One of the best times to check out a neighborhood you’re interested in potentially moving to is during the holiday season. While landscaping may be barren, neighborhood holiday decor gives you an idea of what a neighborhood is like during the most wonderful time of the year. After all, there’s no place like home for the holidays, so why not check out prospective neighborhoods as you enjoy family time together?

We’ve put together  some of the best neighborhoods and light displays in Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Duluth, Cumming and Roswell. 

Ashebrooke Night of Lights in Cumming - Sunday, December 16

On one amazing night, homeowners in the community of Ashebrooke in Cumming put together their passion and desire to “bring joy, community spirit and lots of lights” to raise money for a good cause. This year the event will benefit Family Promise of Forsyth. Out of the 310+ properties in Ashebrooke, generally 90% participate! According to the organizers, in past years there have been Santa sightings, falling snow, reindeer, bag pipers and a live nativity scene. The drive through the neighborhood can take an hour or more, but it’s worth it. Enter at 3905 Northridge Drive, Cumming, GA 30040 beginning at nightfall on Sunday, December 16

Christmas in Castille in Alpharetta (Forsyth County side) - Every Thursday through Sunday until December 25

Tune your radio to 89.9 FM and experience a phenomenal 15 minute light display with over 59,000 twinkling set to a four song playlist. Christmas in Castille is a home in the Castille neighborhood in West Forsyth county in Alpharetta. The Castille neighborhood is typically gated, but the gate will be made open each night for the display, which gives you a great opportunity to check out what makes this neighborhood so great. Hours of operation are 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm every Thursday through Sunday and the home is located at 4220 Tivoli Way Alpharetta.

Hillbrooke Neighborhood in Johns Creek - Nightly until December 25

For over 20 years, the Hillbrooke neighborhood in Johns Creek has come together to put on a beautiful neighborhood light display. Once in the subdivision, follow to the first stop sign and then go right. The entrance is Hillbrooke is located at 1600 Gladewood Drive, Johns Creek.

Duluth Christmas House in Duluth - Nightly through December 25

What started as a childhood passion turned into a reality for Tammie Hernandez of Duluth. Each year she decks her home in Duluth out with Christmas lights, multiple walk up displays for your family to get out of the car and experience, and a station for kids to write a letter to Santa all to raise money for a good cause. For the past two years she has raised money for a family friend, 12 year old Jada Chavez who was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma. Stop by 2929 Mockingbird Circle in Duluth to check out the amazing display and to write a letter of encouragement to Jada nightly from 6:00 - 10:00 pm.

Santa’s Village in Roswell - Nightly through December 31

Featuring Christmas characters, trains and lights, Santa’s Village in Roswell is straight out of the things sugarplum fairies are made of. The lights display includes eight settings, each one with a Christmas scene. Weather permitting, train rides throughout the neighborhood will be provided. Stop by nightly from 6:00 - 9:00 pm at 405 Waverly Hall Drive Roswell.

Football season is drawing to a close, which means a number of local area high schools in the North Atlanta are kicking off their Winter theater productions. We are fortunate to have some of the top rated school districts within Forsyth, Gwinnett and Fulton counties right here in our backyard. Don’t miss these family-friendly opportunities to support our local community through the arts.

Lambert High School presents Disney’s Little Mermaid Junior

Come experience a journey under the sea with Lambert High School’s Acting Troupe in Forsyth County as they present “an enchanting look look at the sacrifices we all make for love and acceptance” based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories, Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students.

Performance Times:

Saturday, December 1 at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm

Thursday, December 6  at 7:00 pm

Friday, December 7 at  7:00 pm

Saturday, December 8 at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm

Norcross High School presents Ronald Dahl’s Willy Wonka Junior 

This scrumdidilyumptious musical is adapted from Ronald Dahl’s timeless story of the world world-famous candy man and his quest to find an heir is a golden ticket to adventure. Norcross High School’s drama program will feature songs from the original 1971 film in addition to a host of fun new songs. Tickets are $7 per adult and $5 per child/student.

Performance Times:

Friday, December 7 at 7:00 pm

Saturday, December 8 at 7:00 pm

Sunday, December 9 at 2:00 pm

North Gwinnett High School presents Shrek the Musical

The North Gwinnett High School Players in Suwanee will bring this “hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life on stage and feature a terrific score of 19 all-new songs, big laughs, great dancing and breathtaking scenery in a part romance, part twisted fairytale.” Tickets are $8 online and are $10 at the door. 

