Number of houses sold in Blackshear (Pierce County), Georgia, during the last 6 months (May 8 – Nov 8, 2024)

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Mary Kelly

Author’s Note: Realtor.com links are dynamic and change as new information is entered into various multiple listing services. Therefore, the numbers I post in this article may not match what you see on your viewing date at the realtor.com links that I cite as my references. I don’t believe there is a way to make my links static so they will show what I find on my date of this posting.

A total of 48 houses sold in Blackshear (Pierce County), Georgia, in the past 6 months according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Blackshear_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold). The lowest sales price was $85,000, and the highest was $635,000.

Of the houses sold, 14 were sold at a price of $200,000 or less (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Blackshear_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/price-na-200000/sby-2).

Of the houses sold, 13 houses sold were at a price between $100K and $200K in Blackshear (Pierce County), Georgia, in the past 6 months according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Blackshear_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/price-100000-200000/sby-2). The breakdown by month in sales are:

  • 0 from November 1 to November 8, 2024
  • 1 in October 2024
  • 2 in September 2024
  • 2 in August 2024
  • 1 in July 2024
  • 5 in June 2024
  • 2 from May 8 to May 31, 2024

Of the houses sold, only 1 house sold at a price under $100K (which was at $85,000) according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Blackshear_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/price-na-100000), but that is not to say that is was livable and not in need of a lot of repairs and renovations.

There were 34 houses sold in the same 6 month period of time at a price higher than $200,000 (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Blackshear_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/price-200000-na).

At the time of this writing, there are 54 homes for sale in Blackshear (Pierce County), Georgia, listed in one of several multiple listing services (MLS), ranging in price from $59,000 to $1,195,000 according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Blackshear_GA/type-single-family-home/sby-1). At the time of this writing, 3 of the 54 appear to be improperly listed as houses, because they look like mobile homes to me.

Author’s Comment: I think that some REALTORS® do not abide by multiple listing rules and purposefully misrepresent a “mobile home” as a “house” thinking that just maybe a potential buyer searching for a house will see a mobile home and say to him/herself, “Maybe I will consider the mobile home.” So one has to watch for misrepresentations when compiling data from anything posted on the internet.

Author Notes:

When the Southeast Georgia Multiple Listing Service was in existence, it was the multiple listing service that served Waycross (Ware County) and other cities, towns, and counties close by which includes Blackshear (Pierce County). Now, with the Southeast Georgia Multiple Listing Service no longer in existence, there is no multiple listing service that primarily markets to Waycross or Blackshear. So, REALTORS® that sell in these areas use various multiple listing services to market their properties.

I used realtor.com as my source because all listings that are entered into any one of the multiple listing services that REALTORS® use are automatically also listed on realtor.com.

This article does not take into consideration for sale by owner houses listed and sold or houses listed and sold by real estate brokers/agents who do not market their listings in any multiple listing service. That information is very difficult to track.

If you are looking to buy or sell in the southeast Georgia area or would like more information on the real estate market in this area or others, I can be contacted by phone at 912.387.9922 or by email at contactmarykelly@gmail.com.

Mary Kelly MBA
Licensed Real Estate Broker
Florida & Georgia

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Number of houses sold in Waycross (Ware County), Georgia, during the last 6 months (May 7 – Nov 7, 2024)

Posted on November 7, 2024 by Mary Kelly

Author’s Note: Realtor.com links are dynamic and change as new information is entered into various multiple listing services. Therefore, the numbers I post in this article may not match what you see on your viewing date at the realtor.com links that I cite as my references. I don’t believe there is a way to make my links static so they will show what I find on my date of this posting.

A total of 74 houses sold in Waycross (Ware County), Georgia, in the past 6 months according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Waycross_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/pg-2).

Of the houses sold, 51 were sold at a price of $200,000 or less (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Waycross_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/price-na-200000/pg-2).

Of the houses sold, 34 houses were sold at a price between $100K and $200K in Waycross (Ware County), Georgia, in the past 6 months according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Waycross_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/price-100000-200000). The breakdown by month in houses sold at a price between $100,000 and $200,000 follows:

  • 0 from November 1 to November 7, 2024
  • 6 in October 2024
  • 5 in September 2024
  • 5 in August 2024
  • 3 in July 2024
  • 6 in June 2024
  • 9 from May 7 to 31, 2024

Only 17 of the houses sold at a price under $100K in the past 6 month period of time according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Waycross_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/price-na-100000), but that is not to say that those houses were livable and/or not in need of a lot of repairs and renovations.

