Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Decline Amid Market Volatility

/PRNewswire/ -- Mortgage rates were down for the third week in a row, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate falling to 5.07 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.42 discount and origination points.

To see mortgage rates in your area, go to http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/

The average 15-year fixed mortgage stepped down to 4.45 percent and the larger jumbo 30-year fixed rate sank to 5.85 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages were mostly lower, with the average 3-year ARM backpedalling to 4.44 percent while the 5-year ARM dropped to 4.27 percent.

Worries over European debt rattled financial markets and brought mortgage rates to the lowest level since St. Patrick's Day. Once again mortgage shoppers were direct beneficiaries as nervous investors equate to lower mortgage rates. Furthermore, this cloud of global economic uncertainty likely gives the Federal Reserve even more latitude to hold the line on interest rates, so mortgage rates will stay a little lower, a little longer, than what was forecast just a few weeks ago.

The last time mortgage rates were above 6 percent was Nov. 2008. At that time, the average rate was 6.33 percent, meaning a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of $1,241.86. With the average rate now 5.07 percent, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $1,082.22, a savings of $159 per month for a homeowner refinancing now.

SURVEY RESULTS
30-year fixed: 5.07% -- down from 5.12% last week (avg. points: 0.42)
15-year fixed: 4.45% -- down from 4.49% last week (avg. points: 0.39)
5/1 ARM: 4.27% -- down from 4.31% last week (avg. points: 0.35)

Bankrate's national weekly mortgage survey is conducted each Wednesday from data provided by the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 markets.

For a full analysis of this week's move in mortgage rates, go to http://www.bankrate.com/mortgagerates

The survey is complemented by Bankrate's weekly Rate Trend Index, in which a panel of mortgage experts predicts which way the rates are headed over the next seven days. Nearly two-thirds of the panelists, 64 percent, don't expect much change in mortgage rates and forecast that rates will be more or less unchanged over the next week. Count 29 percent as predicting an increase in mortgage rates, with just 7 percent foreseeing further declines over the next seven days.

For the full mortgage Rate Trend Index, go to http://www.bankrate.com/RTI

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Lakeland Floorplan Features Special Pricing at Bowen Family Homes’ Hanover Pointe

Full appliance package available with purchase of featured home

Bowen Family Homes’ Hanover Pointe community welcomes spring with a special promotion on their Lakeland floorplan. The featured townhome, originally priced at $224,015, has been reduced to $199,015. In addition to the special pricing, the home buyer that purchases this beautiful home will receive a side by side refrigerator, washer, dryer, two-inch blinds throughout and a garage door opener. This special pricing is available for a limited time only. For more information, call Bonnie Marshall or Brandi Helvey at 678-893-0858.

The spacious Lakeland floorplan features approximately 1,829 square feet of living space and has three bedrooms with two and one half bathrooms. Elegant interiors include a two-story foyer with rod iron banisters, a spacious kitchen with maple cabinets and granite countertops, hardwoods throughout the main floor, oversized owner’s suite, upstairs laundry and much more. The openness between the kitchen, dining room and family room makes the Lakeland floorplan perfect for everyday life as well as entertaining family and friends.

Residents at Hanover Pointe enjoy an active lifestyle with a variety of amenities to choose from including a neighborhood pool with mushroom fountain and cabana, four lighted tennis courts, clubhouse, playgrounds, neighborhood parks, walking trails and lighted sidewalks. Hanover Pointe is located in sought-after South Forsyth providing residents easy access to GA-400 as well as local shopping, restaurants and entertainment.

To visit Hanover Pointe take GA 400 North to Exit 12B West (McFarland Parkway). Travel West on McFarland Parkway and turn left on Union Hill. Hanover Pointe will be located on the left. For more information on Hanover Pointe, call 678-893-0858 or visit www.BowenFamilyHomes.com.

Since 1969 the Bowen name has stood for excellence in new home construction and community development. Recognized as the 25th largest privately owned builder in the country by Builder Magazine for 2005, Bowen Family Homes is a dynamic homebuilder with operations in Georgia, Florida and Texas. The Atlanta Business Chronicle ranked Bowen Family Homes 5th among metro Atlanta builders in 2007 and 40th among Atlanta’s Top 100 Private Companies for 2007.

Additionally, Bowen Family Homes was named the Georgia Family Business of the Year for medium sized companies by Georgia Trend and the Cox Family Enterprise Center at Kennesaw State University in 2006. Bowen Family Homes was ranked 83rd on the 2007 Professional Builder Giant 400 largest homebuilders in the United States list. These successes have been achieved by simply offering the best new home value in all price ranges. Earlier this year Bowen Family Homes launched their social media marketing plan with a new company blog, www.bowenfamilyhomesblog.com and presence on several social media outlets such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information about Bowen Family Homes, please call their Atlanta region headquarters at 678-325-4554 or 1-877- MY BOWEN or visit online at www.bowenfamilyhomes.com.
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Enter Now for Your Chance to Win the Southern Living and MyHomeIdeas.com "Choose Your Home Giveaway"

Southern Living and MyHomeIdeas.com are giving away a home of your choice. Beginning today, when site visitors enter the “Choose Your Home Giveaway,” they are able to select the home they’d like to win.

To enter visit:
http://www.southernliving.com/chooseyourhome or http://www.myhomeideas.com/chooseyourhome.

Southern Living and MyHomeIdeas.com are partnering with local developers to build beautiful homes, showcasing extraordinary design, in four communities across the South:

Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia;
Habersham, outside of Beaufort, South Carolina;
Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas; and
Whisper Mountain near Asheville, North Carolina.

