Welcome! Here You Can Find Great Information about the Real Estate Market in Cumming, Alpharetta, Suwanee GA, as well as Lake Lanier Homes for sale 

Thanks for visiting my website. Here you will find the best real estate information on the web about homes for sale in Alpharetta, Cumming and Suwanee. This website has the best the web has to offer - so you are at the right spot.  

Search the MLS.  Feel free to search for you new home by Area, School, Subdivision or City - just click Search the MLS right here for Homes for Sale in Cumming, Alpharetta, Suwanee and all of Atlanta (tens of thousands of listings at your fingertips when you search from my website).  Do you need local real estate information?  We've summarized much of what is important about the Alpharetta, South Forsyth (i.e. Cumming) and North Fulton (i.e. Alpharetta, Milton and Roswell) and Suwanee real estate markets in this site.

Home Buyers.  Wow – this is a great time to buy a home. In 2009 the following tax incentives were made available by the Government.
1.  There is up to a $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers.
2.  There is up to a $6,500 tax credit for "Move Up" or "Repeat" buyers (I am not sure why they call it a move up credit because your new home does not have to cost more than your previous home).
3.  The FHA has offered some of the most attractive financing with a min. down payment amount of 3.5% of the purchase price.  Now there are rumors that amount will increased to 5% of the purchase price sometime this spring.  If putting down 3.5% is a goal of yours you will need to move quickly - call me.

There are limitations on how expensive the home being purchased can be and on how much money you can make to claim these credits.  Also, April 30, 2010 is an important date.  With with interest rates of around 5% and a large supply of homes that has pushed the pricing way down - all of these details make this a great time to buy a home. 

Important Information.  If you are are first time homebuyer the credit I discuss in the paragraph above goes away on 4/30/10 - so if you or anyone you know is a first time homebuyer - or planning on buying a home - please make sure they are aware of this deadline.  Naturally, I work with many first time homebuyers so feel free to forward my contact information to them or email me their name and number and I will contact them.

Foreclosures and Short Sales - If you are interested in looking at foreclosures and short sales - 2010 will be a great time to buy.  With a little (or sometimes a lot) of sweat you can create a substantial amount of equity in your home.  I am a Foreclosure (called REO) and Short Sale expert (The designatin is called the SFR which stands for Short Sales and Foreclosure Resouce) and will be happy to help you identify homes and walk you through the process of getting them financed.  Just realize that not all foreclosures can be purchased using an FHA or VA loan - again call me for details.

Virtual Tours and Featured Homes.  If you are looking for a specific virtual tour, click here.  Are you looking for a home with specific criteria, such as a price range, school district, number of bedrooms etc.  If so, you are a perfect candidate to join our VIP Buyers program - it is FREE and ensures you are notified as soon as a home that matches your criteria comes on the market.  I feel my VIP Buyer is the best way to purchase a home, we move as quickly, or as slowly, as you want.  To find out more about this excellent program, call John at 770 722-7010 or email me at JohnFoster@remax.net

Open Houses  I enjoy holding open houses as often as possible.  It is not only one way to market a home, but it also allows me to meet people considering buying a home as well as neighbors thinking of selling their home.  Check out my listings to see if I am holding an open house this weekend or check my blog.  Both are are updated weekly for open houses.

Selling Your Home? When selling your home you want to sell your home for the most money, in the least amount of time and with the least hassle. My marketing plan is the best available (yes that is bold statement, but that is how strongly I feel about it) I will get your home exposed to Buyers that are looking in your area. For example, you will be a “Showcase Home” on Realtor.com – where about 78% of all home buyers begin their search. Your home will also be on MSN.com, Google, AOL and thousand of other websites (for a list of these website click here). I also utilize the Talking House Technology and the Homefeedback follow up system so you know exactly what other Agents, who show your home, feel about it.

My marketing plan really works – my average days on market are about 50% of the County average and I sell homes for about 3% more than the MLS average in the County. I offer a FREE DVD entitled “Selling Your Home” that provides a wealth in information on how to Sell Your Home. Additionally, the effect of staging a home can not be underestimated so we will cover that once your home is listed.

Buying a Home? If you are buying a home in todays market your timing is great.  Low interest rates, lots of selection and a decrease in home prices make this a great time to buy a home.  Be careful, there are certain items you will want to know about when you buy in the Atlanta area.  In the past builders used some products when they built homes that you will want to know about when you are buying a home.  When we represent you in the purchase of your home we will have discussed these items. 

The ability to listen is key in helping people find their new home. We listen and communicate what is available on the market. Depending on the home and area, there are certain items (i.e. defective building products) as a buyer you want to know about when looking at a home. We offer a FREE report entitled “10 Deadly Mistakes Buyers make when purchasing a home”. This is a must read before you begin your home search. Also, when we meet we will discuss the VIP Buyers Program, where you set the criteria of the home you are looking for and receive automatic e-mails of listings that match your criteria – as they come on the market. Ever wonder how Real Estate Agents seem to buy the best homes when they come on the market – this is how. I will show you the process and allow you the same opportunity – and it will cost you nothing.  

