The Lady of Realty: Bethlehem, GA Real Estate: Barrow county

Showing posts with label Barrow county. Show all posts

Friday, July 10, 2009

Pathways to Professionalism: Respect for Peers

The following are some professional courtesies that every REALTOR should strive for. Using good manners is important in this business that is built on relationships. These 12 suggestions are all ways that show respect for peers.

1. Identify your REALTOR and professional status in all contacts with other REALTORS.

2. Respond to other agents' calls, faxes, and e-mails promptly and courteously.

3. Be aware that large electronic files with attachments or lengthy faxes may be a burden on recipients.

4. Notify the listing broker if there appears to be inaccurate information on the listing.

5. Share important information about a property, including the presence of pets; security systems; and whether sellers will be present during the showing.

6. Show courtesy, trust and respect to other real estate professionals.

7. Avoid the inappropriate use of endearments or other denigrating language.

8. Do not prospect at other REALTORS open houses or similar events.

9. Return keys promptly.

10. Carefully replace keys in the lockbox after showings.

11. To be successful in the business, mutual respect is essential.

12. Real estate is a reputation business. What you do today may affect your reputation - and business - for years to come.

If you missed the other two parts of this topic, please click the links:

Respect for Property

Respect for the Public

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It's a great time to buy a home in Georgia, whether you're a first-time home buyer or not, and I would love to walk you through this process. If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today: 404.357.2231!

Monday, July 6, 2009

All About Georgia Property Taxes: Part 2

In the first part of this short series I explained what the Georgia property taxes are based on, how the assessed value is determined and what a millage rate is. Today I'm going to discuss the homestead exemption and how to appeal tax assessments.

If you want to catch up on the first part, click the link: All About Georgia Property Taxes: Part 1

Homestead Exemption:

In Georgia, the most common exemption people apply for is the Homestead Exemption, which allows Georgia homeowners to receive a reduction in the tax assessed against their primary residence. This exemption and most other exemptions are not automatically given; instead, they require the homeowner to apply for them and the exemption then must be approved.

You may apply for this exemption if you have lived in your home since January 1st of the year in which the tax becomes due and it must be your primary residence. Also, you need to file for this exemption by April 1st or else you'll have to wait until the following year. Once you've been approved for this exemption though you don't have to file for it each year; the only time it would need to be filed again is if ownership of the home changed.

Other exemptions that are available are ones for disabled veterans, housholds that have an income of less than $30,000 annually, and to surviving spouses of firemen or policemen killed while on the job.

Appealing Tax Assessments:

The proper time to appeal a tax assessment is whenever the homeowner receives assessment notice in the mail; it will be marked "This is not a bill." A lot of homeowners will disregard it since it's not a bill, but as soon as you get it in the mail you'll want to go on your county's website and file a property tax return. The deadline for this in most counties is April 1st, but you'll want to check your country's website to be sure.

Once the property tax return is filed, the Board of Assessors will get the property re-appraised. If the Board accepts the lowered value, the assessed value will also be reduced and nothing is left for the homeowner to do. However, if they re-appraise it at a higher value, a new assessment notice will be mailed and the homeowner can then file an appeal.

A reassessment notice will show the previous year's value of the property, the current year's value and a statement saying the owner has 45 days to appeal the assessment. You must make your appeal in writing, to do so simply write a letter to the Board of Assessors. It's best to send this via certiifed mail. In the letter you need to include the property address, the tax identification number and state your reasons for the appeal.

After you've filed your appeal, you should follow it up with a more thorough detailed letter with your reasons to appeal. In addition, it's wise to arrange a meeting with the appraiser assigned to your property to discuss your appeal. However, the more non-confrontational you are with the appraiser, the more likely your meeting will go in your favor.

At the meeting with the appraiser, present your evidence for lowering the value of the home--this could be a settlement statement showing the purchase price of the property, comparable sales information or an appraisal. Other ways to prove your case are if portions of the property are in a flood zone, zoning restrictions or covenants that bring the property's value down.

