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…)
November 11th, 2011
CLICK THE THE LINK BELLOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE GINGERBREAD FESTIVAL AND TO REGISTER TO BUILD A GINGERBREAD HOUSE FOR THE CONTEST!
http://ivoryhomes.com/blog/index.php/ivory-homes-annual-gingerbread-contest/
Ivory Homes is partnering with the United Way this year to put on the annual Gingerbread House Contest! This is an amazing event perfect for your family this holiday season!
There will be cash prizes of: $1000 plus $1000 to a charity of your choice
$500 plus $500 to a charity of your choice
$250 plus $1000 to a charity of your choice
Plus many more prizes and give aways!
The festival will be December 14-17 at the Gateway Mall in The Grand Hall. Add a new tradition to your holiday downtown Christmas light experience and put in your holiday calendars the Gingerbread Festival!!
Santa will be there, with all his elves! There will be Holiday musical performers and so much more!
Check out some of last years amazing gingerbread houses!
CLICK THE THE LINK BELLOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE GINGERBREAD FESTIVAL AND TO REGISTER TO BUILD A GINGERBREAD HOUSE FOR THE CONTEST!
http://ivoryhomes.com/blog/index.php/ivory-homes-annual-gingerbread-contest/
September 12th, 2011
They say a photo is worth a 1000 words, well in the case of the Ivory Homes Photo Contest they are worth more than $1000! The photo contest kicked off on September 7th with voting and ends on September 14th at midnight. The goal of the photo contest was to capture a photo that represented “Anything Ivory Homes”. “We want to see our homes, and neighborhoods through the eyes and camera lenses of the communities that surround us “, says Rick Day of the Ivory Homes Marketing Team. The contest has over 70 amazing applicants! The Grand Prize (Cannon t3i Camera and $1000 Photographer contract with Ivory Homes) will be chosen by The Ivory Homes Marketing Team. 1st, 2nd, 3rd place will be determined by most votes. 1st place:$1000, 2nd place: $750, and 3rd place: $500. To cast your vote click on the the link http://www.facebook.com/ivoryhomes?sk=app_154581087931912 , “LIKE” IVORY HOMES, and give a vote to your favorite photographs!
Your vote could determine the wining shot!
August 19th, 2011
Blues, greens, whites, dark wood, white wood all coming together to create a beautiful design with the Bellevue-Montclair! The Montclair took “Best in Interior Design” and “Best in it’s Category”. Darling Design Blog “6th Street Design School” by Kristen Krason highlighted many of the Ivory Home’s fetured in the Parade. Check it out at http://6thstreetdesignschool.blogspot.com/2011/08/salt-lake-city-parade-of-homes.html.
Don’t be afraid to be daring with your colors! A daring design could be award winning!
Here are some pictures of the award winning interior of the Montclair at Bellevue.
August 4th, 2011
It is not your average “Elbow elbow, wrist wrist waving” parade.
It is summer in Utah so that means it is the Parade of Homes! Ivory Homes had five fantastic Homes in the Parade! Here are two that have been receiving a lot of attention!
BEST IN ARCHITECTURE: Holladay Glenn, Briarwood.
1976 E Cecelia Cir (5750 S), Holladay, UT
One of our newest communities, this prime location in Holladay is a beautiful piece of land off of Highland Drive. It’s a rare opportunity to be able to build or buy a new home in a mature neighborhood, and there are only 6 lots available!
Make sure while you visit the Briarwood, you take a close look at the flooring! You will be amazed! Make sure and take some time to enjoy the backyard living room, and the incredibly designed kitchen with Maple and Alder Cabinets !
People who have visited say: “So spacious on the inside”, “Darling”, “Great area”, “Love the design!”.
BEST IN INTERIOR DESIGN,
BEST IN IT’S CATEGORY:
Bellevue, Montclair.
13172 S Lone Rock Dr (700 E), Draper, UT
This gorgeous east-side community is one of Ivory’s top-selling locations. It is already well developed with carefully manicured yards and nicely maintained homes. A large park is designed as part of our upcoming phase, and an elementary school sits conveniently within the community.
Make sure when you visit the Montclair you check out the back porch with stylish outdoor curtains. You will love the social space of the kitchen and family room. The design team really went above and beyond on this model and you will walk away feeling inspired to make your home a masterpiece!
People who have visited say: “Absolutely fabulous”, “Every Ivory Home is darling!”, “LOVE THIS!”, “This home is talent!”
Ivory Homes has homes in the parade in Holladay Glenn, Bellevue, Ivory Crossing, and Day Break! Come out and see what the parade has for you and your family!
June 16th, 2011
10 good examples of the type of leaders we need
Deseret News
Randy Shumway
Published: Tuesday, June 7, 2011 12:00 a.m. MDT
More than ever, Utah needs experienced, intelligent and principle-driven individuals producing sound public policy. As state Sen. Dan Liljenquist has aptly demonstrated through his thoughtful attention to pension and Medicaid reform, analytically examining Utah’s core challenges allows for prioritized solutions that unite myriad stakeholders and ensure long-term prosperity.
