5 Important Lessons to Teach Your Children

At True Homes in Charlotte, we understand that raising children comes with ups, downs, and everything in between. However, teaching your children important values while they’re in their formative years will pave the way for an easier parenting future and help ensure the success of your kids. Below are five of the cornerstone principles you can instill in your children as they grow into mature and successful adults.

Responsibility

When raising children, one of the most important and staple lessons you can teach your child is responsibility. Depending on your style of parenting, there are several ways you can teach your child responsibility, though a common theme involves always sticking to your word. Teach your child that if he or she commits to doing something, then they must do it regardless of circumstance. If a child commits to a sports team for instance, and they end up deciding that they may not like the sport mid-way through the season, you can teach your child others are now relying on their presence and they cannot let their team members down.

Respect

The second lesson on our list is respect. Teach your child that each person deserves to be treated equally and in their own right. Respect is something that should be given at all times to everyone, whether the person they are interacting with is a man or woman, older, younger or the same age. Teaching your child respect while they’re still young will allow them to better understand the imperative value as an adult.

Financial Responsibility

As with most childhood lessons, learning important values at a young age tends to transcend into our adult lives, and the importance of financial responsibility is no exception. When a child is given an allowance, putting a portion of the money into a piggy bank or another means of savings will allow the child to learn how to set monetary goals for themselves. This allows the child to form a thought process that becomes adult philosophy.

Education

Crucial lesson number four is the importance of education. Not only is it essential to provide your child with a stable understanding of schoolwork, but giving your child the freedom to educate themselves in something they are interested in teaches them that they can succeed in choices of their own. Whether your child enjoys art, the piano, sports, science or history, enable them to become educated further in a topic of their choosing.

Self-confidence

In today’s society, it has never been more important for children to be confident in themselves. Letting them know that if they are secure and strong in who they are and what they know and believe in; there is no need to feel disabled by others. An important part of developing self-confidence is to also let children know that throughout life, everyone will have different opinions, and it’s imperative to always stick to your own ideas.

Now that we’ve shared several cornerstone morals to be sure to teach your children, we encourage you to take a few minutes to visit our website to discover the values of True Homes in Charleston and Charlotte. For more information regarding our new family communities, visit us online at www.truehomesusa.com or contact one of our representatives directly at (704) 937-2307. We look forward to welcoming you to your new home.

Have you considered adding a dog to your family? 5 reasons why owning a dog is a good idea

Dogs have the reputation as being man’s best friend, and rightfully so. The humane society estimated that approximately 39 percent of households own a dog, but why? Dogs provide companionship, friendship, and entertainment. They don’t pass judgment and are always happy to see you when you come home, which is especially uplifting if you’ve had a tough day at work. Dogs can also help teach your children about responsibility, and can even help your children develop stronger immune systems.

If you’re on the fence about adding a dog to your family, True Homes, the largest homebuilder in Charlotte, NC, has put together a list of the top five reasons you should own a dog.

Dogs are good for your health

Studies have long shown that dog ownership is associated with a number of positive health benefits, including: reduced stress, lower blood pressure, reduced risk of dying from any cardiac disease, increased physical fitness, 

Dogs are entertaining

Whether you plan on training your dog to perform funny tricks, play fetch, or simply want another personality in the household, dogs are a constant source of entertainment. 

Dogs help teach your children responsibility

Dogs are a wonderful way to start teaching your children responsibility. By giving your children certain responsibilities for you dog, such as feeding, walking, or grooming the dog, you can start to teach them the importance of being responsible. Since the responsibility of the dog is ultimately up to the adults of the household, you can teach your children consequences by taking away privileges if their duties are not kept up with. Dogs also teach your children the importance of being kind and respectful to animals.

Dogs make your children healthier

According to several researchers, infants who grow up in a household with a dog go on to live a healthier life. In particular, one study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that children who grew up with dogs were 31 percent less likely to contract respiratory tract infections and 44 percent less likely to suffer from ear infections. While this may seem counterintuitive, since dogs are known to have a number of allergens and track in dirt and debris from outside, it is the exposure to these contaminants that help your children develop strong immune systems.

Dogs help keep you and your family safe

Dogs are very loyal companions and part of their companionship means protecting their masters. One of the most common examples is when dogs bark to alert you if someone is approaching your home, or if one of your family members is in distress. Other ways that dogs keep your family safe depends on the particular breed of dog. For example, herding dogs will keep the family pack together no matter what, which can help keep your children from wandering off.