The Board of Assessors will then make their decision, which must be in writing and will either be: 1. no change to the assessment, 2. a change in the assessment to the amount claimed by the owner and 3. an altogether separate change. If the Board chooses not to make any change to the assessment, they must write both the homeowner and the Board of Equilization stating their reasons for denial; the homeowner can then file an appeal with the Board of Equilization. If they make an altogether different decision, the owner may either accept it or file a written appeal within 21 days to the Board of Equilization.

I hope you've learned a lot more about Georgia property taxes and what it takes to file exemptions and appeals.

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It's a great time to buy a home in Georgia, whether you're a first-time home buyer or not, and I would love to walk you through this process. If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today: 404.357.2231!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

All About Georgia Property Taxes: Part 1

If you are a Georgia homeowner, especially a first-time home owner, you may be curious to learn more about the property taxes you're required to pay. In this first part, I'll explain some general information about Georgia property taxes, how the valuation and assessment process works and what a millage rate is.

To begin with, all Georgia property is subject to paying property taxes, called "ad valorem" taxes which means a tax based on the value of the property. The ad valorem tax is based upon the value of both the house (the improvements) and the lot on which the home sits. However, your personal property, such as your furniture and other possessions, are not included in this valuation.

The Board of Assessors in the county in which the home lies is responsible for valuing and assessing the property. The Board has a few appraisers which they use to determine the value of the property based upon market analysis, comparable sales and other criteria. Your Georgia property taxes are assessed at "fair market value," in other words, the price that a knowledgeable buyer would pay for the property and that a willing seller would accept.

After the property has been assessed and a value is determined, the Board of Tax Assessors reaches an assessed value by taking 40% of the appraised value. To reach the amount that appears on your tax bill, the assessed value is multiplied by the millage rate for the tax district in which the property lies.

The Latin word "mille" which means "thousand" is where the term "millage" rate originates. So in the property tax context, the millage rate is the amount of tax due on every thousand dollars worth of property. This rate is set based on the budget requirements of the different units of government which depend on the taxes. Usually this includes the county government, school system, the cities within each county and the state government.

The millage rate is determined after the annual budget is set; once that happens, the Board of Assessors looks at the total value of all the property in the county, they then reduce the value by 40% to reach the assessed value. Next, through long division, they reach the millage rate necessary to bring in tax revenues necessary to cover the budget.

I hope that this information has helped you understand a little more about Georgia property taxes. Stay tuned for Part 2 where I'll cover the Georgia Homestead Exemption and how to appeal your tax assessment.

Please click this link if you would like to see the current millage rate for each county and city in Georgia: Millage Rates.
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It's a great time to buy a home in Georgia, whether you're a first-time home buyer or not, and I would love to walk you through this process. If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today: 404.357.2231!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Pathways to Professionalism: Respect for Property

The following are some professional courtesies that every REALTOR should strive for. Using good manners is important in this business that is built on relationships. These 8 suggestions are all ways that show respect for property.

Be responsible for everyone you allow to enter listed property.

Never allow buyers to enter listed property unaccompanied.

When showing property, keep all members of the group together.

Never allow unaccompanied access to property without permission.

Enter property only with permission even if you have a lockbox key or combination.

When the occupant is absent, leave the property as you found it (lights, heating, cooling, drapes, etc). If you think something is amiss (e.g. vandalism) contact the listing broker immediately.

Be considerate of the seller's property. Do not allow anyone to eat, drink, smoke, dispose of trash, use bathing or sleeping facilities, or bring pets. Leave the house as you found it unless instructed otherwise.

Use sidewalks; if weather is bad, take off shoes and boots inside property.

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Monday, June 8, 2009

Pathways to Professionalism: Respect for the Public

The following are some professional courtesies that every REALTOR should strive for. Using good manners is important in this business that is built on relationships. These 21 suggestions are all ways that show respect for the public.

