Henderson, Nev. – December 2017 – Lennar is celebrating the announcement of their newest community at Reflection Bay in Lake Las Vegas by pairing up with Lake Las Vegas and Freed’s Bakery. On Saturday, December 16th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. members of the Las Vegas community and prospective homeshoppers are invited to attend a holiday cookie decorating party at the Lake Las Vegas Sports Club where attendees can get tips from celebrity chefs.
“We’re excited to be joining the Lake Las Vegas family, and what better way than to celebrate the holiday season!” said Joy Broddle, Lennar Las Vegas division president. “Attendees can expect to see stars from the hit shows Hell’s Kitchen and Vegas Cakes who will be sharing their best holiday tips at this hands-on event.”
Free cookie decorating supplies will be available on a first come first served basis and attendees can also enter to win a gourmet gingerbread house from Freed’s Bakery—the perfect way to celebrate the season. Hell’s Kitchen’s Scott Commings is confirmed to attend along with other special guest surprises.
As a celebration of holiday cheer and Lennar’s newest community, prospective homeshoppers are encouraged to attend. Lennar’s new community is coming soon to Lake Las Vegas and offers a variety of stunning home designs with beautiful panoramic views of the mountains and lake. Home sizes will range approximately from 2,320 to 2,588 square feet and offer Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included package, now with built-in commercial strength Wi-Fi and the latest in home automation.
Come partake in the excitement on Saturday, December 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lake Las Vegas Sports Club located at 101 Via Vin Santo in Henderson.
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.
Wouldn’t it be sweet to make an extra payment on your mortgage this holiday season? Don’t skip out on these temporary side jobs that can help you make extra cash. Learn more in this U.S News article by Megan Wild. Who knows, you might also score some extra cash for additional Christmas shopping.
Any additional money you can pay on your mortgage helps you pay it off faster and saves you money on interest. If you owe $200,000, paying just one extra payment every year allows you to pay off the loan in 26 years, saving you thousands of dollars.
The simplest way to achieve this is to pick up seasonal work during the holidays, when many companies and individuals need an extra hand. Here are seven holiday side hustles that will allow you to make an extra payment before year’s end.
1. Start a Decorating Business
Are you particularly skilled at decorating for Christmas? If your decorations look more elegant than elementary, you can start a side business decorating for parties, companies and busy professionals who don’t have time to deck out their own homes.
During the busy holiday season, businesses need additional people to cover the massive influx of shoppers. For example, Kohl’s reportedly hired about 69,000 seasonal workers last year. An added perk is that most of these retailers offer a discount, so you can also save a little on your own Christmas shopping and put that money toward paying off your mortgage.
If you have an extra room or small garage apartment, you can rent out space for the holidays to another family. Many people love to escape for a few days during the holiday season or soon after. The kids are out of a school for a few weeks, and many industries can take some time off this time of year. If you have a home in a tourist area, such as near the beach, so much the better.
Another thing you can do for extra money to pay off your mortgage is to sign up to be an Uber or Lyft driver. You can choose to work when you want and take the fares you want. You’ll be more likely to get steady fares if you live near a bigger city, but it’s still a good way to make those extra funds without making a long-term commitment.
Seattle, Wash. – December 2017 – It’s been a busy six months for leading luxury homebuilder Lennar Seattle with eight recently-opened brand new communities across the region. Each of these new-home communities are located in some of the most well-planned and desirable locations across three counties in Western Washington, each of which presents something unique to fit the needs of today’s homebuyers.
“With these new communities, we are building more than 350 new homes, helping improve low-inventory frustrations many buyers experience while home shopping in this region,” said Bill Salvesen, Vice President for Lennar Seattle. “This of course is in addition to our already successful active communities which are operating and selling in full swing.”
Since early July, Lennar Seattle added North Creek Ridge and Eagle Glen to their already successful collection of new single-family home communities in Snohomish County. These communities are in excellent school districts, in high-demand areas, and are selling out quickly. Homes in these communities start from the low $400,000s.
