Archive for June, 2014

Questions to Ask a Potential Home Builder

Friday, June 27th, 2014

If you’re wondering how to go about the search for a home builder, don’t worry. Many others are wondering the same thing. By asking the right questions of potential home builders, you can narrow your search and find the home builder in Maryland who understands what you want out of your new home and will work with you to achieve those goals. Following is a list of questions to keep in mind.

Questions to Ask a Potential Home Builder

Background Information

Background informational questions are the first place to start. How many years has the builder been in business? How many homes have they built? And most importantly, are they licensed and insured?

Builder Philosophy

A builder with a philosophy is a builder that goes into construction with high standards and goals for all of their projects. A builder that can talk at length about their philosophy is a builder with whom you’ll be able to easily communicate your wishes for your home and its construction and design. Ask what separates them from other builders.

Specifics

There are many questions with regard to the specifics of home building that you can ask, but there are a few you should definitely cover. Ask about their design and construction process proceeds, and who you’ll be coordinating with on the project. Ask about how pricing and financing will be determined. Warranty information is another essential base to cover. Ask about standard features and energy efficiency features that they incorporate into their homes, and if they provide lot search assistance.

References

References are an essential for any builder. Ask if they can provide you with references from previous buyers and see if you can make an appointment to tour one of the homes they’ve built.

home builder questions

About the Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes

The Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes are a series of semi-custom house designs that were created with the intention of providing home buyers with new option when it comes to shopping for a home. The Lifetimes series includes 14 home templates including, 2 story, first floor master, and ranchers that are pre-designed and ready to build. Because they are ready to build, clients save significant time and money that would have gone into designing a custom home, yet with the Lifetime Series by Muller Homes, clients still get the build quality, attention to detail, and communication that comes with working with a custom home builder. We serve the central Maryland area, and also provide assistance with lot acquisition, evaluation, and home buying finance. Keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

 

Source

http://www.newhomesource.com/resourcecenter/articles/questions-to-ask-your-builder

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The Advantages of a Semi-Custom Home

Friday, June 20th, 2014

Looking to build your own home? A semi-custom home offers several advantages that you may not have considered. In addition to a wide selection of templates with unique designs and features, semi-custom homes save you time and money in the construction process, so you can move in sooner than you might have thought possible. Let’s talk about some the advantages of a semi-custom home.

The Advantages of a Semi-Custom Home

Design Templates

Semi-custom homes are constructed based on pre-designed templates. Lifetime Series Homes has 14 templates to choose from, each with its own unique style and design elements. All are customizable in and of themselves, so if you have a certain feature you want in your new home, we can tweak the design to accommodate it. From simple ranchers to 3,000 sq ft. 2 story homes, we offer designs to suit any taste.

Construction Time

In the case of most custom homes, construction can’t begin until the design of the home is complete, which can take some time. With a semi-custom home, we can begin on construction much sooner, as the blueprints are already drawn up and ready to go. This means you get to enjoy your new home faster.

Financing

When building your own home, you enjoy several financing options that buyers of pre-owned homes do not. One of these is construction permanent financing, which offers several benefits that are worth considering. In addition, we have preferred lenders that offer excellent customer service and financing options.

semi custom home advantages

About the Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes

The Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes are a series of semi-custom house designs that were created with the intention of providing home buyers with new option when it comes to shopping for a home. The Lifetimes series includes 14 home templates including, 2 story, first floor master, and ranchers that are pre-designed and ready to build. Because they are ready to build, clients save significant time and money that would have gone into designing a custom home, yet with the Lifetime Series by Muller Homes, clients still get the build quality, attention to detail, and communication that comes with working with a custom home builder. We serve the central Maryland area, and also provide assistance with lot acquisition, evaluation, and home buying finance. Keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

 

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New Homes and Pre-Owned Homes: A Price Comparison

Friday, June 13th, 2014

One common misconception about pre-owned homes and new homes is that the latter are generally more expensive. In fact, there are several costs associated with pre-owned homes that, when factored into the overall cost, make them comparable to or even more expensive than new homes. When comparing the prices of new homes and pre-owned homes, here are a few things to keep in mind.

