Brian Vanderhoff's North Fulton Real Estate Blog: July 2008

Cherokee was one of only three metro-area school districts to successfully meet state testing standards in results released by the state Department of Education on Friday.

Ninety percent of Cherokee's 33 schools made adequate yearly progress Three missed the mark: Polaris Evening School, Teasley Middle and Hasty Elementary.

Since all of Cherokee's traditional schools made AYP last year, none are on the state's Needs Improvement list. An individual school or district that fails to make AYP two years in a row in the same area are put on the state's NI list and are on track for increasing state sanctions.

School officials said Friday that the status of both Hasty Elementary and Teasley Middle may change after summer re-test data is calculated.

"Despite the bar being continually raised, we are very pleased," said district spokesman Mike McGowan.

Labels: ayp standards, Cherokee COunty, department of education

The City of Roswell will be participating in the 2008 National Night Out event on Tuesday, August 5 from 6-9 p.m. at Super Target, 1135 Woodstock Road, Roswell. National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and will involve over 11,000 communities.

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

“This is a night for America to stand together to promote awareness, safety and neighborhood unity,” explains National Project Coordinator Matt Peskin. “National Night Out displays the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight to build a safer nation. On August 5th, we invite neighborhoods nationwide to join us in Giving Crime & Drugs A Going Away Party.”

The event is free and open to the public. For more details about the national event, visit www.nationaltownwatch.org/nno/.

Labels: 2008, Georgia, georgia. woodstock, national night out at wills park, Roswell, super target

Summer is coming to an end for thousands of Fulton County students and their families. The new school year begins Monday, Aug. 11.

At a Glance

The Fulton County School System continues to be the fourth largest school district in Georgia with a projected 2008-09 enrollment of nearly 88,500 students – an expected increase of approximately 2,500 students from the previous school year. The system includes 94 schools – 55 elementary schools, 19 middle schools, 15 high schools and five start-up charter schools.

New Programs and School Improvement Initiatives

Riverwood International Charter School. Riverwood High School – now called Riverwood International Charter School – begins the new year as an approved conversion charter school. As part of its charter, Riverwood will implement the Middle Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organization. This curriculum will enhance the school’s existing International Studies magnet, which features an International Baccalaureate diploma program.

Virtual Campus. Previously operated as a collection of online course offerings, Fulton’s Virtual Campus is expanding to have a centralized physical location. Susan Caster, formerly principal of Connected Academy, becomes its first principal.

Plans call for Virtual Campus offices and support labs to be housed at the system’s new Instructional Technology Center. The center is located in the old campus of Westlake High School, which will be vacated as its replacement building opens. Courses will still be offered online but students without home internet or computer access can take courses through Virtual Campus’s computer labs.

The school’s first semester registration continues until Aug. 18, with Aug. 23 as the first day of class. Courses are offered during the school day at no cost if taken during a regularly scheduled class period. If taken outside of the school day, students are charged a $250 per-course fee. Course offerings and requirements are posted at www.fultonk12virtualcampus.net.

Early Release Days. The 2008-09 school calendar includes five early release days that dismiss students approximately three hours earlier from their regular dismissal time. Teachers and school staff will use the remainder of the day to participate in schoolwide trainings and professional development workshops, such as math curriculum implementation.

Early release dates are:
· Sept. 17, 2008
· Oct.15, 2008
· Nov. 19, 2008
· Feb. 25, 2009
· March 25, 2009

Parents were notified of this calendar change last school year so they could be prepared to find additional childcare or use the extra time to schedule routine medical appointments for their children (rather than having to check out the student during a regular school day). Schools will still offer their after-school programs on these days.

Balanced Math Curriculum. This school year, Fulton begins using a blended approach to teaching the new Georgia Performance Standards mathematics curriculum. Last spring, a team of leading educational consultants conducted a formal audit of the curriculum and spoke with teachers, parents and school leaders. Some favored the new GPS math model; others expressed a desire to return to more traditional methods for teaching math.

As a result, the Fulton County Board of Education approved a plan that blends the two philosophies harmoniously. This balanced approach weaves the new math curriculum into a more traditionally taught standards curriculum. Additional textbooks have been purchased to supplement the texts already in place in grades K-8 and in high school. In addition, the names of some high school math courses are being changed to provide more description of the content rather than being labeled, for example, Math I. Over the summer, teachers received additional training in the math curriculum, which will be continued throughout the school year.

No-Charge Breakfast to Selected Schools. For a fourth year, the Fulton County School System is providing breakfast free-of-charge to all students attending schools not meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) targets or those in Needs Improvement status. The program provides each student access to a nutritional meal so they can remain focused on learning.

Elementary Schools - Conley Hills, Heritage, High Point, Hamilton E. Holmes, Oak Knoll, Oakley, Parklane

Middle Schools - Bear Creek, Camp Creek, Elkins Pointe, Holcomb Bridge, McNair, Renaissance, Ridgeview,Paul D. West

High Schools - Banneker, Creekside, Independence, McClarin, Tri-Cities, Westlake

Other Centers - Crossroads/Second Chance North, Crossroads/Second Chance South

FY2009 Budget. Last spring, the FY 2009 operating budget was approved at $1,229,185,533 and the total millage rate was set at 17.502 mills, among the lowest in metro Atlanta. The budget allows Fulton to continue funding programs and school staffing at levels above what the state provides. In addition, the budget includes a 2.5 percent pay raise for all employees and grants full experience credit to teachers coming from outside Fulton County.

Other highlights of the budget include:

Step pay increase for eligible employees
A half undistributed position per school to support continuous achievement and/or specific local school needs (for example, student support team, additional instructional paraprofessional, etc.)
One districtwide technology support coordinator to support new K-12 media software
Additional support position for the social studies curriculum department
New performing arts facility at Tri-Cities High School
Acceleration of the Ison Road elementary school project from a 2010 opening to a 2009 opening
Purchase of land for future schools
K-12 media software replacements
PSAT for all ninth-graders
Crossroads/Second Chance program enhancements
New School Openings/Additions and Construction

Lake Forest Elementary School (5920 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs). Lake Forest Elementary School is the first new public school to open in Sandy Springs since the area became its own city. The 130,250-square-foot facility was designed by the architectural firm of Collins Cooper Carusi. The three-story school has 54 classrooms and is built to hold 850 students. It serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.

Westlake High School (2400 Union Road, Atlanta). The replacement Westlake High School opens beside its former campus on Union Road in Southwest Atlanta. The 326,000-square-foot school was designed by the architectural firm of Gardner, Spencer, Smith, Tench & Hensley, P.C. The school has 99 classrooms to house up to 1,900 students in grades nine through 12. The building is organized in five, campus-like academic and administrative wings so that similar departments are housed closer together.

Other Construction Projects. Several major school construction projects were completed over the summer, including a new band building at Alpharetta High School, a new cafeteria at Conley Hills Elementary School and a classoom addition at Mimosa Elementary School. The Crossroads/Second Chance South program also was relocated to the school system’s Flat Shoals Center in College Park. McClarin High School and Alpharetta Elementary School received new roofs.

Personnel Changes
New Principals. As new schools are built and veteran principals retire, it’s inevitable that school leaders will shift in Fulton County. The following schools have new principals this year.

