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Georgia on My Mind.

The following table shows current 30-year Greenville mortgage refinance rates. You can use the menus to select other loan durations, alter the loan amount. or change your location.

Home Mortgage Rates in Georgia

Forsyth Park Fountain in Savannah, GA.

The vast majority of the state's growth is taking place in the northwest corner of the state, in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Other areas of the state, however, are working diligently to attract businesses with the promise of hardworking labor (Georgia is a right-to-work state), beautiful climate and low taxes. With ninety miles of Atlantic coastline, mountains in the state's northwest corner, a temperate climate, historic sites dating back to pre-colonial days, and cultural, educational and recreational opportunities sprinkled generously throughout the state, Georgia's a wonderful place to live and work, a fact recognized already by millions of Americans.

Residents of the state of Georgia enjoy low property tax rates plus below-average home prices. Median incomes do an adequate job of paying for real estate, and there is plenty of housing assistance for families who need it.

Colleges and Universities

While there are colleges and universities located in all the state's metropolitan areas, the Atlanta area is also notable for the number of colleges and universities it encompasses – currently around 45. These are located in downtown Atlanta as well as throughout the metropolitan region, and attract businesses oriented toward the student population.

Current Real Estate Trends

Atlanta Skyline.

The state of Georgia has a population of over 10 million residents, and most of these people live in the state's ten largest cities. Georgia's population is growing at a pace that makes it one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. This has resulted in a recent uptick of home construction.

The median home price in the Atlanta metro area is around $125,000, according to data released by the National Association of Realtors. This is just a rough idea of what a home can cost in the region. Significant variation exists among property types and locations. For example, short sales, foreclosures, and other distressed properties will have below-average prices. Residents of Forsyth County pay on average of $195,000, while Gilmer County has an average of just $87,000.

These numbers are encouraging for the Peach State when compared to U.S. averages that have been computed by the National Association of Realtors. The group estimates the median home in the country costs roughly $231,000. So Georgia offers homes that are tens of thousands of dollars cheaper than comparable homes elsewhere.

On a per-square-foot basis, the median Georgian home runs about $85. This is significantly below the national average, which hovers around $140.

Despite Georgia's low prices, property values there are growing. Recent market data calculate the growth at about 7%, although this rate is expected to decrease to around 4-5% in the near future.

Historical Real Estate Trends

This home price appreciation, however, slowed significantly and even reversed when the Great Recession of 2007 showed up. The mortgage crisis created a large number of unoccupied housing units in the Atlanta metro area. These houses had either been foreclosed on or were in the foreclosure process.

While real estate prices suffered nationwide due to the recession, in Georgia the impact was felt somewhat more severely because of the ongoing housing boom in the Atlanta area, driven by the influx of new residents and the expectation of millions more over the next two decades. Expected sales of newly-built homes failed to materialize, however, and some construction projects were suspended. Housing prices are stabiled, though, with minor gains being recorded in some areas. Median housing prices in the Atlanta area were depressed from the highs they recorded in the middle of the decade, with the median home sale price at just under $125,000 at the end of 2009, according to the National Association of Realtors. Actual sales vary widely from this figure, though, since many of the sales recorded were for distressed properties (short sales, sales to avoid foreclosure, etc.). This is an ideal situation, though, for investors who are seeking to spruce up and rent distressed housing. In the wider metropolitan area, average prices run from a low of $86,200 in Gilmer County to a high of $194,250 in Forsyth County. These prices compare very favorably with the Realtors’ report of average prices nationwide (just under $175,000) and in the South (low 150's).

The opportunities for growth, especially in the Atlanta area, were seen in the 1980's and 1990's, spurring an unprecedented surge in residential construction. When the bubble burst in 2008, there was an enormous inventory of unoccupied housing in the Atlanta area, much of it foreclosed or in the foreclosure process. While a boon for investors looking for bargains in an area where there's still growth and a demand for housing, it posed problems for homeowners trying to sell their houses, and investors seeking to “flip” distressed properties. That said, as home ownership rates declined over the past 15 years from 71.8% in 2002 to 62.3% in 2016, population continued to grow. The cheap home inventory led to fantastic returns for landlords.

The S&P/Case-Shiller Atlanta Home Price Index shows a very steep drop for residential properties in that city, beginning in August of 2007. The downward trend did not bottom out until March of 2012. When the dust settled, it was a 40% decline, meaning that homes in the Atlanta area had lost almost half of their value in less than five years. The index reached its pre-Recession level in the spring of 2017, and has been increasing ever since.

During the housing debacle, foreclosures became a problem in the Peach State, according to Georgia Watch, a non-profit 501(c)(3) group that studies important issues in the state. There were more than 48,000 foreclosures in just a year and a half, from the beginning of 2008 until the midpoint of 2009. Past due mortgages during this time period numbered almost a quarter of a million. There were half a million mortgages either underwater or nearly underwater, which of course was largely due to the decline in home values, but rising unemployment also contributed. These difficulties placed Georgia in the top ten for worst foreclosure states.

