BUY A FIXER · DEKALB · CHEROKEE · CHATTOOGA

Buy the house with your numbers ready.

Houses that need work in DeKalb and Cherokee counties, Alabama, and Chattooga County, Georgia. Found, judged, financed and closed with your eyes open.

Why buyers call me

Four things I do on every house

I count them every week

Houses listed as AS-IS in ValleyMLS (Alabama) and GeorgiaMLS (Georgia), county by county, zeros included.

I check the loan before you offer

I spent nine years on the marketing and business-development side of the mortgage business. I’m not a lender and I don’t quote rates, but I know which loans a house can clear.

Fixer Math on every house

Repairs, holding costs, closing costs and the finished value on one page, before you write an offer.

One agent, start to finish

The person you call is the person doing the work.

THIS WEEK · WEEK ENDING 10/27/2026

AS-IS
Count

Houses listed as AS-IS, county by county. Each county is counted on its own, and a zero gets posted like any other number.

DeKalb County, AL

139For sale now
30Under contract
59Closed, last 90 days

Source: ValleyMLS · As-Is = Yes · Single family · under 40 acres · DeKalb County, AL · pulled 10/27/26

Cherokee County, AL

75For sale now
6Under contract
43Closed, last 90 days

Source: ValleyMLS · As-Is = Yes · Single family · under 40 acres · Cherokee County, AL · pulled 10/27/26

Chattooga County, GA

5For sale now
0Under contract
2Closed, last 90 days

Source: GeorgiaMLS · Ownership Conditions = As Is · Single family · under 40 acres · Chattooga County, GA · pulled [date]

Every week’s count and the monthly video →

How it works

  1. Buyer consultation. Your goals, your budget, and our written buyer agreement explained line by line.
  2. Pre-approval. With a lender who handles houses that need work. You get my full, unranked lender list.
  3. Search and tour. AS-IS alerts, with the Big Five checked at every house: roof, foundation and floors, water and moisture, electrical, and heat, air and plumbing.
  4. Fixer Math and offer. Offer from the numbers, not the asking price.
  5. Inspections to closing. Specialists, bids and every deadline tracked in writing.

Read first

Your First Home: The House Has to Qualify Too

Financing a House That Needs Work

Looking at a house that needs work?

Send me the address, or tell me what you’re looking for. I’ll set up AS-IS alerts, tell you which loans might fit, and run the Fixer Math, free.

Or call or text 256.207.8127, or email melissaharmelrealestate@gmail.com.

Melissa Harmel, Realtor®, CRS, ABR · eXp Realty, LLC · AL # 000164573-0 · GA # 451015 · Equal Housing Opportunity. Melissa Harmel is a Realtor®, not a mortgage lender, and receives no compensation for lender, inspector or contractor referrals. If you’re already working with an agent under a written agreement, please disregard. Not a solicitation.