Tina Fountain

If you've been searching for foreclosures and short sales in Atlanta then you already know the amount of time and work that it requires.

Fortunately, we've made the process much easier and have added a feature to our website that allows you to simply search for homes that have been indicated as a foreclosure by the listing agent.

Visit our Atlanta Real Estate site, click on the Listings tab at the top of the page, and then click on the foreclosures button. You'll see all foreclosure listings for the entire Metro Atlanta area, without having to try to determine yourself which properties are being marketed as a foreclosure.

Of course, you can narrow your search down by city, county, subdivision, price range, and more; just make those selections and be sure to click on the foreclosures button at the bottom.

For more information on metro Atlanta foreclosures check out the following articles:

How To Capitalize on Atlanta Foreclosures

Quickly Find Metro Atlanta Foreclosures and Short Sales

Over 8400 Metro Atlanta Foreclosures Set For Auction

Or, to speak to an agent with foreclosure and short sale experience, contact Tina Fountain Realtors at 404.842.1555

Downtown Atlanta is home to many eclectic and unique neighborhoods which speak of Atlanta's colorful past and bright future:

Castleberry Hill

This trendy part of the downtown area is chalked full of high-end, residential lofts which were once manufacturing plants, warehouses and meat packing buildings. The many historic warehouses which have undergone renovations have earned Castleberry Hill a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

Other sites in Castleberry Hills include hip pubs and restaurants, salons and retail establishments.

Old Fourth Ward

Old Fourth Ward is home to many residential homes, and is one of the oldest residential areas in the city. New development and redevelopment along the City Hall East and the Atlanta Beltline, as well as the King Historic District, is now spurring development and revitalization in Old Fourth Ward.

Fairlie-Poplar

Serving as an historic area of Atlanta, Fairlie-Poplar features many buildings which are over 100 years old. Although this area once served as the city's central business district, it is now home to many condominiums and apartments which are used by students of Georgia State University.

Fairlie-Poplar is also a popular spot for students, as it includes many, trendy restaurants, night clubs and shops.

King Historic District

Home to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, the King Historic District also showcases a great array of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

New development is underway throughout the King Historic District, as well, with the introduction of the Renaissance Walk project and many new shops, restaurants and art galleries.

SoNo

SoNo, aptly named because it is located south of North Avenue, is a unique spot which connects Atlanta's downtown and midtown sections.

As one of the Atlanta's earliest residential areas, SoNo offers plenty of housing options, including single-family homes, townhomes, condos and apartments.

SoNo is a great mix of both residential and commercial development, with the Bank of America as its centerpiece.

Centennial Olympic Park

As home to Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Aquarium, the Philips Arena and the new World of Coca-Cola, Centennial Olympic Park plays host to millions of visitors each year. Because of this, many commercial developments have done exceedingly well here, and this area still remains poised for additional growth.

Centennial Hill

New development is all abuzz in Centennial Hill, with a wide array of residential and commercial developments taking shape. New, residential condominium buildings, the Children's Museum of Atlanta, and the new headquarters of the Southern Company are all found in this progressive area of the city.

Much more development continues in Centennial Park with many new, mixed-used projects currently underway.

Hotel District

Atlanta's biggest and best convention hotels can be found in the Hotel District, along with much of Atlanta's premier office space. If fine dining is on your mind, then the Hotel District will surely fit the bill. This area has a great selection of both casual and fine dining.

Centennial Place

This vibrant community, which borders the Georgia Institute of Technology and Centennial Olympic Park, boasts a neighborhood feel. It was completed for the 1996 Olympic Games, and has received national recognition for both planning and site design.

Tina Fountain Realtors is an Atlanta Georgia Real Estate company serving the entire Metro Atlanta area including Buckhead Homes For Sale and Cobb County Homes For Sale. Contact Tina and her staff of professional agents at 404.842.1555.

The temporary homeless in Atlanta now have a friend in their corner.

