Apartment rents are a major concern for a person looking for an apartment for short- or long-term accommodations in core business centers such as Atlanta. Apartments are recent additions to this business center, and these offer move-in rent concessions or post-construction rent concessions. These concessions temporarily dilute the overall average rental structure.

Mostly, low rates forced developers and landlords lease the apartments at a lower rate and by piling on concessions. Many apartment management companies still offer concessions, such as a month's free rent or waived security deposits. Sometimes even four months free rent is allowed. Rental concessions are available for older apartments as well.

In Atlanta, high-rise luxury apartments account for the majority of rental types. Furnished and unfurnished apartments are available for the native community as well as job seekers or students from other states and abroad. Generally, the Atlanta apartment market has switched to a lower rate corresponding to a weak job market. Negative absorption and positive absorption are two other conditions affecting the rate of apartment rents. Negative absorption tends to decrease the rental rate, while positive absorption will increase the rental rate.

In the Atlanta metropolitan area, the monthly rent rate of one-bedroom apartments is higher than that of two- or three-bedroom apartments. These are specific areas where apartments are built to cater to various socio-economic groups with distinct administrative or natural boundaries. These apartment markets always show a big difference in rent levels. Some recent natural disasters have also affected the normal rental rates in Atlanta.

The National Real Estate Index reports that there has been a slight decrease in rent for class A apartments in Atlanta. Atlanta apartment rents show some seasonal and business up-down rates. The suburban apartments are more feasible and profitable for those who wish for a quiet life. Urban apartment units such as elevator buildings or loft conversions with extra facilities such as a parking area, fitness center, and swimming pool cost about 50 percent more than those in suburbs.

Downtown apartments in Atlanta are a recent addition to the downtown area's lodging options. Downtown Atlanta, the central business district of the city of Atlanta, maintains furnished and unfurnished apartments that are convenient for business travelers, relocated employees, and those in a transit stage of building a house.

For many years, downtown Atlanta was only a business center. The Summer Olympics in 1996, and the major revitalization campaigns have imparted a modern look to this region. Downtown Atlanta has undergone many renovations and modifications to maintain its attractiveness. Many housing facilities were added in the consecutive years, and it has become the location for a number of skyscraper apartments.

Downtown apartments are specifically designed to support the city's new retail businesses and cultural ventures, and they add style and elegance to the streets. Almost all apartments are located close to deluxe hotels and state-of-the-art conference centers. Luxury apartments are recent additions to this downtown area. Apartments catering to individual preferences such as price, location, nearby school districts, nearby shopping areas, restaurants, churches, pools, and exercise facilities can be selected.

Apartments are built in garden-style and town-home floor plans, with attractive facilities and amenities. Furnished and luxurious apartments are equipped with facilities such as air conditioning, balconies, fireplaces, and high-speed internet.

Rental apartments are accommodation options fit for any budget and lifestyle. Studies reveal that the market for downtown apartments has increased in recent months, with more people opting to stay in apartments rather than individual houses.

Downtown has both new and renovated apartments for rent and for sale. You can select from private or public-private partnership apartments, which are available with varying sizes and rental rates. Centennial Place, City Plaza, and Lofts at Muses are some of the downtown Atlanta apartments.

A recent poll by the Wall Street Journal showed that an increased number of borrowers are looking to non-traditional mortgages for their lending needs.

Approximately 9% of those polled took out an option ARM this year -- only 4% did last year.

The use of piggyback second mortgages also saw an increase. Twelve percent of those polled said they piggybacked a second mortgage when they took out their first mortgage. Last year, only 10% piggybacked a second mortgage.

However, fewer homeowners took out interest-only mortgages this year, 14%, down from last year's 17%. But when looking at demographics, there was a 50% increase in homeowners between the ages of 18 and 34 who took out an interest-only loan this year, to about 23% of borrowers in the age group.

Financial advisors have long criticized many non-traditional mortgage programs, such as the interest-only ARM, due to the risk that they bring to the borrower. Once the interest rates reset to normal levels from their inital teaser rates many homeowners are left with "rate shock" and are unable to afford their payments. Many borrowers who use the interest-only mortgages are unable to afford the payments once the principal amount is added to the payments. Those with Option ARMs that allow minimum payments often find they owe more after a year than they did at the time of closing. All of these programs leave borrowers open for default.

