Real Estate Information

Several times each week, I am going someplace I have not been before.  A GPS will only get me so far.  Then I have to scan for addresses to find the exact location, which is often harder than you would think.

 Businesses and residences should be required to post their addresses in clear view of the street. Searching for addresses while careening down busy streets is dangerous and all the slowing down to look irritates the drivers behind. Potential for road rage?  Perhaps.

I remember reading years ago that fire, police and rescue workers complained that in some multicultural areas there were no addresses and the business names were in foreign languages, which hindered their ability to get there quickly. Time can mean the difference between life and death.

In neighborhoods it is almost as bad.  It can be blocks before I see a posted address so I have to drive around until the numbering system makes sense to find the house I am looking for.

Besides being dangerous, it is a giant time waster.  When I list a property for sale, I make sure the address is easy to see. 

Please help me start a campaign for everyone to post their address.  Tell business and home owners and make sure your address is visable too.

I am working hard in this challenging market so call me if I can help you buy, sell, short sell or just to talk real estate.

leslie edwards

770.460.9448

CDPE Certified Distressed Property Expert

CRS   Certified Residential Specialist

Epro  Certified Internet Professional

ABR   Accredited Buyer Representative

Dave Ramsey Endorsed Local Provider

Selling South Metro Atlanta including:

Clayton, Fayette, Henry, Coweta, South Fulton & Spalding Counties

All the towns and cities south of the Atlanta International Airport,

including:  Brooks, Fairburn, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, McDonough,

Newnan, Sharpsburg, Stockbridge, Peachtree City and more

Moving Families Since 1978

Let My Experience Work For You

www.SouthMetroAtlantaMLS.com

Think about this the next time you are shopping.  One person cannot do it all, but a lot of people can make a difference.

leslie edwards

In 2009 the profit from the lottery in Georgia was $872,000,000 for education. 

In 2008 $239,757,603 "surplus" was remitted to the office of the Treasury for the general fund.

Why are we laying off or furloughing teachers and discontinuing programs in schools if the lottery has a surplus? 

There  is something terribly wrong with the lottery system in Georgia.  When it was voted in, the promise was that all of the money would be used for education & lottery expenses.  We were assured that none would be put into the State's general fund.

In addition, the expenses of the lottery are HUGE.  Lottery officials continue to receive large cash bonuses every year and every year, the amounts are questioned.  Nothing changes.  Read the article and voice your opinion. 

Let's save teacher's jobs and programs that provide students with a broad range of experiences in school, like music and art.

http://chronicle.com/article/Bonuses-for-Georgia-Lotterys/40052/

For months, I have been screaming about the shared loss agreements the big banks have with the FDIC that gives the bank a profit after a foreclosure or a short.  This video explains why the banks would rather foreclose than do a loan modification.  salehttp://www.thinkbigworksmall.com/mypage/player/tbws/23088/1557536

If you know anyone who is behind on their mortage payments and are trying to avoid a foreclosure, call me.  As a Certified Distressed Property Expert, I have extensive training in short sales, which have less impact on credit than a foreclosure.  A short sale is when the mortgage company agrees to take less than the payoff when the home is sold.  Because homes have lost considerable value in the past two years, short sales are very common.  Managing a short sale requires special training that most agents do not have.  Be sure to hire an experienced CDPE if you need help negotiating a short sale.

 Call me. I am happy to provide a free consultation with no obligation, wither over the phone, be email or in person.

leslie edwards                                                                                      770.460.9448 where my phone is answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and I am never hard to find                                                              RE/MAX Around Atlanta 

leslie@leslieedwards.com  www.SouthMetroAtlantaMLS.com

News reports often say the real estate market is picking up and yes, there might be bumps up but this article describes the reality that homeowners have to know about.  Take a minute to read this and let me know what you think.

leslie edwards                                                                                            770.460.9448                                                                                       My phone is answered 24-7-365 by a live person and I am never hard to find RE/MAX Around Atlanta

http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/real-estate/more-than-5-million-homes-will-be-worth-less-than-75-of-their-m/19342799/ <http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/real-estate/more-than-5-million-homes-will-be-worth-less-than-75-of-their-m/19342799/

