Highlight Homes

With Thanksgiving so close, we can taste it – each member of the Highlight Homes family reflects on our many blessings for which we are most thankful. We are thankful for the chance to do the work we love and the wonderful people for whom we are blessed to serve. While we normally devote our monthly “Shades & Highlights” article to people, places, companies and trends that inspire the design and implementation of our custom home construction and renovation work, we would like to take this opportunity to shine the light on a handful of local charities that inspire us in a completely different way. This holiday season, let’s give those less fortunate than ourselves something for which they can be truly thankful:

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Christmas House 2012 – Now through December 9, 2012 (Closed Mondays through Wednesdays, plus Thanksgiving Day) – Located at 4475 Dudley Lane in Atlanta’s highly revered Chastain area, the 2012 Christmas House showcases the work of some of the Southeast’s finest designers. Tickets are $20 and proceeds benefit Atlanta institution, The Alliance Theater, which relies on the generosity of donors to continue to provide “exceptional education programs that reach aspiring teenage playwrights, educators from over thirty-five Georgia schools, acting students of every age and over 70,000 school children each year.” Shuttles to the Christmas House are available from the Chastain Horse Park at 4371 Powers Ferry Road .

Atlanta Community Food Bank – In its 33^rd year, the ACFB acquires more than 35 million pounds of food and groceries each year, which is then distributed to over 600 non-profit partner agencies in 29 counties throughout Metro Atlanta and North Georgia.  Needless to say, they can’t do this alone. They require the assistance of volunteers and donors in order to feed Georgia’s hungry month after month. To make a secure online donation, plan your own food drive, or learn how you can volunteer to help, visit the ACFB website.

Atlanta Day Shelter for Women & Children – This “place of hope” for homeless women and children in Atlanta relies heavily on donations in order to provide food, clothing, education and support nearly 100 people in need on a daily basis year-round. A donation of $25 can purchase a state of Georgia birth certificate and legal identification for a woman applying for a job, a donation of $60 can feed a family of 3 for a week; and a donation of $100 can pay the deposit on an apartment. In addition to monetary contributions, the Atlanta Day Shelter is also seeking donations of new unwrapped gift items such as clothing, gift cards, toys and more for its Christmas project. Last year, the Shelter was able to provide more than 1,700 personalized gift bags and this year, they hope to do even more.  With your help, they can!

Habitat for Humanity – Did you know that nearly 2 billion people around the world live in slum housing and over 100 million are homeless? Habitat for Humanity takes a global approach to providing decent shelter to those in need in hopes of eradicating poverty.  Habitat for Humanity is continually seeking donations of materials, volunteers to aid in the construction of homes for homeless victims of everything from natural disasters to war, and monetary contributions to fund their efforts worldwide. Since the organization’s founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity has built over 500,000 homes and helped more than 2.5 million people all over the planet. A portion of their current efforts is devoted to helping the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Click here to donate directly to the Disaster Response Fund to aid our neighbors in the Northeast and victims of similar disasters.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE HIGHLIGHT HOMES FAMILY TO YOURS!

Image Credit:  TOOLS  © Muharrem Kartal | Dreamstime.com

Highlight Homes Follows the Lead by Performing More Renovation Projects than Custom Home Construction in 2012

There was a time when Highlight Homes was all about new home construction. It wasn’t merely the bulk of our business, it WAS our business. As the housing market began to shift in 2007 and 2008, we saw the need to adapt or suffer the same fate of many other fine homebuilders in the Atlanta area who are now extinct. Turns out the gamble paid off. While home sales in Atlanta are finally back on the rise – showing an increase of nearly 12% in year-over-year sales in September 2012 (National Association of Realtors®) – remodeling continues to perform strongly, particularly in the South where Highlight Homes is based.

As we make our way to the end of 2012, the clear winner in Highlight Homes’ project book would have to be home renovations. According the National Association of Home Builders, the same holds true for many renovators and general contractors across the nation as the Remodeling Market Index (RMI) showed an exciting rebound in third quarter 2012 to levels reminiscent of 2005.  The latest RMI showed marked improvements in current market indicators, which include maintenance and repairs, minor additions and alterations, and major additions and alterations. In a recent press release, NAHB Remodelers Chairman, George Moore, Jr. indicated that home owners are once again investing in their houses as home prices begin to stabilize.