Only 23 of the houses sold in the same 6 month period of time sold at a price higher than $200,000 (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Waycross_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/price-200001-na)

At the time of this writing, there are 136 homes for sale in Waycross (Ware County), Georgia, listed in one of several multiple listing services (MLS), ranging in price from $3,500 to $2,875,000 according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Waycross_GA/type-single-family-home/sby-2/pg-2).

Author Notes:

When the Southeast Georgia Multiple Listing Service was in existence, it was the multiple listing service that served Waycross (Ware County) and cities, towns, and counties that are close by. Now, with the Southeast Georgia Multiple Listing Service no longer in existence, there is no multiple listing service that primarily markets to Waycross. So, real estate companies that sell in Waycross use various multiple listing services to market their properties.

I used realtor.com as my source because all listings that are entered into any one of the multiple listing services that REALTORS® use are automatically also listed on realtor.com.

This article does not take into consideration for sale by owner houses listed and sold or houses listed and sold by real estate brokers/agents who do not market their listings in any multiple listing service. That information is very difficult to track.

If you are looking to buy or sell in the southeast Georgia area or would like more information on the real estate market in this area or others, I can be contacted by phone at 912.387.9922 or by email at contactmarykelly@gmail.com.

Mary Kelly MBA
Licensed Real Estate Broker
Florida & Georgia

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Number of houses sold at a price between $100K and $200K in Blackshear (Pierce County), Georgia, in the past 6 months (April 13 – Oct. 12, 2024)

Posted on October 13, 2024 by Mary Kelly

Author’s Note: Realtor.com links are dynamic and change as new information is entered into various multiple listing services. Therefore, the numbers I post in this article may not match what you see on your viewing date at the realtor.com links that I cite as my references. I don’t believe there is a way to make my links static so they will show what I find on my date of this posting.

A total of 45 houses sold in Blackshear (Pierce County), Georgia, in the past 6 months according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Blackshear_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold). Of the houses sold, —– were sold at a price of $200,000 or less. Of those 45, 12 houses sold were at a price between $100K and $200K in Blackshear (Pierce County), Georgia, in the past 6 months according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Blackshear_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/price-100000-200000). The breakdown by month in sales are:

  • 0 from October 1 to October 12, 2024
  • 2 in September 2024
  • 2 in August 2024
  • 1 in July 2024
  • 5 in June 2024
  • 2 in May 2024
  • 0 from April 13 to 30, 2024

Of those 45 houses sold, only 1 house sold at a price under $100K (which was at $85,000) according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Blackshear_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/price-na-100000), but that is not to say that is was livable and not in need of a lot of repairs and renovations. There were 32 houses sold in the same 6 month period of time at a price higher than $200,000 (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Blackshear_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/price-200001-na)

At the time of this writing, there are 53 homes for sale in Blackshear (Pierce County), Georgia, listed in one of several multiple listing services (MLS), ranging in price from $59,000 to $1,195,000 according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Blackshear_GA/type-single-family-home). At the time of this writing, 5 of the 53 are improperly listed as houses, but in fact, they are mobile homes.

Author’s Comment: I think that some REALTORS® do not abide by multiple listing rules and purposefully misrepresent a “mobile home” as a “house” thinking that just maybe a potential buyer searching for a house will see a mobile home and say to him/herself, “Maybe I will consider the mobile home.” So one has to watch for misrepresentations when compiling data from anything posted on the internet.

Author Notes:

When the Southeast Georgia Multiple Listing Service was in existence, it was the multiple listing service that served Waycross (Ware County) and cities, towns, and counties which includes Blackshear (Pierce County) that are close by. Now, with the Southeast Georgia Multiple Listing Service no longer in existence, there is no multiple listing service that primarily markets to Waycross or Blackshear. So, real estate companies that sell in these areas use various multiple listing services to market their properties.

I used realtor.com as my source because all listings that are entered into any one of the multiple listing services that REALTORS® use are automatically also listed on realtor.com.

If you are looking to buy or sell in the southeast Georgia area or would like more information on the real estate market in this area or others, I can be contacted by phone at 912.387.9922 or by email at contactmarykelly@gmail.com.

