Home Builder | All You Need to Know About Hurricane Insurance

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.

Home Builder | Everything You Need to Know About Stairs

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.

Home Builder: Choosing an Exterior Style

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. 

Home Builder Tips: Advice for Couples

Building a new home is an exciting journey. But, with so many decisions to make and transitions to navigate, it’s possible for disagreements between you and your spouse or partner to occur.

Here’s how you can work together to build the home of your dreams — without the drama.

Clarify Your Plans

Marriage and family therapist Lisa Bahar of Dana Point, Calif., encourages couples to start “with a ‘reality check’ conversation regarding the actual process of what is about to occur.”

Getting real about the challenges is part of the conversation — building the dream is another. Being honest about what each of you desires in your home is essential. “If you know you want eastern light shining through your kitchen window and the sun setting over your patio, speak up,” says relationship therapist Gemma Utting of Aukland, New Zealand.

Home Builder | Higher Home Prices Push Affordability Down

Home Builder | Housing affordability is down from a year ago as higher prices continue to outpace incomes, according to the National Association of REALTORS® Economists' Outlook blog.

Nationally, the median single-family home price is $221,000, up 10 percent from April 2014, NAR reports. The Midwest has seen some of the largest increases in home prices – climbing 11.6 percent in the past year alone. The Northeast, on the other hand, is seeing the slowest price growth regionally at 4.9 percent in the past year.

Housing affordability is down in all major regions of the U.S. from a year ago, except in the Northeast, where home price growth is moderating.

"In other regions, the decline from a year ago was relatively small as mortgage rates lower than a year ago helped but could not completely offset increases in home prices," NAR finds.

But mortgage rates are on their way up. Freddie Mac reported last week that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage set a new high for 2015, averaging above 4 percent for the first time in nearly a year. 

"This may be a good time for return and first-time home buyers to surge back into the housing market before rates climb higher, further reducing affordability," NAR notes.

View NAR's latest Housing Affordability Index for a full breakdown of affordability across the U.S.

Source: "Housing Affordability Index," National Association of REALTORS® Economists' Outlook Blog (June 12, 2015)

Need to speak with a home builder? Please do not hesitate to contact us at Landon Homes, (904)567-3430!

Home Builder Safety Tips

These home builder recommended tips will help keep your home safe from danger. How many people who won’t wade more than 12 feet from shore due to fear of sharks actually don’t think their home will ever be burglarized? While about 50 people a year, worldwide, are killed by sharks, about one in every 36 homes in the U.S. will be burglarized in a single year. Average loss per break-in is over $2,200, says FBI data.

Just like you’re always looking for bargains at the store or online, burglars are always looking for bargains—in the form of an easy house to break into and one that looks empty.

How a Home Builder Creates More Space

Homebuyers who want a new house that feels spacious, open, connected and welcoming need look no further than today’s newly built homes. A home builder with experience and the knowledge to create more space is crucial!

That’s because today’s homes are larger, on average, than homes built in yesteryears and builders’ newer floor plans and architectural designs create both the reality and illusion of more space.

Builders completed 569,000 new detached houses in 2013, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report. Based on a statistical sampling, 305,000, or nearly 54 percent, of those houses had two or more stories; 251,000, or 44 percent, had at least four bedrooms; 188,000, or 33 percent, had three or more bathrooms and 166,000, or 29 percent, had a full or partial basement. The average home size was just two feet shy of 2,600 square feet.

Spaciousness isn’t all about square footage, however.

High Ceilings

Perhaps the best way to make a house feel much larger is to raise the ceilings to 9, 10 or even 12 or 15 feet, says Trey Bitteker, general sales manager at Pulte Homes in Arizona. “High ceiling heights will certainly open up a house. When someone walks through it, every room feels a little bit larger,” he says.

[PRESS RELEASE] Landon Homes Provides Book Donations to Promote Early Literacy

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., April 29, 2015- At a luncheon held on April 27, 2015, home builder Landon Homes presented the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida (ELC) with more than 150 children’s books to help promote early literacy.

The luncheon was hosted by Landon Homes, which is locally owned and operated, in order to promote “Landon Homes March for Literacy.”

