Atlanta Realty Blog

Homeowner Consequences of a Foreclosure vs a Short Sale ~ posted by Melanie Bailey

The following shows the difference in how these two processes affect your credit rate, ablility to obtain future loans & more:

  

Georgia ENERGY STAR Rebate Program ~ posted by Melanie Bailey

Georgia has received approximately $8.6 million in federal stimulus money which will allow Georgians to take advantage of rebates for purchasing certain Energy Star appliances. 

Georgia residents who replace an existing appliance with a new ENERGY STAR qualified appliance purchased on or after February 12, 2010 are eligible to apply for the rebate. Approved applicants will receive a Visa® Prepaid Card via mail. Online purchases are not eligible for a rebate. ACT NOW! This program ends as soon as funds are exhausted. Please note that you must make the appliance purchase before applying for the rebate.

• The rebates will range from $25-$199.
• You must purchase an Energy Star appliance in person.  A complete list of qualifying appliances can be found at www.georgiarebate.com.
• Purchases made before February 12th are not eligible.
• You can apply online at www.georgiarebate.com, and will need to mail the application confirmation with the sales receipt within 30 days of your online application.
• Rebates will be distributed in the form of a Visa prepaid debit card. 

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January HOME Maintenance Tips posted by Melanie Bailey

• Organize your home improvement files.
• Call your utility company to do an energy audit. By now you´ll have received your first big winter heating bill, you may be motivated to see how you can improve your home´s energy efficiency. While you´re at it, ask the utility if they can also test for radon gas—especially important if you don´t know if it´s ever been done.
• Inspect furniture, cabinets and vanities for loose knobs, pulls and hinges. Tighten or repair as necessary. Lubricate squeaky door hinges with lightweight machine oil. Free sticky doors by trimming edges or shimming hinges with thin pieces of cardboard.
• Make a room-by-room inventory of everything in your house. In the event of a fire, flood or other disaster, it will be important when filing an insurance claim. Photographs or a video of your possessions will be most helpful.
• Double-check insulation around exterior pipes that are exposed to freezing weather to be certain that water cannot seep under the insulation.
• Make sure the light bulbs in all fixtures are the correct wattage. If its too high it is a fire hazard.

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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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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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Halloween Home Safety Tips posted by Amanda Nichols

Did you know that Halloween is one of the top five days of the year for home candle fires? At Halloween, candles are often used to illuminate jack-o-lanterns, cast spooky shadows at parties, and light pathways, so care must be taken to ensure your home and family stay safe. In addition to being the month we celebrate Halloween, October is also National Fire Prevention Month; so this issue's maintenance checklist focuses on ways to keep your home safe from fire on Halloween and throughout the year.

Prepare for Cooler Weather ~ posted by Amanda Nichols

Cooler weather is right around the corner, so don't let a sudden dip in the thermostat catch you unprepared. This month's maintenance checklist covers ways you can prep your home and yard for autumn weather conditions - including temperature swings, falling leaves, and shorter daylight hours.

Fulton County Tax Goof ~ posted by Bill Wright

Rumors abound about the fact that Fulton County's tax system has been offline since July 18, 2008.

According to the Fulton County website - Most Fulton Homeowners Will See Decrease or No Change in 2008 Taxes: More than 85 percent of residential property owners will see either no change or a decrease in the Fulton County portion of their 2008 property taxes, compared to 2007. This is due to either no change or a decrease in property assessment.

What is causing these discrepancies?

Dekalb County Water Conservation ~ Low Flow Requirements posted by Melanie Bailey

Effective June 1, 2008, Dekalb County will no longer connect water services to homes built before 1993 that do not have low flow toilets.  What does this mean to you?

Top Tips for Battling Your Insurer posted by Amanda Nichols

You versus your insurer: It doesn't have to be David and Goliath.
Sure, getting your insurer to pay you your fair share after a loss can be challenging, but here are the best ways to play hardball with your insurance company if they don’t play fair with you.