I thought it would be a good idea to include some basic Real Estate terms and definitions for anyone considering buying homes in Warner Robins GA.

Glossary of Real Estate Terms

Acceptance	A buyer's or seller's agreement to enter into a contract and be bound by the terms of the offer.
Amortization	The gradual repayment of a home loan by periodic installments.
Amortization Term (period)	The amount of time it takes to pay off the loan. The amortization term is expressed as a number of months. For example, for a 30 year fixed rate loan, the amortization term is 360 months.
Appraisal	An estimate of the value of a home, made by a professional appraiser. The maximum amount of the mortgage is usually based on the appraisal.
Closing	The conclusion or consummation of a transaction. In real estate, closing includes the delivery of a deed, the signing of notes and security instruments, and the disbursement of funds necessary to the sale or loan transaction. Also referred to as settlement.
Closing Costs	Various expenses (over and above the price of the property) incurred by buyers and sellers in transferring ownership of a property. Closing costs normally include items such as broker's commissions, discount points, origination fees, attorney's fees, taxes, title insurance premiums, escrow agent fees, and charges for obtaining appraisals, inspections and surveys. Closing costs will vary according to the area of the country. Lenders or real estate professionals often provide estimates of closing costs to prospective home buyers even before the HUD-1 settlement statement is delivered.
Commitment Letter	A formal notification from a lender stating that the borrower's loan has been conditionally approved and specifying the terms under which lender agrees make the loan. Also known as a "loan commitment."
Conventional Loan	A home loan that is not insured or guaranteed by the federal government. Contrast with government loan. Can be for conforming or non-conforming loan amounts.
Down Payment	The part of the purchase price of a property that the buyer pays in cash and does not finance with a home loan.
Earnest Money Deposit (Earnest Money)	A deposit made by the potential home buyer to show that he or she is serious about buying the house.
Fair Market Value	The price that a buyer, willing but not compelled to buy, and a seller, willing but not compelled to sell, would agree on.
Federal Housing Administration (FHA)	An agency of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Its main activity is the insuring of residential mortgage loans made by private lenders. The FHA sets standards for construction and loan underwriting but does not lend money or plan or construct housing.
FHA Home Loan	A mortgage home loan that is insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Also known as a government loan.
Homeowner's Insurance (Hazard Insurance)	Insurance coverage that compensates for physical damage to a property from fire, wind, vandalism, or other hazards. The policy typically combines personal liability insurance and property hazard insurance coverage for a dwelling and its contents. See also homeowner's insurance.
Home Inspection	A thorough inspection that evaluates the structural and mechanical condition of a property. A satisfactory home inspection is often included as a contingency by the purchaser. Contrast with appraisal.
Homeowner's Warranty (HOW)	A type of insurance that covers repairs to specified parts of a house for a specific period of time. It may be provided by the builder or property seller as a condition of the sale but homeowners can also purchase it.
HUD-1 Settlement Statement	A document that provides an itemized listing of the funds that are payable at closing. Items that appear on the statement include real estate commissions, loan fees, points, and initial escrow amounts. Each item on the statement is represented by a separate number within a standardized numbering system. The totals at the bottom of the HUD-1 statement define the seller's net proceeds and the buyer's net payment at closing. The blank form for the statement is published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The HUD-1 statement is also known as the "closing statement" or "settlement sheet."
Mortgage	A legal document that pledges a property to the lender as security for payment of a debt.
Mortgage Broker	An individual or company that brings borrowers and lenders together for the purpose of loan origination. Mortgage brokers typically require a fee or a commission for their services.
Mortgage Lender	A mortgage lender is an investor that lends money secured by a mortgage on real estate.
Pre-Approval	A lender's conditional agreement to lend a specific amount on specific terms to a homebuyer. (subject to satisfactory appraisal and no change in financial condition). You can shop with assurance, because you'll know up-front how large a loan you could qualify for.
Pre-Qualification	A preliminary analysis of a borrower's ability to afford the purchase of a home. An affordability analysis takes into consideration factors such as income, liabilities, and available funds, along with the type of home loan, the likely taxes and insurance for the home, and the estimated closing costs.
Primary Residence	The place someone lives most of the time.
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance (PITI)	Four potential components of a monthly mortgage payment. Principal refers to the part of the monthly payment that reduces the remaining balance of the mortgage. Interest is the fee charged for borrowing money. Taxes and insurance refer to the amounts that may be paid into an escrow account each month for property taxes and mortgage and hazard insurance.
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)	Mortgage insurance that is provided by a private mortgage insurance company to protect lenders against loss if a borrower defaults. Most lenders generally require PMI for a loan with a loan-to-value (LTV) percentage in excess of 80 %.
Real Estate Agent	A person who is normally licensed by the state and who, for a commission or a fee, assists in negotiating a real estate transaction.
REALTOR®	A real estate broker or an associate who holds active membership in a local real estate board that is affiliated with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Additional Real Estate Terms can be found at http://www.johncobbmiddlega.com.z57preview.com/glossary.shtml

