Summertime is a Great Time to Move

We have been hearing a lot about why now is a good time to buy a home – especially if you’re a first time homebuyer. Three of the reasons include:

• $8,000 tax rebate for homes purchased and closed by November 30, 2009
• Reduced sales prices and great incentives
• Low, low, low interest rates

Each of these reasons individually provides a great incentive to act. Put them all together and you have a Grand Slam of a reason to get off the bench and start looking for your new home.

However, there are other considerations why now – this summer – is a great time to buy new homes in Austin. This is especially true if you have kids in school or entering school for the first time. It’s challenging for children to change schools at any time and even more so in the middle of a school year.  Physically moving in the summer gives children a chance to acclimate to the new area, meet neighborhood kids and future classmates and start the year off in their new school – when everyone is experiencing the beginning of a new school year at the same time. Choosing a good school for your children is another big consideration when deciding upon the right neighborhood to move to. Builders like Buffington Texas Classic Homes in Central Texas often make decisions about where to build based on quality of schools. Many of their communities such as Stonewall Ranch in Liberty Hill and La Conterra in Georgetown are both part of award-winning school districts.

Summer is a great time for adults to move as well. People spend more time outdoors, so you’ll have a better opportunity to meet your neighbors and you have more daylight to explore the new area you’ll call home for the next few years.

Anytime of the year you move, one of the top reasons for buying a new home in a new community is that everyone is new to the neighborhood and it’s easier to make friends. This holds true for the young and the young at heart!

It’s not to late to find your first…or your next….new home and be in before the Summer’s over. If you’re moving to or around the Central Texas area, visit one of Buffington Texas Classic Homes’ nine communities with new homes in Austin areas. Their trained consultants can tell you about schools and all the great activities going on this summer in Central Texas. Log on to:  www.MyTexasClassic.com for directions and the availability of homes ready for move-in!

Buffington Texas Classic Homes Now Building in Three New Communities

Buffington Texas Classic Homes, one of Central Texas’ premier new home builders, has moved south – south of Austin, that is.  Buffington Texas Class Homes is now building in nine Central Texas communities – the three newest communities (Ledge Stone, Meadow Park and Southpark Meadows) are located just south of the Austin City limits.

Ledge Stone, located just 30 minutes south of downtown Austin in Dripping Springs, has model homes completed and inventory homes ready to close. Ledge Stone is located within the highly rated Dripping Springs Independent School District and has wonderful, family-friendly community amenities including an amenity center with a swimming pool and children’s pool, two playscapes and planned hike and bike nature trails.

With prices starting in the $200’s, Ledge Stone offers a variety of floor plans ranging from 1772 sq. ft up to 4583 sq. ft.  Four homes are currently under construction and are available for a quick delivery.

With 50 years of collective experience, Buffington Texas Classic Homes takes the building of each and every new home personally.  Buffington Texas Classic Homes is your local home builder – and your neighbor – and they understand that the pride of home ownership runs as deep and as wide as Texas.

For more information about Austin new homes in Ledge Stone or another wonderful Buffington Texas Classic Homes community, click on:  www.MyTexasClassic.com.

Buffington Texas Classic Homes leads the way in Energy Efficient Homes in Central Texas

Leading the trend in more energy efficient homes in Central Texas is Buffington Texas Classic Homes.  Every new home built by Buffington Texas Classic Homes earns the ENERGY STAR designation by meeting rigorous energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ENERGY STAR homes are between 15% – 30% more energy efficient than homes that are not ENERGY STAR.

ENERGY STAR qualified homes can include a variety of ‘tried-and-true’ energy-efficient features that contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, lower energy demand and reduced air pollution.  Some of the features that make Buffington Texas Classic Homess ENERGY STAR qualified include:

1. Effective Insulation

Properly installed and inspected insulation in floors, walls, and attics ensures even temperatures throughout the house, reduced energy use, and increased comfort.

2. High-Performance Windows

Energy-efficient windows employ advanced technologies, such as protective coatings and improved frames, to help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. These windows also block damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets and furnishings.

