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Tag: home builder

Being an Owner-Builder: Should You Build Your Own Home (Literally)?

Are you considering being an owner-builder? You’ve just bought the perfect piece of land and are ready to build your dream home. Most people will use a licensed general contractor (a “GC”) to build their home from the ground up. But some people – those who wish to be an “owner-builder” or “owner-contractor” – will plan to physically build the house themselves. Opinions seem to be pretty mixed about whether it makes sense to be an owner-builder. It’s safe to say that being an owner-builder can be like an adventure – where you may have good, bad and unexpected experiences….

Economic Role of the Housing Industry – Learn About the Facts

We often hear that the housing industry is a key indicator of the U.S. economic recovery – and a key driver in that recovery – but how many Americans really understand the facts? The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has examined the economic benefits of new home construction, and the facts are compelling – especially in three key areas: Jobs…Jobs…and more Jobs Generating Taxes for Communities Housing’s Role in Putting America Back on Track Jobs: The NAHB estimates that for each new single-family home that is built, three new jobs are created. These jobs are created in the construction…

Subdividing Land: Tips for Landowners from a Developer (Part 1 – Evaluate)

Learn to evaluate the risks and rewards of subdividing land into residential lots. In this first of three articles on the subject, a developer and real estate lawyer provides landowners specific items to evaluate when considering whether or not to subdivide land. Come back for the next articles in this series that provide insights for landowners based on the author’s real world experiences with the subdivision process, as well as a hands-on description of the steps landowners should take when subdividing land. Why Subdivide My Land? Sub·di·vide (v.): to divide into several parts; especially: to divide (a tract of land) into building…

List Now & Sell Your Property with these 3 New Year’s Resolutions

If you want to sell a property, the first thing you must do is actively and aggressively market it. To find the right buyer, you have to have the right exposure. But it’s amazing how many people don’t properly market their properties or simply fail to list them at all. Whether you are a real estate agent, a homebuilder or an unwilling property owner, you are missing out if you have not recently reviewed your marketing efforts and created a targeted online listing to sell your lot, land or other property to the right type of buyer. It’s not too…

Social Media for Real Estate Professionals

The online world – and particularly social media – have revolutionized the Real Estate business. The study The Real Estate Industry and Social Media Use confirms that 84% of real estate professionals have used social media to increase sales and build a name for their business. Facebook is a big player in this field, with 79% of professionals using pages and posts to reach out to customers, while YouTube and a video strategy are proving to be beneficial when connecting with community. Through social media, real estate professionals can monitor and manage a brand reputation, building customer loyalty and a…

Use Real Estate Professionals: Tip #8 for Buying Residential Lots and Land

All of the 8 Tips for Buying Residential Lots & Land for a New Home play an important role in evaluating a lot or land for sale, but it’s possible that the single most significant tip is to make sure you are working with experienced, knowledgeable and helpful real estate professionals. The A-Team Successfully identifying and purchasing that “right” property often requires the help of professionals with whom you work very closely – like an agent, home builder and architect. These primary contacts for buying lots or land for a new home are your A-Team. Choosing a good A-Team can…

Home Builder Loan Market…Not So Terrible?

Whether it’s houses, land or lots for sale, too many in the real estate industry have seen deals fall apart because of the tight lending market over the past few years. Words to describe the lending market in recent years might include: “terrible”, “non-existent” or “impossible”…making a report of “neutral” something to celebrate. The NAHB recently issued its “Survey on Acquisition, Development & Construction Financing” for the second quarter of 2012, which describes homebuilders’ and developers’ current experiences with the availability of loans for land acquisition, land development and home construction. What can we glean from the survey? Our key…

Choosing Your Builder: Tip #2 for Buying Lots and Land

Today we’re looking at the second of our 8 Tips For Buying Residential Lots and Land for a New Home. So you think you’ve found an area, neighborhood or even lots for sale that fit your community style. Well, at the same time you should be evaluating potential home builders – or even just the types of builders – that you may want to use. Know Your Options Investigate your home builder options carefully. Some vacant lots or land for sale allow you to use any builder you want, but in other areas your choices for builders may be more limited…