Plantation Homes News Feed

Houston : Window Covering Options for Your New Home

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

No matter how beautifully crafted your windows are, your new home in Houston is likely to look more polished and attractive with a complementary window treatment. From ornate curtains to simple, sheer panels, the options are numerous and available in a range of prices.

Depending on your skill level with woodworking tools and sewing machines, you may be able to create or personalize a variety of window coverings. Window treatments are often expensive, so a bit of skill and patience can save a lot of money while also offering unique designs that are a perfect accompaniment to each room in your home. Existing curtains and blinds can be personalized through the use of a simple valance, decorative trim, or unusual tie-back.

If your new home in Houston features floor-to-ceiling windows and you’re having trouble finding affordable curtains that are long enough, consider using a standard-length neutral curtain and adding a contrasting fabric to the bottom to make up the length. Whether you sew it yourself or hire a professional, you can create a customized look for a fraction of the cost.

Roman blinds are a popular window covering because they are elegant yet convertible. If the décor in your room is fairly simple, consider using a bold, colorful print for the fabric of your shade for a pop of visual interest. If you prefer your window treatment to be more subtle, a fabric that matches the wall color, enhanced with a simple decorative trim can create an elegant statement.

Many homeowners have turned to more sustainable materials and building practices and want the décor in their new home to reflect this. Bamboo is a renewable and attractive material that is used in a variety of window treatments. Blinds, curtains, and roman shades made from bamboo are available in multiple stains and add a touch of instant exotic style to a room.

Another option growing in popularity is the use of overlapping sheer panels in natural materials. They are a particularly appealing option for homeowners looking for a convenient way to provide adjustable shade and privacy for sliding-glass patio doors without resorting to vertical blinds.

If you want to add a personal touch to your new home in Houston, don’t be afraid to experiment with your window coverings. Simple, inexpensive window treatments can be enhanced to create a luxe, custom-looking design that will enhance the beauty of your home.

Houston : MHI ANNOUNCES BEAT THE HEAT SALES EVENT

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

HOUSTON, TX– McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc., (MHI) is offering buyers a cool promotion this summer that won’t have them sweating over electricity payments for years.

Through the “Beat the Heat” sales event, MHI will prepay two years’ worth of electricity bills for people buying a home now through July 28. Sales counselors have further details. Plantation Homes, Coventry Homes and Carmel Builders — all part of the MHI family of builders — are participating in the promotion. The Beat the Heat incentive also is valid for buyers in Coventry Homes’ Build On Your Lot program.

“This is one of our most popular promotions,” said James Miller, MHI region president. “It really resonates with buyers who start seeing their electricity bills skyrocket during the hot Houston summers.

“The added bonus is that once the promotion ends, our buyers will still see savings on electricity bills because MHI homes are built ‘Eco Smart.’”

Miller says the company’s homes are up to 50 percent more efficient, on average, than homes built prior to 2000 and 15 percent more efficient than the minimum standards required through the Energy Star program.

“Every $100 per month in energy savings realized over the lifetime of home ownership equates to an extra $20,000 in upgrades or home you can afford,” Miller said. “Combined with today’s low interest rates, buyers have significant buying power right now.”

Homes by MHI can be found in more than 30 Houston-area communities located near employment centers and popular shopping and entertainment destinations. Plantation Homes’ pricing starts in the $120,000s to the $350,000s. Designs by Coventry Homes are priced from the $250,000s to the $600,000s. Carmel Builders and Coventry Homes have townhomes and custom homes from the $300,000s to $1.5 million within several Inner Loop developments.

For more information on Coventry Homes, visit www.coventryhomes.com. Details about Plantation Homes are available at www.plantationhomes.com. And for information about Carmel Builders, see www.carmelbuilderstx.com. For information regarding the build on your lot program, visit www.buildonyourlot-texas.com.

About Plantation Homes

Plantation Homes is part of a group of companies including McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc., and MHI Partnership, Ltd. With a 25-year history in Texas, Plantation Homes currently builds in the state’s largest markets: Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio. The builder has won numerous awards for its innovative product design, including local, state and national honors. For more information, visit www.plantationhomes.com.

