Home Maintenance Checklists for Every Season

Home Maintenance Checklist – Summer Tips

This Summer home maintenance checklist offers tips and advice to keep your home’s systems–especially your air conditioning–in good working order during hot Summer months.

1. Change/clean HVAC air filters.
2. If applicable, have your septic tank system inspected to assure that it is in good working order.
3. Have lateral sewer lines inspected and cleared.
4. Inspect driveways, sidewalks, patios, bricks, and other concrete or stone surfaces for cracks. Repair as needed.
5. Remove hair from drains in tubs, sinks, and showers using drain cleaner that is appropriate for your system.
6. Inspect decks, steps, and wooden structures for wood rot and other damage. Make repairs as soon as possible to minimize further complications.
7. Weatherproof all wooden surfaces if it has been two years or more since you last did so.
8. Check eaves around your home’s roof, chimneys, caps, etc. Remove flying insect nests. Fix any damaged areas.
9. Test ground-fault circuit interrupters around your home. Examine electrical cords for wear.
10. Inspect washer hoses and dryer vent system.

Home Maintenance Checklist – Winterize Your Home

Our Fall maintenance checklist offers tips and advice to winterize your home’s systems and make sure they are in good working order during the upcoming Winter months.

1. Have your heating system professionally inspected.
2. Change/clean HVAC air filters. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment to clean out forced air registers and ductwork in your house.
3. Check the weather stripping around your exterior doors and windows. Repair gaps or other damaged areas.
4. Inspect the caulking around the exterior doors and windows. Reapply if necessary to minimize drafts and keep insects out.
5. Properly “close” your pool. Make sure water is drained from pipes, and cover your pool to keep it clean and safe during the off-season.
6. Clean your chimney and fireplace to minimize chances for fire-related problems during Winter.
7. Inspect your roof for damaged shingles, flashing, skylights, dormers, etc. Repair as needed.
8. Inspect attic and basement for signs of birds, squirrels, bats, and unwanted guests. Seal entrance holes.
9. Drain water from outdoor faucets, garden hoses, and underground sprinkler systems to minimize freeze damage.
10. Insulate pipes outside the home and in unheated basements and garages.

Home Maintenance Checklist – Winter Tips

Below is a home maintenance checklist offering tips and advice to keep your home’s systems in good working order during Winter months.

1. Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries and any damaged equipment.
2. Take fire extinguishers to a certified inspector to make sure they function properly.
3. Change/clean HVAC air filters.
4. Check faucets in your kitchen, bathrooms, basements, etc., for leaks and other problems. Clean the lint out of your clothes dryer vent.
5. Check refrigerator and freezer gaskets. Place a dollar bill on the seal then close the door; if the bill easily moves, the seal is not working properly.
6. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment to clean coils on the back of your refrigerator and freezer.
7. Flush water heaters to remove sediment and improve efficiency.
8. Dye test toilets and repair identified leaks.

Home Maintenance Checklist – Spring Cleaning Tips

Below is a home maintenance checklist offering Spring cleaning tips, and advice to get your home’s systems in good working order for the upcoming warmer months.

1. Have your air conditioning system professionally serviced.
2. Change/clean HVAC air filters.
3. Clear debris from around the outside of air conditioner, removing the cover, if applicable.
4. Inspect windows and doors to make sure they function properly. Replace if necessary.
5. Check putty around windowpanes and weather stripping around windows and doors. Fix as needed.
6. Check window and door screens. Replace or repair as needed.
7. Check locks, latches, and hinges on your doors and windows. Replace or repair as needed.
8. Trim back trees and shrubs as needed to eliminate overhanging branches and to improve curb appeal.
9. “Open” your pool for the swimming season. Make sure your pump and filtration systems work effectively, and that your chemicals are balanced.
10. Pressure wash your home’s exterior, and apply touch-up paint as required to address paint failure.
11. Remove leaves, small branches, and debris from gutters, downspouts, and down-spout extensions so that water properly drains away from your home.
12. Look for sagging or otherwise damaged gutter components. Repair if necessary.
13. Inspect your basement or crawlspace for dampness.
14. Turn on water to outdoor faucets, turn on irrigation system, and check sprinkler heads. Make needed repairs.
15. Clean the screens on roof vents and louvers.
16. Examine caulking around sinks, tubs, and showers. Reapply if necessary.
17. Remove early signs of bird nests and stinging insect nests from eaves, ledges, etc.
18. Check foundation walls and wooden areas at or near ground level for signs of termites and other wood-boring insects

