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Doraville Georgia Newsletter August 9, 2019

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Doraville Georgia Newsletter August 9, 2019

Doraville is what we like to call the “sleeper cell” in real estate. It’s time is coming, and if you want to capture a part of it now’s the time to do it. You’ll find a link below to reach out to me! Let’s find you a part of the next amazing city to live in! 

That all said, we like to keep you up-to-date on happenings in the Doraville area. That’s easier with the Doraville Georgia Newsletter for August 9th, 2019. Here is a recap of what’s enclosed:

August Qualifying Dates for November General and Special Election

This will be a pretty important election in Doraville politics. Joseph Geierman was on the City Council for 1.5 years and decided to step down from that position to run for Mayor. That now opens up BOTH seats from that District for election this year. Not something you see very often. Additionally, there are two other Council Seats up for election. 

Doraville GA Redevelopment Tilly Mill CrossingRedevelopment of Tilly Mill Crossing

If you have lived in or around Doraville, you may know this location more as Friday’s Plaza. Once upon a time it was a bustling shopping center, but voices claim the introduction of the Peachtree Industrial Blvd limited access sent this shopping center to its demise. Maybe it was just bad management…hey Dunwoody is just over the way there. But that is all about to change as 70% or so of the shopping center will be torn down to make way for 30o new apartments!! This is GREAT news for Doraville that has seen no new apartment construction in…..forever! A portion of the shopping center will remain, including the ever popular PawStand. But let’s hope they get creative with the remaining space. This really could be a “mini-destination” with some coffee shop, restaurant and some small local shops. Time will tell.

New Flooring in Fleming Arena

Not much to say here. Not sure how many residents use this facility, but it needed a new floor. 

Tilly Mill Sidewalks Complete — Well Part of them

Doraville Public Works completed installing new sidewalks from Harper Vally Drive to Mill Court. You can’t do all of the sidewalks all at once, but good to see the city making progress on this. 

There is more in the Newsletter and you can find a copy of it HERE!

 

Rents Are Rising Should I Buy?

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Renting vs buying a homeAll over the country, but certainly in Atlanta, renters should be thinking….Rents Are Rising Should I buy?

But first you have to look at why you may be renting a home or condo in the first place. 

There can be any number of reasons a person chooses to rent vs. own their own home:

  • Freedom to transfer to another city quickly for job opportunities
  • Someone else takes care of all the maintenance
  • Someone else pays the real estate taxes (and gets the deduction)
  • Credit issues or debt issues
  • Living in brand new apartment ( not always the case) 
  • Lack of saved money for down payment  — and mis-information about how much that is

That is just some of the reasons you might want to rent. But every year, you “roll the dice” as to how much your rent may go up. Maybe that increase keeps you from saving for that down payment? Or keeps you from doing other things as you feed more money to your monthly housing costs. 

Rents Are Rising Should I Buy?

But when you purchase and OWN your home, you get lots of benefits as well. 

When you own the home, everytime you write that mortgage payment you are working towards paying off your mortgage and building home equity. Not to mention, you get the tax deductions of the cost of purchasing the home (your first year) as well as the property taxes you pay. (All of these things are subject to regulatory changes, so you always want to know what’s new or changed in tax laws) …..and a conversation with your financial advisor and accountant would be in order. But let’s look at the list above and apply them to home ownership:

Rents are Rising Should I buyFreedom to transfer to another city quickly for Job Opportunities

Ok, there is truth to that, but also in the current (2019) market with limited inventory, you may be able to sell your home quicker than you might think. There may be the possibility of renting your home (a condo will have much more restrictive leasing abilities) in case you think you may move back, or if it does not sell in a time frame you have established. 

Someone Else takes care of all the Maintenance

Well, you do become responsible for the maintenance of your home when you are the owner. But this can be looked at in a different way. First, if you purchase a condominium, your HOA fee covers the maintenance of things like the roof, exterior of the building, and any amenities the building has. (Pool, gym, club room, lobby, concierge, etc) You end up primarily responsible for your appliances, and HVAC within your condo. And the expense of repairing or replacing them can be reduced with a home warranty. Also, if you look for a condo that has had the HVAC recently updated, along with the water heater, your expenses, short term, are going to be reduced. 

