Welcome Home!

Meet Matt and Janelle and their children Michael and Lauren.  These folks relocated to Georgia from Australia 18 months ago.  The kids were all set in their new schools so the challenge was to find a home in their current neighborhood and/or school system.  Luckily they purchased a home only two houses away from the house they have been renting since their arrival in the USA.  Congratulations to Janelle, Matt, Michael and Lauren!  WELCOME to the USA!  WELCOME to Georgia!  Welcome to Alpharetta and Finally WELCOME HOME!

Call Sara today.

Find Your Dream Home Today Search All Homes For Sale Search Area Homes Homes Close to Where You Work What is Your Home Worth? Sara Hibbard Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers 404-660-2481 sara.hibbard@metrobrokers.com

Congratulations to the Varljen's

The Varljen's have chosen to build in Walnut Grove! 

The Kilburn model -- the house located on the cul-de-sac at Walnut Grove has been sold and is scheduled to close in late April.  

The house across the street from that model has just had the cement poured and will be started / framed soon.  These pictures show the Kilburn inside and a picture across the street / cul-de-sac of the poured cement slab for the new house which will soon be started and under construction.

    

      

Walnut Grove, Alpharetta GA Homes for Sale

Walnut Grove is a new sub-division built by David Weekley Homes in Marietta, GA.  Walnut Grove is located just 1/2 a mile east of downtown Marietta Square where you can walk to 28 restaurants, 68 specialty shops and 3 theaters.  This new neighborhood, inspired by true "small town" southern charm is steeped in history with it's close proximity to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park and several Civil War historical sites and attractions.  In keeping with the integrity of the 1800's period, Walnut Grove will feature custom craftsman-historical style homes with all the new custom features and signature energy-efficient homes that David Weekley Homes is famous for.  Call Sara Hibbard today at 404-660-2481 for a tour of homes and introduction to the neighborhood.  Sara Hibbard is Glad Georgia Real Estate Is On Your Mind!

Are You Ready to Find Your Next Home

Search Area Homes Search All Homes For Sale What is your home worth Sara Hibbard Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers 404-660-2481 sara.hibbard@metrobrokers.com

The Foreclosure Fairy Tale

[caption id="attachment_471" align="aligncenter" width="670" caption="The Foreclosure Fairytale"]

There is a lot of misinformation out there. I would not be surprised to find out that you have heard that a foreclosure is sometimes the best option for you. Nothing could be further from the truth. For the vast majority of homeowners out there who are in danger of losing their homes, a short sale represents a vastly superior option. The reality is that a foreclosure is a devastating option. As a real estate professional with the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, I have put together all of the benefits of a short sale over a foreclosure in a free report that is available to anyone. Take a look at the information on my site http://www.georgia-shortsaleinfo.com/
and then Contact me today and schedule your free, confidential consultation.

    


As an agent with the CDPE® Designation, I have a strong and unique appreciation of the factors affecting the market, and know that there are options available to you. If you would like to know more about your options, please call me at (404) 660-2481. I am here to help … in any way I can. Sara Hibbard

Prestigious Estate in Country Club of the South

1050 Bedford Gardens, Alpharetta, GA Prestigious estate nestled on 6.4 secluded acres iin Country Club of the South Bedrooms: 7 Bathrooms: 8 full, 1 half List Price: $Get Current Price Schedule a Showing Free List of Alpharetta GA Homes for Sale Homes for Sale Homes Close to Where You Work Search All Homes For Sale Alpharetta Ga Homes near Golf Courses SaraHibbard.com What is your home worth See Property Details Office: 404-843-2500 CELL: 404-660-2481 Direct Line: 770-399-8108 FAX: 770-924-5206 Visit Property Website Prestigious estate nestled on 6.4 secluded acres in prestigious CCOS. Outstanding appts thru out make this a comfortable family home as well as a showplace for entertainment. Custom pool w/stone accents & full cabana w/bed/bath & built in grill. Exclusive master ste has custom closets, mini kitchen & soothing bath. Dual floating staircases leading to upper and lower stories. Terr level contains built in aquariums, custom bar, theater rm, recreation, full mirrored workout room o'looking full court basketball court. Shows beautifully. Don't forget the 10 car garage! Curtosy of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers Have questions? Ask me. Courtesy: Sara Hibbard Email Me Now 404-660-2481 Licensed In: GA As a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), I make it my business to know all of the ins-and-outs of the options that are available for people who are in danger of losing their homes and help the challenges head-on. If anyone you know may need my expertise, please have them visit my website http://www.georgia-shortsaleinfo.com/ for a copy of my recent report entitled, “Your Ticket to Freedom from Mortgage Frustration.” Then, have them contact me for a free, confidential consultation to go over their options.

