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Jay Hufnagel

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Displaying blog entries 81-90 of 108

Are you ready to see some Lake Property? Here's some tips.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008
by Jay Hufnagel

How should we prepare when we go out with our Real Estate Agent to look at lake properties?                

 

    1. First of all, do your homework on what listings you’ve reviewed, prioritize them by your favorites, and send them to your Agent. This will allow him/her to prepare and make appointments prior to the date you go out. Usually, 4 – 6 listings are appropriate to visit in a 4 hour time frame depending on the distance between the homes or lots. Usually, I add other listings or non-listed homes to the list, if they’re in the vicinity and with similar criteria.
    2. The Agent should provide you with a package when you meet that will have various information on the lake and listings that you’ll be visiting.
    3. Consider taking the following items: a camera to film special aspects of the home or lot so you won’t forget what it looked like, a notepad to jot down questions or notes that you want to discuss with your Agent, a compass to see what direction the sun sets, a measuring tape to check the depth of water at the dock, and your check book (for earnest money) if you think you’re at the point of making an offer.
    4. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. You’ll be walking down to the lake where some paths may be slippery and steep.

               For a copy of Q&As for Lake Property Buyers, please email Jay Hufnagel at

                                                     sayjay@bellsouth.net .

 

By Jay Hufnagel, Keller Williams Realty, Lake and Home Group, just "Say Jay" for Real Estate

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Are you ready for some Crappie?

Saturday, March 15, 2008
by Jay Hufnagel
  As you can see by the picture of my 80 year old mother, it’s time to catch some Crappie. This picture was taken by our dock on Lake Hartwell, but the Crappie are biting on Lake Lanier as well. Most of the Crappie we caught we’re hitting on minnows and yellow/green jigs with a minnow hooked by it’s lips (“as if minnows have lips”, but you know what I mean). We had dropped a couple of Christmas trees off our dock earlier in the year and now they’re producing slab size fish in about seven (7) foot of water.  
 
  My neighbor fishes on Lake Lanier and parts of the Chattahoochee River, and as you can see, he knows how to fish Crappie as well. What’s nice about fishing this time of the year for Crappie is that they are getting ready to spawn. They’re aggressive, and you can catch them in large numbers. And, they’re just starting. During the next two weeks the water will warm up to about 60 degrees and full moon is scheduled for March 21st. If you like to fish, don’t miss this exciting event.
 
Don’t forget to bring a net. Most of the Crappie we caught were slab size (1 to 2 lb). When they’re that big, you’ll have a hard time lifting them out of the water without tearing their lips and watching them swim away. Good Luck!
 
By Jay Hufnagel, Keller Williams Realty, Lake and Home Group, just “Say Jay” for Real Estate.
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The Bassmaster Classic and Lake Hartwell is where it's at

Saturday, February 23, 2008
by Jay Hufnagel
  All it took was a major fishing tournament, a little rain, warm weather, and things have really heated up on Lake Hartwell…Real Estate that is. My phone was ringing off the hook this morning with lake property inquiries. Hopefully that’ll be just the start. Many potential buyers have had one eye on the economy and the other on lake levels. But today things were different. You could feel a little excitement in the air. Lake home owners, fishing tournament enthusiasts, and area visitors were all out to see what was happening on the lake.
 
  And, the fish are biting! After showing property this morning, I dropped by Portman Marina to see where all the action is happening. ESPN2 has a huge pavilion set up to broadcast the tournament over the next few days. Charlie Hartley, from Grove City, Ohio placed first on Friday with five fish and a total weigh in of over 21 lbs. The largest fish caught yesterday weighed in at over 6 lbs. Now that’s a fish!
 
Check out the Bassmaster Classic website and the Anderson Independent website for the latest on the tournament. And, if you’re near the lake, don’t miss watching the boats go out tomorrow morning at 7:15AM.
 
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Lake Hartwell 38th Bassmaster Classic, February 22-24

Wednesday, February 20, 2008
by Jay Hufnagel
 Don’t forget – The 38th Bassmaster Classic kicks off this Friday on Lake Hartwell. Boats will launch at Portman Marina, off South Carolina, exit 14 (I-85). This event is more than bass fishing. Many of the national qualifiers consider this the grand championship of Bass Fishing.
 
