The Perfect Property Podcast: An Atlanta Real Estate Guide

The Perfect Property – Chris Greene, The Flood Insurance GuruSummary:  If you've ever wondered whether you should have flood insurance, the answer is yes! This episode of The Perfect Property features Chris Greene, The Flood Insurance Guru, who covers all things flood-related. Whether the source is a pipe burst inside or an epic rain event, there are baseline factors that every homeowner (or prospective homeowner) will want to weigh. The good news is that being in a flood zone isn't a non-starter. The Flood Insurance Guru is all about providing education and resources to equip homeowners with the tools they need to mitigate risk and minimize impacts for which insurance coverage is minimal or non-existent. There are realities that investors need to factor into their business plan and realtors will need to incorporate in the sales process, whether on the buyer or seller side. You can locate flood zone information for your home address by clicking here. Additional maps and other Flood Insurance Guru resources are available here.What You'll Learn: ·         Exactly what IS a flood zone? Short answer? Everything! (0:45)o   A and AE (also known as 100-year) flood zones are high risk and most common in Atlanta.o   B flood zones (generally coastal Georgia) are considered moderate risk.·         The type of flood zone designation in which a property lies impacts its value. (6:50)·         Why flood/elevation certificates are optional – but important (7:52)·         About what to do (and how to potentially save some money) if updated mapping suddenly redefines a property you already own as falling within a flood zone.(12:17)·         What's not covered by most insurance: Mold mitigation and anything stored in a basement. (15:35)·         Should you buy property in a flood zone? Yes! (16:05)·         If you're considering a house located within a flood zone, it's all about education, disclosure and mitigation. Ask for flood loss documentation from current owners. (16:40)·         Who needs flood insurance? Everyone! Why?  (20:42)·         There is no centralized repository to search a property's flood claim history, but if you're the owner it's possible to request a list from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). (22:58)Key Quotes:“AE is your highest risk flood zone when it comes to non-coastal areas … one in every 100 chances within a given year a property could possibly flood.” (1:45) “We teach people what their flood risk is, how to understand it, what the flood options are and, if a flood does occur, we walk people through how to get disaster assistance.” (13:12)“The key with flood is that it has to inundate the property. It has to come from outside the property and generally can't come from ground water. It has to be surface water.”  (20:20) Contacts & Further Resources:Website: The Perfect PropertyWebsite: The Flood Insurance GuruChris @LinkedInThe Flood Insurance Guru YouTube Channel.

The Perfect Property with Juli St. GeorgeGuest: Karen Anderson Singer, Tiny Doors ATLSummary: In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli draws the curtain back on Tiny Doors ATL – a popular art installation that finds big ideas in very small places. Karen Anderson Singer's colorful, unique Tiny Doors have popped up all over the city in recent years, to the delight of everyone who comes upon them. This podcast covers not only where the artist found her inspiration but how her vision has inspired a sense of community, whether situated outside a major corporation, adjacent to a community organization or tucked into the trunk of a tree.  Shaped by a life-long love of both miniatures and street art, Karen (an Atlanta transplant originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan) married the two passions in a whimsical format that has drawn national and international attention. Juli explores with her guest the various ways in which Tiny Doors spur imagination, prompting all kinds of curiosity and questioning, always in the context of respect for whatever the locale. These little gems, sprinkled throughout the city, have prompted a movement. Learn how you can tour Karen's colorful installations and perhaps join the growing Tiny Door community by leaving an interactive treasure of your own!What You'll Learn: ·         Karen explains the artistic impulse and vision behind her doors – the purpose they serve and the imaginative thinking she hopes to spark.·         Tiny Doors require a certain amount of maintenance, but they are also an exercise in letting go for the artist – who understands that they need to evolve organically.·         The “Tiny Key” bestowed upon Karen for her represents a city that embraces imagination and believes that it's possible to create something big out of something tiny.·         Lesson plans, treasure hunts, an augmented reality app –  (links below).·         The secret behind Door #5. How it nearly broke Karen's heart and how a new, epic tree-based door in Grant Park proved a healing – fun – journey. Key Points:  “When I'm creating a door I'm thinking about the community in front of it ... I'm trying to come up with the best blank canvas for your imagination.” (5:01) “(Tiny Doors) really is about the love that I have and that the people of Atlanta have for Atlanta. They really are about embracing the community. It's not necessarily about what you'd find behind the doors. It's about who you meet in front of the doors.” (11:39) “The real story of these Tiny Doors is going to be how they move and grow. I don't see there being 100 but maybe 100 versions of the first few …” (30:19)Contacts & Further Resources:·         More information about the Tiny Doors ATL can be found here.·         Download a free Tiny Doors ATL lesson plan for kids here. ·         Click here to take a Tiny Doors map and augmented reality tour.·         Support Tiny Doors by shopping their online store.·         Reach out via email: studio@tinydoorsatl.com·         Click here to make a donation and keep Karen's Tiny Doors coming!  

The Perfect Property with Juli St GeorgeGuest: Will Johnston, Executive Director, MicroLife InstituteSummary:  This episode of The Perfect Property podcast highlights a movement that has captured the imaginations of people interested in downsizing (or “rightsizing”) their property while upgrading their quality of life. Host Juli St George welcomes Will Johnston, executive director of the MicroLife Institute, a thought leader and innovator in the micro-living, or Tiny House, space. Their conversation explores a new approach to the built environment – the spaces in which we live, work and recreate every day.Will shares the story of how he personally came to start the MicroLife Institute and his journey to establishing The Cottages on Vaughan in Clarkston, Georgia, a model community that is redefining the parameters of real estate development. Studies indicate that people of all ages and different stages of life desire not only a stronger sense of community, but also improved economies of scale, environmental footprints and housing equity.The Cottages on Vaughan, an inaugural project for the MicroLife Institute, provides a template that's stirring interest nationally and abroad – not least because of the powerful punch it packs within a tiny footprint (around 650 square feet). Will describes the interior layout and shares the philosophy behind outdoor spaces designed to foster a sense of neighborhood – from shared tools to a communal fire pit and pizza oven. The MicroLife Institute is tracking the demographics and data suggest that many people are ready to trade in a huge, isolated suburban home for more nimble, walkable, interconnected housing enclaves, or Pocket Neighborhoods, that offer a very personal sense of home and belonging. Enjoy this tour of a housing trend that's here to stay.What You'll Learn: ·         How Will ditched traditional corporate life in favor of the micro-life way. (2:12)·         The spectrum of conversations going on around the concept of micro-housing. (3:29)·         Will highlights the fundamental principles of micro-life and Pocket Neighborhoods.(5:08)·         All about Cottages on Vaughan, MicroLife's pilot project in Clarkston, Georgia. (8:42)·         Juli asks Will to drill down on the demographics of micro-home dwellers. (Short answer: It spans all age groups!) There's high demand, high interest. (13:47)·         A virtual tour of a typical Tiny House – the parameters, layout, occupancy, etc. (17:38)·         Physical layout and community planning are key elements to the MicroLife model, which Will details. (19:36)·         “Layers of separation” are critical to Ross Chapin's vision for Pocket Neighborhoods that foster community while preserving privacy and space. (21:45)·         Pets are welcome – and here's how it works. (22:29)·         Costs associated with owning and living in a Tiny Home community. (24:42)Key Points: “We are told that you get in debt, move into the house, keep up with the Joneses and all that jazz. I knew that that was not my story.”  “We don't want people to build bigger just for the sake of money. We want people to be smart about how they utilize space and create that walkability that creates community.”“The more I read 'The Color of Law' and the more I get into conversations about exclusionary zoning, it makes me so angry about the world we built in the built environment.” “We have a huge gap in the built environment of people w

