Alpharetta Cumming Lake Lanier Real Estate Blog: July 2008

Yesterday, President Bush signed into law a housing bill passed by Congress aimed at stabilizing the housing market. Opponents to the bill argue that it will reward "irresponsible" lenders and consumers and allow the government too big a role in the housing market. The bill's supporters stress that providing a financial lifeline for the government-sponsored Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as well as more regulatory oversight would contribute to confidence and stability in housing and financial markets. It will be interesting to see how this bill effects the housing market. Following is a recap of some of the key points in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008:

— Give the Treasury Department the power to extend Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac an unspecified line of credit and to buy their stock, if necessary, to prop up the mortgage companies. The two companies back or own $5 trillion in U.S. mortgages — nearly half the nation's total.

— Allow qualified homeowners facing foreclosure to apply for lower fixed-rate, 30-year mortgages backed by loan guarantees from the Federal Housing Administration. The original lenders would have to agree to take a loss on their loans.

— Create an independent regulator to oversee Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The regulator could establish minimum capital requirements for the two companies and limits on their portfolios. It would also have approval power over the pay packages of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives.

— Provide $3.9 billion in grants to communities with the highest foreclosure rates to buy foreclosed and abandoned properties.

— Give about $15 billion in housing tax breaks, including a credit of up to $7,500 for first-time homebuyers who bought homes between April 9, 2008, and July 1, 2009.

— Put a cap of $625,500 on the loans Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy in certain high-priced areas, and a cap in other areas of up to 15 percent above the median home price.

— Count any federal infusion for the mortgage giants under the debt limit, essentially capping how much the government could spend to stabilize the companies without further approval from Congress. As of Tuesday, the national debt that counts toward the limit stood at about $9.5 trillion, roughly $360 billion below the statutory ceiling.

— It also includes changes that will affect senior citizens through modifications to the standard Federal Housing Administration HECM reverse mortgage product.

Labels: fannie mae, FHA, foreclosures, freddie mac, president bush, The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008

Georgia's 2008 Summer Sales Tax Holiday is this Thursday, July 31st at 12:01 a.m. - Sunday, August 3rd at midnight. Georgia's 4-day Summer Sales Tax Holiday provides for a sales tax exemption for certain items purchased, including:

* Articles of clothing and footwear with a sales price of $100 or less per item.

* Personal Computers - A single purchase of $1,500 or less of personal computers and/or related accessories is exempt. If the single purchase exceeds $1,500, the entire transaction is taxable.

* General school supplies with a sales price of $20 or less per item

The exemptions exclude items rented, leased, purchased by businesses, or purchased for resale. Also, the exemptions do not apply to items sold at theme parks, entertainment complexes, hotels, restaurants, and airports.

For more information visit the Georgia Department of Revenue's website at www.dor.ga.gov.

Labels: 2008, clothing, computers, georgia department of revenue, georgia sales tax, holiday, school supplies

On Sunday morning we went for a hike on Sawnee Mountain in our own backyard of Cumming in Forsyth County. What a fantastic place to hike. I was overwhelmed by the friendliness of everyone we passed along the trail, with the exception of some YellowJackets that managed to sting us for intruding into their nest. But despite that minor setback, the friendliness of everyone we passed was refreshing. Between friendly nods and hearty "Good Mornings", I was pleased to call Forsyth County "my home".

We ventured up to the Indian Seats and took in the breathtaking view. Then down the side of the mountain to the Universal Tree House near the Visitor's Center. Then back to the amphiteater, playground & parking area. If you have not had a chance to spend some time at Sawnee Mountain Preserve, you must make a point to set aside some time to visit this great place. Visit www.sawneemountain.org for more information.

Labels: cumming, forsyth county, hiking, indian seats, north georgia, sawnee mountain preserve

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 is a hot topic and is expected to be signed by the President this week. So what will the bill do? Here's a look at some key points to help understand the bill.

