John Adams’ recent article, “A Seller’s Market Might Be Just Around the Bend,” in the AJC’s Homefinder section, made a good – yet cautious – case for an improved market.
He stated that the metro Atlanta market has gone from an 18-month supply of homes for sale just a couple of years ago, to a current four-month supply. Economists consider a six-month supply to be a state of equilibrium. That, coupled with the spring buying season just around the corner, could result in a seller’s market. This bodes well for homebuilders as well as the appreciation of home values.
Through conversations with my Trade contractor friends and from Carol (Flammer) Morgan’s interesting site, AtlantaRealEstateForum.com, we’ve learned of three new home builders that are betting on Atlanta by opening new divisions here. These are companies based in Texas, the Midwest, and Toronto, Canada.
Last September, Builder Magazine created their “Best Markets for 2013.” The lists focused on the largest 100 markets in the country based on forecasted economic market health, volume of new-home sales, and growth in new-home sales over 2012.
Here’s how Atlanta fared in two out of three of the lists:
Best Overall Sales –1. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX2. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX3. Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ4. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA5. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FLBest Forecasted Growth –1. Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ2. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA3. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL4. Las Vegas-Paradise, NV5. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
These are all positive signs that our Atlanta market will continue to improve in 2013.
New Year’s Resolutions –
I can’t let the New Year come and go without mentioning the setting of goals and resolutions. According to StatisticBrain.com, 45% of Americans usually make New Year’s Resolutions. A full 38% absolutely never make a resolution. By the end of two weeks, 29% of stated resolutions have already been dropped, and 36% don’t make it past the first month.
Have you set personal and professional goals for this year? Multiple studies show that people who set goals are much more likely to get what they want.
Two of my personal goals for this year are to run a Marathon and to do a sprint Triathlon. Carl in our office has been telling me about how much fun Triathlons are, so I’ll do my first one in September.
One of my all-time career goals has been to speak at the World of Concrete. This annual convention and expo is the largest gathering of concrete professionals and one of the biggest construction conferences in the world. I’ll be giving a presentation there in early February in Las Vegas. That’s one big goal off my life list.
Given the positive outlook, I hope you have a plan in place to achieve your business – and personal – goals & resolutions this year.
Happy New Year,
