First, take stock of all of your expenses, from your utility bills to your Starbucks habit, and make a list. Each of these expenditures gets put into one of four categories:

Postpone – If you have just made or are planning to make a purchase, think about if you can or should have postponed it. This is old wisdom, but it does do a good job of stopping impulse buys in their tracks.

Eliminate – Here is where you’ll often realize that you’re still paying for things that you rarely, if ever, enjoy. Unused subscriptions, from magazines to Netflix, are often big on this list of things that can save you money.

Reduce – This is usually where you can make the most amount of change for saving money. From being more mindful of utilities to taking rather than buying lunch a few times a week, you can make a lot of easy spending habit modifications to save money.

Keep –Must-haves, like insurance and mortgage or rent payments get put in this category. If you find you have a lot of keep items, you may want to revisit them in future assessments to see if they can become another category.

The PERK process is an easy way to budget and control your personal finances. For other great ways to cut spending, save money and be more financially savvy, check the Equifax Finance Blog!

Home prices in Nashville, Tennessee, showed an increase from last year. A number of factors are leading to the thought that potential buyers could be calling in the first half of 2012. Mortgage rates have reached record lows and this comes at a time when Nashville apartments are continuing to rise in rental rate. The area has experienced a 16 percent increase in rental average in only a year’s time. This increase is a cautionary warning to those who are deciding between continuing to rent and buying that first home.

Home sales for 2011 numbered 20,624; an increase of 1.8 percent from 2010. While a 1.8 percent increase may not seem very large, it is important to note that it is the first time the local market has shown an increase – all without tax credits or other incentives.

Foreclosure rates, which have never been over 3 percent for the Nashville area, are down as well. Again, local factors such as the closure of the Saturn plant had much to do with these figures. The recent announcement of the plant’s reopening is welcomed news for 2012 real estate sales. Better than national average figures on unemployment also indicate healthy home sales in 2012.

At the beginning of 2012, inventory for homes in Nashville had declined by 8 percent and distressed homes entering the market remained at 2 percent. What does this all mean? For buyers, this means there are still homes for sale in Nashville at affordable prices and incredibly low mortgage rates for those who qualify. For sellers, less inventory, more job seekers relocating, means more competitive bidding among buyers.

The good news for sellers is that even though home prices are still dropping, they are not plummeting as they had been previously. As inventories decline, demand among buyers will increase along with home value. The good news for buyers is that low home prices and enticing mortgage rates, could make 2012 a great time to purchase a home.

If you get in an accident, make sure you do the following first, regardless of whether the other party has insurance:

1. Call the police. An official police statement will make sure the story is documented and that there is proof in the event that hidden damages are discovered.

2. Get all the insurance information you can from the other driver. If there is no insurance, make sure to get whatever contact information you can.

3. Take photos of your vehicle damage. If you don’t have a camera with a phone, it’s a good idea to keep a disposable camera in your glove box or your car first aid kit.

4. Report everything to the insurance company. This is like the police report in that if you leave something out, you may have trouble getting any hidden damages cared for.

5. Don’t hesitate to call your agent if something comes up.

These steps will make sure that you get all the help you can after an accident. If you are going to be doing a lot of traveling this season, make sure you do a thorough double-check of your policy, especially your supplemental uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage. The article has more about that, and for all your questions about insurance, taxes, retirement, credit and real estate personal finances you can find answers on the Equifax Finance Blog.

The Bigfoot is made with two-and-a-half pounds of hamburger meat, a full five servings. The burger comes with a nine-inch bun, fries and all the fixins.

Because it is five servings, the Bigfoot Burger is most commonly eaten by five people. However, those who  have a serious appetite from lake recreation can attempt to eat it on their own. For $14.99 you too can take a stab at devouring the burger and fries. If you somehow manage to eat the burger in under an hour, you’ll become a champion among eaters, receiving fame throughout the community and a “Tame the Beast” t-shirt.

If you’re unable to “Tame the Beast” on the first attempt you take, don’t fret. Have a can-do attitude, come back for subsequent attempts and make The Village at Reflection Lake Nantahala your beautiful vacation destination.

The community’s 13 exclusive home sites are selling quickly- only 11 remain. The remaining lake- and mountain-view home sites are priced from $94,900.

For more information on The Village at Reflection Lake Nantahala’s other great to-do’s, visit the community online.

If you’re looking for the perfect vacation home, here are a host of great reasons to look into The Village at Reflection Lake Nantahala:

1) Homes are selling quickly! Of the 13 original sites, 11 now remain. Plan your trip to visit The Village before the summer is over or you might miss the boat.

2) The views. The soon-to-be-cabin on lot 10, pictured above, will have this fantastic view of Lake Nantahala. Come take a tour of the lake and imagine looking out from a big picture window in your own cabin.

3) Bank-sanctioned pricing has been enacted on the home sites, which start from only $94,900. Considering the gorgeous and clean lake, the views and ease of access, these prices are steals!

4) Buyers at The Village at Reflection Lake Nantahala do not have to worry about the hassle of a build-out requirement. Buyers can take all the time they need to plan the perfect vacation home of their dreams.

If you plan your visit before September 30, you’ll have the chance to win a weekend at the lake for yourself and 14 friends. When you visit, you’ll be treated to lunch at Lakes End Diner, a pontoon boat tour of the lake, a boat tour of the home sites and a $25 gas gift card.

Come see why this community is such a great place to live and enjoy lake-view luxury. For more information, visit The Village at Reflection Lake Nantahala online.