According to Georgia Watch's research, Fulton, Gwinnett and DeKalb Counties were the hardest hit in the state. They generated over 20,000 combined foreclosures every month at the height of the crisis.

Despite Georgia's struggles with foreclosures during the real estate mess, the state has seen a recovery. Currently, the Peach State's foreclosure rate is about 1 home for every 3,373, according to RealtyTrac, an organization that follows home delinquencies. The national average is 1 out of 2,079, which puts Georgia in a much better position on this issue now.

Places to Live

Metropolitan Areas

GA Rank US Rank Geography 2016 Pop 2010 Pop Change % △
1 9 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell 5,789,700 5,286,728 502,972 9.51%

2

93 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metro Area 594,919 564,873 30,046 5.32%
3 100 Chattanooga, TN-GA Metro Area 551,632 528,143 23,489 4.45%
4 137 Savannah 384,024 347,611 36,413 10.48%
5 161 Columbus, GA-AL Metro Area 308,755 294,865 13,890 4.71%
6 196 Macon-Bibb County 229,182 232,293 -3,111 -1.34%
7 217 Athens-Clarke County 205,290 192,541 12,749 6.62%
8 223 Gainesville 196,637 179,684 16,953 9.43%
9 227 Warner Robins 190,028 179,605 10,423 5.80%
10 272 Albany 152,219 157,308 -5,089 -3.24%
11 291 Valdosta 144,676 139,588 5,088 3.65%
12 292 Dalton 143,904 142,227 1,677 1.18%
13 343 Brunswick 116,784 112,370 4,414 3.93%
14 399 Rome 96,560 96,317 243 0.25%
15 443 Hinesville 81,007 77,917 3,090 3.97%
16 466 Statesboro 74,722 70,217 4,505 6.42%
17 480 LaGrange 70,005 67,044 2,961 4.42%
18 502 Jefferson 64,615 60,485 4,130 6.83%
19 544 Dublin 57,021 58,414 -1,393 -2.38%
20 545 Calhoun 56,904 55,186 1,718 3.11%
21 556 Waycross 54,909 55,070 -161 -0.29%
22 567 Milledgeville 53,784 55,149 -1,365 -2.48%
23 572 St. Marys 53,008 50,513 2,495 4.94%
24 630 Moultrie 45,708 45,498 210 0.46%
25 638 Thomasville 45,248 44,720 528 1.18%
26 650 Cornelia 44,246 43,041 1,205 2.80%
27 663 Douglas 43,012 42,356 656 1.55%
28 675 Cedartown 41,776 41,475 301 0.73%
29 683 Tifton 40,828 40,118 710 1.77%
30 750 Vidalia 36,256 36,346 -90 -0.25%
31 760 Americus 35,487 37,829 -2,342 -6.19%
32 817 Jesup 30,104 30,099 5 0.02%
33 830 Eufaula, AL-GA Micro Area 28,300 29,970 -1,670 -5.57%
34 845 Bainbridge 26,822 27,842 -1,020 -3.66%
35 851 Thomaston 26,335 27,153 -818 -3.01%
36 858 Toccoa 25,751 26,175 -424 -1.62%
37 867 Summerville 24,824 26,015 -1,191 -4.58%
38 879 Cordele 22,721 23,439 -718 -3.06%
39 920 Fitzgerald 17,243 17,634 -391 -2.22%

Favored Cities in Georgia

Atlanta

Interstate 75 in Downtown Atlanta at Night.

The largest city in the state of Georgia is Atlanta, which is also the biggest metro area. The population of Atlanta is 421,000, while the metro area is roughly 5.8 million. The region's economy is driven by several industries. The international airport, which lies just outside of Atlanta city limits, is one of the world's busiest. Delta Air Lines is a major employer. There is a large media presence in the city with both CNN and TBS having headquarters there. Other companies located in Atlanta include The Coca-Cola Company, Home Depot, and Chick-fil-A.

Atlanta has a vibrant performing arts tradition with several professional associations, including The Atlanta Opera and Atlanta Ballet. There are also many museums in the area, including the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia. The world's largest indoor aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium, is in the city.

Atlanta has professional baseball, basketball & football teams in the Braves, Hawks and Falcons.

The median home price in Atlanta is $125,000. The U.S. Census Bureau reports a household median income of $49,000. Thus, we see a home price-to-income ratio of 2.55, which is outstanding.

Augusta

Augusta Skyline.

The second-largest city in Georgia is Augusta, internationally known for hosting The Masters golf tournament each spring. The city has a downtown area that is on the National Register of Historic Places for its pre-Civil War buildings. Top employers in the area include Fort Gordon, a U.S. Army base, and Augusta University.

August has a median income of $39,000 and a median home value of $130,000. Thus, we see a price-to-income metric of 3.33, which is pretty good.

Columbus

Park in Columbus, Georgia.

