Georgia Real Estate Voice: December 2008

If you believe that you are paying too much in property tax for your home due to decreasing home prices, you may be able to lower your taxes. Especially in neighborhoods where foreclosures have had an effect on resales, this is one area Home Owners may be able to get some relief.  

Home Owners who believe their property's worth is below it's appraised value for taxes can possibly lower their taxes by filing a residential property tax return. Home Owners can contact the Dekalb County Tax Appraisal Department at 404-371-0841 to request a form.  Forms will also be available to pick up at:

Dekalb County Tax Commissioner

120 West Trinity Place
Room 208
Decatur, GA 30030

Dekalb County will not be putting their forms on-line.  If you need a form call after January 2 to request one.  Real Estate Property Tax Returns are received in Dekalb County's office from January 1st to March 1^st.  The property tax returns then go through the same course an appeal would, getting reviewed by staff and eventually the county Board of Assessors.

For other counties, go to your county's or county tax assessor's Web site, where forms can be downloaded.

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If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Metro Atlanta, GA. 404-456-5024 View Intown Living Blog

DeKalb County residents can recycle their Christmas Trees after the holidays. Trees can be dropped off from Monday, January 5^th through Friday, January 9^th :

DeKalb County Sanitation Division - Seminole Road Landfill

4203 Clevemont Road

Ellenwood, GA 30294

Telephone: (404) 244-4842

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday:  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

In exchange for recycling their treesat the landfill, participants can receive a free dogwood seedling. Dogwoods will be given out at the landfill and at the Keep DeKalb Beautiful office, while supplies last. The recycled trees will be chipped into mulch or used as wildlife habitat.

Mulch is used for public beautification projects and is free to DeKalb County residents. 

If you don't want to drop it off, residents who are currently serviced by DeKalb County Sanitation may also leave their trees for curbside pick-up. With an average of 10,000 trees recycled each year in DeKalb, Keep DeKalb Beautiful would like to encourage residents to participate in this annual program.

For more information on Bring One for the Chipper event, please contact the Keep DeKalb Beautiful program at 404-371-2654 or email kdb@co.dekalb.ga.us.

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If you are thinking of of buying or selling real estate in or around Decatur, GA contact Realtor Jen Bowman, Broker Associate & e-PRO with Success Realty at 404-456-5024.

View more of the Georgia Real Estate Voice.   Search Decatur GA homes for Sale 

Natural Gas Service in Georgia-  Are you paying too much for the Natural Gas to heat your home?  Find out by going to the Georgia Public Service Commission's website.  The site lists all the Natural Gas Marketers in GA and the price per therm, along with the service charges.  Consumers over 65 years old may be eligible for discounts.  According to the charts you could be saving as much as $50 a month!

The site is easy to use and offers natural gas rates on:

• Variable plans (Rates can change monthly.)

• Fixed rates  (The price per therm is fixed for a 12 month period.)

• Senior Rate Plans (Ask your marketer what its requirements are to qualify for its senior rate plans.)

Check your bill with the Natural Gas Bill Calculator.

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If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor with Keller Williams Realty serving the real estate needs of Metro Atlanta, GA. 404-456-5024.