With mortgage qualifying harder these days we see tenants with strong careers and great salaries unable to obtain financing for a mortgage. These people in particular make fantastic tenants. They always pay their rent on time and they treat your home as if it were their own so you the landlord can in turn pay your mortgage and reduce the amount of maintenance or repairs. The trend for these tenants are typically 4 or more bedrooms and a good school district.

High distressed property rate in some areas of metro Atlanta is factor that could bring your net rental proceeds down - distressed means either a short-sale or a foreclosure. Many neighborhoods in Atlanta have a distressed rate of over 80%. Which mean there are going to be some good deals to be had but, this also means more immediate competition and diluting your quality tenants. Investors find themselves reducing their asking rental price in order to limit vacancy time and typically carpet replacement and interior paint are the main repairs that are needed at the end of a 2 or 3 year lease.

The good areas are the lower priced homes 3 to 4 bedrooms in areas that do not have a high distressed property rate. Rental rates are typically $900 - $1100 per month. Tenants are typically stable occupants for appoximately 5 years and your maintenance repairs are less. 

Investors listen up... There are a lot of great buys in the Atlanta real estate market. Houses are selling low and interest rates couldn't be better. Maybe now is a good time to add to your portfolio or buying your first rental. Remember, the best deals are not always the best investment. Pay attention to where you are picking up properties. Wego Property Management is always happy to point you in the right direction and can see you through from contract-to-closing-to-tenant. Contact Wego Property Management, we have unparalleled access to Atlanta bank owned homes many of which would make great rentals. 

Beautiful Ranch home with handicap amenities, fireplace in family room, large master bedroom with walk in closets, large doorways and open floor plan. Hardwood floors and trey ceilings.

These will go fast!!!!  call 678-578-5980 to view

Spacious open floor plan with handicap amenities, hardwood floors, fireplace in family room, trey ceilings and large master bedroom with walk in closets.

Come see your new home.... call 678-578-5980 to view

Large open floor plan with fireplace in family room, large master bedroom with walk in closets and handicap amenities.  Beautiful hardwood floors and stepless entry.

Call to view your new home 678-578-5980

Spacious open floor plan with fireplace in family room.  Handicap amenties, master bedroom with walk in closets, trey ceilings and hardwood floors.

Hurry before they are all gone!!!!  Call 678-578-5980 to view...

Spacious Ranch in Great Adult Community!!!!

Beautiful open floor plan with handicap amenities, large master bedroom with walk in closets, fireplace in family room and gorgeous hardwood floors.

Beautiful Ranch in active Retirement Community!!!!!

Covered Porch, trey ceilings, large master bedroom with walk in closets, Family room with fireplace, Handicapp amenities and great open floor plan....

Call to view this wont last.....678-578-5980

Beautiful 3BR brick and stone home in golf setting for sale or lease purchase option. Home offers many upgrades including: hardwoods, crown molding, coffered ceilings, granite countertops, double oven, SS stovetop, tile and many more! Large master on main with large walk in shower and closet, garden tub and double vanities. Great price for the value. 

Motivated seller. Lease purchase option available. Call agent for more details! 

404-975-9929

****REDUCED****Beautiful Spacious Ranch with Basement!!!!

Hardwood Floors, finished basement with bedroom, open kitchen, den with fireplace and seperate dinning room.

Dont Miss out!!!!! Call 678-578-5980 to view...

Spacious Townhome with large open kitchen!!!!

Beautiful large windows in living room, garden tub, double vanity and seperate shower in master bath on main.

Dont miss out!!!!  Call 678-578-5980 to view...

Beautiful Brick Home in Wonderful Neighborhood!!!!

Hardwood Floors, trey ceilings, fireplace in livingroom, built in book shelves and butlers pantry....

Call to view 678-578-5980

1. Poor property maintenance and upkeep. Many Atlanta owners and investors aren't actual residents of Atlanta. Routine maintenance is neglected and issues with their real estate investment suffers. A national survey suggests that the average home owner invests $2000 to $3000 dollars a year on maintenance and improvements.

