The Perfect Property Podcast: An Atlanta Real Estate Guide

Summary:

On this episode of The Perfect Property podcast, Juli talks with Holly Walther of the Holly Walther Lending Team based in Atlanta about refinancing. While there are many negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on families and the economy, there has been one beneficial thing that could help homeowners across the country make great strides on their mortgages.

With interest rates as low as the high 2%’s depending on the day, it is in the best interest of many Americans to look into refinancing their mortgages with their current lenders or new lenders. Refinancing can drastically reduce interest payments every month, allowing homeowners to have lower monthly payments or explore reducing their loan terms. Many people are also taking advantage of cash-out refinancing to allow them to take out up to 80% of their home equity as cash for renovations, debt consolidation, or even traveling.

This is a good alternative to the home equity line of credit (HELOC) that is likely subject to higher interest rates during these economic conditions. A HELOC is a line of credit for a certain amount of money with your property as the collateral at an interest rate of subprime plus a margin. This makes the rate variable, but you only have to pay interest on what you have drawn out.

If you are a homeowner and you have not refinanced your mortgage in the past several months already, you should reach out to a lender to start the conversation about whether this would be a good option for you. The application process is very easy, and it could end up saving you thousands of dollars over the term of your loan. Lenders are there for you to help you reach your goals.

What You’ll Learn:

· Why now is a good time to refinance (1:04)

· What does this current market look like? (2:37)

· The rates Holly is seeing right now (4:24)

· What is the refinancing process like? (5:04)

· What is cash-out refinancing? (7:19)

· There is no bad time to refinance if you will reach your goals (8:37)

· Investment properties and cash-out refinancing (9:54)

· What is a home equity line of credit? (10:55)

· How to contact Holly (13:23)

Key Points:
“If you’ve ever watched somebody play ping pong, then you have seen the market.”

“A lot of people don’t realize that the type of property has an effect on your interest rate.”

“We really want to analyze what the consumer’s goals are.”

“We are still in a great strong market where property values are really strong.”

Connect with Holly:

https://hollywalther.com/

404-436-0013

Links:

Juli’s Email: [email protected]

Juli’s Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)

The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com

https://linktr.ee/julistgeorge

In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli covers everything you need to know about Radon with
special guests Chandler of the EPA, Derrick of University of Georgia, and Paul of Metro Atlanta Mitigation Company. Juli encourages you to be educated on this important topic and to check your
home for radon if you have not already.
This episode provides valuable information including where radon comes from, common myths, the facts and more. All three guests emphasize radon testing is not something to fear and it is an easy problem to remedy. The key to health is knowing your facts and taking action if necessary.
What You’ll Learn:
● The truth about where radon comes from. (0:09)
● The truth about uranium. (0:22)
● Facts about the dangers of radon. (0:25)
● Juli introduces Chandler, an environmental engineer with the EPA. (1:17)
● Chandler shares her background. (1:46)
● How radon relates to your home. (5:08)
● Juli introduces Derick Cooper, radon educator at UGA. (19:15)
● More myths about radon (25:14)
● Juli Paul from a local radon mediation company shares facts and testimonies from the local area.
(27:32)
Key Points:
“Radon naturally occurs when uranium breaks down to form radon and radon is found in granite.”
“Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas found in all types of soil all over the world.”
“It’s the second leading cause of cancer behind lung cancer.”
“It wasn’t until the 1980s that we discovered radon to be a problem in homes.”
“One out of every 15 homes has high radon levels.”
“Any home can have a radon problem.”
“Testing is the only way to know your exposure.”
“Any measurement above 4, we recommend you get your home mitigated.”
“In water, radon is mostly a concern in well water. We recommend testing it if you have a private well.”
“Radon risk in water is much lower if you are on a city system.”
“Radon is found in old homes and new homes.”
“It’s much cheaper for anyone doing a new build to install radon mitigation during construction to
reduce radon build up possibility by 50.”
“Granite does release radon but of more concern is radon coming up from soil than granite
countertops.”
“Another myth is we are on a slab so we can’t have radon.”
“Most people haven’t tested for radon while they may have smoke detectors.”
“In Georgia, we have lots of granite which is a high source of radon.”
“No level of radon is safe but radon is everywhere so what level are we comfortable with?”
“Building of condos can have contaminated rock which can increase radon levels.”
“Radon occurs when the pressure is lower inside the structure than outside...so it comes in around
cracks, in the floor, seams, around tubs/ shower, the sides of walls or the wall under the garage/front
porches/pulls/french drains...”
“Test when it’s raining and when it’s not raining.”
“Once it’s in there, it stays in there.”
“The main reason radon is higher in new houses is the construction under the slab (particularly in
Atlanta).”
“Newer houses are supposed to have 4 inches of gravel which gives radon easy access.”
“Older neighborhoods had concrete directly on clay.”
Links:
Juli’s Email: [email protected]
Juli’s Phone Number: 404-668-8975 (call or text)
The Perfect Property Website. www.theperfectproperty.com
Chandler at EPA
Certified Testing: National Radon Safety Board or National Radon Proficiency Program
Website: https://www.epa.gov/radon
UGA radon info
Interactive radon map for state of Georgia and order kits: https://www.fcs.uga.edu/extension/home-radon
404-562-9900

