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ROSEANN BLACHER, Licensed Real Estate Agent
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| | Welcome to My Home Page , your source for Atlanta area real estate. I am a real estate professional with EcoBroker certification for the energy and environmental issues that can affect your real estate transactions. There are tremendous green resources available in the market and as part of my service commitment to my clients, I help to identify and make sense of these invaluable green opportunities( read the excerpts in my "This Just In" column!). I am a great facilitator in this regard. I look forward to working with you. Please call me anytime at : 404.376.3696 If you own real estate that you're thinking of selling, I would be happy to provide you with a FREE Home Evaluation, as well as get you up close and personal with a HERS (Home Energy Rating System)-qualified technician to help with an energy efficiency rating on your home...a great selling tool! |
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A Tax Credit Reprieve...A Gift for the Holidays!
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We still have some hills to climb before we see a better, more "real" market, so all the more reason to do your homework on home buying and selling. All the more reason to be frugal in saving, spending and shopping, be it for a new home or car. As with a 401k, look for long-term benefit, such as essential repairs to the home as you live in it, not leaving until it is time to sell and then costs you a bundle! Enjoy your home until it is time to market it! Choose & develop a relationship with your Real Estate Professional weeks before you are ready. Then the house will be in the best selling shape it can be!As I mentioned, the Atlanta area still has about an average ten-month inventory of homes to sell, so STAND OUT in the crowd! Buyers can pick and choose! Assess your home and garden; prioritize what needs repair or a fresh “face” to present it in the best light. Ask a Real Estate Professional what is hot on the market as far as features and go for it. ESPECIALLY in this slower Seller's market, a Real Estate Professional knows what’s selling and how to get the biggest bang for your buck! I know you have heard the phrase: "location, location, location". Well, for those of us that are slightly lacking in that department, I have another: " Curb appeal, curb appeal, curb appeal"! It never hurts to give a great first impression right from the street into the door! It is not a pretty housing market unless you are a well-qualified buyer, but the stimilus plan will yield results. THE STATS:The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of single-family homes and condominiums were down by 15+ percent, from last year the biggest drop since a 17.7 percent plunge in 1982. The South is leading the downturn with a -15%+- growth. There is still a ten-plus month supply of homes on the books and that is yp over 8% from last year, indicating a buyer's market. Median price for a single-family home averaged $220,400 in the South($203k nationwide), down 3.4 per cent from last year. Don't despair! Well- priced homes and well-prepared sellers are having success. Again, don't despair, but don't be unrealistic about your sales price! Want to do some updating before you sell? See what the National Association of Realtors says home buyers want: TOP 10 PICKS ON FEATURES DESIRED BY HOME BUYERS - Central Air Conditioning
- Garage (2 or more spaces)
- Walk-in closet in master bedroom
- Backyard/play area
- Cable/Satellite TV-ready
- High-speed Internet Access
- Separate shower enclosure in master/main bath
- Patio
- Fencing
- Home less than 10 years old ( but this trend is changing!)
Make time to participate in the Georgia State Park’s schedule of events and classes. Holiday activities are in full force, so enjoy the beautiful Winter at our majestic and affordable state parks. An annual Park Pass is a great and inexpensive family gift!!! PLEASE...be sure to help keep our parks (and everyday environment) clean by respecting trail rules and "LEAVE NO TRACE" by taking out what you bring in. All State parks are offering family fun programs from camping to fishing and crafts to creepy crawlies! Many great family outings are only an hour or two away from Atlanta. Go leaf "peeping", bird watching or just enjoy the scenery! Check it out: http://www.gastateparks.org/ In the Garden ... We are trying to climb out of an historic drought, so please review your county laws! We have had a few good showers recently, but the Metro-Atlanta area's class FOUR drought alert has been lifted, but think of other ways to save water; such as rain barrels...an alternative that can save hundreds of gallons (and dollars!) in the long run when watering your flowers and veggies.They are a great family project, can be used with drip irrigation systems and are very tech-friendly! I just installed another one at my house and have reduced my overall water bill by TWENTY-FIVE PER CENT!! I have containers for my air conditioner water and dehumidifier water...you would not believe how much water they produce!
