Forest Chase

A wonderful place to call home

Newsletter, Issue 2 SPRING 2013 April-June

Invoices Enclosed
We are so excited to have YOUR support and financial support in meeting the goals set for 2013 and the future of our community. Memberships paid now expire on April 30, 2014. Civic membership $75 annually Full membership $300 annually (includes pool pass) Top 5 reasons you should join Forest Chase Home Owners Association (FCHOA) 1. Support for the community that we all belong to 2. Maintenance of common areas and lighting for safety 3. Stay connected to your community 4. Ensure the amenity of the pool 5. Be proactive in keeping our community safe and organized. Funds pay for the landscaping, electricity and maintenance of our common areas (front entrances, signage, pool area etc.). It allows us to plan for improvements that benefit all our property values and enhance our quality of living. A strong membership allows us to plan and budget for minor and major capital improvements and goals as well as events like parties, movie nights, yard sales, etc. We need your support to keep our investments and our community strong and healthy. Please join our HOA!

FCHOA Memberships

1. ONLINE https://sites.google.com/site/forestchasehoa *online processing fee incurred. $1.50 for Civic membership $5 Full membership 2. MAIL Check payable Forest Chase HOA, P.O. Box 670403, Marietta, GA 30066

TWO ways to join:

Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in. - Robert Frost
The above colored map was complied from paid invoices 2012. All efforts were taken to ensure accuracy. Updated on 3-18-13 Yellow= Civic members Red= Full members

Nature Notes by Roseanne Guerra, Atlanta Audubon Master Birder

Spring Birdwatching in Forest Chase

Forest Chase is a wonderful neighborhood for birdwatchers. Anyone with a bird feeder in their yard can attest to a constant stream of seed-eaters like chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and cardinals. Hummingbirds are a summer joy. Wrens and towhees sing in our yards year-round. Over the years, I have seen over sixty species of birds in my yard alone! Why is our neighborhood such great habitat for birds? Here are a few reasons: Our creek provides fresh year-round water. Our neighborhood has a mixture of different sized trees: huge tulip poplars and oaks, medium maples and smaller dogwoods and red buds. Evergreen pines and azaleas provide cover during winter. Wild vines such as trumpet creeper attract hummingbirds. Muscadine grapes and poison ivy berries (!) are also favorites. Spring is an exciting time for birders, when our usual population of birds is joined by many new and flashy migrants. Most songbirds migrate at night, and must eat and rest when the sun rises, so grab a pair of binoculars and check your yard (especially those high-up tulip poplar flowers) as the morning sunshine warms up your trees. As caterpillars and other insect life awaken, sparkling tropical birds snatch them up. I find the best time is not exactly sunrise, but when the sunlight actually hits your trees, which can be at different times depending on the elevation of your house. Last spring, I had both indigo buntings and summer tanagers (pictured) in my yard, among many others. I hope all of my neighbors will take a moment to enjoy our beautiful and remarkable bird life. If you need help identifying a bird in your yard, dont hesitate to e-mail me (Roseanne) at zan67@bellsouth.net. Happy birding!

Serious Items to consider

Are you breaking the law? part 2

with O.C.G.A. 36-1-20, may be incarcerated for a period not to exceed 60 days and/or shall be fined up to $1000 for violations within any 12 month period. with garbage can only be placed at the curb the evening before collection and should be removed by 11 p.m. on the day of collection. Gutters and Shutters Gutters and shutters and all appurtenances attached thereto, of buildings shall be maintained so that they are structurally sound, in good repair with proper anchorage and attachment. advertising signs or signs defined under weekend subdivision directional signs. All temporary local directional signs must be located off the right-ofway.

Any person who violates any provisions of articles I V of Chapter 134, after conviction upon a citation issued to Magistrate Court of Cobb County, in accordance Guidelines The following are county guidelines. More detailed information is available in the county code or online at www.cobbcounty.org Exterior Attachments Exterior stairways, decks, porches and balconies, and all appurtenances attached thereto, of building shall be maintained so that they are structurally sound, in good repair with proper anchorage and capable of supporting the imposed loads.

