Why Templates are the Latest Trend in Custom Homes

February 27th, 2015

Looking for the latest trend in custom home design? Pre-designed home templates are quickly catching on as a trending concept in custom home design and building. What’s a home template you ask? Learn everything you need to know in our blog.

Custom Home Trends: Design Templates

Design templates are essentially a marriage of custom and pre-fabricated homes which gives you the benefits of both.

The home builder enlists its architects to design a number of different homes based on home designs that are popular right now. All of the designs are varied and are created with the stylistic preferences of different homeowners in mind. The end result is a template that shows a home that is ready to be built.

Lifetime Series Homes offers 14 home templates that homebuyers can choose from. Each design is distinct and unique in an of itself, which makes it easy to find the design that’s right for you. Once you choose a design, we can make modifications to suit your needs.

What are the Benefits of Design Templates?

Choice Made Easy

We found that there were a lot of homebuyers out there who wanted a custom home, but weren’t sure how to start on the design. So, we created these design templates that take care of a lot of the work for you and make it easier to visualize what your home will look like.

Faster Building

The design phase of custom home construction takes several months. We’ve essentially eliminated this phase altogether. It takes a lot less time to make a few alterations to a home template than it does to design a home from scratch. This allows us to cut down the build time and get you into your new home faster.

Thoughtful Design From Experience

As a division of Mueller Homes, we’ve built a lot of custom homes in our day. This means we know what designs homeowners like and what’s in demand. We used more than 20 years of experience in designed and building one-of-a-kind homes in Maryland to create these home templates that are a culmination of all our knowledge of custom home design.

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Lifetime Series Homes: Your Home Builder in Maryland

Lifetime Series Homes is a home builder in central Maryland that offers fast construction of semi-custom homes. To learn more about building your new home with Lifetime Series homes, contact us today at 410-549-4443! You can also keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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What to Consider When Searching for a Home Lot 

February 19th, 2015

As towns become more populated, it gets difficult to find your own spot of land that is untouched. Many purchase pre-constructed homes; already lived-in homes. This may save money but takes away from the idea of building your dream home. Renovations to pre-existing homes can be costly, so sometimes it is best to start fresh if you want specific elements in your home. Searching for a home lot can be a daunting task, so here are our tips for you to keep in mind.

Make sure you know the boundaries of the home lot.

A title company will be able to determine this for you and grant you legitimate rights to the property. This way, you will know how large of a yard you will have after the house is built. Worrying about neighbors will not be an issue if you own the rights to the plot of land. Fall and winter (before it snows) are good times to look at purchasing a home lot because you will be able to see through any trees obstructing your view. This way, you can see how close you are to any other properties. Another benefit to taking a look around the property is to see what you need to remove in order to build a home and possibly a pool and other outdoor living structures in the backyard. If there are a lot of trees, you will have to factor that into your budget.

Find out any and all information about your home lot.

In addition to figuring out the title deed, look up water and sewer codes as well as zoning restrictions. This includes flood-zone lines and wetland areas – you could wind up living near a swamp which would be detrimental to your lawn. Also, some Homeowner’s Associations have certain rules about building in the neighborhood. For example, make sure that you are allowed to have a balcony overtop of the front porch, if that is what you were looking for.

Include the home lot purchase in your overall budget.

Many jump headfirst into the process of building a custom home. They do not realize that many times, a lot needs to be purchased before any work can happen. Factoring in excess brush and forestation to be removed from the property so that building can start is also necessary. Make sure power and sewer lines are able to be put in. You may need a loan to purchase the land – and many lending companies require a 50% or more down-payment.

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Lot Search Assistance from Lifetime Series Homes

Need help finding a home site in Maryland? We can help. Lifetime Series Homes is a home builder in central Maryland that offers fast construction of semi-custom homes. To learn more about building your new home with Lifetime Series homes, contact us today at 410-549-4443! You can also keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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New Construction: Why You Should Build a New Home

February 13th, 2015

If you’re thinking about moving, one of the first things you’re going to consider is whether you should move into a pre-existing home, move into a new home, or build your own brand new home. Each has their pros and cons, but we feel that building a brand new home made just for you is the best choice out of the three. From the benefits of energy efficiency to a new warranty, building your own home has a number of advantages that you won’t find with any other option. Learn more about why you should build a new home in our blog.

Why You Should Build a New Home

Energy Efficiency

Home-building technology has come a long way, especially in recent years. Today’s new homes are more energy efficient than ever. Many consumers want energy efficiency to be a priority in their home, which is why builders are responding with green designs and features.

