What is rails with trails?

Still in the conceptual phase, rails with trails is a program that could create a passenger rail line throughout the state of Georgia. Several different options have been discussed, including a rail line that would run from Atlanta-Lovejoy to Atlanta-Macon. John Izard, chairman for Georgians for Passenger Rail has decided to push for a statewide plan rather than a simple rail corridor. This push is designed to gather support from the entire state. According to Transit Planner, Anthony Dukes, the project could be funded by both federal and private funds. (more…)

Atlanta golf community,  Heron Bay Golf and Country Club was featured on Atlanta’s Best New Homes on Fox on Sunday, February 28 at 10 a.m., but if you missed it you can still catch the video on YouTube and see everything this master-planned community is known for.

Heron Bay is a golf and lake community located in Locust Grove, south of Atlanta and has some of the most amazing amenities in the Southern Crescent.

One of the most woderful amenities is the lakefront park which allows one to look out over the 1,100 acre Cole Resevoir and enjoy the warm weather heading our way. (more…)

Mark your calendars to tune in on Sunday February 28, 2010 to Atlanta’s Best New Homes on Fox at 10 am because Heron Bay Golf and Country Club will be featured. We’ve always known that this south Atlanta golf community features some of Atlanta’s best new homes, and are so excited that the rest of the city will finally know it too.

The community itself will be discussed along with two of the custom homes in Lakeview at Heron Bay. This show also mentions all the amenities this master planned community offers and showcases the community as the exceptional place it is.

This show should increase the traffic of buyers to the Sales Center and help move the homes that are currently on the market in our community. If you want to know more about Heron Bay Golf and Country Club and see all that we have to offer, then watch on Sunday at 10 am or come and visit us at the Information and Sales Center.

Mature-market (55+) home buyers in a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders and the MetLife Mature Market Institute showed a split in preferences from one age group to the next. The younger group, age 55-64 years old, was found to have greater interest in a home that was tech heavy in its design, whereas the older group, 65+, preferred the home to be a one- story with universal design features.

Some surprising information that came out of this survey was that the younger group preferred service oriented homes and communities versus one that had greater amenities and social activities. One thing they both had in common was the desire for home maintenance and repair to be included, as well as other services like housekeeping, on-site health care (more…)

The IRS has recently released Form 5405. Why is Form 5405 special? This is the form you’ll need to fill out to take advantage of your Homebuyer’s Tax Credit you used to purchase your new home!

The IRS will begin processing these forms beginning in mid-February. Make sure to send your home ASAP to be at the top of the pile. Make sure to pay close attention to all of the details as Form 5405 will now require additional documentation in order to prevent fraud. Because of these additional documents, you’ll need to file a paper tax return rather than filing online.

Additional documents include:

• A copy of the settlement statement showing all parties’ names and signatures, property address, sales price, and date of purchase. Normally, this is the properly executed Form HUD-1, Settlement Statement. (more…)

A women cries as workers dig through the rubble in search of her nephew, whose cries could be heard in a collapsed building in downtown Port-au-Prince, Haiti on Thursday, January 14, 2010. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

Residents of Atlanta golf community, Heron Bay Golf & Country Club are known for giving back to their community throughout the year.

Now when those outside the Henry county area are in need, residents of the master-planned community are committed to making sure that everyone knows how they can donate to the Haiti.

One of the easiest forms of donation is through text messages. By texting “HAITI” to 90999 on your cell phone and $10 will be donated to the Red Cross for the relief efforts.  The charge will show up on your next cell phone bill. (more…)

According to a recent article from the Atlanta Journal Constitution, home prices in metro Atlanta and in the nation are on the rise.  So when you hear “Now is the time to buy,” it actually is.  The foreclosure market is drying up slowly but surely, and when you combine that with the low interest rates and tax credits, you will see that prices are destined to continue to climb over the coming months.  So, for those of you that have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the market to bottom out in order to get the best deals, you need to act now.

I have several golf course homes in Heron Bay Golf and Country Club that qualify for the tax credits and are just waiting for a new owner. Come to Heron Bay and see what we mean by “Resort Style Living at Home,” and check out all our wonderful homes.  Take advantage before the prices rise any more.

Great News! The $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers has been extended. In order to take advantage of the opportunity, buyers will need to be under contract by April 30, 2010 and close on their new home by June 30, 2010.

In addition, the program has been expanded to include a new $6,500 credit for current home owners who are purchasing a new primary residence. To qualify, you will need to have lived in your current residence for five consecutive years out of the last eight years.

The income eligibility for both first time and repeat buyers has also been increased to $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for married couples. (more…)

Delta’s merge with Northwest Airlines is set to bring as many as 500 jobs to Atlanta even as it cuts thousands of positions throughout its systems through buyouts. The company is moving Northwest’s pricing operation to Atlanta which means approximately 60 jobs are available for MBA-types with specialties in finance, economics, math and operations research. Delta is also expanding its operations control center in Atlanta, with flight dispatchers and other staffers coming from Minneapolis.

In a recent AJC article, it states that because of the recent merge new employees will become new home buyers in the Atlanta area, especially south of Atlanta. Heron Bay Golf & Country Club offers a convenient commute to the airport and has several single-family homes available for new Atlanta home buyers. Stop by the master-planned community today and take a tour of our beautiful community and model homes.

Here at Heron Bay Golf and Country Club, we have a big reason for excitement! The 900th home was just closed in our community. America’s Builder, D. R. Horton Homes, built and sold the home in Meadow Glen at Heron Bay. I am thrilled about the opportunity to welcome our new neighbors all the way from Philadelphia, Mr. Thadius Nesbitt and his beautiful wife Mindy, who will be moving into their new home in Meadow Glen this summer. Helen is planning to bake a cake to welcome them and Spalding wants to make a mud pie, but we’ll have to save the mud pie until we know our new neighbors just a little better.

I know that reaching this landmark in home sales has been a real encouragement to the staff and development team here at Heron Bay. Helen and I are so proud of the success that Heron Bay has seen as well as all of the positive growth our community has experienced this year. Helen also talked to Marketing Director Lisa Brutvan and she said that reaching this significant milestone has energized the staff about the spring and summer buying season and that the future at Heron Bay looks very bright.

The Nesbitts also complimented the friendly customer service they received from the development team, builder and sales agents at Heron Bay. Mindy said that the people here at Heron Bay are some of the nicest she has ever met in her life! I can confirm that this is true, as our family had a wonderful experience buying our home here. I know the Nesbitts will also enjoy all of the amenities that Heron Bay has to offer, like the aquatic center, clubhouse, tennis center, lake, golf course, parks and much more when they arrive this summer. Hopefully they will move into their home in time for our annual Luau by the Pool, which is sure to be a hit as always!

Join me in welcoming the Nesbitts as our newest neighbors to Heron Bay!