Mary Kelly MBA, REALTOR®
Licensed Real Estate Broker
Florida & Georgia

Posted in Real Estate Info | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Number of houses sold at a price between $100K and $200K in Blackshear (Pierce County), Georgia, in the past 6 months (April 13 – Oct. 12, 2024)

Only 34 houses sold at a price between $100K and $200K in Waycross (Ware County), Georgia, in the past 6 months (April 13 – Oct. 12, 2024)

Posted on October 13, 2024 by Mary Kelly

Author’s Note: Realtor.com links are dynamic and change as new information is entered into various multiple listing services. Therefore, the numbers I post in this article may not match what you see on your viewing date at the realtor.com links that I cite as my references. I don’t believe there is a way to make my links static so they will show what I find on my date of this posting.

A total of 71 houses sold in Waycross (Ware County), Georgia, in the past 6 months according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Waycross_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold). Of the houses sold, 50 were sold at a price of $200,000 or less. Of those 50, 34 houses sold were at a price between $100K and $200K in Waycross (Ware County), Georgia, in the past 6 months according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Waycross_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/price-100000-200000). The breakdown by month in sales are:

  • 1 from October 1 to October 12, 2024
  • 5 in September 2024
  • 4 in August 2024
  • 4 in July 2024
  • 6 in June 2024
  • 9 in May 2024
  • 5 from April 13 to 30, 2024

Of those 50 houses sold, 16 houses sold at a price under $100K according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Waycross_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/price-na-100000), but that is not to say those were livable and not in need of a lot of repairs and renovations. Only 21 houses sold in the same 6 month period of time at a price higher than $200,000 (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Waycross_GA/type-single-family-home/show-recently-sold/price-200001-na)

At the time of this writing, there are 122 homes for sale in Waycross (Ware County), Georgia, listed in one of several multiple listing services (MLS), ranging in price from $3,500 to $2,875,000 according to realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Waycross_GA/type-single-family-home).

Author Notes:

When the Southeast Georgia Multiple Listing Service was in existence, it was the multiple listing service that served Waycross (Ware County) and cities, towns, and counties that are close by. Now, with the Southeast Georgia Multiple Listing Service no longer in existence, there is no multiple listing service that primarily markets to Waycross. So, real estate companies that sell in Waycross use various multiple listing services to market their properties.

I used realtor.com as my source because all listings that are entered into any one of the multiple listing services that REALTORS® use are automatically also listed on realtor.com.

If you are looking to buy or sell in the southeast Georgia area or would like more information on the real estate market in this area or others, I can be contacted by phone at 912.387.9922 or by email at contactmarykelly@gmail.com.

Mary Kelly MBA, REALTOR®
Licensed Real Estate Broker
Florida & Georgia

Posted in Real Estate Info | Tagged , | Comments Off on Only 34 houses sold at a price between $100K and $200K in Waycross (Ware County), Georgia, in the past 6 months (April 13 – Oct. 12, 2024)

Only 32 houses sold at a price between $100K and $200K in Waycross (Ware County), Georgia, in the past 6 months

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Mary Kelly

Author’s Note: Realtor.com links are dynamic and change as new information is entered into various multiple listing services. Therefore, the numbers I post in this article may not match what you see on your viewing date at the realtor.com links that I cite as my references. I don’t believe there is a way to make my links static so they will show what I find on my date of this posting.

Only 32 houses sold at a price between $100K and $200K in Waycross (Ware County), Georgia, in the past 6 months according to realtor.com. The breakdown by month in sales are:

  • 1 from September 1 – 19, 2024
  • 2 in August 2024
  • 4 in July 2024
  • 6 in June 2024
  • 8 in May 2024
  • 8 in April 2024
  • 1 from March 22-31

During the same 6-month time period, 20 houses sold at a price under $100K according to realtor.com, but that is not to say those were livable and not in need of a lot of repairs and renovations.

At the time of this writing, there are 276 homes for sale in Waycross (Ware County), Georgia, listed in one of several muliple listing services (MLS), ranging in price from $2.9K to $2.8M (realtor.com, https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Waycross_GA/overview).

Author Notes:

When the Southeast Georgia Multiple Listing Service was in existance, it was the multiple listing service that served Waycross (Ware County) and cities, towns, and counties that are closeby. Now, with the Southeast Georgia Multiple Listing Service no longer in existance, there is no multiple listing service that primarily markets to Waycross. So, real estate companies that sell in Waycross use various multiple listing services to market their properties.

I used realtor.com as my source because all listings that are entered into any one of the multiple listing services that REALTORS® use are automatically also listed on realtor.com.

If you are looking to buy or sell in the southeast Georgia area or would like more information on the real estate market in this area or others, I can be contacted by phone at 912.387.9922 or by email at contactmarykelly@gmail.com.

