Book Club

The Book Club will be discussing The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan.

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Housing Recovery to be led by Boomers

Hello from Frank at the Fairways                                   Feel free to comment

Housing Recovery Positioned to be Led by Baby Boomers

The 50 Plus home buyers are positioned to lead us into the next cycle upwards as we SHIFT towards recovery. These buyers were not caught in the excesses of the early 2000’s as speculation and ill financed mortgages created possibly the largest cyclical movement downward in housing since the great depression.  Many 50 Plus homeowners enjoy sizable equity in their homes and will be able to enter this new cycle with the ability to list and sell their homes with a sense of normalcy. Numerous factors are contributing to this phenomenon as interest rates are at generational lows and the Federal and State governments have enacted tax credits to spur resurgence in home buying. The 50 Plus population has the highest home ownership of any demographic and many of them own their homes without a mortgage. Many of these home owners do not need to sell their homes to move to that dream second home, a place to retire, a place to escape possibly the winter or just a weekend retreat from the city. These 50 Plus home buyers understand now is the opportune time to get off the fence and move on with their lives. In many cases as they consider this new home they may not want a mortgage and elect to pay cash. They have been shaken by the realization that debt has recently shaken this country to its core. Retaining a nest egg for the pursuit of personal leisure, spoiling the grand kids or just assuring their personal financial freedom will shape their home buying considerations. Right-Sized homes will become sought out developments by this demographic as they reduce square footage but maintain the appointments of finely detailed custom homes. Maintenance–free, Lock and Leave living communities will add to the value being sought as quality of time is important to this 50 Plus demographic as they pursue their active golden years.

Boomer Communities More Active, Less Retired !

Baby boomers are buying their retirement homes sometimes as much as a decade before retirement as they want the lifestyle even if it’s only on weekends. They are trading in their empty bedrooms for less square footage but not less appointments and possibly even more. These residents are enjoying a resort like lifestyle that includes golf, workout at the fitness center and parties with neighbors. The number of working residents in active–adult communities is growing partly because more residents are delaying retirement. Baby boomers may have resigned themselves to working longer to repair their nest eggs but they don’t want to postpone the active-adult lifestyle. They feel they deserve it.

Bottom has Occurred

The bottom has occurred in housing according to many real estate experts and prognosticators and the media is touting this SHIFT. All of us builders to capture the business of the Boomer need to differentiate ourselves from the other competition to demonstrate we are better than the other communities. The 70 million Boomers are the most financial influential demographic in this country. Their influence has driven the country to accomplish the greatest standard of living the world has ever seen.

Visit the Fairways

The Fairways has been built to accommodate the needs of this 50 Plus demographic. Our homes range in size from 1,700-2,400 square feet all on single-story living. The community is built around a community clubhouse, resort pool, lanai, walking trails all on hole number 3 of the Greg Norman Signature golf course in the gated community of Westbrook at Savannah Quarters.

By Frank Curran, a Principal of The Fairways at Savannah Quarters an Epcon Community, one of the leading developers and franchise operators of Condo/Townhome developments nationwide. He can be reached at 912-450-9876, or via e-mail at frankcurran@fairways-sq.com or review www.fairways-sq.com

Backus Golf Tournament

course closed
The golf course will be closed during this event. Members are invited to attend the event as spectators.

Fairways Clubhouse

An evening of wines from down under paired with spectacular cheeses from around the world. RSVP 912-450-9876.

Savannah Quarters Country Club

Wine tasting and pasta dinner. Join us for a sampling of wines from around the world followed by a pasta dinner in the main dining room.

Sales are Heating up at the Fairways

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Frank Curran, CEO

At 912-450-9876 or

frankcurran@fairways-sq.com

www.fairways-sq.com

SALES ARE HEATING UP AT THE FAIRWAYS AT SAVANNAH QUARTERS

SAVANNAH, GA., August 31, 2009 — The Fairways at Savannah Quarters “The Fairways”, an Epcon Community in Savannah, GA. announced today it has gained 5 new neighbors and 3 new contracts in July. This new business approximating $2.1 million is propelling The Fairways to significant milestones in mid-2009 and the expectations are higher for the completion of this year. 2010 is being forecasted to exceed this most current past as The Fairways continues to become a sought out affordable community by residents of Savannah and snow birds seeking a retirement or second home destination. Maintenance-Free, Lock&Leave, Right-Sized Homes are superlatives being accorded The Fairways. Certain residents have had confidence in the development from the beginning even though they have been experiencing possibly the worst recession in their lifetime. The psyche of the American housing consumer appears to be shifting. Even the gloomiest of housing experts “Case-Schiller” has proclaimed we have truly turned the corner. Sales of housing are increasing steadily and the supply of unsold inventory is decreasing. Interest rates are at generational lows and the Federal and State tax credits are enhancing a surge in buying. It appears the bottom in housing has occurred. The Pending Home Sales Index for the South has jumped by 7.1% in June and is 8.9% higher than a year ago. At The Fairways they suggest if you are serious about buying a house this year do not sit on the sidelines as pricing will increase and availability will shrink. Our existing home inventory values are compelling and affordable in a one of kind community in Savannah!

The Fairways is located at 101 Kingfisher Circle in Pooler, GA. The secluded village, is nestled within the master-planned gated community of Westbrook, has an old-world manner with meandering streets and plenty of southern charm. Home owners have amenities including a Greg Norman Signature Golf Course; a spectacular pool; walking trails; two lagoons; a screened-in lanai; and an on-sight clubhouse. Residents of The Fairways also gain social membership privileges at the Savannah Quarters Country Club.

