In her article, “4 Tips for Savvy Yard Sale Shopping,”Glass outlines some of the necessary preparations for successful bargaining. If you know what you’re looking for before you leave the house, you can stay on track and not be swayed by cheap but unnecessary items. Chances are good that these impulse buys will just end up in your own yard sale down the road. Make a list and stick to it.

When you find an item on your list, don’t be afraid to negotiate if the price is just out of your comfort zone. By the same token, if you find several great deals, don’t try to haggle over price on all of them. Your relationship with the seller is important and may be strained if you’re constantly trying to drive prices down.

Glass’ full article has several other helpful hints for securing some great deals this weekend. Visit the Equifax Finance Blog and see if her tips can help you.

The article, “Lost Your Job? Here’s How to Manage Your Money and Protect Your Credit Score,” offers several tips and strategies. Mechel Glass is the Director of Education for CredAbility, and she develops educational programs to help people with credit issues throughout metro Atlanta and north Georgia. She points out that managing your credit is especially important while you’re unemployed because potential employers will do a background check that requires applicants to have good credit. Although keeping up with your credit may seem nearly impossible with little to no income, Glass’ article provides the following advice for getting back on track.

- Check to see if you are eligible for unemployment benefits with your state department of labor.

- Have a plan to market or sell yourself to potential employers and ramp up your full-time job search.

- Set a goal for the number of people you will reach out to each week. Talking and networking with more people is vital to landing a job.

To read Glass’ full article and see all of her strategies, visit 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.

In “Can I Save My Home From Foreclosure,” real estate expert Ilyce Glink reveals some of the anecdotal trends she is seeing across the country. Based on her experience, people are still struggling (directly or indirectly) with issues ranging from unemployment to expensive medical bills to pay cuts.

If you’re facing foreclosure or worried that it may be just around the corner, Glink provides several links with information on loan modification programs. She also provides information for contacting HUD-certified housing counselors. Glink says that if you can’t get results with the first level of people you speak with at your bank, contact the bank president. Her article can help you find contact information for upper management as well.

If you’re facing foreclosure or think that it may be on the horizon, don’t panic. Just take a deep breath and read Glink’s article at the Equifax Personal Finance Blog. You might find the advice you’ve been searching for. Once you’re finished, come back and let us know if anything mentioned in the article worked for you.

The Anderson Group has recently listed a home in Green Hills.  This zero lot line home located at 1916A Overhill Dr., Nashville TN 37215 features 4 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, and 2 half baths.  All bedrooms boast tray ceilings, each adorned with crown moulding details.  The main floor offers a formal living room, den, chef’s kitchen, office master bedroom suite, guest bedroom suite and half path.  Upstairs, a media room makes the perfect spot for watching the big game, custom built-ins and a vaulted ceiling add to the charm of this room.  This home also has a two-car garage with an unfinished area above which would make a perfect mother-in-law or teen suite.  An inviting patio creates the perfect escape for backyard BBQs or a relaxing place for the morning paper and coffee.

The “My First Place” crew is on a mission to capture all of the trials and tribulations of looking for, bidding on and buying a home for the first time. Taping will begin in the Spring and all singles, couples and families are invited to apply. Applicants who are selected will be followed for at least 10 shoot days over a three-month period in order to capture the homebuying experience. If you’ve got a unique story to tell and a desire to share it with HGTV viewers, now is your chance.

Candidates who complete taping will receive a monetary gift as part of the show and will also receive a DVD copy of their episode.

This is a tremendous opportunity for local realtors and homebuyers and should not be missed!

If you’re interested in applying, please contact the casting producer, Amy Stoehrmann, at astoehrmann@highnoontv.com or at 303-872-8785.

To find out more about the show, visit the HGTV website.

Carol started blogging well before blogging was cool and will use that knowledge and experience to review today’s hottest social media topics. Come prepared to ask lots of questions!

Presented by the Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee’s (HBAMT) Sales and Marketing Council and Professional Warranty Service Corporation, this seminar will provide attendees with three hours of continuing education credit.

You don’t think you can learn all there is to know about social media in three hours? Well, you’re in luck. Attendees will be eligible to win one of five, 30 minute one-on-one sessions with Carol courtesy of REGIONS Mortgage.

The cost of attendance is $30 for SMC members with an RSVP, $50 for HBAMT members with an RSVP and $75 for non-members with an RSVP.

For more information or to RSVP, call 615-377-9651 ext. 314 or email receptionist@hbamt.net.