August 2009 CONDOBLOG!
Buying a Foreclosure Home?
Check Out the Georgia Dream Program!
Georgia Dream Homeownership Program
*If you're hoping to access the benefits of this program, be sure
your lender is authorized through the program.
Senator Johnny Isakson Proposes Increased Home Buyer Tax Credit with
Expanded Eligibility for Consideration of Congress!
Read the press release!
http://isakson.senate.gov/press/2009/061009housing.htm
Georgia Leads the Way
with a Limited Time Home Buyer Tax Incentive Measure!
Read more here!
Georgia Home Buyer Tax Incentive
Searching for a Community with a Great Walk Score?
Here's a GREAT way to check in on the walk-scores of neighborhoods
around Atlanta!
www.walkscore.com/rankings/Atlanta
Is Your Condominium
Community FHA Approved?
FHA mortgage programs offer excellent benefits to buyers, and are an
important feature in the marketing of homes! Check the status of your
community at
www.condoatlanta.com and click on the Photo Gallery
of Communities for FHA links, or go to...
www.fha.gov
Learn More about the
First Time Home Buyer Tax Benefit!
Learn more, link here!
First Time Home Buyer Tax Incentive Details
Support Privately Funded
Down Payment Assistance!
Make your voices heard! Support HR 600 and the restoration of privately
funded down payment assistance:
www.dpagroundswell.org
Enjoy Spring Travel Close to
Home!
Atlantans enjoy it all - a vibrant home city and quick access to
northern Florida, North and South Carolina and Tennessee! Enjoy your
spring getaway close to home - and consider the Great Smoky Mountains!
www.SmokiesTrailsForever.org
Celebrate Arbor Day - Plant
a Tree!
Support the Arbor Day Foundation with your membership and the planting
of trees! Get involved with your HOA and management companies to plant
trees in your common areas and individual yards. Consider also your
local gardening clubs and park projects for ways to bring the beautiful
trees so important to the quality of our lives and environment close to
home!
www.arborday.org
FHA Remains an Excellent
Financing Option for Approved Communities!
The FHA financing option offers significant benefits to home buyers
including affordable down payment options. We encourage all condominium
communities to verify their FHA approved status. If your community is
not yet on the FHA approved list, it's time to secure and complete the
application - and FHA approval. Check in with your community HOAs and
management companies for details!
www.fha.gov
A Gorgeous Georgia
Spring is Near: Let the Home Search Begin!
Springtime in Georgia is simply magical! It's time for new beginnings
and the search for a fabulous place to call home! Interest rates remain
historically low, property pricing reflects the supervalues of the
current market, a federal tax deduction is in place for eligible home
buyers, and Georgia is leading the nation with the idea of a tax credit
to boot!
We're here to help, and look forward to working with you! Call on us
anytime... www.condoatlanta.com
Help a Friend, Family
Member, Neighbor or Colleague Save Their Home!
You can help a friend, family member, neighbor or colleague save their
home from foreclosure through new loan modification options being
promoted as part of efforts to stabilize and strengthen the housing
market. This program will not prevent every foreclosure, but may help
many. To learn more, see the link below:
http://www.financialstability.gov
Here's another user-friendly link that includes a basic self-assessment
for homeowners who would like to know more about how they might qualify
for assistance:
http://www.financialstability.gov/makinghomeaffordable
The Georgia Legislature Considers a Buyer Tax
Credit!
The Georgia legislature is considering a limited time home buyer tax
credit weighted in favor of early-bird purchasers. The bill is in
debate, and the language is still in development, but this is a very
promising initiative. Make your voices heard, and support the
initiative. Georgia is on the cutting edge of housing sector recovery
with proposals like this one! Given the importance of housing recovery
to the broader economy, this is very important not only to property
values, but also to putting Georgia back on the track of economic growth
and prosperity!
The Stimulus Package Includes a Home Buyer Tax
Deduction!
The federal stimulus package passed by Congress and signed into law by
the President includes a tax deduction of up to $8K for eligible home
buyers in 2009. This is a significant benefit and one well worth
considering in plans for a home purchase!
2009 - The Time to Buy Your Home!
If you're thinking about your home purchase, now's the time to begin
planning in earnest... Interest rates are coming down, federal
systems are moving to intervene to improve the conditions of the housing
market, and proposals are on the table for significant tax credits to
buyers - still proposals, but very potentially promising! Check in at
the CONDOBLOG for updates and additional information!
