What a pleasure to work with Katy and Dan over the past several months!  It all begin when a friend (Thanks, Scott) referred Katy and Dan our way.  Andy met with them, listed their home in the Laurel Hills neighborhood of Decatur, and sold it a couple of months later.  Click here to see their past home. 

When it came to looking for a new home, Katy and Dan were fun for us!  They had a vision.  While many home buyers want a move in ready home, Dan and Katy didn’t mind work.  They wanted a home that they could make their very own.  And, lucky for Katy – Dan is HANDY!  Katy and Dan loved living in Decatur so much in their past Laurel Hills home - they decided to stay.   They purchased a fantastic Decatur estate in the Druid Hills neighborhood.  An added bonus for Katy and Dan - The home is 1.2 miles from Brickstore Pub, 0.9 miles to Taqueria del Sol, and a nice walk to Downtown Decatur. 

Andy and I are anxiously awaiting the tour when they put their plans into action.  This Decatur ranch has fantastic curb appeal, an elongated kitchen with an eat-in area, 3 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, a large screened in porch, AND a FULL basement that is partially finished with a living space, kitchenette, bedroom and bath.  Best part yet:  Katy and Dan plan to rent out the basement apartment for a little extra revenue. 

If I must say so myself, Andy did an EXCELLENT job negotiating a great price on this Druid Hills home – the 2nd lowest priced sold home in the past 12 months.  Our buyers, Katy and Dan, are thrilled!  And, the sellers are pleased that their late mother’s home is in good hands.  A win-win!

If you are looking for an agent that can negotiate an excellent value, look no further.  You are in good company with The Peters Company.  770-634-2782.

Quiet and convenience abound in this four bedroom open planned Norcross home with enough room for now and later. With easy access to Peachtree Industrial Blvd, I-285, and the rest of the metro Atlanta area, you can get anywhere quickly. Other nearby attractions include the Forum, the YMCA, your choice of grocery stores, a great library, and the Gwinnett Aquatic Center. In addition, the Gwinnett County Public School System is award winning. The home is nestled between great neighbors in the middle of a bustling Norcross swim/tennis neighborhood.   

A stroll through the front door is quickly greeted by a two story foyer, hardwood floors, and an elegant staircase. Natural light pours into the spacious rooms, and the nice and bright kitchen is coupled with the warm main living room for an open floor plan you have been dreaming about. The brick fireplace is enhanced with gas for cozy comfort. Custom touches on the main level include recently painted walls and ceilings, a mirrored back splash in the kitchen, crown molding, and two bay windows located in the kitchen’s eat-in breakfast area and the expansive dining room, where everyone can sit and enjoy a big meal. In addition, all windows and doors on the main level are equipped and protected with an installed alarm system.

 Everyone is together as the upstairs is home to all four bedrooms, including the master bedroom with vaulted trey ceilings. The master bath has all the luxury you need including a Jacuzzi tub, separate shower, water closet, double vanities, and a large walk-in closet. No need to stress over laundry days because the spacious laundry room is conveniently located on the same floor as all the bedrooms. For extra storage, the attic has been additionally floored.

 Lastly, the backyard is fenced and professionally landscaped with a charming brick patio perfect for your grill. The beautiful pink dogwood in the backyard makes the springtime even more enjoyable.

If you are an Atlanta first time home buyer or in the midst of an Atlanta relocation, look no further.  This Norcross home in the Wyntree Subdivision is value priced and waiting for you! 

Click on the flyer below for a full PDF flyer of this fantastic piece of Norcross Real Estate:

Welcome to 2010!  This is our first listing of the New Year to hit the market!  And, it’s a great one!  There is a reason our listings don’t last.  From marketing to pricing to staging, we know how to get homes sold in the least amount of time for the most amount of money. Run, don’t walk!  It’s sure to go fast… 

Modern Day Luxury Renovated to Original Craftsman Charm

Old is new again. Originally built in 1930, this immaculate renovation reminds us of a much simpler Decatur. The custom paint and trim fit perfectly and help restore the home to original cottage charm. But don’t let this little trip down memory lane fool you!  This Decatur home, nestled in historic Decatur Heights, is equipped with everything and more that you’d expect from a brand new home, at a fraction of the price.  Within easy walking distance of downtown Decatur, all your favorite hot spots are at your back door.  Also, since you have easy access to Ponce de Leon, the main thoroughfares and public transportation are convenient.  The fenced corner lot provides great privacy and enhances the overall function and curb appeal of the home, and you are districted for the desirable Winnona Park Elementary School within the City Schools of Decatur cluster.

