Cathy Johnson, REALTOR®
Hi! Here is a little bit about me. I am married and have 4 children and 3 grandchildren. I have lived in Georgia since 1998. As my hobby, which I found during covid, is using my Cricut. It's a great way for me to destress and live through some of my projects. We love to ride our motorcycle, bicycles, work in the yard/garden and travel. We are really big homebodies and love our little oasis we have created in our own backyard.
I've been licensed since 2006. I truly love working with both sellers and buyers, but my passion is my sellers. My sellers are my heart. There is so much emotion that goes into the sale of your property that sometimes makes it difficult. You raised your children there. You built that shop with your son. You moved there to have a better life. You lost your spouse while living there. You got a divorce. The list can go on and on as to what makes you come to that decision. It is an emotional time and it can be a stressful time as well. That's where I fit in. I can help alleviate some of that by offering you my years of experience dealing with the public and also the knowledge I have gained in my career as a REALTOR®. I have helped many many buyers over the years too. Nothing quite like finding that "perfect" home for them and helping them realize the dream of home ownership. I will be with you every step of the way from before the contract to closing and answering any questions you may have.
I know there are LOTS of questions that people need help with. No question is a dumb question, unless of course you don't ask. There are so many things to learn and understand and knowledge is power.
Todays market is one of unprecedented times. Being licensed since 2006, I've never seen anything like it. I can remember when I was much younger, interest rates were 17% and we have recently seen them as low as the 2's. In todays market, even at 6-7%, that's still pretty darn good. You can still find your dream home at that rate and as I like to think of it, marry the house, not the rate. You can always refinance if/when rates come down or you will know you already got that good rate when you bought. It
It would be my greatest pleasure to help you through the process. Just remember to Call Cathy 770-584-2716.
Southern Realty Group
Welcome to Cathy Johnson, Realtor Real Estate
We specialize in finding your dream home. Browse our listings and let us help you find the perfect property.
Housing Forecast
Should You Still Buy a Home with the Latest News About Inflation?
While the Federal Reserve is working hard to bring down inflation, the latest data shows the inflation rate is still high, remaining around 8.2%. This news impacted the stock market and added fuel to the fire for conversations about a recession.
You’re likely feeling the impact in your day-to-day life as you watch the cost of goods and services climb. The pinch it’s creating on your wallet and the looming economic uncertainty may leave you wondering: “should I still buy a home right now?” If that question is top of mind for you, here’s what you need to know.
Homeownership Is Historically a Great Hedge Against Inflation
In an inflationary economy, prices rise across the board. Historically, homeownership is a great hedge against those rising costs because you can lock in what’s likely your largest monthly payment (your mortgage) for the duration of your loan. That helps stabilize some of your monthly expenses. James Royal, Senior Wealth Management Reporter at Bankrate, explains:
- “A fixed-rate mortgage allows you to maintain the biggest portion of housing expenses at the same payment. Sure, property taxes will rise and other expenses may creep up, but your monthly housing payment remains the same.”
And with rents being as high as they are, the ability to stabilize your monthly payments and protect yourself from future rent hikes may be even more important. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), explains what happened to rents in the latest inflation report:
- “Inflation refuses to budge. In September, consumer prices rose by 0.4 and were up 8.2% from a year ago. So far in 2022 rents are up by a total of 6.8%.”
When you rent, your monthly payment is determined by your lease, which typically renews on an annual basis. With inflation high, your landlord may be more likely to increase your payments to offset the impact of inflation. That may be part of the reason why a survey from realtor.com shows 72% of landlords said they plan to raise the rent on one or more of their properties in the next year.
Becoming a homeowner, if you’re ready and able to do so, can provide lasting stability and a reliable shelter in times of economic uncertainty.
If you buy now, you can start building equity immediately. That’s true no matter which way the real estate market is leaning at the time. A key point for today’s market, though, is that buying now means avoiding additional mortgage-rate increases later. They’re likely on the way, too, as the Federal Reserve continues to hike rates to fight inflation.
“If a buyer finds a property they would like to call home, they should not delay,” says Stacey Froelich, a broker with Compass in New York City. “You cannot time the market, and a home should be a long-term investment. A year from now, even if prices come down slightly, mortgage rates might be higher. In the end, that will cost a buyer more monthly if they are financing.”
If you’re ready to learn more and start your journey to homeownership, connect with me today.
My Services
Real Estate Done Right
Nervous about your property adventure? Don’t be. Whether you're getting ready to buy or sell, in the middle of it, or just looking for some answers, my top-notch skills ensure you get the best experience possible. It’s what I love to do.
Commercial, Residential, and Rentals
Large or small, condo or mansion, we can find it and get it for you at the price that's right. DIY's,? Luxury? We can help with all of it. We always have a current list of available properties for you to check out. selling real estate buying selling houses real estate agent
Rely on Expertise
If you have questions about affordability, credit, legal matters, or income, trust me to find you what you need fast. I know people in the industry to make sure you feel confident and educated every step of the way. I have a list of vendors for just about every need.