A Stimulating Buyer Benefit

February 27, 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that was recently signed into law includes an $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers, available through November 30, 2009. hometax

As leading advocates for homeownership, Realtors® have been advocating stimulus measures like buyer tax credits and higher loan limits to support a housing recovery, because a larger economic recovery depends on it.

For detailed information about the legislation and what it means for the housing market, visit www.realtor.org/government_affairs/gapublic/american_recovery_reinvestment_act_home.

hometax2A True Incentive

It has been my quest to speak to Realtors® across the country about how the $8,000 tax credit will help or has helped buyers to see if it really will make a difference!

Dave Fish, a Realtor® out of Boulder comments, “We are seeing a great deal of interest in this within our market here in Colorado. As you know, last years “credit” was effectively a zero interest loan which was to be paid back over 15 years or when the home sold. This new bill, is a true $8K credit / benefit to first time Buyers and it does NOT need to be paid back unless they sell within the first 36 months. It will encourage 1st time Buyers to jump into the market, begin building wealth and it provides huge incentive for them to do whats best – hold the property for 3 years. I feel its a fantastic tool that will help a huge amount of people get into a home.”hometax3

Another Realtor® from the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area made note that he personally would love to see the “tax credit” be available at closing as some form of down payment assistance whether or not it would need to be paid back. He said that until then he still foresee the tax credit as being underutilized and far from being a true incentive. However those buyers with stable jobs, great credit, cash and most importantly the willingness to commit to a home for 5+ years will see great returns.

From the West Coast, Arn Cenedella writes, “I recently represented a young first-time buyer couple who were former tenants of mine. They purchased a home for $225,000 with FHA financing and put 3.5% down. We had the seller pick up their non recurring closing costs so my buyers were out of pocket $10,000 to close escrow. They obtained a 30 year fixed rate mortgage with TOTAL payments being $1638 per month. They will benefit with the $8000 credit and essentially get back almost all of the money they spent to purchase the property. I would say that is a benefit.

I disagree with some of the other writers who suggest this credit be given at close. If this approach was to be adopted, it would spur more unqualified buyers to purchase. I say let the buyer come up with the cash to buy by SAVING it and then get the credit back the next year.”hometax4

Vicki Lloyd, a Realtor® also commented that expect more buyers to learn about this and to try to take advantage soon. The IRS just announced yesterday that the $8,000 credit can be taken on the 2008 tax return, so they will not have to wait until next year’s tax return to claim it! (This will probably lead to a record number of tax filing extension requests!)

She included the following link to the IRS announcement in the link below.

Links:

While there will always be questions about any piece of legislation in terms of implementation, it seems evident from these real estate professionals, as well as the myrid of others that also offered comments which would have made this post way to long to be readable or enjoyable, that the tax credit will help stimulate the economy and foster added home sales.  It is only with regret that the Isakson Bill, which would have provided a $15,000 tax credit to any and all home buyers, did not pass its final rounds through the House.

Search the Athens GA MLS


First Time Home Buyers in Athens, GA – Tax Credit – Link to get IRC Form 5405 for your Taxes

February 26, 2009

“The expansion of the first-time home buyer tax break as part of the President’s recovery agenda gives money to taxpayers when they need it most, while also targeting an important group of buyers,” said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. “We view our economic recovery plan, our financial stability plan and now this homeowner affordability plan as three legs of the same stool – an integrated whole that represents our immediate response to the current crisis. We remain committed to swift, efficient and effective implementation of all of these components.”

The announcement comes on the heels of the first Recovery Plan Implementation meeting led by Vice President Joe Biden at the White House this morning; Secretary Geithner was among several Cabinet secretaries to attend and offer updates on implementation efforts in progress at Treasury and its bureaus. Vice President Biden is overseeing the Administration’s implementation of the Recovery Act’s provisions.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has posted on IRS.gov a revised version of Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit to incorporate provisions from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Under the new law, qualifying taxpayers who buy a home this year before December 1 can claim up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately, on either their 2008 or 2009 tax returns.  Unlike the prior first-time homebuyer credit, this is money individuals do not need to pay back.

Form 5405 can be obtained by clicking this link.



Put Your Money Where Your Life Is; How as Homeowners we Naturally put Community First

February 26, 2009

Many consumers today are understandably worried about their nest egg. For many of them, however, their “nest” is the best investment they can make. athens

Not only does owning a home help people build long-term wealth, but also it provides shelter and security for their families and fosters involvement in community life. In essence, home ownership is the cornerstone of a healthy community.

U.S. Census Bureau data shows that homeowners move less frequently than renters. This stability is important in creating strong foundations for both families and communities.

A recent NAR research study shows that homeowners are more likely to vote, volunteer time for civic events or participate in local crime prevention programs because they’re invested in what happens in their neighborhoods.

rainbarrelBack to Basics in Athens and in your Town

As I talk to homeowners in my community about how long they’ve owned their home and what social benefits they’ve gained, they all seem to get a sense of community and investment in their local area? For example, the Five Points Community in Athens participates in a specific neighborhood cause annually.  A local Athens business, http://AthensRainCollection.com, offers rain collection systems not only to help combat the drought, but also to be “Green” minded, which is something that Athenians have been all about for years now.