— Give the Treasury Department the power to extend Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac an unspecified line of credit and to buy their stock, if necessary, to prop up the mortgage companies. The two companies back or own $5 trillion in U.S. mortgages — nearly half the nation's total.

— Allow qualified homeowners facing foreclosure to apply for lower fixed-rate, 30-year mortgages backed by loan guarantees from the Federal Housing Administration. The original lenders would have to agree to take a loss on their loans.

— Create an independent regulator to oversee Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The regulator could establish minimum capital requirements for the two companies and limits on their portfolios. It would also have approval power over the pay packages of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives.

— Provide $3.9 billion in grants to communities with the highest foreclosure rates to buy foreclosed and abandoned properties.

— Give about $15 billion in housing tax breaks, including a credit of up to $7,500 for first-time homebuyers who bought homes between April 9, 2008, and July 1, 2009.

— Put a cap of $625,500 on the loans Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy in certain high-priced areas, and a cap in other areas of up to 15 percent above the median home price.

— Count any federal infusion for the mortgage giants under the debt limit, essentially capping how much the government could spend to stabilize the companies without further approval from Congress. As of Tuesday, the national debt that counts toward the limit stood at about $9.5 trillion, roughly $360 billion below the statutory ceiling.

— It also includes important changes that will dramatically affect senior citizens through modifications to the standard Federal Housing Administration HECM reverse mortgage product.

Labels: fannie mae, foreclosure, Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008, freddie mac, housing bill, stimulus, The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008

Flag Retirement Drop-Box now available at Fire Station #1 on Castlberry Road in Cumming.

Forsyth County residents wishing to ensure a proper retirement for their worn out American flags can do so thanks to a joint effort of the American Legion and the Forsyth County Fire Department. A flag drop-box is located at Fire Station #1 at 234 Castleberry Industrial Drive in Cumming. Citizens can place in the drop-box their worn out American flags. The American Legion will ensure the flags are retired properly.

Labels: american, american flag, castlberry, cumming, fire department, fire station, forsyth county, legion, retirement

Check out this weekend's mortgage rates provided by Covenant Mortgage Corporation:

Conforming Loans: Loan amounts $417,000 & under
30 Year Fixed - 6.375%
15 Year Fixed - 6.00%
5/1 ARM - 6.125%

Jumbo Loans: Loan amounts over $417,000
30 Year Fixed - 7.625%
5/1 ARM - 6.625%

If you would like help with your next real estate transaction, please contact our team at Vanderhoff Real Estate today. We can be your bridge to success!

Labels: covenant mortgage, mortgage rates, vanderhoff real estate

Excerpt from Washington Post Article below. To read the full article click on following link:
Congress Is Set to Limit Down-Payment Assistance
By Dina ElBoghdady
Washington Post Staff Writer

Mortgage programs that helped nearly 79,000 people buy homes using government-insured loans last year would be eliminated as part of a broader housing package that Congress expects to pass this week, key lawmakers said.

Under these programs, nonprofit groups provide buyers with money for down payments. Home sellers then reimburse the organizations and pay an administrative fee. More than half a million people have bought homes this way in the past decade using loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration.

But the FHA said seller-funded down payments present the single biggest challenge to its solvency. Borrowers who take part in these arrangements go to foreclosure at nearly three times the rate of borrowers who put their own money down, according to the agency.

Labels: congress, fannie mae, freddie mac, limit down payment assistance, nehemiah

Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little 'stringy things' off of it.

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!

Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.
Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.

For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.

Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.

Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simply chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. Yummm!

Reheat Pizza: Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low
and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.

Easy Deviled Eggs: Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

Expanding Frosting: When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

Reheating refrigerated bread: To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

Newspaper weeds away: Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.

Broken Glass: Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

No More Mosquitoes: Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

Squirrel Away! To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

Reducing Static Cling: Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose.
Place pin in seam of slacks and ... ta da! ... static is gone.

