Single-family homes in great locations that are priced well have been flying off the shelves. There’s a lot of demand in the market for certain areas, while others can seem like ghost towns.

Buyers are often looking for the same thing – good neighborhoods, access to transportation, shopping, good schools, close to work, etc. Properties that deliver all these are definitely a hot commodity. Sellers with a highly desirable property are in control of the market.

But for condos and townhouses – especially those a little off the beaten path, or with some funky features – it can be quite a different story. Prices were down in certain areas of Warner Robins and Macon, but seem to be rebounding as the rental market increases.

Investment properties are in demand. The massive amounts of foreign cash flooding in to invest in US real estate have impacted the market in unique ways.

Overall, those people in a position to pay cash for properties have been picking up the good deals in the marketplace.

Lots of sellers are trying out speculative prices just to see if anyone bites, but most investors are walking away from deals that don’t pencil out.

Financing is still a major obstacle for buyers. Banks are being incredibly strict, requiring lots of money down and even changing their terms at the last minute. It’s not uncommon for approved buyers to get their loans pulled right before closing escrow, although it’s getting better than it was just a couple of years ago.

Overall the markets remain incredibly polarized – there is a lot of action at the very top and the very bottom, with the biggest challenges in the middle.