Jana Bryant, CDPE

New Georgia Law changes Property Tax Assessment Procedure

Georgia recently passed "The Property Tax Assessment and Appeals Reform Bill" (Senate Bill 346) on June 7, 2010.

Highlights include:

1. Every property owner will receive an Annual Notice of Assessment and the right to appeal;

2. Every Notice of Assessment must contain the estimated property tax (in dollars);

3. Appeal period has been extended to 45 days;

4. Alternative streamlined appeal option for properties valued over $1,000,000;

5. Automatic taxpayer victory on appeals when government fails to respond within 45 days;

6. Requirement that all relevant sales, including distress sales, be included when determining Fair Market Value (FMV);

7. Requirement that only "current use of property" be used in determining FMV;

8. Taxpayer must be given access to all data used in determining FMV;

9. Sales price establishes FMV for next tax year.

Remember that a reduction in the assessment does not always reduce the actual bill. Other factors such as the millage rate, homestead exemption, and other exemptions will also affect the final tax bill amount.

Oakdale Preserve

Jana Bryant, 404-409-1351

jana@mindspring.com

Homesite #7 The Brookfield "c"- 5 Bedroom, 5 Bath, Finished Terrace Level reduced $499,900

• Family room, formal dining room, keeping room, loft, wrap porch, media, sun room SOLD
  
• Stainless appliance package, real oak hardwoods, iron balusters, Juliet balconies

Homesite #6 The Kingston "b"- 4 Bedroom, 4.5 Bath, Master on Main, Fin. Basement $539,900

• Fantastic Screened Porch stretching the length of the home, finished terrace level SOLD
  
• Granite, island w/veg. sink, coffered ceilings in master, additional laundry in master
• Loft w/balcony to outside, built ins, stone fireplace

Homesite #5 The Stanford "c"- 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath, 3 Living Areas, Basement $559,000

• Family room, keeping room, study, formal dining room, 2 fireplaces on main level $419,900
  
• Multi-tier decking, daylight terrace level with media room, 2 bedrooms and bath waiting to be finished, stone porch/brick patio

Homesite #8 The Burton "e"- 4 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath, 3 Levels, Huge Media/Game room $379,900

• Mudroom, Breakfast area, Family/Keeping has coffered ceilings, private homesite w/ neighbor on only one side
• Iron balusters, wood stair treads, gourmet kitchen

Homesite #9 The Burton "d"- 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath, Bonus Loft SOLD reduced $449,900

• Keeping/family room with stacked stone fireplace and built-ins, dining room with craftsman wainscoting
• Island with stainless hood vented to outdoors, coffered master with private terrace for screening, mudroom for family traffic, open floorplan, double shower heads in master bath

Homesite #29 The Burton "b"- 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath, Decorated Model, Huge Bonus reduced $469,900

• Open floorplan, gourmet kitchen has island and stainless hood vented to outdoors, mudroom, breakfast area with bead board, dining with craftsman wainscoting
• Bonus loft with granite surround fireplace and architectural windows, master with coffered ceiling, laundry room upstairs $359,900 SOLD!!
  

Homesite #24 The Huntington "c"- 4 Bedroom, 4 Bath, 3 Levels, Study Area SOLD!! $519,900

• Huge laundry room with sink, linen closet and cabinetry, bonus upper level for study or play
• Iron balusters, coffered ceiling in kitchen extending to family/keeping room, stacked stone fireplace, dining with wood architectural wood doors

Double head seamless showers in master

Granite in all baths

Sprinkler Systems

Stainless Appliances

1. Replace your siding
Exterior siding topped the list in Remodeling magazine's 2007 Cost vs. Value report, which compared the construction costs of various projects to estimates of their resale value by members of the National Association of Realtors. Fiber-cement siding replacement came in at No. 1, with an estimated 88.1 percent of the cost recouped, while vinyl siding replacement had the third highest recoupment value at 83.2 percent.

