Letter to the Editor: Home Owners Will Not Be Buying New Homes for …

Jul 17th, 2010 Posted in Home Management, home | no comment »

Let’s hear what a top home builder in Florida has to say about the housing market …

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Letter to the Editor: Home Owners Will Not Be Buying New Homes for …

US new home sales in third consecutive monthly fall

Feb 24th, 2010 Posted in Home Management, home | no comment »

“The dismal performance of new- home sales indicates that the housing market remains quite fragile, despite efforts to shore up demand. The extension and expansion of the first-time homebuyer tax credit have yet to influence sales of new …

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US new home sales in third consecutive monthly fall

Fourth of July New Home Builder Incentives

Jul 4th, 2009 Posted in Home Management, home | no comment »

Home builder incentives brought to you by home builders around the country in Nevada, California, Arizona, Georgia and Florida.

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Fourth of July New Home Builder Incentives

Colorado Springs New Home Communities, Master Planned, Golf Course …

Jun 18th, 2009 Posted in Home Management, home | no comment »

Discover several of Colorado Springs’ most desirable new home communities, including Cordera, a master-planned community comprised of five builders, Misty Acres Estates Collection by Lennar, and Pine Creek, a golf course community …

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Colorado Springs New Home Communities, Master Planned, Golf Course …

Custom Made New Homes - Benefits

May 2nd, 2009 Posted in home | no comment »

Finding your dream home can be tough, its easy to find a place with the right number of bedrooms or the right number of bathrooms or the right size backyard, etc. - but its the finer details that could potentially trip you up when it comes to finding the perfect place for you and your family.

You may be looking for a home office, or a home theater, a finished basement or an in ground pool. Some or all of these may or may not be deal breakers - its certainly possible that you could live, most likely even happily in a place that didnt meet every single one of your requirements, but you could conceivably live more happily in a house that met every single one of your desires.

The best way to ensure that you get all of the options that you want present in your new home is to have custom made new home built. Having a custom made new home built could conceivably cost you a little bit more than settling for an already existing home - but in having your custom home built you can be certain that every little detail is exactly the way you want it.

The benefits of having a custom made new home go beyond just choosing what elements you want or need present in the house. With a brand new home, with fixtures that you choose, you can rest assured that everything will work exactly as its supposed to as well.

You never really know exactly what youre going to get when you purchase and older home. Even if things appear totally fine cosmetically, there could be seriously problems just beneath the surface that could rear their ugly heads just after you take ownership. Previous owners may do whatever it takes to sell their home, which includes covering up a problem and making it look like everything was okay. Even if you go through a home that you were looking at with a fine tooth comb and get the approval of an inspector - there could still be things that dont get picked up and that could go wrong shortly after you get into the home, making your life a lot less pleasant than it should be after moving into your supposed dream home.

A custom made new home will also let you choose a location - if you have an area in mind that you would really like to live in, but you simply cant find a home anywhere in the neighborhood that meets your standards, that problem can very easily be solved by having a home built in the neighborhood in which you want to live. The best school systems and the nicest neighborhoods are no longer impossible to find homes in; all you have to do is have one built.

The only concern you may have when having custom made nnew homes built could be the cost. Even if the home you are having built is smaller than the average size of home in the neighborhood that you choose, the cost of materials, land, labor and permits may exceed what you would have paid for an already existing home in the neighborhood, but consider what youll be getting for the money. The extra cost youll incur will be giving you exactly what you want in your new home exactly the way that you want it. Everything in your new home will work exactly the way its supposed to and exactly how you want it to - and that could very well be worth every extra penny that you spend in the process.

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A New Home or Resale, Which is better?

Apr 21st, 2009 Posted in home | no comment »

When deciding if you should buy a new home or resale home, you will likely hear a number of opinions about which one is better. Each home has their own positive attributes so it all comes down to individual needs. Before making a decision, you should look at the benefits of each to determine which home would be best for you and your family. The following outlines important qualities of new homes and resale homes which may help you make the decision.