As we are allowed to water again, be very aware of your installed irrigation system usage. Have a rain sensor in place so you aren't paying for and wasting water while it's raining! Now that the drought have improved and we can water again, if necessary, reduce your watering times and days only if you have planted winter rye over your dormant grass( one-inch of water about twice a week will work fine), and most of all, water early mornings so you get the least transpiration from sunlight... and the grass and plants can dry during the day to hinder the growth of fungus. PLEASE remember, just because you use a well to water your lawn, this still affects the overall water table. Do you really need all that green grass all year long? Think about a different path in the garden, think NATIVES! Plants native to your region provide food and shelter to wildlife, as well as reduce your water usage! Look for notices of budding native plant sales to be cropping up around Georgia: Chattahoochee Nature Center, Dunwoody Nature Center, Georgia Native Plant Society, and many more. COOL WEBSITE ALERT! http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/index.html-Gotta love a chicken! http://www.meetup.com/chickens/members/7098800/-For Atlantans and lovers of chickens everywhere! http://freerice.com/index.php A terrific and challenging ( and addictive!) word game that donates food to the hunger with your correct answers! Getthe kids involved! http://www.cyber-rain.com/default.aspx-Work Work with your PC to digitally adjust your sprinkler system per the weather! http://wallpaperyourworld.com/info/about.html Designer Jack Poles' Eco-friendly wallpaper store, and more! http://www.schoolmatch.com/ Research your schools. www.calltorecycle.org It can't hurt...and it will help! http://www.georgiaorganics.org Great resource for sustainable, locally grown foods.Become a member and support sustainable farms! http://www.biblio.com/ecosend Excellent site for books of all kinds! http://www.gnps.org/index.html Georgia Native Plant Society promotes just that, plants native to this area! Forget the Gym........Really???? Maybe.What about circuit training in the garden? I have cast out the electric hedge shears and bounced the leaf blowers for the old-fashioned route. No cords to string out forever to reach the mailbox shrubbery, and it is a GREAT workout with and average 306 calories/ hour burned! Raking the lawn? Do you know how many calories an hour this aerobic workout burns? 292 cal/hr! Here are a few more to consider: Planting seedlings /shrubs-306 cal/hr; Weeding-306 cal/hr; Harvesting fruits and veggies-204 cal/hr; Digging and composting-340 cal/hr; Cutting the lawn (walking power mower)-374 cal/hr; Tilling or cutting wood-408 cal/hr; Wheelbarrow work-340 cal/hr; Hand-splitting wood-340 cal/hr; …or just the constant motion of general gardening burns 272 calories per hour — that’s a Grande Mocha Latte! Not to mention that gardening is good for the soul! |
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THIS JUST IN!
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AFFORDABLE HOUSING GUIDELINES FROM USDA.gov The $8,000 tax credit still in effect until springtime, but the buyers cannot borrow against it for down payment like we were hoping for. It is changing almost daily, so keep informed through your financial institution or lender!. A local Atlanta lender, Dwayne Mitchell tells us: "HUD recently announced that qualified First-Time Home Buyers who want to take advantage of the available tax credit of up to $8,000 now have another option available to them to help them become homeowners.
It's clear that first-time home buyers have been having a major impact on the housing market this year. The National Association of Realtors announced that first-time buyers, who typically account for less than 40% of home sales each year, have been especially busy
in March, homes that were purchased by first-timers accounted for 53% of all sales, and this percentage is expected to hold true for all of 2009.
With home affordability higher than ever, available tax credits and some of the lowest interest rates ever recorded for home loans, who can blame them? Particularly as a first-time buyer, there may never be a better time to buy a home than right now.
However, the availability of a tax credit, while a great incentive, does not put the money in the hands of a buyer right away. HUD's announcement now allows for prospective and qualified home buyers to borrow the money from approved agencies and lenders.
While details of participating lenders and HUD-approved agencies are not yet available, this should turn up the heat on prospective buyers to get busy searching for their next home. As further details become available, I will get them to you".