Dunwoody Springs Charter Elementary School......................... Ivy Gainey
Hillside Elementary School....................................... Lori Fanning
Hamilton E. Holmes Elementary School...............................LaRoyce Sublett
Lake Forest Elementary School.................................. Dara Jones-Wilson
Ocee Elementary School......................................... Deborah Pernice
Woodland Middle School.......................................... André Wright
Alpharetta High School........................................... Mary Anne Charron
Banneker High School...............................................William Bradley
Creekside High School.............................................. Kevin Robinson
North Springs Charter High School of Arts and Sciences...........Lisa Stueve
Westlake High School........................................ Bryon White
Connected Academy................................................ Cynthia Burgess
Virtual High School............................................... Susan Caster
Crossroads/Second Chance South..................................... Scott O’Prey

Affidavit of Residence
Affidavit of Residence. In August, parents are again required to submit a notarized Affidavit of Residence form for each child. However, the school board has made the process more streamlined from its previous requirement of all students to submit a notarized affidavit and proof of residence. The purpose of the Affidavit of Residence is to make sure that only students who reside in Fulton County attend Fulton schools. This means that Fulton taxpayers’ money stays in Fulton County to pay for the education of those who live there – instead of students from other counties who attend under false pretenses.

Returning students, except those entering sixth grade or ninth grade, do not need to provide proof of residence but will still complete and submit an Affidavit of Residence form. Proof of residence is required only of students who are (1) new enrollees in a Fulton County school or (2) entering sixth grade or ninth grade. Students in their senior year of high school do not have to provide a form or proof of residence. Each school will have a notary available to notarize the form at no charge.

Labels: 2009, affidavit oif residence, fulton county school system, fulton schools, new school year 2008, riverwood international charter school

Wills Park
Saturday, August 2, 2008 7:00 AM

Alpharetta Recreation & Parks will host the 30th Annual Old Soldier's Day Race on Saturday, August 2nd at Wills Park. The 5K and 10K races will begin at 7am. On-site (race day) registration begins at 6am behind the City Pool on Old Milton Parkway. Participants may register early (before 4pm July 25th) at a cost of $15 per person. Registration resumes on race day at a cost of $20 per person. The first 350 pre-registered runners will receive a hat and water bottle. Commemorative t-shirts reflecting the 30 year history of this race will be given out to pre-registered runners. For more information, call 678-297-6100 or email accprograms@alpharetta.ga.us.

Labels: alpharetta recreation and parks, city of alpharetta, old soldiers day race, Wills Park

Four more families got to work on their dreams Saturday, hitting the "first nails" of their new homes being built by volunteers with Habitat for Humanity.

Each family must pay back a mortgage on their home, and put in 300 hours of "sweat equity" into Habitat builds, including 100 hours on their own homes.

Seven members of the Franklin family share a two-bedroom apartment in Alpharetta, but in November they should be able to move into their own townhome at Centennial Village in Milton. Anthony, a security officer in metro Atlanta, shares the apartment with his wife, Soila, and five children. The oldest children attend Centennial High, with another brother and sister attending River Eves Elementary. The youngest child is a toddler.

When not grocery shopping, playing card games and bingo or watching television, the family enjoys worshipping together.

Next door to the Farnklins will be the Petit family, another couple who share their home with five children. Husband and father Darren Petit works in a glass company's warehouse, while mother Tykeesha works at Sweet Apple Elementary School. The children range from daycare to high school, attending North Springs High, Dunwoody Springs Elementary and daycare at the North Fulton Child Development Center in Roswell.

The family attends church at Sharon Community Church in Sandy Springs. The Petits say they look forward to moving out of an unsafe neighborhood into their new home.

Kim Gilmore left an abusive situation to raise her four children in safety. Like all the Habitat parents, she said the reason she applied for a Habitat home was to provide a better life for her children. A customer service representative in Alpharetta, she has one son in college, one at Norcross High, one in Summour Middle School and the youngest in school at Stripling Elementary. The new home will cut her commute time from Norcross. Her commitment includes volunteering for 300 hours, including 200 hours working on other Habitat homes.

Mold, rodents and unruly neighbors make the Bouanani family's one-bedroom Sandy Springs apartment unbearable. That makes being approved for a Habitat home all the better for the family of four –Kahlid, Ikram and their 6-year-old and 2-month-old sons. Khalid works at a local Publix Super Market. Their eldest son attends Sandy Springs Elementary School.

Labels: city of milton, Georgia, habitate for humanity, townhomes

10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. July 16-27.

Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
Park Road at U.S. 76
Hiawassee GA 30546

A glimpse into North Georgia's history and culture with musical performances, crafts exhibits, judged flower show, clogging performances and carnival rides (free 2-5 p.m. July 16 and 22). Performances by Aaron Tippin, Irons in the Fire, The Ball Brothers, The Dove Brothers and others. No pets.

Cost: $9 includes music shows; ages 10 and younger free; $2 parking; $15 daily ride wrist band (except Fridays or Saturdays); Fun fair pass $23 valid any 3 days

Labels: georgia mountain fair, georgia mountain fairgrounds

5-10 p.m. Fridays.
Atlantic Station
171 17th St. N.W.
Atlanta GA 30363

An open-air market showcasing local artists and their works. At 17th Street and District Avenue.

Labels: arts and crafts, Atlanta, Atlanta Gas Light, atlantic station, firday night art market

The number of households facing the foreclosure process more than doubled in the second quarter compared to a year ago, according to data released Friday.

Nationwide, 739,714 homes received at least one foreclosure-related notice during the quarter, or one in every 171 U.S. households, Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac Inc. said.

Soft housing sales, declining home values, tighter lending standards and a sluggish U.S. economy have left strapped homeowners with few options to avoid foreclosure. Many can't find buyers or owe more than their home is worth and can't refinance into an affordable loan.

Foreclosure filings increased year-over-year in all but two states, North Dakota and Alaska.

Nevada, California, Arizona, and Florida continued to clock in the highest foreclosure rates. One in every 43 Nevada households received a filing during the quarter.

Cities in California and Florida accounted for 16 of the worst 20 metro foreclosure rates. Stockton, Calif., had the worst rate, with one in every 25 homes in the town receiving a foreclosure filing. That's nearly seven times the national average.

RealtyTrac monitors default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions. Banks took back more than 222,000 properties nationwide in the second quarter, the company said. Bank repossessions accounted for 30 percent of total foreclosure activity, up from 24 percent in the previous quarter.

Economists estimated 2.5 million homes nationwide will enter the foreclosure process this year, up from about 1.5 million in 2007.

Labels: filings, foreclosure, Georgia, us

Clayton County family may lose luxury remodeled home in Lake City - From extreme makeover to extreme foreclosure?

A Clayton County family that got the area's first luxury remodeling job from the television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" now faces foreclosure, according to television news reports.

A foreclosure notice on the home in Lake City appeared last Friday, indicating that a $450,000 second mortgage the owners took out less than 15 months ago was in default, WSB-TV reported.

Patricia Harper, the homeowner, told WSB she and her husband had struck a deal with Chase Home Finance to rescue their "extreme" home and that there will be no foreclosure auction. Chase said they couldn't confirm that claim.

Harper told WSB they invested the loan proceeds in a construction business and the business hasn't been good. She didn't say how much of the money is left.

The home at 5489 Ahyoka Dr. has 5,500 square feet after the 2005 makeover, WGCL CBS46 reported.

Lake City mayor Willie Oswalt was among the volunteers who helped build Harper's home 3 1/2 years ago, and Beazer Homes was the main sponsor. The mayor told WSB he is baffled.

"Beazer gave them $100,000 cash, paid their mortgage off and they still can't make it," said Oswalt.

Labels: clayton county, extreme makeover, foreclosure

Mortgage programs that helped nearly 79,000 people buy homes using government-insured loans last year would be eliminated as part of a broader housing package that Congress expects to pass this week, key lawmakers said.

Under these programs, nonprofit groups provide buyers with money for down payments. Home sellers then reimburse the organizations and pay an administrative fee. More than half a million people -- including many first-time home buyers, minorities and single mothers -- have bought homes this way in the past decade using loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration.

