Suburban properties, golf homes, luxury estates, town homes, condos, luxury estates, equestrian estates and executive homes... this is a peek into luxurious housing options in Atlanta, Georgia. Apartments starting from the humble studio to deluxe apartments are also major attractions on the real estate scene. A vast range, one that ensures that a purchaser should be able to find something that suits his pocket.

The late 1990s and the early 2000s saw a major boom in the real estate market. This was probably based on assumptions of constantly rising prices. High prices bring down sales as fewer people qualify for mortgages. With lesser buyers the prices are bound to go down. Real estate prices are also probably subject to the natural law of "what goes up must come down." The market has flattened out in recent times. Conservative investment will keep one safe in such a market. Experienced hands in the industry point out that you should invest in proportion with the equity you own. This gives you maximum protection though not necessarily the home you fancy. It will eventually boil down to a choice between a home you can afford and the one you fancy.

Registering yourself with a reputed realtor would be a good idea to keep abreast of properties that come on the market. All good real estate firms have an excellent presence on the Web. A lot of information is also made available on their sites. One can in fact take a virtual look at homes at some sites. Web sites like http://www.realestate.com/ can come in handy.

Several strategies are adopted by real estate agents to arrive at competitive prices. A comparative market evaluation is done by real estate agents to come up with current prices for a property. Some agents however take the sellers asking price and try to project it as the current price. This may or may not get the seller a good deal. A price too high can scare prospective clients away. A price too low will mean that the house may be sold for lesser than current rates.

Atlanta is the capital, as well as the largest city of the US state of Georgia. A business hub, it plays host to the headquarters of Coca-Cola, CNN, Ford motor vehicle and Lockheed aircraft assembly plants. A city such as this, buzzing with activity is bound to have a substantial real estate scene.

The real estate industry in the state of Georgia is very organized. Anyone aiming to earn a living from real estate needs to have earned his license from the concerned authorities. The license law pertaining to the real estate industry in Atlanta is administered by the Georgia Real Estate Commission.

The first rung of the ladder is a real estate salesperson license. The first and foremost requirement for this is that the applicant must be at least eighteen years of age. High school graduation or a GED is essential. All applicants are also required to submit a GCIC - Georgia Crime Information Report, which can be obtained from the local sheriff's office or police department on the payment of $25 as fees. If the applicant has any legally binding social obligations like child support payments he must take care to see that they are paid on time.

An additional educational requirement that a real estate salesperson needs to have is the completion of seventy five hours of an approved prelicensure real estate course. As an alternative to this, ten quarter hours or six semester hours of approved education courses at an accredited college or university may be considered.

The second rung of the ladder is the broker license or the associate broker license. Similar basic educational qualifications and legal requirements as for a salesperson are required for a broker too.

After passing the exam, license fees are to be paid to the concerned authorities. This fees amounting to $170 covers four years of licensing. The fee rates go up if the license is not applied for within three months of taking the exam.

Membership with organizations like National Association of Realtors and Association of Real Estate License Law Officials and the like can help strengthen careers in Real Estate.

Homeowner insurance is insurance that covers the damage done to the infrastructure of a home and other properties found within it. It may also cover losses on home related assets and even damage on other property, in some cases.

Due to high-profile events related to natural calamities, home insurance has now become a very competitive and profitable market. It is because of this competitive nature in the industry that insurance agents now look for leads which could allow them to gain more profit.

What are insurance leads?

A lead is an individual or group of people who shows interests in a certain product or service. There are many ways for an insurance agent to get leads in order to effectively gain more clients. This includes receiving referrals from real estate agent. This is for those who are looking for homeowners insurance. Another way of getting a lead is by using sophisticated search tools in order to find qualified and trusted leads. Though some leads such as print ads, billboards, pop-ups, e-mails, and the Yellow Pages may not be as useful as they were a few years back, they may still generate good results if used properly.

Easier ways to get leads

We are now living in the era of the Internet. Because of the amount of people who use the Internet daily, insurance leads are easier to find there than anywhere else. There are a number of companies on the Internet that can provide these leads to the agents. These leads fill out a form in the insurance leads' Web site and upon receiving the form, they then send this information to the insurance agent via e-mail or phone. The insurance agent now contacts the insurance company to give them certain information such as the kind of insurance plan these leads need. In order to attain more efficient and qualified leads, insurance companies may provide a detailed list of the types of benefits they have to offer.

