Category Archives: New Home News

Despite the Economy, a New Business Thrives

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The Interior PartnersTwo years ago, the housing market was slowing down and several companies were going out of business. That is also when The Interior Partners decided to set up shop. In those two years, Cindi MacPherson and Ashley Norred have experienced success after success with twenty projects under their belt. They’ve completed five residential projects, a restaurant and 15 model installations for home builders. They operate all across the Southeast.

How were they so successful in such a down market? Their low overhead, flexibility with clients and knack for staying in tight budgets have given them a competitive edge. In order to stay in budget, furniture was reused for different projects but accented with different items to provide a fresh look. Cindi MacPherson is extremely optimistic about growth potential in 2010 since the market is turning around.

Last fall, The Interior Partners won the Gold and Silver OBIEs from the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association for best model home merchandising for $299,999 and under for their work in the Bryant Lake community of LaGrange, Ga.

The Interior Partners enjoys the creativity in residential projects. Currently, they are working on one project in Midtown Atlanta, a structure of glass, stone and steel, and another in the Vinings neighborhood that was damaged by the September 2009 floods in Georgia.

The Interior Partners would love to assist you with your next project. They serve the following areas: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama or Tennessee. Contact them by calling 678-731-0926 or visiting their website, The Interior Partners.

State Program Helps Avoid Foreclosures

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foreclosure avoidanceEven with foreclosure rates increasing 14% in 2009, North Carolina still ranks one of the lowest for foreclosures nationwide.   With help from a government run program that focuses on counseling and legal-service agencies, the state was able to avoid $183.6 million in investor losses and $43.6 in value declines last year.

The State Home Foreclosure Prevention Act (SHFPP) is the result of  2008 emergency legislation to the state’s high rate of foreclosures on subprime loans and successfully dodged 2,620 foreclosures in 2009.  The project was launched with the Commissioner of Banks, 34 state agencies, HUD-certified counseling services, legal service providers, and nonprofit groups.  Lenders have to give 45 days notice before filing foreclosure, according to state law. Counselors review homeowner’s personal finances to figure out why the mortgage became unsuccessful and might be able to work out a loan modification and the Commissioner of Banks expanded the phone-counseling services to all North Carolina homeowners seeking help.

SHFPP emerged when the state passed its Emergency Foreclosure Act in 2008 and sent $600,000 in grants to nonprofits and counseling agencies.  Bank of America put up another $2 million, and North Carolina Housing Finance Agency secured $25 million in federal grants and the Commissioner of Banks pays the SHFPP staff with more than $1 million in fees it charges banks.  If these funds aren’t renewed, the project will need to tap other sources, such as national foundations.  However, with the expected budget deficit there is a chance the funding won’t be renewed.  Read the entire article.

Update Your Kitchen – It’s National Remodeling Month

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Cambria quartz countertopsMay is National Remodeling Month and the perfect time to update your home with luxury products. As the go-to for all kitchen and bath needs in the Southeast, Construction Resources took a moment to ask Buck Belue what his recommendation is for kitchen countertops.

You might recognize Buck Belue as he is truly a sports icon – extremely accomplished in both football and baseball, helping to lead the UGA Bulldogs (Go Dawgs – sorry Carolina Fans) to the 1980 National Championship while playing quarterback from 1978 – 1981 and also playing professional baseball for three years after college (among many other achievements).

There’s no question he’s an amazing leader on the field and can recognize quality when he sees it. For this reason, he turns to Atlanta Kitchen for all of his countertop needs. Atlanta Kitchen has been installing countertops here in Atlanta for over 40 years, and they use the best quality materials available. In fact, they were the first company in Atlanta to install Cambria Quartz countertops.

While many people think that granite is the best surface for countertops, Buck Belue knows better. Cambria Quartz is the finest countertop surface available. Cambria is 93% quartz, twice as strong as granite and will last far longer than other stone and laminated countertop materials. In addition, quartz requires no maintenance and is the most stain resistant countertop on the market. When it comes to design options, you have nothing to worry about as Cambria comes in 64 different colors. And, to top it all off, Cambria quartz is made in the USA, so you know you are supporting local fabricators.

Take Buck’s advice and go with the best kitchen countertop team in Atlanta – Atlanta Kitchen.

Fema Launches Mobile Site for Smartphones

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FEMA announces the launch of its new mobile Web site, m.fema.gov. The mobile Web site makes it easier to access emergency information from your smartphone – right where you want it! This will provide home owners and residents with another tool during storms and other emergencies, after all nothing is more important than keeping your family safe.

“Smartphones are becoming more prevalent, affordable, reliable and more viable to locate and obtain information and assistance,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “This service will provide yet another avenue for the sharing of important information that is so critical to ensuring the public is prepared for emergencies. As we’ve seen in recent cases, often times after a disaster, mobile devices become a crucial lifeline to provide information to survivors.”

The new site has a user friendly, question and answer format, providing users with the answers to their top questions, such as:

What should I do in a disaster?

Where can I find assistance?

How can I help others?

FEMA will be making several enhancements to m.fema.gov in the coming months, including the ability to apply for individual assistance when a disaster has been declared by the President, check on the status of an application and update an existing application.

The mobile site is just one way that FEMA is reaching out to ensure that the public has the tools they need to be prepared for any emergency. Families are also encouraged to log onto www.ready.gov and learn more about the simple steps they can take to ready for this season.

Distinguished Honors Bestowed Upon President of the Raleigh Market of Standard Pacific Homes

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Elliot Mann, Standard Pacific Homes of the Carolina’s Division President, was named The 2008 Distinguished Builder of the Year by the Homebuilders Association of Charlotte on Januuary 29, 2009. This mark of distinction is awarded based on volunteer work devoted to the association. Mann is a long time member of the Home Builders Association of Charlotte.

He has served on the Board of Directors for many of those years, including as the President of the Association in 2007. He also chairs the HomeAid Charlotte Board of Directors. HomeAid Charlotte is a charity started in 2007, which provides shelter for temporarily homeless people in Charlotte.

Recently, Mann was named President of the newly formed Carolinas Division of Standard Pacific taking on leadership of both the Charlotte and Raleigh markets. He has been with Standard Pacific Homes as the Division President of Charlotte for nearly six years, and has been in homebuilding for twenty-one.

To learn more about Standard Pacific and their communities around the Triangle please visit www.standardpacifichomes.com or call toll free 888-222-2412.