This is an exciting time to be looking at homes in Henry County so come to Heron Bay in Locust Grove and see where these splendid homes are going to be built and while your there take a look around at the resort style amenities the community has to offer.  Paramount Communities has over 20 years of experience building new homes in Henry County, so come take advantage of their grand opening pricing and enjoy the luxury of their homes and the community.  We are looking forward to a wonderful experience with our new builder and our new residents.

When looking for a home you need to know what loan amount you qualify for and what loan is going to work for you, so that you do not waste your time looking at homes that exceed your loan range.  FHA has difference maximum loan limits  depending on where you are in the country, the amount for homes in Locust Grove, Georgia is$346,400 with as little as 3.5% down.  VA loans in Henry County are limited to $417,000. This is a 0% down program, but it applies to either active or veteran military personnel only.  Anything above the VA limit is considered conventional lending and will require at least 20% down.  There is one more type of loan that applies to mostly rural homes called a USDA loan that pays 100%, it does not have a limit, but is based on an income to payment ratio.  USDA does not always only pertain to homes out in the country, Heron Bay Golf and Country Club fits in the USDA loan guidelines because of the location, so you could be eligible for a 100% USDA loan if you were to look for a home here!

Heron Bay is located in Locust Grove, Georgia and boasts a 18 hole Canongate golf course, multiple pools, tennis courts and walking trails.  Another thing to look at when it comes to loans is the interest rate and as of Friday, May 28, 2010 the rate was 4.875% on a 30 year fixed mortgage. Today’s low rates combined with the low down payment can make buying anything under $346,400 a great deal.  So, when looking for a loan you need to know if the location you are looking at allows an USDA loan, whether you qualify for a VA or a FHA loan and what the limit is for your area, then you can make the decision on which homes to see and what you should offer.  Good luck and happy house hunting.

The Peach Stand Road Race is set to be held on Saturday, May 29th. This 4th Annual 5K race begins at Gardner Peach Stand, thus the name Peach Stand Road Race. Over 200 runners participated in 2009 and many more are anticipated for the annual event.

Music in the Park at Mayor’s Walk Park is a free event on the 2nd and 4th Friday nights featuring local musicians for everyone in the family to enjoy.

The Farmer’s Market will be open the  first Saturday of the month beginning June 2010 and going through November 2010.

Henry county has experienced significant growth and Locust Grove has been busy making improvements to the historic downtown area. A new downtown park, Trailhead Park, is currently under construction. The park will be landscaped, new sidewalks and small plaza areas added as well as a 35 space parking lot is also being added.

Beginning in June, multi-use paths will be added and sidewalks will be enhanced along Tanger Boulevard and will eventually connect to the Trailhead Park. These additions and  improvements, worth over $2 million, made to the city of Locust Grove will enhance historic downtown and encourage growth to the already thriving area.

Heron Bay Golf & Country Club is convenient to the happenings in Locust Grove, as well as downtown Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. This master-planned community is a great place to settle down, complete with resort-style amenities, Canongate golf course and community events year round.

Well, let’s think about this. Would you rather buy a 2004 car with 80,000 miles and no warranty for half of its value, or would you rather buy a brand new automobile with a 100,000 mile warranty and all the options you want for 75% of the original value?

Like a used car, foreclosed houses can often have hidden problems. The previous owner might not have paid much attention to the finer details in the house. These little issues can often lead to costly repairs on the part of the buyer.

Instead of going for someone else’s hand-me-downs, why not get what you really want from the start? By building new in Atlanta golf community,  Heron Bay, you’ll be able to completely customize your house. Granite counter tops and hardwood floors? No problem. Want to make sure you have the perfect shade of cabinetry in the kitchen? It can be done. By building custom you can make sure all of the little extras you want are in your home from the start.

New homes in Henry County are significantly discounted in this market and come with full warranties, and in most cases the builder will pay up to half the closing costs. In addition, most developers have discounted lots up to 60% off the original value, and the builders are looking to build to keep their crews active and to keep the banks happy. So, you can build YOUR dream home on YOUR dream lot with YOUR options, upgrades and colors at a reduced price.

Minerva Properties, the developer at Heron Bay has recently reduced 14 golf and lake lots, some up to 75% to help you create that dream at the price you were looking for. You’ll  find lots priced from $65,000 – $225,000, from 1/2 an acre to 1.5 acres, with golf and lake front views in this Locust Grove community.

Now is the perfect time to take advantage of the market and the incredible deals happening at Heron Bay. If you’re in the market for a custom-built luxury home in a community with resort style amenities, then come check out Heron Bay today! The Sales and Information Center is open 7 days a week and one of our staff members would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

The other 3 plans are currently being priced and will be located on some of the best lots left in the Preserve. Come buy a new home and get a warranty, no mold, no hidden defects, and no need to worry about updating the home to suit your needs. John Wieland’s pre-sales will allow you the ability to pick your elevations, colors and upgrades, all with the knowledge that your house is covered by one of the best warranties in the business.

