Crape Myrtle Trees

More Great Information Posted By:  www.SaraHibbard.com

If you're a northerner thinking about relocating to the south or the Atlanta metro area, you may have already noticed some "strange" trees that are indigenous to the south and the tropics.

This time of year, yes, you're right, CRAPE MYRTLE trees look a little strange.  But come summer time, they fill out and look beautiful.

When I first relocated from Ohio and the Boston area to Atlanta, I was mesmerized by these incredible trees.  Over time I've learned there are probably more than 50 species of these deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs that are cultivated around the world and in warmer climates including the Atlanta metro area.  These trees fill a variety of landscaping needs.  Crape Myrtles are known for their long colorful and long-lasting flowers as well as their bark that sheds throughout the year.  Most Crape Myrtle species have sinewy, fluted stems and branches with a mottled appearance that arises from having bark that sheds.  In the pictures above, you'll notice how smooth the bark looks and it actually feels very smooth too.

The flowers are born in the autumn and summer in panicles of crinkled flowers with a crape like texture.  Colors vary from deep purple, to red, white and with every shade in between.  My favorite colors are the deep purple variety and the deep rose variety. 

There is great debate over whether or not to cut the trees back in the winter months.  I have heard landscapers say that if you cut the trees back in the fall, they will be more lush, thicker and more abundant with buds and color during the summer and fall.  Yet, some landscapers frown on this idea too, while others claim that it is best to prune and cut these trees back every other year or on a rotating year to year basis.  Regardless, as I drive around the Atlanta metro area, it looks as though most trees have been cut way back this year -- and as strange as it may look now, this will yield beauty beyond description this summer.   Sometimes, I actually marvel at how sparse these trees appear during the winter and how majestic and beautiful they look during the summer.

Everyone seems to love Crape Myrtle trees.  You will too! 

Sara Hibbard is a licensed Realtor in the state of Georgia working mainly in the north Atlanta metro area.  Originally from Ohio, Sara relocated to Atlanta in February 1994 after living for 18 years in the Boston area.  Although she misses both Ohio and New England, Sara has embraced Atlanta and the south and loves sharing her interest of indigenous southern trees and shrubs with prospective clients.  Call Sara anytime at 404-660-2481 or e-mail her at Sara@SaraHibbard.com.   You can visit her website at www.SaraHibbard.com. 

Sara Hibbard is Glad Georgia Real Estate Is On Your Mind!

FHA to Raise Mortgage Insurance Premiums on April 1, 2012

Another Posting By:  www.sarahibbard.com

Judy Jones, Vice President of Metro Home Mortgage tells me HUD announced this month that they were raising the Mortgage Insurance Premiums (MIP) effective April 1, 2012. The Upfront MIP is changing from 1% to 1.75% and the Annual MIP is changing from .90% to 1.25%.

Before you panic about this bad news… the bottom line is that on a $100,000 FHA base loan amount, the payment will increase less than $7 per month as a result of both MIP premium increases.
The increase will affect only new loans with FHA Case numbers ordered on or after April 1, 2012.

There are two types of Mortgage Insurance on FHA loans:

If It's Wednesday, It Must Be Market Conditions Wednesday!

Posted By: www.SaraHibbard.com

Yes, it's time for another market conditions report.  Today, the focus is on the city of Cumming, GA.

Today, Cumming is experiencing new and sustained growth. The completion of Georgia 400 has helped turn Cumming into a commuter town for Atlanta. The city holds the Cumming Country Fair & Festival every October. The Sawnee Mountain Preserve also provides views of the city from the top of Sawnee Mountain.  In 1956, Buford Dam, along the Chattahoochee River, started operating. The reservoir that it created is called Lake Lanier.  The lake, is a popular spot for boaters and has generated income from tourists for Cumming as well as provided a source of drinking water for the Atlanta metro area

Today, as I write this, there is a total of 44,005 home listed and on the market in the entire Atlanta metro area including homes for sale in Cumming.  This number has been climbing during the past week and it finally looks as though people are starting to put their homes on the market.  A week ago, this number was hovering around 43,000 homes on the market which has actually created the beginning of a supply and demand problem for metro Atlanta (believe it or not).  

Likewise, in Cumming, there is a total of 917 actively listed homes on the market today.

There are 121 properties listed at or above $500,000 in Cumming today.  The highest priced property listed today in Cumming is listed at $2.65 million and offers the discriminating home buyer 6 bedrooms, 5 full and 1 half bathrooms.  Situated on a little over 1/2 acre of land, this stunning home offers all the elegant upgrades you'd expect and dramatic views of Lake Lanier.

