This is a question/challenge I face daily when working with Buyers that are looking to purchase a Midtown Atlanta condo. After viewing properties in an afternoon, the question often comes up, “Is that all we are going to see?” My reply is often, “That is all there IS to see!”
Why Is Midtown Atlanta Inventory So Low?
I’ve attached a link below to an article that recently appeared on the website Inman News which is real estate news for real estate agents. Always good stuff and very informative. However, as I am sure you have heard, real estate is local, local, local. So while this article gives you that 30,000 foot view of the market and conditions nationwide, I wanted to touch two points that relate to Midtown Atlanta…
Value Disruption/Reset in 08/09
As the article states, between 2007 and 2010, we saw a major change in values in Midtown Atlanta. Condos that originally sold for $350,000 were selling in foreclosure for $190,000! Prices have returned to the higher values, so those that purchased at the high price, may now finally be able to sell their condo and not be “under water” in terms of the value. Those that snapped up at that $190,000 certainly are ready to move, but….
Where Would I Go? (Move Up) and Stunted New Development
A quick glance at the Midtown skyline gives one the impression of “Wow, look at all those new condo buildings going up!” Ahhhh…not so fast. All those cranes you see are producing a bumper (maybe even an excess) crop of rental apartments, NOT condominiums For Sale! For the Midtown Atlanta condo buyer, a primary reason for a move, is to move into the latest and greatest new building. But what do you do, or where do you move, when you don’t have ANY new buildings?
Current Midtown Atlanta condo construction is limited to a couple buildings and townhome developments and those prices start in the $700,000 range. That might be a bit more of a “move up” than many buyers can afford.
So, when we are out looking at Midtown Atlanta condos for you to purchase, it’s not me giving you any kind of “salesperson pressure” to make a decision. It’s the market telling you, make that offer now, or it may be gone while you think about it.
Here is a link to Why Is Housing Inventory So Low?
