"Welcome Home" by Homestead Oak

It is  our pleasure to bring to you the story of James and Jean Martin current owner’s and Jean’s parents ; Jim and Janice Gwin who founded Homestead Oak, Inc. in 1989.  Fast forward 22 years later and even though Jim and Janice Gwin are no longer with us their spirit lives on through Jim and Jean Martin and their staff of caring Home Consultants at Homestead Oak.  They continue to help people in their community attain the American Dream – to own a home. 

Together they bring us a sense of community through various events held throughout the year such as the Easter Egg Hunt coming up on  April 23^rd at noon , a Craft Show featuring local artisan’s on May 21^st to be held on the sprawling lawn at Homestead Oak in Meadville, then followed by a Classic Car Cruise in on July 15^th then to top off the year with the 11^th Annual “Festival of Trees” showcasing and raising funds for more than 16 Charitable Organizations from November 25^th and runs through December 16^th. They are proud to say the Festival of Trees has raised over $70,000 in it’s previous 10 year history for these local charities and is the largest fundraising event in Crawford County.  So the folks at Homestead Oak are not shy in putting their best foot forward for the Community in hosting these wonderful heartfelt events.  We are also the proud sponsor of the Lake Erie Speedway race season for 2011.

The driving force, along with providing quality affordable housing, and an affordable construction alternative, are the basis of which the company was formed, and still stands as the company’s mission statement today. 

What is new at Homestead Oak you might ask?  Well how about “8” new lot model manufactured and modular homes between our Fairview and Meadville locations for 2011 which continue to arrive as quickly as they are being built inside the state of the art factories right here in Pennsylvania.  We are proud to offer homes that are built locally.  We showcase Pennwest and Commodore homes bringing you a value that is second to none in these homes. 

While modular homes are built in a factory setting; they are built to the same exact code to which a contractor would build.  The only difference is that the homes are built in sections in a controlled environment and brought to your property and put together in sections.  You can see a portion of a set on You Tube.  Search for “Homestead Oak” then find the “Bergin Set” to watch the crane in action. 

You can find out more information about the various quality affordable homes being offered by Homestead Oak at www.homesteadoak.com or visit us on Facebook.

Are You Ready to Begin Planning for a New Home?

See Yourself as a Lender Will

When dealing with lenders, you have to be organized. You can save yourself a lot of wasted time and energy if you learn to look at yourself as a lender would.

Lenders will look at two basic numbers in deciding how much you can afford to borrow. Keep in mind: Once you know how much you can borrow you'll also know the price range of houses to look at.

What a lender inspects
This is where the paper pile begins! Your monthly housing costs, which include mortgage payment, taxes, and insurance; and, your total debt, which includes monthly housing costs - plus any long-term debts like a student loan, car loan, credit cards or other installment debt.

Understand basic borrower guidelines
They aren't too difficult... The lending guideline is that you should spend no more than 28% of your monthly gross income (before taxes) on housing expense. That can include business income, disability or retirement benefits, alimony, child support, etc.

Also, your total monthly debt payment, including housing and other long-term debts, should be no higher than 36% of your monthly gross income.

Check your credit rating
This is essential! A good credit report is an important part of your financial profile. Before you begin the process of applying for a mortgage loan be sure that you review your most recent credit report.

Be certain all of the information included in it is accurate.

Errors or misinformation in your credit history could have a negative impact on your chances for the best loan and interest rate.

The bottom line about lenders?
Lenders know that every borrower is different, and no lender expects you to be perfect. Their job is to lend money, so if they can make a home mortgage loan work for you, they will.

When NOT to buy
There are times when you should just walk away. If you've had some past financial problems, it's not the end of the road; you just need to fix them before you try to purchase a home. Even if you've gone through bankruptcy, all you need is time to handle your debts and repair your credit history. It may take a year or two to fine-tune your financial profile, but it's well worth it.

Perhaps your credit picture is not as black as the bankruptcy scenario but not picture perfect, either.

How much can you qualify for? With stable employment and income, you should be able to qualify for a mortgage loan worth almost twice your annual income. By taking time to improve your credit rating, you could raise that figure substantially.

