Whitfield/Murray County GA Real Estate

Is The FDIC Broke? How Could That Be?

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:49:25 -0500

This blog post from an Active Rain member is worth sharing...

Via Bob Hertzog (Summit Home Consultants):

IS THE FDIC BROKE? HOW COULD THAT BE?

All of the networks are "buzzing" today, saying that the FDIC is going to ask banks to pre-pay their FDIC Insurance Premiums for the next three years. This will bring in roughly $15 Billion for each year that is "pre-paid". Why are they taking such a drastic action? They say that they need to "shore up" their FDIC Fund, due to the large amount of bank failures this year, and they don't want to borrow from the Treasury, as this would appear to be yet another "bank bail-out" in the American Taxpayer's eyes. Click Here to read the MSNBC Article that just came out.

Where did all the money go, you may ask?

Loss Share Agreements! (Ok, not all of it, but A WHOLE BUNCH OF IT)

What is a Loss Share Agreement?

Click Here to read the blog I wrote just over 1 week ago to find out.

I actually got an email today from someone who wrote a blog on the same subject after reading my blog. She decided to take it down out of fear. She found out that the FDIC had visited it 30 times in 2 days, and she got nervous. I guess they're a little concerned about this kind of information getting out to the general public. Can't say I blame them. I'm not internet savvy enough to figure out how to determine who has visited my blogs, but maybe someone can tell me?

The case that my blog revolves around will be featured in a major business news publication at the end of this week. I can only hope that it raises the awareness of the American Public.

Finally, American Taxpayers are going to find out about the shady "sweetheart deals" that the FDIC has been cutting with the likes of none other than George Soros (you know, the MoveOn.org guy). Maybe our fearless leaders will now take notice of where all of this money is going (but I'm not holding my breath)!

Beautiful Family Home in Great Neighborhood!

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:26:16 -0500

Beautiful home with lots of space - 4 BR's and 3 full BA's, large bonus or recreation room downstairs, nice master suite with garden tub and separate shower in bath. Pretty wood cabinets in the kitchen, separate dining room. Living room with fireplace, vaulted ceiling and beautiful windows.

The 4th bedroom, bonus room and laundry room are located downstairs on the basement level, and there is a patio just outside the bedroom. Like the furnishings - especially the pool table? - everything is negotiable, so just ask!

Oversized garage with heavy duty workbench. Rocking chair front porch, plus the extra large deck in back is perfect for entertaining. Large back yard with privacy fence all the way around. This is a great family home in a great neighborhood!

This lovely home is located in North Ridge Subdivision just off Williams Rd. Please give me a call if you'd like to see it, I'd be happy to show it to you or help you get pre-qualified for your mortgage. (MLS 93493)

See the virtual tour here

Area Unemployment Falls in Metro Dalton GA

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:31:25 -0500

This morning's Dalton, GA newspaper ran the following headline: Area Unemployment Falls - Companies Hiring Workers. This is VERY good news for us in North Georgia - it is a modest decline - 12.8% in April vs. 13.6% in March according to the Georgia Department of Labor for unadjusted unemployment in the metro Dalton area (Whitfield and Murray Counties). This is a decline nonethess and hopefully the light at the end of the tunnel.

Whitfield and Murray Counties have been hit very hard with unemployment due to the carpet industry closing plants. Foreclosures have also been very high, with over 60% of inventory being foreclosures.

The good news is that there are plenty of good deals out there if you're shopping for a home, and the job situation is improving if you're concerned about that.

Don't give up - things are getting better - North Georgia doesn't give up that easily!

bang, bang... I shot you down... bang, bang... I hit the ground... bang, bang

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:18:17 -0500

Here's another agen't view of the infamous "overpriced listing" we all encounter on a regular basis.

Via Alan May Coldwell Banker, Evanston, Realtor® (Evanston, IL):

... I shot another listing down.

I was approached on Friday by a potential client who wanted me to list their property. They were referred to me by a mutual friend (thank you very much) They were very upfront with me, and told me that they'd already had an agent come through their home, and that they "disagreed" as to the value of their home.