Energy-efficient homes have the huge advantage of being less expensive to operate than a pre-existing home. New appliances combined with energy-efficient design means the home can be heated and cooled using less energy, which saves you a lot of money in the long run. Space heating alone accounts for a whopping 42% of your home’s energy costs, according to Energy.gov. This means that the more efficient your home is, the more money you’ll save.

New Warranty

The warranty on a new home is another great benefit that comes with new construction. Many home builders offer great warranties because they stand behind their craftsmanship and their finished product. An extended warranty gives you the guarantee that if something goes wrong, the builder will be there to fix it.

Custom Design

With a pre-existing design, you have to take what you get. With a new home, you can really make the home your own and design it to your tastes. This way, you get to ensure that your wants and needs are met in the construction of your home.

Lifetime Series Homes is unique in that we offer 14 home design templates which are ready to build. The goal of our approach is to give you flexibility with design options while at the same time reducing the amount of time we’ll need to build your home. Because the designs of the homes are ready to go, we can cut a significant amount of time out of the planning stage. If you’d like to learn more, don’t hesitate to contact us today!

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Lifetime Series Homes: Your Home Builder in Maryland

Lifetime Series Homes is a home builder in central Maryland that offers fast construction of semi-custom homes. To learn more about building your new home with Lifetime Series homes, contact us today at 410-549-4443! You can also keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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Seven Steps to the Construction of Your New Home in Maryland

February 6th, 2015

Building your own home can seem like an overwhelming prospect. But, as with so many things in life, if you break down the process into more manageable steps, it becomes much easier to get a grasp on the process as a whole. That’s why we developed The Mueller Process. This seven-step process will take you from the very early planning stages to the breaking of ground for your new home in Maryland. Here’s how it works!

The Mueller Process: Seven Steps to the Construction of Your New Home

  1. Pre-Planning – The first step of the process is for determining your family’s needs and wants in a new home. We’ll talk about design preferences and your own personal tastes so we can get a feel of what you’re looking for in a new home. We’ll also establish a target budget so we have a figure to work with moving forward.
  1. Lot and Home Plan Evaluation – The next step is to evaluate the lot on which you wish to build. If you don’t have a lot yet, we can help you find the ideal lot for you using our lot search assistance tool.
  1. Home Design and Planning – The third step is to plan out the design and floor plan of your home based on the design preferences discussed in step one. With 14 custom home templates available, you have a number of options available to you, all of which can be further customized to suit your tastes.
  1. Finalize Construction Drawings – After you’ve chosen your home plan and we’ve determined that it meets your target budget, we’ll finalize the blueprints to your new home.
  1. Construction Planning and Contracts – In the 5th stage, we finalize all necessary construction documents and the plan for construction itself. By this stage, all of the planning for designs and pricing will be complete.
  1. Mortgage Commitment and Building Permits – This is the final stage before construction. Here, we finalize financing for your new home in Maryland and obtain the necessary building permits needed for construction.
  1. Construction Begins – With all the plans, permits, contracts, and financing in place, it’s time to break ground on your new home. Congratulations!

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Lifetime Series Homes: Your Home Builder in Maryland

Lifetime Series Homes is a home builder in central Maryland that offers fast construction of semi-custom homes. To learn more about building your new home with Lifetime Series homes, contact us today at 410-549-4443! You can also keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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Six Answers to Questions about Building a New Home

January 30th, 2015

Are you thinking about building your own home? You’re bound to have plenty of questions. In this week’s blog, we’ll give you a few answers to some of the more common questions we hear in regard to building your own home.

Six Answers to Questions About Building a New Home

Why should I build my own home?

If you’re still on the fence about building your own home vs. buying an existing home, there are several compelling reasons to build your own. New homes are more efficient, more cost effective, and use the latest building technologies that are making homes today better than they’ve ever been. Even a home that’s just a decade old is already far behind. Building a brand new home means you have the most efficient and innovative design available.

How long does it take to build a home?

This can vary widely. A general estimate is around 6 months. The great thing about Lifetime Series Homes is that our designs are ready to build, which can cut the build time by up to half.

How do I find a home site?

There are lots of ways to look for a home site. The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a good place to start, and there are always ads in local newspapers. Lifetime Series Homes offers our lot search assistance tool, which allows you to plug in the criteria you’re looking for in a home site and cross-check it against our database, which contains more than 2,000 homes in the central Maryland area, many of which are not available on public listings.

What are the components of a good home site?

Here’s a list of some of the most important things to consider in a home site:

  • Location
  • Access to utilities
  • Topography
  • Outdoor living goals
  • Special clearing and grading considerations
  • Permitting or public facilities fees

What are my financing options for building a new home?

There are lots of options out there. One option we like to use is construction permanent financing. This financing strategy has a number of benefits, including lower closing costs, smaller interest payments during construction, and the potential for a lower sales price.

