Wednesday, December 10, 2025 / by Lme Realty Group
The holidays in Cobb County are all about lights, music, and time together close to home. Whether you live in Marietta, Kennesaw, Smyrna, or nearby, there are plenty of ways to feel festive without traveling far.
Use this guide to plan your holiday season with local events, family activities, and meaningful ways to give back.
Holiday Lights & Magical Nights
Lights of Life – Life University, Marietta
When: Nightly through December 31
Where: Life University, 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta
Lights of Life is a Cobb County tradition. This drive-through display features towering light trees, glowing tunnels, and animated scenes. Carnival rides, a petting zoo, and concessions make it an easy, low-stress outing for families, couples, or visiting guests.
Why locals love it:
• Affordable, per-car admission
• Great for all ages
• Conveniently located just off Cobb Parkway
(Image Source: Atlanta Parent Magazine)
Winter . ...
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local market, community information
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 / by Lme Realty Group
Here’s something you should know before you sell your house. The homeowners who win in today’s market aren’t the ones waiting it out or stepping back. They’re the ones who adapt from the start.
A number of homeowners this year didn’t get the outcome they wanted. But it’s not because something’s wrong with the market. It’s because something wasn’t right with their expectations.
Realtor.com reports 57% more homes have been taken off the market compared to last year. That means they listed... but didn’t sell. But here’s the honest truth. It was mostly because of two things: price and timing.
And if the seller had come in with the right mindset on each, their sale would’ve gone differently. Here are the top 2 things you can learn from those other sellers.
1. Price It Right from Day 1
Let's start with the most common sticking point: the asking price. Today, 8 in 10 sellers expect to get their asking price or mor ...
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for sellers, pricing, selling tips
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 / by Lme Realty Group
Are you trying to figure out how much cash you’ll need to close on a home in Marietta? You’re not alone. Closing costs can feel confusing because they mix lender fees, taxes, insurance, and prorations, and who pays what can vary by local custom. This guide breaks down typical buyer and seller costs in Cobb County, how to estimate your numbers, and what to watch in the final days before closing. Let’s dive in.
What closing costs cover
Closing costs are the third-party fees, taxes, title charges, and prepaid items you pay at or before closing in addition to your down payment. For buyers, a common range is 2% to 5% of the purchase price. For sellers, total costs might be higher once you include brokerage commissions, commonly 6% to 10% of the sale price depending on the listing agreement and purchase contract. Exact amounts depend on your loan, property taxes, HOA, and what you negotiate in your contract.
Who pays what in Cobb County
In much of Georgia, including ...
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for buyers, for sellers, down payments, closing costs
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 / by Lme Realty Group
A lot of buyers are stuck in “wait and see” mode right now. They’re watching rates hover a little above 6% and thinking, I’ll buy once they hit the 5s. Because who doesn’t want a better rate?
But here’s the thing: that 5.99% number might not save you as much as you think.
Affordability is still a challenge. There’s no question about that. But the market has given savvy buyers a head start. Mortgage rates have already come down over the past few months. And the drop we’ve seen saves you more than you’d think.
How Much You’ve Already Saved, Without Realizing It
Let's put some real numbers to it. Rates peaked for the year in May when they inched above 7%. But since then, they’ve been slowly declining. Now, they’re sitting in the low 6s. And while that may not sound like a big deal, that change translates to real dollars.
According to data coming out of Redfin, the typical monthly payment on a $400,000 home is a. ...
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for buyers, first time home buyers, mortgage rates, housing forecast, affordability
Friday, November 7, 2025 / by Lme Realty Group
There’s been a lot of talk lately about how a government shutdown impacts the housing market. You might be wondering: Is it causing everything to grind to a halt?
The short answer? No.
The housing market doesn’t stop. It keeps moving. Homes are still being bought and sold, contracts are still being signed, and closings are still happening. The difference is that a few parts of the process may slow down a little, but overall, the market continues to function.
Here’s What Typically Happens
Whenever the government shuts down, some federal agencies temporarily close or scale back their operations. That can cause a few hiccups in real estate, especially when it comes to processing certain types of government loans and insurance requirements:
“Applicants for FHA, VA, or USDA loans—which account for about one-quarter of all mortgage applications—may encounter significant processing delays due to agency furloughs.” - Se ...
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for buyers, for sellers, selling tips, buying tips, economy
