IN & AROUND ATLANTA - Festivals & Events in April 2009 April 4 --  Easter Egg Hunt in the Decatur Square - Saturday at 10:30 am.  Free admission. April 9 -- Jazz Nights at Scottish Rite in Oakhurst every Thursday from 7 to 9 pm.  Find out more. April 16-25 - Atlanta Film Festival.  Get the full schedule and buy tickets. April 17-19 - Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour - $20 in advance, $25 at the door.  Get more information. April 17-19 -- Dogwood Festival is back in Piedmont Park this year.  Live music, artist market & more.  Get the full scoop. April 18 -- Earth Day in Oakhurst's Harmony Park & Community Garden Earth Day from 10 am - 2 pm.  Free admission. April 25-26 - Inman Park Spring Festival & Tour of Homes - Don't miss the parade -- it begins at approximately 2:00 pm.  Get all the ... 04/03/2009

This Saturday April 4th, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt on the Square in downtown Decatur, GA.  If you are not familiar with the area, Decatur Square is on Ponce de Leon Ave in between Church St. and Clairmont Ave. The Easter Bunny arrives at 10:30 a.m. and the hunt for candy eggs begins at 11 a.m.  This is a BYOB event, Bring Your Own Basket.   There are multiple age categories: 0-2; Preschool, Kindergarten and grades 1-5.  This Free event is sponsored by the Decatur Business Association.   If you get there early stop in at one of the many restaurants for breakfast, or stop in after for lunch.  Decatur is a charming city with lots of events, shopping and dining less than 7 miles from downtown Atlanta, GA.   If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Decatur, contact Local Exp... 04/02/2009

The ING Marathon is Sunday March 29, 2009. It will be coming through Decatur, GA and cheering squads are needed. The official cheering station is at Fellini's Pizza located at 333 Commerce Drive in Decatur. Come on out bright and early on Sunday morning at 7 am to help cheer the runners on. In 2007, the City of Decatur won $10,000 for the Best Cheering Station and in 2008 won $5,000 for the second best station. Decatur wants to reclaim our #1 title, so wear your orange and bring a noise maker, signs, and/or a musical instrument.  Make some noise so the runners remember our wonderful city.   Runners will be voting for their favorite Water Stations and their favorite Cheering Section so we want them to remember Decatur. Prize money will to the Decatur Youth Fund for child obesity programs... 03/28/2009

Decatur has an Electronics Recycling Day twice a year in the Fall and in the Spring. Due to the rainy weather the Electronics Recycling Day has been moved to Saturday, April 25th, 2009  from 9 am to 1 pm in the Decatur High School parking lot.   These are the things that can be recycled: Almost anything with an electrical cord can be recycled at the event EXCEPT microwave ovens, furniture, light fixtures, household appliances, lamps, vacuum cleaners.. These items will be recycled for free:  computers, Telephones, Mini-towers, Telephony equipment,  Adding machines, Monitors, Calculators, Servers, Typewriters, Workstations, Label makers, Keyboards, Copiers, Mice, Fax machines, Joystick game controllers, Answering machines, Printers, Printer cartridges, Digital cameras, Zip drives, Batteri... 03/28/2009

Looking for home sales near Emory University? The Emory University area is a sought after community.  Emory University in Atlanta has been long ranked as one of the best schools in the nation. Emory University is a private research university located in the city of Atlanta in unincorporated DeKalb County, GA. Emory University consists of 9 academic divisions: schools of arts and sciences, theology, business, law, medicine, public health, and nursing. Emory is often referred to as the Harvard of the South.  Emory University has been acknowledge for superior academics, outstanding undergraduate education programs in the arts and sciences, and a highly ranked professional faculty and research facilities.  For students that attend any of Emory University schools there is nearby off-campus h... 03/25/2009

Oakhurst and Winona Park Elementary School PTAs are doing an online Auction to raise money. The schools are part of the city of Decatur which is a great place to live, work and play. This is the first year of what will be an annual event. There is a huge amount of things to bid on from art, to a vacation in Tuscany, restaurants gift certificates, salon services, event tickets, etc.  There really is something for everyone. Donations are still being accepted for people or businesses who want to donate an item or service to the auction. The auction ends April 17 at 9 p.m. You will need this password oakwpsis2009 to view the online catalog. It is case sensitive. Check it out and support our local Parent Teachers Association.   ----------------------------------------------------------------... 03/25/2009

On Tuesday March 24th, the Washington Park and Valley Brook neighborhoods in Decatur will be holding an Open House for real estate Agents to come out and tour our listings.  From 11:30 am to 3 pm we will be open with refreshments and drawings. Washington Park is a hidden gem in Decatur, GA off of Lawrencville Hwy between North Druid Hills Rd and Dekalb Industrial Way. The weather should be great. Come out and see this little known neighborhood! Dekalb County even has a small park there, also known as Washington Park with picnic pavilion, grill and playground.  Homes on Tour include:  2801 Arborcrest Drive, Decatur 3 bedroom/2.5 bath for $285K (Keller Williams) 2785 Arborcrest Drive, Decatur 4 bedroom/2.5 bath for $299,900 (Avenue Realty) The Oaks on Jordan Townhomes, Decatur new constru... 03/21/2009

