4 Benefits of Using a VA Loan to Buy a Home

01. No Requirement for Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) – One of the most significant advantages of utilizing a VA loan is the absence of private mortgage insurance (PMI) requirements. Unlike conventional loans, which often require PMI for borrowers with a down payment below 20%, VA loans do not impose this additional monthly expense. PMI can significantly increase the overall cost of a mortgage, making VA loans an attractive option for those seeking to save money in the long term.

02. Zero Down Payment – Another notable benefit of VA loans is the ability to purchase a home without making a down payment. Traditional mortgage programs typically demand a substantial down payment, which can pose a significant financial barrier for many homebuyers. With a VA loan, eligible borrowers can finance up to 100% of the home’s value, eliminating the need to accumulate a sizable upfront payment. This aspect of VA loans not only enables easier entry into homeownership but also preserves valuable savings for other purposes, such as home improvements or emergencies.

What do you think of these 4 benefits of using a VA loan to buy a home?

03. No Prepayment Fees – Flexibility is a key advantage of VA loans, as they do not impose prepayment penalties. Prepayment penalties are charges incurred when borrowers pay off their mortgage ahead of schedule or make larger payments to reduce their principal balance. By eliminating these fees, VA loans empower borrowers to make additional payments or even pay off their mortgages early without incurring any financial penalties. This feature grants greater financial freedom, allowing homeowners to save money on interest and potentially become debt-free sooner.

04. Lower Minimum Credit Score Threshold – Obtaining a mortgage often requires a good credit score, which can be a challenge for some homebuyers. However, VA loans typically have more lenient credit score requirements compared to conventional loans. While individual lenders may have their own credit score standards, VA loans generally offer greater flexibility, accepting lower minimum credit scores. This accessibility enables more aspiring homeowners with less-than-perfect credit histories to secure favorable loan terms and realize their dreams of homeownership.

Utilizing a VA loan to purchase a home comes with an array of compelling advantages. The absence of private mortgage insurance (PMI) requirements reduces monthly expenses, while the ability to secure a loan with zero down payment enables easier access to homeownership. The elimination of prepayment fees promotes financial flexibility, and the lower minimum credit score threshold broadens eligibility for a wider range of homebuyers. These benefits make VA loans an attractive option for veterans and active-duty military personnel looking to embark on their homeownership journey. If you are eligible for a VA loan, it’s worth exploring this opportunity and taking advantage of the numerous benefits it offers. Ready to start your home buying journey? Visit us here!

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3 Reasons to Buy a Home in 2023

01. Evening out home prices – It is predicted that home prices will continue to even out as interest rates fluctuate over 2023. This means you could purchase a home now, and refinance in a year if rates go down.

02. Switch to a buyers market – The Zillow Home Price Expectations Survey show that higher mortgage rates may impact demand enough to reduce the amount of competition between homebuyer in 2023, giving buyers more leverage than sellers.

Does buying a home in 2023 make sense for you?

03. Long-Term ROI – In 2000, average US home value was $126,000 – a 106% increase in two decades. If your personal goals are centered around creating roots in a community, building long term return on investment, or creating/growing your family (whatever that may look like), there is no time like the present!

Interested in starting your home buying journey with a Sage & Cedar agent? Click here to schedule a meeting to talk about the process, lenders, the current market, and answer any questions you may have! We look forward to hearing from you!

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What is Homestead Exemption?

Homestead Exemption is a property tax reduction available to those who own and occupy a property as their primary residence. To apply for a homestead exemption, the home must be your legal residence as of January 1st. Before you file you must have a copy of your recorded deed, have the property address listed on your state ID, and have all vehicles registered at property address. Let’s dig a little deeper:

01. Have a copy of your recorded deed – This will be sent to you in the mail or via email from the closing attorney. You do not need the original deed, just a copy is fine. If you do not have a copy, reach out to the attorney that you closed with and they will provide.