The agent (who I know) thought it should be listed in the low $400,000's and the seller though it should be listed in the very high 400's.

I visited the home on Friday. It was a nice home, in good condition, with a nice collection of upgrades. It's a 7/3/1.1 split level, 1 car attached garage, on a busy street. It has a new brick drive, new brick patio, and is nicely landscaped. Some hardwood, some carpet.

Across the street is their best comp... same house... same layout... same square footage, but better condition and upgrades.

PENDING 7/3/1.1 - Almost identical home, across the street, with brand spanking new kitchen... decorators' showcase, beautiful hardwood flooring, new windows, new doors, new electrical system, new 1 car garage, new brick patio, new roof and new gutters.... currently listed for $439,000... Market time of only 17 days... due to close any day

They're very unhappy... they feel their house is special and fully worth $499,000.

Pricing is not an exact science. I could be wrong... lord knows it's happened before... maybe $439,000 might work... who knows... $449,000.... there's one born every day, and maybe they'd fall in love at $459,00!?? But $499,000 just ain't gonna work, and I'm not willing to mislead the seller into thinking it might. They've shot the messenger. Bang, bang... I'm dead.

Buyers, Please Go To The Bank Before You Start Looking At Properties!!!

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Mon, 04 May 2009 08:38:56 -0500

I really thought it was common knowledge by now that when you want to buy real estate the place to start is the bank. The first thing we do is go to the bank to get pre-qualified, right? But very few "buyers" who have called me in the last year or two have done that. Just yesterday I talked to a gentleman who just recently lost his home to foreclosure. He said the mortgage was just in his name, so now they are looking to buy a house in just his wife's name. He was calling about a specific property and wanted directions so they could go look at it. He said he didn't know if his wife would qualify for a home loan based on her income alone or not.

Buyers - please, please go to the bank and get pre-qualified before you call an agent to look at properties. If you don't, you are very likely to find a property you love and then find out you are unable to buy it. On top of that, sellers these days want a copy of the qualification letter attached to offers on their property - and I would too, wouldn't you? The man I mentioned above was concerned about the bank pulling credit and turning them down, then he'd have to go to another bank and they'd pull credit too, lowering the credit score. My feeling is that if you go to a reputable lender in today's market and they turn you down, the search should stop there. Bouncing around from lender to lender till you find someone who will approve you is partly what got us in the mess we are in.

So, the moral of this post is "Do your homework BEFORE you look at homes." Put the time in up front to determine 1) whether you are in a position to buy a home or not, 2) what price range you need to be looking in, and 3) what type of loan you qualify for and how much out of pocket money you need. If you don't know a good lender, make that call to the agent - but instead of asking to look at properties, ask them to help you get pre-qualified.

This is just common sense, folks, be smart and go into the home buying process with your eyes open, armed with the confidence that you are indeed able to purchase a home by working with your lender FIRST - you want to have an awareness of where your financial comfort zone is so you are not facing foreclosure as well.

Welcome the Murray County GA Chamber to Twitter!

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:00:56 -0500

Congratulations to the Murray County Chamber of Commerce for utilizing technology to expand their network and make information more accessible to their members! They are brand new Twitter members, and they're learning to Tweet and to track down good Peeps to follow. If you haven't noticed, Twitter is on fire these days, and if you haven't got your account running, then maybe you are just on the verge of being in the "yestertech" crowd. Get onboard and get on Twitter so you can follow one of our local Chambers and be informed about what's going on in our community. Click on the birdie to follow the Chamber!

Welcome to Whitfield and Murray County Georgia

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:20:13 -0500

Included in the Online Relocation Package Whitfield/Murray County GA - information about Whitfield and Murray Counties and nearby areas.

Whitfield County was formed from part of Murray County in 1851. Georgia's 97th county was named for the Reverend George Whitefield, the founder of the Bethesda Orphan House in Savannah. The spelling of the county's name was changed to reflect the way it was pronounced.