About MHI

Since its inception in 1988, MHI exceeds customers’ expectations through quality service, construction, and value. MHI offers its award winning designs under its signature brands – Pioneer Homes, Plantation Homes, Coventry Homes and Carmel Builders in five markets across Texas. MHI builds thousands of homes annually and is honored as one of the top 30 homebuilding firms in the nation. For more information, visit www.mcguyerhomebuilders.com.

Dallas : How to Make Your Home More Enticing to Buyers

Thu, 30 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Although the housing market has shown signs of recovery, quick sales of existing homes aren’t easy. If you are looking to buy a new home in Dallas, but need to sell your current home, it is important to make your home stand out from the competition. A thoughtful approach to selling your home will help remove many of the obstacles that face sellers in today’s market.

No one wants to invest a great deal of time and money in a house they are trying to sell, but to make your home as enticing as possible to potential buyers, it is important to make some investment. Although a full kitchen renovation is unnecessary, basic repairs and updates should be made. Peeling paint, missing baseboards, broken light fixtures, and stained carpet must all be addressed. Prospective buyers are going to focus on all of the repairs that must be made and weigh them against the cost of the house. Unless the buyer is specifically looking for a fixer-upper for their new home in Dallas – and the low cost that generally goes along with it – these additional costs may discourage them from even making an offer.

In addition to making obvious repairs, it is important that your home is spotless and ready to receive potential buyers at all times. Consider hiring a cleaning service if your schedule is too busy to keep on top of daily maintenance. This relatively small investment may pay off in the long run. Dirty, cluttered homes aren’t welcoming, making it difficult for buyers to see themselves living there.

Assuming all repairs are made, the house is clean, organized, and fresh smelling, you may still find yourself struggling to attract buyers. Competition is fierce and many other sellers are taking similar actions. An increasingly popular way of enticing buyers is by offering a home warranty. A home warranty ensures that should there be a problem with the plumbing, electrical system, heating, or air conditioning, the homeowner can have it repaired or replaced for a small deductible, usually $75 or less. A potential buyer, who may be worried about the costs of repairing or replacing unknown appliances and systems may be much more inclined to purchase an older house, knowing there’s a safety net.

If you must sell your existing home before buying a new home in Dallas, be sure to find a top-quality realtor. An experienced realtor will help you determine the best way to make your home enticing to potential buyers.

Houston : Houston Area Family Decides on New Plantation Home vs. Resale

Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The search for a new home in Houston can lead buyers down many paths. The desire for certain features, location, or number of rooms can have a major impact on the success of a home for sale hunt. Searching for an existing home is often the first route buyers take for convenience, but many buyers, such as David and Saritha Bowles, have come to discover that a new home offers both convenience and satisfaction.

The Bowles family wanted a new home that would fit their changing needs. With one daughter and the hopes of more children to come, they began their search for a house with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The size of the house wasn’t their only concern. Location was equally important. Saritha’s parents, who live in Sugar Land, provide childcare while Saritha is at work as a teacher in the Fort Bend school district. Their new home needed to be within easy reach of work and family.

With the addition of budget restrictions – they didn’t want to spend more than $200,000 – and a desire for certain other amenities such as a study, game room and pool, finding an existing home that met all of their needs was proving challenging. They searched for three months, looking at close to 30 properties, but few met their location, size, and cost requirements.

Hoping to broaden their options, the Bowles family began looking at homes in Richmond and Rosenberg. It was here that they came across a builder for Plantation Homes. As they discussed the options available in constructing a new home in Houston, they soon realized they could have a home that met almost all of their needs, while staying within their general budget.

The total cost of the house came to $219,000, but David and Saritha think the extra cost is worth it. They were able to purchase a brand new home that they were able to customize, including choosing all of the fixtures, tile and granite.

