Since its inception, SummerGrove has been on the forefront of offering cutting-edge master-planning initiatives, which may explain why the community is among Atlanta’s top selling developments.

In early November, Atlanta-based real estate developer Macauley closed on its first Fayette County property.

Located just south of Ga. Highway 54, between Peachtree City and Fayetteville, the 600-acre site features two pristine lakes, gently rolling hills and hardwood forests. Like many of Macauley’s previous developments, the new master-planned community will feature an extensive amount of green space and unique amenities, this time with one-acre home sites.

While the home seller’s challenge is to find a real estate professional who will bring maximum exposure to their property, the challenge for the real estate professional is to generate activity and interest to sell the home quickly and profitably.

Leland Homes’ Waverly model home at The Georgian, Cousin Properties’ golf community in Paulding County, brought home a Gold Award from the 2005 Professionalism Awards Banquet to recognize the most outstanding professionals in Atlanta’s home building industry.

Fayette County-Mya Carden, a real estate professional with ERA Jo-Par Realty, has taken real estate marketing to a new level with a new, eye-catching personal brochure.

Nearly 400 housing experts and advocates gathered Nov. 17 to attend the 5th Annual Magnolia Awards Luncheon at the Cobb Galleria Centre. The annual program recognizes outstanding achievements in affordable housing. Awards are given in six categories - Affordable Rental, Creative Partnerships, Homeownership, Local Government Initiatives, Special Needs and Superior Design.

The Knight Group Inc., a residential builder headquartered in Jonesboro, has received the 2005 Builder of Integrity award from Quality Builders Warranty Corporation. Recipients of this prestigious award demonstrate a commitment of excellence in customer service and quality construction.

The Coldwell Banker Bullard Realty organization had one office and several agents who received recognition from Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation for performance during the 3rd quarter of 2005.

Keep these guidelines in mind when designing or redesigning a kitchen

By Nick Harder
The Orange County Register

Platinum Investments Inc., a well known home building company in Henry and Newton counties, has purchased the remaining unsold portion of the second and final phase of Towne Village, the fast-selling townhome development in Henry County.

Over 300 real estate agents from Rockdale, DeKalb, Newton Henry and Fulton counties attended the Lionsgate East open house in Rockdale County recently to tour the decorated model, walk through the many other models and floor plans and meet the members of the community's builder team including Tim Adams, Barry Milam, Frances Milam, E. Frank Miller, and Maurry Russell.

Experts believe that the recent increase in the number of intense hurricanes-such as Rita and Katrina-experienced by the United States is but one indication that we are entering a 40 year cycle of more severe weather patterns.

“Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.”

In the nearly 200 years since those words were written — by John Howard Payne, for the opera “Clari” — they have become a comforting saying. But have you ever stopped to consider what they really mean? What makes a house a home?

Private mortgage insurance (PMI) programs have helped open a window of opportunity for a number of homebuyers-and analysts expect that window to open even wider.

As home prices continue to rise and speculation persists regarding higher interest rates, you may be hearing a lot of buzz about one of the mortgage industry's most popular products-interest-only (IO) loans. IO loans allow homebuyers to lower their monthly payments for a set period of time-and now make up 50 percent of the total share of mortgages in major competitive housing markets like San Diego, Atlanta and San Francisco.

Angela Cole has been named Assistant New Home Sales Manager for United Realty Group, the exclusive brokerage for The Parks of Olmsted in Coweta County and The Villages of Huntcliff in Hogansville in Troup County.

Patrick Malloy Communities announced the opening of Phase II at its popular new community, Providence Place. The townhome community is located near the intersection of Flat Shoals Road and Old National Highway in South Fulton County. It is conveniently located to I-285 and I-85, as well as Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and downtown Atlanta. Local shopping and dining are just minutes away.

KB Home, the New Orleans Saints and Monster.com Atlanta are hoping to put smiles on the faces of a few lucky New Orleans hurricane Katrina evacuees in Atlanta this holiday season. From Nov. 11-21, evacuees can register for a chance to win two tickets to the Dec. 12 (Monday night) football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Saints at the Georgia Dome.

Hollywood glam, shimmer and shine the latest in home design

By Charlyne Varkonyi Schaub
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Since you can’t grow extra hands to help pick up all the leaves you rake, Lawn Claws may be the best alternative.

Lawn Claws are molded plastic scoops that let you grab more leaves, sticks, mulch or other stuff at one time. The handle straps can be adjusted to fit hands of different sizes, and hanging holes allow for simple storage.

Q: There is a “slamming” when the toilet valve shuts off. I recently replaced floating arms in both our toilets with floating cup ball cocks. Now, when the water shuts off, the valve slams shut hard and it sounds like a water hammer. What should I do?

Scented candles have many fans. They offer a pleasant fragrance and a soft romantic ambience and look pretty when burning. The scent can be therapeutic. But they can also cause smoke damage and require intense vigilance. The newest trend is less hazardous and lower maintenance. Make way for diffusion sticks. They are called “reed diffusers,” which are sticks of wood that stand in containers of scented liquid and wick the fragrance into the room.

If your toilet gives you trouble by not flushing properly, you might suspect the problem is low water pressure. But pressure has nothing to do with it. The water in the tank does the job. It fills the bowl and starts the flush-and-siphon action in the P-trap below. Gravity starts a flush and natural siphoning draws it through.

Q: We’ve been sneezing a lot since moving into our new home a few months ago. My wife’s friend says we may have a problem with indoor air quality. How can we find out more about this type of problem?

You probably already know how tough Gorilla Glue is. Now that toughness has been incorporated into a tape.

Gorilla Tape is made for the kinds of heavy-duty jobs that duct tape is usually used for, but it’s designed to stick better in the long run. The adhesive is made to stick to metal as well as rough or porous surfaces including wood, stucco, plaster and brick. The tape is thicker than conventional duct tape, weather-resistant and reinforced by a fiber webbing that can still be ripped by hand.

Remember the “Blondie & Dagwood” shows with the midnight cravings for a sandwich? This master suite (above) is equipped with a wet bar complete with refrigerator, sink and wine rack.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were a twin blow to consumers and builders heading into fall projects. Numerous reports forecast steep price hikes for building materials as a result.

Q: I have a plumbing problem wherein the toilet appears to bubble up water and the bowl completely fills with water upon flushing. It requires about 30 minutes for the water to drain out. When it does, it almost completely drains out. I have tried using a plunger, but to no avail. Please advise.

Handsome maple built-ins frame the transom windows of this classy home office (above). What a difference some woodworking makes compared to a blank rear wall behind the desk.

Your screwdriver can be your friend. Out in the field under fire, it’s a lifesaver.

Today’s tool is stronger, safer and more useful than ever before. Now you can forget about bent shanks, broken handles, injured wrists and stripped heads.