Jen's Intown Living Blog

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. Follow me on Twitter.

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. Read more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice.  Follow me on Twitter.