Tag Archives: buying a foreclosed home

Green Spring Cleaning

Posted on by

Spring is an excellent time of year to look at homes for sale in North Dallas, TX, especially if you have children in school. With luck, you can find a home and close on its purchase by the end of the school year, so you can move in over the summer.

Spring is also the time of year when homeowners engage in the rite of “spring cleaning.” But if the thought of dragging out all your cleaning supplies is giving you a headache, you may want to re-think the type of supplies you’re using. If your household cleaners contain harsh chemicals, they may give you a real headache.

There is a way to make your cleaning chores less harmful to you AND your environment. Think green! Choose environmentally friendly cleaning supplies to do the dirty work. You’ll find several brands of “green” household cleaners at your local grocery store these days, such as Seventh Generation and Method that work just as well as traditional cleaners.

You can also choose to make your own cleaning products, using common ingredients you probably have in your pantry right now. Here are a few of the basic supplies you’ll need:

  • Distilled white vinegar 
  • Baking soda
  • Olive oil
  • Borax (found in the supermarket laundry aisle)
  • Liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s brand, found in most natural foods stores)
  • Essential oils (super concentrated natural plant oils found in natural foods stores, usually in the cosmetics section)
  • Microfiber cleaning cloths
  • Newspaper

A mixture of vinegar and water can be used to clean windows and other glass surfaces. Countertops and bathroom tile can be cleaned with a combination of vinegar, baking soda and water. You can find recipes to make your own green cleaning products online.  

If you’re looking at homes for sale in North Dallas, TX, check out the selection of high quality, affordable green homes offered by Landon Homes. Rated as one of the best home builders in North Dallas, Landon delivers uncompromising quality, complete customer satisfaction, and exemplary value in every home it builds. Visit our website for more information.

Share|

Declutter Your Garage

Posted on by

When you’re looking at McKinney, TX homes for sale, one feature that is important to note is the size of the home’s garage.  If you and your spouse both have cars, then a two-car garage is probably a necessity.  Home builders today are even including three-car garages to accommodate the homeowners’ vehicles, other recreational vehicles, such as an ATV, sports equipment, and tools.

Despite all that space, 50% of homeowners rate the garage as the most disorganized place in the house, according to the National Association of Professional Organizers. Here are some tips to declutter your garage:

1. Take inventory. Look around your garage and determine what you really use, and what’s taking up space. Donate anything that is in good shape to a local charity, and trash the rest.

2. Organize your space.  Choose a layout for your garage that groups similar items together. Sports equipment can be in one area, while outdoor lawn care items and car washing supplies should be in another.  Take advantage of vertical space in your garage to store items up high that you don’t need frequently – whether on a shelf or wall hooks.

3. Shop for supplies. Head to your local IKEA or other home store for organizing supplies like hanging racks for tools, and bins to hold toys, tools or gardening supplies. If you’re handy with tools, you can build your own shelves, drawers or workbench area – or hire someone to do it for you.  Make sure you have any dangerous chemicals or pesticides stored away behind closed doors so children and pets can’t get at them.

4. Keep it clean. Once your garage is organized, make a commitment to keeping it that way. Return items to their designated space when finished.  Every three months or so, give the garage a thorough cleaning. The work you put in will be well worth it – giving you a garage that can actually house your car instead of a bunch of disorganized stuff!

As you’re looking at McKinney, TX homes for sale, consider Landon Homes’ selection of beautiful, eco-friendly homes. The North Dallas home builder respects both the environment and your budget in the top quality homes they build. For more information, visit our website at www.landonhomesusa.com.

Share|

Texas Housing Market

Posted on by

Texas remains one of the bright spots in the nation when it comes to housing and the economy. The Texas Association of Realtors reports that nearly 203,000 homes sold last year, down a modest 5% from 2010 levels. However, home prices remained relatively stable. The median sales price rose 1% last year to $147,600.

Analysts say the drop in sales is not necessarily a sign of a trend since federal government incentives for first-time home buyers spurred sales in 2009. TAR chairman Dwight Hale notes that Texas has emerged in a stronger position than almost everywhere else in the country. He adds that, “Our homes are some of the most affordable in the country and we’re seeing job growth substantially greater than national averages, which will continue to fuel the recovery in Texas.”