The Low-down on Zillow (and other public search sites)

A recurring discussion in my line of work - with both clients, friends, and other agents - is Zillow and the infamous "Zestimate" that they have marketed so brilliantly to the public.  There was a great article written recently about just this, which delves into what this and other public real estate sites can offer you.  I can't begin to tell you how many times a client has emailed me about a home they saw for sale on one of the public sites, only to find out when I look in our MLS that it sold weeks ago.  Or even more common - the Zestimate they see online is a widely inaccurate estimate of their home's value.

Don't get me wrong - the public sites are a good tool for many things. They are a quick way for a consumer to find out what a home last sold for as well as community information regarding demographics, schools, and crime rates. However, they are not particularly great at doing what they claim they are made for, namely helping the public to search for a new home. That's what a Realtor is for!

A good Realtor can quickly set you up with a custom search site that pulls directly from the MLS and therefore is both accurate and up-to-date. Likwise, the only way to get an accurate idea of the value of your home is to have an experienced and knowledgeable agent create a Comparative Market Analysis for you, which is specific to your unique property. Plus we can also provide everything the public sites are decent at with regards to community info, sales history, and market trends.

So all of this is to say: if you would like information about your home's value or you are just interested in what your neighbor's home sold for, contact a Realtor! We are more than happy to help - it's our job, after all!

My Recent Sales

Here's a quick peek at some of the awesome homes I have sold recently. My listings have all sold in under 30 days in the last 6 months and most of them sold at or above list price!

East Cobb

Duluth

Marietta

Smyrna

Grant Park

Roswell

Marietta

Roswell

Roswell

Woodstock

Cabbagetown

Old Fourth Ward

Midtown

Buckhead

Roswell

Smyrna

Woodstock

Sandy Springs

Marietta

Alpharetta

Woodstock

Thanks to all my amazing clients for following my extensive list of instructions to get their homes ready to list.  =)   It is a testament to all their hard work that these homes sold as quickly and for as much money as they did!

For Sale By Owner: Things to consider before going this route

Trying to decide between selling your home on your own as a for sale by owner or choosing a full service Realtor like myself? Do you have a potential buyer interested in purchasing your Atlanta area home? 

Before you make the jump and decide to do FSBO, ask yourself these questions to avoid costly mistakes: 

• Have you already met with an attorney to verify you are doing everything correctly? 
• Do you have the correct paperwork and forms to fill out for both seller and buyer or did you print random documents from the internet? How about mediation, what do you know about how this impacts your sale? 
• Are you familiar with the term "Seller's Disclosures" and know where to find them, how to properly fill them out, and what the law requires?
• Are you familiar with title companies, what fees they charge you and how they prorate taxes? 

If you answered "no" to any of these questions, you may want to consider hiring a professional Realtor who has knowledge in housing transactions. You may be thinking as a for sale by owner you will save money, but ask yourself: why are you not considering hiring a Realtor to help you? 

Here's the advantages of hiring a professional: 

