Builders at Home Buyer’s Service

Most buyers who are in the market looking for a new home have a good idea of what it is that they want in their new house. Builders are now trying harder than ever to meet buyers wants. Builders are offering additional amenities, ranging from as small as wrought iron exterior lamps to large custom-built pools with lavish landscaping. It’s as much about the amenities as it is about the home. Builders can’t entice buyers with “cookie cutter homes” with three or four varying floor plans to choose from.

Today buyers are looking for more than just a new home. Buyers today are looking for a neighborhood that reflects who they are, including their personal tastes and desires. Deciding on the right new home community is often determined by the amenities and services available in that community. Amenities such as tennis courts, community pools, workout facilities, parks, golf courses, community club house, and so on.

As we know though, there are other home options available which appeal to new home buyers. The ability to alter a floor plan to, for example, change a teen’s bedroom into an office when they move out or go away for college. Because buyers are looking or homes that include options such as these, home builders will often pre-wire TV, Broadband Internet, speaker wires, and even alarm systems. More often than not, buyers are usually looking for open floor plans which allow them ample decorating space and room to entertain guests.

With the ever-growing green building trend, many builders are now making homes more environmentally friendly. Everything from recyclable carpets to a computerized landscaping system that is smart enough to only water when needed. It’s becoming the standard for many builders to have homes built with energy-efficient lighting, air conditioning, and equipped with EnergyStar Certified appliances. Builders are even building homes with ventilation systems in the master bedroom closet to vent potential toxins from dry cleaning.

Home buyers are also noticing the little touches that can separate one home from another. These touches can be as bold as offering stonework skirting on homes or as small as patio ceiling fans.

Home builders are going to continue integrating affordability, flexibility, lifestyle, green initiatives, and more into communities to entice homebuyers in this market. Because of this and current finance options, now is a great time to shop for a new home, if you can afford it that is.

Finding A Contractor To Build Your Home

If you’ve decided you want to build a home rather than buy one that’s already been occupied, you’re going to realize that sometimes you have a lot of choices, and other times you have no choice at all.

The reason you may not have a choice is because many home building companies buy up large plots of land, plan the community, and then start building homes, hoping to entice buyers looking for brand new, customized and designed homes by the company.

Sometimes, they’ll buy up the land, and then offer potential buyers the choice of housing plans, but often they won’t offer more than 5 plans for a particular area, trying to keep the housing rates close to each other. Every once in awhile, you may find a home builder that will let you go through their entire inventory, but not all that often unless you’re looking to build a really high end home.

At other times, though, you might be able to buy your own plot of land somewhere, and then have a choice of builders for your home. This can get scary and complicated, as there are not only usually lots of builders, and lots of styles, but you’re not always sure who you can trust, or who will work well with you.

The first recommendation is to go online and look at houses in your area that are priced in the area you’re hoping to buy. There will be a lot of older homes, but some of the homes you’ll find will be new, and most of the builders have probably put up houses in your price range. You should be able to select 3 or 4 home builders whose product you like the look of.

The second recommendation is to check with the Better Business Bureau to find out if any of the builders on your list have a negative rating, or have had other complaints. Sometimes you’ll find that large builders do get a lot of complaints about potentially shoddy work, even though they build some magnificently looking homes.

The third recommendation is to ask people you know who’ve had homes built how accommodating and easy the home builders were to work with. There are things you might want in your home that aren’t in part of their plans. Some will work with you to get those things in there, while others will stick with what they’re good at and not be flexible. But talking to others will help you make this determination.

The fourth recommendation is, if you can’t find someone whose design you like, hire a designer to work with you on building the house you want. Every designer knows someone who will build your house based on your wishes. It might cost you more money, but you’ll get exactly what you want.

The fifth recommendation is something NOT to do. Don’t ever just go with whomever your realtor recommends. Sometimes they’re not acting in your best interest, whether intentional or not. In this instance, it’s best to go with your own instincts and find the builder you really want to work with on your own.

Many Housing Markets Are Showing Improvement

The last couple of years have been rather tough on the housing industry. Throughout the nation, declining real estate values, foreclosures, and short sales has been the subject of real estate news. Home builders have especially been seeking a glimmer of hope, and in some markets this may just be a reality.

