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If you’re beginning your home buying hunt, then you are probably aware of the many questions that come along during the entire process. It can be overwhelming at times, but with a little help from technology you can help solve some of the confusion you may have. From start to finish, this first-time home buyers tech guide provided by Tech.co, will help you pave the way through your first home-buying experience with more ease and comfort!
Install Apps to Quickly Compare Housing Costs
Apps like Zillow and Trulia are not only great for use during your initial search, but they are also awesome for comparing property prices while you’re onsite at a home of interest. Before you head out to view a home with your realtor, be sure to download at least one of these apps. If you end up liking the property, check out the prices on surrounding properties to get a feel for the overall value of the neighborhood.
If you’d like to get more specific with the potential property value of the home you’re looking at, Property Evaluator is a solid choice to help you get a better idea of how far you could potentially negotiate down to get to a better price on your property.
Research Neighborhood Information Before Your Offer
Conducting a thorough online search for info on your neighborhood prior to making your offer could help you avoid a lot of hassle down the road. Some of the major areas of focus for your research should be crime rates, reported electrical issues, building age, potential area pests, and HOA reputation.
Neighborhood Scout is an awesome place to start your initial research. Zillow also offers up an awesome guide to help first time homeowners find out what they should look for in an HOA.
Set Google Calendar Notifications for Financial Deadlines
Getting on the same page with my lender about financial deadlines was possibly one of the biggest issues I faced during the purchasing process. To avoid getting surprise calls that your closing costs are due by the end of the day, work with your lender to set up notifications for financial deadlines in a shared Google calendar. Be sure to set a few reminders for larger payments like your down payment so you have a few days in advance to get the money together.
If you need help getting started, Google’s online support team has created a step-by-step guide to help new users set up shared calendars.
Invest in Up-to-Date Security
Once you’ve spent all of the time and effort (and let’s not forget money!) it takes to purchase your new home, it will be important to protect your investment. Even if the property you purchase has its own exterior security, it is a smart idea to invest in your own interior security. This is because you never know if the quality of your neighborhood’s security meets today’s high industry standards. There are lots of high tech options for indoor security cameras available at a reasonable cost through security service providers who can also provide monitoring. If you’d prefer to take the DIY approach and self-monitor your home, there are still some great options like Nest and Piper.
Click here to read the full tech guide for first-time home buyers.
What apps have you been using to help you during the home buying process? Share with us in the comments below!
Hillsboro, OR – June 2016 – Lennar celebrated a successful grand opening weekend of their newest community in the Hillsboro area, Laurel Oaks. Lots of people came out to the event to tour beautiful new homes and partake in the food and fun.
“We were so thrilled that so many people came out to the event,” Marketing Manager for Lennar Portland Sia Howe said. “We received some really great feedback on the even had some families purchase in the first weekend!”
Located just 21 miles west of Downtown Portland, this community is situated in an ideal location surrounded by natural beauty and lusciously unspoiled green spaces. Residents will enjoy convenient access to great schools, shopping centers and multiple parks throughout historic Hillsboro.
Two model homes are now available for touring at Laurel Oaks, and the community offers seven distinctive floorplans for homebuyers to choose from. Home sizes range between approximately 2,111 to 2,892 square feet, and will provide up to five bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms. Many of the homes offer distinctive and thoughtful architecture and many feature garages set to the rear of the home, providing beautiful curbside appeal.
Homes at Laurel Oaks come with many fabulous luxury upgrades as standard through Lennar’s Everything’s Included® program. Some of these features include granite slab kitchen countertops with full tile backsplashes, stainless steel appliances, programmable thermostats, tankless water heaters, solar package systems and so much more! Lennar Portland will debut their solar powered homes at this community, a great feature that helps the environment while saving homeowners money on utility costs each month.
For more information on Laurel Oaks, to view floorplans and directions visit: http://www.lennar.com/new-homes/oregon/portland/hillsboro/laurel-oaks.
For more information on new homes in the Portland area, visit: http://www.lennar.com/new-homes/oregon/portland
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.
