Aprons Publix Cooking School - Alpharetta, GA

Last month our married couples group had a wonderful event at the Aprons Publix Cooking School in Alpharetta, Georgia. We chopped, stirred, broiled and sautéed our way to a gourmet meal.  

If you are looking for something different to do or if you just love to cook, this is for you. Future classes at the cooking school.  

Here are the highlights from our event: Aprons Publix Cooking School Highlights.   

As always, if you would like to live near the Alpharetta Aprons Publix Cooking School or have any real estate needs, feel free to call me Pam Santoro at 678-656-6627 (cell) or 770-475-0505 (office).

Or check out my website www.pamsantoro.com - Remember No One Sells a Home Like a Mom!

Santa is Coming

Santa’s coming!   Are you ready?    Soon Santa will be climbing down your chimney to distribute presents to everyone on his “Nice List”.  Milk and cookies are waiting for him by the Christmas tree.  Decorations are all out and perfectly displayed with twinkling lights aglow.  

Remember to put the dishes in the dishwasher before you leave, make your beds, put any miscellaneous items away, and set the stage for your future home buyer.   Kitchens and bathrooms should be sparkling clean.   You should have fresh tiles in the bathrooms.  Family pictures should be put away.   The refrigerator should not be covered with notes or magnets.   Your house should look like a model home which will entice a buyer to love it and want to live there.

If you are looking to sell your home, please give me a call 678-656-6627 for a free market analysis.  No matter what your real estate needs are, I can help.  You can also get a Home Market Value or visit me, Pam Santoro at http://www.pamsantoro.com/ .

No One Sells a Home Like a Mom!  

Mayfield Dairy Tour with Ice Cream Finish

If you love ice cream and are looking for a cool tour to take with your family or friends, I recommend the Mayfield Dairy Tour (1160 Broadway Avenue, Braselton, GA  30517).  For under $5, you get a tour of the dairy plant, learn all about pasteurization and different kinds of milk, practice milking a pretend cow, and eat ice cream in the parlor.   Yum!  

Growing up in the country, I remember the cows being milked, the pasteurization process, and separating the cream.  When I was young, I even rode a cow down the hill and into the barn.    I don’t think I’d be brave enough to do that now.   The tour explained the process of getting the milk from the farm to the dairy plant to you.   It was very educational and entertaining. 

As you can see, we had a great time visiting the Mayfield Dairy.   Thanks Lois for organizing our outing.

The tours run hourly on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9AM to 5PM with the first tour at 10AM and last tour at 4PM.   On Saturday, tours run hourly from 9AM to 2PM with the first tour at 10AM and last tour at 1PM.   For more info, call 1-888-298-0396 or check out their website at http://www.mayfielddairy.com/about-us/take-a-tour#visit-us-in-braselton-ga.

No matter what your real estate needs are, I can help.  Visit me, Pam Santoro at http://www.pamsantoro.com/ or contact me at 678-656-6627.

No One Sells a Home Like a Mom!   #AlpharettaHomesforSale

First Impressions Start at the Street

When a buyer arrives at your house, they should feel welcomed.   First impressions start at the street. 

There are many simple ways to spruce up your yard and the exterior of your house. 

• Put out new mulch or pine straw in your flower beds.
• Add some seasonal flowers to make the front yard more vibrant.
• Power wash the sidewalks and driveway. 
• Clean the light fixtures and windows.
• Paint the front door.
• Trim the shrubs.
• Stage your porches and decks for relaxing or entertaining.
• Put out a new welcome mat.
• Walk around your house to check exterior paint and walkability of the yard.
• Rake the leaves.
• Keep trash cans and hoses out of the front view of the house.
• Remove and store the window screens to give a clean look both inside and out. 

These are just a few ideas to make your house more welcoming.   For more ideas, check out my Pinterest Board Home Staging Like a Pro.  Remember sometimes plain old elbow grease and a small amount of money will increase your curb appeal and bring that buyer home.

No matter what your real estate needs are, I can help.  Visit me, Pam Santoro at http://www.pamsantoro.com/ or contact me at 678-656-6627.

No One Sells a Home Like a Mom!   #AlpharettaHomesforSale

Are you ready to stop renting and buy a home?

                                         

Are you ready to stop renting?  

Are you ready to stop dreaming and purchase a house of your own?  

Do you have enough money saved?

Once you decide that you are in the market for a home, you need to talk to a professional who can help you navigate the process.   Hiring a Realtor like me will help you with searching for a home, negotiating an offer, working through inspections, getting you to the closing and into your dream home. 

The first part of the process is obtaining a pre-approval letter from a lender.  Then you’ll know what you can comfortably afford.   This will not only define what your price range is and explain your loan options, but provide you with one of the documents needed when submitting an offer on your house.   Now the search begins.

Start thinking about features your dream home should have, and make a list:   Are you trying to buy near your office?   Do you want a certain school district?   How many bedrooms and baths?  Do you want a swim and tennis neighborhood?  Do you need a fenced or level yard?  Do you need a terrace level or basement?  What size house are you looking for?  

No matter what your needs are, I can help you with all your real estate needs.  

Visit me, Pam Santoro at http://www.pamsantoro.com/ or contact me at: 678-656-6627.

No One Sells a Home Like a Mom!  

Next Tuesday - Aging Parents Workshop

If you are part of the #sandwich generation, taking care of your family and your parents, please come to the Aging Parents Workshop.

You'll get tips on finances, insurance, home care help, veterans benefits, aging resources, how to make a transition go smoothly, and even ways to retro fit your home to make it safer for your loved ones.

