Everything Dekalb County, GA

Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended and Expanded FAQ- I've broken down the Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Home Buyer Tax Credit. I hope it helps. This credit is effective for homes purchased between December 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010.  If you have additional questions please feel free to contact me at 404-456-5024.

• How much can I get? The Credit is for 10% of the purchase price up to $8000 for First Time Home Buyers and $6500 for People who have previously owned a home.  So, for example First Time Buyers if you buy a $70,000 home you may be eligible for a $7000 tax credit.

 

• Do I have to be a First Time Home Buyer? No, Trade in or Move up Buyers get the benefit this time too.

 

• How does it work for people who already owned homes? If you have owned your home and it has been your main residence for 5 of the last 8 years, then you are eligible for up to a $6500 tax credit.

 

• When does the credit expire?  Both the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit as well as the $6,500 tax credit for “move-up” buyers would sunset (or end) on April 30, 2010.

• What if I am under contract but I haven't closed on the property by April 30, 2010?  Individuals who have contracts as of April 30, 2010, would still qualify for the credit so long as they complete the transaction within 60 days, ny June 30, 2010.

 

• What are the income limits? $125,000 for an individual, $225,000 for a married couple for both credits.

• Is there a limit on the cost of the home I purchase?  The cost of the home being purchased may not exceed $800,000 in order to be eligible for the credit. (Feel free to still purchase those homes, you just won’t get the home buyer tax credit for it.)

• When can I make the claim? For purchases made in 2010, taxpayers would be able to claim the tax credit on their 2009 income tax return.

• Do I have to repay it? Home buyers would not have to repay the credit, provided the home remains their principal residence for 36 months (3 years) after the purchase date. However, this recapture provision would not apply in the case of a member of the Armed Forces, military intelligence or Foreign Service who is on qualified official extended duty.

• If I am in the military and deployed overseas, how do I take advantage of this tax credit? First of all, thank you to our military. We appreciate you! Members of the military who have been deployed overseas for 90 days or more in 2008 or 2009 would have until April 30, 2011 to claim the home buyer tax credit.

• How is fraud going to be prevented? The amendment also includes anti-fraud language that gives the IRS the authority to do greater oversight during the processing of the return rather than waiting for an audit situation. The amendment requires the taxpayer claiming the credit to be 18 or older, and requires a HUD-1 settlement statement to be attached when claiming the credit.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in or around Decatur, GA contact Realtor Jen Bowman, Broker Associate & e-PRO with Success Realty at 404-456-5024.  Homes currently on the market intown Decatur range in price from $89K to $1,500,000. There really is something for everyone.

View more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice.  Search Decatur GA homes for Sale

Emory Parc Manor in Decatur GA is a wonderful community of 81 single family homes, each different from the next, yet carefully blended. The homes have brick, stone, hardi-plank siding and some have cedar shake. It’s an elegant community with flowering trees in medians and roundabouts. The community green space is park like with a pavilion and benches for meeting friends and neighbors.

Emory Parc Manor was built by Certified Professional Home Builders John Willis and Monte Hewett 2002-2004. If you are not familiar with these Award-Winning builders, then you are in for a treat. They stand behind their work and the craftsmanship and attention to detail are second to none.

Homes in Emory Parc Manor range in price from the high 500’s to the high 600’s. They have 3 to 5 bedrooms. All of the homes have 2 car garages, many of them side or rear entry. Hardwood floors, fabulous built-ins, screened in back porches and kitchens built for entertaining are common here.

DeKalb County’s Mason Mill Park and Tennis Center back up to Emory Parc Manor. Just take a walk down the gentle path to it. Mason Mill Park is 111 acres and includes multi use fields, tennis courts, recreation center, picnic area, lake, trails and dog park.

Emory Parc Manor is in an excellent Decatur, GA location. To get there from I-85 North, turn right on North Druid Hills Rd, turn right on Clairmont Rd, Turn Left on Mason Mill Rd. Emory Parc Manor is convenient to Emory, the CDC and the V.A. Hospital.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in or around Decatur, GA contact local expert and Realtor Jen Bowman, Broker Associate & e-PRO with Success Realty at 404-456-5024.

View more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice.  Search for Decatur GA homes for Sale

The Village at Avondale in Avondale Estates, GA - The Village at Avondale is a wonderful neighborhood right off of Rockbridge Rd in Avondale Estates in Dekalb County, GA.  Homes currently on the market range in price from $359,900 to $426,900.

