Posts Tagged ‘houses’

The housing industry has grown exponentially in step with our country’s population growth, and these days there are plenty of options for the type of home you can build. You hear terms like mobile and manufactured, modular, panelized, and stick-built. What’s the difference in the way these houses are built and their costs?

We’ll start with an easy one, Stick-Built Homes. These are your traditional homes. They are built on site, piece by piece, stick by stick. They are highly customizable, versatile, and the most common type of home built. They also take the longest time to build, and are typically more expensive per square foot. As a result of being built on the site and the time it takes, the home is open to the elements and is subject to delays. Anyone who has passed a construction site in the middle of the winter, with a half built home on it, realizes the problems this may pose. Now, imagine that home was yours. Not too pretty, huh? When you build in the Carolinas, weather plays less of a role, as winter isn’t as severe and many building crews work late into the year. However, even in North and South Carolina you’ll have to worry about rain, especially near the coast. When building materials get wet, they start to warp and develop mold. Concerns about weather damage, innovations in factory-line production, better availability of materials, and a greater desire to control costs have led to the growing popularity of the building systems described below. All the remaining types of housing are constructed indoors, and shipped to your building site in one way or another. Most present some type of cost or time savings over traditional stick-built homes, but may have other drawbacks.

The term pre-fabricated came into use in London after World War Two, as a housing solution for displaced families. Pre-fabrication is a term used to refer to all the types of housing that follows, as all are pre-fabricated, in a factory, off-site and put together on-site. The most important thing to remember is these styles of homes are built inside, with climate control and levels of quality control in place. This style of home building is starting to be referred to as “systems built homes” by the National Association of Home Builders. Building systems are used to save time, achieve more consistent quality, and decrease the need for specialized labor. The company, Carolina System-Built Home, builds All American Homes (which has a plant in Rutherfordton, North Carolina), and is based out of Lexington, South Carolina. You can find them at carolinasystem dot com.

Mobile homes and Manufactured homes are married in history. When a person says mobile, typically negative connotations are thought of: hurricanes destroying large tracts of homes, value depreciation, and poorly built homes. The term mobile home actually refers to homes, built on a chassis with wheels for transportation, prior to 1976, when US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations were put in place. After 1976, this type of home, one with a chassis, has been referred to as manufactured homes. So, you wonder, even with the fancier name and regulations, will these homes still blow away in a heavy storm? These days, with the regulations set upon them, manufactured homes are of much greater quality. There are still concerns regarding stability under high wind, and value depreciation. But overall, manufactured homes are of better quality, safer, and more accepted than they used to be. Nowadays there are double-wides and triple-wides, further enhancing the livability of manufactured housing. In addition, as manufactured homes are subject to Federal regulations, they are exempt from local building regulations. This may make getting the home on the ground easier and faster, but can enable people to sacrifice quality. Local building regulations are good because they make sure homes are built to withstand regional influences of weather and other variables. Manufactured homes are subject to local zoning regulations. Some properties are restricted from putting manufactured homes on them. If you are looking for a first home in North Carolina or South Carolina, buying a manufactured home is a great way to get your foot in the door. You can live in the area for a while, get to know it and then move to a different location you like, without the full investment a traditional home would entail. If you have the money to spare and the inclination, you might consider renting the manufactured home after you move.

Modular Homes, which are often confused with manufactured homes, are quite close to stick-built homes. These types of homes are now being widely accepted throughout North and South Carolina. The sections of the home, referred to as modules, are constructed in a factory, and assembled on site, with the help of a crane and construction crew. Because the home is transported via highway in set pieces, there are limits to the design configurations the home may take. Some people are adverse to the idea of their home being subjected to the bumps and bruises of hundreds of miles of highway travel. In the past, securing loans for modular homes was difficult, but that problem has been largely reduced, as banks are becoming more familiar with the process. Typically with modular homes, all of the finishes are included in the factory construction. Some home owners object to this practice, as there may be a high mark-up and a limit on the options available. Modular homes must adhere to the local building regulations where they will be sited. Overall, modular homes are of good quality, and very similar to stick-built homes. A North Carolina based modular home builder is Professional Building Systems, based out of Mount Gilead. You can visit their website at http://www.pbsnc.com.