Bringing Real Estate to Radio

February 26, 2009

The NAR has taken to the airwaves with the premiere earlier this month of Real Estate Today, an interactive radio talk show aimed at helping consumers cut through the clutter to get the truth about real estate from the experts…Realtors!

Real Estate Today addresses the benefits and challenges of homeownership and provides information on local market conditions in areas where it airs. Listeners can also participate by calling in with their real estate questions.

The program is hosted by award-winning radio broadcaster Gil Gross. Guests will include Realtors, economists, experts in all areas of the real estate industry, and respected members of the media. aradio

Don’t Touch That Dial…

Consumers can listen to Real Estate Today online at www.RETRADIO.com, on satellite radio, and on the show’s flagship station, 630 WMAL in Washington, D.C.

For specific channels and air times, visit www.realtor.org/press_room/retradio. Tune into the show to get story ideas and hear what consumers across the country are thinking and want to know about real estate today.


What to Do When the Sales Price Leaves You Short

February 25, 2009

If you’re thinking of selling your home, and the total amount you owe on your mortgage is greater than the current value of your home, you may be facing a short sale. A short sale is one where the net proceeds from the sale won’t cover your total mortgage obligation and closing costs, and you don’t have other sources of money to cover the deficiency. A short sale is different from a foreclosure, which is when your lender takes title of your home through a lengthy legal process and then sells it.shortseller

1. Consider loan modification first. If you are thinking of selling your home because of financial difficulties and you anticipate a short sale, first contact your lender to see if it has any programs to help you stay in your home. Your lender may agree to a modification such as:

· Refinancing your loan at a lower interest rate

· Providing a different payment plan to help you get caught up

· Providing a forbearance period if your situation is temporary

When a loan modification still isn’t enough to relieve your financial problems, a short sale could be your best option if

· Your property is worth less than the total mortgage you owe on it.

· You have a financial hardship, such as a job loss or major medical bills.

· You have contacted your lender and it is willing to entertain a short sale.

shorterseller22. Hire a qualified team. The first step to a short sale is to hire a qualified real estate professional* and a real estate attorney who specialize in short sales. Interview at least three candidates for each and look for prior short-sale experience. Short sales have proliferated only in the last few years, so it may be hard to find practitioners who have closed a lot of short sales. You want to work with those who demonstrate a thorough working knowledge of the short-sale process and who won’t try to take advantage of your situation or pressure you to do something that isn’t in your best interest.

A qualified real estate professional can:

· Provide you with a comparative market analysis (CMA) or broker price opinion (BPO).

· Help you set an appropriate listing price for your home, market the home, and get it sold.

· Put special language in the MLS that indicates your home is a short sale and that lender approval is needed (all MLSs permit, and some now require, that the short-sale status be disclosed to potential buyers).

· Ease the process of working with your lender or lenders.

· Negotiate the contract with the buyers.

· Help you put together the short-sale package to send to your lender (or lenders, if you have more than one mortgage) for approval. You can’t sell your home without your lender and any other lien holders agreeing to the sale and releasing the lien so that the buyers can get clear title.

3. Begin gathering documentation before any offers come in. Your lender will give you a list of documents it requires to consider a short sale. The short-sale “package” that accompanies any offer typically must includeshortseller3

· A hardship letter detailing your financial situation and why you need the short sale

· A copy of the purchase contract and listing agreement

· Proof of your income and assets

· Copies of your federal income tax returns for the past two years

4. Prepare buyers for a lengthy waiting period. Even if you’re well organized and have all the documents in place, be prepared for a long process. Waiting for your lender’s review of the short-sale package can take several weeks to months. Some experts say:

· If you have only one mortgage, the review can take about two months.

· With a first and second mortgage with the same lender, the review can take about three months.

· With two or more mortgages with different lenders, it can take four months or longer.

When the bank does respond, it can approve the short sale, make a counteroffer, or deny the short sale. The last two actions can lengthen the process or put you back at square one. (Your real estate attorney and real estate professional, with your authorization, can work your lender’s loss mitigation department on your behalf to prepare the proper documentation and speed the process along.)

5. Don’t expect a short sale to solve your financial problems. Even if your lender does approve the short sale, it may not be the end of all your financial woes. Here are some things to keep in mind:

· You may be asked by your lender to sign a promissory note agreeing to pay back the amount of your loan not paid off by the short sale. If your financial hardship is permanent and you can’t pay back the balance, talk with your real estate attorney about your options.

· Any amount of your mortgage that is forgiven by your lender is typically considered income, and you may have to pay taxes on that amount. Under a temporary measure passed in 2007, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation Act, homeowners can exclude debt forgiveness on their federal tax returns from income for loans discharged in calendar years 2007 through 2012. Be sure to consult your real estate attorney and your accountant to see whether you qualify.

· Having a portion of your debt forgiven may have an adverse effect on your credit score. However, a short sale will impact your credit score less than foreclosure and bankruptcy.

* Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. A REALTOR® is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and is bound by NAR’s strict code of ethics.

