My Views and Opinions

By: Gnubas

Like a young boy who has seen a new exciting toy, this commentary about moving truck rentals will present a whole new world of awe and wonder for you. Taking up a new residence is really an exciting time. If you happen to have accumulated a lot of stuff in your old place, you probably aren’t looking forward to the actual move itself. Hiring professional movers is obviously the easiest route to take, but that’s an expensive idea, especially if the move is local. A much better and more economical choice is to consider one of the available moving truck rentals in your area. The key to any successful move is organization. It’s a great idea to start collecting strong cardboard boxes several weeks before the actual move date. Things that are used infrequently can be packed earlier, which helps to relieve some of the work once the actual day arrives. Labeling both the inside of the box and the outside is a good idea. For instance putting the name of the room where the box belongs on the outside is important but including a note inside that states what’s in the box, if the items are wrapped, is essential too. This helps cut down on time spent searching for certain belongings. Once you are all packed it’s time to make your move. If you are fortunate you may have a few days to make your move. This isn’t always the case though, particularly if you are renting as you may not get the keys to your new home until the 1st of the month, and if you have to vacate your old home by the 1st, you need to make the move all in one day. If this is the case it’s a great idea to arrange your moving truck rentals for the day before. This way you can load up the truck in the evening and you’ll be ahead of the game the next day when you make the actual move. (more…)

By: Roberto Bell

Vinings is one of Atlanta’s jewels, nestled just inside the I285 perimeter northwest of downtown Atlanta and bounded by the city of Smyrna on its west side. Unlike other inner perimeter communities, Vinings has fought the urban sprawl of the great city below and kept its charming heritage and small town feel.

Like the city of Atlanta, Vinings was created by the Western & Atlantic Railroad, chartered by the State in 1836 to connect other existing railroads and the Chattahoochee and Tennessee Rivers. The town center is known as Vinings Jubilee or “downtown Vinings” to locals. The picturesque setting often charms visitors with its Victorian architecture, street lanterns and large clock tower that suggest a past and simpler place in time. The Vinings Jubilee calls newcomers to experience the romance of life removed from the noise of the city.

But the district is not to be misunderstood as antiquated. Indeed the developers of the community center and adjacent streets thoroughly understood the elegance of living the small town life with modern day conveniences. Top retail brands including Ann Taylor, Banana Republic and Webb Ltd. populate the area as well as dining establishments such as The Grape, Garrison’s and La Paz.

A local favorite is Vinings Inn, one of Atlanta’s oldest sites and most romantic spots for an evening out. Although the name suggests the venue caters to overnight travelers, it is actually a well known restaurant accommodating those who desire southern fare in a romantic atmosphere.

Just outside the village center, beautiful neighborhoods weave in and out of the nearby city of Smyrna and along Paces Ferry Rd. Vinings offers residents a number of real estate options from condos and townhomes to houses with full yards and multiple rooms. Just steps from Vinings Jubilee is Vinings Main, one of the newest additions to the blossoming area. Like many of the new developments, Vinings Main combines upscale condos and townhomes with a setting of boutique shops and nearby amenities.

Not far from Vinings Main and downtown is West Village, where lush green areas and landscaped grounds interweave amongst the Village’s selection of condos and townhomes. The perfect blend of elegance, lifestyle and convenience comes together at One Ivy Walk, the John Wieland designed townhomes inspired by the brownstones of the Northeast.

For growing families, Vinings offers safe neighborhoods for children to ride their bikes and neighbors to get together for afternoon lemonade and a backyard barbecue. Communities such as Vinings Estates are conveniently only miles away from interstate access and Atlanta cultural activities but feel worlds away from downtown traffic and insecurities.

Vinings school-aged children may attend Jackson, Teasley, Beecher Hills, Harmony Leland or Nickajack Elementary Schools along with Campbell, Griffin and Lindley Middle Schools. High schools include Campbell and Pebblebrook. Nearby prestigious academies of The Lovett School, Pace Academy, Trinity School, The Westminster School and Whitefield Academy offer parents private education options as well.

The village of Vinings has called many to escape the busy city life and relax within its welcoming neighborhoods. Although Vinings may feel worlds away from Atlanta, it is actually within the city perimeter of I285 and just a short drive away.

By: Zack Habanero

South Carolina Real Estate is getting interesting again as HUD Homes Foreclosures and Repo’s Are Becoming Available due to Housing Market Changes and because of the flux in our economy.

HUD, the abbreviation for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is an agency which oversees the FHA. The Federal Housing Administration, generally known as “FHA”, provides mortgage insurance on loans made by FHA-approved lenders throughout the United States and its territories. FHA insures mortgages on single family and multifamily homes including manufactured homes and hospitals. It is the largest insurer of mortgages in the world, insuring over 34 million properties since its inception in 1934. FHA foreclosures are called HUD Homes.

In effect what FHA does is to provide a security blanket for the housing industry which enables the industry to finance, build, sell and re-sell a large portion of the homes in America. When the economy shifts, as it is doing right now, the FHA is challenged to take over the quantity of home loans which fail and, through its’ brother department , HUD, find ways to get the properties sold back to the public.

FHA is to the American housing market what good parents should be to their children. They are there, not to do everything for them but, to help them get started and help them through tough times when necessary. Basically FHA primes the Housing Market pump and stands by in case it begins to falter.

Because so many homes which are FHA insured are currently being defaulted upon, the homes are being foreclosed, repossessed, and sold at auction. People who are in the market for a home in SC can benefit greatly by doing a little research and finding out what homes are available in the areas in which they hope to buy. Only Registered Real Estate Brokers and Agents can assist you in purchasing a HUD home. They can be found at www.HUD.sc