3. Tight Construction and Ducts

Sealing holes and cracks in the home’s “envelope” and in heating and cooling duct systems helps reduce drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, and noise. A tightly sealed home improves comfort and indoor air quality while reducing utility and maintenance.

4. Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment

In addition to using less energy to operate, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems can be quieter, reduce indoor humidity, and improve the overall comfort of the home.

5. Efficient Products

ENERGY STAR qualified homes may also be equipped with ENERGY STAR qualified products — lighting fixtures, compact fluorescent bulbs, ventilation fans, and appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines. All ENERGY STAR products are designed to reduce energy usage and save money.

By choosing a home with the ENERGY STAR label, you can be confident that you’ll save money, have an increasingly valued feature when the time comes to sell and are being a good citizen of our planet.

Interested in more information about how to save with Energy Efficient New Homes from Buffington Texas Classic Homes? Contact our team for a cost comparison of energy efficient new homes in Austin today.  Click on www.mytexasclassic.com.

Austin, Texas sees Positive Employment Growth and is one of America’s Top 25 Housing Markets

Eight Texas metro areas experienced positive employment growth from March 2008 to March 2009. Ranking 6^th in the State for employment growth is the Austin-Round Rock area of Central Texas according to “Monthly Review of Texas Economy”, a study by Texas A&M University’s Real Estate Research Center.  The Austin-Round Rock area boasts the addresses of many large and small business leaders in health care, technology, manufacturing and education. Some of the area’s largest employers are the Government (Austin is the State capitol), Dell, IBM, Apple, AT&T and of course, the University of Texas at Austin. Austin-Round Rock has a highly trained workforce, a wonderful quality of life and a moderate cost of living. 

Hand in hand with job growth is a good housing market. “The bloom is back on Austin’s yellow rose” according to Builderonline.com, ranking Austin as the 2^nd Strongest Housing market in the US for 2009.  According to the Austin Board of Realtors, the median price of single family homes in Austin area is $189,000.  Although the number of sales is down year over year, Austin is one of the only markets where the median price of a home rose in the past year.

A leading builder in Central Texas, Buffington Texas Classic Homes, builds in eight of the most desirable residential communities surrounding the Austin area. Priced from the $130’s to the low $300’s, Buffington Texas Classic Homes offer affordable home designs that incorporate flexibility of design, energy efficiency and wonderful amenities.

To find out more about great new home opportunities in Central Texas, contact Buffington Texas Classic Homes at  www.MyTexasClassic.com.

Stonewall Ranch in Liberty Hill is eligible for the USDA Approved 0% Down Financing Program

In Central Texas, a leading area home builder, Buffington Texas Classic Homes, is having great success with the USDA Rural Development loan program. This program offers USDA-backed loans with 0% down and is probably one of the best financing options available today for qualified homebuyers. Buffington Texas Classic builds in four new home communities that qualify for the USDA approved loan program, Stonewall Ranch – Liberty Hill, La Conterra – Georgetown, Legends Village – Round Rock, and Meadow Park – Buda, which is set to open on June 1^st. Stonewall Ranch in Liberty Hill is one of those communities.  Stonewall Ranch is a beautiful master planned community in the Austin area in the City of Liberty Hill.  Liberty Hill offers hill-country living with an easy commute to Austin. New homes in Stonewall Ranch are priced from the mid $100’s to the low and mid $200’s.  At Stonewall Ranch, you can purchase a “move-in ready” 2437 square foot, 4 bedroom, 2 ½ bath new home for an amazing $188,000.

To find out more about the USDA Rural Development Guaranteed Loan program, you can contact Texas Classic Homes at 512-732-2825 or visit their website:  www.MyTexasClassic.com.

Take advantage of the new $8,000 Tax Credit

For anyone living in Central Texas considering the prospect of buying a first home, now is definitely the time.  Qualified first-time home buyers are now eligible for up to an $8,000 credit that doesn’t have to be repaid if the home isn’t sold for three years.  A “first-time home buyer” is defined as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.  The full $8,000 is available to qualified individuals with an adjusted gross income (MAGI) less than $75,000. For married couples filing a joint return, the adjusted gross income must be less than $150,000.  If your income is higher, there are partial tax credits available. In order to receive the tax credit, you must purchase and close on the home before December 1, 2009. 