Take the time to read this article and decide if you can get behind this cause.   Pay attention to the statistics about the rates of imprisonments in the U.S. vs. the rest of the world.  I don't agree with much of Jim Webb's politics, but this issue is something people need to face head on. No matter how unpopular the cause, we have to stop ignoring the continued prosecution & imprisonment for victimless crimes and the horrors of prisons that in no way resemble places that rehabilitate criminals.

leslie edwards                                                                                                  Politically Aware Real Estate Agent                                         leslie@leslieedwards.com  770.460.9448

Jim Webb's courage v. the "pragmatism" excuse for politicians  

By: Glenn Greenwald
March 28, 2009

There are few things rarer than a major politician doing something that is genuinely courageous and principled, but Jim Webb's impassioned commitment to fundamental prison reform is exactly that.  Webb's interest in the issue was prompted by his work as a journalist in 1984, when he wrote about an American citizen who was locked away in a Japanese prison for two years under extremely harsh conditions for nothing more than marijuana possession.  After decades of mindless "tough-on-crime" hysteria, an increasingly irrational "drug war," and a sprawling, privatized prison state as brutal as it is counter-productive, America has easily surpassed Japan -- and virtually every other country in the world -- to become what Brown University Professor Glenn Loury recently described as a "a nation of jailers" whose "prison system has grown into a leviathan unmatched in human history."

What's most notable about Webb's decision to champion this cause is how honest his advocacy is.  He isn't just attempting to chip away at the safe edges of America's oppressive prison state.  His critique of what we're doing is fundamental, not incremental.  And, most important of all, Webb is addressing head-on one of the principal causes of our insane imprisonment fixation:  our aberrational insistence on criminalizing and imprisoning non-violent drug offenders (when we're not doing worse to them).  That is an issue most politicians are petrified to get anywhere near, as evidenced just this week by Barack Obama's adolescent, condescending snickering when asked about marijuana legalization, in response to which Obama gave a dismissive answer that Andrew Sullivan accurately deemed "pathetic."  Here are just a few excerpts from Webb's Senate floor speech this week (.pdf) on his new bill to create a Commission to study all aspects of prison reform:

    Let's start with a premise that I don't think a lot of Americans are aware of. We have 5% of the world's population; we have 25% of the world's known prison population. We have an incarceration rate in the United States, the world's greatest democracy, that is five times as high as the average incarceration rate of the rest of the world. There are only two possibilities here: either we have the most evil people on earth living in the United States; or we are doing something dramatically wrong in terms of how we approach the issue of criminal justice. . . .

    The elephant in the bedroom in many discussions on the criminal justice system is the sharp increase in drug incarceration over the past three decades. In 1980, we had 41,000 drug offenders in prison; today we have more than 500,000, an increase of 1,200%. The blue disks represent the numbers in 1980; the red disks represent the numbers in 2007 and a significant percentage of those incarcerated are for possession or nonviolent offenses stemming from drug addiction and those sorts of related behavioral issues. . . .

    In many cases these issues involve people’s ability to have proper counsel and other issues, but there are stunning statistics with respect to drugs that we all must come to terms with. African-Americans are about 12% of our population; contrary to a lot of thought and rhetoric, their drug use rate in terms of frequent drug use rate is about the same as all other elements of our society, about 14%. But they end up being 37% of those arrested on drug charges, 59% of those convicted, and 74% of those sentenced to prison by the numbers that have been provided by us. . . .

    Another piece of this issue that I hope we will address with this National Criminal Justice Commission is what happens inside our prisons. . . . We also have a situation in this country with respect to prison violence and sexual victimization that is off the charts and we must get our arms around this problem. We also have many people in our prisons who are among what are called the criminally ill, many suffering from hepatitis and HIV who are not getting the sorts of treatment they deserve.

    Importantly, what are we going to do about drug policy - the whole area of drug policy in this country?

    And how does that affect sentencing procedures and other alternatives that we might look at?