Panelized homes are another higher quality option for factory built homes. Panelized homes differ from modular homes in that the walls, roofing, and flooring are all assembled in a factory and then put together on the site. Greater options exist for flexibility of design, and less stress is placed on the home during transit. Finishes and appliances are selected, purchased, and installed by the owner/buyer on site. Panelized homes take longer to finish on the site than modular homes. Some people like panelized homes because of the sweat equity they can put into them, and therefore save some construction costs. Panelized homes are also attractive to green minded people, as they eliminate a large amount of the typical waste associated with building a home. Typically, the panels contain high quality insulation comparative to stick-built or modular homes, although attention must be paid to the joining of the sections to limit leakage. Panelized homes must adhere to the local building regulations where they will be sited. Visit http://www.valubuild.com to learn more about panel built homes.

Costs:

General estimates regarding pre-fabricated homes figure a 20 to 40 percent savings over traditional stick-built homes. However, this figure can be highly misleading. With modular homes, increased size also means increased costs, as more trucks are required to transport the homes and more cranes and men are required to construct them. Panelized homes face the same challenges in regards to transport, and depending on your leg work in your local area, the cost of your finishes and labor can vary highly. Manufactured homes are by far the cheapest up-front, but decrease in value over time. This is changing, but be aware of it. Since they are built to HUD standards established in the 1970′s, manufactured homes are typically not as well insulated as modular, panel, and stick-built homes. Because they are built in all types of weather, stick-built homes often require more maintenance during construction than factory-built homes. The quality of stick-built homes also varies, even within the same builder, as weather conditions affect the home.

Overall, stick-built homes are the most time consuming and expensive, but they are also the most customizable and easiest to acquire financing for. Panel built homes are the second easiest to acquire financing for, as some of the actual building occurs on site. Panel built homes are often considered the best insulated, and have a bit of a savings advantage over modular homes. Modular homes are quicker than panel homes to move into, and provide the greatest ease of construction, while maintaining high quality in structural quality and insulation. Manufactured homes are by far lightest on the pocket on the outset, although future depreciation skews this figure. They are also the quickest to move into, once you’ve found a suitable site.

No matter which way you go, homes where some or all of the components are factory built have clear advantages. It’s a growing market, and you’ll do well to be familiar with it. Save yourself time, money, and wind up with a home that you love, quicker than you thought possible.

Visit www.PlacesOfValue.com for more articles on best places in North Carolina and South Carolina, relocation made easy, top retirement communities, cost of living, and designing and building your Dream Home.

I’ve spent over 30 years finding the best real estate locations for major corporations. These companies have made hundreds of millions of dollars based on the locations I’ve selected.

I’m a professional real estate site locator and location analyst. During the last 5 years, I’ve been researching the growth of towns in North and South Carolina, for the relocation of my family.

I’ve studied hundreds of towns to find those areas which are still affordable, have a high quality lifestyle, and the potential for future growth.

My purpose is to share what I’ve found with you and help you find your Dream Place in the Carolinas.

Author: Bob Bencivenga
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Hybrid and Electric Cars

There can be many benefits to building your own home some of these include financial investment, location, size of the home. In addition, a big factor is the type or style of the home you want to create for your family to live in.

The financial benefits of building your own home are far more less than paying mortgage payments and interest on a mortgage loan. When it comes to building your own home usually, you only have to worry about building supplies and tool costs then you are done with the financial part. Unless you decide to hire some contractor to come in and do most of the work for you like most people who choose to build their own houses do. Then the last parts or the minor things that are left like the walls and flooring many people finish themselves.

Building your own home means you can build it wherever you want to. You can choose the land and the area where you want to live. This is a great benefit of building your own home. The sizes you want to build your own home is another main factor. Your home should have enough room for you and your family to live comfortably and may include the extra rooms for family if you should need it.