Each community has been chosen for its unique style and the variety of family activities and cultural opportunities offered in the area. Users can enter once daily on each site (a total of two entries per day) through June 30, 2009. Each time they enter they are asked to choose which one of the retreats they would like to win. Tours of the four homes and communities, plus complete sweepstakes details are available online as well.
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Your Next Home in the Palm of Your Hand

Prudential Georgia Realty turns cell phones into the ultimate real estate finder

Prudential Georgia Realty, recognized as one of the Top Real Estate Companies in the US with 1,200 full-service agents and 23 locations, announced today a new mobile tool to simplify the consumer’s search for real estate. The brokerage is the first agency in the Atlanta metro area and northern Georgia to offer Homes for Sale, a new patented mobile application powered by Smarter Agent.

Consumers will be able to search almost every listing in the region, using their personal cell phone, iPhone or BlackBerry whether it is listed by Prudential Georgia Realty or another broker/agent.

From where they stand, consumers can view detailed property information on almost any home for sale in that market at the touch of a button - including sales price, square footage, tax information, beds/baths, interior and exterior features—even pictures!

The application also features a “Call to See” button. With one click, the consumer will be transferred to an experienced Prudential Georgia Realty professional who can answer in-depth questions or schedule a tour of the property.

“Today, most consumers use the Internet extensively for real estate searches. Powerful new mobile devices are the next natural extension of the Internet. Our PGR Labs team researched all the available options and determined that Smarter Agent has built a best-in-class platform. This allows us to bring real estate listings directly to our consumers when and where they want them,” said President and CEO of Prudential Georgia Realty, Dan Forsman. “The Smarter Agent application is easy to use today and will become better and better over time as mobile devices continue to evolve.”

Dan Forsman is a well-known leader and innovator in the real estate industry. He is a member of numerous national advisory boards including Realtor.com, Trulia.com, Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, The Realty Alliance and others. Dan is a popular speaker and has been recently featured on 11Alive News, Fox 5, numerous radio interviews plus many real estate industry events. He has become known for the market report video series AtlantaRealEstate2009.com, updated quarterly.

The application is availa ble for download from the Prudential Georgia Realty website, http://www.prudentialga.com/. There, consumers will find a “Go Mobile” tool which will provide instructions on how to send the application to their personal cell phones. Users simply select their cell phone carrier, the make/model of their cell phone and their cell phone number. Instantly, the application is sent via text message and downloaded to the cell phone, in the same way as a ringtone or game.

Smarter Agent is the most comprehensive mobile real estate tool in the Atlanta region, as well as the nation. Homes for Sale is available on hundreds of cell phone models on AT&T and Sprint as well as the BlackBerry devices across all four major carriers and the iPhone. Windows Mobile versions, as well as other devices and major carriers, will be added over the coming months making the application available to all consumers regardless of their cell phone carrier or device.

The Homes for Sales application can be downloaded for free on all BlackBerry devices and the iPhone. For other devices, nominal monthly charges may apply dependent on your carrier, just as they would for a game or ringtone, billed directly to your carrier statement.
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Senate Unanimously Approves Isakson Amendment to Stimulate Housing Market

The U.S. Senate today unanimously approved an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Resolution by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., that seeks to stimulate the nation’s declining housing market by providing for a $15,000 tax credit to individuals who purchase a home in the next year.

“Our economic crisis started with housing, and our economy will continue to suffer unless we do something now to immediately fix the housing problem,” Isakson said. “I’m pleased my colleagues in the Senate understand the importance of creating targeted incentives that will encourage Americans to buy homes again.”

Isakson’s amendment to the Budget Resolution would create a deficit-neutral reserve fund for providing a nonrefundable federal income tax credit for the purchase of a principal residence during a one-year period. It would also ensure that there is room available in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget levels for a homebuyer credit to be passed at a later date. Isakson plans to introduce his $15,000 tax credit as a stand-alone bill in the next few weeks.

On Feb. 4, 2009, the Senate unanimously approved an amendment by Isakson to the economic stimulus bill would have provided a direct tax credit to any homebuyer who purchases any home. The amount of the tax credit would be $15,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price, whichever is less. During conference negotiations between the House and Senate on the final version of the bill, Isakson’s $15,000 tax credit for all purchasers of any home was removed. Instead, House and Senate negotiators made only small modifications to the first-time homebuyer tax credit that was enacted in 2008 as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.

Isakson has pushed hard for a non-repayable tax credit for homebuyers because he knows that it will work. In the mid-1970s, America faced a similar housing crisis when a period of easy credit and loose underwriting flooded the market with new construction. Interest rates rose, the economy slowed and America was left with a three-year supply of vacant homes. Congress responded by passing a $2,000 tax credit for anyone purchasing a new home for their principal residence. Isakson, who was in the real estate industry in Atlanta at the time, says the results were clear and swift as home values stabilized, housing inventory dropped and the market recovered.

Last year, Isakson introduced legislation to specifically target those homes that were causing the unprecedented increase in housing inventory by offering tax credits to individuals purchasing a foreclosed home or a home where foreclosure is pending. In April 2008, the Senate passed legislation to stimulate the nation’s declining housing market that included Isakson’s proposal. However, the final version of the legislation that was signed into law included only a $7,500 tax credit for first-time homebuyers that must be repaid over a 15-year period. Isakson spent more than three decades in the real estate business, beginning his business career in 1967 when he opened the first Cobb County, Ga., office of a small, family-owned real estate business, Northside Realty. Isakson later served as president of Northside for 20 years, presiding over the company’s growth into the largest independent residential real estate brokerage company in the Southeast and one of the largest in America.
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Isakson to Speak at the 2008 ElderCare Matters Symposium

Conference addresses important and timely elder care topics on April 24

Kevin Isakson, Managing Partner and Director of Sales and Marketing for Isakson Living will present “Experience the Continuum” at the upcoming ElderCare Matters Symposium. Isakson Living is Georgia's premier developer of nationally recognized, award-winning residential communities for those age 55 and over. In his presentation, Isakson will provide an overview of available senior housing options, including what are known as continuing care retirement communities or CCRCs.

The ElderCare Matters Symposium will be held in Atlanta from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2009.

