Real Estate Information

A Short Sale is when homeowners have to sell but cannot sell for the amount they owe on their mortgage.  More and more homeowners are faced with being upside down in their mortgage because prices have continued to fall.  Their choices if they can't sell and they can't pay, include Foreclosure, Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure, or Short Sale. 

In a Foreclosure, the bank advertises for four weeks in the public notices of the local newspaper.  The advertisement includes the name of the homeowner, their address and how much they borrowed.  After four weeks, the home is then sold to the highest bidder on the courthouse steps on the first Tuesday, following the first Monday jof each month. Typically, if the seller owes more than the value, there will be no other bidders, so the mortgage company will bid the amount of the mortgage.  

A Deed In Lieu of Foreclosure is where a homeowner signs the home over to the mortgage company prior to the foreclosure.

Banks and Mortgage Companies do not want to take homes through Foreclosure or Deed In Lieu, because of the costs involved in the legal process, holding costs and costs to sell. It has been proven that when a lender accepts a payoff that is less than the mortage, it is less expensive than Forelosure.  Many lenders have specific departments to handle Short Sale negotiations. 

Currently Short Sales show up on the credit report as late payments and the loan shows paid.  According to Fannie Mae guidelines, if homeowners maintain great credit after the Short Sale and can qualify, they can buy using another Fannie Mae backed loan in 24 months. 

A foreclosure stays on the credit report for 10 years as a foreclosure.  Many employers check potential employees' credit before hiring.  If the homeowner has a security clearance, some employers will terminate the employee who has a foreclosure.

A Certified Distressed Property Expert CDPE has received extensive training in the Short Sale process and helps people avoid foreclosure.  If you are considering a Short Sale, be aware that most agents do not know how to navigate the process. 

If you need help with a Short Sale or anything real estate, call me.  I have been selling real estate since 1978 and have moved thousands of families. 

leslie edwards                                                                     770.460.9448 direct                                                             RE/MAX Around Atlanta

Advanced real estate educaton and Professional Designations:       CDPE Certified Distressed Property Expert, CRS Certified Residential Specialist, ABR Accredited Buyer Representative, EPro Internet Professional, GRI Graduate of the Realtors Institute.  Let my experience work for you.

Selling South Metro Atlanta including Clayton, Coweta, Fayette, Henry, South Fulton, Spalding and Pike Counties

Market Absorption Rate Results

I remember when Roman Polanski was arrested for having sex with a 13 year old girl in the 70's and I remember that he left the country to avoid prosecution.  He wasn't really hiding and he continued to make movies.  Recently, he was arrested in Switzerland and will likely be extradited to the U.S. to stand trial for giving a 13 year old alcohol and drugs and having sex with her. 

The story of what he did to her is pretty shocking, but the real shocker here is the groundswell of support from Hollywood types pleading for Polanski's release.  They argue that it was the crazy 70's, a different time, it was so long ago, he has paid by not being able to return to the U.S., she forgave him so why shouldn't the court, he's old now.... and on and on. 

In Georgia they sent an 18 year old black high school senior to prison for having oral sex with a 15 year old white girl.  The called it statuatory rape.  When I went to High School it was common for Freshman girls to chase Senior boys and occasionally they caught one.  It wasn't statuatory rape, it was Friday night.

We need to stop prosecuting children for having sex. Throughout time teenagers have had sex concensual sex. The United States is more uptight about sex than almost anywhere else in the world.  Teens are programmed with hormones that are in overdrive, more intensly than any other time in their lives yet we continue to chastise teens for doing what is natural.  Treating sex as shameful throughout a child's development will be a talking point with the the therapist later in life.  Or, they could be just really screwed up when it comes to sex.          No, I do not encourage teenagers to have sex.  I am just commenting on the reality. 

What does all this have to do with Roman Polanski?  He is a pedophile.  He was 44 and she was 13.  That is statuatory rape.  If we can put a teenager in prison for having sex with a younger teenage girl, we ought to hang Roman Polanski by his balls in the town square. At the very least, he should have to live out his life in prison with no special treatment and maybe someone will do to him what he did to that 13 year old girl.

One question.  Where was the mother?  Who let's their 13 year old child go with a 44 year old man to his house?

That's what I have been thinking about.

 I love you to death.  I'm starving.  I'm freezing.  I died laughing.  I hate him. This is the worst day of my life.  This is the most horrible thing that has ever happened to me. I am going to kill you.  It's a no brainer.  I'm like instead of I said. Fewer is a number and Less is an amount.  Less people instead of fewer people.

leslie edwards sells real estate all over south metro Atlanta, 770.460.9448 leslie@leslieedwards.com re/max around atlanta

Comparing Fayete County real estate statistics from January 2008 to January 2009.

The number of closed listings dropped 16.7%  while the total volume of fell 23.8%.                                                                                      The average sales price dropped 8.5% while during the same time period, the number of active listings rose by 5.9%                             The average number of days on the market rose 11%                      from 154 to 171                                                                            The number of new foreclosures to hit the market rose by 172.7%*

* Some banks, fannie mae and freddie mac have had moratorium on foreclosures for the past few months.  Some are expiring in March and some in April which means the foreclosure floodgates will open and new foreclosures will be coming on to the market. 

More listings, lower prices and longer time on the market.  The average agent in Fayette County sold 2 houses last year.  In 2008, I closed 50 transactions.  Not my best year, but 25 times the average.  

