Georgia Lawmakers have a sense of Humor?
Posted: Monday, January 29th, 2007, 1:09 pm EST
Category: Real Estate News
Every state has some crazy laws, check out Crazytopics: Craziest Laws in America for a list of them all, but here are the ones discovered in Georgia:
How to Buy Raw Land (acreage) or a Vacant Lot
Posted: Monday, January 29th, 2007, 1:14 am EST
Category: Tips, Tools & Tech
A client of mine is beginning the process to purchase a vacant lot to build his new home. As expected, he has many questions about how to do find the right property and then what to do with it once he has found it. After searching the web for a good website that explains the process of buying raw land, I realized there aren’t any great ones and very few at all that I would recommend he read. So I decided to put this post together to send to my client and share with everyone else.
Steps to Purchasing Vacant Land
- Save Money: Typically you will need a 20-percent down payment with the interest rate and terms of the loan being somewhat negotiable, generally up to 15 years. If the purchase price isn’t that large, you might also consider taking out a home equity loan on your current residence and enjoy the tax deduction. A community bank is best for these type of purchases as they know the local market better and are willing to take more risks than the larger mega-banks.
You’ll have a better chance borrowing money if there are other improved properties in the area and if you’re planning to build a personal residence as opposed to speculating for investment. You’ll win points if you have other business at the bank or if you plan to come back for a construction loan.
- Research Properties: When searching the local market for vacant land you will need to consider all of the following factors before making your final decision:
A) Review the local government’s Current Land Use Plan and Proposed Future Land Use Plan to make sure you know what is happening in the area.
B) Determine existing Zoning to make sure you can build a house on the property.
C) Review the subdivision Covenants & Restrictions (if applicable) to ensure you get to build the house you have in mind and see how much the fees are to be a part of the community amenities.
D) Investigate for Easements to understand if a neighbor has the right to drive on the property or if the local utility company needs to maintain a pipe or line, etc…
E) Speaking of Utilities, make sure that the proper utilities are on-site and able to tap into them for your new home. You may need to dig a well or install a septic system.
F) Locate property Boundaries by reviewing the Seller’s survey or getting your own.
G) Environmental analysis will let you know if there are buried items such as tanks or tires that may cause construction problems and also determine if you are in a flood plain created by nearby creeks or rivers.
H) Contact the local governing agency who issues Building Permits to determine what is required to obtain permission to build your new home on the land.
I) Tax research is required to determine if you pay county or city or both and how much will it cost you each year.
J) Insurance will also be needed on the property and may required additional flood insurance if the property is in a flood zone.
- Make an Offer: Of course I recommend a good real estate agent at this point (which should have been selected after you determined you have the money to help you with the research phase). Before you make an offer, think about the what ifs–things that would make the property unusable for your purposes. Add these to the offer as contingencies, things that must or must not happen before you buy. For example:
- Offers for land without sewer hookups should be contingent on your ability to obtain permits for a septic system.
- If an architectural review committee must approve your home plans, the offer should be contingent on obtaining approval.
- The offer should be contingent on obtaining the type of financing you desire.
Some contingencies are included in standard contracts, but your real estate agent can help you determine if other contingencies should be added.
4. Close on the Property: After satisfying all contingencies in the contract, including financing, proceed to closing and take title to your new piece of real estate.
Welcome to Land Ownership!
