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To many buyers in the housing market, the initial affordable costs of resale homes can be very attractive. However, as they move in and begin with renovations many find themselves spending more money than budgeted in unexpected repairs. Learn more about how buying a new home might be the best move in this U.S. News article. Find a newly built Lennar home in a community near you.
As the mortgage crisis continues to inundate the market with distressed properties, today’s house hunter has no shortage of cheap, foreclosed homes to pick through. But despite all those deals in the previously-owned home market, consumers shouldn’t overlook the potential benefits of buying a new home. “New homes usually sell higher per square foot than resale homes,” says Jack McCabe of McCabe Research & Consulting. “But their selling points, I think, are pretty strong.” To help consumers better understand the advantages of new home buying, U.S. News spoke with a handful of experts and compiled a list of nine reasons to choose a new home over a resale:
The more energy-efficient mechanics of the house also help reduce utility bills for new home buyers, Morrow says. Newly-constructed homes often include green systems and appliances—like high efficiency stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, water heaters, furnaces, or air conditioning units—that homes built years ago might not. “The conditioning equipment is usually considered to be one of the larger energy consumption devices, but certainly those kitchen appliances matter,” Morrow says. Existing homeowners can always retrofit their property or buy higher-efficiency appliances, but doing so requires a potentially significant expense.
The features of newly constructed homes should also hold up better than those of existing homes, which may have experienced years of wear and tear, says Evan Gilligan of Mandrin Homes. “People will buy [previously-owned] houses and then the carpet needs to be replaced or it needs to be repainted, or it needs new appliances, or the flooring is shot,” Gilligan says. “When they buy a new home in today’s market, it really is new.”
At the same time, today’s new homes are engineered specifically to minimize maintenance requirements. For example, Costello says his company uses composite products for a home’s exterior trim instead of wood, which could rot or need repainting. “You buy a used house you don’t know what you are getting, you might have to do a lot of maintenance,” Costello says. “We are trying to look down the road and make things as easy as possible for the homeowner so they can enjoy living there and not have to be saddled with maintenance.”
Read Full Article Here.
Placing your home in the market during the holidays? Learn a few tips that can help you sell your home in this Realtor.com article by Stephanie Booth. If you’re still searching for your new home, whether you’re looking into buying a bigger home or downsizing, Lennar has the home for you.
Wondering how to sell your home during the holidays? While putting your home on the market between winter celebrations, school vacations, and looming family visits might seem like miserable timing, sellers could actually benefit by using this period strategically to show and possibly even sell their place.
Here’s why: Many home sellers take a holiday hiatus until the New Year—and that could mean that your house may suddenly become a hot commodity. Plus, if buyers are truly squeezing in home showings between shopping trips and holiday recitals, you know they must be serious.
So if you’re ready to put up a “For Sale” sign under the cheery glow of your holiday lights, go right ahead! Here’s some advice on how to sell your home during the holidays.
A little mistletoe will likely help rather than hurt.
“You should be festive and decorate,” suggests Jen Teague, a Realtor® with Keller Williams in Ellis County, TX. “It’s when your home looks the best and you take the most pride in it, so it will show better and most likely net more.”
“Go easy on decorations,” cautions Samuel Pawlitzki with Beach Cities Real Estate in Malibu, CA. Christmas lights and a tree in the living room are OK, he clarifies, “but I wouldn’t suggest staging a nativity scene in the front yard. Going berserk on decorations can scare off potential buyers.” And, well, everyone else.
Yes, you have a to-do list that stretches from here until Valentine’s Day. But consider squeezing in the time to host a holiday party anyway.
“This can be a great way to showcase your house to friends, family, and neighbors,” Pawlitzki notes. “Chances are that at least one person at the party is looking for a new home, or knows someone who is.”
“It’s wonderful for potential buyers to walk into a home that smells of fresh-baked cookies, sweets, and holiday cakes,” says Joan Suzio, an interior decorator in Libertyville, IL. Sweeten them up a tad more by leaving a plate of treats out for them to enjoy.
Read the full article: How to Sell Your Home During the Holidays
We hope you enjoy visiting Lennar’s The Open Door blog to learn about the latest real estate news, home trends, and keeping up with what is going on inside Lennar. To wrap up the year, here are the Top 10 Blogs of 2017. The Lennar family wishes you a happy holiday season!
After living in one place for so long, around which you have built so many memories, the very idea of moving is daunting. However, life takes many turns and, at some point, you may find yourself spending a great deal of time and money cleaning and maintaining a large four-bedroom home that only you and your spouse live in, when the two of you would rather be spending retirement vacationing to the islands, the countryside, the big city – anywhere but the local grocery store.
