Charming Parkside Bungalow Short Sale a Steal!

1318 E. 51^th Street Savannah, GA 31404

Listing Details:

Year Built: 1933

Bedrooms: 2
Baths: 1
Living Area: 1148 Sq. Ft
MLS Number: 111365 
See our website for more photos.

Beautiful Setting in Historic Parkside

This charming brick bungalow stands on a corner lot in the historic Parkside neighborhood-one of Savannah's most desirable areas. Leafy shade covered streets and Craftsman style homes are a hallmark of this midtown neighborhood. Located immediately adjacent to Daffin Park, Savannah's largest, though less famous green space, Parkside is a quaint close-knit community offering an affordable alternative to Ardsley Park, its cousin to the west. The Waters Avenue corridor provides access to local businesses and boutiques as well as a quick route to the South-side or Downtown Savannah. Beautifully restored hardwood floors throughout create a cozy feel for this well light bungalow. Plaster walls and detailed crown moldings accentuate the quaint period architecture. A wonderful breezy sun-room with louvered windows is a relaxing place to sit and enjoy a cool glass of lemonade during the summer months. In the winter step right from the sun-room into the living room and warm up in front of the tiled and molding framed fireplace. The cozy dining room located right off the kitchen is well lit with two well placed windows.  

Ample Light & Counter Space in This Kitchen

The updated kitchen is Terra Cotta tiles and is complemented with newer quality wood cabinetry. Two windows provide ample light for the well laid out kitchen. Modern appliances with a microwave over the gas range are wonderful to work with in this kitchen, which also has plenty of counter space. There are two bedrooms and one bathroom downstairs and a bonus room in the walk-up attic that could be converted to a third bedroom. There is even a one car garage with a rear deck overlooking a spacious backyard.

Location, Location, Location

Parkside is repeatedly on the "Best Of" lists, the area is highly sought-after because its proximity to Savannah's second most famous emerald jewel - Daffin Park. The park is home to multiple ball fields, tennis courts, volleyball courts, swimming pool and minor league baseball stadium. A perimeter sidewalk is a favorite run/walk for Savannah's outdoor lovers. This house is less than a mile from the soon-to-open Whole Foods Market/Chipotle Grill/Petsmart as well as the bustling Victory/Skidaway corridor and its shops and businesses. Access to the Truman Parkway is easy and the home is in close proximity to two hospitals and two shopping centers. Red-hot Habersham Village is also an easy jaunt away. This home looks like a steal!  Call Don for a showing of this home: 912- 232-8580

Savannah GA a Great Place To Relocate

Steeped in art, history and culture, Savannah offers a unique blend of bright talent, cool creativity and an exceptionally high-quality of life. With Savannah’s mild climate, fascinating architecture, well preserved history, and southern charm, it’s not a wonder that the Conde Nast Traveler magazine rated the city one of the top ten cities in the USA. (Oct. 2009) The average seasonal temperatures are 66 degrees in spring; 81 degrees in summer; 68 degrees in fall and 51 degrees in winter making outdoor activities possible year-round. Because of that local officials made sure to provide numerous parks in the city so there is always a place to play ball, tennis or simply stroll under the oak trees dripping with Spanish moss.

Plenty of Activities

If you enjoy being on the water than Savannah/Chatham county is a the place to be as there are 420 miles of navigable waters twisting through nearly 87,000 acres of tidal marshlands. A fisherman’s dream with inshore and offshore opportunities for saltwater anglers, and plenty of rivers and creeks for the sportsmen who prefer fishing in fresh water. If you are not a water person there are 27 annual festivals that take place in Savannah. Some of the top few are The Savannah Music Festival, which attracts international talent and lasts for an entire week. Other weekend long festivals include the Savannah Film Festival, the Savannah Jazz festival and the 4^th of July celebration on the Riverfront. Savannah is also known for the nation’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration, when local shops close for the day of festivities.

