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You found your dream home, signed the closing papers and finally received the keys your brand new place! Now, where are those keys…
If you’re prone to losing your keys, or just want a creative place to keep them on hand, check out this fun DIY project for a chalkboard key holder. This unique idea is a great way to prevent misplaced keys, stay organized and add personalized wall art to your home.
Use chalkboard paint for a customized message center, or any color paint that compliments your décor. You can also color code your keys to easily tell the difference between keys for home, work, office and the mailbox. We’re partial to BLUE for home keys, but it’s all about your personal preference!
Not only is this a great afternoon project for your own use, but would make an ideal housewarming gift for a new homeowner in your life.
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By the way, if you’re looking for the KEY to getting keys on a ring without breaking a nail, watch this Lennar How To U video for a tip you’ll wish you knew sooner!
On Saturday, August 15, Lennar Sacramento will celebrate their latest edition to the impeccable Blackstone masterplanned community with the debut of single-family homes at Palisades. Lennar invites prospective homebuyers to tour three beautifully and professionally decorated model homes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. while enjoying summer finger foods, Italian ice and an opportunity to enter for a chance to win a $500 Apple® gift card. *
“We are thrilled to invite homeshoppers out to explore Palisades at Blackstone,” said Laura Kilgore, Director of Marketing for Lennar Sacramento. “Blackstone is one of the most desirable communities in the area and we are pleased to offer a new collection of our Everything’s Included® homes to buyers looking for a new home in a premiere location. Don’t miss your chance to see what’s in store for you during our Grand Opening on August 15th.”
Once complete, Palisades at Blackstone will feature a collection of single-family homes nestled in beautiful El Dorado Hills. Buyers will have four distinct floorplans to choose from including one single-story home design. Starting from the mid $400,000’s, homes will range in size from approximately 1,429 to 2,426 square feet of living space with two to four bathrooms, three to five bedrooms and two-bay garages for ample storage.
New homes at Palisades feature Lennar’s signature high-end upgrades with their Everything’s Included® package. “We listened to the features buyers were looking for in new homes and included them at no extra cost,” said Kilgore. Features like stainless steel GE® appliances, slab granite countertops and upgraded cabinetry are included in all new homes at no additional cost. All homes are equipped with solar electric systems, low VOC paint, radiant barrier roof sheathing and other features that greatly enhance overall home quality while reducing energy costs.
The stunning Blackstone El Dorado, a 990-acre master planned neighborhood and 2012 winner of MAME’s “Master Planned Community of the Year,” is set amidst 350 acres of lush rolling terrain, mature oaks and panoramic views of the Sacramento Valley. The landscape is undoubtedly one of Blackstone’s most attractive features. The community will offer parks, miles of pedestrian trails, and an elementary school. The 10,500 square foot Club at Blackstone serves as the social and recreational hub of the community.
Palisades at Blackstone is located at 8116 Ryland Drive in El Dorado Hills. For more information about Lennar’s new homes at Palisades, or complete directions call (916) 905-1618 or visit www.LENNAR.com.
With hundreds of communities nationwide and homes designed for first-time, move-up and luxury homebuyers, Lennar has grown to become one of the nation’s leading and most respected homebuilders and proudly remains steadfast in their commitment toward quality, value and integrity. Lennar has a longstanding history of building exceptional homes in only the most well planned and desirable locations throughout the country.