https://linktr.ee/julistgeorge

The Perfect Property – Chris Greene, The Flood Insurance Guru

Summary:

If you’ve ever wondered whether you should have flood insurance, the answer is yes! This episode of The Perfect Property features Chris Greene, The Flood Insurance Guru, who covers all things flood-related. Whether the source is a pipe burst inside or an epic rain event, there are baseline factors that every homeowner (or prospective homeowner) will want to weigh.

The good news is that being in a flood zone isn’t a non-starter. The Flood Insurance Guru is all about providing education and resources to equip homeowners with the tools they need to mitigate risk and minimize impacts for which insurance coverage is minimal or non-existent. There are realities that investors need to factor into their business plan and realtors will need to incorporate in the sales process, whether on the buyer or seller side.

You can locate flood zone information for your home address by clicking here. Additional maps and other Flood Insurance Guru resources are available here.

What You’ll Learn:

· Exactly what IS a flood zone? Short answer? Everything! (0:45)

o A and AE (also known as 100-year) flood zones are high risk and most common in Atlanta.

o B flood zones (generally coastal Georgia) are considered moderate risk.

· The type of flood zone designation in which a property lies impacts its value. (6:50)

· Why flood/elevation certificates are optional – but important (7:52)

· About what to do (and how to potentially save some money) if updated mapping suddenly redefines a property you already own as falling within a flood zone.(12:17)

· What’s not covered by most insurance: Mold mitigation and anything stored in a basement. (15:35)

· Should you buy property in a flood zone? Yes! (16:05)

· If you’re considering a house located within a flood zone, it’s all about education, disclosure and mitigation. Ask for flood loss documentation from current owners. (16:40)

· Who needs flood insurance? Everyone! Why? (20:42)

· There is no centralized repository to search a property’s flood claim history, but if you’re the owner it’s possible to request a list from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). (22:58)

Key Quotes:

“AE is your highest risk flood zone when it comes to non-coastal areas ... one in every 100 chances within a given year a property could possibly flood.” (1:45)

“We teach people what their flood risk is, how to understand it, what the flood options are and, if a flood does occur, we walk people through how to get disaster assistance.” (13:12)

“The key with flood is that it has to inundate the property. It has to come from outside the property and generally can’t come from ground water. It has to be surface water.” (20:20)

Contacts & Further Resources:

Website: The Perfect Property

Website: The Flood Insurance Guru

Chris @LinkedIn

The Flood Insurance Guru YouTube Channel.

https://linktr.ee/julistgeorge

The Perfect Property with Juli St George

Guest: Will Johnston, Executive Director, MicroLife Institute

Summary:

This episode of The Perfect Property podcast highlights a movement that has captured the imaginations of people interested in downsizing (or “rightsizing”) their property while upgrading their quality of life. Host Juli St George welcomes Will Johnston, executive director of the MicroLife Institute, a thought leader and innovator in the micro-living, or Tiny House, space. Their conversation explores a new approach to the built environment – the spaces in which we live, work and recreate every day.

Will shares the story of how he personally came to start the MicroLife Institute and his journey to establishing The Cottages on Vaughan in Clarkston, Georgia, a model community that is redefining the parameters of real estate development. Studies indicate that people of all ages and different stages of life desire not only a stronger sense of community, but also improved economies of scale, environmental footprints and housing equity.

The Cottages on Vaughan, an inaugural project for the MicroLife Institute, provides a template that’s stirring interest nationally and abroad – not least because of the powerful punch it packs within a tiny footprint (around 650 square feet). Will describes the interior layout and shares the philosophy behind outdoor spaces designed to foster a sense of neighborhood – from shared tools to a communal fire pit and pizza oven.

The MicroLife Institute is tracking the demographics and data suggest that many people are ready to trade in a huge, isolated suburban home for more nimble, walkable, interconnected housing enclaves, or Pocket Neighborhoods, that offer a very personal sense of home and belonging. Enjoy this tour of a housing trend that’s here to stay.