The goal of the project is to help ELC promote and provide early literacy through book donations to all children in the St. Augustine area.

The donation will help ELC with many of their scheduled literacy programs, including their annual “Three-Year-Old Book Bag Project” program, which gave away more than 1500 books to the children they serve in their six-county region.

“For the children, I think owning their own brand-new book could help foster a new love for reading, which is a great start to improve future statistics,” said Marjorie Taylor of Landon Holmes.

According to the National Coalition for Literacy (NCL), roughly 93 million adults in the U.S. have basic and below-basic literacy skills.

“This generous donation of books is going to make such an impact to the lives of the families we serve,” said ELC’s Early Literacy Coordinator Joan Whitson.

For more information about early literacy or book donations, please email Joan Whitson at jwhitson@elcnorthflorida.org or visit www.elcnorthflorida.org.

Our Favorite Home Builder Trends (Part 2)

COUNTER CULTURE

Folks love marble. They don’t care about the hazards red wine present. They don’t want to hear from a home builder about how easily they stain. They pretend not to care about the trouble of frequent polishing. They want their marble. But there are other options. Manufactured materials like Silestone and Caesarstone are sleek and require no maintenance. Other builders mentioned Dekton, Neolith, recycled glass, stainless steel, and even butcher wood. 

CABINET FEVER

Engineered cabinetry from companies such as Poggenpohl, Bulthaup, Ornare, and Bentwood of Dallas are gaining popularity for a variety of reasons: They are gorgeous, well-made, and offer cool organizational wizardry. When we asked about finishes on custom cabinets, the answers varied wildly. Some said the cabinets were mainly custom and stain-grade wood. Others said paint grade all the way. Still others said it all depends on the client.

Our Favorite Home Builder Trends (Part 1)

It’s time. The quirks that once drew you to your 1930s bungalow are now filling you with hatred on a daily basis. The floor plan that was once “charming” is now suffocating, you need a home builder. Let’s not even talk about your energy bills. You’re ready to take your house down to the studs and bring it into the 21st century or just cut your losses and start from scratch. Either way, you should begin your journey with a little information. We surveyed the 2015 Best Builders to find out what’s happening in the world of custom home construction.

SIZE MATTERS

In casual conversation, people talk about living smarter—and that suggests more efficient usage of space. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that houses are getting smaller. Obviously, building a 2,500-square-foot house on a lot in the Park Cities doesn’t make a lot of economic sense because the lot is so expensive. You want more bang for your buck. Most builders say their average square footage ranges from 4,000 to 7,000—although we had a few that said their average homes were in the 14,000 (!) range.

10 Things Your New House Builder Can Do With Concrete

Concrete is an industrial stalwart in custom homes, but its ascendance from cheap building material to cool component for a home’s best architectural features is giving product designers some novel inspiration. Concrete is now being used in housewares and furniture, fixtures and fittings, producing some unexpected concepts. In the lighting category, lamps and pendants are sporting pale-colored concrete shades. In kitchens, concrete is being poured to form weathered-looking countertops, to bring industrial flair to the heart of the home. Even in the sanctuary of the bathroom, tubs are being sculpted into stony cemented shapes so sculptural, they look like works of art. And in the outdoor arena, furniture, fire pits and crazy paving are all getting the hard-edged treatment.

1. Fireplace. Exploiting the architectural potential of concrete, the design of this circular fireplace makes it a standout feature in this long, barn-shaped living room at the center of a contemporary farmhouse in rural Victoria. It has been worked into a round shape that features a wide ledge around its circumference for extra seating and cozy fireside chats, no doubt.

Home Building Trends - Open Floor Plans (Part 2)

Balance Privacy and Togetherness

Home building trends will assist in the relative placement of rooms that play a major role in how a home lives. Do you really want your children's bedrooms directly above (or adjacent to) the master bedroom? We all love our children, but even the closest of families need their privacy. Ideally, the master bedroom shouldn't be too close to your home's media room or main television set. With the popularity of surround sound, TVs have become louder. The best plans keep the master suite at a comfortable distance from other activities in the home — ideally in its own wing, with nothing above or below it, and few common walls.

