March 20, 2010 by Rhonda
The days are longer, warmer and interest rates are flat. It's a perfect time to find a home!
The days are longer, warmer and interest rates are flat again this week. (March 18, 2010)
It is amazing-interest rates in our area are still very, very low. I keep reading that rates will begin inching up this year and the financial stations I listen to share the same opinion. It’s an incredible opportunity to invest in a home. We know home prices will increase. The lower interest rate allows home buyers to include a few extra upgrades or own a larger home. When interest rates increase your price range decreases.
During my long career in real estate I have sold homes with interest rates above 13%. We have weathered many real estate ups and downs in the Atlanta market. But never have I seen home prices drop AND interest rates hover around the 5% range. You know it won’t last forever. This is going to be a once in a lifetime financial investment opportunity.
Have you thought about living in a special neighborhood where your friends or family live now? Search for homes for sale in Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, and Roswell by “neighborhood” on my website. Have fun searching with different categories and if you have questions give me a call-I’d love to help you.
Check out Freddie Macs weekly interest rate update information.
http://www.TalkAlpharettaHomes.com
Tags: Alpahretta, homes for sale, Johns Creek, Low interest rates, Milton real estate, Roswell
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March 15, 2010 by Rhonda
April 30, 2010: Home Buying Tax Benefit Deadline
At this moment in time there are 109 bank-owned homes for sale in our mls in the North Fulton County cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Roswell, Georgia.
Alpharetta-53 foreclosures
Johns Creek-9 foreclosures
Milton-3 foreclosures
Roswell-44 foreclosures
Thirty-five foreclosures are in the price point of $500,000- $2,240,000.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a home in Atlanta National, The Manor Golf and Country Club, Northshore at Windward and White Columns. Interest rates are still at historic lows. Combined with the First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit and the $6,500 Move-Up / Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit, home buyers have a once in a lifetime investment opportunity. If you want to take advantage of these programs contracts must be written by April 30, 2010, and closed by June 30, 2010.
Why aren’t you taking advantage of these golden investment opportunities? Time is running out! If you have questions please call me-404-226-2824-I want to help you. Search homes and in the mls here and check out the foreclosure home search category.
Tags: Alpharetta, Atlanta National, bank-owned, First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit, Forclosure, foreclosure home search, Georgia, Johns Creek, Milton, Move-up Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit, Northshore at Windward, Roswell, The Manor Golf and Country Club, White Columns
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February 24, 2010 by Rhonda
New home communities will make a stong come back-but not anytime soon.
The North Fulton County cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Roswell have been a hot bed of new home sales since the early 90’s. We could not build new homes fast enough. People loved the great schools, recreation, golf courses, beautiful office parks, great restaurants and shopping-it was the perfect lifestyle. “Back in the day” builders would drive through competitive new home communities and try to pick up workers. There were lots of new home contracts and not enough workers to build the homes. Every builder was working around the clock to deliver homes on tight schedules. There was little if any price negotiation or concession by the builder. Home buyers could not “sleep on it” because the next day someone else had sealed the deal on “the home of their dreams”. Now those years are distant memories for new home buyers and all industries related to new home building.
Today there are several new communities in foreclosure. Chains greet you at the subdivision entrance to keep folks from dumping trash on the lots. It’s a sea of weeds as far as you see and it’s very quiet. Oh how we wish to hear to hear the familiar noises of new home construction going seven days a week.
In the North Fulton area there are less than 200 new homes available in the local mls today. There are very few current new home starts-most of the homes are old standing inventory. When will that improve? Not any time soon, according to the Associated General Contractors of America:
“Friday, February 5, 2010
CONSTRUCTION DRAGS U.S. EMPLOYMENT FIGURES AS 75,000 IN INDUSTRY LOSE JOBS, ONE IN FOUR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE UNEMPLOYED
Stimulus, Especially Highway Funding, Appears to Be Lone Bright Spot in “Dire” Employment Report As Construction Industry Continues to Suffer from Depression-Era Unemployment Levels
Overall U.S. job growth continued to be undermined by the severe downturn affecting the construction industry as another 75,000 construction workers lost their jobs in January 2010 and the industry’s unemployment rate jumped to 24.7 percent, according to federal employment figures released today. Excluding construction job losses, nonfarm payroll employment actually rose for the second time in three months, the Associated General Contractors of America noted.”
If you have your home for sale today, price it right now, get it sold and move on with your plans. This is your best opportunity to sell because you are not competing with the new home market. There will be such pent up demand for new home communities once the economy turns in North Fulton that new home construction will drive home sales for years to come.
Search for homes for sale and learn about the area here!