Isakson's presentation will focus on the history of communities that offer a continuum of care, as well as a look at the current state and future of the senior housing industry in Georgia. Isakson will also provide information about various benefits, options and contracts available through CCRC as well as an explanation of the regulation of the contracts.

Isakson Living communities are designed to meet the complete needs and desires of Atlanta’s older population, which is expected to double between 2000 and 2015. The Atlanta Regional Commission predicts that one in five metro Atlanta residents will be over the age of 60 by 2030. The Spring 2009 ElderCare Matters Symposium will also include sessions on Social Security Disability and Medicaid planning.

Isakson is active as a member of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Aging Services Committee and a participant in DeKalb County’s Bridge Builders. He has also served on the boards of DeKalb Senior Connections, a provider of quality services to the elderly, and of the DeKalb County Senior Citizens Advisory Council.

Isakson Living is Atlanta’s leading developer of residential communities offering a continuum of care for adults ages 55 and older. Isakson Living upholds a personal and professional commitment to empowering members through groundbreaking wellness opportunities, concierge medicine and hands-on involvement in their communities. Isakson Living has won multiple awards for its flagship community, Park Springs in Stone Mountain, Ga., and Peachtree Hills Place in Atlanta, currently in development. For more information on Isakson Living, visit www.isaksonliving.com or call 770-559-4829.
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Prudential Georgia Realty’s Spring State-Of-The-Market Video Report Includes Future Seller’s Market Prediction

The newest report, highlighting the latest news and statistics about the metro Atlanta spring real estate market, is now available for free viewing at www.atlantarealestate2009.com. Other information can be downloaded from this site including an overview of the Obama administration’s Homeowner Affordability Plan, a link to the Financial Stability Plan website, updates on the State of Georgia plan for a home buyer tax credit and a new video on Prudential’s award-winning Advanced Property Marketing System for sellers.

This latest Atlanta Real Estate video installment offers details on national market conditions, the impact of the=2 0global financial crisis on real estate, an update on the metro Atlanta real estate market, and predictions for future trends. The video report includes the latest industry facts plus local “insight from the streets” of the real estate business.

The video is narrated by Prudential Georgia Realty President and CEO Dan Forsman, a recognized expert and frequent speaker about the Atlanta real estate market. He has been featured on 11 Alive News, Fox 5 Atlanta News, on CNBC’s Kudlow & Cramer, locally on 1160 AM business radio, and in numerous regional and national publications. For his vision and commitment to the real estate industry, Forsman was awarded Broker of the Year for all of North

America by Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.

In the message, Forsman candidly discusses the current over-supply of properties, the new homes bubble that has impacted Atlanta real estate, Atlanta foreclosure trends, Atlanta home value trends as well as the positive long-term trends that will impact future home values for Atlanta. This latest State of the Market message includes a message from U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson offering his thoughts on the housing market. Forsman sums it up with a bold prediction of a seller’s market returning to metro Atlanta. (Hint: it’s sooner than you might think.)

“The rules for investing in real estate have changed. It used to be location, location, location. Today, location is still important but now the timing of buying and selling are the keys to making money. Right now, there is a remarkable ‘window of opportunity’ to purchase residential real estate while prices are incredible, mortgage rates are historically low and long-term trends impacting future values are excellent,” says Dan Forsman. “These opportunities for investing are easy to see historically, but are often missed as they occur. From 2000 to 2008, real estate produced an average return of 72 percent while the stock market lost in that same time period. As we look forward, the window of opportunity is officially open – don’t miss it!”

Prudential Georgia Realty recognized, in 2007, that consumers were confused by the conflicting stories and sensationalist headlines about the state of the local real estate market. To inform the home-buying and selling public, Prudential Georgia Realty launched the Atlanta Real Estate video s eries in the Fall 2007, to provide consumers the real market facts and valuable insight for buyers and sellers. The Atlanta Real Estate video series continues to grow in popularity and has elevated Prudential Georgia Realty as the thought leader in the local real estate community.

For additional information, please contact Dan Forsman at dan@prudentialgeorgia.com or call Prudential Georgia Realty at 770-992-4100. Visit www.PrudentialGA.com to search ALL listings for Atlanta real estate, Atlanta new homes and Atlanta foreclosures. The powerful search tools allow you to search by city, zip code, neighborhood, school district, foreclosures, new home properties, new home communities, corporate-owned, bank-owned, rentals, lease purchases and by Google maps. Search in 13 different languages – powered by Immobel. See listings on Google Maps plus Microsoft Bird’s Eye views and Google street views. Now, search with your mobile phone device powered by SmarterAgent.
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Metro Brokers Awards Top Sales Associates

Metro BrokersSM/GMAC Real Estate recently announced its top sales associates for 2008. Even though today’s market is widely considered to be extremely tough, many of Metro Brokers’ sales associates did as well as or even better than prior years. In 2008, 13 members of the Peachtree City office received awards for their stellar performance.

The overall top sales associates for the Peachtree City office were Linda Stokes, Ken Mills and Wendy Greene. Stokes and Mills were awarded Top Assisted Sales Associates for the Peachtree City office, and Greene was named Top Individual Sales Associate for the Peachtree City office.

Kay Fulp, Chad Keith, Emily Kim and Kerri Levins were honored for achieving Summit Club status, which recognizes sales associates who achieve more than $3 million in residential sales volume.

Jeannie Booker, Tamara Bourne, Jody Fleming, Christy Fletcher, Wendy Greene and Diana Hubert were recognized for achieving Summit Century Club status, which is awarded to the uppermost echelon of Summit Club members.

In addition, Bert McPeeks, Ken Mills and Linda Stokes were also honored for achieving Medallion Club status, which is awarded for producing more than $1 million in residential sales volume during 2008.

The Peachtree City office includes 61 sales associates, many with extensive knowledge of both the residential and commercial real estate market.

