Jen's Intown Living Blog

This seems to be a pretty popular topic this week from the emails and phone calls I have been getting off line. So, I will elaborate a little more on what I have found out.

See my previous post for early voting locations.

Lines are long, probably no surprise there. I went to the 330 West Ponce de Leon location in downtown Decatur this morning about 10:30 a.m. It took an hour and a half. Most of the waiting was outside, so remember to dress appropriately for the weather. It was cold today! I saw people with books, magazines, IPods and knitting to keep them busy. Personally, I was busy on my Blackberry most of the time.

Jay, my eyes on the street in Dunwoody reported back to me that he went over to the Liane Levetan Park location around 11:30 a.m. He said that it was pretty much a mob scene and didn’t even bother to park. Thank you Jay for the feedback! 

While most of us know who is running for President, there are some other issues we are voting on that are lesser known. There are Proposed Constitutional Amendments.

They are as follows:

1- To encourage the preservation of Georgia’s Forests through a conservation use property tax reduction program.

2- To authorize local school districts to use tax funds for community redevelopment purposes.

3- To authorize the creation of special infrastructure development districts providing infrastructure to underserved areas.

Dekalb County has Referendums.

This is Senate Bill #52. Shall the Act be approved which increases homestead exemption from City of Atlanta and ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes from $15,000 to $30,000 after a 3 year phase in period?

Vote Yes or No

Dekalb County Board of Education Nonbinding Advisory Referendum House Bill #712

Should the Dekalb County Board of Education require that students in kindergarten through 5th grades wear uniforms?

Vote Yes or No

Then there are several more for City of Atlanta residents in Dekalb, Doraville and Clarkston residents.

Want more details? Check out the Sample Ballot .

Here are the numbers from the Dekalb Early Voting.

                          Monday       Tuesday

Memorial Drive      3954            3997

330 West Ponce    1722            2205

Lithonia                1756            2031

North Lake            2042            2136

Dunwoody             1950            2205

South Dekalb        1968            2191

So, at the end of Tuesday 103,665 voters have taken advantage of early voting in Dekalb County, GA. I did speak to a Poll worker and she told me that Memorial Drive was the busiest, but it’s also one of the biggest locations. I think I counted 20 voting machines in downtown Decatur at 330 West Ponce de Leon. I have also been advised that there is less waiting if you get to the polls before they open, for example at 6:30 a.m.  

Remember that if you don’t do early voting, more locations will be open on Election Day. Also, if you are voting on Election Day, please try to bring canned goods for the community food banks Vote for Hope Canned Food Drive at participating locations. 

-----------------------------

Contact Jen Bowman, Realtor and local expert for all your real estate needs in Decatur and Metro Atlanta GA. 404-456-5024 www.JenBowman.com. View my Intown Living Blog.

Advance Voting is available in Dekalb County, GA.  You don't need to have a reason to vote early, you  can just do it with proper identification.  UPDATE: I just did it Wednesday 10.29.08. It took an hour and a half.

During Advance Voting, registered DeKalb County voters may cast their ballot in person Monday through Friday, October 27th-31st from 7:00 am- 7:00 pm, at any of the following locations:

*Memorial Drive Complex
4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300 Decatur, Georgia 30032

*330 West Ponce deLeon Avenue, Room A Decatur, Georgia  30030

*Lithonia Middle School
2451 Randall Avenue Lithonia, Georgia  30058
 
*DeKalb County Fire Headquarters
1950 West Exchange Place, Training Conference Room Tucker, Georgia  30084
 
*Liane Levetan Park at Brook Run
4770 North Peachtree Road Dunwoody, Georgia  30338
 
*South DeKalb Senior Center
1931 Candler Road Decatur, Georgia  30030

Voting on Election Day, November 4th
If you do not vote early, you may vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, 2008. Polls will be open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.  

