Should you or someone you know be in need of short sale,rental,or credit restoration assistance, please call Wade Wilcox (678)522-5340 or email  wwilcox@youneedresults.com

Citizens invited to help celebrate Earth Day by recycling  

Forsyth County residents will have the chance to celebrate Earth Day by recycling their old, unused electronics. Keep Forsyth County Beautiful is sponsoring the “Recycle Your Old Electronics” event on Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cumming Fairgrounds’ parking lot 3 off of Castleberry Road.  

Accepted items for recycling include computers, stereos, CD players, cell phones, microwaves and more. The minimum donation per carload for drop-off is $5 while an additional $10 fee will apply for all televisions.  

“Local residents are invited to help celebrate Earth Day by recycling their electronics for which they no longer have a use,” Environmental Program Manager Tammy Wright said. “Taking the time to recycle these items can truly make a difference toward ensuring a clean environment for our entire community.”  

Some items, such as large wooden console televisions, toaster ovens and refrigerators, will not be accepted during the event.

Click here for a complete list of acceptable and non-acceptable items, or call 770.205.4573 for more details.

The 2011 camping season officially begins in Forsyth County March 28 when Shady Grove Campground opens its 110 campsites for campers. The campground will remain open until November 6.   

The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department utilized the off-season to carry out approximately $1 million in improvements to the 109-acre campground. These improvements were made possible by the $100 million Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond approved by voters in February 2008.  

Campers can expect to immediately notice the improvements, Assistant Director of Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Tommy Bruce said.  

“Improvements were made to allow more adequate space for today’s larger recreational vehicles,” Bruce said. “The pads have been expanded in order to provide space to allow campers to enjoy the full use of their awnings. We are looking forward to hearing how campers enjoy these improvements.”  

Tent campers will find new power hookups and water were added to campsites that were previously without power or water. All visitors will notice a portion of the campground property near the campsites has been turned into a grassy play area and the campground’s shoreline has undergone a restoration process.  

Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Kinsey said these changes would not have been possible without the support of county voters.   

“Shady Grove Campground has received wonderful updates and improvements that we anticipate will help make this an even more popular destination for Lake Lanier campers,” he said. “These improvements would not have been possible without the support of Forsyth County voters.”  

Campers staying at Shady Grove Campground can enjoy a beach and swim area, boat ramp, group campsites with picnic shelters, campsites with water and power hookups, a playground and more.  

Shady Grove Campground is located at 7800 Shadburn Ferry Road in Cumming on the shores of Lake Lanier.  

Daily fees for campground use

• 30 amp electric site with water   $26
• 50 amp electric site with water   $28
• Tent camping site with no hookups   $18
• Group camping (north)   $155
• Group camping (south)   $135
• Visitor fee   $2
• Dump station   $15  

For more information about the campground, visit the Parks and Recreation Department page at www.forsythco.com.   ;

The ribbon was officially cut Friday, February 25 for Forsyth County’s newest park, Fowler Park. The approximately 85-acre park located in south Forsyth County was funded by the $100 million Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond approved by voters in February 2008. Construction of the project was completed under budget.  

“We are grateful to the community – to the voters – for making this park a reality by approving in 2008 the $100 million Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond,” Commission Chairman Brian R. Tam said. “Voter approval of this bond made this park possible. Funding the park’s construction with this bond enabled us to build this amazing new amenity without any money from the county’s General Fund.”  

The new park includes fields for baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse and football, 12 tennis courts, a walking trail around the perimeter of the park, a large playground, and an administrative building.  

The park offers a five-acre passive area that includes three open-air pavilions, a large multi-use pavilion with capacity to seat 250 people, restrooms, and a turf amphitheater area.  

“We anticipate that the large pavilion and open field area will become a very popular location for hosting a variety of special events,” Director of Parks and Recreation Jerry Kinsey said, noting that the area will be available for rent. “This space is unlike anything currently available at our county parks.”  

The park also features a teen play area that includes basketball courts and a 23,000-square foot skate park – the county’s first. Design of the skate park was led by nationally recognized skate park designer Wally Hollyday.  

“There is truly something for everyone here at Fowler Park,” Kinsey said. “We are very excited about all of the great amenities residents will be able to enjoy at this new park.”  

