Featured Listing in Brookwood Estates - 755 Chinaberry Court, Martinez GA

This beautiful home in Brookwood Estates features gorgeous stonework on the front and a great fenced in backyard. With 2044 square foot, two stories and a spacious backyard this home makes for good family living. The home features a popular magnolia plan by Collier construction. There is a large two story great room that opens to the kitchen and dining area contributing to the spacious feel. With hardwood flooring in the great room it’s easy to show off during social events. The beautiful open kitchen boasts granite counter tops with stainless appliances such as a dishwasher, built-in microwave oven, smooth top range and a garbage disposal. Also the kitchen features gorgeous stained cabinets. The owner’s suite is on the first floor that features a walk-in closet. The owner’s bathroom boasts a separate tub and shower and a vanity with two sinks. There is a laundry room on the first floor. This home in Brookwood Estates has an attached single car garage. There is a spacious fenced in backyard making it great for outdoor fun and owning pets. On the second floor there are two bedrooms with a jack-n-Jill bathroom with a loft.
This home in Brookwood Estates in located in Martinez GA which is a borough of Augusta GA, home of the Masters. Martinez GA is located in Columbia County which is a great place to raise a family. Interstate 20 form the short southern boundary of Martinez. Located in Columbia County, this home enjoys a great school system, a good housing market, low crime and generally good living. Columbia County also has a rich history. Columbia County has seen action in the Revolutionary War, Civil War and residents from Richmond County have seen action in WWI and WWII. Columbia County, the 12th county formed in Georgia, was created by an act of the Legislature of Georgia on December 10, 1790 from Richmond County. There are many historical sites including Augusta Canal National Heritage Rea, Augusta River walk, Boyhood home of Woodrow Wilson, Fort Augusta Monument, St. Paul’s Church and many more. Residents at Whitney Place will enjoy historic sites around Augusta GA including Appling Courthouse and Jail, the Marshall Monument, and various places associated with Kiokee Baptist Church. Other sites in the county include Stevens Creek Dam and Canal Locks, the birthplace of the comedian Oliver Hardy in Harlem, and various cemeteries.
Columbia County has a great school system. Students living in this home in Brookwood Estates will attend Brookwood Elementary School. Brookwood Elementary School whose motto is “we are all learning” is a great school that believes its mission is to provide every student learning opportunities in an academically challenging environment. Brookwood Elementary has a vision that Brookwood Elementary will be a world-class school where the achievement of academic knowledge and skills is exceptional as compared to local, national and world-class standards. After completes elementary school students living in Brookwood Estates will attend Columbia Middle School. The mission of Columbia Middle School is to provide a safe, nurturing, academically challenging learning environment where students prepare to become responsible citizens in a culturally diverse world. After graduating from Columbia Middle students living in this home in Brookwood Estates will attend Evans High School. Evans High School is a public suburban high school that serves a diverse population of approximately 1,800 students. Their mission is to facilitate and enrich learning by preparing individuals to succeed as productive community members who can compete in the work place and fulfill goals for higher education. Evans High School focuses on improving student instruction by motivating students to learn, improving thinking and reasoning capabilities and applying knowledge and reasoning with technology and Evans High takes pride in the dedication of its faculty, staff, and students and in the ongoing support of parents and community members.
This home in Brookwood Estates is a beautiful two-story home that would be great for raising a family. Its has nice stonework on the front and a spacious backyard. If you have any questions about this property or others contact:

 

