barrow county: Pathways to Professionalism: Respect for Peers - 07/10/09 05:15 AM
The following are some professional courtesies that every REALTOR should strive for. Using good manners is important in this business that is built on relationships. These 12 suggestions are all ways that show respect for peers.

1.      Identify your REALTOR and professional status in all contacts with other REALTORS.
2.      Respond to other agents' calls, faxes, and e-mails promptly and courteously.
3.      Be aware that large electronic files with attachments or lengthy faxes may be a burden on recipients.
4.      Notify the listing broker if there appears to be inaccurate information on the listing.
5.      Share important information about a property, including the … (15 comments)

barrow county: All About Georgia Property Taxes: Part 2 - 07/06/09 05:21 AM
In the first part of this short series I explained what the Georgia property taxes are based on, how the assessed value is determined and what a millage rate is. Today I'm going to discuss the homestead exemption and how to appeal tax assessments.
If you want to catch up on the first part, click the link: All About Georgia Property Taxes: Part 1

Homestead Exemption:
In Georgia, the most common exemption people apply for is the Homestead Exemption, which allows Georgia homeowners to receive a reduction in the tax assessed against their primary residence. This exemption and most other … (0 comments)

barrow county: All About Georgia Property Taxes: Part 1 - 06/25/09 05:40 AM
If you are a Georgia homeowner, especially a first-time home owner, you may be curious to learn more about the property taxes you're required to pay. In this first part, I'll explain some general information about Georgia property taxes, how the valuation and assessment process works and what a millage rate is.

To begin with, all Georgia property is subject to paying property taxes, called "ad valorem" taxes which means a tax based on the value of the property. The ad valorem tax is based upon the value of both the house (the improvements) and the lot on which the … (4 comments)

barrow county: Pathways to Professionalism: Respect for Property - 06/22/09 03:36 AM
The following are some professional courtesies that every REALTOR should strive for. Using good manners is important in this business that is built on relationships. These 8 suggestions are all ways that show respect for property.

1.      Be responsible for everyone you allow to enter listed property.
2.      Never allow buyers to enter listed property unaccompanied.
3.      When showing property, keep all members of the group together.
4.      Never allow unaccompanied access to property without permission.
5.      Enter property only with permission even if you have a lockbox key or combination.
6.      When the occupant is absent, leave the property as you found … (11 comments)

barrow county: Pathways to Professionalism: Respect for the Public - 06/08/09 06:20 AM
The following are some professional courtesies that every REALTOR should strive for. Using good manners is important in this business that is built on relationships. These 21 suggestions are all ways that show respect for the public.

1.      Follow the "Golden Rule" - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
2.      Respond promptly to inquiries and requests for information.
3.      Schedule appointments and showings as far in advance as possible.
4.      Call if you are delayed or must cancel an appointment or showing.
5.      If a prospective buyer decides not to view an occupied home, promptly explain the … (10 comments)

barrow county: Additional $1,800 Tax Credit for Georgia Buyers - 06/05/09 04:06 AM
Georgia buyers can now receive an $1,800 tax credit in addition to the $8,000 federal tax credit. Governor, Sonny Perdue, signed House Bill 261 on May 11, 2009.

The $1,800 tax credit is only available for six months; you must close on a home between June 1 and November 30, 2009 to receive this credit. Here are the other important details:
AMOUNT: the credit is equal to either 1.2% of the purchase price or $1,800, whichever is lesser WHO QUALIFIES: this credit is for ANYONE purchasing a home between the deadline--NOT just first-time home buyers! HOW DO YOU RECEIVE IT?: … (6 comments)

barrow county: 8 Ways to Save Money Through Your Mortgage, Banking or Credit Cards - 05/29/09 04:21 AM
My office is cluttered and unorganized, which absolutely drives me crazy. So, last night I decided to start tackling this huge project...not to point fingers here, but it's mostly my hubby's mess that I'm trying to sort through. However, I did go through all the files in my desk and found a lot of things I didn't need.
What does this have to do with saving money you may ask? Well, I found a magazine dated July 2008 that caught my eye--one of the headline stories was "Easy Tips to Save $1,000's"--I knew I had kept this for a reason! Today I'll … (5 comments)

barrow county: Understanding the New $8,000 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit - 03/18/09 03:40 AM
Did you know that if you're a first-time home buyer purchasing a house between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009 that you can receive a tax credit up to $8,000?

