Picking the Perfect Home

Your dream home should be a house that fits within the budget and needs of your lifestyle, whether single, couple or family. A home that meets those requirements is a perfect home indeed and one well worth shopping around for.

Think It Through

When planning that new home purchase the first thing on your list should be to execute a well-thought out assessment of what your budget allowance and lifestyle needs will be. Buying more house than you can afford or one that fails to suit your needs are two of the most detrimental moves home buyers often make. Consider this stage to be the foundational keys to picking that perfect home; one that will provide you and your family with years of joy and comfort.

One simple way of starting this process is to make a wish list. Divide the list into two columns with one titled “Must Have’s” and the other titled “Would Like to Have’s. Obviously, you are shooting for both but the must-haves should take precedence. Space, amount of bedrooms and bathrooms, fireplaces, fenced in yards, urban or rural are just a few examples of things that may find their way onto that list. When developing the wish list don’t only consider the present needs, but future needs, as well. You don’t want to outgrow the house before your time.

Floor Plans

The layout of your home is probably one of the most significant choices you will ever make concerning your home. The placement of the rooms and how they flow will largely depend on your lifestyle. Take into thought your family’s size and ages when determining floor plan options. One way to do this is to consider your current floor plan and what you would do to change it. Other criteria for selecting a floor plan are accessibility, indoor and outdoor entertainment styles and garage space. View True Homes’ Designer Floor Plans

Neighborhood

Everyone knows in real estate that location counts. Not only in regards to city, but also neighborhood. Several factors play into choosing a great neighborhood such as daily lifestyle, schools, amenities and preference of an urban, suburban or rural community. It’s a good idea to thoroughly research any neighborhood you are considering moving into. Crime statistics and demographics are two key sources of information that will lend great insight into the type of neighborhood you will be investing in.

Shop Around

Like most of us, it’s tempting to jump at the first house we come across that seems to be everything we ever wanted. However, impulse buying without shopping around is highly discouraged, especially when dealing with such a big ticket item as a home. Experts warn of hasty moves and suggest viewing not just two or three houses, but several homes that may qualify as your perfect home. Being a buyer’s market with inventory as plentiful as it is, there most likely will be many homes that suit your needs and desires. Also, when you shop around you can rest assured that you did due diligence in looking into every possibility out there. That way, when you finally do decide on a house to buy, you will be confident you made the right choice.

Home Inspection

There is nothing like buying your perfect home only to find out it’s not so perfect after all. Looks can be deceiving and a good home inspection will prevent you from purchasing that beautiful ranch home that has major problems your eyes cannot see.

Home inspections will check the safety of your home, as well as structural, construction and electrical issues. Make sure your purchase contract has a clause that states the sale of the home is contingent upon your approval and always be present during the inspection. It’s also a good idea to select your own home inspection service and not use the one offered by the seller or the seller’s agent.

Picking the perfect home does not have to be a tedious process, but it does require due diligence. Those who are willing to take the time and put in the effort to cover all of their bases will end up with the perfect home, indeed.

True Homes is the largest home builder in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a new market in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information on building your True dream home, visit www.truehomesusa.com or contact us at 704.271.1191.

Making Family Time in a Busy World

It’s no family secret that finding time for loved ones can be challenging. With hectic schedules and both spouses often working 9-5’s, much needed family time can often take a back seat. Here are a few ways for finding time for one another. 

Quality vs. Quantity

When it comes to time spent, it’s often said that quality trumps quantity. For busy families, time is precious and the duration of the event may not be as important as the quality itself. For families with kids, it is especially important that time is used wisely to invest in the lives of the children. Recreational events that offer opportunities to converse with kids about school, friends and activities will lead to security and stability for kids that will stick with them, especially when time spent is often minimal.

Set a Date

Another great way to guarantee family time is to schedule a time and day when the event will take place. Movie or pizza nights, hikes, camp outs, bicycle rides or Sunday breakfasts, whatever it is that appeals to your clan, pick a day and time and make it a regular family event where everyone participates.

Surprise Connect

With today’s endless ways of communicating, breaks are a great way to take a moment and shoot an email, text or call the ones you love just to say hey. This is a great way to remind family members that you are thinking of them; even in the middle of a busy day. It may only be a few moments and a few words, but when times are crazy, those precious moments can speak volumes.