Performance times:

Thursday, December 13 at 7:00 pm

Friday, December 14 at 7:00 pm

Saturday, December 15 at 7:00 pm

We recently received calls from some of our Johns Creek and Alpharetta clients who want to put their home on the market this winter but are hesitant to do so because they’ve heard selling during the holidays is a bad idea. Contrary to popular belief, selling during the holidays can be a great time to sell. Here are some reasons why:

Buyers are Serious
Oftentimes, buyers choosing to look for a new home towards the end of the year are more motivated because they are working against a deadline like a job transfer, end of a lease or contract on their existing home. They also likely want to benefit from the tax benefit for closing by the end of the year which is in your favor as a homeowner. After all, if buyers are choosing to skip holiday parties to shop for a new home, you know they aren’t messing around.

Less Competition
For the sellers who choose to wait to list their home until after the holidays, their loss of potential buyers is your gain. Buyers have less homes to choose from, which makes your home stand out more-so than it would during the spring and summer months when the market has more competition.

Your Home Shines Easily
One of the first things buyers seem to do when looking at homes is visualize whether or not they can see themselves living there. What better way to connect with buyers than listing and showing your home during the most cozy and inviting time of the year? Minimal seasonal decorations, warm fireplaces and cozy environments yield in your favor during the holiday months.

If you’re thinking about selling your Johns Creek or Alpharetta home this winter don’t let the rumors scare you. Contact us today and we will create a game plan to get your home listed and sold this holiday season!

Did you know before he became a top producing Realtor, Eric Robb was a professional chef? He even studied at the Culinary Institute of America. Growing up in New York around big family gatherings, Eric learned how to cook from his self-taught chef grandfather who worked in the restaurant industry for over 10 years. His grandmother was also a baker who could cook some of the best desserts you could ever imagine. Eric worked in a popular South Florida restaurant chain for years, opening three of their restaurants, before making his way to Johns Creek.

Fast forward to the present day, Eric has transferred the hard work, determination, grit and discipline he learned in the kitchen over to Real Estate. With Thanksgiving around the corner next week, we thought it would be fun to share a couple of our favorite recipes as well as a local insider tip that will save you time baking dessert. Let us know which ones you try at your Johns Creek or Alpharetta Thanksgiving Feast.

Appetizer from Laura Cason, Eric Robb's Assistant: Bacon Wrapped Dates

If you’re looking for an easy way to wow your guests before the main course, these three-ingredient bacon wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese are the way to go. 

Ingredients:

• Two Packs Thin Cut Bacon

• 32 Medjool Dates - Pits Removed

• 8 Oz Goat Cheese

• Toothpicks for Serving


Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. 
• Slice dates lengthwise. 

• Stuff goat cheese into the cavity of the date and close the sides. 

• Cut bacon slices in thirds. Wrap each date with a slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick. 

• Arrange evenly on baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.

• Remove dates and use toothpicks to flip the dates. Reinsert the dates and Cook for another 15 minutes. 

• Remove the dates from the oven and let cool on a paper-towel lined plate for 5 minutes.

• Serve immediately.


Main Course Dish from Eric Robb: Sausage Stuffing

Straight from the chef's kitchen, this homemade sausage stuffing recipe has been used for years at the Robb family Thanksgiving feast.

Ingredients:

• 2 bags of plain bread cubes with no spices

• 1 roll Jimmy Dean’s Pork Sausage

• 2 Onions chopped Fine

• 7 Stalks Celery including Celery Leaves chopped Fine

• 1 large Container of Chicken Stock

• Sage, Parsley, Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions: 

• Fry Pork Sausage until cooked and crumbly. Drain grease.

• Add Onion and Celery and Saute until semi-soft.

• Mix Bread Cubes, Chicken Stock and Spices in a bowl.

• Add Onion and Celery Mixture and Sausage to Bread Cubes and to Bread Crumb mixture.

• Add entire mixture to Cavity of Turkey and bake until Turkey is complete.


Dessert: Shop Local at Crave Pie Studio in Duluth

If you are local to Johns Creek, Alpharetta or Duluth, trust us when we say that you can find a store bought pie that tastes homemade (or better!) that will save you hours of baking. Crave Pie Studio in downtown Duluth offers homemade pies made fresh daily including traditional pies that feed 8-10 as well as mini-individual pies. Thanksgiving brings the perfect opportunity for you to shop local and impress your out of town guests. Our personal favorite is their Bourbon Chocolate Pecan pie, but we haven’t tried a pie we didn’t like. 

On Saturday, November 10, the City of Johns Creek alongside Keep North Fulton Beautiful will host a free Hazardous Waste Collection Day for Johns Creek residents. From 9:00 am - 1:00 pm in the parking lot of the Johns Creek Target and Home Depot located at 5950 State Bridge Road, Johns Creek residents can dispose of dangerous household chemicals and heavy metals in a practical and environmentally sound way.

Pre-Registration on Keep North Fulton Beautiful’s website and verification of residency is required for the event.