Metro BrokersSM/GMAC Real Estate has 27 metro Atlanta and north Georgia offices and offers a wide range of real estate services including residential and commercial sales; pre- and post-license training; corporate relocation; new home sales and marketing; and insurance, mortgage and title/closing services.

The company is the largest GMAC Real Estate franchise in the world and has more than tripled in size over the last five years with almost 2,300 licensees, making the company the largest license holder in the state of Georgia. Metro Brokers is also the number one selling broker in metro Atlanta and north Georgia.

To contact Metro Brokers, call 404.843.2500 or visit metrobrokers.com.
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Atlanta Real Estate Firms Form Strategic Alliance to Offer Combined Accelerated Leasing and For-Sales Services

Sales Inc! and Evolv Real Estate Solutions Group are excited to announce a new joint venture to provide accelerated leasing and sales services for condominium reversions and broken conversion deals. Both groups, experts in their own market segments, have strategically aligned to offer a comprehensive solution to banks, developers, investors and owners, targeting both the rental and sales components of condominium or apartment projects in transition.

Sales Inc! was founded by Stacy Crook in 1988, with the mission of quickly solving vacancy challenges for apartment developers, owners and property management companies. “Having spent the last 20 years providing accelerated leasing services at over 1600 communities nationwide, and for every multifamily product type, allows us to be extremely well positioned to help in today’s real estate environment,” said Dan Haefner, president of Sales, Inc!. “However, today’s real estate market needs some new answers for how to handle certain challenges and opportunities we are facing. The more options we can bring to the table the better we can help our clients to create and protect value, which is why we are choosing to team up with Evolv.”

Evolv Real Estate Solutions Group was formed in 2007 with two areas of concentration: brokerage of new condominiums, conversions, townhomes and active adult communities and marketing of residential real estate including apartments and the leisure industry. With a menu of services to choose from and flexibility in offerings, Evolv brings both short and long term solutions to the table. “Our challenges in the market today are unprecedented and by joining forces with Sales, Inc! on this particular effort, we offer the best of both the leasing and sales component to the client,” said Gigi Giannoni, chief executive officer of Evolv Real Estate Solutions Group.

The strategic alliance will provide clients with a one stop solution to lease and sell units within a property, and the opportunity to expedite and improve cash flow while continuing with a sales program. With a concentrated focus on marketing, leasing and sales, the client has a combined team focusing on deliverables in unison, which is aligned to produce an overall successful outcome.

Having worked together before in the apartment and for-sale industry, Haefner and Giannoni look forward to this leasing and sales alliance, and believe it will solve a need that is not currently adequately addressed. “We both feel this is an opportune time to offer our expertise and joint services to clients,” said Haefner. “Our organizations bring well over 100 years of combined real estate experience, and together we have the ability to provide something unique to the industry,” said Giannoni.

Sales, Inc! has been in the accelerated leasing business since 1988, successfully solving vacancy challenges for clients all over the United States. As the top national apartment leasing firm, Sales, Inc! has leased thousands of apartments in almost every market throughout the country, creating additional cash flow and higher property values for owners. Sales Inc! offers services for all multifamily product types, and employs highly trained associates with significant sales experience. For a full overview of services visit www.salesinc.net, or contact Dan Haefner at dan@salesinc.net.

Evolv is a full service real estate solutions group headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia that specializes in condominium, townhome, mixed-use/master plan community brokerage and marketing as well as apartment and leisure marketing services. Evolv offers a distinct menu of services ranging from the inception of a project through to its fruition with no long term commitments. To understand more of what Evolv can provide in marketing and sales support, visit www.evolvre.com, or contact Gigi Giannoni at ggiannoni@evolvre.com.
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John Sturgess Joins Hunter Realty Associates, Inc. as Managing Director

To Play Key Role in Company’s National Expansion Plans

Hunter Realty Associates, Inc., a leading hotel investment services firm, today announced that John Sturgess has joined the company as managing director. He will play a pivotal role in the company’s plan to expand nationally.

Previously, Sturgess was corporate senior vice president of development for Carlson Hotels Worldwide. In his role, Sturgess led the team responsible for the overall strategic direction of the development of Carlson’s hotel brands in the Americas, resulting in more than a 220 percent increase in new contracts including doubling the Country Inns & Suites by Carlson portfolio. Prior to Carlson, Sturgess was vice president of development for Prime Hospitality Corp. In that capacity he handled franchise sales, acquisitions and market analysis for AmeriSuites Hotels. Sturgess has held other executive positions throughout his 20 year career in the hotel business, including management positions with Doubletree Hotels Corporation and Richfield Hospitality Services, Inc.

“We have expanded our reach and our sales significantly over the past few years, earning us the Hotel Brokerage Firm of the Year award by Hotel Brokers International (HBI) for the past three years,” said Teague Hunter, CHB, president. “With the opening of our Washington, D.C. office 2½ years ago, we have been servicing the entire Eastern seaboard, but see additional opportunities across the country. John brings a unique, senior-level perspective in hotel development, franchising, operations, management and finance, as well as extraordinary industry relationships that will give us the strength and expertise we need to take the company to the next level.”

Sturgess’ initial responsibilities will be in taking the company national by recruiting and opening new offices in the Midwest, Southwest and Western United States to complement the company’s offices in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., as well as building the company’s client base of hotel real estate buyers and sellers. “John will utilize his national presence and relationships to grow the brokerage and investments business within Hunter while building the company’s national presence,” said Lee Hunter, CHB, chief operating officer. “Our move to grow nationally and bring John on board to lead this effort demonstrates our confidence in the hotel industry during these difficult times because we are here for the long term.”

Teague Hunter will continue to guide the overall vision of the company. Lee Hunter will continue to oversee day-to-day operations of the company, including development of research, marketing packages and broker opinions of value.

