Monthly Archives: August 2015

Five Steps to Check Your Credit Situation Mid-Year

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Three generations of a family on holiday walking along the dock of a luxury marina.It can be easy to lose sight of your New Years financial resolutions by mid–year. When summer comes and all you want to do is relax, many people relax with their finances as well. If you’ve gotten off track or are not even sure where you stand, the finance experts at Equifax recommend that you do a mid-year evaluation of your credit situation.

To get back on track with your financial goals and eliminate wasteful spending, consider taking the following steps recommended in the recent Equifax blog, “Five Mid-year Credit Moves to Make Right Now.”

  • Step One: Check your credit report.

o   When you evaluate your credit report, check how much debt you have outstanding on your credit cards versus the total of your credit limits. This is what finance experts refer to as the credit utilization rate, or credit utilization ratio. It’s ideal that your credit utilization rate be between 30 and 35 percent or less, as this indicates you have not over-borrowed on your credit cards.

  • Step Two: Look for errors and address any issues with your report.

o   Once you get your credit reports, look over them carefully to make sure there is no inaccurate information or that you are not the victim of identity fraud. If you discover any errors, you can dispute them for free. If you need assistance to discover any errors, a credit monitoring service can help.

  • Step Three: Set up reminders to pay bills on time.

o   Once you evaluate your credit report, you can now focus on your credit score. Your payment history is the most heavily weighted factor in determining your credit score (typically about 35 percent), so paying all of your bills on time is crucial.  For some bills, you may be able to set up automatic payments. If you don’t like the idea of that, you can set up a reminder on your phone or computer calendar to remind you to pay your bills.

  • Step Four: Pay down debt.

o   Most debt can impact your credit score, both from a credit utilization and a credit utilization ratio perspective. And of course, debt typically costs money—you pay interest as long as the debt isn’t paid off at the end of the billing cycle. Many experts advise paying down debt with the highest interest rate first, as this typically saves the most money in the long run.

  • Step Five: Assess your accounts.

o   Lenders can positively impact your credit score, and having several active and current credit accounts shows them that you’re a responsible borrower. And if you’ve had a long-standing account, it can help demonstrate a longer credit history, which is why it is not a good idea to close every account once you have paid off your credit card balance.

Taking a break from the financial stress of everyday life can help you unwind, but don’t relax your vigilance regarding your credit. Making these five moves will help you stay on top of your credit situation.

John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods Announces Final Opportunities at South Grove

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South GroveJohn Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods announces its final opportunities at South Grove. Minutes from Southern Community Park with a coveted Chapel Hill address, this intimate enclave has just a few remaining homes priced from the $600,000s.

Each home offers an award-winning plan with detailed architecture, flexible space and today’s best features held to the highest standards for quality and efficiency. Priced at $624,900, The Donnelly on homesite #12 has 2,950-plus square feet, four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and a three-car garage. A popular and versatile plan, The Donnelly features a gourmet kitchen, formal dining room, screened porch, luxurious owner’s suite with spa bath, spacious bedrooms, a cozy loft and first floor guest suite.

The Clairemont, priced at $699,900, is located on homesite #13 with 3,725-plus square feet, four bedrooms, four baths and a three-car garage. The plan offers a flexible way to work, play and grow. The first floor study easily doubles as a guest suite, while the main living area is open and bright with room to gather or spread out. Upstairs, the large bonus room has space to spare, making it easy to organize a central space for recreation and relaxation. The luxurious owner’s suite provides a private retreat, while the ample secondary bedrooms are open to the bonus room and the convenient laundry room.

Located on homesite #24 and priced at $739,900, The Manning has four bedrooms, four baths, a three-car garage and 4,000-plus square feet. The first floor includes a chef’s kitchen with an oversized granite island and stainless steel appliances. The kitchen opens to a cozy family room with a fireplace surrounded by built-in bookshelves. The first floor also provides a study and guest suite with a full bath. The second floor features an owner’s suite with a spa-like bath, three bedrooms, two baths and a recreational room.

