12 minute read
Mortgage & Finance
Considerations to make when you are in the market for purchasing a home
By Michael Quirk, communications coordinator for Ameris Bank
Factor in Distances to Important Landmarks
The distance from your home to your office has long been a staple consideration during home buying. As many companies have increased their remote work possibilities, this has become less of a factor to some. Still, there are other landmark distances for you to consider when purchasing your next home. Factoring in the distance to your gym, your child’s school or daycare, your friends and family, the airport or any other place you tend to visit regularly should be on your mind. Location is a key decision-driver for many home buyers, and thinking about it ahead of time can save you considerable headaches rather than dealing with the tedious travel time after the fact.
Think About How It Fits Your Day-to-Day
If you are in the market for purchasing a home, chances are you will attend quite a few open houses. The housing market is as hot as ever as listings seem to disappear as quickly as they arrive, leaving home buyers feeling the need to have multiple options. As you step into an open house, here are some ideas to keep in mind. It is easy to step into a house and fall in love with the idea of where your holiday decorations will go, what you can do with the garden and other long-term ideas. It is even more important to consider how the house and neighborhood fit your day-to-day life. Does it have a garage if you need one? Is it on a busy or noisy street that might not be enjoyable when you’re relaxing in the yard? Do you prefer to have a sidewalk to walk your dog? Will it be difficult turning on and off your street? Thinking of your average Tuesday in the home may not be as romantic as envisioning a marquee occasion in the future, but it is vitally important.
Ensure the Housing Situation is a Fit for the Long Run
On a similar note, you should consider how the home and neighborhood will work for you in the future. If you have a child or are planning to start or grow your family, are there enough bedrooms and maybe a dedicated playroom? Are you working remotely now and need a home office? By the same token, if you either have a dog or are thinking about adopting one in the future, is there a yard or nearby park where your furry friend can let out some energy?
Be Clear About HOA Coverage and Reserve Funds
Make sure to ask your real estate agent about what is covered by the homeowners association (HOA) fees. This is particu-
larly crucial if you are purchasing a condo or townhome. Some communities cover certain repairs, but not everything—so make sure you know the extent to which your monthly fees go. Ask about how fees cover landscaping, amenities such as a pool and covered parking. One extenuating circumstance to ask about is the reserve funds kept by the HOA. If your potential HOA is financially responsible, they will have a well of reserve funds that can be used for repairs or needed improvements in the neighborhood. If the reserve funds are low and a major repair is needed, you could find yourself in danger of an assessment, meaning every resident pays toward the cost of the repair, which could set you back a significant amount of money.
Weigh Repairs and Cosmetic Changes
When touring the home, does it appear to need significant repairs such as a new roof, water damage or an old HVAC unit? If so, those are things to strongly consider, especially if you are getting close to your maximum budget. When weighing the repairs and changes you would want to make, assess what the house needs to be livable (like a functioning HVAC) and what cosmetic changes are needed to suit your taste. Removing carpet, painting walls or replacing outdated countertops and fixtures are changes you can make over time, so focus on the cost of those significant needs. n
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Ameris Bank does not endorse nor is affiliated with the companies listed in this article. For more information, visit amerisbank.com.
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Spring into Action
LOCAL ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITIES HELP HOMEOWNERS PUT A SPRING IN THEIR STEP THIS SEASON
By Amy Meadows
“S pring is the season of new beginnings,” says Judie Woodall, a managing member of Strategic Real Estate Advisors. “Fresh buds bloom, new vegetation [appears], animals awaken and the Earth seems to come to life again.” Clearly, it’s the perfect time to get outside and really enjoy everything that Mother Nature has to offer. And that’s exactly what metro Atlanta’s active adult population wants to do—right within their own communities. As Woodall continues, “We have learned that the ‘active’ in active adult is just that. Property owners want to stay physically, mentally, socially and spiritually active.”
Fortunately, metro Atlanta’s 55+ residential market has obliged with an array of outstanding communities that are designed specifically for today’s energetic seniors. And those developments are replete with outdoor offerings that speak to the particular wants and needs of active adults, which is ideal for a spectacular season like spring in the ATL. From providing outlets for exercise to allowing homeowners to commune with nature, these communities understand what today’s active seniors really crave. According to Kimberly Garwood, director of marketing for Traton Homes, “Today’s 55+ group is still thinking young, and they want to have a place to take advantage of and enjoy their new lifestyle.”
Soleil Belmont Park
(770) 635-4080 soleilbelmontpark.com One of the newest options in the local active adult market, Soleil Belmont Park from Patrick Malloy Communities offers what it calls “55-and-Better Living.” Situated on more than 400 acres conveniently located between Canton and Milton, the community is slated to open soon with beautifully appointed, low-maintenance residences sitting on large home sites and ranging from the $400s to the $700s. What’s more, the community offers a cornucopia of outdoor amenities.
“Atlanta has a great climate for outdoor activities for nine to ten months of the year, and at Soleil Belmont Park, we have 451 acres with several walking trails and loads of outdoor activities,” explains Lori Lane, senior vice president, New Homes Division,
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties. “The 55+ market is looking for lifestyle first, as well as healthy opportunities.”
From pickleball (the latest craze in the Southeast), bocce ball and tennis courts to a resort-style pool, community gardens and a dog park, Soleil Belmont Park has an impressive foundation of community amenities that will get homeowners outside in the fresh air. To complement
Soleil Belmont Park
for Over 50 Years Strong!