“We believe the timing is right to initiate this expansion,” said Bob Hunter. “Transaction activity was off some 80 percent in 2008 as a result of the instability in the credit markets. Our research indicates a significant pent-up demand to both sell and buy hotels, which we expect will accelerate as the year progresses and into 2010 as the credit markets begin to recover. We believe this expansion will allow us to provide our clients with enhanced brokerage and investment advisory services, as the hotel real estate market begins to rebound.”

The firm will continue to focus primarily on the major, upscale and focused-service hotel segments under such branded companies as Hilton and Marriott.

Sturgess holds an MBA (with distinction) from the University of Minnesota and a BA from Southern Methodist University. He is on the advisory board for the Hotel Investment Conference and Midwest Lodging Investment Conference, Hotel & Motel Management Editorial Committee, and is a Membership Committee member for the American Hotel Lodging Association. Sturgess has been quoted by the major hotel, real estate and related industry magazines and has been a speaker, panelist and presenter at the major hotel conferences and universities throughout his career.

About Hunter Realty Associates, Inc.
Hunter Realty Associates, Inc., founded in 1978, has offices in Atlanta, Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis. Along with new offices in Minneapolis, Minn., Hunter’s exclusive focus is hotel brokerage and investment advisory services. For more information or to view current listings, please visit www.hunterhotels.net or contact the firm at 770-916-0300 in Atlanta, 301-215-7507 in Washington, D.C., or 612-850-3433 in Minneapolis.
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Bowen Family Homes Launches Social Media with New Blog

Blog includes community news, corporate news and more

Bowen Family Homes is pleased to announce the launch of its new blog, www.BowenFamilyHomesBlog.com. The blog is at the core of Bowen Family Home’s social media marketing plan that also includes presence on several popular social media outlets such as Twitter, Facebook, Digg, ActiveRain, YouTube and more. Their new corporate website also has been updated to provide easy links to their new blog, as well as, other social media outlets, making these resources easily accessible for their website visitors.

“Today’s home buyers start their search for a new home online. Our goal is to make sure that potential home buyers have several opportunities to learn more about our company, our homes and life at our communities,” said Kelly Kenton Fink, MIRM, Regional Marketing and Internet Director for Bowen Family Homes. “We are working to enhance our Internet marketing efforts with the addition of an effective social media program that will make it easier for us to reach and interact with prospective buyers, co-op realtors and current homeowners.” Bowen Family Homes is pleased to partner with mRELEVANCE, LLC on their social media efforts.

Bowen Family Homes’ blog serves as the centerpiece for all of the builder’s social media marketing. The blog includes information on activities and events at communities and surrounding areas, as well as other news. Bowen Family Homes hopes to provide topics of interest for prospective buyers and their current homeowners, making it incredibly easy to learn more about their latest news and incentives.

Since 1969 the Bowen name has stood for excellence in new home construction and community development. Recognized as the 25th largest privately owned builder in the country by Builder Magazine for 2005, Bowen Family Homes is a dynamic homebuilder with operations in Georgia, Florida and Texas. The Atlanta Business Chronicle ranked Bowen Family Homes 5th among metro Atlanta builders in 2007 and 40th among Atlanta’s Top 100 Private Companies for 2007. Additionally, Bowen Family Homes was named the Georgia Family Business of the Year for medium sized companies by Georgia Trend and the Cox Family Enterprise Center at Kennesaw State University in 2006. Bowen Family Homes was ranked 83rd on the 2007 Professional Builder Giant 400 largest homebuilders in the United States list. These successes have been achieved by simply offering the best new home value in all price ranges. For more information about Bowen Family Homes, please call their Atlanta region headquarters at 678-325-4554 or 1-877- MY BOWEN or visit online at www.bowenfamilyhomes.com.
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Atlanta Active Adult Builder Diversifies in Tough Economic Times

Jim Chapman Communities, Inc. Announces Jim Chapman Construction Services, LLC

Leading Atlanta active adult builder Jim Chapman Communities, Inc. announces the launch of Jim Chapman Construction Services, LLC (JCCS), a full-service general contracting firm. The company will assist banks and investors in their completion of foreclosed homes or REO (real estate owned) properties. Due to the current downturn in the housing market in the Atlanta metro area, many builders have been forced into foreclosure to release their assets back to the banks that issued the loans on the properties. Many banks are now finding themselves with multiple properties in an incomplete state. These distressed properties are in dire need of completion or risk permanent devaluation.

As a professional homebuilder still comprised of a strong team of both corporate and field staff, JCCS now offers its homebuilding expertise to certain banking and investor partners. “This is a great opportunity to diversify and to build up our banking and investor relationships. While we are unfortunately experiencing a slowdown in Jim Chapman Communities’ business, we can continue to keep our staff as well as our subcontractors busy through JCCS activities,” says the company’s president, Jim Chapman. To date, JCCS’ largest and most notable clients include SunTrust Bank and Resource Real Estate Partners, LLC.

An Atlanta-based builder and developer, Jim Chapman began building custom homes in Buckhead in 1998. Today, Jim Chapman Communities is an award-winning homebuilding company applying luxury home quality and service standards to active adult communities. Jim Chapman Communities currently builds elegant yet affordable one-level ranch condominiums and detached homes in communities across metro Atlanta including Douglas, Gwinnett, Cobb, Fulton and Forsyth counties. Planning and delivering extraordinary communities designed for the active adult lifestyle, Jim Chapman Communities offers Well-Earned Elegance for today’s active adults. For more information on Jim Chapman Communities, call (770) 319-7474 or visit www.JimChapmanCommunities.com.
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GuildQuality Announces the 2009 Guildmaster Award Winners

94 builders and remodelers receive superior customer service awards

GuildQuality is pleased to announce that 94 companies qualified as 2009 Guildmaster Award winners. The Guildmaster Awards competition recognizes builders and real estate companies in the United States and Canada with a proven history of superior customer service. The full list of winners can be found on the GuildQuality Web site at http://www.guildquality.com/guildmaster/2009/.