Home Buying Process - Buying a Home in Warner Robins GA

Here is a brief synopsis step-by-step of how I like to help homebuyers find their dream home.

1. 1^st step is to get preapproved with a local lender.
   1. If you don’t already have one chosen I recommend Bobby Taylor at Main Street Home Loans at 478-953-4490. This gives us a starting point with price ranges and type of loan. Type of loan can be VA, FHA, or Conventional. The type of loan can affect what types of homes you can purchase and which ones to go look at. He can also let you know what your closing costs and prepaids will be. So within 30-45 minutes he will check your credit score, provide you an estimate on out of pocket expenses, help you determine what type of loan best suits your needs, and provide you a loan approval letter. We can use the approval letter and estimated closing costs to help write your offer on a home. When we find a home and write a contract he can give you a good faith estimate which will show actual closing costs, prepaids that you will need to bring to the closing table, lock in your interest rate, and show you your estimated payment
   2. Let me know what price range, size, and location you are looking for in a home and I will send you listings that meet your criteria.
   3. Look through the listings and let me know which MLS#’s or addresses you like best
   4. I will add your favorites to your favorites list and you will be notified automatically of any status or price changes to those homes.
   5. Set up a time to go look at homes in the area. We can go look at your favorites and I will add some homes to the list as well.
   6. I’ll help you narrow down your search to one or two subdivisions that you like best.
   7. Then we can take a closer look at your favorite subdivisions.
   8. We can write an offer on the home you like best

It only takes about 30 or 45 minutes to get preapproved for your loan and you can do it in person, on the phone, or online. Once you are ready to go look at homes I like to spend the first day looking at several different subdivisions in different parts of Warner Robins, Bonaire, Centerville, Byron, and Kathleen or Perry. On the second day we can usually have your search narrowed down to two or three subdivisions. By the third day of looking at homes we can usually have your search narrowed down to a small handful of homes to choose from. Once you choose which home you like best, then it is usually a good idea to keep a 2nd and 3rd choice in mind in case something goes wrong with the first choice. Then it takes about 30 days for the loan paperwork, inspections, appraisal, and closing attorney checking title before we can close on the home. I will work with you from beginning all the way to closing on your home to answer all of your questions and do everything I can to keep the whole process as simple and stress free as possible.