But the FHA said seller-funded down payments present the single biggest challenge to its solvency. Borrowers who take part in these arrangements go to foreclosure at nearly three times the rate of borrowers who put their own money down, according to the agency.

The fate of these seller-funded down-payment-assistance programs has been in limbo for weeks. The Senate version of the housing bill would have banned them. The House version would not. Negotiators crafting a compromise bill have agreed to the Senate's position, which also is supported by the Bush administration.

"We're going to yield to the Senate on that," said Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and a supporter of the programs. "There are a lot of trade-offs in the bill."

The administration has tried for years to end the programs but failed to overcome legal challenges. "No insurance company can sustain that amount of additional costs year after year and still survive," Brian D. Montgomery, the FHA commissioner, said in a recent speech.

But supporters of this kind of assistance said it meshes with the FHA's mission to serve low- to moderate-income people. While the system may have its problems, they say, it should be fixed, not abandoned, so that people like Tanika Warrior are not shut out of the market.

Warrior and her husband, Jimmy Hicks, suffered housing sticker shock when they moved to the Washington area from Arkansas a few years ago.

The couple, recent college graduates, had depleted their savings on tuition and care for their newborn son. But they had steady jobs and did not want to keep sinking money into rent, Warrior said. They also did not want to put off buying a home because they were not convinced that their finances would be stronger in a few years.

"We don't want to throw money in a hole," said Warrior, 24, a federal patent examiner. "My thing is, we pay our rent every month and we've never been late, not once in five years. If we can pay our rent every month, we can pay our mortgage every month."

The couple worked with Nehemiah, the nation's largest down-payment-assistance charity. Nehemiah provided the 3 percent down payment the FHA requires. The couple secured a 30-year, fixed-rate loan for a townhouse in Herndon through First Savings Mortgage. Their monthly mortgage payment is now about $400 more than what they paid in rent, with taxes and insurance included, Warrior said.

Scott Syphax, president and chief executive of Nehemiah, which is based in California, has been in Washington pushing to save the programs. After he got word yesterday of the agreement to ban seller-funded down payments, he said he was "angry and saddened" about the fallout for "families and communities who obviously did not get a seat the table as these harmful policies were conceived."

Syphax and the FHA disagree about the most basic statistics on these loans. Syphax maintains that the agency's assessment is skewed. He said it has undercounted the number of loans made while properly capturing the number of foreclosures it has had to pay for -- thus inflating the percentage of bad loans. The FHA strongly denies that. It also maintains that programs backed by Nehemiah and other nonprofit groups aim to skirt its policies that prohibit a seller from directly financing a buyer's down payment. Seller assistance distorts "the fundamental economics of a mortgage agreement," Steven Preston, secretary of housing and urban development, said in a letter to Congress.

Sellers who reimburse the cost of a down payment and shell out related fees of $400 or more try to recoup that money by raising prices on the homes they're selling, government officials said.

Those higher prices result in larger mortgage loans, making it more difficult for buyers to keep up with their payments, they said. The inflated prices also make it tough for buyers to refinance or sell if they lose their jobs, get ill or face some other financial setback -- hence the high foreclosure rates.

"While the seller and lender are able to close a transaction, it is the home buyer and general taxpayer who ultimately bear the long-term risk," Preston said in his letter.

It's unclear how quickly the new policy would kick in if it's enacted.

Supporters of seller financing, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said they will push to revive it, perhaps under another administration.
"The Bush administration does not have a lock on history," said Rep. Al Green (D-Tex.), a member of the black caucus. "They only have a lock on the moment."

The administration is not getting all it wants on the FHA front. While the compromise bill would get rid of seller assistance, Frank said, it also would wipe out a new FHA initiative under which the agency charges borrowers insurance premiums based on credit risk, instead of one flat rate.

Salmineo Sherman Sr., who recently used seller assistance to buy his first home, is not tuned in to the horse trading on Capitol Hill.

But yesterday, he said he felt lucky that he bought his seven-bedroom house in Clinton this month. Without seller assistance, he and his wife would not have been able to close the deal. They have six children, two of them grown.

"I do not see myself as any risk at all because I'm not stretching with this house," Sherman said. "We can afford the monthly payments. . . . We're staying put, right in this house."

Labels: Congress, down-payment assistance, fha, fha loans, Georgia, housing, nehemiah

Area businesses sign up for SHIELD program
Business owners are signing up quickly for the Johns Creek Police Department’s first Community Service – SHIELD, a crime prevention/education program that "connects" area businesses with each other and the JCPD. The FREE program works very simply: a business owner/manager fills out an application, providing essential Emergency Contact Information to the JCPD, and then makes sure it's kept up-to-date.

“If a crime or incident involving a SHIELD business occurs, the JCPD will have an efficient way of contacting them,” said Sgt. Debbie Kalish, head of Community Services. Member receives regular email crime alerts, a SHIELD window sticker and classes in Burglary Prevention, Security Assessment Survey, Identity Theft Prevention and Check and Credit Card Fraud Prevention.

Interested in more information? Visit Community Services or contact Sgt. Debbie Kalish at 678-474-1587

Labels: business watch, johns creek police department, shield program

The City of Johns Creek and the Ocee Park Athletic Association will host the 2008 Southeast Regional 12U/60 Cal Ripken baseball tournament July 23-29.

State champions from seven states across the Southeast will converge on Ocee Park for a double elimination format tournament that will determine the regional representative to the 12U/60 World Series in Martin, Tenn. in August.

Teams from Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia will participate along with Ocee Park as the host league for the right to advance to the World Series.

Opening Ceremonies for the Tournament will be held at Ocee Park on Wednesday, July 23rd at 6:30 pm. Click here for the complete tournament game schedule.

Tournament or Daily Passes may be purchased on-site. Prices are:

Tournament Pass - $10 (all ages - good for entire tournament)
Daily Pass - $5 (Adults, ages 18+)
Daily Pass - $3 (Youth, ages 13-18)
Daily Pass - FREE (Youth, age 12 and under)
Ocee Park is located at 10900 Buice Road, Johns Creek, GA 30022

Labels: cal ripken, Georgia, Johns Creek, ocee park, youth baseball rregional tournament

Johns Creek becomes the first city in Georgia to receive the American Heart Association’s “Heart Ready City” award at a July 26, 2008 presentation at 10 am at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.

U.S. Rep. Tom Price joins Johns Creek’s Mayor Mike Bodker and City Council as the association recognizes the City for its leadership and commitment to save lives. This year, Johns Creek institutes a community-wide Automated External (AED) Program, sponsored by area businesses and residents.

“The American Heart Association (AHA) congratulates Johns Creek on being recognized as a ‘Heart Ready City.’ This designation is due to the hard work and dedication of the city’s leaders in their commitment to training governmental employees in CPR, hosting community CPR events, the proliferation of automated external defibrillators for public access in the community, and providing life saving public services at the highest level,” said the Association’s Senior Director of EMS Mike Willingham.

Every 26 seconds an American has a coronary incident and every 60 seconds someone dies from one.* The use of an AED – a small, portable device that sends an electric shock to the heart and restores a patient’s heart rhythm to normal levels – greatly increases the chance of survival.

Johns Creek’s program includes placement of an AED in each of the city’s 29 police patrol cars and AED training for each patrol officer. A community-wide CPR/AED training program will be made possible through a joint venture of the Johns Creek Fire Department, the American Heart Association and Emory Johns Creek Hospital.

Donating $10,000 to the program, Emory Johns Creek Hospital was joined by Georgia Power, Rural Metro EMS, Ciba Vision and Olde Taylor Farms to raise $34,800 to outfit every police patrol car.