Strong Economic Base

Savannah boasts a flourishing economy balanced on a strong multi-tiered economy that

includes a thriving port, increasing tourism, a stabilizing manufacturing sector and significant military presence. The manufacturing sector is a large part of the economy, with 226 manufacturing facilities in Chatham County producing goods that range from jets to baked goods with annual payrolls totally nearly $700 million. The largest plants include Gulfstream Aerospace, an executive jet aircraft manufacturer; and International Paper, the largest producer of paper for paper bags in the United States. The transportation industry, centered on the Port of Savannah, is a vital element of the economic mix. It is the fourth largest container port in the country, shipping to more than 150 countries around the world. Savannah is one of the south-east’s leading seaports and cargo hubs. Shipping activity is focused on the Port of Savannah, which is supported by two railroads and two interstate highways as well as Savannah International Airport. Tourism is an active and rapidly growing segment of the economy. The city's attractiveness as a visitor destination is enhanced by its charming historic district, accommodations, and accessibility. The city houses two major hospitals employing over 7,700 healthcare employees. In addition Memorial Hospital is a teaching facility. Savannah is unique in having a large tract of waterfront land open for development and located close to the central business and historic districts. Recently completed projects on the tract include the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center and Westin Savannah Harbor Resort, a 403-room luxury facility.

Multiple Educational Venues

The educational sector is strong source of employment with 13 colleges offering undergraduate and graduate programs, and 3 technical colleges. Home to one of the largest art and design schools in the country, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) offers bachelor and master of fine arts programs and graduate courses in architecture. The school is spread throughout the city offering students the opportunity to become familiar with the beautiful city via bicycle. Founded in 1993, the School of Visual Arts/Savannah, part of the School of Visual Arts/New York, awards bachelor's degrees in arts, computer graphics, sculpture, and other arts-related disciplines.

Cost of Living

Savannah is a relatively inexpensive town in which to live and do business. Outlook Magazine ranked Savannah as "one of the top 25 places to live and work." The Savannah metro cost of living index is 93.9. Median Household Income: $46,785. There are approximately 3,103 homes on the market in Chatham County with an average sale price of: $190,765. A destination of choice young professionals are trading in major-metro stress and suburban sprawl for the city’s wide range of cool new and old neighborhoods.

Great Neighborhoods

Mostly residential, Ardsley Park is the poster child for the all-American neighborhood. Laid out in 1910 as a suburb to the downtown district – this area has become a staple for Savannah families and neighborhood businesses. Designated a National Historic District, Ardsley is proud, protected and kept in prime condition. Ardsley Park Area Media Income is $81,000, population. The architecture of the homes in this sought after neighborhood ranges from bungalows and Federal style and some grander colonial styles.

 As part of the famous Low Country of Georgia, Savannah has an abundance of marsh-front and waterfront communities. Collectively they are known as The Islands. Isle of Hope is timeless with its white picket fences, classic cottages and adjoining lanes with river views. Dutch Island is an exclusive, gated community, with roomy homes, manicured lawns and traditional architecture. Long Point is a purely residential, a gated community home to about 150 families situated in the middle of downtown, Southside and the beach. Wilmington and Talahi Islands’ residents are lucky to be book ended by downtown and the beach – each within a 10-minute drive. Tybee Island is Savannah’s only barrier island, boasting 3 miles of surf and sand. An eclectic bunch, its residences are young, old, single, married, conservative, artistic, wealthy, and not so wealthy. And, they all manage to see eye-to-eye on this funky, little isle.

Keller Williams Realty Making a Difference In Moore OK

These days it is so easy to get caught up with our own lives and forget the recent tragedies that others are still recouping from. Just over a month ago so many residents of Moore Oklahoma lost their homes, and with it their way of life. We were all mesmerized with the media’s footage of the EF 5 tornado’s destruction, and survivor’s tearful stories of loss and reunions of family members.  The destruction of their homes and loss of their precious belongings was catastrophic. However within a few days the media and our attention turned to other more immediate matters. Gone from our minds are the empathizing feelings for the survivors of one of the worst tornadoes in history.

Personal Experience Spreads

Well not everyone has forgotten the tragedy that has befallen families in Moore OK.  In fact the Vice Chairman of Keller Williams Realty, Mo Anderson, was approximately 12 miles south of the tornado when it hit.  “Our heartache for Moore’s residents set in immediately.” noted Mo in a recent KW blog. Soon after the tornado she visited the area, and the site of one of our Keller Williams agent’s home.  “Words cannot come close to describing what I felt during that visit.” Said Mo. Many people had similar feelings, and as such there was an immediate outpouring of help. Keller Williams agents and their families came out and searched among the rubble that had once been homes, for any item that was intact helping those that had suffered such a devastating loss. This story is illustrated by the picture here where   Stephanie Walker (pictured right) is seen handing money she found to John Sacotte, who lost his home.  Stephanie is the daughter of Keller Williams Realty Green Meadow associate Sandi Walker. Together they looked for any valuables from Sacotte’s home.

