A recent poll by GALLUP shows that there are more than financial advantages to owning your own home. Financial reasons remain chief, of course, but the poll found many other benefits that motivated home buyers to shun renting and opt for homeownership.

Here are just a few of the amazing benefits you can have from purchasing a home for sale in Montgomery, Alabama—or real estate in Pike Road, Alabama too:

Financial security

Sound investment

Tax deductions

Build/maintain credit score

More cost-effective than renting

Don’t have to share your money with others/owners

Freedom to decorate and do whatever you want

Pride of ownership

Choose best locations

More space/comfort/convenience

Pride of ownership

The benefits go far beyond these mentioned here. The GALLUP poll mentioned these and other generic advantages. And beyond these, anyone who purchases or builds a Lowder New Home will get have even more benefits:

Top-quality construction

Technology/digital ready

Energy efficiency

Incredible warranty

Almost limitless customization and upgrade possibilities

A fabulous neighborhood in a great location with unbeatable amenities

Unmatched customer service throughout building process…and beyond!

The benefits are undeniable. Why not make your dream home a reality today? Stop by a Model Home in any of our gracious neighborhoods today and speak with a Builder Representative. They can make your home buying process easy and enjoyable. You’ll love quality homes and quality of life at Lowder New Homes!

Did you know that more than 60% of fire-related fatalities occur in homes without working smoke alarms? That’s why it is of utmost importance that you maintain the health of the smoke detectors that come in your Lowder home.

If you’ve been in a Lowder home for a while, you should be aware that smoke detectors can and do expire. The U.S. Fire Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Fire Protection Association and Consumer Product Safety Commission all say that if your smoke detectors are 10 years of age or older, you cannot count on them to alert you to a fire!

As you engage in healthy spring cleaning this year, be sure to clean, inspect and replace (if necessary) your smoke detectors.
For more information about the smoke detectors that come standard in your beautiful new home from Lowder New Homes, stop by a Model Home in one of our gracious neighborhoods and speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable Builder Representatives.

Many people think buying a home in Montgomery, Alabama or Prattville or Millbrook means you have to settle for whatever happens to be on the market. But the housing market in Alabama is a complex, and you could find yourself in a money pit if you make a bad decision.

Why not consider buying a new home in Pike Road or surrounding areas in the River Region? Let Lowder New Homes build your home just the way you like it, with all the bonus rooms, closets, luxury bathrooms and other amenities you crave. Don’t settle for whatever you find… make your wishlist a reality with Lowder!

Lowder New Homes has been a trusted and respected homebuilder for nearly 60 years. The experienced team behind Lowder possesses exhaustive local knowledge about the area, its surroundings and its best communities. And if you don’t have time or desire to wait for a house that we build specifically for you, check out our move-in ready homes. We have real estate in Pike Road, Prattville, Millbrook and Montgomery that is already built and waiting for you and your family.

Stop by a Model Home in any of our beautiful neighborhoods today and speak with a Lowder New Homes Builder Representative about how you can make your dream home a reality today!

Many people envision themselves living in a beautiful home with a yard surrounded by a white picket fence. In fact, owning a home is a big part of the American dream for most people. However, purchasing a home is one of the most serious decisions a family will ever make. There are many factors to consider. The decision to buy a home can have major and long-lasting emotional and financial impacts on your life.

Can You Afford It

The first thing to consider when buying a house is whether or not you can afford it and how much you can afford to pay. Lenders generally allow you to spend 28 percent of your gross income on a mortgage payment. However, before you go that high, you need to decide whether this will leave you with enough take-home pay to spend for other things you need and want, including clothing, transportation, entertainment and vacations.

Direct Costs

Although the chief cost when buying a home is the purchase price, there are other costs to consider. The mortgage payment will include amounts for principal and interest, which is the cost you pay the lender to borrow money. In addition, mortgage payments usually also include the cost of property taxes and property insurance, which lenders require.

Indirect Costs

A house might be larger than what you are renting, which means higher utility bills for lights, heating and cooling. There is also the cost of water, sewer and trash collection, which many renters don’t pay. Additionally, there are also routine maintenance and repairs.

Financing It

A lender generally requires a down payment. The amount of your down payment can affect the interest rate of the mortgage. In addition, your credit rating and the purchase price of the home can affect how much down payment a lender requires. There are also closing costs to consider, which include a credit report, an appraisal of the property, a title search, prepayment of property taxes and insurance into an escrow account and other miscellaneous fees that can total thousands of dollars.

Advantages

Buying a home means a stable cost for the mortgage each month while rent goes up. People who itemize income tax deductions can take a deduction for the interest and property tax portions of their mortgage payment. Owning instead of renting builds equity, which you can recover when you sell. If you have equity, you can borrow money against it to finance repairs and improvements or spend on something else.

Disadvantages

Your mortgage payment might be higher than rent initially. Additionally, although property values can rise over time, they can also fall. You could end up with less equity than expected, or even end up owing more than you paid. In addition, if your income declines you might find it difficult to quickly in order to move somewhere cheaper.

Buying a home has many advantages, but there are disadvantages too. It can be good because your payment is stable, and, unlike rent, you are building equity in an asset you own. However, buying a home also means you are responsible for all the repairs and maintenance. In general, it is better to buy if you know you can stay put. Consider getting pre-qualified for a loan and go over your total budget before buying.

