Fortune Properties

Fortune Properties Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Fortune Properties, Estate agent, 3375 Dallas Highway Building 100, Marietta, GA.

As a seasoned Realtor, deeply rooted in the North Georgia region, I'm dedicated to empowering buyers and sellers like you with knowledge and resources to navigate the market confidently.

Earnest money is one of those things that first-time homebuyers may know is part of the process, but rarely know where i...
09/09/2026

Earnest money is one of those things that first-time homebuyers may know is part of the process, but rarely know where it fits in the strategy…so let’s fix that!

Earnest money is a deposit you put down shortly after your offer is accepted. It’s basically a way of telling the seller, "I'm serious about this house." It's not an extra fee on top of your down payment; it's part of it. The amount varies, but around here it's typically 1 to 3% of the purchase price.

Here's the part people don't realize... that money doesn't go to the seller. It goes into an escrow account held by a third party like a title company, real estate brokerage, or attorney until closing. Nobody touches it until the deal is done, which protects both sides.

So when do you get it back? If everything goes smoothly and you close on the home, your earnest money simply gets applied toward your down payment or closing costs. You don't lose it; it just becomes part of what you already owe.

If the deal falls through for a reason your contract protects you for, like the home doesn't appraise for the offer price, the inspection turns up something major, your financing falls through, or you decide to walk away from that home completely, you typically get your earnest money back too. That's exactly what contingencies are there to protect.

Now, when do you NOT get it back? If you walk away from the deal for a reason that isn't covered by your contingencies, say you just changed your mind, the seller may be entitled to keep it. This is exactly why understanding what's in your contract before you sign matters so much, and why I walk every buyer through their contingencies before we ever submit an offer.

Earnest money isn't something to be nervous about; it's very normal, protective part of the process once you understand how it works.

If you're getting ready to buy and want me to walk you through exactly what to expect, I'm always here for you!

Jennifer Fortune
Fortune Properties w/ Keller Williams Signature Partners
📱 C: 678-457-8337
📞 O: 678-631-1700
✉️ [email protected]

09/07/2026

Everyone talks about southern hospitality when they move to Georgia.

Nobody mentions any of this. 😂 Consider this your unofficial orientation!

SEC football is basically a religion. I'm not exaggerating. Couples will schedule their wedding around their team's bye week, and everyone understands why without asking. NFL fans exist down here (Rise up!), but they're generally in the minority. If you're moving here, pick a team fast; you'll need one!

September is still summer, no matter what your Pinterest board says. I promise you, if you show up expecting cute cardigan weather at the apple orchard, you're going to be sweating through it within five minutes. The upside is that you've still got plenty of time left for beach trips before it's actually sweater weather.

The leaves take their sweet time. While the northeast is posting their peak foliage pictures in early October, we're still very much green down here. If a Blue Ridge Parkway trip is on your list, hold off until early November; otherwise, you'll be driving hours for a whole lot of green trees.

Sweet tea is not a suggestion; it's a default. Order regular tea somewhere, and you might get a look. Around here, sweet tea is just... tea. Get used to it.

"Bless your heart" can mean five different things, and you'll never fully know which one. Could be genuine sympathy, could be a polite way of saying something else entirely. You'll learn to read the room the longer you're here.

What else did I miss? Let me know your own welcome-to-Georgia tips in the comments!

Jennifer Fortune
Fortune Properties w/ Keller Williams Signature Partners
📱 C: 678-457-8337
📞 O: 678-631-1700
✉️ [email protected]

09/05/2026

Days on market is one of those terms that realtors throw around, but most people don't really know what it means…

So let's break it down!

As a buyer, a longer days on market number can feel like a red flag, like something must be wrong with the home. Sometimes that's true! But just as often, it means the home was priced a little high out of the gate, hit the market at an inconvenient time, or has simply been waiting for the right buyer to come along.

A high days-on-market number is worth asking about, but it's not automatically a reason to walk away. Sometimes it's actually your opening to negotiate!

As a seller, days on market can feel like a scoreboard, and I get why. Nobody wants their listing sitting there while the neighbor's home sells in a week. But comparing your home to a completely different property with different pricing, condition, and timing isn't a fair comparison. What matters more is how your home compares to similar homes in your specific area and price range right now, not a citywide average or last year's numbers.

Now for the most important part…here's what days on market DOESN’T tell you. It doesn't tell you why a home didn't sell as fast. It doesn't account for a home that was overpriced for the first few weeks and then adjusted its price. It doesn't reflect a seller who turned down an early offer, holding out for more.

The number is a data point, not the full story.

What it does tell you is how your local market is moving right now, and that's genuinely useful information when you're deciding how to price a home or how aggressively to negotiate on one. It's just one piece of a much bigger picture, not the whole picture.