Most importantly, future indicators – such as calls for bids, proposal appointments, committed work and project backlogs – showed a significant rise in every region, climbing six solid points in the South – its highest level since 3^rd Quarter 2005. As more and more homeowners make the choice to stay in their current homes and the housing market continues to stabilize, we believe there will be an increased confidence in the age-old practice of viewing one’s home as an asset. While the recovery has been slow – and is far from over – we are pleased to report that these are all good signs.

Highlight Homes invites you to follow the trend with us!  Why wait to take care of that much-need repair or much-anticipated change? We can work within your needs and budget to help you transform your home into something you LOVE again. In addition to basic home repair and maintenance, Highlight Homes specializes in:

• Kitchen and bath remodels
• Whole home renovations
• Outdoor living spaces
• Water features and landscaping
• Basement finishing
• Room additions
• Decks and patios
• And so much more

To schedule a no-obligation consultation, we encourage you to contact us by calling 678.873.9234, e-mailing us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or filling out our helpful online contact form.  To learn more about Highlight Homes or view a virtual portfolio of our work, please visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.

Three ways to keep your family toasty as the chilly season approaches

As chilly wind gusts whipped through Georgia and news that historic Hurricane Sandy had merged with a snow storm to create a rare fall blizzard for many of our neighbors to the North, we all became aware of the value of keeping our homes warm. With several months of falling temperatures in our near future, Highlight Homes has compiled the following list of three ways to keep your family toasty and warm inside your home:

1)      Window Replacement – If you currently have single pane windows, the addition of energy-efficient double pane windows will help seal out moisture and cold – effectively saving you a pretty penny in heating costs. Fall is a terrific time to schedule a window, before winter’s chill settles over Georgia and seeps through the cracks and casements of your current windows. This benefit will continue year-round into the warmth of spring and scorching days of summer by sealing OUT the heat and locking IN the cooler air-conditioned air, thus saving you again in cooling costs.

2)      Weather Stripping – Weather stripping is a cost-effective way to save on energy costs, improve the comfort of your home by reducing air leaks around windows and doors, and can be easily installed by the homeowner him/herself. This simple tool is available at any big box home improvement store or mom and pop hardware shop for less than $10 for a 10’ strip of high density rubber foam self stick tape.

3)      Insulation – Do you find your home stays fairly cool in the fall and winter, no matter the temperature you set on the thermostat?  If so, then you may need to address the issue of insulation in your home. Our moms always told us to wear a hat in order to keep warm when playing outside on a cold day. The same holds true for a home – heat has a nasty habit of escaping through the top. Take a peek through your attic and make sure it looks properly insulated. Do you simply see a sea of pink and white and aren’t really sure what you’re looking for?  You may want to call in a general contractor (like Highlight Homes) for a consultation and to hear their suggestions.   If you also feel a draft around your outlets and light switches – particularly those set on the interior of an exterior wall – you can purchase special neoprene insulating foam strips to seal them. This is so easy – a homeowner can easily do this step on their own.

Needless to say, we’re also big fans of roaring fires in the fireplace and snuggling on the sofa under a big blanket – but felt the three ideas above offer more of a lasting effect to help you “weather” the chillier seasons – and not just this year, but for years to come.  While we’re on the subject – if you do build a fire inside your home this fall and winter, make certain the flue is open following the long spring and summer months and – if you have a wood-burning fireplace – be sure to have your chimney cleaned regularly (standard is one time per year) to avoid the risk of your fire spreading beyond the hearth itself.

If you require assistance implementing any of the initiatives above (particularly window replacement – which is one of our specialties… among many), we encourage you to contact the Highlight Homes’ team!  Highlight Homes can also design and build a showcase fireplace inside your home or a stunning outdoor hearth on the exterior of your home. We can be reached via phone at 678-873-9234, via e-mail at info@highlighthomesga.com, or via online contact form. To learn more about the design-build professionals at Highlight Homes, be sure to visit us at www.highlighthomesga.com. If you’d like to stay up to date on the latest Highlight Homes’ news and specials, be sure to “like” us on Facebook!

For even more great tips for keeping your family toasty and warm through the fall and winter, be sure to read our blog “Don’t Get Left Out in the Cold.”

