Ken Parker's (kwparker) Blog

June 1, 2008 In a newsletter update late last year, I likened the Fayette / Coweta market to a rudderless ship, drifting along with no clear indication of where it was headed. Today, I can finally report that a direction has been established and can point to some other signs of life, as well. As ...

May 1, 2007The local real estate market is continuing to show some signs of recovery.The AJC recently reported that, on a national level, the sale of existing (resale, not new) single family homes fell 8.4% in March, the largest drop since a 12.6% plunge in January 1989. We did not experience a s...

I frequently get comments from other agents or home industry professionals telling me they strongly disagree with the statements I have made. Let me qualify everything I say in this blog as pertaining to my market area of Fayette and Coweta Counties. I do not claim great knowledge about what goes...

As a potential home buyer, there are several things you can do to be better prepared to go home shopping and to make yourself look like a strong buyer, one that a seller will not want to allow to slip away. Here are several suggestions:The first thing you should do is talk to a good mortgage lend...

So often, the buyers I work with have very little appreciation for the pros and cons of the various exterior home materials used in this part of the country. Putting personal preferences aside, let me rank exterior materials in the order of cost and desirability.Brick is by far the best because i...

One of the questions I am often asked is "Do you think I should I become a Realtor? What is it like?" It is easier to answer the second question than the first. Once someone understands what it is like being a Realtor, they can answer the first question themselves. Here is what it is like living ...

Quite often, while showing homes to prospective buyers, I show a vacant home and notice quite a few mistakes made in the presentation of the home. Here are my thoughts on the best way to market a vacant home:Thoroughly clean the house upon moving out and then keep the house clean.  Maintain the y...

A Contingency Contract may be used when you currently own a home and need or want to sell it in order to purchase your next home. Such a contract is conditioned on the sale and closing of your present home. If your home does not sell and close by the date specified in the contract, you are off th...

Buyers moving here from another state often ask for my advice in choosing a home that is going to appreciate well over the years. I always respond that, while no one has a crystal ball, it is indeed possible to choose a home with an eye on its potential for resale. Over a period of several years,...

Effective January 17, 2007, a very significant change was made to the Purchase and Sale Agreement (sales contract) and if you are a potential home buyer or seller anywhere in the state of Georgia, you need to be very much aware the change!  The change will benefit sellers and introduces an elemen...