The following are 10 individuals who embody what we need in public servants. There are many more individuals who share similar character traits. My intent is not to narrow the field of qualified Utahns to these 10, but rather to demonstrate the caliber of individuals available to Utah. Each has substantive experience. More importantly, each demonstrates profound intellect and integrity.
Scott Anderson: Possibly the most influential and well-respected business leader in Utah, Anderson leverages his role as the CEO of Zions Bank to contribute significantly to numerous service organizations and to drive thoughtful public policy throughout the state. Under Anderson’s leadership, Zions Bank has tripled in size, today boasting over $16 billion in assets and $13.6 billion in deposits.
Mark Bouchard: Raised by a single mother, Bouchard started helping support his family at an early age. Sacrifices for his family prevented him from attending college, which may explain his dedicated leadership today toward K-12 and higher education. Building on 30 years of banking and real estate experience, Bouchard leads the CB Richard Ellis operation for Utah and New Mexico.
Maura Carabello: After building a career at Time, Inc., Carabello co-founded a successful communications company in Utah. Under her leadership, it has grown 30 percent annually. In addition to being a key adviser to several statewide elected officials, she has propelled strategic investments exceeding $500 million into Utah’s quality-of-life infrastructure.
Spencer Eccles, Jr.: Eccles’ commitment to Utah isn’t limited to the buildings and foundations carrying his last name or the countless philanthropic endeavors that remain untold. He masterfully managed the Snow Basin venue at the Salt Lake Olympics and Paralympics. Now the successful venture capitalist has again put his private career on hold to run the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
Natalie Gochnour: Gochnour combines experience as the state’s former chief economist, a partner at a well-established health consulting firm, and as a senior administrator at both the EPA and the Department of Health and Human Services. Today, she serves as the executive vice president of the Salt Lake Chamber and as an economics instructor at the University of Utah.
Clark Ivory: Intensely committed to data-driven decisions, Ivory Homes has significantly grown its market share during a difficult economy because of Ivory’s methodical analysis and prioritization. The result has been increased jobs for Utahns. This Harvard MBA is a trustee for the University of Utah and is the former chair of the Federal Reserve Bank, Salt Lake City branch.
David Jordan: This former U.S. Attorney leads a successful litigation law practice and is one of the most respected attorneys in the state. More impactful, however, may be his civics leadership, which spans chairing the Board of Regents, providing ecclesiastical direction to a cluster of congregations, coaching his son’s high school lacrosse team and serving on multiple education and community boards.
Kirk Jowers: Dubbed the “most quoted man in Utah,” Jowers is a Harvard-educated partner of a top international law firm. Along with chairing Utah’s Commission on Strengthening Democracy and serving on Gov. Gary Herbert’s “Kitchen Cabinet,” Jowers leads the U.’s Federal Relations and Hinckley Institute, which he has expanded globally and grown significantly since taking the helm.
Jim Kearl: With a Ph.D in Economics from M.I.T., a P.D. in Law from Harvard, and as a former White House Fellow and special assistant to Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, Kearl is not merely one of the most sought-out professors at BYU, but is also heavily relied upon by organizations and governments around the world.
Rich McKeown: Building upon a career that began as a school teacher and then as an attorney, McKeown ultimately became the chief of staff and senior counselor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, managing day-to-day operations of a $740 billion, 67,000 employee department. Today, he leads a multi-million dollar consulting business in Utah.
June 6th, 2011
By Dr. Steve Sjuggerud
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Now is literally the best time in recorded history to buy a house in America…
Right now – today – U.S. real estate is the most affordable it’s ever been. Ever.
When I say “affordable,” I’m looking at three things: house prices, mortgage rates, and incomes.
With the Affordability Index near 200, the median family has 200% of the income necessary to buy the median home (or more specifically, to qualify for a conventional loan on the median home).
It’s easy to see where we are now…
Right now, as you know, house prices are sitting near new lows for this cycle, down by roughly one-third (depending on who’s counting). And right now, mortgage rates – after ticking above 5% earlier this year – are all the way down to 4.5% again, near all-time lows.
So it’s simple: With the worst house-price crash in American history, combined with the lowest mortgage rates in history, you can now afford more home than ever.
Meanwhile, hope is gone. Everyone thinks housing is hopeless. That is when a bear market ends and a new bull market begins.
At a conference I attended last month, some speakers spoke woefully of the large supply of houses for sale. That will take care of itself in time. Others bemoaned the certainty of higher interest rates in the future, which would hurt housing. But they shouldn’t be so certain…
Twenty years ago, Japan faced a housing bust similar to ours. Japan’s government has cut interest rates to near zero and printed money. And long-term interest rates in Japan currently sit around 1%.
Even rising interest rates won’t kill housing… In the 1970s, interest rates were rising, and house prices outperformed stock prices.
The story is simple: House prices have fallen more than ever… And mortgage rates are lower than ever. If you can buy a house now (and want one), go for it.
Now is the best time in American history to do it.
Good investing,
Steve
Ivory Living
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