Tag: Antares Homes

A Great Team!

 

Brooks Rowe and Sharon White

According to our research, we have found that most of our buyers purchase our homes because of our Guaranteed Heating and Cooling, our Energy Star Certifications and our fabulous Foundation.  Those are really good reasons, but I have a different opinion.  I think it is because of our Employees.  Antares Homes employs the best folks!  Everyone who works here genuinely cares about the quality of our Homes as well as the quality of the experience of our buyers.  Our builders take pride in the job they do constructing our homes and it shows in the low rate of Warranty Requests that we have.  

One of the best Teams we have is in Hidden Creek.  Hidden Creek is a smaller neighborhood tucked away on a hill in Burleson overlooking the Fort Worth skyline.  If you have ever been there, then you have met Sharon, our Salesperson and maybe you have met Brooks our Construction Manager.  

What makes Sharon great?  Well she has been with Antares Homes for four years and her decision to come to Antares Homes was not made lightly.  When I asked her about why she chose to work at Antares, Sharon told me  

“I shopped many builders but I wanted to join a company that I would be proud to represent.  Once I saw how different the Antares Salespeople were and how great Antares reputation was I knew I’d be proud to work for this builder.  One who not only built a spectacular home but cared about the homeowners even after closing.”   

Sharon always makes time to help out her co-workers and I have seen her in action with her customers!  She can’t be beat!  No one is more compassionate or empathetic.  Sharon has been named Salesperson of the Quarter and has also been labeled as Salesperson of the Month four times!  

Brooks is an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoys those pastimes with his eight-year old daughter!  Brooks is often found speaking with buyers and potential homeowners on the construction sites.  Always helpful and on the scene, he is a big part of our Customer Satisfaction in Hidden Creek.  Brooks is a Certified Graduate Builder and is currently working on his Certified Master Builder designation.  When I asked him what he loves about his job, Brooks said,  

“This job can be demanding and very fast paced and I enjoy that, but nothing makes me happier than when I get to give a buyer their keys to a brand new home.”   

Brooks has also won a lot of awards and most recently was named Construction Manager of the 4th Quarter!  

Visit Hidden Creek today and tell us why you like Sharon and Brooks!

Ribbet Ribbet

Our Green Program is Different.

Our Green Philosophy

We start by acknowledging that building a home changes the face of the Earth for generations to come. This leads us to:

Designing the most effective and high value floor plans, and building homes which fit our customers’ budgets. We sweat the small stuff to make sure we don’t build in mistakes. We also won’t include unproven features with fancy names just to score points on someone’s ‘green rating scale’.

Using high-value, durable materials such as rebar foundations and fiber cement siding and exterior trim. This builds lasting value in homes that stand the test of time.

Minimizing wasted resources at every possible opportunity. This extends to our well-managed, ‘no-dry-runs’ construction process which means that our Trade Partners and Suppliers don’t make needless trips to any of our jobsites.

Rigorously follow EPA storm water control and jobsite management guidelines and requirements.

Most importantly, we build using the most proven energy efficiency materials and techniques which fit the budgets of our customers. Our Comfort Home™ guaranteed energy program is our commitment to what is widely agreed to be the most important of all Green features: Energy Efficiency.

We are constantly studying and analyzing developing techniques and new products to determine which are proven to perform, and proven to make economic sense to our customers. Here are some of our building practices and home features which are standard in every home, and which are recognized by the National Association of Homebuilders as required parts of any green building program:

Energy efficiency features verified by Certified, independent inspectors:

  • Thermal Bypass Inspection on every home
  • Duct-blaster HVAC test on every home
  • Blower Door Envelope Test on every home
  • Allows for the ComfortHome guaranteed heating and cooling program

Proper HVAC design and installation:

  • Use ANSI/ACCA Manual D design process
  • Use ANSI/ACCA Manual S equipment selection
  • Installation done and performance verified only by Certified HVAC contractor (NATE / BPI / RPA)
  • Ducts sealed during construction process
  • System performance @ 14 SEER
  • Ducts properly sealed and tested on every home

Water-efficient shower heads

Automatic Programmable Rain and Temperature Sensitive sprinkler systems (optional in some communities)

Energy efficient recessed lighting (per plan)

Energy Star rated dishwashers and other appliances (some appliances optional)

Avoid environmentally sensitive building sites

Timer-controlled, outside-ducted rated exhaust fans in all bath areas

Use advanced framing techniques where allowed

Provide covered entries (most plans)

Provide proper eave overhang

Provide metal drip edge at roof eave

Provide proper site drainage (min 1.20), all four sides of home

Install continuous termite and vapor barrier under foundation

Provide water resistant barrier on exterior walls

Use of recycled materials where applicable (cellulose, clay brick, OSB)

Design efficient floor plans

Thorough air-infiltration control on garage / living area common walls

Rigorously manage storm water runoff

Provide thorough home maintenance and care manual and thorough Homeowner Orientation

-J Mason

COO Antares Homes

For more information visit:

NAHB

Energy Star

Antares Homes

Property Taxes

The tax bill is due by Jan, 31, 2011 for the 2010 tax year.  You are responsible for making sure that your taxes are paid even if your taxes are escrowed by your mortgage company.  You can request a receipt from the county to make sure they were paid if you are the type that tends to worry.  It is also good to keep a record on hand in the event you need to prove that taxes were in fact, paid. 