Finding the perfect new home for sale in Houston doesn’t have to be a time-consuming and disappointing process. Resale homes often need improvements or lack certain desired basics. By turning to a builder like Plantation Homes, you can quickly develop a home tailored to your own specific needs.

Austin : Spruce Up Your New Home Patio

Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Texas and patios are made for each other. The patio of your new home in Austin offers a comfortable place to enjoy the summer sun, neighborhood barbecues, or a quiet moment of relaxation. If your patio was a little neglected during the winter, now is the time to spruce it up so that you can make the most of it.

Your patio flooring may need nothing more than a good sweep, but if there are marks left from old vegetation or rusty furniture, you may want to consider using a power washer. Useful on almost any surface, it can help get rid of that layer of grime that builds up throughout the year. Even your patio furniture may benefit from a quick power wash if it is sturdy enough.

If you have concrete surfaces, get them clean and spotless and then use a concrete sealant. This will help protect against staining and a long summer of wear and tear. Similarly, if you have wood surfaces, be sure to treat them with a stain, paint or sealant. Not only will this keep the wood looking its best, it will help protect it from the hot Texas sun, which can quickly cause wood to dry out and splinter.

To help keep the patio of your new home in Austin looking its best throughout the season, it’s a good idea to take a few preventative measures. Patio furniture, especially metal furniture, can be rough on your patio’s flooring, scratching it and sometimes leaving behind rust marks. To limit this kind of damage, put rubber feet on all table and chair legs. Most hardware stores should stock some sort of rubber feet to fit your furniture.

Planters full of flowers add color and style to a patio, but they can also be the source of stains and other messes. Keep any fallen plant life swept up so that it doesn’t break down and stain your patio. You should also keep plates, trays, or feet under potted plants and larger planters. This will help protect against water damage that can cause marking.

A few simple tasks at the beginning of the season will make regular maintenance of your patio much easier. With the addition of comfortable patio furniture, attractive lighting, and a quality grill, your patio will be inviting and a wonderful complement to your new home in Austin.

Houston : Keeping Your Home Clean and Green

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

If your new home in Houston, TX, is a Plantation Home, then you are already reaping the benefits of an environmentally friendly home. Built using green construction techniques and featuring energy-efficient appliances, your home is already at the forefront of eco-smart homes in Texas. To continue this positive trend, why not turn to more natural cleaning solutions to keep your house looking spotless.

We want our homes to be clean and healthy, but harsh, chemical cleaners aren’t necessarily the best choice. For some people, commercial cleaners can cause breathing and skin reactions. Other homeowners are simply concerned about the long-lasting effect commercial cleaners can have on the health of people and the planet. Fortunately, simple ingredients such as vinegar, lemon oil and baking soda all do a tremendous job at keeping homes clean and healthy.

White vinegar is a favorite when it comes to green cleaning products. It can be used in kitchens and bathrooms to cut through grease and kill mildew. Whether used on its own or mixed with hot water, it serves as an effective surface cleaner on greasy stovetops, cabinets, countertops, sinks and toilets. For streak-free windows and mirrors throughout your new home in Houston, TX, spray on some white vinegar and then rub with crumpled newspaper. Your glass surfaces will be clean and free of lint.

Vinegar might not have the nicest smell while you’re using it, but the smell dissipates once it has dried. If you’re particularly sensitive to the smell, you can also wipe down any surfaces on which you have used vinegar with a damp cloth. Another alternative is to use lemon juice and lemon essential oil. The acidity in lemons also helps to cut through grease. Lemon essential oil is particularly useful in helping to get rid of hard-water stains on shower doors and other surfaces. A drop of lemon oil on a cotton ball or pad can also be used to clean sticky residues off surfaces.

Lots of people keep a box of baking soda in the fridge and freezer to help with odors, but there’s so much more that can be done with this simple ingredient. When paired with vinegar, it can help clear up and freshen slow drains. A baking soda paste can also be used to clean grimy ovens and stovetops, without the awful fumes. You can even sprinkle dry baking soda on rugs and carpets before vacuuming to help get rid of odors.