If you are looking to purchase a home in the Greater Athens area, please feel free to use this link to Search the Athens MLS! While on the Georgia MLS you can search for homes, create a User account to save favorite property searches, email property searches to friends and family, or request more information!

The link to my Featured Properties can take you to any number of properties that I am Marketing currently for Sale.

http://athensgahomes.HomeResearchSite.com

http://athensgahomes.RealEstateValueSite.com

http://athensgahomes.EstatePropertyInfo.com

http://athensgahomes.YourMLSHomeSearch.com

http://athens-ga-homes.yourkwagent.com


Thinking of Making an Offer on a Short Sale? What You Need to Know

February 25, 2009

Are you looking to buy a new home? Are you thinking that now’s a great time to find bargains? That’s true, but it pays to know a little about the seller’s situation before you make an offer. shortsale

If a home is being sold for below what the current seller owes on the property—and the seller does not have other funds to make up the difference at closing—the sale is considered a short sale. Many more home owners are finding themselves in this situation due to a number of factors, including job losses, aggressive borrowing against their home in the days of easy credit, and declining home values in a slower real estate market.

A short sale is different from a foreclosure, which is when the seller’s lender has taken title of the home and is selling it directly. Homeowners often try to accomplish a short sale in order to avoid foreclosure. But a short sale holds many potential pitfalls for buyers. Know the risks before you pursue a short-sale purchase.

shortsale4You’re a good candidate for a short-sale purchase if:

· You’re very patient. Even after you come to agreement with the seller to buy a short-sale property, the seller’s lender (or lenders, if there is more than one mortgage) has to approve the sale before you can close. When there is only one mortgage, short-sale experts say lender approval typically takes about two months. If there is more than one mortgage with different lenders, it can take four months or longer for the lenders to approve the sale.

· Your financing is in order. Lenders like cash offers. But even if you can’t pay all cash for a short-sale property, it’s important to show you are well qualified and your financing is set. If you’re preapproved, have a large down payment, and can close at any time, your offer will be viewed more favorably than that of a buyer whose financing is less secure.

· You don’t have any contingencies. If you have a home to sell before you can close on the purchase of the short-sale property—or you need to be in your new home by a certain time—a short sale may not be for you. Lenders like no-contingency offers and flexible closing terms.shortsale2

If you’re serious about purchasing a short-sale property, it’s important for you to have expert assistance. Here are some people you want to work with:

· Experienced real estate attorney. Only about two out of five short sales are approved by lenders. But a good real estate attorney who’s knowledgeable about the short-sale process will increase your chances getting an approved contract. Also, if you want any provisions or very specialized language written into the purchase contract, a real estate attorney is essential throughout the negotiation.

· A qualified real estate professional.* You may have a close friend or relative in real estate, but if that person doesn’t know anything about short sales, working with him or her may hurt your chances of a successful closing. Interview a few practitioners and ask them how many buyers they’ve represented in a short sale and, of those, how many have successfully closed. A qualified real estate professional will be able to show you short-sale homes, help negotiate the purchase when you find the property you want to buy, and smooth communications with the lender. (All MLSs permit, and some now require, special notations to indicate that a listing is a short sale. There also are certain phrases you can watch for, such as “lender approval required.”)

· shortsale3Title officer. It’s a good idea to have a title officer do an initial title search on a short-sale property to see all the liens attached to the property. If there are multiple lien holders (e.g., second or third mortgage or lines of credit, real estate tax lien, mechanic’s lien, homeowners association lien, etc.), it’s much tougher to get that short sale contract to the closing table. Any of the lien holders could put a kink in the process even after you’ve waited for months for lender approval. If you don’t know a title officer, your real estate attorney or real estate professional should be able to recommend a few.

Some of the other risks faced by buyers of short-sale properties include:

· Potential for rejection. Lenders want to minimize their losses as much as possible. If you make an offer tremendously lower than the fair market value of the home, chances are that your offer will be rejected and you’ll have wasted months. Or the lender could make a counteroffer, which will lengthen the process.

· Bad terms. Even when a lender approves a short sale, it could require that the sellers sign a promissory note to repay the deficient amount of the loan, which may not be acceptable to some financially desperate sellers. In that case, the sellers may refuse to go through with the short sale. Lenders also can change any of the terms of the contract that you’ve already negotiated, which may not be agreeable to you.

· No repairs or repair credits. You will most likely be asked to take the property “as is.” Lenders are already taking a loss on the property and may not agree to requests for repair credits.

The risks of a short sale are considerable. But if you have the time, patience, and iron will to see it through, a short sale can be a win-win for you and the sellers.

* Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. A REALTOR® is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and is bound by NAR’s strict code of ethics.

If you are looking to purchase a home in the Greater Athens area, please feel free to use this link to Search the Athens MLS! While on the Georgia MLS you can search for homes, create a User account to save favorite property searches, email property searches to friends and family, or request more information!

