Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers (BHGRE Metro Brokers) announced the 2020 real estate outlook for metro Atlanta is optimistic due to a strong job market and low interest rates driving purchases and the new instant offer (iBuyer) option gaining popularity and leading to increased sales of homes in metro Atlanta and north Georgia.

2020 Real Estate Outlook

BHGRE Metro Brokers real estate market outlook anticipates interest rates will remain low and the influx of new Georgia residents will continue to increase in 2020. Historically, election years have caused homebuyer concern and hesitation, but all indicators point to this year being an exception. There is also a trend to move back into the suburbs with outer metro areas seeing significant retail expansion. In addition, younger generations will continue to make up an increasing percentage of sales.

The one concern for Atlanta is the shortage of homes for sale in price ranges appealing to first-time buyers. This will give sellers an advantage in negotiations but can generally mean rising prices.

iBuyers to Expand

Instant offers, commonly referred to as iBuyers within the real estate industry, became more prevalent in the market this past year. An “iBuyer” or “instant buyer” is a real estate company that buys homes from sellers who request an offer online. After receiving a description of the property, the iBuyer can make a cash offer to the homeowner within 24 hours. The major players in Atlanta are Zillow Offers, Offerpad and Opendoor with plans to expand in the coming year. According to zavvie, a national iBuyer platform, 3,582 total iBuyer purchases were made in metro Atlanta during 2019.

“We expect instant offers will expand in 2020 as homeowners seek a fast pace, tech enabled customer experience,” said Craig McClelland, chief operating officer of BHGRE Metro Brokers. “Last year was one of the first years to see this change in the real estate industry and we are working to meet these needs for all our customers.”

Instant Move helps homeowners choose the best option

To meet this need, BHGRE Metro Brokers is the only company in Georgia to offer an exclusive real estate tool, Instant Move, to assist homeowners with selling their house instantly while still retaining the service of a licensed professional. The Instant Move program allows homeowners to directly compare offers and fees from Zillow Offers, Offerpad, Opendoor and market listings with a BHGRE Metro Brokers agent. This gives a homeowner multiple options to determine the best solution for each situation.

“The Atlanta market has become increasingly receptive to instant offers from various iBuying companies,” said McClelland. “Instant Move will help homeowners better navigate all options to make the best choice.”