New Homes 1) When purchasing a home that is to be newly constructed, there are many options you may be able to choose from that include: kitchen furnishings, type of flooring, color schemes, walk in closets, and much more. 2) New homes are constructed with new building materials so there will be less maintenance. This can include: aluminum siding, vinyl windows, and pressure-treated wood. 3) Many homebuilders will provide warranties in the event of a construction defect. For instance, if a crack in a wall develops, or the roof begins to leak, they will cover the costs of repair. 4) New homes will not contain toxic substances such as lead paint. 5) The appliances are new so they will be under a manufacturer warranty. They are also much more energy efficient.

6) New homes are built to accommodate the newest safety systems such as burglar alarms and surveillance cameras. 7) New homes are usually wired for the newest technology such as multiple phone lines, high-speed internet connections, and extra cable outlets 8) They are constructed using materials that contain fewer health risks so they will meet current health codes. 9) New homes are more energy efficient. They have better windows, insulation, and more efficient heating and cooling systems. 10) The design is more modern. They may have more bathrooms, bigger bedrooms, and much more. 11) Everything in a new home is clean and undamaged.

Resale Homes 1) Because the homes are older, they are more likely to be located near metro areas. 2) For people who enjoy renovating and making improvements, resale homes are a good choice. 3) If you are looking for a large piece of property, you will likely find it with a resale home. 4) A resale home is usually cheaper than a new home. Depending on the state, resale homes may have lower property tax rates. 5) They are not usually a part of a new development community so you will not have to pay new development fees for such things as for schools, parks, and road maintenance.

6) If you like traditional designs and layouts, resale homes are a good choice. 7) Buyers are often able to negotiate a lower price with a resale home. 8) The landscape is usually more natural and contains trees that are full grown. Most backyards are bigger and more private. 9) Resale homes are usually located in established neighborhoods. They will usually already have existing roads, amenities, parks, and schools. 10) Taxes and closing costs may differ between new and resale homes. For instance, sales tax is payable on new homes, while it is usually included in a resale home purchase.

As you can see from the above lists, there are many advantages to owning either a new home or resale home. The key is to make a list of what you are looking for in a home and what you plan to do with it in the future. Because buying home is a major life investment, it is important to consider both the pros and cons of both types of homes before making the final decision.

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Questions You should Ask when Buying a New Home

Apr 7th, 2009 Posted in home | no comment »

Buying a new home can be a very exciting time in a persons life. There are many considerations one should be aware of before taking the plunge into new homeownership. Before you make this huge life investment, you should ask yourself the following questions:

Can I afford a new home?

When buying new homes, you have to consider the financial implications of homeownership. You have to consider the mortgage payments, the down payment, fees such as closing costs and lawyer expenses, taxes, and other costs. Use an online financial calculator that takes your income and debt and calculated it to determine how much you can afford.

Does the new home meet my requirements?

Make a list of all your needs. Consider children and pets. Are there enough bedrooms and bathrooms? Is the yard big enough for a pet? Do you need a home office? If you have children, check to see if parks and schools are close by. Do you have to travel a long distance to work? What is the crime rate like in the neighborhood? How close is your home to supermarkets and malls? Is their a neighborhood development association that imposes strict rules?

Are there any hazards? Check to see if the home is in a high risk area such as flooding, earthquakes, tornados, and hurricanes. You may have to pay higher insurance premiums. Also, find out what home inspections are needed. What are the sale closing costs?

Closing costs are the costs associated with the sale transaction. This can include fees for legal documents, recording deeds, escrow fee, real estate commission fee, reconveyance fee, and Title Insurance.

Is the exterior of the house in good condition?

When assessing the exterior of the house, ask such questions as: What materials were used for the exterior? Do the trim or sidewalls require painting? Is weather-stripping installed? Do windows and doors have insulated glass or storm windows? What is the condition of the gutters? Is the foundation in good condition? Is the ground sloped away from the foundation? What material is used for the foundation?

Is the interior of the house in good condition?

Are there cracks in the walls and/or ceilings? Has the interior been recently painted? Are the kitchen cabinets installed properly? Do the doors open and close properly? Are there exhaust fans in the kitchen and baths? Is the interior trim in good condition? What is the condition of the door knobs and locks? Are there any visible structural defects? Is the attic area insulated? Are there any sloping floors in the home? Is there an attic fan for ventilation?