Each home can be personalized with the assistance of a dedicated designer at the New Home Design Studio. Additionally, homes are backed by over 40 years of homebuilding excellence and the exclusive Wieland 5 Year – 20 Year Warranty. South Grove living

Residents of South Grove can now enjoy the new gathering space with picnic areas, lush flowers and greenery, a fire pit and plenty of space to entertain. Children living in the neighborhood attend top ranked Scroggs Elementary, Culbreth Middle and Carrboro High Schools.

For more information on the final homes at South Grove or to schedule a tour, contact Tim Greene at 919-969-6969 or visit www.JWHomes.com/southgrove.

Model Homes Now Open at James Island’s Freeman’s Point

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Lowcountry home at Freeman's Point on James Island smallFully decorated model homes are now open for touring at James Island’s premier waterfront community, Freeman’s Point.

For water enthusiasts, this coastal community has it all: a community dock and fishing pier on Seaside Creek, swimming and sunbathing in the 1,000-foot waterfront park that is accessible to all homeowners and much more. Other resort style amenities include a neighborhood trail system with resting benches, a swimming pool, pavilion, fireside lounge, gazebo, children’s playground, picnic area and more.

Freeman’s Point is conveniently located minutes from historic downtown Charleston and Folly Beach, and it’s close to top-rated private and public schools, great shopping, waterfront dining destinations and recreation opportunities, like the 11-acre Westchester Playground with a softball field and playground. The community is also a quick boat ride to Morris Island and close to Kiawah Island.

lifestyle at Freeman's Point on James IslandThe homes at Freeman’s Point are functional, energy-efficient and low maintenance with modern floor plans, features and finishes. In addition, the homes are built with the highest quality materials and methods by top home builders FrontDoor Communities and Ashton Woods Homes. Homes are priced from the $300,000s through the $800,000s and offer up to four bedrooms and four-and-a-half baths with 1,890 to 2,880 square feet of living space. Homes feature main level or upper level owner’s suites depending on the floor plan selected, wrap-around and double front porches, drive-under garages and all of the upscale finishes and conveniences buyers would expect in a new, seaside home.

Tour the beautifully decorated model homes and see what makes this community so special. Learn more about the Freeman’s Point homes by FrontDoor Communities by calling Julie Gustavson and Danielle Edmiston at 843-406-6636, or check and follow the FrontDoor Communities’ Facebook page for regular updates. To learn more about the Ashton Woods Homes at Freeman’s Point, contact David Dix and Tara Selbo at 843-795-1440. For more information about Freeman’s Point, visit www.FreemansPoint.com.

Enjoy $10,000 in Design Extras from John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods

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Design ExtrasThere has never been a better time to purchase a John Wieland home in BridgeMill, McCullough, Olmsted and Rose Hill. Now for a limited time, buyers of select homes will receive $10,000 in designer extras from John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods.*

BridgeMill in convenient Fort Mill is priced from the $300,000s to $600,000s. The neighborhood’s distinctive and diverse collection of new homes features flexible floorplans, refined architecture and luxurious interior designs. Its spectacular array of amenities offers something sure to delight every age and interest. Residents enjoy a 7,000 square foot clubhouse with fitness center, recreation room, gathering rooms and caterer’s kitchen; a competition pool with lap lanes, waterslide, zero entry wading area and water play features; three lighted tennis courts; a basketball court; a sand volleyball court; a private three-and-a-half acre lake with walking trail; a neighborhood park with playground and outdoor entertaining area with gazebo and fireplace; and the new Summer Club with second swimming pool, playground and pavilion. Additionally, BridgeMill’s Chesapeake Designer Model was named a 2015 Aurora Award Winner Best of State by the Southeast Builders Conference.

Priced from the low $300,000s to $400,000s, the neighborhood of McCullough offers club living in charming Pineville. McCullough’s historically inspired architecture blends with innovative interior designs from the John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods Signature Portfolio. More than 80 acres of parks; sweeping greens; an aquatic park with sparkling pool and club pavilion; children’s playground with Kenny’s Street Park; and resident’s club with fitness center, event space and lighted tennis courts coming soon make it easy to find the perfect place to connect, play or just relax. Plus, the neighborhood is just minutes from Ballantyne and Uptown.