According to Keep North Fulton Beautiful, the following items will be accepted:

• Paint (Limit 10 containers, max 10 gallons combined)
• Herbicides, Pesticides

• Motor Oil, Anti-Freeze, Gasoline

• Mercury (thermostats, thermometers)

• Batteries and electronics* (CRTs, monitors, etc.)
  • *Note: No alkaline (AA, AAA, A, B, C, 9V) batteries, please. These can be safely disposed of in your regular trash. 


• Propane cylinders, Fire Extinguishers, Smoke detectors

• Cooking Oils

• Fluorescent bulbs


In addition, the following items will NOT be accepted:

• NO Medical waste, needles
• NO Ammunition, explosives
• NO Pharmaceuticals
• NO Non-hazardous items 

If you’re a homeowner in Johns Creek you won’t want to miss taking advantage of this free opportunity to dispose of dangerous chemicals properly. 

Fall is a great time to take care of home repair and improvement projects that will smoothly navigate seasonal upkeep and make the transition to chilly weather more pleasant. Here are some must do items to check off your list before hunkering down for winter in Johns Creek and Alpharetta.

Clean Your Gutters
Clogged gutters can cause roof leaks if they aren’t draining properly. Water can easily soak through shingles and into your home causing mold to grow and vast water damage. It’s a good idea to get your gutters cleaned by a local Johns Creek or Alpharetta professional once a year in the Fall. If you think you can tackle the job safely yourself, an old plastic spatula is a great tool for cleaning your gutters. Just make sure you have a spotter watching you from the ground before you get on your roof!

Seal Air Pockets Around Windows and Doors
If you can see light around seals or feel air coming through your doors and windows when they are closed, it’s time to replace the weatherstrips. Home improvement stores sell a variety of these easy to use, self-adhesive rubber foam weatherstrips. Make sure you seal off any doors that lead outside and seal up cracks and gaps in your windows to ensure you don’t suffer from a high gas bill when winter hits.

Ensure You Have a Carbon Monoxide Detector and That Its Working
Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel are potential sources of carbon monoxide. Vehicles or generators running in an attached garage can also produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. According to the National Fire Protection Association, ensuring you have a working carbon monoxide detector could save your life.

Test Your Fireplace
You should hire local Johns Creek or Alpharetta professional chimney sweep before you start using your fireplace at the beginning of winter. The National Fire Protection Association suggests that you have your chimney swept once a year to remove dangerous soot and debris. You’ll also want to have your fireplace checked for cracks and have the blower cleaned to ensure a safe fire burning season.

Prepare Your Outdoor Faucets for Winter
When a pipe ruptures it typically occurs inside the walls of your home, so don’t forget to remove any attached hoses from exterior faucets. Make sure you shut off the main outdoor water source valve to ensure you won’t suffer from water damage from frozen pipes within your home.

If you’re looking for free, family-friendly, non-scary Halloween experiences, check out the wide variety of Trunk or Treat events within our local communities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Duluth. We’ve compiled some of our favorite options below. These events offer great opportunities to get involved in your local community and celebrate Halloween in a fun way. Let us know which ones you plan to go to in the next few weeks.

Johns Creek Police Department Trunk or Treat
The Johns Creek Police Department is hosting its annual Trunk or Treat event on Wednesday, October 24 from 6:00-8:00 pm at their Headquarters. Last year the event brought thousands of children, so this year is sure to not disappoint. The event will include activities for children, treats, refreshments and, of course, candy. Be sure to dress your little ones in their best costumes!

Duluth’s Howl on the Green 
On Friday, October 26, the city of Duluth will host their annual Halloween event, Howl on the Green on the city’s town green. The event will feature Food Trucks, Trick-or-Treating, Costume Contests, Crafts, Live Entertainment, and music, oh my! Kids events are from 6-9pm. The night turns to fright with spooky entertainment beginning 9pm with fire dancers, aerialist and more!

Trick or Treat at Avalon
Local businesses within Avalon in Alpharetta are handing out candy and treats to children on Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. When you arrive, stop by the Concierge desk to pick up your Trick or Treat map and then stop by the retailers who are handing out candy. When you’ve collected all your candy, don’t forget to drop off your completed map back at the Concierge desk to be entered into to with an Avalon family fun prize package!

Johns Creek Baptist Trunk or Treat
On Sunday, October 28, 2018 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm, Johns Creek Baptist Church is offering a fun and safe Trunk-or-Treat for kids of all ages. Come in your non-scary, family friendly costumes, and enjoy the fun and excitement of walking around together to get candy, treats, smiles, and laughter.

The Sixth Annual Wire & Wood Songwriters Festival will be held in revitalized downtown Alpharetta on October 12-13. The festival is free to the public this year and will be held in multiple outdoor venues including local restaurants throughout Milton Avenue and Main Street. 

Headliners include Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Justin Townes Earle, Dan Wilson and Glen Phillips.

Robert Randolph & The Family Band was nominated for a Grammy in 2018 for Best Contemporary Blues Album and recently collaborated with Darius Rucker. Justin Townes Earle has released eight solo albums since 2007 and his name may sound familiar - he is the son of singer-songwriter Steve Earle.

