Jeff and Mary Bucklew Real Estate

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Columbus, GA
Jeff and Mary Bucklew Real Estate

Your all things "Nerdy" Real Estate team with Showtime Realty in Columbus, GA and surrounding areas. Need a home in the Columbus or surrounding area?

We have an awesome team that would love to help you find the perfect home.

05/05/2026

Thinking about Buying or Selling a home right now, and curious what the market looks like?

- Q: How is the inventory looking in Muscogee County?

A: The area has a 2.48-month supply of inventory, reflecting a tight market.

- Q: What are the recent changes in inventory levels?

A: Inventory has decreased by 5% over the past month but increased by 15% over the past year.

- Q: How many new listings are available, and what is their price range?

A: There are 296 new listings with a median list price of $255,750.

- Q: What is the situation with active listings?

A: Muscogee County currently has 488 active listings with a median price of $217,250.

- Q: Are homes selling quickly in the area?

A: Yes, homes have a median of 19 days on the market before going pending, showing a swift sales pace.

- Q: What are the recent trends in sold home prices?

A: The median sold price is $221,100, with a minor 3% decrease from last month.

Explore the vibrant offerings of Muscogee County, from the scenic beauty of the Chattahoochee RiverWalk to the cultural richness of the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. As the market evolves, buyers can seize opportunities with competitive pricing and a variety of listings. For expert guidance on navigating the Muscogee County housing market, contact Mary Bucklew at [email protected].

02/09/2023

Raise your hand if you know the difference between a home valuation and a home appraisal 🙋🏼‍♀️

(And, it's OK if you don't! Because we're here to help you).

First, let's talk about appraisals.

If you're financing your home with a mortgage (as opposed to paying cash), you'll want to be sure to negotiate a home appraisal contingency into the sales contract.

A home appraisal is a process through which a real estate appraiser determines the fair market value of a home.

It can assure you and your lender that the price you’ve agreed to pay for a home is fair.

(Appraisals are also often used to determine property taxes, which makes them a requirement in most counties).

The appraisal contingency protects you because if the appraisal comes in too low to justify the agreed-upon purchase price, then you can walk away from the deal without penalty or renegotiate the terms of the deal with the seller.

The market value of a property is decided by the buyer of a property, based on what they think the price of a property should be and, most importantly, what they are willing to pay for it.

Oh -- and here's a bonus tip! A home appraisal is not the same as a home inspection. Yes, the appraiser does assess the home’s condition, but only for the purposes of arriving at a valuation.

Questions about market value. vs. appraised value? Drop us a message anytime, and we'd be glad to answer them!

02/03/2023

This step is a big one!

Once you've found "the one," it's time to write a killer offer.

Because you've followed all of our previous steps, writing a great offer won't be hard!

You have a pre-approval letter in hand, you're represented by agents who are dedicated to help you succeed, and you have thought carefully about your needs and wants.

Once you find a home that checks all of your boxes, we're ready!

Even though the market has shifted and conditions aren't as competitive for buyers as they were a year ago, sellers still have room to negotiate and it's possible that your offer won't be accepted right away.

So here three tips we give our home buyers when it comes time to write a great offer:

1) Be prepared to be flexible. Buyers do have some negotiating power back, but it's still important to consider what the seller might be looking for in terms of earnest money requirements, timeline, and closing date. We'll always do our best to glean as much information as possible from the listing agent, but flexibility is often key!

2) Partner with your lender. The reason that cash offers are usually more appealing to a seller is because without a financing contingency, it's a lot less likely that the deal will fall apart. Sometimes, an enthusiastic endorsement from a loan officer (via email or even in a video message to the seller's agent) can reassure the seller that your financing is secure.

3) Consider an escalation clause. If there are multiple offers (and yes, that does still happen, despite what you might hear in the news!) an escalation clause tells the seller that you will pay $X above the highest bid to have your offer accepted.

Questions about submitting a winning offer? We've got the answers, and our inbox is always open.

02/02/2023

We want to take a moment to be honest with you...

Home buying can be really overwhelming!

You're making the biggest financial decision of your life, and sometimes, you have to make it within the 15-minute window of a showing or open house.

That's why when we accompany our clients to showings, we encourage you to spend time getting to know the property and deciding if it checks enough of your boxes, while we focus on making sure we ask the important questions:

Logistical:

-Why is the homeowner selling?
-When does the seller want to move?
-How long has the property been on the market?
-Are there any other offers on the property?

Property-Related:

-Has the seller made any major updates to the property?
-How old are the appliances, roof, and heating/cooling systems? Are they in good condition?
-Have there been any foundational issues?
-Has the sewer ever backed up?
-Have there been any leaks or water damage in the property?

Local:

-What are the property taxes?
-How much do utilities typically cost?
-What is the school district? (Even if you don't have kids in the schools, this impacts resale!)

Bonus Tip: Don't let yourself get distracted by the seller's home decor! You're not buying that Pottery Barn sofa, you're buying the foundation, the floor plan, and the structure.

Save this post in case you find yourself spontaneously popping into an open house this spring, and remember, we're always just a phone call or text away!

01/26/2023

Okay, friend. It’s time for some tough love: let’s chat about *wants* vs. *needs.*

In a perfect world (and in a perfect market) you’d be able to get everything on your home wish list.

But the reality is, that rarely happens.

That’s why it’s important to determine your wants and needs *before* you begin your home search. This way, you don't waste your time viewing homes that don’t work for you or your family.

But what’s the difference between the two?

*Needs* are your must-haves. Your non-negotiables. Your can’t-live-withouts.