Dinner’s Ready!

No doubt, food brings people together. Across cultures and throughout time, families, friends and loved that have supped together formed strong bonds and relationships with one another. There is just something about food that does that. It doesn’t just have to be dinner that brings the gang together. Time permissive, it could be a weekday breakfast or weekend brunch or lunch. Whatever time allows and the palette calls for, make it a time for all of the family to come together and enjoy great food and each other!

True Homes is the largest home builder in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a new market in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information on building your True dream home, visit www.truehomesusa.com or contact us at 704.271.1191.

Luscious Landscape Ideas for Carolina New Home Buyers

Lush landscape beauty, inviting curb appeal, backyard escapes and robust foliage, what Carolina new home buyer doesn’t want all that for their new house? When it comes to dressing up your home, individuality combined with a little spark of creativity will not only lead to eye-popping scenery, it will add monetary value to your home for years to come.

Foundation First

In what can often times be a demanding climate, laying the proper foundation for your trees, shrubs and flower beds is crucial to their survival. Varying temperatures can wreak havoc on landscapes with a poor base, substantially shortening the life and vibrancy of your greenery. Traditional mulches, such as garden mulch, have often been the common choice for flower and garden beds. However, rising in popularity is the more eco-friendly pine straw mulch, a more aesthetically pleasing foundation that requires less maintenance over time.

Consider Your Location

One of the most attractive qualities of the Carolinas is their amazingly diverse terrain. From the sprawling Blue Ridge Mountains to the lovely shores of the Atlantic, North and South Carolina have it all. That said, wet, dry, shady or sunny, your new home location must be considered when constructing your ideal landscape. From drought-tolerant perennial beds to wetland plants, there is something for every area and terrain. With a little research and a good landscape plan, you can be sure of picking the right plant for every condition.

Roll Out the Creativity

Once you have determined the best landscaping plan for your new Carolina home, it’s time to let your imagination and individuality run wild. Here are a few trendy design ideas to get you started:

 * Xeriscaping

This very green landscaping plan is an excellent way to save up to 50 percent or more on your water bill by using plants and grasses with low water needs, covering the ground with foundations such as mulch to prevent humidity loss, and using an efficient irrigation system. Visit our True Green Homes

*  Hardscapes

In the world of landscapes, hardscaping is a term used to describe creating an outdoor space. The word has become more common as Carolina new home owners long to create chic outdoor living/entertainment areas with personal flair. Patio blocks, ponds, walkways, waterfalls and outdoor kitchens, are being built to compliment traditional landscapes. Hardscapes are great for areas that, for whatever reason, just don’t fly for plants and other forms of softscapes.  

 

*Vertical Gardens

Especially great for smaller, urban spaces where accessibility is limited, vertical gardens offer Carolina new home buyers the opportunity to save precious space by growing up instead of out. Invented by French botanist, Patrick Blanc, living walls, as they are also referred to, can help reduce air toxins, regulate moisture, reflect light and heat, and provide a peaceful, warming effect on cooler city dwellings. 

* Edible Gardens

Spawned by an ever increasing demand for organic foods and a growing awareness and aversion to pesticides, edible gardens have become a growing trend for many Carolina new home buyers interested in turning ornamentation into a harvest of healthy foods. Herb gardens are especially popular among young home buyers who want an aesthetically pleasing yet functional landscape.

True Homes is the largest new home builder in Charlotte, North Carolina, with homes in over 60 stunning communities throughout the region. For more information on building a new Carolina home, visit www.truehomesusa.com or contact them at 704.271.1191.

Dare to Compare: True Homes vs. the Competition

Why pay other builders extra for the features you want?

Truth or dare: when it comes to standard home features, True Homes offers more than any other home builder in Charlotte or Charleston.

It’s true. As the largest home builder in Charlotte, North Carolina, True Homes includes more standard features with their new homes than other home builders in the Charlotte community. Go ahead and compare for yourself. Download our Dare to Compare list of standard home features.