There you have it, True Homes’ top five reasons to add a dog to your family. If you are thinking about getting a dog, you should consider adopting. By adopting, you’ll save a life, money, and feel better about your decision to get a pet. Adopted dogs appreciate you rescuing them, and make one of the most loyal companions you’ll ever have.

True Homes has a number of new home developments in Charlotte, NC marketed to young families (many of which are dog owners). To learn more about True Homes, visit us online at www.truehomesusa.com or get in touch with us directly on the phone at 704-271-1191 today.

How to find a good babysitter for your kids

Raising a family is a full time job, and everyone deserves a night off sometime. Leaving the kids at home gives you a chance to spend time with your wife, and escape the realities that wait at home. However, finding someone that you can entrust your kids with while you spend a night on the town can be a difficult process. How do you know they are responsible? Will they make sure your kids are safe? True Homes has put together a list of resources that you can use to help you find a good babysitter for your kids.

Ask Your Friends

One of the benefits of living in a new home community full of other young families is that some of your neighbors may have already scouted a reliable babysitter you can use.  Be warned though, with good sitters becoming increasingly hard to come by, some neighbors are reluctant to share their resources.

Another option to finding a babysitter for your kids is barter with your friends, sort of like someone being the designated driver for the night. One weekend, you’ll watch their kids over at your place while your friends go out, and the next weekend they’ll reciprocate. This arrangement can be especially good since you won’t have to pay extra for a sitter, or worry about having a stranger in your house while you’re away. Many areas are also starting babysitter co-ops, which is a more organized community of the barter agreement described above. Instead of paying with money, the co-op works on a point system to ensure that everyone has to give in what they take out.

Online

There are a number of online resources available to help you locate a good babysitter for your kids. More general websites like Craigslist and Angie’s List have very active communities, and a lot of people report having found a good sitter through these sites. Be careful though, when selecting any sitter, you’ll want to do some basic background checking on them and meet with them well before you need them to get a sense of the type of sitter they are.

Other online options like Care.com and Sittercity.com focus specifically on connecting parents with babysitters across the country. Manny of these sitter-centric websites charge some sort of membership or usage fee in exchange for doing a lot of the heavy lifting, e.g., prescreening babysitters and handling the payments.

Everyone deserves a break from the normal routine every now and again, but you want to make sure your kids are safe while you’re out having fun. The most important advice of all when selecting any babysitter to watch your kids is to meet with them first, do a little background research on them. Even if you don’t want to pay for a full background check, you can easily ask your prospective sitter to provide you with several references and speak with them about their experiences with that sitter.

True Homes is the largest homebuilder in Charlotte, NC and has a number of new home communities geared for young families.  If you’re looking to relocate to Charlotte, or are looking for a new home in the area, we hope you’ll consider one of our fabulous communities. One of the benefits of living in a new home development is you’ll be surrounded with like-minded neighbors. For example, you’ll most likely all have young children and can start your own neighborhood babysitting co-op. For more information, visit us online at www.truehomesusa.com or call us on the phone at 704-271-1191. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

How to start saving for your child’s education

One of the most expensive aspects of raising a family is paying for your child's education. With college tuitions on the rise, and the pressure to graduate from college growing, it’s more important now than ever to start saving for your child’s education. To help get you started, True Homes has put together a list of helpful guideposts to keep in mind when planning for your child’s education. 

Save Early, and Save Often

The more time you have to save for your child’s education, the more money you’ll have available when the time comes. The power of compounded interest helps your education savings snowball into much more than you’d think. For example, if you start setting aside $200 per month when your child is born, those contributions will grow to almost $70,000 by the time your child turns 18 (assuming a 5 percent annualized return). A good way to make keep up with your child’s education savings is to have a set amount deducted from your paycheck every month.

Consider Special Tax-Deferred Education Accounts

There are a couple of special, tax-deferred education accounts that can help you get the most out of your education savings. Two popular education savings accounts are: 529 College Plans, and Roth IRAs.