The main stage will be in the middle of Milton Avenue and two side stages will be in the all new City Center on Main Street. Local eateries South Main Kitchen and Ceviche are headlining sponsors and both will have stages in and around their restaurants. 

South Main Kitchen features delicate, delicious southern inspired entrees with a twist. We recommend heading to their rooftop bar for a cozy view of downtown Alpharetta where you can order off the exclusive rooftop menu. Ceviche is known for their homemade sangria and wide variety of margaritas. The restaurant will host the inaugural “late night jam” on late Friday and Saturday which is sure to be a fun time.

Smokejack BBQ is also a headlining sponsor of the festival. Smokejack won’t have a featured stage this year, but will instead host live music from Zac Martin in their bar all night on Friday. If you can’t decide what to order, their burnt ends are to die for.

In addition to the plethora of local cuisine, there will be plenty of food, wine and beer tents if you’d rather mingle. While you’re downtown take a peek at the progress of our new office space, which is located in the Liberty Hall building at 33 S Main Street. Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Georgia Properties is scheduled to move in by end of the year and we can’t wait to show you around! If you’ve never experienced all that downtown Alpharetta has to offer, the Wire & Wood Festival is the perfect opportunity.

Here in Johns Creek in the North Atlanta area and throughout the Southeast, the start of the Fall season brings a great opportunity to plant a successful garden due to the cooler temperatures that reduce plant stress. Unlike the harsh heat of the summer months, roots have the ability to establish quickly which allows for newly planted trees and perennials to develop.

Many local nurseries also have plants that have been growing in the same containers all season and prices are usually marked down to make room for Christmas trees. This is a great opportunity to score some plants at half off.

According to Proven Winners, you can plant up to 6 weeks out before the ground freezes, you just need to make sure to provide supplemental water when needed. Once planted, you’ll want to feed your bulbs by fertilizing. Then lastly, don’t forget to mulch!

You may be tempted to plant your spring bulbs soon after the first cool weather of Fall hits in early October, but it’s important to wait to plant spring bulbs until the temperatures have consistently been in the 60s. This way the soil is warm enough to stimulate root growth. 

Here are a number of local nurseries and home improvement stores that offer free DIY gardening workshops:

On October 6, Randy’s Perennials and Water Garden in Lawrenceville is offering a Customer Appreciation Day with fun activities, food and special discounts.

On October 17, Pike Nurseries in Suwanee is offering a free Fall Container Gardening workshop.

After you load up on plants at the Garden Center at Home Depot in Johns Creek, check out a free Witch Hat Door Hanger Workshop on October 18.

If you’re in the mood for an in-town field trip, join the North Fulton Master Gardeners for a free Fall Vegetable and Planting Workshop at Farm Chastain on October 20.

Take advantage of these local opportunities and get your Fall garden off to a great start before winter hits.

One of the most desired Johns Creek neighborhoods that we help homeowners and homebuyers navigate is Doublegate. While there are a plethora of swim and tennis communities in North Atlanta, Doublegate remains at the top list of the most sought-after communities because of its active tennis leagues and swim team, its well constructed, large floorplan homes and its convenient location in the heart of Johns Creek.

Perfect for families looking for their forever home, Doublegate boasts a private swim and tennis club with a pool, playground, sports court, six tennis courts with some of the best lighting in Johns Creek, a lawn area and walking paths. Residents are proud to actively participate in over 15 ALTA Tennis Leagues and in 2017, the mixed doubles ALTA team even won the city championship. Each year the neighborhood hosts a Doublegate Open which is enjoyed by players and their families and truly celebrates the tennis community within the neighborhood. In addition, the Doublegator summer swim team league is part of the Atlanta Swimming Association and over 100 children in the neighborhood join the team each summer.

The HOA is also very active and puts on a variety of events throughout the year. One of the biggest highlights is Halloween at Doublegate which features a pizza party, bacon house and a haunted house tailgate.

Doublegate has an appealing wide variety of home architectural styles and large floorplans. Typically homes in the community are four or more bedrooms and many feature basements. Lots range from at least half an acre to over an acre in size.

We’ve been fortunate to help many buyers find their dream home in Doublegate and serve many homeowners ready to sell by marketing and selling their home to our network of qualified, interested buyers.

If you would like more information regarding available real estate in Doublegate or you’re thinking of selling and would like a free, no-obligation property valuation, click here.

As of today's post there are:

• 4 Active Doublegate homes for sale  $454,900/low, $529,000/high
• 0 Contingency Due Diligence Doublegate homes for sale
• 0 Contingency - Other - Doublegate homes for sale properties
• 0 Contingency Kick Out Doublegate homes for sale
• 1 Pending sale Doublegate homes for sale