If you are looking at new homes in North Dallas, Landon Homes has a variety of affordable, green homes available in several premier neighborhoods. For more than 20 years, this visionary Frisco home builder has been creating homes that respect both the environment and your budget. Landon Homes takes care to conserve energy resources and minimize your monthly expenses, while creating a home that is both beautiful and eco-friendly.

To schedule a tour of Landon’s new homes in North Dallas, Frisco, Little Elm or McKinney, contact Tanya Smith toll-free at 866-898-3603.

Share|

How to Cure the Winter Blues

Posted on by

Cold weather got you down? Don’t worry. There is a way to get out of that funk.  You can eat more fruits and vegetables. Go see a funny movie. Or paint away the winter blues by adding a burst of color to a room in your new home.

Before you head to your local paint store to stock up on supplies, decide whether you want to spend the weekend painting an entire room. Or take on a smaller project by painting one wall or certain architectural features.

You can add a bold accent color to just one wall. Or liven up the room with stripes or bands of color. Vary the size and width of the bands to give the room a stylish look. Horizontal stripes will make the room look wider and the ceiling appear lower. Vertical stripes have the opposite effect.

Painting crown moldings or arched window treatments a shade lighter or darker than the corresponding wall will emphasize these features in the room. Make sure you test the color on the area to be painted first to see how it looks in the day and night.  Colors will look differently under incandescent and fluorescent lighting compared to natural sunlight.

Certain colors affect people’s moods. So keep in mind what effect you want to achieve in the room you’re painting and then choose the corresponding color.

 - Red stimulates appetite & conversation

 - Blue & Green calm and soothe

 - Yellow sparks creativity

 - Orange stimulates  

 - Brown adds warmth and comfort

 - White illuminates a space

The shade of color you choose also has an impact on a room. Light colors make small spaces open and airy, while darker shades can set off lighter colored objects in the room and bring them into focus.  

Are you looking at homes for sale in Frisco?  You can find affordable north Dallas new homes that are both beautiful and eco-friendly, built by Landon Homes. To schedule a model home tour, contact Tanya Smith at 866-898-3603 or visit the website at www.landonhomesusa.com.

Share|

A place for everything, and everything in its place

Posted on by

When you buy a new home in McKinney, TX, it’s only natural to do everything you can to keep the house in pristine shape after you move in. By spending some time on home organization, you can make sure that clutter doesn’t find a way to move in with you!

Here are a few strategies you can use to keep everything in its place:

1. Set aside one area in your home for mail and important papers.  Soon as the mail comes in, throw out what you don’t need and file the rest in your designated location.

2. Keep kitchen counters clear for food preparation. Store appliances you don’t use every day out of sight. Use tiered stacking shelves and pull-down racks for cabinets. Expandable or modular organizers are great to utilize every inch of drawer space.  A great place to find these supplies is the new Container Store, which recently opened in McKinney.

3. Implement the one in, one out rule. Whenever you get something new like a book or piece of clothing, get rid of something old. That way you’ll avoid the tendency to accumulate things.

4. Use stacking drawers or shelves in closets to take advantage of the vertical space. Also, save time selecting an outfit to wear by color coordinating your clothes, and grouping similar items together.

5. Take advantage of areas over doors and underneath beds to store items you don’t use often. On the other hand, make sure the items you do use frequently are each to reach.

6. Organize your cleaning supplies in one area of your garage, pantry or laundry room to keep them easily accessible.

7. Keep magazines and catalogs from piling up by keeping only the last 6 issues, or better yet, tear out the pages you wish to save, and recycle the rest of the periodical.

If you’re looking to buy a new home in McKinney, TX, contact Landon Homes at 866-898-3603 to schedule a tour of Shiloh Ranch. This quiet community features some of the largest homesites McKinney has to offer.

Share|

Buyer Beware: Perils and Pitfalls of Short Sales & Foreclosures

Posted on by

10 Reasons Why Not to Buy a Short Sale or Foreclosure Home

Buying a short sale or foreclosure may be tempting if you’re in the market for a new home. After all, the low prices are very attractive.  And you can get a great “deal” if it works out.  But that’s a big IF.  There are a lot of challenges, frustrations and difficulties that can occur during the buying process. 