In South Seattle’s King County, Lennar Seattle opened two new communities: High Point in a coveted urban West Seattle neighborhood and Otani Gardens with contemporary three-story homes and rooftop views of Lake Washington. Wyncrest II and Wyncrest III, sitting high on the Auburn bluff in King County, opened 53 homesites, many with stunning views of the valley and Mt. Rainier.
Harbor View Heights in NE Tacoma and View Pointe in Edgewood, starting in the mid $400,000’s, turned out to be two of Lennar’s most anticipated new communities with 84 homesites between them. With the very best of Lennar’s Everything’s Included features and the very latest in Smart Home Automation.
“We are pleased to be building the wildly successful Bainbridge, a Next Gen® – The Home Within A Home®, across many of our communities,” said Salvesen. This unique home is designed to accommodate multigenerational families and dual living situations. The approximately 3,183-square foot home features three bedrooms with a bonus loft area, two and-a-half bathrooms, and a tech space. Attached to the main home, the Next Gen® suite features a private entry, spacious living room, kitchenette, bathroom, laundry and private bedroom with walk-in closet. “These are not dual master suites. They’re essentially two homes under one roof…and for one payment,” said Salvesen.All of Lennar Seattle’s homes are packed with luxury standard upgrades as part of the Everything’s Included® package, meaning homebuyers don’t have to pay extra for features such as slab granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, premium flooring, front and rear landscaping, keyless entry and so much more. Homebuyers never have to worry about compromising luxury or functionality because, it’s always included!
For more information about any of Lennar Seattle’s communities, please visit www.Lennar.com/WAHomes or call (855) 860-9574.
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.
Sacramento, Calif. – November 2017 – Single-story homes are hot in the market and the benefits expand beyond what many people may expect. As the nation’s leading builder, Lennar has more than 20 active communities now selling across the area, most of which offer one or multiple single-story plans.
“Today’s homebuyer loves a great single-story or ranch-style home which is why we offer incredible options and a variety of unique single-story layouts,” said Michelle Velky, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lennar Sacramento. “They provide an easy, convenient and oftentimes more energy-efficient lifestyle.”
Single-story plans simplify life and the benefits are plenty. Typically, due to air flow patterns, they tend to be easier to heat and cool resulting in energy-efficiency. Eliminating stairs offers a safe environment that’s kid friendly and active adult required. They tend to be quieter because nobody’s making noise above or below any bedrooms, and, they often resale for a higher value. Plus, they are simple and easy to clean!
Due to increased demand for single-story homes, Lennar offers several great options at many communities in the most desirable areas of Greater Sacramento.
Blackstone is Lennar’s award-winning masterplanned community situated in El Dorado Hills.
- Palisades offers one single-story design, the Jade plan. This home provides 1,429 square feet of living space with two bedrooms, three bathrooms and a two-bay garage.
- Summit View at Blackstone offers five single-story plans that range in size approximately from 2,442 to 3,108 square feet.
- The Enclave is another Blackstone community and has three single-story plans. Sizes range from 2,150 to 2,54 square feet.
Somerset Ranch offers two Lennar communities, each with single-story homes available.
- Kensington Estates features two single-story plans with home sizes that range from 1,950 to 2,161 square feet.
- Highland Grove also features two single-story home designs, these sizes range from 1,630 to 1,880 square feet.
Vineyard Creek is a popular area of Sacramento where Lennar offers single-family and active adult communities.
- Bordeaux at Vineyard Creek offers a collection of single-family home designs with one single-story plan, The Fontina, which provides 1,994 square feet of living space.
Every residence also comes with great added value through Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® program. It puts today’s hottest features, such as stainless steel kitchen appliances, washer and dryers, granite or quartz countertops, solar electric packages and more into every new home as standard — meaning at no additional cost to you.
Each of these well-designed homes, as well as many more, have models available for touring at each of their communities and virtual tours that can be taken online. 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. Lennar has a longstanding history of building homes of enduring quality in only the most well planned and desirable locations throughout the country.
As one of the nation’s leading homebuilders, Lennar offers a variety of new home designs and communities across Tucson, Oro Valley and Marana. With six active communities and two coming soon, homeshoppers will find a diverse collection of floorplans with options for every type of family or lifestyle, including first-time buyers, move-up, empty nesters and multigenerational households.