These benefits of building your own home compared to buying a home that is already, built or buying a manufactured home far out weigh the ready built home. Ready built homes come with some problems, as they are not in the location you want them to be in, or the ready built homes need restorations or complete overhauls just to live in them. Ready built manufactured homes range in size however; they are all very much the same in the designs.

The last benefit of building your own home is the fact that you can design your home the way you want it. Meaning you can finally be able to have your dream home. Say for instance you want a pond or a bird habitat in the center of you home, or you want a flower garden on your front porch. On the other hand, you may want something very different other than these suggestions. If you build your own home, you have these options to make your home unique. You will also have a finished home where everything is new and fresh to make yours.

The financial benefits of building your own home are far more less than paying mortgage payments and interest on a mortgage loan. When it comes to building your own home usually, you only have to worry about building supplies and tool costs then you are done with the financial part. Unless you decide to hire some contractor to come in and do most of the work for you like most people who choose to build their own houses do. Then the last parts or the minor things that are left like the walls and flooring many people finish themselves.

Building your own home means you can build it wherever you want to. You can choose the land and the area where you want to live. This is a great benefit of building your own home. The sizes you want to build your own home is another main factor. Your home should have enough room for you and your family to live comfortably and may include the extra rooms for family if you should need it.

These benefits of building your own home compared to buying a home that is already, built or buying a manufactured home far out weigh the ready built home. Ready built homes come with some problems, as they are not in the location you want them to be in, or the ready built homes need restorations or complete overhauls just to live in them. Ready built manufactured homes range in size however; they are all very much the same in the designs.

The last benefit of building your own home is the fact that you can design your home the way you want it. Meaning you can finally be able to have your dream home. Say for instance you want a pond or a bird habitat in the center of you home, or you want a flower garden on your front porch. On the other hand, you may want something very different other than these suggestions. If you build your own home, you have these options to make your home unique. You will also have a finished home where everything is new and fresh to make yours.

Do visit Irsan’s latest website at Fagor Pressure Cooker which contains the best prices on Microwave Egg Cooker and other information about pressure and egg cookers.

Author: Irsan Komarga
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Latest trends in mobile phone

In times like these, with the economy as it is, everyone is being wiser with their money. And so should you, especially when it comes to your selling your house. You have already lost value on your house. If you want to sell your home fast it is doubly important to make sure you are getting every dollars worth from your real estate agent, you are paying him or her very well for a service. So use it. Ask them the following questions and get a better idea of how to sell your home quickly.

1. When selling your house, ask to see the details of other houses your real estate agent is selling that are similarly priced to yours. Be objective and compare what they have that your house doesn’t and vice versa. Does your house seem fairly priced in comparison? If not, make sure it is changed if you want to sell your house quickly.

2. To sell your home fast, ask to see details of houses in the same price bracket as yours that have been sold in the time your has been on the market. Again, compare these with your property. What was the difference between that house and yours? What possible reasons can you think of for that house selling instead of yours. Ask your real estate agent what he thinks about ways to sell your house fast.

3. Ask your realtor to sit down with you and compare properties like yours which are being sold by other brokers. Also check to see if other local branches of your real estate agent have your house details. After all, you want your house details to be seen by as many people as possible.

4. If you want to know how to sell your home quickly, ask to see copies of all the advertisements that have been placed for your house. Does the advert show your house in its best light? Does your advert stand out from the rest? If not, make sure it is changed. Remember to advertise your house’s best features.

5. Ask your realtor how many telephone calls he has had regarding the property. What did they ask about the property or want to know about it? If they didn’t want to view the property, what reasons did they give? If it is something you can change, like the décor, then redecorate it. Choose soft, warm, neutral colors like beige and peache.

6. Ask your real estate agent what people say about the house when they view it. What did and didn’t they like? If there is one thing in particular thing a lot of people didn’t like, ask your realtor for advice on what he/she suggests you do about it. Is it something that could be easily changed? If so, change it right away. You don’t have to spend a lot of money replacing anything, just make the best of it, give it a lick of paint to smarten it up. This will give you a clue.

