Thomasville New Year

It’s the last day of 2012.  Do you have any plans on how you want to celebrate a Thomasville New Year?  We have a couple of suggestions as well as a glimpse of what is to come later this week.

Finish off the year in fine taste at the sinfully delicious Liam’s Restaurant.  Located at 113 E Jackson St in Thomasville, dinner service begins at 5:30pm.  Choices on the menu tonight include a savory pork loin, scrumptious sea scallops, grilled quail, crusted ahi tuna and a fine hanger filet.  You may want to make a reservation, though.  To do so, please call (229) 226-9944.

Tonight is also the last night to enjoy the drive-through display of twinkling lights at the Flowers Foods headquarters in Thomasville.  The display is open from 6pm to 10pm tonight and then it’s gone.  If you haven’t had the chance to see this spectacular exhibition of lights, don’t miss your opportunity.

Don’t forget that this Friday, January 4th is First Friday in Downtown Thomasville.  All shops and restaurants have extended hours on the first Friday of every month.  There is also special entertainment scheduled for the evening.  Make sure you add this to your schedule to kick off the weekend right.

Lastly, we at RE/MAX of Thomasville want to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year.  Never drink and drive.  If you don’t have a designated driver with you, please make sure to call a taxi to take you home after your celebrating is over.  The life you save may be your own.  Happy New Year!

FEATURED HOME OF THE WEEK

Click here for more information on this and other beautiful homes for sale in the Thomasville, GA area.

Julie Bryan, RE/MAX of Thomasville, Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results in Thomasville Real Estate

End of Year Mortgage Rate Update

You are probably busy getting ready for Santa’s visit tonight.  We just wanted to give you a quick end of year mortgage rate update.  It’s not too late to take advantage of some amazing rates to purchase your new Thomasville home.

As of today’s post, the 30 year fixed-rate-mortgage sits at 3.37% while the 15 year fixed-rate mortgage rate is just 2.65% and the 1 year adjustable rate is 2.52%. Keep in mind that, while an adjustable rate mortgage will initially get you into a new Thomasville home at a lower monthly payment, it will go up every year as interest rates go up. A fixed-rate mortgage, on the other hand, is exactly that…fixed. The mortgage payment you start off with is the mortgage rate every month of every year you have your mortgage. It does not change.

If you decide to go with a fixed rate mortgage loan, you need to decide whether you want to use the 30 year or 15 year option. The 30 year FRM gets you in for a smaller monthly amount, but you end up spending as much as three times at the end of the loan in interest than you would with a 15 year FRM. For example, if you purchased a Thomasville home for $200,000 and qualified for the best rates, you would be paying $884 per month for a mortgage payment. With a 15 year FRM, you would pay $1348 per month. While the 30 year monthly payment is less, you would actually be paying $118,110 in interest alone over the life of the loan. The 15 year loan will only cost you $42,594 in total interest and will be paid off in half the time. You pay almost $10,000 more with a 30 year FRM loan than with the 15 year FRM loan over the first five years alone ($32,009 vs $22,802). That’s a BIG difference.

Remember this end of year mortgage update when considering purchasing a Thomasville home. Not only do you need to decide whether a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage is the way to go for you, but you have to determine whether you are willing to spend a little more out of pocket every month for a 15 year FRM so that you can get your home loan paid off in half the time and pay almost 2/3 less total interest. We at RE/MAX of Thomasville want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

FEATURED HOME OF THE WEEK

Click here for more information on this and other beautiful homes for sale in the Thomasville, GA area.

Julie Bryan, RE/MAX of Thomasville, Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results in Thomasville Real Estate

Early Voting for Thomasville Special Election

Earlier this month, Senator John Bulloch (R) resigned his long-held position, leaving a vacancy for the District 11 Senate seat.  A special election will be held January 8, 2013 to fill this position.  Voter turnout is expected to be low.  However, early voting for the Thomasville special election will begin on Wednesday, December 26th.