Be Water Wise: Check Plumbing, Consider New
Systems!
Be a water wise
homeowner! Check your plumbing for potential drips or leaks, and
consider system changes like instant hot water heaters, water saving
shower heads and some of the new low flush commodes!
www.condoatlanta.com: Site
Additions!
Celebrating Home Ownership+
Watch for updates and additions to the
www.condoatlanta.com website!
We're building on new ideas and resources to better serve our clients
and the greater Atlanta community of homeowners!
If there is anything at all we can do to help you, please call on us.
We're here to help, and look forward to working with you!
When do I speak with a lender?
Celebrating Home Ownership+
If you're thinking about the purchase of a home, the time is just right
to speak with an experienced, qualified loan officer!
We encourage all prospective home buyers to interview at least a couple
of loan officers, and to develop a working relationship with the loan
officer who will eventually help them through the mortgage loan process
from start to closing and beyond.
This is important for many reasons - among those key to the search is to
be sure you're searching for a home in a price range comfortable for
you, a "comfort zone" that takes into consideration your mortgage
payment, an estimate for HOA dues, current property tax information, and
an accurate estimate of the interest rate for the program you'll want to
use for your purchase.
You might want to begin with a loan officer known to you, or one known
to someone you trust from within your family, circle of friends, or
place of work. If a recommendation is helpful, condoatlanta.com has
several loan officers listed who have worked with our clients over the
years and provided excellent service!
Agency in Georgia: Learn More!
The Great State of Georgia
Whether you're a buyer or seller of real property in the state of
Georgia, it's a GREAT idea to know as much as possible about agency
representation. Learn more at our Buyer Inquiry page when you click on
the link "The ABCs of Agency"!
Atlanta's High Museum of Art!
Atlanta Living!
If you haven't checked out the exciting calendar of events at the High
Museum of Art, drop in via the net to find out more about what's
happening at Atlanta's fabulous High Museum of Art!
www.high.org
Georgia: Travel Our Gorgeous State
Georgia's On My Mind!
If you're dreaming on Labor Day Weekend travel plans, think about
traveling the fabulous state you've chosen to call home! Here are just a
few links to ideas and destinations...
Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge
www.amicalolafalls.com
Cumberland Island National Seashore
http://www.nps.gov/cuis
George T. Bagby State Park and Lodge
www.georgetbagby.com
Alpine Helen
www.helenga.org
Jekyll Island
http://www.jekyllisland.com
Little Ocmulgee State Park and Lodge
www.littleocmulgee.com
Red Top Mountain State Park and Lodge
www.redtopmountain.com
Historic Savannah
www.savannahvisit.com
Unicoi State Park and Lodge
www.unicoilodge.com
The Lodge at Smithgall Woods State Park
www.smithgallwoods.com
The Reynolds Mansion on Sapelo Island
www.reynoldsonsapelo.com
Vogel State Park
http://www.gastateparks.org/info/vogel
Be Energy Smart: Seal Around Your Windows!
Be an energy smart
homeowner - check the seals around your windows inside and out, replace
your windows as needed (upgrade to the most energy efficient product
your budget will allow), and seal and paint around the window framing on
the interior and exterior of your home. With proper care, you'll extend
the life of your windows and window frames - and you should save on the
energy front too!
Home Inspections: Learn More!
Whether you're purchasing a new or resale home, preparing your home for
sale, or following up during a new construction warranty period - a
qualified home inspector is an excellent source of information and
assistance!
Learn more about the American Society of Home Inspectors...
www.ashi.org
Living Atlanta:
Fabulous Theatre & Fine Art Venues
Atlanta is a wonderful place to visit, and a fabulous place to call
home! Our great city offers a growing number of opportunities to enjoy
outstanding theatre and fine art venues! Here just a little of what
Atlanta has to offer... ENJOY!
The High Museum of Art
www.high.org
The Fox Theatre
www.foxtheatre.org
The Woodruff Arts Center
www.woodruffcenter.org
The Alliance Theatre
www.alliancetheatre.com
The 14th Street Playhouse
www.14thstplayhouse.org
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
www.atlantasymphony.org
The Atlanta Botanical Garden!