The GuildQuality mission is to elevate the stature of the real estate and home building industry to the highest level. This is accomplished through customer satisfaction surveying and reporting and celebrating superlative achievement through the Guildmaster Awards. Guildmaster Award winners have demonstrated their ability to consistently deliver an exceptional customer experience. Winners include builders, remodelers, specialty contractors and developers that share a passion for excellence and focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience.

“Over the last two months, GuildQuality examined more than 8,000 surveys received on behalf of applicants for the 2009 Guildmaster Awards,” said Geoff Graham, President of GuildQuality. “To receive an award, an applicant must have earned the recommendation of at least 90 percent of surveyed customers and have received responses from at least 70 percent of all of an applicant's customers. Congratulations to our 2009 Guildmaster Award winners, thanks for their commitment to quality and best wishes for continued success.”

Three levels of awards were given: Guildmaster, Guildmaster with Distinction, and Guildmaster with Highest Distinction. The three distinctions relate to the response rate received during the surveying: 80 percent or above received “Distinction” and 90 percent or above received “Highest Distinction.”

“Being a Guildmaster is an honor,” said Kent Eberle, President of Sacramento's Eberle Remodeling, a four-time Guildmaster award recipient. “It distinguishes our company from others, since the award recognizes companies who provide top notch customer service, quality work and a seamless process. Unlike many of the awards we have won for various remodeling projects for both design and construction, the GuildQuality Guildmaster awards are directly tied to customer satisfaction with surveys that encompass many aspects of the remodeling process.
“Providing award-winning designs and beautiful, functional projects are always our goals, but knowing that we have satisfied clients and that they would recommend us are our ultimate goals. The GuildQuality surveys provide us with the constant feedback we need to determine how effectively we are meeting our clients needs. The Guildmaster award affirms that we are providing our clients with excellent service.”

Brad Harbin, Vice President of Yorktown, Va.-based Wayne Harbin Builder, Inc., was a first-time Guildmaster recipient this year. "Customer service is the foundation of our company, and the surveys conducted through GuildQuality provide third-party validation that our systems and process are serving our customers in the best manner possible. We have always done what we believe to be right by our customers and having that effort confirmed and documented is very valuable. From warranty to sales, a 100 percent customer satisfaction rating requires the shared commitment to excellence in customer service by our entire company, and we are very proud of that."

GuildQuality provides customer satisfaction surveying and performance reporting for quality-minded building, real estate, and home services companies throughout North America. More than 500 Guildmembers rely on GuildQuality to help them deliver an exceptional customer experience. For more information on GuildQuality call 888-355-9223 or visit www.guildquality.com.
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Sales Team from Bullard Named to International Sterling Society

The Penny Henderson Team with Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty’s McDonough/Henry County office has been recognized as an International Sterling Society Team. This prestigious membership was awarded to the top 59 percent of all sales associate teams nationally.

Members of the sales team include Penny Henderson, Don Henderson, Faye Copeland Harvey, and Duffie Edwards.

The Penny Henderson Team’s members were recognized for their achievement at the Coldwell Banker International Business Conference, held March 1 - 4 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Tex. The annual event united thousands of Coldwell Banker sales associates, brokers, managers and employees for an intensive professional development program and awards ceremony.

The oldest and largest real estate company headquartered in the Metro South area of Atlanta, Coldwell Banker Bullard has its headquarters in Jonesboro. The organization now has other offices in McDonough, Jackson, Peachtree City, Newnan, and Conyers, and a separate but affiliated company, Coldwell Banker American Land Mart in Conyers.

The Bullard organization, founded in 1956 by the late Cliff Bullard, worked out a franchise agreement with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation in early 1998 and is the largest Coldwell Banker franchise in Georgia. Current Owner and President Steve Bullard has been with the company for more than 35 years.

Even during a challenging real estate market, the Bullard organization has continued to grow, having added three companies, Coldwell Banker Joe T. Lane Realty, Coldwell Banker Fulton Realty Associates and Century 21 Southern Crescent, through mergers since September of 2007.

Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker organization has been a premier full-service real estate provider. In 2007, Franchise Times magazine's prestigious Top 200 issue ranked the Coldwell Banker system No. 1 in real estate for the eighth straight year and 12th among franchisors in all industries. The Coldwell Banker System has approximately 3,800 residential real estate offices and nearly 117,000 sales associates in 47 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker System is a leader in the industry in residential and commercial real estate, and in niche markets such as resort, new home and luxury property through its Coldwell Banker Previews International division. It is a pioneer in consumer services with its Coldwell Banker Concierge Service Program and award-winning Web site, www.coldwellbanker.com. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.
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GaHOC Announces PROJECT PROMISE for Georgia Residents

GaHOC, the Georgia Home Ownership Coalition announced today that it has launched PROJECT PROMISE, an initiative to help reverse the brunt of the housing crisis at the grassroots level. The program puts people first by bridging immediate housing needs with the goals of accessible and affordable home ownership.

With the economy shrinking at levels unprecedented since the 1930’s, the housing sector is reaching for a bottom. Record foreclosures, empty homes, lower values, and increased vandalism are part of the general plight that has befallen many neighborhoods. While great bargains are available to the select few, tightening of credit and qualifying for a mortgage have dashed the dreams of consumers, who otherwise would make the move to home ownership.

PROJECT PROMISE brings together home buyers and sellers into a managed solution that defers a sale for up to two years, or until such time when credit and mortgage requirements have stabilized. During the interim, the parties act in a landlord/tenant relationship, with an underlying agreement. If rent payments are made on time, the seller will pay closing costs and provide a home warranty at the time of sale. Both parties prosper in this partnership.

In recent months, a whole range of applicants have experienced a sharp decline in mortgage approvals. During the same period, inquiries at GaHOC have expressed an overwhelming interest for alternative paths to home ownership. Currently, over 200 families are qualified for PROJECT PROMISE and industry experts expect that number to be in the thousands in Georgia alone.

