Everything Dekalb County, GA

Now is the time to file your Homestead Exemption.  If you bought your home in 2008 and lived in it January 1st as your primary legal residence, you can file between now and March 1.  Once you file, that's it, don't have to do it again every year.

For Dekalb County residents filing is easily done on-line: Dekalb County Tax Commissioner

When filing your taxes this year, be sure to get the proper tax credits for closing costs etc. from your HUD settlement statement that you received at closing. 

------------------------

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor and Broker Associate with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Metro Atlanta, GA. 404-456-5024

This seems to be a pretty popular topic this week from the emails and phone calls I have been getting off line. So, I will elaborate a little more on what I have found out.

See my previous post for early voting locations.

Lines are long, probably no surprise there. I went to the 330 West Ponce de Leon location in downtown Decatur on Wednesday morning about 10:30 a.m. It took an hour and a half. Most of the waiting was outside, so remember to dress appropriately for the weather. It was cold! I saw people with books, magazines, IPodsand knitting to keep them busy. Personally, I was busy on my Blackberrymost of the time.

Jay, my eyes on the street in Dunwoody reported back to me that he went over to the Liane Levetan Park location around 11:30 a.m. He said that it was pretty much a mob scene and didn't even bother to park.Thank you Jay for the feedback! 

While most of us know who is running for President, there are someother issues we are voting on that are lesser known. There are Proposed Constitutional Amendments.

They are as follows:

1-To encourage the preservation of Georgia's Forests through a conservation use property tax reduction program.

2-To authorize local school districts to use tax funds for community redevelopment purposes.

3-To authorize the creation of special infrastructure development districts providing infrastructure to underserved areas.

Dekalb County has Referendums.

This is Senate Bill #52. Shall the Act be approved which increaseshomestead exemption from City of Atlanta and ad valorem taxes formunicipal purposes from $15,000 to $30,000 after a 3 year phase inperiod?

Vote Yes or No

Dekalb County Board of Education Nonbinding Advisory Referendum House Bill # 712

Should the Dekalb County Board of Education require that students in kindergarten through 5th grades wear uniforms?

Vote Yes or No

Then there are several more for City of Atlanta residents in Dekalb, Doraville and Clarkston residents.

Want more details? Check out the . If the link doesn't work go to: 

https://dklbweb.dekalbga.org/voter/pdf/SB110408.pdf (sorry experiencing technical difficulties)

Here are the numbers from the Dekalb Early Voting.

                          Monday       Tuesday

Memorial Drive     3954           3997

330 West Ponce    1722           2205

Lithonia                1756           2031

North Lake           2042           2136

Dunwoody            1950           2205

South Dekalb       1968           2191

So, at the end of Tuesday 103,665 voters have taken advantage of early voting in Dekalb County, GA.I did speak to a Poll worker and she told me that Memorial Drive was the busiest, but it is also one of the biggest locations. I think I counted 20 voting machines in downtown Decatur at 330 West Ponce de Leon. I have also been advised that there is less waiting if you get to the polls before they open, for example at 6:30 a.m.  

Remember that if you don't do early voting, more locations will be open on Election Day. Also, if you are voting on Election Day, please try to bring canned goods for the community food banks Vote for Hope Canned Food Drive at participating locations. 

-----------------------------

Contact Jen Bowman, Realtor and local expert for all your real estate needs in Decatur and Metro Atlanta GA. 404-456-5024 www.JenBowman.com. View my Intown Living Blog.

Advance Voting is available in Dekalb County, GA.  You don't need to have a reason to vote early, you  can just do it with proper identification. 

During Advance Voting, registered DeKalb County voters may cast their ballot in person Monday through Friday, October 27th-31st from 7:00 am- 7:00 pm, at any of the following locations:

*Memorial Drive Complex
4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300 Decatur, Georgia 30032

*330 West Ponce deLeon Avenue, Room A Decatur, Georgia  30030

*Lithonia Middle School
2451 Randall Avenue Lithonia, Georgia  30058
 
*DeKalb County Fire Headquarters
1950 West Exchange Place, Training Conference Room Tucker, Georgia  30084
 
*Liane Levetan Park at Brook Run
4770 North Peachtree Road Dunwoody, Georgia  30338
 
*South DeKalb Senior Center
1931 Candler Road Decatur, Georgia  30030

Voting on Election Day, November 4th
If you do not vote early, you may vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, 2008. Polls will be open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.  

Voter ID Requirements
Voters participating in the election during Advance Voting week or on Election Day will be required to show 1 of the following 6 forms of photo ID:

* A Georgia driver's license, even if expired
* Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar or Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)
* Valid U.S. passport
* Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state
* Valid U.S. military photo ID
* Valid tribal photo ID

Vote, But Don't Promote
Please remember to not wear shirts, caps, stickers or any item with a candidate's name or likeness on it when going to vote. These items are not permitted at polling places and poll workers will turn away anyone wearing such items.