*CONSUMER NOTICE: YOU HAVE NOT YET WON. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. No sales presentation required. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and DC, 18 years or over. To enter, visit the event at Palisades at Blackstone, between 11:00 am PST and 2:00 pm PST on 8/15/2015. Limit one entry per household. One prize to be awarded: Apple Gift Card, ARV: $500. Gift card terms and conditions apply. Prize drawing to occur on or about Monday, 8/17/2015. Need not be present to win. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Subject to applicable laws and regulations. Void where prohibited. Purpose of the promotion is to solicit the purchase of real property. Complete Official Rules and winner’s list (until 9/30/2015) available at the participating Lennar communities or upon request by mail to Lennar, 1420 Rocky Ridge Drive, Suite 320, Roseville, CA 95661. Sponsor: Lennar Homes of CA. 8/15
New Home Designs Available Later This Summer at Griffin Ranch
Located in the most pristine four corners of La Quinta, Lennar’s Griffin Ranch features two stunning communities with an array of single-story homes available for buyers looking for resort-style living. Later this August, homeshoppers have even more luxury homes to choose from at Lennar’s Pimlico and Belmont collections with the release of two new floorplans.
“Our new floorplans will be an excellent addition to our Pimlico and Belmont communities,” said Tara Conklin, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lennar Inland. “Griffin Ranch is a stunning community and with eleven distinct home designs to choose from, buyers are sure to find a new luxury home that is the perfect fit for their lifestyle.”
At Belmont, Lennar will release a new single-story home design with a front courtyard. The floorplan features approximately 2,913 square feet of living space with three bedrooms, three and one-half bathrooms, a den, dining room and beautiful covered patio. A stunning front courtyard makes the best of indoor-outdoor living with enough space for a pool. Plus, the home includes a two-bay garage with golf cart storage.
The plan will join Lennar’s five other floorplans at Belmont. Available from the low $800,000’s, Belmont homes range from approximately 2,913 to 3, 771 square feet of living space with three to four bedrooms, three and one-half to four and one-half bathrooms and two to three-bay garages
The builder will also debut a new floorplan at Pimlico. The new residence will feature feature approximately 4,076 sprawling square feet of living space with four bedrooms, four and one-half bathrooms, dining room, library, covered patio, a three-bay tandem garage, a spacious front courtyard and veranda.
An alternative version of Pimlico’s Residence 2 home will also be available. The new Residence 2 floorplan will convert the private courtyard of the approximately 4,946 square foot, three bedroom home into The Home Within A Home®. The suite will feature a private living room, two bedrooms, full bathroom, laundry area, kitchenette and separate entrance to create a luxurious space ideal for comfortably hosting guests. Both Belmont and Pimlico feature The Home Within a Home design. “These homes are different than anything you’ve seen from other builders,” said Conklin. “They are not dual master suites, they are essentially two homes under one roof.”
Starting from the upper $900,000’s, four additional home designs at Pimlico range from 4,036 to 4,882 sprawling square feet of living space with four bedrooms, four and one-half bathrooms and three-bay garages.
Lennar has distinguished itself as one of the country’s leading homebuilders, in part by including the most desired and high-quality features at no additional charge as part of their Everything’s Included® package. Homes at Griffin Ranch include an array of luxurious features and gourmet inspired kitchen. Among the most noteworthy features included are slab granite countertops, upgraded cabinetry, GE® and Wolf stainless steel appliances, two tone paint, paved driveways and courtyards, crown molding at select locations per plan and many other features all included as standard. “We listened to what buyers were looking for in new homes and included these features at no extra cost,” said Conklin.
Residents love the resort-style amenities featured at Griffin Ranch including a stunning clubhouse, fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, swimming pool with outdoor café and cabanas, tennis courts, outdoor fireplaces, sports courts, community dog park and countless other amenities that make every day feel like a vacation at Griffin Ranch.
Both communities feature eye-catching Spanish, Tuscan, Mission and Andalusian architectural designs. There are a total of six beautifully and professionally decorated model homes at Belmont and Pimlico open for tours daily. Interested buyers are encouraged to visit Lennar’s Welcome Home Center to see the striking Griffin Ranch community firsthand.
For more information or complete directions to Griffin Ranch, visit www.lennar.com or call (877) 205-3109.
Homebuyers who are on the lookout for a new solar home in a premiere location are in luck. Lennar Las Vegas is one of the nation’s leading homebuilders and they are pleased to offer energy-efficient, solar homes in three stunning communities throughout Las Vegas.