Currently there are 41 homes in Cumming listed at or Under $100,000.  The lowest priced property available today in Cumming is listed at $19,000 for a 3 bedroom/2 full bathroom mobile home on a large lot.

Homes are selling in Cumming.  Today, there are 402 homes PENDING SALE in Cumming. 

Since January 1st 2012, a total of 327 homes have SOLD and CLOSED in Cumming to date.  Prices of SOLD properties ranged from a high of $1.299 million to a low of 36 homes SOLD and closed UNDER $100,000.  The lowest priced property sold went for $24,900 for a complete restoration project property. 

Sara Hibbard is a licensed Realtor in the state of Georgia.  If you're interested in the latest real estate statistics in your neighborhood, zip code or school district, give Sara Hibbard a phone call.  Sara will be happy to give you the latest breakdown of statistics and an idea of the competitive value of your home.  Sara is easily reached at 404-660-2481 or via e-mail at sara@SaraHibbard.com.  Visit Sara at her website located at www.SaraHibbard.com. 

Sara Hibbard is Glad Georgia Real Estate Is On Your Mind! 

When It's Time To Purchase a New Family Throne

It’s a scary thing when your once dependable family “throne”, or “porcelain God” shows the first signs of refusal for the job it was hired to do.

It happened to me recently. 

The problem seemed to evolve over several weeks.  One morning, after taking a shower, I realized all the water in the toilet tank seemed to drain all by itself while leaving water in the toilet bowl.  But, there was no leak.  I was confused as to where the water was going.  Luckily one of my neighbors is a plumber.   While I was fretting that it might be time to purchase a new set of toilets for the house, Dan determined I just needed a $7 replacement and 10 minutes to complete the job.  I was of course relieved, but that begged the question, how do you buy a toilet?  What do you do?  What do you ask?  What are the necessary considerations when it’s time to replace the “throne”?

Although it’s arguably the most used feature in the whole house, most of us never think about what makes one toilet different from another.  When buying a new car, we all know for example, the difference between a Ford Mustang and a Chevrolet Camaro, but we don’t necessarily know about the features available when buying a toilet….or perhaps what questions to ask when considering the purchase of a new family “throne”. 

When I was thinking that I might have to investigate the possibilities of a replacement toilet, I learned that models range from very basic equipment to a truly royal flush. 

There’s truly a lot to consider, but to keep this column short, here are some very basic considerations:

1.        Choose from traditional two-piece toilets (from $80) that have tank and bowl bolted together, low-profile one-piece toilets (from $200), and easy-to-clean wall-mount tankless ones (from $250).

2.       Pick your throne with comfort and space in mind.  Narrow spaces favor round bowls, but elongated bowls provide another 2 inches of support.  Seat heights (believe it or not) range from 10 inches for kids to the standard 14 to 15 inches for adults and the wheelchair accessible 17 to 18 inches.

3.       Choose a flush action.  All new toilets use 1.6 gallons of water to flush.  Affordable gravity-fed toilets (typical in most homes) run water from the tank into the bowl to create a siphon that drains waste.  Pressure-assisted toilets (add $100) use compressed air to propel water and expel water with noisy turbo-like force (think airplane).

4.       Look for extras like built-in pump to boost water pressure, and a 3-inch flush valve and 2 inch trap-way to clear the bowl quicker.

I learned too, assuming money is no object, that you can treat yourself to heated toilet seats, deodorizer fans and bidet-style spray and dry devices.  Even self-closing lids reduce noise and arguments. 

Luckily, I was able to skate away with a $7 fix, but if something happens in the future requiring a replacement of the household thrones at my house, I know a little more than I did a month ago about the questions to ask and what to consider when making my next toilet purchase. 

Sara Hibbard is a licensed Realtor in the state of Georgia.   Sara specializes in assisting home buyers relocating to the Atlanta metro area, first time buyers, Active Adults and Investors.  Call Sara with your many real estate related questions at 404-660-2481.  E-mail her at Sara@SaraHibbard.com or visit her website at www.SaraHibbard.com.  Sara Hibbard is Glad Georgia Real Estate Is On Your Mind!     

Thinking About Renting Your Home?

Another post from www.SaraHibbard.com

Lately I have had a lot of folks inquire about the possibility of renting their home. 

There are many reasons why homeowners choose to get into the rental market. Many choose to rent out their homes while waiting for the market to improve. Some homeowners want to generate rental income from a second home or vacation property. Still others find themselves with multiple properties in hand after large life events, such as marriage, relocation, or inheritance.