Temporary Signs The Temporary Local Directional sign code allows temporary signs to temporary events such as church or community gatherings, yard sales, moving sales, estate sales or the sale of an individual house. The code does not include off-premise outdoor

Door-to-Door Solicitations The county permits door-to-door solicitations only if the person has registered with the countys business license Grass and Weeds office. A registration It shall be unlawful for Home Business Restrictions badge must be worn by the owner of any property No signs, products or solicitors and will include less than 40,000 square equipment are permitted their name, address, feet or property within around the exterior of the organization and a any platted and recorded photograph. Solicitation subdivision, to allow grass/ home. without a registration weeds over 12 inches in All business activities badge is prohibited. height on at least ten must occur inside home. Police will respond to percent of the size of the No outside employees are reports of unregistered property tract, excluding permitted to work in the solicitors. the portion of the property home or to gather at the where permanent structures home for work purposes. exist. After 20 day notice, the County shall cause the No more than 25 percent condition to be remedied at of the home may be used the expense of the property for the business. owner. No customers or clients Source of Information are permitted to visit Garbage Collections home businesses except for http://comdev. Garbage collectors may tutoring or musical lessons. cobbcountyga.gov/ not operate between the documents/ZoningBroch_ hours of 11 p.m. and 7 v10_Apr2012.pdf a.m. Garbage cans filled

http://comdev.cobbcountyga.gov/code.htm

12195 Hwy 92 Woodstock, GA 30188

Renovation Associates merges your vision with our attention to detail and scale to create a showcase renovation project with long-lasting beauty and functionality for years of living enjoyment. Take advantage of our flexible payment options today. 0% interest for 60 months or 12 months same as cash. Learn more about us at www.renovation-associates.com
FLEXIBLE 0% interest for 60 months PAYMENT OPTIONS 12 months same as cash

CM

MY

CY

CMY

CALL TODAY, 404-428-6600

Renovation Associates merges your vision with our attention to detail and scale to create a showcase renovation project with long-lasting beauty and functionality for years of living enjoyment. Take advantage of our exible payment options today. 0% interest for 60 months or 12 months same as cash. Learn more about us at www.renovation-associates.com

Call today, 404 428 6600

Entry Doors

3162 Johnson Ferry Rd., Suite 260 -14 Marietta, GA 30062

Windows
Equipped with the best materials and most skilled team of contractor professionals, we are dedicated to the improvement of our neighbors homes; serving Cobb, Cherokee, Roswell, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, and Dunwoody. Take advantage of our flexible payment options. 0% interest for 60 months or 12 months same as cash.

Gutters

CM

MY

CY

CMY

Siding

678.990.6921

www.nehemiah.com

Learn more about Nehemiah at www.nehemiah.com and discover why we are the preferred contractor of North Atlanta. Equipped with the best materials and most skilled team of contractor professionals, we are dedicated to the improvement of our neighbors homes; serving Cobb, Cherokee, Roswell, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, and Dunwoody.

Home Safety and Improvement

Whether your home is a California bungalow, a stylish split-level, modern or old school, decks add beauty and functionality to every home. The year round use of a deck with family and friends creates a sense of celebration each and every time you step outside.

Tips To Ensure Your Deck Is Safe To Use

boards, railings and the ledger connection to the house should be included in your inspection. If the tool easily penetrates a quarter to a half inch without splintering the wood, decay may be present. Flashing Deck flashing is most critical at the point where the deck attaches to the house. There should be a continuous piece of metal between the deck and the house. This connection of the deck is the most common area of deck failure. The purpose of the flashing is to divert water and debris away from this connection. If after your inspection you have any reason to believe your deck is unsafe, I recommend calling a qualified general contractor to make repairs or a certified home inspector for further evaluation.