Not all room adjacency issues deal with privacy. Sometimes it's about togetherness. For example, kitchens should not isolate the person preparing the meal. Eat-in kitchens are great places to bring families and friends together. By combining food preparation and dining, you can create wonderful opportunities for conversation and closeness.

Latest Home Builder Trends - Summer 2015

NATURAL SELECTIONS

Step away from the super-dark, hand-scraped floors for a second. Consider engineered woods with a lighter, more natural finish. Our experts say that white, gray, and washed-wood finishes are making a comeback. Think about bleached, limed, or fumed woods with matte finishes or sealed-only floors. Don’t count out engineered products. They aren’t necessarily cheaper, but you can achieve a more exotic look. You might also consider porcelain tiles. Porcelanosa’s Parker line boasts a “wood” look. Stone floors are also showing up in unexpected places, like master bedrooms. 

Fun Fact: To get the look of steel windows, your contractor can match wood on the inside of the window to the color of the outside of the window. Steel versus wood could be a $50,000 difference in price!

CLEAN LINES, MORE OPEN SPACES

Our experts say that, on the whole, new construction is going more contemporary. This doesn’t mean that everyone is moving into glorious, Rachofsky-like glass houses. But on the whole, houses have cleaner lines with less focus on turrets and more use of Austin stone and standing-seam roofs. 

Tips For Choosing Upgrades From Your Home Builder

Now that you’ve signed a contract to purchase your new home, how do you customize it to make it your own?

One of the advantages of purchasing a new home is the opportunity to select features and finishes that reflect your own personal tastes and lifestyle. But for many homebuyers, particularly first timers, the array of choices can be dizzying. 

Cabinets, countertops, flooring, fixtures, appliances — and even structural changes such as additional bathrooms or garages — are just the beginning of a potentially endless choice of options or upgrades that your home builder may allow you to select.

So what’s a buyer to do?

1. Structural Changes

Select structural additions or changes when you sign the contract, or immediately thereafter. “Buyers are a little overwhelmed when they sign the contract because of all the legal documents,” says Sue Goodrich, vice president of sales and marketing for Cachet Homes in Scottsdale, Ariz. “The only thing we talk about then is structural options.”

Buyers who want to add rooms or garages, move doors or add a fireplace or recessed lighting, for example, need to make their structural changes early in the process because those changes may impact the building permit pulled by the builder. These types of changes — as well as any electrical or plumbing changes that would require walls to be opened — would also be costly to make after the home is completed. 

2. Post-Purchase Upgrades

Remember that it might make sense to make certain changes after you purchase your home. Cosmetic features in particular, such as paint, landscaping, lighting and plumbing fixtures, epoxy garage flooring, crown molding, chair rails, window treatments and even certain appliance upgrades can often be made after the closing, particularly by homeowners who have a budget.
Grenadier Homes in Dallas, for example, doesn’t include refrigerators in the base price of their homes, says Kathy Costa, a Grenadier Homes design consultant. That way buyers might be able to get a good deal on their own. Still, by purchasing these upgrades through the builder, you might be able to roll the cost into your mortgage, as opposed to paying out of pocket.

In addition, upgrades completed after the closing will not be covered by the builder’s home warranty — and may void it, Costa warns.

And, of course, there is the hassle factor as well: are you willing to spend time after the closing to work on your home — or would you rather move in knowing that your home is exactly the way you want it to be? 

3. Builder Timeline

Follow your builder’s timeline to select other options or upgrades. About two to three weeks after the contract is signed and approved, your builder will arrange a meeting at its design center. Depending on the builder, you may or may not be able to make changes after this meeting, so be prepared with a list of the items you want. Consider bringing photos of kitchens and baths you like to help guide the designer. 

4. The Model Look

Remember that the model home you fell in love with may have thousands of dollars of options and that the base home may look very different. While many builders include a number of standard features in the base price of their homes, others don’t. That thick carpeting or granite countertop may cost extra. 

5. Prepare a Budget

Prepare a budget — and stick to it. Walking into a builder’s design center is a little like being a kid in a candy store. You’ll see cabinets and granite and top-of-the-line flooring. To avoid overspending — and overextending yourself — prepare a budget before your design meeting.