Mary Kelly MBA, REALTOR®
Licensed Real Estate Broker
Florida & Georgia

Posted in Real Estate Info | Comments Off on Only 32 houses sold at a price between $100K and $200K in Waycross (Ware County), Georgia, in the past 6 months

Real estate buying just changed Aug. 17, 2024

Posted on August 18, 2024 by Mary Kelly

Real estate buyers are now responsible for paying their REALTOR®, and those commissions are negotiable. Signing a buyer’s brokerage agreement is now a requirement before a REALTOR® can give a tour a home for sale.

Sellers are now only responsible for paying a listing fee. Buyers are now responsible for paying their REALTOR®, and it shall be stated in the buyer’s brokerage agreement they sign BEFORE they can be shown a home for sale by a REALTOR®.

Sellers may pay the buyer’s agent, but it is NOT required.

Buyers, you need to know what you are signing! You don’t want to sign without reading!

If you are a prospective buyer of real estate, the way you will work with your REALTOR® just changed….That is unless you are currently working with a REALTOR® who has already started requiring that all their prospective buyers sign a buyer’s brokerage agreement that states in it the amount of the commission you will owe your REALTOR®.

Below, I am posting a YouTube video that explains it all. All buyers and sellers of real estate should watch this video before signing a listing agreement (if a seller) or a buyer’s brokerage agreement (if a prospective buyer), or they should learn about the changes in the way real estate commissions will be earned by REALTORS® starting on August 17, 2024, in another way.

YouTube Video
Posted in Real Estate Info | Comments Off on Real estate buying just changed Aug. 17, 2024

Life Styles

Posted on January 3, 2024 by Mary Kelly

I am in the process of consolidating all of my websites into one – this one. You may have reached this page from my domain name vanladymarylou.com where I was posting mostly links to video about my camper van and some video about various places in Florida and Georgia.

Now, I will be posting that content here and other info about various lifestyles: home ownership, apartment life, RVing and van life, and other life styles. And unfortunately, there are too many people living right here in the United States who are living a life of homelessness….so you may see some info about that too…..unfortunate as it is!

More to come soon……

Posted in Life Styles | Comments Off on Life Styles

My Tent: UNP-100978 Camping Tent

Posted on January 3, 2024 by Mary Kelly

I bought this tent to carry with me in my minivan converted to a camper van. (Made in Cambodia) – 10 ft x 9 ft x 78 in (3.05m x 2.74m x 1.98m). I plan to use it more like a screened room when I camp in a park that allows tent camping. My bed in the van is very comfortable, and I think I will prefer it rather than sleeping on the ground.

Purchased from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0865GHLNT?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

UNP Tents 6 Person Waterproof Windproof Easy Setup,Double Layer Family Camping Tent with 1 Mesh Door & 5 Large Mesh Windows -10’X9’X78in(H)

Instructions for set up that came with the tent follow:

Warning

There is a warning that comes with the tent:

This recreational product requires two people to assemble. (Videos show one person putting it up, and I am going to try to put it up alone…..I will post video of me making an attempt to put it up alone….so we will see.)

THIS RECREATIONAL ITEM IS NOT INTENDED FOR USE AS A PERMANENT STRUCTURE. This product has been developed and is intended to provide protection from sun and light rain. DO NOT use any gas flame sources under or near this product. The product is NOT WATERPROOF. Excess water build-up can cause the frame system to become unstable, and collapse, causing injury. Any personal accessories or modifications to this product should be completely dismantled to avoid permanent damage to product components and avoid any possibility of personal injury. This product is not a toy. This product is not designed for use by children without adult supervision. Under no circumstances should this product be used as a permanent or temporary storage facility for children’s toys, garden tools, personal belongings or similar valuables. Consumer-made modifications for extended use (i.e. permanently securing to decks and patios and/or Consumer’s failure to follow stated guidelines) will invalidate UNIPROS Limited warranty, expressed or implied.

Parts list

To put tent up

Step 1

  • Empty contents of bag and confirm all parts are included and undamaged. Tip: Do this at home before you leave on your trip.
  • Select a smooth level site and spread out your tent, with the door facing the desired direction.
  • Secure tent floor by driving stakes through pin-ring assemblies.
  • Extend and sort all poles ready for installation.