With mortgage interest rates and housing prices at record lows – coupled with the $8,000 tax rebate – this is a golden opportunity for first time buyers to enjoy the benefits of home ownership.

Buffington Texas Classic Homes offers new homes in Austin and surrounding cities that qualify for this credit. With Austin new homes starting in $140s, having the American Dream of owning a new home is still possible!

If you’re in the Austin or Central Texas area and are tired of renting, visit Buffington Texas Classic Homes, a leading builder of new homes in Austin, to learn if you can take advantage of the $8,000 Tax Credit. Or, click through your options and learn more about Buffington Texas Classic Homes at www.MyTexasClassic.com, and schedule a private tour at any one of their six Central Texas communities:

Stonewall Ranch – new homes in Liberty Hill, Texas from the $140s.

Village of Hidden Lakes – new homes in Pflugerville, Texas from the $150s.

La Conterra – new homes in Georgetown, Texas from the $150s.

Cold Springs – new homes in Leander, Texas from the $230s.

Legend Village – new homes in Round Rock, Texas from the $150s.

Silver Leaf – new homes in Round Rock, Texas from the $210s

Three Great Reasons Why It’s a Great Time to Buy a New Home

We all know that it’s a Buyer’s Market right now.  If you are financially stable and plan to stay in a home for a few years, then the time couldn’t be better to begin your search for new homes in Austin, Texas! 

Here are the top three reasons why you should start seriously looking for your new home and CLOSE on it before the end of the year.

1. Homes are affordable.
According to the National Association of Realtors’ housing affordability index (a measure of the relationship between home prices, interest rates and household income), homes are more affordable now than since they started measuring affordability in 1970.

2. Interest rates still historically low.
Interest rates are still historically low and if you have good credit and the required down payment, you can find a great mortgage.

3. You may qualify for an $8,000 tax rebate
If you are a first-time home buyer and close on a home before December 1, 2009; you could qualify for an $8000 federal tax credit  that does not have to be repaid. 

Individually, these are three great reasons to buy a home today.  Put them all together and you could save thousands of dollars on your purchase and hundreds of dollars in a monthly payment.

What are you waiting for? To take advantage of these historically low prices, low interest rates and see if you qualify for an $8,000 tax rebate, click on www.MyTexasClassic.com and discover how easy it is to buy a home in the Austin area.

New Model Home Opening at Villages of Hidden Lake in Pflugerville

5 Bedroom, 3077 square foot new home for $211.990!

Buffington Texas Classic Homes, one of Austin’s premier new home builders is excited to announce the pening of a brand new model home, the Woodward, at The Villages of Hidden Lake in Pflugerville coming in mid February.

This new home in Pflugerville is a 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath home with 3077 sq. ft of living space selling for an incredible, hard-to-believe price of $211,990. This home has it all…. a first floor Owners Retreat with a large master bath and closet and 4 spacious bedrooms, two full baths, a Media Room AND a Game Room on the second floor.

Not only does this home offer great family living at a great value, it’s also eligible for the USDA Approved Financing program with ZERO down, no mortgage insurance and low interest rates.

The Villages of Hidden Lake is a master planned community located a convenient 12 minutes from downtown Austin and features a community pool with a children’s water play area, a half basketball court and walking trails. Stop by our furnished model home.   We’d love to show you a beautiful new Buffington Texas Classic Home. Homes at The Villages are priced from the $150’s to the $280’s.  The model is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and on Sundays from noon until 6 pm or call 512-990-7008 for a private appointment.

Whether you’re a first time buyer or you’re moving up to a larger home, you’ll find the home that fits your dreams at one of Buffington Texas Classic Homes’ four Central Texas communities.  Click through your options, learn more about us at www.MyTexasClassic.com, and schedule a private tour. We’ll be waiting for you in the most desirable residential communities Central Texas has to offer.