Olmsted is picturesque wooded setting with club amenities in Huntersville. Priced from the high $300,000s to $600,000s, homes combine classic exterior styling with innovative interior designs from the Signature Portfolio. This one-of-a-kind destination is distinguished by its thoughtful master plan encompassing acres of parks and green space and an 11-acre lake. Residents also benefit from a pool with waterslide, children’s playground and, coming soon, lighted tennis courts.

Rose Hill in prestigious Weddington is priced from the high $600,000s. Luxurious estate homes on spacious homesites feature rich architectural detailing and well-appointed interior plans. Surrounded by green spaces and a neighborhood pond, Rose Hill is conveniently situated just five minutes from I-485 and less than one mile from the 265-acre Colonel Frances Beatty Park with tennis, basketball, kayaking, trails and more.

Take advantage of the Designer Extras promotion today, and personalize a home with help of a dedicated design consultant at the New Home Design Studio. Plus, every new home is protected by the Wieland 5 Year – 20 Year Warranty. For more information, visit www.JWHomes.com.

*Offer valid only on new John Wieland market home purchases in BridgeMill, McCullough, Olmsted and Rose Hill contracted by October 31, 2015 and closed by November 15, 2015. Offer not valid on pre-sale contracts. Offer must be presented prior to writing a purchase agreement to qualify. May not be combined with any other offer or discount. See Licensed Sales Professional for details. Subject to changes, errors and omissions.

Carolina Park Hosts Back-to-School Party

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Residents at the Carolina Park pool partyCarolina Park helped its residents celebrate the start of a new school year as more than 300 residents attended a “Welcome Back to School” pool party last Thursday. While going back to school and the realization that summer break is over can be bittersweet, FrontDoor Communities, along with Carolina Park, celebrates this exciting time of new beginnings.

The master-planned community hosted the event, which brought parents and children together at the Residents Club’s junior Olympic-sized pool with kid-friendly water features and waterfalls, to celebrate the end of summer break. Carolina Park also provided food that included pizza and salad with King of Pops for dessert.

Carolina Park offers its residents an awesome, interactive lifestyle where recreation, shopping, education and gracious living all exist in a unique, park-like setting. Now is your opportunity to become part of this 1,700-acre master-planned, family-style community as it continues to grow, as a number of new homes are being built that will make up the Riverside section. FrontDoor Communities offers eight unique floor plans featuring the classic styling of traditional Lowcountry homes. Priced from the $400,000s, these homes include three or four bedrooms and start from 2,016 square feet in size.

Carolina Park swimming pool partyThere are so many things that make Carolina Park stand out, including the fantastic amenities. For starters, the Residents Club and junior Olympic-sized pool are the perfect place to relax during the warm summer months. Residents also have access to a 54-acre park facility that includes four multi-purpose fields. With a future phase at Carolina Park, there are plans to build a Town Center that will include boutique shops, dining and services literally at your door step. Other amenities that will soon be added include an open-air pavilion with outdoor kitchen, tennis courts, picnic areas and more.

Located in Mt. Pleasant off of Highway 17 near Highway 41 and Interstate 526, Carolina Park is just minutes from beaches, marinas and waterfront activities.

Residents at Carolina Park also will get to attend the best of Mount Pleasant’s schools and have the close convenience to even walk or ride their bikes to school. Students will attend Laurel Hill Primary, Charles Pinckney Elementary, Thomas C. Cario Middle and Wando High.

Carolina Park is more than Mount Pleasant’s newest and most dynamic community; it’s the ideal place for you to call home. For more information about Carolina Park, visit www.FDCCharleston.com/CarolinaPark.

FrontDoor Communities builds high-end, new home communities in the Charleston area, Atlanta, and Naples, Florida. For more information about FrontDoor Communities, visit www.FrontDoorCommunities.com.