Atlanta Realty Blog

Historic Roswell’s Holiday Celebration on the Square 2011 ~ posted by Melanie Bailey

Roswell’s Holiday Celebration on the Square 2011

Come join in the holiday spirit with the entire family! Roswell’s annual lighting of Historic Town Square will take place on Saturday, December 3. The celebration begins at 5 p.m. and includes performances by the Hillside Elementary singers and the River Eves Choir, Esther Jackson Chorus and Roswell Ramblers Almost Singers followed by a special reading of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas with Mayor Jere Wood.

Santa Claus will also make a special visit to the Square from the North Pole. Pictures with Santa will be available at a nominal charge. Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa by Starbucks or coffee during the festivities.

Once the Square is aglow, children 12 and under can hop on the holiday bus to Roswell Adult Recreation Center to shop for gifts at Santa’s Secret Gift Shop. The Gift Shop is located at 830 Grimes Bridge Road and will be open on Saturday, December 3 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. and on Sunday, December 4 from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. All the gifts at Santa’s Secret Gift Shop are priced affordably and some of the items are handmade by the Roswell Ramblers Senior Citizen Club. Free gift wrapping is available. Visit with Santa at the gift shop on Sunday. Proceeds from the Gift Shop benefit the Roswell Ramblers Senior Citizen Club.

 

For more information please contact Mary Rummell at 770-641-3950 or visit the City of Roswell website at www.roswellgov.com

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Georgia Christmas Tree Farms ~ posted by Melanie Bailey

It's that time of year again!  We have compiled a list of Christmas Trees Farms in the area.  Happy Holidays!

Pick Your Own Pumpkin ~ Georgia Pumpkin Patches ~ posted by Melanie Bailey

Enjoy the changing of the seasons and go pick your very own pumpkin! Always call before visiting to confirm hours and location.

 

GEORGIA PUMPKIN PATCHES

Adams Farm

1486 Georgia Hwy 54 West, Fayetteville, GA ~ 770-461-9395

www.AdamsFarmFayettevilleGa.com

Take delight in finding your own special pumpkin at this farm. Educational tours are also available.

Berry Patch Farms

786 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock, GA ~ 770-926-0561

www.BerryPatchFarms.net

Pick out your pumpkins & take a hayride back to get some apple cider, a homemade fried pie, boiled peanuts and popcorn. Children will also enjoy the playground and baby farm animals.

The Kinsley Family Farmas Tree Farm

7170 Jot-em Down Road, Gainesville, GA ~ 770-887-6028

www.KinseyFamilyFarm.com

Celebrate and enjoy the fresh air of the harvest season! Venture around the farm on a scenic hayride, and fire off rounds from the apple cannon! This barn has thousands of pumpkins in all sizes, shapes and colors.

Uncle Bob's Pumpkin Patch

3781 E Happy Valley Circle, Newnan, GA ~ 770-253-8100

www.Uncle-Bob.com

Visit this farm to enjoy a hay ride around the farm, find your way through Uncle Bob's tricky crop maze, or to take a stroll on the nature trail through the woods.

Washington Farms

5691 Hog Mountain Rd, Watkinsville, GA ~ 706-769-0627

www.WashingtonFarms.net

Enjoy a unique opportunity to stroll out inot a pumpkin patch and choose your own pumpkin. Take a hay ride around the farm and visit the farm animals and try to find your way through our 8.5 acre corn maze!

Yule Forest

3565 Hwy 155 N, Stockbridge, GA ~ 770-954-9356

www.AboutYule.com

This pumpkin patch is growing green! Enjoy a hayride, go out and pick your own pumpkin or watch our educational pumpkin movie! Come out and take pleasure in the arrival of the fall season with us!

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Holiday Home Gift Guide posted by Amanda Nichols

How to Increase Your Home's Value

Not sure what to ask Santa for this year? Why not put presents on your holiday list which add value and convenience to your daily life. This list of home improvement gifts goes beyond tool boxes and electric drills. With these value-added gift ideas you can save energy, save time, and increase your home's value.

Keyless Home Entry

Make losing house keys a thing of the past. Several manufacturers now offer door locks that utilize fingerprint technology. Simply program in your family's fingerprints and you'll never be locked out of your home again. Also, to allow service people and guests temporary entry, a security code keypad is included with many models. Installation is a simple do-it-yourself task. Although it may seem like something from a science fiction film, there's no need to call NASA to get one - they're available nationwide at hardware stores and home centers.

In-Home Safe

Get rid of your safety deposit box and store important documents, jewelry and family treasures in a secure place in your own home. Most in-home safes come with a do-it-yourself bolt down kit for security and offer a degree of fire protection.