In addition to beautiful homes built by well respected builders, Heron Bay also offers residents the best in luxury amenities and lifestyle. Whether you’re interested in teeing-up on the Canongate Golf Course, playing a little tennis at one of the community courts, or simply relaxing by the pool this golf course community located comfortably south of Atlanta is the perfect place to come home to at the end of a long day at work.

So hurry on over to Heron Bay today and take a tour of the Sedgwick. There is still time to take advantage of the home buyer tax credit and find the home of your dreams!

Hurry! Timing is crucial as you must be under contract by April 30, 2010 and close by June 30, 2010 in order to get the tax credit.

First time home buyers are eligible for $8000 and current homeowners can earn up to $6500 for purchasing a new primary residence. Current homeowners are only qualified if they have lived in their current residence for five consecutive years of the last eight years.

In addition, the income eligibility was also increased to $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for married couples.

Located in Locust Grove, Georgia, a short drive south of Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport, this master-planned community offers resort style living at its best. Amenities include an aquatic & tennis center, play park for children, 3 miles of nature trails, a 5-acre Lakefront Park & Pavilion on the shore of the Cole Reservoir and a prestigious Canongate Golf Course.

With several neighborhoods and price points, Heron Bay is bound to have the perfect home for your family. Whether you’re looking for the perfect active adult community, a young family purchasing your first home, or somewhere in between, there is sure to be a home for you. Earlier this year, D.R. Horton Homes introduced several new floor plans and pricing in Meadow Glen, The Villas, The Summit and Northridge. Many of these homes are under construction or already completed and priced from the $170’s to $300’s.

John Wieland Homes & Neighborhoods currently has their popular Sedgwick home under construction in The Preserve at Heron Bay. Visit our website for a complete list of the homes that will be finished in time to meet the tax credit deadline. Heron Bay currently has 20 homes available that are eligible to close  by the deadline, so stop by the sales center seven days a week to take a tour and speak with one of our friendly sales agents. You’ll quickly see why Heron Bay was named the 2005 Community of the Year by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association.

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.

Any participants donating blood or platelets between January 1 and March 31, 2010 are entered into a drawing for a $1000 gift card.  Join the effort to help those in need of lifesaving blood.

Appointments can be made by visiting www.redcrossblood.org. The sponsor code is “heronbay”.

The Community Liaison Committee is one of four committees at the master-planned community in Henry County. They have already had great success with donation drives since beginning their 2 year term in September 2009.

A Clothing Drive is planned for March and an Earth Day Celebration in April. The Heron Bay committees focus on several projects and events throughout the year building a strong sense of community the Locust Grove residents have come to enjoy and appreciate.

Heron Bay Golf & Country Club is known for their generous philanthropic efforts. In December the Atlanta golf community was involved in several Henry County philanthropies. Residents donated over 1,00 cans of food to three local non-profits and collected clothing, linens and toiletries for The Haven House in McDounough. In addition, Heron Bay residents raise money through their annual 5k, The Goblin Gallop. Residents raised over $25,000 for the Hands of Hope Clinic at the 2009 race.

For more information about life inside this generous master-planned community, visit the Sales & Information Center any day of the week or visit the Heron Bay Web site.

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 and easy access to transportation. This means that buyers do not have to be as concerned about moving into a mature-market community as future generations are looking for the same type of easy-living lifestyle. As the mature buyers market increases the communities that cater to them will have to increase as well, but with the current financial situation most developers are not able or willing to begin new communities. This could eventually lead to a shortage of homes for their growing segment of the market. Two communities that are still building and developing to address this market are Heron Bay Golf and Country Club in Locust Grove, Georgia and Sun City Peachtree south of Atlanta.

The January project “SAVE Your Greeting Cards” encourages residents to donate their old Christmas and greeting cards to benefit the St. Jude’s Ranch for Children.

St. Jude’s recycles the cards and sells them on their website. The children at the ranch play a big part in re-creating the “new” cards by removing the front of the cards and attaching a new back. The children benefit from the program by receiving payment for their work and they also learn the importance of “going green”.

On February 27th the committee is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive. The Blood Mobile will be located in the parking lot of the Sales & Information Center from 10AM to 3PM. The committee is inviting residents to bring family and friends to give blood.

The committee will also be planning a something special to celebrate Earth Day in April. This event will bring Heron Bay residents together in efforts to to keep the community clean and beautiful.

The Community Liaison Committee is just one of four committees that offer mulitple ways for the residents to be involved with fellow neighbors within the Atlanta golf community. For more information about Heron Bay Golf & Country Club or how you can get involved with one of the many committee projects, visit www.heronbayinfo.com.