To further enhance the City’s community-wide program, the AHA also donated six AEDs ($11,400 total value) for use in Johns Creek’s parks, Municipal Court and City Hall.

“We appreciate the American Heart Association’s tremendous contribution in our efforts to address cardiovascular emergencies in our community and we are grateful for the generosity of these community business leaders who are helping make Johns Creek a ‘Heart Ready City,’” said Mayor Bodker.

Emory Johns Creek Hospital is located at 6325 Hospital Parkway, Johns Creek, GA 30097. The presentation, along with AED demonstrations and refreshments, will take place adjacent to the Emergency Room entrance.

* American Heart Association’s Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics (2008)

Labels: american heart association, emory johns creek hospital, heart ready city, Johns Creek

The City of Roswell is making great strides in its efforts to “go green” by changing its vehicle policy to include the purchase of hybrid vehicles. Roswell Mayor and Council approved the update to the policy during their July 21 meeting.

Under the new policy, when a vehicle is ready to be replaced a hybrid vehicle will be purchased when it meets the following criteria:

A hybrid vehicle will not diminish the specific function or intended use of the vehicle. For example the City would not use hybrid vehicles for our sanitation trucks, police pursuit vehicles or trucks that must haul heavy equipment.
The total life-cycle cost of the hybrid vehicle does not exceed the total expense of the least expensive alternative by more than 10 percent.
"It's important for Roswell to set an example by using new green technology and in moving toward more sustainable operations,” explains Councilman Kent Igleheart. “As gas prices continue to increase the payback periods on these vehicles will be even shorter and we should see not only environmental benefits but also economic returns.”

The City is currently reviewing sustainability efforts including an energy audit on facilities, buying more environmentally friendly paper products and increasing recycling services.

“This is another step in our continuing work to make Roswell one of the greenest cities in the country,” Igleheart continues. “We are also working on energy and water conservation measures throughout city operations and we are implementing those over time."

The City expects to purchase the first hybrid vehicle some time in the new fiscal year.

Labels: City of Roswell, hybrid, hybrid vehicles, Roswell

Lake near Brookside Office Park
Saturday, July 26, 2008 8:00 AM

Alpharetta Recreation & Parks Department will host the 7th Annual Youth Fishing Derby on Saturday, July 26th from 8am to 11am at the lake near Brookside Office Park (east of GA 400 on Old Milton Parkway). Children age 5 to 12 accompanied by an adult are invited to test their fishing skills. Prizes will be awarded for the longest fish and the most fish caught. Pre-registration is required as space is very limited. Participants should bring fishing gear and bait. For more information, call 678-297-6140 or email seniors@alpharetta.ga.us.

Labels: 7th annual youth fishing derby, Alpharetta, brookside office park, recreation and parks department

Alpharetta City Pool
Friday, July 25, 2008 7:30 PM

Alpharetta Recreation & Parks Department will host the Friday Night Dive In at the Alpharetta City Pool on Friday, July 25th. Pool gates open at 7:30pm. A family fun movie will be shown on the big screen beginning at dusk. Families are invited to bring their floats and join us poolside. 2008 Pool Pass Holders are admitted free of charge. General pool admission for all other is $3 per person. Fore more information, call 678-297-6100 or email aquatics@alpharetta.ga.us.

Labels: alpharetta city pool, city of alpharetta, friday night dive in

The Milton City Council has decided to approach the question of crafting a sewer policy like a chef approaching an onion – one layer at a time.

On Monday, the Milton City Council peeled the first layer of what will be an ongoing effort to sort out which properties can have sewer and under what circumstances.

Unlike most communities, Milton has used sewer – or lack thereof – as a growth management tool. Sewer, many argue, will bring density which will despoil the semi-agrarian grandeur of their slice of paradise.

Fulton County approved many properties for sewer before Milton became a city on Dec. 1, 2006. Many property owners have permission from the county to hook up to its public sewer system. Some have started construction. All they need is city permission to connect.

But the community's sewer-phobia made the city hall staff reluctant to give the property owners and developers the go-ahead to the next phase. In all, about 30 projects needed to be resolved. City officials whispered they feared lawsuits awaited.

The City Council on Monday decided to focus on the immediate problem.

It set a mini-policy allowing projects to proceed within Fulton County's map of sewer service if they have land development permits and have actually started building.

And, as with another previous case of similar circumstances, the City Council emphasized its decision was not a precedent.

About a dozen speakers in the audience of about 45 took the lectern to argue for or against the changes.

Resident Curtis Mills reminded the City Council that a city-sponsored survey showed that an overwhelming majority of people wanted no sewer expansion in Milton. Francisca Lindon fretted that the city could easily end up on a slippery slope if the council didn't deliberate carefully.

Developer Sean Connelly said no one wants to go to court, but at some point, some developers may feel they have no choice. Developer John Adams cautioned the council to remember all the people employed by jobs that development creates.

The next layer to be peeled at a future meeting deals with projects with all the appropriate approvals, but that haven't started moving dirt. Then there are other layers, such as projects in the sewer service map that haven't received appropriate permits, and so on.

Labels: city of milton, Fulton County, milton city council, sewer hookups

A developer in Holly Springs is offering up to $6,000 in gas as an incentive to buy a home in its Cherokee County community.

The promotion at Village at Stoney Creek is among the latest examples of developers trying to entice buyers to shop for a home in the tight housing market. There won't be any sales if people don't at least come look, said Patti Kviesis, sales manager at Village at Stoney Creek.

"We're getting a lot of people who come and ask about our incentive, and that was our goal," Kviesis said Wednesday. "Free gas is great, but you do have to buy a home from us."

The gas deal provides for anyone who buys any residence from McBride & Sons Homes to receive at closing a Visa Check Card with a value of up to $6,000, Kviesis said. McBride Homes has built homes in seven communities in the northwestern suburbs of metro Atlanta, according to its Web site: www.mcbridehomes.com.

Houses and townhouses at Village at Stoney Creek are priced in the $140,000-$210,000 range.

Labels: Cherokee COunty, free gas, holly springs, mcbride and sons homes, mcbride homes, village at stoney creek

The public is invited to come spend the evening outside with neighbors, police officers and firefighters and enjoy a free cookout Tuesday, Aug. 5, when the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety hosts National Night Out at Wills Park.

There will be K-9 police dog demonstrations, fire engines, SWAT demonstrations and more. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the snack pavilion on the equestrian side of Wills Park.

More than 11,310 communities from all 50 states participated in the national event in 2007.

"National Night Out is an effort to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anti-crime efforts," said Alpharetta police officer Jennifer Howard. "We hope to raise awareness about the type of crime occurring here and generate support and participation in anti-crime efforts."

National Night Out was introduced in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch in an attempt to encourage more participation in crime watch from residents.

While the traditional "lights on" and front porch vigils remain a part of National Night Out, activities have expanded over the years to include festivals, neighborhood walks, safety fairs and meetings.

For information, call 678-297-6309. Please RSVP at 678-297-6309, ext. 3.

Labels: Alpharetta, alpharetta department of public safety, community cookout, Firefighters, national night out at wills park, Police

Traffic near the Windward Parkway-Ga. 9 intersection might be moving just a bit smoother this week, as an intersection improvement project added a second left turn lane from Windward south to the state highway.

A second project at the Mayfield-Canton intersection is more complex, adding turn lanes in all directions, and will take more time to complete.

On Monday, a second left turn lane opened for motorists wanting to turn left (south) onto Ga. 9 from Windward Parkway. Milling and resurfacing was followed by re striping to mark the new lanes of travel, according to John Moskaluk, the city's director of Engineering & Public Works.