The third-largest city in the state of Georgia is Columbus. With a population of over 200,000, the city is home to Fort Benning, one of the largest U.S. Army bases in the world. The military installation is by far the largest employer in the area. Columbus is also home to many museums, including the National Civil War Naval Museum, and several arenas for performing arts.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports a median household income of $44,000 and a household income of $136,000 for Columbus. Putting these together, we see a metric of 3.09.

Macon

Macon Skyline.

Next in line is Macon, home to 160,000 residents. The city is known for its many festivals, including International Cherry Blossom Festival, held every March. There are also historic sites and museums, including one for the Allman Brothers Band, which was located in Macon in the early 1970's.

Macon has a median household income of $30,000. Combined with a median home value of $135,000, we get a price-to-income number of 4.5.

Savannah

Savannah, Georgia Skyline.

Residents of Savannah have access to the Atlantic coast, as the city is the only one in our survey to be located there. With a history in both the Civil War and the War of Independence, Savannah has large swaths of land included on the list of National Historic Landmarks. The Savannah Music Festival is held in the city every year.

Major drives of the economy in Savannah include the city's seaport, which is sees a large amount of container traffic. International Paper has a large presence, and Gulfstream Aerospace also provides jobs.

Savannah has a median home price of $190,000, and a household income of $38,000. Hence, we get a price-to-income ratio of 5.0.

Athens

Athens, Georgia Skyline.Athens is located further north, and is home to nearly 120,000. The city is home to the Georgia Museum of Art, the state's official art museum. It also has the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and several Civil War sites. More modern attractions include restaurants, bars, and music venues.

The local economy has large pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. The University of Georgia is a major employer. Hill Street Press is headquartered in the city.

Athens has a median home price of $165,000 and a median income of $34,000. These numbers produce a price-to-income ratio of 4.85.

Other Areas to Consider

The fastest growing region of the Peach State is Forsyth County, located roughly 20 miles northeast of Atlanta. The population is roughly 222,000. The county seat is Cumming, with less than 7,000 people. The commute time from the southwestern portion of the county to downtown Atlanta is about 45 minutes.

The median value of an owner-occupied house is roughly $270,000, according to the Census Bureau. With a median household income of $90,000, we find a metric of exactly 3.0, slightly higher than Atlanta's.

Lower home prices can be found in Berrien County, which is located in the southern part of the state. It's closer to Jacksonville, Florida than Atlanta. The population of Berrien County is approximately 20,000. Jobs are created by administrative, management, education, and construction industries.

The median home value in the county is $86,000, a tremendous bargain. The median income, however, is a very low $33,000, less than half that of Forsyth County's. These numbers produce a metric of 2.61, very close to Atlanta's ratio.

Georgia Census Data

As of July 1, 2016 the state of Georgia has an estimated population of 10,310,371 across 57,513.59 mi² yielding a population density of 179.27 people per mi² across the state.

The following table highlights the July 1, 2016 populations of cities, towns & Census Designated Places (CDP) with over 5,000 residents based on United States Census Bureau estimates. For Census Designated Places (CDP) where there was no population estimate available for 2016, the 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates data was used.

All table columns are sortable. Click on the column headers to sort by that column. Click again to sort low to high. Cities with higher levels of population growth typically see the increased demand drive faster real estate price appreciation.

