|  | | | The Staib Family | |
 |  | | Granddaughter Haylee and Granddoggie Bentley! |
 “Yankee by birth – southern by the grace of God” - I first heard that saying shortly after moving south to Atlanta 38 years ago from New Jersey and it didn’t take long to appreciate it. Moving down reluctantly on the 2nd of January and then enduring three weeks of cold, rain and homesickness, I woke up the morning of the fourth week to beautiful sun and a straight week of 70 degree weather and thought – hmmm, maybe living in the south might not be so bad after all! I’ve loved living here since then and still appreciate the wonderful weather with so much green around you, even in the dead of winter.
Finding myself a single mom in 1987, I decided to go into real estate to have more freedom to raise my sons, Matt and Josh, now young men. I had no idea I had found my calling and that it would blossom into such a successful and rewarding career. It’s a great thing to be able to work with so many different people in one of the most important choices in their lives. I now have the added pleasure of watching my beautiful granddaughter, Haylee, grow up in such a wonderful city! Needless to say, I’ve watched Atlanta and the suburbs grow by leaps and bounds and it’s been an exciting journey. I’ve become an avid baseball fan with the start of the Atlanta Braves astounding climb in 1991 from last to first and continue to enjoy watching them beat the odds each year. I hope you’ll enjoy your move here and want to help you find fulfillment and joy in your next home! 
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First Time Buyers >The Real Bottom Line
An important part of buying a house is sitting down with your real estate agent or a mortgage lender to get a clear idea of how much you can afford. They will add up all of your monthly expenses, the mortgage payment, insurance, real estate taxes, homeowners or condo association fees--and the grand total can throw you into shock!
The important thing to remember is that the grand total isn't really the bottom line. When you add your tax savings to the equation, you may be pleasantly surprised. During the early years of your loan, almost all of the mortgage can be deducted from your state and federal income tax. The same is true of your real estate taxes. If you use part of your house as a home office, you may be able to qualify for additional tax savings. In some areas, homes with ground floor apartments are popular for offsetting part of the mortgage and offering even more tax savings.
When you make calculations about the monthly costs that include the tax savings, you may find that owning your own home is less expensive than renting a house or apartment of comparable size.
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| Q |
What is the earliest residential building that remains in Manhattan?
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| A |
Fraunces Tavern, built in 1719, is where George Washington delivered his Farewell Address to his officers in 1783. |
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