The link to my Featured Properties can take you to any number of properties that I am Marketing currently for Sale.

http://athensgahomes.HomeResearchSite.com

http://athensgahomes.RealEstateValueSite.com

http://athensgahomes.EstatePropertyInfo.com

http://athensgahomes.YourMLSHomeSearch.com

http://athens-ga-homes.yourkwagent.com


The Top 10 Traits of Highly Successful People

February 25, 2009

We have all read about people who are successful briefly. They win a gold medal, make a fortune, or star in one great movie… and then disappear. Or, there are those like Marilyn Monroe and Howard Hughes who achieve extraordinary success, at the cost of their own lives. These examples do not inspire me! My focus and fascination is with people who seem to do well in many areas of life, and do it over and over through a lifetime. In entertainment, I think of Paul Newman and Bill Cosby. In business, I think of Ben and Jerry (the ice cream moguls), and a local business owner who is famous for the money he’s given to children’s charities. As a Naval Officer, husband, businessman, politician and now as a mediator and philanthropist on the world stage, Jimmy Carter has had a remarkable life. We all know examples of people who go from one success to another. These are the people who inspire me! I’ve studied them, and I’ve noticed they have the following traits in common:

1. They work hard! Yes, they play hard, too!

They get up early, they rarely complain, they expect performance from others, but they expect extraordinary performance from themselves. Repeated, high-level success starts with a recognition that hard work pays off.

2. They are incredibly curious and eager to learn.

They study, ask questions and read — constantly! An interesting point, however: While most of them did well in school, the difference is that they apply or take advantage of what they learn. Repeated success is not about memorizing facts, it’s about being able to take information and create, build, or apply it in new and important ways. Successful people want to learn everything about everything!

3. They network extraordinarily well.

They know lots of people, and they know lots of different kinds of people. They listen to friends, neighbors, co-workers and bartenders. They don’t have to be ‘the life of the party,’ in fact many are quiet, even shy, but they value people and they value relationships. Successful people have a rolodex full of people who value their friendship and return their calls.

4. They work on themselves and never quit!

While the ‘over-night wonders’ become arrogant and quickly disappear. Really successful people work on their personality, their leadership skills, management skills, and every other detail of life. When a relationship or business deal goes sour, they assume they can learn from it and they expect to do better next time. Successful people don’t tolerate flaws; they fix them!

5. They are extraordinarily creative.

They go around asking, ‘Why not?’ They see new combinations, new possibilities, new opportunities and challenges where others see problems or limitations. They wake up in the middle of the night yelling, ‘I’ve got it!’ They ask for advice, try things out, consult experts and amateurs, always looking for a better, faster, cheaper solution. Successful people create stuff!

6. They are self-reliant and take responsibility.

Incredibly successful people don’t worry about blame, and they don’t waste time complaining. They make decisions and move on. Sometimes they are criticized for taking this to extremes — Jimmy Carter carried his own briefcase and a President ’shouldn’t’ do that! Extremely successful people take the initiative and accept the responsibilities of success.

7. They are usually relaxed and keep their sense of perspective.

Even in times of stress or turmoil, highly successful people keep their balance, they know the value of timing, humor, and patience. They rarely panic or make decisions on impulse. Unusually successful people breath easily, ask the right questions, and make sound decisions, even in a crisis.

8. Extremely successful people have a gift for living in the present moment.

They know that ‘Now’ is the only time they can control. They have a ‘gift’ for looking people in the eye, listening to what is being said, enjoying a meal or fine wine, music or playing with a child. They never seem rushed, and they get a lot done! They take full advantage of each day. Successful people don’t waste time, they use it!

9. Living in the present gives them a unique ability to ‘look over the horizon’ and see the future.

They observe trends, notice changes, see shifts, and hear the nuances that others miss. A basketball player wearing Nikes is trivial, the neighbor kid wearing them is interesting, your own teenager demanding them is an investment opportunity! Extremely successful people live in the present, with one eye on the future!

10. Repeatedly successful people respond instantly!

When an investment isn’t working out, they sell. When they see an opportunity, they make the call. If an important relationship is cooling down, they take time to renew it. When technology or a new competitor or a change in the economic situation requires an adjustment, they are the first and quickest to respond. These traits work together in combination, giving repeatedly successful people a huge advantage. Because they are insatiable learners, they can respond wisely to change. Because their personal relationships are strong, they have good advisors, and a reserve of goodwill when things go bad. And finally, none of these traits are genetic! They can be learned! They are free and they are skills you can use. Start now!

Bernice L. Ross, Ph.D. and CEO, Author, Trainer, and Speaker, couples her expertise as a Master Certified Coach with over 30 years of real estate sales experience. She is the author of “Waging War on Real Estate’s Discounters” and “Who’s the Best Person to Sell My House?” Both are available online.Her new book, Real Estate Dough™, Your Recipe for Real Estate Success was the #1 selling book at the 2008 NAR conference. She is also the creator of an exciting new real estate simulation game, called Real Estate Dough™-Negotiation. Players have repeatedly reported that: “It’s way more fun than Monopoly®!”She can be reached at bernice@realestatecoach.com or visit her blog at www.LuxuryClues.com

If you are looking to purchase a home in the Greater Athens area, please feel free to use this link to Search the Athens MLS! While on the Georgia MLS you can search for homes, create a User account to save favorite property searches, email property searches to friends and family, or request more information!

