Wow!  What a year it has been for our business and for our family!  2009 – a year when the real estate market suffered tremendously - we had our best year yet!  We were constantly greeted by friends, family, and past clients who were concerned for our well-being throughout this real estate shift.  When we responded that we were having our best year yet, you can imagine the “dropped jaw” looks we received.  And, all I can say is how thankful we are for our clients, family, and friends who have shared our name with everyone they know.  The Peters Company strives to overservice and overdeliver.  And, when over 50% of our business comes from referrals, it’s obvious that our past clients are sharing their real estate story.

So, how’d we do this year?  Here’s the lowdown on 2009…

• #1 Real Estate Team at Keller Williams Realty Peachtree Road
• Surpassed the 50+ 5-star review mark on Kudzu.com, making us the 2nd highest rated real estate entity in the Metro Atlanta area
• Featured on 11Alive’s Atlanta & Co in August 2009
• Lesley became a Life Member of the Atlanta Board of Realtors Million Dollar Club
• Andy made the Atlanta Board of Realtors Million Dollar Club
• Lesley served on the Keller Williams Realty Peachtree Road Agent Leadership Council
• Andy received his Certified Distressed Property Expert designation
• Lesley had a baby (Does that count?)

And, I must quickly brag on our Keller Williams Realty Peachtree Road office…

• Keller Williams Realty Peachtree Road held the 2nd largest market share of all real estate companies in Atlanta.  Yes, our office of 260 agents!  So exciting!
• The Rawls Group of Keller Williams Realty (which is the owner of our office) was voted one of the Best Places to Work by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Lastly, we had a very big family year as well.  We welcomed our sweet little girl, Vada, into the world in June. 

This is just a THANK YOU blog.  Thank you for your support of our real estate business.  We will continue over-servicing and over-delivering every day.  Keep passing our name along as “Top Atlanta Real Estate Agents” because you are who got us there!  You are always in good company with The Peters Company!  770-634-2782

What a wonderful two weeks it has been in the lives of our clients Scott and Melissa!  Two weeks ago, they were blessed with a brand new baby boy with a head full of hair.  A cutie!  And, Thursday of this week, they closed on their beautiful brand new construction home in Crabapple Crossroads, City of Milton, Fulton County!  (Yes, Milton is officially a city these days. )

History:  We have a great history with Scott and Melissa. In December of 2008, I received a call from Melissa who was relocating to Atlanta.  Ironically, Melissa had gotten my name from a friend of hers who had recently interviewed us to sell their Kirkwood Decatur home.  Melissa’s friend decided not to sell but had a great appointment with us and passed along our name.  Melissa is a sweetheart and we bonded instantly.  Scott and Melissa came in on New Years of 2009 to begin their Atlanta home search.  We quickly put a home under contract in Decatur (East Lake) that was adorable.  It had been completely renovated and was a perfect fit.  About 2 weeks prior to closing, we received the survey we had ordered and found that the seller was advertising his land as including the driveway and outbuilding to his home.  Guess what?  He didn’t own the property the driveway and outbuilding were on.  It was a county owned easement.  Needless to say, Scott and Melissa were thankful they took our advice to order a survey.   After Scott talked at length with our closing attorney, Leigh Clack at Neel and Robinson , regarding the easement situation,  Scott and Melissa decided not to go through with a purchase. LESSON LEARNED for all of you readers: ALWAYS order a survey!!! 

Scott and Melissa were heartbroken about the situation.  They decided to rent a property for a year and hold off on the search.  This Winter, we started looking again and found this beautiful home in Crabapple Crossroads in City of Milton.  Wow!  How a year can change your life and where you live it!  Melissa and Scott are glad they waited.  Melissa’s office moved to the Atlanta Perimeter area from Downtown Atlanta.  And, this little boy has created a need for more space and good schools.  Crabapple Crossroads has no shortage of either.  The school cluster (Crabapple Crossing Elementary School, Northwestern Middle School, and Milton High School) are very popular and desirable.  The space is great.  And, you can’t beat NEW CONSTRUCTION! 

Scott and Melissa have many great years ahead of them in Crabapple Crossroads.  We just couldn’t be more excited for them in this special time in their lives.  And, you know the old addage – “Things always work out for the best!”  This is so true for Scott and Melissa.  Congratulations, guys!