By turning to natural cleaning agents such as these, parents of young children don’t have to worry about potentially dangerous residue that can be left behind by chemical cleaners. Best of all, these simple ingredients are also highly affordable, especially when purchased in bulk. Do your home, family, and planet a favor by trying some of these time-tested, natural cleaners on your new home in Houston, TX.

Dallas : Resources for First Time Home Buyers in Texas

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

For first time home buyers, the process of buying a home is a thrilling step toward achieving the American Dream. A new home in Dallas is a solid investment and can be more affordable with the help of programs such as the Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate Program. For more information on your financing options, please ask your Sales Counselor. He or she can give you information on our preferred lenders and current incentives.

The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) is designed specifically for first-time home buyers who are residents of Texas. With this certificate, you can claim a yearly tax credit on a portion of the mortgage interest paid on your new home in Dallas. Anyone who meets income, mortgage and home purchase requirements who has not owned a home in the past three years is eligible for this reduction against federal tax liability. It is specifically designed to help first-time home buyers, although there are also exemptions for honorably discharged veterans.

The tax credit is worth 35% of the mortgage loan interest paid annually, although the maximum amount of the yearly credit is not to exceed $2,000. While the credit cannot be greater than the federal income tax liability, credits in excess of the current year’s liability can be carried forward to be used during the following three years.

Any type of conventional mortgage loan is eligible, although purchase price and income limits are relevant. The tax credit will be calculated each year based on the total interest paid on the loan, but the MCC is valid throughout the length of the mortgage loan, as long as the homeowner maintains the property as their primary residence.

Now is an excellent time to purchase a new home in Dallas, while prices are still affordable for new buyers. With the help of programs like the Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate, as well as first-time homebuyer education classes and workshops from local banks, lenders, and housing programs, buyers can make the most of their money by investing it in a home that is likely to provide solid returns in the future.

Houston : Houston Area Family Decides on a New Home vs Resale

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Find out how persistence paid off for these Houston area house hunters.

After looking at 30 houses, they decide a new home was the best fit for their growing family. Read more: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Persistence-can-pay-for-bargain-hunters-4430920.php

Dallas : Texas Home Appreciation Leads the Nation

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

For the last ten years, Texan homes have seen steady appreciation of their prices, year after year. Even after the credit crisis in 2008, homes in Texas continued to weather the financial storm, showing some of the strongest growth in the country. New homes in Texas have proven to be a solid investment.

Since 2002, homes in Texas have seen a steady increase in appreciation of more than 2% each year. In just ten year’s time, the home price appreciation has risen more than 24%. New homes in Texas are more than just a place to live; they’re an investment in your future.

One of the reasons why home prices have done so well is because Texas didn’t go through the same housing bubble that so much of the country experienced. Houses may not have seen their values increase seemingly overnight in double digits the way homes in other states did, but they also haven’t experienced the crippling drop in value that came as the bubble burst.

Texas is proving to be an attractive place to live and work. A growing number of small and large businesses are moving to cities throughout Texas, including Dallas, Houston, San Antonia, and Austin. With the influx of people looking for new homes in Texas, the number of houses on the market is unlikely to exceed demand. With some cities looking at the potential of their populations doubling over the next ten years, house prices are unlikely to decrease any time soon.

As they say, everything’s bigger in Texas, and that includes the home appreciation values. The steady growth of the past ten years, combined with the projected economic growth throughout the state, mean that new homes in Texas are likely to remain one of the best investments you can make, whether it’s one year, three years, or ten years down the line. The forecast for Texas home appreciation in the next year continues the steady trend of 2% a year. That means now is the time to buy your new home and start building your future.

Dallas : Make a Statement with Today’s Kitchen Design Trends

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

When designing plans for the kitchen in your new home in Dallas, TX, it is important to consider both design and function. Some features are more important than others, so it’s best to decide where you want to spend most of your budget. With the wealth of attractive and interesting materials now on the market, you should be able to create a kitchen that is both stylish and useful.