The link to my Featured Properties can take you to any number of properties that I am Marketing currently for Sale.

http://athensgahomes.HomeResearchSite.com

http://athensgahomes.RealEstateValueSite.com

http://athensgahomes.EstatePropertyInfo.com

http://athensgahomes.YourMLSHomeSearch.com

http://athens-ga-homes.yourkwagent.com/


A Brief Message to Athens Ga Home Buyers

February 24, 2009
The top reason for working with me as an agent  is that I can help you find the right home to purchase. 

The top ways in which I can assist are through understanding the purchase process, pointing out unnoticed faults or features in the homes in which you have an interest, and negotiating the best terms possible in your purchase.  My most valuable characteristics are honesty and integrity, and my knowledge of the purchase process due to my being an Associate Broker is strong.  You will find my responsiveness, knowledge of the real estate market, communication, and negotiation skills to exceed your expectations.

If you are looking to purchase a home in the Greater Athens area, please feel free to use this link to Search the Athens MLS! While on the Georgia MLS you can search for homes, create a User account to save favorite property searches, email property searches to friends and family, or request more information!

The link to my Featured Properties can take you to any number of properties that I am Marketing currently for Sale.

http://athensgahomes.HomeResearchSite.com

http://athensgahomes.RealEstateValueSite.com

http://athensgahomes.EstatePropertyInfo.com

http://athensgahomes.YourMLSHomeSearch.com



Alpha Inventions and the Pleasure of Watching others “Over Analyze”

February 24, 2009

“Submitted on 2009/02/24 at 4:42am

Hi all,

Just enjoy the thrill and resist over analysing. For instance, how on earth would I have been able to come across this blog? Tell me, how? Thanks to Alphainventions. I have read and leaving a comment to prove that it works.

By the way, I am a blogger from Nigeria, Africa.

Check me out at http://www.jidesalu.com …be prepared to laugh though.

Enjoy.”

Does Alpha Inventions work?  Here is just one proof.  A comment from a gentleman from Nigeria, Africa.   The other proof, click on the “BlogTopList” button on the left tool bar on my blog.  Right now it shows my blog ranks 97th (out of more than 1200 real estate blogs it tracks).  This is based on, for the most part, off of Unique Visitors.  This too is another great location to put your blog in order to get some feedback, as a sitemeter would, on how many visitors you are getting versus “hits.” TopBlogList is also a great place to possibly get some syndication, if you will, for your blog as well.  On Icerocket.com in the past 30 days I have had almost 8000 hits, but more than 4500 unique visitors.  More than 90% of these were a direct result of Alpha Inventions.


Athens Annual Events March – June, 2009; Press Release

February 23, 2009

February 16, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATHENS GEORGIA ANNUAL EVENTS CALENDAR
March-June, 2009athensga

CONTACT: Individual Event Organizers as listed below, or
Hannah Smith, CVB Communications Manager, 706.357.4430, hsmith@visitathensga.com

ATHENS, GA (February 16, 2009) — Events listed below are submitted for your consideration for inclusion in your calendar of events. Images, media pass requests, and additional editorial copy are available upon request. Information has been compiled from individual event organizer submissions and may be subject to change.

03/19/2009 to 03/22/2009
Robert Osborne’s Classic Film Festival, 5th Annual
Classic Center Theatre
See film classics the way they were meant to be seen; on a “movie palace” big screen! Hosted by Robert Osborne from Turner Classic Movies and actor Fred Willard, the four-day festival celebrates classic motion pictures through the screening of several newly remastered 35 mm prints of classic Hollywood, independent, and foreign films. Special guests associated with the films will appear on stage with Mr. Osborne after the screenings to discuss their work with the audience.
2009 Festival Lineup:
Thurs., 3/19, 8:30 p.m.: Goldfinger
Fri., 3/20, 1:30 p.m.: King Kong (1933). FREE matinee
Fri., 3/20, 4:30 p.m.: Rear Window
Fri., 3/20, 8:30 p.m.: Funny Girl
Sat., 3/21, 1:30 p.m.: Sunset Boulevard
Sat., 3/21, 4:30 p.m., For Your Consideration
Sat., 3/21, 8:30 p.m., The Godfather
Sun., 3/22, 1:30 p.m.: E.T. SPECIAL Child’s admission $5 ages 12 and under
TICKETS:
$60 Pass/All films and panel discussions; $45 Pass/Valid Student ID
$90 Pass/All films, panel discussions, & Saturday brunch; $75/Valid Student ID/UGA Alumni Association
Individual Film Tickets: $10 or $8/Students & Alumni Association members
706-357-4444
http://www.robertosbornefilmfestival.com
300 N. Thomas St.
Athens, GA 30601

03/27/2009 to 06/28/2009
Arts Unleashed, 2nd Annual
Athens Clarke County Leisure Services
The Arts Division of ACC Department Leisure Services will present local artists’ original and innovative projects in unconventional arts venues such as parks and business lobbies.
706-613-3620
http://www.accleisureservices.com
705 Sunset Drive
Athens, GA 30603