HomeAid is a nonprofit organization which was established in January 2002 in Atlanta as a local chapter of HomeAid America, a leading, national provider of transitional housing for the temporary homeless.

According to HomeAid's website, "the HomeAid mission is to build dignified transitional housing where temporarily homeless families and individuals rebuild their lives. This is accomplished through the donation of construction services and materials from members of the local homebuilding industry."

In addition to providing safe, temporary housing, HomeAid Atlanta provides social services, such as life and job skills training, parenting classes and budgeting, which are designed to help the temporary homeless rebuild their lives.

The goal of HomeAid Atlanta is to provide the temporary homeless in Atlanta with the opportunity to get on their feet and regain independence.

The HomeAid Process

HomeAid Atlanta serves the community using a three-step process:

1. Identify and select a successful, community Care Provider that seeks construction services to expand the capacity of their facility, through building a new facility or renovating an existing structure.

2. Recruit a volunteer Builder Captain who coordinates construction and assists in securing trade partners to provide in-kind labor, materials or services.

3. This team works together to build or renovate the facility, aiming to serve a larger number of temporarily homeless families and individuals.

HomeAid Atlanta's Connection to the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association

HomeAid Atlanta is affiliated with the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (HBA), and serves as a "bridge" between builders from the HBA and local service providers, thereby allowing transitional housing facilities to be more effectively constructed and renovated.

Currently, completed projects include seven transitional housing facilities and one free-of-charge health clinic for the homeless. Four, additional projects are currently in development.

In fact, more than 1,100 temporary homeless have been provided with temporary housing through HomeAid Atlanta.

HomeAid Atlanta Contributors

HomeAid Atlanta operates through in-kind donations and building materials, as well as cash donations.

Some of HomeAid Atlanta's contributors include metro Atlanta's home builders, their trade partners, financial institutions, sponsors and the public.

The result: HomeAid Atlanta is able to produce transitional housing at a minimal cost. In fact, every dollar invested in HomeAid Atlanta is turned into an average of $2 of in-kind labor and materials.

HomeAid's History

HomeAid was founded in 1989 by the Orange County chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California, which is an affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders.

HomeAid has since expanded into 16 states and 22 chapters. HomeAid is now one of America's largest providers of housing for the temporary homeless.

HomeAid Atlanta's Special Events

Two fundraising events are held throughout the year, including HomeAid Atlanta's Project Playhouse and HomeAid Atlanta's Fairway to Haven Golf Classic.

In addition, a separate collection drive for baby items, called Essentials for Young Lives Drive, is also held each year.

Tina Fountain Realtors, an Atlanta Real Estate company serving the entire metro Atlanta area including Marietta Real Estate and Vinings Real Estate.

The Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (HBA) is a professional trade association which is "dedicated to promoting, protecting and preserving the homebuilding industry as a viable economic force in the Atlanta area."

HBA's Mission

The mission of the HBA is to:

• Provide valuable services and products to our growing membership, which increases profitability, professionalism and consumer value in the housing industry.

• Ensure an economically viable building environment.

• Promote public policy solutions that serve both the housing industry's and community's needs.

Its vision involves promoting policies and practices that support free enterprise and the creation of new communities which will help to grow and sustain the Atlanta region.

The HBA is a not-for-profit organization which was founded in 1945 and has experienced an ever-increasing membership which showcases the changing climate of the homebuilding industry and the importance of maintaining the integrity of the industry.

The HBA is now comprised of ten, different chapters which are led by member volunteers and professional staff members. The goal of the HBA is clear: it will strive to address issues which affect the professionals within the association.

Under this system, the HBA has won countless awards, honors and recognition over the years.

National Affiliation

The HBA is affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders, as well as the Home Builders Association of Georgia.

As the second biggest local homebuilders association in America, HBA has for 14 consecutive years, from 1991 to 2004, represented the most active residential building market in the country. It currently has 2,450 members.