In Tucson are three communities that are now selling. In southeastern Tucson, Discovery at Mountain Vail offers five distinctive floorplans in both two-story and ranch-style designs. Sizes range from 1,800 to 2,903 square feet and prices start from the low $200s.
Robb Hill Estates is located in east Tucson off Speedway Boulevard, east of Pantano. Prices start from the mid $200s and homeshoppers will find four distinctive floorplans here between 1,870 and 3,006 square feet.
On the west side, Starr Pass Vistas features six upscale home designs from 2,203 to 3,173 and prices start from the upper $300s. Homes in this community come with built-in commercial strength Wi-Fi and integrated home automation.
In Marana, Boulder Pass at Dove Mountain features single-story floorplans priced from the mid $300s. Homestead at Gladden Farms feature single and two story floorplans with sizes that range from 1,870 to 3,006 square feet and prices from the low $200s. Eagles Summit at Vistoso, situated in Oro Valley, offers five expansive ranch-style plans. Sizes range from 2,594 to 3,173 square feet and prices start from the upper $300s.
Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® program adds incredible value by putting today’s popular features and upgrades into every new they build as standard. From energy-efficient features, to state-of-the-art kitchen appliances and designer-selected flooring and cabinetry — everything comes at no additional cost to the buyer.
Available in every community across the Tucson market is Lennar’s Next Gen® – The Home Within A Home®. Created specifically with multigenerational households in mind, these unique floorplans feature an attached private suite with its own separate entrance, living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette.
For more information on any of these communities or to schedule a tour, visit www.lennar.com/tucson.
With hundreds of communities nationwide and homes designed for every type of homebuyer, Lennar has grown to become one of the nation’s 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.
MYRTLE BEACH S.C. – Lennar, one of the nation’s top homebuilders, is pleased to announce the grand opening of its newest community, Forestbrook Estates. This is Lennar’s latest addition to the Myrtle Beach new-home market. This beautiful community will showcase two model homes to tour, The Kensington and the Muirwood.
Forestbrook Estates offers luxury that won’t break the bank. Homes starting in the Low-Mid $200’s with 1-story and 2-story home plans. All 2 story plans have the master on the main floor. There are many premium homesites to choose from- some offer wooded or pond views. Homeowners will be just a moment away from the hottest shopping and restaurants in town, as well as golf, attractions and of course- the beautiful beaches of the Grand Strand! Forestbrook is also a boaters dream, being just a stones throw away from access to the inner-coastal waterway. Also enjoy convenient access to the 501, 544, and 31 makes getting places easy. Coming soon to the community is a beautiful pool with pavilion, playground, and community garden. To view this virtual tour visit: www.ForestbrookAmenity.com
Homebuyers in Forestbrook Estates will also benefit from Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® program, offering desirable luxury features included in the base price. Optional items at other builders are included at no additional cost, where normally these features would cost the homebuyer thousands of dollars more – providing the true price of the home to every customer, every day. Our beautifully equipped homes feature open floor plans, formal dining spaces and bonus rooms, range from 1772 -22643 sq ft, and have 2 – 3 car garages. The homes at Forestbrook Estates include upgrades like tile and laminate flooring, granite countertops in the kitchen, GE® stainless steel appliances including a gas range, built-in microwave and dishwasher. Also included is upgraded cabinetry with 36″ and 42″ staggered maple cabinets, Tankless Rannai hot water heater and much, much more!!
Forestbrook Estates is also one of the first Lennar communities in Myrtle Beach to launch their brand new Home Automation line. For more information on this amazing new innovation or for more information on homes in Forestbrook Estates, visit www.ForestbrookVIP.com or call (843) 471-9814.
About Lennar
Lennar Corp., founded in 1954 and headquartered in Miami, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Building homes in 18 states, Lennar offers affordable, move-up and retirement homes in communities that cater to almost any lifestyle. To learn more, visit www.Lennar.com.
Seattle, Wash. – December 2017 – Lennar is excited to announce they will be opening nine new communities across the Greater Puget Sound region in spring and summer of 2018. With plans to open in four different counties, Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Thurston, homeshoppers can expect to see a variety of home sizes, designs and price points across these upcoming communities.