Rank Geography County 2016 Pop 2010 Pop Change % △ Land mi² Pop Den mi²
1 Atlanta Fulton & DeKalb 472,522 420,003 52,519 12.50% 133.15 3,548.79
2 Columbus Muscogee 197,485 189,885 7,600 4.00% 216.39 912.63
3 Augusta Richmond 197,081 198,844 -1,763 -0.89% 324.33 607.66
4 Macon Bibb & Jones 152,555 91,351 61,204 67.00% 249.96 610.32
5 Savannah Chatham 146,763 136,286 10,477 7.69% 103.15 1,422.81
6 Athens Clarke 123,371 115,452 7,919 6.86% 117.8 1,047.29
7 Sandy Springs Fulton 105,703 93,853 11,850 12.63% 37.64 2,808.26
8 Roswell Fulton 94,598 88,346 6,252 7.08% 40.72 2,323.13
9 Johns Creek Fulton 83,873 76,728 7,145 9.31% 30.73 2,729.35
10 Warner Robins Houston & Peach 74,388 66,588 7,800 11.71% 35.07 2,121.13
11 Albany Dougherty 73,801 77,434 -3,633 -4.69% 55.13 1,338.67
12 Alpharetta Fulton 65,338 57,551 7,787 13.53% 26.91 2,428.02
13 Marietta Cobb 60,941 56,579 4,362 7.71% 23.08 2,640.42
14 Smyrna Cobb 56,664 51,271 5,393 10.52% 15.35 3,691.47
15 Valdosta Lowndes 56,474 54,518 1,956 3.59% 35.83 1,576.17
16 Brookhaven DeKalb 52,444 40,456 11,988 29.63% 12 4,370.33
17 Dunwoody DeKalb 48,884 46,267 2,617 5.66% 12.94 3,777.74
18 Peachtree Corners Gwinnett 42,773 34,364 8,409 24.47% 16 2,673.31
19 Gainesville Hall 40,000 33,804 6,196 18.33% 31.93 1,252.74
Mableton CDP Cobb 39,589 37,115 2,474 6.67% 20.57 1,924.60
20 Milton Fulton 38,411 32,661 5,750 17.61% 38.52 997.17
21 Newnan Coweta 37,912 33,039 4,873 14.75% 18.32 2,069.43
Martinez CDP Columbia 36,895 35,795 1,100 3.07% 14.51 2,542.73
22 Rome Floyd 36,407 36,303 104 0.29% 30.91 1,177.84
23 East Point Fulton 35,471 33,712 1,759 5.22% 14.67 2,417.93
24 Tucker DeKalb 35,322 1,827 33,495 1833.33% 19.97 1,768.75
25 Peachtree City Fayette 35,186 34,364 822 2.39% 24.54 1,433.82
26 Dalton Whitfield 34,077 33,128 949 2.86% 20.54 1,659.06
Evans CDP Columbia 33,730 29,011 4,719 16.27% 25.27 1,334.78
27 Kennesaw Cobb 33,627 29,783 3,844 12.91% 9.44 3,562.18
28 Hinesville Liberty 33,577 33,437 140 0.42% 20.37 1,648.36
29 Douglasville Douglas 33,252 30,961 2,291 7.40% 22.46 1,480.50
Redan CDP DeKalb 32,614 33,015 -401 -1.21% 9.61 3,393.76
30 Statesboro Bulloch 31,419 28,422 2,997 10.54% 13.5 2,327.33
31 Woodstock Cherokee 30,929 23,896 7,033 29.43% 11.16 2,771.42
32 Lawrenceville Gwinnett 30,782 28,546 2,236 7.83% 13.39 2,298.88
33 LaGrange Troup 30,771 29,588 1,183 4.00% 39.51 778.82
34 Duluth Gwinnett 29,331 26,600 2,731 10.27% 9.99 2,936.04
35 Stockbridge Henry 28,677 25,636 3,041 11.86% 13.31 2,154.55
36 Chamblee DeKalb 28,306 9,892 18,414 186.15% 3.18 8,901.26
Tucker CDP DeKalb 27,761 27,581 180 0.65% 11.98 2,317.28
37 Carrollton Carroll 26,562 24,388 2,174 8.91% 22.29 1,191.66
38 Canton Cherokee 26,340 22,958 3,382 14.73% 18.59 1,416.89
39 McDonough Henry 23,964 22,084 1,880 8.51% 12.71 1,885.44
40 Pooler Chatham 23,744 19,140 4,604 24.05% 29.39 807.89
41 Griffin Spalding 22,928 23,643 -715 -3.02% 13.92 1,647.13
Candler-McAfee CDP DeKalb 22,835 23,025 -190 -0.83% 7.01 3,257.49
42 Decatur DeKalb 22,813 19,335 3,478 17.99% 4.27 5,342.62
43 Acworth Cobb 22,418 20,425 1,993 9.76% 8.24 2,720.63
44 Sugar Hill Gwinnett 22,197 18,522 3,675 19.84% 10.6 2,094.06
45 Union City Fulton 20,919 19,456 1,463 7.52% 19.11 1,094.66
46 Cartersville Bartow 20,753 19,731 1,022 5.18% 29.15 711.94
47 Snellville Gwinnett 19,738 18,242 1,496 8.20% 10.45 1,888.80
48 Forest Park Clayton 19,731 18,468 1,263 6.84% 9.28 2,126.19
49 Suwanee Gwinnett 19,421 15,355 4,066 26.48% 10.88 1,785.02
50 Milledgeville Baldwin 18,933 17,715 1,218 6.88% 20.41 927.63
51 Thomasville Thomas 18,826 18,413 413 2.24% 14.95 1,259.26
North Druid Hills CDP DeKalb 18,385 18,947 -562 -2.97% 5.04 3,647.82
52 St. Marys Camden 18,088 17,121 967 5.65% 22.51 803.55
53 Fayetteville Fayette 17,519 15,945 1,574 9.87% 10.89 1,608.72
Lithia Springs CDP Douglas 17,246 15,491 1,755 11.33% 13.6 1,268.09
North Decatur CDP DeKalb 17,040 16,698 342 2.05% 4.98 3,421.69
54 Tifton Tift 16,836 16,350 486 2.97% 12.49 1,347.96
55 Norcross Gwinnett 16,787 9,116 7,671 84.15% 4.64 3,617.89
56 Kingsland Camden 16,720 15,946 774 4.85% 42.72 391.39
57 Calhoun Gordon 16,445 15,650 795 5.08% 14.93 1,101.47
58 Brunswick Glynn 16,346 15,383 963 6.26% 17.07 957.59
59 Riverdale Clayton 16,258 15,134 1,124 7.43% 4.53 3,588.96
Belvedere Park CDP DeKalb 16,214 15,152 1,062 7.01% 4.92 3,295.53
60 Perry Houston & Peach 16,200 13,839 2,361 17.06% 26.18 618.79
61 Dublin Laurens 16,104 16,201 -97 -0.60% 15.49 1,039.64
62 Conyers Rockdale 15,919 15,195 724 4.76% 11.66 1,365.27
63 Americus Sumter 15,854 17,041 -1,187 -6.97% 11.24 1,410.50
64 Winder Barrow 15,777 14,099 1,678 11.90% 12.41 1,271.31
65 Villa Rica Carroll & Douglas 15,201 13,956 1,245 8.92% 14.24 1,067.49
66 College Park Fulton & Clayton 15,035 13,942 1,093 7.84% 10.07 1,493.05
67 Powder Springs Cobb 14,956 13,940 1,016 7.29% 7.17 2,085.91
Wilmington Island CDP Chatham 14,781 15,138 -357 -2.36% 8.2 1,802.56
