When you move into a new house, it can take a while to feel like a home, no matter how modern and beautiful it is. Moving your furniture in helps, but it takes time to build the emotional connection that elevates that house into your home. Are there ways to accelerate the process? You bet. Here are some tips.

Designed for Happiness

You can start the process of creating a home at your builder’s design center. Choose paint colors, cabinetry, flooring and fixtures that make you feel happy. For some families, that can mean wood floors and cabinets; for others, tile floors and painted cabinets. Take your family’s needs into account. You won’t be happy if you choose items that make your home harder to clean or that inconvenience you.

Pay Attention to Communal Spaces

Where will your family be spending the most time? Probably the family room and the kitchen. This is where you will enjoy Sunday morning pancake breakfasts, help your kids with their homework and entertain guests. Make these spaces warm and welcoming with throw pillows and blankets, comfortable cushions on bar stools and shelves full of books.

Treasured Memories

Memories are what make a house a home, but if you’ve just moved in, there won’t be any associated with your new house. Adding items that remind your family of treasured moments will help bridge the gap. Shells collected during your last beach vacation can be attractively displayed on the fireplace mantle. Children’s artwork can be moved from the fridge at your old home to the one at your new place. Display your grandmother’s china. Anything that reminds you of happy times with your family.

Family Photos

We all have framed photos of family members and they should be given pride of place. Create collages or memory boards using loose photos or digital frames. If you have photos taken in your old home, put those up, as well. The point is to remind yourself that it is family members who make up a home.

Home is a Community

Your home is more than your house, it is the community you live in. It’s the place you feel you belong. Get out and meet the neighbors. Make friends. Get involved at your children’s schools. All of those things will help you to create new memories and add to the emotional attachment you feel to your house.

Ready to Build Your Home?

Are you ready to build a home? Sierra Vista is the perfect place to do that. Our community offers outstanding builders ready to listen to your needs and build a home where your family will thrive.

Anglia Homes is on a mission. A mission to help families create lifetime memories by embracing their wants and needs.

Our featured builder boasts a management team with more than 100 years of combined experience turning homebuyers into happy homeowners. They do this by offering thoughtful architectural designs, using high-quality materials and providing top-tier customer service.

In Sierra Vista, that means 11 floor plans to choose from. Floor plans that include flex spaces, spacious family rooms, gourmet kitchens, secluded owner’s suites, utility rooms with convenient garage access and upstairs game rooms. Plans that can be tailored to fit your needs with optional fireplaces, media rooms, additional bedrooms or studies.

Homes boast beautiful interior features such as hand-laid tile, granite countertops, maple cabinetry, recessed lighting, Whirlpool® appliances, arched doorways, ceiling fans and more. All of it is standard.

Anglia Homes’ designs in Sierra Vista are priced from the $240,000s. Visit the Anglia model home today and talk with a sales professional to discover how Anglia and Sierra Vista can make your new home dreams come true.

You probably know that low interest rates mean lower monthly payments, but did you know that they also affect your buying power? It’s true. Lower interests could allow you to buy a more expensive home in Sierra Vista than you originally thought while keeping your monthly mortgage payments reasonable.

What is buying power? Simply put, it’s how much home you can afford. When interest rates are low, buyers can often afford to take out a larger mortgage based on their income.

In September, Freddie Mac reported that the average for a 30-year fixed interest rate reached 2.90 percent. The rate was 3.64 percent a year ago. The 15-year fixed-rate average reached 2.40 percent compared with 3.16 percent a year ago. The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage averaged 2.96 percent. Last year, it was 3.38 percent.

What does that mean for your buying power? If you were to take out a 30-year loan, with 20 percent down, you might be able to afford a home valued at $400,000 and pay an average of $1,500 per month (not including taxes, insurance, or HOA fees).

That means you could afford a bigger home or load up your dream home with options and upgrades. Alternatively, you could qualify for a 15-year loan instead of a 30-year loan for the same or slightly higher monthly payment. Doing so, means you could own your home outright in less time and build equity much quicker.

Home equity is the amount of your home that you actually own. It is calculated by subtracting your mortgage balance from the home’s market value. Equity grows as you make your monthly payments. It is important because this represents a reserve you can draw on. Lenders often set borrowing amounts based on the amount of equity you own.

With a 15-year loan, you are paying more toward the principal, so you can pay off the loan faster. In doing so, you are building equity much faster than someone with a 30-year loan. How is that advantageous? It can help you get a substantial home equity loan or, if you decide to sell, you will receive more money that could be used to buy a more expensive home.

The bottom line is that buying a new home can actually save you money over the life of your loan. If you want to see what your buying power can net you, visit Sierra Vista today.

 

When it comes to buying a new construction home, who is the first person you should call? If you said a Realtor, you already have a leg up on the process. From touring your first model home to closing the deal, having a Realtor can mean the difference between buying a new home and buying your dream home.

Here are five reasons to consider using a Realtor:

They Know the Neighborhoods

Wondering if a master-planned community like Sierra Vista is right for your family? Ask a Realtor. Realtors make a point of knowing everything about a community. They know the builders, the amenities, the local schools and where to get the best lattes. In short, they are like Google, but much more personal.

They Have Your Interests at Heart

A builder’s sales representative is a great resource when it comes to knowledge of construction processes, options and upgrades, but your Realtor works for you. That means he or she will be able to help you get the best mortgage, advocate on your behalf and steer you toward the builder and community that best meets your family’s needs.

They Know When to Buy

Is there a good time to buy a new-build home? Absolutely, and your Realtor will have the inside scoop. They know the market so they can tell you if you should buy now or wait a bit to see if a given builder will be offering reduced pricing on move-in ready homes.

A Realtor Can Give You Guidance

Buying a home is a complex process even if the home is brand new. Your agent can help you figure out how much home you can afford, advise you on interest rates, introduce you to lenders and walk you through the contract. He or she also can watch over your home during the construction period and recommend a home inspector once it is finished.

Realtors Keep You Within Your Budget

It’s easy to fall in love with a model home. However, models are sometimes filled with options and upgrades that cost extra. A Realtor will ask the sales representative the right questions about the model so you know what is standard and what is an upgrade. If you fall in love with an expensive upgrade, your Realtor can often negotiate on your behalf possibly getting it for you at a better price.

Bring Your Realtor to Sierra Vista

If you decide to retain the services of a Realtor, be sure to bring him or her with you on your first visit to Sierra Vista or let the sales representative know that you will be working with one. Not only is it courteous, chances are the representative has worked with your Realtor before. That relationship can work in your favor.

There is a new builder in Sierra Vista and we think you’ll like what you see.

Adams Homes has joined the Sierra Vista family of builders. Founded in 1991 by Wayne Adams, the builder is one of the largest, privately held homebuilders in the nation.

The Adams philosophy is that homebuilders should offer customers a straightforward purchasing process that is easy to understand as well as a home that fits their needs. The builder’s homes include many standard features that other builders consider upgrades — features that homebuyers want the most.

Adams Homes offers five floor plans in Sierra Vista priced from the $200,000s. Buyers will be able to choose from two different homesite sizes. Water views and cul-de-sac homesites will be available.

Designs range from 1,902 to 2,705 square feet and sport covered porches, large kitchens, covered patios and two-car garages. Optional three-car garages are available with some homesites. A model is under construction.

We’re happy to welcome Adams Homes to our neighborhood and look forward to their first home sale. Will it be you?