If you are selling your house and want more information on a strategy that could show you how to sell your home fast, click on the follwing link: ==> [How To Sell Your Home Quickly] <==

Author: Joseph Park
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Gadget reviews

If millions of people sell their homes each year through an agent then that might suggest that private selling of real estate isn’t the way to go. Of course it’s not that simple and the premise that a person needs an agent is a false one.

It could be argued that even if an agent is actually required to sell a home, that the agent will at least make the sale easier or more likely. I have to say that there is no evidence to support either that an agent will get you more money or a quicker sale.

There are no industry figures comparing the two methods and even if there were the results would be at best ambiguous. So for better or worse we can only reason through the topic and make an educated guess.

The pro agent people (mostly agents) would argue that only an agent has the marketing clout and inherent skill to achieve the highest possible price in the shortest timeframe. But is that claim accurate or indeed verifiable? A cursory look at the question would tell you that there are to many variables e.g., is the agent a good one?
Is he acting in your best interests or his own best interests i.e. a commission.

All agents freely admit that price is the ultimate determinant of saleability, not the salesman’s ability.
Agents when talking amongst themselves always say that if a house is being reasonably marketed and remains unsold it’s the price that’s the main problem.

If one accepts that price is the problem then one would also have to accept that a lower price (through not paying thousands in agents commission) would help the home to sell faster.

Houses sell houses and the very best agents are the ones that show up. They oil the wheels and perhaps make the process a little easier. Some may in fact make it harder to sell.

At the end of the day it’s only pricing and exposure that sells anything…and that goes for houses or hot dogs. Ah I hear you saying…but what about the fact that the hot dog buyer is hungry? That surely is a factor? Yes it is and so is the taste of the hot dog. But all things being equal if two hot dog stands have similar food and are side by side the cheaper one will get more custom. Likewise if one hot dog maker has a superior tasting product it won’t mean a thing unless people hear about his superior hot dogs and that is known as (exposure)

So you see price and marketing exposure are all that really matters and up until recent times the real estate agents did have a huge advantage in that area. But now the playing field is far more level and FSBO’s can now get as much or greater exposure than some agents. How can this be? Simple really. The average, For Sale by Owner,person has just one house he needs to promote and he can spend more time and resources on that one product as opposed to the agent who may have a hundred properties that he is trying to do justice to.

Funnily enough it’s that very fact that most agents will point to as proof that you need them. They will use the analogy of having a supermarket to attract buyers with, while you haven’t even got a corner store to promote your one solitary product i.e. your house. Now I think that was possibly true to some degree years ago but now thanks to the Internet, the private seller can arrange his do it yourself house sale like the big boys. Using a private selling FSBO company and either his own sign or that of the company the average diy seller can get the marketing reach that eluded him in years gone by.

Now that’s not to say that selling your own home is easy without an agent but then who would be willing to bet that it is going to be easy with an agent?

Whether it’s easier or harder is debatable but what’s not debatable is the savings you can make by selling for yourself. The typical seller would save many thousands of dollars in going the diy selling route and those are often tax free thousands as well.

The key in all of this is that if one is going to sell their own home then they must attend to it in a manner that gets professional level exposure. The best way to do this is to spend a small amount of the saved money on quality marketing.

We aren’t talking rocket science here. Simply set your price as accurately as possible and then tell everyone you can about your real estate…. and that means more than just a For Sale sign in your front yard.

Author: Andrew Blachut
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
portmeirion porcelain dinnerware, bakeware & accessories

Most house-owners who want to sell their house probably look to sell a home quickly. In fact, the circumstances under which people take their decision to sell a home are overwhelming. People suffering from a weak financial situation need to find a solution quickly and the best option to do so is to sell the home as quickly as possible. Saying so, one must also understand that in reality, the process of selling home through agents may take long time. Well, enough time to call it long. However, there is no need to panic. There are simple ways out there which can help bereaved individuals get a quick solution when they want to sell home quickly.