1. Follow the "Golden Rule" - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
2. Respond promptly to inquiries and requests for information.
3. Schedule appointments and showings as far in advance as possible.
4. Call if you are delayed or must cancel an appointment or showing.
5. If a prospective buyer decides not to view an occupied home, promptly explain the situation to the listing broker or the occupant.
6. Communicate with all parties in a timely fashion.
7. When entering a property, ensure that unexpected situations, such as pets, are handled appropriately.
8. Leave your business card if not prohibited by local rules.
9. Never criticize property in the presence of the occupant.
10. Inform occupants that you are leaving after showings.
11. When showing an occupied home, always ring the doorbell or knock - and announce yourself loudly - before entering. Knock and announce yourself loudly before entering any closed room.
12. Present a professional appearance at all times; dress appropriately and drive a clean car.
13. If occupants are home during showings, ask their permission before using the telephone or bathroom.
14. Encourage the clients of other brokers to direct questions to their agent or representative.
15. Communicate clearly; don't use jargon or slang that may not be readily understood.
16. Be aware of and respect cultural differences.
17. Show courtesy and respect to everyone.
18. Be aware of - and meet - all deadlines.
19. Promise only what you can deliver - and keep your promises.
20. Identify your REALTOR® and your professional status in contacts with the public.
21. Do not tell people what you think - tell them what you know.
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It's a great time to buy a home in Georgia, whether you're a first-time home buyer or not, and I would love to walk you through this process. If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today: 404.357.2231!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Additional $1,800 Tax Credit for Georgia Buyers

Georgia buyers can now receive an $1,800 tax credit in addition to the $8,000 federal tax credit. Governor, Sonny Perdue, signed House Bill 261 on May 11, 2009.

The $1,800 tax credit is only available for six months; you must close on a home between June 1 and November 30, 2009 to receive this credit. Here are the other important details:

AMOUNT: the credit is equal to either 1.2% of the purchase price or $1,800, whichever is lesser
WHO QUALIFIES: this credit is for ANYONE purchasing a home between the deadline--NOT just first-time home buyers!
HOW DO YOU RECEIVE IT?: You may claim one-third of the credit available in each taxable year, and may carry forward unclaimed amounts--essentially, you'll receive this credit over the course of the next 3 years

Also, there aren't any income restraints to this credit and as I mentioned before, this is not limited to just first-time home buyers. You just have to buy a single-family property within the time period.

Representative Ron Stephens said this about the bill: "I'm proud of Governor Purdue for signing this legislation, and I'm proud to have brought it before the state legislature. This bill will put people to work, reduce the inventory of unsold homes, and kick start Georgia's economy."

To determine the specific forms you need to use to obtain this credit, please contact your tax professional.

If you are a first-time home buyer and would like to learn more about the $8,000 federal tax credit, please read this article:
Understanding the New $8,000 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

(The information from this post was obtained from this article)

Friday, May 29, 2009

8 Ways to Save Money Through Your Mortgage, Banking or Credit Cards

My office is cluttered and unorganized, which absolutely drives me crazy. So, last night I decided to start tackling this huge project...not to point fingers here, but it's mostly my hubby's mess that I'm trying to sort through. However, I did go through all the files in my desk and found a lot of things I didn't need.

What does this have to do with saving money you may ask? Well, I found a magazine dated July 2008 that caught my eye--one of the headline stories was "Easy Tips to Save $1,000's"--I knew I had kept this for a reason! Today I'll share the tips on saving money through your mortgage, your bank or credit cards.

For previous articles of how to save money, click on the following links:

Simple Tips on How to Slash Your Grocery Bill

"If You Play With Snakes You're Gonna Get Bit"

MORTGAGE TIPS:

* PAY THE POINTS: With most home loans, the biggest expense is the interest. One of the best ways to lower that expense is through the wise use of discount points--upfront fee paid to the lender. One discount point equals 1 percent of the loan amount. Generally, the more discount points you pay up front, the lower the interest rate. This is also known as "buying down the loan." A good rule of thumb: If you can recoup the cost of the points within the first 2 years through the lower monthly payments, go for the points.

Example: You can get a 30-year fixed-rate $200,000 mortgage for 5.75 % plus 2 points (which cost about $4,000), or 6.75 % with no points. If you go with the lower interest rate you save $130 a month. It will take you about 2.5 years to recoup that $4,000 you had to pay up front to get the lower rate. However, over the following 28 years you will save $46,818 due to the lower interest rate and payments.