An open floorplan in a 70 year old house? Absolutely! You will love the natural light, flow and openness created in the main living room, dining room, and gourmet kitchen running the length of the home. The rich original hardwood floors and warm custom paint finishes tie everything together. The original fireplace has been brought back to life with modern day gas logs. The tiled kitchen features the granite countertops and counter space you have been looking for with a complimenting tile backsplash and extra outlets for convenience. In addition, the custom cabinets are painted to accent and give the kitchen an ultra updated appeal. The home includes three separate bedrooms along with two separate bathrooms. The updated motif is continued in the baths. No more perfect example than the crisp and clean master bathroom including tasteful tile and an oversized master shower complete with two shower heads. The guest bath includes modern designer light and bath fixtures and includes a classically unique antique slipper tub.

If you’re considering a Decatur relocation or an Atlanta relocation, this may just be the home for you!  What a perfect commute to Emory, Agnes Scott, Decatur Square, CDC, Downtown Atlanta, Midtown Atlanta, Buckhead, or Brookhaven.  This home is also nearby entertainment, shopping, and restaurant destinations such as DeKalb Farmer’s Market, Eddie’s Attic, Watershed Restaurant, Brick Store Pub, Wahoo! A Decatur Grill, and Fernbank.

Your home is waiting. Time is not on your side. This beautifully updated charmer will not last long, and once you see it, you will understand why.  Click on the flyer below for the full PDF image.

As we sit at the eve of Thanksgiving, we are thankful for so much more than we could ever begin to list from the past year including the arrival of a new baby girl, a blossoming business with well over 30 closings on the year, and continued good health.  Perhaps the most heartbreaking and heartwarming experience for us this year was an encounter with some new clients, Jeff and Ingrid from New Jersey. 

Jeff and Ingrid were referrals from a lender that has since moved on from the business, but while he was active, we referred a lot of business to him because he was so on top of things.  When we received a referral from him, we knew that it would be special, and it was.  Jeff was being transferred to Atlanta with Taylor Bean and Whitaker in the midst of the worst financial crisis we have seen in virtually forever.  Jeff was brought in to help “straighten things out,” and it was obvious that he had the attitude and ability to do just that.  His lovely wife Ingrid was in charge of the search, and Atlanta was going to be a welcomed change from anywhere else they had lived in the past.  She was excited, and her excitement was contagious.  She and their son Coleman booked several trips down from New Jersey, and we enjoyed multiple days exploring and looking at property in Cobb, Fulton, and DeKalb counties.  I served as tour guide, and as it was their introduction to the city, I wanted it to be as positive and informative as possible.  We built a great relationship fast, and they affectionately reffered to me as “Andrew,” my middle name and a name typically reserved for my mother and mother-in-law.  It should be pointed out that that’s the kind of relationship we built.  We had a great time, and in the end we found a wonderful home in Sandy Springs that met virtually all of their needs AND wants, including a 3+ car garage and a swimming pool.  We made the offer and negotiated a purchase price roughly 10% less than the appraised value of the home.  In short, it was a steal. 

About three weeks after we went under contract, Jeff received an unfortunate call from his company, which was imploding before our eyes.  The Feds raided the Florida headquarters, and the company shuttered in the day that followed.  I followed the news and internet stories for days afterwards in pain, having had a direct connection.  It was a heartbreaking realization that their impending move to Atlanta was now not going to happen.  Jeff and Ingrid were in shock, and unfortuantely lost transaction costs in addition to obviously a wonderful job with relocation benefits.  Its always been our policy to pay the upfront price in everything we do.  As Zig Ziglar says, “It’s imporant to get the money out of your eyes.”  I honestly feel like we do that when we work with our clients.  Sure, it was disappointing to lose a larger transaction, but it paled in comparison to the disappointment we shared for Jeff and Ingrid.  Their response to the situation was as inspiring as it was sad.  They didn’t get down on themselves.  They pulled it together, and I’m happy to report that Jeff has secured a new job, taking them to St. Louis.  I’m thankful for Jeff and Ingrid, their willingness to blindly trust a real estate agent in a strange city, their attitude, their energy, their response to adversity, and most of all their friendship.  We’ll keep in touch with them wherever the go, and they’ll get a Christmas card every year from the Peters from now on! 