Voter ID Requirements
Voters participating in the election during Advance Voting week or on Election Day will be required to show 1 of the following 6 forms of photo ID:

* A Georgia driver's license, even if expired
* Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar or Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)
* Valid U.S. passport
* Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state
* Valid U.S. military photo ID
* Valid tribal photo ID

Vote, But Don't Promote
Please remember to not wear shirts, caps, stickers or any item with a candidate's name or likeness on it when going to vote. These items are not permitted at polling places and poll workers will turn away anyone wearing such items.

--------------------------------

Jen Bowman is a Realtor with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Atlanta GA. She can be reached at 404-456-5024. www.JenBowman.com

The Georgia Dream program has been around since 1977, but changed the name to Georgia Dream in 2005. It helps Georgians achieve the dream of Homeownership by providing First Mortgage Financing and Down Payment Assistance.

Here's how it works:

• They provide the 30 year fixed rate mortgages
• Local lenders approve Conventional, FHA, USD-RD or VA mortgage loans.

How do you qualify?

1. You must be a 1st time Home Buyer or not have owned a home in the past 3 years or purchase a home in a targeted area to qualify for 1st Mortgage Financing. (Targeted areas are not in metro Atlanta.)

2.  If you purchase a home in the Atlanta MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area that includes the 28 counties that surround Atlanta) your Household income for 1 to 2 people in a household must be less than $68,000.  If you have 3 or more people living in your household, then your income must be less than $78,000.  Counties included in the Atlanta MSA include Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding or Walton Counties.  

You may qualify to purchase a home with a sales price of up to $250,000.

If you are purchasing a home outside of these counties, please visit the DCA  website for details on qualifying.

The Down Payment Assistance program is called Georgia Dream 2nd Mortgage Financing.  This is not an 80/20 loan.  Eligible 1st Time Homebuyers may qualify for a GA Dream 2nd Mortgage for down payment and closing costs associated with the purchase of their home.   The Georgia Dream Second Mortgage Financing must be used with a Georgia Dream First Mortgage Loan.  It is considered a "soft second" mortgage because of the terms associated with it.

• No interest
• no monthly payments
• No payment due until home is sold, refinanced or no longer used as the borrower's principal residence.

Eligible borrowers will:

1. Have a total annual household income that does not exceed the limits below
2. Contribute a minimum of $500 of their own funds toward the purchase transaction, and
3. Complete Home Buyer Education with a DCA Home Buyer Education partner or any HUD approved housing counseling agency.  www.HUD.gov  Classes are free.  Contact me for a list of locations.

Georgia Dream Second Mortgage Loan Income Limits

(For Atlanta area counties, all mentioned above except Butts, Haralson, Lamar and Meriwether)

• 1 person in household $39,850
• 2 person household     $45,550
• 3 person household     $51,250
• 4 person household     $56,950
• 5 person household     $61,500

How much can you get for your Georgia Dream 2nd Mortgag Loan Amounts?  You can get 5,000 to $10,000 for different categories

• Standard- All eligible homebuyers $5000
• PEN- Protectors, eligible homebuyers who are employed by entities that provide public protection (including the military), healthcare or education can receive $7500.
• Choice-$7500 to 10,000 for eligible homebuyers whose household includes an individual living with a disability.
• Honors-Eligible homebuyers who are the surviving spouse of military personnel or of a public protector -$10,000
• Welcome Home- Eligible members of Georgia's Army and Air National Guard who purchase a home in the State of Georgia $10,000

Builders, contact me for additional incentives.

The Georgia Dream program can be used with the local county down payment assistance programs.   See my blog on Dekalb County's Down Payment Assistance program. Money is available and there are great homes out there for bargain prices. 

-----------------

Jen Bowman is a Realtor and Broker Associate serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Metro Atlanta Georgia.  She can be reached at 404-456-5024.  View Georgia Real Estate Voice for more info on local news, events and real estate.

