I Missed The Tax Credit! NOW WHAT?

May 1st, 2010

As I write this message the clock is ticking the final hours on the Federal Government’s $8,000/$6,500 tax credit for home buyers.  By the time you read this, the deadline will likely be history.  Does this mean you missed you big chance?  Does this mean you won’t be able to get into a new home anytime this year or in the new future?  The answer is: DON”T WORRY!

SDC Homes is dedicated to helping more and more people get into a home of their own.   We did this before the tax credit, and we are doing that now.  In fact, now through May 30 we are now offering a special  ”Pick  Package” special that can save you up to $13,900 on your new home!    This is way more than the tax credit!   In addition, our carefully selected, well trained customer representatives can help you with qualifying for a loan, selecting a home that gives you the most for your money and helping you with all the steps that lead to that great day when someone places a set of shiny  brass keys to your new home right in the palm of your hand.

If you’d like more details  please sign-up for your free coupon on www.sdchomebuilders.com.

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Survive the cold without freezing pipes

December 15th, 2009

Although Western Washington is known for its mild winters there are occasions where temperatures dip and things begin to freeze. Frozen pipes can be an expensive hassle to say the least, and in some situations they may lead to major damage as the water thaws and the leaks become apparent.

What causes frozen pipes to burst?

As water freezes it begins to expand and stretch the pipe it is encased in. Any pipe in your home can be susceptible to freezing and breaking. Copper and plastic rigid piping are especially susceptible to cracks and breaks resulting from freezing conditions because they do not allow for expansion and can become brittle in cold temperatures. Newer, flexible plastic piping (like Pex brand – crosslinked polyethylene polymer, a high density polyethylene) has the ability to stretch and expand considerably and can survive freezing conditions much better than other types of piping. However, homes with flexible plastic piping may still have copper connectors and may still be at risk in freezing conditions.

What can you do to protect your piping?

Any pipe exposed to the cold outside air, like pipes in your crawl space or attic, should be well insulated and protected from extreme temperatures. If your home is new, or if you have had work done throughout the year in an attic or crawl space it would be good to visually inspect your attic and crawl space piping to ensure that insulation has not been removed or damaged before freezing temperatures occur. Of particular concern should be your home’s main water feed, which often protrudes from the ground in your crawl space near your foundation and connects to your home’s floor joists. Make sure that this pipe is fully wrapped in a thick layer of insulation all the way to the ground.

Pipes in exterior walls can be vulnerable as well, especially in outbuildings or homes that are not lived in, even though they may be encased in insulation. If these pipes burst due to freezing they can cause catastrophic damage to walls, flooring, cabinetry, furniture and other belongings.

As a preventative measure in extreme or unusual weather conditions you can take further steps to protect your pipes from freezing by allowing a small amount of water to run continually from each of your indoor faucets. Running water is less likely to freeze, and in conjunction with a well insulated home can add an extra level of protection.

If you are concerned about pipes in your home being susceptible to freezing or breaking, we suggest you contact a licensed plumber to have your piping inspected before winter sets in, or before the next big freeze hits your area.

What can you do in the event that a pipe bursts?

Sometimes, despite best efforts to protect your home from winter related damage, frozen pipes do occur. When this happens you may have a real emergency on your hands as you attempt to limit additional damage from occurring. Be aware that small problems visible while a pipe is frozen can turn into major catastrophes when the water thaws and begins to flow again. Unfortunately, where there is one break in a pipe there may be others. If you find a broken, cracked or burst pipe during freezing conditions you should first turn off the main water supply to your home and contact a licensed plumber to repair the break. Be aware that water can travel through your walls and a leak apparent in one part of your home may be caused by a burst or broken pipe in another part of your home. Finding and repairing frozen pipe damage may involve removal of drywall, cabinetry, light fixtures, insulation or flooring. If damage has occurred to your home, make sure you contact your homeowners or renters insurance company immediately and follow their instructions.

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5 Reasons To Buy A Home Now

December 7th, 2009

People can get a lot of what they need and almost all of what they want today.  People are now starting to jump off the fence and take advantage of these historical savings. Once that happens and the sales become strong  buyers will likely lose their leverage with the seller, which in turn means paying more for a new home.

If you’re qualified to buy a home now, the purchase makes sense for your situation and you’re prepared to live in that home for at least five years, there are five reasons why you may be headed for a great deal:

1. Affordability is better than ever

According to the National Association of Realtors’ housing affordability index, homes were more affordable in December than at any other point since the group started the index in 1970. The affordability index is a measure of the relationship between home prices, mortgage interest rates and family income.

According to data from earlier this month, home prices have fallen 32.2 percent since peaking in the second quarter of 2006, according to the Case-Shiller index.

A recent report from Moody’s Economy.com predicted that house prices will stabilize by the end of this year, even though the Case-Shiller house price index will fall another 11% from the fourth quarter of 2008. By the end of the real-estate downturn, prices will have fallen by double digits, from peak to trough, in almost 62% of the nation’s 381 metro areas, according to the report. In 10% of the areas, declines will be more than 30%.

