Category: Buying a home
House hunting? From assessing floor plan needs to touring model homes, we have the expertise to guide you through your journey to homeownership.
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The Benefits of a Master-planned Community
Read more: The Benefits of a Master-planned CommunityMaster-planned communities are in demand nationwide, and the reasons are easy to spot: Amenities! Many masterplans are designed with easy access to shopping, dining, schools and recreation—sometimes within walking distance. You may also find popular neighborhood features like parks, trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, and even more substantial amenities like clubhouses, fitness facilities, pools and sports…
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New Home vs. Resale Home: Maintenance Edition
Read more: New Home vs. Resale Home: Maintenance EditionWhen you think about buying a brand-new home, advantages such as choosing your neighborhood, floor plan, options and homesite probably spring to mind immediately. However, buying new over resale boasts another big benefit that many buyers often overlook: less home maintenance. Don’t have the time, inclination or funds to remodel or repair a resale home?…
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TrendWatch: Down Payment Contributions as Wedding Gifts
Read more: TrendWatch: Down Payment Contributions as Wedding GiftsYou’re not imagining it. American couples are waiting longer and longer to get married. These delayed “I do’s” pose a very serious question: Just what do you get a couple that set up house—either independently or together—years ago? Some of these happy couples may still register for traditional home goods as gifts. After all, it’s…
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What Can You Get From the $300s?
Read more: What Can You Get From the $300s?We’ve all heard the adage, “All real estate is local,” yet it’s hard not to wonder what you could get for your money if you were buying in a different part of the country. Here’s a glimpse at homes currently priced from the $300s in three of the areas we build. ARIZONA Floor plan: The…
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Getting Prequalified After Bankruptcy, Foreclosure or Short Sale
Read more: Getting Prequalified After Bankruptcy, Foreclosure or Short SaleLife sometimes takes us on unexpected journeys. You may think you’re heading in one direction and then—surprise—you’re on a completely different path. For example, if you experience a major credit event, such as a bankruptcy, foreclosure or short sale, your credit score can be severely impacted, which can affect your chances at qualifying for a…
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Choosing a Website for Your New Home Search
Read more: Choosing a Website for Your New Home SearchSo you’re in the market for a new home…now what? The first step is starting your online search. It’s important to discover what homes are selling for in your area before you set up a budget and scope out potential neighborhoods. But which website do you choose? Here’s a rundown of a few of the…
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Why Renters are Becoming Homebuyers in 2015
Read more: Why Renters are Becoming Homebuyers in 20152015 is shaping up to be a great year for first-time homebuyers, as the real estate market continues to enjoy a resurgence in new homes built, coupled with exciting new breaks designed to make homeownership more affordable. To get the full scoop, check out these four reasons renters are making the leap to homeownership in…
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3 Reasons to Buy vs. Rent a Home in 2015
Read more: 3 Reasons to Buy vs. Rent a Home in 2015The long-awaited dream of owning your own home entails one of the most important purchases of your life. Is it any wonder it could also be the most exciting? Moving from renting to homeownership brings a range of benefits, from a sense of community and stability to never having to worry about yearly rental increases.…
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Why Buy a Winter Home?
Read more: Why Buy a Winter Home?Whether you consider yourself a winter visitor, sunseeker or proud snowbird, if you head south for the winter, you’ll need a home away from home for weeks or months at a time. RVing and renting may be popular choices, but there are significant advantages to buying a vacation home of your own. RVing If you’re…
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New Home vs. Resale Home: Appliance Edition
Read more: New Home vs. Resale Home: Appliance EditionAn often-overlooked benefit of buying a brand new, never-been-lived-in home is your set of brand new, never-been-used appliances. While appliances may not make or break your decision to buy a particular new or resale home, here are five things to consider when you weigh your options: Whether you choose your builder’s standard appliance package or…
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Tips on How to Buy a New Home
Read more: Tips on How to Buy a New HomeYou’ve got all your ducks in a row; your finances are healthy, circumstances are right and at last you’re ready to buy a new home and leave the rental market for good. Even though it may have taken years of careful saving and patient planning to get to this point, there are still a number…
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How Much Can I Afford on a Home Loan in 2014?
Read more: How Much Can I Afford on a Home Loan in 2014?Each year can bring anything from minor tweaks to major overhauls in mortgage lending, possibly affecting how much house you can afford to buy. To help simplify how to financially prepare for homeownership this year, we’ve compiled some of the more important gamechangers for you to be aware of in 2014. New Qualified Mortage Rules…