Goodrich, of Cachet Homes, says that a good rule of thumb is to expect to pay about 12 percent of the base price of a home on interior upgrades. Make sure that the price of your home, including any upgrades, falls within the pre-qualification guidelines for your mortgage.

6. Needs Versus Wants

Be flexible. Remember that you have a budget and that you may not be able to afford all of the extras you’d like, so prepare a list of must-haves and want-to-haves. For example, Joel Whitley and his wife Taylor purchased a three-bedroom, two-bath home from Cachet Homes at the Santa Rita community in Phoenix for $346,900.

The couple budgeted an additional $30,000 for options, of which they spent $26,000 to upgrade cabinets and flooring and to add additional ceiling fan outlets and a soft water loop for a water softening system.

“We would have loved to do a backsplash throughout the entire kitchen, but we knew we didn’t have the budget for that,” says Whitley. “So we came up with a compromise where we have a backsplash just behind the oven in a fancy stone design.” 

7. Resale Value

Don’t over-customize. Of course, new-home buyers want their homes to reflect their personal style and taste. But, it’s important to consider the resale value, as well. “Those lavender granite countertops in the kitchen that you’re thinking about may make your home difficult to resell in a few years,” says Andy Weiser, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“A better choice might be to paint the walls a great shade of lavender, but to go with more neutral countertops. That way, when you decide to move, you will appeal to the most buyers possible.” 

8. Builder Trust

Deal with a builder you trust. Its design team will guide you through the process and offer expert advice on not only design choices, but also how best to apply your budget.

“It’s their job to make your home everything you want it to be,” says homebuyer Whitley. “Trust your home builder for their expertise. After all, this is what they do every day.”

By Robyn A. Friedman from New Home Source

Interested in a new home? Please do not hesitate to call us at Landon Homes, (904)567-3430!

Questions You Should Ask Your New House Builder

Selecting the right builder is a key step in the journey that leads to your dream home.

Asking builders the 15 questions below will help you choose the right builder to create your new home — and give you confidence in your choice.

These questions will also help you better understand key steps in the building process and the decisions you'll make, in partnership with the builder, to bring your new home to life.

• How many years have you been in business? How many homes have you built?
• Are you licensed (where required) and insured?
• How do you compare yourself to other builders? What are the most important benefits of the homes you build?
• What type of warranty do you offer?
• Can you give me references from prior home buyers? Do you build model homes I can tour? If not, can you help me make an appointment to see a home you built for another customer?
• What are the major energy-saving features of homes you build?
• Do you build only from home plans you supply? Or can I provide my own set of plans?
• What standard features do your homes include? What options and upgrades can I select?
• Who will oversee the construction of my home? Who should I contact with any questions I may have?
• How and when can I make changes or upgrades before and during construction?
• How and when will the final price for my home be determined?
• How often (and when) will I have access to the home during the building process?
• How long will my home take to complete?
• Does the community have a Home Owners Association and/or an Architectural Review Committee? If so, may I get a copy of their rules and the amount of any fees?
• What's your process for inspection at key points of construction, at final walk-through, and to address any matters that need to be corrected or finalized?

By Jay McKenzie from New Home Source

Interested in a new home? Please do not hesitate to call us at Landon Homes, (904)567-3430!

Step By Step Guide For A New Home Builder

Here's what to expect during the major phases of construction.

Building your new home is exciting, especially when you understand how the process works. The following overview outlines the typical steps your builder will take in the construction of a home and will help keep you abreast of what happens at key stages.

Keep in mind that the homebuilding process may vary from region to region and builder to builder, especially if you’re building an elaborate custom home. Be sure to ask your builder about his or her specific policies and procedures.

1. Prepare site and pour foundation: Often, site preparation and foundation work are performed by the same crew, but this may not be the case with a wooded lot. Using a backhoe and a bulldozer, the crew clears the site of rocks, debris and trees for the house and, if applicable, the septic system. The crew levels the site, puts up wooden forms to serve as a template for the foundation, and digs the holes and trenches. Footings (structures where the house interfaces with the earth that supports it) are installed. If your home is going to have a well, it will be dug at this point.