If you're trying to make sense of what this number means for your specific situation, whether you're buying or selling, send me a message!

Jennifer Fortune
Fortune Properties w/ Keller Williams Signature Partners
📱 C: 678-457-8337
📞 O: 678-631-1700
✉️ [email protected]

Should you renovate or move? It's a really common question most homeowners wrestle with at some point, and it’s tough be...
09/02/2026

Should you renovate or move?

It's a really common question most homeowners wrestle with at some point, and it’s tough because there's no single “right” answer. It really depends on what's pulling at you and why.

If you're sitting with that decision right now, here's how I'd advise you to think through it:

Start with what's actually bothering you

Is it the house, or is it the location? Those are two very different problems. If you love your neighborhood, your commute, your kids' school, but you're dreaming of a bigger kitchen or another bedroom, a renovation might genuinely be your answer.

But if what you're craving is more land, a shorter drive, or a different school district, no amount of remodeling fixes that. That one calls for a move.

Then think about the money

A renovation can feel safer because you already know the house, the neighborhood, the payment. But bigger projects have a way of running over budget and taking longer than expected, and not every upgrade adds dollar-for-dollar value at resale.

Don’t forget, though, moving has its own costs, too: closing costs, a new rate, the whole process of finding and buying again, but it gets you exactly what you want without the guesswork of hoping a renovation turns out the way you pictured.

Ask yourself this one question

If you renovated everything on your wishlist, would you be happy here in five years? If yes, renovate. If it's "maybe, but I'd still wish I lived somewhere else," that tells you everything you need to know.

There's no universal right answer here, just the one that's right for your life right now. If you're sitting with this decision, I'd love to talk it through with you.

Send me a message anytime!

Jennifer Fortune
Fortune Properties w/ Keller Williams Signature Partners
📱 C: 678-457-8337
📞 O: 678-631-1700
✉️ [email protected]

Let’s take a look at our July market update and see what it means for YOU!New listings dropped to 381, down almost 17% f...
09/01/2026

Let’s take a look at our July market update and see what it means for YOU!

New listings dropped to 381, down almost 17% from last year, while closed sales actually climbed to 233, up over 7%.

Fewer new homes came onto the market, and yet more of them found buyers and made it all the way to closing.

That tells me demand hasn't slowed down at all; it's just working with less to choose from.

Median sales price held steady at $367K, basically flat compared to last year, and days on market stayed right at 48. So even with less new inventory coming in, the market isn't getting jumpy or unpredictable.

Total homes for sale ticked up to 968 and months' supply moved to 4.6, so there is a little more room to breathe if you're a buyer right now.

If you're thinking about selling, this is honestly a really good window. Less competition from brand new listings means your home has a better shot at standing out, especially if it's priced right from the start.

And if you're buying, prices aren't running away from you the way they have in past years. There's a little more time to make a thoughtful decision without feeling rushed.

Wherever you land in all this, I'm always happy to talk through what it actually means for your specific plans.

Jennifer Fortune
Fortune Properties w/ Keller Williams Signature Partners
📱 C: 678-457-8337
📞 O: 678-631-1700
✉️ [email protected]

09/01/2026

Real talk for my fellow pregnant realtors (or anyone who's ever been VERY pregnant and VERY busy) 😅

This is baby number four for me, and some parts of this have felt like riding a bike. My body just remembered what to do, how to pace myself, how to read my own signals before I hit a wall. But it's also been a minute since my last pregnancy, and let's just say my body is reminding me daily that it's not exactly the same as it used to be. Round four hits different, y'all.

So between showings, closings, and everything in between, I've picked up a few life hacks along the way that have helped me manage.

Snacks live in my car at all times now. Crackers, granola bars, a water bottle big enough to last me through a whole tour... whatever it takes to avoid hangry pregnant Jennifer showing up to a showing.

I'm choosing comfort over style. Comfort is king, and if you’ve seen me lately, my shoes tell the whole story!

And I've learned to plan my route around bathroom stops the way I used to plan around traffic. Knowing where the nearest gas station or coffee shop is between showings has become second nature by now.

Honestly, the biggest hack of all has just been giving myself grace. Some days I move a little slower, and that's okay. The houses still get shown, the clients still get taken care of, and this sweet baby is just along for the ride the whole time.

If you've done this job (or any other) pregnant, I would love to hear your favorite hack or tip that got you through it.

Jennifer Fortune
Fortune Properties w/ Keller Williams Signature Partners
📱 C: 678-457-8337
📞 O: 678-631-1700
✉️ [email protected]

Pre-qualification and pre-approval sound like they mean the same thing, and I get why so many buyers mix them up... but ...
08/26/2026

Pre-qualification and pre-approval sound like they mean the same thing, and I get why so many buyers mix them up... but they play very different roles in your home-buying journey, and knowing which one you actually have can make a big difference in how your offer is received.