KW Realty Reaches Out To Help

The need to reach out and help those who were suffering went far beyond local residents of nearby Moore. Thanks to the Keller Williams Realty associates’ generous support, KW Cares, (Keller Williams Realty’s non-profit) has been able to award $95,000 in grants to associates and family members whose lives were upended by this storm’s devastation. In addition to the grants a KW Moore fund was established and has raised more than $32,000 to date for immediate disaster assistance. Many Keller Williams Realty market centers and regions have also sent gift cards and other resources to assist KW families in need.

Having had such a personal experience in Moore OK Mo Anderson wrote on the KW blog her thoughts which reflect what KW Realty is all about:

“Nationwide we have proven that we refuse to run and hide. We are shaken and sometimes knocked to our knees, but we call on our inner strength and courage, very quickly rise to our feet, and compassionately reach out to others during their time of need. We persevere, regroup and regenerate, and for many of us, begin again!”

In Keller Williams Realty one of the hallmarks of the culture is our associates’ deep commitment to helping those in need. On a regular basis, grants are being given to those fighting serious illnesses and recovering from life altering accidents.

Twelve Tips to Making a Home Energy Efficient

Making your home more energy efficient can help to reduce high energy bills, improve comfort and help to protect the environment. Here are twelve tips to become more energy efficient and save money.

•  Invest in a cool gadget like a programmable thermostat. Set thermostats at 78°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter. A programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.
• Install Low-flow shower heads: Simply by installing low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators ($10 to $20 each), you’ll cut your hot water consumption by 25% to 60%. 
• Insulate Your Hot Water Tank: If you have an older tank, and especially if it’s located in an unheated space, wrapping it with an insulating blanket is a cheap and easy way to reduce costs.
• Insulate Exposed Hot-Water Pipes and By insulating your hot water pipes and heater, water will arrive at the faucet 2 to 4 degrees warmer, which means you won’t have to wait as long for it to heat up, thus saving energy, water, and money.
•  Use LED's in your recessed ceiling lights, stairwell lights and inconvenient fixtures. It’s an 80% energy
  
  savings over incandescent bulbs, the LED bulb life is up to 50,000 hours longer than CFL's.

According to Georgia Power, residential heating and cooling systems account for as much as 52 percent of your home’s energy use.  This means a poorly maintained heating and air system can increase your energy bill dramatically.

• Change your air filter regularly.
• At a minimum change the filter every 3 months, but during heavy use months (summer & winter) check your filter every month to see if it is dirty enough to change.
• Have heating and cooling systems professionally serviced once a year to keep them running as efficiently as possible.
•  Seal your heating and cooling ducts. Gaps in joints and at plenums can cause your heating and cooling bills to increase by as much as 30% and can allow air contaminants to enter the home.
• Make sure all air registers or floor vents are clear of furniture so that the air can circulate freely. If your home has radiators, place heat-resistant reflectors between radiators and walls. In the winter, this will help heat the room instead of the wall.
•  Install a properly sized ENERGY STAR qualified ventilation fan in the bathroom to control moisture in the air while you shower or bathe, as well as control mold and mildew growth. Run your fan for 15 minutes after showering.
•   Install insulation in your attic. This is a fairly easy DIY project that will really make a difference in your energy and comfort of your home.

Improving energy efficiency is an important first step for homeowners interested in green remodeling. To find out more on home to becoming a more energy efficient home, and qualify for energy tax rebates go to the Energy Star website.

Outstanding Mediterranean Style Home For Sale in Ardsley Park, Savannah

Listing Details

Ardsley Park Home For Sale 

501 E. 56th St.
Price: $675,000
MLS #: 107572
Bedrooms: 4
Baths:3.5
Living Area: 3368 Sq. Ft.

Call Don Callahan at :912-441-4416 to see if this property is still available for a showing.

Live Like A Queen In Historic Ardsley Park

This outstanding Mediterranean Style home in Ardsley Park is nothing short of breathtaking with designer-styled details and craftsmanship throughout. The living room has a cozy custom window seat, that has built in storage nooks, and a gas fireplace with Mediterranean styled tiles. Mosaic tiled archways separate living areas and dining room. All of these rooms glow warmly with beautifully designed Mexican tile floors. All common areas, living room and dining room have Oak wood framed French doors that lead out to the central courtyard and/or pool area.