A few of the park’s features are still in progress and will open in the near future. The trail head for the Big Creek Greenway is scheduled to be completed March 2. The park’s track is slated for completion in April, and the 1.5-acre dog park is scheduled to open in May.  

In addition to all of these amenities, a recreation center is also planned for the park. At their February 3, 2011 meeting, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved construction of a recreation center at Fowler Park, completion of which is expected in spring 2012. Construction of the recreation center will be funded by a combination of Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond funds and Impact Fees.  

Visitors to Fowler Park will notice a statue near the entrance to the park’s administrative building. The statue, titled Nature’s Little Helpers, was donated by the Fowler family and created by sculptor Gregory Johnson.  

In 2001, Forsyth County purchased approximately 277 acres of the Fowler property. Since then, the property has become home to several county facilities. The Fowler Water Reclamation Facility was opened on the property in 2004, and Forsyth County Fire Station #2 was opened in 2007. Ground was broken for Fowler Park on August 5, 2009.  

Fowler Park is located in south Forsyth County at 4110 Carolene Way, off of Atlanta Highway across from the intersection with Castleberry Road.

If you purchased a property last year and closed by December 31^st, 2010, your name should be on the tax records for 2011, even if your deed did not get recorded until January of 2011!

Here are a couple of things to remember:

File the homestead exemption if this property is owner-occupied; most counties have extended their filing deadline to April 1^st, but ALWAYS confirm with your county. 

If the property also has city taxes, there may be an additional homestead exemption available through the city, however,  many cities will require a separate homestead application (except City of Atlanta), and may there could be different deadlines so be sure to check this out.

If the property is owner-occupied by a senior citizen, disabled person, low-income owner, injured veteran or veteran’s widow, there may be additional tax exemptions and discounts available.  These applications are usually due much earlier and can require additional documentation such as a copy of last year’s income tax return.

If the property you purchased is rental or investment property, you should confirm that the correct mailing address is on the deed when it was recorded.  Check your county’s website, your HUD-1 from your closing, or the  GSCCCA website (look at the PT-61 form filed with the Warranty deed).  If the mailing address is not correct and it tax bill is sent to a vacant lot or rental house it is a safe bet it will NOT get forwarded or paid on time!

Your 2011 property assessment should reflect your  purchase price (under the new Georgia law), but it never hurts to check, and you can provide this information by filing a real property tax return to confirm the current value and your proper mailing address.

For more information, please call Wade Wilcox (678)522-5340

Beginning in 2013, the health insurance reform law will impose a 3.8 percent tax on unearned net investment income, which includes some (but not all) income from interest, dividends, rents (less expenses), and capital gains (less capital losses).  The tax falls on only those individuals with an adjusted gross income above $200,000 for single filers or $250,000 for couples filing jointly.

The tax will not be imposed on all real estate transactions.  Those who claim otherwise do not understand the interplay between the health insurance reform law and existing real estate tax law.  The exemption for the first $500,000 of capital gain from the sale of a principal residence remains intact and is not impacted by the new law.

Because the tax is very complicated, the National Association of REALTORS^® prepared an informational brochure outlining several scenarios that could be relevant to you and your clients.  The brochure is available for download here.  You may also want to review NAR’s list of frequently asked questions about the health insurance reform law and the 3.8 percent tax on unearned investment income.

For more information, please contact Wade Wilcox.

So, on a 200K loan amount here’s the difference..

Mortgage Insurance Premium:

Now: Up-front MIP is 2.25% financed into loan (200K x 2.25% = 4500)
9/7/2010: Up-front MIP is 1.0% financed into loan (200k x 1.0% = 1000)

Monthly Premiums:

Now: loan amount x .55%/12 (200k x .55%=1100/12= 91.67/month for MI
9/7/2010: Loan amount x .85%or.90%/12 (200k x .85%=1700/12= 141.67/month for MI

Big changes. The net effect is worse for borrower..

Here’s why..
The difference in monthly pmt between the 204,500 and 201,000 is only 18/month better for customer. However, the increase in monthly premiums is worse. The net effect is worse for customer by 32/month on 200K loan amount.

Drop me an email for more information – wwilcox@youneedresults.com