Introduced nearly 100 years ago, fiber-cement siding is back in vogue, with cellulose replacing the asbestos of long-ago versions. The new and improved product is weather-resistant and extremely durable, says Tim Carter, a syndicated columnist who dispenses home improvement advice on his Web site askthebuilder.com.

2. Build a deck Realtors in the Cost vs. Value survey estimated the average homeowner would recover 85.4 percent of the cost of a new wood deck from resale, giving this project the second highest value in the report. A composite deck addition -- a costlier initial investment -- was estimated to bring a 77.6 percent return. Adding a deck is a relatively inexpensive way to gain more living space. "You can probably build a deck for $20 a square foot, labor and material," Carter says. "If you were going to put a room on your house, you're probably looking at $150 a square foot." 3. Spice up the kitchen A minor kitchen renovation ranked fourth in the survey, but in the eyes of Grand Rapids, Mich., Realtor, and immediate past president of the National Association of Realtors, Pat V. Combs, this is the project that "brings the best value for the buck." Rolling on a new paint color, installing new countertops and putting on new cabinet and drawer handles are three ideas that only take a little out of your pocket but make a big impact, she says. But if you have your heart set on a total kitchen overhaul at some point, remodeler Hydeck warns it's probably not wise to sink too much money into piecemeal fix-ups in the meantime. 4. Install energy-efficient windows Combs is not surprised that wood and vinyl window replacements were each given about an 80 percent recoupment value in the Remodeling survey. "People are very energy-conscious right now," she says. "The cost of heating and cooling a home is important. It's not just the purchase price (that homebuyers consider), it's the cost per month to live in the home." For energy efficiency, the National Fenestration Rating Council's voluntary certification and ratings system is the gold standard. To qualify for the federal government's Energy Star label, a window must first have the NFRC's stamp of approval on its energy efficiency. Don't expect a quick return on your investment if you buy replacement windows, which can run upward of $10,000 for the whole house. If lowering your utility bills is your goal, it's important to understand that it can take years for the savings to cover the cost of the windows. 5. Give the bathroom a facelift Fixing up the bathroom, whether it's an upgrade or simply for maintenance, is another reliable investment. "People like to pamper themselves, and they just don't want to be in a grungy bathroom," Carter says. A midrange bathroom remodel has an estimated 78 percent resale value, according to the Cost vs. Value report. 6. Crown your walls Crown molding is near the top of Carter's personal list of easy, inexpensive upgrades with big impacts. "It just really dresses up a room," says Carter, who estimates that a do-it-yourselfer could outfit a room for less than $100. "The best analogy I can give is that it's like putting a tie on. When you wear a tie, it's just a simple linear thing that dangles from your neck, but it's very distinctive. Crown molding does the same thing to a room." Location, location, location The value of any renovation project you choose depends a great deal on where you live and whether your home is in an entry-level or upscale market. "Just like all real estate is local, all of these various upgrade projects are localized," Combs says. Article from Bankrate.com

Fall Jonquil Festival
Sat., October 25, 2008 - 10 am to 6 pm & Sun. October 26 - 12 pm to 5 pm
200 Village Green Circle
Smyrna, GA 30080
Free: 770-423-1330

Shop the arts and crafts market and experience a wide selections of festival foods as you stroll downtown. Be sure to visit the Featured Artists Market and Fresh Harvest Market. For vendor information, call JRM Management Services 770-423-1330 or visit www.jrmmanagement.com.

Spirit Talk Art Walk Fine Art Festival

The city of Smyrna and the Smyrna Artists' Business Association proudly present the Spirit Talk Art Walk Fine Art Festival. The fall festival is a celebration of fine arts, story telling and street entertainment. Local artists will display their fine art throughout the streets of Market Village. Story tellers, street performers and musician will make this a fun, family event.

The festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 18th from 3 PM to 9 PM and will be held along the streets of Market Village.

Fine art painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor etc.)

· Drawing (pen & ink, pencil, charcoal, archival inkjet)

· Printmaking (serigraph, lithograph, archival inkjet)

· Sculpture (metal, clay, stone, wood)

· Photography (wet process, archival inkjet)

· Ceramics (glass, pottery etc.)