May 2009 housing figures have shown significant improvements in several housing markets across the country. Even markets that have experienced the highest value declines and foreclosure rates are beginning to show signs of life.

In Louisville, Kentucky, the median price of homes increase 1.5%, the first increase since January of 2008. Causing much optimism for many real estate professionals and home builders in the area.

In Naples, Florida, home sales increased 36% over last year’s figures. Pending home sales leaped an unbelievable 101% in comparison to May of 2008. Florida’s housing market is one which has been hit hardest during the housing market meltdown. Much of the areas problem lie with bad mortgage loans and bank failures. The area has also show a significant decline in median home prices, from $314,000 a year ago to $174,000 this year. Which is likely a major factor accounting for the recent activity.

Birmingham, Alabama experienced an 8% increase in homes sales in May over April. 29% of these sales were foreclosures, a good sign as 38% of home sales in April were foreclosures. Year over year, housing prices in the Birmingham area are down 14%.

Buffalo, New York, for the first time in over a year, has shown an increase of sales at 3.3%. In May, home sales increased 21% over April’s figures. Pending home sales are down 5.9% year over year, which has tempered expectations somewhat.

This new is being perceived by many as good new that effects the entire housing industry coast-to-coast. Home builders have experienced declining inventories and many companies have started new projects, even though home builder’s confidence declined in recent days.

First-time Home Owner Tax Credit Can Be Used For Down Payment

The Obama Administration recently announced that first-time homebuyers will be able to use the $8,000 tax credit for initial costs, such as closing costs and for a down payment when the borrower finances their new home through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

The Department of Housing and Urban Development stated on May 29 that buyers obtaining an FHA loan through private lenders would still need to invest their own funds toward the minimum 3.5 percent down payment.

For borrowers who have taken out a loan through one of about nine state housing agencies offering tax credit loan programs, you will be eligible for a bridge loan which can be used towards a down payment and/or closing costs. States that currently offer tax-credit monetization programs include Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Tax credit monetization programs offer the borrower a low-interest rate loan to be repaid using the proceeds from the $8,000 tax credit. If proceeds from the tax credit are not used to immediately repay the loan, the loan is converted into a long-term second mortgage backed by the property.

It is believed that many more people will be able to take advantage of the first-time homebuyer tax credit after the Obama administration’s recent announcement.

New Homes in Dallas, Fort Worth & Frisco

Are you looking for a new home in the Dallas / Fort Worth area? If so, you’ll appreciate the following information on move-in ready homes currently offered by home builders in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Frisco, Texas. The information that we have provided below is considered accurate as of the date of this post; however, we ask that you contact each home builder directly for updated availability, pricing, and new home incentives.

Sonya is a home ready for immediate move-in by Mercedes Homes and found at Traditions of Frisco, a new home community about 30 miles north of Dallas in Frisco, Texas. Traditions of Frisco provides home buyers with home lots ranging from 50’, 60’, and 70’. This community is located within the Frisco Independent School District and currently features only one home ready for quick delivery. Sonya is two-stories and 3,708 square feet with four bedrooms, three full-baths, one half-bath and was recently reduced $50,000 to $319,900. To learn more about this home, or having a new home built to order at Traditions of Frisco, click here to contact Mercedes Homes or call (877) 649-8722.

Brighton is a quick delivery home available from Cheldan Homes which is located at their Fort Worth, Texas new home community Marine Creek Ranch. The Brighton features a covered patio, open kitchen with dining area that leads into the family room, an extra room that can be used as either a study or additional bedroom, downstairs master bedroom, and Whirlpool stainless steel appliances. This home is a two-story plan offering five bedrooms, three full-baths, one half-bath, with 2,809 square feet of livable space and Energy Star certified with TechShield Radiant barrier and a 14-SEER Amana cooling system for only $182,719. For more information, click here to contact Cheldan Homes or call (817) 237-6791.

Boston is a move-in ready home offered by Ryland Homes at their Dallas, Texas new home community Wright Farms. Boston features a large family room that opens up to the kitchen and breakfast area, upgraded cabinets, and GE all black appliances. The master bedroom boasts a large walk-in closet and the master-bath is equipped with a shower and garden tub. This home is a single-story, three bedroom, two bathroom, 1,800 square foot home that is priced at $132,672. Receive additional information by clicking here to contact Ryland Homes or call (972) 913-5407.