Image credit:  © 2006-2011 Photogen / J. Klemenz

At Highlight Homes, we just love this time of year. The store shelves are cleared of the obligatory school supplies to make room for Halloween costumes and décor, which are then cleared to make room for holiday decorations and great gift ideas. Outside, the heavenly aroma from backyard barbecues is paired with the slightest hint of a chill in the air. Leaves crackle underfoot and neighbors seem a little bit friendlier as the holiday spirit begins to take hold. We can find lots of inspiration in the people, places and things associated with the holiday season, but here are four of our favorites leading into November:

• Outrageous Interiors: Nothing sets off a beautifully crafted renovation by Highlight Homes like a great décor plan. With 24 years in the interior design industry to their credit, the associates at Outrageous Interiors can help you transform a relatively blank canvas of a room into something that is worthy of a four-page spread in a home décor magazine. From furniture and accessories to lighting and linens, Outrageous Interiors has the “look” you may be looking for.  In addition to four Atlanta locations and a convenient online store, Outrageous Interiors also offers in-home design services. There’s plenty of time left to turn your home into a showplace in time for the holidays!
• Magical Nights of Lights at Lake Lanier Islands Resort: If you really want to get into the holiday spirit and find inspiration to start stringing holiday lights at your own home, you should make for the lake to enjoy the Islands’ renowned Magical Nights of Lights. On November 16, the lakeside resort will flip the switch on their 20^th year of delighting guests with mile after mile of animated holiday light displays. Be sure to pop by the Legacy Lodge and pay attention to the gorgeous water features and beautifully crafted stone and timber entry – they might motivate you to incorporate a little of that classic “Great Camp” style on your home’s exterior (a look we love.) If that’s the case, we encourage you to call Highlight Homes to make it happen. Oh, and before you go, stop off at the Holiday Village to visit Santa, roast marshmallows, and hop aboard some good old-fashioned carnival rides.
• BrandMortgage: A Georgia-based full-service lender that has not only survived but thrived throughout the Great Recession, what makes BrandMortgage one of our favorite things is its people. These honest hardworking folks are big believers in the American Dream who will do everything in their power to help you obtain the right loan to finance a one-of-a-kind home renovation or stunning custom construction home by Highlight Homes. Check out their website for a branch location near you. This time last year, we were proud to have been named a BrandMortgage Repair and Renovation Partner. Click here to read the press release.
• Great Lighting: An often overlooked “ingredient” in any successful home renovation is the incorporation of proper lighting – both decorative and functional. If properly chosen, lighting can also serve a dual purpose:  illumination and decoration. Not only will well-planned lighting give your home’s interior a brightly lit boost, but it can also serve to showcase your home’s exterior beautifully through lighted walkways, uplighting around trees, and spotlights to highlight key areas of the home.

Check back every month for a new edition of Shades & Highlights from Highlight Homes!

Fall is one of those seasons when Mother Nature is at her best. The trees that line valleys and mountains all over the South are transformed from a rolling sea of green to a cornucopia of color – fiery reds, warm oranges, bold yellows, and chestnut browns. As the season progresses, those leaves will fall from their lofty perches to the Earth below. Homeowners often enjoy the time-honored tradition of raking the leaves in their yards as the neighborhood kids take turns jumping into heaping piles.

But those are just the leaves we can see. As they make their autumnal descent, leaves also have a nasty habit of getting caught up in the rain gutters and downspouts that line the home. Just because we can’t see them from the ground, doesn’t mean they are not there. Gutters filled with leaves means they can’t function in the way they were intended. The leaves serve to clog and slow (or completely halt) drainage during a heavy rain. In turn, the water that is backed up in the gutters and downspouts may cause costly damage to a home’s foundation, wood trim and roofline. Therefore, it is imperative – particularly if you live in a heavily wooded area – to clean your gutters before the season’s end.

The best time to clean one’s gutters is ideally after most if not all of the leaves have left the trees. This is usually late fall – sometime in November.  If tackling this project on your own, tools you will need include:

• Sturdy ladder
• Gloves
• Gutter scoop (a garden trowel works just as well)
• Bucket
• Spotter to hold the ladder

While you’re up there, be sure to check around the gutters and roofline to look for problem areas, such as wood rot, missing shingles, holes, corrosion on the gutter, leaks, and compromised hangers that hold the gutter in place.

