Susan Snead-Kingsbury ~ Virtual Properties

Welcome to my blog! You have come to the right place if you are looking to buy or sell real estate! My main website is located at www.susansnead.com . On my wesite you can:
1. Search all MLS listings
2. Sign up for a free "Market Analysis" of your nieghborhood (see what your nieghbors sold for... see what your home is worth)
3. Sign up to recieve free emails of any new listings that hit the market that match what you are looking for!
4. Browse all local area schools
5. Read tips for both buyers and sellers to learn about the process you will be going through
6. View my current listings and take an "inside tour" of each


Please feel free to check it out at any time!

I specialize in Gwinnett, Walton and Barrow counties, although I work all over the Imetro area! My marketing includes FULL exposure on the internet. Statistic show that over 70% of all home buyers start the process on the web! If your home isn't out there for ALL to find, you are missing the boat! Call me today to get your home listed and marketed right! I am a full time agent who doesn't play!

Certifications and Recognitions
22 Years of experience in the Real Estate Profession
Member of the National Association of Realtors
Member of the Georgia Association of Realtors
Member Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of Realtors
Have been honored as a member of the Million Dollar Club

No more first time homebuyers assistance programs!

Well, they changed the laws! There will no longer be any first time home buyers assistance programs after 10/01/2008! The popular programs through FHA were very highly utilized since 1999. Basically the buyer added the 3% down payment to the sales price and the seller paid it at closing. That way FHA had their 3% down, but the funds were simply being added to the cost of the home and financed. Government felt this was the cause of many foreclosures as the buyers were not actually placing any of their own funds into the home. So as of 10/01/2008 you will have to have a minimum of 3% down to qualify for a home! Big changes keep coming...
Will keep you posted. They did however add a tax credit for real estate taxes paid by a home owner even if that home owner doesn't itemize. As well, they added a tax credit (which is really only a loan) for any first time home buyer who buys a home during certain dates. The credit must be paid back over a long period of time. You can qualify for up to $7,500 in credits. Check with the IRS or your tax consultant for details!

Search the local MLS for homes!

Click the link below to search over 100,000 available homes in the metro Atlanta area! Now is the time to buy with so many choices and great deals!

MLS Listings

Looking for a lender?

If you would like to get pre-approved for a loan please call one of the lenders below. They will run your credit, look at your income and debts, go over your loan options and let you know how much you are qualified to buy! That way you will know what your total monthly payments will be including your taxes, insurance and PMI (if necessary). Just tell them Susan Snead sent you and they will take care of you!
Getting a home loan doesn't have to be painful! Let the experts handle it!

1. Alexia Barmaki @ 678-858-4629.

2. Paul Totman with Greater Atlanta Financial Services @ 678-597-5636.

3. Mark Scarratt at Executive Home Lending 770-403-0089

Buyers Market

If you haven't heard yet, it IS a buyers market! :) With over 100,000 homes on the market currently sellers are very motivated to make a deal! The addition of so many foreclosures have put actual home "sellers" in a tough position this year. As the number of homes listed for sale decrease, the sellers will once again be in a better position to hold out for a higher price and better terms. There has already been a slight decrease in the number of listed homes during the past two month.
If this trend continues at this rate, we will be in a position to have our markets return to a more even playing field come spring.

What does all of this mean? It means, if you are thinking about buying a home, now is the time. You will have plenty of homes to chose from, and will still be in the "drivers seat" during negotiations. Don't let this market slump pass you by without taking your peice of the pie. Interest rates are still low making your monthly payments easy to handle.

Susan Snead

Metro Atlanta Markets

Our inventory is still at record highs with new foreclosures being added to the market daily. This truely is a great time to buy. Call today to get moving in the right direction!

Use a Buyer's Agent

Major Georgia contract changes for 2008! Did you know that it is now the buyers responsibility to provide a termite letter? Did you know that there is now a limited amount of time to get approved for your loan?

It's now even more important that you choose an experienced agent who is there for you. Your agent should be actively finding you potential homes, keeping you informed of the entire process, negotiating furiously on your behalf, and answering all of your questions with competence and speed.

First, find an agent who represents you and not the seller. This is beneficial during the negotiation process. If you are working with a buyer's agent, he or she is required not to tell the seller of your top choice. In addition, he or she is also focused on getting you the lowest asking price.

Also, when you use a buyer's agent, you will see more properties. Not only are they plugged into their Multiple Listing Service, but they are also talking to sellers that are thinking about selling their homes!

You will be asked to sign an Exclusive Buyers Agency Agreement, I like to call this a "Loyalty Agreement". This commits the buyer and agent for a specified amount of time. The buyer is agreeing to work solely through the agent, and therefore the agent will work hard for the buyer as the agent knows that their time and effort will pay off. The behind the scenes work that an agent does is very time consuming, with many hours of time on the computer searching for homes as well as on the phone talking with the listing agents and homeowners scheduling appointments, then of course the time on the road with the buyer showing homes, writing and negotiating contracts, follow up with lenders, home inspectors, etc. With all of this time invested, a qualified agent will need a commitment from a prospective buyer. One that pays off for all parties. As a buyer of property, you only want to work with an agent who has YOUR best interests and purchase as their primary goal. Call me today!