Deciding between building a new home and buying an existing property means thinking about cost, energy efficiency, creative control and resale value. Though it might be easier to sift through existing homes, one has to take the property as is. Remodeling and even repainting a property is time consuming and costly. More people today are deciding to build their homes so they have control over flooring, cabinetry, appliances and more.

Creative Control over the Home Design

From the start, home owners can design every detail of their new home. This means deciding on the floor plan, paint colors, flooring materials, fixtures and more. Most people end up changing a lot of a home after they buy it. Building the space from scratch ends up saving people time because all of the features suit a person’s lifestyle and interests.

Consult with Expert Home Builders

Home builders offer flexible financing and their expertise. After all, no one wants to invest in an older home only to realize that its insulation is out of date or the floors need to be redone. Many realtors only have so much room to negotiate when it comes to closing costs and the home price. Builders instead can work with people to find the best financing option for both parties.

Increase the Overall Resale Value

Consumers can consult with builders to develop a design that will have a great resale value. After all, property ownership is an investment that can mature over time. Building an energy efficient home with unique features increases its value. Experts in the field can offer a lot of advice about how to include market-friendly fixtures and features.

Save Money

After buying an existing home, many people have to sink a lot of money into maintenance, remodeling and updating everything from staircases to roofs. Over time, these updates and repairs can cost more than the home is worth. Building a new property can actually save people money. Not only do consumers know that their home is up to code, safe and new but there are usually builder’s warranties attached to the work. This is a long-term investment. Building a property ensures the work is done right, insured and can save people in the long run.

Improve the Home’s Energy Efficiency

It is easier to build a new home and include energy efficient insulation, solar panels and more than to buy an older property and update it. Home owners can control the types of appliances included in the space and use environmentally friendly materials during the home building process. This increases the space’s energy efficiency, which lowers everything from the water to the electricity bill.

Building a new home vs. buying is a chance for people to really have their mark on their new home. People can decide every detail: from the driveway to the attic space and can be sure to use environmentally friendly materials during the process. Buying an older property means that the home comes as-is. Building a property is a chance to shape every inch and detail of a dream home.

Number of Improving Housing Markets Holding Steady in April originally posted by the Home Builders Association of Alabama  on April, 2013.

Following seven consecutive months of gains, the list of improving U.S. housing markets remained virtually unchanged in April, with 273 metros on the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released today. This total reflects a net reduction of one market since March and again includes entrants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The IMI identifies metropolitan areas that have shown improvement from their respective troughs in housing permits, employment and house prices for at least six consecutive months. Five new markets were added to the list and six markets were dropped from it this month. Newcomers included the geographically diverse locations of Macon, Ga.; Portland, Maine; Rocky Mount, N.C.; Eugene, Ore.; and Jackson, Tenn.

“The stability in the improving markets list this month is encouraging, with three quarters of all metros tracked by our index considered on the upswing as the housing recovery spreads to parts of every state,” said NAHB Chairman Rick Judson, a home builder from Charlotte, N.C. “In some markets, the main thing that’s holding back a recovery is a relatively thin inventory of homes for sale, which could be resolved if builders had easier access to credit for building homes and putting people back to work.”

“After a strong run-up through late 2012 and early 2013, the number of improving markets is holding steady at a high level,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “We can expect to see more gradual gains going forward as challenges related to increased demand kick in – including everything from tightened supplies of developable lots and labor to the rising cost of building materials.”

“With 75 percent of the country seeing measurable improvement in housing market conditions, the outlook is definitely brightening for local economies this spring,” noted Kurt Pfotenhauer, vice chairman of First American Title Insurance Company.

The IMI is designed to track housing markets throughout the country that are showing signs of improving economic health. The index measures three sets of independent monthly data to get a mark on the top improving Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The three indicators that are analyzed are employment growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, house price appreciation from Freddie Mac and single-family housing permit growth from the U.S. Census Bureau. NAHB uses the latest available data from these sources to generate a list of improving markets. A metro area must see improvement in all three measures for at least six consecutive months following those measures’ respective troughs before being included on the improving markets list.

A complete list of all 273 metropolitan areas currently on the IMI, and separate breakouts of metros newly added to or dropped from the list in April, is available at www.nahb.org/imi.

‘Tis the season for the yellow invasion. The pollen count in our area has exploded, and cars have all taken on a yellowish glow.  Watery eyes, sneezy noses and stuffed-up heads have taken over the population. But what can you do to take back your home from the pollen invasion?

Keep windows closed.

It’s true, the weather is finally warmer. And the springtime birds have started chirping, along with cool April breezes. But those lovely symbols of spring will still be here in a week or two when the pollen is gone. So keep the windows closed until then, and your sinuses will thank you.

Change out the HVAC filter.

Make sure your filter is cleaned and ready for all the tiny particles of dust and pollen that it will have to filter out of the air in your home. Consider buying an allergy-reducing filter if you suffer greatly this time of year.

Make up the bed.

Okay, all you sleepyheads who don’t get up in time to make the bed before work…it’s time to get up two tiny minutes earlier so you have time to spread the covers up over your sheets, and especially over the pillows where  your face spends its evenings.  Let the bedspread collect tiny pollutants during the day, so you can sleep soundly during the night.

These are just a few small steps you can take to guard against the yellow signs of spring in the air.