HBA Members

Members of the HBA include homebuilders, trade contractors, building material manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, lending institutions, real estate companies, utilities, surveyors, title companies, attorneys, accountants, engineers, architects, designers and more.

HBA Councils

The HBA offers special interest councils which are designed to target the specific needs of members within the association.

The councils of the HBA include:

Associates Council - The Associates Council allows associates to partner with home builders.

Atlanta 50+ Housing Council - The Atlanta 50+ Housing Council focuses on all aspects of active adult housing, which includes building, design, development, finance, marketing and sales.

Remodelers Council - The Remodelers Council helps remodeling companies gain support and knowledge through meetings and education seminars.

Sales and Marketing Council - The Sales and Marketing Council helps sales and marketing professionals through special events, education, specialized communications and certification programs. It also coordinates the OBIE awards, which are the highest honors within the Atlanta housing industry.

Builder/Developer/Lender Council - This council provides information and economic forecasts to industry members. It also includes meetings and roundtable discussions among builders, developers, lenders and suppliers that focus on the metro Atlanta housing market.

HBA's Professional Designations and Certifications

The professional designations and certifications offered through the HBA include:

• Certified Active Adults Specialist in Housing

• EarthCraft Housing Builder

• Certified Aging in Place Specialist

• Certified Professional Home Builder

• Certified Graduate Associate

• Graduate Master Builder

Tina Fountain Realtors is an Atlanta Georgia Real Estate company serving the entire Metro Atlanta area including Buckhead Homes For Sale and Cobb County Homes For Sale. Contact Tina and her staff of professional agents at 404.842.1555.

Your homebuilding experience will no doubt be a personal one. Placing your trust in a homebuilder means essentially handing over the reins and asking someone to translate your vision into reality.

Sound daunting? Well, it doesn't necessarily have to be. Doing your homework and planning ahead before choosing an Atlanta homebuilder will allow the process of building your Atlanta dream home to be an exciting one.

What you can do to ensure that you land a trustworthy, competent Atlanta homebuilder:

• Local homebuilders rely on positive word of mouth for business. Therefore, the best first step to take is to ask friends, family members and colleagues for recommendations. Informal referrals are often the most honest, straightforward ones, as they involve personal experiences.

Your goal should be to find several companies which are known for their quality construction and strong customer service.

• After you have assembled a list of local homebuilders, continue on by checking their qualifications. Your first step should be with the Atlanta Home Builders Association, as they can let you know if the homebuilders you have chosen are part of the HBA. Members of the HBA strive to meet the standards of the HBA, and are bound by a strict code of ethics.

You should also check with your local BBB to find out if there are any complaints against the builder. In addition, contact your local licensing board to check on the builder's license.

• Next, look for finished work by the builder. This may include model homes, custom homes or homes currently under construction. If the home you are interested in is part of a community, take the opportunity to ask residents about their experience with the builder and their overall level of satisfaction (hint: take a ride through the community on a weekend afternoon to catch homeowners outside).

• Make an appointment with the builder and be prepared to ask many questions. Find about the builder's area of expertise, particularly if you are interested in building a particular type of construction.

Ask the builder about the warranty offered on the home, the level of after-sales services and details of their contract. Review the contract carefully, as well as the warranty and the warranty standards.

Ask the builder for promotional information, as well as information about the company and the types of homes they build. In addition, check the Internet or your local library for more information and news about the builder. If the builder is local, chances are good that you will find pertinent information related to the builder's company and service within the area.

• After your meeting, reflect upon your conservation with the builder. Did the builder take the time to answer all of your questions? Did the builder seem informative, patient and easy to talk to? Was the contract and warranty easy to read and straightforward?

Keep in mind that your relationship with the builder will likely be a long-term one, so carefully consider whether you had a good, comfortable rapport with the builder.

Tina Fountain Realtors, an Atlanta Real Estate company serving the entire metro Atlanta area including Marietta Homes For Sale and Cobb County Homes For Sale.