You'll Love Spending Time In This Incredible Kitchen

This remarkable gourmet kitchen boasts custom cabinetry with hand-wrought in-lays and pulls, beamed ceilings, high-end light fixtures and even a Dutch door leading to the courtyard. Counter tops are a tasteful mix of quartz, granite and butcher block. There are Thermador stainless steel appliances throughout. Warm terracotta ceramic tiled walls surround you as you work with the center island butcher block counter. Stylish modern touches like a built-in cappuccino machine and separate wine room add a first class feeling to this exquisitely designed kitchen.

Fantastic Upscale Bedrooms

The main floor bedroom features a kitchenette, full bath with jetted tub and separate shower with French doors opening to the pool area. The master bedroom upstairs has en-suite bath featuring outstanding custom tile work and beautiful ceramic vessels. The bedroom includes a separate sitting area as well. The other bedrooms are gracious in style and scale with touches like window seats, beamed/vaulted ceilings, double closets and more. 

Relax in Style in the Extend Living Space Outdoors

Pool and courtyard areas offer a sophisticated mix of sanctuary, sun and shade. The large saltwater pool is re-surfaced, tiled and coped. There is new Paver deck and a Polaris pool cleaning system for a worry free pool maintenance system. The tremendous patio area has a handsome pergola for a shady respite, a blissful fountain wall and outdoor speakers for relaxation as well as entertaining. 

See More Pictures of this property here.

Savannah Midtown Neighborhoods Have It All

Midtown Savannah has some of the most sought after neighbors to live in. Baldwin Park, Ardsley Park/Chatham Crescent and Parkside are the neighborhoods considered midtown and are all in a historic district.  Ardsley Park/Chatham Crescent was developed beginning in 1910 as two adjacent planned subdivisions, a twentieth century variant of  General Oglethorpe’s original city plan. The centerpiece of the neighborhood is a center mall lined with palmettos starting at The Savannah Arts Academy and ending at Tiedeman Park. The neighborhood borders Victory drive, a main artery through Savannah that goes out to Tybee Island. North of Chatham Crescent, on the other side of Victory Drive is Baldwin Park which was originally the northern portion of Chatham Crescent. Baldwin Park is a narrow strip running from Waters Ave. to 40th, and then to Price. At the northeast corner of Baldwin Park (Waters & Victory) is Savannah’s Beaux-Arts styled Daffin Park. Bordering the southern side of the park is the nationally registered historic Parkside neighborhood, literally named because the community borders Daffin Park. Parkside is lined with majestic oak trees draped with Spanish moss and large sidewalks offering a short walk to Daffin Park.

Convenient Midtown Has It All 

From midtown there is esay access to historic downtown Savannah, and Forsyth Park.  The Truman

Parkway which takes one out to the south side of Savannah is a hop skip and a jump to get onto. Victory drive, with its beautifully canopied Spanish moss covered oak trees, runs to Daffin Park, Grayson Stadium, the soon to arrive Whole Foods, and Petsmart. Just past the new Whole Foods store is Victory Square Shopping Center (Victory and Skidaway) which hosts Home Depot, Target, Stapels a movieplex, and numerous places to eat. Continuing on Victory Drive, or Rt 80, is Wilmington Island and then on to one of the 10 best beaches on the eastern sea-board, Tybee Island.

What Are The Homes Like?

In the Ardlsey Park/Chatham Crescent Area the architectural styles are interpretations of almost every revival and eclectic style popular in the early twentieth century. They are predominantly one- and two-story, single family homes, many of which have free standing garages in the rear. Baldwin Park abuts the earlier Victorian neighborhoods and many of the lots were the first to be sold in the Chatham Crescent neighborhood making much of the style Victorian and Craftsman in nature. The houses in Parkside are mostly one- and two-story brick-and-frame dwellings built between 1914 and 1947 and feature a variety of architectural styles that include Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Cape Cod, and English Vernacular Revival. Along Victory Drive which divides Baldwin Park and Chatham Crescent are mix of Colonial Revival and Federal styled homes and mansions, some quite grand with large columns and impressive architectural details.

What Schools Are There?