Dalton, the largest city in Whitfield County, is the gateway to the 150 mile Chieftain's Trail which traces the path of the Cherokee Indian sites located in northwest Georgia. Whitfield County is rich in civil war history (read about the Great Locomotive Chase). Then there was the bloody Battle of Chickamauga, fought in nearby Catoosa and Walker Counties.

Chatsworth - located about 11 miles east in Murray County - is the county seat, and according to a popular legend received its name after a road sign with the word "Chatsworth" fell off a passing freight train nearby. Someone put the sign on a post, and the name stuck.

The Whitfield/Murray area has much to offer: scenic mountain views, four distinct seasons - though none are usually extreme - hunting, fishing, boating, picnicking, golf, tennis, and the list just goes on. I-75 runs through Dalton, thus we're about an hour and a half from Atlanta and about 30 minutes from Chattanooga, TN. The cost of living here is relatively low, and we have a friendly, small town flavor. You'll like it here!

The Moundbuilders - Native American History in Georgia

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 13:36:00 -0500

Included in the Online Relocation Package Whitfield/Murray County GA - information about Whitfield and Murray Counties and nearby areas.

When you visit North Georgia, you'll want to include a trip to Etowah Indian Mounds - located near Cartersville, about 45 minutes south of Dalton. This 54 acre site contains 7 earthen mounds, a plaza, portions of the original village, borrow pits and a defensive pit. This is the most intact Mississippian Culture site in the southeastern United States. It was home to several thousand Native Americans between 1000 A.D. and 1550 A.D. The Mississippian Culture spanned from Wisconsin and Minnesota in the north, through Georgia to the south, and westward into the Great Plains. These people enjoyed an intricate system of trading, were accomplished craftsmen, and practiced sophisticated religious beliefs.

Only 9% of the site has been excavated, but examination of the artifacts reveals much about the people who lived here more than 500 years ago. This was a society rich in ritual, and the natives of this political and religious center decorated themselves with shell beads, tattoos, paint, elaborate hairdos, feathers and copper ear ornaments. Artwork on pottery shows meticulous attention to detail with intricate patterns.

Etowah Indian Mounds Historic site is located at 813 Indian Mounds Rd SW, Cartersville GA 30120. The phone number is 770-387-3747.

Stop by and travel back in time through the memories of our North Georgia ancestors - bring along a picnic, walk the trails, and tour the museum - it'll take you a couple of hours to enjoy everything.

The Battle of Chickamauga - Civil War History in Georgia

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 19:27:03 -0600

Included in the Online Relocation Package Whitfield/Murray County GA - information about Whitfield and Murray Counties and nearby areas.

It's a little eery to stand and look across the fields of Chickamauga Battlefield - you can almost still hear the cries of battle as the wind whistles through the trees. Ghost stories abound, not surprisingly, about the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The battle just lasted two days - September 19-20, 1863 - yet the casualties were among the highest in the war.

From where I live in north Whitfield County, Chickamauga Battlefield is a short drive, thanks to easy access to I-75, and I like to visit ever so often to enjoy the beautiful scenery and reflect on the history that took place here.

If you're in the North Georgia area, you might want to visit the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park. The park also commemorates the Battle of Chattanooga, fought on September 23-25, 1863. The seven mile loop tour features markers and monuments placed by states after the war.

Here is a summary of the battle:

The First Day (Sept. 19, 1863)

During the night preceding the battle both sides were shifting troops. "Neither army knew the exact position of the other....It is probable that division commanders on either side hardly knew where their own commands were in the thick woods, let alone the other troops of their own army, or the troops of the hostile army. The lines were at this time about six miles long."

On the morning of the 19^thThomas ordered Brannan's division, then posted on the road two miles north of the Lee and Gordon's Mill, to reconnoiter toward Chickamauga Creek. Brannan encountered and drove back Forrest's dismounted cavalry, which called on the nearest Confederate infantry for help. This brought on an all-day battle. Every division of the XIV, XX, and XXI Corps was committed. Of the Confederate forces, only the divisions of Breckinridge and Hindman, on the south flank, were not engaged. Neither side gained any decided advantage.