Webb added that "America's criminal justice system has deteriorated to the point that it is a national disgrace" and "we are locking up too many people who do not belong in jail."

It's hard to overstate how politically thankless, and risky, is Webb's pursuit of this issue -- both in general and particularly for Webb.  Though there has been some evolution of public opinion on some drug policy issues, there is virtually no meaningful organized constituency for prison reform.  To the contrary, leaving oneself vulnerable to accusations of being "soft on crime" has, for decades, been one of the most toxic vulnerabilities a politician can suffer (ask Michael Dukakis).  Moreover, the privatized Prison State is a booming and highly profitable industry, with an army of lobbyists, donations, and other well-funded weapons for targeting candidates who threaten its interests.

Most notably, Webb is in the Senate not as an invulnerable, multi-term political institution from a safely blue state (he's not Ted Kennedy), but is the opposite:  he's a first-term Senator from Virginia, one of the "toughest" "anti-crime" states in the country (it abolished parole in 1995 and is second only to Texas in the number of prisoners it executes), and Webb won election to the Senate by the narrowest of margins, thanks largely to George Allen's macaca-driven implosion.  As Ezra Klein wrote, with understatement:  "Lots of politicians make their name being anti-crime, which has come to mean pro-punishment. Few make their name being pro-prison reform."

For a Senator like Webb to spend his time trumpeting the evils of excessive prison rates, racial disparities in sentencing, the unjust effects of the Drug War, and disgustingly harsh conditions inside prisons is precisely the opposite of what every single political consultant would recommend that he do.  There's just no plausible explanation for Webb's actions other than the fact that he's engaged in the noblest and rarest of conduct:  advocating a position and pursuing an outcome because he actually believes in it and believes that, with reasoned argument, he can convince his fellow citizens to see the validity of his cause.  And he is doing this despite the fact that it potentially poses substantial risks to his political self-interest and offers almost no prospect for political reward.  Webb is far from perfect -- he's cast some truly bad votes since being elected -- but, in this instance, not only his conduct but also his motives are highly commendable.

* * * * *

• A tax credit, not a tax deduction, meaning you get that much more cash back in your federal tax refund.
• $8000 for a first time buyer, meaning not having owned a home in the last 3 years
• $6500 for a current owner, provided the home they sold or will sell was their primary residence for 5 out of the last 8 years
• Does not have to be paid back as long as they remain in the home for 3 years
• Must be under contract by April 30, 2010
• Must close by June 30, 2010
• Must earn less than $125,000 if single or $225,000 if married
• Money can be collected immediately by filing a tax return or an amendment to a previous return

     It is a great time to buy with prices and interest rates at record lows and FREE money too.  The tax credits have brought more buyers into the market so it is also a great time to sell.

 We closed 67 transactions in 2009 while the average agent closed 2.  Our goal is to close 100 transactions this year and we need your help to do it.  If you know anyone we can help buy or sell real estate, call me at 770.460.9448

If you know anyone who is behind in their payments and are trying to avoid a foreclosure, let them know that I am a Certified Distressed Property Expert and can help them with a short sale.

leslie edwards, ABR, CDPE, CRS, EPRO, GRI (advanced educational designations)  Dave Ramsey Endorsed Local Provider  770.460.9448                                                           leslie@leslieedwards.com  www.leslieedwards.com                                  RE/MAX Around Atlanta                                                                     Serving South Metro Atlanta                                                           Supporter of Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity www.schabitat.org

I used to think it was better for business to stay neutral on controversial subjects so as not to offend any potential clients.  That probably was a good business practice for a real estate agent, but I no longer care about the ramifications of sharing my opinions. 

I have officially joined the Tea Party Movement because I believe we have to stand up and let our voices be heard if we are going to stop massive government takeover of our lives.  We can't continue to print money while increasing our debt to China, to send servicemen and women to another war they are not equipped to win, to send money to countries that don't like us instead of using the money here at home.  We can't keep giving away money we don't have

We already knew that politicians are owned by special interest groups and legislation is loaded with pork projects used to buy votes.  Americans have accepted the political process as it is for too long.  Good men and women who refuse to be bought by the special interest groups simply cannot get elected.  Something big has to change in the way we elect politicians, often for life.  If the people would study the voting record of their elected officials  instead of the list of pork projects they received, they might actually vote some of them out of office.  Special interest groups buy the politicians who sell their votes for pork and use the pork to buy votes come election time. 

