Sharpsburg, GA

It has always been a curiosity of mine, when do Christmas lights go up on the outside of a house and when do you take them down?

It's not an easy consideration. After all, if you go to a lot of trouble to put them up, you want to enjoy then for more than a few days.

Not surprisingly, I have made an extensive study of this issue and find that the majority are turned on two weeks before Christmas. The peak is the weekend before Christmas, as some people leave town and the lights go out!

In the South, we have a dilemma. Old time Southerners believe it's bad luck to have the Christmas decorations up on New Year's Day, so many go down the day after Christmas. Yankee transplants like me insist on them burning through the holidays and sometimes beyond!

For me, typically they're up the weekend after Thanksgiving through the day after New Years. We enjoy the decorations so longer is better. For the first time this year they went up the weekend BEFORE Thanksgiving.

Just wondering how this varies throughout the land and beyond. What do you do about decorating? When do yours go up and when do you take them down?

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of ERA United Realty and Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2008.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and Lake West Point Lots.

Here is a great USDA "apples to apples" comparison. A Guaranteed USDA 100% loan offers the home buyer the most affordable payment, less out of pocket cost, and usually the most competitive 30 year fixed rate in the market.

This 100% Guaranteed loan payment includes the 2% funding fee that is rolled into the loan. The following is based on a $175,000 loan at a 6% interest rate.

• No PMI loans at 8% with a 30 Year term = $1284
• Freddie 100 = $1189
• My Community = $1135
• 5% down conventional ($8750 + MI) = $1105
• FHA 3% down ($5250 + UFMIP + MI) = $1105
• 40 year loan + MI = $1103
• Flex 97 ($5250 + MI) = $1091
• 80/20, 80: 6% 30 yr loan 20: 7.5% 30 yr loan = $1084 (hard to get anymore)
• 100% USDA plus 2% Fee with NO MI = $1070

Many of the products from above will not have a comparable fixed rate. They will be higher.

Have a nice day.

Justin Messer

We provide USDA home loans in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina.

The voter turnout at the A.O. Bridges Community Center in Sharpsburg was extremely heavy in Tuesday's general election! Area voters filled parking lots and grassy area throughout the city and queued up to wait for an opportunity to cast their ballots.

The long wait was mitigated by the glory of a gorgeous fall day, with bright warm sunshine dancing off of the beautifully colored leaves. The crowd was patient and orderly.

Other area voting precincts also reported much higher than average voter turnout. The interest of the electorate in this election is being demonstrated throughout Georgia as well. The polls are open until 7:00 P.M. and anyone in line at that time will be allowed to vote.

Voting is a privilege. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to have a say in the future of America.

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of ERA United Realty and Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2008.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and Lake West Point Lots.

Nestled in the middle of Atlanta's suburban sprawl, Old Town Sharpsburg Georgia has an interesting collection of historic buildings that allow us to imagine what the town must have looked like in times past.

During the heyday of cotton, Sharpsburg was an important center for farmers who wanted to get their crops to market. In the 19th century, Sharpsburg had merchants and all sorts of service businesses.

More importantly, in 1870, the Savannah, Griffin & North Alabama Railroad was completed and more importantantly, constructed a depot in Sharpsburg. This brought everything the farmers needed in the form of merchandise and implements, as well as providing transportation to Griffin and Newnan.

While a lot has changed since then, many of the historic buildings remain. The railroad is now operated by the Norfolk Southern, but Old Town Sharpsburg is now relegated to a few antique and collectible shops.

A semi-annual flea market and festival still draws crowds to Sharpsburg for food, fun and bargain hunting. But on the average day, it's very quiet. But for now, it remains a living museum of the past!

Richard Weisser, Broker, Associate Broker, Auctioneer, E-Pro, CE Instructor Era United Realty, Newnan Georgia, Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc. Serving Coweta, Fayette, Heard, Meriwether, South Fulton, Pike and Spalding Counties 770-827-6225, 770-683-8400 X364, 770-683-8401 (FAX) All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2008.