Raquel Lavender

Spring is in the Henry County air...

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love spring time in Atlanta. There are blooms everywhere, temperatures are simply perfect, sunny clear skies; today specially it has been an absolute beauty. I can see Henry County residents out riding in their cars, the ones with convertibles had the pleasure to let their tops down, others like me, just let the windows down to enjoy the fresh air.
What a joy it is to be able to appreciate good weather, friendly happy people in the streets and peace all around us. Seems as if, time just stopped, no worries, just enjoy the moment.
And how about Saturday afternoons spent at the Baseball Park, even if it's only a Little League Baseball Game, oh my, how do I miss those days when my son was playing T-Ball, then Baseball, to Traveling Competitive and High School. Every stage of his baseball years brought some joy, I used to complaint when it was too hot, but I always knew that I would miss it when those days came to an end. Now, he is playing College Baseball, however, being on the West part of the Country makes it difficult to be there and cheer him up during his games, for now, just memories of past years, in the future, who knows...Atlanta Braves, I got a prospect for you, another hometown kid that will help take you to the World Series!
Until the next time, if you are thinking of relocating to Atlanta or moving within the city and need assistance then, Click Here.

We are very proud to find out that Peachtree City has been awarded the TOP 8th in the country on CNNMoney.Com's Best Places To Live 2009- Top 100 list. PTC has a lot of positive features to offer to their residents, a combination of the location convenient to Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Int'l Airport, excellent schools, low crime, and golf cart paths thoughout the City put PTC way up on this prestigious list. This is a very useful information if you are assisting a client in the purchase of their new home should they consider PTC as their new place to live, even more, if you are not in Georgia and the question about Peachtree City comes out, now, you know one the biggest reason why Buyers should choose PTC as their new home destination in Georgia. Think about it, 8th out of the TOP 100?, even the City that holds the 100th spot is proud to have made the list, let alone, being 8th out of thousands and thousands of cities throughout our great country this is quite impressive and certainly a reason to be proud. If you need to search for property in the Atlanta area, including PTC in Fayette County, be sure to visit www.homesinsouthatlanta.com

***If you are not a Georgia Resident but know someone that is, please, share this information***

On Monday, May 11th, Georgia State Gov. Sonny Perdue signed into law HB 261 a tax credit from the state.

Some highlights of HB261

- $1,800 or 1.2% of the purchase price spread over 3years(1/3 each year)
- For purchases between June 1 and November 30, 2009
- Do not have to be a first time homebuyer
- For investment properties as well as owner occupied
- Only one credit per taxpayer

The tax credit is taken over a 3 year period and, unlike the federal tax credit, there is no income restriction. The income restriction for the federal tax credit begins at $75,000 for individuals or $150,000 for married couples and then phases out. The federal credit ends on November 30th as well.

With up to $8,000 from the federal government and now $1,800 more from Georgia, coupled with the lowest home prices and interest rates in a long time - um - this is just plain "ridiculously" good for buyers.

You may also visit the Metro South Association of REALTORS website http://www.msar.org/ for further information.

(Information submitted by the Metro South Association of REALTORS)

Raquel Lavender. Associate Broker.ABR,AHS,ASR,CIPS,CSP,GRI,TRC. Keller Williams Realty Grand South. Office 770-914-8885. Cell 770-317-9205.

Useful information for understanding the Tax Credit Deal a little more...

A. The Tax Credit is for home buyers (either spouse filing jointly) who have NOT owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. Ownership of vacation property or rental property does not disqualify home buyers from this program. Click Here for more details...

B. The maximum credit is $8,000 or 10% of the home purchase, whichever is less.

C. The credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 31, 2009.

D. To qualify for the full tax credit, married couples' modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) should be under $150,000 and single filers' MAGI should be less than $75,000. Partial tax credits may be available for married couples with MAGI incomes of over $150,000 but under $170,000 and single filers with incomes over $75,000 but under $95,000. If married couples who qualify for the first-time tax credit file separately, they would both claim 5% of the home purchase or $4,000 each (whichever is less) on their tax returns. I advise you to contact your trusted Accountant or Tax Preparer to see if you are in the range to qualified.

E. Home buyers who qualify for this program, but who do not intend to purchase a home till the end of 2009, may elect to alter their tax withholdings (up to the amount of the of the tax credit) in order to save up money for a down payment. However, if the purchase of the home does not occur, the taxes must be repaid to the IRS.

F. There is no recapture or repayment clause IF the home is owned for at least 36 months, this is under the new 2009 Law.

G. The effective date of purchase for new construction is the date the owner first occupies the house. So even if construction began in 2008, as long as the home and buyers qualify for the tax credit, they will be eligible if they take possession any time during 2009. However, new construction bought from the builder is only eligible if the settlement/closing date takes place between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009.

H. The full amount of the eligible tax credit is refunded to the buyer, regardless of whether the buyer has paid an equivalent amount in taxes or not.

Other notes from USNews ...

If you are interested in properties in the Greater Atlanta Area. Click here...

If you are looking for unbeatable financing options, then here is your answer. DR Horton Builder is offering a low 2.875% for contracts that close by Feb. 28th, 2009 on their standing inventory at our beautiful Master Planned Golf Community and Country Club at Heron Bay in Locust Grove, Ga. Come by and visit 7 days a week or contact us for detail information on the terms and conditions. You will love this beautiful community!!!