By the way, I voted early at the downtown Decatur location on Tuesday morning at 10:30, it took an hour and a half.  My husband went on Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m and took less than an hour.
--------------------------------

Jen Bowman is a Realtor with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Atlanta GA. She can be reached at 404-456-5024. www.JenBowman.com

Did you know that there is Down Payment Assistance available for 1st Time Home Buyers in Dekalb County? Applications are now being accepted for the DeKalb County First-Time Homebuyer Program, funded by the DeKalb County Community Development Department and administered by the Housing Authority of DeKalb County.

Here’s how it works: All eligible applicants will receive $5,000 towards their down payment, closing costs, or other prepaid expenses. Those who successfully improve their FICO credit scores to 620 or higher may receive up to $8,000.

What are the maximum annual income limits?

Household of 1----$39,850

Household of 2----$45,550

Household of 3----$51,250

Household of 4----$56,950

Household of 5----$61,500

Household of 6----$66,050

Household of 7--- $70,650

Household of 8+- $75,200

What is the maximum purchase price? The purchase price of the home cannot exceed $160,000.

 Who is eligible? First-time homebuyers that have not owned a home during the last 3 years are eligible. Displaced homemakers and single parents may also qualify. Successful applicants must meet maximum income guidelines, be creditworthy, participate in home ownership pre-purchase counseling, and plan to purchase a single-family home anywhere in DeKalb County, outside the city limits of Atlanta. Homes must be up to all DeKalb County codes at the time of purchase.

What is the first step to apply? Applicants must first attend a workshop with one of the approved counseling agencies listed below.

How will my credit history affect eligibility?Applicants must be credit-worthy as determined by one of the program’s participating lenders. Judgments, garnishments, bankruptcy, collections or too many bills may affect your ability to qualify for a loan.

Is any other assistance available? Qualified buyers may be eligible for $5,000-$20,000 in additional funds through the Georgia Dream Homeownership program, under the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

Please note: Housing counseling with an approved agency is the 1st step to enter this program.

If you already have a contract on a house at the time of application, please be aware that your closing date must be at least 45 days away in order to complete processing. Because of the many HUD rules and regulations, this program may not be for you if you have already signed a contract on a home.

How much cash must buyers contribute? Buyers must contribute 1% of the total purchase price.

A certificate of completion can be obtained by attending classes and individualized counseling that will prepare you to make an informed choice when you purchase your home.Topics covered in the classes include:

• How to get a mortgage
• Money for down payment
• Planning for homeownership responsibilities
• Evaluating your ability to afford a home
• Types of financing available
• Budgeting and credit
• Understanding your FICO score
• Avoiding foreclosure

Following class completion, you will also be required to sit down with a certified housing counselor who will go over your own personal situation and advise you on the best way to proceed to become a new homeowner in a way that works out best for you. Class times and locations will vary by the counseling agency, so call now to enroll in a class that fits your schedule.

Approved Housing Counseling Agencies

·         Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Greater Atlanta 1-888-239-8516, ask Operator for the DeKalb County 1st Time Homebuyer Program,Referral code 098 www.cccsinc.org

·         DeKalb Metro Housing Counseling Center  404-508-0922  e-mail: dmhcc@bellsouth.net

·         Green Forest Community Development Corporation 404-486-5768  www.gfcdc.org

·         D&E, A Financial Education & Training Institute, Inc. 770-961-6900  www.depower.org

·         Housing Authority of DeKalb County 404-270-2600  www.dekalbhousing.org

·         Urban Hope Homeownership Center 770-696-9607 www.urbanhope.com

·         Reynoldstown CDC 404-525-4130 ext. 15 www.reynoldstown.org

·         1st Choice Credit Union 404-832-5800 x16 –www.1stchoicecu.org

·         HomeFree-USA 404-607-0800  www.homefreeusa.org

If you are considering buying or selling a home in Dekalb County, GA contact Jen Bowman, Realtor, Success Realty at 404-456-5024 or online at www.JenBowman.com.

I recently listed a home in Dekalb County, GA where we have 143 schools and centers, that's not including colleges and universities.  I wasn't sure of the particular school that new young residents of the home would go to. So, I did what most real estate agents do. I went to the Local Multiple Listing Service and looked at other listings in the subdivision.  I was quite surprised that I found 5 different elementary schools listed for the subdivision.  I knew that couldn't be right.  So I went to the Dekalb County Schools website and looked it up by address of the home I was listing.  The home owner didn't have children in school, so I didn't even ask if she knew the schools.

When you are purchasing a home, you need to know what school your children will attend. You'll need to go here: Dekalb County Schools

Do not just go by what the Listing tells you in regard to the school.  90% of the listings showed incorrect schools in  the particular subdivision I was looking at.  Yes, 18 out of 20 listings had inaccurate info. As a professional Realtor, I found this shocking.  I realize that many homebuyers buy a home in a particular place because of the school. If one of the reasons you are buying a home is based on the school your child will attend, go the extra mile. Verify the school through the School District's website. Due diligence is critical.  That is just another reason why a Home Buyer should have representation with a Buyers Agent who can watch out for these things.

Jen Bowman

Success Realty

www.JenBowman.com

404-456-5024

Realtor in Decatur, GA