Shawna Woodward

Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: Market update follow-up: Has the overall value of homes dropped?

This week I’m following up on my report that posted near the end of July that looked at our market to decipher whether the interest rate increases would affect our sales volume and home values. Just this week, I have had the privilege of showing and making offers on homes that all had multiple offers on them right away. These were all in the $225K range or less. And I can say that investors are out in full force looking for deals! To date, the interest rates are hovering over

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Shawna Woodward

Free Access: Real Talk Real Estate: Getting ready to sell as money gets tighter

We all knew the buyers’ boom would be affected by government overreach in attempting to stop inflation. Raising the interest rates has affected us here in the CSRA, although luckily not drastically. I want to speak directly to sellers with this week’s real estate news. Buyers are still out there, but there are fewer of them and they are tired. Their buying power has been dramatically affected by the increase in mortgage payments. Some values are not rapidly appreciating, but you haven’t lost the equity gained over the last few

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Shawna Woodward

Free Access: Real Talk Real Estate: Lots to love in the CSRA

I have to admit that I love football and I am so excited for this week. I am hoping that this is the year my team, the Atlanta Falcons, pulls together with our amazing coaching staff and the players to win big! The pre-season showed great promise for this season, so I am hoping for a win a Sunday’s game against the Saints. Football season reminds me of why so many people come back to Augusta if they have the chance. Over the years, I have found that a person’s

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Shawna Woodward

Free Access: Real Talk Real Estate: Selling a Home with Pets

I hope that we all share the love of a beloved pet or two. I can admit I am fully pet-crazed and love my fur babies like they are my children. My friends affectionately refer to me as the crazy cat lady! When I am helping buyers and sellers, pets often take center stage with their needs. Those who have pets want to buy a home with a fenced yard for the dogs or a screened porch for the cats. If you are a seller, you are concerned with what

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Shawna Woodward

Free Access: Real Talk Real Estate: Defining the Due Diligence Period

Once you’ve secured a purchase agreement on a home, you may have questions: Are you 100 percent locked into the agreement? What if there were things about the house that you didn’t notice at first? Are you allowed to change your mind? Hopefully, you asked for a due diligence period that gives you time to confirm that you actually do want to purchase the property. The “Due Diligence Period” of a real estate contract is an agreed-upon period after the contract has been fully executed. It is a term that

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Shawna Woodward

Free Access: Real Talk Real Estate: Don’t believe everything you hear in the news about housing

Let me answer the main question everyone has these days: How’s the market? Well, I don’t expect our market to collapse or fall apart, and I am pretty certain that a monumental drop in values is not forecasted for our market. You cannot believe everything you hear on the news, my friends! Make sure you remember we are not a big metropolis like Los Angeles or Chicago. We have a very stable economy here. Every sector of the employment world can be found in our special little town! We have

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Shawna Woodward

Free Access: Real Talk Real Estate: Investors, get ready for foreclosures

According to Finance Buzz, Georgia is ranked in the top 10 highest foreclosure states. They have reported that, based on data from ATTOM, one of every 1,702 housing units was foreclosed on in Georgia in the first quarter of 2022. Flippers and investors have been patiently waiting on the day when they could get back in the game and that day is close at hand. Why does Georgia always have so many foreclosures? The answer is pretty easy: We are a non-judicial foreclosure state. This means that the bank doesn’t

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Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: How to sell a house and buy one at the same time

Selling a home to buy a home at the same time can be a daunting task, which I assume has led you here. There are a couple of reasons you would sell a home and buy one at the same time. It could help qualify you to buy the new home or unlock more money to increase your price range. This guide will help ensure you minimize your risk and will set you up for success when the time comes! Determine the Price of Your House The easiest way to

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Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: Another interest rate hike crunches an already tight housing market

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve increased interest rates by another 0.75 percent for a total rate of 2.25 percent. This is the rate banks charge each other for overnight loans and sets the base for other interest rates. Apparently, they believe this is the best move to stop inflation. I am not an economics major, so please note that the following is merely my opinion. I knew that the low-interest rates we have enjoyed since the 2009 housing debacle would eventually end. I honestly just didn’t expect that the Federal

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Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: Parent tips to help your kids with their credit

As parents, I believe that we are supposed to raise our children to grow up and become contributing members of society. If you ask any of my four wonderful kids, they will attest to that statement being announced to them regularly, usually as a response to the ever-popular statement heard around the world of “that’s not fair.” Life is not fair, the game is rigged and the sooner we let go of the notion that fairness is on our side, the quicker we can move forward. You need to know

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