68 Moultrie Colquitt 14,361 14,268 93 0.65% 16.34 878.89
69 Buford Gwinnett & Hall 14,356 12,225 2,131 17.43% 17.01 843.97
70 Fairburn Fulton 14,182 12,950 1,232 9.51% 16.85 841.66
71 Waycross Ware & Pierce 14,089 14,649 -560 -3.82% 11.71 1,203.16
72 Covington Newton 13,977 13,118 859 6.55% 15.46 904.08
Druid Hills CDP DeKalb 13,928 14,568 -640 -4.39% 4.18 3,332.06
73 Monroe Walton 13,478 13,234 244 1.84% 15.12 891.40
74 Grovetown Columbia 13,463 11,216 2,247 20.03% 4.82 2,793.15
St. Simons CDP Glynn 13,287 12,743 544 4.27% 15.94 833.56
75 Dallas Paulding 13,108 11,544 1,564 13.55% 7.06 1,856.66
76 Clarkston DeKalb 12,742 7,554 5,188 68.68% 1.09 11,689.91
Mountain Park CDP Gwinnett 12,702 11,554 1,148 9.94% 5.67 2,240.21
77 Lilburn Gwinnett 12,675 11,596 1,079 9.30% 6.32 2,005.54
Georgetown CDP Chatham 12,600 11,823 777 6.57% 8.23 1,530.98
78 Richmond Hill Bryan 12,482 9,281 3,201 34.49% 14.44 864.40
79 Bainbridge Decatur 12,274 12,697 -423 -3.33% 18.8 652.87
80 Douglas Coffee 11,727 11,589 138 1.19% 13.39 875.80
81 Loganville Walton & Gwinnett 11,674 10,458 1,216 11.63% 7.34 1,590.46
82 Holly Springs Cherokee 11,281 9,189 2,092 22.77% 6.57 1,717.05
Vinings CDP Cobb 11,224 9,734 1,490 15.31% 3.13 3,585.94
84 Cusseta Chattahoochee 10,922 11,267 -345 -3.06% 248.74 43.91
85 Cordele Crisp 10,856 11,147 -291 -2.61% 10.14 1,070.61
86 Vidalia Toombs & Montgomery 10,703 10,473 230 2.20% 17.27 619.75
Scottdale CDP DeKalb 10,672 10,631 41 0.39% 3.5 3,049.14
87 Doraville DeKalb 10,501 8,330 2,171 26.06% 3.58 2,933.24
88 Jefferson Jackson 10,486 9,432 1,054 11.17% 21.67 483.89
89 Braselton Gwinnett, Jackson, Hall & Barrow 10,234 7,511 2,723 36.25% 12.41 824.66
90 Jesup Wayne 10,170 10,214 -44 -0.43% 16.41 619.74
91 Rincon Effingham 9,935 8,836 1,099 12.44% 8.86 1,121.33
92 Fort Oglethorpe Catoosa & Walker 9,839 9,263 576 6.22% 13.89 708.35
93 Cedartown Polk 9,799 9,750 49 0.50% 8.69 1,127.62
94 Cairo Grady 9,570 9,607 -37 -0.39% 9.69 987.62
Panthersville CDP DeKalb 9,367 9,749 -382 -3.92% 3.67 2,552.32
Fair Oaks CDP Cobb 9,109 8,225 884 10.75% 1.97 4,623.86
95 Thomaston Upson 8,962 9,170 -208 -2.27% 9.53 940.40
96 Fitzgerald Ben Hill & Irwin 8,927 9,053 -126 -1.39% 8.86 1,007.56
97 Garden City Chatham 8,900 8,778 122 1.39% 13.7 649.64
98 Fort Valley Peach 8,643 9,815 -1,172 -11.94% 7.49 1,153.94
Country Club Estates CDP Glynn 8,568 8,545 23 0.27% 4.64 1,846.55
Irondale CDP Clayton 8,488 7,446 1,042 13.99% 3.15 2,694.60
99 Toccoa Stephens 8,412 8,491 -79 -0.93% 9.5 885.47
100 McRae-Helena Telfair & Wheeler 8,338 650 7,688 1182.77% 4.34 1,921.20
Skidaway Island CDP Chatham 8,042 8,341 -299 -3.58% 16.46 488.58
Fairview CDP Walker 8,026 6,769 1,257 18.57% 7.51 1,068.71
101 Port Wentworth Chatham 7,933 5,359 2,574 48.03% 16.45 482.25
102 Centerville Houston 7,615 7,148 467 6.53% 3.94 1,932.74
Gresham Park CDP DeKalb 7,607 7,432 175 2.35% 2.8 2,716.79
103 Auburn Barrow & Gwinnett 7,603 6,887 716 10.40% 6.45 1,178.76
104 Hampton Henry 7,532 6,987 545 7.80% 5.61 1,342.60
105 Swainsboro Emanuel 7,486 7,277 209 2.87% 12.58 595.07
106 Morrow Clayton 7,276 6,445 831 12.89% 3.38 2,152.66
Dock Junction CDP Glynn 7,272 7,721 -449 -5.82% 9.41 772.79
107 Tyrone Fayette 7,215 6,879 336 4.88% 12.47 578.59
Whitemarsh Island CDP Chatham 7,202 6,792 410 6.04% 5.65 1,274.69
108 LaFayette Walker 7,159 7,121 38 0.53% 8.17 876.25
109 Austell Cobb & Douglas 7,139 6,581 558 8.48% 5.97 1,195.81
110 Flowery Branch Hall 7,073 5,679 1,394 24.55% 6.32 1,119.15
111 Commerce Jackson 6,788 6,544 244 3.73% 11.71 579.68
112 Barnesville Lamar 6,696 6,755 -59 -0.87% 6.07 1,103.13
113 Thomson McDuffie 6,678 6,778 -100 -1.48% 4.39 1,521.18
114 Hapeville Fulton 6,627 6,373 254 3.99% 2.41 2,749.79
115 Eatonton Putnam 6,555 6,480 75 1.16% 20.51 319.60
116 Dahlonega Lumpkin 6,437 5,242 1,195 22.80% 8.59 749.36
117 Bremen Haralson & Carroll 6,421 6,227 194 3.12% 10.49 612.11
118 Lovejoy Clayton 6,367 6,422 -55 -0.86% 2.6 2,448.85
119 Stone Mountain DeKalb 6,328 5,802 526 9.07% 1.7 3,722.35
120 Cumming Forsyth 6,225 5,430 795 14.64% 6.09 1,022.17
121 Sylvester Worth 6,064 6,188 -124 -2.00% 6.17 982.82
122 Locust Grove Henry 5,940 5,402 538 9.96% 10.67 556.70
Lakeview CDP Catoosa & Walker 5,878 4,839 1,039 21.47% 2.3 2,555.65
123 Waynesboro Burke 5,701 5,766 -65 -1.13% 5.42 1,051.85
124 Sandersville Washington 5,700 5,912 -212 -3.59% 12.72 448.11
125 Dacula Gwinnett 5,632 4,442 1,190 26.79% 4.96 1,135.48
126 Hawkinsville Pulaski 5,409 4,589 820 17.87% 5.04 1,073.21
127 Adel Cook 5,355 5,334 21 0.39% 8.06 664.39
128 Camilla Mitchell 5,170 5,360 -190 -3.54% 6.21 832.53
129 Eastman Dodge 5,157 4,962 195 3.93% 5.42 951.48
130 Byron Peach & Houston 5,133 4,512 621 13.76% 8.63 594.79
Conley CDP Clayton 5,125 6,228 -1,103 -17.71% 1.92 2,669.27
131 Glennville Tattnall 5,098 3,569 1,529 42.84% 6.55 778.32
132 Jackson Butts 5,071 5,045 26 0.52% 6.23 813.96
133 Cochran Bleckley 5,036 5,150 -114 -2.21% 4.59 1,097.17

Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division
Release Date: May 2017.

Qualifying for a Home Loan in Georgia

Conforming Mortgages

As of 2024 the conforming loan limit across the United States for single-family homes is set to $766,550, with a ceiling of 150% that amount in areas where median home values are higher. In the past Green county had a slightly higher loan limits than the rest of the state, though when the overall limit was raised in 2021 the county was at the new minimum level so the baseline conforming loan limts (CLL) have applied statewide since. The 2022 nationwide limit was lifted 18.05%, the 2023 limit was raised another 12.21%, and the limit was raised 5.56% for 2024. Dual unit homes now have a limit of $981,500, triple unit homes have a limit of $1,186,350 & quadruple unit homes have a limit of $1,474,400.

Loans above these limits are called jumbo loans & they typically come with slightly higher interest rates than conforming mortgages. Most borrowers across the state use conforming mortgages, but some exclusive Atlanta neighborhoods like Buckhead & Druid Hills may require jumbo loans. Conforming loan limits across the state are published in the below table.

Several different types of home loans are available in the Peach State. Fixed-rate loans are very common, and the terms include thirty, twenty, fifteen, and ten years. The longer the life of the mortgage, the lower the monthly payment will be, which is why the 30-year loan is the most popular. The downside of this, however, is that the APR is higher compared to shorter-term loans. The difference can be as large as a full percentage point.