* PREPAY THE PRINCIPAL: Each month when you make your regular mortgage payment, write a second check for one-twelfth of the regular mortgage payment. Do this every month and at the end of one year you will have made the equivalent of 13 monthly payments. On a 30-year $200,000 mortgage at 6.75 % interest, this tactic pays off your mortgage in 24 years and saves a whopping $62,750 in interest.

* GO SHORT-TERM: Although your monthly payment may be higher, you can save tens of thousands of dollars in interest by shopping for the shortest-term mortgage you can afford. For each $100,000 you borrow at a 7 % annual percentage rate (APR), for example, you will pay over $75,000 less in interest on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage than you would on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

* DROP THE PMI: Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is extra insurance lenders require from most homebuyers who obtain loans that are for more than 80 % of their new home's value. However, thanks to the Homeowner's Protection Act (HPA), PMI is now automatically cancelled once your mortgage is paid down to 77 % of the original value of the property. Typically, PMI premiums range from $250 to $1,200 a year.

CREDIT CARD AND BANKING TIPS:

* PAY EARLY: Most credit card companies compute interest charges based on your average daily balance, so making your payment early in the billing cycle (as soon as you receive your statement rather than waiting until the payment is due) will save $5, $10 or even more a month. Why? Because you reduce the daily balance for more days in the cycle.

* JUST ASK: Tired of paying 16 % interest on your credit card balance? Pick up the phone and call customer service (the number on the back of your card). Ask for a lower rate. If you have a good payment history, chacnes are they'll lower it on the spot. The difference between 18% and 7% on a $5,000 balance is $46 a month, or almost $600 a year.

* FIGHT THE FEES: If your credit card issuer smacks you with a fee, don't be shy. Nearly all banks will waive at least one late fee ($15-$39) or over-limit fee (up to $39), but you have to ask. If you're paying an annual fee (anywhere from $50 to $300) just to have the card, ask to have that waived too.

* PAY ONLINE: If you pay 15 bills a month by mail, you're spending at least $75 a year in postage. Most large banks offer free online bill paying for customers that lets you pay any vendor, or you can also pay the vendor directly online. Go to your bank's website or the vendor's website to learn more.

You know, it's a tough economy we're in right now and whether you're on a tight budget, struggling to meet ends each month or you've saved up some cash and are more flexible with your money, it doesn't hurt to make the smartest decisions possible and find ways to save as much money as you can. I hope this tips helped you; as a first-time home owner myself, I learned a lot about mortgages through these tips.

I would love to hear what you're doing to save money during our current economic times?

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!
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Photo Credit: AMagill

Original article was written by Mary Hunt and found in the July 2008 edition of Woman's Day magazine

Thursday, May 28, 2009

45 Life Lessons We Should All Learn...

My awesome team leader, Janice Baldwin, sent these life lessons to everyone this morning. It was written by Regina Brett, a columnist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio. In the e-mail it talked about how Regina had just turned 90 years old; I had never heard of this woman before so I did a little research. I found her website: ReginaBrett.com and as it turns out she just turned 50 in 2006...so the e-mail floating around is inaccurate as to her age, but still contains a wonderful amount of life lessons we can learn from.

According to her website, the following article is being turned into a book titled: "God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours" --it will be released April of 2010.

So without further ado...here are the 45 Life Lessons we should know by Regina Brett:

Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
When in doubt, just take the next small step.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
Pay off your credit cards every month.
You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
It's OK to let your children see you cry.
Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
Over prepare, then go with the flow.
Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
The most important sex organ is the brain.
No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
Always choose life.
Forgive everyone and everything.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Time heals almost everything. Give it time.

However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Believe in miracles.
God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
Your children get only one childhood.
All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
The best is yet to come.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
Yield.
Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

I think that Regina really knows what she's talking about! All of these tips and lessons are great ways to live your life and reminders that we only get one shot at life here on Earth. Which one was most meaningful to you?

For me, as a Christian, my favorite one is "The best if yet to come!" This one means the most to me because while this life is great, I know that I have an even better one in store for me in the future--eternity in Heaven with my Savior and Lord! Life on Earth is just preparation for eternity spent with God.