Tags: Alpharetta, for sale, Johns Creek, Milton, new home communities, new home sales, Roswell
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February 19, 2010 by Rhonda
Now is the time to find "THE" home with lake views-this view is Lake Windward in the Windward community in Alpharetta. Windwrad homes for sale range from $239,500 to $5,000,000.
I am still amazed how low 30 & 15 year fixed interests rates have remained. These rates are absolutely incredible. Add the Home Buyers Tax Credit program (deadline is April 30, 2010) and you have a BIG win-win INVESTMENT opportunity of a lifetime. Check out the latest Freddie Mac interest rate update for the week of February 19, 2010. Search Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Roswell homes now at http://www.rhondamapp.com/. Oh by the way, I can help your friends and colleagues find a great home.
Tags: homes for sale Alpharetta, lake views, Lake Windward, Low interest rates
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February 11, 2010 by Rhonda
If price was not a consideration, what would you like in your “ultimate” dream home? Why settle for home when you could have an “estate”? This estate is currently on the market. Because we have a reciprocity agreement with the listing broker you can take a photo tour at my website-information is at the end of this blog post.
- Private 18 hole, par 72 golf course views with easy access
- On-site amphitheater so you could easily entertain your friends
- Doomed wedding chapel for special occasions
- Asian tea garden-ultimate relaxing experience
- 32,000 heated and cooled sq ft (approximately) in the main house
- Conservatory
- 3 acre man-made lake
- Property is on approximately 50+ private acres, some borders the Chattahoochee River
- French and Italian gardens and pavilions
- 3,000 square foot master suite (approximately)
- 24 carat gold sink
- Separate carriage houses and ample parking
And more…MUCH more…
To see more details about this fabulous estate go to my website and in the left margin click on “Search Homes” and then enter the FMLS #3912300 and take the photo tour-it WOULD be the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift!
Tags: Chattahoochee River, estate, golf course, Valentine's Day Johns Creek GA
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February 10, 2010 by Rhonda
We were recently adopted by a little 4 month old kitty that had been stranded during the big flood last fall in west Atlanta. We adopted her through C.A.R.L- Companion Animal Rescue League. (Phone: 770-217-3699.) They are at the Johns Creek PetSmart (near Emory-Johns Creek Hospital) most weekends. They have all sizes cats and dogs. There are many Valentine’s Day adopt-a-pet events this weekend. Take the family and see which cat or dog is willing to adopt you!
Check out ASPCA’s guidelines for special pet safety tips during Valentine’s Day.
I’ve listed a few pet adoptions organizations but there are many in the North Fulton friendly cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Roswell, GA. To get a good overview check out Petfinder.com-you can enter your preferred pet criteria and many adoption organizations upload to this website.
Camp Bow-Wow Valentine’s Day Adopt-a-thon Event Feb. 13, 2010
GoodMews.com-a very special cat animal shelter
One of my favorite places to find the widest variety of unique and cute things for your cat or dog is Top Dogs Pet Boutique in Roswell on Mansell Road. They have EVERYTHING and more. Don’t let the name mislead you-they have a feline product & accessory line too. They carry Weruva brand no grain “human grade” cat and dog food. They are always cheerful and it’s just a fun place to go to get friends pet gifts or something special for your furry family member.
Tags: adopt a cat or dog, Alpharetta, C.A.R.L. Companion Animal Rescue League-GA, GA., Johns Creek, Milton, Roswell, Top Dogs Pet Boutique, Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day pet safety tips
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February 9, 2010 by Rhonda
Men it’s time to skip lunch and plan your Valentine’s Day. Here are some thoughtful ideas for your extraordinary lady.
First priority now is the selecting her Valentine’s Day card. Since you only have five shopping days till Valentine’s Day, the really lovely cards are gone and you’ll just have to pick the best of the rejects still sitting on the shelf. (So start planning for 2011 Valentine’s Day now-schedule your card-finding activities in your organizer to begin no later than mid-January.) Cards are really important-she will save your cards forever-so take some time and select one carefully. No cheapy dollar cards. And write something really personal besides your name.
My previous post addressed the “dozen red roses” EVERY Valentine’s Day year after year. Why not kick it up a notch this year and giver her something that will continue to grow and bloom such as an orchid-they are simply elegant. You can find them at many garden shops this week-they do make one pause and enjoy their beauty for years to come. Or a live azalea topiary plant-they are stunning-I saw some at Sam’s Club today while I was buying tires.
A candle light dinner with champagne or wine is nice as long as either:
(1) You do ALL the buying, preparing, serving and clean up or
(2) You already had the foresight to make advance reservations at a special restaurant. But it is probably to late now to make reservations for Valentine’s Day. You could pick another date after the Valentine’s Day rush is over. If you got her a lovely card I am sure she would not mind waiting till a later date for that special dinner with you.