529 Plans are state-sponsored investment vehicles; similar to your employer-sponsored 401-K. 529 Plans are set up by the parent, who always retains control of the account. The main benefit of 529 Plans is that the account owner (parent) doesn’t pay income taxes on the account’s earnings, meaning your investments can grow tax-deferred much like an IRA. Contributions made to the 529 Plan are after-tax dollars, and qualified withdrawals for education expenses are tax-free. Additionally, there are no income restrictions, so anyone can open (and contribute to) a 529 Plan. And if your child decides not to go to college, you can always transfer the account to another beneficiary. FinAid.org has a comprehensive page detailing the pros and cons associated with 529 Plans.

Roth IRAs are another popular type of account to start saving for your child’s education; however, they are much more limited in terms of who can contribute to them and how much. Roth IRAs must be opened in your child’s name, and there may be minimum opening deposits and/or annual contributions. Roth IRAs also have income cutoffs, and must be opened at least five years before you plan to start withdrawing money for education expenses. Furthermore, any profits withdrawn from Roth IRAs are taxable. The upsides to Roth IRAs is that any unused money can be used to jumpstart your child’s retirement savings, and they are much more flexible in terms of investment options.

Prepaid Tuition

A number of states and private universities offer prepaid tuition programs that can help you save for your child’s education while protecting against tuition inflation. Basically, once you start the plan, you’ll be locked into that year’s prevailing tuition rates. For example, can prepay for a year of college tuition while your child is still in elementary school. Monies paid into prepaid tuition programs are generally transferable if your child decided to go somewhere else; however, the dollars may not stretch as far since you’ll be paying then-current tuition costs. A number of private universities also offer prepaid tuition programs. You can learn more about private college 529 Plans here.

Talk To Your Kids about Their Education Expenses

Another aspect of saving for your child’s education is educating them about the reality of college expenses. If you’ve been saving for your child’s education, use it to motivate them to do better in school. Giving your children a sense of ownership in their education savings account lets them know that doing good in school and receiving scholarships potentially means more money in their pocket. 


If you have specific questions about saving for your child’s education, you should meet with a qualified financial advisor who will be able to assess your individual situation and help you develop a plan that best suits your needs.

As the largest home builder in Charlotte, NC, True Homes understands that your family’s future is important. We offer a number of new home communities marketed towards new families with floor plans for every budget. To learn more about True Homes, visit us online at www.truehomesusa.com or call us on the phone at 704-271-1191.

Find Out Why Charlotte is Such a Great Place to Raise a Family

It’s no secret that Charlotte is a wonderful place to live. With a low cost of living, wide selection of educational options, and a vibrant economy, Charlotte is also a fantastic place to raise a family. Hence, new homes in Charlotte are high in demand. To help you understand exactly what makes Charlotte so great, True Homes has put together list of the standout reasons why you should raise your family in Charlotte.  

Low Cost of Living

With a cost of living index of 94, Charlotte, NC is significantly more affordable than most cities in the United States (the average is 100).  A lower cost of living means that your paycheck goes further and you’ll have more disposable income to save for your children’s education, your own retirement, or to simply enjoy many of the activities Charlotte has to offer. 

Stable Economy

Charlotte has seen explosive growth over the past 20 years, and this trend is expected to continue. As one of the largest financial centers in the country (second behind New York), Charlotte has many high paying jobs and opportunities for career advancement. Charlotte’s robust economy has also helped stabilize housing prices, which makes it an ideal area to invest in a new home for you and your family.

Education Choices

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School district ranks as the second largest in the North Carolina and the 20^th largest in the United States. In addition to having a number of excellent public schools, Charlotte is also home to several outstanding private schools further adding to your options for your children’s education. Additionally, North Carolina is home to a number of nationally ranked universities including Wake Forest, University of North Carolina, Davidson, Elon, and Duke University (to name a few).

Activities Abounding

Charlotte has a wide variety of activities you can enjoy with your family. Whether you like spending time outdoors or at developed attractions, Charlotte has something for everyone. Some of the notable attractions in and around Charlotte include: the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, which is home to many outdoor concerts throughout the year; the US National Whitewater Center, which is the largest man-made recirculating river in the country; the McDowell Natural Center and Preserve; the Charlotte Motor Speedway; and a number of beautiful parks and historic sites. With so many choices, you’ll never run out of things to do with the family.

