Landon Homes : July 2015

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Home Builder Jacksonville | Buying Versus Renting

Home Builder Jacksonville | Homeownership has long been viewed as the American dream — and still is for many — but renting is a legitimate, and often preferred, option for many.

Both have their benefits and a variety of factors can inform a person’s decision of whether to buy a home or to rent one.

Choosing which path is best requires some serious self-assessment of where you stand on certain key factors, such as the local housing market, your budget and lifestyle, the amount of flexibility you want and the level of commitment you want to put into a home.

New House Builder | Do you have a new home floor plan that you love, or land that inspires you, or both?

If you dream of designing a new home that takes full advantage of the unique geography and views of land that you love, then you’re a candidate for a Build On Your Lot home, sometimes know by the acronym BOYL.

Building a home on your own land can sound like a pricey prospect, but rest assured that new homes can be built on your lot or land across a wide range of budgets.

Getting Started

The process of building a home on your lot can begin in any one of four places:

The Latest Outdoor Home Building Trends

Home Building Trends | Creating outdoor rooms remains a popular design trend with home owners across the country. It’s a simple, budget-friendly way to increase your home’s square footage and to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you have a large patio or a small porch, your outdoor room can easily reflect your style and become a treasured gathering spot in your home.

Yet, many home owners quickly become frustrated when the beautiful furniture and fabrics they select do not survive the outdoor elements. Fortunately, manufacturers are now creating more durable outdoor furnishings to help your decorating dollars go even further.

Home Builder Jacksonville | Whether building new or renovating an existing structure, creating a new home is a journey of discovering who you are, what you want, how you want to live and where you want to be. It’s a chance for you to define your relationship to the world, to your family and to yourself. Creating a home is more than building “3 bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms.” It is so much more than the sum of a few parts.

As with any journey, you’ll want to do some research and plan your trip. You’ll want to have a sense of what the end result should be and how much it’ll cost. And while you’ll no doubt be able to go it alone, having a seasoned and experienced guide show you the way will likely mean a more enjoyable, more enriching and overall better journey.

Let’s look at the steps, in chronological order, involved in creating a home.

Moving Tips: Out of State Edition (Pt. 2)

Moving Tips | As far as smooth out of state moving experiences go, this one takes the cake. If you have furniture and a lot of belongings to move out of state and don’t want to deal with the hassle of moving yourself, this is your best option.

I recommend using the free moving quotes request form here, to compare prices side-by-side from up to 6 leading moving companies. Our database and network finds the top 6 movers that are qualified to handle your move. You will receive a free custom price quote from each company based on the information you provide about your move such as your origin and destination, and the estimated size of your move. It is 100% free and you can see exactly what it will cost to hire movers to take care of everything for you!

Moving Tips: Out of State Edition (Pt. 1)

Moving Tips | These are tough times we live in. Many times one has to move out of state in pursuit of a job opportunity, a better life or that hard to find stability factor. There’s a catch though – there are many ways to do this, but some are cheaper than others. Sometimes you have to respect a tight budget.

This is just what we will approach in this article: cheap ways to move out of state. Without further ado, let’s get to the tips.

Well, as you know or will find out, cargo space means money. You should really be picky and take only what you need so you’ll save on transport and storage costs. You’ll pay for everything you take, and don’t just think about the fees but of the money spent on gas too, so you’ll have to manage your stock. The best way to do this is to plan earlier and make little action plans on a piece of paper that you will try to apply when the time comes.

Make an inventory of everything you need, making sure you keep the items you need and discard the items you don’t – having a written list will also help you to avoid forgetting about stuff.

Custom Homes | A Different Way to Live, Agricultural Communities

Custom Homes | Swimming pool. Clubhouse. Golf course. Hiking trail. Farm. These are among the many amenities new homebuilders offer buyersin today’s new communities.

Wait a minute. Farm? Yes, you read that right.

Whether it’s a working farm, vegetable gardening plots, farm stands, participatory cooking classes or Happy Farmer family nights, builders are finding ways to introduce community agriculture, or so-called agrihoods, into new-home developments.

The Agrihood Craze

Offering homebuyers both practical and emotional benefits, the agrihood trend builds on such themes as health, wellness, slow food, whole food and hyperlocal food production, says Brent Herrington.

Home Builder Jacksonville | Homeowner — sure, it’s a title you want to claim one day, but not right now.

