Alpharetta Cumming Lake Lanier Real Estate Blog: June 2007

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners announced its intention to adopt the millage rate at their July 19th meeting. The Board of Commissioners has proposed a millage rate that will require an increase in the Maintenance and Operation property taxes by 2.08%, Fire property taxes by 18.94%, and Bond property taxes by 1.83%, over the rollback millage rate.

Each year, the Board of Tax Assessors is required to review the assessed value of taxable property in the county for property tax purposes. When the trend of prices of properties recently sold in the county indicates there has been an increase in the fair market value of any specific property, the Board of Tax Assessors is required by law to redetermine the value of such property and adjust the assessment. This is called a reassessment.

When the total digest of taxable property is prepared, Georgia law requires a rollback millage rate must be computed that will produce the same total revenue on the current year's digest that last year's millage rate would have produced, had no reassessments occurred.

The budget proposed by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners requires a millage rate higher than the rollback millage rate. Therefore, before the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners may adopt a budget and set a final millage rate, Georgia law requires three (3)
public hearings be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions regarding the increase.

All concerned citizens are invited to attend the public hearings regarding this proposed tax increase. The hearings will be held at the Forsyth County Administration Building located at 110 E. Main Street, Suite 220, in Cumming on Thursday, July 5 at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, July 19 at 5 p.m.

Yesterday, June 21, 2007, was Summer Solstice, or the first day of Summer. So, where do we currently stand with our average mortgage rates? According to Freddie Mac's Weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey, rates are as follows:

30-yr Fixed Rate Mortgage: 6.69% with fees & points averaging at 0.5
15-yr Fixed Rate Mortgage 6.37% with fees & points averaging at 0.5
5/1-yr Adjustable Rate Mortgage 6.31% with fees & points averaging at 0.6
1-yr Adjustable Rate Mortgage 5.66% with fees & points averaging at 0.7

Mortgage rates eased over the past week, and are down this week from last.

If you are in the market to purchase a home, please contact Mike & Melody Vanderhoff with Vanderhoff Real Estate today. We can assist you with your real estate questions and set you up with a custom property search to help you find the home that fits your needs. Rates are low, and the market has a high inventory of homes available. It's a great time to buy your next home! Contact us today at 770-888-9269 or info@VanderhoffRealEstate.com to get started.

The Lanier Forsyth Rotary Club invites the public to visit the 47,000 square foot dream home estate of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Humphrey. The estate is located on 90 acres at 2015 Trammel Road, Cumming, Georgia. The home features 82 rooms, 10 car garage with crystal chandeliers and terrazzo floors. The estate boasts its own outdoor amphitheater and nine hole golf course built after the Augusta Nationals course.

The tours will be taking place on Saturday, June 23, 2007 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Lunch is to be provided by Tam's Backstage of Cumming, and will be served from noon until 2:15 pm every 45 minutes. Special music is also being arranged for visitors to enjoy during lunch.

Tickets will be on sale at $125 per couple and are available from members of the Lanier Forsyth Rotary Club. For more information call 404-861-9237.

All proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen For The Cure at this Summer Show Home taking place at The River Club in Suwanee, Georgia. The slate-and-stone, French Normandy-inspired home in The River Club, designed by architect Bill Harrison of Harrison Design Associates and built by Stan Benecki of Benecki Homes, is sited on the development’s Greg Norman-designed golf course. Husband-and-wife team Phoebe and Jim Howard, owners of James Michael Howard, and Max & Co. at the Galleries of Peachtree Hills in Buckhead, have designed a sophisticated but comfortable oasis for the interiors of the six-bedroom, three-level home.

The Show House will be open for tours June 15-17 and June 22-24. On Fridays, the house is open from 10 am to 4 pm; Saturdays, 10am to 5pm; and Sundays, 12 to 5pm. Tickets are $15, and, again, all proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen For The Cure. All tickets will be sold at the door; pre-sale tickets are not available.

Off-site parking will be available at Publix on McGinnis Crossing, 1000 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suwanee, GA 30024. Atlanta Coach will shuttle visitors to and from The River Club. Be sure to visit www.atlantahomesmag.com for directions and further information about this event.

There are 4 new Forsyth County Schools opening in August of this year. If you have children and are planning to relocate to Forsyth County, Georgia, or perhaps move within the county, you need to verify the new districts. Here is a list of the new schools set to open their doors to new students this Fall:

West Forsyth High
Little Mill Middle
Piney Grove Middle
Johns Creek Elementary

You may click on each school above to be taken directly to each school's website.

If you are looking to move into or within Forsyth County, please contact The Vanderhoff Team today. We can provide you with up to date school information, as well as other important information needed for your move into a beautiful Forsyth County home.

Vanderhoff Real Estate is "Your Bridge To Success" in all your real estate transactions.