Mount Sterling Custom Homes

August 22, 2013

Housing Industry and the Current Status in the U.S.

Architect, Industry, New Home Owners, Purchasing APR, Building, Homes, Housing industry, Mortgage Rates, Mount Sterling Custom Homes, Safety, US

There are plenty of people that worry about the state of the housing market in the United States. The housing market affects different people on different levels. Some depend on the housing industry for employment. Other people are worried about getting a return on an investment they made on a home in the past. There are groups of people that wonder if now is the time to buy a home or would they be better off renting a home. There are many reasons to worry about the housing market and that is why there is so much information being written about it.

The state of the housing market can be broken down into several areas. These include the sales of homes, the construction of new homes and the interest rates of mortgage. In order to understand how the housing market is doing, you have to look at all three areas.

Sales of Existing Homes

During the height of the real estate boom, houses were selling like hotcakes. You could get a premium price on any home you owned because of the demand that there was. When the bottom of the market fell out, the sales of existing homes also slowed. Homes would sit on the market for a lot longer and the price they could get was much lower. Over the last few years the average price of homes has risen slightly, but it really depends on where a home is. Many homes have still not gotten back to the value they had before the real estate bust, but they will get there eventually. The amount of time it takes to sell a home is also decreasing and homes that are priced well and presented in the right way can still sell quickly.

Building of New Homes

At the height of the real estate boom, the sales of new homes were never higher. When the market fell, no one needed a new home and construction of new homes stopped as the supply of homes in the market was much higher than the demand. In 2012 the construction of single family homes increased a little less than 3% over the previous year. That trend is expected to continue and should increase even more in the future.

The Mortgage Rates

The mortgage rates and the availability of money for people to buy a home is a reflection of the housing market. For the past several years the rates have dropped and people have been able to obtain mortgages for as low as 3% APR. That makes home more affordable for everyone to buy. It also is easier than it used to be to get a mortgage although it is still not as simple as it was 10 years ago.

July 19, 2013

Tips on Decorating Your Basement

Basment, Decorations Basement, Decor, Mount Sterling Custom Homes, Planning, Precautions

There are plenty of people who own homes that do not make use of all of the space that the home has to offer. One of the most neglected areas of a home is the basement. For many homeowners, the basement is a dark and scary place that the kids are afraid of to go down to. It is used for a few of the mechanical necessities of a home and for storage, but not much else. If you are looking to get more room in your home, think about using your basement. With the right decorating touches, it can turn into a very family friendly area or a secret hiding place for the adults to use.

Have a Purpose

The first thing that you need to think about when decorating a basement is what it will be used for. Many basements feature a lot of open space. They can be the perfect place to have a playroom for the kids. If the room is going to be used for kids to play around in, find the decorations that are kid friendly. Bright colors and soft furniture are great. Bean bag chairs are comfortable and easy for kids to use wherever they want. Consider using furniture that kids cannot harm. The lighting in the room should also be bright, so the kids can see everything easily. Other considerations for a playroom include items such as pool tables and pinball machines. A media setup where the kids can play their video games will turn the basement into the place to be.

If you want a romantic getaway, make sure that you have plenty of furniture that can be shared by more than one person. An electric fireplace and some romantic table lighting will help set the perfect mood.

Take Some Precautions

No matter what you are going to use the basement space for, you need to make sure to take some basic precautions. An intercom system can help you talk to anyone in the home when you are in the basement and a cordless phone can keep you from having to trek upstairs when it starts ringing. You might have to do some things to make it easier for you to hear what is going on above you when you use your basement as extra space in your home.

Before you decorate your basement, make sure that it is a place that you will want to be in. Even if you decorate it fabulously, if you don’t like the idea of heading downstairs, it may not be worth the effort.

July 1, 2013

Benefits of Living in a Neighborhood Community

Benefits, Neighborhood Benefits, Home Buyers, Mount Sterling Custom Homes, Neighborhood Community, Parks

The number one thing that people worry about when they are looking to buy a home is the location. The location of a home has more to do with its value than any other thing that a home has to offer. You can build a home to have all of the upgrades that you want, but when it is not in the location you want, it is never going to be the perfect home.

There are plenty of home buyers that are looking to live in a great neighborhood community. They want to be able to know their neighbors and to enjoy all of the benefits that these types of communities can offer. There are plenty of builders that are creating the planned neighborhoods that people are looking for. There are certain things you can expect from these communities.

Nice Amenities

The communities want to make sure that everyone’s home looks nice to anyone that is driving through. They offer services such as mowing of lawns and snow removal. The idea is to keep the neighborhood looking nice for everyone.

Parks are another important consideration in these communities. They provide families and individuals with a place to go and to enjoy the outdoors in. Bike trails, walking paths and playgrounds are features that the parks might offer to the residents of a community. It is also popular to join a community pool that is in the neighborhood.

The pools and parks will offer activities for children such as team sports. It is a great way for people to come together to cheer on their friends and neighbors that are competing. The best neighborhood communities will make the effort to keep everyone entertained regardless of their age.

Who Creates All of These Things

A developer might plan a park and they might build a community pool, but it is the people in the neighborhood who keep it running. Boards are created to help keep the neighborhood looking the way that everyone wants. They can deal with homeowners that are not keeping up their home or are in some way disturbing the neighborhood.

The homeowners association for a neighborhood will control all of the amenities that are offered. They will determine how much each homeowner has to pay because of all of the benefits that the community offers. Nothing in a neighborhood is really free. Every homeowner has to pay their fair share so that all can benefit from what is offered.