Happy Earth Day from Beazer Homes!
What are your plans to celebrate today? What? You don’t have any? That’s ok! If you are already living in Beazer home, or planning to buy one, you are already doing your part to be energy efficient.
In fact, because we build 100% of our homes to be ENERGY STAR® certified, we have saved the environment 180,034,423 pounds of CO2 since 1998. That’s a lot of emissions saved just from living in an energy efficient new home, as opposed to an older home. It’s also a lot of monetary savings in our homeowner’s wallets!
In addition to just simply living in one of our homes, there are several other simple ways that you can celebrate Earth Day and do your part. Check them out!
- Switch out an incandescent bulb for a CFL. This could save you $6 per year, or $40 over the lifetime of the bulb. Now multiply that by every bulb in your home. Carry the 2, divide by…well, you get the point. A little bit here, a little bit there…it adds up!
- Go thrifting. Instead of going to buy a new dress or serving platter for your house from the department store, hit up your local second-hand shop to reduce and reuse.
- Pick up a piece of litter. Walking around your office parking lot or neighborhood tonight or later this week? Pick up that trash you see. We all come across it. Just pick it up and pocket it until you return home where you can properly throw it out.
That’s it. Three small things you could do to celebrate Earth Day, other than living in an ENERGY STAR certified home, that is!
For more information on our energy saving home features and building practices, check out our Energy Savings playlist on YouTube.
Happy Earth Day!
What do you plan on doing to celebrate Earth Day?
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Visit Beazer Communities During NAR’s 2013 Nationwide Open House
If you’re in the market for a new home this year, mark your calendars this weekend for one of the nation’s biggest events for potential home buyers.
Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21 are the dates for this year’s National Association of Realtors’ Nationwide Open House weekend. Every year, the Nationwide Open House brings together realtors and potential home buyers to help boost sales of new and existing homes. During the two days, realtors will be on hand to answer questions about the home buying and ownership process, as well as showcase houses in a number of different markets.
We’re happy to announce several Beazer communities will have houses open for viewing this weekend. Below is a list of our divisions that are participating. Be sure to check our division Facebook pages for updates.
Charleston: Enter for a chance to win a $100 Amex gift card when you visit one of our six homes in Charleston. Open for viewing from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, visitors will be able to tour the houses and fall in love with these new homes.
For more information, contact:
Katie Varin – Regional Marketing Manager
Beazer Homes – South Carolina
4401 Belle Oaks Drive, Suite 210 | Charleston, SC 29405
Office: 843.746.6531 | Cell: 843.475.7311
Email: kvarin@beazer.com
Facebook page: Beazer Homes Charleston
Dallas: Our Dallas team will have everyone “ooh-ing and ahh-ing” at all their completed model homes and spec homes. Don’t forget to grab a few snacks while you have a look around!
For more information contact:
Rebecca Gibson
Sales & Marketing- Beazer Homes Dallas
972-250-5515
1750 Valley View Dr. Suite 200
Dallas, Texas 75234
Email: Rebecca.gibson@beazer.com
Facebook page: Beazer Homes Dallas
Houston: In the Houston area? Stop in at one of our 20+ communities to see the various styles and floor plans that meet your lifestyle or family’s needs.
For more information, contact:
Raychelle Muhammad
New Home Information Manager
Beazer Homes – Houston Division
10110 West Sam Houston Parkway North, Suite A-100 | Houston, Texas 77064
Office: 281.897.2149 | Cell: 281.850.8628
Email: raychelle.muhammad@beazer.com
Facebook page: Beazer Homes Houston
Indiana: Our Indy team is bringing the heat and invites you to cool off in decorated models in the Indianapolis, Columbus and Bloomington areas. They’ll have houses open for viewing on both days this weekend.
For more information, contact:
Andrea Hastings
New Home Information Manager
Beazer Homes – Indianapolis-Bloomington-Columbus
9202 N. Meridian St. Suite 300 | Indianapolis, IN 46260
Cell Phone: 317.313.9216
Office: 317.569.3587 | Fax: 317.569.3525
Email: ahasting@beazer.com
Facebook page: Beazer Homes Indianapolis
Nashville: If you’re in the Nashville area, stop by to visit one of our nine communities and snag some snacks and goodies from our Beazer Nashville team. Whether you are looking to upgrade or downsize, check out a range of home designs and floor plans that suit your lifestyle. Viewing hours are Saturday from 11am- 6pm and on Sunday from 1pm-6pm.