When throwing money at a problem means government bailouts of large banks and corporations with the taxpayer left holding the bill, it is time for clarity and new thinking from the bottom up. The GaHOC effort is at the community level and focuses on people and a place to call home.

GaHOC provides a free multiple listing service and through its membership, a safety net of various purchase and refinance options in the new economic climate. The group ranks include lenders, mortgage brokers, real estate agents, builders, investors, home owners, and prospective home buyers. For more information about GaHOC, the Georgia Home Ownership Coalition, call 770-509-3200 or visit the website at www.GAHOC.com.
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Enjoy the Best of Nature at Harrison Development’s Sweetwater Cove

Five homesites greatly discounted for one day only in Hiawassee mountain community

Nestled within the beautiful Georgia and North Carolina mountains and along the serene shores of Lake Chatuge lies Harrison Development’s newest community, Sweetwater Cove. Sweetwater Cove features 21 peaceful, wooded homesites ranging in size from three quarters of an acre to just under three acres. Whether looking for a new home, a vacation getaway or a sound investment, Sweetwater Cove is an unbelievable value with homesites affordably priced from $84,900. To celebrate the opening of this gorgeous lakefront community, Harrison Development is offering five select homesites at highly discounted prices for one day only. On Saturday, March 28, 2009, homesites will be discounted up to $50,000, providing incredible savings for those looking for a retirement spot, vacation home, or investment.

Sweetwater Cove is the perfect choice for those looking for a community that combines the best in mountain living with beautiful lakefront property. From the sparkling water of Lake Chatuge to the peaks of the neighboring mountains, homesites at Sweetwater Cove feature breathtaking views of the natural beauty that surrounds the community and provide the ideal setting for either a relaxing retreat or actively enjoying the great outdoors.

An array of community features including fourteen deeded boat slips, waterfront gazebo with sitting area, golf cart trail to the boat slips and day dock access, provide limitless opportunities to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings of the area with family and friends. Residents of Sweetwater Cove can also participate in local activities such as whitewater rafting down the Hiawassee or hiking Georgia’s tallest mountain, Brasstown Bald. Fine dining, shopping and entertainment are abundant in Hiawassee and big city activities are less than two hours away in Chattanooga, Atlanta, Asheville or Greenville.

With unbelievable views and amazing pricing, homesites at Sweetwater Cove will not last long. For those that cannot attend the one day event on March 28, reservations can be made in advance. For more information on this beautiful community, call 888-473 LAKE or visit www.harrisonspotlight.com.
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The Astoria at the Aramore Offers Live, Work and Play

Condominium community in heart of historic Peachtree Battle combines office, retail, services, dining and residential opportunities on vibrant Peachtree Road

Beautiful, classic and sophisticated, The Astoria at The Aramore is reminiscent of an exquisite boutique hotel. This exclusive community is nestled in the living room of Atlanta in a prime location just between the shops of Buckhead and arts and entertainment of Midtown. Unparalleled by any other address on Peachtree, the Astoria is within walking distance to the city's finest cultural and entertainment venues, shops and restaurants. One of Atlanta's finest dining experiences, Restaurant Eugene, can be found in The Aramore retail level. The Aramore also includes Pizza Fusion, Agera and Baccus Fit Spa, Mims dress shop, Starfish Restaurant, Holeman & Finch, H&F Bakery, Addictive Trendz and BB&T.

The picturesque streetscape surrounding the area is rich with the history of Peachtree Battle and Peachtree Hills. These landmark neighborhoods are lined with ancient oaks and dotted with open park areas. The Astoria features 70 exclusive high-rise residences with condominiums priced from the $400,000s and penthouses priced from the $900,000s.

The combined traditional and modern architecture of the building fits into the history of the area and the scale and design of the community. The Astoria caters to the needs of residents with an abundance of amenities for both work and play. The Astoria offers a pool, heated spa, outdoor fireplace in elegant garden setting, private poolside cabanas, poolside summer kitchens and grilling areas, state-of-the-art fitness center overlooking the sundeck, elegant clubroom with full catering kitchen, more than one acre of green space, media room, concierge, private guest suite for out of town guests, and street-level retail and dry cleaning services, all designed to cater to homeowners' individual needs. For more information on The Astoria at The Aramore, call 404-355-6999 or visit www.theastoriacondos.com.

Kairos Development Corporation lives up to its Greek-inspired name, which challenges them to identify crucial moments to perform accurately so they can achieve their goals and meet the needs of all. Driven by the desire to create aesthetically beautiful “Live Life Communities” and facilities that address their clients’ needs and distinctive styles, Kairos (ki-ros) offers a vast array of choices and options in each of its communities. Since entering the industry in the mid 1980s, the company has developed more than $400 million in Atlanta area real estate assets, including residential, retail and office properties. During that time, Kairos Development has received many outstanding awards. Most notable is the 2005 Development of Excellence Award presented by the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Regional Business Coalition for the multi-use urban development and environmental buffer provided by The Aramore on the city’s famous Peachtree Road. Current projects include the Astoria, Avignon at Vinings, Buggy Works and Jefferson Station in East Point. For more information, call 404-350-1440 or visit www.kairosdevelopmentcorp.com.
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WicksteadWorks Named EarthCraft's Renovator of the Year

Southface and The Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (GAHBA) named WicksteadWorks as the 2009 Renovator of the Year earlier this month. The Renovator of the Year award distinguishes an EarthCraft House renovator that has gone above and beyond the established measures to decrease energy consumption in an existing home. The annual EarthCraft House Awards honors the leading builders, developers, renovators and manufacturers dedicated to protecting the environment through sustainable design and construction of homes, communities and products. WicksteadWorks is an Atlanta remodeler that builds to a minimum standard of EarthCraft certification on all projects.

EarthCraft House is a voluntary, green building third-party validation program that serves as a blueprint for healthy comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment.