Solar Lights

If you want to start making your house more energy efficient and earth friendly, but don't have the money to go totally green, take baby steps this Christmas by putting solar powered outdoor lights on your holiday list. Yard lights and motion sensor security lights offer a low-cost entry into solar-powered home products. On a related note, solar-powered holiday lights are now on the market so you can decorate the tree using eco-friendly LED lights.

Posted by Amanda Nichols ~ Realtor ~ Keller Williams Realty Peachtree Battle

770-490-1563 ~ AmandaNichols@kw.com ~ www.AmandaNichols.com

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Track Santa's Sleigh via Norad posted by Melanie Bailey

North Georgia Christmas Tree Farms ~ Posted by Melanie Bailey

It's that time of year again!  We have compiled a list of Christmas Trees Farms in the area.  Happy Holidays!

TOP 12 Reasons to SELL YOUR HOME during THE HOLIDAYS posted by Melanie Bailey

1.       January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Since transferees cannot wait until spring to buy, you need to be on the market during the Holidays to capture that market!

2.       Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons!

3.       Buyers have more time to look for a home during the holidays than they do during a working week!

4.       Buyers are more emotional during the Holidays, so they are more likely to pay your price! 

5.       5.  Houses show better when decorated for the Holidays!

6.       6.  Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home! Less demand means less money for you!

7.       7.  Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the Holidays and less competition means more money for you!

8.       8.  People who look for homes during the Holidays are more serious buyers!

9.       By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer in early spring, when many more houses are on the market for less money! This will allow you to sell high and buy low!

10.   You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year!

11.   Even though your house will be on the market, you still have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days around the Holidays!

12.   Appraisers look at comparable homes for the past 3-6 months - your winter sales price will be compared to late summer (higher priced) home sales.  Spring sales are compared to late winter (lower priced) home sales.

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TOP 12 Reasons to BUY A HOME during THE HOLIDAYS posted by Melanie Bailey

1.       Uncertainty regarding loan programs and limits that may not be available in 2009 or after we have a new President in the White House.

2.       Because there are fewer buyers shopping for a home at this time, you may be in a stronger negotiating position.

3.       With fewer buyers on the market during the holidays, there may be less multiple offer situations, especially regarding REO properties and Short Sales.

4.       The transaction load is lighter for lenders at this time, so your file may be handled quicker, more efficiently, and more accurately.  This is true also for Title and Escrow.

5.       It’s nice to get a feel for a home when it’s decorated for the holidays.

6.       You may have more vacation or free time instead of having to ask off work to look at homes or complete paperwork, signings, etc.

7.       You can show your visiting friends and family your prospective new home.

8.       With fewer buyers on the market at this time, it may be easier to schedule inspections, etc., allowing you to shorten a contingency period in exchange for a more favorable price or lock in an interest rate on your loan.

9.       You’ll be enjoying your new home in the spring as opposed to waiting to move in.

10.   January is typically the best time of the year to buy decorating items or home improvement items, as the retail industry doesn’t want a huge slump after the boom in holiday shopping.

11.   If you have kids, they can transfer to their new school at the start of the new semester and avoid “getting behind”.

12.   What could be a better gift for the family than a NEW HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

 

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Georgia Holiday Home Tours ~ Posted by Melanie Bailey

Here are several upcoming home tours: 