Examples include air conditioning, enough bedrooms for each member of your family, and location (think: within a certain school district or within a certain radius of your job.)

*Wants* are more like things you can live without, but would prefer to have, such as quartz countertops, hardwood flooring, or a separate shower and bathtub.

The thing about your list is that it’s personal to *you.* Your best friend might need a big backyard for her Great Dane, while you might want a smaller yard that doesn’t require a ton of maintenance.

So let’s practice. Share some of your home wants and needs in the comments below!

01/24/2023

Don’t skip this crucial step!

Today, we’re talking all about the pre-approval process, which determines what homes you can afford.

What does it mean to be pre-approved?

It means that a certified mortgage lender has checked your credit, employment, and verified assets. Once they've reviewed these things, they can tell you how much money the bank can loan you for your mortgage.

Also, most sellers require a pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender before negotiating with a buyer.

In order get pre-approved, you’ll need to provide proof of:

✔️ Employment verification

✔️ Proof of assets (cash on hand; the money in your checking or savings accounts, money market accounts, etc.)

✔️ Proof of income (income tax returns)

✔️ A qualifying credit score (usually above 620)

✔️ Personal documentation (government-issued identification)

Once you're pre-approved, we can be the home-buying search in earnest!

Drop a “YES!” in the comments if you found today’s lesson helpful. We think we covered the basics, but if you have any questions, feel free to shoot us a DM!

01/22/2023

Do not start the home-buying process until you do this!

We can’t stress this enough: before you head to the Internet to look at listings, HIRE A REALTOR.

Why? Because a Realtor will save you a TON of time (and potential heartache) by helping guide you through the process, from start to finish.

Not only can we help you narrow down the options that will work for you *and* your budget, we can help you set realistic expectations

Here are 5 other reasons to hire an experienced realtor to buy your home:

1. We know the housing market and our local neighborhoods better than anyone.

2. We're expert negotiators who know how to advocate for you throughout the process.

3. We have access to alllll the best experts (think mortgage lenders, home inspectors, title companies, and more).

4. We are modern realtors: We're well-versed in using social media to connect buyers with off-market / pre-market properties before anyone else.

5. Our job doesn't end on closing day -- We love to help our clients settle in, decorate, and even renovate their new homes.

Oh -- and get this! You won’t pay anything additional to hire a realtor to help you buy your home.

Veteran homebuyers: What is something surprising that your realtor did when you bought your first home?

01/19/2023

Let’s talk about home buying.

We're going to tell you what we always tell our buyers: be prepared for the process to take longer than you expect, but be ready to move quickly anyway!

Here's what the typical steps in a home purchase look like:

1) Find a real estate agent
2) Get pre-approved for a mortgage
3) Determine your wish list and outline "wants" vs. "needs"
4) Tour homes that interest you
5) Make an offer on "the one"
6) Schedule a home inspection
7) Set up the home appraisal
8) Finalize your loan
9) Closing Day 🥂

On the quick end of things, buying a home could be your reality in as little as 10 weeks. We're ready if you are — DM us, and let’s get started!

01/17/2023

It’s time for Home Buying 101 with Team Bucklew!

We LOVE helping first-time home buyers; it brings us so much joy to walk them through the process from start to finish.

But let’s be honest: buying any home can be overwhelming, whether it's your first or fifth.

There’s a lot to learn and a *lot* to keep up with as the market is ever-changing.

Today we're introducing a brand new series called Home Buying 101.

We’ll break down everything you need to know about home-buying basics, and we'll have a little fun along the way, too!

Let's start with the benefits of buying a home. 👇

-You’ll build equity with every mortgage payment you make.
-If you have a fixed-rate mortgage, your monthly payment will never change.
-You can make the home your own (no more following the landlord’s rules!).
-You can turn your home equity into cash if you need to (for example, to make home renovations).
-Uncle Sam loves homeownership -- you might get some tax benefits!

And those are only a few of the high-level benefits. There are so many more!

If you're a homeowner, what is something you wish you knew when you bought your first home? Let us know in the comments!

01/14/2023

January 10th was National Houseplant Appreciation Day. Mary has recently become addicted to plants, and it took everything in her, or maybe it was Jeff, to not rush to Lowes and clean out their 50% off houseplant sale.

We have loved having these plants in what will eventually be Mary's office once we finish our updates on the house, especially while doing yoga in there.

Drop a comment below with your favorite plants, and we'll try to hold back from rushing out to buy more!

01/12/2023

The shift in the housing market this year has many asking: "Will there be a wave of foreclosures hitting the market?"

Although you might see headlines that report rising numbers of foreclosures, consider the context! During the pandemic, there was a nationwide foreclosure moratorium. Once that was lifted last year, there was an uptick in foreclosure activity. Now, data from the New York Fed shows there are fewer foreclosures happening today than before the pandemic.

During the last housing market crash, between 2006 and 2014, about 9.3 million households went through foreclosure, gave up their home to a lender, or sold in a distressed sale. This was, in part, due to relaxed lending standards (aka: people bought homes they could not actually afford).

Today, new lending standards have led to more qualified buyers, and fewer homeowners are behind on their mortgages. Homeowners today have enough equity to sell their homes instead of resorting to foreclosure. Because home prices have been increasing since 2020, many homeowners have more equity than they even realize.

So, don't let the headlines scare you! If you have any questions about anything you've read, our inbox is always open!

Address

2001 Commerce Street
Columbus, GA
31901

Telephone

+17065708603

Website

https://marybucklewrealestate.georgiamls.com/

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