At Last! My 2011 New Year Resolutions

Well I had a few weeks to think it over and I decided on just 2 resolutions this year.

First, I need to get organized.  My husband told me recently that he feels like he is stuck in a packed closet, living his life and I decided he is right.  So we decided to de-clutter our house and offices once and for all.  I read recently that if you can just clean out your master closet, you will feel like a whole new person.  I decided not to start there, but rather with something small.  So yesterday, I cleaned out the laundry room and a few drawers in the kitchen.  You wouldn't think this is all that grand of a task, but it really made me feel like I could breathe a little once completed.  Last night, we began the dreaded office.  Now THAT is a chore.  Wish me luck!

My second resolution is really more of a goal for 2011.  I really want to help people this year get out from under their homes that are in desperate straits with owing more than the house is worth.   This can be done through a short sale and can protect against foreclosure.  There are many houses selling this way in our market today but it takes some business savy in dealing with banks and knowing the proper steps to take to do the sale correctly.  I have a great team of attorneys that handle the up-front process entirely for me and once that is complete, then the process is smooth sailing.  Place your confidence in me to get your short sale done properly and with as few hassles as possible.

Atanta's Future is Bright

I love the Atlanta area and have for many years. I moved to Atlanta in my youth because I thought it was centrally located for my adventurous side that loves road trips. I also thought Atlanta offered a lot of opportunity for a young person looking to make my mark on the world. I still believe my decision was a good one. Following are just a few reasons why.

Our cost of doing business is near the bottom of any metro area, with low lease rates and labor costs. Many corporations are looking at or already have relocated to our area to take advantage of these factors as well as the many tax break provided by the state.
We are perfectly situated for transportation, with the Port of Savannah being the 4th largest port in the United States, the second largest on the east coast. According to the Savannah Live Well and Prosper, the port of Savannah is the fastest growing port in the nation and an economic engine for Georgia in General. If the republicans get their way, the port will be dredged even deeper in the next few years to accommodate the world’s largest cargo ships.

We are the #2 most wired city in the US according to Forbes Magazine, and making doing business here a huge convenience.

Atlanta is drawing young talent from all across our nation with 22 universities and technical schools the best and the brightest students will be graduating in this local market place, making recruiting for corporations economical with a local pool of top graduates from which to choose.

Overall we are situated in a great position for growth over the next 20 years and I am ecstatic to be in Real Estate in the path of such great economic growth. The future is extremely bright.

To see current listings in the Forsyth County and surrounding areas go to http://www.tinastown.com/

New EPA Lead Based Rule for Pre-1978 Housing

"Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is set to take over enforcement of the EPA Lead Based Paint Rules that were implemented in April of this year. State enforcement means an end to the seemingly weak enforcement efforts applied so far. Once Georgia officials take reins from the EPA, we can expect a far higher level of awareness and a heightened enforcement level.

The Environmental Protection Agency encourages the states to apply for authority to enforce its regulations by supplying cash incentives and access to licensing fees and fines. The EPA believes that, in general, it is better for individual states to buy in to EPA directives than to have their own requirements.

If you work with pre-1978 real estate, you must become Lead Safe Certified to avoid fines and penalties from the EPA." Read More

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source: John Adams - Money99

Fall Cleanup - It's not Just for Spring Anymore

Spring Cleaning - Ah! The joys! Well, it may come a little early this year because this tradition is not just for Spring anymore. There are some things that should be done in the Fall as well:

In the House

• Clean carpets, doormats, and rugs.

• Clean and store spring and summer clothing; bring out your fall and winter items.

• Flip and rotate mattresses. Launder all bedding.

• Clean out kitchen cupboards and the pantry.

• Clean behind your refrigerator, washer, and dryer.

• Replace batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors - this is usually done when it's time to return to Standard Time in late October or early November.

• Wash your windows.

• Hire someone to inspect your fireplace and chimney and get them ready for winter use.

• Clean out the garage. In my household, this is a weekly thing - with sports equipment and toys all around.

Outdoors

• Clean and store outdoor patio furniture and gardening supplies. Bleach works well for cleaning mildew off the cushions.

• Drain and store garden hoses.

• Install weatherstripping around outside doors.

• Protect pipes by wrapping them with electric heat tape, fiberglass insulation, or ready-made pipe jackets.

• Replace missing roof shingles or re-caulk as needed.

• Clear debris from gutters and downspouts. Make sure the leaves have all fallen or you will be doing this again in a few weeks.

ENJOY!

Habitat's 200th Home

The North Central Georgia chapter of Habitat for Humanity recently completed its 200th home, 16 of which have been in Forsyth county over the past five years.

The ultimate goal of Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the face of the earth by constructing and building adequate and basic housing.

Habitat homeowners purchase their homes from the organization. Owners must have an income in order to be able to afford the mortgage. Habitat homeowners are vital members of the community. They are teaching assistants, grocery store employees, police officers, administrative assistants, carpenters, janitors, hospital workers, bus drivers, etc. Their mortgage payments help pay for more Habitat homes.

Refer to the Habitat North Central GA chapter website for more details.

GA400 Tolls Extension

In order to finance $50 million in improvements to GA400, the tolls will remain until at least 2020.

Some Georgians are upset that the tolls have been extended since originally, they promised when the highway was built to lift the tolls next summer . Governor Perdue has asked them to lift the toll for a brief time between July, 2011 and Jan 2012 when the new lease agreement would begin. Nothing has been finalized on that yet.

About $40 million will go to completing the interchange between the highway and I85 southbound in Buckhead.

The other improvements to the highway include widening from McFarland Road to Ga. 20 in Forsyth County, building a triple left-turn lane on Mansell Road and improving three intersections that tie into the Northridge Road exit.

First Time Award for Forsyth County Youth

Cumming/Forsyth County was named on the 2010 list of 100 Best Communities for Young People. America's Promise Alliance developed the list for communities most dedicated to helping local youth graduate from high school. The winners come from 37 states and 30 are first-time recipients. They were chosen by a distinguished panel of judges that included some of the nation’s most well-known civic, business and nonprofit leaders.

You can read more about why Cumming/Forsyth was named at Winners/Cumming/Forsyth/2010.