During the recent recession, the Nashville market will not hold parallel with any other national market in the world. Nashville’s real estate market hit the recaqent bottom in 2009 with an average sales price of $200,100. This implies a decrease of 12.9% from the market’s height. Are you thinking of investing in Nashville real estate? There are great deals that are available on Nashville foreclosures, but before you make the move, you must spend some time conducting research. Have a look at some tips that you can follow if you’re looking for foreclosed real estate property.

1. Keep a watch on the property listings: It is quite easy to keep a tab on the Nashville foreclosure property listings as you can find experts through any Nashville real estate agent. You can even use the search engines to get real time information on all the foreclosed properties of the bank in Nashville.
2. Visit multiple homes before making the choice: If you just look at one property that is under the Nashville housing lists, you may be sorry later. There are multiple options and there are multiple houses that have been foreclosed in Nashville. Hurrying with a deal may get you into serious financial trouble. You may miss out on a great deal if you simply choose the first house that appears on the list.
3. Ensure that the current owner does not claim the property: As you’re about to buy a real estate property that has already been foreclosed, you must make sure that the owner does not reclaim the property after you start making the deal. Usually the owner of the property is given a stipulated period of time to repay the outstanding debts on the property.
4. Get a homeowner’s insurance policy: Homeowner’s insurance is something that will protect your house from any unforeseen liens. If you purchase a property from the Nashville list of foreclosures and the owner tries to reclaim the property at a later date, this homeowner’s insurance policy will be able to protect you against the claim.
5. Have a lawyer by your side: You should have a lawyer by your side because buying foreclosed real estate is different than buying new real estate. There are certain nuances to the entire process. As there are many legal matters related to Nashville foreclosures, it is always better to have an experienced lawyer by your side.

The above mentioned tips will be helpful if you’re planning to buy a foreclosed Nashville real estate property. Don’t forget to calculate your budget before closing the deal!

Developer Jon Flaig commented, “We’d like to invite you to join us for a day at the lake. We are so confident that you will find great value and lifestyle at The Village, we bet you will want to build your dream vacation home and stay for a lifetime.”

When buyers schedule a visit* to The Village at Reflection Lake Nantahala this summer, they will be treated to a full lifestyle experience including:

• Lunch at the Lakes End Diner (home of the famous BIGfoot burger);
• A $25 gas card;
• A pontoon boat tour of the clear, blue lake;
• A tour of available lots with unbeatable Lake Nantahala views; and
• A chance to win a weekend at the lake this fall, in a cabin that sleeps up to 14.

The Village at Reflection Lake Nantahala features 13 home sites priced from $94,900 to $129,900. There is no build-out requirement, so buyers can take their time planning their dream vacation homes. For buyers wishing to enjoy the lake sooner, the perfect mountain cabin program is available and includes a 1,400 square foot cabin with a view-facing covered porch.

The Village at Reflection Lake Nantahala invites buyers to escape to the pristine waters and secluded forests of the western North Carolina mountains. Reflection offers customizable cabins in a private gated community with upscale amenities and gorgeous views of Lake Nantahala. Reflection is a tranquil retreat that’s still easily accessible from Atlanta, Chattanooga, Charlotte and many other metropolitan areas. For more information or to schedule a day-at-the-lake tour, call 866-218-8439 or visit www.lakenantahalareflection.com/thevillage. Also, make sure to “like” our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ReflectionLakeNantahala.

The new and improved RealtyJoin 2.0 allows users to interact, network, solve problems and share with other individuals of the home building and real estate industries. The user-friendly site provides members with access to their own WordPress blog for enhanced social networking capabilities, and includes upgraded navigation, enhanced profiles, video options and the ability to add photos and post status updates.

Created by real estate, technology and maketing experts as the “go-to” place for those interested in building and promoting their real estate buisnesses, RealtyJoin is the first true social networking site for the entire real estate industry.

“We decided to start RealtyJoin because we saw that real estate investors, REALTORS®, tradespeople, home builders, designers and others were looking for good, Internet-based tools to help them network, find and advertise opportunities,” said Andy Heller, a veteran real estate investor and public speaker, as well as RealtyJoin co-founder. “Our site is a community for real estate agents, real estate investors, plumbers and electricians, stagers, home builders and anyone who believes that the free exchange of information will increase sales.”

Users will have the opportunity to connect with many high profile real estate groups and associations. Among those groups already using RealtyJoin are the Atlanta Board of Realtors®, Foreclosure.com, Southeast Valley Regional Association of Realtors®, and RIS Media.

You may also notice some familiar faces such as Ilyce Glink, an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist, blogger, bestselling author and radio talk show host who joined the site to oversee content strategy.

Right now, everyone can sign up under the free introductory level of RealtyJoin. Eventually, the site will offer premium and executive memberships for those who would like further upgrades and enhancements.

For more information about RealtyJoin 2.0 visit the website, “like” RealtyJoin on Facebook or follow RealtyJoin on Twitter.

At Stags Leap many homesites are currently available, providing the homeowner with complete creative freedom for customizing your new home. However, if a more immediate move-in is what you had in mind, there are standing inventory homes currently available as well. Stags Leap offers many of the most popular options and features available on the market today, like master-on-main, bonus rooms, two-story family rooms and foyers and three-car side-entry garages.

To help you get a true idea what your new home in Nashville will look like, we encourage you to visit the community and tour the fully decorated model home. It is here that you will see many fine finishes first hand, like hardwood floors, vaulted and trey ceilings, intricate molding packages, wrought iron railings and more. By looking at the model home, you will get a better idea of what you want and don’t want in your new home. Also, be sure to take notice of the community swimming pool during your visit.

Turnberry Homes builds in multiple communities throughout the Nashville area.