Regardless of the reasons for getting into the business of renting properties, it’s important to get started on the right foot. That involves asking yourself some hard questions, doing your research, calling in the experts, and even putting in some elbow grease to get your property ready for the rental market. Here’s a quick guide to what’s involved.

Mull it over
Owning a rental property is much more than just collecting payments every month. As a landlord, you are legally responsible for providing a safe, livable home for your tenants, as well as maintaining the property with timely repairs. Consider that owning and maintaining rental properties is running a business. Ensure that you have the time, resources, skills, and patience for the often-unpredictable nature of the industry.  If you don't have the time for this, you'll want to consider having a Property Management company conduct the "management" of your property.

Do your research
Take a long, hard look at your rental unit and write a list of its attributes, including square footage, neighborhood, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, amenities, and yard size. Then, search for comparable units online to get a good idea for how much you’ll be able to charge.   A Realtor can help you with this research.

Number crunching
Once you know how much you’ll be able to charge for your rental property, consider additional costs, such as the increased price of homeowners’ insurance, the cost of maintenance and repairs, unanticipated damage by occupants, carrying costs between tenants, and advertising, to name a few.

To outsource, or not to outsource?
If you are interested in renting your property, but don’t want to fulfill the role of landlord, consider hiring a property management company. In exchange for a monthly fee, property managers will find and screen tenants, serve as the main point of contact for occupants, manage repairs, collect rent payments, and tackle other duties.

Consult a lawyer and accountant
Rental income must be reported on your taxes, but some expenses may be tax deductible. Consult a qualified accountant to explore the potential financial gains and losses that come with renting property.

Additionally, consult a real estate attorney in your local area. While you may be able to find sample rental contracts online, a lawyer who is familiar with laws and regulations in your local area will make sure that the lease agreement your tenants will sign is legal, appropriate, and protects you in case of unexpected events.

Prepare the property
Lastly, get the property itself ready for listing. This can mean tasks as minor as removing your personal belongings, or more substantial improvements like upgrading appliances and painting. If you’re utilizing a property management company, ask them for tips on how to get your property rental ready.

With good preparation, consultations from experts, and an honest look at the finances involved, homeowners can find renting property to be a beneficial way to increase income, delay selling a home until the market improves, or cover costs associated with owning multiple properties.

Sara Hibbard is a licensed Realtor in the state of Georgia.  Sara looks forward to discussing the possibility regarding renting your property when the time is right for you.  This will make sense for some people and will clearly not be an option for others.  Let's discuss the pros and cons as it relates to your unique situation.  Sara is easily reachable at 404-660-2481 or via e-mail at Sara@SaraHibbard.com.  Visit Sara at www.SaraHibbard.com.  

When Should You Buy A New Heating & Cooling System?

I recently received some information from COBB EMC which addresses the question of when you should consider purchasing a new heating and cooling system.

I am well aware that deciding when to purchase a new system can be difficult for home owners.  Energy experts with COBB EMC offer the following considerations and advice that may help you to make the decision and determine if the time is right for you to take the plunge. 

If a heating or cooling system is less than 20 years old, it should still have life left in it.  Homeowners can expect as many as 20 to 25 years of service from properly installed and maintained heating equipment.  To help make this long service life a reality, have your system inspected annually.  If it is more than 10 years old, place it on an annual maintenance program.  Good preventive maintenance will ensure the system runs safely and efficiently for a long time. 

Eventually an older system may need to be replaced.  You should replace your heating or cooling system when it is no longer cost effective to keep it in good working order.  Your system has reached this point if the following statement is true:

• The equipment is unsafe and can't be repaired.  An unsafe condition can sometimes develop in an older furnace.  This occurs when cracks or leaks develop in the heat exchanger, which keeps the hot exhaust gases separate from the warm air that circulates through the ductwork and house.  When there is a leak in the heat exchanger, poisonous gases and carbon monoxide can accumulate in the house.

If your heating or cooling system needs to be replaced, consider an Energy Matters Home Improvement Loan.  COBB EMC and GEMC Federal Credit Union have partnered to offer you a fast and economical way to finance energy-efficient home improvements.  For more information and lists of COBB EMC - approved contractors and all eligible improvements, call 770-429-2111.

Sara Hibbard is a licensed Realtor in Georgia and lives in the north Atlanta metro area.  Contact Sara with your many questions regarding the Atlanta metro real estate market in general or specifics regarding the relocation / buying / selling process.  Sara is easily reachable at 404-660-2481 or via e-mail at Sara@SaraHibbard.com.  Visit Sara's website at www.SaraHibbard.com.

Sara Hibbard is Glad Georgia Real Estate Is On Your Mind!