Photo By: Jack Duval
Previously this government incentive to purchase a home was limited to $7,500 and had to be paid back over the course of 15 years. However, some changes have been made, which I will outline here that will hopefully answer all of your questions.

Photo By: Simon Doggett
Who can receive the credit? Only first-time home buyers are eligible and they must close between   January … (10 comments)

barrow county: Take Down the Bird Feeder - 03/10/09 03:12 AM
**Please note: I did not write this; I received it in an e-mail and thought the analogy behind the poem was a good one. Not sure who the author is, except that the beginning says "Maxine" tells it like it is.**

Photo By: *clairity*
Take Down the Bird Feeder 
 
The analogy is absolutely right on . . .
Maxine tells it like it is!!!!
I bought a bird feeder. I hung
It on my back porch and filled
It with seed. What a beauty of
A bird feeder it is, as I filled it
Lovingly with seed. Within a
Week we … (15 comments)

barrow county: Remember to Change Your Clocks Tonight! - 03/07/09 08:05 AM
Well, it's time to SPRING FORWARD tonight (March 7), so don't forget to turn your clocks forward one hour. You will lose an hour of beauty sleep tonight; however, we're gaining an extra hour of daylight--gone are the days of it being dark around 5:30 or 6:00 p.m.! I always love this time of the year because it means that Spring will be here shortly and with Spring come the beautiful flowers and warm weather that I enjoy so much. It's also a good idea to change all the batteries in your smoke detectors; remember to change them again when we … (59 comments)

barrow county: Update on Barrow Crossing Development - 03/06/09 08:33 AM
Today I went to check in on how things were coming at the Barrow Crossing shopping center development in Bethlehem, Georgia. I was pleasantly suprised to find that TARGET and BELK are now open! This made me very, very happy since I'm in love with Target! Yippee! (Hubby is none-too-thrilled with this news--as my shopping addiction now has a convenient place to be fed)!

Additionally, Staples and PetSmart will be opening shortly, as will Publix. The Best Buy that I had originally said was going to be at this development was actually put in the new shopping development in Loganville.                                                                               
(3 comments)

barrow county: Finally!...SNOW in Georgia!! - 03/01/09 01:20 PM
Today I finally got my wish...SNOW in Georgia! Now, my Northern friends will laugh at me, but I was excited about the 2.5 inches we accumulated today! The morning started out very cold and rainy...I'm not a huge fan of cold weather and the drive to church wasn't the most thrilling. But on my drive over the radio reported dropping temperatures and snow later in the day. Well, later in the day occurred sooner than expected...not long after I arrived it started hailing and within an hour of being at church, the minister decided to cancel the service. During my thirty … (11 comments)

barrow county: Spacious 4 Bedroom/2.5 Bath Home in Bethlehem/Dacula Area - 02/26/09 11:29 AM

Looking for a great deal? Well, look no further--this beautiful and spacious 4 Bedroom, 2.5 Bathroom home is available for $199,900. It's located in the developing and growing Bethlehem/Dacula area.
You can view this property in greater detail and see the Virtual Tour at: www.3650WynterFrostWalk.com

HOME FEATURES:
2 Story great room Large kitchen with black appliances, plenty of cabinet space, pantry and attached breakfast area Kitchen overlooks the sunroom, adjacent to the great room Formal dining room Over-sized master suite on main floor with walk-in closet, garden tub, dual vanities and large shower 3 spacious bedrooms upstairs with lots … (9 comments)

barrow county: Simple Tips on How to Slash Your Grocery Bill... - 02/11/09 03:18 AM
There's no mistaking it, food prices have continued to rise over the past year. According to CNN.com, the cost of food has increased by 6.6% in 2008 alone. BusinessWeek.com reported that most cost increases on individual items, especially dairy products, have risen by double-digit increases. Some statistics include: an increase of about 27% on cheese, 38% on eggs, 10% on milk and 19% on bread. With basic necessities increasing substantially, we need to take advantage of money-saving tips to help us stay within our grocery budgets.
Did you know: The average American family spends 15% of it's income on food and … (19 comments)

barrow county: Walton and Barrow Counties' Upcoming Basketball Games... - 02/03/09 01:40 AM
Everyone loves watching a sporting event, right? Well, come on out and support your local high school basketball games...only 1 more game left until the tournaments start. Here's the line-up for the high schools in both the Walton and Barrow counties...