“2018 is going to be a big year for us and we’re thrilled to be able to continue bringing new homes to highly desirable areas where demand is high,” said Bill Salvesen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lennar Seattle. “Plus, we’re super excited to be coming back to Thurston County where we’ve been sold out of for the majority of 2017.”
Lennar plans to open two new communities in Pierce County including another new community in the Tehaleh masterplan in Bonney Lake that will provide 50 homesites and plans to open in February. Later in the year towards mid Spring, Lennar anticipates Hoffman Hill in Dupont will open offering a total of 62 new homesites.
Puget Meadows West will be Lennar’s new community in Thurston County. Set in Lacey, it marks the return of Lennar to the Campus Meridian area where they will offer more new homes for sale with about 70 homesites in total. The opening date is slated for early April.
Snohomish County will see two new communities, Eagle Glen North in Lake Stevens, Millbrook Ridge and Cararra both in Bothell. These communities plan to open in mid spring or early summer. Millbrook Ridge will only offer a limited number of 17 homesites while Eagle Glen North will provide about 53.
King County will see the most additions, with four new Lennar communities opening in 2018. Ellis Estates in Kent will bring 27 new homes, Addison Park in Renton will bring 88 and Ten Trails in Black Diamond will bring 62 homes — all of which plan to open up in early to late summer. Retreat Meadows, which will bring 56 new homes to Federal Way, plans to open next fall.
Homeshoppers are encouraged to visit www.Lennar.com/WAComingSoon to learn more or sign up for the interest list and stay informed on these upcoming communities. For a list of active communities that are now selling, visit www.lennar.com/seattle.
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.
The Tampa Bay area is one of the nation’s 10 hottest markets in attracting movers, according to a recent report by Attom Data. And, Business Insider just named Tampa as one of the “hippest cities everyone under 30 wants to move to.”
Here are a few reasons why the Tampa Bay area is such an attractive place to move:
On average, Tampa Bay area residents pay less
Cost of housing is one of the strongest contributors to the likelihood of an individual moving to an area, and Tampa’s housing costs are 24 percent lower than the national average. Residents of Tampa also enjoy lower than average grocery, transportation and utility costs.
These factors make up Tampa’s average cost of living, which is 7 percent lower than the national average – an attractive aspect for those that are relocating.
The Tampa Bay area has wide range of housing options
In the Tampa Bay area, buying a house is possible for all budgets – for example, Lennar’s homes in south Hillsborough County and Pasco County range all the way from the $140s to the $600s. Plus, Lennar’s “Everything’s Included®” program helps save upfront costs by providing move-in ready homes with a number of upgraded features included in the list price.
The average price of a home in Tampa is less than the national average, and homeowners in Tampa, and some experts predict an increase in value over the next year, with the area’s average home price forecasted to grow by 3.4 percent. With historic neighborhoods nearby like Ybor City and bustling downtowns in area cities, residents can enjoy the benefits of an upscale urban area without the extra cost.
Strong job growth
Earlier this year, Florida reported the lowest state unemployment rate in the country at 4.3 percent, and the Tampa Bay area led the region with a 3.8 percent rate.
The Tampa Bay area is leading the way in job growth, adding thousands of jobs in construction, hospitality, education and health services this year.
The Tampa Bay area has top-tier attractions
If you make the move to the Tampa Bay area, make sure you bring a bathing suit and plenty of sunscreen. Tampa is located less than an hour from one of America’s top-rated beaches, Clearwater Beach. With crystal clear waves and soft sandy shores a few miles away, what’s not to love?
Homeowners in the Tampa Bay area can also enjoy a quick drive to Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort or Busch Gardens. Most of these attractions offer exclusive discounts for Florida residents.
Beaches and attractions aside, the cultural scene in the Tampa Bay area is lively with such notable museums as Tampa Museum of Art, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Henry B. Plant Museum, the Dali Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg only miles from most neighborhoods.
It’s always sunny in the Tampa Bay area
Tampa has desirable weather with 361 days of sunshine a year and an average temperature of 73 degrees. Residents are welcomed by warm summer months with quick afternoon showers and minimal chilly weather.
