Author Archives: Carol Morgan

Gary Player Design Course Opening at The Cliffs in South Carolina

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Gary Player Design course at The Cliffs

The Cliffs and Gary Player Design are excited to announce that The Cliffs at Mountain Park Golf Course is scheduled to open next fall. The is one of only a handful of golf courses currently being constructed in North America, and one of seven courses in The Cliffs Communities. The new course will be a part of the existing 5,000 acre Mountain Park residential community on the southernmost edge of the Blue Ridge Mountians.

The Cliffs at Mountain Park Golf Course will be surrounded by more than a million acres of State Parks and National Forests. The course has been designed with the highest environmental standards in mind, and is carefully planned to preserve the area’s natural beauty. The course will also save money by using organic materials and implementing eco-friendly design practices.

The company expects grassing to be completed over the next few weeks with the course fully operational by the 2013 season.

The Cliffs Communities offers a unique collection of seven private communities nestled among lakes and mountains between Greenville, S.C. and Asheville, N.C. These residential Carolina real estate areas are bordered by thousands of national forests and state parks, and each is designed with a unique personality and style.

For more information about The Cliffs, call 866-411-5771.

Sneak Peek: New Design Trends from PPG Porter Paints

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Carolina real estate design trends

Carolina real estate design trends

PPG Porter Paints is rolling out five new trends this fall, and Carolina real estate homeowners can be some of the first to take a sneak peek at what we’ve got planned.

The first trend, “Everyday Hero,” encompasses much more than just color!

It is all about building a life with values and balance. You can achieve peace and serenity through more than just actions, your living and working environments can have a huge impact on your sanity!

Everyday Hero focuses on a laid back, easy spirit achieved through simple spaces and durable objects. A few well-made items are better than an overload of junk!

Beauty can be found in natural items such as wood grains, planters for herbs and natural fibers, and versatility is key. Transform your coffee table into so much more by using a table that converts to seating and storage! There is no need for a storage bin and a coffee table.

Color wise, think earthy hues rich in color such as corn yellow, olive green and terra cotta. These colors along with denim blues and warm grays will provide plenty of color, while keeping to the neutral and soothing concept of “Everyday Hero.”

For more information on all of the latest design trends, visit the PPG Porter Paints website.

Tessa Jones is a South Zone Color Consultant with PPG Porter Paints

New Housing Market Predictions Paint Rosy 2013

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Housing market predictions up from lower inventory

Housing market predictions up from lower inventory

The recovery is alive and well, and is painting some good 

housing market predictions for spring 2013. This change is the result of a number of factors, which the Equifax Finance Blog explains in the new article, “

One Million Homeowners Are Back in the Black.”

The 20 percent less inventory than the same time last year has made homes more valuable, and that rise in value has accounted for an overall $457.1 billion rise in home equity, or 7.4 percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2011. Hundreds of thousands of homeowners will rise above owing more than their home is worth if prices continue to rise, and many who have delayed selling their home will have a chance to re-enter the market.

These homeowners rejoining the market as home sellers will add inventory to give buyers more choices on where to spend their money, and that additional inventory may either cause prices to normalize or to rise as homes are quickly taken off of the market. This presents a bonus for both buying and 

selling a home, in addition to a big boost for the housing market recovery.

For more personal finance tips and tricks, as well as real estate analysis and predictions, direct your browser to the Equifax Finance Blog.

Winston-Salem Named As Top 10 Cheapest US City

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Cheapest US cities

Even though home prices may be low, buyers still have to consider the cost of living for the region they want to move to. To help buyers out, Kiplinger recently released their list of the top 10 cheapest U.S. cities to live in based on research from the Council for Community and Economic Research. Making the list at number 10 was our very own popular Carolina real estate destination, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Winston-Salem is the most budget-friendly big city within the Tar Heel State, with Raleigh coming in at second. The cost of living index is a 87.5, which means it is around 13 points below the national average. The median household income is below the national average at $41,483, but the average home price is also well below the national average at $199,118. In addition, renting an apartment typically costs around $590 a month. Two of the most popular and biggest employers for the area are Wake Forest University and Reynolds American.

If you’re considering purchasing a new home in either South Carolina or North Carolina, Winston-Salem is the only big city to make Kiplinger’s list of cheapest cities for either state.

Durham Named a Hot City for Foreclosures

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durham a hot city for foreclosures

With the real estate market in the condition it’s in, buyers these days are looking to get the best deal possible. In most markets, housing prices are still extremely affordable and interest rates are low, so buyers are able to get more house for less money. However, these conditions are starting to cause a decrease in inventory, especially foreclosure inventory, in many areas, which means prices may soon be on the rise. Even though all of this is true, Business Insider recently named Durham as one of the 10 hottest cities for investing in foreclosed homes.

According to RealtyTrac, home sales prices in the area increased by almost 20 percent between the first quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of this year, but the average foreclosure sale price remains around $150,000. This price is considered an almost 25 percent discount when compared to pricing on a North Carolina new home. However, foreclosure buyers need to act quickly because the company predicts that the foreclosure inventory is down to almost only 11 months of supply.

The only other southern city to make Business Insider’s list is Montgomery, while the rest were confined to Massachusetts, Washington, California, Ohio, Arizona and Rhode Island.