Custom Home Designs

 

Custom Home Designs

If you’re considering a custom home design, it’s first important to understand the different ways you, the buyer, can build a home.

Common New Build Terms

There’s a lot of jargon getting around, and you may have come across the terms spec home, standard plan and custom or semi-custom home. There’s a lot of talk about the difference between these three approaches, and which one is best. At the end of the day, the avenue you choose will be based on your desired level of involvement with the design/build, budget and timeframe.

 

Spec home

A home design prechosen for a particular lot with limited or no customization or input on the buyer end. Spec homes can come as a House and Land Package or often as a completed product ready to move into.

Standard plan

A home design chosen from a collection of G.J. Gardner plans. It is a ‘tried and tested’ home design that is intended to be a robust, proven product. You may be allowed limited personalization. choosing fixtures, fittings and colors. You will have little if any involvement in the design.

 

Custom or semi-custom home

If you want to customize a standard plan, for example adding additional rooms, this would be called a custom or semi-custom home. It all depends on how involved you get. The term ‘custom home’ can also be used to describe a home designed and built from scratch.

What does ‘custom home design’ really mean?

Whether it’s a custom, semi-custom or fully custom design you and your builder or new home consultant will have significant input in the design. You will therefore spend more on consultation fees from drafts people, building designers and potentially architects.

It’s important to note that the phrase ‘custom home design’ is complex, and means different things to different people. This is because these days no one ever really starts from scratch, and for good reason. Reinventing the wheel is likely to lead to a home design that just doesn’t work, has wasted space and poor solar gain. Most architects/designers and custom home builders have a series of frameworks and patterns that they work from, based on the brief and input you provide.

There are of course boutique architects/designers that will design you a truly unique, full custom home design. But for the everyday American family, this isn’t the reality.

A better way 

our new home consultants will introduce you to the concept. This option gives you the proven functionality and practicality of an off the shelf plan, while allowing you some of the flexibility that comes with a custom home design.

Plan means choosing a home design and working with a new home consultant to tailor it to your needs (think lot size, position and shape) and tastes.

Experience and expertise Plan is the best option for most buyers, because you’re starting with a solid foundation. This is due to the amount of expertise that is required to deliver our home designs:

• Our building designers work in a team with 3D designers, collaborating in fully interactive 3D. This means that the home designs are created in extreme detail with great care given to all aspects, from your open plan entertaining area right down to the ensuite toilet roll holder!

• The designs have had hundreds of hours of professional input to maximize space, light, usability and importantly buildability.

• Many of our home designs are updated yearly based on both local and global building design trends.

Make your money work harder.

all the hard work is done, and you can spend your hard-earned dollars on choosing the ‘fun’ stuff features, fittings and finishes. You will also have a variety of facade options to choose from, such as Traditional, Urban and Hamptons.

This selection process is also likely to be easier and faster than starting a fully custom home design from scratch. That means it’s likely to be more affordable. This is because your new home consultant will help you narrow down your choices more quickly.

Get inspired.

Browsing home designs is also an opportunity for you to be inspired. Sometimes it’s difficult to put your finger on what exactly you want in a home until you see it. Our home designs have been carefully crafted to offer a range. 

of options that appeal to a variety of household sizes, locations and tastes.

Customize your new home with Me.

When you think about it, every home is customized to some degree. When you’re choosing a home design from a catalogue or list, you’re still going to find ways to make it yours even if it’s as simple as choosing the color of the walls. It’s completely up to you as to how much input you want.

Customizing a home with your local is an exciting process. There are also that will work with you on a new design ‘from scratch’, if you’re looking for something truly 100% custom.

Contact  Angel Sepulveda-Rosado 

 Asprealty321@gmail.com

321-46-3208 

Luxury Home Certification 

To help you have an overview of what the home buying process is like, here are ten steps to be aware of:

 

Step 1: Start Your Search Early

 As soon as you can, start reviewing websites and other sources that have real estate listings. Make a note of homes that you would be interested in and see how long they stay on the market. Also, note any changes in asking prices. This will give you a good sense of the housing trends in specific areas.

 

Step 2: Determine How Much House You Can Afford

 Lenders generally recommend that people look for homes that cost no more than three to five times their annual household income if the home buyers plan to make a 20% down payment and have a moderate amount of other debt. However, you should make this determination based on your own financial situation. 