• We have access to so many more marketing tools than you do. Here in Atlanta, we have not one but two MLS systems that all full-service Realtors use (this program feeds out listings to housing websites on the internet and other real estate companies in the area); as a FSBO you have no access to these systems and no way for other agents to find your home when performing searches for their buyers. In addition, I know that I personally spend thousands of dollars a year to make sure that my listings are promoted on every available real estate website, jump to the top of Google searches through smart search engine optimization, and are featured with beautiful, professionally designed marketing pieces. 
• My agency has money to advertise your home in the paper, magazines, brochures, local news, radio, and TV. RE/MAX owns the largest market share of TV and radio voice not just in Georgia, but nation-wide as well.
• Companies such as RE/MAX are more reputable and well known by prospective buyers, and people will trust a brand name agency over private homeowners. The RE/MAX Balloon is as recognizable as the Nike Swish!
• For sale by owners increase their chances of engaging in "dispute resolution" after the closing. What does this mean? If the new owner finds something wrong with the house (water damage, leaks, etc), they can sue you and take you to court, particularly if you mishandled that "seller disclosure" piece I talked about earlier. At this point, you will need to hire an attorney and pay out of pocket costs at your own expense. On the other hand, Realtors are insured and also have access to their company attorneys. 
• Convenience - what do you know about scheduling buyers to tour your home? How will they gain access and what security measures do you have in place? Have they been pre-approved for a loan to buy the house? If the potential buyer is not pre-approved for the price of your home, then they are wasting your time. 
• FSBOs historically are much more likely sell their property under value, both because they are unable to properly price their home from the beginning and because they lack the negotiation skills and training that a Realtor has spent years perfecting. According to the latest Keeping Current Matters article this month, for sale by owners sell their house substantially lower than if they worked with a Realtor
• Although you may be frustrated with paying for an agent's commission fee (the Atlanta average is 6-7% of the sales price, which is split between the Buyer's and Seller's agents), you still may earn more profit in the long run and it will certainly be a much easier and more stress-free process with a professional doing all the work.

If you have been thinking about selling your home (or have a neighbor interested in purchasing it), contact me today to discuss what I can do for you, and how the services I provide will help you to sell your house with the least amount of stress possible while also achieving your financial goals!

Preventing Wire Fraud

Thanks to our friends at McManamy, McLeod, and Heller for the following information regarding wire fraud and how to spot/prevent it in real estate transactions!

In the last year since the real estate market has taking a turn for the better, real estate professionals have been targeted in wire scams that typically involve hacking an e-mail address. Hackers will access an e-mail account associated with a real estate agent, the buyer, the seller, and even the closing attorney in order to obtain information about an upcoming real estate transaction. After monitoring the account to determine the timing of the closing, hackers will often impersonate the e-mail account holder and send fraudulent wire instructions to the closing attorney or other parties to the real estate transaction. Sellers are targeted when proceeds from the sale are redirected to the hacker's bank account; buyers are targeted by sending the buyer fraudulent instructions regarding the wire of transaction-related funds to the closing attorney. 

Once the hacker starts monitoring the exchange of e-mails in the hacked account, the fraudulent communication usually includes detailed and accurate information pertaining to the transaction, such as file numbers, key dates, names, and addresses. It is important to note that the e-mails may come from a legitimate e-mail address because the thief is actually sending the e-mail from a truly legitimate, although hacked, account. In other instances, the e-mail is sent from a similar looking e-mail address, but not the actual same address as a party to the transaction. Pay special attention to e-mail addresses when you see changes such as these! 

Real estate agents can take precautions to prevent wire fraud from affecting their clients and their transactions. Educate your clients on wire fraud and make sure that prior to wiring any funds, the wirer contacts the intended recipient via a verified telephone number or in person to confirm the wiring instructions. In that telephone or in-person conversation, the correct account number information should be repeated verbally before taking any steps to have the funds transferred.

Millennial House Hunters Say Forget the Pool—How About a Backyard Pizza Oven? ​

Every generation has different wants, needs, and priorities when it comes to home shopping. Here's the scoop on what Millennials are looking for:

If you’re looking to upgrade your backyard this spring with an eye toward putting your house on the market, millennial house hunters might have an unusual request.
“They’ll ask, ‘Where’s your backyard vegetable garden?’” said Mary Hutchison, a real-estate agent with Better Homes and Gardens Realty in Kansas City, Mo. 

While homeowners customarily have taken advantage of good weather in springtime to add such backyard upgrades as patios or pools, Hutchison said millennial owners and buyers are going in a different direction. “They’re making their own pizza outdoors with vegetables they grow in their garden,” she said. 

About 32% of millennials plan to buy homes over the next two years, compared with 25% a year ago, according to the American Express spending and saving tracker, which surveyed 1,800 adults in February. 