This morning I was at a class to learn about the Georgia Dream home ownership program.  It is a great program that helps with 0% interest down payment assistance.  After the class, I was approached by someone who said to me, Hey, I've been following you on Twitter and I've been reading your Blog on Active Rain too.  Well, this was quite a surprise and might have freaked me out a little if I had tweeted that I was on my way to the class this morning.  But, I hadn't.  Andre Allen, is a real estate agent here in the Atlanta area, like me and on the Active Rain network.  Now, I'll be waiting for him to write something. Hint, hint, Andre.  Anyway, I thought that was pretty cool.  Small world, isn't it? 

By the way, I will be posting info about the Georgia Dream program soon.  Feel free to contact me with any questions about it.

-------

Jen Bowman is a Realtor serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Atlanta. She can be reached at 404-456-5024. www.JenBowman.com

The Decatur Low Country Boil is here again, this Thursday October 23, 2008 at the Solarium in the Oakhurst neighborhood of Decatur, GA.   The Solarium is located at 321 Hill St. Decatur, Georgia.   The event starts at 6:30 p.m.

The entertainment lineup features Atlanta's favorite Cajun/Zydeco band, Hair of the Dog. Hair of the Dog is described at Zydecajun Honkey Tonk Dance Hall Blues.  Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

Proceeds from this event benefit the Decatur Education Foundation. For 7 years, the Decatur Education Foundation has worked to give Decatur's students & teachers added support they would not have received from any where else. The Low Country Boil, is a primary fundraising event for the Decatur Education Foundation, which started as a small, invitation-only party and has consistently grown in attendance over the past five years.

A few examples of the foundation's impact in its first 7 years:

• $150,000 in mini-grants to support innovative teaching and 150 professional development scholarships for teachers
• Nearly 19,000 new books purchased for economically disadvantaged students in pre-K through 5th grade
• 600 scholarships for students attending summer school, summer camps and after-school academic support
• $32,000 in annual college scholarships for Decatur High seniors

Admission is $50 and includes food, beer/wine/soda and a commemorative t-shirt.

Ready to buy your tickets? Go to Decatur Low Country Boil.   Tickets must be purchased in advance.

This is sure to be an evening of great food, live music, and festivities - all for a great cause.

---------------------------

If you are buying or selling a home in Decatur or Metro Atlanta, GA please contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor with Success Realty at 404-456-5024.  www.JenBowman.com

Voters who cast their ballots in the November 4, 2008 election can be good citizens in more ways than one.  The First Baptist Church of Decatur on Clairmont is organizing a "Vote for Hope" food drive to encourage citizens to contribute non-perishable food items when they go to the polls in Decatur, GA.

Other participating churches in the Vote for Hope food drive include:

• First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Decatur, on West Ponce de Leon Ave
• Hillside Presbyterian Church
• North Decatur United Methodist Church on Church St.
• Oakhurst Baptist Church on East Lake Drive
• St. Phillip AME on Candler Rd.
• Epworth United Methodist Church on McLendon Ave

In addition to the food drive on election day, participating churches will also collect food items from their congregation during their Sunday services on November 2, 2008.

"Vote for Hope" is an opportunity to channel the power of the ballot box to help people in our own neighborhood.  Donated items will be given to the Decatur Emergency Ministries and the Atlanta Community Food Bank. 

Donors can place items in specially marked bins at the entrance to the polls.  Accepted food drive items include: 

• items high in protein such as canned meats, beef stew, chili
• peanut butter
• canned vegetables & canned fruits,
• pasta & sauces
• cereal
• boxed meals
• soups
• dried peas/beans
• rice
• instant potatoes
• fruit juices
• bottled water
• toiletries
• baby products

No glass containers, perishable items or home canned foods, please.

For further information, please contact the First Baptist Church of Decatur at 404-373-1653.

With election day a couple of weeks away, we have plenty of time to go grocery shopping and pick up a few extra items.  Check out the Buy 1 Get 1 free items, that makes it easy.  Thank you for helping our local families in need.

----------------------------------

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Decatur or metro Atlanta, GA, please call Jen Bowman, Realtor, Success Realty at 404-456-5024.  Visit on the web at www.JenBowman.com.

