Tag Archives: Flagstone Lending

How to Choose the Right Neighborhood Before You Buy

Posted on by

Before the housing crisis hit, it was a lot easier to tell a good neighborhood from a bad one.  If the houses and yards were well-kept and the nearby schools were good, you’d be in a good shape.

Today, it’s not as easy. Some of the best-looking houses on the block could be in foreclosure. So, how can you determine whether a neighborhood has the features you like, and more importantly, will hold its value until you’re ready to sell?

Here are a few tips to consider in your search for the perfect neighborhood and new home for you and your family.

1. Imagine your dream neighborhood.  Most people have a dream home in mind, but don’t put as much thought into the neighborhood. Spend time thinking about what features are important to you. Do you want to walk to stores? Do you prefer a historic neighborhood or a family-oriented environment? Compile a list to refer to as you begin your search.

2. Examine public services.  Many towns and cities are cutting back on services they offer due to declining property taxes. Take a drive through a potential neighborhood and town to look for clues of financial trouble. Are the streets clean? Are the parks in good shape? Has the local library cut its hours? Read the local paper for clues.

3. Evaluate the schools.  One of the most important decisions a parent makes is what school their child will attend. Even if you don’t have a family, school quality matters because when it comes time to sell, there’s an excellent chance your buyers will have children. Use online sources like GreatSchools.org to research local schools. Or take in a PTA meeting and talk with local parents to get the real scoop on how well or poorly the schools are doing.

4. Watch for clues. Does the neighborhood have a lot of For Sale signs, or cheap apartments for rent? Do you see many vacant store fronts? Those are signs an area might be in decline. Imagine yourself living in the neighborhood. If you run or bike, are the roads safe? Visit the area at different times of the day and night to listen for highway or airport noise. 

5. Talk to the residents.  Take time to meet your potential neighbors. Ask them how they like living there. If they’re not friendly or receptive to your questions, factor that into your decision process. If you buy, you could be living near them for years. You can always make improvements to a house, but you can’t change your neighbors.

Doing research and legwork on a potential neighborhood at the beginning of your new home search will pay off in the long run.  If you’re in the market for new homes in Frisco, Texas check out the affordable, energy efficient models that North Dallas home builder Landon Homes has to offer. Visit the Landon Homes website to see the homes for sale at Greyhawk Estates, the Village at Willow Bay, or Austin Ridge at Lone Star Ranch.

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|

Solutions for Common New Year’s Resolutions

Posted on by

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions involves losing weight and getting in shape. Joining a gym can help you do so, but those memberships can be costly. And besides, it can be difficult to get motivated to go to the gym when it’s freezing outside!

There is an easy solution. You can create a fitness space in your new home.  And the best part is that it won’t cost you any money. You’ve got all the equipment you need right at your fingertips.  

The next time you’re in front of the TV, sit on the edge of the sofa or chair, brace yourself with your hands, and slowly raise your legs in front of you. Hold the position for a count of ten and slowly lower your legs to the floor. Repeat as many times as you can. This exercise is great for working your stomach muscles!

For toned legs, climb the stairs in your home as slowly as you can until the muscles in your legs start to feel tired.  When this routine gets easy, try taking the stairs two at a time, or continue single steps, but slow the pace even more.

You can also work your calf muscles while washing dishes. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, and rise up on your toes. Stay there for a few seconds, and slowly lower your feet back down. Repeat as many times as you need until you feel your muscles burn slightly.

Going grocery shopping? Carry bags that are of equal weight in each hand and slowly shrug your shoulders as many times as you can. Once you’re in the house, sit down, grasp one bag in your hand, resting your elbow on your knee. Slowly raise and lower the bag 5-10 times to work your bicep muscle. Switch the bag to your other hand and repeat. 

