Alpharetta Cumming Lake Lanier Real Estate Blog: September 2009

Join us this Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (rain or shine) for the Crossroads at Crabapple Antique and Art Festival. The festival will be located within the Historic Community of Crabapple. Only 5 miles north of downtown Roswell, GA and 3 miles west of downtown Alpharetta, GA. The festival’s center will be at 790 Mayfield Rd., Milton (or Alpharetta) GA 30009. Parking and Admission are free.

A tradition since 1969, this one day only outdoor festival features 50 American Country Antique Dealers from 6 states and 50 local juried artists. Thousands of antiques, accessories, and unique pieces of art in all mediums will sell quickly, so come early and stay all day for this old- fashion festival. Rounding out the show are roaming musicians, food available benefiting the Boy and Girl Scouts, children activities from 2-4 at the Goddard School, and a trolley to the parking areas. An event not to miss!

Visit www.cityofmiltonga.us for more information or call 770-448-3860.

Labels: 2009, Alpharetta, Antiques, art festival, city of milton, crossroads at crabapple, october

Beware of Foreclosure Rescue Scams - Help Is Free! Scam artists often target homeowners who are struggling to meet their mortgage commitment or anxious to sell their homes. Recognize and avoid common scams.

• Assistance from a HUD-approved housing counselor is FREE.
• Beware of anyone who asks you to pay a fee in exchange for a counseling service or modification of a delinquent loan.
• Beware of people who pressure you to sign papers immediately, or who try to convince you that they can “save” your home if you sign or transfer over the deed to your house.
• Do not sign over the deed to your property to any organization or individual unless you are working directly with your mortgage company to forgive your debt.
• Never make a mortgage payment to anyone other than your mortgage company without their approval.

If you need information regarding the Making Home Affordable Program, make sure to get your facts straight. Visit www.makinghomeaffordable.gov, or call 1-888-995-HOPE.

Labels: 2009, assistance, foreclosure, government, loan modification, making home affordable, program, scam

Alpharetta and Roswell will each offer their own "crop" of strawmen. Roswell is starting a new tradition for the Historic District, and Alpharetta schools are continuing theirs.

In Roswell, businesses in the Historic District, along with city schools, churches and synagogues, are asked to sign up by e-mailing Sally Johnson at sally@chandlerygifts.com. There is no fee to enter and top prize is $200, second $100 and third $50.

Roswell scarecrows must be up between Oct. 2 and 5 to be judged. Businesses display theirs in storefronts while schools, churches and synagogues will be assigned a lamp post in the Historic District.

Alpharetta invites teachers and students from local elementary schools to join the entire community in celebrating the spirit of fall by creating a scarecrow for the fourth annual Scarecrow Harvest. The city expects to have more than 50 scarecrows from elementary schools displayed on downtown Main Street beginning Oct. 1.

As in Roswell residents, businesses and organizations are encouraged to join in by displaying their own scarecrows as well.

The Scarecrow Harvest, set for Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., is a thank you celebration for the children who made the scarecrows. The event will take place on Old Roswell Street at the Alpharetta Farmers Market in downtown.

The event is free, and families are invited to walk the scarecrow trail and enjoy live music with "High Cotton." There will be hayrides through downtown, face painting, fall crafts, inflatable jumping pods, all free.

Local growers will have fresh produce at the farmers market for sale. Families should bring cameras for a photograph at a fall harvest photo area next to The Cannery.

Labels: 2009, Alpharetta, farmers market, harvest, october, roswell, scarecrow

Labels: 15 year fixed, 30 year fixed, covenant mortgage, FHA, Home, loan, real estate, refinance, vanderhoff

Forsyth County Sheriffs Office Motorcycle Units checked all road closures this morning, Thursday, September 24th, 2009. As of 0800hrs this date the following roads remain closed:

• Grand Avenue (in Grand Cascades Subdivision) has 1 (one) lane open.
• Shiloh Rd is shutdown at McFarland Pky, due to large sink hole in middle of roadway (possibly for several days per Roads and Bridges)
• Lively Rd (small dirt road that leads into City of Milton) is NOT passable due to flooding.

Stay tuned for updates as The Forsyth County Roads and Bridges Department opens roads.

Labels: 2009, cumming, flood, forsyth county, grand avenue, grand cascades, lively, mcfarland, road closures, shiloh

The seventh annual Play at the Park - Family Fun Festival scheduled for this Saturday, September 26th, has been cancelled because of weather-related issues. Due to other scheduled events at Central Park throughout the remainder of the year, the 2009 festival will not be rescheduled. Watch for information next year regarding the 2010 festival.