“We are pleased to offer a wide selection of energy-efficient homes to homebuyers across Las Vegas,” said Ashley Max, Marketing Manager for Lennar Las Vegas. “Energy efficient features add an incredible value to new homes and we’ve designed our homes in these three communities to meet the needs of a wide variety of buyers.”
During the warm summers, buyers will appreciate the convenience of state-of-the-art, micro inverter-based solar systems provided by SunStreet Energy Group™ at North Creek, West End in Providence and at Delano in Summerlin. Under the SunStreet Plan, available exclusively at Lennar, homeowners receive a guaranteed discount on solar electricity from the rates that would otherwise be charged by the local electric utility.
Located in Providence, Lennar’s West End community features seven unique home designs for buyers to choose from. These solar homes range from approximately 1,670 to 2,713 square feet of living space with three to five bedrooms and two to five bathrooms. Homes in the quaint gated community are available from the mid $200,000s and offer easy access to outdoor recreation with multiple parks, walking trails, playground, splash pad and picnic areas.
Homebuyers who are looking for more spacious floorplans will find them at Lennar’s North Creek community. The community features seven single and two-story home designs on pool sized home sites available from the low $400,000s. Homes at North Creek range in size from approximately 2,785 to 4,616 square feet of living space with three to six bedrooms and two and one-half to four and one-half bathrooms.
The community also features a unique floorplan designed to accommodate dual living situations. The Taylor The Home Within A Home® offers approximately 4,156 square feet of living space with five bedrooms and three and one-half bathrooms. The home features an attached private suite with a separate entrance, private living room, kitchenette, laundry area, bedroom and bathroom. Lennar designed this distinct floorplan to be a separate yet connected space that doesn’t compromise the square footage to the main home. “These homes are different than anything you’ve seen from other builders,” said Max. “These are not dual master suites, they are essentially two homes under one roof.”
Located within the 22,500-acre masterplanned community of Summerlin, solar homes at Delano boast luxurious and modern floorplans. Buyers will have five distinct home designs to choose from ranging in size from approximately 3,300 to 3,881 square feet of living space with three to five bedrooms, two and one-half to four and one-half bathrooms and three-bay garages for plenty of storage. To accommodate dual living situations and multigenerational families, Delano also features the AnchorThe Home Within a Home® design. Luxury homes at Delano are available from the mid $500,000s with views of the Las Vegas strip.
Further illustrating Lennar’s commitment to providing only the highest quality homes, all homes at West End, North Creek and Delano feature Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® package which hosts many high-end, luxury features included as standard. All new homes include raised-panel cabinetry, slab granite countertops, appliance packages including refrigerators, washers and dryers, home automation and many other highly sought after features. “We listened to what buyers were looking for in new homes and included these features at no extra cost with our Everything’s Included® package. This way, there’s no need for our buyers to compromise on the features they love,” said Max.
To learn more about Lennar’s solar homes in Las Vegas visit www.lennar.com/lasvegas or call 800-509-9720.
With hundreds of communities nationwide and homes designed for first-time, move-up and luxury homebuyers, Lennar has grown to become one of the nation’s leading and most respected homebuilders and proudly remains steadfast in their commitment toward quality, value and integrity. Lennar has a longstanding history of building exceptional homes in only the most well planned and desirable locations throughout the country.
Buyers on the lookout for a new Lennar Valencia home are encouraged to act fast! There is only one home at Classics in RiverVillage remaining and two beautiful model homes at Toscana at West Creek are selling now. Lennar encourages interested homeshoppers to act fast to take advantage of this extremely limited opportunity.
“We are thrilled with the sales success we’ve seen at Classics and Toscana and are happy to offer our final homes to prospective homebuyers in Valencia,” said Tara Conklin, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lennar Inland. “These quick move-in homes are an excellent opportunity homebuyers will not want to miss.”