When the, market is challenging, the agent you choose is more important than ever.  I offer 30 years of experience, a proven consistent track record of success and the skills to guide you through any market.  Call me for a FREE consultation.    leslie edwards sells real estate 770.460.9448   RE/MAX around atlanta   leslie@leslieedwards.com 

www.leslieedwards.com www.SouthMetroAtlantaMLS.com                          

The weekend after Christmas I was walking to my car in the Target parking lot at Hwy 74 and Peachtree Parkway.  I watched as two cars directly behind eachother started to back up out of their parking spaces at the same time.  There was honking, but neither would move so the other could back out and leave. There was more honking and some waving and still, neither woold move.  I could not stop watching. I had to see which one would give up first.  Others stood around and like me, did not try to pretend they were not looking. Both drivers had to know they were attracting a crowd.  Still no one gave in.  It seemed like the standoff lastest for days, but it was probably minutes.  

It got me thinking about what kind of hostillity do you have to work up to get so invested in who gets to back out first?  Was something else going on in one or both of their lives that caused their reaction?  Perhaps. Or, is one or both of them basically an asshole?  The occasionally stressed out from life people I can understand and forgive.  The assholes are the people who start out being assholes instead of waiting to se if the situaton warranted such a strong reaction. The negative energy has to permeate thier lives and it's hard to imagine that it would be anyones' choice to feel that way.  Maybe someone needs better meds.  If you need it, take it.

So, always try nice first, and sometimes second, before moving on to assertive, aggressive hostile and violent.  My goal every day is to have a happy, stress free life, which is possible no matter what the circumstances.  It too, is a choice everyday.  I expect the best.  I get what I expect. leslie

leslie edwards                                                                                                                                                   sells real estate    770.460.9448                                                                                                                RE/MAX Around Atlanta                                                                                                     leslie@leslieedwards.com                                                                                                                   Selling South Metro Atlanta for 30 years Call me if you hear of anyone who wants to buy or sell real estate.  Your referrals are appreciated.

About once every week or two, I like to apply conditioner to my hair and leave it in for hours, sometimes overnight.  In the summer, I put conditioner in my hair when I am spending time in the sun.   

Because I am on a constant quest to find new things to try, I found a great conditioner in the hair products section especially for black women.  The product is Organics Hair Mayonnaise by Africa's BEST.  It has herbs, olive oil, egg proteins and more and has been my favorite for three years. I have gifted jars of Hair Mayonnaise to friends with overprocessed or damaged hair who saw immediate improvement.  I am not a black woman and neither were the friends I gave it to, but this product works great for caucasion women too.  

It is always interesting what I can find if I take the time to look.  In order to see new things every time I go to the grocery store, I am usually there more than an hour, but I always come away with something new.  Another benefit to staying longer at the grocery is getting to talk to lots of people.  Some people dislike going to the grocery but I prefer to see it as a pleasure and to have a good time while I am there.

If you try Hair Mayonnaise, let me know how it works for you. I'll bet you know someone who could use it, don't you?  It is not expensive, so gift someone.

If you know of anyone interested in buying or selling real estate, tell them about me, then call me with their name and contact numbers so I can call them.  I provide a free initial consultation with no obligation to use my services.

leslie edwards                                                                                                   sells real estate                                                    770.460.9448                                                                                            RE/MAX Around Atlanta                                                                                      30 years experience isn't expensive, it's priceless

leslie@leslieedwards.com 

A recipe from my sister Denise Veiga. She has taken this cake to many family & friend gatherings over the years and it is always a crowd pleasure.  I made it a few times lately and it got rave reviews.  When I make it, I have to cut it in half and give half to someone else or I will eat the whole thing.  It feels so light that it is easy to eat a lot and not feel full.  YUM...

                        CAKE RECIPE

A Tube Pan is like a bunt cake pan with the hole in the middle except the bunt cake pan is fluted. Try google for Tube Pan

1              Box Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Classic Yellow 

            Cake   Mix

     1          3.5 oz Package Pistachio Instant Pudding

     4          Eggs

     1          Cup Club Soda

     ½         Cup Oil

Mix ingredients for about three minutes.  Pour mixture into greased and floured Tube Pan.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes

Test it for doneness by inserting a toothpick. It is done when the toothpick is clean when removed.

Cake must cool completely before icing. I learned that the hardway. Turn the tube pan over and tap the top and sides to loosen the cake on to the cake plate

                          ICING

                      Make the icing after the cake cools.

1       3.5 oz  Package Pistachio Instant Pudding  

1       12 oz Tub Whipped Cream  (a little more is ok too)             1  Pint Heavy Whipping Crèam

Beat the heavy whipping crèam until thick.  Fold in pudding and cool whip a little each time till smooth and fluffy.

Fill the center hole of the cake completely with the icing mixture and spread the rest on the top and sides of the cake.  It should look fluffy.

Crush some pistachio nuts and toss on top and sides of cake.  I put the nuts in a paper bag to crush them because I don't want crushed plastic bag in my food.  I found a pasta cheese shaker works well when tossing nuts on top and sides of the cake.

It is easy to make so give it a try and let me know how you like it.

leslie

leslie edwards

sells real estate

770.460.9448

RE/MAX  Around Atlanta

leslie@leslieedwards.com

www.leslieedwards.com

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