The current trends in kitchen design focus on neutral tones and natural materials. By keeping the basic palette simple and clean, you can then add in your own personal touches with pops of color and decorations. The use of neutral basics gives you the freedom to develop styles ranging from modern to country, without limiting your options in the future.

The colors that are the most popular this year are white, cream, gray, and natural wood stains. Choosing any of these colors for the cabinetry in your new home in Dallas, TX, ensures a timeless appeal. Of course, you also want to make sure your cabinets last long enough to be timeless, so you should be willing to put a chunk of your budget into buying quality cabinets. They experience the most daily wear and tear and need to hold up to it. Clean, simple lines in neutral tones can then be enhanced with more affordable hardware that lets you create an individual look.

Countertops are continuing the trend of natural and neutral colors. White cabinets with black or grey counters are elegant and understated, serving as a great backdrop for individual pieces, be it a brightly colored mixer or a retro set of canisters.

Lighting offers additional opportunities to create a statement in the kitchen, but don’t forget to include task lighting. Task lights allow you to be more creative and stylish with your overhead lighting, while ensuring that you have the light needed to keep your kitchen functional.

You will probably want to stick with a large, open kitchen plan for your new home in Dallas, TX. This not only gives you room to have multiple people in the kitchen at a time; it keeps the space social and inviting. With neutral colors and your own splash of design personality, it is a kitchen that can grow with you over the years.

Dallas : Choosing the Right Floor Plan for Your New Home

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The point of choosing a custom home is to ensure that your new home fits your family’s lifestyle. You want a home that meets your current and future needs. The last thing you want is to move in and find some element of your home that drives you up the wall. Fortunately, if are looking for a custom home builder in Frisco, TX, you can turn to Plantation Homes for the perfect floor plan.

As well as offering numerous basic floor plans from which you can choose, Plantation Homes give you the flexibility to customize your floor plan of choice. Our expert architects will make structural changes to the floor plan, whether it’s moving walls or creating special storage areas.

Of course, with 25 years of working as a home builder in Frisco, TX, we’ve gained valuable insight into what people are looking for in floor plans. As a result of research and experience, our initial floor plans will likely meet most of your needs.

Before you sit down with the architects, sit down and think about how you use your home. What is your daily schedule and how could your house make it easier? Do you need a special entranceway to corral your kids and bags to make sure items aren’t scattered all over the house? Don’t forget to consider bedroom placement. Do you have older kids who could use a bit more privacy or are you planning on more children who will need to be kept close?

Keep your furniture in mind when developing a floor plan. If you have a special family heirloom piece that you want to give pride of place, make sure it fits well with the rest of the room’s arrangement. If you’ve got a big-screen TV, make sure it fits the room and isn’t stuck in an awkward corner or made unwatchable by glare from nearby windows.

If you entertain often, consider the types of parties you throw. If you’re more likely to host sit-down dinners, you will want a dining room that seats everyone comfortably while also remaining close to the kitchen. If your parties are casual, you may prefer an open kitchen that looks onto a family room, letting people mingle.

No matter what floor plan suits you best, you can count on Plantation Homes providing you with the best home builder in Frisco, TX. With customized floor plans and attention to decorative details, your house will feel like an extension of yourself.

Dallas : Moving: There’s an App for That

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

These days it seems as if there’s a smart phone application for everything. Fortunately, if you’re relocating to Dallas, TX, there are numerous apps to choose from to make your move go smoothly. Whether you have an iPhone, Android, or even a Blackberry, there are free apps designed to keep you organized, on schedule, and hopefully under budget.

One of the biggest difficulties can stem from trying to figure out just how much space all of your possessions will take require. Whether you’re loading up your own truck or planning on hiring a moving firm, you’re going to need to have a good understanding of the volume of your household to get a clear idea of the cost to move it. Fortunately, the MoveMatch App for Android allows you to enter in information about each household item to come up with an estimate of the volume. It also includes cost-saving tips, moving tips, and weekly moving checklists.