More Single Women Buy Homes Than Ever Before - What Do Single Women Want?

·         More than one in five home buyers is a single woman.

·         Twice as many unmarried women are buying homes than single men.

·         Single women make up more than one-third of the growth in real estate ownership since 1994.

Top Three Reasons Unmarried / Single Women Buy a Home

1.    Strong desire to own her own home.

2.    Need more space or want smaller home.

3.    Relocate closer to job, school or family.

Real Women Who Buy Real Homes

Women home buyers come in all sizes, shapes and ages. They are divorced, never married, separated, widowed; some have children, others live with friends or partners and many live alone.

Trends for Single Women Home Buyers

·         3 out of 4 women spend less than $200,000.

·         Prefer 2 bedrooms or more.

·         Less likely to choose new construction.

·         Buy in city over suburban areas.

·         Will compromise size & cost to get other amenities.

·         Will not compromise on location or quality of neighborhood.

·         Prefer condominiums with well run homeowner association over single family homes.

·         Smaller spaces are acceptable.

·         Desire security and / or gated access.

·         Like to engage in social interaction with neighbors.

·         Want close proximity to stores, shopping and fitness centers.

Three Rules for Adding White Detail to Any Room in Your Home by Nate Berkus

Afraid of decorating with white and think it only belongs on the walls? Don't be afraid to go white in the home! Follow these simple rules to incorporating white into your space.

Know Your Whites
When you picture white, a stark white comes to mind first. But take a look at any paint chart and you'll find that white has several variations and shades. For a clean, light, and bright feel in the bathroom or kitchen, go with a bright white. For a warmer feel in a living room or bedroom, use a muted whites, creams and greys. You can also mix and match different shades of white, for instance, try antique white pillows, eggshell white vases, and linen white lamp shades.

Never Go All White
When decorating a room, start off using white sparingly. Try adding white accessories and go from there. When you go all white in the home, it can feel unwelcoming, so the key is blending whites with more neutral tones for a cohesive look. Add jars, bone boxes, and other accessories in neutral colors, and consider white and tan striped walls. If you're starting to feel overwhelmed by the whites and neutrals, you can always add a pop of color with a decorative floral arrangement.

Add Texture
The most important rule to adding white at home is using texture. Texture in the form of faux-fur pillows or throws will give your space more dimension and substance. White wood, wicker, or bamboo are also all good choices to warm up your white interior. Also aim for a nice contrast between smooth and glossy surfaces, with a lacquer table or a hobnail lamp.

Visit Nate Berkus Website For More Information

The Art of Sub-Division By George Duke

 

 

“SUBDIVISION”- any reduction in size of a parcel or tract of land by dividing it into 2 or more smaller pieces.

The above description explains what a subdivision is but we’re going to explain how that process is done. It’s listed below in chronological order.

1.   First- a licensed land surveyor must be hired to survey the property. It this point a new plat (plot) plan will be made by the surveyor showing the location of the new surveyed property in relation to adjoining properties and landmarks. Usually takes 30-45 days.

2.   Second- this new plat plan must be presented to the County Planning Commission for review & approval. Usually takes 30 days.

3.   Third- after the County Planning Commission approves the plat plan it is taken to the Township for approval by their board and signed by all parties involved. Usually takes 30-45 days.

4.   Fourth- a Real Estate Attorney must generate a new deed for that parcel and have it recorded at the County Courthouse. Usually takes 30-45 days.

This note is very important! A deed search will also be done to make sure that there is no lien against the property that is being sub-divided. If there is it’s better to know when the First part is done otherwise it could take months longer to get the deed for the sub-divided property.

Submitted By:

George Duke

The Pennwest Homes Advantage

Pennwest Homes was launched in 2005, bringing together the latest home-building technologies, a dedicated management team, and an experienced builder network. Innovative designs, and the ability to customize your home, provide our homeowners an affordable way to build a truly quality home.

While other homebuilders offer features in their homes as options, Pennwest includes them as standards. This ultimately saves the customers money.

