In Georgia, buyers can terminate a real estate contract without penalty during the Due Diligence Period — typically 7 to 14 days — for any reason, with earnest money returned in full. After that window closes, your options narrow to the financing contingency and appraisal contingency. Walk away outside those protected windows and you'll likely forfeit your earnest money, and in some cases face a specific performance lawsuit. Understanding exactly which window you're in — and what written notice is required — is the difference between a clean exit and an expensive one. Here's how each exit path works under the Georgia Association of REALTORS Purchase & Sale Agreement.

Georgia charges a state intangibles tax on every new mortgage — $1.50 for every $500 of loan amount. On a $350,000 loan, that's $1,050 showing up on your closing disclosure as a line item most buyers have never heard of. It's separate from the transfer tax, separate from title insurance, and separate from recording fees. Here's what it is, how it's calculated, who actually owes it, and what the July 2025 law change means if you're using short-term financing.

Zillow ranked Atlanta the second most buyer-friendly housing market in the country for 2026, behind only Indianapolis. The headline is real, but it flattens a metro that is actually dozens of separate markets. I work with buyers across Metro Atlanta, and the ranking is already shaping how clients think about timing. What it does not show: Atlanta's typical buyer still spends 30.5% of income on the mortgage, rates climbed back to the mid-6% range this spring, and parts of the metro are still a seller's market in practice. Median values run $374K to $380K metro-wide, inventory sits near 10-year highs, and more than half of listings have cut price. Here's what you need to know.