Homes at The Village at Avondale average days on market is just 48 days which is less than the average of 78 days for homes in Avondale Estates.  The days on market is for homes sold since June 2009. The streets in this intimate community include Burdett Court and Wilfawn Way.

The Village at Avondale was built 2001 to 2004. What I really love about the community is that none of homes are the same. They all have different exteriors and different interior floor plans. Some have Charleston Style porches, some are Colonial, some are Traditional. All are really pretty. I went through all 5 of the homes for sale the other day with my buyer. They all have great floor plans with attached 2 car garages. Dogwood Homes, a certified professional home builder built this community. In general homes on the left side of the street are basement plans and on the right are on a slab.

Avondale Estates has a charter school coming fall 2010.  Check it out at www.themuseumschool.org. It's a public school and every child in the 30002 zip code will have an equal opportunity to attend based on space available.  Children in this community currently attend Avondale Elementary, Avondale Middle, (less than ¾ of a mile away) and Avondale High School. Robert Shaw Theme School is less than a ¼ mile away.

The Village at Avondale is convenient to Dekalb Medical Center and Emory University. It's just a little over a mile to the Dekalb Farmers Market, a fabulous international grocery store.  It's just a mile and a half to James Joyce Irish Pub and just a little over 2 miles to the Brick Store Pub on the Square in downtown Decatur, GA.  North Dekalb Mall is just over 2 miles away.

For Fitness, Curves is located at the Kroger Shopping Center just a mile and a half away. Dekalb Medical Center (just 2 miles away) has a great Wellness Center with indoor pool, fitness classes, weights and cardio equipment.

To get to the Village at Avondale from Decatur go east on North Decatur Rd towards Avondale, Turn right on Northern Ave. Turn right on Rockbridge Rd. Make your first right onto Wilfawn Way and the Village at Avondale.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in or around Dekalb County, GA contact local expert and Realtor Jen Bowman, Broker Associate & e-PRO with Success Realty  at  404-456-5024.

View more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice.  Search Dekalb County GA homes for Sale  

Ridgeland Park - Decatur, GA

Druid Hills Luxury Homes- Atlanta, GA

Emory Parc Manor in Decatur GA

Adair Estate in Druid Hills - Atlanta, GA

Lake Claire - Atlanta, GA

Medlock Commons - Decatur, GA

Sycamore Station - Decatur, GA

Decatur Square Condos - Decatur, GA

W Residences Downtown Atlanta Condos

Logan's Knoll at Betty's Garden - Atlanta, GA

Brickell in Atlanta, GA

Lake Claire is an in town neighborhood within the city limits of Atlanta, GA in DeKalb County on the northeast side. Neighboring communities include Candler Park to the west, Druid Hills to the north, Decatur to the east and Kirkwood to the South. Currently there are 26 homes on the market ranging in price from $189,900 for a 2 bedroom/1 bath home built in 1925 to $999,000 for a renovated 5 bedroom/3 bath home built in 1915.  There are about 1200 homes in the Lake Claire community made up of 37 streets.

 

You won’t find a lake in Lake Claire; the name comes from a combination of the intersection of Lakeshore Drive and Claire Ave. While most of the homes in Lake Claire are older, there are some newer construction homes peppered in. The homes are Craftsman Style, Bungalows, old Victorians with huge front porches and even some modern ones mixed in.

Lake Claire neighborhood schools include Mary Lin Elementary, Inman Middle and Grady High School.

Recreation in Lake Claire includes the community salt water pool.  The initiation fee to join the Lake Claire Pool is $2,500. Annual dues are $300 for individuals and $450 for families. Membership is limited to about 400 families.  The City of Atlanta seems to have parks everywhere, including Lake Claire. Lake Claire Park has tennis courts, playing fields, playground and picnic area.

See Slide Show of Lake Claire.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Lake Claire or around Atlanta GA contact local expert and Realtor Jen Bowman, Broker Associate & e-PRO with Success Realty at 404-456-5024. 

View more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice. 
Search for Atlanta GA homes for Sale

 ---------------

The 37 streets included in Lake Claire neighborhood are Adolphus Street, Almeta Avenue, Arizona Avenue, Azalea Lane, Casson Street, Claire Drive, Clifton Road, Connecticut Avenue, DeKalb Avenue, DeKalb Place, Delaware Avenue, Dogwood Circle, Gordon Avenue, Hampton Terrace, Hardendorf Avenue, Harold Avenue, Harriet Avenue, Holly Springs Terrace, Howard Circle, Indiana Avenue, Ivy Court, Ivy Place, Lake Claire Court, Lakeshore Drive, Leonardo Avenue, Marlbrook Drive, Mathews Avenue, McLendon Avenue, Muriel Avenue, Nelms Avenue, New York Avenue, Oxford Place,

Palifox Drive, Ridgecrest Road, Ridgewood Road, Southerland Terrace and Tuxedo Avenue

People are always asking, what's going on in Real Estate? This report covers the intown Decatur, GA zip code of 30030 condo market.