Learn more about conservation, habitat restoration and rare species
recovery work at the Atlanta Botanical Garden - and get involved in
these important efforts!
www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org
High Museum of Art Atlanta!
Learn more about all the great fun ongoing at the High!
www.high.org
Keep Atlanta Beautiful: Clean Air Force!
Be an active part of keeping Atlanta beautiful! Learn more...
www.cleanairforce.com
Home Energy: Water Sense and Energy Star!
Learn more about what it means to meet the criteria for Water Sense and
Energy Star labels - and become energy smart!
www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/label.htm
www.georgiapower.com/energystar/home.asp
Home Energy: More Great Water Saving Tips!
Water conservation will remain an important issue for Georgia over the
coming months... Learn more about how you can save this resource until
the rains come, and our reserves are fully replenished!
www.conservewatergeorgia.net
Member of an HOA? Get Involved!
If you're already living in a community with a Homeowner's Association
(HOA) or will be soon, we encourage you to participate - get involved!
Communities benefit greatly from the experience and perspective of every
member, and it's important as well that every homeowner be part of the
important decisions that affect decisions about maintenance and
improvement and more.
Home Care: Fresh Paint &
Caulk!
Whether you're just moving in, or you've been in your home for some
time, a fresh coat of paint and fresh caulk are excellent ideas! It's
not only part of good home maintenance, these efforts will give your
home fresh, friendly, feel-good results!
Searching for Your Home? Call on us!
Ready to search for your fabulous Atlanta home?!
Call on us!
www.condoatlanta.com
Email us with your home search wish list! We look forward to exchanging
ideas about what the market has to offer, building files of ideas for
your review, and making plans to meet with you to find your home
together!
We're here to help!
Getting Your Home Ready for the Market!
If you're getting ready to have your current home on the market, here
are a few tips to help you get started!
1. Lighten and Brighten
From fresh blinds and window treatments that allow natural light into
the home to light neutral paint or carpeting, most homeowners can bring
a light fresh "Welcome Home" feel into their homes - a feature much
appreciated among potential buyers!
2. Clean, Store Extras & Stage
Home sellers can do a lot to help potential buyers visualize the space
in their homes by keeping them clean and neat, storing extras and
staging the home to help prospective new homeowners imagine themselves
making your home their own!
3. Add Greenery
If you have a patio, deck, balcony or porch, give your outdoor living
space some charm - freshen your flowers and greenery.
4. Inspect and Repair
A well maintained home in good repair is very important. Records of
maintenance and related notations on your Seller's Property Disclosure
about these will let prospective buyers know that the home has received
attention and care!
Recycle Atlanta!
Explore new ways to recycle e-waste! Atlanta
Recycling Solutions may be able to help!
www.arsrecycle.com
Go Green in Atlanta!
25 April 2008
Think energy efficiency and resource conservation!
Find your home close to town! Whether you're looking for a full
time residence or crash pad for the work week or weekend, Atlanta has
some of the most wonderful condominium, townhome and loft communities
available.
Pricing is competitive, interest rates are low-low-low, and the timing
is excellent for homebuyers - and you'll love limiting your commute to a
walk to the office or a quick minutes drive alongside access to fabulous
restaurants and eateries, shops and cultural activities.
In terms of transportation, think about...
*traveling via MARTA to the office or airport or into town on the
weekends for fun and activites!
*telecommuting if your company offers this option - and if not, talking
with your company's decision makers about developing one!
*carpooling with friends and colleagues!
*organizing your errands to make your trips as efficient as they can be
for your fuel and time!
*always keeping your car properly maintained and your tires
appropriately inflated - you'll save energy and should be safer too!
Home Sales: Getting Ready for the Marketplace+
Getting ready to list your home for sale? There are a couple steps you
can take to give yourself every advantage in the competitive resale
market!
1. Organize, pack and store your extras! Include closets, cabinets,
counters, floors and more. This will help potential buyers visualize the
home space and imagine themselves in it!
2. Clean, clean, clean! The fresher your home feels, the less work
a potential buyer will feel he or she has to do to move-right-in, making
your place their own!
3. Lighten and brighten! A fresh coat of paint in decorator neutral
colors for the walls as well as a fresh coat on trim and baseboards
makes a home feel more cheerful and welcoming!