Some of the features you will find standard in the Pennwest home are:

• Hardwood molding package
• Forced air heating system installed
• Unique kitchen designs with staggered overhead cabinets and a bump-out at the kitchen sink
• Plumbing lines and water lines installed
• Taller windows, 12" overhangs, pre-finished door jambs, 30 year architectural shingles

As a system-built homebuilder, Pennwest Homes can take advantage of better equipment, a controlled climate, daily quality control, and dedicated, proven craftsmen. Our craftsmen build homes both by hand and with sophisticated tools, precision jigs, and the latest technology - much of which is not available to traditional builder.

By building a home 'inside' rather than 'outside,' Pennwest can help eliminate climate problems, an especially important issue in the Northeast. Pennwest can build consistently, year-round, without delays caused by weather issues. By building our homes inside, Pennwest can also avoid many other climate-related lumber and material issues. By reducing delays in construction, our homeowners can move into their home faster.

Quality is a key reason why people buy Pennwest homes. A dedicated quality control team inspects homes daily throughout the construction process. All of our homes are built to state and local building codes.

Independent third-party inspection agencies provide another level of quality control, inspecting and approving our homes while they are being built.

As an affiliate of The Commodore Corporation, Pennwest Homes can draw upon the buying power of one of the largest homebuilders in the Midwest and Northeast. Privately-owned, The Commodore Corporation has been building homes since 1952. That purchasing power is just one of the advantages we pass along to you.

Pennwest Available Color Palette for Homestead Oak, Inc.

George Duke talks about the many different wonderful color palettes available in cabinetry, flooring and countertops for Pennwest in all their homes here at Homestead Oak. Watch and see.

BUILDING MATERIAL COSTS ARE LOW BUT MAY BE RISING. ANOTHER REASON TO BUY YOUR HOME NOW.

Due to expected lumber costs we are estimating that a $3,000 - $5,000 price increase per home will occur by April 1^st just to absorb the higher lumber costs.

The two driving factors for increased costs are soaring fuel prices and overseas demand for materials fro China and India.  Shipping and manufacturing costs due to increased fuel prices have driven up most building materials. 

Reports also indicate the US housing industry bottomed out in 2009 and that demand for new homes have increased since.  Industry sources claim that new housing demand in 2011 will increase compared to 2010 and then further strengthen in 2012. 

Right here and now just might be the last good entry point for new home construction before builders are forced to raise the price of the new home construction due to rising commodity prices. 

MORTGAGE RATES HOLDING ABOUT .5% HIGHER THAN OCTOBER 2010 LOWS

Mortgage Interest rates have risen a minimum of .5% since the market lows set back in October 2010.  Since then rates have been trending up.  Keep in mind that just a .5% increase in mortgage rates is like adding $15K to the price of your next new or existing home.  Add in another expected .5% rate increase to 5.1% later in 2011 and the home you buy will feel $30K more expensive than if you purchased the same exact home back in October 2010.  Now add in forecasted material price increases and you have what many are now saying will be the new pricing reality of the next 18 to 24 months especially for new construction. 

Obviously the moral of the story is contracting you new home sooner will be the best way to avoid higher costs.  Cupid thinks So. 

Calling all bird lovers! 

The National Bird-Feeding Society (NBFS) is pleased to announce that February is National Bird-Feeding Month!

https://www.birdfeeding.org/about-nbfs/press-kit/february-is-national-bird-feeding-month.html

For the monthof February, the NBFS will highlight the joys of bird feeding by providing tips and techniques to create a successful bird feeding and watching experience.

Whether you live in a rural, suburban or urban environment, there are always birds that can be attracted to your yard. Having the right combination of food and feeders is the key to a successful bird feeding experience. 

“Whatever the reason you feed wild birds, bringing backyard birds to your yard will be an enjoyable experience,” remarked Stacey Johansen, manager of the NBFS.  “It’s an entertaining, educational and inexpensive pastime that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.” 

Does anyone have any great photo’s of birds feeding in their yard or even out of their hand (if you are so lucky)?  Let’s share those photo’s.

Mary Darkmoor