03/28/2009 to 03/29/2009
Fresh Look Athens International Film Festival for Children and Youth
“Fresh Look ‘09″ will feature four screening sessions of approximately 90 minutes each. Two of the screenings will be for 5-9 years old children and another two for older children and youth. The four shows will screen different short and feature films, all of them international independent movies aimed at children, youth, and families. Post-screening question-and-answer sessions with the audience will be conducted by a guest speaker, a filmmaker or a film producer.
TIME: Children ages 5-9: (Saturday & Sunday, 11 am)
Older children and youth: (Saturday & Sunday, 4 pm)
COST: $6
Cine’
234 West Hancock Avenue
Athens, GA

04/04/2009
UGA International Street Festival
An annual festival of cultural displays, traditional costumes, dances, and international bands. Presented by the 23 International Student Organizations at UGA.
TIME: noon – 5 p.m.
COST: Free
706-542-5867
http://www.uga.edu/isl
College Square
Downtown Athens
Athens, GA

04/04/2009
FLUKE Mini-Comics Festival, 8th Annual
Tasty World
FLUKE is a mini-comic festival that has been organized by Athens-area comic artists, underground publishers and their enthusiasts since 2002. Conceived as a venue for the discussion and exchange of timely ideas related to mini-comics, zines, and other independent publications, FLUKE is not a large comic convention or merchandising-saturated extravaganza. This isn’t to say we don’t like our share of stuff–’cause we do. However, we have kept the organization of the event as simple as possible to ensure that it remains focused on work and ideas rather than merchandising.
TIME: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
ADMISSION: $5
706-614-3499
http://www.flukeathens.com
312 East Broad Street
Athens, GA 30601

04/13/2009 to 04/19/2009
Nationwide Golf Tour: 4th Annual Athens Regional Foundation Classic
Professional golf returns to Athens and Jennings Mill, a Bob Cupp-designed, 7,000+ yard course. The event offers a $500,000 purse with proceeds benefiting the Athens Regional Foundation. The 2008 event was won by Robert Damron and drew weeklong crowds of more than 25,000. Many of these fans followed four-time University of Georgia All-American Brendan Todd who held the 54-hole lead and finished in the top 25. Adding to the regional focus were more than 500 volunteers who took part in the effort and more than 20 major sponsors who lent their support.
http://www.arfcgolf.org
Jennings Mill Country Club

04/18/2009
The Piedmont Gardeners’ Garden Tour, 16th Annual
This spring garden tour is sponsored and presented by The Piedmont Gardeners. Six gardens will be featured. Your ticket is a brochure that includes a map and directions. Rain or shine. First tour was in 1992.
TIME: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
TICKETS: $10 in advance, $15 day of the tour. Tickets are available at Cofer’s Home & Garden Showplace(706.353.1915); Southern Comforts
(706.543.8130), or Week-End A’Fair at Charmar (706.543.6001)
CONTACT: Teddy, 706.548.5760
706-548-5760
Six private gardens in Athens
Athens, GA

04/24/2009 to 04/25/2009
Athens Twilight Criterium, 30th Annual
The 30th Annual Athens Twilight is a professional cycling event and festival fun for fans, families, and racers. The Twilight Criterium is a favorite spot on the national cycling tour circuit, both for its unique evening format and the large crowds that gather in Athens’ vibrant downtown retail and entertainment district. Welcome back the return of Twilight Music presented by the UGA School of Music and The Melting Point and the Computrainer Grid Qualifiers. Get up-close-and-personal with your favorite pro cyclists as they battle it out Friday night for coveted starting places in America’s best criterium Saturday night. Founded in 1980 by Gene Dixon, the Athens Twilight Criterium was the first nighttime race in the United States in over 60 years. What began as one race with 40 competitors has since grown to offer eight separate race classes and 150 cyclists competing in the main event, the men’s criterium, a 60-km race around downtown Athens.
TIME: Multiple events; the marquee Twilight event is Saturday evening.
LOCATION: Downtown Athens
COST : Free admission; fees for some activities.
706-207-4607
http://www.athenstwilight.com
Downtown Athens
Athens, GA

05/02/2009 to 05/03/2009
Athens Human Rights Festival, 31st Annual
The Athens Human Rights Festival brings together political activists, musicians and artists in a celebration of advances in the area of human rights and call for further action.
TIME: 10 a.m. – Midnight Saturday; 2 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Sunday
COST: no admission charge
706-208-8674
http://www.athenshumanrightsfest.org
College Square
Downtown Athens

06/25/2009 to 06/28/2009
AthFest Music and Arts Festival, 13th Annual
Experience over 175 bands on outdoor stages and in Athens’ renowned clubs. Original music, art, local film screenings, and KidsFest provide entertainment for all ages. Outdoor stages free; all-venue weekend wristbands available for sale.
NAMED A TOP 20 EVENT BY THE SOUTHEAST TOURISM SOCIETY!
COST: Outdoor stages, KidsFest, and artists market are free; $15 wristbands provide entrance to “Club Crawl” for nightime music, and discounted admission to affiliated weekend events.
TIMES:
KidsFest, Between Lumpkin and Hull Streets: Sat. 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Outdoor Stages: Fri. 5 – 10:15 p.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m. – 10:15 p.m.; Sun. noon – 8:30 p.m.
Artisan’s Market: Fri. 5 – 10 p.m.; Sat. noon-10 p.m.; Sun. noon – 8 p.m.
706-548-1973
http://www.athfest.com
Downtown Athens
Athens, GA

Events are subject to change. Please contact the sponsoring organization to verify dates, times and costs. This calendar of events is presented by the Athens CVB as a community service, with all information provided by individual event coordinators. This calendar is by no means a definitive listing of all the events happening in the Athens area. While we make every effort to maintain accuracy, we cannot be responsible for errors, changes, or omissions.