In fact, I'm reading an awesome book on Heaven by Randy Alcorn simply titled "Heaven." I am just beginning it but so far it's been very good--I'm learning a lot and it's one that I would recommend every Christian to read.

So, please tell me, which Life Lesson means the most to you?

P.S. In case you're interested...all the photos were taken by me while on my study abroad trip to Australia...a truly beautiful place! I would highly recommend a trip there if you've never been!!

Friday, May 22, 2009

One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure

Well, since I'm having a YARD SALE tomorrow, I thought that I would share this awesome post about how to have a successful yard sale. It has lots of great tips that helped me, especially since this will be the first one I've ever done!

My fingers are crossed and I'm praying that the RAIN will hold off...40% chance tomorrow during the time I'm having it...yikes!

Via Patty Keller Virtual Assistant (AnotherME, LLC):

How To Have A Successful Yard Sale

Spring is the perfect time to clean out the garage, the attic and the closets (even under the kid's beds) and have a garage sale! We've heard that listing agents are encouraging their sellers to have garage sales to help drive traffic and awareness! Better yet, organize a neighborhood-wide garage sale! Offer to help out your sellers with signs, balloons, post on your website, or make some lemonade! Here are a few tips to share.

PREPARATION

Preparing for a yard sale is hard work. Ideally, you should start working on your yard sale 3 weeks prior to the event. However, if you work hard, you can have it ready in 2 weeks. Well prepared yard sales can profit upwards of $800.00 or more.

Week 1: Spring Cleaning - choose one or two rooms a day and begin collecting items in the basement or garage.

Week 2 & 3: Organizing - sort, clean and price your items.

ADVERTISING

Place an ad in the local paper and any online garage sale sites. Craigslist, www.gsalr.com are some to consider. Large signs or banners placed at all the entrances to the neighborhood and directional signs throughout the neighborhood will bring in the customers and keep them shopping. Also balloons on mailboxes are always helpful to confirm you are open and not just cleaning your garage.

PRICING

Put a price tag on everything and ALWAYS be willing to negotiate.

Overpricing is the next hurdle...yard sales are for liquidation. Quality items should be priced less than half off the original price you paid. Overpricing can turn everyone away before they get to the garage.

DISPLAY/SETUP

What you have to sell and how much you have to sell are important factors as well. If you don't have much to sell, then partnering with a neighbor is a good idea. Put everything in one driveway...you need "The Draw". Walk the sale, re-organize items, always talk to the customers. Some people are too shy to ask for a price or to negotiate...being friendly can make a sale.

As the day progresses and tables get sparse. Consolidate items so that tables are always full.

THE DRAW

"The Draw" is very important. Although you should always advertise your sale in local papers and online, you still have to get customers to come to YOUR house.

Perception is everything. Bring some large items or "hooks" (furniture, play, exercise and lawn equipment, etc.) out onto the driveway. Your goal is to gain their interest. You can also put items out that you have no intention of selling, just to get customers in the garage. Yes, that's right, you may have some items that you are on the fence about and you are not ready to part with at yard sale prices. Just don't put a price on it, or, price it higher, you never know, it may sell.

Sell popcorn, lemonade, cookies, water...these are other ways to get people to your house.

(posted by Suzanne Geddes, Marketing/Graphic Designer for AnotherME)

Thursday, April 16, 2009

First-Time Home Buyer Tip: Should I Pay Off My Car First?

I get asked this question all the time:

SHOULD I PAY OFF MY CAR BEFORE I PURCHASE A HOME?

Well, I must say, I have a pretty specific answer to this...watch my video to find out :-)

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Friday, April 3, 2009

Roasted Red Pepper Soup: Yummy and Healthy!

While in Crested Butte, Colorado last week I had the best roasted red pepper soup at the slope-side restaurant, 9380 Prime. It had such a great flavor and it was so smooth, it was the perfect lunch. Well, when I got home I began craving it and decided to look on the Internet for a close replica. (I thought about first calling the restaurant and trying to beg the chef for the recipe but decided to try it on my own first!) I found a great recipe from the blog, Kerala Kitchen and decided to try it out...I wasn't let down, it was delicious and tastes almost exactly like 9380 Prime's version.