How do I find the right home builder in Maryland?

Finding the right home builder in Maryland is both an objective and subjective process. You want a builder that has the right qualifications, such as a long history of business in the area and a reputation for quality worksmanship. You also want a builder who you feel comfortable with and trust on a personal level. The only way to find the right one for you is to talk to plenty of home builders.

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Lifetime Series Homes: Your Home Builder in Maryland

Lifetime Series Homes is a home builder in central Maryland that offers fast construction of semi-custom homes. To learn more about building your new home with Lifetime Series homes, contact us today at 410-549-4443! You can also keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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How Does Construction Permanent Financing Work?

January 22nd, 2015

When you’re building your own home, you have a number of financing options available to you. One of these options is construction permanent financing. There are a number of benefits that come with construction perm financing that can work in your favor and help simplify the process of building and financing your new home. Learn how construction permanent financing works and how it can benefit you below.

Construction Permanent Financing

How does it work?

The bank extends a line of credit to the builder known as a construction permanent loan. The loan is structured into 6 draws that are contingent on the home’s construction reaching 6 different phases of completion. For example, once the home is 50% complete, the builder will call for a draw on the loan. A bank inspector visits the property to verify that it is 50% complete and will then issue the funds for the next draw on the loan.

Once the home is complete, the bank retains 10% of the loan until the county issues a use and occupancy permit or equivalent, and the builder provides the bank with any remaining documents. The bank will then issue the last draw to the builder, and the loan is converted from a construction loan to a permanent loan. This can be done using a number of financing products.

What are the benefits for the homeowner?

Construction permanent financing offers a number of benefits to the homeowner.

  1. Closing Costs. With construction perm financing, the homeowner closes on the land before the home is built, as opposed to once the home is built. This means that the transfer tax (which is assessed at closing) is assessed on the value of the lot, instead of the lot and the home. This means the homeowner saves a significant amount on the transfer tax. Not to mention you only have to close once on the property.
  2. Interest on the Draw. During construction, you’ll only pay interest on the current draw, as opposed to the loan as a whole. This can also provide you with a potential tax benefit. (Consult your tax advisor. You have your choice of fixed or variable rate interest during construction as well.
  3. Lower Sales Price. When you use a construction permanent loan, you’ll receive a consumer rate as opposed to a commercial rate. This saves the builder money, a savings which will be passed on to you in the final sales price of your home.

 

These are a few of the major benefits of construction permanent financing, but they’re not the only ones. To learn more about using construction permanent financing to build your new home in Maryland, contact Lifetime Series Homes today.

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What Are the Benefits of Lot Search Assistance in Maryland?

January 16th, 2015

The first step in building your own home is to find the right lot. In order to do so, you have to do a complicated calculus involving everything from location, to proximity to work and schools, to access to local utilities. You may find many home sites that have some features you’re looking for but not others. Not to mention the time you’ll have to invest in this process. Finding the right lot is not an overnight process, and will involve a significant amount of searching before you find what you’re looking for.

Lot search assistance is a way to make the search for a home site easier. With this tool at your disposal, you can easily search a large number of home sites in Maryland while the tool cross checks your desires for your lot against available listings. Learn more below about lot search assistance and how it can benefit you.

What Are the Benefits of Lot Search Assistance?

Ease of Use

Search for lots throughout Maryland from the comfort of your home with an easy to use online inventory system.

Increase the Scope of Your Search

The lot search assistance tool brings you access to more than 2,000 home sites in the central Maryland area, many of which are not available on public listings.

Cross Referencing

You plug in the parameters based on what you’re looking for in a home site. The software then checks this against available inventory and gives you an immediate readout of potential matches.

Daily Updates

Inventory is updated daily, so if a new lot becomes available, you’ll be the first to know. An email will be sent directly to your inbox.

Lot Search Assistance from Lifetime Series Homes

Our team members will assist you throughout the process. We want you to find your ideal home site in Maryland, which is why we offer this lot search assistance tool. And once you find the lot, we can help you vet the lot and assist with the purchase. For more information, navigate to our lot search assistance page, or contact us today.

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Your New Home Builder in Maryland

To learn more about building your new home with Lifetime Series homes, contact us today at 410-549-4443! You can also keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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Finding a New Home Builder in Baltimore County

January 9th, 2015

Are you searching for a new home builder in Baltimore County? Finding the right builder isn’t easy. Neither is finding the right lot, home design, or financing option. But what if you could find a builder who provided you with all of these and more? Lifetime Series Homes may be the builder you’re looking for. Learn more below about how we can help you with lot acquisition, the design process, and financing for your new home.

