Uncertainty with Bank of America COOPERATIVE SHORT SALES

As a homeowner, do you have financial hardships making it impossible for you to continue to pay your home mortgage?  Have you heard that a short sale could be a viable option for you but are unsure if this is the right option for you?

Well, with the nation’s avoidance of falling off the seemingly apocalyptic “fiscal cliff” you may have heard homeowners collectively breathed a sigh of relief on January 3rd when the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 was extended through the end of 2013. One provision of this act is that homeowners that need to sell their home for an amount less than their mortgage (i.e. a short sale) will not pay taxes on the difference, which is the forgiven debt. But despite the New Year starting off so triumphantly, on January 15th did you hear the gasps of Bank of America mortgage loan borrowers?

HOME SWEET HOME: Should I Stay or Can I Go?

With the start of 2013, all signs are pointing to continued recovery of the Georgia real estate market here in SandySprings and Metro Atlanta.  As a homeowner, you may be perplexed with internal questions on if you should now try to sell your home while interest rates are still driving home buyers to purchase or wait it out another year to see if your neighborhood values will continue to appreciate.  Before you put on brakes (waiting out the market and electing to stay as your best option) or even speed to the next home location with determination to sell your current residence, proceed cautiously by examining three critical factors.

Do Not Ring in the New Year with FALSE Alarms

Happy New Year Sandy Springs!  With the start of a New Year, it is customary for the sound of ringing to be heard, whether by bells being shook, or even now cell phones buzzing with calls of good cheer and well wishes. But in 2013 be sure that your home’s or business’ alarm system does not falsely add to the ringing here in Georgia’s beloved city of Sandy Springs or you may be fined.

Events to Love: September in Sandy Springs

Although the summer heat is still here, school is back in session and we are quickly approaching autumn along with some great events to ring in the season here in Sandy Springs, GA.  Whether indoor or outdoor, food-related or fitness-focused, there are great events for everyone to love!

Events to Love: Sandy Springs Art Festival “ARTSAPALOOZA”

Despite the heat here in “Hotlanta”, summer is a great time to enjoy the festivals throughout the Peach state.  Mark your calendar now for Sandy Springs’ Artsapalooza, being hosted this Saturday, July 7th and Sunday, July 8th at the site of what will be Sandy Springs new city center/downtown area located off Johnson Ferry Rd NE between Roswell Rd. and Sandy Springs Circle. 

Sandy Springs’ Artsapalooza will feature 150 artists and artisans lining the festival route, plus a children’s game area, gourmet foods and local acoustic music.   There is plenty of free parking and Artsapalooza is free to attend.

SANDY SPRINGS WANTS YOU! Give Your Input on Its Development

Live, work or play in Sandy Springs, Georgia?  Well, voice your opinion of how the city should develop its downtown/city center area.  We all drive through parts of our communities and wish certain things had been planned differently but for those in Sandy Springs, one of Atlanta’s most popular suburbs for both businesses and residents, your wishes may actually become a reality for the city.

For more details on how you can participate in the creation of Sandy Springs’s city center, mark your calendars to attend one or all of the workshops being held June 25 – 27, 2012 at the Mt. Vernon Presbyterian School, Glenn Cooper Campus.  Visit this link for the specifics on each day’s workshops: http://sandyspringscitycenter.com/

Need To Sell Your Home But Can’t? Here’s The Next Best Option…

Whether you need to move due to a family situation, a job relocation, or just take advantage of the low home prices in today’s real estate market, you may have discovered that your home is not worth what you owe on it (for many, this is unfortunately a sad understatement).  But there really may be another option for you that will allow you to move on and not be stuck in your current residence – it is the often misunderstood but fairly profitable option of… drum roll please… renting.  Renting a home is a dreaded option only to many owners because it is an unknown experience that most have heard horror stories about.  However, to the trained real estate profession, renting your home can be a viable option that will give you peace of mind.

CALLING ALL DOCTORS: 100% Mortgage Financing Available Now!

Whether you have been in your medical practice for years or are just getting started with your residency/fellowship, there is now a fantastic mortgage loan available to you whether you are searching for a home to purchase in Sandy Springs, Roswell, Marietta, Alpharetta, or any other area of metro Atlanta.  Fidelity Bank of Georgia is offering to medical doctors of all seasons a 100% home loan financing for up to $1,500,000 with no mortgage insurance.  Fidelity Bank does require that this loan be used for a real estate purchase that you personally plan to inhabit (sorry investors!), that your credit score be a minimum of 720 to apply for this program (we have programs to help boost your credit score!), and that you have 3-6 months in reserves.

10 Things NOT to Do When Buying a Home

Ready to take advantage of the low home prices of today’s real estate market?  Great but whether you are a first-time home buyer or this will be your 5th home purchase, if you require financing, there are things you must not do in today’s ever-changing lending market (that you probably could do 5- 10 years ago) that will jeopardize your real estate purchase.  And, these are not just things to avoid while getting pre-qualified/pre-approved but even up to the day of your closing because if you have not closed yet, your closing may be delayed or forfeited, causing your money spent on inspections, appraisals, etc. to go down the drain.

How to APPEAL The New FLOOD ZONES for Your Home

After the torrential flooding that affected several counties in Georgia a few years ago, many real estate owners can easily understand the need for revisions to the flood zones.  However, you may not agree with Sandy Springs’ finding for your home/neighborhood but did you know you have an option to appeal?

Before going into the appeal process, if you did not know the City Council is considering how to treat certain real estate properties in Sandy Springs that have been indicated by Sandy Springs engineers to be at risk of flooding.  Approximately 170 homes in Sandy Springs are located in a “gray” area that gives the City Council some choice on how those areas are rated for flood insurance purposes.  View the Sandy Springs flood map here: flood map.

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