Now, if you purchase a single family home, then the roof, lawn maintenance and the exterior of your home ARE your responsibility. But with that comes the “freedom” to have your own yard, space, and the ability to personalize your home. (Even in a single family neighborhood, you may have an HOA that will have guidelines about fencing your yard, paint colors or major landscape projects.)

Someone Else Pays the Real Estate Taxes (and gets the benefit!)

Yes, when you own a home or condo, there are property taxes. But you can usually deduct those when you file your income taxes. (Again, we are not accountants or lawyers so ask THAT professional about the impact of these on you personally…every situation is different) 

Also, the interest you pay on your mortgage is tax-deductible! 

Rents are Rising Should I buyCredit or Debt Issues

This can be a bit more tricky. But it’s not to say you can’t buy a home. Credit can be restored (over time) if you’ve had some tough times in the past. And when you get to a certain point, you can purchase, there just may be added costs like a higher interest rate. Debt issues can sometimes be easily fixed by just paying down, or off one credit account. But this is when, and why, we have you meet with a lender to determine your personal situation. We might learn that now isn’t the time for you to buy, but the lender can help you establish a plan to reduce debt and get you to the point you will qualify for a mortgage! 

Living in a Brand New Apartment

Depending on where you live, this might be a real option. In recent years, and in the current market, there are new apartment communities being built in almost every corner of Metro Atlanta. Now, what that monthly rent is…that’s the other story. So you may be living in an older apartment that has not had any recent renovations. But when you purchase a home or condo, you may find one that has recently had a major renovation or at least have things like all new appliances. Much of this will depend on where you are looking to live, what you can afford, and what is on the market!

Lack of saved Money for a Down Payment

One of the biggest misconceptions for home buyers, be you a first time buyer, or buying  your second or third home is the amount of money needed for a down payment. It is not 20% as many people think!!! Again, your situation will vary based on your credit and your debt to income ratio….but there are loan programs with as little as 3% down payment. So, on a $300,000 home or condo, that is $60,000 at 20% and $9,000 at 3%!!! A huge difference! Again, here is why getting that pre-approval with a lender is so important. By going through the application process, they can see what loan programs are available to you! 

Let’s get you started on the path to home ownership and building personal wealth through real estate! 

If you answered No to this question, Please click on the Preferred Vendor list Above once you have completed this form. There you will find contact information and links to our recommended Mortgage Lenders.
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StreetLights Residential Proposes 26-story Tower at Juniper and 5th

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Another corner of Midtown seems to be headed to the winds of change…..StreetLights Residential Proposes 26-story Tower at Juniper and 5th!!

New apartment tower at St. MarksFirst, to give you your bearings as to where we are talking about, take a look at the map to the right….

There may be one house in the blue square (at the bottom) that may not be part of the site. 

This building will rise up some 299 “market-rate” residential units (would this mean a potential change to For Sale inventory would be possible?) over a seven-level parking deck to house some 568 parking spaces. It’s worthy to note that 150 spaces will be assigned to the adjacent St. Mark Church. There will also be a very modest 4,000 sq. ft of retail space.

The project went through the Midtown Alliance’s Midtown Development Review Committee this week. The DRC has some recommendations…

  • Moving the retail space to the corner of Juniper and 5th to take advantage of the pedestrian traffic along 5th Street
  • “strengthening the exterior design features” and work with the Atlanta City Design Studio due to the size of the building and the location next to the church. 

Here is the initial drawing of the building….(dwarfs the church for sure!)

 

Streetlights Midtown Apartment Proposal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currently on the site you will find….

Juniper and 5th Apartment Building

The DRC report indicates the applicant will be back for another review after the above items have been addressed. 

Stay tuned! 

You can read the Midtown DRC report HERE! 

Anthem to take Second Midtown Tower

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Anthem Adds to Midtown CenterThe kinda-giant in health insurance, Anthem, Inc. is going to occupy a bigger part of the Midtown Atlanta office landscape. 

Anthem to take Second Midtown Tower

740 West Peachtree is currently under construction for the company, next to the almost complete Coda mixed use development. The addition of 712 West Peachtree and the creation of the Anthem Technology Center mean hundreds of Anthem workers will call Midtown Atlanta home by 2021. The second building is expected to start construction in a few weeks. 