More Bang for Your New-home Buck

From foundations to framing - and every room in between - True Homes uses more brand name products than the competition - and includes them as standard home features. Other Charlotte home builders charge significantly more for those same features. That equals more value and far more bang for your new-home buck. Who doesn’t want that?

But don’t take our word for it. Find out for yourself! As you begin your hunt for a new home builder, compare our home packages with other Charlotte builders and you will soon find we outshine the competition on every level! View a sample of our Elements home package features. Being a home building leader that serves 60 distinct communities in Charlotte, we pride ourselves on offering our customers the best overall value for their homes. That affordability is what has allowed us to become the Charlotte home building leader we are today.

Functional, Affordable - and Energy Efficient!

Not only do True Homes come with large functional floor plans and flexibility, they also are built green with energy efficiency and conservation in mind. That’s a home building bargain we dare you to find anywhere else!
View our True Homes Designer Collection Series
Welcome to your True Home!

True Homes is the largest home builder in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a new market in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information on building your True dream home, visit www.truehomesusa.com or contact us at 704.271.1191.

Charlotte, North Carolina Leading the Way in Green Communities

When it comes to green energy, Charlotte, North Carolina is a prime example of what it means to be a clean, green city. From electric car charging stations to solar trees and recycling, Charlotte’s energy conservation initiatives are setting the bar for other major metropolitan communities around the nation.

More Power 2 Ya

Fueled by the Power2Charlotte campaign for public and private energy conservation, Charlotte’s innovative program has fast advanced the city into a nationally green hero. With 16 green energy projects under its belt, the Power2 energy conservation strategy offers projects and programs that promote aggressive advances in energy efficiency education and environmental quality for both residential and commercial consumers alike.

View an interactive map of Charlotte’s energy initiatives

A Land of Electric Cars

With 26 electric car charging stations in seven convenient locations, Charlotte provides the most advanced incentive for going electric when it comes to your vehicle. The use of electric vehicles has often been encumbered by a lack of easy-to-get-to charging stations. This deterrent has now been overcome with plans to erect even more stations in the near future. Major businesses such as Duke Energy and Wells Fargo have also agreed to partner with the project and offer public charging stations at their locations.

Public Building Energy Efficiency

From computer energy conservation to retrofitting apartment complexes, Charlotte offers some of the best public energy initiatives in the nation. The Old City Hall building, along with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities office, will gain major ground when it comes to conserving energy. It is anticipated that the aggressive measures will lead to an 80 percent annual reduction in energy consumption overall.

Green Neighborhoods and Homes

Select neighborhoods like Avenue Condos, Spring Park and Wilmore, are only a few communities that have been awarded grants to enable energy conservation endeavors. Action plan items include home audits, public transit incentives, solar lighting replacements and conservation workshops. Check out True Homes’ Green Homes in Charlotte

The Big Solar Power Kahuna

Of all the energy conservation steps being taken, none grab more attention than the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center (CMGC) parking deck solar installation. With 40 solar panels, the project will be used to monitor energy production and savings, as well as host the energy efficient lighting upgrades and six of the electric car charging stations. And that is just the beginning.

Green Jobs and Careers

According to the 2011 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Industries Census, Charlotte is quickly topping the charts in the number of North Carolina clean-energy businesses. Renewable energy jobs were up 18% in 2011, right in line with annual projections. Even in spite of a weakened economy and housing construction declines, energy efficiency careers continue to grow at strong rates. Now, with signs of an uptick in the Charlotte real estate market, housing construction will again increase, leading to even more green buildings, and green jobs.

For more information on True Homes’ Green Home Initiatives, visit us online at www.truehomesusa.com or contact us at 704-271-1191.

True Homes is Charlotte’s largest new home builder with over 60 locations throughout the city.

Building an Affordable Dream Home in the Carolinas

Building a dream home in one of the most coveted places to live does not have to be a budget-buster. With proper planning and a home builder who offers the most bang for your buck when it comes to features and options, building an affordable dream home in your desired Carolina community can easily become a reality.

Planning, Preparation and Patience

When it comes to the development of your new home, patient planning and careful consideration are the critical building blocks of success. Take the time to exercise due diligence for all phases of the planning stage, from choosing the right neighborhood, to floor plans and future needs. Be sure to leave no stone unturned in this critical stage or it could come back to haunt you – and your new home.

