Shea Homes announces that they will continue to build energy-efficient homes through a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star® Program.

New energy-efficient homes provided by Shea are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes currently built in accordance with the 2004 International Residential Building standards, and rumor has it that these new homes could be up to 30 percent more energy efficient.

Shea will be building Energy Star® Certified new homes in Peoria and Litchfield Park in the near future.

“Shea Homes continually strives to provide environmentally friendly options for our home buyers increasing the value of our homes, and reducing our reliance on the earth’s natural resources,” said Ken Peterson, vice president of sales and marketing for Shea.

Homebuyers can locate a Shea Home at around 30 new home communities located in and around the Metro-Phoenix area. Shea Homes in the Valley range between the $80s to the upper $500s.

See more:

Bizjournal.com - Shea Homes to roll out Energy Star brand

Shea Homes’ Communities

American West Homes

American West Homes is a leading Nevada home builder with nine communities located in Southwest Las Vegas and Henderson. New single-family homes built by American West are available ranging between the upper $100s and mid-$400s. 

Check out the following information on America West’s new home communities. To learn more, simply click on the community link to visit AmericanWestHomes.com.

• Promontory homes start in the $320s and are available with up to 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and 3,276 square feet.

• Kingsbridge has new homes ranging between 1,486 and 2,996 square feet, up to 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms from the low $200s.

• Lexington offers homes with up to 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and 2,188 square feet. Find new homes at Lexington starting in the upper $100s.

• Newcastle is a single-family community with new homes ranging between 1,701 to 3,176 square feet, with up to 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms from the $220s.

• Fairmont new homes start in the low $200s This community offers six different home designs ranging from 1,486 to 2,996 square feet and up to 5 bedrooms, available in either 2 or 3-story designs.

• Kensington home prices start in the upper $300s. This community offers five designs, ranging from 3,435 to 4,770 square feet, with up to 6 bedrooms, 4 baths, and a 3-car garage.

• Silverado Springs offers new homes starting from the upper $200s. As one of the more desirable communities in the Las Vegas area, buyers can choose from 5 floor plans ranging between 2,363 square feet to 3,790 square feet.

• Windsor has new homes ranging between 2,222 to 3,790 square feet, with up to 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. New homes at windsor start in the $260s.

• Woodbridge offers homes with up to 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, ranging between 3,435 to 4,770 square feet. New homes at Woodbridge are available from the upper $300s.

American West was formed in 1984 as a privately owned homebuilder, and has received numerous awards and accolades, including:

• ACE Award (Award for Construction Excellence).
• SNHBA Home of the Year (Southern Nevada Home Builders Association) for Crystal Bay.
• SNHBA Pioneer Award (Southern Nevada Home Builders Association) to Larry Canarelli (President).
• Legend of Residential Marketing (National Sales and Marketing Council) to Larry Canarelli (President).
• Ranked in the Top 10 since 1992 in The Las Vegas 100 Private Companies.
• Gold Nugget Award
• Homer Award

American West Homes is a quality homebuilder, trying to help promote fiscal responsibility by building affordable homes for everyone, and exclusive homes for those whose budgets can afford a little bit more extravagance.

Taylor Morrison

In 2007, the companies Taylor Woodrow and Morrison Homes, another UK based company, merged to become Taylor Morrison, instantly the fifth largest home builder in the world, and the number one home builder in the United Kingdom.  They are ranked in the top 15 home builders in the United States.

The merger brought unique qualities already identified with each original company.  Morrison Homes was known for single family residences for first time home owners, whereas Taylor Woodrow was known for building master planned communities and luxury homes, predominantly in the Florida area.  The new organization’s North American headquarters were located in Bradenton, FL, but in 2008 moved to Scottsdale, AZ.

The merger also brings a new corporate spirit into the mix, as Morrison Homes had been consistently known as one of the top five home building companies in the United States when it came to customer satisfaction.  The overall company has won the Best in American Living Award 36 times, more than any other home builder, and was recently one of the first home building companies inducted into their Hall Of Fame.  They have also been awarded by J. D. Power & Associates on numerous occasions and were given Builder Magazine’s Hall Of Fame Award.

Taylor Morrison has adopted the pledge originated under the Morrison Homes name known as Seven Steps To Satisfaction, which they say ” promises an attentive personal relationship with your builder, a customized design, a strong warranty, and an outstanding neighborhood”.  The seven stages of this pledge are:

• Step 1: Signature Selection Center Meeting - where homes are customized;
• Step 2: Owner’s Orientation Meeting - confirmation of plans before the homes begin building;
• Step 3: Mid-Construction (Pre-Drywall) Meeting - first stage of building, most specifically the frame and wiring review;
• Step 4: New Home Demonstration Meeting - the walk through before closing;
• Step 5: Two-Month Home Review;
• Step 6: 11-Month Home Review;
• Step 7: 22-Month Home Review

Recently, Taylor Morrison offered a short term program for buyers where they were matching the $8,000 tax credit offered to first time home owners from President Obama’s stimulus package, as well as upgrade offers depending on where the homes were being built that, in some instances, could have saved more than $50,000 on the cost of a new home.  This offer only lasted for a month, but it’s possible that they might run the program again in the near future.