Motorists in the right most left turn lane have found they need to merge left soon after the turn. Otherwise, they will be forced to turn right just after the Lowes plaza traffic light.

The additional lane was added to reduce the amount of traffic backed up on Windward Parkway.

By having contractors work during the day, the city saved up to 50 percent of the cost it would have taken to have the contractor work on the intersection at night. However, Moskaluk said the real reason was for safety. All corners of the intersection have businesses that are open late at night, with three of the four open 24 hours a day. "From a safety point of view with all the activity, I think daytime is the way to go. And that is not even a money issue -- just pure safety," he said.

The project cost $148,000.

The current traffic headache may be the Canton-Mayfield intersection, but motorists will be glad to hear all four directions will have left turn lanes installed, with directional traffic lights. However, a tight fit has been designed to help slow down traffic and save as many specimen trees as possible. Each lane will be only 11 feet wide, about 1 foot narrower than normal.

"We're working closely with the contractor to have the geometry of the intersection accomplished," said Pete Sewczwicz, deputy director of Engineering & Public Works. "Georgia Power has to relocate their poles. That's the critical path."

He said the city and its contractor are working closely with Georgia Power, ATT and Comcast on utility relocations.

That intersection near the Alpharetta Library branch will cost $491,000 by the time it is completed.

Several townhome developments south on Canton cannot receive certificates of occupancy until this intersection is improved, though at least one developer has delayed his project.

Labels: canton road, city of alpharetta, Improvements, mayfield road

An agreement for Alpharetta to dispatch Milton's police and firefighters will improve response times to emergency in "problem areas" in both cities, Alpharetta Public Safety Director Gary George told City Council Monday night.

An agreement between the cities was o discussed at a council workshop held at the city's new Command & Control Center being built within police headquarters.

When someone in Milton calls 911, Fulton County answers. But once the call is answered, there's no guarantee it will be dispatched properly. George told a story about a 911 call made with a cell phone from Alpharetta's North Park that was mis-routed by the Fulton dispatcher, who didn't recognize North Park's name. The call was transferred to Cobb and then to Gwinnett before finally being routed to Alpharetta.

The cities have an automatic mutual aid agreement between fire departments. Milton can respond to North Park, Kings Ridge Christian School and Crabapple faster than Alpharetta.

"Milton can beat us there any time of day, three or four minutes quicker," George said.

The trade off comes in the Bethany and Mayfield areas of Milton.
"We can help them probably 50 percent of the time get to their calls better," he said. "It's all about time, getting that first responder there."

Legislation creating the city required Fulton provide Milton's dispatching needs for up to two years. In exchange, Fulton has kept the $1.50 per cellphone and house phone paid by Milton's residents to offset those costs. The two years ends Dec. 31.

There is urgency to making the agreement, as ending the arrangement with Fulton County requires 90 days' notice. For a proposed change starting Oct. 1, the notice must be made by Aug. 1.

"Quite honestly at the end of the day it would be a win-win for all the citizens," George said.

Each city's fire departments will still respond to the emergency calls, handling all reports. Routine police calls will only be answered by respective cities' police.

Both cities have ladder trucks than can be positioned to cover the largest area for both cities. Since Milton parks its ladder truck at its city hall off Deerfield Parkway, Alpharetta could move its ladder truck to its station 3, closer to North Point Mall, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre and those areas of Alpharetta.

Georgie reminded council that two weeks earlier they had approved an agreement that gives Alpharetta control of dispatching Rural Metro's six ambulances in North Fulton. Monitors in the new Command & Control center will show the location of every Alpharetta and Milton police and fire vehicle, plus all of Rural Metro's ambulances. GPS transponders will be installed in all emergency vehicles.

Labels: 911, Alpharetta, city of milton

Morton's Crossing Road has maintained its blocked-off status for more than 10 years, but Johns Creek City Council heard a presentation July 14 about the possibility of re-opening the street and installing forms of traffic calming devices and even an electronic gate.

The road was used as a cut-through for Taylor Road Middle School and Chattahoochee High School traffic between Taylor Road and Morton Road.

Morton's Crossing Road residents voiced concerns for years about vehicles speeding and traffic volumes through the subdivision.

According to a Fulton County study, during one 24-hour period in 1997, 1, 452 cars were counted at the Morton Road end of Morton's Crossing with over 72 percent vehicles exceeding 31 mph, 101 vehicles exceeding 41 mph and 23 vehicles exceeding 61 mph.

A report by Fulton County Public Works determined that after a 60-day temporary closing in August 1997, traffic volumes were "significantly" reduced on Morton's Crossing Road.

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted in October 1997 to seal off the road with bollards – vertical posts - to prohibit cut-through access through the neighborhoods.
Ken Hildebrandt, Johns Creek Public Works director, said the two biggest issues now are public safety and traffic connectivity.

"In 1997, there was a tremendous amount of traffic, but traffic patterns have changed with new schools and additional development," said Hildebrandt. "Obviously, opening the road will create some traffic issues for that subdivision. We would need to have traffic calming devices."

Hildebrandt said one option is to re-open the road and install speed cushions that are cut to allow emergency vehicles to pass through without any problems. According to the city, it would take an hour to an hour and a half to remove bollards.

Hildebrandt added that city staff recommended 13 speed cushions on Morton's Crossing, Morton's Circle and Plantation Drive that would cost around $2,000-$3,000 per cushion. The removal of the bollards is estimated to cost around $41,000.

"What we're looking at is the public safety aspects and trying to come up with public safety fail-safe point for emergency ingress and egress," said John Kachmar, Johns Creek city manager.

Another option, he said, would be to install an electronic gate that essentially blocks the road from cut-through traffic, but would quickly allow emergency vehicle access and an emergency access for the schools.

Kachmar said the cost of an electronic gate could be under the $41,000 estimate of removing bollards and would also include the cost of reworking the roadway.

"Eventually we will need to look at providing sidewalks for the neighborhood, because even if the gate is left in place, everyone in that neighborhood has to walk to school," said Councilman Ivan Figueroa.

Kachmar estimated the sidewalks would cost about $125,000 – but the city hasn't budgeted for that.

Councilwoman Liz Hausmann said she would like City Council to start working on a process that deals with future road openings and closings.

"We should develop criteria for when we want to open or close a road," said Hausmann.

Kachmar said the city will discuss a neighborhood infrastructure process at City Council's July 28 meeting, where they will hear a presentation and budget on the options.

Labels: Georgia, Johns Creek, mortons crossing

Brand new foreclosure listed in the Spring Valley neighborhood, located in Alpharetta. Great townhome with 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths, family room with marble fireplace, open kitchen with bar overlooks family room. Kitchen also open to a private outdoor patio area. Single car garage as well. This home is priced at $145,000 and you can view pictures of this property in our Featured Listings section. If you want to schedule a time to view this home please give us a call at (770) 331-1206.

Labels: Alpharetta, foreclosure, spring valley, spring view court, townhomes

Some builders offer newly constructed homes available for immediate delivery. These homes are usually ready to move into within 30 days. That means some builders are eager to sell- but don’t expect them to say so.

Immediate-delivery homes often are available for various reasons:
• The community is nearly complete so the builder went ahead and had the on-site contractors build “spec” homes on the last lots, or the model home is for sale.
• The contract fell through.
• Builders purposely build homes for immediate delivery for buyers who are relocating or who have sold their old home and need to move quickly.

An immediate-delivery home may be specifically priced, although builders sometimes add financing incentives or free options rather than dropping the price. Recent buyers understandably don’t want the last homes o the street to sell for less than they paid for their home.

If you need to move quickly, or prefer seeing and walking through what you’re buying before you sign a contract, and immediate-delivery home could be the right choice for you.

