New Homes Now Underway at The Orchards of East Cherokee

If you've been waiting for the housing market to pick up to sell your old home and move in to an active adult home, now is the time. The Orchards Group is delighted to inform active adult buyers that they have started construction on new homes and condos at The Orchards of East Cherokee in Woodstock.

"Our sales in 2012 were stronger than expected. The community is now 45 percent sold, and our new construction is a response to ongoing demand and our hope for a continually improving housing market in 2013," said Mitch Block, Director of Sales and Marketing for The Orchards Group.

Coming soon to the ranch condominium collection of homes are two new models and seven new inventory homes. These will feature a wide array of the builder's floor plan offerings as well as bonus room and sunroom options. All of them will be priced from $199,000 to $249,000 and will be ready by late spring.

Additionally, they are building two new courtyard single family homes priced from the high $200,000s. The Belmont is a gorgeous two bedroom plus den floor plan that will be ready by the end of March, and the Ascot is a beautiful two bedroom plus bonus room plan that will be ready in mid January.

All of the residencies at East Cherokee come with zero to low maintenance exteriors. Residents also enjoy spending time together in a variety of clubs, events, activities and at the grand clubhouse, swimming pool, grilling area and waterfall sitting plaza.

The community's Woodstock location is just a short drive away from all of your favorite shopping, dining, recreation, entertainment, libraries, medical centers and more!

For more information, please call 770-345-5409 or visit www.OrchardsGroup.com.

Affordable Homes in Forsyth County on Display at Castille

Finding the perfect affordable homes in Forsyth County has never been easier thanks to the new Turnberry model home from Wilson Parker Homes at Castille in Forsyth.

Upon first arriving, you'll be greeted by a gracious brick exterior lit with high quality light fixtures and a well manicured lawn. Inside, buyers will find an open floor plan that spans 4,443 square feet with five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Other outstanding features of this home include a fireside family room with custom built mantles, gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances, luxurious bathrooms and more. Buyers can make all of this their very own for just $304,900.

Buyers at Castille can also choose from six additional floor plans spanning 3,014 to 4,608 square feet with four to five bedrooms and two-and-a-half to four bathrooms. These homes are also well-priced from the mid $260,000s.

Located in Alpharetta, this gated community is close to all of the shops, restaurants, parks and more located along Highway 20 and Post Road. Residents will also enjoy easy access to GA 400, making commuting to Atlanta a breeze!

Students residing within the community will attend West Forsyth High, Liberty Middle and Sawnee Elementary schools.

For more information on Castille and other new homes in Atlanta communities, call 678-296-6910 or visit www.WilsonParkerHomes.com.

ID Protection and Credit Card Lessons for Youth

Teach youth ID protection for a happier
financial adulthood.

If you haven’t discussed credit cards and ID protection with your kids and young adults, there is no better time than now! In a helpful article from the Equifax Finance blog called, “Three Lessons to Teach Your Children about Credit Cards,” experts suggest that teaching your children about credit at an early age may benefit them in the future.

First, explain to kids that credit is a loan, and a loan is borrowing money from someone else. This is a simple, yet very important concept for kids to understand. By also showing them your monthly credit card statement, explaining how interest is accrued and showing them you must pay back the money borrowed, you can help your children learn the responsibility of credit card management for their futures.

Brock Built Building Custom Roswell, GA Houses for Sale

Brock Built isn't just your average homebuilder with wonderful communities across the Atlanta metro area, they also offer custom homes such as their current Fulton County real estate project in Roswell.

This project will transform a condemned home on King Street into a gorgeous showcase. The Brock Built team will be working hard alongside the property's owner to meet her needs as well to maintain the current streetscape of this historic area close to Barrington Hall. 

The owner of the property has already refurbished another home located next door. This custom gem now features a master on the main, bonus room, upgraded basement and much more.

Construction on this new custom home is scheduled to start within the next few weeks with completion planned for early spring.