Atlanta investment property management owners are choosing less desirable rental properties without doing the proper research and making the necessary repairs. Serious losses can be avoided by investment property management owners if the rental houses are brought up to a higher standard. Thus creating a more stable tenants and ultimate positive cash flow for our investment property management owners.

2. With the overwhelming number of foreclosures in Atlanta, many owners and investors have chosen to place tenants without doing proper screening and background checks. Placement of poor tenants causes a substantial financial loss for property management owners. Loss of rental income from non-payment and from excessive damage to property is a direct hit to real estate values and cash-flow.

The best way to overcome obstacles and control loss is to hire Wego Property Management an Atlanta property management company. Wego property management will do proper research on your Atlanta investment property and handle all repairs and rehab to insure that your investment property is in the best possible condition. Wego also does an extensive background check and places only qualified tenants. Reducing your risk and promoting cash-flow for your property is our key objective.

Wego is the premier property management company in Atlanta. Chosen for our reliabilty and professionalism. Owners, investors and apartment complexes have chosen Wego Property Management as their partner to handle the most complex assets. You should too.

Experience the difference in Real Estate Management

Why choose WEGO over traditional management firms?
With the cost of making a mistake so high, it is critical that investors, and landlords select a proven, reputable partner. Even if you do not select WEGO as your provider, do your homework! Read online reviews and talk to other companies in the industry to make sure you are selecting a firm that maintains a consistently satisfied client base. You will quickly find that there are drastic differences in client satisfaction and performance across the management industry.

About WEGOTEAM.com
In the small to mid-sized market there are
a wide range of companies offering
management solutions. We understand it can be difficult to select the best solution when it seems all management firms are promising the same thing.

Luckily there is a telling aspect of companies that even the best sales person cannot affect: reputation. Based on the experiences of the investors and landlords that have come before you, the industry reputation and track record of a company will show if the firm produces consistent results as promised or if they are simply "selling" a solution without the ability to make their clients truly successful.

At WEGO, not only have we made client
satisfaction our top priority, we prove it by offering the industry's first "easy out" contract. We do not believe in forcing our clients to utilize our services by relying on legal paperwork.

We are proud to say that each and every client in the WEGO family remains with us by choice. We prove our value every month by producing measurable results and the industry's top customer support.

Reasons WEGO leads the way in residential rental homes,
apartment complexes and condominium management

• Our solution is specifically designed for small to midsized investors, investor firms,condo complexes, apartment complexes and individual landlords
• The services and resources you need with none of the expensive "extras" you don't
• Unparalleled service and support
• Clients are not required to use our maintenance and repair services
• Lowest fees; 8% Monthly Management

The tax credit is a value of $8000 if you have not owned a primary residence within the past 3 years. So even if you owned a home back in the early to mid 2000's when the Atlanta real estate market was thriving you can still qualify for the homebuyer credit. The IRS has posted income restrictions as well. Single filers adjusted gross up to $125,000 and Joint filers up to $225,000 will qualify for the tax-credit.

What happens if you enter into a contract on April 30, 2010? Do you still receive the credit? The answer is yes - so long as you close on your new home by June 30, 2010. Members of military will have one extra year to claim the credit (April 30, 2011)

So if you've been looking for a new home and have yet to "pull the trigger" on your decision making process. Now is the time. Atlanta real estate prices have never been so low and now a tax credit is the proverbial "icing on the cake".

Will the tax credit be extended again? Of course this is possible but, we've spoken with many of the Atlanta lending institutions and mortgage companies and the consensus seems to be that there will not be another extension. So again, if buying a home is in your plans, hurry. Time is running out.

More information from IRS First time Homebuyer Tax Credit

Whether you are a seasoned investor, owner occupant or just looking at different possibilites in the Atlanta real estate market. Here are some fantastic opportunities that you can not afford to miss. Every now and then WEGO Property Management comes across amazing deals that are usually too hard to find. We only post the best deals and a typical savings is 25% off of today's market value and sometimes more. To inquire about any of our investment opportunities send email to assets@wegomanagement.com 

Follow this link to search for all atlanta investment properties and bank owned homes in Atlanta and greater Atlanta area.