Want to make the move? Lennar can help you find your dream home in the Tampa Bay area. For more information on Lennar homes, visit LennarTampa.com.
Buying your very first home is one of the most exciting times of your life. Unfortunately, the joy of reaching this milestone can blind you and make you vulnerable to real estate scams. Learn more about the three most common scams first-time homebuyers are subject to in this RealEstate.com article by Casey Fleming.
You’ve done it! You decided to pursue the American Dream. You’ve saved up and are ready to buy your first home. Congratulations! You are now a ripe target for real estate fraud.
Why? Because you are excited and inexperienced, you are particularly vulnerable to fraudsters. They know that you don’t have the experience to spot fraud, and you’re so excited that you may not be vigilant. And, you have cash. Maybe not a lot (in your mind), but it’s enough to make you a very attractive target to a fraudster.
Would You Wire Your Money to a Stranger?
The most common fraud these days is wire fraud. Once you go into contract on a purchase, you will be asked to send money to the escrow company at least twice — once for your earnest money deposit and once for your down payment and closing costs. You may be asked to wire money by your escrow agent, real estate agent, mortgage advisor, processor, transaction coordinator or even the escrow officer’s assistant. And because you’re excited, you tend to do as instructed.
But wait. Say fraudsters hack the real estate agent’s computer networks and look through pending transactions. If they see your file, they know exactly how much money you have to put into escrow and when, where your escrow is being held, what your escrow number is and all of your contact information, including your email address. That’s all they need.
Knowing that the big money isn’t deposited until right before close of escrow, they wait patiently for the right moment. Then, just before close of escrow, they send you an urgent email that appears to be from your escrow agent or real estate agent that says, “We need you to wire the rest of your money now!” The email includes wiring instructions, which, of course, don’t route to the escrow company’s bank.
Once your money is wired, it’s gone. There goes your down payment, your closing costs, your savings … and, of course, your new home. And since by now you’ve released contingencies, the seller can claim your earnest money deposit because you can’t close. Yep. You can lose that, too.
To protect yourself, ask all involved agents what steps they take to keep your information secure. Then, when you’re asked to send money, don’t make a move until you’ve confirmed the authenticity of the email by calling the person who appears to have sent it. Pick up the phone. Don’t email.
Would You Hire Someone with No License?
Wayne Bell, the California real estate commissioner, says that most complaints today involve unlicensed individuals. In every state, a real estate broker’s license is required to sell, rent or manage real estate. Brokers may hire licensed salespeople, who perform these duties under the broker’s supervision, but an unlicensed person may not perform these duties under any situation.
A common scam occurs when your money is not deposited into a trust account, and of course, disappears. When you make an offer on a home, you typically give the broker a check for the earnest money deposit. This money must go into the broker’s trust account or directly to escrow if the offer is accepted. But sometimes – especially when an individual is not licensed – it doesn’t.
How bad could it be? In October 2017, a New Jersey resident, Peter Live, was arrested for doing this. He took more than $75,000 from five buyers, which he then deposited directly into his own business accounts and then withdrew for personal expenses.
Your state’s real estate commissioner oversees licensing and is an excellent resource to protect yourself. In California, you can check licensing status at DRE.CA.gov.
How Much Would You Pay For Something You Could Get for Free?
Another very common scam involves selling you a copy of your deed. When you buy your home, the grant deed is recorded at the county recorder’s office and becomes public record, so anyone can see that you’ve just bought your home.
Shortly after closing, you receive an official-looking statement from a company with an official-sounding name telling you that you need a copy of your deed and property assessment profile. It might say “RECORDED DEED NOTICE” or something to that effect. The notice has your county’s name all over it and tells you that for $86 (give or take) the company will send you a copy of these documents.
The thing is, the county will send you a copy of the deed anyway, it just takes some time to get it. And the assessment profile is public record, available in most counties online for free.
Granted, this scam will only set you back $86, but it’s still a scam.
There are more, so be vigilant and aware. Work only with trusted professionals with verifiable licenses. Don’t send money without verifying the request as authentic, and double-check the validity of any request for money, no matter how small an amount.