This year it’ll be a little more interesting with the lake down about 12 feet. Fishermen will have to be more creative on where to fish and what to use for bait. ESPN2 is suppose to provide daily coverage. You can bet, I’ll be down on my dock giving some tips to the fortunate sole that tries to catch “Bubba” that’s made his home under my ramp.
 
By the way, the picture in this blog isn’t a Bassmaster Champion (in his dreams). It’s my brother-in-law, Todd, with a fish he caught near our home.
By Jay Hufnagel, Keller Williams Realty, Lake and Home Group, just Say Jay for Real Estate
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2008 Lake Lanier Waterfront Home and Lot Sales

Wednesday, February 13, 2008
by Jay Hufnagel
Here’s some sale statistics for “dockable” waterfront Homes and Lots on Lake Lanier so far in 2008 (source: FMLS and does not include FSBO and non FMLS listed properties):
 
Waterfront Homes Sold (does not include Condos/Townhouses) – 5
            Average Days on the Market – 125
            Average List Price - $923,960
            Average Sale Price - $778,780
            Sale Price vs. List Price – 84.3%
 
                        Note: Most expensive Home sold for $1,650,000
                                   Least expensive Home sold for $169,900      
 
Waterfront Lots Sold – None
 
Please email me at sayjay@bellsouth.net if you would like to see the actual properties that were sold.
 
It’s very apparent that Buyers are still watching the housing market and waiting to see where the bottom is. The good news for Buyers …. lake property inventory is climbing, interest rates are low, and Sellers are starting to realize that if they want to sell then they need to be realistic on price. All we need now is three things …..some rain, rain and more rain.
           
Don’t forget the Lake Lanier Super Shore Sweep on April 12th. For more information, contact Vicki Barnhorst ( lakeinfo@lakelanier.org ) , Executive Director of The Lake Lanier Association.  I urge everyone that has interest in Lake Lanier to visit The Lake Lanier Association website as soon as possible. Here you’ll find links to various websites that are devoted to saving our lake.
By Jay Hufnagel, Keller Williams Realty, Lake and Home Group, just "Say Jay" at 770-757-2799
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Have you heard of Gold Star Referral Clubs?

Wednesday, February 13, 2008
by Jay Hufnagel

 Last week I was invited to 4 days of extensive training on how to maximize the power of referral relationships. Beth Davis, CEO and Founder of Gold Star Referral Clubs, invited me into their International Headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma to learn more about how building long-lasting reciprocal relationships can benefit your customers and business partners. It’s said that people interact and influence over 200 people on a regular basis. As a REALTOR, referring clients and customers to credible business sources (people that you “Know, Like and Trust”) is crucial to the future of your business.  

Gold Star Club members meet weekly for 60 minutes, make a short (60 second) presentation on their business and what a good referral would be, and then pass actual REFERRALS to other members. The Gold Star website states, “A good referral is not a TIP. The difference between a “tip” and a “referral” is that the person giving the referral has spoken to the customer about you, and the customer is expecting your call.” Gold Star members pass REFERRALS.
 
I’m excited about starting clubs in North Georgia and South Carolina. As you can imagine, REALTORS get asked “who do you know” for all kinds of things … like lender information, insurance contacts, inspectors, pest control, cleaning services, Doctors, Veterinarians, legal services, and a host of other providers for services and products. Individual Gold Star clubs can only have one representative from each industry, so there’s no competition between members. At one 60 minute meeting Gold Star members can accomplish more productivity for their business and customers then in a full eight hour day.
 
It’s all about reciprocity and edification. I was so impressed with how each member did his or her best to help the other’s business. Before I left Tulsa, Beth made an interesting comment…”If you know of someone that needs a certain product or service, why not refer them to someone you Know, Like and Trust. I’m sure they’ll be glad you did.”
By Jay Hufnagel, Keller Williams Realty, Lake and Home Group, just "Say Jay" 770-757-2799
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January Lake Hartwell Waterfront Real Estate Activity

Friday, February 01, 2008
by Jay Hufnagel
If you haven’t checked out South Carolina’s new website about buying now in the Upstate it’s worth your time. Like I said before, if you’re considering buying lake property, don’t let this market slip away. Prices may be at the bottom, interest rates are low, and home and lot inventories are setting record highs.
 