The real estate industry in Atlanta is very well organized and governed by several laws. Real estate brokers have an excellent presence in the industry. They provide invaluable service to buyers, sellers, tenants, and landlords. Brokers are the medium that brings these two disparate groups together. They charge a commission for their services. Brokers maintain a record of houses available in their area of operation and offer services like showing the property, evaluating it, arranging for contacts for mortgages and the like. People generally leave their details with real estate brokers and they contact you when property that suits your specifications comes up for sale/purchase/rental.

Real estate brokers in Atlanta are required by law to possess a license and to get it upgraded at regular intervals. To do this they have to pass an exam. This reassures a prospective buyer/seller/landlord/tenant that he/she is dealing with a qualified person who knows his job. As any kind of malpractice can result in their licenses being revoked it is highly unlikely that one will be cheated by a broker. When property is bought and sold it is the seller who pays the broker's commission.

From the broker's point of view positive feedback from people who have used his services can get him new clients. In addition to this if brokers take up membership with organizations like National Association of Realtors and Association of Real Estate License Law Officials and the like, it can go a long way in helping them further their career.

Real estate brokers can be easily contacted through their Web sites. A little time spent browsing through apartment Web sites on the Internet will bring you rewarding results. It will equip you with information regarding the various options open to you and it will lead you to the broker who can get you what you want.

One of the main criteria for choosing an apartment is its proximity to one's workplace. If one can avoid or lessen the daily commute, the savings in terms of time, money and energy are worth more than anything. However, often apartment hunters face a dilemma of finding only expensive apartments near their workplaces. When faced with such a dilemma one solution that has become very popular is sharing the apartment with a roommate.

Having roommates has its pros and cons. While the presence of a roommate might impinge upon your privacy, it adds an element of safety. Rent costs are halved and one gets the advantage of companionship. However one needs to be very careful while choosing a roommate. A roommate with the wrong kind of friends and habits can wreak havoc on your life. So it is always advisable to look for references or, if possible, share your apartment with someone you already know.

It doesn't always happen that you find your ideal roommate in your place of work/study. As a supply for this demand, several Web sites have sprung up where people looking for roommates and those looking for homes to share, can register. Each site gives you certain criteria which narrow down the search from its database. This will help you find a roommate pretty fast. The only drawback in this system is that it is hard to verify credentials. In that case one needs to trust one's gut instincts and pay close attention to potential roommates. Evaluate them objectively and then go in for a mutual arrangement. Several Web sites dealing with real estate also have roommate registering sections. One can search through such databases and arrange to meet the potential roommates in person and then make a decision.

If you have rented an apartment, pay close attention to what your contract states. At times, the number of residents allowed in an apartment is specified. It is also essential to iron out how household expenses will be shared. An apartment needs maintenance too. So be sure to divide up the housekeeping duties also. Several happy roommate relationships have been known to break down over issues like expenses and housekeeping. Planning all of these things in advance can help to make sure these problems do not happen.

Most apartment Web sites feature photos of breathtakingly beautiful views of apartment buildings nestling in pleasant surroundings. Most Web sites will feature specific properties and point out the most desirable features. As you glance through, depending on your priorities, you may find one that highlights just what you want.

Take the time to look around and you will definitely find your dream home. A good deal would be one that matches most of your needs. It is somewhere out there waiting to be found. All it needs is the perseverance on your part to sift through the mountains of information available and recognize what would constitute a good deal for you.

All the featured apartments will contain links to the broker with whom it is listed. The brokers may be contacted through the net or via telephone numbers and other details that they provide as contact details on the site. Most websites host toll free numbers to encourage prospective clients to call.

In case you are new to Atlanta, several of these websites contain links and information about the city, places of interest and so on. You can follow these links and increase your familiarity with the city. The concept of roommates is very popular, so most websites will also provide a link for finding the perfect roommate. They will take in your details and find you suitable matches from their database. If not immediately available you will be on their waitlist till a new entry matches your specifications.

A self contained housing unit that occupies only a part of a building is known as an apartment in the US. A similar housing unit in the UK would be referred to as a flat. Some apartment dwellers own their apartments while some people choose to rent the apartment. Apartments are of various types. The smallest ones are referred to as studios that mainly consist of one large room with an attached bathroom and a small kitchen that is incorporated into the large room. There are one, two and three bedroom apartments, as well, and even in rare cases, a four-bedroom apartment. Typical features common to all apartment buildings are buzzers for individual units, separate mailboxes, and appliances.

The availability of facilities like cable television, a telephone connection, air conditioners, storage space, parking space and the like will determine the rental rates.

If you are out apartment hunting in Atlanta, the main areas that you will be looking at can be classified as Central Atlanta, East Atlanta, Far East, Far Northwest, Far West, North Atlanta, Northwest Atlanta, South Atlanta, Southeast Atlanta, Southwest Atlanta and West Atlanta. Eleven zones in all.