You can still see the steam from the picture; really it was absolutely delicious and you must give a try.

INGREDIENTS:

2 Large Red Bell Peppers
2 C. canned diced tomatoes
2 C. chicken stock
1 red onion
5 cloves of garlic
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 Tbsp. fresh basil (I left this out and it still tasted great!)
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. black pepper (I used 1 tsp. for extra sharpness)
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. heavy cream (I actually used 3 Tbsp)\
1 Tbsp. olive oil

WHAT TO DO:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the onion into 4 quarters. Seed the red peppers and cut lengthwise into two pieces. Brush a baking sheet with olive oil and place the red peppers skinside up. Fill the spaces with the onion pieces and the whole garlic cloves. (I recommend putting down a sheet of aluminum foil and then placing the olive oil and vegetables on top--easier clean up!!) Drizzle 1 Tbsp. olive oil on top of all the vegetables and roast for 20 minutes or until the peppers turn brown. Remove the skins of the peppers and chop into large pieces. Set aside with the onion and garlic.
In a large saucepan, combine the chicken stock oregano and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and add the peppers, onion and garlic. Cook for 10 minutes. Then using a hand blender (or transfer to a regular blender), puree the mixture until it's smooth and an even texture. (The lady who wrote this recipe feels the soup tastes better if it's chunky, I disagree--I like the texture to be smooth, like a bisque). Return the puree back to the saucepan (if you used a blender) and add the sugar, black pepper and salt. Cook for 2-3 minutes then remove the pot from the heat. Add heavy cream and stir in well. Garnish with basil and sour cream if you like.

I served it with a simple salad and chunks of french bread. Bon Appetit!

Friday, March 20, 2009

Sean's American Bistro: Excellent Restaurant in Buford, GA

Last night I had the privilege to eat at a great restaurant in Buford, Georgia for the RETechSouth dinner; it was Sean's American Bistro in the live, work, play community called Buford Village. The atmosphere was terrific, I met a bunch of neat people and the food and drinks were amazing!

In case you're unfamiliar with the Buford Village development, it is conveniently located on Buford Highway at the Hamilton Mill intersection. This multi-function community sits on ten acres and 30,000 square feet of office space, 23 luxury town homes and 55,000 square feet of retail shops. These stores and restaurants include: Sean's American Bistro, Carter Elite Photography, Cone 7 Wines, Brand Bank and Smith's Bath and Home.

So, dinner was great; we started out the evening with an hour of cocktails, networking and listening to the live band. Next we ate a delicious dinner...appetizers included bread, spinach and artichoke dip and BBQ shrimp. We had our choice between four various entrees, which I chose the Lobster Tortellini. Oh wow! This was excellent--it was pasta with a cream sauce and huge pieces of lobster with spinach, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes (which by the way, I don't eat mushrooms or tomatoes and this dish still tasted great without those ingredients)! We followed up dinner with cheesecake for dessert. :-)

If you have a chance, I would highly recommend checking out Sean's American Bistro and the shops at Buford Village. Very cool atmosphere and a neat experience. A big thanks goes out to Matt Fagioli and Brad Nix making this possible!

Thank You For Reading!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Harbins Park Grand Opening Ceremony!

Well, I'm very excited to share that Harbins Park is having their Grand Opening this Saturday, March 21st! I have enjoyed watching the progress of the park as it was being created and let me tell you, it's going to be a really great place to exercise and hang out!

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will officially open the park at 10 a.m. on Saturday and the celebration will last until around 2:00 p.m. Some of the free activities include: hay rides, crafts, pony rides, face painting and bike safety demonstrations. Also, people from local mountain biking and equestrian will be there to answer questions. A concession stand will be available for you to purchase food as well.

I have been anxiously awaiting the opening of this park, especially since it's so close to my home. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend the Grand Opening because I'll be on a plane to Colorado to go skiing...but it's definitely something I'm going to check out first thing when I get back!

This would be an excellent family event to take the kids to and I believe the weather is supposed to be nice and warm on Saturday! Get out there and enjoy the beautiful outdoors!

