Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Welcome to our special Christmas edition! Monte Hewett with Monte Hewett Homes joins us on Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio. Monte has been building homes since the 1980s, he moved to Atlanta in 1988 and built for a large regional homebuilder. He started Monte Hewett Homes in 2000 and started focusing on infill intown communities. This is a location driven company that is willing to a product to meet the needs of today’s buyers.
Today’s buyer is driven by need. People are buying houses because they need a place to live. Buyers are very cautious and there is no discretionary market. Buyers expect certain features. The biggest drivers are the kitchen and family room. They want to have hardwoods, trim, built-ins, commercial looking stainless appliances, granite countertops and some flexible space. We also get more questions on energy efficiency.
It is in vogue to be practical, states Monte in reference to smaller homes and less spacious rooms.
Click the podcast link above to listen to the full interview and find out what Monte sees as trends in the master bedroom, and with energy efficiency.
If you are interested in finding out more about Monte Hewett Homes, viist MHHomes.com
Today’s Deal of the Day is from Ashton Woods Homes. Just go to the Ashton Woods Homes Atlanta Facebook page for the chance to win a $250 Simon gift card. All of the details are on the site. Just think of all the fun you can have shopping after the holiday! The Simon gift card incentive runs through December 31, 2011.
Our next guest is Larrie Del Martin, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Atlanta. Larrie Del has been with Habitat for 15 years serving in a variety of positions. In 2011, Habitat will build 53 homes. They are reaching their 1,200th home milestone in Atlanta. The families that live in Habitat’s homes are hard working families that can’t get a traditional mortgage. The homeowners put sweat equity into the home and pay the mortgage over 30 years at no interest. The volunteers who supply the labor for the homes save each family $30,000 to $40,000 per home.
Habitat for Humanity families talk about the difference that it makes in the children’s lives to have their own room and their own place to do their homework. Many of our families are headed by single women, and the children get to see their mother grow in confidence as she builds the home. It is a life altering experience for the entire family.
Homeowners are required to put in 250 sweat equity hours. When you realize that each home takes approximately seven weekends to build, so they could never get that 250 hours building their own home. Habitat homeowners help others build their homes.
Sponsorships are what makes Habitat work. They put the upfront money to build the house. Other donors give money to help subsidize the cost of the home. It takes a lot of money to sustain a program this large. Last year Habitat had more than 14,000 volunteers just in Atlanta. Many people volunteer at the ReStore. Additionally, there are opportunities to help with construction, as well as selection workshops.
Habitat for Humanity gives a whole new meaning to Home for the Holidays.
For more information on Habitat for Humanity, 404-223-5180 or visit their website at www.atlantahabitat.org.
Special thanks to this week’s show sponsor Guaranty Mortgage. Make sure to visit their website for all of your mortgage needs!
For more information on how you can feature your Atlanta new homes news,communities, products and services on Atlanta Real Estate Forum or Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio, call 770-383-3360.
You can download all of the Atlanta Real Estate Forum radio podcasts from iTunes.