I received the following email this morning from Ingrid, and it was more than enough to spark this post.  It’s important to have good people like Jeff and Ingrid in your life, and it’s even better when they are clients.  Give thanks today to those who are important in your life, whether they are friends, family, clients, or all of the above.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Andy and Lesley,

At the time of year we are all giving thanks for the wonderful people that touched our lives this year, Jeff, Coleman and I want to recognize you. Even though the end result was painful and disappointing, the process of learning about Atlanta and trying to find the perfect home for us was so wonderful. It was the two of you that made that happen. We will always be disappointed that we couldn’t begin a life long friendship with you and your beautiful children.

Good news is that Jeff is finally working. He went back to Citibank last week. We will move back to St. Louis probably before March 1. Jeff and Coleman are very happy and I am getting used to the idea. If I can find a job working again with the wonderful friends I had during our past 8 years in St. Louis, I will be happy too.

Andy I must tell you that I have officially graduated from the Andrew Peters school of real estate negotiations. I expect the purchase of our next home will be just like our Atlanta experience. Maybe we can even get a higher appraisal!!

We didn’t get any reimbursement from TBW and will be happy if a check comes in the mail but we don’t expect it. Life goes on.

Happy Holidays and give those beautiful babies a smooch for me.

Best regards,
Ingrid

Because of you… We are still the #1 Team at Keller Williams Realty Peachtree Road and now ranked in the Top 50 amongst all Keller Williams Realty agents in the Southeastern Region. Thank you for trusting us to be your real estate agents for life!

We have closed 15 transactions since July 1, 2009! 11 out of those 15 came from your referrals. What an honor!

Through September, we’ve sold over $6 million dollars in real estate. We’re busy but we are never too busy for new clients. As we begin to approach 2010, please don’t keep us a secret!

Your agents for life,
Lesley and Andy

The Peters Company has just listed this fantastic buy in Decatur! Click HERE for the full page two sided flyer.

You’ll want to see this beautiful home for the location in Laurel Hills, but you’ll stay for the condition. This three bedroom one and a half bath traditional 4-sided brick ranch is decorated with cottage charm, well cared for, and in move-in ready condition. You’ll love being so close to everything inside the perimeter with easy access to downtown Decatur, CDC, Emory University and Hospital, the VA Hospital, I-85, I-285, and Highway 78. Living in Decatur is a joy, but paying those taxes is not. You’ll appreciate living close to downtown Decatur and everything this great area presents, but without the higher City of Decatur taxes. Asbury Court is a wonderfully quiet cul-de-sac street with friendly neighbors.

One of the highlights of your new home includes the updated and cook friendly cottage kitchen with new sink, oven, stove top, tile backsplash, beautiful wooden butcher block countertops, recessed lighting, custom built desk, crown molding, renovated cabinets, and custom paint. The updated full bathroom is located in the center of the home, and the master bedroom includes a convenient private half bath. You’ll find that storage space and closet space is surprisingly large for a home built in this era. The whole home is networked, and the wiring for the entertainment center in the main living room has been hidden from plain view to allow for more living space. The rich and original hardwood floors accent the home’s charm and history.

The curb appeal of this Decatur gem is obvious from the moment you drive up. The sturdy brick exterior of the home is enhanced by the large, fully fenced lot with a second fenced in area at the rear of the property perfect for your pets. You’ll enjoy outdoor entertaining on the recently sealed deck as you look out on the beautiful blooming azaleas and well manicured green grass. On those rainy days, you’ll be glad you have a two car carport, which also includes a storage space/workshop that runs the width of the carport. Pride is the first thing that comes to mind when you see this home. It’s been meticulously maintained and updated through the years both inside and out. Welcome home!