Thank You For Reading!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Understanding the New $8,000 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

Did you know that if you're a first-time home buyer purchasing a house between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009 that you can receive a tax credit up to $8,000?

Photo By: Jack Duval

Previously this government incentive to purchase a home was limited to $7,500 and had to be paid back over the course of 15 years. However, some changes have been made, which I will outline here that will hopefully answer all of your questions.

Photo By: Simon Doggett

Who can receive the credit? Only first-time home buyers are eligible and they must close between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009. Investors or people purchasing a second home can not receive this credit.
What is a first-time home buyer? A buyer who has not owned a principal residence in the 3 previous years before buying a home. If you are married taxpayers, NEITHER you nor your spouse can own a primary residence; in other words if one of you owns a home (a primary residence) you can't obtain the tax credit if the other spouse purchases a home.
How is the amount of the tax credit determined? It is limited to 10% of the sales price of the home, but a maximum of $8,000.
What are the income limits on people claiming the tax credit? For single taxpayers the income limit is $75,000 and for married taxpayers filing a joint return it's $150,000. If you want more specific details on this, please visit http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com or ask your CPA or a tax professional.
How do I claim the tax credit? Simply claim it on your federal income tax return; just fill out IRS Form 5405 to help you know how much to claim and write it on Line 69 of your 1040 income tax return. No other forms are required.

An important difference between this tax credit and the $7,500 credit put into effect July 2008, is that this $8,000 DOES NOT have to be paid back! The only stipulation is that you must live in the home as your principle residence for at least three years, if you don't you will have to pay back the credit.

Also, because this tax credit is refundable, you could potentially receive a check from the government for part or all of the $8,000. To help you understand this a little better, here's an example from the Federal Housing Tax Credit's website:

"For example, if a qualified home buyer expected, notwithstanding the tax credit, federal income tax liability of $5,000 and had tax withholding of $4,000 for the year, then without the tax credit the taxpayer would owe the IRS $1,000 on April 15th. Suppose now that the taxpayer qualified for the $8,000 home buyer tax credit. As a result, the taxpayer would receive a check for $7,000 ($8,000 minus the $1,000 owed)."

Photo By: Visit Hillsborough

So, first-time home buyers, with this excellent tax incentive, coupled with the low interest rates and the extensive amount of homes on the market, why wouldn't you buy a home this year?

If you still have further questions, please watch the video below provided by the National Association of Home Builders.

(Please note, the content from this post was obtained from the Federal Housing Tax Credit's website.)

Wordless Wednesday: Circle of Gold

Monday, March 16, 2009

Just Celebrated My 1st Wedding Anniversary!

Yesterday, March 15th, was my first wedding anniversary! As I look back at the previous year I'm suprised it flew by so fast! Seems like Matt and I have only been married for a few months!! Although we dated for 4 and 1/2 years before marrying, this year of married life has certainly taught us a lot about each other. I think that we've certainly learned to communicate better and we're realizing that marriage is hard work...it's easy to let work and blogging and other things become your focus. But in order for your marriage to thrive and become great you need to make each other your priority. I think that we still have things to learn--it's an ongoing process, but I'm proud of our first year of marriage and I'm looking forward to many many more anniversaries!

One more thing: although the wedding cake topper looks pretty, it doesn't taste all that great after a YEAR IN THE FREEZER!! I would like to know who came up with that idea!! But we enjoyed getting it out and looking at it...in fact, I'm such an emotional person (I'll cry at anything) that when I opened the box all the memories of our wedding day came flooding back to me and the tears started streaming. Matt just laughed and helped me cut it!

And the tears didn't stop because I made us listen to the audio recording of our ceremony...my Uncle Paul is a preacher and he did a beautiful ceremony. It was neat to listen to us saying our vows and exchange the rings all over again. We looked at our wedding album and just enjoyed each other's company. It was a neat day.

As we move into our 2nd year of marriage, I would love your advice for how to have a great marriage!

Thanks For Reading!

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Wordless Wednesday

I'm part of a group called Wordless Wednesday on one of the other social networking sites that I am a member of and each Wednesday we make a blog post with just a photograph in it. So I thought I would start implementing that here on this blog as well. Here's the first Wordless Wednesday...