Summary:  On this episode of The Perfect Property podcast Juli invites Amanda Rhein, executive director of the Atlanta Land Trust, to share the inroads she has made in a career dedicated to improving Atlanta's built environment. The community land trust model, which has found success over the years in 250 cities nationwide, is making home ownership attainable for people in lower incomes brackets. Although local real estate prices have increased dramatically, the ALT has managed to create affordable housing options in a market that would otherwise be out of reach.Juli and Amanda's conversation includes a step-by-step explanation of how leased home ownership differs from traditional, the financial profile required of prospective buyers and options for counseling to get on the path to qualifying for a mortgage. Amanda also walks through the process of re-selling a property, how accrued equity is distributed and options available to older family members who wish to pass their 99-year lease down to younger generations. With roots tracing back to the 1960s, the community land trust model arose in response to the systematic deprivation of civil rights in southern Georgia. The effects of discrimination and intimidation are transgenerational but organizations like the ALT are providing a roadmap for would-be homeowners in need of a point of entry. Amanda shares success stories and acknowledges the ongoing challenge of lobbying for necessary private- and public-sector funding for the portfolio of 300 properties she ultimately hopes to establish. She paints a picture of the types of homes the ALT currently has under development (both single family and townhome communities) as well as her hopes for the future. Join Juli in learning about the Atlanta Land Trust's mission and the ways in which it is delivering low-income individuals and families access to the American dream of home ownership.What You'll Learn: ·         Amanda explains how the Atlanta Land Trust works and why it exists. (1:49)·         The community land trust model's southern roots and evolution. (2:15)·         How the Atlanta Land Trust model specifically serves communities suffering redlining, food deserts, runaway rents/property taxes and other housing inequities. (6:16)·         Amanda explains the step-by-step process and time required to secure a land trust property. (8:38)·         Home valuations in Atlanta have increased in some cases by as much as $100,000, which makes a ground lease formula the best alternative for many families. (11:26)·         Amanda explains the resale process and ALT's ongoing stewardship role. (12:10)·         Average sale price for ALT-leased homes in Atlanta is about $165,000, but there is a wide range depending on income and other factors. (13:32)·         Funding and land acquisition/development for ALT requires constant cultivation of public and private funding sources. (16:11)·         What about the homes themselves? Is there a “typical” ALT housing project? Some are scattered-site single family homes built on public land and others are larger planned communities of townhomes/condos (both new construction and renovation). (18:00)·         The ALT's income limits are set based on Area Median Income (AMI), which for the majority of applicants means an income cap of $68,950 annually for a family of four and $48,000 for single individuals. (20:25)·         Other factors in qualifying for a mortgage include: credit score, proof of steady income and amount of household debt. For those who fail to qualify, ALT offers counseling to get on

On this episode of The Perfect Property podcast, Juli speaks with Chardel from American HomeshieldHome Warranty. Chardel concisely answers many of the questions that home buyers have about homewarranties, starting with why homeowners should buy into a home warranty.Chardel explains that a home warranty exists to protect the budget for sellers and buyers while thehouse is listed or once the buyer has purchased and moved into the house. A home warranty covers themechanical (not structural) systems and appliances within the main foundation.So, with a home warranty, when a problem comes up, all you have to do is call the company, describethe problem, and a technician is dispatched to either repair or replace the item. That being said, what ahome warranty covers can differ from company to company. When it comes to coverage and whether ornot they send people out to make repairs, be sure to check your company's limitations to avoidunwanted surprises!Chardel notes that a home warranty is even more important during the pandemic, with many peoplespending more time at home and using appliances frequently. And, you don't have to be a newhomebuyer to purchase a home warranty. Even if you've been in your house for some time, you can stillopt for a home warranty with Home Shield.It's also important to remember that a home warranty is different than homeowner's insurance. Chardelexplains how they differ and also discusses the prices of a home warranty, shares how a home warrantycan save the day, and touches on expensive repairs like HVAC and replacement gases.What You'll Learn: Why homeowners should buy into a home warranty (0:42) What a homeowner can and can't expect from a warranty (1:39) Myths about home warranties (4:20) Different tiers of home warranties (5:16) Home warranty pricing (5:50) Commercial home warranties (6:34) Warranties for homeowners who have been in their home a while (6:54) Stories of home warranties saving the day (7:45) Changes in HVAC and replacement gases (8:37)Key Points: (3-4 quotes)“A home warranty is there to protect the budget for sellers and buyers while the house is listed or oncethe buyer has purchased the home and moved into the home.”“At American Home Shield, we cover for undetected preexisting, we cover for mismatched systems, wecover for lack of maintenance. Age is not an issue with our warranty.”“A home warranty is actually a very good compliment to homeowner's insurance. Not one takes theplace of the other. But homeowner's insurance covers for the catastrophic and structural items of thehome and the home warranty can cover the mechanical systems of the home. So, they really are greathand-in-hand, especially for first-time home buyers or new home buyers.”“Having the home warranty just takes the hassle out of it for the homeowner.”Links:Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.comhttps://www.ahs.com/ Chardel Ehrhardt: chardel.ehrhardt@ahs.com

In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli welcomes Candice Hayes as her guest. Candice is the Lead Buyer's Agent for the Perfect Property Team. As 2021 begins, the housing market is increasingly competitive and can be difficult to navigate.  Candice breaks down the role of a buyer's agent and discusses the importance of utilizing someone with experience to create a strong competitive offer for today's marketplace. Candice reminds us to focus on the end goal; to build generational wealth for clients through home ownership. She introduces a few helpful strategies for buyers to keep in mind as they hunt for that perfect property.  Candice and Juli discuss the ins and outs of how to use earnest money, contingencies, option money and escalation clauses to get your offer accepted.  To wrap up, Candice discusses three things to avoid as a buyer; no lowballs, don't be picky and don't ask for more money.  Juli gives insight from the seller's agent perspective emphasizing the importance of filling out paperwork correctly.  At the end of the day, 2021 is both a buyer's and a seller's market; buyers can take advantage of great rates and sellers can take advantage of the large pool of buyers.  Both agree, the key to getting what you want on either side of a deal is to utilize the expertise of an experienced agent.  What You'll Learn: ·         Recap on 2020 market and what we're seeing for 2021 (0:28)·         Today's guest: Candice Hayes, Lead Buyers Agent for Perfect Property (2:05)·         Role of a buyer's agent (2:30)·         Strategies for making a strong, competitive offer (4:40)·         Three things not to do as a buyer (23:00)·         Tips from a listing agent's perspective (24:30)·         Super seller's market (29:38) Key Points:“That's the main goal- build generational wealth for our clients and their families and home ownership is one of the top ways to do that.”“As a buyer: no lowballs, don't be picky and don't ask for more money.”“For the seller, please don't overprice your house.” “It takes a good agent to pay attention, in a very competitive market you can lose a house for something as small as $250.”“A favorite line in real estate: it depends.”Let's work together so everyone can get to the closing table and feel good about it.”“Is it a buyer's market or a seller's market? It's actually both.”Links: Homeward https://www.homeward.com/Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website: www.theperfectproperty.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julistgeorge/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePerfectPropertyATL/ 