Here’s the last 30 days of “waterfront” activity on Lake Hartwell (source: SC Western Upstate MLS and does not include FSBO and non Upstate MLS listings):
 
Homes Sold (includes SF, Condos/Townhouses) – 10
            Average Days on the Market – 114
            Average List Price - $406,070
            Average Sale Price - $396,750
            Sale vs. List Price – 97.7%
 
                        Note: 7 of the 10 homes sold were Condo/Townhouses
 
Waterfront Lots Sold - 3
            Average Days on the Market – 495
            Average List Price – $228,333
            Average Sale Price - $204,333
            Sale vs. List Price – 89.5%
 
It’s interesting to note that with only 13 properties selling last month, that there were 170 new lake home and waterfront lot listings. When is the best time to buy lake property? I’d say now….”they’re not making any more of it”.   
 
By: Jay Hufnagel, 770-757-2799, just “Say Jay” for Real Estate
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Have we hit the bottom yet?

Tuesday, January 29, 2008
by Jay Hufnagel
I’m getting more Buyers asking this question, “Have we hit the bottom yet in the housing market”? Personally, within the last three weeks, I’ve seen a tremendous increase in internet activity of potential lake home buyers looking for that “great deal”.
 
Joe O’Kelley, Managing Partner of O’Kelley & Sorohan Attorneys at Law, LLC, spoke today at a Keller Williams Realty award ceremony. Joe stated that March will let us know what 2008 will be like in the housing industry. He also felt that “now’s the time to buy”. Interest rates are going down, the home inventory supply is at 10 months, and home prices may not go much lower. Compared to the rest of the Nation, Atlanta and the Southeast is in great shape. Joe made another interesting comment, “people need to go back to thinking like in the old days where you bought property and held on to it for a while”. Things have changed. Homes aren’t appreciating like they did a few years ago.
 
So, maybe we have hit the bottom. What do you think?
By Jay Hufnagel, Keller Williams Realty Lake and Home Group, 770-757-2799
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I'm Taking a Day Off

Saturday, January 19, 2008
by Jay Hufnagel
What do Real Estate Agents do when they’re not showing property? Well as you can see, some of us take a Snow Day.
 
Might as well have some fun, don’t you think? Over the last few years, agents have been working 24/7 non-stop. But today, things have changed. Many agents are leaving the Real Estate field because of the housing industry slow down and challenges. Yesterday, at one of my closings, another agent told me that their office had lost over half of their agents over the last few months. I can understand that, but I think those that survive the current market will come out stronger. Since the first of the year, I’ve seen a positive trend of activity. Hopefully with interest rates coming down, lakes filling up with water, and more optimism with the economy, the housing market will improve.
 
In the meantime, maybe we should have a “Hug your Real Estate Agent” day”. Don’t you think?
 
By: Jay Hufnagel, Keller Williams Realty, Lake and Home Group, 770-757-2799
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While the Lake is Down...Let's Cleanup the Ground

Saturday, January 19, 2008
by Jay Hufnagel
Keep America Beautiful (KAB) of Anderson County is sponsoring a Lake Hartwell shoreline cleanup event in preparation for the 2008 ESPN BASSMasters Classic to be held on the lake, February 22 – 24th. Interested participants are invited to contact the KAB and Anderson County Waste and Environmental Enforcement departments at 864-260-1003, and let them know of your interest.
 
On February 25th they’re also inviting participants to a Volunteer Recognition Luncheon at the Civic Center of Anderson, from 11:30am – 1:30pm.
 
With the lake level down, it’s a wonderful opportunity to clean up the lake, and show all of the fishermen and the ESPN viewers what a beautiful lake we have. I hope to see ya’ll out there.
 
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Displaying blog entries 81-90 of 108

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