Rancho Cordova, Calif. – June 2016 – Residents of Lennar’s Somerset Ranch came out with their family and friends along with city council members and representatives of the Cordova Parks and Recreation District on Friday, June 10 to celebrate the Grand Opening of Hillside Park. More than 500 people showed up for the opening of the eight-acre park, which features great amenities for residents to use.
“The opening was such a great event and we were so happy so many people came out for it,” said Laura Kilgore, Director of Marketing for Lennar Sacramento. “It’s always amazing to see families out enjoying the park we had been planning, the weather was great and everyone was enjoying Rich’s Ice Cream. It was a perfect way to kick-off the summer!”
Hillside Park, which is part of the Cordova Parks and Recreation District, lies adjacent to both Kensington Estates and Highland Grove at Somerset Ranch. The turn-key park was built within the first year of the community, as opposed to having the residents wait a few years as more families move into the neighborhood, the way community parks are traditionally built. Residents will now be able to enjoy the value and recreation opportunities Hillside Park provide for years to come.
The eight-acre park features a one-of-a-kind playground with two concrete embankment slides and several play features located along the park’s west-facing slope. Additionally this park will provide open grass areas, two pavilions, two playgrounds, a multi-use field, a basketball court and trail access for residents to enjoy.
Both Kensington Estates and Highland Grove feature homes that are ready for immediate move-in. Kensington Estates offers four distinctive plans to choose from that vary in size from approximately 1,953 to 3,427 square feet and provide up to four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms. These homes are priced from the upper $300,000’s.
Highland Grove offers two spacious floorplans that are ready for immediate move-in. The Addington is a two story home that provides four bedrooms and three bathrooms atop approximately 2,365 square feet of living space. The Camberley provides a similar two-story layout with a bit more space at approximately 2,631 square feet. Both of these homes are priced from the low $400,000’s.
To view homes these homes and other in the Northern California/Sacramento area, visit www.lennar.com/sacramento.
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.
Roseville, Calif. – June 2016 – Lennar Sacramento recently announced the launching of its Project Opportunity program, which seeks to connect high school juniors with internships in the building and construction trades. This is the first time a homebuilder has offered a formal, comprehensive internship program for students throughout the greater Sacramento region.
“As our economy continues to recover, there is a growing need for new residential construction throughout the region,” said Bob Tummolo, Division President for Lennar Sacramento. “As this growth trend continues there will be thousands of opportunities for young people to enter the homebuilding industry. We literally lost thousands of jobs with the onset of the recession and the aim of Project Opportunity is to get them back.”
During this first iteration of the program, 16 students from the following high schools will participate: Sheldon (7), Laguna Creek (5), Luther Burbank (1), Whitney (1), and Cordova (2). The students were formally hired through the Community College Foundation due to insurance and workers’ compensation requirements for under-18 employees. Throughout the six-week program, the students will work with four different trade contractors in groups of five to six to build homes at Lennar’s Highland Grove community in Rancho Cordova. Each group will rotate as follows:
Immediately following completion of their daily shift, students will meet for lunch and a training presentation on a variety of construction- and homebuilding-related topics.
“I’d like to express our thanks to Lennar and its trade partners for establishing this important new program,” said Kathy Hamilton, Director of Elk Grove Unified School District College and Career Options. “Project Opportunity will offer a number of students throughout the region another potential career option in a growing industry.”
“We’re proud to be a part of this effort,” said Rick Wylie, President of Villara Building Systems. “Between our company and the other participating trades, we’re positive that these students will get a valuable education and new insight into the homebuilding industry. And what better way to provide them with this experience than in what basically is a million-dollar classroom.”
Project Opportunity will culminate on July 30, with an unveiling of the homes on which the participating students worked. To find out more about this program, contact Jeff Panasiti at (916) 746-8548.
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.
While most of us would love to be able to spend our summer traveling to different tropical paradises or exploring places we have never been, it sometimes just doesn’t fit into our busy summer schedules or our preferred budget. Whatever the reason may be, it doesn’t mean that you can’t create your own perfect summer staycation right in the heart of your home! The Humbled Homemaker has come up with 15 summer staycation ideas for you and your family to enjoy.
Check the website for your city or state to find local park listings. Bring a picnic or takeout, plus blankets, summer reads, and a soccer ball or Frisbee.