Step 2

  • Gently flex longer roof pole (C) and place end into ribbed side of elbow connector at one roof corner. Repeat at other end. Do the same with remaining pole. Poles will cross at the center.
  • Using the shorter Roof Middle Pole (B), slide pole through the pole sleeve in teh roof center. Gently flex and insert ends of pole into pockets located above door zippers.
  • Insert a steel leg pole (A) into the smooth end of Elbow Connector and insert the other end of pole onto its pin and ring assembly. Repeat for all leg poles.
  • Snap J-Hooks (attached to tent body) on tent pole to shape the tent.

Step 3

  • Drape rainfly over the tent connect S-Hooks to the O-ring on the leg poles, making sure that logo is on the right side of the rainfly.
  • Fasten the nylon fasteners located under the rainfly on to the 4 leg poles to shape the rainfly.

Step 4

  • To stabilize the tent, unroll the guy ropes attached to the webbing loops on the rainfly. Make a loop at the opposite end of the guy line using the plastic slider and place the loop over the tent stake. Drive the stake into the ground to secure. Adjust the plastic slider to tighten the guy rope. Repeat for each guy rope.

To take tent down

Reverse the steps given above to put the tent up.

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5 Charities that will pick up furniture for free

Posted on November 11, 2023 by Mary Kelly

Are you moving? If so, one decision you will need to make is whether to move, sell, or give away your furniture. Sometimes it costs more to move furniture than it does to discard it and replace it. If you want to give the furniture away, these 5 charities will pick up the furniture for free:

  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Goodwill
  • AMVETS
  • The Arc
  • Salvation Army
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Waycross, Georgia – Real Estate Market

Posted on October 22, 2023 by Mary Kelly

January – September 2022 & 2023

The information in this report is compiled from data obtained from the Southeast Georgia Multiple Listing Service (SEGA MLS). The purpose of this report is to compare homes in the City of Waycross and Ware County, Georgia, that were sold in the first 9 months of 2022 by REALTORS® who are members of the SEGA MLS to those REALTORS® sold in the first 9 months of 2023.

In full disclosure, the tables and charts in this article illustrate research I do as a REALTOR® when I am analyzing a real estate market in order to price a home for sale. I live in Waycross, Ware County, Georgia, and that area is the subject of this article. Even though I used MLS data taken from the Southeast Georgia MLS (because I am a member of that MLS), the same type of data can be obtained from other sources.

Exactly how I use this compiled information in order to price a home for sale is not the subject of this article. That is what I explain in consultation with sellers mostly, but also with buyers, that I consult with in my job. If interested in how I price a home for sale, let me know…… and I will write another article on that topic later.

Here, my purpose is to illustrate what is happening in Waycross and Ware County in the real estate market at this time. So here goes…..

One thing you will notice in review of the table below is that the number of houses sold in Waycross and Ware County in the first 9 months of 2022 was 332 and the number sold in 2023 was 282. That is significant!

Less homes sold in the first 9 months of 2023 than sold in the first 9 months of 2022, and the average number of days on the market in 2023 was a little higher than in 2022. Demand (# of buyers) has declined significantly in 2023 compared to demand in 2022. If prices do not decline and if interest rates continue to rise, it is my opinion that demand will continue to decline. A lot of buyers are already priced out of the market. Continued price increases are not substantiable in Waycross.

At the end of this article, additional tables provide more information comparing sales prices in Waycross-Ware County in the third quarter of the years of 2022 and 2023.

If you have any questions about the information in this article or want information on other markets or more information on the Waycross market, please don’t hesitate to contact me via my contact form on this website or just give me a call.

And if you subscribe to my my blog, you will be notified when I post other articles! A subscription is free, and you can easily cancel if you decide to do so later.

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Affordable housing is no longer affordable for most people

Posted on September 12, 2023 by Mary Kelly

Anyone wanting to purchase a home who will need to
finance should first contact a lender for advice.

According to the following posted article, 1 in 5 millennials say they will never be able to own their own home. I believe that it is probably more like 3 in 5 will never be able to own their own home unless actual affordable homes come on the market. And this is not just in one location in the United States….and it is not just in the United States. In the U.K., Canada, and other places in the world, the ability to find affordable housing is worse.

About affordable housing, a company has purchased land in Waycross, Georgia, where they are planning to build homes for “low-income buyers” priced at between $250,000 and $350,000. (Waycross Journal Herald, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023).

I say, really! I don’t call $250,000 to $350,000 affordable for lower-income buyers.