Summary:  In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli welcomes John Fountain as her guest. John has been in business in Atlanta for 20 years and currently works with a company called Homeward. Even during the pandemic, the Atlanta housing market is booming. Many people find themselves in the dilemma of having sold their house before they've bought their next house.Homeward offers a convenient buy-before-you-sell solution and John tells Juli the ins and outs. The consumer goes through an internal approval process before using Homeward's cash to make an offer on a house they love. When their offer is accepted, Homeward closes on the house and the client moves in — all before selling their previous home. Once it does sell, the consumer simply buys their current house back from Homeward.Homeward currently operates with certified agents in Denver, Atlanta, and four cities in Texas. Their service can also be used by anyone selling a home elsewhere and moving to one of those six cities. John himself was a Homeward consumer and he tells Juli about his experience as a home buyer and seller. To wrap up, John discusses Homeward's upfront fees (the convenience fee and rent for the time Homeward owns the house) and what makes his company different from other services. What You'll Learn: ·         Today's guest, John Fountain (0:56)·         Helping buyers and sellers navigate the booming market (1:57)·         The “buy before you sell” solution that Homeward offers (5:24)·         Who can offer this type of program? (7:24)·         Where does Homeward work? (8:15)·         Does Homeward work for purchasing secondary homes? (9:00)·         John's experience as a Homeward consumer (10:45)·         How much are Homeward fees? (12:14)·         Why are they some of the only ones doing this? (15:15)·         How is Homeward different? (16:10)Key Points:“Inventory was already low before the pandemic and after the pandemic obviously it's even lower.”“If it's staged right and it's priced right, houses are selling within six days on average.”“It's a buy-before-you-sell solution… The consumer goes through an internal approval process. Once they're approved, they go out and they use our cash to make an offer to buy their next house. Once that offer gets accepted, Homeward then closes on the house and the client moves right in and once they move in, they get to list and sell their house… Once they sell that house and close, then they buy the house back from Homeward.”“There are only two costs to use the product. One is a convenience fee and then they actually pay rent on the time that Homeward owns the house.”“Convenience fee is going to be rolled into the mortgage… If they use Homeward mortgage, it's 1.4% of the purchase price and if they decide to go with their own lender, which we welcome them doing, it's 2.4%.”“We actually guarantee the sale of their house.”Links: Homeward https://www.homeward.com/Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com Instagram: @julistgeorgeFacebook: The Perfect Property 

Summary: On this episode of The Perfect Property podcast, Juli talks with Holly Walther of the Holly Walther Lending Team based in Atlanta about refinancing. While there are many negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on families and the economy, there has been one beneficial thing that could help homeowners across the country make great strides on their mortgages.With interest rates as low as the high 2%'s depending on the day, it is in the best interest of many Americans to look into refinancing their mortgages with their current lenders or new lenders. Refinancing can drastically reduce interest payments every month, allowing homeowners to have lower monthly payments or explore reducing their loan terms. Many people are also taking advantage of cash-out refinancing to allow them to take out up to 80% of their home equity as cash for renovations, debt consolidation, or even traveling. This is a good alternative to the home equity line of credit (HELOC) that is likely subject to higher interest rates during these economic conditions. A HELOC is a line of credit for a certain amount of money with your property as the collateral at an interest rate of subprime plus a margin. This makes the rate variable, but you only have to pay interest on what you have drawn out.If you are a homeowner and you have not refinanced your mortgage in the past several months already, you should reach out to a lender to start the conversation about whether this would be a good option for you. The application process is very easy, and it could end up saving you thousands of dollars over the term of your loan. Lenders are there for you to help you reach your goals. What You'll Learn: ·         Why now is a good time to refinance (1:04)·         What does this current market look like? (2:37)·         The rates Holly is seeing right now (4:24)·         What is the refinancing process like? (5:04)·         What is cash-out refinancing? (7:19)·         There is no bad time to refinance if you will reach your goals (8:37)·         Investment properties and cash-out refinancing (9:54)·         What is a home equity line of credit? (10:55)·         How to contact Holly (13:23) Key Points:  “If you've ever watched somebody play ping pong, then you have seen the market.”“A lot of people don't realize that the type of property has an effect on your interest rate.”“We really want to analyze what the consumer's goals are.”“We are still in a great strong market where property values are really strong.” Connect with Holly:https://hollywalther.com/404-436-0013 Links: Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com 

In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli covers everything you need to know about Radon withspecial guests Chandler of the EPA, Derrick of University of Georgia, and Paul of Metro Atlanta Mitigation Company. Juli encourages you to be educated on this important topic and to check yourhome for radon if you have not already.This episode provides valuable information including where radon comes from, common myths, the facts and more. All three guests emphasize radon testing is not something to fear and it is an easy problem to remedy. The key to health is knowing your facts and taking action if necessary.What You'll Learn:● The truth about where radon comes from. (0:09)● The truth about uranium. (0:22)● Facts about the dangers of radon. (0:25)● Juli introduces Chandler, an environmental engineer with the EPA. (1:17)● Chandler shares her background. (1:46)● How radon relates to your home. (5:08)● Juli introduces Derick Cooper, radon educator at UGA. (19:15)● More myths about radon (25:14)● Juli Paul from a local radon mediation company shares facts and testimonies from the local area.(27:32)Key Points:“Radon naturally occurs when uranium breaks down to form radon and radon is found in granite.”“Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas found in all types of soil all over the world.”“It's the second leading cause of cancer behind lung cancer.”“It wasn't until the 1980s that we discovered radon to be a problem in homes.”“One out of every 15 homes has high radon levels.”“Any home can have a radon problem.”“Testing is the only way to know your exposure.”“Any measurement above 4, we recommend you get your home mitigated.”“In water, radon is mostly a concern in well water. We recommend testing it if you have a private well.”“Radon risk in water is much lower if you are on a city system.”“Radon is found in old homes and new homes.”“It's much cheaper for anyone doing a new build to install radon mitigation during construction toreduce radon build up possibility by 50.”“Granite does release radon but of more concern is radon coming up from soil than granitecountertops.”“Another myth is we are on a slab so we can't have radon.”“Most people haven't tested for radon while they may have smoke detectors.”“In Georgia, we have lots of granite which is a high source of radon.”“No level of radon is safe but radon is everywhere so what level are we comfortable with?”“Building of condos can have contaminated rock which can increase radon levels.”“Radon occurs when the pressure is lower inside the structure than outside...so it comes in aroundcracks, in the floor, seams, around tubs/ shower, the sides of walls or the wall under the garage/frontporches/pulls/french drains...”“Test when it's raining and when it's not raining.”“Once it's in there, it stays in there.”“The main reason radon is higher in new houses is the construction under the slab (particularly inAtlanta).”“Newer houses are supposed to have 4 inches of gravel which gives radon easy access.”“Older neighborhoods had concrete directly on clay.”Links:Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.comChandler at EPACertified Testing: National Radon Safety Board or National Radon Proficiency ProgramWebsite: https://www.epa.gov/radonUGA radon infoInteractive radon map for state of Georgia and order kits: https://www.fcs.uga.edu/extension/home-radon404-562-9900