You might not have a resort pool at your disposal, but you can visit a local splash pad or aquatic center, or just play in the backyard with hoses, squirt guns, and water balloons.
Since you’re not spending money on traveling, do something fun that wouldn’t normally be in your budget, like renting kayaks, going to an indoor climbing wall, or taking everyone to see a movie in 3D.
Check yelp.com to find the best doughnut shops that are local to you, and then go out for breakfast or dessert. Growing up, it was a super special treat to take our doughnuts to the beach for breakfast!
A staycation is the perfect time to play those epic boardgames you remember from childhood! Make milkshakes and spend an afternoon introducing your kids to Monopoly and Risk.
Gather blankets, a thermos of cocoa, binoculars, and a stargazing guide (see if your library has this one), and head to the backyard. If you can get away from light pollution, (for instance, a friend of yours owns a farm!), even better!
Act out and film a movie together, using whatever props, costumes, and locations your creativity can allow. You can have a script-writing session at the kitchen table with everyone giving input to a designated writer. If you’re not sure what story to film, try a modern retelling of a fairy tale.
Read the full list of summer stay cation ideas.
Here we are with another July 4th weekend just around the corner. And each year, as we celebrate the anniversary of America’s independence, we look for ways to entertain our friends and family and make the most out of a nationally celebrated holiday. From fireworks displays, to pool parties, to barbecues and ball games, Fourth of July is a yearly opportunity for us all to get together and enjoy each other’s company. And with an Everything’s Included® home in a Lennar community, the possibilities for fun and revelry are endless!
As with every good celebration, proper planning and a great location are the key elements in making it a great celebration. From the food to the fun, being a great host and creating a welcoming environment will make your celebrations the kind of party that people look forward to every year! Use the ample and luxurious counter space to prepare your favorite celebratory snacks and your stainless steel appliances to keep your beverages cold. Or maybe you prefer to make your feast over the open flame of a grill. Step outside and fire up the grill while your friends take a swim in the pool and tell the kids to take a hike….literally!
Many of our communities feature top-flight amenities, such as nature trails for exploring, basketball courts, and more! Our communities are located only minutes from retail and grocery stores, so keeping the fridge and freezer stocked with refreshments and the closets filled with activities no matter what the occasion you’re celebrating!
The only limit to the types of fun and excitement you can expect to find in a Lennar community is your own imagination! Make your home the center of the universe when it comes to entertaining yourself, your family and your friends. Contact any of our New Home Consultants or stop by any Lennar Welcome Home Center in any of our communities to find out how you can move into a new Lennar home in the type of neighborhood you’ve always wanted to today!
There are many thing we can do as parents to try to give our children a head start in life. One of the most important things we can do is hold ourselves accountable for preparing them for life. Children (along with millions of other creatures on this planet) are apt to mimic the behaviors and mannerisms of their parents. There are times we can’t be there to guide or educate them which, ironically is usually because we’re fulfilling the part of our parenting duties that involves providing the food and shelter they need (also known as the rat race). We also can’t monitor their interactions with their peers, which is usually a big part of the foundation that they draw their individual social cues from. For this, and a host of other responsibilities we must count on the ever-underappreciated molders of minds and curators of tomorrow’s future: the educators.
The importance of putting your child in a nurturing and fertile environment for learning cannot be accurately measured, but there are things you can do to make sure you’re giving your child the best opportunity to be prepared for adulthood through their schooling. Researching schools and school districts, asking other parents whose input you value, and going out to personally visit schools and school districts, along with administrators can go a long way in helping you choose where you want to send your child to school. It can also have an impact on where you choose to buy your home.
Fortunately, this is where Lennar can help you realize the dream of owning a home you can feel confident about raising your family in. Lennar has a host of communities in the highest rated school district in the area, the coveted St Johns County School District! We are here to assist you in finding the neighborhood that is just right for you. Our New Home Consultants are experts at finding you a new home in the perfect place: not too far from work, not too far from play, and built with the fantastic amenities and the convenience of Lennar’s Everything’s Included® high-quality features!
Please don’t settle for anything less than the best that you can do for your family or yourself. Your hard work and dedication to providing for your family are why you get out and go to work everyday. Make the place you come home to every night the the place you’ve always wanted it to be with Lennar!