• The Georgia Club Foundation's Christmas Tour of Homes
  •  Athens, GA ~ 770-725-8100
  • www.TheGeorgiaClub.com
  • December 7, 2008
  • Two tours: 12:00 - 2:30 pm & 2:30 - 5:00 pm  
  • $20 per person in advance; $25 at the door
  • Tour 5 beautiful homes fully decorated for the holidays. Proceeds benefit several local charities and service organizations 
• The Marietta Pilgrimage Home Tour
  •  Marietta, GA ~ 770-429-1115
  • www.MariettaPilgrimage.com
  • December 6-7, 2008
  • Dec 6, 9 am - 6 pm  - $15 in advance/$20 at door
  • Candlelight Tour, 7 - 9:30 pm - $12 in advance / $15 at door
  • Dec 7, 10 am - 6 pm - $15 in advance / $20 at door
  • Combination Ticket - $20 in advance / $25 at door
  • A favorite holiday tradition for over 20 years, this tour showcases six private historic homes all lovingly restored and decoraed for the season.
• The Norcross Tour of Homes
  •  Norcross, GA ~ 770-725-8100
  • www.NorcrossTourofHomes.com
  • December 6, 2008
  • Daytime, 10 am - 5 pm, Candlelight, 6 - 9 pm
  • Tickets - $17 through Nov 30th, $20 thereafter
  • Parties of 10 or more, $15 per person
  • This celebration of the city's charming past is a joyous preface to the holiday season. Tour 6 of Norcross' most beautiful residences, in holiday decor and vibrant with the sounds of live music.
• Candlelight Tour of Homes
  •  Douglasville, GA ~ 770-947-5920
  • www.ci.Douglasville.ga.us
  • December 6-7, 2008
  • Dec 6, 6-9 PM
  • Dec 7, 1-5 pm
  • Tickets are $12 in advance \ $15 the day of
  • Tour beautiful historic homes decorated for the holidays
• Holiday Tour of Homes
  •  Savannah, GA ~ 770-725-8100
  • www.dnaHolidayTour.com
  • December 13, 2008
  • Afternoon Tour - 12 - 4 pm; Evening Tour - 5-8 pm
  • $30 per person
  • Savannah welcomes visitors to the annual Holiday Tour of Historic Homes. Three separate tours of twelve decorated homes are offered.
• Antebellum Christmas at the Old Governor's Mansion
  •  Milledgeville, GA ~ 478-445-4545
  • www.MilledgevilleCVB.com
  • December 2-23, 2008
  • Tours from 6 - 8 pm
  • $10 per person, $7 seniors, $2 students
  • The Old Governor's Mansion will transform itself into a showplace of authentic antebellum Christmas decor. Special events will include candlelight tours of the museum, concerts and much much more.
• Decatur Holiday Candlelight Tour of Homes
  •  Decatur, GA ~
  • www.DecaturTourofHomes.com
  • December 5 - 6, 5:30 - 9:30 pm
  • $20 in advance / $25 at the door
  • Take a look inside eight of Decatur's most interesting homes. This year's tour focuses on homes renovated in eco-friendly ways, using "green" materials and techniques to minimize their impact on the Earth.
• Avondale Estates Christmas Tour of Homes
  •  Avondale Estates, GA ~ 404-299-9021
  • http://www.avondaletourofhomes.com/
  • December 14, 2008, 3 - 8 pm
  • $15 at event / $12 in advance
  • Featuring eight homes that have been restored or renovated to preserve the character of Avondale Estates
• Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes
  •  Atlanta, GA ~ 404-688-7501
  • http://www.grantpark.org/net/content/news.aspx?s=0.0.35.20 
  • December 13 - 14, 2008, 6 - 10 pm
  • $15 at event / $12 in advance
  • The 28th annual tour at St. Paul United Methodist Church includes a "Let It Snow!" winter wonderland for children, artists market, caroling and hayrides.
• Holiday Tour and Open House
  •  Roswell, GA ~ 770-316-7824
  • http://www.sweetapplesettlement.com/
  • December 5, 2008, noon - 9 pm
  • $20 tax deductible ~ benefits AHMEN
  • The event includes a candlelight tour of the Five Hearth Farm at Sweet Apple Settlement, holiday shopping, artist show and sale, and a variety of culinary treats.
• Smyrna-Vinings Holiday Home Tour
  •  Smyrna, GA ~ 770-319-2025
  •  www.emoryadventist.org
  •  December 7, 2008, noon - 6 pm
  •  Tickets are $20
  •  Five homes in a variety of styles. Benefits the Foundation of Emory-Adventist Hospital.  Admission includes refreshments and an auction at the Community Bank of the South
• Roswell Historic Homes Candlelite Tour
  •  Roswell, GA ~ 770-992-1731
  •  www.bullochhall.org
  •  November 29, 2008, 5 - 9 pm
  •  Adults $25 at event / $20 in advance; Children $20 at event / $15 in advance
  • Barrington Hall, Smith Plantation Home and Bulloch Hall feature Christmas decorations. Refreshments available at Bulloch Hall.

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Selling Your Home During the Holidays posted by Amanda Nichols

The holiday season is a busy time full of family gatherings, social engagements, shopping and decorating. The sometimes frantic pace of the holidays coupled with the notion that this is the real estate slow season can cause home sellers to take their listings off the market until the new year. But if you are serious about selling that might not be the best idea, here's why...

• Corporate Relocation - Many job transfers coincide with the end of the calendar year, and these relocating individuals and families usually don't have any choice regarding their move dates. Plus, relocating home buyers with school-age children often try to get established by the time school resumes. If moving during the holidays is not a possibility for you, don't worry. You can always accept the buyer's contract and extend the closing date to a time that works for both parties.
• Vacation Days - At the end of the year, many people have cumulated vacation days to use on top of company holidays. This is particularly beneficial for couples who may have multiple overlapping days off to spend looking at homes.
• Inviting Decorations and a Sense of "Home" - Tasteful seasonal decorations meant to impress and entertain friends, family and neighbors will also make an impact on potential buyers. Plus, lit fireplaces, the scent of fresh pine, and inviting aromas from the kitchen bring a warm and welcoming feeling to a home.

Remember, if you have a realtor in your corner to handle the sale of your home, you can go about your holiday tasks without any added stress.

Posted by Amanda Nichols ~ Realtor ~ Keller Williams Realty Peachtree Battle

770-490-1563 ~ AmandaNichols@kw.com ~ www.AmandaNichols.com

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