For those looking to purchase Brock Built Roswell, GA houses for sale, they still have one opportunity remaining at their Corner of Lake Charles community. This enclave of five homes features four to five bedroom floor plans with plenty of exquisite upgrades and an unbeatable location!

For more information on all of their communities and custom home projects, visit www.BrockBuilt.com.

ID Theft Protection for Homebuyers

Buying a home for the first time can be a stressful process, so it’s no wonder that ID theft protection would not be at the forefront of a buyer’s thoughts. However, the experts at the Equifax Finance Blog believe that everyone should know and understand how personal information is obtained and used because this information is used in evaluating important purchases like your home mortgage, and may even affect someone applying for a new job.

In the article, “6 Ways To Prevent Identity Theft,” the finance specialists at the Equifax Finance Blog state that one important identity theft solution consumers should understand concerns their personal information.

New Asheville Floor Plan Designed for Cobb County Real Estate

Brock Built Homes is excited to introduce our newest floor plan for Cobb Countyreal estate, the Asheville. Debuting at our Idlewilde community, the Asheville is sure to wow even the pickiest of new home buyers!

This five bedroom and four-and-a-half bathroom home is priced from just $639,900. As you approach the home, buyers will be welcomed by a lovely front porch that flows into the foyer and formal dining and living spaces. As you move into the heart of the home, you'll be amazed by the open living area complete with a large kitchen, breakfast nook and living area. The first level also includes a master suite with spa-like bathroom. On the second floor of the home, the rest of your family members and guests will enjoy generous secondary bedrooms and bathrooms as well as a multi-purpose media room, which is the perfect space for games and move watching! The home's magnificence doesn't just stop there, though. Outside, you'll find the perfect spots for entertaining including a screened porch with corner fireplace and uncovered wooden deck. The home also includes energy efficient features throughout, so you can save the planet and your money!

Located in East Cobb, Idlewilde is an exclusive community of just 15 Cobb County homes, which means residents enjoy privacy in an unbeatable location close to shopping, dining, recreation, entertainment, medical centers, libraries and more.

Children will attend sought-after schools including Rocky Mountain Elementary, Simpson Middle and Lassiter High.

For more information, please call 404-786-8435 or visit www.BrockBuilt.com.

Hurricane Sandy: The Insurance Claim Maker

Recently thousands have been dramatically affected by the overwhelming destruction Hurricane Sandy brought to the East Coast. This natural disaster has wiped out entire communities and landmarks, leaving a trail of flooding, gas leaks, power outages and tears in its wake.

People across the nation are sending relief to the victims of the East Coast, and many may have wondered how some families are going to recover from this traumatic occurrence. Thousands of insurance claims for homes and businesses are likely to flood insurance agencies in the coming weeks, so the Equifax Finance Blog decided now was a good time to give some tips with dealing with damage from natural disasters for future reference.

In their article, “Hurricane Sandy Insurance Claims Tips,” Equifax states that some results from natural disasters are not always covered by homeowner’s insurance. Take flooding for instance, memories can be lost, like your wedding photo album or grandparent’s portraits, flood waters can creep into every part of your home like your walls, furniture, lighting, electronics and more. Some of these treasures may be irreplaceable, but it could be even worse if you haven’t invested into alternate insurance to cover something like a flood.

Remodel to Attract those that are Buying a Home Without Taking on Debt

It can be difficult to attract those in the market for buying a home if your kitchen needs lots of upgrades. The kitchen is one important area that often needs attention in any home, and older homes can suffer if they don’t get some TLC.

Luckily, the experts at the Equifax Finance Blog have recently published an article to help called “DIY Home Repair and Kitchen Remodelingon a Budget.” In this article, the National Kitchen and Bath Association state the average price tag of a complete kitchen remodel costs upwards of $26,000! That is an unbelievable dollar amount for anyone, especially when selling a home. Instead of breaking the bank for your kitchen remodel, try these DIY projects to save some cash:

• A fresh DIY paint job is definitely a cheap way to start the transformation. This is a great idea for the kitchen space because it is a cheap and easy way to refresh the space. Painting in the kitchen can also allow for more vibrant colors and nice mixes of texture.