So join us on Tuesday, September 13th at 6PM at the Tapestry House Assisted Living, 2725 Holcomb Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA 30022 (770-649-0808).

Register at Eventbrite

This free event is hosted by the following:

Pam Santoro, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services of Georgia
Mary Becker, Best Deal Movers

Erica Ramsey, The Rhoads Group
MaryJo Bowser, Griswold Home Care

Mike Mahoney, Commonwealth of Atlanta LLC

We are encountering more people coordinating the next steps for their parents and 
in-laws.  We'll discuss the documents needed for inevitable financial and health decisions, housing choices available, health and caring services available in the home, and insurance needs and savings.  

Learn how to "Empower Yourself and Your Aging Parents".

Are We there Yet? House Buying with Kids

Well Lets All Load Up!

House Buying with kids in mind (and in tow) can introduce a whole new dynamic to the house search quest. Home buyers are not only searching for  a comfortable place that meets their own needs but often seek the perfect sized home, in a popular school area, with lots of  amenities. In addition, as a Mom (as well as a realtor) I can attest to the spirited tactics of going on house tours with children tagging along. However,  keeping a few simple tips in mind can not only help you find a home that meets your family's needs as well as keep your sanity while on the hunt.

I Want to Buy a House but Need Financing, Finding Your Perfect Mortgage

Finding Your Perfect Mortgage

When it comes to buying a home for the first time, many potential home buyers can become discouraged by the prospects of finding Home Financing. Knowing which mortgage, they best qualify for and provides the greatest benefits for their needs can be confusing. But by knowing some of the most frequent mortgage offerings home buyers can make an informed decision that helps them select the perfect mortgage for the perfect home.

Which Mortgage is for Me?

First-Time Home Buyers Don’t Let Student Loan Debt Stop You



Image courtesy of Stuart Miles@freedigitalphotos.net

Student Loan Debt

Being a First Time Home Buyer can be an exciting adventure. The feeling of freedom and accomplishment that goes with it can be exhilarating to say the least. However, for most people buying a home is just a distant dream especially if they are burdened with huge STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

Let’s face it. Most people who have amassed thousands of dollars in student loan debt do not make enough to qualify for homeownership. Does this mean that they have to give up on their dreams of buying a home or wait until they have paid off all their loans? Certainly not. Here are some home buying tips that can improve the chances of being qualified for a home loan.

Wait for the Right Time

Most Federal Student Loans have a 6-month “grace period” in which new graduates have time to find a job before beginning loan re-payment and incurring interest. Do not apply for a home loan until the 6-month grace period has passed. Doing so within this period will only ruin your chances of qualifying for a home loan.

Consolidate your Student Loans

Pay off your credit card and other loans during the 6-month grace period to improve your monthly DEBT-TO-INCOME Ratio. Find out if you qualify for any STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS. Hopefully, this move will improve your credit score and increase your chances of securing a home loan.

Save Up for the Down Payment

Image courtesy of Sira Anamwong@freedigitaliphotos.net

While most lenders require buyers to put 20% of the purchase price up front, some are willing to work with less.

Find a Co-Borrower

Do you have a significant other or family member who could sign a co-mortgage? Having a co-borrower with GOOD CREDIT SCORE can help you qualify for a joint mortgage and take you a step closer to your dream.

Apply for an FHA Loan

FHA Loans are ideal for people with higher debt-to-income ratio. However, they only work if you are paying a reasonable amount on your student loans. 

Buying a home for the first time is very much possible even if have tons of student loan debts under your name. You just need to know how to do it.

Let Me Help You Find That First-Time Dream Home

If you are still not sure whether it is the perfect time to buy or sell your home, please feel free to contact me at 678-656-6627, and I will do my best to help you do what you have set to accomplish. You can also visit my site at www.pamsantoro.com  for more tips on selling or buying a home.  Remember, no one sells a home like a Mom!

Selling Your Home? Some Expenses to Expect Before the Sale





Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net



While selling a house is a productive and exhilarating experience for some home sellers, others are disappointed with the results – especially if they do not make as much money as they hoped they would. Some sellers cannot help but feel upset as they see their profits dwindling after paying one expense after another.

There are a lot of costs associated with selling a home both before the sale and at closing. Some of the expenses incurred before the sale are necessary to ensure your house sells fast for the highest amount possible and may include the following:

Repair and improvements

Your house needs to look loved and well cared for to attract possible home buyers so determine which improvements need to be done. Keep in mind that most buyers prefer to buy a house that does not require any more work when they move in. As an added bonus, taking care of the repairs and improvements reduces the number of items the home inspector can comment on.

Painting

Nothing beats a fresh coat of paint in freshening up the interior and exterior of your house. However, refrain from using bold colors. Stick to neutral hues if you want to please potential buyers. Painting the interior of a house may cost anywhere from $1.50 to $2.00 per square foot while painting the exterior can run anywhere from $3.00 or more per square foot.

Landscaping

Having a wonderful garden can be a great asset to any property so hire someone to landscape it if you have not already. You may also want to put in some new sod and add some greenery or flowering plants to make the curb appeal more inviting.

Pre-Inspection Reports

While you are under no obligation to get your house inspected, you may want to consider hiring a professional to check for any issues that may affect the condition and the price of your property. A house inspection typically costs $200 or more.

If you’re still not sure whether it is the perfect time to buy or sell your home, please feel free to　contact me at 678-656-6627 and I will help you meet your goal. You can also visit my site at www.pamsantoro.com for more tips on selling or buying a home. Remember, no one sells a home like a Mom!