The best option for selling home quickly is to sell them to a realty organisation which agrees to buy the home instantly. There are many organisations that offer instant buying policies so that the process which takes more than a couple of months can be completed within weeks. To find such an organisation, one needs to spend a little time on the internet. There are many buyers who buy houses in shortest possible time. Moreover, by spending some time in researching the companies’ profiles, one can easily understand the working principles of the organizations.

The web site offers you an online form in which you will have to fill the details of your property. Once you submit this application form, the companies go through the details as soon as possible and revert back to you via phone or by e mail within the same day. The companies will also calculate the amount appropriate for your property and would provide a quote when they revert back. If the homeowner likes the price, the companies will send their representatives within the same week. The representatives will let the homeowner know about the rules and regulations. Moreover, they will also show various options available.

Many organisations that buy properties instantly also offer options such as buy and rent back and rent and buy back. These offers make sure that while one wants to sell home quickly, they may also avail the benefits of staying in the home even after selling it. Provided you do not need to relocate to a new place, these options are interesting and valuable options for every house seller. In fact, most of the sellers who want to sell home quickly do so because they do not have any other option at hand. However, they do not want to go searching for another home or to leave their current house too. In such circumstances, many of the companies which buy property offer many options to suit the needs of the seller.

However, if you want to sell home quickly, do not go blindfolded by your requirements. Although most companies offer brief information about the process of sale on their web sites, it is a good idea to confirm the rules and regulations by asking the representatives about it. This will keep you in the safe zone and will let you avail maximum benefits when you want to sell home quickly.

There are cash buyers for property in the UK and have local presence in all areas across the UK. A free and no-obligation cash offer is given within 24 hours of contact. It offers a reliable, honest and quick way to sell house fast privately. Get a free offer now by visiting the website. Sell house fast

Author: Prash J
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cool mobile gadgets

Selling your home in a recession

When selling your home in a recession, it is more important than ever to make sure your money is being well spent. A real estate agent gets as much as 6% commission from the sale price of your house. If you want to sell your house quickly in a recession and avoid as much cost as possible, read the following and remember there are other options if you want to sell your house quickly.

It is always possible to market and sell your own home. Real estate agents do very little marketing of your home when you consider how much you pay for their service. The marketing plans which many real estate agents show you when you are selling your home are merely there to make you think you are being offered a service above and beyond what you could get anywhere else. The strategies outlined in the marketing plans are exactly what you would get anyway and from any other agent who sells houses in your area.

Furthermore, the advertisements for your home is the worm on the end of the fishing hook for the brokers prospective clients. In other words, when a potential buyer calls about your house, the broker is only interested in selling them a house, they are not necessarily interested in selling your home in a recession let alone selling your house quickly. As much as they would have you believe, real estate brokers do not have any special interest in selling your house in particular.

When you are selling your home, it even doesn’t really matter who you choose to entrust the selling of your house too. Why? Because all real estate brokers show buyers around houses which meet their criteria, there is no real skill involved. If your house doesn’t match the requirements of the potential buyer then there is not a lot the real estate agent can do to change this.

Though traditional brokers would prefer you didn’t know it, the service offered by discount brokers is the same as that offered by the traditional brokers themselves. They will tell you that the reason discount brokers charge less for their services is due to the lesser service they provide.

This is not true and most discount brokers offer cheaper services because they want to provide a fair service to clients. This is, of course, also in the hope that they will generate more custom. When selling your home, the prices they offer are about half what you would pay a traditional broker.

Licensed brokers have access to the multiple listing service (MLS). The MLS is a database is used to list details of seller’s houses which enable real estate agents to share the details with other estate agents who may have potential buyers. If you are selling your home, you must make sure your home is listed on this service.

If you are selling your house want more information about a strategy for selling your home in a recession, click on the following link to read a review and discover more information on how to sell your home faster: ==> How To Sell Your Home Quickly <==

Author: Joseph Park
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera Times