If you purchased your home last year, do not forget to claim your Homestead exemption.  The Tarrant Appraisal District has all of their forms on one page for easy access. 

If you want to know how to calculate tax rates in a neighborhood you are interested in purchasing a home in, here’s how I do it.  Let’s use Tarrant County as an example since we sell most of our homes in Tarrant County.  On the Tarrant Appraisal District website they have a spreadsheet of their tax rates.  Print it out.  There are lots of codes to on the left-hand column.  They correspond to the Taxing Jurisdiction Name. 

The next step is to perform a property data search on the property you want to purchase.  If you want to build a home or the home is a newly completed home and not listed in the tax records, I use the model home as a reference.  Let’s use 404 Elk Run in Fort Worth.  That’s the model home at the Parks of Deer Creek. 

You will see the Taxing Jurisdictions called out one by one.  Those codes and names correspond to the tax rate in the third column of the tax spreadsheet.  Sometimes you have to go by the name instead of the code as in Tarrant County Hospital which is actually code 091, instead of 224. 

Go through the list and add it all up.  The grand total is the UNEXEMPT amount.  Multiply this amount by the total price of the home you are purchasing and that sum is what you pay without Homestead exemption or any other additional exemptions you may qualify for.  By my calculations I came up with a tax liability of 3.039537% for the value of the home.  When you multiply that by $118,900 (the value given for the 2010 tax year) the number is $3614.00 

This is a really good way to figure out ahead of time if the taxes in one neighborhood are lower or higher than another.  If you plan to escrow your taxes into your mortgage, this can make a big difference in your monthly house payment.

If you have more questions about Taxes in Texas you can visit the State Comptroller’s website or call one of our Home Buying Experts at 1-800-Antares!

14 Reasons to live in Garden Heights

  • Community Pool 

The community pool is within walking distance of all of our home sites.  Since our community is small, there is never any crowding at the pool!

  • Mansfield National Golf Course 

 Mansfield National is just a golf cart-drive from our neighborhood.  It really is within walking distance as well!  It is a Par 72, 18 hole course situated on 225 acres.  Kids play Free Monday through Friday and after 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

  • Mansfield ISD 

 Mansfield is very well known for their Top Rated Schools.  Check ratings on the TEA website.  The School District has a Blog and it is very informational.  It gives an insider’s look into the personality of the school district.  There is also a Foundation established to generate additional funds for the School District.  Grant recipients are teachers who will use the funds for implementing special programs in their classrooms.  What a way to take make education a grassroots initiative!

  • Hawaiian Falls 

Guess where else you can walk to from your home?  Season passes are very reasonably priced and there are different online clubs to join that offer discounts and weekly specials.  You can find all of that and more on the Hawaiian Falls website.

  • Joe Pool Lake 

Garden Heights is a stone’s throw away from Loyd Park at Joe Pool Lake.  There are tons of amenities at this location including camping and multi-use trails.

  • Mansfield Activities Center 

 The MAC as locals call it is a full service operation!  This is your one stop for becoming involved in Mansfield.  There are loads of Programs for the whole family as well as Senior Activities.   Click Here for the full Brochure.

Mansfield claims 11 Parks and Athletic Fields.

This Theater was founded in 1917 and is housed in a Historic Building in Mansfield.  It is a very active place and they offer Musical presentations as well as movies and family fun nights. 

The City of Mansfield built the replica fields and owns them.  They host several leagues at the fields and the pavilion can be rented for special events.  And guess what else?  It is next door to Mansfield National Golf Course and Hawaiian Falls!

This group of folks run a Museum and preserves the rich History of this wonderful town! 

 

 

 

Garden Heights is our only Neighborhood in Mansfield, Texas.  We think it is a great location and so do our buyers!  We currently have four Homes available for immediate move-in.  Call Stan Goldstein at 817-447-7502.

Did you Know?

The Homebuyer Tax Credit was extended for members of the Uniformed Services, members of the Foreign Service and members of the Intelligence Community. 