How can each of us make a difference?  First and foremost is to read the legislation and know what it says, which is different from what either party claims is in the bill.  A great source is http://www.govtrack.us/  If you don't like what you read, say so.  Contact your elected officials and let them know that you do not want them to vote for the bill.  We can't let a few people try to do all the work themselves.  We all have to help.  If everyone would do something, the combined affect would be unbelievable.

If you agree with the way things are going in Washington, disregard this post. 

If you need to buy or sell real estate and agree with or, don't care about, my politics, call me.  I closed 66 transactions in 2009 when the average agent closed 2.  My goal for 2010 is 100 closed transactions so please send business.

leslie edwards, real estate agent and political activist                                    770.460.9448    leslie@leslieedwards.com www.leslieedwards.com              RE/MAX Around Atlanta

According to reports, the National Association of Realtors has lost 30% of their membership.  Real estate agents are dropping out of the business in droves which can actually be good for real estate.  Some of them with working spouses have gone home to wait out the recession and jump back in when it gets good again.  Many others have gotten "real jobs" with a plan to quit when the market picks up.

I say, don't come back.  A true professional Realtor helps people buy and sell real estate regardless of market conditions, even though prices and commission rates are down.  We make less money while doing more work because challenging markets create challenging situations which require more time and more paper.

Since 1978 I have been a fulltime real estate agent and the sole support of me.   I never considered getting a real job because real estate is my real job.  Alot of my success is the result of expectations.  I expected to do well and I did. In 2009 I closed 66 transactions while the "average agent" closed 2.  In 2010 I will close over 100 transactions and I need your help to do it.

When marginal agents leave the business, the public gets better service.  It takes years of experience to properly represent a client.  Doctors practice on dead people for years before they work on a live person.  Real estate agents represent the largest single investment most people make in their lifetimes after a just a few months of training.

It is the new and marginal agents that give real estate agents a bad name mostly due to a lack of experience. Sometimes when I am working with another agent, I  wonder how they ever passed the real estate exam.  It is frightening to think that people put their faith in and depend on, new or weak agents, which can be very costly for the client.

So, let the quitters stay home and leave the important real estate work to the professionals.  Don't come back.  

If you have a real estate need, call me at 770.460.9448

leslie edwards                                                                                   leslie@leslieedwards.com   www.leslieedwards.com  

Fannie Mae's latest update continues to tighten the rules for loan approval.  The new version of D esk Top Underwriting, Fannie Mae's automated underwriting system begins December 12, 2009  

·       maximum Debt to Income Ratio will now be 45% down from 55%

·       2 months reserves required for all second homes, and 6 months reserves for all investment properties

·       minimum 4 years required after dismissal or discharge of Chapter 7 bankruptcy--no exceptions

·       minimum 2 years required after dismissal or 4 years after discharge on chapter 13 bankruptcy--no exceptions

·       minimum 5 years required after multiple bankruptcies

·       minimum 5 years required after foreclosure, with some additional restrictions up to 7 years

·       minimum 4 years required after deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, with additional restrictions up to 7 years

·       minimum 2 years required after a short sale

·       credit report can't be more than 90 days old at time of closing

·       trailing co-borrower income not permitted

·       value of stocks, bonds, mutual funds and retirement accts for reserves has been reduced

·       lower maximum LTVs for 2-unit properties (now 95%, going to 80% for primary residence purchase)

According to the guidelines, it is much better for a distressed homeowner to do a short sale than to allow the home to be foreclosed.  If you want to discuss short sales, foreclosures or anything real estate related, call me.  I want to be your real estate resource.  

leslie edwards                                                                                                      770-460-9448 leslie@leslieedwards.com