A great shortcut is to wait for a dry day when the leaves will not be as moist and to place a special leaf blower attachment at the end of a downspout. This will help blow the leaves up and out of the downspouts and at the edges of the rain gutters. No matter which method you use, you may want to check the effectiveness of your work by running the hose and creating your own mock rainstorm.

We never recommend cleaning gutters from the roof – this method forces you to lean forward repeatedly, increasingly the likelihood that you might fall off the roof. If you know you struggle with heights, you may want to hire a gutter cleaning company to come out and get the job done for you – quickly and efficiently.

For more home maintenance tips, be sure to check the Highlight Homes blog often. To learn more about Highlight Homes, we invite you to visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com. When you’re in the market for an excellent design-build home improvement company – look no further than Highlight Homes of Georgia. We welcome your calls at 678-873-9234 – call us TODAY to schedule a no-obligation consultation.

Everything from small touches to major renovations designed to make your guests feel right at home during the holiday season

While you may still find sand from that last beach trip in the trunk of your car and you’ve barely begun to break in this year’s pair of boots, one thing is for certain… the holidays will be here before we know it. In a matter of weeks, you’ll be greeted at every mall entrance by the familiar sound of the Salvation Army bell, holiday cards will begin showing up in the mailbox on a daily basis, and talk about where holiday meals should be hosted will ensue. Whether hosting a small gathering of friends or a full-on fun-filled houseguest extravaganza, there are a number of ways you can vie for the title of “host/hostess with the mostest.” From small thoughtful touches you can do yourself to full scale home renovations that require the aid of a professional contractor, there’s plenty of time left to get your abode houseguest-ready.

Guest Room:

Small touches – Take a good look around. Is it time to invest in some new linens and an updated comforter? Place photos that might mean something special to your guests around the room, have a clean bathrobe at the ready hanging in the closet, make sure there are plenty of extra blankets, and leave some new magazines for those late nights when the sugarplums are dancing particularly loudly through one’s head. Fresh flowers are always a nice touch.

Major renovation – Expecting more than one guest, but only have one guestroom? Could the guestroom you DO have be described as a large closet? If so, there are a number of solutions a skilled contractor can help you with. A repurposed home office that sees little to no use, or the conversion of an attic space or basement into guest quarters could be a wise investment that continues to pay off for years to come.

Guest Bath:

Small touches – Beyond the fact that this room should sparkle and shine in time for your guests to arrive, you’ll want to practice the Golden Rule here. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Examine the things that make you feel most welcome when you enter a restroom. Fresh towels and plush rugs underfoot, a lovely new shower curtain hanging on the rod, another clean bathrobe hanging on the back of the door, a drawer filled with basic essentials such as toothbrushes and deodorant, some light reading material and plenty of lovely scented soaps and shampoos will all go a very long way in making your guests feel welcome.

Major renovation – Is your guest bathroom woefully outdated? If so, then this may be the perfect excuse to renovate this space into a room you’re proud of. You’ll be amazed by the difference a new shower stall, some Italian tile, beautifully fashioned fixtures and paint can make!

Kitchen:

Small touches – One of the best things you can do to create the illusion of more space in a cramped kitchen is to de-clutter. Move everything you possibly can off of the countertops and into the drawers and cabinets for a nice, clean look. Set a pot filled with orange peels, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and water on the stove to simmer – it fills the air with a wonderful holiday scent. Have some holiday tunes playing lightly in the background to help put everyone in the spirit, and leave little bowls of finger food about to take care of guests with the munchies.

Major renovation – A kitchen renovation is not only one of the most popular home remodeling projects, it’s also one of the best investments. By partnering with a contractor who has experience in structural engineering, you may be pleasantly surprised by the amount of space that is being wasted by your current layout. A skilled contractor can open up your kitchen space and totally transform the look with new cabinets, light fixtures, appliances, countertops, and flooring. If done correctly, this will be a holiday gift you give to yourself as this room finally earns the moniker of “heart of the home”.