If you’re relocating to Dallas, TX, and are worried about getting everything done on time, consider the Moving Guru app for Blackberry and iPhone users. You can start creating checklists up to eight weeks before your moving date. The app will also help you find the right moving company, request a moving estimate, and offer tips on how best to pack. By providing you with a complete moving checklist, you can feel confident that nothing will be forgotten. The app will even send “we’ve moved” notifications to pre-selected contacts.

Finally, for a great all-around moving app, consider the MyMove app available for the iPhone, iPad, iPod, as well as the Android and Amazon Android markets. Not only will it help you get free moving estimates, it will help you find the perfect moving company, based on actual reviews and ratings from fellow users. There are plenty of customizable moving checklists, useful moving tips, and a place to keep notes throughout the process. You can even calculate the distance of your moving route.

All of these free applications can help reduce the stress of relocating to Dallas, TX. Moving is never a fun activity, but with the help of today’s technology you can feel more in control and ready to embrace life in your new home.

Stylish Gadget Organization

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

With the ever increasing amount of technology we bring into
our homes, it becomes more of a challenge to keep it all organized and attractive. Fortunately, with a handful of decorating ideas and accessories, you can keep yournew home in Dallas, TXup to date without looking like an electronics store.

The family room or media room in your new home in Dallas, TX probably has the widest range of technology pieces to keep organized. Among the most common items are the TV, cable box, DVD player, video game console, and stereo, all with lots of wires and remotes. The best way to contain all of these pieces is by housing them in a furniture-grade media center that can properly house each item comfortably and safely.

Some media centers take up a whole wall, while others present a more streamlined appearance. If you prefer minimalism, there are a few simple steps to keep pieces organized while not dominating the room. Smaller media cabinets are available that can store less frequently used pieces of equipment and accessories such as CDs and DVDs behind cabinet doors, while leaving open shelving for machines that need to be more accessible. Use the top of the cabinets to display artwork, photos, and other decorative accessories.

To further camouflage the technology in your new home in Dallas, TX, mount your TV on the wall. A stylish way to help the typical dark-framed TV set blend into the room is by hanging it on a wall decorated with dark paint or wallpaper. Another option is to create the illusion of a frame by adding decorative molding around the television. If you hang additional framed artwork around the TV, it will blend in even more, creating a salon-layout effect.

Of course, you’re still left with all of the remotes that need to remain accessible. An easy and attractive way to organize all of the remotes is through the use of decorative lidded boxes. Use multiple smaller boxes to organize remotes according to their use – TV, stereo, game consoles -- or simply use one larger box that can hold all of them with ease. By using a lidded box, you can keep the remotes clean and out of sight when not in use.

Docking stations, multi-cord wraps, and tags to label each wire will further help you in your efforts to keep your home technology organized. With more companies offering attractive storage and camouflage items made specifically for electronics, you can combine convenience with style.

Quick Tips to Meet Your New Neighbors

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

So many of us grew up watching Mister Rogers sing and talk about his friendly neighborhood, yet how many of us actually know our neighbors? If you’ve just moved into your new home in Dallas, TX, why not take this opportunity to put some of Mister Rogers’ lessons into practice.

Getting to know your neighbors builds a better sense of community, providing both friendship and support. It’s hard not to smile at a sociable wave and hello from a passing neighbor, and the socialization often extends to friendly neighborhood parties. But there are real benefits to knowing your neighbors. A good relationship with your neighbors can come in handy, whether it’s the need for that classic cup of sugar or someone to look after the dog during a family emergency.

One of the easiest ways to get to know your neighbors is to simply take advantage of the front porch or front yard of your new home in Dallas, TX. When the weather is nice and you’re feeling social, head to the front yard instead of the back yard. Even if it’s just a wave in greeting, you and your neighbors will begin to recognize each other. Soon, you’ll probably find neighbors stopping over to introduce themselves. Whether you’re working in the front yard, watching the kids play, or simply enjoying a glass of wine on the porch in the evening, by making yourself more accessible, it takes the discomfort out of approaching someone new.