(Read Full Article HERE)
Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN and LEN.B) and CalAtlantic Group, Inc. (NYSE: CAA) announced that their respective boards of directors have unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which each share of CalAtlantic stock will be exchanged for 0.885 shares of Lennar Class A common stock in a transaction valued at approximately $9.3 billion, including $3.6 billion of net debt assumed.
(Read Full Article HERE)
If it’s your first time buying a home, then you might be asking yourself the many questions that come along during the home buying process. Most questions may be centered around financing– including how and when to apply for a mortgage. This recent article by Eileen Oshanassy of Realty Biz News, shares three things to consider before getting your first mortgage.
(Read Full Article HERE)
Preparing to downsize and move into a new home is an ideal time to assess your belongings. To avoid packing more than you need, decide what can be tossed, donated, or sold, especially when moving to a smaller space. The team from Modernize shares tips for items to consider parting with before you move to your new home.
(Read Full Article HERE)
The 55+ housing market is expected to continue growing according to experts attending National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show in Orlando, FL. This recent article by James Limbach of Consumer Affairs shares more details on the 55+ housing market.
(Read Full Article HERE)
Summer is almost here, and now is the time to prep your outdoor space(s) for entertaining guests. With the proper materials, furnishings, recreational features, and landscaping treatments, you can achieve a seamless transition between the interior and exterior spaces of your home and effortlessly impart a sense of comfort and delight to family, friends, and neighbors, as they dine, sport, and socialize on the patio and/or in the courtyard. To help you begin planning the restoration and transformation of your modest backyard into an impressive open-air oasis of relaxation and entertainment, here are eight outdoor living trends for 2017.
(Read Full Article HERE)
As the New Year arrives, so do new trends and changes in the housing market. If you’re looking to buy a new home in 2017, stay up to date on these trends to know what to expect when you buy your home. This recent article by Rebecca Lake of Smart Asset, shares what might be in store for 2017.
(Read Full Article HERE)
Lennar (NYSE: LEN and LEN.B), one of the nation’s largest builders, today debuted the first 12 communities in its national rollout of the world’s first Wi-Fi CERTIFIED smart homes featuring integrated automation and voice control with Amazon Alexa – all a part of Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included approach to homebuilding.
(Read Full Article HERE)
Ring is proud to be a part of the revolutionary Wi-Fi CERTIFIED homes designed by Lennar, one of the nation’s largest home builders. The new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED home designs ensure Ring – and all internet-connected products – operate at peak performance from every corner of the home.
(Read Full Article HERE)
Erin Vaughan from Modernize shares her go-to apps for home design inspiration. Whether you’re just looking for ideas, or are ready to jump into a decorating project, one or more of these apps may make it on to your home screen in the near future. What are your favorite apps or websites for home inspiration? Share with us in the comments below!
(Read Full Article HERE)
Kent, Wash. – December 2017 – Lennar is excited to announce they will be bringing a new community to Kent with Ellis Estates, which plans to open in spring 2018. This community of single-family homes offers homeshoppers five distinctive floorplans to choose from available in a variety of elevation styles.
“This will be our second community in Kent and we could not be more excited to offer new homes for sale in an area with high demand,” said Bill Salvesen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lennar Seattle. “Our Hawkesbury community in Kent has been wildly successful and we’re down to our last final homes, so Ellis Estates is coming at the perfect time. Not to mention all Ellis Estates homes will offer Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ home designs and home automation!”
Prospective buyers are encouraged to join the VIP Program which is now accepting homesites reservations. Presales are expected to launch in early January.
Homeshoppers will be able to choose from home designs with sizes ranging between approximately 2,299 to 3,264 square feet. Among these designs, Lennar’s popular Next Gen® – The Home Within A Home® will be offered here in the Bainbridge plan, which was designed specifically with multigenerational families in mind.
Every new home at Ellis Estates will showcase Lennar’s new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ home design and integrated home automation features that come as standard. As an extension of their signature Everything’s Included® program, homeowners get to enjoy built-in commercial strength wireless coverage that pairs with home automation features such as locks, lights, music and more. Stainless steel appliances, upgraded kitchen cabinetry, granite or quartz countertops all still come as standard.
Join the VIP list today to stay informed as more information becomes available and visit www.lennar.com/seattle to learn more about new homes for sale across the Greater Puget Sound.
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.
Merced, CA – December 2017 – Lennar Central Valley is now selling the Chateau Series in Merced for Moraga, Lennar’s upcoming community situated at Yosemite and Via Moraga close to shopping and great schools.
“This new community is a great opportunity for families looking for a new home in the area,” said Susan Wilke, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lennar Central Valley. “With such a variety of floorplans to choose from, there really is something for everyone. Interested buyers should definitely act fast.”
