What Can You Do in Cobb County?

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Today, we'll discuss the top five things to do in Cobb County. As we approach the end of the year, relocations are picking up. I wanted to point out some great things to do in our area so that newcomers have some options. 

First off, there's the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. This park offers over 17 miles of hiking trails, and it's a lot of fun for the family. It is the most visited National Park in the United States. Bring your pets and enjoy this great attraction. 

Up next is Six Flags! We have a Six Flags Water Park as well as the original amusement park, so take the family along for a day of fun! 

Another place to check out in Cobb County is Marietta Square. Bring the family and bring the dogs. There are farmer's markets, art galleries, and a free summer concert series. It's a great place to check out in the winter as well. There is always something going on there.

Number four on my list is the Silver Comet Trail. It's 94 miles of paved road that used to be the bed of a train track. It's a great walking and biking trail. 

The final thing on my list is the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. This is a premier venue for Broadway shows, ballet, concerts, operas, and much more. Stop by and see a show when you're in town.

Those are my top five picks. For more events, check out travelcobb.org. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

5 Tips for Preparing Your Home for the Market

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Today, we will discuss the five most important things you can do to get your house sold. 

First, the most important thing you can do is paint your house, inside and out. Fresh paint is worth every penny. Neutral grays and neutral blues are very popular right now. I recommend Sherwin Williams' Intellectual Gray or Network Gray.

The second most important thing is flooring. If you've been in a home for 20 years and still have the original carpet, then you need to upgrade. 

Next, update your light fixtures. This is an inexpensive update, but just make sure that you're consistent throughout. Don't use compact fluorescents; the lighting will not display your home well. 

The fourth thing to do is clean! Get the baseboards, windows, and behind the blinds. Do a deep cleaning of the whole house. 

Finally, hire the right agent. We're not all alike. About 90% of the real estate out there is sold by the top 10% of agents, and we were ranked in the top 10% last year. Make sure you have an agent who will market your home correctly. 

If you have any questions about preparing your home for the market, give us a call or send us an email. We'd be happy to offer any suggestions to sell your home quickly and for top dollar.

The Biggest Misconception About the Buying Process Here in Atlanta

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Today, we discuss the common misconception that you need to be able to put 20% down in order to purchase a home.

There are many loan programs out there that will allow you to put less than 20% down. Conventional loans offer programs for as little as 3% down, which is the lowest possible. Conventional also allows for you to put 5%, 10%, 15%, or even the whole 20% down, which is nice because you can choose whatever amount you can comfortably afford to put down.

The FHA program allows you to put only 3.5% down. This is a great loan option because there is a grant program that will get you the whole 3.5% for you and could even cover as much as 5% of the loan. With this grant, you don't have to pay the money back, and the options range from 3% to 5%. You can use the money for your down payment, closing costs, or anything else needed to get into the home. The program is called NHF Platinum, and we highly recommend looking into it!

If you would like to speak with our preferred lender, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to hear from you!