The Second Day (Sept. 20, 1863)

During the night the two opposing forces further rearranged their dispositions in the difficult terrain. Rosecrans prepared defensive positions, and Bragg planned an attack. Longstreet had arrived during the night; he was given command of the left wing of Bragg's army, and Polk was given command of the other.

Bragg's units were to attack successively from north to south. Breckinridge attacked on the north at 9 o'clock Sunday morning. Thomas, commanding the Federal left wing, called for Negley's division, which was supposed to be in reserve. Due to an error, however, Negley was in the line. Wood, whose division was in reserve where Negley's was supposed to be, moved up to relieve Negley, while the latter sent one brigade and then another to reinforce Thomas. For two hours the Federal left successfully held off heavy attacks.

Rosecrans' misunderstanding as to the true location of his units then led to a fatal error. He was trying to strengthen the defenses on his right while Thomas held the other flank. Thinking that Wood was on Reynolds' (right) flank, he ordered Wood "to close up and support Reynolds." Actually, Brannan was on Wood's left, and following his instructions, Wood pulled out of the line, passed behind Brannan, and fell in on Reynolds' flank. The divisions of Sheridan and J.C. Davis were closing to fill this gap at abut 11:30 when Longstreet attacked. By a strange coincidence, Longstreet hit the precise point left open by the Federal error. Sheridan's and Davis' divisions were shattered by superior force, and the Federal right was driven back on its left flank.

Rosecrans, McCook, and Crittenden, unable to rally the troops around them, fled to Chattanooga, thinking the entire army was being destroyed. Thomas remained on the field, turning Wood and Brannan to block Longstreet on the south. Bragg had failed to provide for a general, and so was unable to exploit Longstreet's success. Three brigades of Granger's Reserve Corps ("Army of the Kentucky") were near McAffee's Church with orders to remain there and protect the flank. In a splendid example of battlefield initiative Granger violated his orders and "at the moment of greatest need reported to Gen. Thomas with two brigades" (Whittaker and Mitchell from Steedman's division). Van Horne says "the opportune aid o these two brigades saved the army from defeat and rout" (Van Horne, I, 353). Thomas held the field until dark and then, on orders from Rosecrans, withdrew to Rossville Gap. Rosecrans withdrew his army into the defenses of Chattanooga. Bragg followed, occupied Missionary Ridge and laid siege to the town.

Epilogue

Although Bragg had won a decided tactical victory, his piecemeal method of attack and lack of a general reserve deprived him of the success that an outstanding general might have achieved under the circumstances--particularly the rare bit of luck occasioned by Longstreet's attack finding a gap. Failure to pursue the shattered Federals deprived Bragg of the fruits of his victory. The work of Thomas--the "Rock of Chickamauga"--the steadfastness of the troops on his wing, and the troops on his wing, and initiative of Granger, all helped make this a Pyretic victory for the South.

An evaluation of the statistics shows that the Union had 19.6 percent killed and wounded and Confederates 25.9 percent. Using Livermore's "hit by 1,000" system of comparing the combat effectiveness, Rosecrans' troops killed or wounded 292 Confederates for every 1,000 Federal soldiers engaged; Bragg's forces, on the other hand, killed or wounded only 172 Federals for every 1,000 of their own troops engaged. The battle, fought in a densely wooded area which permitted little or no tactical control of units, was one of the bloodiest of the war.

Chickamauga was a maker and breaker of reputations. Thomas's performance elevated him to top command, and Granger was also marked for higher responsibility. Rosecrans, Alexander McCook, Crittenden, and Negley were relieved: the last three were charged with misconduct but acquitted. The fractious Bragg, whose personality defect were large responsible for the poor cooperation of his subordinates, relieved Polk, D.H. Hill, and Hindman for unsatisfactory performance during the campaign.

Source: "The Civil War Dictionary," by Mark M. Boatner III

The Great Locomotive Chase - Civil War History in Georgia

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 14:34:32 -0600

Included in the Online Relocation Package Whitfield/Murray County GA - information about Whitfield and Murray Counties and nearby areas.