The Chateau Series at Moraga offers a variety of home designs that vary in size from 1,766-3,167 square feet. Each new home comes with added value through Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® program which provides custom-like features as standard and at no additional cost to the buyers. These include things like granite kitchen countertops, energy-efficient items, upgraded cabinetry and the latest in home automation!
Lennar’s new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ home design also ensures you can enjoy the benefits of home automation without struggling from interrupted Wi-Fi coverage. Wireless access points are mapped out and then built into the home that pair with commercial-strength Wi-Fi from Ruckus to provide great access in every room.
Lennar’s Chateau Series at Moraga is located at Yosemite and Via Moraga. For more information and to learn more about the community visit us online or call (888)-215-7581. More new home communities can be found across the greater Fresno market at www.lennar.com/fresno.
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.
FRESNO, CA – December 2017 – Lennar’s new community Summer Grove, located at Olive and Polk, is now selling. The Chateau Series of homes are now available for purchase at this community, offering five distinctive floorplans in a variety of sizes for homebuyers to choose from. Each one of these homes feature Lennar’s new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ home design and come with their Everything’s Included® program which now offers integrated home automation.
“This upcoming community is a great opportunity to embrace our new connected home features,” said Susan Wilke, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lennar Central Valley. “We’ve ensured that homeowners will get commercial-strength internet coverage in every room and provide the service to get everything set-up so that you don’t have to.”
Both single and two-story homes are available at this community and sizes range approximately from 1,766 to 3,176 square feet. Residences offer three to fie bedrooms and two to four bathrooms per plan, each of which showcases great open-concept designs and enviable master suites.
The Chateau Series at Summer Grove includes the Camelot, which is one of Lennar’s dynamic Next Gen® – The Home Within A Home® floorplans. Next Gen® homes address dual living and multigenerational living needs by providing a private suite complete with separate entrance, bedroom, living room, kitchenette and laundry area in a way that allows for as much access to or privacy from the main home as needed. The Camelot plan is a two-story Next Gen® home that provides 2,798 square feet of living space with four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms and a three-bay tandem garage.
Through Lennar’s Everything’s Included® program, homes will come loaded with upscale, custom-like features so that homeowners don’t have to compromise on the items they love. These include things like granite countertop and stainless steel kitchen appliances along with the latest in home automation features and technologies.
For more information on these new homes at Summer Grove, visit us online or call (559) 994-6567. For more new home options in Fresno visit www.lennar.com/fresno.
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.
Older fixer-uppers often seem appealing when you’re in the market for a new home. Yet, while the initial affordable price of resale home can be enticing, these homes don’t always represent the best value for your money. You might be aware of the repairs needed to bring an older home up to your standards, but you’ll also inevitably run into hidden — even excessive — costs once you start breaking down walls or replacing old plumbing and wiring.
A new Lennar home, on the other hand, comes with multiple benefits that make for a sound investment you’ll enjoy for years. Here’s why it makes sense to buy new from Lennar.
Low-E, dual-pane windows keep more heat inside in the winter, more cool air contained in summer, and more cash in your pocket all year long thanks to lower utility bills.
The energy saving appliances in Lennar homes use up to 50% less energy than older models.
Kitchen and bathroom faucets and commodes made specifically to use less water save gallons each year, meaning you won’t be flushing cash away.
LED lightbulbs throughout Lennar homes can last up to 60,000 hours and use as little as 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs.
With their Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Home Design, Lennar homes come ready for networking — there’s no need for rewiring or running cables through old walls to start using smart devices and appliances.
Smart Wi-Fi thermostats work to maximize heating and cooling efficiency in every season.
Connected sensors turn lights off when you’re not home, saving energy and lowering your monthly power bill.
Upgrading an older home with high-end finishes quickly adds up. Lennar’s package pricing delivers first-class cabinets, counters, floors, and more from the start.
Thanks to Lennar’s special relationship with affiliated insurance, mortgage, and title companies, it’s possible to enjoy significant savings on home buying and owning services.
Each Lennar community comes with its own construction manager and customer-care team so your concerns are immediately looked after. That’s a lot different than working with contractors who may have divided attention from juggling several projects at once.
If you are in the market for a new home and debating between a brand new, move-in ready home or a fixer upper, you might want to consider these underrated benefits of buying a new home. This NAHB article might just make your choice a lot easier. Find a brand-new Lennar home in a community near you.
Home buyers planning to buy a brand-new house or condominium often cite energy efficiency, open layout, a warranty, and being able to select appliances, flooring, paint colors and other design elements as factors driving their choice.
But builders say that buyers can be drawn to a new house for reasons that aren’t so obvious. Here are a few more benefits of a brand-new home that you may not see in the sales brochure.