What You’ll Learn:

· How Will ditched traditional corporate life in favor of the micro-life way. (2:12)

· The spectrum of conversations going on around the concept of micro-housing. (3:29)

· Will highlights the fundamental principles of micro-life and Pocket Neighborhoods.(5:08)

· All about Cottages on Vaughan, MicroLife’s pilot project in Clarkston, Georgia. (8:42)

· Juli asks Will to drill down on the demographics of micro-home dwellers. (Short answer: It spans all age groups!) There’s high demand, high interest. (13:47)

· A virtual tour of a typical Tiny House – the parameters, layout, occupancy, etc. (17:38)

· Physical layout and community planning are key elements to the MicroLife model, which Will details. (19:36)

· “Layers of separation” are critical to Ross Chapin’s vision for Pocket Neighborhoods that foster community while preserving privacy and space. (21:45)

· Pets are welcome – and here’s how it works. (22:29)

· Costs associated with owning and living in a Tiny Home community. (24:42)

Key Points:

“We are told that you get in debt, move into the house, keep up with the Joneses and all that jazz. I knew that that was not my story.”

“We don’t want people to build bigger just for the sake of money. We want people to be smart about how they utilize space and create that walkability that creates community.”

“The more I read 'The Color of Law' and the more I get into conversations about exclusionary zoning, it makes me so angry about the world we built in the built environment.”

“We have a huge gap in the built environment of people w

https://linktr.ee/julistgeorge

Summary:
On this episode of The Perfect Property we’re tackling all things roofs and roofing – a subject that can be intimidating, anxiety-provoking or both. But our guest, Charlie Yood, is here to educate and empower us to take charge of perhaps the single most important element of our homes – before it’s too late. As president of Rosie’s Roofing and Restoration, he’s all about demystify the components of roofing and helping us avoid making costly mistakes. Charlie shares with Host Juli St. George his top tips for protecting our homes, saving money and asking the right questions when we’re in the process of purchasing a new home. You’ll come away with a comprehensive overview of roofing as well as empowering action items that will extend the life of your roof – and increase the value of your home!
What You’ll Learn:
 All About Charlie: A former professor with a PhD in history, he founded Rosie’s 13 years ago and has since been a community resource in and around Atlanta.
 About asphalt-based shingles (most common in Atlanta and nationwide):
o Entry level: 3-tab shingles. Durable but with a relatively short life expectancy.
Typically come with a 25-year material warranty
o Next tier: Architectural shingle. Laminated layers that provide texture and depth
as well as longevity.
 About modified bitumen (rolled roofing product):
o Tailored to withstand stress on flat roofs
o Similar to a swimming pool liner.
o Compatible with shingles for homes with both.
 Alternative roofing options:
o Single-ply roofing (energy-efficient “cool roof” TPO materials).
o Slate tiles or Spanish barrel tile roofs.
o Classic slate.
o Composite synthetic tiles or slate (much lighter).
o Metal roofing (exposed fastener or standing seam – and it’s important to know
the difference!)
 Whether the orientation of your home impacts your roof’s lifespan. (Hint: Yes!)
 What to expect with Rosie’s inspection process:
o A holistic approach that assesses all components of the roof.
o A physical appraisal conducted by an actual human walking the area.
o Video recordings that enable clients to see exactly what’s going on.
o An emphasis on transparency at every stage.
 Why satellite and drone images are not enough to accurately assess what’s going on
with your roof – or identify next steps indicated!
 Top Three Things to Know About Roofing:
o #1: Roofs are not zero maintenance! They have to be kept clean, especially
removing debris from flat roofs and in critical “valley” areas.
o #2: Roofs should be inspected on a regular basis. While your shingles might look
great, the various components holding them together degrade and break down.
o #3: If you see something that looks troubling, don’t procrastinate! Be proactive
about addressing leaks and other issues before they start to spiral.
 Bonus Tips for Homebuyers:
o Don’t rely on general inspections to identify roof issues.
o Find out from previous owners what company installed the current roof, which
may still be under warranty.
 About Rosie’s Nonprofit: Raise the Roof!
 How horror stories are always the result of delayed maintenance – especially on houses with complicated roof profiles.
 Solar Update: The most exciting trend is towards new shingles that integrate into roofing rather than add-on panels.
Notable Quotes:
 “The orientation of your house really matters! If you have slopes in your roof that are southern facing and western facing, they will not last 25 years.
 “You can’t diagnose a leak by sending up a drone. You have to get up there and – on
the roof, looking at it – really figure out what the issue is.”
 “Water will destroy your house so – if you see a leak – get on it right away!”
 “Want to save money? don’t put off maintenance!”

https://linktr.ee/julistgeorge