What is the condition of the heating, electric system, and hot water system?

Is the incoming electric service properly installed? Is the main electric panel easily accessible? Are there adequate light fixtures throughout the home? Are lighting fixtures installed at all exterior entrances? Is the number of electrical receptacles in each room sufficient for modern living? Are ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) installed?

What type of furnace or boiler is installed? (Hot air, hot water, heat pump, etc.) What type of fuel is used for heat? Does the home have central air conditioning? Is the size water heater adequate for your needs? Are there heating/cooling outlets in each room?

What is the condition of the plumbing system?

What is the source for water and sewer? (City, private, well, septic) What materials are used for water and sewer pipes? (Copper, PVC, iron, etc.) What is the quality and quantity of the well water? Do the plumbing fixtures work properly? Is the water pressure adequate?

Buying a new home is a serious life commitment with lasting costs. Before buying a home, make sure you consider all of the positive and negative aspects of homeownership so that your final decision will be the right one.

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Home Builder Incentives

Apr 4th, 2009 Posted in Home Management, home | no comment »

New home information was gathered from home builders around the country. This is what you are looking for if you are searching for a new home .

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Home Builder Incentives

Choosing a New Home or Existing Home

Mar 19th, 2009 Posted in home | no comment »

New homebuyers are often faced with the choice of purchasing a new home or an existing home. There are many factors that potential homebuyer should consider before making a decision. The following list compares owning new homes to owning existing homes:

Design and Layout: New homes tend to have extras such as larger rooms, more bathrooms, and bigger closets. There are usually additional options such as paint color, type of cabinets, flooring, custom wiring for TV’s, computers, phones, and more. Modern features like walk in closets and extra bathrooms are available when building a new home. In existing homes, you get the previous owners design and layout. Renovations and upgrades tend to be quite expensive. For those who enjoy heritage homes such as Victorian homes with their hardwood floors and high ceilings will prefer existing homes.

Maintenance: Although existing homes can be less expensive to purchase, they usually require more maintenance which will increase costs. New homes usually contain durable materials such as aluminum siding and pressure treated wood decks which require little or no maintenance for a number of years. New homes are often constructed with materials that require little or no maintenance. Purchase price for an existing home is usually more negotiable.

Expenses: New homes usually have very little or no costs associate with plumbing, roofing, wiring, and heating systems. Existing homes may require repairs and upgrades.

Warranties: Many homebuilders will provide warranties that can range from 8 ” 10 years. These warranties will cover problems associated with construction problems. As well, new appliances such stoves and refrigerators will be under manufacturers warranty. Existing homes do not have warranties.

Energy: New homes have better windows, air filtration systems, improved insulation, and more efficient heating and cooling systems. Existing homes are less energy efficient. They usually have poorer air circulation and use much more energy.

Amenities: New home subdivisions are designed to offer many community extras such as nearby schools, parks, playgrounds, and swimming pools. Existing homes do not have that luxury.

Equity: Buyers gain equity while the house is being built. This is not the case for existing homes.

Protection: Depending on the area, new homes meet weather and geological standards for such events as hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, flash floods, drought conditions, and more. Existing homes usually do not meet current weather and geological standards.

Moving-In: Moving in is easier for new homebuyers. They are usually able to move in when the sale has closed and the house is completely built. Homebuilders will remove any debris. Buyers of existing homes often have to deal with cleaning, waste removal, and repairs.

Health: New homes tend to have better air quality and are clean when you move in Air filtration systems are modern.. Some existing homes may need to be cleaned. Items that often need to be cleaned include heating systems, carpets, walls, floors, and much more.

Safety: New homes are usually safer because they are built to accommodate modern smoke and fire alarm systems as well as high tech burglar alarm systems. For an existing home, the owner will have to upgrade to accommodate these features.

Purchasing a home can be one of the most exciting life investments. There are advantages and disadvantages to buying either a new or existing home. The best way to decide which home is best for you and your family is to make a list of what you are looking for in a home. Because it is such a major life decision, you want to make sure you are well informed so that you and your family can relax and enjoy your very own home.

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