A brand-new community is one of the built-in benefits of many new homes. When families move in to a subdivision at the same time, they often form lasting bonds of friendship and neighborliness right away. Nobody is the “new kid on the block,” and many home builders host community parties in new developments to help owners meet and connect.
Popular amenities like pools, walking trails and tennis and basketball courts offer additional opportunities for interaction among neighbors of all ages. Often new communities are comprised of home owners in the same stage of life, such as young families or active retirees, so neighbors can get to know each other through carpools, PTA meetings, tennis matches or golf games.
Throwing a party in an older home can be a challenge because smaller, distinct rooms make it difficult to entertain guests in one large space. Today, new home layouts feature more open spaces and rooms that flow into each other more easily. While you are preparing dinner, you can still interact with guests enjoying conversation without feeling closed off. The feeling of spaciousness in today’s new-home layouts often is enhanced with higher ceilings and additional windows that bring in more light than you would find in an older home.
For some buyers, parking the car in a sparkling-clean garage or being the first to cook a dinner in a brand-new kitchen is part of the appeal of new construction. In addition, you won’t have to spend time stripping dated wallpaper or repainting to suit your own sense of style — creating your own home décor from the get-go!
The advantages of being the first owner extend to the outdoors. Instead of inheriting inconveniently or precariously placed trees, or having to tear up overgrown shrubs, you can design and plant the lawn and garden you want.
Homes built in the 1960’s and earlier were wired much differently than houses today. Builders had no way of anticipating the invention of high-definition televisions, DVRs and computers that we enjoy today — and the very different electrical requirements they would introduce. New homes can accommodate advanced technologies like structured wiring, security systems and sophisticated lighting plans, and can be tailored to meet the individual home owner’s needs.
Anyone who has ever lived in an older home can also attest to the fact that there are never enough outlets, inside or out! Today, home builders plan for the increased number and type of electronics and appliances used by today’s families, so you can safely operate a wine cooler, Christmas lights and your laptop — and more.
Say no to holiday debt this season. Making your loved ones happy shouldn’t cost you to start off the new year with lingering debt. Learn how you can finish off the year strong and welcome in the new year without extra debt in this RealEstate.com article by John Ulzheimer. You’ll thank yourself later.
The holidays are a time for celebrations, loved ones, perhaps a little too much eggnog and, for many of you, excessive debt. Unfortunately, if you make the decision to take on extra debt to finance all the extra holiday spending that doesn’t fit into your budget, you are not only likely to waste a lot of money on interest, you may just be hurting your credit as well.
The truth is the holidays can be a very dangerous time of year for your credit. Unless you want to spend a significant portion of the new year regretting your decisions, avoid the considerable downside holiday debt can often present.
Arguably the biggest danger holiday debt can pose to your credit is the danger of allowing your credit card accounts to become over utilized. VantageScore and FICO scores, two of the most popular credit scoring models used by lenders in the United States, are designed to pay close attention to the relationship between the credit card limits and the credit card balances which appear on your credit reports. This relationship is known in the credit world as your revolving utilization ratio.
When the credit card balances that appear on your credit reports increase, your revolving utilization ratios increase as well. In fact, it’s a mathematical certainty. From a credit scoring perspective, the lower your revolving utilization ratios, the better. Whether you are opening new credit card accounts or charging up higher balances on your existing credit cards to finance your holiday spending, an increase in your revolving utilization ratios could spell trouble for your credit scores.
Considering opening a new credit card or loan to finance your holiday expenditures this year? You might want to think twice before making your decision. Applying for too many new accounts could come back to bite you.
Whenever you apply for a new account, the lender is going to check your credit report as part of the application process. Checking your credit is one of the ways a lender determines whether doing business with you is a good risk. What you may not know, however, is that these credit checks, also known as inquiries, have the potential to damage your credit scores. Not every credit inquiry will automatically impact your scores negatively (that is a myth); however, if you rack up a lot of inquiries in a short period of time, your credit scores will likely suffer.
Did you know that the simple act of opening a new account could also potentially have a negative impact on your credit scores? One of the factors scoring models consider when calculating your credit scores is the “average age of accounts.” The older that average, the better. Opening new accounts will typically cause your average age of credit to decrease, and when that happens your credit scores could be adversely affected.
Sometimes during the holidays your credit card issuer may offer to allow you to skip a monthly payment, if you wish. That’s a really bad idea. What those offers don’t generally highlight is the fact that interest will still accrue on the balance even if the card issuer has allowed you to skip your minimum monthly payment. And, if you’re not paying down or paying off the balance, there’s going to be more interest generated for the card issuer. Your best bet is to either make your payment as usual, or better, pay the card in full.