There are currently 159 active residential attached listings, which means townhomes and condos.  They range in price from $85,500 for a 1 bedroom/1 bath unit at Emory Gardens on Clairmont Ave to a 3 bedroom/3.5 bath at the Artisan on W. Ponce de Leon Ave for $779,900.

3 are in their contingency period for due diligence or financing.

20 are pending contracts, which means they are under contract but not yet closed.

9 closed in June 2009. 

What sold?

3 bedroom/2.5 bath townhome sold at Innsbruck on Ponce de Leon for $107K.

2 bedroom/1.5 bath townhome sold at Decatur Square on Church Street next to Glen Lake Park for $129K.

1 bedroom/1 bath 1 level condo sold at Historic Decatur at 432 Clairemont Ave for $158K/

2 bedroom/2 bath Loft sold at Talley Street Lofts on Talley Street for $179,000.

2 bedroom/2.5 bath townhome sold at Swanton Hill for $221,000.

3 bedroom/2.5 bath townhome sold at Regency 222 on Forkner Drive for $221,000.

3 bedroom/3.5 bath townhome sold at Parkside at Feld on Fairpark Lane for $285,000

3 bedroom/3.5 bath townhome sold at Knob Hill on Church for $335,000.

2 bedroom/2.5 bath one level unit sold at the Clairemont for $450,000.

 Here's the Real Estate Market Report for June 2009 for Single Family Homes in Decatur, GA 30030. 

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Decatur, GA contact local expert and Realtor Jen Bowman, Broker Associate &  e-PRO with Success Realty at 404-456-5024.

View more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice.

Buying a home can be stressful and sometimes overwhelming. After all, it’s not something most people do everyday. Here are some tips that should help.

 

1. Know your price limit.  Get pre-approved with a local and reputable lender. Ask your agent for a referral. Be comfortable with what that number means in terms of payment and include estimated taxes. If you plan to buy in a neighborhood that has HOA dues (Home Owner Association), be sure to factor that in.  
    
2. Make a list of your “Must Haves” and “Nice to Haves”. If you are buying a home with someone else, make sure you are on the same page. Discuss it with each other. Come to an agreement and then share that list with your Real Estate Agent.  Do you really need 5 bedrooms, or is 4 bedrooms and a bonus room for an office what you are looking for?  Do you entertain and like your kitchen open with a view to the family room or is that too distracting for the chef in you and you want a more closed space? Is the basement necessary or will a bonus space for a recreation room work for you? Is a yard with potential for a garden a big deal? If so, you’ll want to make sure the yard gets great sun light. Homes are very individual. Share with your real estate agent how you live.  
    
3. Use Technology to help. Ask your real estate agent set up an Automated Search for you that will send you listings via e-mail that fit your criteria as soon as they hit the market. Many systems have built in mapping and where you can classify the homes into likes, possibilities and dislikes folders. You can enter notes and your agent can do the same.  It’s a great way to keep the homes organized. 
   
   
4. There are lots of homes to view online. Once you see one that you are interested in, Google Earth it.  Trulia has this feature built in under the map tab. You can type in the address of the home you want to see. Then click the “map” tab and “hybrid view” and zoom in. You’ll be able to see what it backs up to or if it’s convenient enough for your commute to work.  Map it too. Is it the right location for schools, work and the activities you enjoy? 
   
   
5. Do a drive by. Why drive by the home before calling your agent to set up an appointment to view it? You may pull up to it and not like the neighborhood, the slope of the yard, the neighboring homes.  Or you may absolutely love it and move it to the top of your must see list!  Driving by it also gives you a chance to check out the neighborhood. What’s it like when school gets out or on the weekends? Stop and talk to the neighbors while they are out in the yard. It’s a great way to get the inside scoop on the neighborhood.  

I hope these tips make your home buying experience a little easier and much more fun!

 

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in and around Atlanta, GA, contact Jen Bowman, Realtor and Broker Associate with Success Realty. www.JenBowman.com 404-456-5024

Follow me on Twitter .  View the Georgia Real Estate Voice.