Measuring Cups: Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water.
Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

Foggy Windshield? Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

Reopening envelope: If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

Goodbye Fruit Flies: To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

Get Rid of Ants: Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't
digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

Northside Hospital-Forsyth will hold a blood drive Friday, July 25th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bennett Education Center.

All donors will receive a free Northside Hospital T-shirt. Those who are 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good health are eligible to give blood every 56 days.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Jamie Kelley, 770-844-3838 or jamie.kelley@northside.com.

Labels: blood drive, forsyth, northside hospital

Just Listed! Bank owned foreclosure in highly sought after Alpharetta location. This townhome is located at 3536 Spring View Ct, Alpharetta 30004 in the neighborhood of Spring Valley. Great schools include Manning Oaks Elementary, Hopewell Middle & Alpharetta High.

This 2 story townhome was built in 2002 and has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and a single car garage. It features an open floorplan with a lot of space. The kitchen open to the family room with a fireplace. There is a guest bedroom on the main level with a full bath. Large Master bedroom and 2 additional bedrooms upstairs. Private patio area in the back. This home is listed for $145,000.

Click on the property address above to view more information and photos about this home. If you would like to see this property, or need assistance finding your next home or investment property, contact us today. Our team at Vanderhoff Real Estate would like to help you find your next home at a great price. Also check out our new "Foreclosure" link on our website which will show you all available foreclosures in the area.

Labels: Alpharetta, alpharetta high, bank owned, foreclosure, hopewell middle, manning oaks, short sale, spring valley, townhome, vanderhoff real estate

Day 7 Edition of Our Journey In Paraguay: Thursday in Quinta Linea

We were up at 5:45 this morning. It was a little chilly out compared to the past mornings. I went in for my first cup of coffee and picked up my laundry that the local ladies had done the previous day. The strong smell of soap that stayed in my clothes almost knocked me over.

As I sat over my first cup of coffee, thinking about the beautiful children we were working with this week, I ran across a verse in 1 John 3:18 “Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue but with action and in truth.”

We needed to finish bringing in the fill dirt for the foundation this morning. Ed Baker took one of the locals to a hospital this morning. The man had lost 50 pounds over the last couple of months and was very sickly. They think he has a problem with his kidneys. This left us without Ed’s truck, so we hired a local oxcart to help us carry in the last few loads of dirt.

This was also the day to hand out sweatshirts to all of the children in the school. Thanks to the families at Horizon Christian Academy, as well as a network of loving parents all over the U.S. and Canada who have adopted children from Paraguay, we were able to collect & distribute over 160 sweatshirts. The entire team visited each class. We had the children line up in order of size, tallest to shortest, as this is how we had the sweatshirts organized. As each child walked into their class room, we handed them a sweatshirt and a book bag filled with school supplies. This was as much a gift to us as it was to the children. As I mentioned earlier, it was a little chilly this morning, so our timing was perfect.

After lunch, Nelson and I had the task of making a Cross for our VBS program that afternoon. We found a couple pieces of board in a workable size. We got out a saw to cut them to the right length and notched them to fit together to make a cross. I have only seen wood this hard once before, and that was the Ironwood in Arizona. We could hardly make cuts, let alone pound nails into it…but persistence paid off and we eventually got it together.

Our story in VBS today involves the theme: How with God through Christ you can overcome all problems. In the skit, McGyver was the Gambler, Dennis was the Drug Addict, Tracy was the Prostitute, Nelson was the Adulterer and Jimmy was the Alcoholic. Now before your mind wanders too far, the area we are working in is called Quinta Linea, the fifth line. Before the school and church opened in this area, it was an area known for prostitution, drugs and crime. So unfortunately the people and the children in this area know about the type of characters we were going to portray in VBS.

During VBS each character came out playing his or her part. Each had a wooden sign hung around their neck which named their sin or addiction. The story centered on the fact that Christ came to take away man’s sin. This was all finalized by the Crucifixion of Christ, played by our own resident missionary, Christian Dickson. This had a great effect on the children and the parents that were there.

