The Fauscett Team's North Georgia Real Estate Blog by Becky Fauscett, Keller Williams Realty Lanier Partners

Lead Based Paint

Did you know that a lot of homes built prior to 1978 had lead paint? Here is a quick review, FYI. All sellers with homes built prior to 1978 are required to fill out a lead-based paint disclosure form and provide you, the buyer, with a lead-based paint educational booklet in any sale. Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead may cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children 6 years old and under are most ..(read more)

Why Now is a Smart Time to Buy

Found this article in The Wall Street Journal and thought it was appropriate. March 11, 2008 Why Now is a Smart Time to Buy
Now is a great time to buy a home, say the financial gurus at the Wall Street Journal.

The Journal calls it a buyers market and offers these suggestions for first-timers getting their feet wet. While their advice is solid, it’s not revolutionary.

Remember this is a place to live not a stock market investment. Lenders want buyers to spend no more than 28 percent of their gross monthly income on mortgage payments, real estate taxes, and home insurance. Buyers shouldn’t count on stretching further because lenders won’t approve their loans.
Source: The Wall Street Journal, Shelly Banjo (03/11/08) Cash is king. Location. Compare. Think long haul. It will probably take at least six or seven years of living in the house to be able to sell and come out ahead.Besides just looking ..(read more)

Happy Valentine's Day!

From:

Did You Vote Today?

Today is Super Tuesday in Georgia We hope you got a chance to go out and vote for the candidate you want to run for president of the Unites States of America. To keep tabs on how the elections is going check out these websites. For Republicans For Democrats Click Here for full coverage of the election .

Remember to file for Homestead Exemption

FILING FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION The Homestead Exemption is available to legal residents of Georgia for their primary homes. You are able to claim a partial exemption, which can amount to substantial property tax savings. Senior citizens may have additional exemptions available. Check with your county tax office. You are entitled to the Homestead Exemption if you owned and occupied your home by January 1. Unless otherwise note, the Homestead Exemption filing deadline is March 1st. Where and When to File: Hall County: 300 Green Street, Gainesville. You may contact them at 770-531-6720 8:00 am– 5:00 pm Monday thru Friday. www.hallcounty.org Gwinnett County: You may file at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. You may contact them at 770-822-8800 Monday-Friday, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Call for Application. www.co.gwinnett.ga.us Dawson County: 78 Howard Ave E., Ste. 120, Dawsonville. You may contact them at 706-344-3590 Monday-Friday ..(read more)

Hall County School Zoning Changes

Submitted by Sarah Frech Hall County Board of Education has approved the new attendance zones. Here is the picture that was in The Times on January 15, 2008 of the new zones. If you click on the picture it will take you to the article that was in The Times about the new zones. How is this going to effect you and your children? Should you move? Which zone should you move into? Which has the better schools? Have questions like these? Call us for some help with finding the answers. (770) 297-6411 or email us at info@tfthomes.com.

Our Newest Listing!

6133 Cedar Springs Lane Hurry to get this Unbelievable Home! Enjoy 18 hole golf course community, swim/tennis, and town hall. This home is spacious with 3 living areas, fenced backyard, granite counter tops, hardwood floors, open floor plan and is great for entertaining! Priced below appraisal. Vacant and ready to move in. Call 1-800-235-7862 talking ad #2474 Link to the Listing Page

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? What's your thoughts?

Submitted by Sarah Frech I went shopping the day after Thanksgiving and at the Mall I went to I heard cashiers saying Merry Christmas. It only seemed odd to me because it was only the day after Thanksgiving and it wasn't even December yet. Then again this was the first time for me to actually go out shopping the Friday after Thanksgiving. It may be what you would usually hear. It didn't bother me one bit, but you do hear now about how stores ask their employees to not say this so that it doesn't offend anyone that is not a Christian and doesn't celebrate Christmas. I can understand both sides to this argument. What are your thoughts? We want to know.

The Cost of Not Buying a Home Now!