To give your lower back and thigh muscles a workout, place your clean, wet laundry into a laundry basket to transfer to the dryer.  Hold the basket in front of you, keeping it close to your body to minimize lower back strain. Place your feet shoulder-width apart, angling your toes slightly outward. Keeping the weight on your heels, slowly descend into a squat by pushing your hips back as if you were sitting down on a chair. Make sure your feet are flat on the floor, and stop when your thighs are parallel to the floor. Slowly stand up straight and repeat 5-10 times.

Finally, for an overall cardio workout, tackle your usual household chores with a burst of speed! Move quickly from dusting to sweeping and vacuuming without taking a break.  You’ll finish your chores in record time and get a great workout at the same time!

If you’re thinking of moving to the north Dallas area, there are a variety of new homes available. Landon Homes, the Frisco home builder, constructs high quality, energy efficient homes in premier neighborhoods. For more information, contact Tanya Smith toll-free at 866-898-3603.

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|

Happy Birthday, Landon Homes!

Posted on by

This month, Landon Homes turns two-years-old and to celebrate, we’re giving YOU a gift!  You can take advantage of our 2/1 interest rate buy down promotion or you can receive some extra money to spend in our design center. This promo is being offered on select new homes that are financed through our preferred lender, Flagstone Lending. 

Landon has come a long way in just two short years.  The company has built and sold more than 250 new energy efficient homes throughout Little Elm, Frisco, McKinney and North Dallas, TX. It’s a significant achievement in two short years, considering that John Landon started this company in the midst of an economic downturn. However, the president of Landon Homes saw the economy as an opportunity, rather than an obstacle.   

Landon realized that lumber, land, and labor prices had fallen considerably, making it more affordable to build homes. And he knew that if people were in a position to buy now, they would have an exciting opportunity to get a lot of high quality at a very good price. Landon says, “If we build the right product, at the right price, in the right location, we’ll do OK, even in this environment.” “We call it our Value Equation.” 

Landon has the experience to back up his beliefs. He created Legacy Homes in 1987, when the economy was in the midst of another recession. “We were profitable in five months,” says Landon. And Legacy Homes eventually grew from a single community in Dallas to become the 12th largest builder in the nation. 

The Landon team brings an unmatched wealth of talent, expertise and enthusiasm to every home they build. Our energy experts work hand-in-hand with our architects to create a home that is both beautiful and eco-friendly. Our goal is to build homes with lasting value and quality – creating the very best home for you in exceptional neighborhoods with highly acclaimed school systems. 

For more information about Landon Homes’ birthday promotion, visit our website at www.landonshomesusa.com or contact Tanya Smith at 214-707-0347.

Share|

Don’t Just Buy, Buy “Down”!

Posted on by

Landon Homes is running a 2/1 buy down promotion through August 31 on select new homes that are financed through its preferred lender, Flagstone Lending.  Under the promotion, the interest rate on the loan would begin at a very low rate, then increase gradually over the next two years, before settling at a permanent rate for the remainder of the 30-year loan. 

For instance, if the current interest rate is 4.5 percent, the interest rate for the buy down would begin at 2.5 percent the first year, increase to 3.5 percent the second year, and then rise to 4.5 percent the third year, where it would stay throughout the remainder of the loan’s 30-year term. The title policy is included in the promotion, and there are no loan origination fees. 

As an added incentive, Landon says every customer that purchases one of the special 2/1 buy down homes will go into a drawing for a brand new Nintendo WII family gaming console package. 

If for some reason you don’t need to take advantage of the extra-low interest rate buy down being offered by Landon, Flagstone loan officer Patrick Iglinsky says he can mold the promotion into something that will be beneficial for you. 

The mortgage process may not be easy to navigate these days, but Iglinsky says he works closely with the Landon team and the title company to manage the flow of information for the home buyer. As a result, Iglinsky says he helps ensure that the approval process goes smoothly from the day the contract is signed to the day of closing. 

For more information about Landon Homes’ 2/1 buy down promotion, visit our website at www.landonshomesusa.com or contact Tanya Smith at 214-707-0347.

Share|