This picture was taken by someone in the Ridgeland Park neighborhood in Decatur, GA. It's from my old house the year my husband and I got married.  We celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary this month.  It was a lot of fun to do.  I found the wedding dress on ebay and the groom is wearing a tux I found at thrift store.   I wish I could find a picture of the guy we had falling from our roof the following year.  By the way, not a real guy, a scarecrow kind of guy. :)  That was fun too. I hope you enjoy all the great things that October brings as much as I do. 

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home contact Jen Bowman, Realtor with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Atlanta, GA.  404-456-5024 www.JenBowman.com.

There are plenty of great options for condo living in Decatur, GA. List prices as of today range from $12,500 to $799,900. There really is something for everyone.

Why live in a condo?

• You’re busy.
  
• You travel or would like to.
  
• You want a low maintenance lifestyle.
• You want the opportunity for social interaction with your neighbors.
  
• You do not want to deal with lawn maintenance.
  
• You do not want the responsibilities of dealing with exterior maintenance.
  
• You want amenities.
  
• You are renting now and are ready to stop paying someone else’s mortgage.
  
• You want to be part of a community.
  
• You are ready to have something of your own.
• You are ready to downsize and have a simpler life.

As for being involved in your community, that is up to you. Many condo Homeowner’s Associations have social events or ways to be involved in the Homeowner’s Board. You can choose to participate or not. Condo living is a lifestyle. Choices range from 1 level ranch style, to low rise garden style, to high rise, to town-home.  You can choose a condo with the amenities you want, fitness, pool, clubroom, security, etc. It gives you the benefits of ownership without all the hassle.

--------------------------

For more information on Decatur, GA communities, please contact Jen Bowman, Realtor with Success Realty, proudly serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Atlanta, GA. 404-456-5024 www.JenBowman.com. View my Blog for more info on Intown Living and First Time Homebuyer Programs.

What are you doing this weekend?  October is such a great month with lots of Fall Festivals and Events for all to enjoy in Decatur and Metro Atlanta.  Here are some of my picks for the weekend.

Martinis and Imax at Fernbank Museum Friday nights are great. 

Oktoberfest in Helen, GA, is just an hour and ½ North of Atlanta.  Get out and see the fall foliage!

The Decatur Beer Festival on Saturday October 18^th has sold out to the first 4,000 people.  But, the whole Downtown Decatur area will be a flurry of activity.  Come anyway and check out the local establishments.

Boo at the Zoo at the Atlanta Zoo in Grant Park should be great for the kids. 

The Home Show at the Georgia International Convention Center 10/17/2008-10/19/2008. Here's 3 days of ideas, inspiration and hundreds of ways to cross items off your to do list.  Location: 2000 Convention Center Concourse in College Park.  Tickets prices are:  Adults $10.00(buy online for $8.00), Children 6-12 $3.00, Children 5 and Under Free- Buy tickets online at AtlHomeShows.com

Get some Barbeque at the 47^th Annual Oak Grove United Methodist Men's Barbecue,  Saturday, October 18, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.  Preparations for this 47th annual event include cooking 300 hams and 440 gallons of Brunswick stew. Activities include bake sale, arts & crafts, used book sale and live bluegrass and gospel music  by Tucker Station String Band at 11:30 and also at 1:30. Tickets are $8 for Adults and $5 for children.  For more info: 404-636-7558.   

Sketchworks, is outrageous comedy in Decatur, GA - Opening Weekend of their New Show, Sketchmania.  This is not for the faint of heart! 

Fall Festival at Columbia Presbyterian Church  3-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 lat 711 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA (at Kirk Road, south of College Ave.) Join in the fun for a pumpkin-carving, apple-bobbing, cake-walking, face-painting, craft-making, game-playing, music-singing, potluck-sharing, all-ages good time! 

 -------------------------------------------------

For expert home buying or selling advice in Decatur and Metro Atlanta, GA contact Jen Bowman, Realtor with Success Realty at 404-456-5024.  View all homes for Sale on the MLS at www.JenBowman.com.