Between paying off school loans, establishing your career path and getting your footing in the “real world,” you’re just not ready to take on the responsibilities of a home.

Although homeownership is years ahead, there is still work you can do now to prepare for homeownership.

“Buying a home is one of the largest purchases you’re ever going to make, so you need to make sure you’re prepared,” says financial expert Rachel Cruze. “Without taking the proper steps, a home can quickly turn from a blessing to a curse.”

Northland Residential Corporation - Hingham, MA

Home Building Trends | You're planning a new kitchen, as the heart of your new home. Should you go for the trend, for what's hot? Or go for staying power?

Well, as with many things in life, it depends.

Some people passionately crave The Next Big Thing. If you're in that camp, you might consider the sleek, modern lines that are flowing toward our shores from Europe.

On the other hand, if you're agonizing about how to design a room that won't be guilty, in a few years, of the cardinal sin of being "dated," you might want to adopt a "transitional" style.

New Home Communities | How to Evaluate Schools When Buying a New Home

New Home Communities | More than half of all homebuyers with children under 18 years of age rate the quality of the local school district as a major factor influencing their choice of a neighborhood, according to the latest “Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers” from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

The quality of the schools is more important than affordability or the buyer’s convenience to schools and shopping, even proximity to family and friends, according to the NAR profile. Only convenience to the workplace is more important, but only by 1 percentage point.

But even if the quality of the schools in the area where you decide to buy is not terribly important now, it may become so in a few years. And even if children are not on your radar screen, you may still be better off in a school district that takes education seriously.

New House Builder | Calling it a “war“ between the sexes might be a bit of an overstatement. In fact, gender lines are blurring. But when it comes to selecting and finishing a new home, men and women often look for different things.

“The distinctions between what men and women are looking for in a home are less pronounced than they used to be,”. “Much of what draws people in is a matter of personal preference, which goes far beyond what might be considered a gender-based motivation. However, when comparing them as gender groups, there are still some factors that appeal more often to women than to men, and vice versa.”

Custom Homes: The Top Bedrooms of the Week

GET INSPIRED WITH THESE SERENE MASTER BEDROOMS

Custom Homes | Hey! Wake up! It’s time for another Greatest Hits from our Home of the Week. This time it’s no slideshow to snooze about — or perhaps it is, because we’re highlighting master bedrooms. Have a look at some of the bedrooms that we haven’t been able to stop dreaming about since we stumbled upon them.

custom homes

CLASSIC ELEGANCE
Classic paneled walls, numerous ceiling-high draperies and a subtle color theme to create a bedroom in their Stanton 6701 Plan that can only be described as elegant.

Home Builder Jacksonville | Buy First or Sell First?

Home Builder Jacksonville | It’s housing’s version of the classic chicken-and-egg conundrum.

Which comes first: Do you sell your existing home before you sign a contract on a new house or do you buy that new place first and then put your old house on the market?

Obviously, the choice is a highly personal one, one which involves at least some degree of danger. If you sell first and can’t find a new house that fits your bill, you could be homeless. But if you throw all caution to the wind and buy your new home before you sell your current digs, you could be stuck with two mortgages.

Yes, those are distinct possibilities and there is always going to be a bit of nervousness, if not agony in whatever decision you make. The only time it’s not terribly stressful is when you are moving from a rental.

Whether you’re building a new home or are just plain curious, here’s a sneak peek at what homeowners can expect in the coming year.

Bigger Is Not Always Better

One of the most significant home building trends in design and construction is that homes are actually getting smaller, according to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The average size of a new, single-family home is expected to be around 2,152 square feet — that’s 10 percent smaller than it was in 2010.

Part of the reason is the recent downturn in the economy, which made a lot of consumers more conscious of their finances. Another is a renewed focus in lowering heating and cooling costs, diminished expectations for home price appreciation and an aging demographic that doesn’t require huge amounts of space.

Living Room — What Living Room?

Living rooms continue to be replaced by great rooms that combine kitchens and family rooms, with plenty of room to do everything from homework to entertaining. Many of the NAHB survey respondents expect living rooms to vanish altogether, but it’s not the only room fading away. Mudrooms, third bathrooms and formal dining rooms are also expected to slowly disappear from new-home plans.

New Home Communities | Going on Vacation? Protect Your Home!

New Home Communities | According to the Department of Justice, there are 10 percent more burglaries in the summer than in the winter. Additionally, the rate of household property victimization and household larceny also peak during the hottest months of the year. This time of year also happens to be when most of us pack our bags and head out for vacation.