As current DeKalb County homeowners and past Alpharetta residents, we are well-versed in both areas and appreciate the unique differences they possess.  Whether you are looking for a Decatur bungalow or an Alpharetta new construction, give The Peters Company a call.   You are always in good company with The Peters Company!  770-634-2782

What a pleasure to work with Katy and Dan over the past several months!  It all begin when a friend (Thanks, Scott) referred Katy and Dan our way.  Andy met with them, listed their home in the Laurel Hills neighborhood of Decatur, and sold it a couple of months later.  Click here to see their past home. 

When it came to looking for a new home, Katy and Dan were fun for us!  They had a vision.  While many home buyers want a move in ready home, Dan and Katy didn’t mind work.  They wanted a home that they could make their very own.  And, lucky for Katy – Dan is HANDY!  Katy and Dan loved living in Decatur so much in their past Laurel Hills home - they decided to stay.   They purchased a fantastic Decatur estate in the Druid Hills neighborhood.  An added bonus for Katy and Dan - The home is 1.2 miles from Brickstore Pub, 0.9 miles to Taqueria del Sol, and a nice walk to Downtown Decatur. 

Andy and I are anxiously awaiting the tour when they put their plans into action.  This Decatur ranch has fantastic curb appeal, an elongated kitchen with an eat-in area, 3 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, a large screened in porch, AND a FULL basement that is partially finished with a living space, kitchenette, bedroom and bath.  Best part yet:  Katy and Dan plan to rent out the basement apartment for a little extra revenue. 

If I must say so myself, Andy did an EXCELLENT job negotiating a great price on this Druid Hills home – the 2nd lowest priced sold home in the past 12 months.  Our buyers, Katy and Dan, are thrilled!  And, the sellers are pleased that their late mother’s home is in good hands.  A win-win!

If you are looking for an agent that can negotiate an excellent value, look no further.  You are in good company with The Peters Company.  770-634-2782.

Congratulations, Sean and Alma, on your new home!  We had the great privalege of working with Sean and Alma, Cumming first time home buyers, who were able to take advantage of the extended first time home buyer tax credit.  Not only did they benefit by keeping an additional $8,000 in their pocket, they were also able to take advantage of depressed home values by purchasing a Cumming new construction short sale in Hopewell Manor.  Did I mention it was BRAND NEW construction and beautiful?   

If you are like Sean and Alma and want to take advantage of the first time home buyer tax credit, give us a call.  You are always in good company with The Peters Company!  770-634-9969

Vinings on the Chattahoochee began in 2005 as an Atlanta new construction community in the fast growing “Upper West Side,” otherwise known as Atlanta’s Riverside community in Fulton County.  This popular community is a short 10 minute drive from Downtown Atlanta and in close proximity of I-285.  Highlights of the neighborhood include swim, tennis, and a large multi-use clubhouse.  The residents of Atlanta’s Vinings on the Chattahoochee enjoy being walking distance from the river as well as Whittier Mill Village Park.     

This beautiful home has curb appeal galore with a rocking chair front porch, inviting red door, hardiplank siding, and carriage style garage doors.    From the minute you walk in, you’ll notice one fantastic feature immediately.  This home has been impeccably decorated making it better than new.  When you walk in the front door, you are surrounded by rich hardwood floors and warm, neutral paint colors.  This beauty is bright and open with a floor plan perfect for all styles of living.  You will find a formal living room adjacent to the dining room complete with beautiful columns and large enough for the biggest of dinner parties.  The warm and inviting kitchen features stained cabinets and solid surface countertops and overlooks the vast living area.  The main living room is a casual retreat convenient to the kitchen and filled with natural light from the backyard.  A stacked stone fireplace is the focal point and adds to the character of this home.  Off the living area is a bonus room that could be used as an office, playroom, or extra bedroom as it boasts a closet.  The second floor is home to four bedrooms.  In addition, the laundry room shares the second floor with all the bedrooms, making laundry days a breeze.  The master bedroom is oversized featuring a large walk-in closet, cathedral ceiling, and bonus space.  The master bathroom makes for a spa-like morning every morning with a separate shower, jetted tub, separate water closet, and double vanities.  The three additional bedrooms provide for ample space.  The backyard is incredibly private as it backs up to approximately 3 acres of greenspace.  The backyard also offers a great space for entertaining or playing with a walkout patio as well as a separate deck overlooking the greenspace.  The neighbors are gracious and friendly, and the HOA is positively active.  The location is convenient and desirable, and this home is move in ready and waiting for you!  If you are an Atlanta first time home buyer or an Atlanta relocation, be sure to check out this great new Atlanta home for sale.