In this episode of the Perfect Property Podcast, Juli chats with real estate pro Kenny Klaus and Galyn Ziegler of Keller Offers at Keller Williams about the iBuyer programs in the state of Georgia and across the nation. You will learn how it works and the benefits for both the consumer and as an agent.Both Kenny and Galyn encourage agents to know the ins and outs. In turns they encourage sellers & consumers to explore the option with representation being a key component.   What You'll Learn:●        Kenny sold $100 million in volume since 2016 and is entering his 11th year of having at least a home sold every single day.●        About iBuy programs such as Open Door, Offer Pad and Zillow.●        The benefits of using an iBuy program.●        The importance of being represented when using an iBuy program.●        About Keller Offers and how it is set apart from●        How iBuy operates for both the consumer and the agent.Key Points:01:00 Kenny Klaus “The ‘i' stands for instant, internet…wall street type buying.”“The consumer has spoken and demands choice and options. It's no different what Bezos has done with Amazon...it's now hit the real estate business.”  “It's a massive opportunity for the agent to run towards this and become the local expert in this space.” “An iBuyer is a company who makes an offer on a home instantly using technology with the least friction and most convenience.”  “When buyers compete, the seller wins.”“Most people don't realize they can have an agent to present their home the way it should be presented through the iBuy process.”“If sellers hire an agent for the iBuy process, the agent can work on their behalf..to negotiate comps, inspection...it's a big benefit.”“Going at it alone, the iBuyer doesn't know they're being shopped. To get the offers, you have to give accurate data. ”“Going through an agent means you have someone working on your side.”“Anytime one entity starts to control the market, it is nervous for the player.”“Ultimately, consumer demands choice and we now have a choice.”“As a real estate market, it's important to be educated in the current market because it has become more of an advisory role...We need to shift with our changing marketplace to become more valuable.”“To go unrepresented is a risk. The value is in the right agents so the consumer will get the best of the best.”“We represent the client so we have fiduciary to them.”39:35 Galyn Ziegler“Keller offers ensures consumers have a fiduciary in their most equitable source. Most consumers don't realize they equity they are leaving on the table. We want them to understand that fully.”“The distinction is in the Keller Offers program is we value the consumer's right to have representation.”“Our program puts the agent at the center of the equation to benefit all consumers.”“Since we've been operating, we've seen Zillow and OpenDoor's offers increase for purchase price.”“We see our program growing into other markets.”“Zillow is having to push iBuyer marketing.”“We are doing expansion cautiously keeping what is in the best interest of consumer in mind.”“The 200K-300K range is where we're seeing most iBuyer activity.”“A large pool of these homes go to investors for rental purposes.”“The relationship can't be replaced through technology.”“We encourage agents to lean into offering different programs and products.” Contact Links:Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call of text)The Perfect Property Web

Summary: In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli hosts two different guests to talk all about elder law and senior move services. These are important topics since the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that a good portion (20 percent) of Georgia's population will be 60 and older by the year 2030 and this population faces unique challenges when it comes to moving and planning for the future. The first guest, Kelly Napier, works with Brandon Napier Elder Law Firm. She explains the differences between two types of trusts: revocable living trusts and irrevocable trusts. She also goes into probate, estate planning, how to protect seniors from targeted scams, and reverse mortgages.The second guest is Robert Kurth from Senior Transition Services in the metro Atlanta area. As a Senior Move Manager, he explains what someone in his role does to help a move go as smoothly as possible. He also gives listeners valuable advice when it comes to the correct steps to take when moving a senior, whether they're moving into a community living facility or downsizing into a smaller house.  What You'll Learn: ·         Unique challenges that seniors face (1:00) ·         Revocable living trusts (2:41)·         Irrevocable trusts (5:05)·         What is probate? (7:23)·         What is the typical age of elder law and estate planning clients? (9:02) ·         Estate planning (9:41)·         The difference between guardianship and conservatorship (11:33)·         Protecting seniors from targeted scams (15:24)·         Misconceptions about asset planning and estate sales (17:05)·         Reverse mortgages (19:09)·         Top three reasons to contact an elder law attorney (21:49)·         Welcome to Robert Kurth ·         What does a senior move manager do? (23:12)·         What unique challenges do seniors have when they move? (24:21)·         The average age of Robert's clients (25:11)·         What are the steps of moving a senior? (26:04)·         Special certificates and training for Senior Move Managers (28:55)·         What area does Robert and his company service? (30:13)·         How Robert got started as a Senior Move Manager (31:24)·         Compassion and working with emotionally stressed people (36:04)·         What happens with pets? (36:59)·         Robert's experience as a public speaker (37:25)·         Real estate agents and Senior Move Managers working together (40:52) Key Points:  “As elder law attorneys, we help a lot with care transitions.”“For our elder law work, our average age is around 80 and for estate planning, usually around 55.”“When you set up a revocable living trust, you want to put all your real estate into it… You can name your checking accounts, you can name all your investment accounts. The only thing that doesn't go in your revocable living trust are your retirement accounts.”“Probate is the process where assets that are in the name of a person who is deceased are transferred to someone else. If you have a will, you get to name who that someone else is… If you don't have a will, the state of Georgia gets to say where it goes. It doesn't go to the state.”

Summary: In this special Halloween episode of The Perfect Property, you'll hear from three different guests about their experience with creepy properties, haunted houses in Georgia, and ghosts. Whether or not you believe haunted houses and ghosts are real, they give us the creeps! While other states have different rules, Georgia is a “buyer beware” state. This means the buyer and buyer's agent have to do all due diligence about a property — that includes if there was a murder or kidnapping and other scary events! Our host, Juli St George, talks first with Keren Barr who discovered that her house is haunted after moving into it. She talks about the strange smells, noises, and movement that she and her family notice and, in the end, have grown accustomed to. Next, we hear from Milt Thomas who intentionally bought a creepy house, complete with baby doll parts, knife marks in the doors, and creepy noises. He has turned it into a museum of sorts and holds special events at this unique property.Lastly, Juli hosts Boo Newell, who runs Decatur Ghost Tours. Boo tells listeners how she sees and communicates with ghosts and explains the difference between haunted houses and houses with spirits. She also gives basic information about her ghost tours and finishes by offering advice for someone buying or selling a creepy house and anyone doing clearings.  What You'll Learn: ·         Keren Barr's haunted house (2:52)·         A house with a mind of its own (3:10)·         Strange smells in Karen's house (6:40) ·         Would Karen have bought the house if she had known it was haunted? (12:23)·         Animal and spirit interactions (14:50)·         Milt Thomas' 100-year-old house in Sparta (20:24)·         Why did Milt choose to buy a haunted house? (25:52)·         A writer's retreat in a haunted house (29:29)·         Are some people more sensitive to the spirit presence? (31:07)·       Milt's scariest story of living in a haunted house (39:35)·         Boo Newell runs Decatur Ghost Tours and is a published author (43:29)·         Does Boo believe in haunted houses? (43:53)·         Boo sees ghosts (44:41)·         Haunted houses versus houses with spirits (47:48)     ·         Advice for someone buying or selling a creepy house and doing clearings (1:03:35)“My bedroom door is covered in hack marks from either a knife or a cleaver.”“In California, for example, you have to disclose if someone has died in the house for three full years. In Georgia, specifically in Georgia, it's a ‘buyer beware' state and what that means is that the buyer has to do all of the due diligence to find out about the house. If there was a murder, if there was a crime scene, if there were deaths, if anything creepy was going on in the house, the buyer really has to find that out themselves.”Links: Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com to learn more:www.frognolia.com - Milt Thomas's spirit filled Sparta GA mansion and guest retreatwww. decaturghosttour.com - Boo Newell's Decatur Ghost Tour www.boonewell.com - Boo's website for medium readings www.ThePerfectProperty.com for all things Atlanta Real Estate 