The two-story Residence Four home at Classics in RiverVillage is available for $795,101 and features approximately 4,446 square feet of living space with five bedrooms and four and one-half bathrooms. Hosting visitors has never been easier with the charming courtyard and casita with private bedroom and bathroom. The home features a stunning entry way with circular staircase, a separate living room with beautiful French doors, butler pantry with a wine fridge, a spacious upstairs bonus room and many other incredible features.
Plus, during the warm California summers, buyers will appreciate the comfort and convenience of their new solar powered home at Classics. Residence Four is powered by state-of-the-art, microinverter-based solar systems provided by SunStreet Energy Group™. Under the SunStreet Plan, available exclusively at Lennar, homeowners receive a guaranteed discount on solar electricity from the rates that would otherwise be charged by the local electric utility.
At Toscana in West Creek, the Residence One model home offers approximately 2,167 square feet of living space with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The stunning two-story home features a landscaped side yard, open concept living and dining spaces plus upstairs laundry. With approximately 2,467 square feet of living space, the Residence Two model home features four spacious bedrooms and three bathrooms. Both homes feature stunning gourmet kitchens.
High-end upgrades and luxury features don’t stop there. As part of Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® package, buyers will enjoy many energy-saving, luxury upgrades included as standard in available homes at Classics and Toscana. “We listened to what buyers were looking for in new homes and included these features at no extra cost,” said Conklin. The homes feature gourmet inspired kitchens with granite countertops, GE® stainless steel appliances and upgraded cabinetry along with low VOC paint, efficient tankless water heaters, home automation by Nexia™ Home Intelligence and much more. Homebuyers don’t have to compromise on the features of their dream home when they purchase at Classics and Toscana.
To schedule an appointment with a New Home Consultant or to learn more about Lennar’s remaining homes at Classics and Toscana, visit www.Lennar.com or call (888) 203-9186.
With hundreds of communities nationwide and homes designed for first-time, move-up and luxury homebuyers, Lennar has grown to become one of the nation’s leading and most respected homebuilders. Lennar has a longstanding history of building homes of enduring quality in only the most well planned and desirable locations throughout the country.
Lennar invites interested homeshoppers to join them for the debut of their four new collections during the Grand Opening of Beacon Park on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. prospective homebuyers will have the opportunity to tour Lennar’s fourteen beautifully and professionally decorated model homes between the builder’s four new collections.
“We are very excited to welcome prospective homebuyers out to discover our four new collections at Beacon Park,” said Jeremy Parness, Division President for California Coastal. “There is a lot to see within this exciting new neighborhood – don’t miss your first chance to see what that second Great Park Neighborhood has to offer during our Grand Opening.”
Whether prospective homebuyers are in the market for a townhome, detached condominium or luxury single-family home, they will find what they are looking for within Lennar’s four new collections at Beacon Park.
Upon completion, Lennar’s Rowland collection will feature 107 townhomes available from the mid $600,000s. Stylish three-story townhomes offer approximately 1,661 to 2,076 square feet of living space with two to three bedrooms and two and one-half to three and one-half bathrooms.
Homebuyers searching for a detached single-family condominium will not want to miss Lennar’s new homes at Harper and Melody in Beacon Park. Available from the mid $700,000s, new homes at Harper offer approximately 1,693 to 2,019 square feet of living space with three to four bedrooms and two and one-half to three bathrooms. Harper will feature a total of 84 homes upon completion.
For homebuyers looking for more square feet of living space, detached condominiums at Melody are available from the upper $900,000s and range in size from approximately 2,312 to 2,774 square feet with four bedrooms and four to four and one-half bathrooms.
Lennar’s Larkspur will feature 69 luxury, single-family homes available from the low $1,000,000s. Ranging in size from 2,165 to 3, 160 square feet, new homes at Larkspur feature open and modern living spaces with up to five bedrooms and five and one-half bathrooms. All homes at Larkspur feature California rooms that offer the best of indoor-outdoor living.