In addition to landscaping and other backyard improvements, popular items this year with millennials include smart doorbells with cameras and electronic exterior locks that can be accessed only with a code and remotely locked and unlocked via smartphone, according to Sabine Schoenberg, a real-estate agent and luxury builder in Greenwich, Conn. 

Of course, it’s not just the 23- to 34-year-old generation that’s upgrading backyards and exteriors this spring; according to Houzz.com, an online database for residential design, 75% of all homeowners who are planning outdoor projects in 2016 will start in the backyard.

Read the rest of the article here!

6 Things You Need to Know When Buying Home Insurance

Whether you’ve just begun searching for a new place or you’re waiting to close on your dream home, one important aspect of moving you can’t ignore is insuring your investment.

Enter the homeowner’s best friend: the homeowners insurance policy.

Just like any other kind of insurance, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all policy. Home insurance policy costs typically depend on the home’s location and age, the size of the deductible, and the coverage level. You’ll have to look at these and other variables to figure out what kind of home insurance is right for you—and how much you’ll shell out for it.

To make sure you purchase the perfect policy that fits your budget and coverage needs— and to avoid potential pitfalls—we’ve pulled together a list of the most important things you should consider. Let’s take a look.

1. It’s all about location, location, location

Along with size, construction type, and overall condition of the house, location plays a big role in the cost of insurance and types of policies available. But unlike home buyers, insurance companies aren’t checking out school districts, awesome nearby restaurants, or your commute time.

But others factors do come into play. Homes located near highly rated, permanently staffed fire departments (and even fire hydrants), for example, may cost less to insure, says Loretta Worters, vice president of communications for the Insurance Information Institute.

And of course, proximity to the coastline is also weighed heavily. You’re likely going to pay a pretty penny for that idyllic spot near the coast.

“Because of the increased risk of catastrophic weather events resulting in claims, it will generally cost more to insure,” Worters says.

On top of a higher policy cost, coastal home insurance policies could include a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible based on the fees to rebuild a home.

2. You might want flood insurance—even if you think you don’t need it

Damage from flooding isn’t covered by typical home insurance policies. Any home located in an area prone to flooding requires separate flood insurance to cover these kinds of claims. (Flood insurance is available from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program as well as a handful of specialty insurers.)

Don’t live in a flood zone? Don’t assume you’re off the hook. Flood insurance may be a smart option for any homeowner, regardless of zoning—and if you’re not in a high-risk zone, you can probably snag some lower premiums.

“Ninety percent of all natural disasters in the U.S. involve flooding,” Worters says. “However, 25% to 30% of all paid losses for flooding are in areas not officially designated as special flood hazard zones.”

3. That goes for earthquake insurance, too

Californians aren’t the only ones who have to worry about earthquakes—in fact as many as 39 states have experienced tremors, according to data from the Insurance Information Institute. And the resulting damage usually isn’t covered by traditional home insurance policies.

Homeowners need to purchase an addition to their home insurance policy to cover

any earthquake-related claims. The cost varies by location, insurer, and the type of structure being covered as well as age of the building, Worters says.

4. Have a pool? Dive into extra protection

Ahh, your new home has a fabulous swimming pool and hot tub. Yay for you! We’d love to come over—but before we do, you should look into bumping up your liability insurance.

Liability coverage is the part of a home insurance policy that may pay court costs or other expenses if you’re found responsible for an accident, such as someone drowning or suffering a serious injury after doing a cannonball into the shallow end of your pool.

Another option: You can purchase an umbrella liability policy to provide a level of protection not typically available with standard home insurance policies.

5. Your home’s claim history matters—even from when you didn’t live there

Whether you’ve just begun your home search or lived in your home for years, it’s never too late to get familiar with your home’s claim history—and how it might be affecting your homeowners insurance rates.

It’s all summed up in a nifty database called the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, or CLUE. Essentially the equivalent of a credit report for your home, the CLUE contains all kinds of records of insurance claims on the house.

That’s important to know because a claim filed for the property in the past five years could cause your rates to inch upward, even if you didn’t own the home at the time of the claim.

But take heart, dear home buyer—not all prior claims have a negative effect.