Click on the flyer below for a full sized PDF. 

$125,000 Marietta Fee Simple Townhome Shows Like a Model.

Nestled in a quiet fee simple Marietta townhome community, this home sits at the highest point in the Wellcrest Subdivision with a wonderfully peaceful view from the dining room and kitchen. With convenience provided by I-75, you can get anywhere in a hurry. The abundance of light flooding windows, soaring high ceilings, modern openness, and warming neutral colors make this a special home. The architectural detail is refreshing and inviting. The main living level has new flooring including hard woods in the living and dining areas and new tile in the kitchen. The kitchen has freshly painted cabinets for a fresh, clean, updated look. The main living room is accented with updated light fixtures, a beautiful tiled fireplace, and gas logs. This floorplan is rather versatile with a bedroom upstairs and a bedroom downstairs, either of which could be used for the master retreat. The bedroom down has its own elegant bathroom. There is also a half bathroom downstairs along with a laundry room. Step up to the second floor where you’ll discover a fun loft area and another bedroom complete with its own bathroom.  The loft would make a great additional living area or office space without wasting a bedroom. Your pets will enjoy the fully fenced backyard, and you’ll enjoy a beautifully landscaped and tiled back patio for those weekend barbeques or after work lounging. Don’t forget that there are no cumbersome HOA dues!  This home is districted for Sedalia Park Elementary, East Cobb Middle School, and Wheeler High School.  If you are an Atlanta first time home buyer or considering an Atlanta relocation, look no further!  This may just be the home for you.  NOTE: This is a Marietta short sale transaction, and all contracts and commissions are subject to bank approval.

Click on the link below for a full PDF flyer image. 

As is customary, The Peters Company has alerted all of our past clients who have purchased in the last year about the need to file for the homestead exemption.  This tax break is exclusive to homeowners claiming a home as their primary residence, and the savings can be significant.  Here’s a rundown for easy filing courtesy of Leigh Clack at Neel & Robinson:

**Homeowners may need to provide their Warranty Deed book and page, proof of residence, social security numbers, driver’s license and car tag info.

Fulton County – deadline is April 1, 2010                   404-612-6440

http://www.fultonassessor.org/Forms/HtmlFrame.aspx?mode=content/Exemptions.htm&taxyear=2007&ownseq=1&jur=&LMparent=180

DeKalb County – deadline is March 1, 2010               404-298-4000

http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/taxcommissioner/index.asp?pg=homestead

Gwinnett County – deadline is March 1, 2010            770-822-8800

http://gwinnetttaxcommissioner.manatron.com/Tabs/Property/HomesteadExemption.aspx

Cobb County – deadline is April 1, 2010                     770-528-8600

http://www.cobbtax.org/Forms/HtmlFrame.aspx?mode=content/Exemptions.htm&LMparent=189

Clayton County – deadline is April 1, 2010                  770-477-3311

http://www.co.clayton.ga.us/tax_commissioner/exemptions.htm

Cherokee County – deadline is April 1, 2010              678-493-6122

http://www.cherokeega.com/departments/department_section.cfm?displaySection=Homestead%20Exemptions.txt&departmentid=30

Henry County – deadline is April 1, 2010                    770-288-8180                 

http://www.co.henry.ga.us/taxcommissioner/PropertyTaxExemptions.shtml

Forsyth County – deadline is April 1, 2010                 770-781-2106 

http://www.qpublic.net/ga/forsyth/faq.html

Douglas County – deadline is April 1, 2010                 770-920-7272

http://www.douglastaxcommissioner.com/

Fayette County – deadline is March 1, 2010                770-461-3652

http://www.fayettecountytaxcomm.com/HOMESTEA.html

Paulding County – deadline is April 1, 2010                770-443-7606

http://www.paulding.gov/index.aspx?NID=210 

Presented by Leigh Clack, Attorney

Neel & Robinson, Attorneys at Law LLC

lenox@neelandrobinson.com    22 Lenox Pointe, Atlanta, GA  30324  

404-705-3690         fax 404-705-3697

The Peters Company has a lot to sing about this year.  Our 2009 goal of 33 transactions has been met, and we have our sights on 2010!   We thank you for your support this year!