Sometimes we take our own back yard for granted - historic events have taken place in our own town but are long forgotten. Well, let's bring this one back - a few years ago I watched the old movie The Great Locomotive Chase made in 1956 and it was quite a treat. Here's the story:

"Boys, we're going into danger, but for results that can be tremendous," said Union spy turned saboteur James J. Andrews to the 24 volunteers he had recruited from three Ohio regiments to take part in a secret railroad-bridge-burning mission. Union General Ormsby M. Mitchel wanted to capture the Confederate city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and he and Andrews had concocted a plan to isolate that important munitions center from Rebel reinforcements by cutting its rail connections and then sending in the Union army.

The plan was for Andrews and his men, in civilian clothes, to make their way in groups of 3 or 4 to Chattanooga, where they would board a train headed south to Atlanta. They would get off at Marietta, about 25 miles north of Atlanta. There they would commandeer a northbound train and race back toward Union lines, and they would burn bridges and cut telegraph lines as they went. Mitchel's army, in the meantime, would move to cut the tracks west of Chattanooga and be in position to take the city when the raiders returned.

Two undercover Union raiders were drafted into the Confederate army before they reached Marietta and two others overslept, but at daybreak on the morning of April 12, 1862, Andrews and the remaining 20 raiders boarded the morning train from Atlanta and started back north.

The train was pulled by the locomotive General and was composed of a tender followed by three empty boxcars and a string of passenger cars. The train pulled into the station at Big Shanty, Georgia at 6:15 A.M. for a quick breakfast stop. The train crew and the passengers all got out and filed into Lacy's Hotel to eat, and Andrews' men quickly undid the coupling in front of the passenger cars. Three of the raiders with railroading experience climbed aboard the General. One of the diners in the hotel looked out the window and shouted to the train's conductor, "Someone is moving your engine!"

Conductor William A. Fuller was surprised to see his train-minus the passenger cars-suddenly lurch forward and race off down the tracks. Realizing it was being stolen, Fuller chased after the train on foot.

Andrews stopped the train often to take on wood and water; the raiders took up a rail to delay pursuers and also cut telegraph wires so that word of the stolen train would not precede them up the tracks.

After traveling 30 miles, the raiders came to Kingston, where they sat for an hour waiting for southbound trains to pass, thereby clearing the track ahead. Four minutes after Andrews pulled out of Kingston going north, Fuller arrived from the south in a locomotive he had commandeered for the chase. Finding his way blocked by three southbound trains, Fuller abandoned his engine and boarded another, continuing the pursuit, this time with 40 armed men on board.

Four miles from Kingston, Fuller again abandoned his train because the raiders had torn up another rail, and again he continued the chase on foot. Meeting a southbound train, he turned it back after the raiders. Andrews' men stopped again to tear up a rail, but before they finished Fuller's train came into view and raced toward them with its whistle screaming. The raiders jumped aboard their train and tore off up the tracks with Fuller pursuing.

The track ahead was clear to Chattanooga, but the raiders hoped to burn more bridges. A flaming boxcar was left on one covered bridge, but Fuller's train arrived in time to push the car onto a side track. The Confederates were following so closely now that the raiders could not stop for fuel, and they were forced to abandon their train 18 miles south of Chattanooga and scatter into the woods. The eight-hour chase had covered 87 miles.

The confederates captured all of the raiders and hanged Andrews and seven others. Eight escaped and the rest were exchanged in March 1863.

You can see the General today at the Kennesaw Civil War Museum and follow the chase from its start in Atlanta to its end north of Ringgold, Georgia. The centerpiece, however, is the General itself, restored by the old Louisville and Nashville (L&N) Railroad in time for the 1962 centennial.

Tips For Avoiding Foreclosure In A High Rate Of Foreclosure State

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:25:59 -0600

Are you having trouble keeping up with your mortgage payments? Are you receiving notices from your lender asking them to contact them? One in eight Georgia mortgage holders were either behind on their payments or in foreclosure in the fourth quarter, according to a survey released Thursday by the Mortgage Bankers Association. The 223,000 Georgia homeowners delinquent or in foreclosure marked a 16 percent increase from the third quarter.