Labels: 2009, cumming, family, festival, forsyth county, play at the park

Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department will hold a public information meeting Tuesday, October 13th regarding the design of two planned recreation centers in the south part of the county.

"The county has plans for two future recreation centers in south Forsyth County - one on the Fowler property and one on the Buice property," Director of Parks and Recreation Jerry Kinsey said. "The purpose of this upcoming meeting is to share with residents the preliminary proposed plans for these centers and to get feedback from citizens."

Preliminary plans call for both centers to be multi-purpose facilities and to include two gym floors, meeting rooms, classrooms, exercise area and indoor track.

The public information meeting will be held October 13 at 7 p.m. in the Commissioners Meeting Room of the County Administration Building, located at 110 E. Main Street in Cumming.

Labels: 2009, buice, forsyth county, fowler, georgia, october, parks and recreation, public meeting, recreation center, south forsyth

Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites is offering free admission on Saturday, September 26 as part of National Public Lands Day. The statewide celebration at all 63 state parks and historic sites is a way to thank park visitors and volunteers for their support of outdoor recreation and historic preservation.

Sponsored in part by The Coca-Cola Company and Verizon Wireless, the celebration includes dozens of family-friendly events and service projects. Learn to canoe and shoot skeet at Unicoi State Park’s Outdoor Adventure Day. Listen for owls on a night hike at Hamburg State Park. Try fishing in the Okefenokee Swamp at Stephen C. Foster State Park. Or watch molten iron become works of art at Red Top Mountain State Park’s harvest celebration. A full calendar of events is posted at www.GeorgiaStateParks.org/events.

On Free Day in the Parks, the regular $5 parking fee will be waived, historic sites will open their doors for free, and even anglers will not need a fishing license. September 26 is also National Hunting and Fishing Day, celebrated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources at many events and locations.

Modern campsites, fully equipped cottages and hotel-style lodge rooms provide overnight accommodations for outdoor enthusiasts who want to stay for the weekend. The lodges recently introduced lower promotional rates, and campsites are around $23 per night.

Numerous volunteer projects are being coordinated by the non-profit Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites with 47 chapters across the state. Corporations are also involved, with REI kicking off the celebration at Panola Mountain State Park near Stockbridge and Home Depot employees volunteering at Reed Bingham State Park in Adel. Organized groups or corporations that would like to participate can call the parks’ volunteer coordinator at 404-656-6533 or the Friends group at 1-888-948-2092.

To learn more about Free Day in the Parks, visit www.GeorgiaStateParks.org. Reservations for accommodations and picnic shelters can be made by calling 1-800-864-PARK (7275). To keep up with the latest events and happenings at Georgia's state parks and historic sites, sign up for a free e-newsletter at www.GetOutdoorsGeorgia.org.

Labels: georgia, georgia department of natural resources, historic site, national hunting and fishing day, national public lands, state park

Labels: 15 year fixed, 30 year fixed, covenant mortgage, FHA, interest, jumbo loan, mortgage, rates, real estate, refinance, vanderhoff

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District at Lake Sidney Lanier reminds property owners there are less than 30-days remaining for receiving applications into the lottery for the remaining dock permit requests.

The Lake Lanier Shoreline Management Plan and accompanying Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) completed in 2004 included a carrying capacity study for Lake Lanier, which set the limit of boat docks available on the lake at 10,615.

"Since we are nearing the maximum capacity for boat dock permits and don't know exactly how many additional requests for permits we will receive, we will conduct a lottery style drawing to give all applicants an equal opportunity and to determine the order of precedence for reviewing the remaining permit requests," said Lisa Coghlan, Deputy Public Affairs Officer.

If you own property adjacent to Lake Lanier and would like to have your property reviewed for a new dock permit you may visit www.lakelaniersupl.com to obtain the proper form and instructions to submit your request letter. The form may also be obtained at the Lanier Project Management Office.

Applicants have a 90-day open period that runs until Oct. 13. The request forms should be submitted by mail only. The forms need to be received by the contractor before 5 p.m., at which time the P.O. Box will be closed.

Any request forms received after this time will be returned. Your request form should be mailed to Lake Lanier Permits, P.O. Box 9, Gonzalez, Fla., 32560. An outside firm will collect the request forms, enter them into a database, and scrub the list for errors and duplicates. Only one request will be accepted per property.

