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Walton Riverwood: A new residential community in Vinings

Submitted by Atlanta News on Thursday, July 18th, 11:20 am

ATLANTA -- Walton Communities is pleased to announce its newest apartment community in one of Cobb County’s most sought-after areas – Vinings. Nestled in the metro area suburbs just northwest of Atlanta, Walton Riverwood will offer unsurpassed access to the offices of the area’s top employers, dining options and shopping destinations. The central location of the apartment homes, highlighted by stunning floor plans, ample amenities and exquisite, custom designed features, will offer residents the perfect blend of luxury and convenience.  

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HARP 2.0 Refinance Program can help Georgia residents save thousands

Submitted by Brad Hartman, Community Blogger/Mortgage Professional
Thursday, April 4th, 2013, 11:50am
HARP 2.0 Refinance Program can help Georgia residents save thousands

ATLANTA – Just over a year ago the government rolled out a new refinance program for Georgia residents.  This program has been an overwhelming success.  The primary function of this program is to help Georgia homeowners that are currently underwater with their mortgages qualify for a new loan with an extremely low interest rate.  The guidelines from HARP 2.0 have continued to loosen as the program matures.  

​Eligibility for a HARP 2.0!​

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New FHA Streamline Refinance Program will help Georgia Homeowners

Submitted by Brad Hartman, Community Blogger/Mortgage Professional
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012, 11:00am
New FHA Streamline Refinance Program will help Georgia Homeowners

FHA Streamline Refinance is designed to help homeowners with FHA mortgages easily qualify for an interest rate reduction with no appraisal required, little income verification and little to no closing costs.

While it has become a bit more challenging to get approved for a mortgage, FHA has made it easier.  See the excerpt below from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):

On March 6, 2012, the Acting Federal Housing (FHA) Commissioner Carol Galante announced significant price cuts to FHA’s Streamline Refinance Program that could benefit millions of borrowers whose mortgages are currently insured by FHA.   Beginning June 11, 2012, FHA will lower its Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP) to just .01 percent and reduce its annual premium to .55 percent for certain FHA borrowers.

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ST Residential starts 2012 with multiple sellouts

Submitted by Liz Lapidus PR
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012, 9:20am
ST Residential starts 2012 with multiple sellouts

ATLANTA – ST Residential celebrates a strong start to 2012, announcing three sellouts since January at Horizon at Wildwood, Luxe and Serrano. Another sellout is not far behind, with 95% of The Townhomes at One River Place sold after a dramatic increase in traffic in the last quarter. Additionally, Atlanta’s premier eco-friendly high rise, The Brookwood, is leading the Buckhead submarket with the most net sales for the fourth straight quarter, and is currently over 50% sold.

“We’re seeing strong demand at all of our communities in Atlanta” says John Huckaby, senior vice president of ST Residential.  “Limited supply for new construction condominiums and low interest rates has certainly helped strengthen the market.”

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Underwater on your mortgage?

Submitted by Brad Hartman, Community Blogger/Mortgage Professional
Thursday, February 23rd, 2012, 8:30am
Underwater on your mortgage?

HARP 2.0 CAN HELP!

What is HARP?  HARP is Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP).  How does this affect you?  HARP is designed to help home owners that have been unable to get traditional refinancing due to the decrease in home value and may not have enough equity or no equity at all.  Home owners can actually be upside down on their mortgage and still be eligible.

Who is eligible?

  • The mortgage must be owned or guaranteed by Freddi mac or Fannie Mae
  • The mortgage must have been sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie mac on or before May 31, 2009.
  • The mortgage cannot have been refinanced under HARP previously
  • The current loan to value ratio needs to be greater than 80%
  • The borrower must be current on their mortgage at the time of the refinance with a good payment history in the past 12 months

As of January 9, 2012 HARP Guidelines have changed.  Prior t

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Rent or Buy?

Submitted by Brad Hartman, Community Blogger/Mortgage Professional
Friday, December 16th, 2011, 2:30pm
Rent or Buy?

Buying a home versus renting is a big decision that takes a lot of consideration.

While there are several biased sources that can make arguments for or against owning a home, I’ve found that most home buyers base their ultimate decision on emotion.

Yes, there are some tax advantages of owning real estate, as well as the potential to earn equity or paying a mortgage off after several years.

Below I have addressed some of the more obvious topics of discussion first.

Benefits Of Renting:

Freedom To Move –

It’s easy to find a home through a reputable property management company, move in that weekend and then leave a year later when the rental contract expires.  Not being tied down by a long-term mortgage liability is ideal for people new to a community, in a career that keeps them on the go or for parents with children that prefer a certain school district.

Plus, if you’re planning on moving in the next 3-5

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Somebody Else Owns The Home You Are Living In

Submitted by Castles By Chrissy Team, Team Leader of Castles By Chrissy
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011, 8:19am
Somebody Else Owns The Home You Are Living In

Someone Else Owns The Home You Are Renting

Owning a home is still the American Dream. Renting is easier, but let's remember, somebody else owns the home you're renting. You are helping them achieve the American Dream and that's awful nice of you...but don't you want to achieve your own dream? You think that by renting you are saving money? You aren't. You are just paying someone else's mortgage, or at least part of it.

Wouldn't you rather invest that rent money into your own home? Let us assume that the average rent in a San Antonio Texas neighborhood for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home is $1000. Over the period of one year (12 months), you have contributed $12,000 to a person's, whom you probably don't even know, future.

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