Need Expert Advice? You can find home data on almost any web site, and lots of it on mine. But no web site, large or small, can take the place of a top real estate agent. Not even mine! This site is filled with ways that you can contact me for one-on-one expert help and advice. That's my job.  

Visit My Blog.  Find more information about Alpharetta, Cumming at Suwanee homes for sale.  In summary, the Alpharetta Real Estate Market, as well as the Cumming Real Estate Market, homes are selling - contrary to what you seem to read about in the papers.  The homes that sale all have a few items in common.  When you are ready to list your home I am willing to sit down with you and share what it takes to sale homes in todays market.  For example, in the Alpharetta Area (areas 13 & 14 in the MLS) at the end of September there were 1,953 homes listed for sale with 334 under contract and 171 sold in October.  What separates the ones sold and under contract from the ones still on the market.  The difference is the agent, how the agent markets your home, communicates with other agents and makes sure the Seller knows the market and the value of their home.

Why North Atlanta? I have lived in Atlanta since 1973 and love it. In 2007, Money Magazine did a survey and Suwanee Ga was selected one of the top 10 places to live in America. The criteria Money Magazine used were smaller towns that offered the best combination of economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a real sense of community. Suwanee was ranked 10th.  

Nestled between the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains and along the shores of beautiful Lake Lanier, Forsyth County is one of the most sought after residential areas in the nation. In fact, since 2000, our county has been among the top five fastest growing counties in the United States 

The city of Cumming is located in Forsyth County Georgia. Its growth has been remarkable. The reason so many people move here is because of outstanding quality of life, with affordable housing and many beautiful neighborhoods – many with Swim and Tennis facilities and some with Golf Courses, and a supply of good jobs, a growing economy and an excellent school system. The Forsyth County School System has received numerous honors and awards including Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards from the Governor's Office; Georgia Schools of Excellence and National Blue Ribbon Schools. I have lived in Cumming since 1995 and it is a great place to live and raise a family.

Alpharetta is located in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains but is easily accessible to Atlanta and its many attractions. With approximately 54,000 residents, Alpharetta has experienced significant growth since 1980. With Horse Farms to North Pointe Mall, to the Technology Companies on Windward Parkway, to the 6.2 mile Big Creek Greenway – Alpharetta is considered ideal for raising families and living a quality lifestyle free from the problems found in so many similar sized cities.  

What Past Clients Say As I am sure you can tell – I love Atlanta and my business is concentrated in North Atlanta. I enjoy what I do and have a team. Lisa Cushman is my Buyer's Agent and she is awesome. Here are some comments from People we have helped buy and Sell homes for.

John again, I can't thank you Enough!

"I consider myself fortunate to have found John Foster and his staff for my realty needs in Georgia.  In a slow market, we were able to get two offers and ultimately sold my home with a slight gain.  This was impressive considering the fact that I purchased my home during the peak of the market.  John was professional and kept me up-to-date continuously and his on-line feedback system was a great tool to see buyer's feedback.  His marketing program worked and while many homes sit in my old neighborhood unsold, we achieved “sold” status.  As a Manager in a service based industry, I know that customer satisfaction is # 1 and I can honestly say that John exceeded my expectations.  I highly recommend John if you are considering buying or selling a home."
Greg Papa

John sold our home after another agent could not
"John sold our home in 35 days (which is significantly faster than our s/d average) and we received 99% of our list price (97.6% after we paid closing costs). This is exactly where John suggested we would end up at the beginning of the process. Our home was previously listed with another agent and when it did not sell we called John. His marketing works. Additionally, this was a rental home and he coordinated with the tenant and the entire closing process went well. He did what he said he would do. I would definitely recommend John to anyone wanting to sell their home.
Thanks"
Crandall Ryles  

Just wanted to thank you 
“John: Just wanted to thank you. … She had a hefty task helping us find a home that met all of our "requirements." And if it weren't for Lisa's extra effort we never would have found the home that we ultimately purchased.
Thanks again” 

John Henry

See other comments from our Past Clients.  

CONTACT ME WITH CONFIDENCE! When the time is right and you are ready to have an expert assist you in your home buying or selling needs, contact me with confidence. I guarantee your privacy will be respected. And I offer the services on this site for free and without obligation. Why? I want to be YOUR real estate agent for life. As your trusted, professional real estate partner, I will help you find the home you are looking for within your price range. And together we will sell your home, for as much as the market will bear, and as quickly as possible.  

Buying and selling a home is one of the biggest events in your life. As a top local real estate agent, I have the experience and track record you are looking for.  As I look back at the people I have helped buy or sell their home - some people I knew at the beginning of their search, others I did not.  But at the end I will tell you each of them became my friend.  Call me when you are ready to move.

- John Foster
RE/MAX Greater Atlanta
Direct:  770 722-7010
JohnFoster@Remax.net