If holiday shopping for you is a little more than a new pair of shoes or a TV, like say, a house, you’ve probably been heavily weighing the pros of low prices and interest rates and the cons of uncertainty about when to make the purchase. In the event that you need a few more items on the pros side, you might want to check out an article by real estate expert Ilyce Glink, “Hidden Benefits of Buying a Home.”

For one thing, many homes in the Intown area are older, historical homes. While there might be a little more to pay in the way of renovation and repairs, you could also benefit through tax credits both on the state and federal level. Georgia’s Historic Preservation Division has a 25 percent income tax credit for certified historic properties, both owner-occupied and income-producing, and an additional 5 percent credit if the residence is in a Housing and Urban Development Department target area. Those incentives can certainly help offset a little more maintenance and sometimes stricter building guidelines.

Another benefit that’s often glossed over with a number of people being underwater in their mortgage, i.e. owing more on their mortgage than their home is currently valued, is the growth of equity. Putting money against the principal value of your loan means that you’re paying into an investment for the future worth of the home every month. Homes are a long term investment, and with historically low interest rates and home prices, you won’t be looking to get a return for another five to eight years as excess inventory from foreclosures slowly leaves the market.

Glink’s article also explores other benefits and provides several resources for homebuyers. To read her full article, visit the Equifax Finance Blog.

Do you have any benefits to share about homeownership? Let us know in the comments!

With blistering heat already creeping into our summer days, wouldn’t listening to summer tunes on your brand new iPad next to the pool just cool things off? Don’t have an iPad? Well you’re in luck, because your favorite Atlanta real estate blog is giving an Apple iPad* and iTunes gift cards away throughout the summer!

To register to win all you have to do is subscribe to the Atlanta Real Estate Forum’s daily newsletter with these few easy steps:

1) Visit www.AtlantaRealEstateForum.com

2) Click on the “Subscribe” tab at the top of the page.

3) Enter a valid email address into the box.

4) Confirm your email address.

Now you’ll be able to enjoy the top Atlanta real estate stories delivered straight to your inbox each morning!

*iPad to be awarded in the form of a $499 Apple Gift Card. Not redeemable for cash. To be eligible, email addresses must be valid and subscribers must be active/confirmed emails.

Drawings for iTunes gift cards will be held on May 31, June 30 and July 29. The iPad drawing will be held on August 31.

Make sure to follow Atlanta Real Estate Forum on Facebook too!

How do you feel about the housing market? Are you still sitting on the fence?  Real estate agents, builders, politicians, your hair dresser – all tell you that NOW is a good time to buy – first because home prices were falling and interest rates were dropping. Then “now” was the best time to buy because there was a tax “credit” that you could pay back on your income taxes over the next several years. After that, “now” was the best time to buy because you could take advantage of foreclosures and short sales. Then, there was a true tax credit for both first-time buyers and long-term homeowners, but that has expired. And that gets us to now…

And NOW… mortgage rates are at a 50-year low. And some experts predict that home prices could go even lower – or at least not go higher in the short term. On the Equifax Personal Finance blog, Real Estate Expert Ilyce Glink argues that NOW really is a good time to buy because of those two factors. Your new home will cost less because prices are so low and because you won’t pay as much to finance it.

But if you really are planning to get off the fence NOW, you need to plan to stay in your home for awhile. Check out Ilyce’s post at Equifax to find out why before you buy your new home.

Located in Chamblee’s Mid City District, The Lofts at 5300 are unlike any other condominium in Atlanta because of their unique zoning. The district is zoned for both residential and commercial use, making it the perfect location for residents to enjoy a live, work, play lifestyle.

Residents of the Atlanta loft condos can easily walk to any number of nearby eateries, antique shops, art galleries or coffee shops. And even though the lofts are in the city, a newly converted biking and walking trail is close. The trail, once an old railroad, includes more than two acres of a linear park. The trail features brick pavers, an observation deck, benches and beautiful landscaping. Everyone, including bikers, dog walkers, and active runners can enjoy the beautiful and quite retreat the trail provides.

The live, work, play lifestyle enjoyed by residents at the Lofts at 5300 is made even easier with the Chamblee MARTA station right across the street. Additionally, the lofts are close to Lenox and Phipps Plaza so shoppers have nearby (more…)

Welcome to this new site for all things Intown Atlanta! This site just launched today. I am working on several things behind the scenes. Feel free to comment.

If you would like to help co-author this blog, please leave a comment and tell me how you would like to be involved with this Atlanta Intown blog website. Thanks!