Archive for Bridgeport WV
West Virginia – We Build on Our Lot or Yours
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WV new homes on your lot or ours
West Virginia is known for its rolling hills, vast state parks, and beautiful scenery. It is also home to some of the most cutting edge technology firms and medical practices in the state, most of which are located on the I-79 Tech Corridor just south of Morgantown, WV and its environs. Smack dab in the middle of all this action (and scenery) is Bridgeport, WV, a tight knit community that combines small town friendliness with ultra convenient access to the workplace and area shopping and restaurants.
Charles Pointe, a master-planned community of WV new homes in the heart of Bridgeport, offers a myriad of possibilities for anyone who wants to live and work in the area. The community is packed full of amenities, and combines three neighborhoods into one.
Those seeking maintenance-free carriage home living could not ask for an easier life than the one they get at Parkview Village. These spacious townhomes offer first-floor living, spacious kitchens and great rooms in addition to community shopping, walking trails and recreation. Those looking for a bit more land will find it at Worthington Village and Hunter’s Chase. Both are part of the Charles Pointe master-planned Read More→
Santa is Coming to Town (And He’s Stopping By Our WV New Homes)!
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Santa is Coming to Town
Anyone who was brave enough to venture out of their WV new homes this past week to fight for a parking spot and stand in long lines at the shopping mall is probably dreading the next trip out. But, the kids can’t miss a chance to see Santa and get their picture taken, right? Right! Except this year, head over to Worthington Village in Bridgeport, WV and you can skip the crowds you would normally be fighting off this time of year. Read More→
Selling Your Home? Our Top Ten Tips
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Here at S&A Homes, many of our buyers of PA new homes are also home sellers! And, at the height of summer, it can be tough to attract potential home buyers. Family vacations, barbecues and camp outs seem to compete for attention. The sudden decrease in showings can be scary to someone selling their home, but take solace. The buyers who do walk through tend to be serious and motivated.
But competition is stiff, and being on your A-Game is critical if you want to have the home that stands out (for the right reasons of course). Here are our top 10 tips to help sell your home this summer: Read More→
Are Adjustable Rate Mortgages for You?
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Over the past couple of weeks, we have untangled the rumors surrounding Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) products and put common misconceptions to rest. But, regardless of the integrity of the ARM products, they are not for everyone. For others, they equate to an incredible savings when purchasing Pennsylvania new homes.
Let’s first talk about who they work for:
- First-Time Buyers – The average first-time buyer only lives in their first home for 3-5 years. Saving anywhere from $1,000 – $5,000 a year is pretty attractive for someone just getting started.
- Relocaters – You know who you are. If you want to keep climbing the corporate ladder, then it may take a few cities and offices to get there. If you know your job will force you to move every 3-5 years, then an ARM makes perfect sense.
- The Average Home Buyer - Again, the average person (not first-time) lives in a residence for 5-7 years. The problem is predicting this timing. As jobs change, kids come, or kids living needs change, those “forever” PA or WV new homes quickly become outdated and homeowners are left looking for more (or less). If only we had a crystal ball, then it would be much easier to know if we should go fixed mortgage or adjustable rate! Read More→
Adjustable Rate Mortgages: The Good, The Bad and…The Reality
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Last week, we discussed the fact that Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) can work for some buyers of PA new homes and not others. Today, we will talk about what an ARM specifically is and how it works. Next week, we will explore which subset of buyers should most consider an ARM product when considering various loan products.
- ARMs are fixed for the first few years of the product. The number at the front of the ARM (i.e. 5/1 = 5 Years) indicates the number of years the interest rate stays fixed. At the end of the fixed term, an ARM can adjust up OR down, depending on where interest rates are at that time. The adjustable period on a 30-year product lasts from Years 6-30 and the interest rate will adjust ONCE A YEAR each of those years to whatever the interest rate is at each of those years. This number can be lower or higher than the initial rate during the fixed year.
- The adjusted interest rate does have a lifetime cap. Most Wells Fargo rates (our preferred lender) offer a lifetime cap of 5%, some lifetime caps are 6%. What does this mean? It means that a 5/1 ARM with a 2.75% interest rate that has a 5% lifetime cap can never go higher than 7.75% at any point during the loan term. So, you can rest easy – your interest rate isn’t going to shoot up to 18% if you have a lifetime cap of 7.75%. Read More→
Adjustable Rate Mortgages – Good or Bad?
