Existing homes sales up!

According to this article on REALTOR.org, pending home sales in April were higher than expected. This is good news you certainly won't hear on the nightly news and if you do, it will be qualified with the dreaded word "but...". Good news just doesn't sell these days so you have to look for it. Great homes are available at excellent prices. Mortgage rates are stable and inventories are leveling out.

If you are looking to buy a new home, now is the time. Call me today and let me help you find the home of your dreams.

Michael Bradford
770-862-8002

Rent's Going Up, Interest Rate's Going Down.

Who would want unemployment numbers to go up? If you want a new mortgage, you do! When Wall Street gets bad news like it did on Friday, the market goes down. When the market goes down, interest rates for mortgages usually go down with them. That is exactly what happened on Friday.

Long term interest rates have gone down this week (Click Here). Hopefully this is the beginning of a downward trend but I wouldn't bet the house on it. Anyone looking to purchase a house soon will be glad to know that rates are trending downward and they make buying a house or re-financing your current loan very affordable.

Couple that with the fact that rents are sure to go up, (Click Here for more info) anyone who invest in real estate could position them selves nicely with a low mortgage and higher rents. I have several properties in mind that will create a good cash flow and excellent appreciation in Cobb and Cherokee County.

If you every wanted to invest in real estate, now is a great time to start. Call me today and let's get started.

Michael Bradford

770-862-8002

Gimmick Marketing

This sign at the end of waterfront property says

"Lemonade $62 Million/Glass. House free with Lemonade."

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If you want to sell your house, you shouldn't have to resort to gimmicks to get it noticed. Even in our very competitive market, it's important to follow a specific formula or plan to get a house sold.

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A common formula for many agents it to first list a house at the top of it's range. If the house has not generated interest after 4 weeks, the agent might begin to place ads for the property in some free listings on low traffic internet sites and print some flyers for drive-bys.

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After 8 weeks, the agent may begin to buy some ads in local newspapers and magazines.

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After 12 weeks, the agent may come to the owners and get them to reduce their price. The 3 months lost to non-agressive marketing have caused the sellers to carry holding costs.

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The closer to the listing contact expiration date, the more aggressive the agent will become to get the house sold.

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I start with an aggressive marketing plan. I educate the owners about what they can do to get the house to show well and suggest a price point that I believe will move the house quickly so that any profit will not be eaten in holding costs.

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I also immediately implement a marketing plan that includes several paid ads on the busiest web sites on the internet, and also in several print publications.

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I personally show my properties to my other clients and contacts that I know who are looking for similar properties. I screen my buyers so that I know they have been pre-qualified to buy.

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I communicate with other agents using the lates technology to gain feedback about the property and I will stay in regular contact with you about the statues of your property. If you are ready to sell your Cherokee or Cobb County, Georgia home, I hope you will call me today. I want to work for you.

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Michael Bradford

Southern Prime Realty

770-862-8002

*If your home is listed with another agent, please do not interpret this as an attempt for you to cancel your current listing and list with me, it is only for informational purposes and you should always ask hard questions about how your home will be marketed before you list with anyone.*

Cherokee County Business Expo

Click HERE for details.

Woodstock, GA: Forbes Pick Among Fastest Growing Suburbs

In a recent FORBES MAGAZINE ARTICLE, Woodstock, GA is listed as the 10th fastest growing suburbs in the nation.

Woodstock is in a moderate climate, has a beautiful old main street with restuants and shopping, many affordable neighborhoods, excellent schools, several golf courses and recreation areas, plenty of parks with events continually scheduled in them, a major interstate situated conveniently nearby, a huge mall one exit south, and plenty for families to do! As you can see by this graph, Woodstock is a city full of children -



Would you like to be among the numbers who call Woodstock home? If so, why not give me a call today and I will get to work on finding just the right house to fit your needs. 770-862-8002.


Michael Bradford

Real Estate Investing 101

Since we've been on the topic of real estate investing, I wanted to make a point to help clear up any confusion that people have about when a good time to invest in real estate might be. The best time to invest in real estate is ALL OF THE TIME - but especially when the market is slow.

Allow me to explain: When markets are sluggish and the prices are in a holding pattern or downward trend, people begin to worry that it's a bad time to buy and they don't. This is a costly mistake. The best time to buy any investment is when prices are low. (Stock Market Rule #1: "Buy low, sell high" - Also applies to real estate). You can get some amazing deals right now! It is a buyers market... especially in Atlanta. Ands there is a glut of houses listed so you have many more choices and sellers are more open to negotiate on things like price, terms, repairs and even help with financing.

Why wait another minute? NOW is the time to get that investment property you've always wanted. I can help you find a cash flow stream, show you how to get a tenant in and let them pay your mortgage for you while the value of the house, along with your net worth, grows every day. Give me a call and let's talk about your real estate investing strategies.

Flip That House?

One of my "flips" BEFORE

The same house 7 weeks later

A lot of people are interested in flipping houses for big profits these days. And there is a good reason: you can make great money while improving a neighborhood and providing a buyer with a nice, newly refurbished home. It's a win-win... IF it's done correctly.


I have "flipped' more than 20 properties in the past 6 years and I can share with you some of my experiences, tips and help if you are interested in doing this type of work. There are some hard and fast rules that novices either don't know or ignore. Let me help keep you from making those costly mistakes. Give me a call today @ 770-862-8002 and, together, we'll find a deal for you!

A New Informational Tool

This is a "Talking House" sign. It's a new tool in my selling package that I'm so excited to tell you about. How does it work? you ask....

It is a simple technology that uses a small radio transmitter to broadcast facts and features about a house in a small area near the home. The transmitter is placed inside of the house and stays on a continual loop so that a potential buyer can hear it over and over.

When you list a house with me, I will put one of these signs in your yard so that potential buyers can listen to all of the features that make your home stand out above the rest. This sign keeps people off of your lawn (to get flyers that are continually running out, getting wet and causing your grass to be trampled on). This Talking House is a free service to my customers.

If you are interested in listing your Cherokee or Cobb County house for sale, please give me a call today at 770-862-8002. I will show you all of the tools I plan to use to get your house sold quickly. Thanks!

-Michael Bradford
Associate Broker, Southern Prime Realty

Real Estate Tip #2

Ready to buy a house? Before you get in the car with your agent, a call to your bank, credit union or mortgage broker is a great place to start. We have all heard the news that foreclosures are at an all time high. Don't become a statistic! Learn about what programs are available and how much house you can buy before you find the home of your dreams. The National Association of Realtors has put together information designed to help you. Please visit the NAR web site for more information.

Don't let what happened to this house happen to yours! Ask your Realtor for help navigating the waters of home ownership.

Welcome to My Humble Blog

I am starting this blog for one reason: I want to inform people about as much as I can regarding the healthy real estate market in Cherokee County, Georgia. I am actively listing and selling homes. I also buy homes from people who do not want to list them. I usually rehab these homes and sell them or rent them out. I hope this blog will be a useful and entertaining place for you to visit.

Come Back Soon!

-Michael