Even now we are busier than ever.  The Spring/Summer busy season has carried over into Fall/Winter without hesitation.  It may be freezing cold outside, but there are still homes selling.  If you’re considering buying or selling or know anyone who is, we would love to talk.  Happy Holidays from our family to yours, and thank you for a wonderful 2009.

These great listings are under contract! The end of the first-time homebuyer tax credit is drawing near and buyers are out in full force.

These 4 great listings are gone…

Immaculate Decatur Ranch

One of Alpharetta’s Finest Swim Tennis Communities

Cottage Charmer in Brookhaven

Walk to Village Place Brookhaven

From Brookhaven to Decatur to Alpharetta… Our listings don’t last! If you are considering buying or selling, give us a call! We know Atlanta Real Estate!

Money appears to be flying around everywhere as the spending spree continues to help stimulate our ailing economy. Who would have ever thought that buying an Atlanta home would be a money making venture. Thankfully that’s the case! Lately the buzz has certianly been over the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit courtesy of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but you should not forget about the state tax credit for homebuyers. There appears to be a lack of coverage on this topic, and we really want to make sure that everyone knows the value of this state income tax credit as well. If you don’t know about it, you can’t claim it. I don’t know too many people who aren’t interested in a little free money!

The difference here is that the state credit is for ALL homebuyers who purchase through November 2009, regarless of whether or not this is a first home or not. Our hope originally was that the existing $8,000 federal tax credit would have been for ALL homebuyers, but it just didn’t pass through Congress that way. Don’t get me wrong, we’re happy for the first time homebuyer credit! Our business has flourished this year in the face of all the challenges because of it!

The GA buyer credit is either $1800 or 1.2% of the purchase price, whichever is less, and it’s split over 3 years. Talk to your CPA for additional details. We have a great CPA named Ari del Aguilla with Ross-Lane that we would love to put you in contact with if you don’t already have one.

The federal and state tax credits along with low interest rates and elevated inventories are helping us climb out of this mess. Buyer beware though because we are starting to experience a new level of activity including more and more multiple offer situations. In our last 22 transactions, we have had 8 mulitple offer experiences. Don’t be left behind with leftovers. If you are a first time homebuyer, realize upfront that you are one of MANY buyers right now. Everyone is looking below $300,000, and because of that, properties are moving, especially the best of the best. In addition to the Atlanta first time homebuyer market, we have helped many Atlanta homebuyers sell their existing homes and move up. A down market is a great move up market. While the prospects of taking any sort of a loss on the sale side is less than appealing, the fear of loss is quickly replaced by the thrill of gain. Don’t forget about this state of Georgia buyer tax credit!
For additional information on the State of Georgia Homebuyer Tax Credit, please click here for a link to the Governor’s office’s official press release.

With the opportunities available to today’s first time homebuyer and Atlanta homebuyer in general, it is important that you have a real estate agent who’s on your side. You need an agent that will help you make the best investment for your future while meeting your short and long term needs and goals. Andy and Lesley Peters with The Peters Company at Keller Williams Realty are proud to represent buyers in the metro Atlanta inside and outside the perimeter including Downtown Atlanta, Midtown Atlanta, Brookwood, Buckhead, Brookhaven, Decatur, Sandy Springs, Chamblee, Dunwoody, Norcross, Smyrna, Kennesaw, Marietta, Roswell, Alpharetta, Cumming, Duluth, as well as other surrounding metro Atlanta areas. As homeowners and agents, we have lived and worked inside and outside the perimeter, and we appreciate the benefits of both locations. For more information about The Peters Company, visit our website at www.thepeterscompany.com. You’ll also find us on Kudzu.com where we have received well over 40 5-star reviews and are ranked as one of Atlanta’s highest rated real estate teams. Give us a call today at 770-634-2782. Whether buying or selling, it would be our pleasure to help you maximize your opportunity and take advantage of this real estate market!