Summary: This episode of The Perfect Property is part two of a discussion with Lisa Myers about cleaning up your credit score. Lisa has over 20 years of experience on the credit side of the mortgage industry and continues sharing tips, tricks, and information in this episode. Lisa begins by explaining why it's so important to have a good credit score, then talks about hard and soft credit inquiries and how many you can have without affecting your score. She also goes over some recent changes regarding medical debt and tax liens and how they impact credit scores. Finally, Juli and Lisa talk about the very important topic of identity theft and how to protect yourself by placing security freezes.What You'll Learn: ·         Why is it important to have a good credit score? (0:15)·         What about Credit Karma and similar websites? (1:02)·         Hard and soft credit inquiries (4:09)·         How many credit inquiries can you have without affecting your score? (5:42)·         Changes in the last few years and medical debt (6:45)·         Tax liens removed from credit reports (7:48)·         Medical debts (10:04)·         Identity theft (14:58)·         What is a security freeze and how do you place one? (16:04)·         Does a security freeze cost money? (17:23)·         Will a security freeze stop soft pulls and hard pulls? (20:55)·         A real story of identity theft (21:53)·         What is the average range for a FICO score? (25:57)·         Summary of the important points (28:28) Key Points:“A good credit score can mean the difference between renting and owning a home. It can mean the difference between a higher interest rate and a lower interest rate on anything.”“The only way to know what your FICO score is if you're looking to purchase something like a home or an auto is to have a lender or a creditor from that industry pull your credit report and your FICO score with it.”“One of the big changes that did happen… was that they removed all tax liens from credit reports.”“They're now saying that medical collections cannot be reported on your credit report until they have been charged off by the creditor for at least six months.”“A soft inquiry has no impact on your FICO score.”“A security freeze… provides a freeze on your credit. No hard inquiry can come through. That's the key.”“Once you place that security freeze, you will receive a piece of mail from that bureau in the mail that will have what's called a PIN code that is for you, only for your eyes, and that allows you to unlock your file.”“The highest that we've seen is 847. I've never seen an 850. I've never seen a perfect 850 FICO score... I think the lowest that we've seen was a 336 or something like that.”“Just because you have some derogatory information showing up on your credit report, it is not the end of the world and is not going to haunt you for the rest of your life.” Links: Credit Report: www.annualcreditreport.com Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com   

Summary: In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli St George talks all about credit scores with guest Lisa Myers. Lisa brings over 20 years of experience on the credit side of the mortgage industry and shares her expertise over two episodes.Credit can be confusing, but it doesn't have to be! Lisa starts with the basics of what a credit score is and why there are different scoring models. After, she talks about what negatively and positively impacts your credit score. Lisa also goes over how many cards you should have, how car notes and student loans affect your credit, and how and when you should check your credit report. Plus, parents will want to tune in for advice on how to help their teens establish good credit!  What You'll Learn: ·         What is a credit score? (0:40)·         Why are there different scoring models? (4:46)·         What negatively affects your credit score? (5:12)·         What happens if you close a credit card? (7:36)·         Opening too many new credit cards at once (9:10)·         Bankruptcy reported on your credit score (10:34)·         What positively affects your score? (11:22)·         How many credit cards you should have (13:10)·         Car notes and your credit (14:12)·         What should teenagers do? (15:13)·         When should parents help their teen establish credit? (17:43)·         Is a prepaid credit card helpful? (18:50)·         Student loans and credit (20:39)·         Pulling a free copy of your credit report (22:52)·         Why you don't want a lot of inquiries on your credit report (25:00)Key Points:“A credit score is pretty simple. It's basically just a number that's attached to you that tells lenders whether or not you have the ability to repay a loan, repay a debt.”“When it comes to FICO, FICO does like to see that you have one credit card open, and preferably a major credit card, so a Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, something like that. So FICO does like to see that you have one of those cards open, but FICO also really looks at how you use that credit card.”“The majority of your FICO score makeup is made up of anything reporting in the last 24 months.”“You do have a grace period. So, if your payment is due on the first of the month, if you pay it on the 15th of the month, that creditor cannot legally report you 30 days late so they cannot report a late date to the bureaus.”“One major credit card is really all that FICO looks at and attaches some negative factor to if you don't have one.”“If you're having to use all five of those credit cards, then yes, your FICO score can be lower than someone that's only using one or two credit cards periodically.”                                                                                                  Links: Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com  

In this episode of the Perfect Property, Juli chats with powerhouse real estate investor, Courtney Newton.  Courtney, a self-professed aggressive real estate investor has done an abundance of investing in the Atlanta market.  Courtney has been in the real estate business for over 17 years, has her MBA, and is currently the President of Cobb County Association of Realtors.  Juli and Courtney encourage women to get out there and invest in their future through real estate.  They provide practical ways and anecdotes to accomplish these real estate goals.   What You'll Learn:·         How Courtney got into investing and real estate.  ·         How to identify your big goal and big why.  ·         Return on traditional investments versus real estate investments.·         The biggest lessons and challenges of owning secondary or multiple properties. ·         How to determine parameters of property buying. ·         How to make short term/vacation rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) work for you. ·         Proper expectations for beginners. ·         What to do with the earnings from a property.  ·         The importance of women investing in real estate and how to get started.  ·         Is now a good time to invest?·         How to turn your current home into a rental property and upgrade the home you'll be living in.  ·         Is it time to refinance your home and put that money towards a rental property?·         Advice to women who spend money on the latest trends.  Key Points:“Experience and exposure usually dictate who we show up as.”  “There is no bad time to start.” “It's nice to have a well-rounded portfolio.  It's good to have things in different pie shapes around the circle of your entire portfolio.  But, certainly, real estate should be part of it, in anybody's portfolio.”  “The biggest lesson out of the gate is to not get in your own way.  I think sometimes we can overthink what we are trying to do…”“What a lot of folks don't realize is you can buy a second home with 10% down on an owner occupant rate, not an investment rate, and it doesn't require the 20% down that typically an investment property does.”“My super simple rule of thumb is [to make] $350 or better a month [on a property].”  “Naturally women are in this mindset of safety and security.  If you are that woman, just understand that real estate is a very safe investment.”“At the end of the day [you say] ‘I'm taking control of my future, my family's future.'”Links:Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comThe Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com Courtney Newton's Website:  www.courtneynewton.com

Summary: In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli talks again with CPA John Mangham. John, known as “The 1031 Guy,” has been in real estate in Atlanta since the mid-80s. He's an expert on the topic of this episode, which is buying or selling properties using 1031 exchanges. If you're not sure what a 1031 is, it allows you to sell investment properties to reinvest and potentially save money on taxes!As John discusses, there are four essential elements to a 1031 exchange: tax savings, investment property, time frame, and equal or greater value. He goes into detail on these four requirements and covers what qualifies as an investment property, how to understand the “equal or greater value” rule, and what exactly “like kind properties” are. John also talks about what you need to know about doing 1031 exchanges in different states.  What You'll Learn: ·         Who is the audience? (0:49)·         The four essential elements of a 1031 exchange (2:55)·         What qualifies as an investment property? (9:57)·         The “equal or greater value” rule of a 1031 exchange (13:47)·         What are “like kind properties?” (15:31)·         Selling and buying in different states (19:41)·         Review of the four essential elements (22:12)·         One thing investors need to know about 1031 exchanges (23:18)·         How to contact John and talk about 1031 exchanges (25:19) Key Points:“Our audience would be anybody who owns real estate that is not their residence or a pure vacation, personal use property. It's properties that they've invested in and they may have inherited the property, they may have received it 10 or 20 years ago, they may own it in conjunction with siblings… There's a big gain in those properties. So, when we look at our audience, it's the investor and even people who don't think of themselves as investor.” “The average 1031 exchange will start and complete in 62 days.”“From closing you have 45 days to pick out what you're going to buy.” “If there's one practical piece of advice that I give everybody in dealing with these time periods: start shopping. Shop early, shop often, and start shopping before today, before today's closing.”“If we have a rental house and its been rented for a year or more, a couple or a few years, that starts to completely comply with the rental definition, the ‘held for investment requirement.' Also, do you have multiple properties?... All of that sets the pattern that you're an investor.”“A vacation home, in and of itself, if it's purely personal use, if it's only a property that you and your family go to, the vacation home won't qualify for a 1031 exchange.”“Equal or greater is if you want to save all the taxes. If you go slightly under, it's not the end of the world. In fact, if it's a really killer deal, then I would suggest that's the way you ought to do it.”“When we say ‘like kind,' you can interchange ‘like kind' and ‘investment property' because that's really what all of this talks about.”“Because it's federal tax law, the 1031 exchange applies anywhere in this country.”Links: John's Phone Number: 404-352-1031John's Email: jmangham@starker.comJuli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com    

