pooler real estate

The Farm at Morgan Lakes Pooler GA

January 13, 2015 by Helen Miltiades

The Farm at Morgan Lakes Pooler GA

The Farm at Mortgage Lakes is a newer subdivision in Pooler Georgia north of downtown off Jimmy Deloach Pkwy. Built by D.R. Horton, these homes are nestled against a 65 acre lake on the north side of the community complete with swimming, pools, playgrounds, boat docks, clubhouse and fitness center.

If you’ve been looking for affordable new homes in a gated community close to downtown Pooler and Savannah, this may be it. A great location, quiet and reserved, and you have your own lake!

Residents are close to schools, shopping, the Hunter Army Airfield, Fort Stewart, Tybee Beach and more, yet in their own quiet and secluded location. The Farm at Mortgage Lakes offers three swimming pools including a children’s splash pool and zero entry wading pool as well as the traditional swimming pool, all overlooking the beautiful lake. Residents can fish, boat, swim or compete in one of the community’s triathlons each year.

The neighborhood also boasts a fitness center with state of the art equipment, fenced playground and community clubhouse with media room and plenty of space, perfect for parties and social events. The quiet streets offer sidewalks for a pedestrian-friendly environment and there are the occasional picnic tables and benches scattered throughout the neighborhood. The gate is open during the day but closes every night to everyone that is not a homeowner.

There are numerous layouts and floor plans from which to choose, all starting in the low $100s. Properties reach as high as $330K. Homes have 3 and 4 bedroom layouts from 1,500 square feet to 2,500 square feet in size.

The Farm is in the Godley Station K-8 School District and utilizes the new Hampstead High School. These schools receive a 7-9 rating with GreatSchools.org by parents, students and teachers.

The beauty of this place is really the location and amenities right next to a usable lake, private swimming with clubhouse perks and amazingly affordable homes. Call me today for a personalized list of all homes for sale at the Farm at Morgan Lakes.

The Village at Savannah Quarters

August 25, 2014 by Helen Miltiades

The Village At Savannah Quarters

The Village at Savannah Quarters is located close to I-16 just off Pooler Parkway north of the Savannah Quarters Country Club and Golf Course. This neighborhood is ideal for those that want to live, play and work all within the same community. This pedestrian friendly community offers a variety of town homes, apartments and condominiums coupled with shopping, dining, office space and daily necessities such as banks and convenience stores. Developed by SunCal, The Village is designed to offer a quality lifestyle perfect for businesses, shopping, living and playing. The main entrance to the Village, Blue Moon Crossing, directs you past retail shops and restaurants to a roundabout surrounded by office buildings and future construction sites.

The Village Offers three distinct micro-neighborhoods including the Village Green Townhomes by Beazer Homes®, Carrington Square Apartments, and Avala Apartments. Each of these buildings is surrounded by convenience stores, gas stations, shopping, dining and banks. The goal is to have an entire micro-community living, working and freely operating within the larger community of Savannah Quarters.

Carrington Square offers stylish apartment homes just inside the gate going into Savannah Quarters. There are one, two, and three bedroom floor plans that offer pet friendly living to accommodate a luxurious lifestyle. It’s conveniently located near the freeway providing easy access to and from Pooler or historic Savannah. Amenities at this apartment facility include detached garages, swimming pool and clubhouse, laundry facilities, picnic areas and barbecue grills, outdoor entertaining areas, pet walk stations, parks and children’s playgrounds. Carrington Square also provides a secure and gated entrance of its own.

Avala Apartments offers three-story apartments with a variety of amenities just minutes to the Savannah Quarters Golf Course. These apartments offer luxury amenities such as a large swimming pool, landscaped grounds, exclusive clubhouse with media and game room, business center, movie library, athletic facility, personal storage spaces, attached garages, club membership opportunities, outdoor entertaining pavilions and more. Inside, residents enjoy custom lighting, designer hardware, Italian style cabinetry, built-ins, French doors, balconies and washer and dryer in each apartment. Call for current pricing.

The Village Green Townhomes offers two different styles of townhomes from 1500 ft.² to just over 1800 ft.² in two and three bedroom floor plans. Each townhome offers a private garage, covered front porches, wrought iron banisters, unique details, and brick foundations. Several of the amenities are still under construction but will include a state-of-the-art swimming pool center, fitness center, tennis courts and clubhouse with a restaurant. When completed, the village area will also include retail shops and restaurants.

For more information about the homes, townhomes and apartments for sale or rent at the Village At Savannah Quarters please feel free to give me a call at any time.

Westbrook at Savannah Quarters – Pooler Georgia

August 16, 2014 by Helen Miltiades

Westbrook at Savannah Quarters – Pooler Georgia

Luxury homes, quaint styling, traditional bungalows and modern designs are all available at the micro community of Westbrook in Savannah Quarters. Located just west of downtown Savannah and south of Pooler Georgia, Savannah Quarters Country Club offers a variety of amenities and a beautiful golf course all in a luxury and private community.

Westbrook is a private, gated community with beautiful homes offering stunning views of the golf course, lagoon and surrounding nature. This brings coastal lifestyle to Pooler Georgia with a Greg Norman golf course and fantastic village community. With move-in ready homes and lot parcels ideal for building your custom home, the properties and choices are endless. Lots start at about $100,000 and offer a variety of golf, lagoon, nature, or interior views. Move-in ready home start at about $385,000 for three or four bedroom floor plans, lot sizes starting at about 8000 ft.² and home sizes starting at about 3000 ft.².