First time home buyer - Federal Tax Credit -- $7500 vs $8000 For many potential first time home buyers, the 2008 and 2009 "First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit" has been a bit of a mystery.  I've had many questions such as -- When do you get your tax credit?  Do you have to pay it back?  What if you sell your house within 2 or 3 years?  What if I'm a first time home buyer but my husband isn't?  REALTOR.org created a "Cheat Sheet" that covers EVERYTHING and should answer 99% of your questions about the 2008 and 2009 First time home buyer tax credit. >>> VIEW THE "CHEAT SHEET"  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: What is the difference between the 2008 tax credit and the 2009 tax credit (other than the amount)? The primary difference is that the $7500 tax credit of 2008 needs to be paid back over the ... 03/14/2009

The 7th Annual TOUR deCATUR 5K Road Race, 1 Mile Fun Run and Tot Trot is coming up on Saturday morning, March 21, 2009. The one mile Fun Run begins at 8:45 am and the 5K Race begins at 9:15 am at Renfroe Middle School. The 3.1 mile route winds through the wonderful Oakhurst and Winnona Park neighborhoods of Decatur, GA. All proceeds from the race benefit the work of the Decatur Education Foundation. The entry fee is $18 for Adults and $12 for children under 18 (including Tot Trot participants under age 4) before March 13th. After the 13th, the entry fee will be $25. All participants will receive a race T-shirt.  Registration is available online. --------------------------- In Winnona Park there are currently 20 single family homes for sale ranging in price from $230,000-$759,000. In Oak... 03/08/2009

            For those of you that know Jesus Rodriguez, he was the original on-site agent at North Village Decatur new townhomes when the community opened! All though he was moved to another communtiy, Jesus is  now back at North Village as the on-site agent once again. For those of you who do not know Jesus, he brings a fun and exciting energy to this Decatur new townhomes community. The homeowners at North Village are absolutely thrilled to have Jesus back.If you are in the market for a new Atlanta area townhome at North Village in Decatur, then stop by to meet Jesus today!North Village | 1071 North Village Drive | Decatur GA 30032 | 404-508-8855 | www.northvillagedecatur.com   03/06/2009

Dekalb County, GA real estate is still selling!  Dekalb County includes Decatur, Atlanta, Dunwoody, Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Scottdale, Clarkston, Avondale Estates, Doraville, Chamblee and others.  January 1 through February 28th 2009 there were 1,862 new listings. The average list price is $261,523. There are 754 pending sales.  That means they are under contract but not yet closed. 395 Single family homes have been sold and closed. The average original list price of the homes that have sold is $196,674. The average sales price is $171,022. Homes have sold on average in Dekalb County for 94.10% of list price with as high as 97.48% of list price in some areas. The average days on market is 86. What does this mean? It means that homes in lower price ranges are moving.  It's a great mark... 03/02/2009

Decatur GA Real Estate - Selling your Intown Atlanta Home With all the competition in the Intown Atlanta real estate market (or any real estate market! ) it is so important to present your home in its 'best light'.  To follow are five inexpensive ideas that will help your home look light, bright and airy... 1)  Let the sun shine in -- Open all the curtains and window shades.  Add a small lamp or uplight to dark corners.  If you have dark heavy curtains, consider replacing with white sheer curtains. 2)  Increase your wattage -- Replace your 40W or 60W lightbulbs with 100W bulbs to brighten things up and make the room feel larger.  ** Please be sure that your lamp can handle the higher watt bulb. 3)  Don't block the light -- Clean your windows inside and out.  Also, remove any excess furn... 02/16/2009

Stop by the Ponce-Fairview Shoppes in downtown Decatur to do some shopping for your sweetheart or for yourself.  On Saturday February 14th, 2009 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Ponce-Fairview Shoppes will be having a Sweetheart Sidewalk Sale with snacks and drinks. You can pick from such items as jewelry, apparel, body care, skincare, and many other gifts. Stop by Eyeworks for a free eye screening from 12-4 p.m. and if you book an appointment with them that day, you can get discounts off your exam (not to be included with insurance discounts) They also have really cute red frames in stock. Tastings is having a special on "flirtinis" for $6.00 and 10% off retail red wines. Eviva, a very cool shoe and accessories store will be doing a Valentines day sale -20% off lowest marked price or Buy 1, ... 02/11/2009