Duplicate requests for the same property will be disallowed. Each week the firm will post on the Lanier drawing Web site at www.lakelaniersupl.com a list of the requests received from the prior week so you can insure your request form was delivered. About one week after the open period, a final list will be published online representing those requests confirmed for the lottery drawing.

On October 28th, there will be a random drawing held to determine the order that the requests will be reviewed. This drawing will be webcast and shown by video feed to a site in the local Lanier area. A link to the webcast will be available at www.lakelaniersupl.com or at http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil.

The request letters will be evaluated in the order that they were randomly selected to determine if they meet the complete site and eligibility requirements, as outlined in the Shoreline Management Plan. A copy of the plan is posted on Lake Lanier's website. Final decisions will be furnished in writing.

A copy of the Official Certified Lottery results will be added to the Lake Lanier Project Web site and used to track the ranked properties, the results of their evaluation under the Shoreline Management Plan and the currently available number of dock permits.

"Once we have issued the remaining available permits, we will then go back to the first come first served procedures outlined in the Shoreline Management Plan for any future permits if a space becomes available," said Coghlan.

For additional information or questions, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lake Lanier Project Office Shoreline Management Section at 770-945-9531 or http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil.

Labels: 2009, boat, dock, lake lanier, lottery, permit, shoreline management, US Army Corps of Engineers

Just Reduced: 3615 Cedar Springs Ct, Cumming, Georgia 30040. Now only $139,900. Lease Purchase Option available on this home.

This charming ranch home is located in Hutchinson Pointe, a great swim/tennis community in Forsyth County. It's conveniently located with great shopping, restaurants, GA 400 and downtown Cumming all just a few minutes away. This home is perfect for first time homeowners or empty nesters. It's easy to maintain with vinyl siding and a brick front. The interior is open with a roomy floorplan. The large private patio and quiet cul-de-sac are great for relaxing, or visiting with friends.

For more information and photos click on the property address above, or visit www.VanderhoffRealEstate.com and select the Featured Listings. To schedule a showing contact Mike at 770-888-9269 or Mike@VanderhoffRealEstate.com.

Labels: 30040, cedar springs, cumming, forsyth county, home for sale, hutchinson pointe, lease purchase, ranch, real estate, vanderhoff

You don’t want to miss the Forsyth Family Fest at the Cumming Fairgrounds happening today, September 13, 2009!

Combine Grammy Award-winning entertainment from Toby Mac, mind-blowing stunts from Chaos on Wheels, awesome praise and worship with Steve Fee, great food and non-stop fun for the whole family and you’ve got the Forsyth Family Fest at the Cumming Fairgrounds.

And best of all, the price of admission for this day-long festival is ABSOLUTELY FREE!

This family-friendly event features attractions and activities for all ages. Children will enjoy bouncing and sliding their way through an inflatable wonderland. They can transform themselves into their favorite superhero or cartoon celebrity at the face painting tent. Arts, crafts and games will provide an interactive experience like no other.

Will Graham (grandson of Billy Graham) will be the guest speaker at 10:30 a.m and later that evening.

Click here for more information.

Labels: admission, Chaos on Wheels, cumming, event, Fairgrounds, family fest, forsyth, free, Steve Fee, Toby Mac, Will Graham

Labels: 15 year fixed, 30 year fixed, arm, covenant mortgage, FHA, mortgage, rate, real estate, refinance, vanderhoff

The City of Alpharetta and Alpharetta Lions Club are hosting the Old Milton Country Fair. Join us for a good, old-fashioned country fair! Come celebrate the heritage of North Georgia with live bluegrass, barbecue & country foods, old-time children's & carnival games, horse rides, eating contests…and more!

Spend the day in Alpharetta Historic District with weavers, spinners, quilters, blacksmiths, candlemakers and other folks demonstrating old-time crafts and trades. There’ll be farmers with produce...pies, pickles, jams and jellies…storytellers…dulcimer players...dancing…classic car collectors...and historical exhibits and re-enactments...and much more.

Thank you Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau and other gracious sponsors for supporting the 2009 Old Milton Country Fair!

FREE Admission. FREE Parking: Alpharetta City Hall (Two S. Main St, Alpharetta, GA 30009), Police Athletic League (Behind Alpharetta City Hall on Haynes Bridge Road), Milton Center/Old Milton High School (86 School Drive, note parking is limited), Alpharetta Community Center at Old Milton Pkwy (175 Roswell St), and Downtown Alpharetta Public Lot (on Old Roswell St).
Bring your family and have fun with learing about local heritage! For a full line up of scheduled events, go to www.oldmiltoncountryfair.com. For additional questions call 678-297-6078.