Labels: Alpharetta, buying advantages, city of milton, City of Roswell, Cobb, Cumming, duluth, Fulton, Georgia, New Homes, wood

Almost half of all new-home buyers use a real estate agent to help them. Those who go it alone may not realize there’s no cost to the buyer, and builders are happy to cooperate with agents. If you’re considering a new home, call us! We can help you understand how new homes are built and the fine print of builder and manufacturer warranties.

Labels: Alpharetta, builders, city of milton, City of Roswell, Cumming, duluth, georgia. woodstock, New Homes

On November 4, 2008 Fulton County voters will vote on a $275 million bond referendum for the construction, expansion and renovation of their public libraries.

If approved, the bonds would provide funding for the detailed Library Facility Master Plan, which includes 8 new libraries, expansion of 2 libraries, and renovation of 23 libraries. The bond issue also includes $84 million for the construction of a new Central Library, with the remaining (approximately $85 million) coming from private funds.

The library’s master plan was developed over the course of 24 months and included a series of public input sessions throughout the county. The plan maintains 34 libraries, the current number of libraries in the system, by eliminating leased spaces and its oldest libraries. Fulton County last issued a library bond in 1988.

“I am glad that the Board took this opportunity to demonstrate vision and leadership,” said Commissioner Robb Pitts (District 2, At-Large). “The cost for average homeowners will be less than the cost of a cup of coffee every month. Certainly an investment in the education of our children is worth that and more.”

“A public private partnership will not only make the new Central Library more financially feasible, but it presents an opportunity for private citizens and the business and philanthropic community to demonstrate their support for their library system,” said Commissioner Nancy A. Boxill (District 6). “I am confident that our community will step forward to build a central library that is as outstanding as the vibrant community in which it is located.”

John F. Szabo, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System Director, said, “This is a great day for libraries and for the Fulton County citizens who value what libraries bring to their community. We are grateful for the leadership of the Board of Commissioners in recognizing the importance of public libraries and to the citizens who continue to voice their support and opinions. We are one step closer to having the world-class library system we know Fulton County residents want and deserve.”

A summary of the Library Master Plan is available on the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System website, www.afpls.org.

Labels: Fulton County, library bond referendum, Public Library

Mark your calendar for this year’s Crossroads at Crabapple Antique and Art Festival! Enjoy an old-fashioned family event featuring American country antiques and juried local artists.
Date: Saturday, Oct. 4
Time: 9:00 A.M. 'til 5:00 P.M.
Location: Historic Community of Crabapple
790 Mayfield Road
Milton, GA 30004
(5 miles north of Roswell, 3 miles west of Alpharetta, and 25 miles from Atlanta)
• Free admission and parking
• Features more than 50 American country
• antiques dealers from eight states
• 50 juried artists
• Roaming musicians
• Food, fun and much more!

Please contact Sally Rich-Kolb at kolbt@bellsouth.net or 770.448.3860 if you want to participate or have any questions.

Labels: antiques, city of milton, Crabapple, crossroads at crabapple

One of my favorite recipes for you to try!

Sizzling Beef & Vegetable Kabobs

1 lb. boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 cup Greek Vinaigrette Dressing, divided
12 cherry tomatoes
6 button mushrooms, cut in half
8 asparagus spears, blanched, cut into 2-inch lengths

PLACE steak in large resealable plastic bag. Add 1/4 cup of the dressing; seal bag. Refrigerate 30 min. to marinate. Remove steak from bag; discard bag and marinade.

PREHEAT grill to medium heat. Thread steak onto 12 wooden skewers alternately with the tomatoes, mushrooms and asparagus.

GRILL kabobs 15 min. or until steak is cooked through and vegetables are crisp-tender, turning and brushing occasionally with the remaining 1/4 cup dressing.

This Weekend!
Fri, 7/11 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sat, 7/12 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sun, 7/13 12 Noon - 6:00 pm
Mall of Georgia
3333 Buford Drive
Buford GA 30519
Sponsored by the Dunwoody Arts and Crafts Guild, the marketplace features artwork as well as handmade items including jewelry, sewn items, decorative painting, glass art, portraits, photography, children's items and more.

http://www.dunwoodyartsandcraftsguild.org/MOG_July.htm

Labels: dunwoody arts and crafts guild, georgia marketplace, lazy daze, mall of georgia

In September, Milton will hold its second annual Milton Roundup fall festival — and save its birthday celebration for later.

Last year the city organized the community gala in the fall and billed it as Milton's birthday party, even though it was neither on the day residents voted for cityhood, which was in July, nor the day that the city officially came into being, which was in December.

Last year's combined event attracted more than 2,000 people. This year's festival, set for Sept. 13 at Birmingham United Methodist Church, will feature a chili cook-off among teams of police and firefighters, hot air balloon rides, a mechanical bull, music, and other family entertainment. And, of course, there will be equestrian shows as befits a community proud of its many horse farms.

The city needs volunteers to help put on the program. Anyone willing to roll up their sleeves and get their boots dirty should call Linda Blow at 678-242-2489 or e-mail her at linda.blow@cityofmiltonga.us.

Labels: birmingham united methodist church, city of milton, Milton Roundup, volunteers

Construction has started on a site in Crabapple that has been under contract for more than a year with little sign of movement.

The lack of activity at the Crabapple Mercantile Exchange prompted gossip that it might be a casualty of the slow economy. But on Wednesday, workers were busy raising steel girders at the site near the corner of Birmingham Highway and Crabapple Road.

Developer John Adams said construction was delayed partly because he couldn't get construction loans until he had secured all permits from the city. He received those permits in December, after about a year of negotiating with Milton city officials about the architectural style of the development for the 52,000-square-foot project.

Crabapple Mercantile Exchange is designed to reflect 19th century buildings that Adams said will evoke Old World charm. It will have have brick and ornate details in wood and iron, and flickering street lights. A similar project by Adams is almost fully leased in Alpharetta: the Ellerd Mercantile Exchange.

About two-thirds of the Crabapple Mercantile Exchange is leased, Adams said. The mix of space includes about 23,000 square feet of retail, 22,500 square feet of office and almost 8,000 square feet of residential. The residential space will be built above the ground-floor office and retail space, he said.

Prospective tenants include:
Zest, a restaurant
Scoops, old-fashioned ice cream shop
Founders Cigar Club, a restaurant with a private club for cigars and Scotch whiskey
Faire La Belle, a salon
SP Casey Homes, an interior design store
Dentist's office

Labels: city of milton, Crabapple, crabapple mercantile exchange, mixed-use development

Looking to promote and event or local attraction - please send us your news at: homes@400n.com.

Specific details of the closure are as follows:
Grimes Bridge closed Southbound at 830 Grimes Bridge Road (Adult Recreation Center);

Grimes Bridge closed Northbound at Shadowbrook Drive;

Oxbo Road closed just east of Dobbs Drive.

Roswell will close Grimes Bridge Road temporarily beginning Monday, July 7 in preparation for the Grimes Bridge Road bridge replacement. The closure, needed for utility relocation, is expected to last through July 21.

Homeowners will still have access to the area.

Once this project phase is complete, the bridge replacement and construction will begin and the bridge will be closed to through traffic. The city anticipates closing the bridge completely in fall 2008. Neighborhood traffic will be allowed limited access except during the time the old bridge is demolished and replaced.

The project will also include the realignment of the Grimes Bridge Road and Oxbo Road intersection from a skew angle to a safer 90-degree alignment. In addition, sidewalks will be added along both sides of the bridge.

Architectural enhancements to the bridge include a finish to give it an old stone appearance and low-lighting bridge lamps to blend with the adjacent park setting. City staff said the new bridge will improve safety at the intersection of Grimes Bridge Road and Oxbo Road and improve pedestrian and bicycle access and safety over Big Creek.