4. If you have outdoor space, give is a green living look! Whether
it's a patio, balcony or deck, organize and decorate your outside living
area to help a buyer imagine how they might enjoy it especially much in
the spring, during summer evenings and even in the fall. Outdoor
furniture and planters are a great place to start!
Tell us more about your terrific place!
http://www.condoatlanta.com/Inquiries/SellInquiry.htm
When you're ready to think seriously about listing your home, call us...
We include spectacular marketing as part of our service package for
sellers from virtual to video tours and much much more!
www.condoatlanta.com
The Atlanta Aquarium: So Cool!
Looking for some wholesom local fun? Be sure to visit the Atlanta
Aquarium!
www.georgiaaquarium.org
Keep Atlanta Beautiful+
05 April 2008
We live in one of the most beautiful cities in the country! Let's keep
Atlanta beautiful and make it more so - even and as a part of our
ongoing growth as a popular place for residential living and business
enterprise. Learn more!
www.keepatlantabeautiful.org
The NEW World of Coca-Cola!
Be sure to visit the NEW World of Coca-Cola - it's
a fun and fabulous Atlanta landmark!
www.woccatlanta.com
The Georgia World Congress Center
There is always something interesting and exciting
going on at the Georgia World Congress Center!
www.gwcc.com
Georgia: A Great
Place for Home and Travel!
Georgia is a terrific place to call home, and a great state in which to
travel... Check out the Georgia tourism website, and enjoy lots of fun
close to home!
www.georgia.org
Recycle Atlanta: Return Your
Plastic Shopping Bags
Living Green in the City!
You would be amazed at what can be done with recycled plastics,
including the shopping bags you receive at the local grocery store!
Great article in the spring issue of the Green Guide about the process
of reusing these bags and the difference recycling makes for the
environment overall.
An alternative idea? Reusable shopping bags for sale at the major
grocery chains which are very affordable!
www.thegreenguide.com
National Parks Conservation Association
Atlanta Making a Difference!
08 March 2008
Get involved Atlanta! Support our national parks through the work of the
National Parks Conservation Association. For more information, check out
their website:
National Parks Conservation Association
www.npca.org
Or write to the national office:
National Parks Conservation Association
1300 - 19th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Stay Safe Tip: Avoid Identity Theft
Stay Safe Tip
25 February 2008
To learn more about ID theft and how to deter, detect, and defend
against it, write to the Consumer Response Center of the FTC. Request
copies of ID theft resources by writing to the
FTC's Consumer Response Center:
Consumer Response Center
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW H-130
Washington, DC 20580
Georgia's Clean Air Force
Keep Atlanta Beautiful!
Remember to renew your vehicle registrations and to update your emission
inspections in preparation! This is an important part of keeping our air
clean and our city beautiful!
For more information...
www.cleanairforce.com
Home Improvement: Floating Shelves
Floating shelves are an excellent way to give wall space a new focus!
They provide easy access to some of your favorite dishes or serving
sets, put them on display for everyone to enjoy, and leave a room with a
feeling of open, airy space.
These shelves might also work well in a bath area, or in a bedroom or
sitting area nook!
A word of caution: be sure not to overload them for weight!
Callanwolde
Fabulous Fun Atlanta!
21 January 2008
If you haven't checked out the updated opportunities for fun at
Callanwolde, this is a great time to see what they have to offer for
winter and spring! Enjoy!
www.callanwolde.org
Home Care: Check the Attic
We all enjoy the "fun stuff" that goes along with owning our homes!
...but in order to enjoy them fully, we must also attend to the more
mundane tasks related to periodic inspection and maintenance. <big
smiles>
Every homeowner with attic space should make a regular inspection of the
area. Proper insulation coverage is important, as is having any systems
or wiring checked for safe working order.
Follow the link below for tips and information from the Consumer Product
Safety Commission:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml77/77102.html
Home Decor: Accents & More
www.condoatlanta.com
Have fun with the Home Decorators' Collection of 4,000 fabulous
furnishings, finishes and accents!
www.HomeDecorators.com
Home Care: Check Your GFCI Systems
It's important to check your electrical systems for safe operation
periodically, and the GFCIs most typically found in any place near or
likely to be exposed to water - your kitchen, bath areas, patio or
garage!
Follow the link below for additional information from the Consumer
Product Safety Commission:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/99.html
Home Finance: FHA Mortgage Options
FHA loans are back in vogue among home buyers and the mortgage loan
officers assisting buyers in their purchases!