Continue reading →
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Waycross-Ware County Comparative Sales Report: July 2023 compared to July 2022

Posted on August 16, 2023 by Mary Kelly

The information in this report is compiled from data obtained from the Southeast Georgia Multiple Listing Service (SEGA MLS). The purpose of this report is to compare homes in the City of Waycross and Ware County, Georgia, that were sold in July 2023 by REALTORS® who are members of the SEGA MLS to those that SEGA MLS REALTORS® sold one year ago in July 2022.

In full disclosure, this illustrates in part types of research I do as a REALTOR® when I am analyzing a real estate market in order to price a home for sale. I live in Waycross, Ware County, Georgia, and that area is the subject of this article. Even though I used MLS data taken from the Southeast Georgia MLS (because I am a member of that MLS), the same type of data can be obtained from other sources.

Market Comparison Report by Price

This is a downloadable and printable report that breaks down the sales in 2022 and 2023 by price, so you can see the difference in the number and price of homes sold in those 2 years. Note that this is a report that includes all of the sales made by all of the REALTORS® who are members of the SEGA MLS only. There may have been sales made by owner and by REALTORS® who have listed properties for sale in a different MLS.

2022-2023-July-Agt_MarketComparisonPrice_AllDownload

If you have any questions about the information in this article or want information on other markets, please don’t hesitate to contact me via my contact form on this website or just give me a call.

And if you subscribe to my my blog, you will be notified when I post other articles! A subscription is free, and you can easily cancel if you decide to do so later.

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Waycross-Ware Real Estate Market – 2022 vs 2023

Posted on August 12, 2023 by Mary Kelly

January – June 2022 & 2023

The information in this report is compiled from data obtained from the Southeast Georgia Multiple Listing Service (SEGA MLS). The purpose of this report is to compare homes in the City of Waycross and Ware County, Georgia, that were sold in the first six months of 2022 by REALTORS® who are members of the SEGA MLS to those REALTORS® sold in the first six months of 2023.

In full disclosure, the tables and charts in this article illustrate research I do as a REALTOR® when I am analyzing a real estate market in order to price a home for sale. I live in Waycross, Ware County, Georgia, and that area is the subject of this article. Even though I used MLS data taken from the Southeast Georgia MLS (because I am a member of that MLS), the same type of data can be obtained from other sources.

January – June 2022 – Marketing Statistics

Waycross-Ware County Georgia
Home Sales – January – June 2022

January – June 2023 – Marketing Statistics

Waycross-Ware County Georgia
Home Sales – January – June 2023

Exactly how I use this compiled information in order to price a home for sale is not the subject of this article. That is what I explain in consultation with sellers mostly, but also with buyers, that I consult with in my job. If interested in how I price a home for sale, let me know…… and I will write another article on that topic later.

Here, my purpose is to illustrate what is happening in Waycross and Ware County in the real estate market. So here goes…..

One thing you will notice in review of the table below is that the number of houses sold in Waycross and Ware County in the first six months of 2022 was 167 and the number sold in 2023 was 130. You will also notice that a little over half of the houses sold in the first six months of 2022 sold at or above list price, and in the first six months of 2023 that declined to just a little over one-third of the houses selling at or above list price. That is significant!

You will also notice that the average days on the market and the median days on the market are both higher in 2023 than in 2022. That is also significant!

Less homes sold in the first six months of 2023 than sold in the first six months of 2022, and the average number of days on the market in 2023 was higher than in 2022. Also, in the first six months of 2023, there was a significant drop in the percentage of sellers getting at or above their list price. This tells me that prices are no longer rising and that not as many homes were being realistically priced when listed for sale in the first six months of 2023 as were priced when listed in 2022.

At the end of this article, another table provides additional information comparing sales in Waycross-Ware County in the first six months of the years of 2022 and 2023.

If you have any questions about the information in this article or want information on other markets, please don’t hesitate to contact me via my contact form on this website or just give me a call.

And if you subscribe to my my blog, you will be notified when I post other articles! A subscription is free, and you can easily cancel if you decide to do so later.

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Mortgage rates + home prices: 1970 – present

Posted on August 10, 2023 by Mary Kelly

Historically, when mortgage interest rates start rising, home prices start declining….. And though we are not seeing declines in home prices in all markets yet, I believe declines are coming within the next year!

Declines in home prices right now are delayed because there is a lack of homes on the market for sale, which we call low inventory.

Higher interest rates + Higher inventory = Lower home prices

I bought my first home in the 1970s at the age of 27 years old, and my mortgage rate was over 10 percent. I did not blink an eye over the rate and accepted it as normal. It was all I ever knew. But in full disclosure, the sales price for the home I bought was $22,000, and my payment was about $225 per month (principal, taxes, and insurance). My annual salary as a second year teacher was about $7,700. I was teaching 7th grade then.

