New Homes Guide Blog

As the real estate market perks up this Spring, a lot of buyers are looking for new homes. The big question for many of them is whether or not to strike out on this adventure on their own or to work with a Realtor. Oftentimes, their decision ends up being based upon some factors that are actually myths.

The first myth is that new home builders and real estate agents do not work well together. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Home builders know and respect that many potential buyers walk into their models because their agent told them to. Agents enjoy the new home purchase for their clients because of the assurances a builder can give their client that there is often no control over in a resale.

Another common thought the buyer often has is if they sign a purchase agreement with a builder and do not use an agent, they will be able to negotiate a better deal because the builder isn’t paying a commission. Also another big leap that is incorrect. For one thing, builders have tracked sales that involved agents for years and incorporate these fees into their marketing budget. Also, builders are well aware that they should not cut off their nose to spite their face, so to speak. With the volume of buyers accompanied by a Realtor, a builder does not want to alienate them or become “black-balled” by agents because they offer special discounts if there is no agent.

Lastly, some Realtors believe that they will be cut out of the deal if they are not with the clients on the first visit. Again, generally not the case. Sales Representatives in the models are trained to ask how you found their community and if you are working with an agent. They want to know the procurring cause of their sale as much as you want them to know you sent your client there. While it is certainly preferred that you accompany your client on the first visit, this isn’t always realistic. A couple methods to protect yourself from your excited client that is stopping at every model they see is to arm them with your business cards and make certain they are aware of the importance of them telling the Sales Representative that they are working with you. If you know where your client is planning on going, give the model a call beforehand to introduce yourself and let the Sales Representative know you are working with someone who will be stopping by without you.

Buyers should always be aware that the number one source of information on a particular new home will be the builder. Also, working with a Realtor will give them a wealth of information and knowledge about the community, values and the surrounding area. So, for buyers, I have always told them to use all of their resources when making such a monumental decision and that can mean working with both the builder and a Realtor if it’s the right fit for them.

Happy House Hunting!

One of the first items on your new home quest checklist should deal with your finances because getting a mortgage these days can prove to be challenging. We hear about the issue almost daily but what do YOU do to put yourself in the best position to obtain the best mortage? There are some basic steps you should take both to keep your credit looking good and to make sure your financial picture doesn’t change during the mortgage application process.

1. The very first step is to find out what your credit score is right now. You may have checked in the past year, but you may not be aware of changes that have posted to your credit report – either correctly or erroneously – that have affected your score. All three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) must provide you with a free report annually so be sure to get a copy from each one. One of the easiest sites I’ve found to work with is AnnualCreditReport.com.
2. Do you pay your bills on time? Even 1 or 2 late payments can greatly affect your score so be sure to stay on track with your payments and due dates.  Setting up automatic payments is a great method to make sure you don’t ever miss a payment.
3. Your income should be steady and reliable. Sounds basic enough but realize that lenders really like to see at least 2 years of employment within the same field and you will need to provide the supporting documentation. If you hold a commission-paying job, you may need even longer time in that field.
4. Please don’t go out and buy that new boat (or car or motorcycle or any big ticket item!) as soon as you get loan approval! New loans can adversely affect your credit during the critical period from loan approval thru settlement so hold off until you’ve gone to settlement. And keep in mind, it’s not just new loans – you need to maintain a certain amount of reserves so paying cash for expensive items doesn’t necessarily help. If you must absolutely purchase something, talk to your lender.
5. A common theme I have often heard is that buyers want to close old credit cards. That’s not necessarily the best move so talk to your mortgage lender before doing so. The lenders want to see credit history and a reasonable amount of available credit - closing cards can affect both of those.

These are just a few tips to help you purchase your dream home this year. Bankrate.com offers additional advice as well so check out their recent article “12 Mortgage Moves to Buy a Home in 2012″. And of course your lender is one of the best resources to talk to them to get guidance tailored for you.

Happy House Hunting!

Welcome Back to the New Homes Guide Blog! I know…it’s been awhile since we’ve had some activity here but I’m hoping to change that. And who am I, you ask (I hope!)…I am Nicole, the new Marketing Manager with NHG.

Let me give you the quick run down on why I feel like I can write this blog for you. In terms of experience, I’ve worked in a few different areas in the real estate industry – as a new homes sales rep for many years, as a realtor for a couple of years, as a marketing rep and as a homeowner. All of these jobs have given me a variety of insights into this industry and I’d like to share them with you.

Most of you may hear New Homes Guide and think,”Oh, that’s the magazine that advertises for all the new home builders in the area.” Well, you’d be correct! However, NHG would also like to be your resource for a variety of topics related to the purchase of new homes, home ownership, financing, and more. And that’s where I come in.

I’m hoping you will join me weekly (or daily on Facebook) and read our blog, give some feedback, and let me know what YOU want to read about. After all, that’s what we are here for – YOU!

For the first time in five months, we’re finally seeing a gain in home builder sentiments. According to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for October, builder confidence for newly built, single-family homes rose three points to 16.

Bob Jones, NAHB Chairman and home builder in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., explains, “Builders are starting to see some flickers of interest among potential buyers, and are hopeful that this interest will translate to more sales in the coming months.”

For over 20 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo HMI survey has asked home builders to measure perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations for the next six months, as well as rate traffic of prospective buyers. Scores are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where a 50 represents an average builder confidence. Scores under 50 show levels are less than average, and vice versa. Though still below 50, builder confidence not only improved across every region this month, HMI also rose across all three components mentioned above.

“The new-homes market is finally moving past the lull that occurred when the home buyer tax credits expired and economic growth stalled this summer,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe.

For survey results and tables for the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), click here.

Maybe you are one of the lucky homeowners whose new home came with picture perfect landscaping. In that case, this post may not be for you. But for the rest of us, getting that professional looking yard can take a bit of hard work and a lot of help.

But now that the triple degree weather is behind us, it’s a great time to get back in the yard to start a new project, or if you’re like me, fix the damage you did in the Spring. If only I had come across this helpful article by Colleen Vanderlinden at PlanetGreen.com six months ago, I could have saved some time, money, and a lot of frustration.

If you too could use some beginners advice to get your yard started on the right foot, check out Colleen’s Top 10 Rookie Gardening Mistakes.

Clueless Watering – Know your plant’s moisture requirements.

Wrong Plant, Wrong Place – Make sure you’re buying plants that fit the conditions in your garden.

Not Giving Plants Enough Space – Pay attention to the instructions on spacing your plants properly.

Not Knowing Your Zone – Finding your USDA Hardiness Zone.

Haphazard Fertilizing – Make sure to read the directions and stick to them.

Not Mulching – Mulch everything – vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs.

Little or No Soil Preparation – Soil preparation is important, whether you’re growing a vegetable or herb garden.

Sun/Shade Fairy Tales – Pay attention to the sun exposure recommendations for what you’re planting.

Not Knowing Your Site – Spend a few weeks observing your site before you decide what to plant.

Listening to “Experts” – Trust yourself.

As Colleen says, “Mistakes and dumb choices will be a part of your gardening life until the day you set aside your shovel and pruners.” But as a rookie gardener, these are some mistakes we can easily avoid. Check out Colleen’s full article here.

Still shopping for a new home? Speak to one of our area’s finest home builders today for advice on building the perfect yard as you build your perfect home.