Landon Homes, one of the most respected and successful home builders in Dallas, has put together a list of 10 reasons why you should think twice about buying this type of home:

  1. Lengthy Buying Process. The bank has to approve the sale and many of them are backlogged 6 – 9 months on approvals. In addition, some lenders can renegotiate the terms of a short sale at the last minute.
  2. “As Is” Condition. You will be required to take the property “as is.” If no one is taking care of the home, it can go downhill fast and sustain damage.
  3. Costly Repairs Needed. Foreclosure homes are often gutted by the previous owner and can have serious damage, requiring additional costs for repair.
  4. Need for Temporary Housing. During the waiting process for approval, the buyer may have to find alternate or temporary housing if the buyer’s home has already sold or rented.
  5. No Guaranteed Closing. Multiple buyers may compete for one short sale and there is no guarantee you won’t get outbid. Plus, a lender may decide to foreclose on a short sale and put it up for auction even after an offer has been made.
  6. Title Problems. It may be difficult to get a clear title, since it could be tagged with judgments for an unpaid second mortgage or home improvement loan. The judgments could also include late fees and other fines.
  7. Evictions. As a buyer, you have to determine if the homeowner or tenants are out of the property or double-check to see if the homeowner still has personal property, like furniture on the premises.
  8. Pay Extra Commission. Lenders may want to pay reduced commissions to real estate agents involved in the transaction. If you agreed to pay your agent a certain percentage under a buyer broker agreement, you could be liable for the difference between what the lender will pay and what your contract stipulates.
  9. Pay Extra Costs. If you want specific inspections performed, you will probably have to pay for them yourself. You may also have to pay standard seller closing costs such as transfer taxes because some lenders will refuse to pay them.
  10. Sellers Disappear! Sellers who have little to lose and feel hopeless about their situation have been known to disappear – so the sale cannot be completed. If the buyer’s deposit is in escrow, it can be tough to get it back. There is a process, but it takes time and can be very frustrating.

All new Landon homes come with a clean title, are fully warranted, and any small repairs can be handled immediately.  In addition, the energy-saving features in a Landon home enable you to save money on utility costs compared to comparable homes in the area. For more information, visit LandonHomesUSA.com or call 214-707-0347.

Share|

A Bright Side to the Housing Bust

Posted on by

EnclaveAtLakeviewLifestyleCNN Staff Writer, Les Christie, writes “Homebuying has not been this affordable in a generation.”  Falling home prices along with the $8,000 federal tax credit for home buyers is creating an incredible home buying opportunity for first time buyers.  Empty Nesters who are rethinking their current living conditions and downsizing or buying a second home also appreciate the more affordable pricing.

For buyers in all stages of life, good schools, good value and an improved quality of life are important considerations when making a decision about where to buy a new home.  Landon Homes, a North Dallas homebuilder, is counting on the fact that their community, The Enclave at Lakeview, has something for North Dallas area new home first time buyers as well as empty nesters:  good schools, four amenity centers, one story and two story floorplans with great value and an easy commute to key business, shopping and entertainment areas.

The Enclave at Lakeview offers some of the best prices in the Frisco Independent School District. Located in Little Elm just east of Lake Lewisville, this master-planned community includes four amenity centers, with pools, parks, trails, and more. Lakeview is served by Frisco’s newest and best schools. Panther Creek Parkway leads directly from the Tollway into the community. Frisco’s key business, shopping and entertainment areas are just 10 minutes away.

New homes in The Enclave at Lakeview are affordably priced from the $150’s.  If you’re a first time home buyer and want a new home in the Frisco ISD, time and opportunity are running out.  In order to qualify for the $8,000 tax credit, you must close on or before November 30th and currently there are two homes at The Enclave that can meet that timeframe.  For more information, contact Tanya Smith anytime by phone at 214-707-0347 or just click on our LIVE CHAT feature throughout the Landon Homes website for speedy answers to all of your new home questions.

Share|

$8,000 First-Time Home Buyers Tax Credit

Posted on by

Do You Qualify for the $8,000 First-Time Home Buyers Tax Credit?It’s easier than you might think……but time’s running out!