But the biggest increases in loans at least 90 days late occurred in Georgia and four other states, "signs of the spreading impact of the recession," said Jay Brinkmann, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Not surprisingly, homeowners having the most trouble in Georgia are those with less-than-stellar credit who took out subprime mortgages. More than 35 percent of these homeowners were either delinquent or in foreclosure in the fourth quarter, the survey found, slightly below the national average.

So, what can you do? Here are some basic, common sense tips to help you out:

Don't ignore the problem - it WON'T just go away. The further behind you get, the harder it is to catch up and the more likely you are to lose your home.
Contact your lender when you realize you have a problem. Your lender doesn't want your house - they would rather work with you than to foreclose and add to their increasing inventory of lender owned properties.
Open all correspondence from your lender - and respond to it. The first notices you receive will offer good information about foreclosure prevention options that can help you weather financial problems. Later mail may include important notice of pending legal action. Your failure to open the mail will not be an excuse in foreclosure court.
Prioritize your budget. After healthcare, keeping your house should be your first priority. Review your finances and see where you can cut spending in order to make your mortgage payment. Look for optional expenses-cable TV, memberships, entertainment-that you can eliminate. Delay payments on credit cards and other "unsecured" debt until you have paid your mortgage.
Make sacrifices. Do you have assets-a second car, jewelry, a whole life insurance policy-that you can sell for cash to help reinstate your loan? Can anyone in your household get an extra job to bring in additional income? Even if these efforts don't significantly increase your available cash or your income, they demonstrate to your lender that you are willing to make sacrifices to keep your home.
Watch out for foreclosure prevention scams. If any firm claims they can stop your foreclosure immediately if you sign a document appointing them to act on your behalf, you may well be signing over the title to your property and becoming a renter in your own home! Never sign a legal document without reading and understanding all the terms and getting professional advice from an attorney, a trusted real estate professional, or legitimate housing counselor.

Why Is This A Good Time To Buy?

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:31:34 -0600

With all that's going on with the economy, why would this be a good time to buy real estate? Well, here's why:

Inventory is high
Prices are low, and significant price reductions are common
Interest rates are historically low
Sellers are motivated
There is abundance of foreclosed and bank-owned property
Banks ARE making loans to qualified buyers
For first-time homebuyers, there is an $8,000 tax credit (and for those who haven't owned a home in the past 3 years)

So, once again real estate can prove to be a solid investment, especially if you have cash or good credit. And it's quite possible that many will look back a few years from now and say, "I wish I had bought back then."

Yes, for some, it's an EXCELLENT time to buy!

What About That $8K Federal Tax Credit?

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:36:46 -0600

Heard about the $8,000 tax credit, but have questions? Here it is in a nutshell:

Q. How much is the tax credit?

A. The tax credit is $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is less.

Q. Who is eligible for the tax credit?

A. The $8.000 tax credit included in the 2009 economic stimulus plan is for first-time homebuyers for the purchase of a primary residence.

Q. Who are "first-time" homebuyers?

A. Any taxpayer, according to the IRS, who has not owned a home for 3 years prior to the date of purchase.

Q. Do I have to repay the $8,000?

A. No, UNLESS the home is sold within 3 years of the date of purchase; in that case the credit would be reversed.

Q. What are the income restrictions for the tax credit?

A. The tax credit is only for individuals with adjusted gross income of $75,000 or $150,000 for joint filers.

Q. How long is the tax credit available?

A. The tas credit is available for homes purchased between January 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009.

Ready to buy?

Start picking out your home today!

American Recovery and Reinvestment act of 2009

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:47:54 -0600

H.R. 1, the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" passed the House on Feb. 13, 2009. It passed the Senate later that same day. The bill was signed by President Obama on Feb. 17. It is a $780 billiion package with roughly 35% devoted to tax cuts, mostly for 2009, and the rest for spending in 2009 and 2010.

The points of interest to REALTORS® changed often during the legislative process, and changes were still being made shortly before the measure was released before the vote. In the end, the elements of NAR's housing agenda were included. Congress and the President have announced that a finance and housing package (including tax provisions) will be the next "big" initiative, so Congress has by no means finished its work as it affects the housing industry and REALTORS®.