The$4.6 million bridge replacement project includes an $800,000 contribution from Roswell.

For additional information about the closure, call 770-594-6420.

Labels: City of Roswell, closing of grimes bridge road, grimes bridge road, Roswell

Everyone loves Independence Day, the quintessential American holiday, full of parades, picnics, and ... surprising facts? You bet! Be the life of the party--share a few of these tasty nuggets of knowledge with your fellow picnickers this year.

1. Independence Day commemorates the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. However, it was not declared a legal holiday until 1941.

2. Fireworks were made in China as early as the 11th century. The Chinese used their pyrotechnic mixtures for war rockets and explosives.

3. Uncle Sam was first popularized during the War of 1812, when the term appeared on supply containers. Believe it or not, the U. S. Congress didn't adopt him as a national symbol until 1961.

4. There are many precise rules for taking care of the American flag. And speaking of flag traditions, we're sorry to report that contrary to legend, historical research has failed to confirm that Betsy Ross sewed the first flag.

5. Not all members of the Continental Congress supported a formal Declaration of Independence, but those who did were passionate about it. One representative rode 80 miles by horseback to reach Philadelphia and break a tie in support of independence.

6. The first two versions of the Liberty Bell were defective and had to be melted down and recast. The third version rang every Fourth of July from 1778 to 1835, when, according to tradition, it cracked as it was being tolled for the death of Chief Justice John Marshall.

7. The American national anthem, the "Star-Spangled Banner," is set to the tune of an English drinking song ("To Anacreon in Heaven").

8. The iron framework of the Statue of Liberty was devised by French engineer Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, who also built the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

9. The patriotic poem "America the Beautiful" was published on July 4, 1895 by Wellesley College professor Katharine Lee Bates.

10. Father of the country and architect of independence George Washington held his first public office at the tender age of 17. He continued in public service until his death in 1799.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

We would to update Homeowners on this new law again:

On May 13, 2008 Governor Sonny Perdue signed into law Senate Bill 531. The bill increases the notice to a homeowner before a lender can foreclose and introduces elements of fairness to the foreclosure process.

The law that has been on the books in Georgia since 1981 and many of the legislators who supported SB 531 felt that out of fairness, a homeowner should receive notice before the advertisement is published, and that 15 days was not a sufficient amount of time. SB 531 therefore lengthens the notice period to at least 30 days prior to the scheduled foreclosure sale.

SB 531 also requires:

· That the certified letter giving the homeowner notice of the foreclosure sale include the name, address, and telephone number of the "individual or entity who shall have full authority to negotiate, amend, and modify all terms of the mortgage with the debtor".

· Requires that the current holder of the mortgage loan record the assignment of the security deed, which shows the present owner of the mortgage loan, in the public deed records before conducting the foreclosure sale.

This new law makes it easier for individuals and families to locate and contact the holder of the debt in order to negotiate a way to keep their home.

BRAND NEW FORECLOSURE - Adam's Landing in Cumming

Priced well below market for quick sale - 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, full finished basment with media room and 2nd kitchen, hardwoods, Cherry Cabinets in Kitchen with Granite countertops, 3 car garage. Located in Adams Landing Subdivion off 400/exit 16

Priced at $289,000 - this home sold for $395,000 in 2005

*Please check out our Featured Listing page to view this property

Looking for some local summer fun with friends and family?
Then head on over to The Birmingham Village Shopping Center
for "Movies Under The Stars"! From now until August 9th, wonderful family movies will be shown outside every Saturday and, of course, under the stars!Be there by 8:30pm or be square!

Upcoming Movies include:

The Sandlot - Saturday, July 5th
Ratatouille - Saturday, July 12th

Labels: birmingham village shopping center, city of milton, milton, movie under the stars

Once again, Michael O'keefe is welcoming the community to his Foster's Grille in Crabapple. He had this to share with us about the anticipated event:
"We are excited to be hosting the next Milton nights. The last time we had a full house, with everyone mingling with their friends and neighbors, which is exactly what Foster's Grille is all about. It is our hope that it will be great night of fun and community."

Michael will be donating 10% of the evenings numbers to Team In Training which helps raise funds
in the fight against leukemia.

So bring your family,bring your friends, and bring your business cards!

WHERE: Foster's Grille / Crabapple
WHEN: Friday / July 18
TIME: 6:30pm to 9pm

Labels: city of milton, Crabapple, foster's, foster's grille, milton, milton nights

With the inventory of unsold homes at continued high levels, homeowners are going to great lengths to differentiate and distinguish their home. According to experts, there are a few simple tricks that can help create a more appealing space and a more attractive listing in today’s increasingly competitive market.

Listing: What’s in a word? When putting your home on the market, the right phrase in your listing can be the key to attracting potential buyers. According to the 2008 MSN article. “What’s ‘beautiful’ worth? About $12,500” researches have found that listings with the words “beautiful” or “gorgeous” sold homes 15 percent faster, while “landscaping” bumped sales 20 percent faster and “move in condition” expedited the sale by 12 percent. Contrary to popular belief, sellers should steer clear of words that highlight desperation such as “motivated” and “must sell”. The study found the inclusion of those words in the listing slowed sales by up to 30 percent.

Branding: If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Brand names create a point of differentiation and should be used as selling points for your home. There is no doubt that buyers will putt more weight in brands they trust. If choosing to make upgrades before listing your home, consider quality, recognizable products because they will ultimately provide the best return.

Staging: The ultimate showcase showdown. When getting your home tidied up for potential buyers, there are some specific tips that will help your home appeal to a wider range of buyers.

Cleaning: The number one rule of staging is to get rid of unwanted and unused items. Whether packed away until the sale or permanently donated, de-cluttering allows buyers to see more of the home. This also includes moving furniture out of rooms that may seem overcrowded.

Labels: Alpharetta, branding, cleaning, Cumming, duluth, Georgia homes, Listings, milton, Roswell, staging your home, suwanee, what it takes to sell your home, Woodstock

Here is a listing of "Can't Miss" 4th of July Events:

Roswell Fireworks Extravaganza
Roswell High School
11595 King Road
Roswell GA 30075
Families can bring chairs, blankets and picnics. Performances by Clark King at 4:30 p.m., Wichita, 5:30 p.m.; Big Biscuit Band, 6:30 p.m.; and Banks & Shane at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks at dark. Food is available; no alcohol.

"All American Fireworks Spectacular"
Turner Field
755 Hank Aaron Drive S.W.
Atlanta GA 30315
Operation Homefront Georgia is to bring together volunteers from various branches of the U.S. military to carry a large American flag during pregame ceremonies. Fireworks follow the Braves-Astros game.
In-depth Braves coverage

Love the Lake Concert Series and Fireworks
Cauble Park at Lake Acworth
4425 Beach St.
Acworth GA 30101
4 p.m. Cry in the Sun; 6 p.m. Redline; 8 p.m. Flashback. Fireworks at dusk. July 4.
Traditional concert series with three bands to keep attendees dancing until the fireworks show starts at dusk. There will be inflatables and food vendors. Shuttles from the Postal Service office, City Hall and Acworth First Baptist Church.

July Fourth Festivities and Fireworks
Wills Park
11925 Wills Road
Alpharetta GA 30009
Children's activities and entertainment. Food vendors. On the Event Lawn behind Alpharetta Community Center.

All-American Celebration With the ASO
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park
2200 Encore Parkway
Alpharetta GA 30004
8 p.m. concert; 9:37 p.m. post-concert live WSB-TV’s HD broadcast of the fireworks from Lenox Square, Atlanta (Buckhead) July 4.Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" and "A Lincoln Portrait," with a surprise narrator. Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story"; Theofanidis' "Rainbow Body!"; Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture; and Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Robert Spano conducts.