The deck is a popular gathering place, and like a house, it has to support the weight of people and objects placed upon it. A deck also has to withstand the forces of Mother Nature. Wind, rain, temperature changes, and storms can wreak havoc on a deck. As well as, the age and condition of your deck and its structure can create significant safety issues. Decks older than 15 years old traditionally need to be rebuilt. Since May is deck safety month, now is the optimal time to perform a safety check on your deck, before potential deck failure can ruin your summer. The first step in assessing the safety of your deck safe is to visually inspect it; use this checklist to determine the 5 commonly occurring warning signs. Missing Connections Decks should have a series of metal connectors, screws and nails. Look at how your deck is built if all you see is nails, your deck may be unsafe. Loose Connections - Loose connections can cause issues such as wobbly railings, shaky stairs and ledgers that appear to be pulling away from the house. Corrosion of fasteners Metal connectors, nails and screws can corrode over time. Look for red rust and other signs of corrosion that can weaken the structure of your deck. Split or decaying wood Use a pointed tool to probe several areas of your deck. Posts, decking

Outdoor Living Specialist with Outback Deck, Inc.

written by John Lefforge

A more complete Deck Evaluation Checklist is available at www.nadra.org

12195 Hwy 4

CM

MY

CY

CMY

Flexible Payment Options

Learn more about OutBack Deck at www.outbackdeck.net
Discover why we are the preferred deck builder of Atlanta, Alpharetta, Marietta, East Cobb and Roswell Georgia. Take advantage of our exible payment options. 0% interest for 60 months or 12 months same as cash. Well turn you deck project in to lasting memories. After all, life happens out back.

Call today, 4049754560

For Hire & Announcements

Private Tutoring for all ages $25 hr. Cindi Williams, 352-598-0271 Retired teacher public & Montessori experienced. At your home or public library! References available if needed. Babysitter Kaitlyn Hammac, hammackaitlyn@yahoo.com, Cell #: 678-447-7858 old and I want to attend college to be a teacher! I would love to babysit! I absolutely love kids. Im 16 years

For hire Richard Stephenson, 14 yrs old is looking for work. He mows lawns, washes cars, or just good to use with stuff around the house with guidance. He needs money for his mission trip we are going on this summer. Richard can be contacted on Susan McElwains cell phone 404-433-5861 Dog Walking by Anna Schultz, 11 yrs old for $5. She has experience with all sizes of dogs and is responsible with house keys, etc. 404-931-9080. Jack Schultz is available for yard work - mowing, edging, raking. Normal rate averages $25. 404-931-9080 Tessa- dog/pet-sitting. This is a mother/daughter team. Our phone number is 404-694-3846. Russel Repic for lawn maintenance and landscaping. His cell is 678-491-6616 age 23 Freelance Graphic Designer, Kip Williams, 770-280-7851. Portfolio and resume at www.kipstudio.com

Information posted in this newsletter is intended to provide general knowledge that may be of interest to Forest Chase Homeowners. Forest Chase HOA does not warrant the accuracy of the information as posted on this website. Forest Chase HOA reserves the right to accept or reject any advertisement submitted for publication. The appearance of advertising on the Forest Chase HOA website in no way implies endorsement or approval by the HOA of any advertising claims or of the advertiser, its product, or services. Forest Chase HOA disclaims any liability whatsoever in connection with advertising appearing in this newsletter.