Independence Day

I wish you and your family a very Happy and Safe 4th of July! Don't forget to give thanks for our independence as it truly is the basis of Freedom. Sara Hibbard is a licensed Realtor in the state of Georgia and works mostly in the north Atlanta metro area including but not limited to Acworth, Alpharetta, Canton, Cumming, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Marietta, East Cobb, Powder Springs, Roswell and Woodstock. Sara looks forward to answering your many questions regarding the Atlanta metro real estate market in general and specifics regarding the buying /selling process. Sara also works with families who are struggling financially, owe more than their house is worth. She reaches out to those who simply don't know what to do. Call Sara. She can help you. Sara Hibbard is easily reached at 404-660-2481 or via e-mail at Sara.Hibbard@metrobrokers.com. Sara Hibbard is Glad Georgia Real Estate Is On Your Mind!

Ceiling Fans Need Regular Maintenance Too!

Last week I was touring property with a 1st time home buyer couple. We were discussing the various features of a house that need maintenance, when their 5 year old precocious little boy with big blue eyes and the wisdom of a grandfather looked up and said, "...what about the ceiling fans?" "Do they need maintenance too"? He was so cute, and mature beyond his years, I nearly feel over in amazement. But Hunter was right. Fan's do need maintenance on a regular basis -- especially now when they are being used almost non-stop. So I posed the question to IHI Home Inspections and this is what they told me about ceiling fans. Most people simply clean their fan blades once in a while, and you should consider doing so now -- during this really hot weather. But did you know that ceiling fans in many cases require annual maintenance too? Some ceiling fans are designed to be oiled, some claim to have “lifetime lubrication,” but even those need oil eventually. Those that are designed to be oiled should be done on an annual basis. If you can see motor windings thru the vent holes in the bottom of the fan, or if the fan is older and built with cast iron construction, you probably need to oil it regularly. The tell-tale sign of whether you need to oil the fan annually would be if there is an oil hole on the top of the motor near the downrod, possibly labeled as such. Units that are “sealed” that don’t require regular oiling with have plenty of space in the motor housing, hence you won’t be able to see the motor windings thru the vent holes. Fans that are not designed to be oiled may still require oiling if the bearings become dry- simply turn the blades and if they coast freely you have no issue…. If there is rubbing or grinding, then the unit may need lubrication. Picking your fan oil. Oiling a fan should only be done with 10, 15, or 20 weight non-detergent motor oil. Don’t use a 3 in 1 oil, WD-40, or any lubricant containing detergent as it will gum the bearings. Best place to go is your local auto parts store. For fans with oil holes, fill the reservoir via the oil hole. 1-2 ounces should do it. Fill it up, spin the blades to verify they are moving freely, and you’re good to go. When it comes to fans that are not designed to be oiled, you need to remove the blades and then remove the motor from the ceiling. Remove the motor casing, disassemble the motor itself and you should gain access to the bearings. Oil them thoroughly and reassemble. If you aren’t confident in your abilities to disassemble and reassemble a fan (don’t feel bad…most aren’t!), you can oil the unit oftentimes without disassembly. Simply find the motor shaft where the rotating parts meet the stationary parts. There should be a small seam that is the edge of the bearing- slowly apply oil there and it will run into the bearing. With less expensive models, it’s sometime easier just to replace- but if you have an old cast unit, oiling can keep it running well while maintaining the appeal of your older home. If you have an expensive fan that isn’t designed to be oiled, you can save hundreds over the cost of replacement by dropping about $1.00 worth of motor oil into the bearings. Sara Hibbard is a licensed Realtor in the state of Georgia. Sara assists both buyers and sellers and looks forward to answering your many questions regarding the Atlanta metro real estate market in general or specifics regarding the buying / selling / relocation process. Sara is easily reached at 404-660-2481 or via e-mail at Sara.Hibbard@MetroBrokers.com. Sara is also a specialist in working with distressed home owners who owe more on their home that it is worth, struggling financially and don’t they simply don’t know what to do. If you know a distressed home owner in the Atlanta metro area – have them call SARA at 404-660-2481. Sara Hibbard is Glad Georgia Real Estate Is On Your Mind!