Sherri Melton - Realtor

2014 KW Quadruple Gold Sales Award-Over 17 Million in Sales in 2014

Associate Leadership Council Member 2007 - 2015

Accredited Staging Professional - IAHSP Member

Keller Williams Realty Augusta Partners

3633 Wheeler Rd., Suite 125

Augusta, GA 30909

Cell/Text 706.495.1135

www.LiveLoveAugusta.com

www.SherriMelton.info

Featured Listing in Whitney Place - 236 Caldwell Circle, Augusta Ga

This beautiful home in Whitney Place boasts a stacked-stone front that makes it shine! With one and a half stories, seven total rooms and a large side yard, this home in Whitney Place makes a great townhouse with enough space. This three bedroom, three-bathroom end unit boasts a foyer, garden tub and an open floor plan with the kitchen opening to the dining room and great room making it easy to entertain. The refrigerator is even included. Some of the interior features include blinds, washer and dryer connections and smoke detectors. The outside exterior finish includes stone and vinyl. Many appliances come with nice townhome including a dishwasher, built-in microwave, smooth top range, garbage disposal and a refrigerator. Some of the upstairs features include a spacious bedroom and bathroom and an area that could be set up as an office. This beautiful home in Whitney Place boasts a nice patio with a fenced in backyard that makes this home great for pet lovers. This townhome is in a great location too. Just take Wheeler road to Perimeter Parkway then turn left on Whitney Place by Augusta Towers then take a left onto Caldwell Circle and the home is on the right. This conveniently located home is close to shopping doctors, Fort Gordon, restaurants, and much more.
This home is located in prized Augusta GA, which has a rich history. Augusta GA has seen action in the Revolutionary War, Civil War and residents from Richmond County have seen action in WWI and WWII. Columbia County, the 12th county formed in Georgia, was created by an act of the Legislature of Georgia on December 10, 1790 from Richmond County. There are many historical sites including Augusta Canal National Heritage Rea, Augusta Riverwalk, Boyhood home of Woodrow Wilson, Fort Augusta Monument, St. Paul’s Church and many more. Residents at Whitney Place will enjoy historic sites around Augusta GA including Appling Courthouse and Jail, the Marshall Monument, and various places associated with Kiokee Baptist Church. Other sites in the county include Stevens Creek Dam and Canal Locks, the birthplace of the comedian Oliver Hardy in Harlem, and various cemeteries.
Students living in this home in Whitney Place will attend Sue Reynolds Elementary School which has a mission to advance students’ intellect, encourage respect for ideas, encourage free expression, rejoice in discover and promote critical thought. Sue Reynolds Elementary School has a vision of “ A community of learners empowered to transfer skills and concepts to ensure globally successful citizens. After elementary school, students living in Whitney Place will attend Langford Middle School. Langford Middle School is committed to educating our students with quality academics in a safe environment to be productive citizens in an ever-changing culturally diverse global society. Students at Langford Middle pledges to do their best in school, to make the right choices, to go to school to learn and to be respectful everyday and to be the best student they can be. Some highlights of Langford Middle School are that they have daily collaborative planning time, parent workshops, an active parent-teacher organization, an active FBLA and regional winners and community service projects. Once students’ complete middle school, students living in Whitney Place will attend Richmond Academy. Richmond Academy is a great school with a rich history. Richmond Academy believes that student learning should be the chief priority of the school and should be the focus of all decisions and that all students have the ability to learn and should be provided with a variety of instructional approaches and media and technology to support their individual learning styles. Richmond Academy believes that each student is a valued individual whose self-esteem and overall success is enhanced by positive relationships and mutual respect and that each student should demonstrate their understand of essential knowledge and skills as well as be actively involved in solving problems and producing quality work. Any student would be lucky to graduate from Richmond Academy. Richmond Academy believes that positive values, ethics and character should be incorporated into the classroom and modeled by educators in order to create well-rounded citizens and that teachers, administrators, staff, parents, students and the community share the responsibility for advancing the schools mission.
This beautiful home in Whitney Place is a great townhome that most anybody would be lucky to own. This roomy townhouse has an open floor plan, a large side yard and one and a half stores which makes this a spacious home that anyone can enjoy easy living and fun entertaining.

