Red Hot Atlanta Homes - Kathy Seger & Ben Staten

Wanted to tell you about a great neighborhood with homes for sale in Woodstock- it's Bradshaw Park, a swim/tennis community on a quiet street just off of East Cherokee Drive. We've sold in the neighborhood and have also gotten to know several of the residents- it's a true gem in Cherokee County!

The short drive on Ranchwood Trail leading into the neighborhood is scenic and leads you to a beautiful stacked stone entrance monument letting you know you've arrived at your destination. There is a lovely swim, tennis and playground complex located in the back of the neighborhood. In addition to regular enjoyment of the amenities, the residents have several social functions there throughout the year.

Bradshaw Park has 136 traditional two-story homes that are a mixture of master bedroom up as well as a number ofmaster on main floorplans. The streets are meandering on gently rolling terrain and there is a wide variety of floorplans and exteriors to give the neighborhood a warm and comfortable feel. There are currently 7 homes for sale in the neighborhood with prices ranging from the mid-200s to mid-300s, some with basements.

The schools for the community are Johnston Elementary, Rusk Middle, and Sequoyah High. Numerous shopping areas and restaurants are located within a 5 to 10 minute drive. East Cherokee Drive also has easy access to I-575 and North Fulton, giving you short drives to work and play.

Many prospective homebuyers looking to purchase a home in metro Atlanta believe that there are no longer any down payment asssistance programs available to them. Or, they've been told that the guidelines are so restrictive as to make it impossible to qualify for the available funds.

Both asssumptions are wrong. Thru the GA Department of Consumer Affairs, $14,000 is available to any homebuyer looking to purchase a bank foreclosure in GA. The program is called GA Dream and while the guidelines may seem difficult to navigate, Georgia homebuyers have taken advantage of millions of dollars available thru this program since it's inception earlier this year.

Sensing a great opportunity for homebuyers with this program, we attended DCA training to become familiar with the ins and outs of the GA Dream program. Since then, we've worked successfully with homebuyers throughout metro Atlanta to find their "dream" homes. The guidelines are too complex to completely cover here, but there are income limits and education requirements, both reasonable, that the homebuyer(s) must meet in order to be eligible. These are government backed loans, either FHA or VA. If you meet these requirements and have saved $500 for your down payment (yes, $500!), you will receive a $14,000 mortgage from DCA, which has zero interest and zero monthly payments. That mortgage lien is released (written off) on a prorated basis over 5 years and 6 months from your closing.

Here's a list of GA counties where you can purchase homes (townhomes and condos too!) that are eligible for GA Dream downpayment assistance.

While this is a great program for homebuyers, funding is limited and once the available funds are gone, the program is suspended unless and until new funding is approved. So, look into the GA Dream Homeownership program if you are considering buying a home in GA soon!

Friday before Halloween, I ran into a past client at the Halloween parade at The Primrose School. It was thrilling to hear "they love their home" and "the neighborhood is terrific". It's the thing every REALTOR loves to hear and I was so glad to see them!

The Halloween parade was fantastic with the cutest kids you could find...however I am baised since one is my granddaughter and one was my clients' child. In fact, there is were we met - picking up the kids.

All the parents, grandparents, and family members attending were entertained with songs by each class. As you can see from the photos the kids made their costumes - cats and dogs, turkeys and pumpkins. They did a great job. Everyone had a wonderful time with the rain holding off until the kids were back in their classrooms.

Have you heard about The Willows? It's a great ranch condo subdivision in Woodstock off Highway 92 and Hames Road. This small enclave community was designed for active adults wanting single level living. The community is gated and has a clubhouse with numerous neighborhood activities.

These three bedroom homes are designed with no steps and wide doors. There is a vaulted Great Room and Dining Room with trey ceiling. The Master Bedroom is oversized with walk-in closet. The Master Bath has a double sink vanity and oversized shower. There are two additional bedrooms and hall bath. The kitchen has an eating bar, lots of 42 inch cabinets, pantry, and a raised dishwasher - no bending. The home has a Laundry Room off the Kitchen and a second pantry closet just off the garage entrance. The homes were built with either a sunroom or patio. All have 2 car garages plus driveway parking.

This small active adult community has approximately 50 homes that are 4/5 years old. There is green space within the community and level streets for walking within the subdivision. Properties within the community sell from $210,000 to $250,000. Homeowners over 62 can apply for tax exemption for the school taxes paid to Cherokee County.

If you are looking for a home for sale in Woodstock and planning to downsize, you may want to consider The Willows.

For several years, it looked like FHA loans had gone the way of the dinosaur. Instead, zero down payment programs became the extinct species and FHA loans are again a great option for many homebuyers. In fact, according to a recent article by RIS Media, almost half of the buyers for new construction in the Southeast this year purchased with an FHA loan.

However, many buyers we see are unfamiliar with FHA loans. So, what is an FHA loan and how can it help you? FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Authority, a goverment agency. As a result, your lender requires a lower down payment and easier credit guidelines. Most FHA loans in GA require a down payment of 3.5% and a credit score as low as 620 with some lenders. And in most of metro Atlanta, the loan amount can be as high as $346,250.

So, don't be overwhelmed by the thought of saving up for a 20% down payment- take advantage of the great homebuyer market that we're in!