Maine Modular & Custom Home News

1. Is it really location…. location…. location?
It really is. The first step is deciding on what you need and what is that going to cost. Are you looking for acreage to build your dream equestrian center or mini-farm? Maybe you want a lot in a cozy little neighborhood where you can walk to the store and pick up the Sunday paper? Or, are you looking for your getaway on the lake or in the mountains? Just like determining what features you need in your home, you need to decide on what you need in your land. A 10,000 square foot lot in the city versus a 10 acre parcel out in the country have completely different issues to be aware of and lifestyles to offer.

2. What’s the neighborhood like?
Always take into consideration the location and quality of the surrounding homes. Use your senses of sight, hearing, and smell to pick up on any issues that may be objectionable to you. Think about the proximity of the land to your work and nearest ammentites, entertainment, schools and shopping. Or if you’re looking for peace and quiet, how close is the nearest home to the lot line and how will I locate my house on the land to maximize separation?

3. So I like the location and the neigborhood…what else?
What is the quality of the land? Some issues to look for in land quality follow; Is the land wet and does it have areas that can’t be built on? Does the land have a steep slope or drop off abruptly that would prohibit building? Does the land have good, deep soil easy for designing a septic system, or is it rocky or even have ledge? Are there streams on the land that require setbacks? What is the orientation of the land and will I have good sun exposure? Does the land have a view or water frontage? What was the land formerly used for? Was it a farm field, forest land, re-zoned residential property, or is it division?

By: Michael Noble
Michael has worked for Schiavi Home Development for close to a year now. He has a background in real estate and land development. Look for Parts 2, and 3 with tips and questions about buying land.

What better way to diversify your portfolio than investing in a second home?  Just think, an investment that you can use and enjoy, all the time building equity.  You sure can’t use what you have in the stock market while it’s tied up there.  A second home can be used for vacations, tax write-offs, rental properties, and then - when you’re ready - you’re retirement home can be all in place and paid for.  Buying a second home now makes sense because the price of homes and land will continue to rise as it always has.  You will pay less now for your retirement home than you would in twenty years, and you will have it to use in the meantime.  More and more people are using second homes as investment opportunities - in 2006 the National Association of Realtors reported 1.07 million vacation homes sold.  That’s a 5% increase from the previous year…..what do they know that you don’t?  It’s a great investment, that’s what!

Here are the top ten tips to make your home more saleable:

• Clean your carpets and check their condition.  If they are old get rid of them.
• Remove all clutter - indoors and outdoors.
• Everything should be clean.
• Eliminate any pet odors.
• Fix any broken items
• Always keep the curtains open, shades up and lights on.
• Clean and paint walls - remove all smudge marks.
• Clean and organize closets to make them look bigger.
• Manicure lawn and shrubs.
• Remove excess furniture and place it in storage.

These may sound like trivial things, but for a small amount of money and time you can increase the curb appeal of your home, making it stand out on the market.  If you are dreaming of building a new home - follow these simple rules to help you get the ball rolling on the sale of your old home.

There are certain floors that seem to "match" certain styles of homes better than others. For instance, a country type house, by tradition, often has pine flooring. This is what one might consider a classic look. Even though there are some usual floor choices with specific types of architeciture, the bottom line is that you as the home owner should love it. Wide plank flooring can be a beautiful addition to your new home. Wood flooring has the sought after curb appeal, also. After all it is a sustainable building product, it’s gorgeous, and it has a long life……come to think of it all attributes I wish were true of me!!!!!

The kitchen of the future described by GE, is truly fiction - at least for right now. Imagine being able to call home and ask your refrigerator what’s in it and what are the suggested menus for those items. That’s not all; the vision includes a cook top that actually cleans itself. In our hurried world, appliance companies are trying to make refrigerators and stoves that do more of the work for us. Is it really the way of the future? You can read “What’s For Dinner” and decide for yourself.

Want to take a quick look at how the bank will determine if you can afford your new home? This worksheet has step by step instructions that reflect how most mortgage holders will decide if you have enough income to cover the mortgage payment for your new home. This will also help you decide how much of a payment you think you can afford, regardless of what the bank tells you - Payment Worksheet. Of course your credit history is also a determining factor. You can check that at no cost at each of the three major credit reporting agencies once a year. Credit Reports.

New green building materials are showing up constantly and it’s hard to keep up. There’s paneling, cabinetry, flooring, insulation….the list goes on. Read up on a few of the newer products at the National Geographic Site - The Green Guide. Remember system-built technology can incorporate many of your favorite custom ideas, so take your new home to a new level with green building materials.

It sounds easy. Not much to a bathroom anyway. A few fixtures, a light or two and shower or tub. With the rest of the home design to think about sometimes the bathroom doesn’t get much thought. Here’s a quick guide to help you think of what’s important from the folks at HGTV.

Fed cuts again - future unclear
What does it mean to you? The Federal Reserve cut interest rates today for the seventh straight time since September of last year. Many experts believe that the Fed is done cutting interest rates and will begin a new watch-and-wait policy. This new policy is due – in part – to the fact that the first Stimulus Act rebate checks are hitting millions of mailboxes this week. The Fed hopes this money gives a boost in the arm to the economy. If you’ve been taking a watch-and-wait approach with your own finances, now is the time to call and review your options. Consider this: the Federal Reserve Board meets 11 times this year to review the health of the US economy and make adjustments if needed. Don’t you think you owe it to yourself to take just a few minutes and do the same with your own financial goals? I want to ensure that you’re taking advantage of this unique market and not letting it pass you by. Here are just a few things to consider:

• Today’s tougher housing market means there are some great buys to be had if you’re looking to purchase. This is an especially friendly market for first-time home buyers.
• The government has temporarily increased FHA loan limits in many areas across the US. These government-insured loans are not FICO-score driven and require little to no down payment. Here’s the catch: these new limits expire at the end of the year, so you must act now.
• You really don’t want to play the waiting game if you are holding an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM). That’s because there is nowhere for the rates to go but up from here, if we are truly at the end of the Fed’s cutting cycle.

Invest 10 minutes in your financial future. While the Fed takes a quick break from cutting to plan its next move, take advantage of the opportunity to do the same for yourself. 

This is exerpted from a piece sent out by e-mail from Allied Mortgage on April 30th.  It makes so much sense.  The opportunity is tremendous right now, and as we’ve said before…..we guarantee the lowest price on your new home right now.  Lowest interest rates and lowest price….what’s not to love?

You’ve finally built your new home and moved in.  You’re probably ready to kick your feet up and relax.  There will be plenty of time to enjoy barbeques and family get togethers - music - laughter - all of the things you dreamed of while building your home.  Just a reminder though, with ownership comes maintenance.  A little planning and care will ensure that your new home will serve you well and you will build great memories.  Here are a few tips to making home ownership continue to be a good experience.  Home Maintenance Tips