In addition to conventional 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, lenders offer a wide variety of adjustable rate mortgages (ARM’s). While these instruments have lost some of their attractiveness during the recession, there are still circumstances where they offer the only way for a borrower to qualify. Properly structured (that is, with strict limits on how much the rate can fluctuate), such loans are still a legitimate way for borrowers to purchase a home and start building equity while establishing their credit so as to qualify for conventional loans upon the ARM’s expiration. These loans provide interest rates that fluctuate, as the name implies. The APR is usually fixed for an initial term, such as three, five, seven or ten years. Then the rate adjusts depending on the performance of a referenced index rate, usually once per year; but it can change more frequently. The loan agreement may state in detail how frequently the APR can change, and it may also include a rate cap to prevent large changes.

Balloon mortgages are another route for aspiring homeowners. Balloon mortgages are when a large portion of the borrowed principle is repaid in a single payment at the end of the loan period. Balloon loans are not common for most residential buyers, but are more common for commercial loans and people with significant financial assets.

A few lenders in the Peach State offer interest-only loans, but usually only for periods of three years. These are mortgages where payments are applied only to interest for a period of time. The loan's principal isn't paid down, so the monthly payments are very low. The low monthly payments only lasts a few years, however. Typically, it's about three years. After this period, monthly payments spike because the loan's principal hasn't been reduced & the remainder of the loan must be paid off in a compressed period of time. For example, on a 3 year IO 30-year loan, the first 3 years are interest only payments, then the loan principal must be paid in full in the subsequent 27 years.

When qualifying for a loan, a credit score of 720 or better can help secure a favorable loan. Some mortgage lenders in the Atlanta area have approved borrowers with credit scores around 640. The best rates and deals will be obtained with a score above 740. There is a lot of competition among lenders, and this environment can create nice perks for borrowers. For example, some banks will offer special deals on closing costs for borrowers who qualify. The cost might be added to the mortgage or the bank will pay the closing costs but add a few basis points to the APR.

A debt-to-income ratio of 40% and a down payment of 20% are what most banks want to see on a home loan application. They will accept worse numbers, but fees and APR's could go up as a result. Also, a down payment of less than 20% typically results in required mortgage insurance. This down payment requirement does not apply for Federal assistance programs such as FHA, in which applicants can have a lower credit score and income but still receive financing.

The piggyback loan is another type of mortgage which is simply two mortgages in one. The piggyback loan can eliminate the need for private mortgage insurance by covering 80% of the home's value with the first loan, while the second loan helps to pay for part of the down payment.

Government Programs

Federal Assistance Programs

Prospective home buyers who don't find what they're looking for at one of the state's private banks may want to take a look at some of the mortgage options the federal government offers. One of them is the loan program at the Veterans Administration, which provides mortgages with zero down. On top of that great deal, VA loans do not require private mortgage insurance. The agency does, however, charge a funding fee, and this varies from 1.2% to 3.3%. Making a voluntary down payment will reduce this charge. And in case you're wondering, yes you do have to be a qualified veteran to get one of these unbeatable deals.

If you're not a vet, you may want to consider the Federal Housing Administration's home loan services. The FHA offers loans to people who have a credit score of at least 580 and who can put at least 3.5% down. The government agency also offers mortgages for lower credit scores, but it requires more money down with these loans.

USDA loans can help people with low incomes in rural parts of the state qualify for a subsidized low-interest loan. Given the low population density throughout most of the state, most areas qualify.

State Assistance Programs

There are several housing assistance programs available to residents of the Peach State. The Georgia Dream Homeownership Program, provides low APR's on 30-year fixed-rate loans to borrowers who meet certain income qualifications. The service also provides help with closing costs and down payments.

The Georgia Air and Army National Guards provide housing assistance to members via The Welcome Home Program. These services include loans for down payments to offer 100% financing on fixed-rate loans, help with mortgage payments in the event of unemployment for up to 6 months, and below-market APR's.

The state's PEN Program offers mortgage assistance for protectors, educators, and nurses. Registered nurses, certified teachers and others employed by a county school board, police officers, firefighters and military personnel are offered a chance at home ownership through the PEN Program. Down payment help of up to $7,500 is available to buyers who can put just $500 down. PEN funds are offered as an interest-free loan in conjunction with the Georgia Dream program

Help with second mortgages is also available to Georgians. Eligible projects include remodeling to provide access for disabled persons, making a home more energy efficient, or the purchase of a property by surviving spouses of military personnel or other “protector” groups.

In addition, some localities might offer additional incentives to homeownership.

Brasstown Bald Observatory.

Natural Disasters

Earthquakes

Most of Georgia has a very low earthquake risk, but the northern border of the state has a low to moderate earthquake risk. Here are lists of counties with an earthquake list above very low.

  • Low risk: Bartow, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Pickens, Rabun, Towns, Union
  • Moderate risk: Catoosa, Murray, Walker, Whitfield

Standard rental and homeowner insurance policies typically do not cover earthquake damage, though they usually cover losses caused by fires which resulted from an earthquake. You can supplement your homeowner's insurance with an earthquake policy.