If the home has a full basement, the hole is dug, the footings are formed and poured, and the foundation walls are formed and poured. If it’s slab-on-grade, the footings are dug, formed and poured; the area between them is leveled and fitted with utility runs (e.g. plumbing drains and electrical chases); and the slab is poured.

Once concrete is poured into the holes and trenches, it will need time to cure. During this period, there will be no activity on the construction site.

After the concrete is cured, the crew applies a waterproofing membrane to the foundation walls; installs drains, sewer and water taps and any plumbing that needs to go into the first-floor slab or basement floor; and backfills excavated dirt into the hole around the foundation wall. 

INSPECTION #1: When the curing process is complete, a city inspector visits the site to make sure foundation components are up to code and installed properly. This inspection may be repeated depending on the type of foundation (slab, crawl space or basement). Your builder will then remove the forms and begin coordinating step 2, the framing phase.

2. Complete rough framing: The floor systems, walls and roof systems are completed (collectively known as the shell or skeleton of the house). Plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) sheathing is applied to the exterior walls and roof, and windows and exterior doors are installed. The sheathing is then covered with a protective barrier known as a house wrap; it prevents liquid water from infiltrating the structure, while allowing water vapor to escape. This reduces the likelihood of mold and wood rot.

3. Complete rough plumbing, electrical and HVAC: Once the shell is finished, siding and roofing can be installed. At the same time, the electrical and plumbing contractors start running pipes and wires through the interior walls, ceilings and floors. Sewer lines and vents, as well as water supply lines for each fixture, are installed. Bathtubs and one-piece shower/tub units are put in place at this point because there’s more room to maneuver large, heavy objects.

Ductwork is installed for the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, and possibly the furnace. HVAC vent pipes are installed through the roof, and insulation is installed in the floors, walls and ceilings.

After the roofing goes on, the house is considered “dried in.” The electrician then installs receptacles for outlets, lights and switches and runs wires from the breaker panel to each receptacle. Wiring for telephones, cable TV and music systems is included in this work.

Note that HVAC ducts and plumbing are usually installed before wiring, because it’s easier to run wires around pipes and ducts than vice versa.

INSPECTIONS 2, 3 and 4: Rough framing, plumbing and electrical and mechanical systems are inspected for compliance with building codes. Most likely these will be three different inspections. At the very least, the framing inspection will be conducted separately from the electrical/mechanical inspections.

At this stage, drywall (also known as plasterboard, wallboard or gypsum board) is delivered to the building site. Sheetrock®, a registered trademark of USG Corporation, is sometimes used as a generic term for drywall.

4. Install insulation: Insulation plays a key role in creating a more comfortable, consistent indoor climate while significantly improving a home’s energy efficiency. One of the most important qualities of insulation is its thermal performance or R-value, which indicates how well the material resists heat transfer. Most homes are insulated in all exterior walls, as well as the attic and any floors that are located above unfinished basements or crawl spaces.

The most common types of insulation used in new homes are fiberglass, cellulose and foam. Depending on the region and climate, your builder may also use mineral wool (otherwise known as rock wool or slag wool); concrete blocks; foam board or rigid foam; insulating concrete forms (ICFs); sprayed foam; and structural insulated panels (SIPs).

Blanket insulation, which comes in batts or rolls, is typical in new-home construction. So is loose-fill and blown-in insulation, which is made of fiberglass, cellulose or mineral-wool particles. Another insulation option, liquid foam, can be sprayed, foamed-in-place, injected or poured. While it costs more than traditional batt insulation, liquid foam has twice the R-value per inch and can fill the smallest cavities, creating an effective air barrier.

Fiberglass and mineral-wool batts and rolls are usually installed in side walls, attics, floors, crawl spaces, cathedral ceilings and basements. Manufacturers often attach a facing such as kraft paper or foil-kraft paper to act as a vapor barrier and/or air barrier. In areas where the insulation will be left exposed, such as basement walls, the batts sometimes have a special flame-resistant facing.

5. Complete drywall and interior textures; start exterior finishes: Drywall is hung and taped so the seams between the boards aren’t visible, and drywall texturing (if applicable) is completed. The primer coat of paint is also applied after taping is complete. Contractors begin installing exterior finishes such as brick, stucco, stone and siding.

