If you are interested in purchasing or building a home in a rural area, you might want to consider a USDA loan.  In today's world, 100% financing has pretty much disappeared, but the USDA Rural Housing Program still can provide 100% financing if you qualify.

The benefits are:

100% loan-to-value financing for existing homes and new construction (based on appraised value)

Low and moderate income rural households qualify (# of family members and total income considered).  You seriously have to provide your children's birth certificates!

You don't have to be a first time home buyer.

Closing costs are lower than conventional or FHA loans

No monthly mortgage insurance required.  There is a one-time guarantee fee which can be financed in.

30 year fixed rate loans

No pre-payment penalties

2/1 temporary buydown available

There is no maximum loan limit.  No longer tied to FHA loan limits.

To determine if your area qualifies (in this area, Athens-Clarke does not qualify, parts of Oconee Co. do).

visit http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do.

One thing to consider is if your lender will have USDA fund the loan or will your lender.  This is important to know because there are times when USDA doesn't have the money to fund the loan and you might have to wait until funds are available.

Oconee's own resident country singer  John Berry is bringing his annual Christmas concert to the Oconee County Civic Center  8 pm Saturday, November 28th. Admission is $25.00 and may be purchased by calling  toll-free  (877) 438-5646, according to the Oconee Enterprise newspaper. They say that tickets are going fast, so call today!  We attended several years ago and it is always a great way to start off the Christmas season.

1221 MASON MILL RD., ATHENS, GA (OCONEE CO.)

A  LOT OF HOME FOR THE $$! Elegant home tucked away on 1.469 acres close to Athens Academy and the loop.  The stucco exterior has dental molding and copper gutters and downspouts.  As you enter in the front door you will find a formal dining room and foyer with polished granite floors.  Down just a step is the hardwood floored great room with fireplace with built-ins on each side and French doors to the covered porch. Step into the kitchen which has a beautiful hutch for displaying your dishes, Mexican tiled island with prep sink along with Mexican tiled floors.  There is a spacious breakfast area with a bay window overlooking the backyard.  The oversized master suite features a gas log fireplace and door to the porch.  The luxurious master bath has a vaulted ceiling, large shower, dual vanities with extensive shelving and a stained glass window over the whirlpool tub.  Also on the main level are two more bedrooms, one with a private bath, hall bath and laundry.  Off the foyer is another room with French doors which could be a bedroom or study.   Upstairs you will find a carpeted in-law or teen suite with a separate entrance.  It has a full kitchen with all appliances, living area, bedroom, full bath, laundry area and a bonus room.  Outside is a covered porch perfect for entertaining with a wet bar and a terraced backyard.  Stucco exterior is commercial grade with combination of hard coat and synthetic stucco.

For more information on this property, please contact Paul & Diane Boykin at 706-296-7507, diane@BoykinTeam.com or our website at www.BoykinTeam.com.

This year's Halloween Havoc at the University of Georgia's hayfield on South Milledge Ave. in Athens, GA again attracted some talented student groups to compete with decorated hay bales.

The UGA Cattlemen's Association sponsored the event for the second year as a fund raiser  for the winning group's favorite philanthropy and for the North Georgia Food Bank.   In spite of heave rain earlier in the week, the hay bales weathered the storm, so to speak, very well.

Below are some of the best entries.   You be the judge, which one is the best?

                                      H1N1 - GET IT?  (SWINE FLU)

                                                      I CALL THIS ONE "BAT BALE"

                                                                BULL RIDER

                              THIS WOULD BE THE POULTRY SCIENCE CLUB ENTRY

                                              BLOCK & BRIDLE CLUB

                                                                      ROBOT?

                                             STUDENT CATTLEMEN?

This afternoon we stopped by the Jaemor Farm Market near Lulu, GA, where they have all sorts of farm items as well as a corn maze and fun activities.

They had bins of regular pumpkins and....

And they had decorative pumpkins.......

This family checks out the largest pumpkins

Decorative pumpkins and gourds

They had several types of winter squash including acorn (shown above) and estrella, (shown below)

These ladies are having a difficult time deciding what to purchase from the many shelves of jellies, jams, relishes, pickles, syrups and sauces that are available.

Jaemor sells raw peanuts for roasting, boiling or making peanut brittle in bags up to these 50# ones that Paul has his eyes on.

This gentleman from California is sampling his very first boiled peanut!  And judging from his expression, it won't be his last!

They also have fried pies and homemade ice cream!

There is a large selection of various fruits and veggies

And don't forget to buy your mountain apples while you're there

There's so much to see that these ladies took a break to visit while shopping

Did I mention that they have butter & eggs, too?

Kids and adults alike will like the old fashioned candy available.

There's so much more to see and choose from that I can't even tell about it!

Out back you will find a pumpkin patch and orchards

OK, you're all fired up and ready to take the family out to Jaemor, now, aren't you?  You'll find it on Hwy 365 north of Gainesville and south of Cornelia, GA.

There's not a more beautiful setting than the grounds at Ashford Manor in Watkinsville, GA for the annual OCAF (Oconee Co. Arts Foundation) Wine and Food tasting that will take place this Sunday, October 25 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The tasting will include wines from seven wineries and package stores and food from 23 restaurants in Athens and Oconee County.

There will also be a silent auction and raffle besides live music and cooking demonstrations.

What better way to spend a fall afternoon with friends and family?

Tickets are $30 before Oct. 23 and $35 at the door.

You can purchase yours by calling 706-769-4565 or on line at www.ocaf.com. 

We had record cold this morning - 33 chilly degrees here in Watkinsville, GA, which had me rummaging for gloves and ear covers before walking this morning.

I noticed that my purple coneflowers had multiple little flowers coming our of a main flower - note the one on the left.  Has anyone ever seen this before?

After raining off and on all week, the weather channel predicted "cloudy" for the Watkinsville Fall Festival today.  Well, it started misting around 8:00 a.m. and started raining harder and harder throughout the morning.  Still, a good many people came and brought their children, including babies.  I stood out in the rain for 2 hours directing traffic, but before I did, I had to visit the funnel cake booth.

As the day was cold and wet, funnel cakes may well have been one of the best things going as they are hot and sweet.

For those who aren't familiar with funnel cakes, here is the process and the finished product.

First, you pour a funnel of batter into the hot oil.

After they're done, you top with powdered sugar.

Voila, the finished product!  Enjoy!!

DON'T MISS THE WATKINSVILLE FALL FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY (OCTOBER 17)!

There'll be a lot happening this Saturday in downtown Watkinsville, GA at the Fall Festival.  There will be numerous craft booths, lots to eat and tons of fun for the kids.  If you haven't had funnel cakes in awhile, this is your chance.  There will also be fresh vegetables from the Oconee Farmer's Market, a train to ride, animals to pet and corn boxes for the kids to play in, not to mention music all day at the bandstand.

The festival is from 9:00-4:00 in downtown Watkinsville on Rocket Field and the Eagle Tavern area.  See you there!