A few of the well known apartment buildings in Atlanta are Alexan Leiox on East Paces Ferry Road, Gables Paces Northside Parkway Northwest, Oakwood Atlanta West Peachtree Street NW, Post Renaissance Central Park Place, Post Peachtree Hills Peachtree Hills Avenue to name a few.

While evaluating an apartment one should keep in mind one's requirements and compare it with available facilities. If the apartment is to be shared it would be advisable to have an adequate number of rooms in addition to the common areas like the kitchen and living room. Other features to be evaluated would be air conditioning (if available, as well as how much it will cost to run it), appliances like a stove, dishwasher, washer/dryer units and the like. The community features offered in apartment buildings like a clubhouse, gym, fitness center, elevator, business center, garage, parking space, health facilities, laundry, pool, and other amenities will influence the price of the apartment.

There are many manufacturers who make modular homes in the United States. There is a network of over 300 independent builders who offer their services. It is important to get costing and other comprehensive information from these independent builders. Modular homes have become the latest fashion statement in the world of home- building. The manufacturers offer a wide range of homes catering to the needs of affordable single family to high-end luxury homes. Over the last five years, these homes have grown by about ten percent. It is expected to grow by almost twelve percent annually in this millennium.

Manufacturers and builders of modular homes have sales oriented marketing plans designed to give them the tools necessary for success in the highly competitive building industry. When the home owner approaches them for placing an order, they enter into a contract with them. These contracts typically involve the production of the house in a near on-site production facility, within a factory premise. It also includes the transport of completed homes, short distances, to selected pre-set foundations.

There are many manufacturers who offer to help the prospective home owner find finance and insurance for the modular homes of their specific need. They also provide assistance to help the homeowner to determine the financial program that best fits his needs. It is advisable for a prospective homeowner to go through the list of builders in the vicinity. This will help them to know the various builders and also their quoted rates and contract details, for a comparison of the same.

The prospective home owner should ideally go through their catalogs giving the price range and browse through the net for online sites giving information. It is imperative that the homeowner weighs all the pros and cons of each builder along with the design, before finally committing.

Customized modular homes are made according to the specific requirements of the customer. The homeowner has the option to add the features and details desired. The manufacturers of modular homes have the basic layout all ready. They have the plan layout for floors and building, but the plans can be altered and modified. The plan can be optimized as per the home owner's requirement. It is up to the customer to decide as to whether he wants to go in for the plan that already exists or modify it. This kind of home construction is a buyer friendly.

Revolutionary engineering and automated assembly tools have optimized the construction and the quality of custom modular homes. With the help of computers, it has been possible to design models and get them easily customized to the home owner's particular needs. It is the age of unlimited customization. They have consistent quality as they are fabricated in a climate-controlled environment. So the insides of the custom modular homes have not suffered from the vagaries of the weather. Also, there are a lot of in- house quality checks carried out before the final product is delivered.

These modular homes have high speed of construction as they are completed up to ninety percent within the precincts of the company. Hence, they are not delayed by problems such as weather, contractor not showing up and material shortages. These are common excuses for delays with on-site construction. It is possible to move into a new modular home within weeks of planning the move.

In the construction of these homes, costs are controlled and kept to a minimum, which enables the homeowners to actually save while building their home. The custom modular homes, with their designs, will definitely have a model to fit every prospective homeowners budget and specific requirements.

A modular home is an interesting option for homeowners who have concerns about building a home on a budget. Modular homes are pre-assembled and are available in many styles, from cottages to log homes. They are constructed in a factory, out of pre-selected building components and then transported to the actual site, where the components are assembled on the foundation. Modular homes are usually built within two to three weeks after the order is placed.

The home owner's actual savings in choosing a modular home lies in the short amount of time required to complete the new home. They are able to reduce a lot of overhead costs. The homeowner has a wide choice of design flexibility. There is a variety of house plans are available to choose from. The manufacturers offer capes, ranches, split level and two-story homes. It is also possible to customize them to their personal taste and aesthetic sense. From 1,000 square feet to 4,000 square feet, size of homes, modular homes can fulfill the home owner's needs.

There are home additions available in various designs, which can fit into the existing modular homes. People interested in enlarging their homes can add rooms to the existing house. The quality of engineering and construction is also found to be generally superior to traditional building, as they are built in a controlled environment with quality control inspections at all stages of the construction. The homes are designed to be energy efficient, which save money on bills in the future. Energy efficient appliances are also available and used in these homes.

It is wrongly concluded that these modular homes look like identical replicas, because they are factory made. There are many different designs that can be customized to suit the specific requirements of the customer.