Places To Love: Granville Court Condos

I absolutely love the condos at Sandy Springs’ Granville Court and I believe you will too!  This upscale, gated real estate community is situated perfectly on Barfield, near Johnson Ferry Rd., Abernathy, GA 400, I-285 and just minutes from Perimeter Mall.  Granville Court is also close to MARTA, which means you can get to Buckhead, Alpharetta, etc. in just minutes.

Here’s How to Appeal A Property Tax Assessment in Metro Atlanta

Summer is finally here, and for the first time in more than two years, economic indicators suggest that the housing industry has finally bottomed out both locally and nationally. But with this bit of good news comes a bad news, which is that the metro Atlanta area continues to be saddled with a high number of vacant homes, many of them foreclosures on pace to surpass 2008 record year of foreclosures.
 
In April 2009, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed SB55 into law, requiring county tax assessors to incorporate the value of foreclosed homes into property assessments. The legislation will likely provide some relief for properties located in zip codes with high foreclosures in the metro area. This is particularly important, as illustrated in a recent report commissioned by the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership that shows how properties in neighborhoods impacted by a high number of foreclosures typically have inflated appraised home values.
 
The report further illustrates that taxes for properties appraised in metro Atlanta ’s five-county core area will have an overpayment of property taxes of an estimated $367.2 million, which includes an estimated $118 million in overpayment from owners of homes and businesses in areas with high foreclosures. Since the passage of SB55, several metro counties plagued by high foreclosures have reappraised properties, which also provided property owners an opportunity to appeal inflated assessments.
 
Requiring county tax assessors to reappraise homes shows that state officials are aware of the discrepancy between actual market value and assessed value, but the problem of getting a fair appraisal still exists, thus creating more problems for builders continuing to hold housing inventory.

Does Countrywide Owe You Money?

Bank of America, which acquired Countrywide Financial Corp., one of the most active of the sub-prime lenders, has begun issuing checks to its borrowers who are eligible for foreclosure assistance under an agreement with attorneys general in 40 states.

Lease Purchase Tips

As a Buyer, if you are not approved for a mortgage either due to credit or low savings, you can still purchase a home with a lease-purchase agreement.  Usually, the terms of the deal include a lease and an option to buy with part of the rent going toward the downpayment. The forced savings helps buyers amass enough to buy the house in the specified timeframe, usually three to five years.

Back-To-School Donations Needed

Can you believe that it is almost the end of July? School will be back in session before you know it. So that means it’s time for the Community Action Center’s (CAC) annual school supply drive.

What’s Lurking in the Walls of Your Home?

Unfortunately, both homeowners and renters may have something in their homes that is unwanted. Methamphetamine residues, left behind by previous residents, is an increasing problem for homeowners and renters alike.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency says clandestine meth labs have been discovered in 46 states.  Home inspector Wes Kelley offers these signs that meth may have been manufactured in a property:

Places To Love: CAMBRIDGE TOWNHOUSES

Beyond the $8,000 tax credit, do you want $10,000 for your next real estate purchase?  Well, you will love the townhomes at Cambridge.  This gated Sandy Springs townhouse community features prime Metro Atlanta real estate convenient to GA 400, Roswell Rd., Perimeter Mall, Northside Hospital, with quick access to the Chattahoochee Nature Center and River, and a golf course directly across the street.  

Hope For Your Home If You Are Unemployed

Job loss is not the end nor does it have to be the end of your home.  Although refinancing a home when the borrower is unemployed is practically impossible, U.S. Rep Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, is proposing to spend $2 billion to help.

5 Tips for Saving on Your Mortgage Loan

Purchasing a home does not have to empty out your bank account, especially if you know the following ways to save, save, save!  Here are some things that buyers should know as they go through the mortgage loan application process:

Don’t Pay The Tax LEGALLY

With home prices low, now could be a good time for parents to give their children a home or even an investment property.

Here are some suggestions for managing the tax consequences from Mark Luscombe, tax analyst with Wolters Kluwer.