After VBS we held a foot washing for all of the children. Melody was taking pictures and I had the task of being the towel boy. As each child came up front and had their feet washed, each Team Member said a prayer for that child as they were washing and drying their feet. This was quite an experience not only for the children but for the team as well.

Once this was done we started the VBS craft for the day and then headed back to our base camp. We cleaned up as quickly as possible and headed back to the church for church service. Ed Baker gave the sermon for the night. During prayer we noticed that the entire congregation was chanting, or so we thought. I asked Ed about this later and discovered that during the pastor’s prayer, each person says their own prayer. Since it’s in their native language, it does kind of sound like chanting. The Team was asked to get up and sing a few songs to the congregation, which we did joyfully with Nelson leading.

After church service we headed down to the Agricenter for a special meal. They had barbequed three pigs. The entire team gathered, along with the school teachers, the Pastor and his family, the laborers that worked alongside us building the house, and a few local neighbors. It was a magnificent feast celebrating all that the Team had done. We headed back to camp after the meal. It was about 11:30 when we got back.

Thankfully, breakfast was scheduled for a little later than usual, 7:30 am the next morning.

Stayed tuned in for Friday's adventures!

Labels: journey, paraguay, thursday, vanderhoff

Fannie Mae is introducing several new and updated policies that pertain to bankruptcy and foreclosure. To read Fannie Mae's current and new policies for loans related to the time period that must elapse before borrowers can demonstrate they have reestablished an acceptable credit history after the occurrence of the bankruptcy or foreclosure click on the link below. The table also includes new "Additional requirements" that apply to foreclosures.

Fannie Mae Policy Change

If you have any questions regarding how these policy changes could affect you, please feel free to contact Phil Blankstein with Covenant Mortgage. Thanks to Phil for keeping us updated with the constantly evolving economic policies that effect the housing market and our clients.

At Vanderhoff Real Estate, we work with a great team of professionals that will help your next real estate transaction go smoothly from start to finish. Give us a call today, and let us know how we can help you!

Labels: bankruptcy, covenant mortgage, fannie mae, foreclosure, policy change, vanderhoff real estate

Check out this weekend's mortgage rates provided by Covenant Mortgage Corporation:

Conforming Loans: Loan amounts $417,000 & under
30 Year Fixed - 6.375%
15 Year Fixed - 5.875%
5/1 ARM - 5.875%

Jumbo Loans: Loan amounts over $417,000
30 Year Fixed - 7.375%
5/1 ARM - 6.625%
7/1 ARM - 6.875%

If you would like help with your next real estate transaction, please contact our team at Vanderhoff Real Estate today. We can be your bridge to success!

Labels: covenant mortgage, mortgage rates, weekend

The Lakewood 400 Antiques Market is open this weekend, July 18 - 20. It is located near GA 400, a mile north of Exit 13 on Highway 9. The market is housed in a 75,000 square foot, climate-controlled building. Its special design as an antiques market provides more than 500 dealer spaces, abundant parking and a full-service restaurant.

Additionally, you can take advantage of the following services offered at Lakewood 400:

* Jewelry restoration and repair
* Furniture restoration
* Antique tin refinishing
* Traveling Framer - offers on-site framing
* Upholsterer on-site
* Lighting Restoration


And, Get the Antiques Market Facts:

* Open 3rd weekend monthly
* 9am - 5 pm Friday
* 9am - 6pm Saturday
* 10 am - 5 pm Sunday
* $3 Admission Friday - Sunday (good all weekend)

Visit www.cumminghome.com for a coupon good for free admission this weekend!

Labels: GA 400, Hwy 9, July 18, Lakewood Antiques Market

An agreement for Alpharetta to dispatch Milton's police and firefighters will improve response times to emergency in "problem areas" in both cities, Alpharetta Public Safety Director Gary George told City Council Monday night.