Check out the official USDA site to use as a guide to see if you or the home you want, might qualify! http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do?Home STIMULUS AND YOUHere are a few clarifications thanks to our friends at Rismedia:
Misconception #3: The first-time home buyer's credit needs to be repaid. You may not have to repay the credit, depending on when you bought the house. If you buy a house between January 1, 2009, and December 1, 2009, you could receive a credit for 10% of the home's purchase price, up to $8,000. This credit does not have to be repaid as long as you own the home for at least three years. If you bought a first home between April 9, 2008, and December 31, 2008, you are eligible for a tax credit of 10% of the home's purchase price, up to $7,500 -- but the credit must be repaid over 15 years, starting two years after you claim the credit. If you sell the home before you finish paying back the credit, the balance is due in full the year of the sale. The 2008 and 2009 credits begin to phase out if your modified adjusted gross income is more than $75,000 (or $150,000 if you're married filing jointly). The credit disappears entirely after your income reaches $95,000 if you're single, or $170,000 if married filing jointly. You are considered a first-time home buyer if you (and your spouse, if you are married) didn't own a primary residence in the past three years. The credit does not apply to rental property and vacation homes. Misconception #4: You can't get the 2009 first-time home-buyer tax credit until you file your tax return next year. Actually, taxpayers who buy a first home in 2009 do not need to wait until they file their 2009 return (by April 15, 2010) to benefit from the credit. To get the money into the economy faster, the federal government is giving you a choice of claiming the first-time home-buyer credit on either your 2008 or your 2009 tax return. There's actually a way to benefit from the credit even before you buy your first home. If you plan to buy by the November 31 deadline, you can reduce your withholding on your paychecks right away. The increased take-home pay could help you with the down payment. File a new W-4 form with your employer to adjust your withholding. (And remember to re-adjust your withholding again next year.) If you have already filed your 2008 return, you can use Form 1040X to amend it. If you purchase a first home after the 2008 tax-filing deadline of April 15, 2009, you can still claim the credit on your 2008 tax return either by requesting a six-month extension for filing your return (which doesn't extend the deadline for paying any taxes owed) or by filing an amended return |
Here's a "Green" leg up on the competition:"The National Association of Realtors’ 2007 Profile of Buyers’ Home Features Preferences shows that buyers highly interested in energy efficiency spent an average of $12,400 more on their new homes. And a November 2008 report by McGraw-Hill Construction estimates that by 2013 green properties will account for more than $100 billion in the housing market-nearly triple that of today." *Business Week Magazine's second annual "Best Places to Raise Kids" search has picked Marietta, Georgia in the top three cities in Georgia to get those kids off on the right foot! Check it out: http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/106120/The-Best-Places-to-Raise-Your-Kids-2009 and...*Bob Keefe of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports in 11/9/2008 that your energy dollars can affect you home sale too. Bob says that "Homes consume about one-fifth of all energy used in the United States each year, and the typical U.S. family spends about $1500 a year on utility bills. Here's where it goes: Heating and cooling-42 per cent...Lighting and appliances- 14 per cent...Water heating 14 per cent...Refrigeration-9 per cent." This is an approximation and is why it does not add up to 100% of a household's usage. Okay...what's new with green building in Metro Atlanta? There are "Green" homes in East Cobb County! Yes, New World Homes has started an enclave of "environmentally sanctioned" and "ultra-efficient manufacturing methodologies" in their homes near Roswell Road. New World is a member of the U. S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and "actively engaged" in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
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THE LATEST ON USDA LOAN GUIDELINES
The latest for you on possibilities for home loans! Limitations on earnings and number in households has been modified, so check the official site to see about your qualifications.
read more...
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 Don't forget to Recycle!