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Well, the simple answer is that there is not a “one answer fits all” to the above question. Adjustable Rate Mortgages (commonly referred to as ARMs) are good for some buyers of WV and PA new homes and not for others. Over the next two weeks we will write a 3-Part series about Adjustable Rate Mortgages to ensure you have all of the 411 you need to understand these mortgage products and why they work for some homeowners and not for others.
Consider the below story (based on my own real life experience):
- 2003 – Matt and Sara purchase their first home.
- 2004 – One year later, Matt’s office relocates to the other side of the city and they are forced to sell their townhouse, and they build their first single-family home on the other side of the city.
- 2007 – Baby #1 comes and Matt and Sara decide to sell their home near the city and move to their hometown to be closer to their parents and extended family.
- 2011 – Matt’s job is eliminated and Matt and Sara are forced to relocate to the other side of the U.S. Read More→
Create an Outdoor Oasis this Memorial Day
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At least we can credit the recent heat wave (can we call it that?) for reminding us that yes… Summer is actually right around the corner! Instead of building an arc to rescue our pets and loved ones from the non-stop rain, we can all dust off the patio furniture for another summer of fun.
Indeed, there is nothing better than escaping to your own backyard oasis after being cooped up in the house for months. You will be happy to know that there is no need to sell your first-born to get that outdoor Pottery Barn look. Instead, let these 5 simple ideas help you transform the backyard of your WV and PA new homes into a true outdoor living room.
- Ornamental Grasses – With seeds starting as low as $1 and potted plants starting as low as $5, these fast-growing puppies can get up to 6’ tall and quickly form an exotic, privacy fence for any deck or patio.
- Unstained Furniture – Consider picking up some super-chic, super-cheap pieces at your local “naked furniture store.” With a little bit of outdoor stain or paint you can create that Adirondack look for a whole lot less. Fun paint colors and a few funky pillows will give you a unique look for a lot less than a designer set. Read More→
Top Home Buying Trends of 2011
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With all of the different marketing messages out there, we will put the big question out there – what do buyers of Pennsylvania new homes really want? There is no simple answer to this question, since every individual has their own set of circumstances. That being said, there are some distinct trends in the new home industry. Let’s dissect some of the top trends.
Smaller Houses - That’s right – it’s not about how many square feet any more. It’s about how that square footage is used. Gone are the days of the large formal areas and trudging up and down the basement steps to do a load of laundry. Today’s new homes feature innovative touches like second-floor laundry rooms, technology drop zones and built-in media centers to reduce the need for space without sacrificing functionality.
Smaller Home sites - Although driven out of necessity in urban areas, this growing trend is a direct reflection of today’s hectic lifestyles. Between 40+ hour workweeks, kid’s sports activities, commuting and traveling, buyers want to spend less time maintaining their lawns and more time enjoying their life. Of course, the word ‘smaller’ is a relative term and driven by individual markets. Read More→
Scoping Out Land? What You Need to Know
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Many of our customers come to us after they have purchased a piece of ground. And for most, the process is simple, affordable and easy. However, for an occasional few who don’t do all their homework before purchasing their own piece of land, some of the aggravation and expense could have been easily avoided through some simple homework.
Since a quarter of our owners of PA new homes chose to build on their own piece of ground, we thought we’d offer up a few tips to consider before you go ahead and sign on the dotted line for your own piece of heaven. Read More→
ENERGY STAR™ Program Saves Money and Environment
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Well, the latest and greatest numbers are out! S&A Homes continues to raise the bar by building ENERGY STAR™ qualified and energy efficient homes in PA and WV. S&A’s commitment to high-performance building practices does a lot more than simply cut back on resources and save homeowners money.
When the typical consumer thinks of an ENERGY STAR™ home, most think of the energy savings they can achieve through their homes’ energy efficiency. And while it is true that ENERGY STAR™ saves homeowners hundreds to thousands of dollars a year, it would be a shame to miss out on the fact that the program also has a tremendous positive impact on the environment as a whole.
Consider the fact that S&A Homes settled enough homes in 2010 to:
- Eliminate emissions from 86.24 vehicles
- Save 521,665 lbs. of coal
- Plant 142,56 acres of trees
- Save Homeowners $78,672 on their utility bills Read More→
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