Saw this article on a LinkedIn profile and thought we would share it with you……
Why Rent? BUY NOW!
Freaked by the housing market , more would-be home buyers are opting for rentals – driving rents up along the way. But it’s not just rising rents that new renters have to worry about. A handful of new costs could make renting less than the bargain it appears.
The average national vacancy rate for rentals fell 17% last year to 6.6%, according to Reis, Inc., which tracks rental performance data. And as renting has gotten more popular, prices have jumped. The average monthly rent, including studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments is now $986, based on Reis data. Before the recession, the average was just $930. And in some markets, it’s far worse: In New York, rents are up 9% on average in the last five years; in San Jose, they’re up 8%.
The Atlanta Business Chronicle has published their 2010-2011 Book of Lists, which includes home builders as well as many other industries, and Touchstone Homes is amongst those names. These ranking are based on number of homes sold and revenue. While 2010 was a very difficult year for many builders across the nation, being included in this prestigious list is quite an honor.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has done research that reveals that tax incentives, such as mortgage interest and first time home buyer incentives, typically benefit younger families and home buyers more than others. Research from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) shows that buyers ranging in age from 35-45 receive the most tax benefit, then 18-34 year old buyers and the benefits decline as the tax payer gets older. To read more, click here.….
Enough with the doom and gloom about homeownership.
Sure, maybe there’s more pain to come in the housing market. But when Time magazine starts running covers that declare “Owning a home may no longer make economic sense,” it’s time to say: Enough is enough. This is what “capitulation” looks like. Everyone has given up.
After all, at the peak of the bubble five years ago, Time had a different take. “Home Sweet Home,” declared its cover then, as it celebrated the boom and asked: “Will your house make you rich?”
But it’s not enough just to be contrarian. So here are 10 reasons why it’s good to buy a home. Read more….
Starting September 1st through September 30th, Touchstone Homes is offering a $3000 Broker Bonus on top of discounted pricing on inventory homes in ALL Touchstone Homes communities in Metro Atlanta! There are over 50 homes to choose from including new homes under construction in Flowery Branch at Sterling on the Lake and Clarkstone Village, Touchstone Homes newest community!!
Bring your buyers to see our beautiful new craftsman style homes and townhomes. Check out our web site for locations and available homes. You will find a great deal for your buyer AND get a little extra spending money as the Selling Agent!!
Congress has approved legislation to allow FHA to increase fees on home buyers. For more information, watch this video from TBSW. New legislation become effective September 7, 2010 and will feel much like an increase in APR. Click here and watch for yourself!
As you may already know, Touchstone Homes has partnered with Atlanta’s Best New Homes TV show to feature Touchstone Homes communities across Metro Atlanta every Sunday morning on FOX5. The show airs at 10:00 am EST and runs for 30 minutes with Hostess Susie Proffitt. The show features Atlanta Builders and their communities. This weekend, Touchstone Homes ran a segment on their Summer Promotion where we are offering co-op agents a 6% Selling Commission and the Buyer gets 1 of 4 fabulous prizes. If you missed it, check it out here!
Touchstone Homes announces a HUGE promotion beginning on July 17th . The company is offering a 6% (six percent) Selling Commission on any inventory homes. Touchstone Homes has 49 inventory homes throughout Metro Atlanta available for immediate closing. In order to qualify for the incentives, contracts must be written between July 17th-31st and homes must close by September 30, 2010.
“Touchstone Homes is in the process of rebooting and rolling out new and improved floorplans for today’s market,” said Mike Zambri, Sales Manager of Touchstone Homes. “To make way for these exciting new floorplans, we have discounted inventory homes anywhere from $15,000 up to $100,000. Also, Touchstone is offering co-op agents an unprecedented 6% selling commission. And to sweeten the deal even more, we are introducing a Buyer Bonus Incentive for this two week promotion.”
The Buyer Bonus Incentive is being introduced during this two week promotion to help the new homeowner furnish their new home or take a mini-vacation after the stress of getting settled into their new home! See Agent for Full Details. The Buyer will have the opportunity to win one of four of the following prizes when they write a contract for a home:
1. Apple iPad 64 GB
2. Panasonic 50” Plasma Television
3. 36,000 Delta Skymiles (must have valid Skymiles Account)
4. $1,500 Rooms to Go gift card
Touchstone Homes offers townhomes from the $140s and Single Family Homes from the $200s.
Townhomes
Riverdance, Suwanee – Angel Whiteman – 770-476-7374
Lanier Walk, Cumming – Jeff Barnes – 770-403-1155
Park Place, Cumming – Dennis Doll – 404-641-8505
Ridenour, Kennesaw – Emily Peker – 770-422-8807
Village Grove, Suwanee – Elaine Gentry – 770-831-6883
New Haven Walk, Roswell – Barbara Lutz – 678-461-6011
Single Family
Village Grove, Suwanee – Elaine Gentry – 770-831-6883
Sterling on the Lake, Flowery Branch – Jeff Barnes – 770-965-7816
Hampton, Cumming – Sharon Jones – 678-947-1494
Windermere, Cumming – Sharon Jones – 678-232-9151
Ivey Chase, Dacula – Jeff Barnes – 770-403-1155
Trilogy Park, Hoschton – Jeff Barnes – 770-403-1155
Sienna on the River, Braselton – Tom Collins – 706-338-5141
Tributary, Douglasville – Molly White – 678-391-0026
Discover a place where 88 acres of natural area in Cobb County have been preserved and integrated with residential, recreational and retail spaces. Based on the principles of TownPark Planning, Ridenour has devoted a quarter of the property to hiking trails and greenways linked to historic Kennesaw National Battlefield Park. An innovative combination of office buildings and residences nestled with amenities including a junior Olympic swimming pool and tennis courts make Ridenour a great place to live, work and play. You can have all of this without leaving the community. Conveniently located on GA 400, Hampton is just minutes away from Lake Lanier, great restaurants and some of Forsyth County’s best shopping at the North Georgia Premium Outlet Mall in Dawsonville.
Further along that meme, Paul Kasriel of Northern Trust believes that the implication of record low mortgage rates is that homes have become undervalued. That’s because the monthly financing cost of paying down a mortgage is now far less than the cost of renting a home of similar value, according to Mr. Kasriel, as shown below.