Luxury homes in Westbook start at roughly $800,000 on larger lots of over 20,000 ft.² with beautiful, spacious interior home sizes of over 5000 ft.².

Not only does Westbrook provide beautiful golf view homes but they also have a distinguished clubhouse with fine dining and casual options. With over 2600 acres, this master-planned community has something for everyone. With three distinct residential quarters, the Westbrook, East Haven and the Village, there are home prices and designs to suit just about every taste and budget. Westbrook is a 950-acre privately owned master-planned community with custom homes designed by Preferred Builders. Within Savannah Quarters there are micro-communities including Westbrook Villas, the Fairways, Westbrook Lakes, The Gates, and Hamilton Grove. Each of these offers different styles of homes including one and two story townhomes.

Residents have the choice of a variety of amenities including a fitness center, swimming center, tennis courts, three dining rooms in the newly built clubhouse, business rooms and wine room. There’s even a full social calendar for meeting your neighbors and socializing with friends. This community offers world-class living less than 10 minutes from downtown Savannah and a short drive to shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Let me be your guide! Find your perfect home at Westbrook located in Savannah Quarters Pooler Georgia.

Buying New Construction in Savannah Without a Buyer’s Agent

July 11, 2014 by Helen Miltiades

If you’re thinking about buying new construction or pre-construction throughout the Savannah real estate area you might be considering the benefits of enlisting the help of a buyer’s agent. Of course, you certainly don’t need one; you can visit the model showroom and the development without a buyer’s agent and have the assistance and help of the listing agent or the buyer’s agent on duty. They can help you with colors, styles and facilitate the transaction all the way through to closing. Buyer’s agents can be the mediator between the sellers or the developers and your negotiating strategies, answering questions along the way in helping you close on time.

But remember, who is this agent really working for?

The buyer’s agents and the listing agents that work the model showrooms and homes are working specifically for the developers. They have contracted with the builders and the developers in order to sell these properties. They specifically are obligated to help sell these homes versus other homes. So do you think those buyer’s agents really have your best interest at heart?

When you work with your own dedicated buyer’s agent we have no hidden agenda or ulterior motive on selling one home or property over another. You can walk confidently into the model showroom or home and explain to them that you already have a buyer’s agent. The pressure is now off and you can browse through the colors, accessories and custom details and yet have a buyer’s agent that keeps your negotiating and financing strategies confidential.

It costs you absolutely nothing to use the help of a buyer’s agent, whether on-site or your own. Buyer’s agents that work specifically for a buyer and not through any developer or subdivision have no agenda on which property you buy as long as it’s the one you’re looking for at a price that meets your budget.

I’ve worked with many buyers and have saved them thousands of dollars by negotiating for their terms and their price. Remember, the listing agents that sits the model homes are trying to get as much profit for these properties as possible for their developer or builder. Using your own buyer’s agent means your budget is the most important financing tool, not the developers.

So yes, you can certainly buy new construction without the help of your own dedicated buyer’s agent but is it financially wise to do so? Feel free to give me a call at any time to discuss new construction homes and developments throughout Savannah and how you can save money using your own buyer’s agent.

Changes to Mortgages in 2014 and What You Need to Know

December 30, 2013 by Helen Miltiades

Changes to Mortgages in 2014 and What You Need to Know

If you’re planning on buying a home in 2014 anywhere in the Savannah Georgia or Pooler area, it’s best to know what changes are coming down the line in the mortgage industry. Of course, if you’re planning on paying cash these rules won’t apply to you but some taxes and current home-buying laws may.

One of the biggest changes is on the high-end FHA loans. Typically, the FHA loan limits in high-marketed area or high-cost areas tops out at $729,000. It’s been this limit for the last few years in order to get more buyers onto the market, especially in high cost areas. Starting January 1, 2014 that number will drop to $625,000. The standard in most areas including Georgia is $417,000 for an FHA backed loan. Those that apply for an FHA loan will be required to contribute 3.5% down payment towards the purchase price of the home including closing costs. Many lenders and mortgage brokers may be able to build that into the cost of the home if the property will appraise for higher. (You must speak with your mortgage lender and real estate agent in order to create a creative financing program.)

Other changes will come in the form of the application process. Typically, the home loan process is about 100 pages total. With new rulings and laws, lenders are getting stricter when it comes to application qualifications. Some applications may reach over 500 pages, especially for those self-employed or those that need to prove multiple incomes. The more complicated your income is the more the lender will require of you. It’s best to start now and set aside all of your tax returns, W-2’s, pay stubs, income, debts, assets and liabilities as well as any bank statements and credit card statements. The lenders will require all of these documents in order to qualify you for a home loan.

Another possible change is the expiration of the Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Relief Act. This allows those that have to sell their home with a short sale or foreclosure the opportunity to forgive the difference between what they owed on the home and what the home sold for. With this act not in place, previous homeowners are responsible for that difference as income, paying taxes on it at tax time. The debt forgiveness act allowed that debt to be forgiven. Although it’s not technically income – cash in their pocket – the IRS considers that income and requires taxes to be paid on it. If we do not get an extension of this act, those in the short sale and foreclosure process may be required to pay taxes on that difference.

You might think all of these changes are negative but really it’s a sign of a recovering housing market and economy. Things are getting better so lenders are getting a little bit stricter in order to provide loans to those that qualify. Most of us assume that the act will continue to be extended as it has for the last few years but it’s always good to know as much as you can about future changes especially if you’re applying for a mortgage in 2014.