Pre-packaged vs. Custom Home Designs

This is one area that can truly save you a lot of money – and time. For cost and affordability purposes, selecting pre-packaged plan options from a builder is typically the most frugal way to go. Although building custom may seem ideal, it does require hiring an architect to draw out floor plans and develop blueprints. All of that work does not come cheap, and it takes a considerably more amount of time to complete than if you were to select a pre-packaged plan.

Lots and Land

Where you build can make a huge difference in the cost of your new home development. Beware of cheaper lots that can actually end up being more expensive in the end. Choose a place that is in close proximity to electric, gas and public water lines. Also, consider lots that require less removal of debris, such as rocks and trees. All of this can add up to big bucks so remember step one and do your land homework.

Keep It Compact

Compact homes are far less expensive to both build and maintain. Although lifestyle and future needs (raising a family or retiring) will dictate whether you have a split-level versus a flat ranch home, for all intents and purposes, the more compact - smaller and taller - the more cost effective. Also worth considering is the shape of the home itself. Funky shapes with intriguing lines will cost far more to build than square or rectangular floor plans.

Pay Only for Livable Space

During your search for a new home builder be sure to find out exactly how they calculate the cost of the space you are paying for. Attics, basements, walls, stairs, garages and other “phantom” (non-livable) space are considered differently per builder. Knowing how area and volume are measured can make a huge difference in the cost of your new home building project.

Check the Recycle Bin

One of the best ways to cut building costs is to use recycled materials. Not only do they save money, the earth and environment will thank you for it. You may also want to consider a trip to the architectural salvage warehouses that house hundreds of items such as wrought iron fencing, doorknobs and light fixtures. Although a bit more laborious in terms of the salvage shopping, this option can drastically reduce home building costs.

Energy Efficient, Energy Star

While a bit more costly to install than non-efficient items, in the long run, going energy efficient will save a great deal of money over time. Green homes equipped with items such as solar panels and Energy Star appliances will greatly reduce utility bills, leading to significant savings for many years to come.

True Homes is a new home builder with locations in Charlotte, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina. To learn more about building your dream home in our more than 60 True Homes communities across the Carolinas, visit our website at www.truehomesusa.com or give us a call at 704-271-1191.

Featured Home of the Week - Harris Crossing, The Jasper 2311

Price: $189,710

Location

* Lot 56

* 105 Pickens Lane, Mooresville, North Carolina 28115

Jasper Floor Plan Options and Highlights:

* 2,175 square feet

* 4 BR/2.5 BA

* 9’ First Floor Ceilings

* Master Bath with Dual Bowl Vanity

* Garden Tub/Shower Combo (Master Bath)

* Private Study

* Butler Pantry

* Built-In Bench with Cubbies

* 10’ x 10’ Patio

* 2-Car Garage

* Second Floor Optional Floor Plan (adds 4th bedroom & loft)

Features a Jr. Designer Package that includes:

* 42” Castled Kitchen Cabinets

* Stainless Steel Appliances

* Granite Kitchen and Bathroom Countertops

* Upgraded Kitchen Backsplash

* Hardwood Flooring (Kitchen and Foyer)

* Custom Interior Trim and Paint

* Pendant Lighting

* Ceramic Tile Flooring (Master Bath)

New Home Showroom Options

* Upgraded Bedroom Lighting

A View of Harris Crossing, The Jasper
Located in the heart of Mooresville, Harris Crossing, The Jasper offers easy urban access with unprecedented beauty and a quaint small town feel. Equipped with a NEW innovative floor plan, this spacious 4BR/2.5 BA home offers over 2400 square feet of comfortable, stylish living for an affordable price.

Located just a short drive from beautiful Lake Norman, Harris Crossing affords easy access to I-77 and I-85, leading to delightful shopping centers and delicious dining establishments. Top-rated Mooresville schools are only two miles away, eliminating long bus rides and school activity commutes.

True Homes is a new home builder in Charlotte, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina. For more information about this or any of the more than 60 True Homes communities across the NC and SC, visit our website at www.truehomesusa.com or give us a call at 704-665-5511.