When I purchased my second home, which was around 1985, my interest rate was again over 10 percent….As I recall, my interest rate on that home was about 12 percent…..The price of the home was $50,000, and my payment was about $700 per month (principal, taxes, and insurance). I was then an Assistant Professor at a community college, and my annual salary was about $24,000. I refinanced that home twice in the 1990s as the interest rate started declining. I never took the equity out of that home; I refinanced to lower my payment. The last time I refinanced that home, my interest rate was about 7.5 percent……I thought I had hit the jackpot with such a low interest rate. A rate of 7.5 percent then was considered to be extremely low…..

Today, the average interest rate is 7-something percent. And today, an interest rates of around 7 percent for most buyers is considered high……But, everything is relative! Times change!

To my thinking over the past few years, the low interest rates were too low and unsustainable….. I knew they would never last!

For buyers, the low interest rates over the past recent years on home mortgages (and on car loans) have been at give away rates…..

It should be noted that the low interest rates in recent past years have been hurting people financially with savings, especially retirees who invested over their working years in IRAs and various annuity plans. Their savings and investments did not earn much when interest rates were really low. Now people with savings are earning more on the money they have saved.

But for now, too many without a lot of savings who need a mortgage to buy a home have gotten priced out of buying for now…… Sad!

People living pay-check to pay-check are not doing so well…..For them, the economy is not good!

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The “Pig-butchering” scam – Beware!

Posted on July 29, 2023 by Mary Kelly

This scam comes out of Southeast Asia.

As all scammers will do, they first take their time in conversation by some means to build up your confidence in them. “The scammer’s goal is not to ask for money but coax the victim to invest in a fake trading website or platform that shows a bogus balance with lots of profit (Williams, 2023).”

Secretary State Raffensperger of the State of Georgia (U.S.A.) is warning everyone to be on their guard for this scam through a news release that is published by news media all over the State of Georgia. According to Raffensperger, “Everday Georgians, especially retirees, are falling victim to unscrupulous con artists miles and miles away (Williams, 2023).”

Once you are scammed, it is difficult, if not impossible to ever get your money back. So, it can’t be said too often, DO NOT COMMUNICATE WITH ANYONE THAT YOU DON’T KNOW OR AT LEAST CAN’T VERIFY TO BE REAL.

Scammers are using fake identities, including fake stolen pictures and fake identification sources. It is so sad that we can’t trust anyone now, because everyone out there does not want to do us harm…..But because so many are out there do want to do us harm, the safest way to live in this day and time is to not let anyone we do not personally know to be real into our world, especially through social media, email, phone calls, texts, or even traditional mail. It is just too easy for people from all over the world to pose as someone who is your neighbor, long lost cousin, mother, brother, child, or romantic partner.

Just VERIFY, VERIFY, VERIFY!

If you live in the State of Georgia and think you have been scammed or have been the victim of an attempted scam, contact the secretary of state’s office at registrations@sos.ga.gov or call 470-312-2640. You can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission. (See info at https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed.)

To learn more about this scam, see the reference list that follows.

References:

  • Seshadri, A. (2023, July 28). International “pig-butchering” scam affecting Georgians. WSAV. https://www.wsav.com/news/local-news/georgia-news/international-pig-butchering-scam-affecting-georgians/ (Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
  • What to do if you were scammed. Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice. (2023, May 17). https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed
  • Williams, D. (2023, July 24). Raffensperger warns of new cryptocurrency scam. Northwest Georgia News. https://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/rome/news/local/raffensperger-warns-of-new-cryptocurrency-scam/article_27c11fca-2a45-11ee-bb15-e3fabd4ec726.html (Also published in newspapers all over Georgia, including the Waycross Journal-Herald on July 29, 2023, pp 1, 2.)

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Technology Criminals Are After Your Money

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Mary Kelly

There are those who have jobs as scammers. They are located all over the world…..It is an international business. And if they can’t get your money one way, they will try to get it in another way.

In an attempt to stop the scammers from stealing money from their victims, the ethical hacker has become an actual job. There is actually a certification for the job, and as a certified ethical hacker, one can make a lot of money.

