Homestead Exemption

If you purchased a home in 2013, you may qualify for Homestead Exemption

The homestead exemption 

reduces the taxable value of your 

home provided: 

• The home is occupied by the 

homeowner on January 1, and

• The homeowner applies for 

the homestead exemption in the 

county in which the property is 

located.

The deadline to file for homestead 

exemption in most Georgia 

counties is March 1st.

A homestead exemption is very 

important for you as it may mean 

you have to pay less tax on your 

property.

To be granted homestead 

exemption, you must file 

an application with the tax 

commissioner's office in your 

county. In some counties the 

tax assessor's office has been 

designated to receive applications 

for the homestead exemption

METRO ATLANTA COUNTY TAX ASSESSORS

CHEROKEE COUNTY

2782 Marietta Hwy, Ste. 200

Canton, GA 30114

678-493-6120

COBB COUNTY

736 Whitlock Ave., Ste. 200

Marietta, GA 30064

770-528-3100

DEKALB COUNTY

120 W. Trinity Place 

Room 208

Decatur, Georgia 30030

404-371-2479

FORSYTH COUNTY

110 E. Main Street, Ste. 260 

Cumming, GA 30040

770-781-2106

FULTON COUNTY

404-612-6440

City of Atlanta:

141 Pryor Street SW, #2052 

Atlanta, GA 30303

North Fulton:

3155 Royal Drive, Ste. 165

Alpharetta, Ga. 30004

Sandy Springs

7741 Roswell Road NE

Sandy Springs, GA 30350

South Fulton:

5600 Stonewall Tell Rd

College Park, GA 30349

GWINNETT COUNTY

75 Langley Drive

Lawrenceville, GA 30046

770-822-7212

MOVE-UP BUYING GETS EASIER

Many homeowners have been sitting idly, biding their time for the right moment to buy a larger, more upgraded home. Until very recently, move-up buying seemed impossible since home prices were declining and home sales were slow. The market has transitioned where the values in North Atlanta are steadily improving and homes are selling in less time. So, now move-up buyers are faced with the possibility of a quick sale on their own home, but have nowhere to land without using temporary housing. There are ways to buy first and sell your current home later. Strong buyers with good credit and assets may qualify to buy their new home, using a first and second mortgage.  Later, in their preferred timeframe, they would be able to sell the original home - ultimately using the proceeds to eliminate that second mortgage. There are even lending options called renovation loans for buying fixer-uppers without having to sacrifice a lot cash. A new gourmet kitchen, luxury master bath or a needed addition are all possible utilizing this product. Sounds complicated but, it is not with the right Realtor® and lender team in place and it can make long-term financial sense as well. Some of the higher price points are still a bit soft in certain areas, offering buyers good values. And, as market values continue to appreciate, the greater basis of a higher priced home, provides opportunities for enhanced gains once that home sells years down the road. Of course, it is not a guarantee but, worth consideration. The first step is to contact an experienced, licensed Realtor® who can connect you with a qualified lending professional. Working together, you can establish your home value, loan amount qualification, target communities for purchase and expected prices. Next, the fun part begins…finding your dream home!

Eve Jones

JUMP START YOUR HOME SALE

A little known fact: the first three weeks are the most critical when selling your home. Why is that? Because new listings initially generate a lot of excitement among agents and buyers. There are many buyers out there waiting for the right home to magically appear on the market. And, agents are checking the multiple listing service “hot sheets” (new listings) every day. With all this attention, you had better be ready! There’s a saying in our business, “real estate is a beauty contest”. I’d like to add to that, “and, beauty is only skin deep”. Yes, your home should be clean, clutter-free and hopefully, updated but, beneath the surface are some of the most important features of a home; mechanical/HVAC systems, roof, structural integrity, siding and trim condition, hot water heaters, windows etc. This is the non-sexy stuff that, if left to chance, can kill a deal. Many of the homes in North Fulton are advancing to 20+ years in age and require maintenance and systems replacements. Some sellers mistake replacing an 18 year old HVAC unit or replacing/painting wood rot for an “upgrade”. These are not upgrades. They are simply maintenance (and, the joys of home ownership!). Buyers do not want to fix your problems that should have been addressed long ago. Here’s where a full-service Realtor can really earn his/her commission on the front-end of a sale by finding an inspector who can help you identify issues before you get all those agents and buyers excited about your home! And, that agent will have reliable contractors to do the repairs. This is the “putting the horse before the cart” approach to selling and the thing that may keep the buyer “in-love” with your home all the way to the closing table.

