I Have A Value!

Market Values are set by examining the sale prices of very similar homes as close to the home in question as possible, preferably in the same subdivision during the last 90 days. If this is not possible, then the comparable sales have to be found further away from the home in question. Usually a homes’ square footage is divided into the same home’s sale price to determine a price per square foot. This gives a realistic value for comparable properties.

Need a Home to Value? Call Earl Park @ 770-377-5793 or e mail: EARL@EARLPARK.NET

I Have a Garage!

I just read an article published by cnbc.com (according to a report in industry trade publication Automotive News) noting CD players installed in new automobiles are on the way out. Auto manufacturers said they are expensive, fragile and only used by older drivers. Cell phones and MP3 players are the new wave and they have no moving parts to break.

Need a home to park that new car in? Just contact: EARL@EARLPARK.NET or phone:770-377-5793.

I Can Help!

Why should anyone desiring to purchase real estate hire a REALTOR?

A. Buyers need Exclusive representation for probably the biggest purchase of their life. This will only happen if a buyer enters into a contract with a REALTOR to represent him/her Only and not another party at the same time. Did you know that w/o a written contract a REALTOR most always represents the person paying the sales fee(commission)?
B. How much experience does a buyer have with real estate contracts and negotiations? This experience is what qualified REALTORS are trained in and do daily.
C. Never purcahse a REO or Short Sale home without a REALTOR with REO/Short Sale expertise! The process is very complicated and time consuming.
D. In order to be a successful REALTOR, that person must be a good communicator and be able to listen well.
E. Determining the value of homes in a given area is an art within itself.  Good REALTORS should have this knowledge/experience.
F. Does a buyer understand the entire home buying process? The contracted REALTOR can easily explain this process and show the buyer all the steps he/she has to take in order to complete the real estate transaction.

Need to purchase a home? Contact: EARL@EARLPARK.NET OR Phone: 770-377-5793

Flip Me?

 Good News! The Federal Housing Administration has extended its “anti flipping” rule. This simply means that buyers who want to use FHA insured home loans to purchase a home that has changed hands in the last 90 days can do so.
Of course, this allows investors to purchase homes, rehabilitate the home(s) and then sell them to buyers  seeking a home to live in.
Need a home to live in or invest in? Contact: EARL@EARLPARK.NET OR PHONE 770-377-5793

Google Me?

Why Google your own address? Here are some thoughts.

1. See what other homes on your street or in your neighborhood sold for. Why? It could make a difference in the amount of property tax you pay. Of course you have to file a petition with your county stating your estimated home’s value. Point is, if you don’t the county won’t lower your value. They just might raise the millage rate to compensate for lower tax income.

2. When you find your home’s county tax records check them out. After viewing to the tax records, be sure the ifnormation is 100% correct, such as:  square footage, number of rooms, construction type, age, zoning, etc. If your property facst are incorrect, they could lead to an over valued home.

3. Try Google Street Views to see how other people see your home. If you plan to market it, potential buyers will do this. Also try the Bird’s Eye view to see that next door swamp your neighbor calls a pool. Again, others will. 

4. How about sex offenders in the neighborhood? Megan’s Law requires all offenders be registered with the local police agency and that this information be made public. Try Googling your house and Megan’s Law to see what happens. You can bet that any potential new neighbor will check it before they make a move. How about the safety of your own children or grandchildren? You should know this.

Need to own a home? Contact Earl @ 770-377-5793 or email: EARL@EARLPARK.NET

Drape Me In Luxury!

Luxury Ideas in a regular home:

A. Try upgrading the bathroom. New fixtures, new lighting and maybe a new pedestal sink. How about a granite counter top and of course new paint?
B. Paint the interior walls. Add a mural after painting(can be purchased as a roll on or adhesive backing, such as hot air balloon’s on a sky blue painted wall in an office)
C. Add a built in, such as a garbage compactor. Create a study center or extra office site in a nook or cranny in a corner of the kitchen, bedroom or under a stairwell.
D. Dedicated places: The empty bedroom can be a playroom, hobby room, craftroom or even exercise room. Just upgrade the lighting, paint the walls and maybe add a French Door in place of the solid panel one currently in place.
E. Automate things: Add a burglar alarm( connected or not), setback thermostats, monitor cameras connected to your p-c for online use or just a common location for all the remotes.
F. Most important: repaint everything inside your home using bright and cherry colors.

Need a home to upgrade? Just drop me an email at: EARL@EARLPARK.NET OR phone: 770-377-5793
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Save Some $$$

Gwinnett County will rebate homeowners up to $100.00 for the replacement of up to two toilets in homes built prior to 1993. Of course the older toilets are much less efficient than the new toilets. To get the straight story go to:   www.northgeorgiawater.com.
Need a home to fix up? Call Earl @ 770-377-5793 or email: EARL@EARLPARK.NET

Getting Around the Neighborhood

The price of gas is up $.20 per gallon since Christmas, 2011. Thanks Iran! If you need to look for a home best you use your PC and find it on www.listingbook.comOf course you can sign in under Earl Park and I will be glad to help you set the automatic search feature up.

Earl@earlpark.net

How Many Filings???????

Did you know? There were 256,000 residential tax assessments filed in Gwinnett County, Georgia in 2011. Of these 256,000 tax assessments, 100,000 had their tax assessments reduced by an average of 23%. This is information supplied by the Gwinnett County Tax Assessor’s Office on it’s website at: assessor@gwinnettcounty.com. The question: Was your home’s tax assessment reduced, stay the same or go up? If you are not satisfied with your answer, then take action; such as filing your estimate of your property’s value. How? See my previous articles on “The Tax Man Comes”, then do your homework and take that action. .

Need  a home to value? Email: EARL@EARLPARK.NET

My Owner Says What?

Now that you have all your home value comparables and are ready to submit your information to the Gwinnett County Tax Assessor, use a Georgia Form # PT-50R. Go to  assessor@gwinnettcounty.comto find the form or phone your REALTOR. It is only one page long and includes room for you to state why you say your home’s value has fallen. Mail or take the form and it’s supporting documents to the tax commissioner. It is best to hand carry the information to 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA., and ask for a receipt. The same can be said for mail(return receipt requested). Remember all the time you spent compiling the supporting doc’s, so don’t short yourself at the end and don’t expect that your form cannot be lost or misplaced because it can be lost or misplaced. This form can be filed anytime before April 1, 2012. All is not lost if you do not file your request. You can use form PT311A to protest your assessment once you receive it this coming summer. Why wait, file in January when the tax assessor’s office is not as busy.  Good luck!
Need some help: Email: EARL@EARLPARK.NET