Sprouts These tips from Bankrate.com and the Alliance to Save Energy will help clip your energy budget and wake up the conservator in you! ...I tried it, it's great! *CALL TO RECYCLE is a great organization that will take your discarded cell phones and rechargeable batteries and reuse them. There are many collection sites right in your neighborhood to make it easy to drop the items off. To keep mercury and harmful chemicals out of the water table and dumps, use this free service! Go to:www.calltorecycle.org to find a location near you! *When doing your home laundry, turning the dial from hot to warm will cut your energy use by 50 percent per load, and save you up to $63 a year, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. *OR,try the "cold" setting to wash and hang your clothes until mostly dry, then tumble. The savings to energy cost and clothing wear is remarkable! *Drying your clothes on the line can save you as much as $10 a month, said Brad Stroh, co-founder of Bills.com. Laundry lines vary in cost, from about $5 for a simple rope line to $500 or more for deluxe models. *For a $15 one-time fee, Green Dimes will send you a junk-mail opt-out kit that will remove your name from mailing lists for junk mail and catalogs. They then monitor the lists to make sure your names stay off of them, potentially reducing your junk mail by 90 percent. Green Dimes also plants 10 trees for each kit sold. Or, you can contact the Direct Marketing Association, and pay a $1 fee to be removed from some mailing lists. *COMPACT FLOURESCENT BULBS-You will save $85 over the life of the bulb for each 60-watt light bulb you replace with a 15-watt CFL. You'll also save 543 kWh of electricity and reduce your CO2 emissions by 833 pounds. Old CFL's can be recycled at any Home Depot. I did just that! *"VAMPIRE" ELECTRICITY-"The simple solution is to unplug small appliances and electronics when you aren't using them. Or, plug them into a power strip and turn the power strip off when you aren't using those items. Power strips cost $10 to $20 each, and can save you up to $100 a year, depending on how many electronics you have. Simply unplugging one television, computer monitor and fax machine when you aren't using it will save you about $6 a month".
SEASONAL THOUGHT-Remember raking leaves in the Fall? How about trying that again instead of using a power blower or mower to rake your leaves each time??!? The emissions from single-stroke engines account for a large part of our pollutants and need to be reduced! This is an easy fix! I rake and compost into the compost pile to add nutrients to the garden for next year. After the leaves are all on the ground. I put a layer of leaves back under the plants that supplied them. This replaces some of the nutrients they worked so hard to make all growing season. Then, "over-mulch" with more decorative products if you must, for a "cleaner" look for your particular needs. The exercise you receive, plus the fun with the kids playing outside is a bonus! I gleaned EIGHT wheelbarrow loads of compost from last year's efforts. My vegetables have thanked me all winter! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ NOW'S THE TIME FOR SERVICE Expect good service anytime, but now is the time to schedule your yearly or twice yearly heating system service...before they get busy. To expensive you say? How expensive is a new heating unit, I say! For about 10 per cent of the cost of a new unit, you can have your existing unit checked, and assure it is safe for another heating season. With yearly, or bi-yearly maintenance, your HVAC system can last for years and years! NEWS TO USE : YOUR HVAC SYSTEM What you don’t’ know about central AC systems could cost you! An improperly matched split AC systems can increase your power bills, and make you less comfortable. The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) wants homeowners who are buying a new high-efficiency cooling system to know that you SHOULD NOT make the mistake of only replacing the broken unit of your two-part system. It may be the less expensive option, but this short-term fix will cost you more money and frustration down the road. The two parts of a split air conditioning or heat pump system - the indoor (coil) unit and outdoor (condensing) unit -- are specifically designed to work together as a coordinated "team" to provide top performance and maximum efficiency and comfort.
According to ARI, replacing only one of the two units will not achieve a higher efficiency, and could in fact reduce the system's capacity and efficiency to cool a home by up to 40 percent. What this means is that the system may not be able to keep up with the thermostat setting and run constantly. This will result in higher power bills because the system will have to work harder and run longer to keep the house cool.
Consumers need to ask their air conditioning installers to provide proof that the split cooling systems they are installing are properly matched to achieve their certified energy-efficiency ratings.
ARI is offering consumers a free brochure that explains the importance of a properly matched system. To obtain a free "Perfect Match" brochure, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to ARI Perfect Match, 4100 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22203. The brochure also can be
downloaded for free from ARI's Web site at www.ARI.org and click on "Consumers."
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Whether you are planning to buy your first home or sell your existing home, contact me today!
I'd love to hear from you!
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