In addition, all of Lennar’s new homes at Beacon Park come equipped with an array of high-end features included at no extra cost. Gourmet kitchens with slab granite or Caesarstone® countertops, beautiful cabinetry and stainless steel appliances are included in all Lennar homes at Beacon Park, but each of the four collections are equipped with their own unique Everything’s Included® package that perfectly compliments individual home designs. The Everything’s Included® packages also features home automation by Nexia™ Home Intelligence, tankless water heaters, low VOC paint and other features that greatly enhance the quality of the home while reducing monthly energy costs.
Luxury features and high-end upgrades don’t stop there. All of Lennar’s new homes at Beacon Park are powered by state-of-the-art, microinverter-based solar systems provided by SunStreet Energy Group™. Under the SunStreet Plan, available exclusively at Lennar, homeowners receive a guaranteed discount on solar electricity from the rates that would otherwise be charged by the local electric utility. Saving money and the environment have never been so simple and rewarding….and under the SunStreet Energy Solar Plan, discounts are guaranteed.
The Grand Opening of Lennar’s new homes at Beacon Park is scheduled for Saturday, August 15 and Sunday August 16. The event is located at 501 Benchmark Irvine, CA 92618. For complete directions and more information, call (888) 220-5502 or visit www.lennar.com.
With hundreds of communities nationwide and homes designed for first-time, move-up and luxury homebuyers, Lennar has grown to become one of the nation’s leading and most respected homebuilders. Lennar has a longstanding history of building homes of enduring quality in only the most well planned and desirable locations throughout the country.
If you’re planning to sell your home, here’s some great news from the National Association of Realtors, as reported in The Wall Street Journal.
The National Association of Realtors said that home prices in the second quarter rose in 163 out of 176 metro areas, continuing their upward trajectory even as economists warn of looming affordability problems and a limited supply of homes for sale.
The median existing single-family home price rose to $229,400 in the second quarter, up 8.2% from a year earlier. That was a slightly faster rate of increase than the 7.1% price rise seen in the first quarter.
Real-estate agents this year reported a hot spring selling season that bled into the summer with dwindling home supply, the return of bidding wars in some cities and trigger-happy buyers eager to get a home loan before a long-expected rise in mortgage rates.
Home prices rose the fastest in the stretch of cities extending up the east coast of Florida between Port St. Lucie and Titusville, with the median sales price in those areas rising about 20% from a year earlier. Raleigh and Greensboro, N.C., also saw strong double-digit gains.
Californian cities continued their reign atop the list of most-expensive markets, with San Jose commanding a median sales price of $980,000.
In this article, the NAHB takes an inside look at the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s latest American Housing Survey, focusing on the nation’s aging housing stock and how it impacts the U.S. housing market going forward.
The American housing stock continues to age, especially as residential construction continues its modest rebound after the Great Recession. According to the latest 2013 American Housing Survey (AHS), the median age of owner-occupied homes is 37 years old, compared to only 27 years old in 1993.
The age of housing stock is an important indicator for the housing market going forward. Aging homes require remodeling and renovations, as these structures are, for example, less energy-efficient than new construction. This aging trend signals a growing market for remodelers, and it also implies additional demand for more new construction over the long run.
Approximately 2/3 of owner-occupied homes in the U.S. were built before 1980, with 40% built before 1970. Homes constructed after 2000 account for just 17% of the owner-occupied homes. And newly built owner-occupied homes constructed after 2010 only make up 2% of the housing stock according to the 2013 AHS.
The impact of the aging housing stock can be seen in the age distribution of owner-occupied homes. The share of housing stock that is over 34 years old in 2013 has increased significantly. It was 57% in 2013, but only 41% in 1993 and 46% in 2003.
In contrast, the share of new construction in 2013 (i.e. owner-occupied houses less than four years old is 2%) is notably smaller than in 1993 and in 2003, when 6% of homes were built within four years. Clearly, the smaller share of new construction, together with an aging housing stock, represents an opportunity for builders and developers, as housing demand is steadily increasing over time.