Savannah Arts Academy - Programs: Art, Computer Science, Fine Arts, Dance, Music, Special Education: Gifted Students, Vocational Education: Health, Phys Ed
Windsor Forest - Programs: Art, Computer Science, Drama, Journalism, Literature, Music, Vocational Education: Agriculture Education, Drivers Ed, Health, Special Education: Gifted Students, Hearing Specialists, Mentally Challenged, Advanced Placement in: Science, Social Studies, English, Math
Herchel V Jenkins - Programs: Art, Computer Science, Social Sciences, Economics, Fine Arts, Music Theory, Vocational Education: Agriculture Education, Health, Phys Ed, Special Education; Emotionally Challenged, Mentally Challenged, Speech/Language Pathologists, Advanced Placement in; Science, Social Studies, English, Computers, Math
St. Vincent’s Academy (Catholic) - Programs: Art, Choral, Music, Computer Programming, Economics, Humanities, Fine Arts, Vocational Education: Health, Phys Ed, English, Advanced Placement in: English
St. Andrew’s School (Private) - Programs: Art, Photography, Band, Choral, Computer Science, Fine Arts, Literature, Statistics, Trigonometry, Vocational Education: Phys Ed, Advanced Placement: Math, Foreign Language,  Special Education : Gifted Students

Looking For Homes in Midtown?

If you are interested in looking for homes in the midtown area, click on the link. Our website offers free MLS searching for the home that fits you.

Bringing in the Natural Light

Daylighting The Dark Areas

There are three ways to add natural light to a room, one of course is a window. But what if there isn't enough room for a good sized window, say in a closet or hallway? Well of course there is always a skylight option, (expensive!) but what about a solar tube? A solar tube or  light tube adds plenty of warm indirect sunlight and is a fraction of the cost of a skylight.  The light tube is also known as a “tubular skylight” or “tubular daylighting device/system”, and is the oldest and most widespread type of light tube used for daylighting. Daylighting is the controlled application of diffused natural light into a building’s interior, thus drastically reducing the use of electric lighting and therefore saving energy.

Lower Upfront Investment, Reduced Life-cycle Costs & Higher Return on Investment

Solar light tubes, compared to conventional skylight offer better heat insulation properties and more flexibility for use in inner rooms, and are more affordable to install. Use of daylighting systems equates to lower overall operating expenses for electricity, reduces expensive peak energy demand, longer replacement cycles for electrical fixtures (using hybrid models) and no maintenance requirements for daylighting fixtures. A hybrid daylighting solution is reported to cut lighting energy use by as much as 94%. Passive daylighting is 100% renewable, efficient and has no electricity cost associated with it.  A light tube costs about $700, depending on whether or not you want a hybrid (combined with LED lighting), when professionally installed. This is a remarkable savings when it is compared to a skylight which may run around $2,000. There are also daylighting kit's available starting at around $255.00, if your handy and feel comfortable working on a roof - they can be installed in an afternoon.  Specific daylighting systems are eligible for federal tax credits for energy efficiency building products.

How It Works

A solar daylighting tube is a 10 or 14 inch in diameter sheet metal tube with a reflective interior. It captures daylight at the roof with a weather-proof, plastic, light capturing dome, and ends in a porthole-like diffuser in
the ceiling of the room below. The reflective material acts like a continuous mirror, channeling light along its entire length, and it preserves the light's intensity. The light it delivers is more intense than a skylight since it intensifies as it is channeled through the reflective tube. A 10 inch tube is the equivalent of three 100 watt bulbs, enough to illuminate up to 200 square ft. of floor area; a 14 inch tube can brighten as much as 300 square ft. Check out the picture at the right (and above) to see how well these daylighting tubes work. The Copper Box, the venue for Handball at the 2012 Summer Olympics, made use of light tubes reducing energy use.

Daylighting At Night

What about non daylight hours? There is a hybrid model available, the hybrid daylighting tube unit utilizes LED lamps, florescent, or incandescent bulbs to illuminate a building interior during non-daylight hours. The lights are either built inside the diffuser dome or adjacent to it.  Some models automatically sense the change from day to night and automatically switch to the LED bulbs. There are also other uses for daylighting systems. One company offers a Ventilation Add-On Kit, which combines daylighting and ventilation into one fixture, leaving rooms humidity-free - such as a bathroom.

* Studies have shown that people exposed to natural light are more productive, achieve a better sense of well-being, and are more positive. 
(Home images from Solatube)

Best Areas to Live In Savannah

Victory Heights Best Kept Secret

Victory Heights, named because of its location to one of the main arteries of Savannah; Victory Drive, is one of the best kept secrets of the midtown neighborhoods. The Victory Heights area established in the late 40’s and early 50’s is nestled between the Thunderbolt, Avondale, and nearby Gordonston neighborhoods, and backed by Bonaventure Rd/Cemetery.  With easy access to Victory Dr. the neighborhood is only about a 20 minute drive to Tybee Island. The quiet neighborhood would not reveal its close proximity to the Victory Square Shopping Center (Victory and Skidaway) which hosts Home Depot, Target, Staples a movieplex, and numerous places to eat. Around the corner from the square is the soon to be home of Pet Smart, and Whole Foods.