Customer satisfaction, building in fifteen states and Canada, and innovative programs to help customers; Taylor Morrison is a breath of fresh air in the home building business, and someone you need to check out if they build where you live.

For more information about Taylor Morrison Homes, visit them online at www.TaylorMorrison.com

Creekhaven at The Shoreline - Murrells Inlet, SC

Creekhaven is a Ryland Homes community located in Murrell’s Inlet, South Carolina. Creekhaven is located in the master-planned community of The Shoreline and residents are privy to fresh sea air and endless winding marsh-lined creeks. Residents at Creekhaven live only minutes from Myrtle Beach, Huntington Beach, and Brookgreen Garden, making beachside living a reality. The amenities at Creekhaven include The Tournament Players Club PGA golf course, two full-sized community pools, tennis courts, boating, fishing, and watersports. Homebuyers will find that the single-family homes provided at Creekhave are uniquely designed with a Charleston-style, with front porches and raised foundations. There are currently multiple quick delivery homes available and the home prices start in the $220s. Map & Directions

Carlton Creek - Duncan, SC

Carlton Creek is a Meridian Homes community located in Duncan, South Carolina - a short drive from either of the cities of Greenville or Spartanburg. The homes in Carlton Creek are three, four, and five bedrooms in size and pricing begins in the $230s. Features of Carlton Creek include ranch style homes, two-story homes, convenient access to shopping centers, restaurants & entertainment, and residents with children in elementary and high school will appreciate that their children will be attending schools under the Spartanburg School District. Amenities include a community pool and social meeting area, equipped with outdoor fireplace, a natural pond, riverfront home lots, and easy access to interstate highways. Model homes are currently available for viewing, and Carlton Creek currently has several homes ready for quick move-in. Map & Directions

Silver Run - Fort Mills, SC

Silver Run is a Mercedes Homes community located in Fort Mill, South Carolina - a thirty minute drive from Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. The homes at Silver Creek range in size from four bedroom, three bath, 2,147 square feet to four bedroom, four bath, 3,522 square feet. Homebuyers will appreciate that they have eleven home plan variations to select from, and homes in Silver Run are priced from the $190s. Residents are conveniently located only five miles away from top restaurants, entertainment, and shopping centers. Each home in Silver Run is equipped with two-story family room entries, a designated study room, and a utility room that comes upgraded with a pet shower and built in mudroom cabinetry. Homebuyers can currently select from several move-in ready homes that are ready for quick delivery. Map & Directions

Cheldan Homes' Bonds Ranch

Bonds Ranch is a new housing subdivision built by Cheldan Homes, which is located in Fort Worth, Texas. Bonds Ranch boasts unique home designs, professionally selected with specific options to match specific home plans. The available homes located in Bonds Ranch start in the upper $180s and range in size from four bedrooms with two baths and 2,008 square feet of living space, to three bedrooms with two baths and 2,134 square feet of living space. To learn more about either of these available homes, contact Anne Carrancejie at 817-350-3351.

Standard Pacific Homes' Saratoga

Saratoga is a Fort Worth, Texas new home community provided by Standard Pacific Homes. Saratoga offers home shopper the opportunity to select from fifteen different home plans, ensuring that buyers are able to locate the perfect home. Saratoga is a master-planned community that features rolling hills, green belts, and easily accessible public parks. New homes in Saratoga start in the low 200s and the homes range in size from three bedrooms with two baths, to four bedrooms with three baths. Speak with a sales representative at 817-562-4751 to learn more.

Mercedes Homes' Woodland Estates

Woodland Estates is a new home community built by Mercedes Homes and located just southeast of Fort Worth in Mansfield, Texas. Woodland Estates offers residents a quiet and peaceful atmosphere due to the exclusive surrounding and secluded home sites. Each of the home sites in Woodland Estates is on a quarter-acre lot and enclosed with mature trees and foliage. This highly desirable community is conveniently located near to shopping centers, restaurants, and entertainment venues. For more information about Woodland Estates, call 877-649-8722.

Defective Chinese Drywall

Lennar Corp, one of Florida’s largest single-family home builders, recently disclosed that they have been named in a class action lawsuit involving defective Chinese drywall, according to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings on Monday.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Two plaintiffs claim to have purchased new homes from Lennar with defective Chinese drywall, which apparently emits sulfur gases, fumes, and erodes air conditioning connectors.

Lennar Corp was one of the first large home builders to address the situation, and has been working with homeowners to replace the defective drywall. In Lennar’s SEC filings, the company has stated that a reserve fund account will be used to replace drywall imported from China and any additional costs will be covered by insurance.

Lennar is not the only builder to have been affected by the defective drywall. National builders and prominent Florida home builders have also constructed thousands of homes with Chinese drywall, including Meritage Homes, Standard Pacific, Ryland Homes, Transeastern, Taylor Morrison, and WCI.