The Peters Company represents buyers and sellers in the Decatur area and all over metro Atlanta including Brookhaven, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Chamblee, and North Fulton. For more information on The Peters Company, you can visit our website or check us out on Kudzu.com where our past clients have rated and reviewed our services. If you or anyone you know is interested in this fantastic home, give us a call. We’d love to show you this home!

At the beginning of every year, we send a letter out to our clients we represented from the previous year.  Our purpose of the letter is twofold.  First and foremost to thank them for giving us an oppotunity in an ocean full of real estate agents.  Secondly, we always remind our past clients about the importance of filing for the Homestead Exemption on their primary residence.  This year’s letters have already gone out, but I wanted to post some helpful information and links in the event that you have purchased a home in the last calendar year.  

As you know, buying a home can be a huge tax advantage, so we want to be sure that as a new homeowner you know you may be eligible for a Homestead Exemption.

Georgia allows homeowners to claim a Homestead Exemption as a tax benefit that could amount to considerable annual savings.  To qualify the homeowner must occupy the residence and file at the county Court House or Tax Commissioner’s Office in person, by mail or on the web, depending on the county in which you reside.  Filing deadlines do vary by county, but we encourage you to do this as soon as possible.

For your convenience, we have attached the contact information below of most major Georgia county Tax Commissioner offices, so that you may file for exemption quickly and easily.  If your county is not listed, please visit www.georgia.gov/00/topic_index_channel/0,2092,4802_5083,00.html to find your county’s tax office information.  If you have any questions about the homestead exemption and its benefits, we encourage you to talk with your accountant.  Many thank to Leigh Clack with Neel and Robinson for providing these updated links and contacts.

Fulton County – deadline is April 1, 2009                   404-612-6440

http://www.fultonassessor.org/Forms/HtmlFrame.aspx?mode=content/Exemptions.htm&taxyear=2007&ownseq=1&jur=&LMparent=180

DeKalb County – deadline is March 1, 2009 (file by Friday, 2/27)  404-298-4000

https://dklbweb.dekalbga.org/taxcommissioner/index.asp?pg=homestead#applications

Gwinnett County – deadline is March 2, 2009            770-822-8800

https://ssl.gwinnetttaxcommissioner.com/Property/information/TypesOfExemptions.aspx

Cobb County – deadline is April 1, 2009                     770-528-8600

http://www.cobbtax.org/Forms/HtmlFrame.aspx?mode=content/Exemptions.htm&LMparent=189

Clayton County – deadline is April 1, 2009                770-477-3311

http://www.co.clayton.ga.us/tax_commissioner/exemptions.htm

Cherokee County – deadline is April 1, 2009              678-493-6122

 http://www.cherokeega.com/ccweb/departments/assessor/

Henry County – deadline is April 1, 2009                    770-288-8180                 

http://www.co.henry.ga.us/taxcommissioner/PropertyTaxExemptions.shtml

Forsyth County – deadline is March 1, 2009 (aim for 2/27)     770-781-2106 

http://www.forsythco.com/DeptPage.asp?DeptID=25&PageID=299

Douglas County – deadline is April 1, 2009                  770-920-7272

http://www.celebratedouglascounty.com/tax/

Fayette County – deadline is March 1, 2009 (aim for 2/27)   770-461-3652

http://www.fayettecountytaxcomm.com/HOMESTEA.html

Paulding County – deadline is April 1, 2009                 770-443-7606

http://www.paulding.gov/gov/taxcommissioner.asp

The buyers are coming, the buyers coming!  Why do I feel like Paul Revere on his famous midnight ride?  We have spent a great deal of time in the field with our buyer clients over the last three weeks.  With all this renewed activity, I had a couple of observations.  First of all, I don’t think the sellers were prepared for this type of bump in activity so early in the year.  Of course, this is what we were hoping for and the trends suggested as much.  The rates continue to hover in the mid to high-4% range, and buyers are hard pressed for a better time to buy than right now.   We have had several clients here recently that are renting their primary residence so that they can take advantage of the opportunities in this market.  After meeting with these clients, we have a clear cut strategy to help them achieve their goals in a short window.  I think, no matter the market, every buyer wants to feel good about getting a good deal on their home purchase.  Now that I’m in the business, I have a little different take on what value is and how I, as a buyer myself, determine it.  It’s not all about getting a seller to come off the purchase price at a ridiculous percentage.  It’s about getting the best house that meets specific needs at the best price possible – that’s value to me.