Labels: Alpharetta, alpharetta lions club, Antiques, arts, city hall, classic cars, community, convention and visitors bureau, crafts, fair, old milton county fair

Property owners beware. Some counties are sadly misleading taxpayers to believe the Legislature is responsible for any potential property tax increases this year. They suggest this is due to there being no Homeowners Tax Relief Grant (HTRG) in the Fiscal Year 2010 state budget.

When making such claims, it’s important to note that the legislature does not have the constitutional authority to raise property taxes. Only commissioners and local school boards can make that decision. Transparency and honesty are especially important in government, so let’s set the record straight.

Labels: homeowners tax relief grant, homestead exemption, HTRG, property tax

In today's real estate market there are a lot of good deals out there, but the process can be complicated. Between pre-foreclosures and short sales, sheriffs' sales and post-foreclosures it is difficult to know how, and oftentimes risky to purchase one of these properties.

A home goes into pre-foreclosure when a borrower has fallen behind on the payments, but the house has yet to be auctioned off. Many owners are open to doing a short sale in this type of situation. A short sale is when a buyer pays less for a house than the mortgage that is owed on it. Lenders must agree to a short sale, and will then forgive the rest of the debt.

In the next stage of foreclosure, homes in default are auctioned off on the county courthouse steps. These homes can be real bargains, but the process is incredibly risky. Bidders can't inspect the property, so there's no telling how much work it needs. There could also be liens against the home, due to unpaid taxes and so forth, which can also increase the cost of these homes. Additionally, buyers need to come with cash, ready to put 10%-20% down on the spot, and be able to fund the rest within a few days.

Post-foreclosures are when a lender has taken back a house and the property goes back on the market as what's called an REO (real estate owned) property. These are treated like ordinary sales and listed with a broker. Typically, bargains are not as sharp, but the process is a lot easier and neater. You have the right to make an offer with a right to inspect and walk away if anything too severe is discovered. The title will generally be clear and the property is delivered vacant.

If you are not a pro, but are looking to find a good deal in a great market, contact us today. Mike & Melody Vanderhoff have been in the real estate business for years. Let them share their experience with you, and help you navigate the complicated process of buying your next home at a great price.

Also check out our new "Foreclosure" link on our website which will show you all available foreclosures listed in the area. Call us today, and let us be your bridge to success in your next real estate transaction.

Labels: auction, buyer, foreclosure, Home, sheriffs sale, short sale

Labels: 15 year fixed, 30 year fixed, arm, covenant mortgage, FHA, mortgage, rate

Like any machine, your gas furnace benefits from regular maintenance. Although you should have your furnace checked and maintained every year by a licensed contractor, you can make a few simple checks for maximum efficiency and savings.

For older type burner furnaces:

• When the furnace isn't running, look through an opening and check the pilot flame (the small flame that burns continuously). It should be blue in color and fairly sharp in shape. If it isn't or seems either too low or too high, have a heating contractor adjust it.
• When the furnace runs, look at the flames coming out of the burners. They should also be sharp blue. If the flames look yellow or lazy, have a heating contractor clean the burner or adjust the gas-air ratio.
• Look at the burners themselves and make sure there is no soot buildup.

For both older burner furnaces AND new condenser models:

• Inspect the exhaust stack pipes for loose connections or corrosion.
• Inspect the ductwork for leaks. Watch for signs of air movement or run your hand over duct joints. Seal with UL 181 tape and mastic.
• Listen to your furnace occasionally as it goes through a heating cycle. Make sure the cycle progresses in this order: thermostat calls for heat; burner ignites; fan starts; thermostat is satisfied; burner shuts off; fans stops. If the burner and fan cycle off and on frequently before the thermostat is satisfied, call a contractor.
• Make a solution of water and dishwashing soap and brush on all gas line fittings and connections. If you see bubbles, tighten the fitting and test again.
• Clean the room where the furnace is located. Nearby dirt and dust can be pulled into the burners and cause soot.
• Replace or clean the furnace filter when it becomes dirty. Your filter may be washable or disposable depending on type.
• Vacuum supply and return air vents.
  

Labels: furnace, gas, Home, maintenance

Labels: budget, consumer reports, dos and donts, home decor, inexpensive, kitchen, remodeling