Atlanta Housing Market Summit: “New Homes Are Rebounding”

Atlanta Housing Market Summit: “New Homes Are Rebounding” Atlanta metro Realtors have known it for many months. We are in a "market shift" in the Atlanta metro real estate market. Today, as I write this there are only 46,852 homes on the market on June 19th. Typically by March each year the number of homes on the market climbs to 90,000 homes, by the end of June the number of homes increases to around 110,000 and by the peak of mid-summer that number swells to 150,000 to 170,000 homes on the market in the entire Atlanta metro area. That has not happened this year which is creating a "supply and demand" problem. Inventory is down in every Atlanta metro city. As long as I have been a Realtor, I have never seen less than 90,000 homes on the market in June. So it was interesting last week to hear the latest market statistics at the annual Housing Market Summit held at the Cobb Galleria. In a drastic change from recent years, the Atlanta Housing Market Summit – held on June 13, 2012 at the Cobb Galleria – wasn’t all about doom and gloom in the Atlanta real estate market. In fact, it was just the opposite…good news for Realtors as well as home sellers and buyers in Atlanta. “Everything is improving,” said Steve Palm, President of SmartNumbers. “We’ve turned the corner.” The Summit concentrates on new homes construction, but also covered trends in resales and relocation. Here are some tidbits from the presentation: •New construction has been up year-over-year for the last 4 months, and has posted the best increase since 2006. •Lot prices are up 30% in the 1st quarter of 2012. •Bank sales are falling, while builder sales are growing. •New construction permits are up. The top 5 counties make up around 75% of permits. •The ratio of resale closings to new construction closings is 8.5:1. •The median price of resales has increased over the last two months. •Metro Atlanta currently has 4.8 months supply of inventory, and inventory is currently at the same levels as back in 2000. •New home buyers are mostly buying their 3rd home or higher. The 1st time move-up buyers are continuing to fall, since most can’t sell their current home. •New home buyers are getting older and half of them are transferees. •80% of new home buyers use agents and 80% are also shopping resales. •More than 90% of new home buyers use the internet. •80% of transferees use agents and 60% of those said the agent was the one that found their home. •Of transferees, the most were from Florida with 13%. The next highest was Georgia (moving from south to north or vice versa) with 13%, South Carolina with 7% and Texas with 7%. Other Good News Realtor.org recently ran an article with more information about shrinking inventory. Nationwide, “Inventory of for-sale single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops dropped 20 percent in May compared to year-ago levels, according to data from realtor.com of 146 markets”. Atlanta was one of the top 10 markets with falling inventory over the last year with almost a 40 percent drop. In addition, the median price rose 3.17 percent nationally year-over-year last month. For the latest industry news, don’t forget to check the Industry News section of MetroNet regularly. About the Housing Market Summit The Summit is an invitation-only event held semiannually by SmartNumbers and ViaSearch, which provides residential real estate analysis and forecasting for the metro Atlanta area. Presented by Steve Palm, President of SmartNumbers, and John Hunt, his counterpart at ViaSearch, the Summit is a chance for real estate industry members including agents, brokers, developers and builders to look forward to a brightening real estate market. Sara Hibbard is a Realtor in the Atlanta metro area. Sara is available to answer your many questions anytime at 404-660-2481 or via e-mail at sara@SaraHibbard.com. Sara Hibbard is Glad Georgia Real Estate Is On Your Mind!

Great Home Buy in Alpharetta Ga. at 175 Braided Blanket Bluff

Private, Wooded, Fenced Entertainer's dream

Quick Links Free List of Alpharetta GA Homes for Sale Homes for Sale What is your home worth Search All Homes For Sale FREE List of HUD Homes See Property Details Call: 404-660-2481 for more information on this or any other property. Information valid for the date of this posting only. Please contact us for the most current information and status of this property. Visit Property Website Courtesy : Sara Hibbard sara@sarahibbard.com 404-660-2481 True rustic ranch-style home on level, private, wooded & fully fenced 3/4 acre lot in Johns Creek section of Alpharetta. Entertainer's dream w/ tons of rustic character, exterior stone accents lead to floor to ceiling stone fireplace in living room. Vaulted ceilings, Formal dining room, eat-in kitchen, wet bar, generous size secondary bedrooms, huge master bedroom suite w/walk-in closet, large patio, herb garden in back yard. Brand new refrigerator, new roof in 2003, new Air Conditioning in 2011. 175 BRAIDED BLANKET BLUFF , Alpharetta, GA 30022 3 Bedrooms Bathrooms: 2 full List Price : Get Current Price Living Area Approx :1898 I want to see this property. More Great Woodstock GA and Surrounding area homes for sale.

Sara J. Hibbard ABR, e-pro, Relocation Specialist, REO/Foreclosure Specialist (REOS) Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers 265 Parkway 575 Woodstock, GA 30188 Office: 404-843-2500 CELL: 404-660-2481 Direct Line: 770-399-8108 FAX: 770-924-5206 sara.hibbard@metrobrokers.com www.sarahibbard.com www.sarahibbardrealestate.com Follow My Blog: www.georgiarealestateonmymind.blogspot.com We are not the listing agent for all of the Atlanta area homes listed here. No agent is. But we assist unrepresented buyers and provide short sale help to sellers at NO CHARGE! If you are NOT working with an agent, contact us, register for free, save searches, and know all about the new listings when the agents do!

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