For more information, contact:
Ashley Seaman
New Home Information Manager
Beazer Homes- Nashville
1018 Elm Hill Pike| Nashville, TN 37210
Office: 615.244.9600 Ext. 139| Cell: 615.507.4843
Email: ashley.seaman@beazer.com
Facebook page: Beazer Homes Nashville
New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York : Meet the Beazer Team and prepare your future move into one of our beautiful homes in the New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, or New York areas. The sales team will provide snacks for open house visitors on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, contact:
Jennifer Agadzhanov
New Home Information Manager
Beazer Homes – NJ, DE, PA & NY
Phone: 856-431-7060 | Toll Free: 800.924.6985
Email: Jennifer.agadzhanov@beazer.com
Facebook page: Beazer Homes New Jersey
Orlando : Our division in Orlando will have inventory specials throughout the Orlando area. Stop by on Saturday from 12pm-4pm to browse our available homes and enjoy some light refreshments!
For more information, contact:
Colleen Gomez
Regional Marketing Manager
Beazer Homes- Florida
9432 Camden Field Parkway| Riverview, FL 33578
Office: 813.635.2803| Cell: 813.505.5490
Email: colleen.gomez@beazer.com
Facebook page: Beazer Homes Orlando
Raleigh: Stop in to one of our Raleigh spec homes over the weekend and enjoy some light refreshments from 1-5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, contact:
Beth Byrd – Broker/REALTOR
New Home Information Manager – Raleigh
4509 Creedmoor Rd., Suite 200 | Raleigh, NC 27612
Office: 919.277.2379 | Cell: 919.669.8295 | Fax: 919.277.2389
Email: bbyrd@beazer.com
Facebook Page: Beazer Homes Raleigh
Tampa: Ready for a summer-move in? Stop by the communities in our Tampa division on Saturday from 12pm to 4pm to browse our available homes and snack on some light refreshments.
For more information, contact:
Colleen Gomez
Regional Marketing Manager
Beazer Homes- Florida
9432 Camden Field Parkway| Riverview, FL 33578
Office: 813.635.2803| Cell: 813.505.5490
Email: colleen.gomez@beazer.com
Facebook page: Beazer Homes Tampa
When you stop by any of our open houses over the weekend, don’t forget to check in on Facebook or Foursquare!
We will update this post throughout the week as more divisions add information about Open House events. Also be sure to check the Beazer Homes Facebook page and follow @BeazerHomes on Twitter for additional updates.
Leave a commentHave a Kid-Friendly Move: Tips for Moving With Kids
There is no denying moving can be a chaotic experience for the entire family, especially for children. A lot of families try to ease the stress of moving on kids by planning to move into a new home during the summer when children are out of school.
But all of the packing, driving, and unpacking can still be stressful for small children. To make the process easier on the little ones, here are some tips for moving with kids.
Before the move: Get Familiar
Get your child acquainted with your new neighborhood and house. Help children visualize and get familiar with their new home before the move. If you can’t take your child to visit the new house in person, make sure to have pictures on hand of both the inside and outside of the house.
Once you show the pictures, kick the visuals up a notch by getting your child involved in the design process.
Here’s one creative idea: Get a dry-erase board with colored markers. Draw a blueprint-like sketch of your child’s room. Tell your child to draw in where he/ she wants certain items to go, such as a toy trunk or cubby compartment.
During the move: Keep them occupied
If your new place is nearby, ask relatives or family friends to keep the kids for a day while you get the heavy lifting out of the way.
Also, if you can, get your cable or internet set up so kids can stay occupied and in one place during move-in.
Moving is the worst time to try and find a lost personal item, so be sure to keep track of special possessions. If your child has a favorite toy or article of clothing, make sure not to pack it in the boxes you don’t plan to unpack immediately. For children that have several items they can’t go without, designate a separate box for these items with a clear label.
After the move: Keep the routine
While it may be difficult, try to maintain a family routine. If you normally go out for pizza on Wednesday night, try to stick to the habit. If Tuesday night is taco-making night, be sure to have everything on hand to make the weekly dish, including the pots and pans.
Have you ever moved your children into a new home? If you have any helpful tips, leave them in the comments below.
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New Home or Resale? New Homes Month May Help Sway Your Decision
Do I want an existing home? Or do I want a brand new home? These are common questions that many homebuyers grapple with during the early stages of their home search. During the month of April, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is sharing some of the advantages of buying a newly built home in hopes to sway buyer preference.
A recent survey from the NAHB shows that new homes generally do a good job of satisfying a potential homebuyer’s desires for cost and living space.
Used home repair costs can add up quickly, so can expenses for both remodeling and new appliances. When you buy a newly constructed home, you have the chance to pick the features that are most important to you. You can personalize your future home by choosing a floor plan that suits your lifestyle depending who will be living in the home. Or pick more modern details, such as granite countertops or larger bathrooms. If you buy a previously owned home, you may have to settle for whatever you can find on the market, instead of buying a home that is truly built to your liking.