 

 Step 3: Get Prequalified and Pre-approved for Credit on a Mortgage

 Before you start looking for a home, you will need to know how much you can spend. The best way to do that is to get prequalified for a mortgage. To get prequalified, you just need to provide some financial information to your mortgage lender such as your income and the amount of savings and investments you have. Your lender will review this information and tell you how much they can lend to you. This will tell you the price range of the homes you should be looking at. Later, you can get pre-approved for credit which involves providing your financial documents (W-2 statements, paycheck stubs, bank account statements, etc.) so your lender can verify your financial status and credit.

 

Step 4: Find the Right Real Estate Agent

 Real estate agents are important partners when you’re buying or selling a home. Real estate agents can provide you with helpful information on homes and neighborhoods that isn’t easily accessible to the public. Their knowledge of the home buying process, negotiating skills, and familiarity with the area you want to live in can be extremely valuable. And best of all, it doesn’t cost you anything to use an agent – they’re compensated from the commission paid by the seller of the house.

 

Step 5: Shop for your Home and Make an Offer

 Start touring homes in your price range. It might be helpful to take notes (using this helpful checklist) on all the homes you visit. You will see a lot of houses! It can be hard to remember everything about them so you might want to take pictures or video to help you remember each home.

Make sure to check out the little details of each house. For example:

• Test the plumbing by running the shower to see how strong the water pressure is and how long it takes to get hot water

• Try the electrical system by turning switches on and off

• Open and close the windows and doors to see if they work properly

It’s also important to evaluate the neighborhood and make a note of things such as: 

• Are the other homes on the block well-maintained?

• How much traffic does the street get?

• Is there enough street parking for your family and visitors?

• Is it conveniently located near places of interest to you: schools, shopping centers, restaurants, parks, and public transportation?

 Take as much time as you need to find the right home. Then work with your real estate agent to negotiate a fair offer based on the value of comparable homes in the same neighborhood. Once you and the seller have reached an agreement on the price, the house will go into escrow, which is the period of time it takes to complete all of the remaining steps in the home buying process.

 

 Step 6: Get a Home Inspection

 Typically, purchase offers are contingent on a home inspection of the property to check for signs of structural damage or things that may need fixing. Your real estate agent usually will help you arrange to have this inspection conducted within a few days of your offer being accepted by the seller. This contingency protects you by giving you a chance to renegotiate your offer or withdraw it without penalty if the inspection reveals significant material damage.

 Both you and the seller will receive a report on the home inspector’s findings. You can then decide if you want to ask the seller to fix anything on the property before closing the sale. Before the sale closes, you will have a walk-through of the house, which gives you the chance to confirm that any agreed-upon repairs have been made.

 

Step 7: Work with a Mortgage Banker to Select your Loan

 Lenders have a wide range of competitively priced loan programs and a reputation for exceptional customer service. You will have many questions when you are purchasing a home, and having one of our experienced, responsive mortgage bankers assist you can make the process much easier.

 Every home buyer has their own priorities when choosing a mortgage. Some are interested in keeping their monthly payments as low as possible. Others are interested in making sure that their monthly payments never increase. And still others pick a loan based on the knowledge they will be moving again in just a few years.

 

Step 8: Have the Home Appraised

 Lenders will arrange for an appraiser to provide an independent estimate of the value of the house you are buying. The appraiser is a member of a third-party company and is not directly associated with the lender. The appraisal will let all the parties involved know that you are paying a fair price for the home.

 

Step 9: Coordinate the Paperwork

 As you can imagine, there is a lot of paperwork involved in buying a house. Your lender will arrange for a title company to handle all of the paperwork and make sure that the seller is the rightful owner of the house you are buying.

 

Step 10: Close the Sale

 At closing, you will sign all the paperwork required to complete the purchase, including your loan documents. It typically takes a couple of days for your loan to be funded after the paperwork is returned to the lender. Once the check is delivered to the seller, you are ready to move into your new home!

 

Hope these information helps! Keep in contact. 321.460.3208

Luxurious Lighting

Designed for function and necessity, lighting is a key detail in each room of every home. From modern and sleek to maximalist and decadent, luxurious lighting impacts the feel of any space and sets the scene from the living room to the master suite and everything in between. Whether we want to dim the den for a calming, distraction-free workspace, illuminate our friends and families’ smiles at the dinner table or flip the switch for a siesta, lighting is essential to defining any spaces’ ambiance. With endless versatility and many elements of art and design, today’s current lighting fixtures take form magnificently and in all different shapes and structures, allowing you to intentionally express your individual style.

