At a time when some planned developments are struggling to survive, others, owned and operated by Home (and Property) Owners Associations (HOA), are maintaining a steady course. The Landings on Savannah’s Skidaway Island is a good ‘case study.’
A paper company started The Landings in the 1970s as a luxury ‘amenitized’ community. The development’s success was [...]

Summer is winding down, the cooler air is coming in, and soon there will be the burdens of tax bills, old man winter keeping you inside and another year gone by wondering when you’ll be able to escape it all and head south for that ideal retirement or second home spot.
If you’ve never been to [...]

How much can I afford?
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. This involves getting your credit report and FICO scores and investigating the type of mortgage that’s best for you. Shop around for the best rates and programs.
What kind of home do I want (the ‘wish list’)? What kind of home do I need?
Make a wish list [...]

In the midst of one of the worst economies the U.S. has seen, how could it be one of the best times to build a new custom home?
People are finding that retiring and building a new home brings enjoyment and hope for a new, wonderful life. Taxes and cost of living will continue to rise [...]

It’s easy to see only crisis with current economic conditions. But as with most change, there is also opportunity. If you’re contemplating retiring to a warm, sunny place, now is an opportune time to do so.
Interest Rates Are Very Low
The Federal Reserve has cut rates in an effort to simulate the economy. Low interest rates [...]

Smaller, Energy-Efficient Homes Fueled by Tax Credits Increase 2009 Home Sales
Gone are the days of the McMansions. In the current economy, bigger doesn’t necessarily equal better. Smaller homes have made a comeback, but discerning buyers haven’t sacrificed quality for quantity. What today’s best-selling homes may lack in square footage, they make up for in amenities, [...]

Hammers and nails are flying as construction has begun on the 2010 Ideal Living Home in Dahlonega, GA. The Show Home at Achasta is a 3,200-square-foot paired home in the Fairway Village.
The home overlooks the 10th and 18th fairways of the Achasta golf course and features state-of-the-art sustainable building techniques and materials as well as [...]

Bluffton, S.C. – 4.5.2010 – Hampton Lake, the premiere private lake community in the Hilton Head/Bluffton area, announced the launch of The Arbor Collection, the most affordable new home alternatives ever offered within Hampton Lake.
Pricing for the two-to-three-bedroom homes that range in size from 1,295 – 1,889 sq. ft. starts in the mid-$200s. The Arbor [...]

Editor’s Note
by Dave Robertson
What do U.S. retirees want in a new home? In September, the Met Life Institute and the National Association of Home Builders surveyed 1,522 families nationwide, over age 55. While 62% plan to age in place and not move, 26% are undecided about adding a home or moving, and 12% (where Live [...]

Atlanta, Ga. (March 31, 2010) – Reynolds Capital Group, backed by Mercer Reynolds, is pleased to announce the addition of Waterlace to its portfolio of award-winning master planned communities.  Waterlace, a 599-acre lakefront community in Fayette County, Ga., consists of 116 developed homesites, 360 acres of additional land, and two pristine lakes. Twenty-five miles south [...]

($4.1 Million Contracted In One Weekend)
Despite a challenging economy, The Greenbrier Sporting Club experienced a record-breaking weekend in real estate sales for January, a month typically slow in land transactions. The private residential community, located on the grounds of The Greenbrier, contracted $4.1 million in real estate over the course of a single weekend, January [...]

“This is an excellent time to buy a homesite and build your dream home. There is light at the end of the tunnel during this time of economic uncertainty,” says icon Gary Ingersoll. Why does his opinion matter so much? Gary’s extraordinary career in sales, marketing and development of upscale private communities spans 45 years [...]

America is on sale. And while the “Land of the Free” is certainly far from free, the cost of buying a piece of America today couldn’t be more attractive. Nowhere is that statement arguably truer than Florida.
Of course, nobody needs to be told it’s a fantastic time to buy property in Florida, a highly desirable Sun [...]

Seawatch at Sunset Harbor, NC – The Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina, specifically the organization and facilities at Lake Waccamaw, have received a donation of $25,738.61 from Seawatch at Sunset Harbor, L.L.C. to the Boys and Girls Homes, on behalf of the project team for and from tours of the 2009 Coastal Living Idea [...]

Come to the largest resort and retirement real estate show in the country sponsored by Ideal Living Magazine. Compare retirement, investment and vacation properties. Meet the experts, attend seminars, take advantage of special offers/getaway packages, all in one convenient location – The Live South Show at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield, January 15-17th.
The Winter 2009 Live [...]