"It would be to the benefit of anyone purchasing a home to stop

mail information to anyone who calls," said Tax Commissioner

George Wingo.

Georgia law requires that a tax return be filed on house and land

in the first full year of ownership. The tax return must be filed

between January 1 and April 1 and is only required when changes in the

property occur. You can get a regular homestead exemption by filing

for it if you reside in the county and own and occupy your home

on January 1. You may claim exemption from taxation on the

first $2,000 of the assessed value on State and School and $5,000 on

the County and Fire portion.

If you are 65 or older and can meet certain income

requirements you can get a $4,000 (double) exemption. You may also qualify

for a 50 percent school exemption. If you are 65 or older and your

taxable income is below $15,000 you qualify for a 100 percent school

exemption. Age requirements are based on age as of January 1.

To find out if you are eligible for any of the exemptions noted

above, stop by the Tax office at 140 Stonewall Avenue West, Fayetteville

or call 770-461-3611.

Other suggested research sites are included below.

The government offers numerous publications to help

homeowners. These are free or loc-cost booklets which can be ordered at the

following web page: https://www.gsa.gov/staff/pa/cic/housing.htm

Some of the books include:

Buying Your Home: Settlement Costs and Helpful

Information, (1997. HUD) 121F. $1.75;

A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Lock-Ins, (1995. FRB)

336F. 50.

How to Buy a Home With a Low Down Payment,

(1995. USDA) 572F. Free.

Twelve Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Costs,

(1995. OCA) 339F. 50.

The Crestar Mortgage web site

(https://www.crestarmortgage.com/experienced_nbrhd.stm) allows

you to run an amortization schedule, watch rates and much more.

Sign up for a monthly newsletter, also.

Looking for the best place to retire in Georgia? Check

out "GEORGIA'S BEST" at

https://www.georgiasbest.com/retirement.htm

This is "An On-Line Guide For All Seasons Retirement." They

provide basic information plus links to other sites. They also suggest a

visit to any Georgia Welcome Center or SouthTrust Bank to pick up a

copy of Georgia's Best Vacation, Relocation and Retirement Places.

New Lifestyles offers an index of retirement options by area

(retirement communities, assisted living, etc.); tips, information

https://www.newlifestyles.com/

Yahoo has a "Senior Information Page" which includes "Great

Places to Live Retired," travel tips,

"Over the Hill Gang," bingo, crossword puzzles and much more.

https://seniors.yahoo.com/

LivOn bills itself as "the world's largest, interactive, resident

referral network" They claim to be able to connect you to over 60,000

housing and care facilities throughout the United States. Go through

their "interactive health checklist" to help identify your particular

needs. https://www.livon.com/

The "New Home Journal" is a television program aired on

many local stations. The program is "designed to educate and entertain

the home buying public." It highlights builders within varous regions

and explains construction techniques. Also, industry experts and

professionals discuss building codes, specifications pertaining to the

local market and more. The New Home Journal is also on the

Internet. The web page provides information on remodeling

expenditures, housing affordability, interest rates, existing and new

home prices, what our assets are worth and more.

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