Realtors in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, say they are seeing housing sales swell as homebuyers seek family-centered lifestyle close to, but just far enough away from, the inner city.

"Marietta is the county seat of Cobb County and includes both the City of Marietta and portions of unincorporated Cobb County," explains Realtor Warren Owen. "Marietta (and Cobb Co. in general) is a primary destination for many relocating home buyers for a number of reasons, including an excellent school system, progressive county government, suburban to semi-rural environment, historic preservation, proximity to Atlanta, excellent shopping, well-maintained infrastructure, a county-wide transit system, and diverse industry including aerospace, telecommunications, healthcare, and information technology. The real estate market is rebounding from lower-than-average performance over the last three years to a more balanced market environment, aided by low interest rates, a fairly new housing stock offering homeownership opportunity to buyers of both re-sale homes and new homes in all price ranges."

Say Realtors Sandy Koza, "Marietta continues to be a popular area for buyers in the Atlanta market. It is a reasonable commute intown, but far enough from the city's hustle and bustle to provide a nice suburban environment. Prices have remained relatively stable over the past three years, but are starting to creep back up as the standing inventory of homes begins to finally get absorbed. Sellers should have little problem selling their properties, if they price them competitively and put them in move-in condition."

They advise, "Presentation is important -- make your home look like a model home if you want your best selling price. Buyers, on the other hand, be sure you're ready before you visit your selection of homes. There are some gems to be found, but if you wait too long after finding a favorite, it may be gone."

"The housing market is historically very strong in the Atlanta area," says Realtor Lynn Horner Baker. "The strength of our economy in this wonderful city continues to bring new business and families to our community. The job market simultaneously improves with many new opportunities evolving."

Baker says, "Atlanta gained 100,000 people last year. With this type of growth, new listings will appear on the market daily. Buyers have more choices from the many outstanding properties in the Atlanta area and sellers benefit from a larger buyer pool. These factors plus the strong economy of Atlanta make this a great time for selling and buying a home."

To sellers, Baker suggests, "If you are selling a home, the condition of homes continues to be of the utmost importance. The faster you sell your home, the higher net you will receive. To speed up the process, be sure that buyers will have a good impression from the moment that they come to the front door. Most buyers form an impression within 15 seconds. Make the house as light and airy as possible by opening blinds and draperies. Pleasant smells create a positive feeling in a home. Remove any unnecessary furniture and pack up personal items to give a spacious feeling. Be sure the yard is in tip-top condition, even during the winter months. Buyers need to be able to picture themselves and their families in your home."

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Published: August 25, 2005

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