Partner Clyde Mize was featured in the June issue of The Atlantan as a “Power Player” because of his professional accomplishments and commitment to his community. We are proud to have Clyde on the GSHWM team!
State of the Market
It’s officially summer and that means we are entering a busy homebuying season! Especially here in Metro Atlanta, which has been predicted to be one of the top property markets of 2023 by the National Association of Realtors.
“The residential real estate markets in the Atlanta and Columbus areas are solid. We have moved from the frenzied pace of a couple years ago to a more solid, and hopefully, more sustainable market. Mortgage rates seem to be in a range that can maintain a solid growing market for a long time. Of course, we still have issues with lack of inventory, but we are moving forward at a more reasonable pace.
Two of my favorite indicators for the health of the residential real estate market are job growth and interest rates. In Georgia, we are blessed with good job growth, and interest rates are good from a historical perspective. These indicators look promising for a healthy residential real estate market. “
-Partner Edward Hudson
Fraud Protection
Real estate wire fraud continues to be one of the most pervasive cybercrimes in Georgia. The highest reported fraud in real estate is found in Business Email Compromise/Email Account Compromise (BEC/EAC). In this scheme, fraudsters assume the identity of a party to the transaction and send an email purporting to be from a known party to the transaction and provide new instructions to the criminal’s bank account. So here are some tips to protect yourself and your money:
1. Be suspicious of any change in wiring instructions – we will NEVER change the wire instructions!
2. Before initiating a wire, call us to confirm wiring instructions. Call using a phone number you have independently verified and NEVER rely on a phone number contained in an email to verify wire instructions.
3. Phishing – don’t take the bait! Be wary and don’t click on anything unfamiliar.
4. Use encrypted email or a transaction management platform to share sensitive information.
5. BONUS: Attend our free continuing education programs for the latest information on cybersecurity.
GSHWM is committed to protecting our client’s money so we use CertifID to protect any transactions. CertifID is the only company that secures wire transfers with identity verification software, insurance and proven recovery services. Learn more about wire fraud and how to protect yourself here.
Small Business Spotlight
At GSHWM we are lucky to work with some incredible partners and make it a priority to support our local community. And we know how hard it can be as a homeowner to find trusted businesses to provide the home services you need. So we will continue to share small businesses we trust.
Breathe E-Z Air Duct and Carpet Cleaning
Family-owned and operated by husband and wife team James and Gabby Davidson, Breathe E-Z offers a full spectrum of professional cleaning services including air duct and dryer vent cleaning as well as carpet, tile, grout and upholstery cleaning. James and Gabby take pride in their upfront price system as well as a focus on health by avoiding any harsh chemicals on carpet cleaning.
For more information contact:
E: [email protected]
P: 770-369-8989