6. Finish interior trim; install exterior driveways and walkways: Interior doors, baseboards, door casings, window sills, moldings, stair balusters and other decorative trim are installed, along with cabinets, vanities and fireplace mantels and surrounds. Walls get a finish coat of paint and are wallpapered where applicable.

Generally, exterior driveways, walkways and patios are formed at this stage. Many builders prefer to wait until the end of the project before pouring the driveway because heavy equipment (such as a drywall delivery truck) can damage concrete. But some builders pour the driveway as soon as the foundation is completed so that when homeowners visit the construction site, they won’t get their shoes muddy.

7. Install hard-surface flooring and countertops; complete exterior grading: Ceramic tile, vinyl and wood flooring are installed as well as countertops. Exterior finish grading is completed to ensure proper drainage away from the home and prepare the yard for landscaping.

8. Finish mechanical trims; install bathroom fixtures: Light fixtures, outlets and switches are installed and the electrical panel is completed. HVAC equipment is installed and registers completed. Sinks, toilets and faucets are put in place.

9. Install mirrors, shower doors and finish flooring; finish exterior landscaping:Mirrors, shower doors and carpeting are installed, and final cleanup takes place. Trees, shrubs and grass are planted and other exterior landscaping completed.

INSPECTION #5: A building-code official completes a final inspection and issues a certificate of occupancy (C.O.). If any defects are found during this inspection, a follow-up inspection may be scheduled to ensure that they’ve been corrected.

10. Final walkthrough: Your builder will walk you through your new home to acquaint you with its features and the operation of various systems and components, and explain your responsibilities for maintenance and upkeep as well as warranty coverage and procedures. This is often referred to as a pre-settlement walkthrough. It’s also an opportunity to spot items that need to be corrected or adjusted, so be attentive and observant. Examine the surfaces of countertops, fixtures, floors and walls for possible damage. Sometimes disputes arise because the homeowner discovers a gouge in a countertop after move-in, and there’s is no way to prove whether it was caused by the builder’s crew or the homeowner’s movers.

A Few Words about Inspections: Your new home will be inspected periodically during the course of construction. In addition to mandated inspections for code compliance, your builder may conduct quality checks at critical points in the process. (In the story above, we point out when these inspections typically take place.) The idea is to catch as many potential problems as possible before construction is finished, though some issues may not surface until you’ve lived in the home for a period of time.

Talk to your builder early on about attending inspections, with or without your real-estate agent. Even if your presence is not required, it’s an opportunity to learn more about what’s behind the walls of your new home and how everything works. If you’re planning to hire your own inspector to do an additional review of the home, notify your builder prior to the start of construction.

For safety as well as logistical reasons, builders discourage customers from dropping in unannounced at the construction site. If you’d like to pay a visit, be sure to arrange it in advance. Chances are your builder will conduct regular walkthroughs to bring you up to speed on the progress of the work.

Working with the builder who'll construct your new home is the fifth of six steps to your new home. Here in our New Home Guide, you'll find helpful and inspiring articles, slideshows and videos that will make your new home journey easier and more rewarding.

Learn about the six key steps to your new home: Get expert advice from leading real estate writers, builders and recent new homebuyers in our New Home Guide.
By Susan Bady from New Home Source

Interested in a new home? Please do not hesitate to call us at Landon Homes, (904)567-3430!

New Home Builder Trends

“Pre-engineered custom” might not be a familiar phrase, but there’s a good chance that it will become one of residential construction’s buzzwords if the official show home of the International Builders’ Show slated to open in mid-January in Las Vegas is any indication. If you are a home builder the upcoming information will be incredibly beneficial/

Rather than creating a unique one-of-a-kind show home, the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) opted for a different approach this year, making The New American Home (TNAH) a production home that feels individualized. Think of it as production meets custom.

Now in its 32nd year, TNAH showcases the latest in building science, technology, finishes, materials and products. It’s also a venue where manufacturers launch new products. “TNAH has been on the leading edge, but not over the top. Everything used in the home is mandated, everything has to be readily available,” says Tucker Bernard, director of NAHB’s Leading Suppliers Council.