Historic Daffin Park A Short Jaunt Away

Another appealing feature of the Victory Heights neighborhood is its short 2 mile/10 minute drive to Daffin Park and Grayson Stadium. The second largest park in Savannah, Daffin Park was built as a formal Beaux-Arts style park, and is 80 acres in size. There is a community pool, tennis and basketball courts, multiple picnic areas, a huge soccer field with bleachers for several hundred people and a 1.5 mile walking/running track that create the boundaries of the park. But the most well-known feature of the park is the fountain that is always running. Right next to the park is Grayson Stadium which is home to Savannah’s triple A baseball team, The Sand Gnats.

Charming Affordable Area

North of Victory Heights is the Gordonston Historic District and east bordering the east side of Daffin Park is the Ardsley Park/ChathamCrescent Historic District. Most of the homes in the Victory Heights neighborhood are 1940-50’s style bungalows, with quaint front entry porches. The homes in Gordonston neighborhood vary from Georgian mansions to Craftsman bungalows. Gordonston incorporates natural physical beauty with extremely convenient proximity to Savannah and all of its environs-- a mix that remains undeniably appealing to anyone interested in Savannah. Ardsley Park is designed in a stunning Beaux-Arts layout centered around its park and consists primarily of bungalows and Federal style homes. Look for homes in this area here.

Exceptional Ardsley Park Bungalow For Sale

130 E. 49^th Street Savannah, GA 31405

Listing Details:

Year Built: 1930

Bedrooms: 3 Baths: 2.5 Living Area 2256  MLS Number 110717

Beautiful Setting in a Great Neighborhood

This handsome Ardsley Park bungalow sits high on the lot surrounded with mature plantings. Brick steps leading to the covered deep front porch are lined with impressive ornate iron railings. The brick home is situated high on the lot and is shaded with high standing Live Oak trees. The home is located on an excellent block in one of the most sought after neighborhoods to live in. There is a quaint pebbled side courtyard for extended living space, surrounded with a diversified colorful perennial and annual garden.

Settle Right In!

You will find yourself settling in comfortably in this large living room with a brick fireplace that displays a detailed iron work fire screen. There are hardwood floors throughout with detailed trim work, moldings and plenty of windows. Next to the fireplace are French doors that open up to a sunroom, with a wainscoting ceiling and ample windows to let the sun stream in. Immediately adjacent to the living room is a separate dining room with chair molding and vintage six-pained arts and crafts windows with louvered shutter window treatments.

Enjoy Cooking In This Updated Kitchen

The kitchen has been completely updated with high quality cabinets, granite counter tops and chic black appliances. A clean and supreme quality tiled back splash hugs the beautiful cabinetry and windows that allow ample light to stream in. Adjacent to the kitchen is a sunlight breakfast room to have that morning cup of coffee. The room includes built-ins and cupboards to hold your best china, and again has the chair-molding.

Extensive Master Suite

There are three bedrooms two full baths and one half bath to ensure that each bedroom is en-suite style. The Master suite has a full bath, with double closets and a sleeping porch for those wonderfully cool spring/fall evenings. There is a huge walk-in attic that extends the full length and width of the house for lots of storage or could be renovated for further living space.

Location, Location, Location

This a great location as it is an easy walk or bike ride to the red-hot Habersham Village and its shops, restaurants, stores and bars. It is also close to the popular neighborhood Green Truck burger joint, Al Salaam deli and even the Starlander Cafe. It is also close to Daffin Park and the soon-to-open Whole Foods Market. There is easy access to the Truman Parkway as well as the Waters Avenue corridor. This one folks, is not to be missed.

See More Pictures Here.

First Steps in Preparing to Buy a Home

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 expenses. (Credit card debt, car payments, school loans etc.) A lender will want to know how much cash you have available for a down payment. They will most likely ask for bank statements that go back at least a month or two. If a large amount of cash suddenly on your bank statement they will want to know where the money came from. Lenders frown on borrowing money for a down payment, so be prepared to show proof of any income, inheritance, or gifts.