Lifetime Series Homes: Your New Home Builder in Baltimore County

Lot Acquisition

Finding the right lot has never been easier with our lot search assistance tool. This tool allows you to specify exactly what you’re looking for in a lot. We then check your inputs against our collection of listings in order to find the perfect lot for you. We have access to more than 2,000 home sites in the central Maryland area, many of which are not available on public listings. Your lot is out there, and lot search assistance can help you find it!

Home Design

Many people want to build their own home without having a firm grasp on what they want the design to be like. And this is perfectly ok. In fact, you don’t have to be a design expert to build your own home. That’s because we offer 14 different home templates that are predesigned and ready to build. From one-story ranchers to 3,000 sq. ft. homes, you’re sure to find a design that suits you. Plus, because these designs are ready to go, we can save a lot of time in the process. You’re already that much closer to the completion of your new home!

Financing that Makes Sense

Financing the construction and purchase of a home can get complicated, which is why we offer construction-permanent financing. This financing option eliminates a lot of the overlap that occurs when construction and the purchase are financed separately, which saves you times and money, and simplifies the process for everyone.

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Are you ready to get started? Let us help you find the perfect home site, design, and financing option for your new home!

Your New Home Builder in Baltimore County

To learn more about building your new home with Lifetime Series homes, contact us today at 410-549-4443! You can also keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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A New Home Builder for a New Year in Montgomery County

January 2nd, 2015

Happy New Year from Lifetimes Series Homes! If 2015 is the year when you’re going to build your new home, it’s time to start looking for a home builder in Montgomery County. In the spirit of the new year, consider a home builder that takes a new approach to building homes, one that results in faster construction, efficient financing, and an all-around enjoyable experience to building your new home. Read on to learn more about Lifetime Series Homes!

Your New Home Builder in Montgomery County

Building Your Home Faster

Our unique approach to home building means your home gets built faster. We offer 14 different home templates for you to choose from, which means we get to cut out most of the design phase of the project. Instead of having to design a home from the ground up, we can choose from one of these 14 templates to find the home that works just right for you. Adjustments can be made to your liking. By saving time on the design phase, we’re able to progress to building and get started on your home. Now that’s a good use of time!

Finding the Perfect Lot

Another benefit which we provide is assistance in finding the perfect lot for you in Montgomery County. Finding and purchasing a lot on your own can be difficult, which is why we offer our lot search assistance tool. Not only will it help you find the ideal lot, it will give you access to listings which are not available publicly. We have access to more than 2,000 listings in central Maryland, which means we’ll be able to find the right lot for you. Once we’ve found it, we’ll assist with the purchase to make the process smooth and efficient.

Making Financing Make Sense

Don’t want to close once on the construction and again on the home when it’s complete? You don’t have to. With our construction-perm financing option, you only have to close once on the entire project. This saves you time and money, and makes things a lot easier for everyone. There are many more benefits to this financing option, which you can learn more about here.

new home builder montgomery county

Your New Home Builder in Montgomery County

To learn more about building your new home with Lifetime Series homes, contact us today at 410-549-4443! You can also keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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A Different Kind of Home Builder in Howard County

December 19th, 2014

If you’re looking for a new home building in Howard County, consider a home builder with a different approach to home building. Lifetime Series Homes is a local builder that can offer you faster custom home construction, lot search assistance, and an efficient financing solution. Learn more about how we work in our blog!

Your Home Builder in Howard County: Lifetime Series Homes

Faster Construction

One of the big advantages you get when you work with us is a faster construction time for your home. We achieve this by saving a lot of time on the design phase of the project. How do we do this? We provide you with 14 different home templates to choose from. These home templates are pre-designed, which means the blueprints are ready to go. All you have to do is choose the one that best suits you. You can also provide input to make changes if you desire. All told, this saves us a lot of time that would have been spent designing your home, which allows us to move the process along to construction faster.

Finding the Right Lot

Another area in which we assist our clients is finding the perfect lot for your new home. As a home builder and Howard County and throughout central Maryland, we have access to a number of industry sources for home lots that are not available through public listings. Using our lot search tool, we can work together to find the perfect lot for you. With daily updates to inventory, you’ll always be appraised of the latest findings. Our priority is finding the right lot for you, and finding it in an efficient manner.

Simplifying Financing

We also like to make things easier for our clients by simplifying financing for the project. Using construction-perm financing, we can easily segue from financing the construction of your home to your mortgage. There are a number of benefits of this financing option. For example, you’ll only close once on the project (as opposed to once on the construction and once on the completed home). Learn more about construction-perm financing and the benefits of this payment method here.

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Your New Home Builder in Howard County

To learn more about building your new home with Lifetime Series homes, contact us today at 410-549-4443! You can also keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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