If you fit into one of those categories and you were serving on qualified official extended duty service outside of the United States for at least 90 days from January 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010, you can still qualify for the Homebuyer Tax Credit. 

Are you one of the above qualified people and did you buy a home after the tax credit ended this spring?  You can still claim the credit.

Thinking about buying a home?  There is still time.  You must be on contract before April 30, 2011.  Call one of our Sales Offices today to find out more information! We have a Home for You!

1-800-ANTARES

Here are the Forms you need to claim your Tax Credit, even if you are not eligible for an extension, but you just haven’t filed for it yet.

8 Reasons to Buy a New Home

If you’re like most first-time home buyers, you’ve probably listened to friends’, family’s and coworkers’ advice, many of whom are encouraging you to buy a home. However, you may still wonder if buying a home is the right thing to do. Relax. Having reservations is normal. The more you know about why you should buy a home, the less scary the entire process will appear to you. Here are eight good reasons why you should buy a new home.

Pride of Ownership

Pride of ownership is the number one reason why people yearn to own their home. It means you can paint the walls any color you desire, turn up the volume on your CD player, attach permanent fixtures and decorate your home according to your own taste. Home ownership gives you and your family a sense of stability and security. It’s making an investment in your future.

Appreciation

Although real estate moves in cycles, sometimes up, sometimes down, over the years, real estate has consistently appreciated. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight tracks the movements of single family home values across the country. Its Housing Price Index breaks down the changes by region and metropolitan area. Many people view their home investment as a hedge against inflation.  Texas is one of the states that lead the Nation here.

Mortgage Interest Deductions

Home ownership is a superb tax shelter and our tax rates favor homeowners. As long as your mortgage balance is smaller than the price of your home, mortgage interest is fully deductible on your tax return. Interest is the largest component of your mortgage payment.

Property Tax Deductions

IRS Publication 530 contains tax information for first-time home buyers.  Real estate property taxes paid for a first home and a vacation home are fully deductible for income tax purposes.

Capital Gain Exclusion

As long as you have lived in your home for two of the past five years, you can exclude up to $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a married couple of profit from capital gains. You do not have to buy a replacement home or move up. There is no age restriction, and the “over-55” rule does not apply. You can exclude the above thresholds from taxes every 24 months, which means you could sell every two years and pocket your profit–subject to limitation–free from taxation.

Preferential Tax Treatment

If you receive more profit than the allowable exclusion upon sale of your home, that profit will be considered a capital asset as long as you owned your home for more than one year. Capital assets receive preferential tax treatment.

Mortgage Reduction Builds Equity

Each month, part of your monthly payment is applied to the principal balance of your loan, which reduces your obligation. The way amortization works, the principal portion of your principal and interest payment increases slightly every month. It is lowest on your first payment and highest on your last payment. On average, each $100,000 of a mortgage will reduce in balance the first year by about $500 in principal, bringing that balance at the end of your first 12 months to $99,500.

Equity Loans

Consumers who carry credit card balances cannot deduct the interest paid, which can cost as much as 18% to 22%. Equity loan interest is often much less and it is deductible. For many home owners, it makes sense to pay off this kind of debt with a home equity loan. Consumers can borrow against a home’s equity for a variety of reasons such as home improvement, college, medical or starting a new business.

-Ron Formby

Painting a Room

About a year ago, I decided to paint my master bedroom.  I have lived in my house for about five years, but I had never got around to painting any of the rooms.  While my home was under construction I had so much fun daydreaming about what rooms I would paint what colors and where I would place decorations.  Well, when it came down to it, I ended up not having time to paint my home before I moved into it.  So, I put the painting off until later.  I think this happens more often than not to new home owners. 

But, once the furniture is in, it really isn’t that hard to paint.  We moved all the furniture to the center of the room and covered it with a couple of old sheets.  We then covered that with plastic sheeting.  We also covered the floor with plastic sheeting and used painter’s tape to affix the sheeting to the floor.  We covered all of the trim, baseboards and window sills with painter’s tape.  I had lots of fun with the painter’s tape because it comes in three different colors, blue, purple and green.  It was very fun!  We covered the windows and the doorways with the plastic sheeting also. 

We bought a few gallons of paint and loaded up the roller brushes and went at it!  It only took us a total of about 3 hours for the first coat and the same for the second.  We did let the paint dry for a couple of days between coats, but I don’t think you need to wait that long between coats.  I am including a few links below for those of you who want more precise instructions for painting a room.  Or you can just wing it like we did!

If you are worried about covering up paint samples that you tried out when you make your final choice you can use this nifty tool:

http://mysmallwall.com/index.php

TLC has an amazing set of instructions plus lots of information on types of paint brushes and how to use them.  These instructions entitled “How to Paint a Room” are perfect for those of us who like to use the phrase “you’re not doing it right!”