Oakhurst, a neighborhood located in the southeast corner of Decatur, Georgia (30030 zip code) is a close-knit community that was built around the Scottish Rite Hospital.  Now, around Harmony Park in the central area of Oakhurst there are restaurants such as Mojo's Pizza, Kavarna Coffee House, Universal Joint and The Matador Mexican Cantina.  It's a fun neighborhood that families love to pack up their strollers and walk to from neighboring areas like Kirkwood and East Lake. Although Oakhurst is still an area targeted by young professionals it has not been immune to the current real estate shift.  In 2006 the neighborhood experienced 102 sales.  Their average sales price was $317,416.  On average, it took 54 days for these homes to sell.In 2007 there were 98 sales (a 4% decrease).  Their ... 01/27/2009

 Decatur real estate - Oakhurst Decatur homes for sale It's time again for the 2009 Oakhurst Wine Crawl (aka Oakhurst Wine Tasting Festival).  On February 28th from 4 to 7 pm, local Oakhurst businesses will open their doors and feature wine from around the globe.  This is one of my favorite Oakhurst events and it really kicks off the Spring Festival season.  Usually about 20 different businesses will participate and it is great fun to visit the local auto repair shop or the optomotrist's office and sample a glass of wine.  If you haven't been to the Oakhurst Wine Crawl before, please know that it SELLS OUT FAST.  Only 750 tickets are sold each year and it is best to purchase them prior to the wine festival so you don't have to wait in the long lines. ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE AT:  Kavar... 01/26/2009

Atlanta Real Estate & Homes for Sale Decatur GA Townhomes - North Village If you are a first-time home buyer trying to find a beautiful new home under $185,000, you have come to the right place!  I just toured the new Decatur towhomes at North Village and they are well contructed and give you lots of  Craftsman bungalow details and charm.  The homes have 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms and prices start at about $150,000 up to $183,900. The homes are beautifully constructed with 2-stories, master suites, crown molding, spacious kitchens and a 1-car garage. The North Village townhomes are centrally located, just off of Memorial Drive, near the new Super Wal-mart that just went in at the old Avondale Mall location.  You are also very close to Downtown Decatur, Oakhurst Village, MARTA, Avondal... 01/23/2009

Winnona Park, a neighborhood located in the southeast corner of Decatur, Georgia (30030 zip code) is a close-knit college community within walking distance to Agnes Scott College and downtown Decatur's many restaurants, bars and shops.  Winnona Park seems to be bucking this Decatur's current real estate shift.  In 2006 the neighborhood experienced 41 sales.  Their average sales price was $376,973.  On average, it took 54 days for these homes to sell.In 2007 there were 73 sales (a 27% increase).  Their average sales price was $395,675 (an increase of 5% from the year before).  On average, it took 73 days to sell a home.The most current data we have shows that, in 2008, there were only 33 sales in Winnona Park but the average sales price increased by 13% to $449,810!  When many other neig... 01/23/2009

Atlanta Real Estate - Selling your Atlanta home I just noticed a new feature on Postlets.com.  If you use the premium Postlets eFlyer to promote your listings, potential buyers will now receive a "Walk Score" for the property.  This new tool helps home buyers determine how close the property is to restaurants, parks, etc.  I visited the Walk Score website and you are able to plug in any address -- even if you don't use Postlets.com -- and determine the score for your listing, as well as a map with links to local churches, pubs, restaurants and more.  It's great!  As an agent who specializes in the Intown -- or Downtown -- Atlanta neighborhoods, being able to walk to parks and restaurants is VERY important to my home buyer clients.  If you work in a similar area, this is a nice touch whe... 01/22/2009

If you purchased a home in 2008, please read the following... With the start of the New Year, it's never too early to begin thinking about tax season.  As you know, buying a home can be a huge tax advantage, so I want to be sure that as a new homeowner you know you may be eligible for a Homestead Exemption. Georgia allows homeowners to claim a Homestead Exemption as a tax benefit that could amount to considerable annual savings.  To qualify, the homeowner must occupy the property as their primary residence as of January 1, 2009 in order to apply for the 2009 Georgia Homestead Excemption.  Depending on the county, you will need to file at the county Court House or Tax Commissioner's Office in person, by mail or on the web.  The filing deadline is March 1st in most counties, but the deadl... 01/12/2009

Atlanta Real Estate - Atlanta Home Foreclosures - Condo and Loft Foreclosures With the low interest rates and high number of home and condo foreclosures in Metro Atlanta,  Atlanta home buyers that were "on the fence" last fall are now coming out of the woodwork to take advantage of historically LOW interest rates and great deals on homes. If you are looking for a great deal on a home, you've come to the right place.  To follow is a complete list of all the home foreclosure homes in Metro Atlanta. PLEASE NOTE:  These lists are automatically updated daily, so be sure to bookmark this page. -->  FORECLOSURE homes in NORTH FULTON (Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, Duluth and more) -->  FORECLOSURE homes in SOUTH FULTON (East Atlanta, College Park, Ormewood, Grant Park and more) -->  FORECLOSURES... 01/10/2009