“Some recent claims can have a positive impact, because replacing a roof damaged by a windstorm could make the house more desirable to an insurance company,” Worters says.

If you’re looking to buy a home and want a copy of the CLUE report, check with the sellers (only the owner of a property may access its CLUE report). There’s no guarantee they’ll fork it over, but there’s no harm in asking. If you already own the home, you can get a free report from database giant LexisNexis.

6. A high deductible can really pay off

It should come as no surprise that you’ll want to shop around before committing to a policy. Compare the rates, deductibles, and coverage options of at least two to three companies to make sure you have adequate coverage for your situation.

Pro tip: Pay close attention to the size of your deductible.

“It’s recommended to opt for the highest deductible you can afford because most people only file a claim every eight to 10 years,” Worters says. “A higher deductible saves money year after year and encourages only using insurance in catastrophic situations when it’s truly necessary. And that also helps keep your costs affordable.”

(reprinted from Realtor.com)

6 Steps to Finding Your Dream Home

Some of us have had it and some of us haven’t. We’re talking about that moment when you walk into a house and know right away, “This is the one”; “This is the house that will become my home.” For those of you that haven’t located your dream home, we came up six important factors to consider while you are searching.

1. Think of your house as an investment
   Of course we aren’t saying sell your house as soon as you close, but it’s important to think about the future. Imagine living in your new home for 5 or 10 years. Now imagine all the blood, sweat, and tears you will put into your home during that time. Before purchasing, make sure the house has value, even if it means putting your handy-man hat on and making a few key changes to make it re-sellable. If you feel unsure about the house re-sale value, even with a few modifications, you might want to skip to the next house.

2. Determine your NEEDS first, then your WANTSDo you need a house, townhouse or condo? Are you looking for a large yard or no yard? Do you need to be close to work or school? First, make a list of needs and choose one that you are flexible on. Second, write a list of wants such as garage, old or new, established landscaping, style – traditional, craftsman, modern, contemporary, and so on. Then choose two wants that you are flexible on. If you are unsure about what style you prefer, you can check out this gallery for more ideas. It will be easier to find the right place if you have a direct vision of what you’re looking for.

3. Don’t Break the BankWe all do it. You browse houses for sale and dream about living in that million dollar home, and then say to yourself, “If only I won the Powerball last week.” You have to be realistic though. Go ahead and get pre-approved, set a true budget, and try to stay within $25K.

4. Is Green Important?From energy efficient appliances to local transportation programs, you should think about how important ‘being green’ is for you and your family. If you are a green advocate, then look for these key items: multi-pane windows, plenty of natural light, the EnergyStar logo on water or HVAC systems, solar lights/panels, or non-toxic building materials.

5. Location and CommunityLocation does matter, plain and simple. Think about what city you prefer and pick a few nearby cities or set a certain radius that you could live with. Not only does location fill personal needs, but it can help (or hurt) you when it comes time to sell. So opt out of the noisy intersection with high traffic. You are also buying into the community in which you live, so do some digging on which communities have the most appealing features.

6. Be Flexible and Have FunThe best way to find your dream home is to have an open mind and be a bit flexible. Choose a place that has an open floor plan so you have an option to remodel if you want, or make sure you have an extra room or two that serve many purposes. You might also want to make sure you have enough room to grow or build on at a later time should your family expand. With time, this house will become your home. It will have your décor and reflect who you are as a person, so take your time searching and enjoy the process.

Following these six tips on how to find your dream home are great ways to narrow the search, but it's just the beginning. For more information on homes in Georgia, contact me today so you can start your journey to locating your dream home!

5 Housing Trends That Will Dominate 2016

This year may have marked the best for housing since 2007, but the market will likely get even rosier in 2016, according to a recent real estate forecast by realtor.com®. One of the main drivers behind the brighter 2016 is the projection that employment will continue to grow, which will add to consumers’ wallets and allow them to purchase their first home or upgrade to a new one. Realtor.com® highlights the following housing predictions for 2016: 

1. ‘Normal’ is coming. Expect a healthy growth in home sales and prices – at a slower pace than in 2015. “This slowdown is not an indication of a problem—it’s just a return to normalcy,” writes Jonathan Smoke, realtor.com®’s chief economist. “We’ve lived through 15 years of truly abnormal trends, and after working off the devastating effects of the housing bust, we’re finally seeing signs of more normal conditions.” New construction and distressed sales are expected to return to more historical levels, and home prices are expected to follow at “more normal rates consistent with a more balanced market.”  