 

 

300 Morton Manor Court, Johns Creek, GA 30022

Offered at $499,900

 

 

 

 

Click here for Virtual Tour

4-SIDED BRICK HOME IN CUL-DE-SAC WITH LARGE, LEVEL, PRIVATE YARD.  OPEN FLOORPLAN WITH UPDATED KITCHEN AND MASTER BATH. FRESH PAINT INSIDE AND OUT. JOHNS CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD OF 53 HOMES WITH SWIM/TENNIS. TWO STORY FOYER, BEDROOM WITH PRIVATE BATH ON MAIN. HARDWOODS ON MAIN WITH PLANTATION  SHUTTERS. FINISHED TERRACE LEVEL WITH WALL OF WINDOWS. CONVENIENT TO GA400 AND GA141. Schools: State Bridge Crossing, Taylor Road and Chattahoochee High School.

Milton named best in state, All N.F. Cities in top 20

Milton named best in state, 9 in south All N.F. Cities in top 20

 

by Jonathan Copsey

write the author

December 12, 2011

MILTON, GA. - Milton has been named the ninth best city in the Southeast and the best overall in Georgia.

The results come from a survey compiled by The Business Journals, a Charlotte, N.C.-based collection of business publications and websites, which includes the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

The report's author, G. Scott Thomas, said he analyzed 3,764 cities throughout the country, searching for places that have "healthy economies, light traffic, moderate costs of living, impressive housing stocks and strong educational systems."

Nationally, Milton ranked 37

The other North Fulton cities ranked high on the list, each making the top ten in the state. Of Georgia cities, John Creek ranked second, Alpharetta was fourth and Roswell eighth. Mountain Park was 17.
West University Place, Tex, home of Rice University, placed first in the south.

Thomas said the raw numbers used came from the five-year version of the U.S. Census Bureau's 2009 American Community Survey. Milton's 2009 estimated population was 15,572.

Taste of Johns Creek on Tap This Weekend

Taste of Johns Creek
Where/When: Chattahoochee High School, 5230 Taylor Road, Johns Creek, Sunday, Sept. 25, 4-7 p.m.
Why Go?: Unlimited samples from 50 participating restaurants as well as entertainment and activities. Proceeds benefit the football team and stadium with new uniforms and capital improvements for the 4AAAA state-champion Chattahoochee Cougars.
Price: $20 at the door

Bethany Bend High School Site Draft Plan Map

North Fulton Redistricting Draft Maps for the high school and middle school have been posted on the Fulton Schools website.  There is summary of the draft plan, a flow chart of the feeder pattern and also a summary of the projected enrollment.

http://fultonschools.org/redistricting/bethany/Packet_Round3_online.pdf

Dolphin exhibit at Georgia Aquarium opening in April

After nearly three years of planning and construction and one postponed opening, Georgia Aquarium's $110 million dolphin attraction will open April 2. The exhibit will include interactive displays about conservation efforts and a 25-foot-long underwater viewing window that guests will encounter on their way to the main draw: a theatrical show with live actors, Broadway-style theatrics and heavy production values.

 

 

 

Nine Fulton County high schools named best in Atlanta

Georgia’s wintry weather may have temporarily dominated news headlines, but nine high schools in the Fulton County School System are ready to take their place in the spotlight after being named to Atlanta Magazine’s annual list of “Best High Schools.” The magazine compared course offerings, facilities, extracurricular activities, awards and national test performance. Results were reported across a broad spectrum of categories to include general academics, math, science, language arts, performing/visual arts and sports.

Additionally, the magazine compiled a list of “Top All-Around” achievers, which are schools that made the cut in all categories. Of the 16 “All-Around” finalists, four were from Fulton County, while nine were private schools and three were other public schools. The following is a listing of the categories and the Fulton County high schools recognized. Roswell High School’s “Quidditch Club” – a game made popular by the Harry Potter movies – was profiled in the magazine in addition to other clubs and programs unique to Fulton County high schools. 


The January 2011 edition of Atlanta Magazine is on newsstands now.