And don’t forget that she would enjoy an upscale brunch too-it doesn’t always have to be “dinner” to be a special. (And I don’t mean a waffle eatery.) You would have the rest of the day to take in a movie or go to the Chattahoochee Nature Center.
You could plan all the details of a short trip to “somewhere” and surprise her at the last minute. (Be sure check the weather forecast first!)
Still want more ideas? One chore I seem to never have enough time for is getting the car washed. I would love it if Cupid would take my car over to Mammoth Car Wash and Detail Salon for a hand-wash and let them totally pamper her-and you could also include a few prepaid gift cards for future car washes. (hint-hint!)
And finally, pass on the cheapy imitation chocolates. Trader Joe’s has some delicious organic chocolates as does Harry’s & Whole Foods. On this one special day get her some really fine quality chocolates and read the ingredients before you buy anything. If you can’t pronounce them then you certainly do not want to eat it! Just because a brand may cost more doesn’t indicate it has pure ingredients. Be smart-read the ingredient list before you purchase.
For other local events in Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Roswell, Georgia, visit:
Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau
Historic Roswell Convention & Visitors Center
Johns Creek Arts Center-Adult Classes Winter 2010
Check back on Wednesday and Thursday-for two MORE out-of-this world grand Valentine’s Day ideas!
Tags: Alpharetta, card, chocolates, GA., Harry's, ideas, Johns Creek, North Fulton, Roswell, Trader Joe's, Valentine's Day, Whole Foods
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February 8, 2010 by Rhonda
The White House presented the $3.8 trillion budget proposal to Congress on February 1, 2010. The proposal as it stands now will limit the value on mortgage interest rate deductions on single tax payers making over $200,000 yearly and couples making over $250,000 to down to 28%. It will also limit the value of charitable deductions.
Contact our Georgia Senators and let your opposition be heard!
Johnny Isakson: http://isakson.senate.gov/
Atlanta: 770-661-0999 Washington: 202-224-3643
Saxby Chambliss: http://chambliss.senate.gov/
Atlanta: 770-763-9090 Washington: 202-224-3521
This is the second attempt to reduce mortgage interest deductions. We must stop it NOW!
Tags: 2011 budget proposal, Alpahretta, Georgia, homeowners, Johnny Isakson, mortgage interest rate deductions, Saxby Chambliss, taxpayers
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February 8, 2010 by Rhonda
Oh please....no more heart-shaped boxed candy from the drug store!
Valentine’s Day is almost here. So in the interest of all the men in Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Roswell, Georgia , I thought I would offer some helpful insights on selecting the best gifts for the special woman in your life.
Let’s begin by declaring the WORST Valentine Day gifts ever!
Worst Valentine’s Day Gifts for Her:
- Weight loss books-they are NOT inspirational on Valentine’s Day.
- Ditto for the workout club membership, dvd workout video with a new in-home treadmill or latest technology scales.
- “Re-gifting” cheap or gag gifts from the office party-if you don’t want them why would I?
- Valentine’s Day is NOT “get another kitchen appliance day”. It’s not fun or for ’my’ convenience-just more “stuff” for me to clean and I can go get that appliance all by myself on a regular day if I really wanted it.
- Stuffed “toys”: What woman, mother, grandmother over 16 years old thinks a stuffed animal is romantic? Let’s get real-it will be passed to future grand children.
- Something outrageously expensive. Big bucks doesn’t buy my love….at least most days.
- The ‘heart-shaped’ pendant. You have already been there-done that.
- Heart-shaped box of chocolates-from the drugstore-as a seasoned shopper we have seen it all.
- Red roses were kinda nice the first 5 years……but now the thrill is gone.
You are NOT allowed to forget this day-so you better start a list of thoughtful ideas-only 6 shopping days left.
Check in tomorrow for GREAT Valentine’s Day ideas!!
Another dozen red roses? It must be Valentine's Day...again.
Tags: Alpharetta, GA., Johns Creek, Milton, Roswell, Valentine's Day, worst gifts Valentine's Gifts for Her
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February 7, 2010 by Rhonda
The big day is finally here! For weeks I have been asking friends, colleagues, family and shoppers in passing at the grocery store to name their favorite Super Bowl party foods. Some foods we can all predict but there were others that surprised me.
Which of the nominations below do you think were in the top 5?
- Hot and spicy chicken wings
- Chips and dips
- Cheeseburgers
- Pizza
- Fresh vegetable and hummus dips
- Deviled eggs
- Spicy turkey chili
- Wild mushroom quiche
- Southern fried chicken
- B-B-Q baby back ribs
Happy Super Bowl eats!! Go New Orleans Saints!!
(This is not a scientific poll).
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