 

From lavish, long-lasting LED fixtures and sensational crystal chandeliers to metal-finished frames and wrought-iron details — these featured listings showcase extravagant lighting that will elevate any space.

 

12 Things To See and Do in Tampa

 

• Tampa is renowned for its subtropical climate, with mild winters and hot summers, making it great for year-round vacations.
• The city has a vibrant culture and lots of museums, parks and opportunities to catch a glimpse of wildlife.
• Families love Tampa because of the fun attractions and central location between Clearwater Beach and Orlando.
• If you’ve followed along with the Netflix series, Tiger King, make sure you stop in at Carol Baskin’s Big Cat Rescue to see the incredible rescue cats.

Tampa is a wonderful mix of old and new. It has historic quarters; tons of places to eat, drink and shop; zoos and wildlife parks; and fascinating museums for curious minds. While it’s ideal for family vacations, there’s plenty for people without kids to do and see, especially if you’re animal lovers. Tampa Theater and Ybor City are ideal for nights out, while Hillsborough State Park and the Big Cat Rescue sanctuary let you feast on nature at its finest.

If you’re planning a trip to Tampa or deciding whether to go, check out this list of the top 12 things to do. From historic museums to adventure parks, you won’t be stuck for ideas in this exciting city perched on the Gulf of Mexico.

 

 

1. Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens is one of the top attractions in Tampa and one of the best places in Florida to escape for a weekend. It’s 335 acres of pure fun, with an African theme and so much to do. Not only is it an amazing adventure park with thrilling rides, ziplines and bumper cars, but it’s also a zoo and safari park. You’ll discover an array of exotic animals, reimagined African camps and first-hand encounters with wildlife.

Feed kangaroos and giraffes and admire beautiful flamingos and languishing sloths by day. Check out the Serengeti night safari, a performance or live music offered in the evening.

 

 

2. Tampa Riverwalk

You’ll find what seems like an endless pedestrian stretch known as the Tampa Riverwalk in the downtown area. To be precise, it’s 2.4 miles long and winds along the waterfront with spectacular views of the city and the pretty Hillsborough River. Art lovers can set up here and create a masterpiece, or admire the many public works of art, from sculptures to murals.

You’ll find a few of the other top attractions along the river walk, including the Tampa Museum of Art and Florida Aquarium. There are even four playgrounds for kids and two have splash pads perfect for cooling off in the hottest months. If adults need some rest to recharge, there are some great restaurants with outdoor seating to grab a cold drink at and watch the world go by.

 

3. Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park

With more than 2,000 animals spread over 60 acres, the Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park isn’t something you can miss if you love watching animals in their natural habitats. Some are native to Florida, while others hail from Australia, Asia and Africa. There’s also an area dedicated to primates and an aviary for bird watchers.

There are opportunities to interact with some wildlife, including photos with koala bears and rhino feeding sessions. What’s more, it’s one of the only places in Florida where you’re guaranteed to spot manatees due to the location’s nonprofit acute care manatee hospital, where Florida’s beloved sea cows are rescued and rehabilitated.

 

 

4. Ybor City

Ybor City is a cultural hub in Tampa and a National Historic Landmark District. It’s an ode to Florida’s Latin American past, dating back to the 1600s when Spanish settlers first claimed the area.

The neighborhood is named after Vicente Martinez Ybor, a cigar baron who founded the city in the 1880s. For a long time, the area was home to one of the biggest cigar factories in the world, with legend saying 4,000 workers made more than 9,000 cigars each month.

These days, it’s less about commerce and more about partying. Cigar mills have been transformed into trendy boutique shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. There are food trucks and microbreweries aplenty, with an intoxicating Latin American vibe that makes a visit feel like a vacation within a vacation.

 

 

5. Museum of Science and Industry

There are few places more engaging for sharp minds than a museum, and Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry is particularly enthralling. Tons of interactive exhibits, activities and stations keep adults as entertained as kids.