Outdoor Living Space:

Small touches – Oftentimes, when you have a house full of guests – some of the activities naturally spill outdoors.  If you don’t already have a space that might qualify as an outdoor living space – such as a deck or patio – you may want to create an impromptu open-air parlor.  Make a large circle in the backyard with stones – fill it in with sand or pea gravel. At the center, place a circular firepit from your local hardware or home improvement store. Surround the firepit with seating such as brightly colored Adirondack chairs or a number of benches. Have plenty of sticks, marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars on hand for s’more making!

Major renovation – A patio can be screened in or enclosed with glass to make it more of a four-season space so there’s more room for entertaining. A permanent outdoor hearth of stone or brick can be incorporated on a porch or terrace for a wonderful space to sip wine and share memories of holidays past.

These are just a handful of ways you can make your house feel more like “home” for your guests throughout the holiday season – and there’s plenty more where those came from. The talented design-build team at Highlight Homes of Georgia welcomes the chance to help you get your home houseguest-ready over the coming weeks.  We invite you to give yourself and your family an early holiday gift – one that will keep giving, year-after-year – with a renovation by Highlight Homes. To schedule a no-obligation consultation, call Tony Pourhassan, owner of Highlight Homes, at 678-873-9234 TODAY.  To learn more about Highlight Homes, visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com and be sure to “like” us on Facebook!

Requests for Dual Master Suites Growing

At Highlight Homes, we’re accustomed to taking unusual requests. We welcome them, actually. Our team of designers and craftsman understand that every renovation we complete is a reflection of a homeowner’s needs, dreams, and unique personality. A man cave made to replicate an old English pub, a master bathroom that is reminiscent of a European spa, a sprawling kitchen makeover that would make a professional chef weep with joy – no problem!

One of the unusual requests we’ve been receiving lately is quickly becoming a new standard – dual master suites. These spaces often consist of spacious quarters with plenty of closet space and an attached bathroom. Some reasons for this rise in dual master suites requests include:

• Friends who wish to co-own a home – think of roommates who are all grown up, ready to move out of the city and into the suburbs.
• Rising trend toward moving aging parents into the home with their grown children – a spacious bedroom honors them and gives them a place they are proud to call home.
• The desire to truly be the “hostess with the mostest” – easily accomplished when providing sleeping quarters that match your own in space and décor.
• Some couples may choose to “keep the love alive” by providing a separate bedroom for the spouse who may have an issue with snoring and doesn’t want his/her better half to be denied a good night’s sleep.
• On occasion, a secondary master suite is utilized for a spouse or family member who is combating a terminal illness.

The good news about this rising trend is that this addition could very well add value to your home when it comes time to sell. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2011-2012 Cost vs. Value Report, the recouped costs associated with addition of an attic bedroom could be as high as 72.5% and a master suite addition could be somewhere in the neighborhood of 60%.

If you’d like to discuss the addition of another master bedroom suite to your home, contact Highlight Homes’ talented design-build team for a no obligation consultation. We can be reached via e-mail at info@highlighthomesga.com, by phone at 678.873.9234, or through our convenient online contact form. To learn more about Highlight Homes, view a complete list of services we provide, and sneak a peek at our online portfolio, we invite you to visit us online!

Image credit:  BLUE BEDROOM © Colleen Coombe | Dreamstime.com

Cite: “Cost vs. Value Report 2011-2012” Remodeling Magazine. http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2011/costvsvalue/national.aspx. (online, 9/27/12).

In this latest installment of Shades and Highlights, the design-build team at Highlight Homes would like to shine the spotlight on a number of people, companies and design trends that inspire us. That’s right, even gifted craftsmen like ours look outside the walls of our own office for inspiration from time to time. We do so to constantly grow, learn and improve so that we might inspire YOU with our original custom home and renovation designs.

• 

  Fall Colors: As the temperatures start to drop, it’s easy and affordable to “warm up” the interior of your home through the use of beautiful fall paint colors. Try a splash of Sherwin Williams’ earthy orange Gingery (SW 6363), luxurious deep Burgundy (SW 6300), or rich dark chocolate Marooned (SW 6020) and put a little “fall on your wall” this season.