Pre-qualification is that first conversation with a lender. You share some basic info about your income and debts, and they give you a general idea of what you might be able to borrow. It's quick, it's informal, and it's a great way to start dreaming and budgeting if you're still early in the process.

Pre-approval takes things much further. A lender verifies your income, assets, credit, and employment supported by real documentation. Once that's done, you'll receive a letter confirming you're a serious, qualified buyer ready to move forward. In our market, that letter carries a lot of weight. Sellers and their agents want confidence that if they accept your offer, the deal will actually close.

Here's the simplest way I can put it… Pre-qualification gives you a sense of your own numbers, and pre-approval gives everyone else proof that you're ready to act. When you're touring homes and writing offers, pre-approval is the piece that gets you taken seriously.

My husband Ivan Cabrera is a lender with Success Lending, and he walks buyers through this exact process all the time. Even if you're a few months out from buying, getting pre-approved early gives you SOOO much more clarity on your numbers and takes a lot of pressure off once you find the right home.

If you're not sure where you stand or what your next step should look like, I promise you, just reach out. I'd love to help you figure it out. 🤍

Ivan Cabrera
404-322-7959
[email protected]

Jennifer Fortune
Fortune Properties w/ Keller Williams Signature Partners
📱 C: 678-457-8337
📞 O: 678-631-1700
✉️ [email protected]

Staging a home while you're still living in it (and running a household, and walking the dog, and existing as a human) i...
08/24/2026

Staging a home while you're still living in it (and running a household, and walking the dog, and existing as a human) is its own skill... and I promise, it's one you can learn fast.

Let's talk about how to actually pull it off.

Start with the surfaces. Counters, nightstands, dressers... buyers are drawn to open, clean spaces, so anything you can clear off and tuck into a bin or closet will help. You don't have to live like a showroom every day, just before showings.

Next, think about closets and cabinets. Buyers open everything. I promise you they do, so a half-packed closet actually works in your favor here. Pack up out-of-season clothes now, and suddenly your storage looks so much more spacious than it did last week.

Personal photos and collections are worth thinning out too. There's nothing wrong with them, but buyers need to be able to picture their own life in the space. A few favorites left out is plenty.

Don't forget the little things either. Folded towels in the bathroom, made beds, and a quick walk-through with fresh eyes can help you see what you may be missing.

Here's my favorite tip if you’re still living in the home... keep a few bins or baskets by the door. When a showing comes up, you can do a fast sweep of whatever's out on counters or floors, toss it in, and go. It saves you so much stress in the moment.

At the end of the day, staging while you're still living there is about balance. You still need your home to function for you and your family, AND… a little intention in the right spots goes a long way.

If you're getting ready to list and want some help walking through your space room by room, I'd love to help.

Jennifer Fortune
Fortune Properties w/ Keller Williams Signature Partners
📱 C: 678-457-8337
📞 O: 678-631-1700
✉️ [email protected]

08/22/2026

If you're trying to figure out what to do with your Labor Day weekend, I've got a few ideas that don't involve fighting traffic or crowds (say less).

Being up here in Paulding County, we're honestly so close to some of the best parts of North Georgia, and there are a few towns nearby that still feel like our best-kept secrets.

First stop, Talking Rock. It's tiny, but there’s so much charm in such a small space. Antique shops, old general stores, and even a little local brewery if you want to sit and relax for a while. It's a good place if you want to slow all the way down before getting into the swing of fall.

From there, Ellijay is an easy add-on. It's Georgia's Apple Capital, and even though it's a little further into the mountains, it still feels so much more relaxed than some of the bigger tourist towns. The Tabor House Museum is worth a stop if you love local history, and there are a few wineries nearby if you want to make an afternoon of it. Late summer is right around when the orchards start getting really good too. (My personal tip…an apple cider slushie is the perfect way to welcome fall when the Georgia weather still says it’s summer! 🙃)

Last one, Baldwin. This one is more of a home base than a big attraction on its own, and it sits right at the crossroads of several counties, so it makes getting around so easy. There are some sweet antique shops and local restaurants, and it's just a short drive from Tallulah Gorge State Park if you want to squeeze in a hike with a solid view at the end of it.

Honestly, one of my favorite things about living where we do is how close all of this is. You really don't have to drive far to feel like you're somewhere completely different.

If you end up checking any of these out, I'd love to see it! Tag me or send me a message; I always love hearing where everyone ends up. 🤍

Jennifer Fortune
Fortune Properties w/ Keller Williams Signature Partners
📱 C: 678-457-8337
📞 O: 678-631-1700
✉️ [email protected]

Address

3375 Dallas Highway Building 100
Marietta, GA
30064

Telephone

+16784578337

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