Maine Modular & Custom Home News

Here in the Northeast, we are “experts” in home winterization.  Each Fall, homeowners flock to the local hardware, building supply and department stores to load up on plastic window kits, weather stripping and door draft stoppers.  With the new Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency, now may be a good time to do more permanent changes to our home, than the standard annual buttoning up many homeowners do.

To help you get the most bang for your buck, it is a good idea to start your project with an Energy Audit of your home.  You might believe that your windows need to be replaced but in fact they may need to be reinstalled with proper use of caulking, ice and water shield, and insulation.  An Energy Audit will help eliminate the risk of spending money on products and services you don’t need.  Here is a link to information about how an Energy Audit is conducted, and what the purpose of an audit is.  Energy Savers: Home Energy Audits. 

When your Energy Audit is complete, you may be able to complete some of the updates with a little bit of knowhow and a few trips to the local building supply store.  DoItYourself.com has an in-depth article on weatherizing your home including a materials and tools checklist and list of different types of caulking and their pros and cons.  How to Weatherize Your Home.

ThisOldHouse.com is always filled with relevant home improvement articles.  10 Ways to Shrink Your Energy Bills has some great ideas regarding improving the efficiency of your home.  New Insulation Options describes types of insulation, explains their ingredients and performance.

To wrap up this fairly long blog, if you are looking for more energy efficiency ideas that you don’t need to search through multiple websites to find, you will not find a more comprehensive source than The Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings.  This book is published by  on a yearly basis and is filled with up-to-date ideas that can be applied to new construction as well as renovations.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 1 in every 4 Americans suffer from Asthma and/or allergies.  40 Million Americans have indoor/outdoor allergies.  With statistics like these, chances are someone in your household is affected by Asthma/allergies.  The most common known triggers for symptoms are pollen and pet dander.  Unfortunately it is nearly impossible to eliminate the triggers from your life.  You can; however, lower your exposure to them while at home with the use of an Air Filtration System.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation has a webpage with information about Air Filtrations Systems.  Their page is filled with information about how systems work in direct relation to how they can help asthmatics and allergy sufferers.  Information about Air Filtration Systems from the AAFA

The EPA also has information about Air Filtration Systems.  This page has more technical information comparing different types of systems and their purposes.  It also explains how to measure the performance of a system.  Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home from the EPA

The best part of each of these websites is that neither promotes a specific system.  These sites have general information you can use as you to compare different systems to find the right fit for your home.

Before I came to work at Schiavi Home Builders, I was a stay at home mom.  This meant we had a single income to support a family of four, plus two dogs, three cats and a guinea pig.  We are also working on a major home renovation….  The household budget was a very important part of my “job.”  I think this is why I am choosing Household Budgeting as the topic for my first blog.

In the society we live in, instant gratification is not only expected, it is now the norm.  I want something now; therefore, I go buy it now.  Living on a budget is “taboo.”  This attitude not only makes debt reduction difficult, but planning for a new home impossible.  Whether you are saving for a down payment or closing costs, or just trying to decide what you can afford for a mortgage payment, a detailed household budget should be part of this process.

There are many budget programs out there.  A family could spend hundreds of dollars to get books, software, programs, going to seminars, or lectures.  It is not necessary to spend anything to create and manage your household budget.  Below are links to website that offer FREE budgeting information:

This article Budget isn’t a Bad Word explains the advantages of using a budget.

To help you get started, here is a link to a basic budget worksheet:  Budgeting Form.

And finally, here is an article that has several links in regards to cutting expenses and finding extra money in your budget: Easy Ways to Cut Expenses.

Following are key points that prospective home buyers should be aware of when considering a home purchase under the tax credit program:

• A tax credit of up to $8000 is available for first-time home buyers purchasing on or after Jan 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010.  In cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.
• A tax credit of up to $6500 is available for repeat home buyers who have owned a home for five consecutive years out of the prior eight years.  The repeat home buyer tax credit applies to houses sold after November 5, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010.  In cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.
• Income limits of $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for married couples filing jointly apply to all sales occurring after Nov 6, 2009.
• Homes priced above $800,000 are not eligible for either the first-time home buyer tax credit or the repeat home buyer tax credit.
• Expanded tax credit benefits apply to members of the military, the foreign service and the intelligence community.
• Home purchases in 2010 may be claimed on an amended 2009 income tax return.
• Persons who are claimed as dependents by a taxpayer or who are under age 18 do not qualify for a tax credit.
• Home purchases from relatives of the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s spouse do not qualify for the tax credit.  The IRS defines relatives as ancestors (parent, grandparent, etc.), lineal descendants (child, grandchildren, etc.) and spouses.
• Married couples are not eligible to claim the first-time home buyer credit if either spouse has previously owned a home.  They may, however, qualify for the repeat home buyer tax credit.
• Neither the first-time home buyer tax credit nor the repeat home buyer tax credit have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after the initial purchase.
• Taxpayers must submit a copy of the HUD-1 settlement statement and IRS form 5405 to claim either the first-time home buyer tax credit or the repeat home buyer tax credit.

If you have bought a home recently or are in the process of buying a home, you will soon find out that you need some things you may never have needed before.  I love the ideas at This Old House for the new home owner.  There are some inexpensive but practical ideas like the book – How Your House Works – “A vislual guide to understanding and  maintaining your home” for an affordable $22.00, some great hand tool suggestions, a handy tool tote, along with some more costly power tools.  Home maintenance is an important part of your life after you have moved into your new home.  It is a rewarding process that can keep your home as new and stunning as when you first moved in.  Happy shopping!

The home buyer tax credit has been extended.  You only have an additional six months to take advantage of this credit.  At Schiavi Home Builders that means you will need to be ordering your new home as soon as possible to insure you will take delivery before the deadline.  Our calendar is filling up fast for next year, so there isn’t any time to waste.  If you still have questions about the tax credit or you would like to learn more about the changes that were incorporated into the extension you can watch this video produced by the National Home Builders Association.  Click HERE for the video.

The Portland Press Herald posted some really good advice regarding modular housing in the Simon Says Column on October 16, 2009.  The question submitted had to do with the bad reputation modular building can have and how to know if modular construction is the right choice for your building needs.  Simon replied:

“I would encourage you to do your homework before you make a commitment.  I would find out who the manufacturer of the house is and contact them directly.  I would ask them to give you names of contractors who have worked with their product.

After speaking to the contractors on their take on the product, I would then ask the contractors for the names of the end users – people who are living in the houses.  I would then contact those individuals directly.”

Good advice Simon!  Any modular builder worthy of their name would want their customer to check them out thoroughly before deciding to buy.  Matching your expectations to your builder’s expectation makes for a happy consumer.  Thanks for the tip.

The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) has written an article explaining the predicted outcome of extending the housing tax credit.  They predict that extending the housing credit for another year would create 350,000 jobs and promote 82,000 new house starts.  This would boost the overall health of the economy and stimulate the housing market.  You can read the report at this site.  In addition they have created a page to send a letter to Congress to show your support for extending this credit.  Click here for the letter.

The housing market news is haltingly optimistic.  While some are forecasting a slowdown in the rebound, statistics are still showing remarkable comebacks.  The Realty Times posts that housing sales are on the increase due to great prices and great mortgage rates.  The back log of existing homes is diminishing, so the prospect of building new is increasing.  Building new with modular and systems built technology is gaining popularity as never before.  Modular building makes sense because you can have your cake and eat it too.  You can get great pricing, the floor plan you want and the energy consciousness you desire your home to have so you don’t have to worry about paying your heating bills.  Perhaps some of you are still looking at the existing home market but you are never really satisfied with the floor plan.  Don’t forget that you will most likely need to add money to your budget to make upgrades to the energy efficiency of that home, too.  When you add it all up – building new is great value and will save you money.

When Paul and Cathy Bickford bought a new Schiavi home they knew it came with guaranteed workmanship, but they never thought they would have to live through a tornado to find out how well their home was built.  Touching down in their back yard the tornado, so rare in Maine, caused about 20 trees to be blown over.  Luckily for the Bickfords their new home was fine.  We at Schiavi Home Builders are thrilled that the Bickfords are safe and pleased that their home escaped damage.  There was never a doubt in our mind that they purchased a quality home and we are glad that it stood up to the unusual winds in this crazy storm system that passed through Oxford County.  You can read more about the storm at the Sun Journal.