The Foreclosure Prevention Plan; What does it Contain?

February 23, 2009

Last week the new Presidential Administration made public its plan to halt the flow of foreclosures.

“The administration’s proposed plan, combined with provisions like the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit in the just-enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will help minimize foreclosures, shrink housing inventory, stabilize home values, and move the country closer to an economic recovery,” says NAR President Charles McMillan.

Plan details include;fore

Help for homeowners at risk of default on their mortgage(s). Homeowners with a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan would be eligible to refinance as long as their mortgage doesn’t exceed 105 percent of the home’s current market value. This could potentially impact 4-5 million homes.

Help for those homeowners in default or in need of loan modification. According to a synopsis by the NAR, “For lenders that voluntarily agree to lower a borrower’s payment so that it makes up no more than 38 percent of the borrower’s income, the government would share the cost of lowering the mortgage burden to 31 percent of income. Incentives to lenders to participate include a $1,000 payment. Borrowers can receive up to $1,000 as an incentive to stay current on their new mortgage. Still in the works is a proposed provision that would allow bankruptcy judges to require loan modification (known as a cramdown) as part of a household’s restructuring. That provision requires legislation by Congress. Estimated potential impact: 3-4 million households.”

Funding to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been redoubled. To encourage investment in mortgage-backed securities, the government backs these investments up to $400 billion.

fore2The plan only provides help to homeowners who are in trouble with their primary residence only, not with second homes or investment properties.  It also does not apply to homeowners whose mortgage is not backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

If you are looking to purchase a home in the Greater Athens area, please feel free to use this link to Search the Athens MLS! While on the Georgia MLS you can search for homes, create a User account to save favorite property searches, email property searches to friends and family, or request more information!

The link to my Featured Properties can take you to any number of properties that I am Marketing currently for Sale.

http://athensgahomes.HomeResearchSite.com

http://athensgahomes.RealEstateValueSite.com

http://athensgahomes.EstatePropertyInfo.com

http://athensgahomes.YourMLSHomeSearch.com


The Top Ten Challenges Faced by For Sale by Owner

February 22, 2009


  1. Virtually every Buyer buys by comparison. Having only one house to show prevents you from helping the buyer do comparison shopping.
  2. It is difficult to determine the tastes and requirements of a Buyer if you have not had the opportunity to fully qualify him/her beforehand.fsbo1
  3. Do you have the legal expertise to personally prepare a valid and fully enforceable agreement? If not, be sure to have an attorney review all documents.
  4. Buyers are reluctant to discuss their finances with the other principal. Most sellers fail to ask for a credit report, source of down payment, as well as other information critical to determining the buyers’ credit worthiness.
  5. If you have to call the Buyer back yourself, you are weakening your bargaining position and may give the buyer the impression that you are desperate to sell. A seller who seems anxious usually receives less money for their house.
  6. Buyers normally will not discuss the disadvantages or shortcomings they feel are present in your property. Thus, because you do not know what their objections are, it is virtually impossible to overcome them.
  7. By showing your property to whoever calls on your ad or your signs, you will often waste valuable time doing showings for unqualified prospects.
  8. Buyers who know you are selling For Sale by Owner, almost always deduct the six percent off your asking price. You are essentially viewed as a “wholesaler” and thus, Buyers expect to pay a wholesale price, rather than a retail price.
  9. Obtaining the name and phone numbers of everyone who calls is often difficult. Buyers are often reluctant to provide strangers with accurate information about who they are and what they can afford.
  10. For most sellers, their home is their most valuable possession. Are you willing to risk having your most valuable possession sold by someone other than a well-trained, seasoned professional?fsbo2

Bernice L. Ross, Ph.D. and CEO, Author, Trainer, and Speaker, couples her expertise as a Master Certified Coach with over 30 years of real estate sales experience. She is the author of “Waging War on Real Estate’s Discounters” and “Who’s the Best Person to Sell My House?” Both are available online.Her new book, Real Estate Dough™, Your Recipe for Real Estate Success was the #1 selling book at the 2008 NAR conference. She is also the creator of an exciting new real estate simulation game, called Real Estate Dough™-Negotiation. Players have repeatedly reported that: “It’s way more fun than Monopoly®!”She can be reached at bernice@realestatecoach.com or visit her blog at www.LuxuryClues.com

http://athensgahomes.HomeResearchSite.com

http://athensgahomes.RealEstateValueSite.com

http://athensgahomes.EstatePropertyInfo.com

http://athensgahomes.YourMLSHomeSearch.com

If you are looking to purchase a home in the Greater Athens area, please feel free to use this link to Search the Athens MLS! While on the Georgia MLS you can search for homes, create a User account to save favorite property searches, email property searches to friends and family, or request more information!

