People ask us: “Are we in a buyers’ market or are we in a sellers’ market?” It is impossible to give a blanket response. For homes that stand out among their competition, however, it is clearly a sellers’ market.

What is a fiduciary real estate brokerage? In this article we discuss common real estate agent practices permitted under Georgia law that conflict with client interests. Sage avoids these practices by adopting Fiduciary Brokerage.

A healthy real estate market is characterized by opportunities for both buyers and sellers. The current metro Atlanta real estate market, however, is generally not working well for buyers or sellers.

When selling your home, attention to detail pays off. “Curb appeal” influences buyer perceptions; the exterior is the first impression and often the most lasting impression buyers will have of a property. In this seller’s market, great curb appeal is one key to generating multiple offers on your home.

Marketing and selling a home is a collaborative undertaking between you and your agent. Success requires commitment, attention to detail and follow through by both you and you agent. Consider these tips to get your home sold in the shortest time and at the highest price.

If you are a buyer touring a home, be careful of what you say and do; the sellers (or their agent) may be spying on you. That’s right, the Nest or Ring camera, or other hidden audio/video devices may be active in a home during a showing, watching, listening to, and recording what you are saying about the house.

A fiduciary is someone legally committed to act solely in the interest of a client; the relationship demands uncompromised loyalty, disclosure, accounting, and confidentiality. A fiduciary is bound to promote and protect the client's interests, avoiding any self-dealing and all conflicts of interest. As a home buyer or seller, you expect your agent to be 100% in your corner - your fiduciary. It's commonly-assumed that real estate brokerages and their agents owe a fiduciary duty to their clients. In Georgia, nothing is further from the truth...

This article was inspired by a recent conversation with one of my neighbors. She wondered why everyone wouldn’t just sell to an iBuyer rather than list their home with an agent.The “iBuyer” is the latest thing in residential real estate. An iBuyer (short for “instant buyer”) is a company that will make an on-the-spot, cash offer to buy your home at a guaranteed price. iBuyers offer liquidity and convenience - you receive a market price for your home, close on the date you select and avoid the time and inconvenience associated with listing and selling the home. Because iBuyers purchase with cash, they can close quickly. Sounds awesome; so what’s the catch?

Most home sellers understand the traditional real estate commission structure. The Listing Agreement provides for half of the (typically 6%) total commission to be paid to an agent bringing a buyer. If the buyer has no agent, however, the listing agent is entitled both sides - the entire 6% commission. The "double dip" opportunity built into the customary commission structure holds the potential for a serious conflict of interest between the listing agent and his/her client where there are two or more competing offers on the home. Don't get sold out by your agent...