Part of our fiduciary responsibility as real estate agents is to provide accurate and helpful data that aids our clients in making sound business decisions so we can market homes to sell and find values for our buyers.  A lot of sellers think that a real estate agent’s interpretation of the market, as it relates to a list price, is a determination of value.  No, that’s an appraiser’s job.  It’s a tough position to be in right now as a real estate agent.  Sellers look at you like you have a third eye when you simply report the news.  We are empathetic with our sellers, but we wouldn’t be doing our job if we were anything shy of honest.  When we list a house, we are not listing it at it’s value neccessarily; the buyer determines the value.  We are listing it at the best marketable price to attract a buyer and ultimately an offer.  That’s our job.  As mentioned here before when Lesley and I list a home, we list it to sell.  We aren’t in the business of listing houses.  We’re in the business of selling houses.  As a general rule when pricing, we try and find that “worry price.”  I wish I could take credit for that term, but we picked it up from our broker.  Nevertheless, it’s an accurate strategy that I wish every agent proclaimed and every seller subscribed to.  Here’s how it works.  Buyers today are not just looking at 3 homes and making a decision.  They’re looking at 15+ houses and making a decision.  Therefore, it’s important to be the prettiest and most competitively priced.  You’re looking for that price that a buyer walks into your home, loving it, loving it, loving it, and then worrying that its not going to last long at this price.  When I look back on my own personal real estate purchases, I followed a similar logic.  It’s where emotional attachment meets reality. 

When trying to evaluate value in a home, we think it’s important to take into consideration everything you have looked at.  In a buyer’s market, you have to rely more on the active listings as competition when pricing as a seller and determining value as a buyer.  The ultimate principle at work here is that the home is worth what you think it’s worth, but just be careful with that.  The story about your buddy getting a home at 85% of list was about 4 months ago.  Those kind of deals just are not out there as much anymore in the resale market because prices have been falling, and agents have been busy adjusting.  Even on the foreclosures and short sales, banks are pricing properties to sell, and you won’t find them coming significantly off their prices.  If they don’t sell within a short period of time, the prices are adjusted lower.  If you are fortunate enough to get a home at 85% of list price right now, the home was most likely overpriced and/or the owner was probably already considering a 5%+ reduction before your offer came along.  The latest figures from the fourth quarter of last year suggest that 53% of all homes on the market required a price reduction.  That says two things to me.  First, as professional real estate agents ALL OF US have done a lousy job pricing property, and secondly, this market has changed enough that it has thrown everyone off. 

So, where does that leave us?  Values are down, sure, but let’s all think twice about that lowball offer on the prettiest and most competitively priced listing that you are so worried someone else is going to grab.  The worry price works with pricing property for listings, and chances are good that if you, as a buyer, like something out there because you think it’s a good deal, someone else thinks its a good deal too.  Move on it if all things add up because it won’t last long.  Always keep in mind that the best opportunities sell first and sell for the most money.

Lesley and I had the pleasure of working with Ravi and Satya as they sought a new home in the Sarah Smith school district in Buckhead after relocating from Chicago earlier in the year.  We closed earlier today.  Ravi and Satya were referrals from past clients, Eric and Joyce, and we loved working with them. 

We were able to find Ravi and Satya a beautiful home in the Wieuca Trace neighborhood at a great price, and I think Lesley and I are just as excited as they are about the find.  Thank you again to Ravi and Satya for giving us an opportunity to help!  We are looking forward to the house warming party!

The Peters Company’s latest listing is a beautiful, like new townhome in Norcross.  Many thanks to Emily for giving us an opportunity.  Emily found us online, as so many of our clients do.

 Best value in neighborhood • Move-in ready • Neutral paint colors throughout • Kitchen features stained cabinets, island, like new black appliances,  & pantry • Open floor plan with large family room/dining room combination • Gleaming hardwood floors on main level •  Sturdy, neutral berber carpet on 2nd floor • Expansive master with vaulted ceiling • Large 2nd bedroom perfect for roommate  floor plan  • Great exterior storage closet • Private patio •  Come home to this quiet community conveniently located to I-85, I-285, and Hwy 78 • Seller will pay 6 months HOA fees