The bill includes the following provisions:

Homebuyer Tax Credit
FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Loan Limits
Neighborhood Stabilization
Commercial Real Estate
Rural Housing Service
Low Income-Housing Grants
Tax Exempt Housing Bonds
Energy Efficient Housing Tax Credits & Grants
Transportation Investments
Broadband Deployment

What do you think? Feel free to share your comments!

REALTORS® Make A Lot of Money, Don't They?

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:01:30 -0600

What's it really like being a real estate agent? Doesn't it mean making good money with very little time and effort? Everyone wants to make a good living, and we want to enjoy the work we do, but a real estate career isn't always an easy road and there are many misconceptions about the job we do and the money we make (or DON'T make!).

For example, did you know:

1. I put my own gas in my car. Yes, and high gas prices have made it tough lately! And I drive a larger, less fuel efficient model than I would for my own personal use - I sometimes have several family members or their friends to provide transportation for during the house hunting process, and in the end they may not ever even buy a home!

2. I provide most of my own advertising. I designed my own website and maintain it myself. I purchased all the required software to do the job and purchase periodic updates to each program. I buy my own business cards and create my own virtual tours. I also pay a fee to advertise my listings in the book of homes that comes out each month.

3. I pay MLS fees and local, state and national Association of Realtor dues. Being a REALTOR® isn't cheap!

4. I pay for continuing ed classes and classes to earn designations. Most employers provide training or pay for training to help employees perform their jobs better. I love continuing ed and I love to learn, but this is an expense that is my responsibility.

5. I receive no benefits from my job. I am a self-employed independent contractor. I don't get health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance or any other "perk" like I might get if I were on someone's payroll. There is no 401k, and I must provide for my own retirement plan.

6. In a typical closing, the commission gets split at least four ways. Usually, there are two companies and two agents involved. Sometimes there can be other expenses like referral fees if that client was referred by an agent in another town or state.

7. Selling real estate is hard work! Things go wrong, emotions run high, unexpected issues come up - I once had a buyer who got a DUI during the home buying process and got put in jail for 30 days! I kept the deal afloat and we closed when he got out! Probably every agent could write a book about the crazy things that can happen when you sell real estate!

So there you have it, some things you might not have known about agents. It's hard work, and if you don't make a sale you don't make any money - BUT those expenses still prevail - and it seems that whatever's left goes to TAXES! We HAVE to like what we're doing!

Online Relocation Package Whitfield/Murray County Georgia

Pam Turner, REALTOR®, e-Pro (Century 21 Belk Realtors) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:28:33 -0600

Beautiful Northwest Georgia! Whether you're relocating or just want to find out more about the area, you'll find information about the communities, attractions and the quality of life here in Dalton, GA and nearby areas.

Dalton is located just off Interstate 75 in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northwest Georgia. Dalton is the second largest city in northwest Georgia, and is home to many of the nation's floorcovering manufacturers. Dalton has many historic houses, landmarks and a rich Civil War history. Dalton is the principal city of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of both Murray and Whitfield counties.

Whitfield County also includes the cities of Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face, Cohutta and Varnell. All these communities offer quaint atmosphere, scenic mountain views and small town friendliness. Only about an hour and a half from Atlanta and thirty minutes from Chattanooga, TN, this area has much to offer those who want a quiet lifestyle with easy access to larger cities.

Nearby Murray County, just east of Dalton, is home to many who work in Whitfield County, and vice versa. The city of Chatsworth is located in Murray County; it is a small town, but continues to grow with increasingly more to offer in terms of housing, schools and shopping.

There's nothing like a personal visit, of course, and I hope you will schedule your first house-hunting trip with me soon. In the meantime, though, this ONLINE WHITFIELD/MURRAY COUNTY GA RELOCATION PACKAGE will provide much information about the area. Check back often, as more posts will be added.

Welcome to the Whitfield/Murray County area of North Georgia!

Welcome to Whitfield and Murray County Georgia

Civil War History in Georgia

Native American History in Georgia

The Moundbuilders
The Cherokee