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Mary Ellen Vanaken

Creative Real Estate Agent Finds Happy, Cute Couple A Home

June 23, 20253 min read

Meet the Buyers

Finding that perfect home for their growing family is what drove Stephen and Kristen to contact their previous real estate agent, Mary Ellen Vanaken. The young couple was expecting their second child, had multiple animals, and knew they had outgrown their current home. With the family expanding Stephen and Kristen wanted to be closer to their parents who lived in Canton, Georgia. Having sold their current home in Martins Landing in Roswell, Georgia, they had temporarily moved in with their in-laws but wanted to find their new home soon with the baby arriving.

Stephen And Jennifer

Everything Stephen and Jennifer wanted...

Stephen and Jennifer's "must-haves" for their new home included one with

- plenty of privacy

- a ranch with a full basement

- space to work on cars as this was Stephens hobby

- closer to parents who would be helping with the kids

There is a big difference between wants and needs. The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team suggests that all home buyers create two different lists when searching for a home - a "must-have" list and a "nice-to-have" list. These lists help keep the focus on what is important.

Mary Ellen's Creativity Results in Perfect Home Find

The North Atlanta real estate market continues to be crazy as many markets around the country are as well. In North Atlanta, homes stay on the market for a short period of time and come with multiple offers. Mary Ellen, very aware of this, knew she would have to be creative and found the perfect FSBO (for sale by owner) home for the couple. She contacted the homeowner and was able to get her clients into the home before anyone else was able to see it. The home had everything they needed as well as a beautiful Koi pond! Stephen and Jennifer were ecstatic to find the right home, close to their parents, and within their budget.

What Do You Do When You Can’t Find a New Home?

Your home sold after only days on the market. After all, the fear of a property lingering on the market, enduring possible price cuts, or low ball offers is what keeps many from selling in the first place. While a quick sale is a reason to celebrate, the challenge comes when it happens before you can find a new home.

This is an increasingly common situation in our current market, which remains hot due to the continued limited inventory that started in April 2020. Though inventory is slowly starting to increase, there’s a conundrum. For every home listed, another home has to be bought. Until inventory outpaces demand, securing your next home might likely take a little longer than anticipated.

Still, the upsides of a speedy home sale outweigh the inconvenience of possibly being in-between homes: Less drama, achieving your asking price (or more), and being able to consider multiple offers to find the best buyer for your house. We can help you plan ahead by following these strategies before you list. Here are some creative ways to make your home sale and home search easier:

Read More ➡️

Mary Ellen was born and raised in Long Island, New York. After graduating from college, she worked on Wall Street for JP Morgan in New York City. For the past 25+ years, she has been living in the Alpharetta, Georgia with her husband and daughter. International travel and business are her passions and she loves to go to as many different countries of the world as possible and to indulge in the culture.

Mary Ellen has an outgoing personality and is known to be aggressive in marketing real estate. Her goal is to make YOU happy and she knows that buying and selling houses can be very stressful. Her job is to make it as stress-free as possible. With her background in accounting and finance, she will be able to help you find the best value your money can buy.

Her professional associations and certifications include Atlanta Board of Realtors, Leadership Council for Keller Williams Realty, CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist) and CFIS (Certified Foreign Investor Specialist) as well as being a member of KWGPS (Keller Williams Realty Global Property Specialist). In the past several years, Mary Ellen has worked to achieve several additional designations including CLHMS (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist), SFR (Short Sale and Foreclosure Specialist, e-Pro Certified and a Certified DRS AgentTM

Mary Ellen Vanaken

Mary Ellen was born and raised in Long Island, New York. After graduating from college, she worked on Wall Street for JP Morgan in New York City. For the past 25+ years, she has been living in the Alpharetta, Georgia with her husband and daughter. International travel and business are her passions and she loves to go to as many different countries of the world as possible and to indulge in the culture. Mary Ellen has an outgoing personality and is known to be aggressive in marketing real estate. Her goal is to make YOU happy and she knows that buying and selling houses can be very stressful. Her job is to make it as stress-free as possible. With her background in accounting and finance, she will be able to help you find the best value your money can buy. Her professional associations and certifications include Atlanta Board of Realtors, Leadership Council for Keller Williams Realty, CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist) and CFIS (Certified Foreign Investor Specialist) as well as being a member of KWGPS (Keller Williams Realty Global Property Specialist). In the past several years, Mary Ellen has worked to achieve several additional designations including CLHMS (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist), SFR (Short Sale and Foreclosure Specialist, e-Pro Certified and a Certified DRS AgentTM

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