The convenience of a newly built home doesn’t stop at choosing your interior design. According to NewHome Source, newly constructed homes are more energy efficient than homes built just five years ago. New homes tend to include energy saving features such as double-pane windows, which can reduce energy costs as the seasons change.
If you want to know more about the advantages of buying a newly built home, NewHome Source has designed a special interactive website for users to explore the benefits of buying new. Throughout the month, we will also be listing the advantages of new homes here on our blog.
What is one feature you can’t live without in a home? Is it large closet? How about a spacious bathroom?
Grand Openings: Four New Home Communities for the Spring
Beazer Homes is setting up for a busy spring. In the next few months alone we’re opening four new communities, one in Texas and three in California.
In Texas, Prestwyck will host a grand opening on April 13. Located 30 miles north of Dallas in the city of McKinney, this community has a small town feel, different from the rush of the city. These single family homes with three to four bedrooms are priced from the $180s.
- Public Grand Opening: Saturday, April 13 | 11a.m. – 3 p.m.
Prospective homebuyers are invited to tour the community and model home of Prestwyck. The grand opening event will also feature entertainment, lunch, and giveaways. For more information or to RSVP, call Rebecca Gibson at 972-250-5515 or email rebecca.gibson@beazer.com.
In California, we’re celebrating the grand opening of three new communities.
Hearthside Lane community is in Eastvale, one of Western Riverside County’s newest cities. This community features large homesites and expansive floorplans to suit various lifestyles.
- The city of Eastvale is known for its parks, and The Hearthside Lane is less than three miles away from American Heroes Park. Less than a year old, the park has an enclosed space for dogs, as well as space for family outings and play areas for children.
- Public Grand Openings: Saturday, May 11 | Time T.B.D.
We’re also welcoming two Citrus park communities: The Gallery at Citrus Park and The Collection at Citrus Park.Personalize any of the energy efficient homes in either community and make them your own by choosing the exterior (or elevation), and multiple other features from flooring to cabinets.
- Great news for prospective homebuyers with kids and growing families: the Citrus Park communities are less than four miles away from Disneyland.
- Public Grand Openings:
- The Gallery at Citrus Park: Saturday, June 22 | Time T.B.D.
- The Collection at Citrus Park: Saturday, July 6. | Time T.B.D.
For each of these CA communities, we will unveil the decorated model homes. Prospective homebuyers are also invited to tour the communities.
For more information or to RSVP, call Cindi Peterson at 916-746-8360 or email cpeterso@beazer.com.
If you’re seriously looking to buy a new home, don’t miss this great opportunity to own a new home in a brand new community!
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Energy Efficient Home: What Does That Mean?
At Beazer, we take extra steps to ensure that 100% of the homes we build meet and exceed ENERGY STAR® requirements.
You’ve probably heard the term “energy efficient” when referring to household appliances, but do you know what it means to live in an energy efficient home?
Energy efficiency can mean different things to different homebuilders. At Beazer, it means a devotion to building well-built homes that lower energy bills and save our homeowners money. We go the extra mile to install features that help reduce energy use.
To help retain heat and reduce drafts, we use Tyvek ® HomeWrap® to seal the exteriors of our homes. The wrap prevents walls from absorbing excess water during severe weather and protects the home from harsh elements, such as wind and rain, which can damage its exterior.
We also install six-point installation in Beazer homes, and strategically place the heating and cooling systems to minimize the amount of energy they need to operate.
When the building process is complete, we ask independent energy raters to inspect each home to give it a home energy rating, or HERS score. The lower the score, the more money our homeowners can save.
Watch the video below, and learn from Beazer homeowners about the difference they saw in their energy bills after move-in.
Leave a commentHurry up! 3 Phoenix Area Communities Near Close Out
The market is picking up in Phoenix. We are close to selling out three of our communities in the area! With less than 10 homes available in each community, your chance to own a new home in one of these stellar communities is drawing to a close.
Our Desert Rose community is located in Phoenix. With homes starting at $375,900, potential homebuyers can choose from a variety of exterior home designs in a gated community. There is a great view of the mountains in the Valley, making the homes in Desert Rose ideal for outdoor entertaining.
Two of our other communities are in Goodyear, a suburb in the Phoenix metropolitan area located near the Estrella Mountains. Goodyear is one of the fastest growing cities in the Valley. The suburb is 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix, so residents are a short drive away from enjoying the amenities of metropolitan city life.
The homes at Calappa Place start at an affordable $195,000. Homeowners in this community are in the vicinity of great outdoor entertainment, including Goodyear community park and Wildlife World Zoo.
Starting at $178,900, the homes at Glenmont Estates are located near five schools, including Desert Star Elementary and Desert Edge High School. The community is also 30 miles from University of Phoenix and 10 miles from the University of Phoenix stadium.
