Prioritizing What is Really Important in your Home Search

Looking for your dream Atlanta home or townhome? Look for the home you need at the price you can afford, suggests the experts at the Equifax Finance blog. In their recent article, “What Kind of Mortgage Can You Afford?” buyers are encouraged to assess what is really important in a home (not just their “likes” or “nice-to-haves” but necessities) and go from there. Think about amenities and features. Is a pool a must? How about parking? Proximity to parks? How many bedrooms? How large of a yard is necessary? Also think about the total costs involved with a home; not just the monthly mortgage payment, but utilities and transportation costs. Utilities in a larger home will be higher. Transportation costs in a home farther from work will be higher.

Woodbridge Farms Opens in York

York County, Penn. is a historic city named for the Duke of York The county is a popular tourist destination due to its German influence. When you think Pennsylvania Dutch, you are pretty much thinking York County in Central Pennsylvania. Of course, it is more than just a neat place to visit, it is a great place to live.

Affordable homes are easy to find thanks to home builder Keystone Custom Homes. In fact, the popular builder has opened a new community in the area,  Woodbridge Farms. The community has a gorgeous model home that features the Windsor floor plan and is price from the low $200,000s.  With interior appointments such as an  inviting foyer, formal dining room, study, spacious family room and gourmet kitchen with large island and breakfast area, you might not even look at another home before you buy!

The home has a very open, livable floorplan with a large owner’s suite with oversized walk-in closet and private bath with dual vanities, walk-in shower and garden tub.

This month only buyers can save 20 percent on all homes in Woodbridge Farms! Act now because April is almost over! For more information, visit www.KeystoneCustomHome.com.

How to Decorate your Home with Second-Hand Treasures

Get your Atlanta home or townhome ready to impress without breaking the bank by second-hand shopping. The top interior designers are always singing the praises of yard sale and thrift store shopping because they can add a one-of-a-kind (and wallet-friendly!) touch to a space.  Have you always thought second-hand shopping isn’t for you?

Check out this recent article on the Equifax Finance blog, “Shop Second-Hand Stores and Garage Sales Like a Pro,” which explains the pros of shopping second-hand and gives some tips for those of us who tend to stay away from second-hand shopping.

Many prefer to buy items new because the thought of using someone else’s “used” items makes them squeamish; but as the article explains, just about everything (there are a few exceptions) can be washed, cleaned and disinfected or sanitized. Think about a lamp you might buy new. After using it for one day, it’s technically used. But you don’t throw it out, do you? You use it for as long as it works for you. The same is true for a lamp you might buy at a yard sale or thrift store.

Traton Homes Selling Cobb County Homes at Great Oaks Estates

Cobb County has quickly become one of the hottest locations to live in metro Atlanta and as a Cobb County home builder for more than 40 years, Traton Homes is pleased to offer luxury new homes at Great Oaks Estates in Acworth. Nestled near the shores of lakes Allatoona and Acworth, Cobb County homes at this stunning community are priced from the low-$300,000s. 

Spacious homes are situated on half-acre or larger homesites and showcase beautiful brick, cedar shake and/or stone front exteriors with side-entry garages. Elegant interiors highlight upscale features and finishes that include nine foot smooth ceilings on the main level, iron balusters, finished media rooms (per plan), owner's suites with trey or vaulted ceilings, and luxurious owner's bathrooms with large tiled showers, ceramic tile floors and maple cabinetry. Gourmet kitchens are ideal for preparing family meals with granite countertops, hardwood flooring, maple cabinetry, recessed lighting and stainless steel appliances. 

Cobblestone Park Offering New Homes in Columbia

Wilson Parker Homes invites homebuyers to tour their newest collection of new homes in Columbia at Cobblestone Park. Distinctive, quality homes and a superior amenity package combine to make this community a must-see!

Need plenty of room? Explore the Pinehurst plan with six bedrooms, four bathrooms and 4,600 square feet. Priced from $449,000, features of this home include a two-story family room, two-story foyer, master suite with sitting room, study, mud room and more. Buyers can further customize this home by adding additional bedroom space, a master on the main or media room.

At 4,400 square feet, the Turnberry is a little smaller than the Pinehurst, but still large enough for the whole family to have plenty of room. This home offers five to six bedrooms, four bathrooms, formal dining room, patio, optional second owner's suite, open kitchen, master suite with sitting room, loft and much more for $397,000.

Finally, the Oakmont plan offers four to five bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms for $360,000. With 3,500 square feet, this open floor plan includes a master on the main, formal living and dining room, fireside family room, patio, bonus room and optional fifth bedroom or media room.

As if these three plans weren't stunning enough, Wilson Parker Homes will soon introduce new plans and pricing at this community!

Residents enjoy an extensive amenities package which includes a golf course, tennis courts, resort-style pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and a large sports field.

Located just a short drive from downtown Columbia, Cobblestone Park is convenient to shopping, dining, entertainment, recreation and much more.

How Accurate is your Credit Report?

There’s no question that with something as vital to your personal finance as a credit report, it is incredibly important that the report is accurate so you aren’t denied financing when you need it or have to pay a higher interest rate for money borrowed. But with identity theft and the chance for reporting errors, it is important to know just how much a chance of error there is. Experts on the Equifax Finance Blog explore the importance of accuracy in the new article, “The Facts About Credit Report Accuracy.”

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau keeps track of accuracy with credit reports and found that only between 1.3 and 3.9 percent of consumers disputed items on their credit report. Another study found that only a tiny portion - half of a percent - found mistakes on their credit report that would put them into a higher risk category, which would cause them to pay more or receive a higher interest rate.

Resort-Style Living Awaits at Crawford Creek's New Homes in Augusta

Resort-style living awaits you and your family at the award-winning Crawford Creek community of new homes in Augusta. 

Wilson Parker Homes buyers will be in awe of what awaits them from the moment they turn off Hereford Farm Road into this lovely community. The winding entrance to the community's Village, where their model home is open daily, is surrounded by lush gardens, cobblestone-style bridge and a nature trail.

Once inside the community, residents enjoy a wealth of amenities to keep everyone in the family busy! Neighbors can gather around at the community park featuring a covered pavilion, grills and a fire pit. In the summer, enjoy splish splashing your way to fun at the sparkling pool with tropical landscaping, a cave, water chute, rock-carved waterfall, pool house and much more. For those who seek a little more activity, the community offers miles of walking trails perfect for walking, jogging, running or bicycling.

Of course, the Wilson Parker Homes are also a sight to see! Buyers will love these estate-sized plans with finished or unfinished basements and views overlooking parks, green space or nature trails.

For more information on these new Augusta homes, call Marie Westerman at (706) 564-2179 or Heather Ferrante at (803) 292-6998.