment of your home.

Hear from a client who put this program to work for them:

At Liz Moore & Associates, we understand that getting you top dollar for your home means creating maximum exposure with an aggressive digital marketing strategy.

The creation of Liz Moore and Associates has been a journey. We began by surveying thousands of local families who had recently bought or sold real estate. We found too many had one unfortunate experience in common: frustrating and expensive last minute surprises. We heard story after story about unforeseen expenses, delays, and the stress of having to make major decisions under pressure.

After hearing stories like these, we took a step back and evaluated the real estate transaction from beginning to end. We discovered we can take many of the surprises, and much of the stress, out of the moving equation for sellers and for buyers. At Liz Moore & Associates, we’ve pioneered a solution that reorganizes the process, saving both money and time for our clients.

For Sellers

On our listings, we order for you, at our expense, an up-front market evaluation by an licensed appraiser and a home inspection by an independent home inspector...all before your home is officially placed on the market.

Our objective is to uncover any major repair issues before your home goes on the market, giving you an opportunity to either make repairs up front, or to disclose the conditions to prospective buyers.

By hiring a certified appraiser before the marketing period begins, we are aware of any potential valuation and condition issues prior to deciding on what other terms of the sale you will agree to.

All of this is done in advance, allowing everyone involved ample time to complete the real estate transaction without the pressure of last minute expenses and reactive decisions. Repairs can be completed properly, with sufficient time to select the best contractor for the job.

For Buyers

Our goal is to provide prospective home buyers with a higher level of comfort when purchasing a Liz Moore & Associates' listing, knowing an appraisal is in place and a preliminary home inspection has been completed.

We are by no means requiring, or even suggesting, the buyer use our appraisal or inspection in place of their own. Our objective is to identify any major issues that could delay closing or result in unforeseen expenses.

We anticipate in some cases, the buyer may opt to waive a home inspection and/or appraisal, rather than spend the $500-600 on their own reports. This may be to save time or money. If new financing is involved, it will be up to the buyer's lender to engage an appraiser to perform a new appraisal.

Find out how we can help you!

At Liz Moore & Associates, we understand how to leverage technology to deliver an extraordinary real estate experience to our clients. We've made a significant investment in groundbreaking Matterport technology, so that prospective homebuyers can have an immersive online experience, giving them a true sense of the feeling of our listings before they ever visit in person.

What are the benefits to buyers?

Navigate a property like a video game with Inside View and see how each room fits together using Dollhouse View. Understand layout in a glance with the top down Floorplan View.

What are the benefits to sellers?

Being able to offer a compelling online experience to buyers who are outside the market enables us to create immediate, lasting emotional connections to our listings because they can experience it as though they were really there. The 3D images are easy to share, so anyone with a computer or mobile device can have the open house experience from anywhere.

How does it work?

Each circle represents a different viewpoint, so simply navigate the circles to capture different views and angles. Use your finger or control shift with your mouse, depending on the device, and you can see every corner of every room. You can toggle between floors by using the controls in the lower right corner, and switch to see a dollhouse version of the floor plan by clicking on the icon in the lower left corner.

Click to view our virtual realty tours, or get more information on how VR can help sell your home.