If you have any question about this home or any other property in Augusta GA, please contact:

Sherri Melton - Realtor

Melton & Associates - Over 17 Million in Sales in 2014

Associate Leadership Council Member 2007 - 2015

Accredited Staging Professional - IAHSP Member

Keller Williams Realty Augusta Partners

3633 Wheeler Rd., Suite 125

Augusta, GA 30909

Cell/Text 706.495.1135

Featured Lising - Home in Grovetown GA

4462 Country Glen Circle|Grovetown GA|30813

This beautiful home in Grovetown GA is all brick and sits on almost half an acre. Built in 2006, this ranch-style home boasts 8 total rooms with covered back patio. With about 2161 square feet and a large fenced-in back yard and an open floor plan, this home in Grovetown GA is fit for a family or anyone who enjoys a lot of space. The great room boasts a wood-burning fireplace and is open to the kitchen and breakfast area. If needed for a larger family, there is a living room in this spacious home that could be made into a 4^th bedroom. Some of the interior feature of this home includes a foyer, garden tub, pantry, date wiring and walk in closets! Some of the exterior features include insulated windows and doors, sprinklers and a fully landscaped lawn!
This home in Grovetown GA is located in one of the fastest growing areas in Augusta GA. With numerous parks and outdoor recreation areas, outdoor lovers will enjoy living in Grovetown. With having a covered back porch which over looks a beautifully landscaped backyard, which is just perfect for entertaining guests or just, kicking back and relaxing after a hard days work. Make sure to take advantage of this incredible home, which is minutes away from shopping dining and I-20 and 15 minutes to Fort Gordon. Living in this home in Grovetown GA you will find the quaint charm of a small town with the convenience of a city all within a few minutes of the natural beauty of Clarks Hill Lake or one of Columbia County’s many parks.  Columbia County is included in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is currently one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. Columbia County has a rich history. Columbia County has seen action in the Revolutionary War, Civil War and residents from Colombia County have seen action in WWI and WWII. Columbia County, the 12th county formed in Georgia, was created by an act of the Legislature of Georgia on December 10, 1790 from Richmond County.
There are many historical sites including Augusta Canal National Heritage Rea, Augusta Riverwalk, Boyhood home of Woodrow Wilson, Fort Augusta Monument, St. Paul’s Church and many more. Residents at Somerset at Williamsburg will enjoy historic sites around Augusta GA including Appling Courthouse and Jail, the Marshall Monument, and various places associated with Kiokee Baptist Church. Other sites in the county include Stevens Creek Dam and Canal Locks, the birthplace of the comedian Oliver Hardy in Harlem, and various cemeteries.
Columbia County has a great school system as well. Children living in this home would attend Euchee Creek Elementary. Euchee Creek Elementary School is a title 1 school-distinguished school that believes that “ All members will get on board to create and model a safe, responsible, respectful, and positive learning environment producing productive citizens.” Once the student graduates from elementary school, he or she would attend Grovetown Middle School (GTMS), home of the Patriots. GTMS’s mission statement is “Grovetown Middle School students will become productive citizens by demonstrating respect and integrity as they actively participate in their educational process. Once the student has graduated from GTMS, he or she will attend Grovetown High School (GTHS), home of the Warriors. GTHS has a motto of “Warriors lead the way!” and a mission that is “dedicated to Developing P.R.I.D.E. (Personal Responsibility In Delivering Excellence. GTHS believes in providing a caring, positive and safe environment to facilitate teaching and learning and those students, families, school personnel and the community share responsibility and accountability for learning. At GTHS students are the first priority and get a quality education. GTHS expects excellence in teaching and high expectations for learning in an environment that values scholarship and achievement and that the students should be supported as they strive to meet expectations for learning. Columbia County schools are known for their excellence and any student will receive a good education.
This home in Grovetown GA offers most everything a homebuyer could want. With being spacious and having a large yard, this home in Grovetown GA would be great for most any family. The neighborhood offers streetlights for safety and is conveniently located close to commerce, shopping and fun! Being located in one of the most popular areas in Augusta, home values are sure to rise and owning this home would be a great investment. With good quality education, low crime and a healthy economy this home in Grovetown GA would be a gem for any homeowner.


For further information contact Sherri Melton at:

Sherri Melton - Realtor
Melton & Associates - Over 17 Million in Sales in 2014
Associate Leadership Council Member 2007 - 2015
Accredited Staging Professional - IAHSP Member
Keller Williams Realty Augusta Partners
3633 Wheeler Rd., Suite 125
Augusta, GA 30909
Cell/Text 706.495.1135
www.LiveLoveAugusta.com
www.SherriMelton.info

Closing Costs - How They Affect You

What are closing costs?

Closing costs are the fees for services, taxes or special interest charges that surround the purchase of a home. They include upfront loan points, title insurance, escrow or closing day charges, document fees, prepaid interest and property taxes. Unless, these charges are rolled into the loan, they must be paid when the home is closed. For a real estate professional who can guide you through closing costs, view Augusta Ga Realtor.

Who pays the closing costs?

Closing costs are either paid by the home seller or home buyer. For more information on closing costs, view closing costs. It often depends on local custom and what the buyer or seller negotiates. For a Realtor who will negotiates for you, view Augusta Ga Realtor.

Where do I get information about closing costs?

For more on closing costs, ask for the "Consumers Guide to Mortgage Settlement Costs," Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Public Information Department, P.O. Box 7702, San Francisco, CA 94120 or call (415) 974-2163.

How can I save on closing costs?

Studies show that the closing costs, which can average 2 to 3 percent of a total home purchase price, are often more costly than many buyers expect. But there are some ways to save:

* Negotiate with the seller to pay all or part of the closing costs. The lender must agree to this as well as the seller. For more information on lenders in the Augusta area, view Augusta Lenders.

* Get a no-point loan. The trade-off is a higher interest rate on the loan and many of these loans have prepayment penalties. But buyers who are short on cash and can qualify for a higher interest rate may find a no-point loan will significantly cut their closing costs.

* Get a no-fee loan. Usually, though, these fees are wrapped into a higher interest rate though it will save you on the amount of cash you need upfront.

* Get seller financing. This kind of arrangement usually does not entail traditional loan fees or charges.

* Rent the property in which you are interested with an option to buy. That will give you more time to save for the upfront cash needed for the actual purchase.

* Shop around for the best loan deal. Each direct lender and each mortgage brokerage has their own fee structure. Call around before submitting your final loan application.

For more information on closing costs or the home buying process contact:

 

Sherri Melton - Realtor

2013 KW Quadruple Gold Sales Award-Over 11 Million in Sales in 2013

Associate Leadership Council Member 2007 - 2014

Accredited Staging Professional - IAHSP Member

Keller Williams Realty Augusta Partners

3633 Wheeler Rd., Suite 125

Augusta, GA 30909

Cell/Text 706.495.1135

www.LiveLoveAugusta.com

www.SherriMelton.info

What to Know When Buying a New Construction Home

Opting for new home construction?

Whether to buy an existing home or have one built is yet another decision to make during the home-buying process. For more information on the home buying process, view Augusta Ga Realtor. If you decide to go with new construction, a real estate agent can be a powerful advocate in your corner as you negotiate upgrades, a move-in date and other terms with the home builder. To contact a Real Estate Agent in the Augusta Ga area, view Augusta Ga Real Estate Professional. 
Below are some basic pointers to prepare you for the journey ahead. 

Selecting a builder 

Shopping for a large production or custom home builder can be a daunting task. Start by defining what architectural styles appeal to you and then seek out the builders in your area who offer those styles. Due diligence is essential. For a real estate professional that is knowledgable about builders in the Augusta Ga area, view Augusta Ga Realtor.  Ask friends for referrals to get firsthand accounts; verify the builder's state license status, if applicable; and check whether they're certified by the National Association of Home Builders. 

The builder representative and your real estate agent
A builder representative's ultimate goal is to sell you a home. His or her role is to provide a wide range of information to help you in your decision-making, from building restrictions, roads and easements to inspections, warranties, rebates and upgrades. A real estate agent knowledgeable in new-home construction will be able to help you wade through all the data and point out the downsides and upsides of each line item. Your agent also can look out for your interests in reviewing the builder's contract, which often contains more legal jargon than consumer-friendly language. 

It's all about timing
Market conditions greatly dictate a builder's incentive to make a deal you cannot refuse. When a builder has inventory on his hands, his carrying costs start adding up. When this happens, a builder might be more amenable to strike a favorable deal, whether it's throwing in upgrades or taking a bit off the asking price. A real estate agent can help you know when market conditions are right for these benefits. Also, watch for builder close-out sales. Builders promote these special events when a new subdivision is near completion but empty inventory still remains. 

A word about paying up
While there are always exceptions, most builders require a deposit when a purchase agreement is signed. They also require that the buyer pay for any upgrades prior to closing. If you back out prior to closing, unless the agreement states otherwise, you will lose that money. Make sure you understand every detail in the builder's contract before signing it.

For more information on New Construction Homes in the Augusta Area contact:

 

Sherri Melton - Realtor

2013 KW Quadruple Gold Sales Award-Over 11 Million in Sales in 2013

Associate Leadership Council Member 2007 - 2014

Accredited Staging Professional - IAHSP Member

Keller Williams Realty Augusta Partners

3633 Wheeler Rd., Suite 125

Augusta, GA 30909

Cell/Text 706.495.1135

www.LiveLoveAugusta.com

www.SherriMelton.info

What is My Home Worth ?

A home ultimately is worth what someone will pay for it. Everything else is an estimate of value. To determine a property’s value, most people turn to either an appraisal or a comparative market analysis. To find out what your home is worth, view my home value.   An appraisal is a certified appraiser’s estimate of the value of a home at a given point in time. For more information on appraisers in Augusta Ga, view Augusta Ga Appraisers. Appraisers consider square footage, construction quality, design, floor plan, neighborhood and availability of transportation, shopping and schools. Appraisers also take lot size, topography, view and landscaping into account. Most appraisals cost about $300.  A comparative market analysis is a real estate broker’s or agent’s informal estimate of a home’s market value, based on sales of comparable homes in a neighborhood. To get a CMA done for your home, view Augusta Ga Real Estate Professional. Most agents will give you a comparative market analysis for free.  You can do your own cost comparison by looking up recent sales of comparable properties in public records. These records are available at local recorder or assessor offices, through private real estate information companies or on the Internet.

What are the standard ways of finding out how much a home is worth?

A comparative market analysis and an appraisal are the standard methods for determining a home’s value. To find the value of your home click what is my home worth. Your real estate agent will be happy to provide a comparative market analysis, an informal estimate of value based on comparable sales in the neighborhood. Be sure you get listing prices of current homes on the market as well as those that have sold. You also can research this yourself by checking on recent sales in public records. Be sure that you are researching properties that are similar in size, construction and location. This information is not only available at your local recorder’s or assessor’s office but also through private companies and on the Internet. An appraisal, which generally costs $200 to $300 to perform, is a certified appraiser’s opinion of the value of a home at any given time. Appraisers review numerous factors including recent comparable sales, location, square footage and construction quality.

To find your home value or for any other real estate need contact:

Sherri Melton - Realtor

2013 KW Quadruple Gold Sales Award-Over 11 Million in Sales in 2013

Associate Leadership Council Member 2007 - 2014

Accredited Staging Professional - IAHSP Member

Keller Williams Realty Augusta Partners

3633 Wheeler Rd., Suite 125

Augusta, GA 30909

Cell/Text 706.495.1135

www.LiveLoveAugusta.com

www.SherriMelton.info

How Do I Prepare for Hownownership ?