Right now is a GREAT time to get a GREAT deal on a new Home! Take advantage of this Buyer's Market and capitalize on the benefits of being a Home Owner! Look over this analysis, and call The Fauscett Team if you have any questions or to help get you started on the path to finding your new home!! COST OF NOT BUYING A HOME 1) Rent Lost Rent = $1,200/MO The average person takes 30 days to buy. If you wait 6 months, you will pay you landlord ……………….. $6,000 2) Rate Change If today’s rate is 5.5% on a 30 Year fixed rate mortgage, assuming a $200,000 sales price with 5% down: Your payment will be….$1,073 per month… The following shows what happens to your payment if your rate goes up by the time you buy (in ..(read more)

The Atlanta Real Estate Market

We found a couple of articles that we found interesting and wanted to share them with you. This one came from REALTOR Magazine onlie Top 5 Markets Where Home Prices are Rising and Atlanta is rated 4th.
This next artical In Pictures: America's Most Stable Housing Markets was found on Forbes.com and was written by Matt Woolsey

10 Reasons to Sell Your Home During the Holiday Season!

10 Reasons to Sell Your Home During the Holiday Season! 10.) Homes show great with Holiday Decorations! 9.) Fewer Homes are on the market. Less Competition! 8.) Rates are currently low! Buyers can afford more expensive homes. 7.) Buyers buy with more emotion...because of the season. 6.) Transferees use the holidays to house hunt because January is the big transfer month. 5.) Families visit family from out of town and decide to move closer together. 4.) Quick closings...Less Contingencies...Lenders are not as busy and can process loans faster. 3.) Children can start school in January when class schedules change. 2.) Only serious buyers look during the holidays. 1.) The Fauscett Team agents of Keller Williams Realty Lanier Partners are working full time during the Holiday Season selling homes!

The Fall Season

Submitted by Sarah Frech I have to admit that Fall is my favorite time of the year. The weather is usually great for outdoor activities. Not too hot and not too cool. You can wear jeans and a sweat shirt and be comfortable. There are always a ton of things to do like fall festivals, haunted houses, hay rides, and pumpkin patches. Not to mention carving pumpkins, dressing up and going trick or treating on Halloween night. Well, I have done some searching on the internet and found some websites to help you plan your fall schedule of events. Check them out and have a fun and safe Fall/Halloween Season. Pumpkin Patches in the North Georgia Area Pumpkin Carving Stencils Make your own Halloween Costume Purchase a Costume - There are tons of sites that sell costumes. if you don't like this one there are many more. Halloween Pictures to Color List of Haunted Houses in Georgia Fall Festivals in Georgia - This is only a list of the large festivals ..(read more)

Stop Foreclosure Now!!

Do you foresee yourself heading towards defaulting on you mortgage or are already in foreclosure? We can help! Many who are this path don't realize there are a couple of alternatives to foreclosure such as a Short Sale or Loss Mitigation. The Fauscett Team has been dealing with foreclosed houses for over 15 years. We felt it was time to try to help people before they get into this situation. We just recently have taken training classes in both Short Sales and Loss Mitigation You are probably wondering what is a Short Sale or Loss Mitigation. A Short Sale is a special transaction that allows you to sell your home even when your mortgage debt is higher than the value of your home. Loss Mitigation is where we negotiate with your lender to help you stop foreclosure and retain your home. The ..(read more)

NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER'S HEARING AID

Posted by Sarah Frech pulled from the SREC Council Memeber Memo September 2007 Whether it's genetic or stems from military training or listening to the Rolling Stones or 1940s jazz bands, scores of Boomers and Seniors are facing hearing loss. Those who live alone may not realize that their hearing isnt quite up to snuff. When talking to, do some Boomers and Seniors ask you to repeat what you say or give responses to questions that seem a bit off? Hearing loss could be the culprit, and you could be the person who helps them by suggesting they get their hearing checked. Let them know they're not alone. A host of high-profile Boomers, including Bill Clinton, wear hearing aids. Some hearing devices are getting downright hip, such as the ones by a Swiss company that aims to remove the stigma associated with hearing aids. Phonak's small new Audéo Personal Communication Assistant [2]comes in multiple colors and features names like Pinot Noir, Green with Envy, and Lunar ..(read more)

Foreclosures, Foreclsures, Foreclsoures......

Submitted by Don Smith and Sarah Frech Today’s news broadcasts are filled with reports that the number of home foreclosures is extremely high. Georgia, in fact, is now leading the Nation in home foreclosures and the trend seems bound to continue for a while. This situation has been brought about by an assortment of factors including a period of extremely lax credit requirements, faulty appraisals, and misunderstood adjustable rate mortgage programs, just to name a few. The result has been that many people have found themselves in newly purchased homes or adjusted mortgage rates that they simply can’t afford, and that translates into foreclosure. When a foreclosure occurs the lending institution or mortgage company that made the loan ends up becoming the owner of the foreclosed property. Banks, mortgage companies and other lenders do not want to be in the real estate business, but they must dispose of the foreclosed properties in order to recover the money ..(read more)