Lenders and banking instituations maintain that they simply provide these programs to qualified borrowers. They say they are not responsible for monitoring how a borrower manages their finances.

Non-traditional lending options have been popular during the past five years of strong housing growth. Most economists expect to see a downturn in nontraditonal usage, as well as overall mortgage applications, as the market slows to a normal level of growth.

A real estate contract is for the purchase or sale, exchange, or other trade of real estate between two or more individuals or parties. Real estate, also called leasehold estate, is essentially a rental of real property, and rental contracts cover rentals, since they normally do not result in recordable deeds. Freehold trade of real estate that are generally more permanent, are dealt with by real estate contracts, and they include dealings in the title fees, life estates, remainder estates and freehold property. Real estate contracts are usually bilateral contracts, where terms are agreed upon mutually by both parties and should have the legal prerequisites specified by the contract law in writing.

Any real estate contract must have certain details well written to avoid further misconception and misunderstanding. These details include a proper identification of both parties between whom the exchange of real estate property will take place. A clear description of the both parties is required as well, as their intentions for the deal. A clear description of the real estate property must be made in the contract, including the address of the estate and other details as agreed upon by both parties. The price that the estate is being sold to the buyer and the terms of payment must also be clearly quoted to avoid misinterpretations. The signatures of both parties are mandatory on the contract, but it must be noted that this is voluntary, and no one can be forced to sign a contract.

There has to be a mutual agreement on all terms of the contract by both parties in the contract, which is monitored by the lawyer under whose supervision the contract is made

When I was in school at the University of Vermont, I was an economics major. I thought it would be a good idea to do some non required reading, and I came across the book Boomernomics: The Future of Your Money in the Upcomming Generational Warfare. This was right around '99 when Social Security was the hot topic. The book absolutely facinated me. Of course I knew who the Baby Boomers were, but I had never really paid the subject that much consideration.

The birthratechart ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Birthratechart.png ) really helps get some insight to what we're dealing with. You can clearly see the spike in births starting in 1945 and continuing through until the mid 60's that produced about 76 million Americans. The decline through the 70's, then the echo boom starting in the late 70's early 80's as the boomers started having children of their own.

Right now, the oldest Baby Boomers are just barely in their 60's. Now lets really think about this one. This means that means that a huge chunk of the population is currently in their highest income producing ages as their mortgages are close to (if not already) paid off, their kids are no longer dependents, and most likely are also cashing in on their inheritances from their recently departed parents.

Now at the same time, we have the begining of the echo boom that is just entering into the housing market. Someone who was born in the beginning of the echo boom would just be entering their mid/late 20's. Assuming that everyone buys a home after they graduate college, right now we're roughly only halfway through the 72 million echo boomers purchasing of new homes. Now, since I believe average age of a first time home buyer to be a few years above 21, we still have a large portion of the population that has yet to buy their first home. Now on top of all that, don't forget that these birthrates do not include any immigrant population increases, which has also been greatly increasing in the last few decades.

So what can we expect based on this info?

Real Estate Agents - Good news! Once the boomers start to retire, odds are they are going to be moving somewhere else. Expect to see some more volume.

Suburbs - Not such great news. With the "baby bust" entering into family mode, there might not be enough sheer numbers taking over the vacancy of the departing boomers.

Cities - Goodish news. Look forward to the Echo Boomers continuing to move towards a more Urban environment as they begin their careers.

The year 2018 - Dear god this could be a bad one. It's either diaper time or the expiration date for boomers. As they begin to stop being able to care for themselves, or simply expire. Flat out, this will not be a good time for housing prices.

Jon Ernest is the Principle Broker of Spotlight Realty. A small, independently owned, full service residential real estate agency in Brookline, Massachusetts

A commercial real estate broker is a person who acts as a link between a buyers and a sellers real estate. This relationship is one of fiduciary responsibility, meaning that it is a relationship based on trust.