The homes are designed in impressive Georgian architectural elevations and are located minutes from the historic city of Savannah, the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, the beaches of Tybee and Hilton Head Islands. The ideally located community offers an array of Savannah’s finest shopping, dining and entertainment options nearby, with the privacy and security afforded living in a gated community. The community appeals to active adults, young professionals and single adults.

Founded in 1986, Dublin, Ohio-based Epcon Communities is one of the leading developers and franchise operators of condominium/townhome developments in the United States. Currently with 140 building partners in 31 states, Epcon Communities’ long-term goal is to expand to all 50 states and Canada. For more information, please visit www.fairways-sq.com.

Savannah Quarters Country Club

Fall Art Show & Dinner. The SQCC Social committee brings to you an art viewing by Heart of the Home. This Alabama based company will feature a variety of artwork at the Club for members and their guests to purchase.

We Have Moved to the Fairways

Hello from Frank and Joanna at the Fairways

Low Country Decision

Joanna and I were introduced to the Low County 15 years ago and shortly thereafter purchased our first home on Hilton Head Island. We new this part of the country is where we wanted to live and spend our winters. Being from Columbus, Ohio (yes we are Buckeye fans) we wanted to escape the grayness, cold, snow and ice but still have the amenities accorded to being from a well established city. I believed this so much that when I retired from the financial world I concluded many others like my wife and I would want to capture and locate in this part of this country. As a result after much deliberation and diligence we decided to purchase the land in Westbrook at Savannah Quarters and develop the Fairways. Our conclusions told us that we could not develop in any community along the Coastal Empire that allowed us to be able to reach out to folks like us that had the opportunity to locate near; a city, an airport, the conveniences of shopping and health care, with golf and the security of a gated community all at affordable costs. This judgment was proven last winter when we went back to Columbus for a week in March and believe it or not we arrived on a Wednesday and by Friday of that week we had the largest accumulation of snow – 20.1” that the city had ever seen. We were “closed in” as the government officials shut down the roads. I took pictures from our front porch and sent to our staff in Savannah. They had the audacity to send me back all in good fun pics of the sun and 70’s in Savannah.

Maintaining our Residence in Columbus

Our principal residence was and still is in Columbus, Ohio as we have 3 wonderful children and 6 fabulous grandchildren age’s 5 to 14 all located close to our Ohio residence. Joanna nurtured all of these kids from the time they were born as she quit her job to watch Andrew our first grandson who is now 14. At one time she had 4 of our grandsons around the kitchen table eating breakfast with Papa before he headed out to work.  Even to this day she still has them asking her to make them scrambled eggs as no one even to the chagrin of their Mothers can cook these eggs like Mama. So even though we will spend our winters at the Fairways as we have moved into 284 Kingfisher Circle we will always maintain our residence in Columbus.

Moved to the Fairways

As mentioned above I am one of the owners of the Fairways but since I have moved in a week ago I am thrilled to be a part of the community and especially the quality of the construction. You would expect me to say that  but after living in numerous custom homes ranging from $500K to $1.5MM built by craftsman the Fairways has been able to duplicate this process and provide many of the features you can find in custom homes that we have come to expect and want. We had lived in a 20 plus year old condo in Hilton Head and due to the moisture,  lack of tightness of the building and just older construction techniques  we always had a mustiness in the house. I have an allergy problem which is aggravated by many factors in the Low Country but could not alleviate its effect on my eyes even by installing a dehumidifier and taking allergy eye drops and pills. Since I have moved to the Fairways I am now not experiencing this issue. I do know it has to be a result of closeness to the ocean in Hilton Head versus the Fairways but as I was telling my partner Gary I believe it is in some part attributable to the Energy Star building process at the Fairways which not only lowers the energy costs but also improves the quality of air within the home.

Joanna and I are both looking forward to becoming involved in and contributing to the community and to welcoming and meeting our new buyers.

Frank Curran is a Principal of The Fairways at Savannah Quarters an Epcon Community, one of the leading developers and franchise operators of Condo/Townhome developments nationwide. He can be reached at 912-450-9876, or via e-mail at frankcurran@fairways-sq.com or review www.fairways-sq.com

Real Estate Solution Needed From Our Elected Officials

Hello from Frank at the Fairways,                    Feel free to comment

Most everyone would agree that the one thing wrong with our economy is real estate. Real estate has had a snowball effect on the rest of the economy; when property values decrease people default on their loans, banks have big losses, the real estate market slows down, builders, remodelers, home inspectors, appraisers, real estate attorneys and Realtors go out of business. Many homes go into foreclosure because of all of this.

If you fix real estate, I truly believe that it will help get the economy back on its feet.

The cash for clunkers was very successful because it got people in the showroom and it got cars sold.

If you gave a tax credit of $15,000 to anyone who buys a home – whether it is a first home, second home, beach home, lake home or mountain home, I believe the real estate market would get a great boost. There was the bill passed for first time home buyers which helped the low end of the market. Unfortunately, the whole market is sick – not just the low end.

I believe everyone would benefit if you could stimulate the real estate market.

I encourage all my friends and clients to write their Congressman. I truly believe if you can solve the housing market you can solve the other problems connected with it and we will be on the road to recovery. We did not get here overnight and we are not going to get out of it overnight. If you agree please contact:

Sherrod Brown
140 RSOB
Washington, DC 2051
and/or
George Voinovich
524 HSOB
Washington, DC 20510

By Frank Curran, Principal at the Fairways at Savannah Quarters, an Epcon community. He can be reached at 912-450-9876 or at frankcurran@fairways-sq.com Please review www.fairways-sq.com