According Infosec Resources (Brecht, 2022), the following are some of the “hottest” job titles for a CEH and their respective salaries:

  • Info Security Manager (pay range: $77k – $154k/avg. $117,528)
  • Cyber Security Engineer (pay range: $73k – $146k/avg. $109,706)
  • Penetration Tester (pay range: $61k – $149k/avg. $94,405)
  • Security Analyst (pay range: $53k – $101k/avg. $72,118)
  • Security Consultant (Computing/Networking/Information Technology) pay range: $67k – $155k/avg. $101,939)

The most lucrative job titles for a CEH appear to be titles such as “manager” or “engineer.” Below are also the most popular skills and their effect on salary (Brecht, 2022).

  • Network Security Management ▲8% (avg. $89,300/year)
  • IT Security & Infrastructure ▲2% (avg. $85,000/year)

Some who started out as criminal internet hackers have found their way into ethical hacking positions. My hope and prayer is that more of the criminals will find their way out of using technology for the bad and start using their skills for the good…..but I am not very optimistic that many will know how to get there even if they want to do so. Many of them are working in organized crime, and some of those people get locked into it according to my understanding.

So it is up to all of us to learn how to recognize red flags and how to safeguard ourselves. See the articles posted below – especially if you are on dating apps, Facebook, etc., and getting into personal communications with people you do not personally know….and/or especially if you are getting ready to sell or buy real estate. The article, 11 real estate scams: How to stay safe when buying a Home, cites many of the reasons that I, as a REALTOR® and licensed real estate broker, advise both buyers and sellers to use a REALTOR® and not try to do a FSBO (For Sale By Owner).

REFERENCES:

Brecht, D. (2022, June 22). Certified ethical hacker (CEH) job outlook [updated 2022]. Infosec Resources. https://resources.infosecinstitute.com/certification/certified-ethical-hacker-job-outlook/

King, C. (2023, June 4). Common blackmail scams performed by romance scammers in 2023. Romance Scams. https://www.romancescams.org/blackmail/

Ot, A. (2021, May 3). The blurry line between ethical and criminal hacking. How. https://www.howtogeek.com/devops/the-blurry-line-between-ethical-and-criminal-hacking/

Ravichandran, H. (2022, December 27). 11 real estate scams: How to stay safe when buying a Home. Aura. https://www.aura.com/learn/real-estate-scams#:~:text=The%2011%20Latest%20and%20Most%20Common%20Real%20Estate,property%20inspectors%29%20%E2%80%9CWe%20Buy%20Homes%20For%20Cash%E2%80%9D%20scams

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Does America really have a shortage of homes?

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Mary Kelly

Whether or not America really has a shortage of homes is debatable. It is all about how you count the homes. In the article Analysis: U.S. Needs More than 4M Homes by Adam Barnes in Florida REALTORS® on June 26, 2023, the answer is YES. But is that true?

Here is another viewpoint. See the video below, which is provided by the Real Estate Mindset. He talks about all of vacant housing in the United States that are doing nothing….that are not for sale or for rent. Just watch the video…..It is well done and well said!

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My tent

Posted on June 15, 2023 by Mary Kelly

My tent was delivered today! I bought this tent to carry with me in my minivan converted to a camper van. (Made in Cambodia) – 10 ft x 9 ft x 78 in (3.05m x 2.74m x 1.98m). I plan to use it more like a screened room when I camp in a park that allows tent camping. My bed in the van is very comfortable, and I think I will prefer it rather than sleeping on the ground.

Purchased from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0865GHLNT?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

UNP Tents 6 Person Waterproof Windproof Easy Setup,Double Layer Family Camping Tent with 1 Mesh Door & 5 Large Mesh Windows -10’X9’X78in(H)

More about the tent here: https://marykelly.co/mytent/

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Difference: Discount v full service real estate brokers

Posted on June 12, 2023 by Mary Kelly

“If you are considering selling your home, you have likely seen ads for
brokerages who will list your home for a discounted commission — or even
a flat fee — but provide minimal services in return. What does this look like
during the transaction? Check out the chart below to see the comparison.”

Below, you can download a copy a flyer on this topic.

Mary Kelly, dba Mary Kelly MBA, is a full-service licensed real estate broker in the states of Florida and Georgia (U.S.A.) & REALTOR®.

Blog-Discount-v-Full-Service-BrokersDownload
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Murder rates in the United States

Posted on May 16, 2023 by Mary Kelly

According to the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, there were 17 governors who were Republicans in the 25 states with the highest murder rates and 8 governors who were Republicans in the 10 states with the highest murder rates (Wikipedia.com & Stebbins, 2021) .

The bottom line is that it appears that there are more Republican governors in the states with the highest murder rates.
Continue reading →
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