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Take Down the Bird Feeder

**Please note: I did not write this; I received it in an e-mail and thought the analogy behind the poem was a good one. Not sure who the author is, except that the beginning says "Maxine" tells it like it is.**

Photo By: *clairity*

Take Down the Bird Feeder

The analogy is absolutely right on . . .

Maxine tells it like it is!!!!

I bought a bird feeder. I hung

It on my back porch and filled

It with seed. What a beauty of

A bird feeder it is, as I filled it

Lovingly with seed. Within a

Week we had hundreds of birds

Taking advantage of the

Continuous flow of free and

Easily accessible food.

But then the birds started

Building nests in the boards

Of the patio, above the table,

And next to the barbecue.

Then came the poop. It was

Everywhere: on the patio tile,

The chairs, the table ..

Everywhere!

Then some of the birds

Turned mean. They would

Dive bomb me and try to

Peck me even though I had

Fed them out of my own

Pocket.

And others birds were

Boisterous and loud. They

Sat on the feeder and

Squawked and screamed at

All hours of the day and night

And demanded that I fill it

When it got low on food.

After a while, I couldn't even

Sit on my own back porch

Anymore. So I took down the

Bird feeder and in three days

The birds were gone. I cleaned

Up their mess and took down

The many nests they had built

All over the patio.

Soon, the back yard was like

It used to be.... Quiet, serene

And no one demanding their

Rights to a free meal.

Now let's see.

Our government gives out

Free food, subsidized housing,

Free medical care, and free

Education and allows anyone

Born here to be an automatic

Citizen.

Then the illegal came by the

Tens of thousands. Suddenly

Our taxes went up to pay for

Free services; small apartments

Are housing 5 families; you

Have to wait 6 hours to be seen

By an emergency room doctor;

Your child's 2nd grade class is

Behind other schools because

Over half the class doesn't speak

English.

Corn Flakes now come in a

Bilingual box; I have to

'press one' to hear my bank

Talk to me in English, and

People waving flags other

Than 'Old Glory' are

Squawking and screaming

In the streets, demanding

More rights and free liberties.

Just my opinion, but maybe it's time for the government

To take down the bird

Feeder.

If you agree, great; if not,

Continue cleaning up the poop!

Photo By: aussiegall

So, how do you feel about the poem's message?

Thank You for Reading!

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Remember to Change Your Clocks Tonight!

Well, it's time to SPRING FORWARD tonight (March 7), so don't forget to turn your clocks forward one hour. You will lose an hour of beauty sleep tonight; however, we're gaining an extra hour of daylight--gone are the days of it being dark around 5:30 or 6:00 p.m.! I always love this time of the year because it means that Spring will be here shortly and with Spring come the beautiful flowers and warm weather that I enjoy so much. It's also a good idea to change all the batteries in your smoke detectors; remember to change them again when we go back to regular time in Autumn.

As I write this, I'm sitting outside on my back patio enjoying the slight breeze and the warmth that this sunny day has brung and I found some beautiful flower photos that I want to share. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. And I'm wishing you a warm weekend wherever you are! Get outside and enjoy some fresh air if you can!

Photo By: Milica Sekulic

Photo By: BotheredByBees

Now, more than ever, I believe that it's a great time to buy a home in the Bethlehem, GA area! If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Thank You for Reading!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Update on Barrow Crossing Shopping Development

Today I went to check in on how things were coming at the Barrow Crossing shopping center development in Bethlehem, Georgia. I was pleasantly suprised to find that TARGET and BELK are now open! This made me very, very happy since I'm in love with Target! Yippee! (Hubby is none-too-thrilled with this news--as my shopping addiction now has a convenient place to be fed)!

Additionally, Staples and PetSmart will be opening shortly, as will Publix. The Best Buy that I had originally said was going to be at this development was actually put in the new shopping development in Loganville.

Now, more than ever, I believe that it's a great time to buy a home in the Bethlehem, GA area! With this shopping development built, more are going to be developed over time and property values are just going to increase in this area. If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!