• Zana Dillard of Dillard & Company Realty Group: Builders often build more than houses. In this industry, relationships with trusted sources and word-of-mouth are key elements to a company’s success. Zana has proven herself to not only be an excellent advocate for Highlight Homes’ work, but she’s also an outstanding and highly respected licensed associate broker, senior marketing specialist, and certified luxury home specialist who has personally closed more than $120 million in residential sales since 1998. She is the first president of the luxury homes division of Keller Williams. To learn more about Zana and her realty group, visit Dillard & Company online.
• Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine: Not only is this beautifully wrought publication a great local resource, the fine homes displayed within can serve as inspiration to your own future renovation projects. While we hate to suggest that you cut photos out of a pristine issue of AHL, you could collect the images that really speak to you in a “Dream Book” as you plot and plan an upcoming remodel. Not only will the “Dream Book” help you shape your projects, it will serve as a valuable communication tool between you and your contractor/remodeling company. Learn more about the “Dream Book” in our article, Inspiration Accumulation.
• Weather Stripping: This simple tool is available at any big box home improvement store or mom and pop hardware shop. While the current early fall temperatures invite us to open the windows and let the fresh air in, there will come a time when you’ll want to keep those nasty drafts out. There’s no time like the present to prepare for that inevitability. Weather stripping is a cost-effective way to save on energy costs, improve the comfort of your home by reducing air leaks around windows and doors, and can be easily installed by the homeowner him/herself.

Check back every month for a new edition of Shades & Highlights from the design-build team at Atlanta home remodeler, Highlight Homes. To learn more about Highlight Homes and the services we provide, we invite you to visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.

To schedule a no-obligation consultation with Highlight Homes to discuss remodeling your home in time for the holidays, call us TODAY at 678-873-9234!

Georgia-Based Highlight Homes Invites Homeowners to Make their Home a Rising Star in their Local Neighborhood

Earlier this year, Hanley Wood – publishers of Ecohome, Ameican Dream Homes, Remodeling Magazine and more – released their Residential Remodeling Index (RRI) for 2012. The RRI designated the 20 best performing markets from a Top 100 List that consisted of Mid-and-Southwestern cities Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Houston, Dallas and Austin among the top performers; and Cleveland, Ohio and Atlanta, Georgia among the list’s “Rising Stars.”

As a Rising Star, Atlanta has shown one of the biggest jumps from last year’s numbers as it makes its way into the RRI’s Top 20 for the first time – climbing 40 spots to peak at #18. Also making the Top 100 list from the proud state of Georgia was Augusta at #61.

“In addition to the fact that many homeowners are opting to stay put in their current homes due to a lagging housing market and lack of security with regard to the economy, many of the homes that were part of the housing boom in Atlanta during the mid-90’s through 2008 are in need of repairs and renovations,” explains Georgia-based Highlight Homes’ principle, Tony Pourhassan. “Add to that a trend toward college students moving back in with their parents following graduation and elderly parents moving in with their adult children, and many renovation companies are receiving an increased number of requests for projects that include expansion of space, such as room additions, basement finishing, garage conversions, attic conversions, and even additions of a second story on a ranch home. More and more homeowners are viewing a home renovation as a viable and cost-effective solution as opposed to packing up and moving.”

Highlight Homes serves all of metro Atlanta and the surrounding area. The design-build firm takes its clients from the planning phase all the way to completion – on time, on budget, and above expectations. Among its many specialties – including custom home construction, Highlight Homes focuses on:

• Major and Minor Kitchen Renovations
• Bathroom Remodels
• Whole Home Renovations
• Sunrooms and Deck Enclosures
• Patios, Porches, and Decks
• Landscaping and Water Features
• Basement Finishing
• Garage Conversions
• Room Additions
• Man Caves and Home Theaters
• Window and Door Replacements
• And So Much More!

If you are a homeowner in or around the metro Atlanta area who is considering a home renovation, Tony and his talented design-build team at Highlight Homes invite you to schedule a no-obligation consultation by calling 678.873.9234, e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com, or filling out a helpful online contact form today!  With Atlanta listed as a “Rising Star” among the Top Renovation Markets, it should follow that your upcoming renovation makes your home a rising star within your neighborhood. To learn more about Highlight Homes, please visit them online at www.highlighthomesga.com.

Credit: “City Watch: A closer look at the 20 best-performing markets on our Top 100 list.” http://www.remodeling.hw.net/remodeling-market-data/city-watch_5.aspx Remodeling Magazine. January 2012.

Image Credit: Downtown Skyline ©1998, Kevin C. Rose – atlantaphotos.com