Some analysts suggest that enough Chinese drywall was imported to construct over 100,000 homes. The states affected include Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia.

See more:

http://www.newhomessection.com/blog/chinese-drywall-suit-names-lennar-corp/2009/04/21/

http://www.justicenewsflash.com/2009/04/23/lawsuit-filed-south-florida-homebuilder-lennar-corporation_200904231163.html

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090423/ARTICLE/904231089/-1/NEWSSITEMAP

New Home for Sale in Sacramento, CA

William Lyon Homes has four incredible developments in Sacramento - Gallery Walk, Plaza Walk, Shady Lane and Twin Oaks. Start in the high $100s; Gallery Walk and Plaza Walk are beautiful communities. Shady Lane and Twin Oaks are located in the master planned community of Whitney Ranch in Rocklin, and start in the upper $300s.

The style of the homes in these communities uses the modern style and urban appeal which offer maximum comfort to any new home owner. With the $10,000 tax credit being offered to people buying a new home in California, these new homes up for sale in Sacramento are getting sold out very quickly. Homes on the market last an average of 61 days, being the high demand for quality housing. Also with the irresistible new features that come with each new property, buyers truly like what they see and find the home convenient to the demand of a modern day life.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo index of builder confidence stayed at 9 in December, according to the Washington-based association. A measure below 50 means most respondents accept conditions as poor.

While foreclosures continue to mount and continue to oversaturated real estate markets, builders’ are finding their profits are shrinking. Another issue is the lending standards that mortgage brokers have set, adding to the problem of getting home buyers approved, while further clogging the credit market.

Several economists and industry-experts have gone on the record with a similar message - that continued declines in prices will continue over the next 6-months. Stating that foreclosures are a main issue for preventing many builders’ ability to lower their inventories.

The median forecast of 36 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News predicted the builder confidence index would rise to 10 in December. The projections ranged between a decrease to 7 and a rise of 13. First published in January 1985, the gauge averaged 27 last year.

This survey asks that builders establish sales as “good,” “fair” or “poor” and to analyze prospective buyers’ traffic. In addition, the survey asks participating builders to approximate their position over the next six months.

Single-family home sales fell one point to 8, over November’s builders’ group index. The buyer traffic estimate remained at 7, while the evaluation of expected sales over the next two quarters has declined to 16, from 18 last month.

In December, confidence declined in two of the country’s four regions, with the major reductions occurring in the South, where the index dropped to 10 from 12 last month. In the Midwest, the measure also declined from 7 to 6 during the same period. The Northeast gauged remained steady at 11, while the West’s reading rose from 6 to 7 in November.

Sandy Dunn, chairman of the NAHB and a builder from Point Pleasant, West Virginia, said, “the crisis continues.” Dunn added that congress and the current administration should step in with with substantial incentives, aimed at bringing qualified buyers back to the table.

Victorville is in the Victor Valley of western San Bernardino County in the Mojave Desert of California. According to the 2000 census it has a population of 64,029. It has grown rapidly, however—the state of California estimates the population at 107,72 as of May 2008. Victorville is on historic Route 66 and is in fact the home of the Route 66 museum. There are many fascinating wilderness preserves in the Mojave Desert. Its dry, warm climate, natural beauty and romantic association with the historic Route 66 may make it the ideal place for you to build your dream home.

Home prices have plummeted, due to the tanking economy If you can afford to buy, however, this revaluation of property ensures that your property will almost certainly go up in value. Besides, if you need a house, and dream of building it yourself, no time is a bad time to build.

There are several advantages to buying a home now. For starters, building supplies are cheap. The cost of drywall has dropped 40 percent. Lumber has dropped too, somewhere in the range of 20 percent. With the falling land prices, its’ already looking like a bargain. The downturn in the economy has also affected labor rates, leaving many skilled tradesmen looking for an entrance into the labor market. Chances are the labor rates will be good. Before you build, you have to cost it out, and don’t forget to include the cost of the land prepping the lot (grading, utilities, etc.), the cost of a building permit, school fees and, of course, the house itself.

Seattle is the largest city, population-wise, in the state of Washington, and even the whole Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America. Seattle is a port city, in the western part of the state of Washington between Puget Sound and an arm of the Pacific Ocean. It is very close to Canada,–approximately 96 miles south of the border. Seattle is a major economic, cultural and educational center for the region.

Seattle’s climate is mild; it is wet in winter and dry in summer, not unlike the Mediterranean. Temperature extremes are moderated by the adjacent Puget Sound, the Pacific Ocean, and nearby Lake Washington. The region is partially shielded from Pacific storms by the Olympic Mountains and from Arctic air by the Cascade Range. The only downside climate-wise is the city’s reputation for frequent rain.

Seattle is really a city of neighborhoods; it grew together out of a lot of smaller communities. Thus as cities go, it can provide the best of both worlds—small town living and big city living. It is a great city to build a home in. Once you’ve decided to build your home, you must find the right home site. Having done that, you have to cost it out, and don’t forget to include the cost of the land prepping the lot (grading, utilities, etc.), the cost of a building permit, school fees and, of course, the house itself.