02. Have the property address listed on your state ID – Depending on how many times you’ve replaced your license in that last few years, you may be able to do this online. If this is not allowed, plan a trip to the DDS.

03. Have all vehicles registered at address – This, along with your ID listing the same address, will help prove this home is your primary residence. All vehicles registered to you must be registered at the same address.

How to file for Homestead Exemption

A homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of your home. For example, if your home is appraised at $200,000, then the assessed value is 50 percent of that amount, or $100,000. With a $25,000 homestead exemption, you only pay taxes on $75,000. [Source: decaturga.com] You’ll need to visit your county’s website and fill out the exemption application to take advantage of this. We have linked below 4 metro counties! If you don’t see your county’s name listed, reach out to us here and we will be happy to assist! 

Couple quick notes:

01. Deadline date is April 1st, 2023 – Applications are due by April 01 for the current tax year.

02. Your exemption will be automatically renewed each following year as long as you continue to occupy the home under the same ownership.

03. You cannot have the homestead exemption on more than one property.

04. Electronically Recorded Deeds: Some counties in Georgia now accept deed recordings electronically. If your deed is recorded electronically, you will receive a copy of the recorded deed via email instead of the original deed.

County Links

For Cobb County click here!

For Dekalb County click here! 

For Fulton County click here!

For Gwinnett County click here!

Other exemptions you may qualify for include: Individuals 65 Years of Age and Older May Claim an exemption from state tax on their home and 10 acres of land surrounding the home, Individuals 65 Years of Age and Older May Claim a $4,000 Exemption, Individuals 62 Years of Age and Older May Claim Additional Exemption for Educational Purposes, Floating Inflation-Proof Exemption for ages 62 and older, Homestead Exemption for Disabled Veteran or Surviving Spouse, Homestead Exemption for Surviving Spouse of U.S. Service Member, and Homestead Exemption for Surviving Spouse of Peace Officer or Firefighter. To learn more about these exemptions click here or talk to your CPA! Want to learn more about listing or buying your next property? Connect with a Sage & Cedar agent here!

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5 Things to do in Atlanta this January

01. “Hadestown” at the Fox Theatre – “Hadestown” winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards including “Best New Musical”, hits the Fox Theatre January 10-15th 2023. What to learn more or grab tickets for you and your favorite people? Do so here! 

02. Illuminights Chinese Lantern Festival – Stroll Zoo Atlanta to view 80+ Chinese lanterns depicting the worlds plants and animals from now through January 15th. To learn more and get your tickets, visit Zoo Atlanta here! 

03. Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat – Watch as the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks take each other on at the State Farm Arena January 16th. Click here to learn more and snag your tickets before they sell out! 

Which activity are you most excited for this January?

04. Winter Wine Festival – Sample more than 50 wines and beers and enjoy live music and a DJ at City Winery on January 21st! Your ticket price includes a souvenir acrylic wine glass, entertainment, and all of your wine, cider, & beer samples. Food will cost extra. Learn more here! 

05. Atlanta Wedding Extravaganza – ‍Spend an afternoon seeing your Pinterest boards come to life this January 29th. See Atlanta’s award-winning wedding pros demonstrate their talents. Discover (and even WIN!) the perfect wedding venue, photographer, caterer, bridal party attire, honeymoon, and more. Taste treats from Atlanta’s top caterers and cake designers, browse florals, tablescapes, and celebration décor, hear live music for ceremonies and celebrations, view fashions for the whole wedding party, and meet innovative vendors who can make your wedding fantasies a reality. Learn more here! 

Whatever you decide to do this January, Atlanta can offer it all! So step away from your devices and take in all the winter wonders this January 2023! Visit us here to stay up to date on all the latest news and resources! 

