Archive for the ‘Atlanta’ Category

With today’s rates being as low as they are, many potential home buyers are looking for ways to fast track the mortgage process at rocket speeds online or through Apps on their phone.

After all, we do live in a time where we can have almost anything we want on demand through a few clicks. With all of these amazing conveniences, it only makes sense that there are similar shortcuts to buying a home, right?

Wrong!

The purchases mentioned above, are relatively minor compared to the average price of a home. And many first time home buyers don’t realize that mortgage loans are not one-size-fits-all products and each one is tailored to the borrower’s unique financial situation

When you work with a mortgage expert, either face-to-face or over the phone, they can ask you the right questions to help you secure the best mortgage at the best rate, customized to meet your own personal home buying needs.

And while today’s rates remain low, they won’t be forever, so the more prepared you are in advance, the better your chances will be later of securing the best possible mortgage to help you buy the home of your dreams.

Here are five simple steps to make the home buying process as uncomplicated and easy as possible for you.

1. Start saving now!

While some mortgage products require a very low down payment, or no down payment at all, there are costs associated with the buying a home you may not be aware of. Outside of fees associated with closing costs, the home’s inspection, etc., there may also be upgrades or changes you’ll want to make right away, sich as the installation of a wireless AV system.

2. Know your loan options.
FHA, VA, conventional, jumbo… all of these mortgages have their plusses and minuses.

A mortgage expert can help you decide which one is the best option for the home you’re considering and walk you through down payment scenarios and other factors that will affect your monthly mortgage payment.

3. Know in advance what you’re approved for.

Most people have no idea how much a mortgage lender is actually going to loan them until they find a home they like and apply for a loan. Getting approved for a mortgage can take some time and with the limited availability of homes on the market, any delay can cause you to lose out to another buyer who is already working with a lender.

Make sure you have a pre-qualification before you even start window shopping for a home and later, secure a pre-approval before you start meeting with Realtors and home sellers. Many Realtors and sellers won’t meet with potential buyers unless they see a pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender.

4. Is anyone else pretending to be you?

Many potential borrowers don’t realize that they’ve been the victims of identity theft until they have had their credit checked by a mortgage lender. ID theft can hurt your credit score and make it very difficult for you to secure a mortgage at a favorable rate.

Overcoming identity theft is a time consuming process and one that does not happen overnight. It’s best to check your credit report at least once a year to see if you’ve been the victim of identity theft and fix any errors you may see before you apply for a mortgage.

5. Connect with a mortgage expert for insider secrets.

Each borrower’s situation is different and there are many other steps a borrower can take to secure the best mortgage at the lowest rate possible. However, these are all based on the individual borrower’s personal situation, the current interest rates and the home they are looking to purchase.

HomeBridge prides itself on taking a personal approach to the mortgage industry. Any of the mortgage loan originators in my office would be happy to discuss your home buying needs with you and there is never an obligation to work with HomeBridge when you do decide the time is right to purchase a home.

About the author:

Jeff Conn is the branch manager for the Cobb office of HomeBridge Financial Services, Inc. one of the largest, independent mortgage lenders in the U.S. Appointments with Jeff or someone from his team can be made by calling (770) 373-5500, sending an email to jconn@homebridge.com or by going online to www.homebridge.com/branch/kennesaw/.

See below for a great list of all homes that can close in the Atlanta area by July 30th, 2017.

Last Chances:

Annistown Meadows in Snellville, GA and Birchwood Place, Loganville GA
Only have two homes remaining in each community.

First Opportunities:

Silver Springs Village in Powder Springs GA and Villas at Park Place in Stone Mountain, GA have first closings happening in July!

Great Incentives:
Wheatfields Reserve in Grayson, GA has incentives you will not want to miss!
Up to $20,000 off select homes.

*Specials listed are available only for select homes that close by July 30th, 2017 All homes are eligible for $5,000 in closing costs when you use a trusted lender. See an agent for more details.

Activities Abound at this Alluring Powder Springs Community Poised at the Edge of the Silver Comet Trail

Paran Homes is proud to add another incredible West Cobb community to its portfolio – the established and esteemed Silver Springs Village. Now selling in one of the most sought after areas of Metro Atlanta, this 55+ community gives new meaning to the phrase “Active Adult.” A splendid tribute to the Great Outdoors, Silver Springs Village is poised near Powder Springs Park on one end of the community and Georgia’s renowned Silver Comet Trail and Linear Greenway on the other. Residents can enjoy jogging, rollerblading, biking or simply walking the dog along Silver Comet’s paved path – which stretches an astounding 61.5 miles from Smyrna to the Alabama/Georgia state line. Additional adventures await at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield and Lake Allatoona – both located less than 20 miles from the community.