In comparison to a lot of markets the Seattle and surrounding area has remained better in terms of rebounding. Many analyst predict we have already bounced off the bottom and the rebound is ahead.

2. New home inventory is becoming increasingly less

In the Puget sound market you would think that existing  inventory of new homes would be abundant. Contrary to that belief the data provided by New Home Trends shows that New Home Inventory is down an astonishing 33%  from last year. This means that new homes are not being built fast enough for the current demand.

This means that pricing will soon begin to increase due to the age old reason of supply and demand. Its also fair to say that by buying now you will likely be taking advantage of moderate gains in values when the turnaround does happen.

3. Builders are offering big discounts

Home builders are getting even more aggressive with their pricing.

My advice: Walk in with a preapproval for a mortgage, make a reasonable offer, then let the builder come to you with his best counter offer. Builders are done playing pricing games and will likely give you their best offer on the first counter. Remember, all builders in todays economy want to make a sale!

4. Mortgage rates are historically low

It’s not just the price of the home that will affect affordability; mortgage terms will also affect your monthly payments. These days, rates are very attractive for conforming loans, those that can be purchased by mortgage agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (The current limit is $417,000 which will more than cover the majority of the homes that one of the top local builders SDC Homes sells in one of it’s 26 communities throughout the Puget Sound.

Earlier this year, rates on the popular 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a level not seen in decades, and rates have stayed relatively near that low for weeks. This week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.07%, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly mortgage survey.

In addition funding is abundant with many areas still letting buyers purchase with ZERO money down. There are new urban development loans that buyer can qualify for requring no down payment. For a list of communities and areas please visit a local community for details.

5. You can get a federal tax credit

There’s now a federal credit of up to $8,000 for home buyers who haven’t owned a home in at least three years. Unlike the previous credit, this is money that doesn’t have to be paid back, EVER!

That extra cash will come in handy: use it to refurnish your home, dress it up with upgrades or simply save it for a rainy day!

With the Tax Credit extended once before, it’s said to be highly likely that the credit wont be extended again. There was a huge increase in sales during the last expiration of the tax credit eating up a lot of local inventory. Don’t wait till the last minute. Make your purchase now while you can take the time to choose the home that best suits your needs.

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What Do You Want To Know About the $8,000 First Time Buyer Tax Credit?

December 2nd, 2009

The first thing you should know, is that this is your 2nd chance to get a 1st Time Buyer Tax Credit. It that’s you…make sure you get started now, in late 2009 so you don’t miss any deadlines. This is FREE MONEY! And we’re finding it very helpful to get people in their first home.
Officially known as “The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009” congress has extended the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence. The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.
For sales occurring after November 6, 2009, the Act establishes income limits of $125,000 for single taxpayers and $225,000 for married couples filing joint returns.
The income limits for sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before November 6, 2009, are $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married taxpayers filing joint returns.

For more information, an SDC Homes professional Sales Representative can help you take advance of this opportunity.

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Green and Lean homes from SDC Homes

December 1st, 2009

The new economy has also brought about a new way of doing business when it comes to new home construction. Coming from a background of a booming building industry, where size was everything and efficiency rarely came up in conversation, it became apparent that the lack of importance placed on efficiencies was a huge oversite from local builders.

There’s nothing like a major recession to force builders to reinvent the way they think, as well as plan for the cost a homeowner will endure while living in a home they purchase from their builder.

With SDC Homes being recognized as one of the largest “Energy Star Rated Builders” in the Pacific Northwest and selling nearly 400 homes in 2009 its obvious that SDC Homes has reinvented the way they build homes.

With annual savings from $1200 and up on utility cost alone, that’s money the homeowners can save for the life of their home vs. other builders that dont make a concious effort to go Lean.

In addition to the cost savings and added efficiencies it’s also nice to know that many of the products that SDC uses are environmentally friendly and SDC recycles much of its waste to use over and over again. This also reduces the materials SDC uses, thereby reducing the price to our buyers.

Take the time and investigate the efficiency of any home you buy. The value a Green and Lean home has will continue to benefit you for years down the road.

If you have any questions regarding our construction practices please visit www.sdchomebuilders.com.

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Home. Perfected.

November 18th, 2009

We’re SDC Homes, a quality homebuilder in Washington State. When you’re ready to take the next step for your future, we’ll craft a solid, high quality home for you, in a location that’s right for you, your family, and your career—and at a price you can afford.

We’re with you every step of the way at SDC Homes. We involve you in the process from the beginning, and are always available to you long after you’ve moved in and gotten comfortable. Our goal has always been and will always be to prove to our customers that they not only made the right decision by buying an SDC Home, but that we are also a company to whom they can proudly refer their friends and family. Relationships mean everything to us and we want to watch your family grow in the home we craft for you.

Ready to learn what an SDC Home will mean to you? Call us today at (253) 446-7277 to schedule a personal tour of an SDC Home—you’re going to like what you discover!

Sincerely,

Robert Trent,

President,

SDC Homes

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