Use Life Insurance to Save your Family from threat of Foreclosure

Life insurance can save your family from massive debt,
including foreclosure

When we think of paying for insurance, we don't often think of saving money or being protected from foreclosure. But when with the sheer amount of debt that death can bring comes knocking, it can take away all kind of things your family held dear, from cars to houses to entire life’s savings. When faced with that peril, seeking protection only make sense. The Equifax Finance Blog explains in the article, "Four Reasons to Have Life Insurance Now."
The amount of debt that can come from death is staggering, from the tens of thousands that a full burial service can cost to change of lifestyle from lacking an income. Life insurance covers this staggering amount of debt and gives your family the chance to adjust to life without you. It can save them from potentially losing everything.

Moving? Don’t Forget to Notify!

Remember to notify so you don't miss notices and
owe penalties or lose points on your FICO score

It’s great: you’ve found the perfect north Atlanta new home for your family. You’ve got the closing date in mind and are giddy to call the moving company and get the key in your hand. The Equifax Finance Blog reminds us that it’s important to make sure we don’t forget to notify of moving during all the excitement with the new article, “Tell the IRS and Your State When You Move.”

When you move, even if you have forwarding set up, it can be hard for financial groups to catch up with you. Plus, it costs you time when items have to be rerouted if you don’t change your address at the source. This can mean everything from late payments to damage to your FICO score if tax agencies and credit card companies can’t get in touch with you. This can be especially bad in the case of taxes, where IRS letters turn into growing penalties on interest and eventually into a lien on your finances.

Foreclosures on the Move

Foreclosures continue to spread

The foreclosure epidemic is on the move, heading into new markets and away from the historically plagued areas. Steve Cook on the Equifax Finance Blog explains more about where foreclosures are moving and why in the article, “Foreclosures Move North to Changing Markets.”

Unfortunately, it looks like personal financial problems, as shown by foreclosures, are moving east and north. While Atlanta avoided being one of the new top three (those honors went to Kansas City, Chicago and New Jersey), Atlanta was in a couple of other prominent lists, most notably in the top 20 of the nation’s largest metro areas where foreclosures are increasing. Atlanta, with a 21 percent gain in foreclosures, was listed with 10 other northern and eastern markets where foreclosures are on the rise.

In addition to this growing problem, the backlog of foreclosures that had been held off is now beginning to make its way into many markets. While this means that they are showing up when buyers are most ready to absorb them, the increase in competition will likely hurt homeowners who are trying to sell their current residences.

Homes in Metro Atlanta Ready for Spring

Those interested in move-in ready homes in metro Atlanta will be glad to hear that Traton Homes has 31 inventory homes available for spring and summer move-in dates. From North Fulton to Cobb and everywhere in between, there is a home available to meet every buyer’s needs.

Plus, many of these homes feature incentives including price reductions and design options or closing cost bonuses. However, the incentives are limited and vary per home so you must act fast to take advantage of these deals. The following are just a few of the homes offered by Traton Homes.

In Milton, Westminister Place offers two move-in ready homes. The first home boasts the Providence plan and features five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a three-car garage, basement, double decks, family room with fireplace, media room and much more. This home has been reduced by an amazing $91,100 and is now priced to sell at $499,900. The second home features the Inglewood floor plan with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a three-car garage, basement, hardwoods and owner’s retreat with private sitting room. This home is also priced at $499,900, representing a savings of $90,900.

In Kennesaw, Traton Homes has great incentives on the Glenstone home design at Oakwood Creek. Buyers of this home will receive a $10,000 design options bonus PLUS a $2,500 closing cost bonus. The Glenstone is priced at $306,900 and features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a media room for quiet evenings at home with the family and a third-floor walk-up bonus room with a cloest.

These are just a few of the exciting move-in ready homes offered by Traton Homes this spring. For more information, visit http://www.TratonHomes.com.