If you’re looking for a new home in the Phoenix area, don’t miss a great opportunity.
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FHA Changes Coming Soon Make Home Purchase More Expensive
Planning on buying a home soon, and getting an FHA loan, so you only have to put 3.5% down? Pay attention, because there are new FHA changes going into effect soon that will make that purchase much more expensive. It will be important for anyone considering getting an FHA loan to move quickly so they avoid one or both of the increases.
The first change, taking effect on April 1, 2013, is the increase in the mortgage insurance premium (MIP) for most new mortgages by 10 basis points. That means that the government’s annual cost to the buyer for obtaining the loan will rise from 1.25% to 1.35%. Doesn’t seem like much? Think about that increase over the life of a loan. It could be a substantial amount of money over time.
The second change starts on June 3, 2013 and it will no longer allow you to cancel the MIP. Currently, once your loan-to-value ratio hits 78% you can stop paying the MIP. The government figures that you’ve got enough money invested that you aren’t as high of a risk for foreclosure. Under the new change you’ll have to carry the MIP for the life of the loan. Essentially this is a monthly charge for having the loan. It doesn’t help you pay down your principal or loan amount in anyway, so it makes the FHA loan more expensive.
Why all the increases? They are a way for the FHA to begin rebuilding its reserve funds after experiencing large losses over the last decade due to foreclosures. Most importantly for buyers though is to know that these changes make an FHA loan a fairly expensive option compared to a conventional loan. It is important when shopping for a lender, or speaking to the lender you’ve chosen, to understand the difference in payments and overall cost of the loan. Or you can make sure to act quickly and buy your home prior to the changes taking place.
14 Comments Tagged beazer.comBecome a Savvy Saver and Win $200!
Shopping around for the best home loan can save you money. Yet, nearly 50% of people don’t shop around for their mortgage. In January we announced our new Mortgage Choices program. Unlike other builders that recommend a single lender or their in-house lender, we provide a list of mortgage specialists for each community – none of whom pay us in any way – who will compete for your business to provide the Beazer buyer with:
- Better Service
- More competitive rates and fees
- More choice in loan programs
If you shopped around and saved money on your loan every month, what would you do with the extra savings? Tell us by playing our Savvy Saver Game on Facebook and you could win a $200 Visa gift card*! The contest takes place from February 25 – March 18, and we will select 4 winners every week. You can enter up to 12 times, by liking each game piece. Hurry and play now to discover how Beazer can help you shop around and save on your mortgage!
*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Open to legal residents of the United States who are 18 or older. Void where prohibited. Contest begins at 10:00 a.m. EDT on 2/25/13 and ends at 10:00 a.m. EDT on 3/18/13. To enter, access the Savvy Shopper App page located off the main Beazer Facebook page at www.facebook.com/beazerhomes and follow the instructions provided. Entry may be made via Facebook or through Alternate Method of Entry listed on the Sweepstakes website. Limit one entry per person, per day. Prizes consisting of $200 gift cards will be awarded to four winners per week for the duration of the sweepstakes, for a total of twelve (12) gift cards. THIS PROMOTION IS IN NO WAY SPONSORED, ENDORSED, ADMINISTERED BY, OR ASSOCIATED WITH FACEBOOK. For official rules, additional details, and/or a list of winners (after 3/18/13), visit facebook.com/beazerhomes or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Winner’s List-Beazer Homes Savvy Shopper Promotion, 1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 260, Atlanta, GA 30328.
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Housing Market Rebound Sets Stage for Beazer Homes Sales Event
Steadily low mortgage rates combined with rising demand for newly constructed homes creates a promising sales event for Beazer Homes, USA, INC. (NYSE: BZH), one of the country’s top 10 homebuilders. The Get More Sales Event, February 4 – 17 encourages buyers to take advantage of the favorable market conditions by finding the right home at the right price.
“The housing market continues to gain momentum; and buyers can take advantage by finding a Beazer home that is personalized to the way they live and saves them money on their energy bills,” said Kathi James, chief marketing officer and senior vice president for Beazer Homes. “We’re also encouraging buyers to shop for the best suited lender when buying a Beazer home, and providing them a list of vetted partners to choose from instead of pushing them to an in-house lender or a single preferred lender. By doing so they may be able to save hundreds of dollars on their loan monthly.”
Beazer wants the buyer to get more out of the entire home buying process, which is why they offer more mortgage choices, flexible floorplans to suit their lifestyle, and built-in energy efficient features to save them money on utility bills all year long.
Beazer’s Get More sales event puts prospective homebuyers in a great position to get more out of owning a new home. For more information, visit www.beazer.com.
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