For the more passive recreational pursuit of sports spectating, baseball fans will love the fact that Silver Springs is located about 16 miles away from the NEW Home of the Atlanta Braves – Suntrust Park. And for those residents who prefer shopping and dining out over exercise, they’ll be pleased to know that the high-end shops and eclectic eateries of the Cumberland Mall area are located less than 15 miles from their front door. Of course, there’s no need to even leave the community in search of fun. Silver Springs comes complete with a community pool, clubhouse and active HOA.

Paran is debuting two new floor plans at Silver Springs – the Canongate and the Applegate. Upon completion, the Paran Homes’ phase of Silver Springs Village will boast 29 charming two-story cottage-style homes, each featuring three bedrooms including a master-on-main, two to three bathrooms, rear-entry garage and stunning finishes throughout – all superbly priced from the $220’s.  A handful of lucky homebuyers will have their choice of the most premium home sites – some of which overlook the sprawling Village Green. In additional to beautiful homes, residents of Silver Springs Village get to enjoy the advantage of low Cobb County taxes. To add to the allure of this West Cobb community even further, the earliest home buyers will be afforded the opportunity to select all of the interior and exterior finishes that will make their new home unique to their own sense of style at Paran Homes’ Design Center. To get a true sense of what it might be like to live in a Paran Home at Silver Springs Village, the builder invites visitors to take a tour of the community’s brand-new model home. Getting to Silver Springs Village is easy. Simply take I-20 East or West and head North on Thornton Rd (278). Turn right on Richard D. Sailors Pkwy. The community will be on the right. For GPS users, the address of the sales center is 4552 Silver Springs Blvd. Powder Springs, GA 30127.  To learn more about Silver Springs Village and other Paran Homes communities throughout Metro Atlanta, home buyers are encouraged to visit www.paranhomes.com or call 678-905-6984.

It’s 2017 and it seems that everywhere you go you hear about new ways to be energy efficient. Building and buying a new home is no different, especially with all the amazing technology that’s being engineered each day that allows us to save money, build smarter, and sustain the world for future generations. Buying a brand-new home means you’re choosing to move forward toward a smarter way to live because of the codes, appliances, and physical design of new homes. At Paran, we believe it’s our responsibility to construct a home that families can enjoy for many decades to come, all while remaining safe for their families and energy efficient for the Earth. So, let’s consider a few reasons new homes are more energy efficient and how Paran makes that promise to you.

New appliances

There was a large housing boom in the 1960s so many homes were built in this era. And as beautiful as they may be, they were not built with the same codes or energy standards as brand new homes are built with in 2017. Older homes have less efficient systems operating throughout. But when you move into a fresh new home, you’re given the opportunity to use state of the art appliances that are designed with the energy savings in mind.

Proper Insulation

The older a home is, the more you risk having lower quality insulation and weatherization throughout the house. Newly built homes are designed with this in mind, which saves you hundreds if not thousands of dollars each year in energy costs throughout the lifespan of your time in the home. Weatherization is simply the process a homeowner or home builder takes to make sure your house stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter without spending more than necessary. The steps toward proper air sealing, moisture control, and ventilation, are all factors that go into the design of every Paran Home.

Moisture Control 

One of the biggest factors that can lead to degradation of a home’s structure is moisture. Improper moisture control practices, especially on older homes, can cause mold, humidity, poor ventilation, and eventually health concerns for your family. Knowing this, Paran provides every new home with a 10-year warranty seamless waterproofing membrane that’s designed to block water seepage to ensure a dry basement. Every new home comes equipped with weather stripping around each and every door to ensure a dry, comfortable home.

Smarter Lighting

Reports estimate that 5% of a homeowner’s annual energy bill goes toward lighting! By simply changing the lighting choices in our five most used rooms in the house, we can save roughly $75 a year. All it takes is smarter light bulb choices, ideally ones that give off the least amount of heat or have the ENERGYSTAR seal of approval, and you can start saving money and turning your home into an energy saving machine.

When you buy a quality built home with Paran you can rest assured your home is built with forward thinking maintenance and strategy in mind. We ensure all of our models are built with top of the line appliances so you don’t have to worry about repairs or replacements anytime soon. And with the Paran Promise in mind, your home and appliances will be backed with a 10 year warranty in case those accidents ever do happen! To speak with one of our agents about finding the home that’s right for you, please contact us here and we’ll be in touch!