I also recommend using the following tools and calculators during your research:
Loan Calculator
Lot Dimensions to Acreage Converter
Land & Construction Loan Calculator
If the property you want happens to be in Cobb County, then these links may be helpful:
Cobb County Zoning & Land Use
Cobb County Permits
Cobb Tax Records
Cobb Utility Information
Resources: Bankrate.com, About: Home Buying & Selling, Building your own Home
Cingular is now the New AT&T
Posted: Sunday, January 28th, 2007, 4:50 pm EST
Category: Real Estate News
I have been a Cingular cell phone customer since they were BellSouth. My real estate company has a Blackberry Enterprise Server so all of my agents can use Blackberry’s to provide better communications to each of their clients and customers. Almost all of my agents use Cingular as a cell service provider. But now the Cingular brand is going away and will be the “new” AT&T. I am sure the service will be just as good (and maybe better), so why am I writing about this topic? Like Steven Colbert, just trying to clear things up for the masses (but he does a much better job)…
Cherokee Slow Growth Commissioners Fight City Annexations
Posted: Friday, January 26th, 2007, 1:16 pm EST
Category: Canton Real Estate
As I anticipated in an earlier post about property rights in Cherokee County, the cities within the county are already seeking annexation of property. Of course the Cherokee Board of Commissioners are fighting the City of Holly Springs over the issue…
County, Holly Springs face off
Board of Commissioners challenges two annexations; growth boundary expired Dec. 31
The Cherokee County Commission is formally challenging two annexation proposals under review by the city of Holly Springs, officials said.The annexation petitions of Bridgemill Eye Clinic for 1409 Sixes Road and Square Foot Design & Build for 120 and 148 Tom Charles Lane seek Neighborhood Commercial (NC) zoning, documents show. The Sixes Road site is nearly 4.5 acres and the Tom Charles Lane tract is almost 0.8 acres.
The Holly Springs Planning & Zoning Commission is scheduled to hold public hearings on the annexation and zoning requests during its Jan. 25 meeting at 6 p.m. at the Holly Springs Public Safety Building, 3235 Holly Springs Parkway.
County officials said the reasons for the challenges include their belief the projects would be out of character for the areas and they question whether the infrastructure and service delivery costs would be in place.
County officials are also questioning whether the two properties – the Sixes Road tract is west of Interstate 575 and the Tom Charles Lane site is off Ga. 140 near Harmony on the Lakes – are adjacent to the city limits, county officials said. Holly Springs City Manager Tony Griffin said both properties border the city limits.
Under state law, a mediation process between the governments may be triggered if differences over the proposals are unresolved, officials said.
I thought residents elected public officials to solve problems, not create them? Individual property owners have rights that county officials should not try to remove. If you want to help stand up for your property rights, then visit http://cherokeecpr.com
Resource: Cherokee Ledger News, Tom Brooks
Move to the Suburbs and Get Fat
Posted: Wednesday, January 24th, 2007, 1:14 pm EST
Category: Atlanta Real Estate
Or do suburbs attract fat people?
In a recent article of Science News, researchers found…
So far, the dozen strong studies that have probed the relationships among the urban environment, people’s activity, and obesity have all agreed, says Ewing. “Sprawling places have heavier people,” he says. “There is evidence of an association between the built environment and obesity.”
Some scientists propose that sprawl discourages physical activity, but other researchers suggest that people who don’t care to exercise choose suburban life. Besides working to settle that disagreement, researchers are looking at facets of urban design that may shortchange health.
As scientists investigate the relationship between sprawl and obesity, a compact style of city development sometimes called smart growth might become a tool in the fight for the nation’s health.
Smart growth is a concept and term used by those who seek to identify a set of policies governing transportation and land use planning policy for urban areas that benefits communities and preserves the natural environment. Proponents of smart growth advocate comprehensive planning to guide, design, develop, revitalize and build communities that: have a unique sense of community and place; preserve and enhance natural and cultural resources; equitably distribute the costs and benefits of development; expand the range of transportation, employment and housing choices; value long-range, regional considerations of sustainability over a short term focus; and promote public health and healthy communities.
Researchers and scientists feel that Atlanta is NOT one of those healthy communities…
Lawrence Frank is no couch potato. Taking full advantage of his city’s compact design, the Vancouver, British Columbia, resident often bikes to work and walks to stores, restaurants, and museums. That activity helps him stay fit and trim. But Frank hasn’t always found his penchant for self-propulsion to be practical. He previously lived in Atlanta, where the city’s sprawling layout thwarted his desire to be physically active as he went about his daily business.
"The overarching message is that the built environment is an enabler or a disabler of active transportation—of walking," Frank says.
I’d also like to remind the leaders of Cherokee County that a push to keep 2 acre lot sizes or lower density and not embracing mixed-use planned communities (like Macauley’s Village in the Forest) could lead to Cherokee County having a health problems both physical and financial health problems. We need healthy residents and we need healthy commercial growth - it will take smart residential planning to accommodate both.