While you’re out enjoying the summer weather, you don’t want to worry about what’s happening at home. Here are 10 tips to protect your home while on vacation.

1. Lock all windows and doors.

Over 30 percent of burglars enter a home through an unlocked window or door. A few weeks before your vacation, check the windows and doors of your home to be sure they shut and lock properly. Make repairs as necessary, and verify they’re all secure on the day you leave for vacation.

New House Builder | With the economy and housing market still recovering, some potential first-time home buyers may be hesitant to invest in a new home. Yet there are several reasons why now is a great time for Millennials and other first-time home buyers to start building their American Dream.

1) Interest rates are low.
Today’s historically low interest rates are helping first-time home buyers find affordable housing options. Average weekly interest rates for a 30-year fixed mortgage remain under 4.5%.

Custom Homes | Anyone interested in feline enrichment knows how much cats love the outdoors. They also know how risky it is for cats to be free-roaming — they can be hit by cars, trapped in garages and just plain lost. Then there are the birds they kill (although windows also do major damage to bird populations).

Some of the world’s most forward-thinking cat owners have devised a solution: the catio.

It’s the animal-lover’s answer to the man cave, a space set aside to keep our feline companions safe and happy.

Home Builder | This year’s Atlantic hurricane season started slowly enough, with no named storms for the East Coast during June. But that slow start doesn’t mean the threat is gone. The season stretches through the end of November, so there is still plenty of time for trouble.

Peak hurricane season runs from mid-August to late October, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The organization predicts storms for the East Coast this year, and there’s a 70-percent chance that up to six could become full-fledged hurricanes — with sustained winds of 75 mph or higher. As a homeowner or renter, you may wonder, “Do I have enough insurance protection to withstand a potential hurricane?” Unfortunately, you might not want to hear the answer.

Moving Tips: Kids Edition (Pt. 2)

During the Move

Moving Tips | The actual moving process involving a cranky, crying or angsty child is another thought that could add stress to the big move, but you can cut it out easily with a little conversation or activity.

“Keep talking. If your kids seem stressed, try to get to the root of the issue,” Sullivan says. “My son was very anxious and, after much talking, we learned he was stressed about not having enough long-sleeve T-shirts since his new school didn’t have uniforms. … Little things that you may never think of could be causing them anxiety.”

She also has advice for the unpacking process: “If your kids are left underfoot without a task while you’re unpacking, it can become an exercise in frustration. Start delegating jobs to them and you will be surprised at the amount of work they will take on if asked. They are … more willing and able to help more than you might have expected.”

Moving Tips | While exciting, moving into a new home can also be a little overwhelming.

When you throw kids into the mix, moving can be stressful for the whole family. But it doesn’t have to be that way!

We asked moving professionals what tips they had for those who are moving with kids. Here’s what they suggested to make the move as stress free as possible for the whole family:

Home Building Trends | The Highest Rated Doors

Home Building Trends | An entry door is your home’s opening statement — and a big contributor to the curb appeal of your house.

It’s the first thing your guests see when they visit and the last thing they notice as it hits them on the way out.

It says a lot about your style. Entry doors are also a significant element in the fight to keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer.

There are hundreds of entrance door products and styles available. Not to mention the nearly unlimited variety of panel designs; rectangular, radius or geometric transoms and companion sidelite configurations; grille patterns and decorative, clear or privacy glass selections.

Which Green Home Certification Program is Right for You?

New House Builder | Lessie Miller knew she wanted to build a green home. She just didn't know there could be so many shades of green.

"There are so many angles. Do you want it to be a 'healthy' home? There's the energy aspect and the recycled products. Do you just want to support (homebuilding) products that are locally produced?" explained the San Jose, Calif., resident about the many green considerations she pondered when planning her custom-built home, which was completed in March, 2012.

"You have to ask a lot of questions," she said. "We really had to edit it down to a core of: What does green mean for us?"

Not to torture the Kermit the Frog song title, but fortunately for anyone who's considering building a home, it's getting easier to be green.

Custom Homes | Log homes, timberframe and post-and-beam homes represent a tradition of craftsmanship that goes back thousands of years.

They’re still winning the hearts of people who have a strong affinity for the look and feel of wood.

Today, there are a multitude of choices as far as size, floor plan, architectural style and finish. Even though most manufacturers prefabricate the shells of the homes in a factory, the finished product is almost always one of a kind.