Photo by: laffy4k
WALTON COUNTY:
Loganville High School:
*Varsity Girls:
Next game: Today, February 3, 2009 6:00 p.m. Playing away at Heritage High School Location: 2400 Granade Road SW, Conyers, GA 30094 Current statistics: won 17 games out of 24 *Varsity Boys:
Next game: Today, February 3, 2009 7:30 p.m. Playing away at Heritage High School Current statistics: … (2 comments)

barrow county: A Cozy Dacula Cottage Serves up a Delicious Lunch! - 02/02/09 07:25 AM
Recently a good friend of mine invited me to go to lunch with her at the cute little restaurant, Blessings Cottage, in the closeby town of Dacula, Georgia. I hadn't had the pleasure of eating there yet, so of course I said yes...and it was absolutely wonderful! Just wait until you hear all about this great little place...

Blessings Cottage is situated inside of a historical home built in 1905 and is owned by Bonnie Rasmussen and her daughter, Sonya Kee. From the minute you walk into the home, you feel warm and cozy. The front hallway is full of various … (10 comments)

barrow county: A Healthy Snack that's Tasty and Simple to Make! - 01/30/09 11:36 AM
Now I know that most of my recipes are straight full of butter, sugar and cream cheese...just how Paula Deen likes it, but that's not all I cook--I make healthy foods too. This recipe is one of my favorites and it's just easy as pie to make and oh so tasty!
So without further ado, meet the healthy snack: 
HUMMUS!

INGREDIENTS:
1 can (15-16 oz) garbonzo beans, drained (*These are also known as Chick Peas) 1/4 C. extra virgin olive oil 1 clove garlic, cut in half (or more! I love garlic, so I always use more) 2 TBSP lemon … (16 comments)

barrow county: Sellers: Are Your Color Choices Keeping Your Home from Selling? - 01/28/09 09:03 AM
Are you thinking about selling your home? Or maybe your home is already on the market, but is not getting shown as much as you would like. It may be time to take a look at the color on your walls and in your home decor and make changes if necessary. Did you know that color can have an emotional and psychological impact on a potential buyer? Which is why it's important that you learn which colors create certain feelings in a person and carefully choose the colors in your home. In turn it can lead to a faster home sale...which is … (6 comments)

barrow county: What's For Dinner Tonight?...Yummy Chicken Casserole! - 01/27/09 03:55 AM
Sometimes, it's hard to come up with a fresh new idea for dinner, which is why I love chicken so much--it is so versatile and can be used in so many different ways. If you have a lot of mouths to feed or just want to cook one night and have left-overs for a few days, a casserole is an easy and quick way to get a hearty meal. So, here's my solution for tonight's dinner:
Chicken Casserole (it's a Paula Deen recipe, of course, because she's my favorite!)

Photo by Dave-F
Ingredients:
2 C. cubed cooked chicken 2 C. … (9 comments)

barrow county: I Scream, You Scream... - 01/22/09 05:01 AM
...We all scream for ice cream!! I don't know about you, but ice cream is one of my very favorite treats! I could eat it everyday...so of course I was very excited when the ice cream and dessert shop, Scoops, came to the nearby city of Dacula, Georgia.

This wonderful dessert place has pretty much any type of candy or ice cream that you can imagine. It has several counters full of mouth-watering chocolates, fudge, candied apples, giant cinnamon rolls, as well as a bazillion (okay, maybe not that many) flavors of ice cream! (The picture below is just ONE … (10 comments)

 
The Rains Team, A higher standard in real estate (Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners)

The Rains Team

A higher standard in real estate

Hoschton, GA

More about me…

Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners

Address: 1960 satellite blvd, Duluth, GA, 30097

Office: (678) 775-2600

Mobile: (404) 620-4571



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