HomewithYolanda

"Maybe we'll just wait until spring." 🍂

I hear this a lot this time of year — and I get it. But if you'd love to be in a new home before the holidays, it's still very doable. The key is starting in October, not December.

Here's the quick math:
✔️ Most financed purchases take about 30–45 days from contract to closing
✔️ Thanksgiving is November 26th, and Christmas falls on a Friday this year
✔️ So you'll want to be under contract by early-to-mid November

My new video walks through the realistic timeline, four things to do this week to stay on track, and why fall can be a smart time for sellers too.

▶️ Watch here: https://youtu.be/TX_b_QSIQo4?si=ovCIEXmkc9zBB5JZ

Comment "HOLIDAY" and I'll help you map out your own timeline. No pressure — just a plan.

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October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and in real estate there’s one scam I want every buyer to know about: wire fraud.

Scammers send emails that look exactly like they’re from your agent, lender, or closing attorney — with "updated" wiring instructions. Once the money is wired, it’s often gone for good.

My simple rule: before you ever wire closing funds, pick up the phone and call your closing attorney’s office at a number you already know is real — not one from the email. Wiring instructions rarely change at the last minute. If they "suddenly" do, stop and verify.

Share this with anyone buying a home this year. It could save them their down payment.

"Is anybody even buying houses right now?" I hear it every week. So let’s look at DeKalb County in black and white.

From Aug 28 – Sep 28, 2026, 551 single-family homes sold in DeKalb.

Here’s how it broke down:
$100K–$199K: 73
$200K–$299K: 148
$300K–$399K: 112
$400K–$499K: 53
$500K–$599K: 54
$600K–$699K: 34
$700K–$799K: 26
$800K–$899K: 19
$900K–$999K: 16
$1M–$1.09M: 4
$1.1M–$1.19M: 4
$1.2M–$1.29M: 2
$1.3M–$1.39M: 2
$1.4M–$1.5M: 4

That’s not a frozen market, that’s real people closing on real homes at a range of price points. If you’ve been waiting for "the right time" and want to see what this looks like for your neighborhood specifically, just send me a message. No pressure, just perspective.

Source: RPR/narrpr, Aug 28 – Sep 28, 2026, single-family residential. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Is anybody actually buying homes in metro Atlanta right now?

It's the question I hear the most, and the honest answer depends on your county and your price range. So this October I'm pulling the closed home sales for each South Metro Atlanta county and breaking them down by price range.

Henry County home sales: posted at the end of September (see my page).
Week 1: DeKalb County home sales
Week 2: Clayton County home sales
Week 3: Rockdale County home sales
End of October: all four counties compared side by side

No spin, just numbers. Follow my page so you don't miss your county. Thinking about buying or selling in DeKalb, Clayton, Rockdale or Henry County? Message me or call 404.692.3577.

Yolanda Parks, Associate Broker, REALTOR® · Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers · 404.843.2500

South Metro Atlanta — property tax bills are landing in mailboxes this fall, with payment deadlines generally falling in November depending on your county. If you haven't gotten yours yet, it's worth checking your county tax commissioner's site directly. Questions about how your assessment compares to market value? Happy to help you think it through.

Yolanda Parks, Associate Broker, REALTOR® · Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers · 404.843.2500

This is not intended as a solicitation if you have currently entered into a buyer brokerage agreement or if your property is currently listed with a licensed broker. Better Homes and Gardens is a registered trademark of the Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, LLC. Each Firm Is Independently Owned and Operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist (Before It Gets Cold)

The fall equinox lands September 22 this year, which means it’s officially time to get ahead of the season before the temperature actually drops. A few things worth doing this month:

1. Have your HVAC system serviced before you need the heat — a $100 tune-up beats an emergency call in December.
2. Clean the gutters. Falling leaves clog them fast, and clogged gutters lead to water damage you don’t want to deal with.
3. Check weatherstripping around doors and windows. Drafts cost you money all winter long.
4. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries — this pairs perfectly with National Preparedness Month.
5. Walk your yard for anything that needs trimming back before winter — overhanging branches near the roofline are a repair waiting to happen.

None of this is glamorous, but it’s the kind of maintenance that protects your home’s value and keeps a small problem from becoming an expensive one.



Yolanda Parks, Associate Broker, REALTOR®, MSA · Lic 361044 · Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers · Office 404.843.2500 · Direct 404-692-3577 · [email protected]