Jen's Intown Living Blog

There's so much going on this coming weekend for the 4th of July Festivities in and around Atlanta, GA.

Here are just a few of the highlights:

*In Decatur you can decorate your bicycle, skateboard, or wagon and join the Pied Piper Parade as it winds through downtown Decatur. Concert on the Square features the Callanwolde Concert Band. Parade begins at 6:00 pm, Concert 7:00 pm and Fireworks at dark.

*In Avondale Estates the Parade line up begins at 9:15 am at Avondale High School. The Parade begins at 10:00 am.  Parade begins up Claredon Ave. Food will be sold at Lake Avondale by the Avondale Baptist Church 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm.  The Atlanta Blue Notes performs at Lake Avondale at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks begin at Dusk at Lake Avondale.  

*At Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta from 4:00 p.m to 10:00 p.m.  there will be activities for the entire family, including a Kids Zone, live musical entertainment from The Regulars Band, Sons of Sailors and Party on the Moon, food concessions and the largest fireworks display in the Southeast.

*Fireworks and Live Music at Centennial Olympic Park, downtown Atlanta, GA. Kids activities begin at noon. Free musical entertainment begins at 5 p.m.  Fireworks at dark.

*Stone Mountain Park has fireworks and a laser light show. It is $10 per car to enter the park for special events like the 4th of July. (normal fee is $8)

Wishing everyone a happy and safe 4th of July, especially to our brave troops!

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If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in or around Atlanta, GA contact local expert, Jen Bowman, Realtor and Broker Associate with Success Realty at 404-456-5024.

Read more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice.

 Move in Ready townhome in gated community!

2515 Walden Lake Drive, Decatur, GA 30035

3 bedroom, 2.5 bath townhome built in 2003, 1456 square feet, $115,000

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Decatur, GA contact local expert and Realtor Jen Bowman, Broker Associate & e-PRO with Success Realty at 404-456-5024.

View more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice.

Here are some basic tips to help make your move a smooth one.  

If you need moving boxes, check out free resources like Craigslist.com and FreeCycle, a yahoo group.

Number your moving boxes.  You don't need to write on the box everything that‘s in there, for security it's better that you don't.  Keep a list. I like using a notebook. Next to #1 write down the contents and the room it belongs in. When you get to your destination you'll know which boxes you'll need to open first. This also helps if you end up needing something you've already packed before you move. You'll know exactly where it is. 

If you're hiring a mover, make sure they are legitimate and insured. The Georgia Public Service Commission has a list of legal movers.

Go to www.USPS.com to change your address.

Make of list of the people or companies that you need to contact for your change of address. This is where the notebook comes in handy again. The easy way to do this is to start writing down where your mail comes from for about 30 days. Think magazines, credit cards, favorite charities, financial statements, insurance, banks, utilities, phones, etc. Once you've contacted them, most can be done online, check it off your list.  Do not rely on the post office to forward your important mail. Mistakes happen and you may not get it. 

Contact your insurer to get your home owners insurance and make sure you have it in effect the day of closing. If you are renting, get renter's insurance. Don't know who to call? See if your auto insurance does home owner's or Renter's, if not, ask for referrals from friends, family or your Real Estate agent. Remember, a higher deductible can lower your premium.

Pack an overnight bag for the first night you'll be in your new home, yes even for a move down the street. That way at the end of your exhausted day, you'll know where your toothbrush and pajamas are.  

If you have children, pack a "busy bag".  Again, even for a short move across town. Have games or coloring books in it to help keep them occupied. Favorite comfort items are a good idea here. 

Set up your utilities. Water, Electric, Gas, Phone, Internet. If you are choosing a Gas provider, check out the Georgia Public Service Commission's site to compare the different providers, look at price per therm and monthly customer service fee. http://www.psc.state.ga.us/gas/pricecard.asp

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in and around Atlanta, GA, contact Jen Bowman, Realtor and Broker Associate with Success Realty. www.JenBowman.com 404-456-5024
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It's that time of year for the Decatur Beach Party. It will be Friday June 19, 2009 from 5 p.m. to midnight. There will be 60 tons of sand on "Ponce de Leon Fun Pier" and dancing on the Marta Plaza. The festival layout has been changed this year and as always, it looks like it will be fun.  The Festival is on Ponce de Leon Ave between Church St and Clairemont Ave. in Decatur, Ga.