2. Generational buying trends shape up. Young adults’ presence on the housing market has been largely predicted for years, but 2016 may finally be the year they make a move in a larger way. Millennials represented nearly 2 billion sales in 2015 – one-third of home buyers. They are expected to continue to be a major buying pool in 2016 with the majority of buyers between ages 25 and 34 expected to be first-time home buyers next year. But two other generations will also have a big presence in 2016: financially recovering GenXers and older baby boomers who are entering retirement, realtor.com® notes. “Since most of these people are already homeowners, they’ll play a double role, boosting the market as both sellers and buyers,” Smoke notes. “Gen Xers are in their prime earning years and thus able to relocate to better neighborhoods for their families. Older boomers are approaching (or already in) retirement and seeking to downsize and lock in a lower cost of living.”  

3. New-home construction focuses more on affordability. Builders have been faced with higher land costs, limited labor, and concerns about the demand of the entry-level market. As such, they have shifted to constructing more higher-priced homes, which has caused new-home prices to rise significantly faster than existing-home prices. In 2016, they likely will shift to more affordable product to cater to the entry-level buyers. “We are already seeing a decline in new-home prices for new contracts signed this fall,” notes Smoke. “In addition, credit access is improving enough to make the first-time buyer segment more attractive to builders.”  

4. Higher mortgage rates. Mortgage rates will likely be volatile in 2016. But the recent move by the Federal Reserve to guide interest rates higher should push mortgage rates higher in the new year than the historical lows they have been at for years. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage will likely end 2016 about 60 basis points higher than today’s level. “That level of increase is manageable, as consumers will have multiple tactics to mitigate some of that increase,” Smoke says. “However, higher rates will drive monthly payments higher, and, along with that, debt-to-income ratios will also go higher.” The markets with the highest home prices will see the effects from the higher rates the most.  

5. Rents to go up even higher. Rental costs are skyrocketing, and the costs are likely to only go up in the new year. More than 85 percent of the nation’s markets have rents that exceed 30 percent of the income of renting households. “Rents are accelerating at a more rapid pace than home prices, which are moderating,” Smoke says. “Because of this, it is more affordable to buy in more than three-quarters of the U.S. However, for the majority of renting households, buying is not a near-term option due to poor household credit scores, limited savings, and lack of documentable stable income of the kind necessary to qualify for a mortgage today.”

ROI - Best and Worst Home Improvement Projects

I get asked all the time by clients "How much value will this add?" with regards to a home improvement or remodel. Generally speaking, I let them know that the only improvements that they will truly get all of their money back for when selling are new paint and new carpet.  These are relatively inexpensive items with a large impact - they immediately make a house seem fresh, bright, and new! 

Homeowners may have a long wish list of home renovations and projects, and sometimes it seems as if the work is never done. While return on investment (ROI) may not be the biggest consideration in a homeowner’s mind when deciding which projects make it to the top of the list, knowing which projects see the highest returns may be helpful in the decision-making process. If you have been thinking of making some changes to your home, you want to consider the following data when deciding where to put your money.

Happiness in the home can be a part of the ROI, but other cost vs. value factors vary by region and even by room. ROI, as defined in Remodeling’s 2015 Cost vs. Value report, can be broken down as the percentage of the estimated average cost of a renovation project that is projected to be recouped in resale value, as aggregated from real estate and appraisal estimates.

Been thinking of selling? Now is the time!

If you have considered selling in 2016, NOW is the time! With inventory levels at their lowest mark in over 10 years, listing your home for sale before the busy spring buying season will give you the most exposure to buyers and allow you to get the best price for your home.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) just released their latest Existing Home Sales Report on Friday. Read more HERE. Contact me today to get a FREE Comparative Market Analysis of your home and decide if it makes sense to list!