Lake Lanier Islands Fourth of July Celebration
Lake Lanier Islands
7000 Holiday Road
Buford GA 30518
Live entertainment, games and music beginning at noon courtesy of B98.5 FM. Fireworks on the beach at dark.

Fantastic Fourth Celebration
Stone Mountain Park
U.S. 78 East
Stone Mountain GA 30087
9:30 p.m. laser show followed by fireworks. July 3-5. Second laser show follows July 4 fireworks. (Daytime park hours 10 a.m.-8 p.m.)

July Fourth Salute to America
Lenox Square
3393 Peachtree Road N.E.
Atlanta GA 30326
Activities include a Kid Zone featuring giant slides, a rock wall, face painters, balloon artist, an obstacle course. Live music begins at 6 p.m. with A1A Band; Party on the Moon at 7:30 p.m., Ashton Shepherd at 9:05 p.m. Fireworks display at about 9:40 p.m. Lenox Square and WSB-TV are hosts.

"Chamblee Rocks!"
Keswick Park
3496 Keswick Drive
Chamblee GA 30341
3 p.m. children's carnival; 5 p.m. children's bike parade; 6 p.m. live music; 9 p.m. fireworks July 4.
An afternoon celebration featuring a children's carnival, bike parade, live music and demonstrations with an evening fireworks display. Food from local restaurants available.

Fourth of July Celebration
Centennial Olympic Park
265 Centennial Olympic Park Drive N.W.
Atlanta GA 30313
Children's activities include arts and crafts, performances, inflatables and stilt walkers. Free musical entertainment starts at 5 p.m. with a performance by the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. The evening culminates with a fireworks display synchronized with patriotic music.

Sparks in the Park 2008
E.E. Robinson Park
Level Creek Road
Sugar Hill GA 30518
Includes inflatables, live entertainment from Dave Matthews Tribute Band, food and drinks vendors. Fireworks begin at 9:45 p.m., followed by a movie: "Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer." Parking and trams available at Sugar Hill Elementary and The Family Church beginning 6:15 p.m. Tram service continues until midnight.

Have a Safe & Happy 4th of July!!!

Labels: 4th of july, acworth, Atlanta, celebrations, centennial olympic park, City of Roswell, Encore Park, fireworks, fourht of july, lexon square, sugar hill, turner field, verizon amphitheatre, Wills Park

Fourth of July fun comes with a word of caution for boaters and swimmers at Georgia lakes.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Mobile on Monday said the continuing drought is negatively affecting the levels at lakes it manages in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.

"Lakeside swimmers and boaters are encouraged to wear their personal flotation device and to take extra special precautions when lower than normal water levels occur," said E. Patrick Robbins, chief public affairs officer in the Corps' Mobile district. "The shallower water conditions could expose sandbars or stumps to those swimming or boating," he said. "Boaters should be cautious as declining levels may reduce clearance over underwater obstructions. Swimmers and boaters should always take precautions on the water even in the best conditions."

Visitors may see signs at beaches and boat ramps warning them of low water conditions. Park rangers will monitor swim areas for emerging hazards and floating debris.

Labels: boaters, fourth of july, georgia lakes, low lake levels

More than 85 percent of Fulton County residential property owners will see no change or even a decrease in their 2008 property taxes, compared to 2007.

At its June 18 meeting, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners set the 2008 general fund millage rate at 10.281 mills, which equals the 2007 rate. The board also set the South Fulton Tax District millage rate at 5.659, also equivalent to the 2007 rate.

For the approximately 15 percent of residential property owners who saw an increase in their assessment, that change will be no greater than a 3 percent increase, per Georgia law.

In 2008, the Fulton County Assessors completed a commercial revaluation project, bringing commercial property values in line with fair market values. Consequently, the majority of 2008 value increases affected commercial properties. The 2008 general fund millage rate is 23 percent lower than the county's millage rate in 2000. Fulton County has led the metro Atlanta area in millage rate rollbacks for the past decade.

This is due to either no change or a decrease in property assessment.

Labels: 2008 taxes, Fulton County, fulton county taxes, Property Taxes

The real estate market has more homes for sale than the number of buyers interested in them. If you’re getting ready to sell your home in a “buyer’s market,” you may need to offer a little bit more to get the purchase contract you’re looking for in a reasonable time frame.

To sell a home quickly, at the best possible price, owners must ensure that:
• The list price is in line with today’s market (not yesterday’s)
• The home is in good, preferably move in condition, and
• The home has enough curb appeal to attract buyers inside

Among these, price is still the critical variable. You may benefit by getting a pre-listing appraisal to ensure your asking price is attractive. You may even want to price your home a little below appraisal – say 5% lower than the last comparable sale – and of course advertise that fact to buyers.

You can tell your price is too high if you’ve had no showings at all of if you’ve had, say, 10 showings but no offers or if the competition has dropped their price below yours. Also, keep and eye on comparable properties whose listings have expired; those failed listings tell you what price is to high in today’s market.

Still, ensuring the fundamentals are handled may not be enough to accomplish the sale within your moving time frame. Offering incentives to buyers could be the key to attracting a purchase offer quickly without “giving away the farm.” A good, effective incentive will attract buyers’ attention and motivate purchase offers while having minimal impact on your net proceeds from the sale. In fact, the right incentive can sometimes be more attractive to buyers than a lower sales price.

Take cue from builders and condo developers. To get their properties sold in cooling markets, they are often the first to offer incentives including:
• Drawings for a free home (to increase traffic to the builder’s model vs. competitors properties)
• No money down financing
• Buyout programs for sellers with a home to sell
• Guaranteed pricing (if prices go down before settlement or closing, the buyer gets the lower price)
• Six months to a year of mortgage payments
• Free upgrade (better carpeting, flooring, fixtures, custom colors, options, etc.)
• Discounts for buying during a “12-hour sale” period
• Free vacation lodging and/or round-trip plane tickets

Although many of the types of incentives offered by builders and developers may not be feasible – nor advisable – for individual sellers to offer, you can take inspiration from them:
• Offer to take back a second mortgage for qualified buyers who can’t quite finance the purchase price
• Pay the buyers closing cost’s or points on the loan, reducing the amount of cash they need to close the deal
• Allow a lease/purchase. If you don’t need your funds right away, let the buyer rent your home with a delayed settlement, provided you are sure the purchaser will eventually qualify for a loan. Part of the rent money could be applied to the down payment if the buyer is short of cash.
• Add conveyances to the sale such as a lawn mower, yard tools, drapes, playset, yard bench, porch swing, appliances, even special furniture
• Pay for a year’s membership to the neighborhood recreation center or gym; a year’s worth of homeowner association dues, a year’s worth of utilities, lawn service or pool cleanings
• Paint the interior or exterior of the home in the buyer’s choice of colors, so it’s exactly the way they want it at move-in time
• Include a one year home warranty covering systems and appliances. Buy a pre-sale home inspection and make all repairs
• Offer a redecorating allowance
• Got a time share? Give your buyers a one-week stay for free

The list of possibilities can go on and on. The important point is to tailor your incentive e to what the most likely type of buyer – families, singles, retired couples, etc – will most likely appreciate.

Don’t forget: In a buyer’s market, you’ll also need to be more flexible about the terms of the contract – move in date, contingencies, inspections, etc. The easier you make it for someone to purchase your hoe, and the more value you add to the deal, the more attention your home sale will get.

Labels: Alpharetta, buyer incentives, Cumming, duluth, Georgia, incentives, milton, Roswell, Woodstock