The Decatur Beach Partyis held by the Decatur Business Association (DBA) and helps fund the free events in Decatur, including Concerts on the Square on Saturday evenings in May and September, Blue Sky Concerts at lunchtime on Wednesdays in May and September and 4^th of July Fireworks. 

Tickets are $6.50 in for adults in advance, $10 at the gate; children 12 and under, free (limit two children per paying adult). No coolers, glass or pets allowed. Ticket purchase information is available at http://decaturdba.com.

This is just another one of the great reasons why Decatur, Ga is a great place to live, work and play. If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Decatur, GA, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor and Broker Associate with Success Realty. www.JenBowman.com 404-456-5024
Follow me on Twitter.  View more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice. 

Buying a home can be stressful and sometimes overwhelming. After all, it's not something most people do everyday. Here are some tips that should help. 

1. Know your price limit.  Get pre-approved with a local and reputable lender. Ask your agent for a referral. Be comfortable with what that number means in terms of payment and include estimated taxes. If you plan to buy in a neighborhood that has HOA dues (Home Owner Association), be sure to factor that in.  
    
2. Make a list of your "Must Haves" and "Nice to Haves". If you are buying a home with someone else, make sure you are on the same page. Discuss it with each other. Come to an agreement and then share that list with your Real Estate Agent.  Do you really need 5 bedrooms, or is 4 bedrooms and a bonus room for an office what you are looking for?  Do you entertain and like your kitchen open with a view to the family room or is that too distracting for the chef in you and you want a more closed space? Is the basement necessary or will a bonus space for a recreation room work for you? Is a yard with potential for a garden a big deal? If so, you'll want to make sure the yard gets great sun light. Homes are very individual. Share with your real estate agent how you live.  
    
3. Use Technology to help. Ask your real estate agent set up an Automated Search for you that will send you listings via e-mail that fit your criteria as soon as they hit the market. Many systems have built in mapping and where you can classify the homes into likes, possibilities and dislikes folders. You can enter notes and your agent can do the same.  It's a great way to keep the homes organized. 
   
4. There are lots of homes to view online. Once you see one that you are interested in, Google Earth it.  Trulia has this feature built in under the map tab. You can type in the address of the home you want to see. Then click the "map" tab and "hybrid view" and zoom in. You'll be able to see what it backs up to or if it's convenient enough for your commute to work.  Map it too. Is it the right location for schools, work and the activities you enjoy?
    
5. Do a drive by. Why drive by the home before calling your agent to set up an appointment to view it? You may pull up to it and not like the neighborhood, the slope of the yard, the neighboring homes.  Or you may absolutely love it and move it to the top of your must see list!  Driving by it also gives you a chance to check out the neighborhood. What's it like when school gets out or on the weekends? Stop and talk to the neighbors while they are out in the yard. It's a great way to get the inside scoop on the neighborhood.  

I hope these tips make your home buying experience a little easier and much more fun! 

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in and around Atlanta, GA, contact Jen Bowman, Realtor and Broker Associate with Success Realty. www.JenBowman.com 404-456-5024
Follow me on Twitter.  View more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice.

Looking for some weekend fun? The 21st Annual Decatur Arts Festival is this Memorial Day Weekend, May 23 -May 24, 2009. It will be held in downtown Decatur, GA.

• Fine Arts Exhibit - Dalton Gallery at Agnes Scott College
• Art Walk - on Friday May 22, around Decatur
• Artist Market - Saturday and Sunday, on the Square in Decatur
• Kids and Teens Fest- Saturday May 23 at Scott Park at 231 Sycamore Street
• Performing Arts- Saturday and Sunday at the Community Bandstand on the Square
• Literary Arts- Saturday and Sunday in and around the Old Courthouse on the Square

For more information contact the Decatur Arts Alliance at 404-371-9583.

Decatur is full of wonderful events. It's a great place to live, work and play. If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Decatur GA, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor and Broker Associate with Success Realty. 404-456-5024.

View more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice. 

On May 11, 2009 Governor Sonny Perdue signed House Bill 261 creating a Georgia Income Tax Credit for the purchase of a home.

• Credit is limited to eligible purchases made between June 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009.
  
• The credit created by HB 261 can be claimed one time per taxpayer and is completely independent of the federal first time home buyer tax credit. 
• Maximum benefit of the tax credit is $1,800 or 1.2 % of the purchase price (whichever is less) spread over three years.
• This is not for first time home buyers only.
• This is for investors as well as owner occupied homes.