Make A Must Have & Wish List

Now you know what you can afford, think about how much space you need. Think about what areas of town you might want to live in. Talk to friends and family and drive through some of these neighborhoods during the day and in the evening to get a good sense of what they are like. Based on your spending range you may want to give thought to what features in a home are most important and which ones you would be willing to live without. In making this determination consider your family’s lifestyle, what kind of features fit for your family? Do you need to be close to certain schools, how far of a commute will living in a certain neighborhood involve? What kinds of amenities are you looking for in the home and neighborhood? Establish which things are essential, and which are on your ‘wish list’.

Choose an Excellent Realtor

The next step in home buying is the least talked about, and yet one of the most important, choosing an agent that will represent you. Most likely you will hear friends say they know so-and –so who can recommend an agent who was ‘OK’, just pass on these! Buying a home is one of the most important events in your life, and it can be a stressful process. Given this you want someone who is more than ‘OK’ you want someone who is excellent! So what does an excellent Realtor mean? To keep it simple here are a few pointers in what to look for in obtaining an excellent Realtor.

• A full time professional Realtor. Someone who has extensive work history in the industry. The number of years a person has been in the business does not necessarily reflect the level of service you can expect but it’s a good place to start.
• Do they have any professional awards or professional designations?
• The agent should have past clients that are able to provide a reference on their reliability. Also ask the agent to provide a list of what they've listed and sold in the last year.
•  Is there a team or staff that works with them, such as a personal assistant?
• Do they have their own website with a property search feature?
• They should be very familiar with the area in which you wish to buy.
• They should be willing to show properties other than the company they work for.
• They should have the ability to negotiate effectively on your behalf. Everyone has different styles, but you don’t want an agent who is too shy to press an issue when needed.
• Your agent will want to keep in touch with you daily or weekly to tell you about properties that meet your criteria.

Here a few more tips on getting a good real estate agent to represent you.

• Check with your state's regulatory body to find out if the person is licensed and if there have been any disciplinary actions or complaints.
•    Select an agent with the right credentials. The alphabet soup after the name can be an indication that the person has taken additional classes in a certain specialty of real estate sales. Here's what some of the designations mean:

o   -- CRS (Certified Residential Specialist): Completed additional training in handling residential real estate.

o   -- ABR (Accredited Buyer's Representative): Completed additional education in representing buyers in a transaction.

o   -- SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist): Completed training aimed at helping buyers and sellers in the 50-plus age range.

o   If the agent calls himself a Realtor with a capital "R," that means he's a member of the National Association of Realtors.

“The most important thing is that you want an agent who formally pledges to support the code of ethics.”  -  Ron Phipps, past President of the National Association of Realtors, 2011.

Historic Savannah Beautiful City for Visiting or Living

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 Drayton House the city's first restored historic building. Along the cobblestone paved River Street along side the Savannah River, musicians, galleries, and shops compete for attention, while iron bridges and the old Cotton Exchange attract visitors to Factor’s Walk. The art scene flourishes, thanks in part to the Savannah College of Art & Design, which is sprawled throughout the city.

Historic Squares

One of the biggest attractions of living or visiting downtown Savannah are it's beautiful squares and parks. Each square has been named after notable military men, or leaders in the native american community. The city of Savannah maintains the squares on a daily basis making sure they are clean, fountains flowing and shrubs and flowers kept healthy. You can download a walking tour of the squares at https://www.citywalkingguide.com/squaresofsavannah  Forsyth Park, Savannah's version of Central Park, is the largest park in the city and has a small cafe, playground, tennis courts, and an amphitheater where nearly every weekend there is an activity happening during the summer months. Bordering the park are numerous beautifully restored historic 18th and 19th century architecture Victorian homes. The beautiful Victorian manor like homes boast wrap around porches, wrought iron fences stately entrances, and mature fauna. Currently there are over 30 homes for sale in downtown Savannah, where walking to your favorite restaurant is a delight!

Victorian Historic District

The Southern half of the park is surrounded by the Savannah Victorian Historic District, which runs from the south side of Gwinnett Street to Anderson Street, bordered by MLK and Broad Street to the west and east, respectively. South of the Victorian District is the Thomas Square Historic District; a much larger district which also includes Victorian-era homes and is thus sometimes also erroneously included when people speak generically about the "Victorian District." The Victorian District and Thomas Square District have become popular in recent years as an alternative to the more expensive Landmark Historic District directly to the north.