Summary: In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli St George chats with Atlanta Real Estate Attorney Harold Hudson. Harold is a closing attorney at Hudson Law Firm and, with 31 years of attorney experience in Atlanta, Harold brings lots of expertise to the podcast! He and Juli talk about the role of a real estate attorney and closing attorney in a real estate transaction.Harold explains what a “cloud in title” is and goes over some issues that often come out in a title exam. He also talks about what happens in Georgia when someone doesn't pay their mortgage as well as the importance of having a will if you own property. Finally, he and Juli discuss the important and dangerous issue of wire fraud and some safeguards against it.What You'll Learn: •The role of a real estate attorney (0:24)•Issues that come out in a title exam (1:40)•Title insurance and why you need it (5:17)•How much is a title insurance policy? (8:44)•What are “clouds” on titles? (10:48)•What happens in Georgia when someone doesn't pay their mortgage? (13:13)•The importance of having a will when you own property (15:25)•Wire fraud (20:57)•Safeguards against wire fraud (27:22)•Tricky closings (28:17)•How long is a typical closing and how much does it cost? (31:07)Key Points:“Title insurance is almost like uninsured motorist coverage… If somebody hits you and it's their fault and they don't have enough insurance, you've got some of your own insurance. And that's exactly what you're doing when you buy title insurance.”“Title insurance is a function of the purchase price.”“If you're going to borrow money from a bank or a mortgage company to buy a house, that company (the lender in the transaction) always gets title insurance for themselves. It's called a lenders policy.”“The more expensive the house, the more expensive your owners title insurance policy is.”“A cloud is really just sort of an industry term for an issue that comes onto the title, some type of title defect or a cloud. Those terms are used interchangeably.” “In Georgia we have a process of foreclosure that is called nonjudicial foreclosure.”“And so what happens in Georgia is that first Tuesday of the month in every county in the state of Georgia there's a foreclosure sale at the county courthouse steps. And so the property is sold at the foreclosure sale and the money from sale is used to pay the loan off.”“These criminals, what they're doing is they're sending out these fake instructions… They find out when the real estate transaction is going to close and a few days before that closing, they send a bogus email… And they say, ‘Okay you're going to have to pay $5,000 for your closing. Go ahead and send us the wire so we can get this thing done.'”“Having an agent instruct you on how to deliver wiring instructions or how to deliver the wire itself and having a savvy agent that can warn you at appropriate times during the transition process really really helps.”“A lot of buyers don't understand that it may not be a really super happy event for a seller.”“We give bottles of champagne as part of the celebration to the buyers, the sellers, to the buyer's agent, the seller's agent, and the loan officer when they come to the closing. So, it's a happy occasion.”“A typical closing is about an hour, about 60 to 70 minutes.”Links: Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com 

Summary: In this episode of The Perfect Property, our host Juli chats with Rick Hale, the operating partner for Juli's office. Rick owns multiple Keller Williams market centers and has had thousands and thousands of real estate closings over the decades he's been in the business. He's been selling in Atlanta since 1996, works with a team of nine active agents and staff, and is the operating partner for six real estate offices. Rick walks us through ten reasons to buy a house now! Those reasons include tax deductions, pride in home ownership, forced savings, and bank credibility. At the end, he and Juli discuss Atlanta's growth and Rick gives his perspective on whether or not a shift is coming in the Atlanta market.  What You'll Learn: ·         The excitement of buyers buying first-time homes (1:25)·         Reason #1: Leverage (3:54)·         Reason #2: Mortgage interest is tax-deductible (5:31)·         Reason #3: Appreciation potential (6:51)·         Reason #4: Pride in home ownership (9:20)·         Reason #5: No tax on capital gains (10:20)·         Reason #6: 1031 exchanges (11:25)·         Reason #7: Forced savings (12:00)·         Reason #8: Bank credibility (15:11)·         Reason #9: Expanding retirement through rental options (16:28) ·         Reason #10: Social credibility (18:35)·         Advice for Atlanta's growth (20:45)·         Are we heading into a shift in Atlanta? (22:50)  Key Points:  “It's very uncommon for people to regret making a real estate purchase.”“All of the interest paid along the way is deductible.”“Just saving money isn't really leveraging your money like you can with a real estate purchase.”“The only people that I've found that lose money in real estate are people that have to sell at the wrong time. If you have the capacity to carry that property through the downturns, inevitably the trend line that's well over 100 years old always favors ownership, and you'll always create a win over time.”“Even then if you don't live in it, there's still capacity with investment properties, commercial properties, and real estate where you don't live in, you can upgrade and move into other properties and as long as you transfer that in a 1031, legal way, you can push all your gains into another property and basically defer the taxes again.”“The ability to go to my bank and borrow money is contingent on two things: one is assets and the other is how many liabilities I have. And my credibility is directly correlated to my ability to borrow money and pay it back effectively.”“My advice is: start to build credibility through asset acquisition and repayment.”“If you bought ten rental properties and you held onto them for twenty years and accelerated your payment schedule and paid them all off, the likelihood of you having a multimillion-dollar asset in your pocket is extreme.”“Real estate doesn't suffer the same volatility that stocks do.” Links: Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com      

Summary: In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli talks about homeowner's insurance with Clifton Alston, an insurance agent with Allstate. While he has been involved in the insurance business all his life, Clifton has 10 years of formal insurance experience, both selling insurance as well as doing seminars. He has worked with thousands of clients and has lots of tips for getting great coverage for your biggest asset: your home. Juli and Clifton talk about the basics of homeowner's insurance like why it's important and why you need to have an agent. Clifton also goes over life insurance, how jewelry is covered, bundling with auto insurance, and where your pets come into play! At the end, Clifton shares important information about insuring townhomes and condos, which can be different from insuring single-family homes. What You'll Learn: ·         Why is homeowner's insurance important? (1:03)·         Why is it important to have an insurance agent? (1:45)·         Advice for people who want to buy their first home (2:48)·         The craziest claim Clifton has had (3:30)·         How is jewelry covered with a home insurance policy? (5:47)·         What about water backup coverage? (7:28)·         Bundling auto and homeowner's insurance (12:29)·         What about life insurance? (13:18)·         Generational wealth (16:26)·         Pets and homeowner's insurance (17:34)·         Typical deductibles for homeowner's insurance (19:02)·         What is a replacement cost? (19:49)·         What happens if someone robs you? (22:24)·         What causes homeowner's insurance to go up? (25:38)·         Catastrophic events (27:44)·         Insuring condos and townhomes (29:54) Key Points:“Homeowner's insurance is important because, number one, you're protecting the biggest investment, probably the biggest asset you have.”“The mortgage company is going to require [insurance]. Unless you're buying a home in cash, you're going to have to have it.”  “Having prior property insurance is always going to keep your rates low when you go to buy that home and you have to get homeowners insurance.”“We are septic tank heavy in a lot of areas in Atlanta and not everywhere in the country has them.”“We can do the policy just with the homeowner's insurance but there's about a 20% discount you're going to miss out on when you don't bundle your auto with the homeowners insurance.”“Deductibles can range anywhere from the minimum at $1,000 up to 5% percent of the dwelling coverage.”“If something happens to your home, we need to know: what is it going to cost Allstate to rebuild your home from the ground up?”“I tell my clients to stand in one corner of each room and take a picture of the whole room. Save it on their phone. If they don't want to save it on their phone, email it to me and I can save it to their file on our system. That way if something happens and if someone breaks into the home or if there's a catastrophic event where you have to replace everything, we know what was in the home.” Links: Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com  