The person appointed as the broker, has the responsibility of ensuring that his salespeople handle the transactions according to law. The sales people are known as real estate agents and their responsibilities include representing the seller or the buyer in the transactions and making sure that they get the best possible treatment. The agent representing the seller ensures that the seller receives the highest possible price for the property they are selling, while the agent of the buyer will negotiate for the lowest possible price. The buyer's agent will also try to find properties in the best structural shape that fits within their estimated price range.

In many places, such as the United States, it is mandatory for the broker to have a license to negotiate the sale and purchase of property. The broker can act as either the proprietor of a company or as an agent for another company. There are various ways to get the certification as a broker. One way is by going to school and passing a state test. Another way is to hold a position that automatically allows you to apply for and receive the certification, such being an attorney.

Following 1992, there were brokers from Florida and Colorado that recommended that the professional relationship between the agent and the client should be broken. Instead, they felt that the dealings between the two should be strictly limited to the actual sale and purchase of real estate, without taking the personal interest of the client into consideration. In Florida, the Broward Board of Realtors went so far as suggesting that the brokers and agents merely help the selling and purchasing parties with finalizing the sale, without the bond of trust. The only requirement being that they adhere to both legal and moral standards.

Buying your first home can be a time of many questions. For example, how do you even get started?

The steps to buying a home are simple. If you take the time, you will find the process faster and less stressful. The key is to avoid jumping into something you aren't ready for yet. Preparation is the key.

The first step is to get your personal finances in order. You need to know how much you can afford to spend. Take the time to prepare a budget, if you don't already have one. When figuring how much you can afford to spend on housing, don't forget the additional costs that come with ownership. You won't simply have a mortgage payment, you will have property taxes, homeowner's insurance, repair and maintenance costs and the possibility of PMI.

A good indicator of how much you can afford is your current rent payment. If you already have trouble making ends meet each month, you probably can't afford any higher a monthly mortgage payment than your rent currently is. Take your monthly amount and enter it into an online calculator to show you what the overall mortgage you can afford is.

Once you have an idea of how much you can spend, take the time to look over your credit report. Almost everyone is guaranteed to have a mistake on their report at one time or another. In just ten years, I have found two on mine. Check your report early enough to be able to correct any mistakes. Contrary to popular belief, checking your own credit report will not raise your credit score.

But having too many lenders pull your report will, so don't apply for a mortgage with every lender you are considering. Go ahead and spend the money and find out what your credit score is. The lender will most likely be reported a score close to what you find on the internet -- they can range up to 50 points in difference. It is a good idea to know what your credit score is, so that you know where you stand as a borrower.

Next, research the type of mortgage you want. The best mortgage decision for any borrower is a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage with at least 20% downpayment. I realize that this is hard to conform to. So bare bones, you need to have at least a fixed-rate mortgage and as large a downpayment as possible. This is the most sound financial choice for most borrowers. However, there are some advantages to other mortgage options, so be sure that you do your research.

When you finances are in order, now is the time to shop for a lender. Ask your friends, family and coworkers for recommendations. Make sure your list includes local and national lenders, though keep in mind the differences that may be seen in service. Ask each of the lenders on your list for a rate quote on the type of mortgage you want. You should expect them to all be in the same ballpark. Beware of those that are way under the rest, they may not be the same in terms.

The key to buying a home is in proper preparation. Once you have found the lender that fits your financial needs, go ahead and become pre-approved for your mortgage. Then you are ready for the next step -- finding the house of your dreams.

Question: I read an article in The New York Times that gave you Realtors a pretty tough time. They indicated that the real estate industry is resistant to innovation via the internet and that Realtors don’t spend much time on each deal and therefore it is not worth the commission. Do you have any comments?

Answer: Great question. Thomas Stevens, the President of the National Association of Realtors wrote the following letter to The New York Times which I feel gives a very good overview of what a Realtor actually does. His letter follows:

“It would be hard to find a more one-sided piece of reporting than Damon Darlin's "The Last Stand of the 6-Percenters?" (September 3, 2006) His swipes at real estate agents reads like an advertisement for the Internet companies he repeatedly references.

“Perspective aside, some glaring errors deserve correction.