Of course, another way to get to know your neighbors is to stop by with a small gift. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the neighborhood or welcoming someone else to their new home in Dallas, TX, a quick visit just to introduce yourself is a friendly gesture of neighborly goodwill. If you’re feeling a bit shy, a small jar of homemade jam or a plate of cookies is bound to sweeten the deal. Who wouldn’t appreciate a new neighbor bearing gifts?

You don’t have to go door to door meeting every single neighbor, but do try to get to know your immediate neighbors. By getting to know each other you can also look out for each other and you might just make some really good friends in the process.

Post-Recession Trends Part 2

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Altered Sense of Responsibility Guiding Purchases
Post-recession consumers are putting more pressure on themselves to spend frugally and to consider carefully lifestyle choices and consequences. This new “responsibility virtue” (please link to source) is causing prospective homeowners to shift their views on value and resources.

For example, with tighter budgets, homeowners are forgoing personal, private home features, like sprawling backyards and sparkling pools. Instead, consumers are opting to choose builders whose homes offer a number of public resources, like parks, pools and trails. These public resources are seen both as an environmentally responsible alternative and a more budget-friendly option.

Home Builders Providing Worthwhile Opportunities
Plantation Homes, an award-winning new homes builder, has been working with Texas homeowners for over 25 years. The energy-efficient home plans are built around the consumer and feature distinct touches, utilize green building techniques and designed with energy efficiency in mind. The builder also ensures that each home is located next to a number of public resources so that consumers are able to maximize their investment.

These efforts by Plantation Homes signal a greater determination on the builder’s part to converge post-recession trends and sustainable development tendencies to benefit consumers. This commitment to homeowners is part of how Plantation Homes has enabled its consumers to thrive in what is otherwise a recovering economy.

Dallas : New Homesites Available in Paloma Creek

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The coveted community of Paloma Creek in Aubrey, TX is growing! With over 50 new homesites available, now is your opportunity to build your dream home. Come visit Paloma Creek and reserve your homesite today!

Post-Recession Trends

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Lone Star State has weathered the national recession better than the rest of the country. With contributors like affordable home prices and job growth, Texas’ economy and real estate market have rebounded well. These trends are the result of changes in consumer preferences and perceived “responsible actions,” according to Kermit Baker, chief economist for the American Institute of Architects, or AIA, in the 2012 first quarter AIA Home Design Trends Survey. This post-recession mindset is working to boost the nation’s real estate market and particularly, in Texas metropolitan areas like Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.

Job Growth Spurring Market Improvements
Survey data suggests that the residential building market is steadily picking up, especially in the luxury and custom areas. Baker told Mary Umberger of the Chicago Tribune that the major signals for an improving residential building market are strong, but the underlying economy is still trying to catch up.

“Generally, you have to see job growth—people get a job, they buy a new home—that relationship is well-established,” Baker said. “But it’s also going to rely on pent-up demand, households that have been deferring buying a home deciding to take advantage of low prices and record low interest rates, saying, this is the time to move—some sense of ‘whoops, we’re at the bottom, prices are starting to move up, and so it’s time to buy.’”

This need for job growth is part of the reason Texas has weathered the national recession better than the rest of the country. In a report published by CareerBuilder this year, Houston has had the second-highest job growth for the last two years—six percent. Dallas followed closely with an impressive four percent. These numbers indicate that residential building markets and real estate is on the rebound across the Lone Star State and, particularly, in Dallas and Houston.

Dallas : Enclave at Riverside

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Luxury living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is still achievable! Do not miss the final close-out opportunities at The Enclave at Riverside in North Irving. This community is conveniently located along Highway 635, with easy access to everything. Come see what The Enclave at Riverside has to offer, but don’t wait too long, there are only a limited number of availabilities!

Dallas : Sanctuary on Texas Star

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Your new home for the New Year awaits. Come tour Plantation Homes’ newest community in Fort Worth - Sanctuary onTexas Star. Majestic treelines and the lush Texas Star golf course are only the beginning! These homesites won’t last, so come now to see all the wonderful amenities surrounding this beautiful gated community.