New Homes and Pre-Owned Homes: A Price Comparison

Market Value

When it comes to the actual market value of the home, new homes and pre-owned homes are influenced by different factors. New homes are influenced only by the costs of construction, labor, land, and profit. In order for new homes to sell, the builder has to price them according to their real market value, because this can easily be determined by adding up the aforementioned costs.

The price of pre-owned homes, on the other hand, is influenced by many intangible factors that may sway them from their real market value. This includes things such as how much the homeowner still owes on the home, what they are looking to get so they can buy another home, and the fact that they may have overpayed for the home to begin with. This means that many of these costs get passed on to the buyer, thus inflating the price of the home above its real market value.

Taxes

Another cost that is more expensive with a pre-owned home than a new home is the cost of property taxes. Taxes are assessed on the value of a property from January of the year before. For example, property taxes paid in 2014 are actually based on the assessed value of the property in 2013.

This means that for a pre-owned home, you would be paying taxes on the full value of the property (land and house) as soon as you owned it. With a new home on the other hand, you would pay taxes, for a time, on the value of the land only, because the house had not yet been built on it. This is advantageous to you and will save you money during the early phase of your homeownership.

Repairs and Upgrades

The costs of repairs and upgrades often come into play after the purchase of a pre-owned home. Repairs and upgrades for old appliances, HVAC systems, energy efficiency upgrades, and more can easily run up the cost of a pre-owned home. New homes, on the other hand, are built with the latest features and technology, making them more efficient, more durable, and less expensive.

house market value

About the Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes

The Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes are a series of semi-custom house designs that were created with the intention of providing home buyers with new option when it comes to shopping for a home. The Lifetimes series includes 14 home templates including, 2 story, first floor master, and ranchers that are pre-designed and ready to build. Because they are ready to build, clients save significant time and money that would have gone into designing a custom home, yet with the Lifetime Series by Muller Homes, clients still get the build quality, attention to detail, and communication that comes with working with a custom home builder. We serve the central Maryland area, and also provide assistance with lot acquisition, evaluation, and home buying finance. Keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

 

Source

http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/Why-Buy-New—Benefits-of-New-Construction/

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Finding a Home Lot in Maryland

Friday, June 6th, 2014

If you’re looking to build your own new home in Maryland is a lot. Finding a home site is necessary but time consuming task. The ideal site, with proximity to work, play, and other family, may be out there, but it’s not likely to reveal itself right away. Furthermore, there are many lots and home sites that exist, but might not be publicly advertised or so easily found. To help you in your Maryland home search, you need a home builder with access to these home sites, and the network to find the site that fits your requirements.

Lifetime Series lot search assistance in Maryland can help you find the perfect home site for you. Using our network of industry contacts throughout the state and access to home site databases, and our own home sites, we can bring you more than 2000 home sites in central Maryland to choose from. You can use our easy lot search assistance form to get started, after which you’ll be contacted by one of our team members within 24 hours.

We’ll start by discussing your budget and examining your criteria for your ideal home lot. We then cross-reference your criteria against our databases, and update the search with new inventory as the process continues. Once we’ve found a site that you’re interested in, we’ll perform a lot evaluation and give you an estimate as to a construction cost. If you’re satisfied, we’ll negotiate the contract and start construction!

If you have your own home site already, Lifetime Series homes can also perform a lot evaluation without cost or obligation to you. For help with your current lot, or for help finding a home lot in Maryland, Lifetime Series Homes is ready to work with you!

home site search Maryland

About the Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes

The Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes are a series of semi-custom house designs that were created with the intention of providing home buyers with new option when it comes to shopping for a home. The Lifetimes series includes 14 home templates including, 2 story, first floor master, and ranchers that are pre-designed and ready to build. Because they are ready to build, clients save significant time and money that would have gone into designing a custom home, yet with the Lifetime Series by Muller Homes, clients still get the build quality, attention to detail, and communication that comes with working with a custom home builder. We serve the central Maryland area, and also provide assistance with lot acquisition, evaluation, and home buying finance. Keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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