Jen's Intown Living Blog

If you believe that you are paying too much in property tax for your home due to decreasing home prices, you may be able to lower your taxes. Especially in neighborhoods where foreclosures have had an effect on resales, this is one area Home Owners may be able to get some relief.  

Home Owners who believe their property's worth is below it's appraised value for taxes can possibly lower their taxes by filing a residential property tax return. Home Owners can contact the Dekalb County Tax Appraisal Department at 404-371-0841 to request a form.  Forms will also be available to pick up at:

Dekalb County Tax Commissioner

120 West Trinity Place
Room 208
Decatur, GA 30030

Dekalb County will not be putting their forms on-line.  If you need a form call after January 2 to request one.  Real Estate Property Tax Returns are received in Dekalb County's office from January 1st to March 1^st.  The property tax returns then go through the same course an appeal would, getting reviewed by staff and eventually the county Board of Assessors.

For other counties, go to your county's or county tax assessor's Web site, where forms can be downloaded.

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If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Metro Atlanta, GA. 404-456-5024 View Intown Living Blog

DeKalb County residents can recycle their Christmas Trees after the holidays. Trees can be dropped off from Monday, January 5^th through Friday, January 9^th :

DeKalb County Sanitation Division - Seminole Road Landfill

4203 Clevemont Road

Ellenwood, GA 30294

Telephone: (404) 244-4842

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday:  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

In exchange for recycling their treesat the landfill, participants can receive a free dogwood seedling. Dogwoods will be given out at the landfill and at the Keep DeKalb Beautiful office, while supplies last. The recycled trees will be chipped into mulch or used as wildlife habitat.

Mulch is used for public beautification projects and is free to DeKalb County residents. 

If you don't want to drop it off, residents who are currently serviced by DeKalb County Sanitation may also leave their trees for curbside pick-up. With an average of 10,000 trees recycled each year in DeKalb, Keep DeKalb Beautiful would like to encourage residents to participate in this annual program.

For more information on Bring One for the Chipper event, please contact the Keep DeKalb Beautiful program at 404-371-2654 or email kdb@co.dekalb.ga.us.

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If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Metro Atlanta, GA. 404-456-5024 View Intown Living Blog

We were down in Florida this past week, enjoying the sun and sand.  While we get pretty good weather in Atlanta, Georgia, there is nothing quite like the gulf shore beaches.  We were driving along when someone cut us off in traffic.  We really didn't think much of it, obviously someone was in a hurry. We pulled up to the toll booth and the toll booth operator said we were taken care of. Huh? She said that tan SUV ahead of you paid for your toll.  We were surprised and a bit confused at first. Maybe they got us mixed up with a family member that may have been traveling behind them? Then we realized the vehicle that paid our toll, was the one that cut us off.  It was only a dollar but was such a nice gesture. We couldn't catch up to them to say thanks, but we did appreciate the kindness of a stranger.

This is the sun setting on Anna Maria Island in Florida.

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If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Metro Atlanta, GA. 404-456-5024 View Intown Living Blog.

Come have breakfast with Santa on Saturday December 20 from 8 to 10 a.m! He will be at the Holiday Inn Select Decatur Conference Center in downtown Decatur, GA.  The address is 130 Clairemont Ave.

Santa's reindeers are busy resting up for the big night so Santa will be arriving on a Decatur Fire truck. 

Merry Christmas!

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If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Metro Atlanta, GA. 404-456-5024 View Intown Living Blog

The Avondale Estates Christmas Tour of Homes will be Sunday December 14^th from 3-8 pm. Visitors will tour unique Avondale Estates homes decorated for the season. On the tour this year is one of the newer homes in Avondale that was renovated by new owners who added their touch by changing the original master suite to an office, the original garage to the new master suite and an unfinished area to a fabulous media room. The newest home on the tour is a Carriage House designed and decorated by Avondale designer, Audrey Scooter Newsome. Four other 2008 tour homes have been bumped up and out. The original owners would probably not recognize their 1940s and '50s brick and cinder-block houses.

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 on tour day. Advance tickets are available at Avondale Antiques, Avondale City Hall, REAL Salon, Finders Keepers Furniture and Seventeen Steps.

Purchase or pick up your tickets at the Avondale Estates Community Club, 59 Lakeshore Drive in Avondale Estates, GA.