Legislation creating the City of Milton required Fulton County to provide Milton's dispatching needs for up to two years. In exchange, Fulton has kept the $1.50 per cellphone and house phone paid by Milton's residents to offset those costs. The two years ends Dec. 31st. Making the agreement has been a top priority, as ending the arrangement with Fulton County requires 90 days' notice. For a proposed change starting Oct. 1st, the notice must be made by Aug. 1st.

The cities have an automatic mutual aid agreement between fire departments. Milton can respond to North Park, Kings Ridge Christian School and Crabapple faster than Alpharetta.
The trade off comes in the Bethany and Mayfield areas of Milton. Response time is the number one priority.

Both cities have ladder trucks than can be positioned to cover the largest area for both cities. Since Milton parks its ladder truck at its city hall off Deerfield Parkway, Alpharetta could move its ladder truck to its station 3, closer to North Point Mall, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre and those areas of Alpharetta.

Just two weeks earlier, the council approved an agreement that gives Alpharetta control of dispatching Rural Metro's six ambulances in North Fulton. Monitors in the new Command & Control center will show the location of every Alpharetta and Milton police and fire vehicle, plus all of Rural Metro's ambulances. GPS transponders will be installed in all emergency vehicles. The police & firefighter dispatch agreement just makes sense, and would benefit all of the area's citizens.

Labels: 911, Alpharetta, Community Emergency Response Team, dispatch, firefighter, Milton, police

The Forsyth County Primary Runoff is set for August 5th. But, if you can not make it to your polling place on Election Day, you can still vote in person thanks to Advance Voting. Advance Voting for the August 5 General Primary Runoff is available July 28 to August 1 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily at five locations throughout Forsyth County. Any Forsyth County registered voter may take advantage of Advance Voting at any of these locations:

Advance Voting Locations
Cumming Public Library, 585 Dahlonega Hwy.
Sharon Forks Public Library, 2820 Old Atlanta Rd.
Forsyth County Public Safety Complex, 3520 Settingdown Rd.
Midway Park, 5100 Post Rd.
County Administration Building, 110 E. Main St., Suite 200

If you voted Republican in the Primary you must vote Republican in the Runoff and if you voted Democratic in the Primary you must vote Democratic in the Runoff. If you did not vote in the Primary, you may vote either Republican or Democratic in the Runoff.

Visit www.forsythco.com to confirm your voter registration status and voting precinct. Call 770.781.2118 to receive additional information.

Labels: august 5, election, forsyth county, general primary, runoff

Featured Listing: Pilgrim Lake Townhome at 1611 Indian Way, Cumming, GA 30040. 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath, charming, bright and open. New carpet throughout. Each bedroom has its own private bath. Blinds throughout and ready to move in. Great deck in back for entertaining or relaxing. One car garage, plus a basement that can be finished for additional room or storage.

For more information and additional photos, click on the property address above, or visit www.VanderhoffRealEstate.com and go to our Featured Listings. If you would like to see this great townhome, please contact Vanderhoff Real Estate today!

Labels: basement, condo, cumming, GA 400, pilgrim lake, townhome

Construction has started on a site in Crabapple that has been under contract for more than a year with little sign of movement. The lack of activity at the Crabapple Mercantile Exchange prompted gossip that it might be a casualty of the slow economy. But on Wednesday, workers were busy raising steel girders at the site near the corner of Birmingham Highway and Crabapple Road.

Developer John Adams said construction was delayed partly because he couldn't get construction loans until he had secured all permits from the city. He received those permits in December, after about a year of negotiating with Milton city officials about the architectural style of the development for the 52,000-square-foot project.

Crabapple Mercantile Exchange is designed to reflect 19th century buildings that Adams said will evoke Old World charm. It will have have brick and ornate details in wood and iron, and flickering street lights. A similar project by Adams is almost fully leased in Alpharetta: the Ellerd Mercantile Exchange.

About two-thirds of the Crabapple Mercantile Exchange is leased, Adams said. The mix of space includes about 23,000 square feet of retail, 22,500 square feet of office and almost 8,000 square feet of residential. The residential space will be built above the ground-floor office and retail space, he said.

