February 22nd, 2012
The layout of your home is probably one of the most significant choices you will ever make regarding your new Ivory Home. Regardless of where you live, the floor plan and flow of one space to the next should largely depend on your lifestyle. Consider how you and your family live and then choose a floor plan that enhances these traditions. Whether you prefer homes with a single story or multiple levels with bedrooms on top – making a choice can be stressful. Here are a few tips to help make the process a bit easier and help you choose a plan that you love. (more…)
February 17th, 2012
The scenario is all too common: a discerning homebuyer works long and hard to find a home to buy and ends up making a purchase decision based entirely on price. They fall in “love” with their home and move in, only to discover a few months down the road, that the love they thought they had was shallow. Their neighborhood and surroundings are rather disappointing, and the amazing “deal” they had perceived when buying their home, no longer translates into the lasting value they had hoped for. The joy of their new home is dampened and inevitably, the homebuyer feels genuine remorse in their home choice.
Most homebuilders often concern themselves only with your house and your lot. In contrast, along with their custom home floor plans and quality building materials, Ivory Homes creates inviting and unique communities. Not only does Ivory take pride in their craftsmanship, but they put considerable thought into formulating neighborhoods and amenities that support and encourage long lasting friendships and relations with your neighbors. (more…)
February 15th, 2012
Many buyers get fooled into the mistaken notion that if a lender pre-qualifies them for a mortgage this means that they have been pre-approved for a home loan. Unfortunately, there’s a world of difference between these two terms. If you’ve ever been confused by the two, we’ll bring you up to speed on how these terms differ – and why a misunderstanding can mean disaster for borrowers. (more…)
February 7th, 2012
At Ivory Homes, we never stop trying to improve our home designs. Buyers choose a builder based on a number of factors, but most want a home that is both functional and beautiful inside and out. Utilizing input from a variety of sources, we develop plans that incorporate the latest design trends. We look for ways to innovate while being careful not to get too far ahead of our buyers’ tastes and preferences. (more…)
January 31st, 2012
The weakened economy has led to fading values in customary investments such as stocks and 401K’s. To cope, many have adopted the common remedy of watching unfortunate circumstances dictate the value of their portfolios. An alternative is to invest in a physical asset, such as real estate. This allows investors to gain equity, feel the satisfaction of living in their investment, and know that it won’t disappear overnight.
Today’s housing market has generated some of the most opportune investment tools in the past 60 years. Some of these tools include historically low interest rates, great affordability rates, and an increase in product quality. (more…)
January 27th, 2012
Ivory Homes is offering new home-buyers a chance to start living in the neighborhood they want because neighborhood matters – a lot. Nothing feels worse than looking to build a new house, and getting all excited about that new custom home design, and then realizing you’ve plopped all your hopes and dreams down into a neighborhood run by the Hatfields and McCoys. Or, at least, by neighbors who:
- Don’t take care of their yards and outside appearance of their homes, which can lower the value of the other houses in your neighborhood by as much as 15%.
- Take up parking spaces.
- Have loud house parties and businesses that bring a lot of strangers and visitors in and out of the neighborhood.
- Have loud, barking dogs or stray cats.
- Have ponds, dangerous machinery or other hazards that could put children or pets in danger.
And there are other nearby businesses and other things that can lower your property value: (more…)
January 26th, 2012
Pricing in a Buyer’s Market:
Most of our homes are being sold below replacement cost. Ivory has managed itself well during the downturn and we are in a position to price our homes where the market dictates which, in most cases, is below our cost basis. So why don’t we “batten down our hatches” and wait for a seller’s market to return? The answer is simple. We care about our people and know that the value of our business is derived from being there year after year for both our customers and team members.
Excellent locations and the best home-sites will not last:
Because the cost to develop brand new communities is so substantial, most homebuilders cannot compete with communities that have already been developed with new home-sites on which to build. Furthermore, the cost to buy raw land, even at reduced pricing, and the investment required to build the community infrastructure is much greater. If you want to get a great price on a new home, the time to buy is now, before you have to bear the rising cost of raw materials, land and community infrastructure. (more…)
January 24th, 2012
Turns out our scores are not just a reflection of our ability, or lack thereof, to pay on time, but they tell a story of how we run our lives. If there’s a blip in that story, say a 30-day late payment, the red flags pop up and all those years of paying dutifully can fall flat quickly.
Much attention has been focused on credit scores during this recession as consumers have struggled to keep up with their mortgage payments and revolving debt. Many consumers — even those who have long had outstanding credit ratings — have complained that their scores have fallen as credit-card companies slashed limits and closed inactive cards. (more…)
January 20th, 2012
My husband and I purchased our home in July of 2007. Like many fellow Americans, a few months later we were informed that as a result of the economic downturn, the value of our home had dropped and we owed more than it was worth. While that news was not encouraging at the time, we have since been able to secure a lower interest rate on our mortgage, which has lowered our monthly payment and helped us stretch our money.
Interest rates are an interesting thing. They reflect the wellbeing of the housing market. When the supply of homes is greater than the demand for them, interest rates drop to encourage consumers to buy. As the demand increases and the supply decreases the interest rates rise. Interestingly, the wellbeing of the housing market is a major reflection of economic conditions. Our present economic conditions have resulted in a large supply of homes for sale and low demand. This in turn has driven interest rates down. (more…)
January 17th, 2012
When it comes to choosing a Builder there are numerous elements to consider:
The most important element is often the location. Choose a location that is conveniently located near schools, shopping centers and is easily accessible for commuters. Look for a community that has open spaces, parks, trails and clubhouses. These amenities will add value to your home along with helping to create a great neighborhood environment.
Next choose a Builder with superior style and design. There is much more to purchasing a home than simply the price per square foot. Does the builder use quality materials? Is the design more than a square box? Will the Builder allow you to customize the home to your needs and wants? (more…)
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