“Buying a home is not like buying a book, a CD, or an airline ticket. The Internet's role in residential real estate is much more like WebMD than Amazon or eBay. It empowers and informs the consumer – which is good for everyone – but it doesn't replace the need for a doctor's professional services. Real estate agents are selling unique properties and providing individualized services. They provide a valuable service enabling sellers to get the best price for their homes and buyers to find the best home at the lowest price. They are knowledgeable about the community and neighborhood. “The real estate industry has been effectively harnessing the Internet for years, to the benefit of sellers and buyers alike. About three out of four buyers today use the Internet to begin their search for homes, and those using the Internet are more likely to work with a professional than those who do not. No other industry in the world has virtually its entire inventory online at one site, but you can find more than 2.2 million homes for sale at REALTOR.com, which has seven million unique visitors each month. The industry has made a multimillion dollar investment to create the infrastructure and provide the security to protect homeowners' data.

“The simple truth is that most real estate agents do good work and earn their clients' loyalty. Some 85 percent of home buyers surveyed said they would use a real estate agent again or recommend their agent to another. Home buyers do see the value offered by their neighborhood real estate agents.

“It really is unfortunate that Mr. Darlin did not do his homework and fairly represent an industry that is about promoting homeownership and the building of communities. “

Tips to Spur Off-Season Property Rentals

Question: We have a condo at Keystone and have been looking for ways to optimize our rentals during the off-season. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer: Vacation home owners who want to rent out their property in the off-season have to be creative.

Here are some tips for keeping the place occupied. Most of them are courtesy of Maureen Regar, who runs Seaside Vacation Rentals, which helps owners rent vacation homes in Maine.

• Lower the rates. Typical reductions are 30 percent for the shoulder season and 50 percent for the low season. But, don’t slash them significantly more than the competition because potential renters will fear there is something wrong with the property.

• Package it. Offer summer guests the opportunity to rent cheaply during a VIP off-season. Linking the offer to a birthday or anniversary can make it particularly appealing.

• Emphasize off-season pleasures. If fall sales in the area are good, call it holiday shopping season and promote that. Likewise, think about fall and winter sports — even unconventional ones like hockey or basketball championships, auto racing, etc.

• Winterize and emphasize the holidays. Places for families to gather for an end-of-the-year celebration are increasingly popular. Increase appeal with warm comforters, spice-scented candles, and a selection of holiday DVDs.

• Consider accepting pets. Some people will drive a long way if they can bring Fido with them.

• Have Internet. Some people won’t rent without it.

Aromatic, Freshly Painted Homes Sell Faster

Question: Please help! My home hasn’t sold and I need to sell it quick. I am getting comments that it doesn’t show well. I need suggestions and I’ll bet you have some.

Answer: You bet I do.

In some areas of the nation, houses are selling slowly. Designed to Sell, a book from HGTV and edited by Vicki Christian for HGTV, offers these suggestions to get things moving:

Paint everything: Paint the front door and replace its hardware. Consider painting the siding if it is dull. Inside, choose neutral colors for most rooms, but not stark white. Use warmer colors like golden beiges or sandy tans.

How has the luxury real estate market fared this summer with regards to residential Miami real estate? People who own homes and want to sell, know very well what has happened this summer, because they can feel it. As far as luxury homes in Miami go, things have come to all but a standstill. Prices haven’t really come down much, and therefore we are seeing a whole lot of real estate for sale, but relatively few buyers. In real estate everything takes time, so prices will come down a little more, and homes will begin to sell. That having been said, it is safe to say that we are in a buyer’s market right now.

Statistics aren’t everything, but they do sometimes tell a story, and in Dade County Florida, which includes Miami, Miami Beach, and a number of surrounding cities and communities, there is definitely a story to be told. For example, according to data supplied by the Coral Gables, Homestead-South Dade, Kendall-Perrine, and Northwestern Association of Realtors or their MLS, in the month of August 2006, that’s just last month, there were 28,712 homes and condos on the market for sale in Dade County, but there were only 1,528 sales. The stats go on and on, but suffice it to say that the Miami real estate market needs a boost, and that is going to take some time. The good news is that Miami is a very special place, an international community, where people from so many parts of the world feel right at home, so real estate is still undervalued. Owning real estate in Miami is always a good idea.