Click here to Learn how to Generate Positive Cash Flow for investment properties and rental properties.

This Atlanta investment property would make for a great investment . It's located in the Kings Mountain subdivision in Conyers, Ga. Features of this home include an updated kitchen, huge master bedroom with private bath, fireplace and hardwood floors throughout. Full finished basement and tons of square footage make this a gem of an Atlanta investment property. - SOLD

This Atlanta investment property would make for an excellent owner occupied home. It's located in Heron Bay Country club. Call for a full list of details.

Jonesboro, Ga 30236 4 Bedroom 2 Bath - SOLD

Hampton, Ga 30228 3 Bed 2.5 Bath - Investment Property - SOLD

 Stockbridge, Ga 3 bed 2.5 bath. Investment Opportunity - SOLD

 Covington, Ga 5 Bed 3 Bath - Investment Opportunity - SOLD

Covington, Ga 4 Bed 2.5 Bath - Real Estate Investment Opportunity - SOLD

  Stockbridge, Ga 4 Bed 2.5 Bath - Real Estate Investment Opportunity - SOLD

Covington, Ga 5 Bedrooms 3 Baths - SOLD

Stockbridge, Ga 3 bed 2 bath in great shape. Appraised value $118,000.00

YOUR COST $95,000.00 - SOLD

Hampton, Ga 4 bed 2.5 bath in great shape. Appraised value $195,000.00

YOUR COST $156,000.00 - SOLD

McDonough, Ga 3 bed 2 bath 1+ Acre in great shape. Appraised value $125,000.00 - SOLD

McDonough, Ga. Eagle's Landing Country Club 4 bed 2.5 bath. Appraised value $424,000.00 - SOLD

YOUR COST $355,000.00

Equity $69,000.00

Over the past several months I have been able to help many homebuyers who wanted to upgrade their home.  This is called a move up buyer.  This market is extremely favorable for move up buyers right now.  Yes, your home is not worth what it was a couple of years ago, but if you are upgrading to a more expensive home, that homes value has declined even more than your current home has.  In this kind of market move up buyers can achieve the purchase of the home of their dreams and earn some serious home equity at the same time.  If this is something you are interested in, please get in touch and I can help you with an assessment as to whether this would be a good move for you.

Have An Awesome Week!

Georgia Homeowners Moving to Green Alternatives

The age of corrosive building materials in construction is coming to an end. In the Georgia real estate market, there are a variety of issues worth considering. Used for millennia as a form of building insulation and piping, homes built prior to 1980 may contain asbestos. When purchasing or remodeling property, citizens are adopting green alternatives to asbestos and other hazardous materials.

Although manufacturers of asbestos knew about the dreadful affects of its product, it was used in millions of homes and buildings throughout the 20^th century. Asbestos can be a problem for homeowners due to causing a variety of lung diseases, such as mesothelioma. With no mesothelioma cure, there is limited treatment and poor prognosis for patients. Developed through exposure to asbestos fibers, the number of mesothelioma survivors are unfortunately few, far and between.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division enforces rules based on Georgia statutes. The GEPD is committed to protecting the public from exposure to asbestos-containing material. Asbestos materials can be legally performed by homeowners, regular contractors, or licensed asbestos abatement contractors. Asbestos removal is an extremely delicate and hazardous operation, so removal in homes, buildings and public workplaces must be performed by an abatement contractor.

Once you are asbestos free, green alternatives should be seriously considered. The United States Green Building Council (USGBC), in a study conducted in 2003, estimated a savings of $50-$65 per square foot for well-constructed green buildings in the U.S. (see table below) during that year. Green options such as Cellulose, Cotton Fiber and Lcynene allow for a clean, healthy home, free of health damaging materials.