Summary:   In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli talks with CPA John Mangham. John, known as “The 1031 Guy,” has been in real estate in Atlanta since the mid-80s. He is a fulltime real estate broker and knows all about the topic of this episode: opportunity zones. Juli and John talk about what opportunity zones are and what a great investment they can be! John explains where the idea of opportunity zones came from and how these investments can benefit  homeowners and investors. He also covers 1031 exchanges, explaining what they are in layman's terms and how they relate to opportunity zones. You'll also hear John and Juli discuss Atlanta's market when it comes to opportunity zones.What You'll Learn: ·         What is an opportunity zone? (0:31) ·         Stock and bonds versus opportunity zones (1:20)·         Who created the idea of opportunity zones? (2:55)·         The opportunity zones around Atlanta (3:50)·         How to find opportunity zones (4:27)·         What is the benefit for homeowners and investors? (5:37) ·         Are opportunity zones good for the average house-flipper? (10:17)·         How have opportunity zones been defined? (11:04)·         What happened in southwest Atlanta during the downturn? (13:44)·         Opportunity zones are long-term (20:55)·         What is a 1031 exchange? (22:31)·         Are people using crowdfunding for opportunity zones? (30:25) ·         Looking at the opportunity zone maps (32:40)·         Who is the perfect candidate to buy in the opportunity zone? (33:34)Key Points:“The opportunity zones allow investment coming from non-real estate arenas.”“There's never really been an opportunity, so to speak, to transfer money out of the stock market arena into the world of real estate until now. And the incentives that have been put in place for people to transfer their profits from stock market gains is this OZ (opportunity zone) fund opportunity.” “The idea is we're transferring money out of a stock market deal or a stock market sale where there's profit and those capital gains can be put in opportunity zones.”“It's a benefit to investors; it's a benefit to the risk-takers who choose to invest their money in these blighted or non-performing areas.”“The benefit to homeowners will not be a direct tax benefit, but rather the benefit that happens if they live in an opportunity zone is that that zone is going to get an injection of capital.”“30310 became recognized nationally as the second-hardest hit zip code in the country.”“It has drawn people who have typically been investors in equity and bonds (stock market investors), it has drawn them to start looking at real estate.”“Making an improvement to what you buy is part of the regulation.” Links: Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com Opportunity Zones www.arcgis.com John's Email: jwmangham@gmail.comEpicity Real Estate Services: www.epicity.com

Summary: In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli talks with Eric Rothberg from Northpointe Bank. Eric, a lender in the Atlanta area, has 28 years of lending experience. Plus, he started as an underwriter so he also has a lot of technical knowledge to bring to his clients.In this episode, Juli and Eric talk all about mortgages. You'll hear about the best practices when it comes to shopping for a mortgage, common mistakes that buyers make, and what “locking in a rate” really means. Eric also goes over how to handle cash deposits, buying a mortgage point, and why you should use a local lender. Finally, he goes over what you can expect if you choose to work with Northpointe Mortgage. What You'll Learn: ·         What are the best practices for mortgage shopping? (0:18)·         Three common mistakes buyers make (2:06)·         How long do you have to have cash deposits in the bank to count them? (4:45)·         How and why rates change (6:00)·         What does it mean to lock in a rate? (8:49)·         The best advice for someone purchasing in the next 30, 60, or 90 days (10:47)·         Stories from 28 years as a lender (12:53)·         Buying a mortgage point (14:15)·         Using a local lender (18:16)·         Surprise fees (21:06)·         Eric's quickest close on a loan (23:00)·         What can you expect from Northpointe Mortgage? (23:22) Key Points:  “The most important thing when you do your mortgage shopping is to start the preapproval process as quickly as possible.” “Cash deposits are hard to trail and source, so we always try to tell our buyers not to do cash deposits.”“Rates can change more than once a day if the market does shift. The market is tied to the bond market, so as the bond market does change, if it's a drastic change whether it's positive or negative, the rates will improve or worsen depending on how that market is going and that can happen a few times a day.”“When you lock in the rate that does mean your rate is locked and typically if rates improve you don't typically get a better interest rate, but there are some lenders like us that will renegotiate the rate to assist with the fact that the market changes.”“Mortgage points is tied in with the rate and also that's the commission or income for the lender or the mortgage company or bank. There are mortgage companies that automatically will charge a 1% origination fee as their cost and that is their cost to do the loan.”“A lot of companies like us will do a zero origination fee loan where you don't have to pay that point and that way you're enabled to save in your closing costs and keep your costs down.”“The midsize lender which is where I work, we do have the ability to close loans a little quicker.”“The local lender also tends to be a little more available to the realtor and the client when they do have the need for a preapproval letter or an estimate.”Links: Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com   

Summary: In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli St George talks with Lori Schildkraut. Lori is an admin for Perfect Property Real Estate Team and works behind-the-scenes to take clients as smoothly as possible from contract to closing. Originally from New York, Lori has lived in the South for over 25 years and now shares her expertise within the Atlanta real estate market.With 25 to 50 people involved in a contract after it's signed, Lori is the one who orchestrates all the moving parts to give the buyer the best and easiest experience possible. Lori and Juli discuss what a contract means, what needs to be done, what the timeline is, and a few common mistakes that most buyers make. They also touch on terminating contracts and a few tips on electronic signing.  What You'll Learn: ·         What does Lori do for clients? (0:27)·         Who is looking at or working on the contract? (2:47)·         What comes right after signing a contract? (4:09)·         First tip for buyers: Read your emails! (10:03) ·         Looking at every contract individually (13:02)·         Advice to homebuyers (15:43)·         How often do people terminate contracts? (16:31)·         How many transactions has Lori worked on? (20:33)·         The number one mistake people make (21:40)·         Tips on electronic signing (22:46)·         How long Lori has been in the south (24:17) Key Points:  “I orchestrate everything that's going on. You sign a contract and immediately the clock starts ticking… There are 25 to 50 people involved in every contract and with everything that's going on behind the scenes, I'm sitting back and orchestrating it all so that when you sit down at the closing table, you have the best experience that you could possibly have.”“Part of what I try to bring to the table is some sense of consistency and try to share that with the buyer and the seller so they know what it is they need to look at first, what they need to do first.”“A home inspection really is just a road map for what else you need to discover during that time period.”“The main thing is to go with an agent that you feel comfortable with. I think it's really important to be able to be open and honest with your agents. Sometimes it might be some uncomfortable conversations — I like to call them courageous conversations — that you might need to have. But you have to be able to talk about things and work through them.”“If you could pay rent on an apartment each month, you certainly can afford to buy a house and own property and hopefully gain equity.”“If you don't know what you need to do next or what you need to look at first, ask! Let's have that conversation.” Links: Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com     