Buying an Energy Star Home Can Save you Money and Help the Environment

Which is better – a new home or a resale home?  Although both have their advantages, there are many ways a new home will save you money. That’s particularly true if you buy a new home that has earned the ENERGY STAR designation.

 Leading the trend in more energy efficient homes is Buffington Texas Classic Homes in Austin, Texas. Every new home built by Buffington Texas Classic Homes earns the ENERGY STAR designation by meeting rigorous energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Buffington Texas Classic Homes are significantly more energy efficient than other new and used homes because they incorporate a variety of energy-efficient features, products and improvements in all their homes.  These energy saving features are good for the environment and will save you hundreds of dollars a year.

IN an EPA comparison of ENERGY STAR homes and standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating-delivering $200 to $400 in annual savings. Over the average 7 to 8 years you may live in your home, this adds up to thousands of dollars saved on utility bills.  Additional savings on maintenance can also be substantial.

You can also save money by financing your home purchase using an energy-efficient mortgage.  Make sure to ask your lender about energy-efficient savings when getting pre-approved for your mortgage.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), approximately 16 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the energy we use in our homes nationwide. ENERGY STAR homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC) and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than standard homes. Using less energy in our homes generates less pollution in our environment.

 By choosing a home with the ENERGY STAR label, you can be confident that you’ll save money, have an increasingly valued feature when the time comes to sell and are being a good citizen of our planet.

Whether you’re a first time buyer or you’re moving up to a larger home, you’ll find the home that fits your dreams AND saves you money at Buffington Texas Classic Homes.  To find Buffington Texas Classic Home or to find out how an ENERGY STAR rated home can save you money, visit www.MyTexasClassic.com.

What’s really a better value: A New Home or a Foreclosure?

Are you prepared to roll the dice?

 

A common misconception among homebuyers today is that the best values in the market are foreclosures. Yes, there are some good deals on foreclosed homes, however, if you take a closer look, you might find that buying a NEW home is actually a better value, a safer investment and offers more peace of mind. 

Probably the most important consideration when comparing a new home versus a foreclosure is the protection you have when you purchase a new home. If anything goes wrong after closing, a new home is covered by the builder’s one-year limited warranty on workmanship and materials, and in addition, many builders, like Buffington Texas Classic Homes in the Austin, Texas area include an additional ten-year structural warranty. This offers you peace of mind knowing there won’t be any unexpected out-of-pocket costs for repairs after closing and you have someone to call on to take care of unanticipated problems.

Most people don’t realize that properties sold in foreclosure are sold “as is”.  This means there’s no warranty protection and there isn’t any recourse if there are construction defects, environmental hazards or problems of any kind with the home after closing. Often, maintenance or “behind the walls” issues are not readily visible and problems arise after closing and you’re already living in the home.  As a buyer, these repairs (sometimes very costly) are made “out of pocket” and add to the actual cost of the home.

The greatest benefit of buying new is that you are purchasing a home that is BRAND NEW – everything is sparkling clean and unused. In many cases you can customize the home to reflect you own tastes and personality instead of living with someone else’s choices.  Often, purchasers of foreclosures or used homes are forced to make a substantial additional investment after the sale to paint, replace damaged or missing fixtures and/or appliances, stained or worn-out carpets and dead landscaping.

One last thing to consider is the quality of construction and the reputation of the builder. A great example is Buffington Texas Classic Homes, a leader and innovator in new home building in the Austin area with a reputation for building great homes with a great value for more than 50 years. They incorporate the latest technology, design and materials in all of their homes.  Buffington Texas Classic Homes are more energy efficient than ever before and stronger than homes built just a few years ago because of new building codes and new developments in home construction.

There are many other reasons why a new home is a better value and a better investment in your future.  Whether you’re a first time buyer or you’re moving up to a larger home, when you’re out shopping for a foreclosure home and looking for that “good deal,” consider visiting new home communities too. Prices are at an all-time low, and many builders like Buffington Texas Classic Homes offer affordable pricing, excellent quality and a good deal that THEY GUARANTEE.   

Click through your options, learn more about Buffington Texas Classic Homes at www.MyTexasClassic.com, and schedule a private tour at any one of their four Central Texas communities.