Previous events include the Imagination Playground, a building station with tools to build items such as miniature villages and robots. Slipper Science was a hockey exhibit that demonstrated how aerodynamics and friction work. Mission: Moon base was a simulation of a lunar base that taught curious visitors about the environment of the moon and its atmosphere.

 

 

 

6. Sunshine Skyway Bridge

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a feat to behold for engineering or architecture enthusiasts or pretty much anyone who enjoys looking at beautiful structures. When you drive up the four-mile bridge, it feels like you’re driving straight up to the sky, but it looks just as beautiful when viewed from afar.

When you’re at the peak of the bridge, you’ll see the expanse of Florida and Tampa itself to the left, with the glistening waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the right. At the base of the bridge, there’s a fishing hotspot at one of the longest fishing piers in the world. Catch snapper, bass and grouper as you chat with locals and learn more about the area’s history.

 

 

 

 

7. The Florida Aquarium

One of the most memorable activities in Tampa is the wild dolphin cruise at the Florida Aquarium. You’ll jump on a catamaran and admire the glorious sea creatures in their natural habitat.

What’s more, you’ll find beautiful coral, schools of beautiful fish, imposing sharks, and adorable penguins throughout the aquarium. There’s also a 4D theater showing educational films about all your favorite sea life. When you’re ready to cool off, you and the kids can check out the outdoor water playground.

 

 

 

8. Tampa Bay History Center

The Americas have a rich and fascinating cultural heritage, and Tampa Bay History Center pays homage to over 12,000 years of local history. There are preserved documents, artifacts and relics dating back to when Europeans first voyaged to the Americas.

You can hear retellings of stories from when Spanish explorers first came to the New World. Tales from the Seminoles, the shipping and railroad era and exploration of Florida’s multicultural history are sure to enthrall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Tampa Theater

Tampa Theater was constructed as a movie palace in 1926, at the beginning of the first Golden Age of cinema. It’s one of Tampa’s most opulent and impressive historical attractions and a must-see for visitors. You can buy a ticket at the old-fashioned glass booth at the front and then catch a show, where you’ll sit on one of the classic plush red seats.

Admire the huge curtain that covers screens when they’re not in use and the Wurlitzer organ, which stands as a relic of the theater’s past. Don’t expect to catch the latest blockbusters here, though. Instead, you can view world cinema, independent films, and documentaries.

 

 10. Hillsborough River State Park

While much of Tampa is man-made, with animal sanctuaries and zoos mimicking animals’ natural habitats, Hillsborough River State Park is a truly wild wonderland. With bayous, mangroves, swamps and trees, you’ll see alligators creeping through the marshes and beautiful birds flying through the skies.

If you’re active and love the outdoors, you can go canoeing or kayaking here and bike through the lush forests. When you’re ready for a sit-down, head to the interpretive center and learn about the Native American tribes from the area.

 

11. Tampa Museum of Art

The Tampa Museum of Art building is a piece of art to behold in and of itself, and that’s before you’ve even walked through the doors! It has numerous display rooms, exhibitions, and galleries, so art lovers will be right at home here. There are vast collections of Roman sculptures, contemporary installations and even a messy station where kids can create their own watercolors

 

 

 

 

 

 12. Big Cat Rescue

The Big Cat Rescue Center is an attraction that’s sure to delight people no matter what age they are. It’s more of a sanctuary than a zoo, housing over 60 beautiful felines, including lions, tigers, bobcats, servals, leopards, lynx, jaguars and more.

Most of the animals are rescues being rehabilitated after neglect and abuse experienced in the big cat trade. The aim of the sanctuary is to educate people about the plight of these often endangered and always graceful animals. And yes, this is the same BCR heavily featured in the Joe Exotic Netflix series, owned, and operated by Carol Baskin.

 

 

 

 

Angel Sepulveda Realtor 

Contact : 321-460-3208 

www.angelsepulvedarealtor.com

Benefits to Owning a Home

 

Benefits to Owning a Home

 

 

Buying a home can seem like a daunting task, particularly because it requires so much money upfront and you know that you will be paying for it for years to come. It is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in your life, so it requires careful consideration, but there are also a lot of upsides to owning your own home. Some of these advantages include:

 

• Privacy and autonomy over your home
• A mortgage is more predictable and stable than rent if it is fixed rate
• Many payments that you make towards your home are tax deductible
• Pride of homeownership and sense of belonging in your community
• Equity that goes to you as you make payments
• More options, especially if you have a budget window.

