If you listen to the evening news, I'm sure you've heard about possible property tax increases in several Georgia counties as well as the City of Atlanta. I was visiting the Dekalb County Tax Commissioner's website today and the following information was posted...
Dekalb County Tax Commissioner Claudia G. Lawson says "homeowners should brace themselves for additional property taxes this year and the next. The State Homestead Tax Relief Grant that funded an increased homestead exemption for homeowners for the last several years will not be available this year."
"Declining state revenues during the current recession means there is no money for the State to give the tax relief to homeowners" said Lawson. "This will mean a property tax increase up to $300 on the 2009 tax bills for many homeowners statewide." The grant appropriated by the General Assembly and the Governor for the last several years to counties, cities and schools had given tax relief to homeowners in the form of a credit on their tax bills. According to legislation passed this year (House Bill 143), the grant will only be made available in the future if State revenues grow at least 3% plus the rate of inflation. "It's unfortunate in slow economic times to have to deliver this message" says Lawson.
It is also important for taxpayers to realize that the first installment due date has been extended to August 31st . This deadline extension only applies to tax year 2009. Taxpayers should receive the 2009 bill by July 20th.
** If you are a resident of Dekalb County and/or the City of Atlanta, I would love to hear if /how your property taxes changed this year. I just received my bill last week and it was about a 3% increase. Definitely not earth-shattering, but a little hard to swallow. :-)

Thank you for visiting our Atlanta Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Kerry Lucasse - Atlanta GA Real Estate Agent - Atlanta Home Search Team
The ATL Home Search Team is part of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Intown Atlanta Real Estate and Historic Homes
Call us today @ (404) 432 - 1844
Atlanta Home Search - Selling a home in Atlanta GA
If you are thinking of putting your Atlanta home on the market this fall, please read this!
From USA Today, October 2006...
A review of over 2,800 properties in eight cities found that "staged homes, on average, sold in half the time that non-staged homes did. The sellers with staged homes ended up with 6.3 percent more than their asking price, on average."
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Research from RESA (Real Estate Staging Association)...
VACANT HOMES - Marketed vacant homes that were previously unstaged were not sold after 120 days on market. Once staged, those homes only took 26 days to sell.
OCCUPIED HOMES - Marketed occupied homes that were previously unstaged were not sold after 102 days on market. Once staged, those homes only took 45 days to sell.
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So what exactly is "STAGING"?
It can be as simple as adding fresh flowers, pictures and towels to a bathroom to hiring a company to fully furnish your home with couches, dining room tables, lamps, artwork and more.
How much would I have to spend?
It can cost as little as $250 or depending on your needs and the size of your home, you can spend thousands. BUT as you can see from the research about, the return on your investment is significant!
Before you put your home on the market - especially if it is going to be vacant -- be sure to ask your REALTOR for staging advice and/or for recommendations to local staging companies.

Thank you for visiting our Atlanta Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Kerry Lucasse - Atlanta GA Real Estate Agent - Atlanta Home Search Team
The ATL Home Search Team is part of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Intown Atlanta Real Estate and Historic Homes
Call us today @ (404) 432 - 1844
See what's happening in August in & around Atlanta...
THRU AUG 2 - National Black Arts Fest - Dance, music, film, visual arts and more. Get the scoop...
THRU AUG 9 - Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week - 3-course dinners for just $25. See participating restaurants.
AUG 7 - Unplugged in the Park - Concert Series every Sunday at 7pm in Piedmont Park. FREE. Get all the details...
AUG 11-16 - GREASE @ the Fox Theater - See the schedule and buy tickets.
AUG 15 - Oakhurst BBQ Blues & Bluegrass Fest - Live music, fantastic BBQ. Get the full scoop.
AUG 23 - Festival Latino in Underground ATL - The largest family & multicultural event in the Southeast. Find out more.
AUG 26-30 - Atlanta Underground Film Fest - The best of indie film at different theaters around town. Get the full schedule.
AUG 28 - Castleberry Hill Art Stroll - Tour some of the hippest neighborhood art galleries and shops. Get more info...
AUG 29 - Taste of Chamblee - The best and most diverse food in Southeast. FREE! Find out more...
AUG 29-30 - Grant Park Summer Shade Festival + Corks & Forks - One of Atlanta's most popular events. The full scoop...

Thank you for visiting our Atlanta Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Kerry Lucasse - Atlanta GA Real Estate Agent - Atlanta Home Search Team
The ATL Home Search Team is part of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Intown Atlanta Real Estate and Historic Homes
Call us today @ (404) 432 - 1844
Are you thinking of buying a home or condo this year in order to take advantage of the $8,000 Federal
Tax Credit for First-time Home Buyers?
GOOD!
Have you been procrastinating a bit and thinking you have until the end of the year?
STOP and READ THIS...
In order to qualify for the 2009 First-time home buyer incentive, you need to PURCHASE your home by November 30, 2009. November is still a few months away, but consider this...
Usually it takes 30 to 45 days to find your "dream home". Once you have an accepted offer, it will take another 25 to 45 days to close (purchase) your first home.
If look the 2009 calendar, that means that you should probably submit an offer for your new home by October 15, 2009 and you should start looking for your dream home looking by September 1, 2009. That is only 30 DAYS from today... so it is time to stop procratinating and start house hunting!
If you still aren't 100% sure if you qualify and/or how to take advantage of the $8000 Federal Tax Credit for First-time Home Buyers, you can call me anytime at (404) 432-1844 or visit the following websites:
>> HOME BUYING BASICS - First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit
>> IN DEPTH - Detailed information about the First Time Home Buyer $8000 Federal Tax Credit
>> FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) About the First Time Home Buyer $8000 Tax Credit
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BUYER'S AGENT YET, SEE WHAT OTHER "PROPERTY VIRGINS" HAVE TO
SAY ABOUT MY SERVICES.... http://www.kudzu.com/merchant/1106107%7C1.html
KERRY LUCASSE :: Keller Williams Realty - Atlanta GA ::
404.432.1844 :: www.ATLhomesearch.com
Atlanta Real Estate - First time home buyers in Atlanta
This charming Candler Park / Lake Claire home was the perfect candidate for an Atlanta first time home buyer... and because it was priced correctly and the home was in one of Atlanta most popular intown
neighborhoods, there were multiple offers on the home in the FIRST WEEK!
If you are thinking of SELLING your Atlanta or Decatur home and it is priced under $350,000, this August and September will be a fantastic time to put it on the market, as the first time home buyers are trying to find that perfect home before the November 30th deadline for the $8000 tax credit. For information on my home marketing strategy, please don't hesitate to call me at 404.432.1844.
If you have been looking for a home in the Little Five Points area, don't worry, I'm sure your dream home is just around the corner! Click on the links below to search by Intown Atlanta neighborhoods...
>> Find ALL the homes for sale in CANDLER PARK Atlanta
>> Find ALL the homes for sale in LAKE CLAIRE
>> Search for homes by Intown Atlanta NEIGHBORHOOD
More and more people are deciding to take the leap and purchase their first home this year, thanks to the $8000 first-time home buyer tax credit, the historically low interest rates and the lower home values. If you are thinking of buying your first home, please email me at KerryLucasse@yahoo.com and I would be happy to send you a copy of the First-time Home Buyer's Handbook.
KERRY LUCASSE :: Keller Williams Realty Atlanta :: 404.432.1844
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