If you are in the market to move and you are looking for a home, Touchstone Homes would like to offer a few pros and cons in this “incredible” real estate market.  Foreclosure and bank owned properties are at an all time high in Atlanta and price seems to be the deciding factor for many home buyers.  But let us tell you PRICE should not be the only consideration when making a decision of this magnitude.  While the price may be right, and you feel that you are getting a steal on your new home purchase – please take a look at these factors when making a life changing decision such as buying a home:

• New home builders such as Touchstone Homes are offering discounted pricing on new homes that gives you instant equity.
• Builder Warranty included.  Re-sale, Foreclosure and Bank Owned properties may or may not come with a warranty, most likely not. 
• With a new home purchase, Builders are offering to pay closing costs and other seller contributions.
• Bidding on a foreclosure or bank owned property or short sale, can take months to get a response.  Horror stories such as 9 months to get an answer from the bank.  Bidding wars can also drive up the price of the home.  When making an offer on a new home, you will get a response from the Builder typically within 24 hours or less.
• Foreclosure or Re-Sale home could require fixing up before you can actually move in.  Wouldn’t you rather pick your home and know that you can move in immediately without having to come out of pocket money to make repairs?
• With a new home, all of the mechanical systems and appliance are installed new – so they are still under manufacturer warranties if there happens to be a problem.  In a re-sale home or foreclosure, you could potentially be buying a home that already has problems (known or unknown) that could cost you tons of money after you buy it.  If you do buy a re-sale home, be sure and have a thorough inspection done by an independent Building Inspector before purchasing.  New homes are inspected by the local governing authority and are built to the current Georgia Building Codes and local regulations.  With a new home, you get a Builder Warranty that will take care of most any problem that occurs in the first 1-2 years depending on the extent of the warranty.  Touchstone Homes offers a 2-Year Limited Warranty – most builders only offer 1 year.
• No hidden surprises with a new home such as liens or repairs.  Are you prepared to deal with a lien on the property?  Issues such as liens and taxes could delay moving into the home.
• Touchstone Homes has 60+ new home in metro Atlanta that are ready for quick closing and move in, based on your financing.  Touchstone Homes could have you in your new home in less than 30 days in most cases!!
• Touchstone Homes can build a new home for you from the ground up in under 60 days!  This means you can choose the lots, house plan, appliances, flooring, fixtures, paint colors, cabinetry, countertops and MORE!  Ask our new home specialist in any of our communities about the 60 Day Delivery.

The benefits of purchase a new home vs. a foreclosure are endless.  Purchase a new home from Touchstone Homes gives you the confidence that your new home is built soundly by a company that has been building new homes in Atlanta for 15 years.  Touchstone Homes is working through existing inventory homes and has started building new homes in 2010!!  Touchstone Homes has new homes in Gwinnett, Braselton, Cumming, Flowery Branch, Douglasville, Roswell, and Kennesaw.  Touchstone Homes offers single family homes starting from the mid $200s and townhomes from from the $140s.

Touchstone Homes is focusing on First Time Home Buyers and second time Move Up Buyers.  Take advantage of the Tax Credits of up to $8,000 before they expire on June 30, 2010.  Contracts must be written by April 30, 2010 and close by June 30, 2010.  For more information on the tax credits, you can visit their web site or talk with your tax advisors for details on how the tax credit can help you own a piece of the American Dream of home ownership!!