What’s the Difference?

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Log and Timber Homes Council, the fundamental difference between log and timberframe construction is in how the solid wood components are used. In a log home, the logs are typically stacked horizontally and are the primary building material that comprises the load-bearing walls.

Home Builder | Homebuyers who want the space and spaciousness of a two-story residence need to know a thing or two about stairs and staircases.

That’s because every two-story home naturally needs at least one full staircase to allow access between the floors.

Some 305,000 of the 569,000 new detached houses builders completed in 2013 had two or more stories and 166,000 had a full or partial basement, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That suggests builders constructed something like 471,000 or more staircases during that one-year timeframe.

Like doughnuts, staircases come in two types: fancy and plain.

New House Builder | Top Features Home Buyers Want

New House Builder | What do our neighbors to the north have to teach us about the Top 10 Features home buyers want?

Plenty, it turns out. It's clear the preferences of Canadian home buyers closely match those of American home buyers.

The award-winning interior designers from Rooms in Bloom shared their experience in a recent blog post. As the 2012 Home Staging firm in Canada, they should know. These experts help real estate professionals and home builders "stage" or decorate homes currently for sale. Like many top designers, Heather Cook and Alana Merrit find the challenge of staying one step ahead of the latest trends when they're staging new homes for sale to be of great value in all of their interior design work.

Home Building Trends | According to a November press release by Dodge Data & Analytics, the construction industry should enjoy some growth this year — up 9% to $612 billion in new construction. That’s an improvement over 2014’s 5% increase.

Much of the growth will be in commercial buildings, but housing should see some growth, too. With more homes expected to be built this year, we’re taking a look at some of the residential construction trends you might be seeing as you work on new projects.

New Home Communities: Common New Homeowner Mistakes to Avoid

New Home Communities | You’ve finally moved into your new home. But, like many new homeowners, you may not be familiar with construction standards or how your home was built — and how to maintain it.

Many builders work hard to educate their buyers to help them avoid common mistakes that can lead to costly repairs.

“We work with our homeowners to help ensure that they have all the information they need to make a smooth transition,” says Teri Wilber, customer experience coordinator for Grenadier Homes in Dallas, Texas. “Most of the common mistakes new homeowners can make stem from not having enough information.”

Custom Homes | Are you looking for a vacation home?

According to the National Association of Realtors, vacation home sales rose strongly in 2013, jumping 29.7 percent to an estimated 717,000 from 553,000 in 2012.

Whether you’re shopping for the perfect spot for your own family to vacation or for an investment property you plan to rent out to others, it’s essential to do your due diligence to ensure that you spend your money wisely.

Opportunities Abound

According to Christine Hrib Karpinski, author of How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner: The Complete Guide to Buy, Manage, Furnish, Rent, Maintain and Advertise Your Vacation Rental Investment, values in many popular vacation-home resorts have not fully recovered since the market correction. As a result, they may present opportunities for both new-homebuyers seeking a vacation home, as well as for investors. Karpinski cites the Smoky Mountains, Las Vegas, Florida’s Gulf Coast and South Florida as markets in which buyers may find opportunities.

Choosing an exterior style for your home can be difficult. There are many options to discuss with your home builder, including:

Colonial

Popularized in the 1600s, there has been plenty of time for this style to give way to variations. However, symmetry, shuttered windows, dormers, columns and chimneys are common features.

Contemporary

Contemporary styles refer to today’s building styles, which can vary in design and appearance. They tend to emphasize energy efficiency, sustainability, natural light and the use of recycled non-toxic materials.

Cottage

Originating with European peasant farmers in the Middle Ages, this type of home typically refers to homes made of stone or wood siding. They generally feature a curved entryway, gravel or brick front walkway and brighter exterior colors. Beautiful flowers are another common addition.

New House Builder: Save Money by Going Green!

New House Builder | Why are more and more home shoppers seeking greener homes?

The answer is simple: Up to 30 percent cost savings on utility and water bills — as well as greater comfort year round and higher indoor air quality for your family.

In a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), builders reported that more and more consumers are seeking greener new homes. In addition to lower energy costs, home shoppers are increasingly asking builders for features that provide higher indoor air quality and a draft-free, comfortable climate inside their home year round.

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Monday, July 27, 2015

Friday, July 24, 2015

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Friday, July 17, 2015

1. Lock all windows and doors.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Thursday, July 2, 2015