The link to my Featured Properties can take you to any number of properties that I am Marketing currently for Sale.


AlphaInventions; Who’s Listening?

February 21, 2009

Reader comment regarding Alpha Inventions; “ Increased numbers(hits), but as I browse my stats, no increase in readership of content. The hits are good for the ego indeed, but after the initial rush of “people see me!” Who is listening??? Which is why many bloggers blog in the first place.”

My response;  Possibly your topics of conversation, while they are probably interesting, may be not marketable to a broad mass of people.  As I mentioned in a previous post, I would not only look at “hits” but actual visits.  I know that WordPress, for example, does not show visits.  You need Google Analytics, Icerocket, Sitemeter, or any of a vast array of sites to provide this type of data.  If you put Google Analytics on your blog you can find out not only who is listening to you right down to their IP address, New Versus Returning visits (versus just hits), Browser Capabilities, Visitor Loyalty, and more! I have had more back links and been stumbled upon far more since I started implementing the services of Alpha Inventions than I had at any time before, so yes, people ARE LISTENING!

http://athensgahomes.HomeResearchSite.com

http://athensgahomes.RealEstateValueSite.com

http://athensgahomes.EstatePropertyInfo.com

http://athensgahomes.YourMLSHomeSearch.com



As a Homeowner, What Steps you should take based on today’s News

February 20, 2009

  • Homeowners, get ready to contact your lenders about loan modifications.homeowners
  • Some homeowners may not know what help is available to them through the new $75 billion now available to loan modifications.  If you are in trouble there are options now available.
  • Lessening foreclosures will help homeowners directly impacted by higher payments due to adjusting ARMs and late payments to keep them from losing their homes. Reduced foreclosures will also be a huge help to stabilize home prices.

Click here for details on the President’s Plan.

Questions & Answers for Borrowers.

“When people lose homes to foreclosure, our communities, the housing market and our economy all suffer,” said NAR President Charles McMillan. “The administration’s proposed plan, combined with provisions like the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit in the just-enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will help minimize foreclosures, shrink housing inventory, stabilize home values and move the country closer to an economic recovery.”

http://athensgahomes.HomeResearchSite.com

http://athensgahomes.RealEstateValueSite.com

http://athensgahomes.EstatePropertyInfo.com

http://athensgahomes.YourMLSHomeSearch.com


AlphaInventions and Does it Work; A Great Question from another Blogger

February 19, 2009

A great question from another Blogger about Alpha Inventions and my response;

“I’ve also had this phenomenon – one day 8 hits, the next day, hundreds, thanks to alpha inventions. Now, there’s a certain thrill in knowing that so many people are tripping over your pages. It’s great fun and feels really cool, and I’m full of admiration for the clever programmer that thought it up. But what I’m wondering is how this actually adds value when most of them – almost all of them clock in as a “hit” without actually reading or interfacing with the content. I mean these are “hits” only in the sense that the thousands of people you pass on the street might be considered “meetings”. I don’t mean to undermine the piece of programming, which is certainly interesting. I want to know who’s finding it fruitful for more than a superficial hit boost, and how?”

“I agree with your thoughts via your comments made on my blog.  I use Icerocket.com to track data as well as my blog’s own tracker program because Icerocket breaks down hits and “visits” so that you know who is actually going to your site by the numbers.  The ratio of hits versus actual visits that I do attribute to people interfacing with my blog content is probably 4 to 1.  This traffic I am getting through Alpha Inventions has to look at the fact that these are “only” bloggers, meaning that those outside of being bloggers (the rest of the world) are not represented, so I also use Twitter to update what I am posting on my blog to assist in spreading my content around the net.  Try Icerocket though.  I think you will like it as a tool.  To sum up, I am getting a ton of hits, but my visits have increased many times over and over again.  That is what I look at more than anything.”

For that matter, one could use Google Analytics or any “site meter” to judge more fully how much traffic Alpha Inventions is directly responsible for on their site beyond that of BlogSpot, WordPress, and the like. One other comment to add to my response to my blogger reader friend would be that even if the traffic generated by Alpha Inventions is directed toward bloggers “only” I have received more links (back links) through Alpha Inventions in a couple of months than I had in the past year without Alpha Inventions.

This means that truly Alpha Inventions indirectly is spreading the word of my blog through other bloggers who have put my links and/or content on their blogs to non-bloggers across the blogosphere. This is huge too because backlinks, hits, and visits increase your blogs ability to be picked up on Google and other search engines more easily. Your search engine SEO will improve. The only other suggestion is to look at my Blog Roll for “Ping Google” and the Google Blog Service. You should Ping Google as you put new content on your site. This is something that every blogger should do religiously every post to ensure good SEO as well. I would say that the Twitter idea I have used is good. Has it increased my visits or hits? Not anywhere in the same ballpark as Alpha Inventions.

Trust me when I say that Alpha Inventions works. It is a marvelous, no a Glorious, invention.