To learn more...
www.fha.com
Home Care: Getting Your Home Ready for the Market
Getting ready to list your home for resale?
Consider having it inspected by a certified, experienced professional.
In addition to all the cosmetic preparation, you'll want to be sure the
systems of your home are in good working order and ready for the next
homeowner prior to negotiating the terms of a purchase and sale
contract.
Home Care: Call the Chimney Sweep
Springtime isn't far off and it will be time to let your fireplaces rest
for the season! It's a great idea to mark your calendars with a reminder
to call a chimney sweep and inspection service - be sure your fireplace
and flue are in good safe working condition, and ready for next fall!
Home Care: HVAC Filters from January to December
If you haven't yet done it for the year, head to your local home supply
store and pick up a 12 month supply of filters for your HVAC system -
and label the sides with monthly reminders, January through December.
It's not the most glamorous activity, but it's an important part of home
maintenance, and will help you keep your systems fit and running well!
CONDOATLANTA: Add Your Community
Would you like to see your community added to our gallery?
If you don't spot your community online with us, or your community has
been substantially improved or updated since our last photo - let us
know!
Email:
andy@condoatlanta.com
We look forward to hearing from you, and hope you'll check back often as
we have many new gallery additions coming online!
Home Improvement: Personalize Your Space
Home Improvement!
02 January 2008
If you're
planning to improve and update your home in 2008, here are a few to
dream on!
* Incorporate Built-Ins
Some combination of open space and cabinetry will allow for personal
displays and added storage.
* Update the Fireplace Surround
Stonework, marble or tile - and perhaps even a new mantle - an update
that can improve the look and feel of the entire room. While you're at
it, have a chimney sweep stop in to clean your flue and complete a
safety check of the fireplace system.
* Expand Living Space to the Front Porch or Back Patio
A rocking chair, perhaps a tea service or grill area, an outdoor accent
table adorned by seasonal blooms, a hanging plant, maybe even a bird
feeder - all great ideas for ways in which to personalize your space,
and make it more enjoyable for spring which will come sooner than any of
us may realize!
CONDOATLANTA Goes Mobile!
www.condoatlanta.com
www.condoatlanta.com has gone mobile!
You can now access information from the website via
your web-enabled cell phone. Go the site homepage and scroll down to the
mobile link. Some of the pages have been abbreviated for faster loading
on your cell system. Other pages such as the mortgage calculator page
require JAVA and so will be available to mobile visitors whose phones
offer this platform.
ENJOY! We look forward to helping you find your new home!
WISHING EVERYONE THE HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS!
Home Improvement: Build the Big Picture
Home Improvement!
Home maintenance is a must, but home
improvement is fun!
As you begin any project, be sure to assess the big picture first...
How does your project work within the totality of the room you're
dreaming about, and how does that room fit with the bigger picture of
how you hope to design and develop your space?
Getting a sense of the broader goal will help you also develop the finer
planning details - from contractor planning and the ordering of work
events to the part we all enjoy so much more - shopping for the
materials, colors and look you're hoping to achieve!
Knowing where you're headed will also help you through the "in progress"
portion of the journey (aka "construction phase") - keeping your eyes on
the goal and celebration ahead!
Home Care: New Resolutions+
Home Care Resolutions are just right any time of year!
Separate your projects into two categories:
1.
Maintenance and Repair, and
2. Home Improvement
You may even be able to combine these efforts if you're planning to
improve an area or aspect of your home in need of maintenance or repair
attention.
The investment you make in your home now will allow you to enjoy the
rewards while you're living in the home, will reduce the preparation
necessary in order to resell your home in the future, and will give your
home the feeling that is has received TLC along the way -- something the
next buyer will genuinely appreciate.
Home Energy: Water Sense and Energy Star
Learn more about what it means to meet the criteria for Water Sense and
Energy Star labels -- and become energy smart!
www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/label.htm
www.georgiapower.com/energystar/home.asp
The Georgia State Defense Force
Living as a Community!
The Georgia State Defense
Force is a group of volunteer citizens who organize and train to support
a variety of mission efforts -- from perimeter safety and medical
assistance during major public festivals, to emergency evacuations.
To learn more, support the efforts of this organization and get
involved, check in at the Georgia State Defense Force website:
www.gasdf.com
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