Home Buyers now have the opportunity to enjoy benefits of both a state $1,800 and a federal $8,000 home buyer tax credit. If you are planning to buy a home in the near future in GA, buy before November 30th and take advantage of this tax credit.

Learn more about HB 261, click here.

Learn more about the $8,000 Federal Tax Credit.

If you are ready to buy a home in the metro Atlanta area, contact me, Jen Bowman, Realtor and Broker Associate with Success Realty at 404-456-5024. 

View more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice.

HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) has a program where you can buy a HUD owned home for just $100 down!

Here are the requirements:

• It must be an owner occupied home. This is not a program for investors.
• The home must be purchased with FHA financing.
• This loan incentive is also available to owner occupant purchasers who obtain a FHA Home Repair loan. (203K Loan)
• Homes must be purchased through a HUD registered real estate agent.
• You do not need to be a first time Home Buyer.

The great thing about HUD owned homes is that they have already been inspected and the reports are viewable online before you even go to look at the home. There is also an estimate of repairs. That is not saying that you shouldn't do your own inspection, but this gives you a "heads up". Even though only $100 is required down as opposed to the traditional minimum of 3.5%, Home Buyers will still need money for inspections, closing, insurance etc. and should have money set aside for an emergency fund.

View HUD homes for sale in Georgia.  Contact Jen Bowman, Realtor & Broker Associate with Success Realty and registered HUD agent at 404-456-5024 to view and bid on homes in the metro Atlanta, GA area.

Read more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice for additional Home Buying Programs including down payment assistance.

This is just another reason why Decatur Georgia is a great place to live.  If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Decatur, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor and Broker Associate with Success Realty. 404-456-5024.

So you want to buy a foreclosure and would like some extra cash to do it? The Georgia Dream NSP (Neighborhood Stabilization Program) was created to encourage the purchase of foreclosed properties. The funds are from an allocation of federal dollars received by the Department of Community Affairs from the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.

The program provides $14,000 to eligible borrowers purchasing foreclosed properties in eligible areas. Funds are in the form of a second mortgage lien with no interest and no monthly payments, also known as a soft second. The lien is released over a period of five years and six months. That means if you stay in that house for 5 and a half years, you don't pay it back. Funds may be used for required repairs and/or down payment assistance.

This program began April 1, 2009 and all funds must be used by June 30, 2010.  If you are a first time home buyer, get the most for your money and purchase before December 1, 2009 for an additional $8,000 tax credit.

How to Apply:

All buyers must receive eight hours of in-person home buyer education/counseling provided by a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. Courses are not available on-line.

Contact a Georgia Dream participating lender for pre-qualification and to begin the mortgage loan process. Yes, good credit is still important here.  Call me for a recommendation on a participating lender.

Can I buy a home anywhere in Georgia?
No. You must purchase a foreclosed property in an area of greatest need which means an area that has a large inventory of foreclosures. Counties in metro Atlanta are included in this. For counties outside metro Atlanta please click here.

Are there income limits?
Yes. For the counties of Dekalb, Cobb, Fulton and Gwinnett the income limits are as follows:

• Household of 1   $59,800
• Household of 2   $68,350
• Household of 3   $76,900
• Household of 4   $85,450
• Household of 5   $92,300
• Household of 6   $99,100
• Household of 7   $105,950
• Household of 8   $112,800

For all other counties, please check www.dcaloans.com.

Are only first time home buyers eligible for the Georgia Dream NSP program?
Applicants do not have to be first-time home buyers and can own other real estate. However, the applicant must owner occupy the NSP financed property as his or her primary residence within 60 days of closing. Any rental income generated from the ownership of other real estate would have to be counted as household income for NSP qualification purposes. 

If I am a first time home buyer and I use the Georgia Dream NSP do I still qualify for the federal first time home buyer $8000 tax credit?
Yes, if you purchase a home prior to December 1, 2009.

Can I use other down payment assistance with this program?
No, unlike the traditional Georgia Dream down payment programs, the Georgia Dream NSP cannot be combined with other down payment assistance programs.

What's next? Contact a local Realtor, like me who knows these programs. If you are already working with an agent, ask them for the details. Full time educated Realtors should know about these programs. If not, contact me to be your Buyers Agent and walk you through the home buying process. Jen Bowman, Broker Associate and Realtor with Success Realty 404-456-5024.

Info on $8000 Federal Tax Credit

Info on Dekalb County Down Payment Assistance

Info on Georgia Dream Down Payment Assistance

Read more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice.