Organize Your Finances Thinking of buying a home and wondering where do I start?  The first step is to deal with the financial issue. First figure out how much can you afford in a monthly mortgage payment. Although this may seem obvious it is crucial in determining where and what kind of home you will be shopping for. When doing your calculations on this remember to include taxes, homeowners insurance and any other monthly payments attached with the mortgage payment. Also it’s important to include all your expected utilities water/sewer, trash collection, plus the usual. In some cases you may want to pick a lender and get pre-qualified for a mortgage. A lender will consider your debt-to-income ratio, which is a comparison of your gross (pre-tax) income to housing and non-housing expense... 06/07/2013

Savannah is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and a wonderful place to make your home or vacation destination. The city was founded in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe and served as the first capital of the Georgia colony and state. The enduring charm of the city is visible in historic downtown with its Spanish moss-covered live oaks lining the streets and horse drawn carriages carrying tourists around some of the 22 beautifully maintained historic squares. Savannah's Historic District is a National Historic Landmark, so there are an abundance of historic buildings. Notable buildings include the Owens-Thomas House built in 1818 (Oglethorpe square) the Spencer Woodbridge House built in 1795 (Habersham Street), and the 1853 Gothic Revival Greene House (Madison Square), and the... 06/05/2013

A new AIA Home Design Trends survey says showy and large upgrades are out and functionality is in with today’s remodeling home owners. Reflecting the desire to keep homes affordable in the current weak housing market, home layouts have generally been simpler and floor plans more flexible.  “There have been some pretty significant changes over the past six years and housing preferences may have changed permanently,” says Baker. “The day of the grandiose master bath may have passed us by, and the trend of integrating the kitchen into the family space accelerated during the downturn, along with multi-use spaces and informality.” says Kermit Baker, the chief economist for the American Institute of Architects. Here are some highlights of what the survey shows with trends in  remodeling homes... 05/29/2013

Savannah's GA Best Restaurant The votes have been tallied for Savannah's Best of for 2013, and the winner in the food category is The 5 Spot. This down-home, lowcountry neighborhood eatery is located in midtown Savannah - Habersham Village.  Owners of this restaurant which just opened in Dec. of 2012 also are part of a group that started four other sucessful restaurants; Blowin' Smoke, Abe's on Lincoln, B. Matthews and the Blue Turtle Bistro. The 5 Spot offers American fare, nothing excessively pre-packaged, entree's such as grilled almon with a burnt rosemary aromatic, a fried green tomato BLT, and a pulled pork sandwich with peach barbecue sauce. Habersham Village A Staple of Midtown Savannah Habersham Village, named after the  prominent Habersham family in the colonial, revolutionar... 05/23/2013

A home is the greatest investment a person can make, to keep that investment safe, every day wear and tear on the home needs to be addressed. As winter slowly comes to a close it is an excellent time for some spring maintenance. As luring as it maybe to skip this type of work it is wise to take care of the little things before they become BIG PROBLEMS. Humidity Can Causes Big Problems Here in Savannah GA our high humidity can create some big home problems. Mildew and mold is an especially prevalent issue with homes here in Savannah. On the interior of your home make sure your home’s humidity is in the proper range. Too much humidity in your home creates a breeding ground for mold, mildew and other home invaders. Humidity control is also important for controlling indoor allergens and bac... 05/08/2013

Parkside, Savannah, GA Great Location The nationally registered historic Parkside neighborhood, literally named because the community borders Daffin Park along Washington Avenue, is one of the more sought after districts in Savannah to live in. The Parkside neighborhood is bounded by Victory Dr., Waters Ave., Bee St. and 51st Street. From Parkside there is esay access to downtown Savannah, the Truman Parkway and Rt 80 out to Tybee Island. Parkside is also just a mile or so from Victory Square Shopping Center (Victory and Skidaway) which hosts Home Depot, Target, Stapels a movieplex, and numerous places to eat. Parkside is lined with majestic oak trees draped with Spanish moss and large sidewalks offering a short walk to Daffin Park.   Historic Daffin Park a Draw for Parkside Residents D... 04/30/2013

Ardsley Park Charming Neighborhood and Minutes From Downtown Savannah, GA   Ardsley Park, Savannah is one of the more sought after communities for home buyers to live in, with homes on well established large lots ranging from colonial style mansions to charming bungalows, and still minutes from downtown Savannah. The Ardsley Park neighborhood which was developed in 1910 with most homes built in the 30’ and 40’s, was designed as two adjacent planned subdivisions, Ardsley Park and the Chatham Crescent neighborhood.  Ardsley Park is located south of present-day Victory Drive (originally Estill Avenue) and north of 57th Street, Bull Street is Ardsley Park's western boundary and Waters Avenue is its eastern boundary. In the North West corner of the Ardsley district is the Thomas Square histo... 04/24/2013

When you are buying a new or previously owned home, you should consider not only the price of the home, but also the operating costs of owning the home. Energy consumption comprises a large portion of home operating costs. Heating and cooling usually comprises 45% of these costs. Consider looking for a home that was built to Energy Star standards. ENERGY STAR qualified homes are independently verified to be at least 30% more energy-efficient than homes that were built according to the 1993 national Model Energy Code. (ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency.) Here are some of the differences you will find in an ENERGY STAR qualified home: buil... 04/18/2013

Home Spring Cleaning is a tradition that lets out the stale winter air and brings in the fresh spring smell. Cleaning and organizing our home lifts our spirits, and opens us up for fresh new ideas and activities. However the thought of such a task can feel overwhelming. There are some things you can do to get the job done, and help it take place smoothly and quickly. Action Plan The first thing you need to do is create an action plan. Set aside a full day for this, get others involved, assign tasks to specific family members. To help make the day more palatable to resistant family members, break the chores down into 15 minute cleanups. About.com has a list of 15 minute cleanups on their site to print out and delegate to family. Play some upbeat music to get everyone going, and create a ... 04/10/2013

Buyer Tip There is never a wrong time to buy the right home.  Trying to time the market at the right moment to purchase a home rarely works to your advantage. Real estate is a solid investment because of long term factors; equity buildup, value appreciation, and tax benefits. Finding a home that meets your criteria is a smart purchase in any market climate. Make a list of your criteria and make contact with a real estate agent even if you feel ‘now’ is not the right time. Stay in touch with your agent and keep an eye on the real estate listings in your area of interest, thus assuring that you will find the right investment at the right moment.   Selling Tip Are you trying to figure out if ‘now’ is the right time to sell your home? Well the first step to that answer is; one recognize tha... 04/03/2013

With winter ending we open our windows, bringing in the welcome smell of fresh flowers and freshly cut grass. The wonderful aroma of spring also reminds us it’s time to turn our attention to some outside home maintenance. While walking my dog enjoying this beautiful weather I have seen people raking their leaves in preparation to mow their lawns. What are the best lawn maintenance practices I wondered?   So here is what my research turned up; land area collectively occupied by U.S. lawns equals a land mass greater than that of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island combined. Wow that is a lot of lawn to mow and rake! What about all those leaves and grass clippings, do we really need to rake them and have them hauled away and place into landfills? Actually studies show that mulching fal... 04/02/2013

A Keller Williams Real Estate team won $1 million from a shared lottery ticket, and then shared those winnings with a new co-worker that had opted out of the ticket purchase. Administrative assistant Jennifer Maldonado had only been working two weeks, and had yet to receive a paycheck. Based on not having received her paycheck yet, Jennifer opted out of the lottery ticket purchase. The group had purchased $120.00 worth of tickets, and even though a co-worker offered to loan Jennifer the money she turned it down. Jennifer arrived to work Sunday night and was greeted with screaming and jumping by her co-workers. She thought they were pulling a prank on her until her boss sat her down and told her this was real, and that they were going to share their winnings with her. Each person kicked... 03/28/2013

Things are happening with Team Callahan. We just sold another beautiful property! A beautiful hidden lake townhome at 21 Hidden Lake Court. 03/28/2013

Baldwin Park was originally developed as part of the Chatham Crescent along with Ardsley Park. With the creation of Victory Drive in 1919 the Chatham Crescent was divided and the North end became what is today known as Baldwin Park. The area remains unique because of its “City Beautiful” Beaux Arts inspired design of curvilinear streets, roundabouts, and parks-one of the few examples that exist in Georgia. Nestled into the Southeast of Savannah’s Victorian District,  Baldwin Park hosts a variety of architectural styles-from Victorian homes and mansions along Victory Drive to modest bungalows and ranchs - each has great character and charm. At the center of this neighborhood is its namesake, a circular park that is the ideal setting for walking, picnics, and recreation. To the South of t... 03/27/2013

    With the recent cold weather here in Savannah fireplaces were in good use. There is nothing better than sitting by the fire, letting the warmth melt away the stress of a day during the cold weather. However with warmer weather right around the corner it is important not to forget about our fireplace. It is a great opportunity to put the chimney at the top of your spring home projects list. The EPA recommends that you have your chimney professionally inspected and cleaned each year or every 60 burns to remove the creosote and keep it in good working condition.This is not an easy DIY job soyou may want to consider hiring a professional chimney sweep to tackle this job. This is a very physically demanding job, and a professional really knows what to look for during the inspection.   Th... 03/27/2013

    Fall Festival and Trunk – OR - Treat Guide 2102   Savannah | Pooler | Chatham County       Fall is here and the air is turning crisp. It’s time to get out and go enjoy the mild weather and changing of the leaves.  www.Southernmamas.com has put together a list of Falloween Family Fun Guide for the Low Country surrounding areas.  Hope to see you Out – N – About in Savannah.     Preview Google Map of all locations listed below at the bottom of this article         Habersham Branch YMCA Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat 6400 Habersham Street Savannah, GA 5:30 pm to 7:30 PM Fri. Oct. 26, 2012 The Habershsam YMCA & Tapestry Church are hosting the Fall Festival & Trunk & Treat. Fun for all ages with games, prizes, bounce houses, animal exhibits, food, and the trunk or treat. 912-354-6223.  ... 10/25/2012

  2012 Pumpkin Patches | Hayrides | Corn Mazes |   Savannah & the Lowcountry         Here’s a roundup of pumpkin patches, corn mazes, fall festivals, hayrides in the Coastal Georgia/South Carolina area for Fall 2011. To submit an item to be included in this list, email the 411 to anne@southernmamas.com.  Information provided by www.southernmamas.com       Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes   Ottawa Farms Corn Maze 702 Bloomingdale Road Bloomingdale, Georgia 31302 (West Chatham / Pooler) Open Now until November 2012 5 -10 PM Fridays 1-10 PM Saturdays 1-10 PM Sundays. Cash or checks accepted. No alcohol or pets. 912-748-3035/email: rwd748@gmail.com 10 acres of fun & confusion. This year 2012 corn maze design will be a steam locomotive in recognition of the old Ottawa Station depot which was loc... 10/23/2012

 Wow!  Records...Does anyone still own a record player?  No matter how much technology changes people still love listening to music. We enjoy listening to talk radio, listening to debates on which team is taking it to the Super Bowl on sports radio, and getting the traffic update while they commute into the lovely town of Savannah. This list is for those who tune in and listen to the radio.  If you are new to the area and need the radio station line up. Or if you were like me and wonder what radio stations were on the air around the Coastal Georgia area.          ROCK106.1 WFXH Hilton Head, SC *Rock*95.5 WIXV Savannah, Ga *Rock*98.3 WGCO Midway,Ga *Classic Hits*104.7 WTHG Hinesville, Ga *Classic Hits*104.9 WLHH Ridgeland, SC *Classic Hits*103.1 WGZO Parris Island, SC *Classic Hits*    C... 08/30/2012

Monday, May 28th at 6:00 PM in Savannah, GA Savannah Real Estate Investors Alliance Next Meeting on May 28th at 6 PM Hosted by Kristin Mack & Aislee Jackson with Special Guest Tony Stanford Would you like to learn a new and proven System for Buying Houses with little or no competition? Would you like to know how to apply this System when buying your next investment property? Would you like to work less and earn more money? Would you like to network with other like-minded Savannah Real Estate Investors? If so, please RSVP on Meetup or RSVP on Facebook and join us Monday, May 28, 2012 at 6:00 PM at Barnes Restaurant located at 5320 Waters Avenue in Savannah, GA. Join us and you will you will have the opportunity to join fellow Savannah Real Estate professionals for networking and learning... 05/15/2012

REDUCED $15,000 --- 303 Jackson Woods Blvd. - Now at $350,000. Outstanding Colonial Revival with impressive front columns & porch. Spacious living room with fireplace, separate dining room, massive open kitchen and breakfast room, wood paneled family room with fireplace. Master with direct access to upper porch. Rear patio and fenced yard. http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/303-Jackson-Woods-Blvd-a236046.html         REDUCED $5,000 -- 321 W. Broughton St, Unit 10 - Now at $225,000. Beautiful loft style condominium in premium location. Exposed brick walls, tremendous ceiling heights, stunning deep red Heart of Pine floors, open kitchen with granite counters and quality cabinetry. http://www.realestateinsavannah.net/321-West-Broughton-Street-10-a238517.html       REDUCED $15,000 -- 524 E... 04/24/2012