Yes. It’s true.  If you are qualified and close on a new home on or before November 30, 2009, you can receive a dollar-for-dollar reduction in what you owe on your 2009 tax return.  That means if you owe $8,000 in income taxes you will receive an $8,000 tax credit and owe nothing to the IRS.  If you owe $4,000 on your 2009 tax returns, then you’ll get a credit for $4,000 and a $4,000 check from the Federal Government for the difference. This money does not have to be repaid.

How do I qualify?

There are two qualifying factors:

  1. You qualify if you are a first time home buyer or if you haven’t owned a principal residence during the past three years.
  2. You qualify as a married couple filing jointly if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is less than $150,000. If you are a single person, your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) must be less than $75,000.  A partial tax credit is available for individuals earning between $75,000 and couples earning between $150,000 and $170,000.

What type of home qualifies?

Any home that is used as a principal residence will qualify for the credit. This includes single-family detached and attached homes, manufactured homes and even houseboats.

How do I claim the Tax Credit?

All you have to do is claim the tax credit on your 2009 income tax return by completing IRS Form 5405 to determine your tax credit amount and then claiming it on Line 69 of your 1040 tax return.  No other applications or forms are required.

With mortgage interest rates and housing prices at record lows – coupled with the $8,000 tax rebate – this is a golden opportunity for first time buyers to enjoy the benefits of home ownership. But you have to act now.  This tax credit is only available for homes closed on or before November 30th.  That’s just four months away!

If you’re in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and want to find out more about how you can use the $8,000 tax credit, because not all home builders know how to make this work for you. But Landon Homes, rated one of the best new home builders in Dallas, does and their homes qualify.

Landon Homes is helping buyers every day take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit.  Call 1-866-898-3603 or log onto:  www.LandonHomesUSA.com for more detailed information about the $8,000 tax credit.

Share|

Dallas Foreclosure Homes versus New Homes

Posted on by

Is a Foreclosure Home Really a Better Deal.

Take a close look…..a foreclosure home may actually cost you more than a brand new home

On the surface, homes in foreclosure can seem like a real bargain.  And, in today’s economy, we all want to save a little…or a lot…of money.  But will a foreclosed home really save you money?  Many unsuspecting buyers of foreclosed homes often discover too late that the true cost of a distressed property often doesn’t end with the sales price.  As a matter of fact, when you take a closer look, you’ll find that buying a new home can actually save you money.

Most prospective buyers don’t understand the risks that come with a foreclosed home. In an effort to educate home buyers on the realities of purchasing a foreclosed home, Landon Homes, one of the most respected and successful home builder in Dallas, has put together a comparison chart so buyers know what to look for and the questions to ask when comparing foreclosed homes with new homes in the Dallas area.  Here are a few examples:

                  Foreclosure Homes                 Builder Homes

Cost The repairs may be costly or you may need loan assistance to pay for them. A Home Equity Loan should not be the first thing you do.
 Save time and money up front. You may even come out in front when buying a new home once you add up the cost of repairs.
Warranty AS IS means AS IS who will you turn to when something doesn’t work or breaks? Nobody stands behind the work. Not even the bank.
 Fully warranted by Landon Homes.
Damage The extent of the damage to the home may not be unveiled until you move in it can be expensive and time-consuming to fix.
 Your Landon Home is guaranteed and any small repairs can be handled immediately.
Liens The surprise of possible liens and/or judgments against the property is not what you intentionally signed up for. All new Landon homes come with a clean title.

The cost for repairs, legal fees and clean-up can quickly turn that bargain foreclosure into something you quickly regret. Learn more about the cost advantages of buying a new home at foreclosed pricing over buying a foreclosed home.

One of the biggest un-seen advantages of buying a new home is the latest energy saving and construction techniques incorporated in new homes that save buyers money on their utility bills and their insurance premiums.

Visionary builders like Landon Homes in Dallas build homes that respect both the environment and your budget. At Landon, energy experts work hand-in-hand with architects to create a home that is both beautiful and eco-friendly and conserves energy resources thereby minimizing your monthly utility expenses while maximizing design impact and flex space. 

For more information about how a new home can save you money on new homes in Dallas and Frisco ISD at foreclosure prices, go to:  www.LandonHomesUSA.com or call 1-866-898-3603.

Share|