Real Estate Update

Existing-Home Sales See Steady Price Gains

If youre considering buying or selling a home, you should be aware of the latest housing market statistics as they could affect when and how you make your decision. The good news is, things are increasingly looking up for real estate, freeing up buyers and sellers to finally move forward with confidence. According to research from the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), sales of existing homes edged up in January; at the same time, NAR reports a sellers market developing thanks to home prices continuing to rise steadily above year-ago levels. In fact, sales rose in every region of the country but the West, which is the region most constrained by limited inventory. Total existing-home sales - which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops - increased 0.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.92 million in January from a downwardly revised 4.90 million in December, and are 9.1 percent above the 4.51 million-unit pace in January 2012. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said tight inventory is a major factor in the market. Buyer traffic is continuing to pick up, while seller traffic is holding steady, says Yun. In fact, buyer traffic is 40 percent above a year ago, so there is plenty of demand but insufficient inventory to improve sales more strongly. Weve transitioned into a sellers market in much of the country. Total housing inventory at the end of January fell 4.9 percent to 1.74 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 4.2-month supply at the current sales pace, down from 4.5 months in December, and is the lowest housing supply since April 2005 when it was also 4.2 months. Meanwhile, the national median existing-home price for all housing types was $173,600 in January, up 12.3 percent from January 2012, which is the 11th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases; that last occurred from July 2005 to May 2006. The January gain is the strongest since November 2005 when it was 12.9 percent above a year earlier. NAR President Gary Thomas says homes are selling faster. The typical home is selling nearly four weeks faster than it did a year ago, he reports.The median time on market for all homes was 71 days in January, down from 73 days in December and is 28.3 percent below 99 days in January 2012. While these national statistics certainly tell an important story, real estate truly is local, as the saying goes, so be sure to find out the specific market data related to the neighborhoods in which you are buying or selling a home. An experienced real estate professional will be able to localize important data. The market for Forest Chase homes is also showing progress. The total number of homes sold in 2012 increased 33% over 2011. And the average time on market dropped from 126 days in 2011 to 78 days in 2012. At press time there have already been two homes for sale in 2013 and both are currently under contract. Homeowners who are considering putting their homes on the market will generally find this is the perfect time to find buyers. Families with children want to move in during the summer break or as close to it as they can. And the Atlanta landscape always looks best in spring when everything is in bloom!

2952 Forest Chase Ter NE 3 beds / 2 baths 1707 sqft For Rent: $1200/mo

Dan Richardson an agent with Keller Williams would be happy to assist. He can be contacted at (404) 944-4155.

Cobb County SCHOOL CALENDAR

Calendar & Announcements

Spring Break Holiday
DanRich@KW.com

April 8-12, 2013

404-944-4155

Thursday, May 23 Last day of school year

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dan Richardson

Lassiter Marching Bad collects recycled materials in the neighborhood. This benefits the marching band activities. We collect every 3rd Saturday. March 16, April 20, May 18, June 15. Items recycled are: aluminum cans, newspaper, magazines, office/school paper, junk mail, collapsed cardboard, ink cartridges, Ipods, MP3 players, PDAs & cell phones. We will collect from driveways around 10 am. Pool opens in May! We are looking for a volunteer crew to clean and prepare the pool area for the opening season. END OF APRIL If you can devote a Saturday or two, wed love to have you join us. Contact Missy Greco, Pool Director (missyggreco@yahoo.com) Neighborhood Yard Sale? Are you interested in having a neighborhood wide yard sale? Advertise as a group, get more traffic and sales $15 per house fee. Publish a map of participating houses! Signs at entrances! Send an e-mail (fchoainfo@gmail.com) if you are interested! HOA Dues are due now until, see page 1 of this newsletter for payment options and important information.
Forest Chase HOA reserves the right to accept or reject any advertisement submitted for publication.

Who's protecting your dreams?

Do you want to have an event listed? E-mail FCHOAinfo@gmail.com

FREE Xocai Healthy Chocolate!!!

You may redeem this coupon for a days worth of Healthy Chocolate or one all natural XE Engergy drink.
This Chocolate is created by a diabetic. It helps with insulin resistance. Unique, Nutrient-Preserving, Cold Process Rich in Antioxidants that ght free radicals All-Natural clean product Supports healthy response to inammation Helps promote cardiovascular health Increases your sense of well-being Helps provide natural energy May help you lose weight Improves sleep

Redeem this coupon for

Michelle M Ralston Agency Bus: (770) 250-7775 Alt: (866) 203-9046 http://www.mralstonagency.com mralston@amfam.com

Sue Carducci

Please call or email for your FREE Sample to be delivered. | 404-434-8429 |

suecarducci@msn.com

FreeHealthyChocolate.SueCarducci.indd 1

3/20/2013 12:51:03 PM