Prospective tenants include:
Zest, a restaurant
Scoops, old-fashioned ice cream shop
Founders Cigar Club, a restaurant with a private club for cigars and Scotch whiskey
Faire La Belle, a salon
SP Casey Homes, an interior design store
Dentist's office

Labels: birmingham highway, crabapple, crabapple mercantile exchange, Milton

Keep Forsyth County Beautiful is currently signing up sponsors for the Lake Lanier 2008 Waterfest. This event is scheduled for August 23rd from 10-3 at Young Deer Park which is located at 7300 Heard Rd. Cumming GA 30041.

The Waterfest will feature Great Food, Exhibits, Live Characters, Children’s Games & Crafts, Demonstrations, Boats and Music. This event is presented by Keep Forsyth County Beautiful & Forsyth County Parks and Recreation. Keep Forsyth County Beautiful is a domestic, non-profit organization under the laws of the state of Georgia and all donations are tax-deductible.

The Waterfest offers various levels of sponsorship, each with its own benefits and added value. Your decision to become a sponsor of Family Water Fest 2008 at Lake Lanier will offer you an opportunity to promote your business and merchandise to an eager and enthusiastic family audience, while supporting a local community event.

If you have any further questions, please contact Kevin Smith at 678-513-5892 or 770-313-0546, or email kfcb@forsythco.com.

Labels: 2008, keep forsyth county beautiful, lake lanier, waterfest

After months of debate on Capitol Hill, the Senate seemed poised Thursday to finally pass a comprehensive housing and foreclosure prevention bill this week. The measure, which would create a new government-backed foreclosure prevention program and strengthen oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The omnibus housing package attempts to address the housing crisis in several ways. Among them is providing more relief for some borrowers facing foreclosure; increasing access to mortgages in higher-cost areas; modernizing the loan guidelines for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA); and more stringently regulating Fannie and Freddie, the government-sponsored enterprises that have taken a beating this week amidst concern over how well funded they are.

To read more in depth about this bill click here for an article from CNNMoney.com

Labels: fannie mae, FHA, foreclosure, freddie mac, omnibus housing package, prevention bill, senate

Check out this weekend's mortgage rates provided by Covenant Mortgage Corporation:

Conforming Loans: Loan amounts $417,000 & under
30 Year Fixed - 6.25%
15 Year Fixed - 5.75%
5/1 ARM - 5.50%

Jumbo Loans: Loan amounts over $417,000
30 Year Fixed - 7.375%
5/1 ARM - 6.50%
7/1 ARM - 6.75%

If you would like help with your next real estate transaction, please contact our team at Vanderhoff Real Estate today. We can be your bridge to success!

Labels: covenant mortgage, mortgage rates, vanderhoff real estate

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will hold a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, July 24, for the purpose of receiving citizen input relative to implementation of the green space acquisition portion of the parks, recreation and green space bond. In February, Forsyth County voters approved a $100 million parks, recreation and green space bond, of which $36 million is earmarked for green space.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Commissioners Meeting Room (Suite 220) in the County Administration Building located at 110 E. Main Street in Cumming. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.

Labels: bond, forsyth county, green space, town hall meeting

With a new name, new venue and a newly created city, Johns Creek will proudly present Arts on the Creek, a music and arts festival Labor Day Weekend -- Saturday, Aug. 30 and Sunday, Aug. 31 at Johns Creek United Methodist Church.

The Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce Arts and Culture Committee will host another weekend of great art, music and family entertainment. Last year's arts festival was the city's first and this second annual event remains Georgia's ten largest city's only-arts festival. The event is free and open to the public.

This year's festival will kick-off with a new name, logo and venue. Arts on the Creek -- the newly coined title -- captures the excitement and energy that is Johns Creek. A new logo was created based on a painting Johns Creek resident and committee member Ann Marie Noyman. Johns Creek United Methodist Church, the new venue for this wonderful event, was selected for its visibility, expanse and beauty.