This year’s TNAH — a 5,891 square-foot desert contemporary masterpiece — might seem like a singular creation, but NAHB says it can be rolled into mass production quickly and efficiently and offers ideas for builders in every price point. The home has a production floor plan that can be built with a range of structural and finish options and uses a number of off-the-shelf products, often in innovative configurations.

For Blue Heron Homes, the Las Vegas design/build firm selected to design and construct this year’s TNAH, pre-engineered custom is not a new concept. “If you look back on our work, you’ll see this is just a continuation of what we have done in the past,” says Tyler Jones, founder and CEO of Blue Heron. “Some builders will see this as an experiment, which it is not. For sure, we are going to do more and more of this type of neighborhood and this type of a home. It’s not an experiment for us.”

Blue Heron has other pre-engineered custom homes slated for Sky Terrace, the development outside Las Vegas that is the location of TNAH — TNAH is one of five different plans Blue Heron offers. The use of high-performing production plans with custom finishes is also an idea other custom builders are taking a look at as a way to appeal to a broader range of consumers.

Almost everything in the house, materials and techniques, can be easily replicated in a variety of price brackets. “Housing industry professionals who tour this home are going to leave Las Vegas with a lot of great ideas they can start using immediately,” says Bernard. Ask about new trends showcased in the home and Jones will tell you he sees the entire house as a takeaway.

Green, Greener, Greenest

When it comes to energy efficiency, the TNAH has always been leading edge and this year’s home takes green beyond accepted benchmarks to the next level. “We’ve surpassed the standards of LEED Platinum and NAHB’s Emerald,” says Bernard. With a HERS score of minus-10, this home is expected to use 104-percent less energy than a standard new home. 

Such a high level of efficiency is achieved with a combination of technologies, including the use of open cell and closed cell foam insulation that seals the exterior and reflects UV rays, keeping the roof cooler, extensive solar panels, hydronic air handlers and low-maintenance building materials. For example, the exterior looks like wood, but it is actually a high-performance stucco.

“I’ve been able to achieve a true net zero, which is a huge achievement above and beyond LEED Platinum. It’s a special thing to get to net zero with an almost 6,000 square-foot home and we’ve not sacrificed design. It has all of the glass and all of the design elements consumers want,” says Jones.

Integral to what makes this plan work so well is the way the rooms relate to each other and to the outside, both visually and physically. Inside, beginning with the entry adjacent to a side courtyard, the home seems to unfold, offering multiple places to gather, have a drink or dine, inside and outside. The second level offers a central space that functions as a place for games or billiards, a media hub, a casual seating area and a wine room that opens to a deck. A huge backlight Quartzite stone bar steals the scene here, only rivaled by the spectacle of the Las Vegas skyline.

The home is sited to maximize the changing panorama of extensive city and mountain views. The floor plan also incorporates perspectives of the courtyard, terrace and pool. Blue Heron has expertly orchestrated viewscapes. Every room offers access to the outside.

The architect has given as much attention to exterior spaces and views as those on the interior. “This house is about the indoor-outdoor relationship. How you frame the views and open those spaces up to the exterior is key to the interior design of the home,” says Jones. Extensive pocket doors achieve seamless transitions. “When the pocket doors disappear, you really don’t know if you are inside or outside,” he observes.

Another catalyst merging indoors and outdoors is the way interior designer Miquel Hutton, also with Blue Heron, has finished the home using materials applicable to both environments. Finishes often flow from the interior to outside spaces. And an overlay of neutrals with color accents is an ideal canvas to showcase views.

One Room, Many Uses

The ability to use spaces in multiple ways is becoming a priority for a growing number of homeowners who scrutinize every square foot. Many consider having a room devoted solely to one use, such as a home theater, an unacceptable luxury. To make the best use of interior space, Blue Heron created a media room and home theater that adapts to a range of uses without sacrificing the quality of a viewing experience.

The home also includes a two-level casita, which faces the side courtyard. With its own outside entrance, it is ideal for an office, but is equally suitable for a nanny, guests or aging parents.

Technology is integrated into every aspect of the home, but the one application Jones believes will be of interest to all homeowners is the energy management system. Almost everyone wants to understand more about their home, how much energy it is using and, in the case of TNAH, how much energy it is creating.