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Winner
those resources, the neighborhood also will have a clubhouse, a coffee shop and cocktail bar, an arts and crafts studio and a gourmet catering kitchen, as well as lifestyle director who will be seen as “the conductor for having a great lifestyle community.” Many of the activities planned by the lifestyle director will take place on Soleil Belmont Park’s event lawn, which will host music concerts in the spring, movie nights and food trucks in the summer, football tailgate parties in the fall and moonlight dances in the winter. In addition to allowing people to get out there and be active, the options also are designed to help residents get to know their neighbors.
“The 55+ market wants the opportunity to be able to meet and interact with their neighbors,” Lane observes. “The amenities at Soleil Belmont Park were designed to make one feel that they are at a first-class resort but with the added bonus of having all of their friends with them. We want our homeowners to live the lifestyle they have dreamed about.” All of the community’s features offer a social component—even the neighborhood post office, which will become a place for friends to meet up on the daily.
And with its ideal location within metro Atlanta, homeowners will have access to myriad destinations outside of the community itself, including Gibbs Gardens and the North Georgia Mountains, which both are a short drive away. As Lane concludes, “It’s all here. It’s world-class amenities, fine dining nearby and endless opportunities for adventure. It’s the comfort and convenience of making memories with your favorite people in your new favorite place.”
Lake Arrowhead
Lake Arrowhead
(770) 720-2700 lakearrowheadga.com Lake Arrowhead, a gated mountain, lake and golf master-planned community located just outside of Canton, has become one of the area’s most popular destinations for home buyers 55 and older, thanks in large part to its unparalleled environment and outdoor appeal.
At the heart of the community is a 540acre lake with over 21 miles of shoreline, a marina, lakeside park, hiking trails and more. “Lakeside activity is all abuzz with boating, fishing and swimming, while others enjoy the hiking trails, swimming complexes, golf course, sport courts, pickleball and tennis courts and so much more,” Judie Woodall says. “Spending time walking among the wildlife or simply enjoying the trees and the lake is known to lower blood pressure, improve your mood, reduce anxiety, improve heart rate and reduce muscle tension. And with all that everyone has endured with Covid and life in general over the last few years, property owners have a little more spring in their step and peace in their heart when enjoying the lifestyle that Lake Arrowhead offers.” In addition to the spectacular setting and natural amenities, the community boasts a full-time lifestyle director who works onsite to maintain a bustling social calendar. Outdoor and boutique fitness options like Tai Chi, yoga and walking clubs are popular, and Lake Arrowhead offers easy access to the championship Highlands
Traton Homes
Course, which is considered one of the best golf courses in Georgia. Furthermore, Lake Arrowhead plans to add a disc golf course, an event lawn adjacent to the lake and the dog park and more.
In terms of the residential offerings, there are exciting new plans and neighborhoods slated to be released in Lake Arrowhead through 2022. The options, which range from the $300s to the $800s, will include lakeview homes, modern mountain cottages, lakeview ranch homes, estate home sites with acreage, expansive mountain and golf view homes and golf villas. Within the homes, you’ll find such features as larger walk-in showers, hands-free faucets, larger pantry space for expanded storage and more. Additionally, outdoor living features like fireplaces, kitchens and large sliding glass doors create a warm and welcoming environment.
“Lake Arrowhead has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Live in America and the Top Master-Planned Community in the country,” Woodall concludes. “We are confident that once people visit the community, they will realize first-hand why it’s a lifestyle they will want, a home they have earned and why residents say it’s a special place to call home.”
Traton Homes
(770) 427-9064 tratonhomes.com “Spring weather definitely brings our active adult homeowners outside,” Garwood says. “Spring is the perfect time to do that here in Atlanta.”
While Traton Homes has been building in the Atlanta market since 1971, the company entered the active adult market in 2018. Today, the company boasts several active adult communities, including Courtyards of Camden in West Cobb, Kirk Ridge in Marietta and Courtyards at Ebenezer in East Cobb. It’s most recent community is Courtyards at Hickory Flat in Canton in Cherokee County, with Courtyards at Traditions off of Majors Road in Forsyth County soon to follow. Each of Traton’s active adult communities boasts its own unique style and fantastic amenities package, including such features as clubhouses, pickleball courts, dog parks, community gathering areas and pools with easy-access walk-in features. And the beautifully crafted and well-appointed ranch homes are a study in outstanding active adult living, with open floor plans and spectacular indoor and outdoor living spaces. The latter, according to Garwood, provide the perfect place for container gardening, while the home sites themselves offer an ideal spot for “digging in the dirt and planting flower beds.”
Of course, meeting and greeting other residents is a coveted activity in the beautiful spring weather, and Traton Homes has created opportunities to do just that. “Active adult homeowners enjoy socializing and look for amenities that allow for gathering as a group,” she continues. “Gathering poolside or even in an outdoor covered area are popular activities. Pickleball and community gardening are also popular. Even the mailbox kiosk becomes a gathering spot to say hello to neighbors. Having these kinds of amenities in our communities automatically lends itself to meeting neighbors and engaging in new social circles.”
Fifty years of homebuilding experience coupled with a recently defined focus on the active adult market has allowed Traton Homes to become a standout on 55+ real estate scene. And the company plans to continue crafting communities that provide everything home buyers are looking for. As Garwood concludes, “We know that amenities are great for fostering social and health aspects for everyone.” n