With a larger venue, Arts on the Creek will utilize 30,000 square feet for up to 150 commercial artists from Georgia and neighboring states as well as for sponsors, food vendors, children's entertainment and more.

This year the Johns Creek Children's Museum will provide a variety of children's activities, while Tropical Breeze Shaved Ice and other local and area vendors and sponsors will be on hand to provide food and beverages during the event. Lawn seating will accommodate more than 2,000.

Musicians and dancers will also entertain festival guests on the main stage throughout the two-day event. Last year's performers included Atlanta Chinese Dance Company, Atlanta Jazz Syndicate, Lindsay Appel, Jazzmatic, Red, Eve Hao Dance Studio, Fleetwood Dance Studio and DJ Mitch and Chinese Zheng.

Additionally, there will be a private reception and juried fine art show on Friday, Aug. 29. Jurors Dr. Pam Sachant, assistant professor of North Georgia College & State University and Mark Karelson, director of Mason Murer Fine Art will select the winners and present cash prizes first, second and third place winners along with a first-place prize for the top student work. The fine arts exhibition will remain on site for viewing throughout the event in the church's main foyer.

For more information regarding this event please contact Cherie.Neal@gmail.com or info@artsonthecreek.org.

Labels: arts on the creek, johns creek, labor day weekend

Just Listed: 3855 Bishops Walk, Cumming 30041 in Adam's Landing. This foreclosure is priced well below market value for a quick sale - 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, full finished basement with media room and 2nd kitchen, hardwoods, Cherry Cabinets in Kitchen with Granite countertops & 3 car garage. Adams Landing Subdivision is located off GA 400 and Exit 16.

Currently priced at $289,000 - this home sold for $395,000 in 2005.

Click on the property address above to view more information and photos of this property. If you would like to see this property, or other foreclosures or bank owned properties contact us today. Our team at Vanderhoff Real Estate would like to help you find your next home at a great price. Also check out our new "Foreclosure" link on our website which will show you all available foreclosures in the area.

Don't forget! Forsyth County Advance Voting for the July 15th Genral Primary is available this week!

Even if you can not make it to your polling place on Election Day, you can still vote in person thanks to Advance Voting. Advance Voting for the July 15 General Primary is available at four different locations throughout Forsyth County July 7 – 11 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Any Forsyth County registered voter may take advantage of Advance Voting at any of the county’s satellite locations.

Advance Voting Satellite Locations
Cumming Public Library, 585 Dahlonega Hwy.
Sharon Forks Public Library, 2820 Old Atlanta Rd.
Forsyth County Public Safety Complex, 3520 Settingdown Rd.
Midway Park, 5100 Post Rd.

Labels: advance voting, forsyth county, general primary

On May 13, 2008 Governor Sonny Perdue signed into law Senate Bill 531. The bill increases the notice to a homeowner before a lender can foreclose on a home.

The foreclosure process has been governed by a law that has been on the books in Georgia since 1981. Many of the legislators who supported SB 531 felt that out of fairness, a homeowner should receive notice before the advertisement auctioning their home is published, and that 15 days was not a sufficient amount of time. SB 531 therefore lengthens the notice period to at least 30 days prior to the scheduled foreclosure sale.

SB 531 also requires:
· That the certified letter giving the homeowner notice of the foreclosure sale include the name, address, and telephone number of the "individual or entity who shall have full authority to negotiate, amend, and modify all terms of the mortgage with the debtor".
· Requires that the current holder of the mortgage loan record the assignment of the security deed, which shows the present owner of the mortgage loan, in the public deed records before conducting the foreclosure sale.

This new law makes it easier for individuals and families to locate and contact the holder of the debt in order to negotiate a way to keep their home.

Labels: foreclosure, law, SB 531

Labels: 4th of july, Independence Day, vanderhoff real estate

The Hampshires is a new Peachtree Residential Properties community located off of Freemanville Road in beautiful Milton/Alpharetta. These majestic estate homes are situated on rolling, wooded homesites of one to three acres.