 

There are many different factors to consider if you are weighing buying versus renting. Homeownership requires you to have a stable or growing income, as you will be making payments for a very long time. While there are significant financial benefits, they are long term so having a budget or savings plan in place before you purchase your home is critical. Also, your credit will affect your ability to buy a home more than it will your ability to rent, so knowing what your credit score is and how to improve it is another thing to consider. Overall, there are many benefits to owning a home, especially if you think you will be in one place for a while and you feel financially stable. Here is a breakdown of the benefits of owning a home vs. renting a home.

 

Thinking of Selling? Check out my book that shows you how to get the most money for your home in the least amount of time. Get Your Copy Here: https://lnkd.in/ghdsKtWA Call or message me to find out more!

 Thinking of Selling? Check out my book that shows you how to get the most money for your home in the least amount of time. Get Your Copy Here: https://lnkd.in/ghdsKtWA Call or message me to find out more!

THE HOME BUYING PROCESS

 

THE HOME BUYING PROCESS

 

While the homebuying process can seem intimidating, once you know what to expect it is actually pretty simple. Knowing what to expect before you begin the process can lessen some of the anxiety associated with it for you, and can also educate you should any issues come up during the process.

Because we want to help you be successful in your home search, we’ve written this step-by-step guide to the home-buying process. Follow these steps to enter your home search prepared and ready to make an offer on your dream home.

 

Step 1: Check your Credit

Before even contacting a lender or an agent, it is smart to check your credit report to see what your options are. You can get one free credit report a year, and this will determine what the interest rate on your mortgage will be, along with what kind of loans you can apply for. A good rule of thumb is that a good credit score is 720 or above, while the minimum to secure a loan through FHA is 580 or over.

 

Step 2: Decide on a Budget

It is important to find out how much you are willing to pay. Make sure to include mortgage payments into your budgeting, because even if you qualify for an expensive house you will probably not want that high a payment for the long term. Doing things like using a mortgage affordability calculator and researching the housing market so that you can think of a concrete number that will be affordable for you.

 

Step 3: Find an Agent

It is very important that you trust your agent, because they will be your lifeline through the home buying process. Check reviews online or ask your friends and family for a referral, and make sure to ask a lot of questions and meet with a few candidates so you can find out your best fit.

 

Step 4: Get Pre-Approved

Getting pre-approved for a loan could make you more likely to get your offer accepted down the line. In pre-approval, a lender will pull your credit information and then give you a letter stating how much they would be willing to lend you. This gives the sellers some confidence in you because they know for sure that you will be able to afford their home. Take a look at standard home loan options here.

 

Step 5: Start Looking at Homes

By now, since you’ve done all of your financial prep and talked to an agent, you probably have a pretty good idea of what kind of house you would like and in what area. Your agent can also help you greatly here, as they will have a good knowledge of properties coming on the market and homes like the ones you are looking for.

 

Step 6: Make an Offer

Once you’ve found a home that you are excited about, your agent will help you decide on an offer based on the listing price of the property. Your agent will understand how to craft your offer, based on the current market, whether there will need to be contingencies, or whether you need an inspection.

 

Step 7: Home Inspection

This is an important day for negotiating, if your offer requires it. If the inspector finds any unseen defects, you can take them to the seller for bargaining power. Also, this is a good time to measure things in the house, because it is the last time you will be able to be inside before closing.

 

Step 8: Get Insurance and Utilities

If you have owned a home already, you will only have to call your insurance agent and let them know you’re buying a new home. But, if this is your first home, you will need to get homeowner’s insurance. Lenders require insurance, and it is a critical part of protecting your investment. You will also want to make sure you have utilities set up for your move-in date, because you will not want to arrive, ready to move in, only to find that you have no electricity.

 

Step 9: Close on Your Home

This is arguably the most important day in the process, and you will need your agent with you to help. At closing, you will read and sign all of the papers and policies that go along with officially owning your home, and you will want your agent there to make sure everything goes smoothly and that everything us how it should be for you.

 

Step 10: Move In!

You have officially reached the finish line by step 10! Your contract will specify the exact date that you can move in, and after that you can officially make your new house into a home. Now that you’re settled in, let’s look at the benefits of owning a home.

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