Benjamin Moore’s website has nifty tools that let you upload pictures of your room and virtually paint it!  Plus they teach you color basics.  Thanks Benjamin Moore!

For some reason that I still don’t understand, my husband insisted that we needed to buy 5 GALLONS of paint for just one room.  Something about touchups and paint matching, blah blah.  Anyway, if you want to be a bit more precise with your paint buying, since it can get expensive, here’s a handy estimator.

Just in case your walls have a few dings in them, you will need to repair them before you paint over it.  Or not.  It’s up to you, but here’s how.

Ok, so you were in a hurry and you painted really fast and now you see some problems.  You don’t have to live with them.  Here’s how to fix them.

Of course Martha Stewart has instructions too!

If you want to get all Fancy here is a great website on Decorative Painting.

Have fun and send us some photos of your painting project!

10 Rules to Follow

Whether you have just put in your loan application at the sales office, or if you currently have a contract on a home OR if you are just thinking of buying a home very soon, there are a few guidelines that can help you accomplish your goal of Home Ownership!

  1. Do not change jobs or become self-employed or quit your job.  Job stability is key and most lenders are going to verify that you have had the same income for the last two years by looking at your tax returns.
  2. Do not buy a car, truck or van (or you may be living in it!) Taking on an increased debt load can count against your buying power.
  3. Do not use credit cards excessively or let you current accounts fall behind.  You do need to have a good payment history on all of your debts.  If you increase your balances owed on your credit cards after you have been approved for a loan, you may find that loan has vanished!
  4. Do not omit debts or liabilities from your loan application.  We’ll see it anyway and it is better to have a good idea what to expect when submitting your loan application.  It will make a difference as to which lenders and programs we need to consider for you.  We want to help and all information is crucial!
  5. Do not spend money that you have set aside for closing.  You need it for closing on your New Home!
  6. Do not buy furniture.  Or any other high ticket items.  See number 2 and 3.
  7. Do not originate any inquiries into your credit.  That means no new store accounts, book-of-the-month clubs, credit cards or visits to the car lot!
  8. Do not make large deposits without checking with your loan officer.  Christmas gift money and cash savings can cause huge problems when deposited into your bank account.  Call your lender for advice first.
  9. Do not change bank accounts.  So Bank of Everywhere has made you really mad with their crazy charges?  Suck it up until after you have closed.  Changing banks at the last minute can keep you from closing as bank statements are necessary for underwriters.
  10. Do not co-sign for a loan for anyone.  Sorry that Grandma needs a new car.  Someone else needs to help her besides you.  See numbers 6, 2 and 3.

 If you can manage these 10 rules, you might just find that you are a Home Owner sooner than you think!

Singing Salespeople!

At our Holiday Party this year we were treated to a wonderful performance of the song “Antares Home” sung to the tune of “Mercedes Benz” by Janis Joplin.  This version was written by Stan Goldstein who is the Salesperson at Garden Heights.  It was too great not to share, so here are pictures and lyrics!

Melissa, Sharon and Stan. Picture by Monique Tinsley.

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me an Antares Home

My friends have ****** and all they do is moan

Worked hard all my lifetime, protected my credit score

So Lord get me an Antares and I’ll feel like I got more

Oh Lord, won’t you give me a home with low bills

Guaranteed heating and cooling gives me the chills

I am cool in summer and toasty in the cold

So Lord give me an Antares if I may be so bold

Oh Lord won’t you give me a real quiet house

My friends all hear boom boxes; I’m quiet as a mouse

No fiberglass for me I want cellulose can’t you see

Oh Lord it’s so nice to be able to hear my TV

Oh Lord give me a home with rebar slab

No post tension for me I think rebar is fab

A Certified Graduate Builder is who I want to see

So Lord give me a foundation engineered just for me

(Everyone)

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me an Antares Home

My friends have ****** and all they do is moan

Worked hard all my lifetime, protected my credit score

So Lord get me an Antares and I’ll feel like I got more

Jaimie, Melissa, Sharon and Stan. Photo by Monique Tinsley.

Wow!

 

There is something special happening at our sales offices!  Call one or stop by today to get in on the secret!

South Fort Worth: 

Parks of Deer Creek 817-704-7530

Matador Ranch 817-350-6298

North Fort Worth: 817-259-1907 Includes: Parkview Hills, Twin Mills, Marine Creek Meadows, Innisbrook Place

And Saginaw Neighborhoods: The Commons at Willow Creek and Heather Ridge 

Mansfield: Garden Heights 817-447-7502

Burleson: Hidden Creek 817-350-6303

Crowley:

Lasater Ranch 817-701-3013

Crescent Springs Ranch 817-704-7532