“WicksteadWorks has actively embraced sustainable building standards and pursues best-practices to achieve quality certified projects,” said Daniel Harvey with EarthCraft House. “Frank Wickstead and his team is dedicated to responsible building and construction methods that lead to improved energy efficiency, sustainability and air quality. Frank is making an impact in Atlanta, and for that reason, we named WicksteadWorks our Renovator of the Year.”

A team of EarthCraft House judges selected the nominees and winners for the EarthCraft House awards. The winners were honored at the annual awards ceremony earlier this month.

Since EarthCraft's inception in 1999, more 450 builders have become builder members, and more than 7,150 homes in the Southeast region have been certified to EarthCraft House standards.

As an experienced remodeling company, WicksteadWorks is able to provide solutions for all types of problems. For example, one renovation project of WicksteadWorks was for a family with two asthmatic children. After the project was completed, the children’s asthma symptoms were completely gone due to WicksteadWorks’ renovations of the crawl space and HVAC system. Once the renovations were complete, the house became EarthCraft certified.

“Regardless of the scale, complexity or cost of a project, we incorporate the elements of environmentally-friendly construction 100 percent of the time,” said Frank Wickstead, president of WicksteadWorks. “With all of our projects, the focus is on doing it right. Earthcraft does not increase cost, it is about improving the processes and methods to build the best possible project and take care of our clients.”
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Ashton Woods Announces Successful Completion of Exchange Offer and Capital Restructuring Plan

Ashton Woods USA L.L.C. (the “Company”) a premier builder of energy efficient, single-family detached, town homes and stacked flat condominium homes, today announced that it has successfully completed its previously announced capital restructuring plan. In connection with the restructuring plan, all prior defaults under the Company’s senior credit facility and $125 million 9.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 were either waived or cured. The restructuring plan was designed to align the Company’s capital structure with the current economic environment. The capital restructuring included the following:

The successful completion of the previously announced private exchange offer and consent solicitation to exchange any and all of its $125 million 9.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 (the “Old Notes”) for new 11% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 (the “New Notes”), related guarantees and Class B membership interests (the “Class B Interests”) in the Company (the “Exchange Offer”);

The effectiveness of the previously executed amendment to its existing senior credit facility providing access to up to $95 million in borrowing capacity, subject to borrowing base calculations;

The closing of a $20 million capital investment in the Company by its existing equity holder; and
The repayment of the previously disclosed bridge loan, under which $1.0 million aggregate principal amount was outstanding at February 23, 2009.

As a result of the tender of 98.64% of the Old Notes in Exchange Offer, the Company now has $64.116 million in aggregate principal amount of New Notes outstanding and $1.7 million aggregate principal amount of Old Notes outstanding. No interest will accrue on the New Notes for the first three years following the date of issuance.

Holders of Old Notes who participated in the Exchange Offer also received aggregate Class B Interests representing 19.728% of the outstanding equity of the Company.

“We have continued to post satisfactory margins during these difficult times, but we needed to work with our lenders and bondholders to restructure our balance sheet so that we can continue to grow and be profitable,” said Tom Krobot, Chief Executive Officer of Ashton Woods. “This restructuring infuses new capital, reduces the Company’s overall debt, and improves the Company’s liquidity. It is very positive for our customers, employees, suppliers and developers,” said Krobot.

Over the past several months the Company has continued building and selling homes to a population of customers who, for years, have remained loyal to the Ashton Woods brand. “We thank our employees, customers, suppliers and developers for their unwavering loyalty and support,” continued Krobot. “Our company will continue with its past practice of partnering with developers to build homes in diverse markets within strong communities.”

Moelis & Company acted as financial advisor to the Company in connection with the restructuring.

With headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, Ashton Woods USA, L.L.C. currently operates in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, Phoenix, Denver and Tampa.
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Volunteers Help “Makeover” City of Morrow Homes

"Bus driver, move that bus!” is a popular statement heard on a well-known home makeover television show. When the family hears the statement, they know the house has magically changed for the better. Some Morrow homes will be receiving a little “makeover magic” with the help of volunteers from Boston College during the week of Sunday, March 1, 2009 through Friday, March 6, 2009. The students are being hosted by the City of Morrow and the Morrow Business and Tourism Association.

During this first week in March, the volunteers will be working with the City of Morrow’s Code Enforcement Officer Marti Tracy on helping repair residents’ homes and yards. The homes chosen for the “makeover” have the greatest need for the help from Officer Tracy and the volunteers. While the volunteers are working on the homes, the families will have the opportunity to be treated like a V.I.P. at the Red Roof Inn in Morrow. Once the renovations are complete, the family will be brought back to their house for the “big reveal.”

The volunteers will also be participating in evening activities with members of the community. One of the evening activities will be “History Night,” and the volunteers will be taken on a tour of Morrow’s history with local historians. Other evening activities will include programs where the volunteers will have a chance to get to know each other. During their final evening in Morrow, the volunteers will be part of a celebration for International Women’s Day, which will be Thursday, March 5 at the Morrow Tourist Center. The celebration will be honoring the volunteers as well as The Conner's Honors program, where Conner's Florist will honor a special volunteer in the community.

The volunteers are visiting through a program called Volunteers for Communities. VfC is a program of the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. (Southeast RCAP) based in Roanoke, Virginia. The program trains communities throughout the Southeast to host volunteers and to help build community leadership. If you are interested in this program for your community, please contact VfC at (276) 699-1493.

The Volunteers for Communities program a unique project which matches college student volunteers with communities in need of assistance with water and wastewater system improvements or economic development projects. These volunteers assist in a variety of ways such as painting houses and other buildings, digging trenches and laying pipes, and rehabilitating and weatherizing houses.

For more information about the Volunteers for Communities program, please contact Michael Sakowitz Twomey, President & Executive Director of the Morrow Business and Tourism Association, at 678-614-3824 or mtwomey@cityofmorrow.com. For more information about Southeast RCAP and VfC, visit http://www.southeastrcap.org/.
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