The Holiday Market will be buzzing with a variety of artists will offering their original pieces for sale just in time for the holidays. Avondale's own author, Mary Kay Andrews will be selling and signing her books. This is a great opportunity to shop for fun and unique gifts. At the last sale, we bought some wonderful homemade fig jam. Market hours are noon to 6 pm on Sunday December 14.

For more info contact Margaret Lunsford at 404.299.9021 or mplcvl@aol.com.

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If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Metro Atlanta, GA. 404-456-5024 View Intown Living Blog

Mortgage Interest Rates have fallen to all time lows as of yesterday December 10, 2008.  The current 30 year Fixed Rate is 4.875% and a 15 year Fixed Rate is 4.75%.  These are 50 year lows!  A 30 Year Fixed Rate means your rate and payment of principal and interest will not change for 30 years, no matter what the market does. A 15 Year Rate gets you a slightly lower rate, but the loan is paid back within 15 years instead of 30 years. 

These rates only apply to loan amounts of $417,000 or under, that means the bank will not loan more than $417,000 with this rate.  If you need more than this, the rate changes. 

If you have an Adjustable Rate Loan (an ARM), it may make sense to refinance to a Fixed Rate.  If you were on the fence about purchasing a home and will need a loan to do it,  now is the time to lock in the low rate.

Do you need a referral to a great local lender that can do these loans? Feel free to contact me.

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If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Metro Atlanta, GA. 404-456-5024 View Intown Living Blog

Tonight I was out showing homes here in Decatur, GA and showed a vacant listing.  I had called the agent beforehand so I knew the power would be on at the house. I met my clients at the house and thankfully our new electronic keys have a built in flashlight. I used that to see to get the key in the door.

Especially if you are selling a vacant home, it would be a good idea to put a dusk to dawn attachment (It goes on at dusk and off at dawn automatically) onto your exterior light fixtures. This way at least the doorway would be lit making your home easier to show and providing a little extra security.  On the interior, put a lamp on a timer, so that while we are fumbling around looking for a light switch, we could actually see it.  It would help us while locking up too.  

Timers are inexpensive and easy to use.  Basic light timers are available for less than $10 at your local hardware store. For energy efficiency, use a compact fluorescent bulb indoors.  The compact fluorescent bulbs don't seem to do so well out in the cold.  The dusk to dawn attachment for your outside light simply screws into the light socket.  They are available for less than $5. 

With shorter daylight hours, make your home as warm and inviting as possible.  Good lighting is a great place to start.

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If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Metro Atlanta, GA. 404-456-5024 View Intown Living Blog

Are you paying too much for the Natural Gas to heat your home?  Find out by going to the Georgia Public Service Commission's website.  The site lists all the Natural Gas Marketers in GA and the price per therm, along with the service charges.  Consumers over 65 years old may be eligible for discounts.  According to the charts you could be saving as much as $50 a month!

The site is easy to use and offers rates on:

• Variable plans (Rates can change monthly.)

• Fixed rates  (The price per therm is fixed for a 12 month period.)

• Senior Rate Plans (Ask your marketer what its requirements are to qualify for its senior rate plans.)

Check your bill with the Natural Gas Bill Calculator.

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If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Metro Atlanta, GA. 404-456-5024 View Intown Living Blog

Especially this time of year, it seems as if everyone is looking for donations to their charity. How do you know where your hard earned dollars are going? My good friend and Chiropractor Dr. Carol Antonino, told me about a website called Charity Navigator  that rates charities based on financial evaluations of over 5,300 of the nations largest charities.

The site provides tips on charitable giving and the questions you should ask.  If you go to the site and your favorite charity is not on there, there are tips for evaluating your charity. Don't you want to know how much of the money you give actually helps the cause you are giving to?  

By the way, Dr. Carol Antonino is having her Annual Gift Drive to benefit the Atlanta Union Mission, a 4 star top rated charity during the week of December 8^th through the 13^th.  She is asking that people bring a new, unwrapped item for their Drive.  To show her appreciation, you will receive a free adjustment or credit on your account.  The AUM serves men, women and children of all ages, so donations may include clothing, toys, toiletries, books, housewares, etc. Her office is at 4300 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite B, Duluth, GA Phone: 770.623.3050.  So bring in a gift and give yourself the gift of good health at the same time!

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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 Metro Atlanta, GA. 404-456-5024 View Intown Living Blog