Having Fun at Stone/Snow Mountain - 2 Hrs North of Warner Robins GA

Kamron and I went for snow day Stone Mountain last week and it was quite the adventure from start to finish. The 2 hour car ride up was somewhat uneventful with only a couple small fights between Mickey, Minney, and Kamron. We had to separate Minnie and Mickey, and let Mickey ride up front with me. Once we arrived at Snow Mountain we played in the snow area until our sledding time started. We had 2 hours allotted for our downhill tubing. After our 7th or 8th time down the hill we had to call it quits after the person at the top "accidentally" spun me around and gave me a solid kick down the hill backwards. All in all the tubing was great, but I figured we'd better stop before we overdid it and someone got hurt. After the tubing we had something to eat and watched the 20 minute 4D preview of Journey to the Center of the Earth, which was great. The dinosaur really scared Kamron but I was brave until soemthing felt like it was grabbing my leg. I had to watch part of the movie with my feet off the floor. We had to hurry/run to the sky lift because the last ride of the day started at 5 p.m. When we got to the top of Stone Mountain they told us to make sure we were back on board at 5:30 because it was the last trip of the day. I guess if you miss the ride back down then you have to walk down and that is about a 3 mile hike. We managed to find the car before dark and starting heading back to Warner Robins. Here is a link to more information on Stone/Snow Mountain http://www.snowmountainpark.com/

Brand New Tools Added for Homebuyers in Warner Robins GA

Good News for anyone searching for a Home in Warner Robins: My Website just went fully IDX with many new updated tools for anyone looking for property or homes for sale in Warner Robins GA. Here are a few links to try my new updated web page and homebuyer resources!

1. Property Organizer - The Property Organizer is an organizing tool that makes it easy to search for properties and to keep track of properties you are interested in. Whenever you see property listings that you like, you can save them for future reference and for sharing with family members and friends. The Property Organizer also allows you to easily manage your Email Update service and save your search criteria for later use.
2. Search Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA
3. New Construction Homes in Warner Robins GA
4. Warner Robins GA Homes for Sale

Warner Robins Georgia - Things To Do in Warner Robins GA

Here is an updated list of things to do in Warner Robins Georgia, job information, local weather, community information, open houses, hotel, hospitals, golf courses, local schools, colleges, and information about Robins AFB. I will be updating these items and including links on a ongoing basis. Any questions feel free to ask.

• Hotels and Motels in Warner Robins GA
• Local Events, Resources, and News in Warner Robins GA
• Compare Crime Rates by City
• Warner Robins Jobs
• Warner Robins GA Weather
• Open Houses in Warner Robins GA
• Atlanta Falcons Georgia Dome
• Georgia Music Hall of Fame
• Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
• Macon Centerplex
• Warner Robins GA Fairs and Festivals
• Jobs at Robins AFB Georgia
• Georgia State Parks

I just started using Postlets and they are very easy and user friendly with great features. A great tool for a low price.

Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA - Map Search Here is convenient way to look for homes in Warner Robins GA. View our Warner Robins GA Homes for Sale.

1st Time Homebuyer Tax Credit to include Long-time Residents - Warner Robins GA Homes for Sale

$8,000 Tax Credit for First Time Homebuyers has been extended from Nov 30th 2009 until April 30, 2010.

Homebuyer Credit: Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, Effective Date: Nov 6, 2009

Who is eligible?

First-time homebuyers:

1. Taxpayers who have not owned a home during the last three years.
2. Credit is equal to 10% of the purchase price of a new home up to $8,000 for married or single taxpayers ($4,000 for married filing separate).

Long-time residents of the same principal residence:

1. Taxpayers who have lived in their current home for 5 of the previous 8 years. The 5 year period must be consecutive.
2. Credit is limited to $6,500 for married and single taxpayers($3,250 for married filing separate) on the purchase of a new home.

Additional information and provisions can be found here.

Please call today to start looking for a home for sale in Warner Robins GA and take advantage of your Tax Credit before it expires!

Haunted Barn in Perry Georgia

  

I think this will be my first stop for Halloween this year. It looks pretty good/entertaining and proceeds go to charity.

Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. The Haunted Barn is now open Fridays to Sundays from 8 p.m. to midnight. Beginning Oct. 23, it will be open every night until Halloween. All proceeds will be donated to the Humane Society. The Humane Society will also hold an auction on site, with more than 30 items that will be given away on Halloween night.

The Haunted Barn is located on U.S. 41 between Sandefur Road and the Perry Parkway. For more information, go to perryhauntedbarn.com. Click Here for more info