Flood Insurance

Much of the state of Georgia has a low to very low risk of flooding, with the Southeast portion of the state & coastal counties having higher risk levels. Here are counties where flooding risk is above very low.

  • Low Flooding Risk: Bacon, Baldwin, Bartow, Bleckley, Burke, Carroll, Chattahoochee, Cobb, Columbia, Dade, DeKalb, Early, Emanuel, Fayette, Habersham, Hancock, Heard, Henry, Houston, Jefferson, Jones, Lowndes, Lumpkin, Macon, Monroe, Murray, Muscogee, Newton, Pickens, Pulaski, Quitman, Spalding, Stephens, Towns, Treutlen, Turner, White, Wilkinson
  • Moderate Flooding Risk: Atkinson, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Bulloch, Butts, Calhoun, Candler, Catoosa, Charlton, Chattooga, Clayton, Coffee, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Evans, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Harris, Irwin, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Lanier, Lee, Long, Miller, Pierce, Polk, Putnam, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Sumter, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Union, Walker, Walton, Ware, Wayne, Wheeler, Whitfield, Worth
  • High Flooding Risk: Appling, Baker, Cook, Crisp, Dougherty, Jenkins, Liberty
  • Very High Flooding Risk: Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Clinch, Effingham, Glynn, McIntosh, Mitchell, Montgomery, Seminole
  • Moderate hurricane storm surge risk: Camden, Chatham
  • High hurricane storm surge risk: Bryan, Liberty
  • Very high hurricane storm surge risk: Glynn, McIntosh

Homeowner's insurance policies typically do not cover flooding.

Home buyers with mortgages in high-risk areas are required to buy flood insurance. Most flood insurance policies are sold by the United States federal government through The National Flood Insurance Program. Under-priced flood insurance in high-risk areas act as a subsidy to wealthy homeowners.

“The NFIP does not charge nearly enough to cover the expected costs of its liabilities. The assessments are not sufficient to build any buffer to cover an extraordinary year, such as what occurred with Hurricane Katrina in 2005 or Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Because homeowners don't incur the full cost of building in a flood zone we end up with more houses there than if homeowners incurred the full cost of the flood risk, which exacerbates the government's costs in the next disaster.”

 

Typically, homes built after 2002, when building code regulations tightened, are subject to lower insurance rates than older homes. On the other hand, homes without hurricane straps, with roofs that do not meet current standards for wind, with older plumbing or with outdated electrical systems may be difficult €“ or very expensive €“ to insure.

Homeowners who live in lower risk areas & are not required to purchase flood insurance heavily cross-subsidize homeowners who are in areas where floods are more common.

Wildfires

The risk of wildfires is considered very high across much of the state. Fire damages from wildfires & other types of fires are typically covered in most homeowner's insurance policies. If you own expensive items you may want to keep an up-to-date household inventory list which lists specific valuables, such as fine art & jewelry.

Tornadoes

The area close to the western border the state is considered to have a moderate tornado risk. A basic homeowners policy should cover financial damages from tornadoes.

Hail

Hail damage is not uncommon across the state. Damage from hail is typically covered by home insurance policies.

Helen Square in North Georgia.

Laws Particular to the Peach State

Property Taxes

Property in the state of Georgia is assessed at the county level, and taxes are collected by the same governments. In most counties, this tax is due in December of each year. The effective property tax rate in the state is estimated to be around 0.86%. This is below the national average of 1.2%. With Georgia's 0.86% rate and low housing prices, the average property tax payment in dollar terms is around $1,400, another low figure.

Despite the state average, counties can vary quite a bit in what residents pay. Putnam County, for example, has an effective tax rate of just 0.58%, while residents of Liberty County must pay 1.22%, more than twice as much.

Foreclosures

Georgia follows the non-judicial process to execute foreclosures. This simply means that homes can be foreclosed on without going through the court system. The advantage of this process is that it's quicker and cheaper than the so-called judicial foreclosure process, whereby a mortgage lender is required to appear before a judge and receive court approval to seize and auction off the house.

As part of the mortgage process, the borrower executes a “security deed,” which essentially is a contract transferring title of the property to the lender if the borrower defaults, without having to file suit or go to court.

Many mortgages allow a lender to start foreclosure proceedings after just two missed payments in the Peach State; but in practice banks won't start until at least five payments have been skipped.

Georgia law allows for deficiency judgments, which means that if your home is foreclosed on, and the auction price doesn't cover the remaining mortgage balance, the bank can file a suit in court seeking every dime in your financial accounts. In non-recourse states, a mortgage lender can only pursue the collateral that is listed in the loan agreement. Typically, this is the home itself and nothing more.

Additional Resources

A wide variety of homes are available throughout the Peach State at below-average prices. Even the Atlanta metro area has affordable homes, and median incomes do a good job of keeping up with the cost of real estate. For more information on the state's housing market, point your browser to the following sites:

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