Seven candidates are vying to fill the position Senator John Bulloch has left: Republicans Marshall Berman, Dean Burke, Brad Hughes, Mike Keown and Eugene McNease, Democrat Lisa Collins and Libertarian Jeffrey G Bivins.  For more information on these candidates, please visit the Georgia Government’s Elections page here.  If you would like to cast your vote early, please come to the Thomas County Judicial Center’s elections office located at 325 N Broad St in Thomasville.  They will be open from 8am to 5pm December 26th to January 4th.

All registered voters in the portions of Thomas County that are part of District 11 are invited to participate in early voting for the Thomasville Special Election beginning next Wednesday, December 26th.  If you can’t make the early voting dates, you can still cast your vote for the candidate you would most like to see sitting in the Senate seat vacated by John Bulloch on January 8th.  Whenever you decide to participate, remember that your vote always counts.

FEATURED HOME OF THE WEEK

Click here for more information on this and other beautiful homes for sale in the Thomasville, GA area.

Julie Bryan, RE/MAX of Thomasville, Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results in Thomasville Real Estate

Thomasville JSL Red Nose Run

Interested in helping kids in the local Thomasville area?  The Thomasville Junior Service League will be holding its 2nd annual Red Nose Run this Saturday, December 15, 2012.  Proceeds from the event will benefit local Thomasville and Thomas County children.

Participants have two options: the 5K or the half marathon run/walk.  Both events will start and finish at Thomas University’s Millpond Road Entrance beginning at 8am.  Registration is just $25 for the 5K and $60 for the half marathon.  It is too late to pre-register.  However, late registration will be accepted on Saturday morning beginning at 7am.  Awards will be given to the overall male and female winners, male and female master’s winners and the top three male and female finishers in eight different age groups, including 14 years of age and younger.  For more information, please call Mandy West at (229) 403-8627.

Also, the Thomasville JSL is currently accepting donations for their Annual Bargain Bazaar that they hold every February.  They accept everthing from clothing to toys, gently used housewares and furniture to sporting goods and more.  So, if you have old items around your Thomasville home that you aren’t using, please consider donating them instead of throwing them away.  All money raised from the sale of these items goes directly back into the Thomas County community to help the area children.  Anything that isn’t sold will be donated to local Thomas County charities.

The Thomasville JSL Red Nose Run takes place this Saturday, December 15, 2012.  Whether you choose the 5K run/walk or brave the half marathon, it’s good to know that you’ll be helping Thomasville’s children.  Last year’s JSL event went so well, they want to make this a fun time every year.

FEATURED HOME OF THE WEEK

Click here for more information on this and other beautiful homes for sale in the Thomasville, GA area.

Julie Bryan, RE/MAX of Thomasville, Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results in Thomasville Real Estate

Thomasville Christmas at Pebble Hill

One of the great things about the holiday season is the many ways in which people celebrate.  One of these fun traditions happens this Saturday, December 8th.  That’s when you need to pack up the family and head over to a Thomasville Christmas at Pebble Hill.

From 4pm to 9pm, the amazing people at Pebble Hill Plantation (1251 US Hwy 319) bring their Plantation Family Christmas to life for Thomasville residents and visitors. For just $20 per carload, you get to enjoy hayrides, traditional holiday music, Christmas storytelling, arts and crafts and even a visit with Ol’ St. Nick himself.  There will also be food and other refreshments available for purchase on-site.  Take a tour of the main Pebble Hill Plantation house and explore the grounds, all decked out in their best holiday finery.

Enjoy the holidays with a true Georgia Belle.  Take the family to celebrate a Thomasville Christmas at Pebble Hill Plantation this Saturday, December 8, 2012.  While the plantation is awe-inspiring during the rest of the year, it is truly spectacular when it is dressed up for the holidays.  You’re sure to get in the Christmas spirit now!

FEATURED HOME OF THE WEEK

Click here for more information on this and other beautiful homes for sale in the Thomasville, GA area.

Julie Bryan, RE/MAX of Thomasville, Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results in Thomasville Real Estate