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What does it mean to “sponsor” an agent at eXp Realty?

eXp’s revenue share plan is one way that eXp rewards its agents for attracting new agents to join eXp.⁠
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Simply, an eXp agent can “sponsor” a new agent to join eXp. ⁠
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Once the new agent begins closing on transactions, the sponsor receives a percentage of the company revenue from the sales activity of their sponsored agent until their annual commission cap of $16,000 is reached.⁠
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(The best part? eXp pays that share — not the agent. It is taken from the 20% adjusted gross commission income (AGCI) received by eXp, and is paid to the sponsor agent monthly.)⁠

FACT: You don’t have to work yourself into the ground to be a successful real estate agent.

As an example: If you personally sponsor 5 agents to eXp who meet the production requirements, and they in turn sponsor their own productive agents, you can earn up to up to an additional $3,200 annually for the production of each of those Tier 2 agents. That is ON TOP of the $2,800 you earn from the agents that you have brought in. 
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Want to chat more about it? Click here to learn more about our team and the way we work together to build collective and individual success!⁠ Looking for more info on eXp? Click here!

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How to find the best brokerage to join as a new agent.

Some items to consider when interviewing; 

01. Are you a self starter? 

02. Are you confident in marketing yourself? 

03. Do you prefer to have someone hold your hand through the processes or do you want to jump in and forge ahead on your own? 

The answers to these questions will determine the type of brokerage you might be interested in. They will also determine what your monthly cost might be, your commission split and your cap. If you need accountability to be productive, you might want to join a team on top of joining a brokerage, which is totally normal for new agents. Knowing your needs ahead of time is crucial in making the decision on where to hang your license. 

The world has changed since Covid and most businesses are now virtual. Are you good at virtual learning? If so, there are so many choices for you compared to a traditional brokerage that charges you $200-$1000 per month literally before you have sold a home. If you are a motivated learner, look for a company that lets you learn on your own, has some type of cap, and doesn’t charge you an outlandish fee monthly before you ever sell a home!

Why Sage & Cedar hangs their license with eXp Realty

Sage & Cedar hangs our license with eXp Realty for a few reasons:

01. Cloud Campus environment – Work from anywhere, instant access to training and support. Knowing you can learn from home and on demand is a big plus. Time is a nonrenewable resource so being able to skip the travel and traffic and learn at home is a great time (and headache) saver! 

02. No Desk Fees – Let’s face it! As a real estate agent, you have to be able to work from anywhere… and most agents do! The number of people primarily working from home tripled between 2019-2022 (census.gov). Why spend the money on a desk fee if you don’t ever use it.

Fees are a big deciding factor for most agents. Especially new ones! eXp Realty does an 80/20 split. Knowing you can keep 80% of your transactions is a big deal (compared or 40 or 50% at other brokerages). Along with the reasonable split, they also offer a 16k yearly cap. Once you’ve paid the broker $16,000 for the year, you keep 100% of your commissions. 

03. Equity Opportunities –

A. Sustainable equity plan – Each year earn shares on your first transaction, earn shares when you cap, and earn shares when an agent you sponsor closes their first transaction!

B. ICON award – Earn Up to $16,000 in stock upon the achievement of certain production and cultural goals within your anniversary year!

C. Agent equity program – Enroll to be paid 5% of every transaction commission with stock at a 10% discount!

Every agent has different needs. Decide what’s important for your success, and have that inform your decision. If you’d like to learn more about eXp Realty or Sage & Cedar, Visit us here: https://heatherdean.exprealty.careers/ or here:  https://sageandcedarhome.com/join-our-team/.

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Check out these 7 marketing tips for Real Estate Agents

01. Set up your social media accounts – These days, social media accounts are just as important as websites. These accounts give a personality to the brand. It’s a great way to stay connected with your sphere of influence, show off your current listings or sales, and connect with new people! We suggest a facebook business page, instagram business page, youtube channel, linkedin, twitter, tiktok, and pinterest.

02.  Create a website – It is so important to have on online presence in the form of a website. Studies show that even if you are referred by a friend/past client, that potential new client will still visit your website before reaching out. Creating a organized and professional landing page is a great way to impress. Some brokers provide agents with personalized websites, and that works just fine if you are just starting out, but a wordpress or squarespace that you can take with you if you move brokerages is ideal. 