I am absolutely THRILLED to learn that I have been awarded Kudzu's "Best of Atlanta" award for the third straight year! My business is built on personal referrals, and it means so much to me that my clients took the time to recognize me with this honor.  

I know you have a choice of which real estate professional to work with, and I am so happy you chose me!

Homestead Exemption 2016

FILING FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IN 2016

If you bought a home in 2015 and it is your primary residence, you should file for Homestead Exemption! Homeowners may need to provide their Warranty Deed book and page, proof of residence, social security numbers, driver’s license and car tag info. In most counties, to be eligible for the current year, you must have owned and occupied the property as of January 1^st.  If the property is located within city limits, the homeowner may be required to file with the city as well.

Gwinnett County – deadline is April 1, 2016            770-822-8800
http://gwinnetttaxcommissioner.publicaccessnow.com/homesteadexemption.aspx

Fulton County – deadline is April 1, 2016                 404-612-6440
http://www.qpublic.net/ga/fulton/basic_homestead.html

DeKalb County – deadline is April 1, 2016               404-298-4000
http://taxcommissioner.dekalbcountyga.gov/TaxCommissioner/pdf/homesteadinfo.pdf

Cobb County – deadline is April 1, 2016                   770-528-8600
http://www.cobbtax.org/property/exemptions

Clayton County - deadline is April 1, 2016             770-477-3311
http://www.claytoncountyga.gov/departments/tax-commissioner/exemptions.aspx

Cherokee County – deadline is April 1, 2016            678-493-6120
http://www.cherokeega.com/Tax-Assessors-Office/homestead-exemptions/

Henry County – deadline is April 1, 2016                 770-288-8180                 
http://www.co.henry.ga.us/taxcommissioner/formsapplicatons.shtml

Forsyth County – deadline is April 1, 2016               770-781-2106
 http://www.forsythco.com/Departments-Offices/Board-of-Assessors/Homestead-Exemption
                                                          
Douglas County – deadline is April 1, 2016              770-920-7272
http://www.douglastaxcommissioner.com

Fayette County – deadline is April 1, 2016              770-461-3652
http://www.fayettecountytaxcomm.com/subpages/taxpayers_return.asp

Paulding County – deadline is April 1, 2016            770-443-7606
http://www.paulding.gov/index.aspx?NID=89

Lending regulations for condos

Thinking about buying (or selling) a condo in 2016? Here are some guidelines to determine if you will be able to secure financing (Fannie/Freddie only, for FHA the entire complex must be FHA approved) compliments of one my favorite lenders, The Moore Team.

1.  We will need a completed condo questionnaire from the HOA or management company VERY soon after going under contract. Please be sure we have a contact for that. This usually takes 2-3 weeks to get back from when we order!

2.  The project must be Established. This means 90% of the units are sold to individual purchasers, the project is 100% completed and is not subject to additional expansion or phases & control of the HOA has been turned over to unit owners.

3.  There is no current litigation in which the HOA or developer is named as a party to the litigation. (This would not include instances where the HOA or developer is solely the plaintiff in a foreclosure or for delinquent HOA dues)

4.  The project is not an “ineligible” type for conventional financing. (I.E. condo hotels, 

timeshares, houseboat, multi-family dwelling unit, legal (but non-conforming) use of land, common interest apartment or community apartment project)

5.  Commercial (non-residential) space cannot be greater than 25% of the project.

6.  At least 51% of the total units must be already sold and closed as primary residences or second homes. Foreclosure units that are currently for sale can be counted as owner occupied primary residences.

7.  No more than 15% of the unit owners are currently more than 30 days delinquent on their HOA dues.

8.  No single entity owns more than 10% of the total units in the project.

9.  HOA budget must have a line item for “replacement reserves” that equals no less than 10% of the total budget. (It is nearly impossible to approve a complex that does not have this!)

10. There are no restrictions which would limit the free transferability of title such as right of first refusal, other deed/income restrictions.

11. Having proper insurance coverage to meet Fannie/Freddie Guidelines