San Marcos Housing, Buy New Home or Used Home?

Posted by Tod on July 21, 2010 | Be the First to Comment

Housing in San Marcos, California – Buy New!

In today’s highly competitive market there is a vast array of choices to be made when deciding between purchasing a new home or used home, which is called re-sale. One of the primary advantages of buying a new home is the ability to personalize and decorate your home from the beginning exactly the way you want. In a new home, you can pick your own exterior elevation, color scheme, kitchen cabinets, appliances, flooring, custom wiring for TV’s and computers as well as have more upgrade options. Modern features like media rooms, lofts, extra-large closets, large bathrooms and tubs are also more attainable in new construction.

Often, new homes in Southern California will have more modern conveniences, better insulation and can be more energy efficient. Insulation in ceilings, walls and floors is often substandard or nonexistent in an old home and old-style widows waste heat almost as badly as if they were open. New home builders use modern materials such as dual-glazed (Low E2) windows, energy-star appliances, radiant barrier roof sheathing, thicker insulation and other technology that will lower future energy costs for the owner.

New homes bring safety and piece of mind to your family. Builders have to follow very strict guidelines in new homes, especially in California, where earthquake safety standards must be observed. New construction also comes with a builders’ warranty.

Affordability and appreciation are also concerns for buyers today. There can be investment advantages in purchasing a new home. It is simply a function of supply and demand, and the economic realities of the real estate market. The short-term savings you may see in a used home are lost over time when repairs, renovations, pest control and lower appreciation are taken into account. These issues are much less likely to concern new home buyers.

For more information about viewing these model homes or about other North San Diego New Homes, please contact FieldStone Homes.

Decorating Your New Home in Southern California

Posted by Tod on July 8, 2010 | Be the First to Comment

When buying a newly constructed home in a development or community, sign on the dotted line as soon as possible. Purchasing a new home in Southern California early allows you more choices, not only in the room configurations but also cabinets, counter-tops, appliances, lighting, fixtures and color selections.

This expands your decorating options and eliminates the expense of replacing those materials later; you know, the ones you would have never chosen. Buyers don’t like pre-selected options. Decorating the interior of a new home can be a daunting task, but also fun to get the whole family involved while watching your new home being constructed.

The challenge of decorating what effectively is a blank canvas in the easiest and most cost-effective way can be met with a few simple steps.

• First choose the theme or style you want your home to portray. Select paint colors for the interior walls. Painting the rooms of your new home is the quickest and least expensive way to give it personality and style. The color scheme throughout your home should be consistent with your visual aesthetic and compliment your possessions. A general rule of thumb is the lighter the shade of color, the more open and airy the room will feel; the darker the shade, the cozier it will seem. It’s a good idea to plan a couple days between your escrow closing and moving in to your new home to paint. It’s much easier to paint before your furniture is in place.

• Define your family’s lifestyle. Build on furniture you already own. When purchasing upholstered furniture for your new home, the simplest yet most forward-thinking thing you can do is to choose timeless pieces that fit into your color scheme. By doing this, you will ensure that the furniture will not become outdated quickly.

• Last, don’t forget the accessories! Unlike furniture, they do not have to be user friendly. Rugs, artwork, vases, draperies and the like are objects with which you may be your most creative. If you love it, use it. The most important principal of decorating a new home is to reflect the true you.