03. Create an email list – Creating an email list is a great way to market yourself. You can use this list for monthly newsletters, listing announcements, event invitations, and so much more. Collecting these address can feel daunting, but don’t get overwhelmed. Text or direct message 10 friends/family/acquaintances a day until you feel the list is substantial enough! To organize, you can use something as simple as excel, or something as advanced as flodesk.

Learn how to market as a real estate agent

04. Host or Sponsor an event – Do you have a child in sports? Sponsor the team. Are you part of a knitting club? Have a knit-a-thon and donate the proceeds. Does your partner work at the local fire department? Buy the firefighters lunch. Do you live in an apartment complex with lots of renters? Host a first time home buyers seminar. Hosting an event for the people in your sphere can get you out there and make a lasting impression as a real estate agent.

05. Blog – We talked earlier about having a website of your own. Creating valuable content on that website makes it easier for people who don’t know you, to find you. It’s a great way to drive organic traffic to your business page and generate leads for free.

06. Host an Open House – Even if you don’t have any listings of your own, hosting an open house for another agent can help generate leads. You can then add those leads to your email list, and that will grow your sphere of influence. It’s also a great way to practice interacting with clients and reading MLS information. 

07. Send out mailers – Mailers are postcards and letters sent out to neighbors, ideal clients, etc. You can target people in a certain neighborhood you’re looking to farm, or around a current listing you have. The best way to market yourself is with a listing sign, so working leads around your active listing is a great idea! 

Interested in how eXp Realty and S&C can help grow your business? Click the here to learn more about eXp or here to learn more about joining our team!

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Heather Dean Frost chats with Jasmine Krnjetin of the Agent Upgrade Podcast

Heather and Jasmine chat about the shifting market and how to adjust your business with it! In this podcast we hit 9 major points. Let’s explore! 

01. Heather’s background – Jasmine and Heather talk about Heathers start in real estate, the hurdles and how she overcame them. The name of the game in this business is learning from others. Whether it be their success or failures.

02. Why is joining a real estate team an advantage? – Jasmine and Heather dive deep into the team dynamic and what that means for an agent looking to get their start. What can a team do for you? How is it different from going it alone?

03. What can you say to clients to share the reality of the market (and squash myths) – Big topic here! Buyers and Sellers are waiting. What is important for them to know in this period? If it’s the right time for them, what do you say to get them off the fence?

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04. How did Heather transition from a solo agent to leading a real estate team? – Jasmine and Heather discuss the birth of Sage & Cedar. How did we get off the ground, what were the hurdles, what made us want to go it on our own?

05. What are the three buckets of client leads in real estate? – As an agent, where do you look for real estate leads? What’s important to consider if you feel like you’ve hit a brick wall with one source? 

06. What are some practical tactics Heather is teaching her agents about the current slowdown? – Here we discuss why it’s important to stay a resource, even in this slowing market. Remaining the name someone says when the topic arises is extremely important. Learn why!

There’s more panic about the real estate market right now than there needs to be.

07. Why social media can humanize your agency and help people remember you. – What creating those know, like and trust feelings can do for you! Making sure people feel confidant in reaching out to you as a friend or client is extremely important. 

08. What are the things Heather wished she knew when she started as a real estate agent? – Jasmine and Heather discuss what she would share with her younger self here. What she’s learned in her 8 years of experience and what she passes on to the agents on her team. 

09. How can an agent capture the buyer’s journey to share online? Stories matter! – Lastly we talk about getting the word out. The importance of showing you’re an active agent in the business and the best source to draw upon. 

Click here to learn more about the Sage & Cedar team and see if we are a good fit for you? Looking for more great episodes? Click to follow Agent Upgrade on Spotify and YouTube! 

