Archive for Gettysburg PA
Create an Outdoor Oasis this Memorial Day
Posted by: | Comments
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
Posted by: | Comments
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
Posted by: | Comments
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
Posted by: | Comments
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→
New Homes Unveiled in Deatrick Village
Posted by: | Comments
Those looking for comfort and convenience located on one floor without breaking the bank should look no further than S&A Homes’ Deatrick Village. These Gettysburg new homes will be unveiled tomorrow, April 16th. Join us from 1-4 p.m. for the a tour of our brand new Wheatfield Villa design!
The new villas are completely re-designed to truly fit the ultimate lifestyle for those who seek an open layout, spacious kitchen, and first floor living. These 2-bedroom homes start as low as the $190’s and are just about ready for move-in! If you’re interested, you better hurry – we have already sold two of the four homes – the final two won’t last long!
The Wheatfield homes are located within Deatrick Village, a unique community situated just outside of Gettysburg, PA and across from the picturesque battlefields the area is known for. The neighborhood offers an on-site fitness center, club house, sidewalks and low maintenance living!
For more information regarding the event, please contact Kristen Yohn at kdy100@sahomebuilder.com or call at 717-334-7822 or visit us at S&A Homes.
Housing is Back!
Posted by: | Comments
We aren’t saying it though…Fortune Magazine is. And in a big way.
Not only does the magazine go out on a limb and predict a housing comeback during 2011, but it actually projects that a housing shortage may be in our near future. After 4 years of downward pricing trends and constant headlines about doom and gloom in the real estate market, it is encouraging (dare we say exciting?) to hear that downward pressures will soon be easing.
The author of ‘Real Estate: It’s Time to Buy Again’, Shawn Tully, along with Fortune Magazine was one of the first to predict the housing bubble burst, all the way back in 2004. By analyzing supply, credit standards, and the cost of renting vs. owning, Tully stated that the price appreciation at that time far exceeded the normal zone and that the housing market was in for a rude awakening. Read More→
FHA Changes Just 18 Days Away
Posted by: | Comments
It isn’t often that we get technical here at the S&A Homes blog, but some things are too important to ignore, and the upcoming changes to FHA Financing definitely falls in that category. If you are even considering purchasing a home and utilizing the many benefits of FHA loans to do so, then you need to be aware of the additional expenses that will be associated with those loans starting April 18th.
Here are the changes in a nutshell:
-Those with less than 10% down will see an annual increase of 50 basis points on their Mortgage Insurance Premium. Those with more than 10% down will see an annual increase of 25 basis points. (Read below for more on what this really means)
-Maximum Seller’s Contributions will be reduced from 6% to 3%. If you are one of those folks hoping to take advantage of no closing costs, then this definitely affects you as the seller will no longer be allowed to contribute more than 3% of the purchase price on behalf of the buyer.
-Credit standards will tighten up – Those with credit scores less than 580 MUST put at least 10% down. This means very little, considering most lenders require 620 to issue a loan in the first place. Read More→
Home Ownership = Pride
Posted by: | Comments
Are you renting and a little nervous to take the plunge into home ownership for the first time? What’s holding you back? Sure, there’s more responsibility, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Trust us, there is a lot to look forward to when you can kick your rental to the curb!
First, you get all the traditional perks of owning a home. You know… the ones you’ve heard time and again about tax benefits, equity and security. However, there are several intangible benefits that you may or may not have thought of.
- Consider Fido’s needs. When you own a home, you can have any type of pet that you’d like and a yard for your furry friend to roam in. No worries about hefty security deposits or ridiculous weight requirements! Read More→
Operation Organize Simplify Contest Winners Announced
Posted by: | Comments
S&A Homes’ Operation Organize Simplify contest has come to a close and the results are in. Congratulations to contest winner Chelsea Bester, who will receive a $150 Home Depot gift card and $500 (on top of the normal Realtor commission) with the next home she sells in one of our communities. Contest participants answered this question, If you could build your dream home, what is the one organizational item that you would incorporate into every home?
Bester’s idea for Operation Organize Simplify is to put a classic mudroom in every home. Her ideal mudroom would have at least one window and plenty of light. It would have a nice, cozy bench with storage space underneath for storing boots. There would also be a counter space for groceries, a center for taking care of the family pets and various storage options for clothing. For important news, a message board would be available for family members as soon as they entered the house. And finally there would be a tiled floor for easy cleaning because, well, who likes cleaning?
Suzy Alexander with Keller Williams Advantage Realty and Darla DeLaney with Coldwell Banker Town and Country were the runners-up. Each of them Read More→
Things Are Looking Up for Creating Storage Space in the Garage
Posted by: | Comments
Operation Organize Simplify is ready to tackle the space that rarely sees middle ground. It’s either a clean, carefully organized room with every spare tool and nail in its place or it’s, in a word, not.
And when the garage is a mess, other messes seem to get bigger. Need to fix the something fast? If only you could find the right screwdriver, that might be possible. Ready to hang the holiday lights? First you have to pull out half of boxes in the garage to reach the lights, the ladder, the hammer and the hooks. Anticipating that Santa may bring a bike, a scooter and a four-wheeler that will need a permanent home? It looks like you’ll need to find a spot in the bedroom.
For many homebuyers, the garage is an afterthought to home organization. It’s only after most of the boxes are unpacked that they realize they need Read More→
Equal Housing Opportunity