The points discussed above are just some of the reasons that make Charlotte such a great place to raise a family. It is the crowning glory of North Carolina real estate. In addition to area-wide considerations, another important aspect of raising a family is living in a neighborhood with like-minded families. To help create the ideal environment for your family, True Homes has developed several of new home communities in and around Charlotte specifically marketed for new families. To learn more about True Homes in Charlotte, North Carolina, visit us online at http://www.truehomesusa.com or give us a call on the phone at 704-937-2307. We look forward to welcoming you home.

The benefits of buying a new home over a used one

Buying a new home is a big decision. As the largest new homebuilder in Charlotte, North Carolina, we know that as well as anybody. One of the first decisions you should consider when selecting a home is whether to buy a new home or a used home. While the decision to buy a new or a used home is largely an issue of personal preference, there are a number of advantages to buying a new home over a used one. To help you understand some of these differences, we’ve put together a list of 5 reasons in favor of buying new.

 

Modern Amenities and Personalization

 

New homes are better designed for the needs of the modern family than older homes. Buying new also allows you to have some input into the design and materials used in the home. Our True Style Process allows you to customize certain aspects of your home before it’s built, allowing you to impart your own personal style and preferences. For example, new homebuyers are able to select from a range of options like paint colors, crown molding, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and more.

 

Energy Efficiency

 

New homes are built with energy efficiency in mind. Not only is an energy efficient home better for the environment, it can also save money on your utility bills. In fact, a True Home is more than 40 percent more efficient than the average existing home. Additionally, high performance toilets and faucets drastically reduce water consumption.  

  

Warranties

One of the biggest advantages to buying a new home over a used one is the warranty that comes with a new home. Not only do you get manufacturers’ warranties on all your new appliances, you also get a builder’s warranty that covers the structure of your home. True Homes offers a 10-year structural warranty that protects you against costly problems that may arise down the road with a used home. 

 

      Lifestyle 

New homes are often built in entirely new developments designed with a certain kind of buyer in mind. This means that the reasons you decided to move into the community are likely the same as your neighbors. New developments give you a unique chance to help create your own neighborhood lifestyle. New developments also tend to attract younger families, which means your children will have more playmates and your neighbors are more likely to become your close friends.

       Safety

New homes adhere to rigorous safety standards that may have not been in place when an older home was built. In addition to meeting the latest building codes, True Homes also partners with industry leading companies to ensure your home is built to last. State-of-the-art fire detection systems, wiring insulation, and plumbing components also help protect your investment and keep your family safe. To learn more about True Homes or to browse our selection of new homes in Charleston, South Carolina, visit our website at www.truehomesusa.com.

True Green: True Homes are 40% more energy efficient than a used home

True Homes is the premier homebuilder in Charlotte, North Carolina. We have built several communities throughout the region, including our most recent new home community in Charleston, South Carolina. True Homes is committed to building new homes with environmentally friendly materials and high energy efficiency rankings. On average, True Homes are 40 percent more energy efficient than existing homes; that’s a fact. It’s easy for home builders to make claims about the energy efficient of their home, but every home built by True Homes is independently tested and certified by a third party. Independent testing means you can be confident about purchasing decision. After the inspection is complete by a Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) certified building inspector, we provide you with the estimated energy savings, in writing, so you know exactly how much you can expect to save with an energy efficient True Home.

How Are True Homes Evaluated?

The standard scoring chart for home energy efficiency is the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index, which was established by RESNET. The values of the HERS Index range from 0 to 150, and the lower the score, the more energy efficient the home is. The average score is 100, which is based on the energy efficiency of a model home built to the 2006 International Energy Conversation Code. True Homes score, 76, which means they are more energy efficient than most new homes built today, and over 40 percent more energy efficient than existing homes.

  

How Does True Homes Achieve Such a High Level of Energy Efficiency?

The first step to building an energy efficient home is the design. Next, we utilize tight construction techniques, high performance windows, and superior insulation that all work together to allow your home to perform at its peak efficiency. Next, True Home incorporates high efficiency appliances and fixtures throughout the home.

 

Features like high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, low flow toilets and faucet fixtures, and energy efficient lighting all help make your home more energy efficient and lower your cost of ownership. Energy efficient homes are not only better for the environment; they are also a better investment. If you’d like to learn more about our new homes in Charlotte or Charleston, please take a minute to visit our website at www.truehomesusa.com. You can also speak with one of our representatives directly at 704-937-2307.