Part 1 of a 2-part series

Without a doubt, now is the best time to purchase a home. Atlanta is in the midst of a buyers market and home builders are upping the ante when it comes to offering buyer incentives.

Some are allowing buyers to choose whether they want all closing costs paid, price reductions or rate buy downs, while others are getting creative to offer golf memberships and more.

These huge incentives have given many buyers the extra motivation they need to purchase their first home or move-up to the next level with more square footage or amenities.

Below are several subdivisions that have concentrated on cash incentives. Check back next week for part 2 of our series on buyer incentives, which will focus on new, creative ways builders are marketing their communities with buyer incentives.

Manchester Meadows – priced from the $190s to $220s in Paulding County

The builder at Manchester Meadows, a new 69-home community in Villa Rica, pays $3,000 in closing costs with the preferred lender and is currently offering a $20,000 buyer incentive on five spec homes in the community that can be used on upgrades such as granite countertops, hardwood flooring in living areas, stainless steel appliances, enclosed porches and much more.

In addition, the builder is offering sales associates a 4% co-op deal plus a $1,000 bonus on the first contract, a $2,000 bonus on the second contract, and a $3,000 bonus on each consecutive contract within the community.

Manchester Meadows has a variety of ranch and two-story floorplans to choose from that include up to four bedrooms, bonus rooms, formal living and dining rooms, family rooms, master retreats with sitting areas and two-car garages with carriage doors. Homes feature hardwood floors, alarm systems, irrigation systems, crown molding, trey ceilings, large garden tubs and walk-in closets. Homesites range from ¼ to ½ acres.

Call Dana Harper or Santino Lattimore at 770.456.2224 or through the call center or visit www.metrobrokers.com/manchester.meadows.

Whitestone – priced from the $290s to $300s in Douglas County

The builder at Whitestone, a new 155-home community on Highway 5 in Douglasville, is currently offering a $10,000 incentive on all completed homes. The incentive can be used on upgrades, closing costs or towards the price of the home.

Homes in Whitestone are situated on half an acre to more than an acre homesites and feature Craftsman-like exteriors with a mixture of brick, stone and hardiplank along with cedar shake accents. Floorplans include up to five bedrooms, basements, two car side-entry garages, bonus rooms, offices/libraries, keeping rooms, multiple fireplaces, two story great rooms and foyers, dining rooms, front porches, covered decks, and master suites with sitting rooms, his/her vanities, large walk-in closets, six foot jetted tubs, and separate showers.

The amenities package at Whitestone is worth more than $1 million and includes a two-story decorated community clubhouse with game room, fitness room, and kitchen, plus a junior Olympic swimming pool, kiddie pool with mushroom fountain, two tennis courts, a playground, full basketball court, picnic pavilion, more than 44 acres of green space, almost two miles of walking trails and much more.

Call Kathleen Gaertner at 770.489.4472 or through the call center or visit www.metrobrokers.com/whitestone.

Wyckliffe – priced from the $260s to $290s in Henry County

Wyckliffe, a new home community off Hampton-Locust Grove Road in Locust Grove, is paying all of the closings costs as long as buyers use the preferred lender. They are also offering sales associates a 5% co-op on all homes sold.

Homebuyers can tour four completed spec homes with a variety of four and five bedroom floorplans with up to three full baths, a two car side entry garage and sprinkler systems. Homes include basements and bonus rooms, lofts overlooking the family rooms with gas fireplaces, formal dining rooms, covered patios, and master suites with sitting rooms and huge walk-in closets.

Exteriors are made of real stucco with stone and brick accents and are situated on half-acre or larger wooded homesites.

Call Stephanie Deep at 678.583.9496 or through the call center or visit www.metrobrokers.com/wyckliffe.

Spring Lake Shores – priced from the $290s to $350s in Bartow County

The builder at Spring Lake Shores, a 53-home community in Emerson, is paying $7,000 in closing costs on all completed inventory and presales with preferred lender Metro Brokers Financial.

Spring Lake Shores is a lake community off Hwy. 20 and Bells Ferry Road, located less than four miles from Lake Allatoona. Plus, the community offers its own 35-acre lake as well as sidewalks, streetlights and half to three quarters of an acre wooded homesites, some of which are on the lake.

Homes at Spring Lake Shores feature three to five bedroom floorplans with basements, family rooms and keeping rooms with fireplaces, coffered ceilings, formal living rooms, dining rooms with chair rails, and spacious master suites with trey ceilings, his/her vanities and walk-in closets.

Rock Solid Builders, the builder for Spring Lake Shores, includes a long list of standard features: three sides brick with stone, shake, board and batten and hardiplank siding; sprinklers; granite countertops; tile backsplashes; arched entry ways; tile flooring in all baths; hardwood floors throughout most of first floor; crown molding; smooth ceilings; brushed chrome hardware; garden tubs and separate showers; and vaulted/two story foyers and family rooms.

Call Deborah Allred at 770.386.0673 or through the call center or visit www.metrobrokers.com/spring.lake.shores.

Westbrook – priced from the $190s to $200s in Newton County

Homebuyers need look no further than Westbrook, a 41-home community with 3-acre homesites in Covington. The builder, JLM Developers, is paying all closing costs on finished inventory and $3,500 in closing costs on all presales.

Westbrook offers one and two-story homes with basements, bonus rooms, side-entry two car garages, and exteriors fashioned of brick or stone. Interiors feature separate living rooms; formal dining rooms with bead board and chair rails; family rooms with brick, stone, or marble fireplaces; vaulted/trey ceilings; recessed lighting; arched entryways; stainless steel appliances; built-in microwaves; hardwoods in the foyer and dining room; ceramic tile in the master bath, kitchen and breakfast room; and smooth ceilings throughout. Master suites include separate garden tubs and double vanities and many offer sitting rooms.

Call Trey or Debbie Miller at 770.386.0673 or through the call center or visit www.metrobrokers.com/westbrook.

Metro Brokers/GMAC Real Estate, established in 1979, was recently named the largest real estate service provider in Georgia for the fourth consecutive year by Real Trends. Metro Brokers has 23 metro Atlanta and north Georgia offices and offers a wide range of real estate services including residential and commercial sales; pre- and post-license training; corporate relocation; new home sales and marketing; and insurance, mortgage and title/closing services.

The company is the largest GMAC Real Estate franchise in the world and has more than tripled in size over the last five years with more than 3,400 licensees, making the company the largest license holder in the state of Georgia. Metro Brokers is also the number one selling broker in metro Atlanta and north Georgia.

To contact Metro Brokers, call 404.843.2500 or visit metrobrokers.com.