In an email quoted in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Anthem confirmed this expansion:

“We have announced some future changes to our Atlanta-area office locations that will enable us to provide improved worked environments for our employees and enhance our strong collaborative culture, as we focus on creating a better healthcare experience for the communities and customers we serve. We have recently agreed to lease a tower as part of the new Portman Holdings development in Midtown Atlanta at 712 West Peachtree, and plan to consolidate our offices currently in Buckhead and downtown Atlanta to this new location when construction is completed in 2021.”

Anthem Midtown AtlantaAs stated above, this consolidation of offices in Midtown and Buckhead may, or may not mean additional new people looking to move into Midtown Atlanta to be closer to the new offices. But there are certainly many choices for just that. Just 4 (or so) blocks away, the new conversion, Harper on Piedmont will offer new condominium residences. Headed North from the site you will find buildings like Cornerstone Village, Viewpoint Midtown, Spire and MidCity Lofts. All of these buildings are an easy walk to the new Center.  And these are just a few of the many options!  The stars on the map below indicate the location of these buildings. 

Anthem employees needing to travel are just a couple blocks from the North Avenue MARTA station for easy access to Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The location of the new building to MARTA, would also open up areas like Assembly Doraville and Chamblee with transit access to work. 

 

We look forward to helping Anthem, Inc. employees call Midtown Atlanta HOME! For more information on the living options available in Midtown Atlanta, just contact us at 770.713.1505 or complete the form below!

If you answered No to this question, Please click on the Preferred Vendor list Above once you have completed this form. There you will find contact information and links to our recommended Mortgage Lenders.
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Your Moving Check List

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Moving Check ListAwesome! We have your home Under Contract, and moving day is just around the corner! SHREEK!!!!! You need a Moving Check List to get it all in order!

What do I do with all this stuff? How are we going to move it all? Change of address cards? ALL of these things come into play, and quite frankly, it can be a bit overwhelming! I’ve moved some 17 times in my life, and 5 of those were corporate relocations, and the rest were “do-it-yourself” moves, be they between apartments or even cities. And while I have not moved in many years, I can still remember the stress like it happened yesterday. 

Your Moving Check List

It’s a big deal selling your home, and it’s no small matter to prepare to move. At Palmer House Properties and MyMidtownMojo, we know that moving takes time and energy, but there are ways to make it go as smoothly as possible. Here are some tips as you anticipate and prepare for your move. Keep in mind, if you are doing a corporate relocation, the actual packing may not be a worry as the moving company will do that for you! I know what that is like…and it’s sweet!

 

30 to 15 Days Before Moving

  • Sell or give anything away you won’t move. Maybe plan a garage sale, or donate items to charity.
  • Call several movers for estimates.
  • Consider insurance on movables.
  • Gather and store dental, medical and pet’s veterinary records.
  • Start alerting friends and companies that mail to you.
  • Contact children’s school and have transcripts forwarded to new school.
  • Go online and complete a change of address with the USPS.
  • For tax purposes (if you qualify for moving deductions), keep a record of all moving expenses and keep receipts of any items you donate to charity.
  • Arrange for disconnection of utilities and re-connection at new location.

 

Your Moving Check List14 Days Before Moving

  • Pack one room at a time and label all boxes as to what’s in them and the room in your new house they should go to. Label furniture as to the room it should go to. (Unless you are doing a corporate move or have hired a moving company. And if you are paying movers, you may have to pack, and they just load and unload, so this timetable could be changed!)
  • Make sure you return items you’ve borrowed from library and friends.
  • Resign memberships to clubs.
  • Arrange the cancellation of newspaper and other home deliveries.
  • Ask bank to release safe deposit box and transfer account to new bank.
  • Arrange for cash, traveler’s checks, or certified checks. (Movers usually require cash or certified check.)
  • Drain gas from your lawn mower, and properly dispose of flammable items and other materials that should not be put in the trash.
  • Arrange to have your phone disconnected.
  • Transfer your homeowners insurance so you will be covered at your new home.

Day Before Moving

  • Pack a suitcase you can live out of, if necessary, for the first few days at your new home.
  • Empty and defrost refrigerator and freezer and let them air dry for a day. Deodorize large appliances with baking soda or coffee.
  • Remember to leave the keys (and remote controls, such as for the garage) to your old property with your real estate agent.
  • Label your most important boxes, so you know what to open first.