HVAC Preventive Maintenance 101

Subject of the day is heating & air conditioning, specifically, preventing those uncomfortable periods of time between your frantic phone call & waiting on your contractor of choice to show up to fix your air conditioning system this summer.

Many times, that phone call can be prevented.

“Murphy’s Law” number one; “if anything can go wrong, it will.” We should add an addendum to that saying “it will go wrong on the hottest, most humid day of the year.” Let’s use last summer as a prime example. Our air conditioners are expected to work, on a worst case 95 degree day. Here’s an example of a NOAA blog last summer: 

“The heat wave in Atlanta continues. Today’s high temperature of 103 degrees recorded at 12:46 PM at Hartsfield-Jackson airport beat the previous record of 101, set back in 1980.”

To use a simple analogy, your air conditioning system needs to be maintained much like your car or truck; run it too long without proper care, catastrophic problems occur. Air conditioning can be reduced to one phrase, the transfer of heat. If your system cannot transfer heat properly, the result is less conditioned air or cooling. There are simple steps that a good mechanical contractor can take to help with heat transfer.

Dirty condenser coils need to be chemically cleaned. When an outdoor condenser coil becomes contaminated with dirt or grime, it cannot provide adequate heat transfer resulting in higher system pressures and lower efficiencies. As the dirt accumulates, the rest of the system needs to work harder to satisfy the set point indoor temperature. The compressor is the most expensive component of your air conditioning system. With dirty coils, lack of heat transfer raises the internal pressure of the compressor resulting in lower efficiencies and ultimately, premature failure. Higher operating pressures can also promote the reduction of lubrication in the compressor, much like the oil in your car. Once this happens in an air conditioning system, acid forms in the lines contaminating the system. One additional characteristic of poor lubrication of the compressor is noise, everybody hates a noisy condenser!

With your indoor coil or evaporator coil, improper care can result in not only lower efficiencies but also contaminated air. The indoor evaporator coil produces condensation when warm, humid air is blown over it. During the summer, your evaporator coil stays moist most of the time promoting growth of mold and bacteria. Cleaning and sanitizing these areas are critical for efficiencies and indoor air quality. In addition, the area that collects the condensation, or drain pan, must be sanitized with a time released chemical or tablet that eliminates the growth of these contaminates. When the drain line gets clogged, the repair bill may include drywall, carpet and furniture!

The HVAC industry has many products that address these cleaning issues. A popular product line is Nu-Calgon which manufactures Nu-Brite using an alkaline, foaming cleaner instead of the harsh acidic cleaner to clean the coils. Other products on the market include system conditioners, lubricants, flushes, insulators; the list is endless.

Studies have proven the impact of dirty coils on energy costs. The Carrier Corporation conducted a study on systems ranging from three to sixty tons. A typical five ton system with moderately dirty coils uses 8,100 KW hours per season in contrast to a clean coil using 5,500 KW hours during the same season resulting in a 32% more efficient system operating with clean coils.

In addition to system efficiencies and indoor air quality, the advantage of a proactive preventive maintenance program is system reliability. A service technician skilled in his trade can identify many potential problems and parts before they fail. There is a fine line between proactive part replacement and theft. As a homeowner, business owner or building manager, you may not know the difference between a contactor and capacitor; trust in your HVAC contractor is critical; choose one with years of experience in the industry, good reviews on-line and are listed with your city’s Better Business Bureau.

Other key areas that must be addressed during a preventive maintenance visit include clean air filters, drive belt wear & alignment, motor amps & draws, proper refrigerant charge, wiring connections, gas pressures, safety switches and air flow. These are just a few items on an inspection report you must request from your contractor.

Extend equipment life, reduce cost of ownership, lower operating costs, minimize down time and increase reliability. !

Other organizations to further develop your HVAC knowledge include: www.ashrae.org, www.comfortinstitute.org & www.energystar.gov.

Steve Lackley is the Operations Manager at Estes Heating & Air, Mechanical Division located in Atlanta, GA. You can contact Steve at slackley@estesair.com.