Best Walking Neighborhoods

Different from the Downtown Historic District with it's squares, the streets of the Victorian district were arranged on a grid pattern with a green planting area between the sidewalk and street and a small garden in front of each house. The old frame construction abounds in the Victorian District, sturdy wood frame houses dating from the 1870s and 1880s are a mixture of several Victorian styles of architecture embellished with ornate brackets and cornices. The Victorian District is one of Savannah's best walking neighborhoods and is ranked "Very Walkable" by WalkScore.com. Prices in the Victorian District can range from $100,000 for renovation projects to $1,000,000 for a home on Forsyth Park. You can search for homes in the historic districts here.

Add Appeal To Your Home With Shutters

What people remember about homes are the charming details that give it away as a house that was built 50, 60, 70 years ago. Shutters are one of these often overlooked details that help make up that first impression of a home. Well done shutters will add interest and texture to a house.  Cheap shutters, which are so common that many people don’t even question the look, can give a flat, pasted-on appearance; authentic ones can make all the difference.

Shutter Basics

So if you are looking to add some extra curb appeal to your home and you want to add or change shutters to your home what should you look for? Well there are some basics on shutters that you should know when shopping around. For starters the size of the shutter in relation to your window is important. Every shutter on the home doesn't have to be the same size as the others; all that matters is that each shutter properly fits its adjacent window. Each shutter should be exactly one-half the width of the window; this is the first cardinal rule to follow, regardless of how wide the window is. The whole idea is that you must give the believable appearance that they could actually be closed over to protect against sun, storms, or cold; therefore they should always be mounted on the side window trim rather than against the outside edges of it. The length of the shutter needs to be exactly that of its particular window, this is the second cardinal rule. So when shopping for your shutters make sure you know the size of the windows they will be placed adjacent to.

Shutter Styles

So now that you know the size, style is the next decision to be made. There are as many styles as one can imagine, however there are some more popular, main stream styles that may match the style of your home. Here are a few of the more popular styles.

1. The most commonly used shutter style is the Louvered.  Louvered window shutters offer a tasteful signature styling and a timeless accent to homes. Look for well-made versions of wood or a high-quality synthetic material. Not the cheapest on sale at the mega-hardware store. It will cheapen the look of your home. 
2. Raised Panel shutters add that traditional colonial look. With a traditional 2 panel to custom 3 panel shutters, imagine the graceful yet enduring beauty that these exterior shutters can bring to your home. 
3. The Combination shutter which originated in the New Orleans area has a unique combination of both louver and raised panel. It offers the beauty of both styles, and provides a second glance appeal to traditional styles. You can mix and match your styles with a variety of louver and raised panel combinations to make your own unique look.
4. In its simplest form the Board-n-Batten shutters has been rumored to be the first style of shutter invented. The vertical members are referred to as the boards and the horizontal members are referred to as the battens. This classic style is perfect for ranch style homes or homes that want to reflect historical significance and simplicity.
5. Flat Panel shutters are inspired after the Shaker design where clean lines and simplicity define style. These shutters are perfect for Arts & Crafts or Craftsman style homes. 
6. The combination of both Board-n-Batten and Flat Panel shutters, the Framed Board-n-Batten shutters add a unique look. Commonly used on traditional style homes, the Framed Board-n-Batten shutter has been growing in popularity against the traditional louver, raised panel, and board-n-batten shutter style.
7. Rustic, Rough Sawn window shutters can be seen throughout times past. Rough sawn lumber is lumber that is left in a rough, non-finished state. These shutters have a rich, rustic look to them, complete with the gouges and scrapes associated with traditional rough sawn lumber. The grain of the rough sawn shutters is also exaggerated to intensify the traditional rough sawn look. 

Material & Color

To make the best of your curb appeal using shutters make sure to choose a quality material the shutters are made from. There are several different long lasting materials on the market these days.

• Vinyl
• Wood
• Composite Wood
• Premium PVC & aluminum 
• Fiberglass Premium Composite

Color is also an important choice for shutters. Will you want to paint or stain your new shutters? Which one will best represent the look you want to create with your home? Although most people choose a color the beauty of stained-wood shutters is hard to beat.  Choose neutral colors if you want your home to blend in with the surroundings. For a house that stands out, opt for a bold color palette. When making this choice you might want to take into consideration the color of your landscape. Once they are up stand back and take a good look, you've just increased the appeal of your home!