The neighborhood will feature a swimming pool, lighted tennis courts and children's play area. Children of The Hampshires will also enjoy the excellent Northwest Fulton County schools including Summit Hill Elementary, Hopewell Middle and Milton High. The moment you drive into The Hampshires, you will notice the wide open yards that create a beautiful streetscape for the magnificent, architecturally impressive homes.

Celebrating 20 years of building quality homes in Atlanta area communities, Peachtree Residential's classic elevations combine a variety of authentic exterior elements such as brick, stone and shake. On the inside, you can tailor your home to your family's needs and style with countless design options enabling you to create a "custom" home without the custom price.

New homes are priced from the $700's to more than $1 million and a variety of home designs are available. You can pick a lot and help design your home from the ground up, or if time is of the essence, several homes are also available within the community at various stages of construction, enabling you to move in within a short timeframe. The professionally decorated Brunswick model is currently open for viewing and was honored with a silver award for "Best Product Design" by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association.

If we can help you find your next dream home, please contact our team at Vanderhoff Real Estate today. We would love to help you navigate through the New Home buying process. New Construction can be exciting, but you also need to make sure you have someone representing you as the Buyer. On-site agents work for the builder alone. Let us help be your "Bridge To Success" in your next new home purchase.

Labels: Alpharetta, freemanville, Milton, peachtree residential, The Hampshires

The City of Cumming Independence Day Celebration starts on July 3rd and includes a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. at the Cumming Fairgrounds, along with an "all age" dance contest following the fireworks. A live band, refreshments and inflatables for the kids will conclude the evening, so bring your blanket, sit out on the lawn and enjoy all the festivities.

On July 4th at 10:00 a.m. come out and see a Cumming tradition: The Steam Engine Parade. The Parade will include antique tractors, steam engines, antique cars and many other floats decorated in the spirit of the holiday. Following the Steam Engine Parade, anyone can take a closer look at the steam engines, tractors and cars that will be on display at the Cumming Fairgrounds.

The Independence Day festivities in downtown Cumming have been a family favorite for years, and this year's event is sure to be the best ever! For more information, visit the City of Cumming's web site at www.cityofcumming.net.

Labels: 4th of july, cumming, Cumming Fairgrounds, Independence Day, Steam Engine Parade

The City of Milton is hosting its first ever 4th of July Parade. In the spirit of uniqueness that is Milton the event will be a Citizen’s Parade. All Milton residents are encouraged to participate by marching, dressing in costume and bringing their pets to join in. The Alpharetta Rodeo Wranglers will lead the procession, and Milton firefighters, and the City’s shiny red fire trucks, will be on hand.

“This is an opportunity for everyone to be a part of a parade,” said Linda Blow, City of Milton’s Project Coordinator who came up with the idea of citizens participating. “I hope that people are creative and just have fun with it. Decorate your bike, wagons or whatever you like!”

The parade will begin at 10 A.M. on July 4th and will march along Deerfield Parkway in Milton, beginning at City Hall. People who wish to participate are asked to gather at Milton’s City Hall at 13000 Deerfield Parkway at 9:30 A.M. All participants are invited back to City Hall to enjoy cold treats and face painting.

Incorporated on December 1, 2006, the City of Milton is a distinctive community that embraces small-town life and heritage while preserving and enhancing the city’s rural character. The City of Milton is committed to maintaining the unique quality of life for its constituents while efficiently delivering essential services to residents and businesses in an interactive community environment. For more information, visit www.cityofmiltonga.us, or call 678.242.2500.

Please note that Deerfield Parkway will be closed to thru traffic from Morris Road to Webb Road on July 4 from 9 A.M. to Noon to allow for the City of Milton Citizens Parade. Verizon Wireless employees who work in Buildings 2 or 3 will be allowed entry with caution. To view a map and detour routes, please visit www.cityofmiltonga.us.

Labels: 4th of july, fourth of july, Milton, parade