Moving Day

  • Make sure mover is properly informed of your new address.
  • Make sure you have payment ready before van is unloaded at new address.
  • Confirm arrival date and time.
  • Before you leave, check every room, closets and the attic a final time.
  • Check locks on doors and windows.

Hopefully this list will help you get through all the details and stress of moving! Please know, we are here to help you with any of the “moving parts” (no pun intended!) and get you to your new home, or out of the home we helped sell for you! 

Chamblee GA 2018 Year End Real Estate Market Report

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2018 Chamblee Year End Real Estate Market ReportChamblee, Georgia is found between Brookhaven and Doraville. In recent years, this sleepy “little town” has become a vibrant place to live with existing single family neighborhoods, numerous condo options and now, new single family and townhome construction. Also it’s prime location  ITP (Inside The Perimeter) has made home values rise dramatically in the past few years. 

In this post, we want to focus on the 2018 real estate year in Chamblee and what the real estate market was like. You can find more information about Chamblee here.

 

Chamblee GA 2018 Year End Real Estate Market Report

Disclaimer: The 30341 Zip Code, which is the primary one for the city, extends WELL beyond the actual boundaries of the City of Chamblee. Therefore, we have worked to limit the scope of this report to real estate sales specifically in the City. But, you will also find homes listed with Chamblee as the city that are not actually inside the Chamblee City limits. 

Single Family Homes

In 2018, there were 158 single family homes sold, ranging in price from $153,300 to $880,000. Yes, that is quite the range of home prices. But Chamblee still has “up and coming” areas with recent annexation of areas between Buford Highway and I-285, and more established areas like Huntley Hills, which has started to see new infill construction, and then new construction communities like The Collection at Perimeter Park that has both single-family and townhome options. 

Chamblee values (i.e. prices) have risen dramatically in recent years, but as we mentioned there are still several areas where homes can be purchased and with renovations, theses neighborhoods will likely see their prices rise in the future as well. 

CLICK HERE to see the Complete 2018 Market Report

Condominiums/Townhomes

This ever popular type of home, both condominium and townhomes, has options in both in Chamblee. Most of the condominium-type communities are located close to Downtown Chamblee and the MARTA station, making them convenient for people who may work in Midtown or Downtown. The arrival of the Whole Foods Market and Peachtree Station shopping center have also been a great addition to the area. 

In 2018, there 111 sales, ranging in price from $175,000 at Lofts at 5300 to $526,592 at the new Townsend Chamblee townhome community on Chamblee Dunwoody Road.  There are several new townhome communities under construction in the area, and several others in development stages. 

CLICK HERE to see the Complete 2018 Market Report

What’s The Real Estate Market Like in Chamblee?

If you are looking for a place where home values have been rising, and will be sure to rise, then look at Chamblee. The City is working on the redevelopment of its Downtown area, not to mention all the other construction that is happening. There are numerous new rental options also available, or coming on-line in the near future to give you an opportunity to experience Chamblee short term, and then find the perfect neighborhood for you! 

Affordable single family homes can still be found in some neighborhoods, and like Doraville,  are perfect for renovations to return them to the mid-century modern glory.  A fully renovated home can easily sell in the low $300,000 range. 

Another great source of information about Chamblee can be found at the Chamblee City Website. 

If you are looking to Buy or Sell a home in Chamblee, MyMidtownMojo.com can help! We have lived in the Chamblee area for 20-plus years and have seen the changes and opportunities here!

Selling? Do you want to sell your Chamblee single family home or condominium? Call us today at 770.713.1505 to schedule a free market analysis of your home. Or, complete our Seller Information Form and we will be in touch with you! 

Buying? Are you looking to buy a Chamblee home, condo or townhome? We can set up specific searches for you based on price, community or other specifics you may be looking for. In a competitive Seller’s Market, we can alert you of new listings within minutes of them hitting the market! Just complete out Buyer Information Form, or let’s schedule a time to talk about what you are looking for!

Contact MyMidtownMojo and Thomas Ramon Realty@Palmer House Properties at 770.713.1505 or Info@MyMidtownMojo.com for all your Chamblee real estate needs!

Thom Abbott

Associate Broker, REALTOR(R)
905 Juniper Street, NE Suite 110
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
770.713.1505 Direct
404.876.4901 Office

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

PalmerHouse Properties