In the end, what makes this New American Home so desirable is the synergy of indoors and outdoors, energy management and creation and how all the facets of the home work together to create an experience that enriches the everyday. It all starts in the beginning, says Jones, with a great deal of planning and making it simple.

Interested in a new home? Please do not hesitate to call us at Landon Homes, (904)567-3430!

By Camilla McLaughlin from New Home Source

New Trends For Custom Homes

Many homeowners have moved beyond the desire for a private refuge and are instead focusing on creating inviting entertainment areas for their custom homes — a place where family and friends are always welcome.

"The home isn't just for the person who lives there anymore," said Linda Rossi, a marketing manager for Toll Brothers, a leading builder of luxury homes. "It's where people create memories and share their lives with family and friends. The emphasis is now on making a home feel inviting and comfortable."

Toll Brothers, which builds in 230 communities in 19 states, studies the preferences of its home buyers and model home decorators to help determine the latest trends in home decor and design.

"When our buyers begin selecting flooring, designing their kitchens and picking options, trends become obvious," Rossi said. "That combined with the expertise of our model home decorators keeps us up on what's in and what's out."

So what are home buyers looking for?

For starters, one of the most apparent trends in home design is happening outdoors. Courtyards — both interior and front entry — are in big demand. "Courtyards can literally transport you from a city street to a quiet calm even before entering the home," Rossi said. With outdoor fireplaces, comfortable seating and even soothing water features, courtyards are a simple but elegant way for home owners to make a great first impression.

Behind the home, more emphasis is also being placed on creating outdoor entertainment areas around resort-style swimming pools. "The backyard itself is becoming more like a resort with cozier seating as well as larger pools with more features — from waterfalls and fountains to in-pool seating and creative water slides," Rossi said.

In addition, outdoor kitchen areas have been added to the basic barbecue grill. With refrigerators, wine coolers, sinks and ample counter space, there's rarely a reason to leave company to go indoors.

However, when weather or time of day keeps company inside, there are plenty of ways home owners can still impress and entertain.

Game rooms and home theaters have surged in popularity. Game rooms typically offer game or billiards tables, mini refrigerators or a wet bar and perhaps a children's area with board games and junior-sized seating. The home theater has become elaborate with stadium-style seating, large popcorn machines, huge movie screens and state-of-the-art equipment.

Elsewhere in the home, some recent trends are continuing — with a twist.

Stainless kitchens continue to grow in popularity. But today, refrigerators, ovens, cook tops and even microwaves have now gone high-tech. "We've seen refrigerators that have a camera inside and a TV screen outside so you can see what's inside before you even open the door," Rossi said. "There are programmable ovens, stove tops and even microwaves that can 'sense' how long something needs to be reheated for."

With all this technology dominating the kitchen, Rossi said there are still some ways home owners can add a touch of old-fashion warmth.

"Fireplaces are now being found in some unconventional places, like in the breakfast area or near the oven," she said. "We're also seeing fireplaces outdoors, in the master bath and really, throughout the home."

Speaking of master baths, while the home is no longer all about the homeowner, a personal retreat is often found in the master bath. "We call them spa-like baths since they can be so lavish," Rossi said. "We've seen negative-edge bath tubs, dual-head and over-sized showers and whirlpool tubs. The master bath is the one place in the home that is truly a luxury specifically for the homeowner. It's their private sanctuary."

Homeowners are also likely to leave their cares behind in specifically designed meditation rooms. The rooms often take the place of a spare bedroom, den or even a guest suite. Meditation rooms can incorporate Feng-Shui elements for balance and can include large groupings of candles, piped in nature sounds, books on natural healing and big, cushiony chairs. Other possibilities include a massage table, indoor hot tub or wall-to-wall yoga mats.

"The premise of the meditation room is that it's a quiet place to unwind," Rossi said. "No TVs, no harsh lighting and lots of space to stretch out and relax. The decor is typically very subtle. Bamboo floors or mats, soothing greens and neutrals on the walls and small tabletop water fountains for background noise."

by Katie McKenzie from NewHomeSource

Interested in a new home? Please do not hesitate to call us at Landon Homes, (904)567-3430!