 Purchasing and owning a home is a big responsibility and shouldn't be done lightly. It is always best to be prepared for home ownership. If you are interested in contacting a real estate professional in Augusta Ga, view Augusta Ga Real Estate Professional. Here are some steps to take to get prepared:

- Contact a REALTOR®. Find an experienced REALTOR® who can help guide you through the process. To find a Realtor® in the Augusta Ga area, view Augusta Ga Realtor®.

- Decide what you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.

-Develop your home wish list. Then, prioritize the features on your list.

- Location, Location, Location. Select where you want to live. Compile a list of three or four neighborhoods you’d like to live in, taking into account items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety. For more information about what is available in the Augusta Ga area, view Augusta Ga Homes.

- Calculate the costs of homeownership. This should include property taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities, and association fees, if applicable.

- Start saving. Do you have enough money saved to qualify for a mortgage and cover your down payment? Ideally, you should have 20 percent of the purchase price saved as a down payment. Also, don’t forget to factor in closing costs. Closing costs — including taxes, attorney’s fee, and transfer fees — average between 2 and 7 percent of the home price.

- Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report to make sure it is accurate and to correct any errors immediately. A credit report provides a history of your credit, bad debts, and any late payments.

- Determine your mortgage qualifications. How large of mortgage do you qualify for? Also, explore different loan options — such as 30-year or 15-year fixed mortgages or ARMs — and decide what’s best for you.

- Get preapproved. Organize all the documentation a lender will need to preapprove you for a loan. You might need W-2 forms, copies of at least one pay stub, account numbers, and copies of two to four months of bank or credit union statements. To get in contact with a Realtor to help get pre-approved, view Augusta Ga Realtor®.

For more information on owning a home or real estate in the Augusta Ga area contact:

 

Sherri Melton - Realtor

2013 KW Quadruple Gold Sales Award-Over 11 Million in Sales in 2013

Associate Leadership Council Member 2007 - 2014

Accredited Staging Professional - IAHSP Member

Keller Williams Realty Augusta Partners

3633 Wheeler Rd., Suite 125

Augusta, GA 30909

Cell/Text 706.495.1135

www.LiveLoveAugusta.com

www.SherriMelton.info

Home Buying Decisions

Buying a home is a big decision. Making the right decisions can make all the difference in whether it is a positive or a negative experience. If you are looking to buy a home in Augusta Ga, view Augusta Ga Realtor. Home buyers need to ask themselves many questions. Try to imagine what your future home looks like ? Where is it located? Here are some key question that need to be answered:

-What school system do you want to be in?

-What neighborhood would you prefer? View Augusta Ga homes to search the area.

-How close do you want to travel, do you want to be close to public transportation, airports, expressway, etc.

-What style of home would you prefer? What kind of architecture ? Would you a prefer a one-story or a two-story? How many bedrooms and bathrooms? For help making these decisions, view Augusta Ga Real Estate Professional.

-What condition is the home it? Would you prefer a new or a previously homed home?

-What kind of features would you prefer in a home ?

Consider these questions before making a choice between adding on to an existing home or moving up in the market to a bigger house:

* How much money is available, either from cash reserves or through a home improvement loan, to remodel the current house?

* How much additional space is required? Would the foundation support a second floor or does the lot have room to expand on the ground level?

* What do local zoning and building ordinances permit?

* How much equity already exists in the property?

* Are there affordable properties for sale that would satisfy housing needs?

For any questions or for more information on Augusta Ga Real Estate contact:

 

Sherri Melton - Realtor

2013 KW Quadruple Gold Sales Award-Over 11 Million in Sales in 2013

Associate Leadership Council Member 2007 - 2014

Accredited Staging Professional - IAHSP Member

Keller Williams Realty Augusta Partners

3633 Wheeler Rd., Suite 125

Augusta, GA 30909

Cell/Text 706.495.1135

www.LiveLoveAugusta.com

www.SherriMelton.info