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Steps to get your Real Estate License in Georgia

01. Be 18 – You gotta grow before you know! Not much else to say about this one! If you are under 18 and already know that you want to pursue a career in Real Estate, start learning all you can about your neighborhood and the surrounding areas. Start attending community meetings, connecting with your neighbors, and start to figure out your ideal market. 

02. Complete your pre licensing course – There are many different ways to obtain your license. Here is a list of GREC (Georgia Real Estate Commission) approved Real Estate schools. Online or in class are the two main options. Are you experienced with online learning? If so, online might be the way to go. You can go at your own pace. Usually you can take 6 months to finish the course before it expires. Or maybe you’d like to have a teacher in a classroom where you can pose questions. Then a class is probably your best option. With classes you have the option to take it all in 2 weeks or also do a 2 night a week class usually taught in the evenings. At the end of the day, they all teach the same things so selecting how you want to learn is most important. After you complete the the class, you will need to complete the class test to move on the the state test.

Prepare for your future by getting your Real Estate License in Georgia

03. Interview Brokerages/Find a team – We recommend interviewing multiple brokerages/teams you might be interested in during this licensing time because once you pass the GREC test, they will want to know who you are going to hang your license with. Find one that aligns best with your life and goals and go from there. As a new agent, it’s very important to find a mentor to guide you through the first few years. If you’re interested in Sage & Cedar or eXp, we’ve got a few links below!

04. Take your State test – Be sure to take any exam prep classes offered, and for the love of god, do not wait too long between passing your Class test and your State test. They throw a ton of information at you. The longer you sit with it, the more likely you are to have to relearn it. Click here for a link to schedule your state test!

Whether you are just starting to think about the licensing process, or you’ve completed your state exam and are looking for guidance, we are here to help! Click here if you are Interested Sage & Cedar or here if you want to learn more about our brokerage, eXp Realty. 

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Why do I need a listing agent to list my home?

Your listing agent is someone who can navigate you through this process of prelisting, listing, choosing offers, appraisal issues, legal issues etc. Working to maintain the listing and all that comes with it is a full time job! Let’s look a little more into the job of your listing agent:

01. Setting a listing price – Your agent will visit your home, inquire about updates, repairs, defects, etc. They will also check the market for comparable listings in your neighborhood. After becoming well informed, your agent will suggest a list price for your home.

02. Suggest repairs and upgrades – Experienced listing agents know what it takes to sell. Any repairs or upgrades suggested by your agent will help the home stand out from other properties in a potential buyers price point.

03. Staging – Having a home staged and decluttered will show your home in the best light possible. Your agent can suggest local stagers to help you declutter, design, and even bring in new furniture during the listing period to help potential buyers see themselves in your home!

04. Photograph – Your agent will hire professional photographers to take listing photos for the MLS. Photos are the public’s first impression, so professional photos are important. Good lighting and photo quality will make your home stand out from the crowd!

Hiring a real estate agent to list your home is one of the most important things you can do.

05. List – Licensed agents have access to the MLS (multiple listing service). This is where they list your home to share with partner websites, other agents, and qualified buyers. Agents will make sure they have all the correct information from public records, builders, and surveyors before they list.

06. Market – Open houses, virtual tours, and email blasts are just a few ways your agent will market your home to agents and their buyers. During the marketing period, your agent will be fielding phone calls, emails, and text messages about your home. They will also make sure the agents and interested buyers has all the correct information they need to make an offer. 

07. Negotiate – Knowing the process, how long certain contingencies take, and what buyers are qualified are just a few of the ways your agent will help you negotiate any potential contracts. Having the knowledge to keep you protected is a huge part of your agents job. 

08. Keeping up with timelines – Once you have a contract your agent will keep you updated on any upcoming timelines and coordinate with the lender, attorney, appraiser, inspector, and buyers agent. Missing a timeline could end up costing you money. 

Interested in listing your home with Sage & Cedar? Click here for a free listing guide or to connect with a Sage & Cedar agent!

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