Summary: JR Prince is the guest on this episode of The Perfect Property. JR is a home inspector with Prospect Inspections and has inspected thousands and thousands of homes in the past eight years. He is a certified home inspector and knows what to look for when it comes to home safety! In this episode, he shares his expertise as well as a few of his own home inspection stories.JR and Juli chat about the importance of getting a home inspection — both financially and for your safety! JR also talks about the most common code violations, what you need to know about radon testing, and what you should look for when choosing a home inspector. He covers more practical information like the average cost of a home inspection and what you as a buyer can expect to receive at the end of a home inspection. What You'll Learn: ·         Why is it important to get a home inspection? (0:28)·         What problems does JR see most often on home inspections? (1:54)·         What about mold? (3:42)·         JR's home inspection horror stories (4:47)·         Common code violations (7:43)·         Qualifications to look for when searching for a home inspector (10:19)·         What you need to know about radon and safety (12:16)·         Home inspections, wildlife, and rodents (16:01)·         Gutters and how water should be properly diverted (20:09)·         What's important for home buyers to know (22:20)·         What if something is found during a home inspection? (23:18)·         What can buyers expect at the end of a home inspection? (24:22)·         What sort of home inspection report does JR provide to clients? (25:01)·         The average cost of a home inspection (27:11) Key Points: “It's important for the buyer to have a home inspection completed so that way they get a better understanding of the overall condition of the property.”“The average home inspection takes about three hours to complete.”“What some people would think is a quirk or characteristic of an older home may be signs of a more significant problem that would need further investigation.”“First and foremost, you want to ask if they're a certified home inspector.” “One of the things that we always counsel our home buyers on is radon. Radon is a natural gas but it's also a dangerous gas to have in your house at certain levels.”“Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.”“If you haven't had a radon test, you can go ahead and schedule one at any time.”“If you haven't had one previously done, they recommend every two years to have your home tested [for radon].”“Rats are a major issue. I haven't seen a home yet that is rodent-proof, especially being inside the perimeter.”“Your gutters should terminate at least six feet away from the home and be directed away.”“It's very important to do the proper maintenance on your home. It can save you thousands in costly repairs down the road.”“You'll save thousands in potential damages or potential litigations just based on the fact that you got your home inspected prior to purchasing it.”Links: Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com   

In this episode of The Perfect Property, we hear from real estate agent Brandy Wright. Brandy calls Atlanta home and work as a buyer's agent on Juli's team. She is client-focused and spends time learning to read the clients and what they want from their new home.   Juli and Brandy talk about finding the perfect home for their buyers and the role of the buyer's agent in that process. They also go over how to choose a real estate agent, the process of looking at houses, and the current market in Atlanta.What You'll Learn: ·         What kind of questions a buyer agent asks clients (0:35)·         Looking at properties and learning what the client wants (1:26)·         The strategy of offers (3:10)·         How to choose a real estate agent to work with (5:03)·         Tips to make an offer more appealing (6:59)·         Your favorite room in the house and why it's important (7:53)·         Tips for someone thinking about buying a house (9:16)·         How many properties you can see in one day (13:43)·         The best part about being a buyer's agent (16:14)·         Buyers' non-negotiables (18:45)·         Top things Brandy sees on home inspection reports (21:57)·         ITP versus OTP and the growth of Atlanta (24:29)·         High rental rates and investing in the future (29:03)·         The home-owner age is going down (29:22) Key Points: “We pick a couple houses, usually no more than six in the area they're looking in. We take the time and we go see them. What it does for us is it kind of allows my clients to really understand what square footage is really like and how it can really feel bigger in a space with lots of wide open spaces and how the same square footage can look really small with lots of little rooms.”“The whole thing about real estate is it's all about strategy. It's all about how to leverage your offer to make it look really strong while still being true to what the client really wants and can afford and what the sellers are willing to give and take on it.”“The first thing I would say is find someone you like and connect with. Other than that, you really want to have an agent that knows the area you're looking in.”“That's the first step, is really figuring out when you want to make the move and if you have a house when you want to get it listed.”“The second thing that I would say is talk to a lender. Find out where you are on the loan aspect because you don't want to start looking at houses before you know what you're looking for.”“Once you've kind of figured out your budget and you've talked to a lender and you've figured out where you are in the range, that's when you start looking for agents to talk to.”“Most people in this day in age are looking at thousands and thousands of properties for months before they even talk to an agent.”“My favorite thing about being a buyer's agent is finding the house. When the client walks in and their eyes widen, and they get this little bitty twinkle in their eye.”“The rental rates are so high now that it doesn't make sense to rent. Really, you should be putting that money into a mortgage.” Links:Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com  

In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli talks with Emily Cook, an award-winning lender. Emily has over 20 years of experience as a lender and now works with Fidelity Bank in the Atlanta area. Emily provides valuable information for people looking to purchase a home and covers where, how, and when to find a mortgage. She and Juli discuss loan programs, common mortgage myths, credit scores, and tips for working with a lender. What You'll Learn: ·         The truth about down-payment assistance programs (2:24)·         Do student loans or medical loans count against you? (5:00)·         VA loans (6:22)·         Are car payments counted against you? (7:20)·         Medical loans (8:23)·         How is credit score calculated? (9:08)·         Going in on a loan with someone (10:41)·         Do you have to pay off all your debt before you speak to a lender? (12:09)·         A success story of one of Emily's clients (13:03)·         How often should you check your credit? (14:39)·         Understanding credit reports from Credit Karma (16:30)·         The best advice for someone starting on the path of home ownership (17:55)·         Constant changes in the mortgage industry (19:05)·         Why you should shop around for a lender (20:30)·         The importance of good communication with your lender (23:37)·         Rate volatility and hearing from your lender (24:23)·         Why you shouldn't hide things from your lender (25:32)·         Getting the necessary paperwork to the lender (26:18)·         Don't buy things during the lending process (28:37)·         The process of using gifts from relatives for the down payment (30:01) Key Points:“If you think you're going to buy a house within a year or even two years, it's good to go ahead and get preapproved.” “There are typically three bureaus that report scores: Transunion, Equifax, and Experian. Most lenders use the middle score of the three, so not the high score or the low score; whichever one falls in the middle.”“On an FHA loan, a 580 would be the absolute minimum score that you could have. On a conventional loan, they want to see a 620. On a VA loan, it will also go as low as 580.”“They have to look at many factors, it's not just a credit score that's going to determine your loan qualifications.”“It's impossible to get prequalified without pulling your credit, because everything hinges on those scores.”“One of the myths I've heard over and over is people think that if you have your credit pulled too many times, it will negatively impact your score. This is true and false.”“Don't be afraid to allow your top three lenders to all pull your credit as long as you do it in the same time frame, within a thirty-day window.”“If you bought a house five years ago, don't expect that exactly how it happened five years ago is the way it is now.” Episode Update: Fidelity Bank is now Ameris Bank (2020)Links: Juli's Email: juli@theperfectproperty.comJuli's Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com 

 Acclaimed real estate professional Juli St George presents practical real estate education providing teh step-by-step processes and tricks of the trade you need to expertly execute any and every real estate transaction -- and come out on top! Host Juli St George draws from her vast industry experience in Atlanta and around the world and presents the information in a relaxed, informational and fun way. Tune in to learn more. The Perfect Property Podcast  is free and available everywhere podcasts are found - it's a winning resource for anyone considering a change or just curious about real estate.