Blog - Jerald Zwak - Gemstone Realty

We will provide wiring instructions to you directly, if we are going that route for funding.The first thing we tell our clients is that you never accept wiring instructions if they come through an unsecured site and just in an email. All the closing attorneys we use will send through a secured site that will

Ways to Help When Times Are Hard

January 15, 2019

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As I’m sure you’re well aware, the government shutdown is starting to put a strain on both Federal employees and the businesses and industries they support. The local economy is feeling the sting, and our neighbors are under stress. According to Governing Magazine, approximately 16,000 of Georgia’s federal workforce is presently furloughed or working without pay. With

Asian girl balance and thinking for solution in classroom

Should You Save In An Escrow Account?

January 10, 2019

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Many home buyers have questions about escrow accounts. Many lenders require them. Most buyers feel that they are capable of planning for the future and will save money each year for their taxes and insurance. Unfortunately many times life gets in the way and it doesn’t or wouldn’t happen. I saw this great article in

Realtor Showing Young Family Around Property For Sale

Buying a Home – Help Your Realtor Help You

January 8, 2019

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Thinking about buying a home? Here is some food for thought. The point I am hoping to bring home is that we (all Realtors) are here to help you. Yes, we earn a living doing this, but we also invest a lot of time and effort into helping you accomplish your goal. To do this I need

Georgia’s December 2018 Recap

January 3, 2019

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December brought us 2019 housing predictions, the first closing of a grant from Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs, new jobs, and more! The Average Sales Price for the Month of December Increased 6.6 Percent from 2017 to 2018. With 2019 upon us, we are taking a look at data for the past 24 months as

The Truth About the Affordability in the Housing Market

December 4, 2018

Blog, Real Estate Financing

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Affordability in the housing market. Do you wonder what the truth is? Lately, there have been many headlines circulating about whether or not there is an “affordability issue forming in the housing market.” We have all seen the headlines that report that buying a home is less affordable today than it was at any other time in

Tips for Winterizing Your Home

November 23, 2018

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I ran across this article on Tips for winterizing your home. Most of us have heard many of these and forgotten them over time. It’s the old learning what you know plan mixed in with some new ideas. Inman News put this out and thought it would be helpful. In Georgia we don’t suffer the

Amazon Headquarters 2

November 13, 2018

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It looks like Atlanta is out of the running for the Amazon Headquarters 2. I don’t know if that is such a bad thing. Here in the Northeast Georgia area we already have a housing shortage. We have tons of construction and job growth going on. Zeroing in on HQ2 Amazon is closing in on

text thank you veterans in a chalkboard and the flag of the US

How Important Is It To Address Needs of Veterans

November 6, 2018

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Addressing the needs of our Veterans is something that is extremely important. Not only is it that Veteran who is giving to our country, it is their entire family. This is something that I feel should never be forgotten. I ran across an article in The MReport that addressed this and I wanted to share.

Excited kids running holding boxes, family moving in new house

Gift list for those buying a home for the first time

October 31, 2018

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I am always trying to find the perfect gift for new homeowners. Is there one that is perfect? If there is that ONE then I haven’t found it. Just as all people are unique, so is that perfect gift! Gift List for the First Time Homebuyer! There are so many checklists of what new home

The Continued Fight Against Zombie Homes in Georgia

October 30, 2018

Real Esate Advocacy

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Some heavier reading here, but very valuable information we thought consumers might like access to: The Fight Against Zombie Homes by David Wharton Even as the housing market booms, vacant and abandoned “zombie properties” continue to plague many municipalities, lingering reminders of the housing crisis. Here’s how the real estate industry, communities around Georgia and

6 Trusted sources say values will continue to increase over next few years, but slower.

October 26, 2018

Blog, Real Estate Financing

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The sources cited in this projection table are the following: The Home Price Expectation Survey – A survey of over 100 market analysts, real estate experts, and economists conducted by Pulsenomics each quarter. Zelman & Associates – The firm leverages unparalleled housing market expertise, extensive surveys of industry executives, and rigorous financial analysis to deliver proprietary research and advice