The North Fulton Blog

The real estate market continues to move along, sometimes slower, sometimes faster.  As you might have seen, the interest rates for today are the lowest in almost 50 years.  They're pushing up against the 4% barrier for conventional funding and 5% for FHA.  This should certainly be of help to those contemplating a purchase. 

The conditions are very good for someone wanting to buy a home.  The rates are low, the inventory is high and the sellers are motivated.  One area that continues to trouble many of us, though, are the continuing layoffs.  Without job security, it's hard for anyone to go looking for a new home.  We all hope that the economic stimulus plan will help add some stability to the employment picture.  For those of you that feel secure in your employment, then this is truly a great time to buy.  I just helped a couple complete the purchase of their first home.  There we were on Christmas Eve at 8:00 in the morning sitting at a real estate attorney's office signing the required documents.  Boy, talk about a Christmas present! 

I have several similar couples and singles that I will be working with over the next 30 days to complete their purchases, too.  In late January or early February, I will be conducting a free Buyer Seminar for interested purchasers, either first timers or those that might not have purchased in a while and want to get some information about buying in the current market.  I will post the date and time of this seminar here on my blog as soon as we finalize it.  If any of you are interested in attending, please give me a call at 770-354-0616 to let me know.  I'll have a mortgage consultant there to assist me and to speak about loans.  He'll also be available to pre-approve those that want to proceed with a purchase.  It should be fun and you'll get some good information. 

In my travels around town and my conversations with clients and prospects, the general consensus is that, in our area, we seem to have reached the bottom of the market and are about to make the turn around we've all been waiting and hoping for.  There are more buyers hopping off the fence and actively looking to purchase and I'm seeing more sellers be very realistic about pricing their homes to get them sold.  These are good signs.  Now if we can just get the media to stop preaching their doom and gloom, we might be able to sustain the market stirrings I've seen.  I'm optimistic that we're going to have a very good Spring Buying Season here in the Alpharetta market.  Give me a call if you're feeling this same way or if your convinced that there's a long way to go till we hit bottom.  I'd enjoy speaking with you and hearing your thoughts. 

If I can help any of you with a real estate concern, please contact me at 770-354-0616.  Have a wonderful week!

PS.  Watch out for the deadlines

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Are You Paying Too Much In Property Taxes?
Beat Filing Deadlines - Act Immediately

As a result of the of the current economy, some property values across the metro area have decreased significantly. What does this mean to you? It means that as a property owner and taxpayer you may be paying a higher tax bill than necessary.

It's not too late to do something about it. You can reduce your property tax bill by requesting a reduction in your property tax assessment. To request a lower assessed value for your property in 2009 and to preserve your right to appeal your tax bill, just follow the simple process of filing a tax appeal. Click here  to read how to appeal your property tax assessment in the current real estate market.

Please contact Weissman, Nowack, Curry & Wilco, P.C. attorney Tammy Skinner at  404-279-4041 or via email at tammyskinner@wncwlaw.com for further assistance with this process.

Act soon! Select county deadlines are listed below.

REAL PROPERTY TAX RETURN FILING DEADLINES 2009

         DEKALB:                  March 1 
         GWINNETT:              March 1 
       CLAYTON:                April 1 
       COBB:                      April 1 
       FULTON:                  April 1 
       FORSYTH:                April 1 
        HENRY:                     April 1 
       PAULDING:              April 1

 

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Home Buyer Seminar

I am hosting a free Home Buyer Seminar on January 29, 2009 at the Coldwell Banker office, 3800 Mansell Rd, Alpharetta at 6:30 PM.  

After attending this free two-hour seminar, you’ll walk out feeling confident, you’ll know exactly how to begin your home search, and you’ll have a clear vision of how the entire home-buying process comes together.

The class will save you time, money, and worry, even if you’ve owned a home before.  Here are a few of the topics:

    ·         Understanding your credit score.

    ·         What Lenders are looking for when approving you for a home loan.

    ·         Information on how to buy a home with low down payment.

    ·         How to get pre-approved to buy a home that you can afford.

    ·         Help answering the question, “Am I ready to buy a home?”

    ·         How to choose the right real estate and mortgage consultant. ( I will have a Loan Consultant with me).

 

 

And you’ll take home a free Home Buyers’ Handbook.

To Register, please call

 

24-Hour Free Recorded Message

1-888-792-7360, ext. 20