Home Shopping Tools

Home Shopping Tips:

• Prequalify for a mortgage first. Assess your buying power before you even start shopping for a new home, that way you know how much house you can afford and what neighborhoods are within your budget.
• Get an idea of what kind of home you want (and need) to buy. Put together a list of things you absolutely must have in a home (like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, a large dining room, a finished lower level, an office, or a large backyard) so it’s easy to find a home and community that’s perfect for you.
• Take location into consideration when looking for a home and community. Get an idea of how close you want to be to schools, recreation areas, grocery stores, shopping areas or high ways.
• Do you have a friend or family member with strong opinions on everything? You know the one. Well, bring them along during your house hunting trips! When you think about it, it makes perfect sense. The house hunting process stirs up a lot of different emotions — excitement, anxiety, joy, fear, frustration, exhilaration. And while these emotions are perfectly normal, they can cloud your judgment. That’s not something you want when making a big financial decision. You can balance this out by bringing a friend or family member along on your house hunting trips. This gives you an objective ally who can help you identify the pros and cons of each house. Chances are they’ll also be able to spot aspects of a house you might have missed otherwise.
• Do you have a digital camera, or do you know somebody who does? If so, you have the ideal tool to help with the house hunting process. Take pictures of every house you visit, and then categorize them in folders by house address. This will help you recall the details of each house later on (when the details tend to blur together). The photos will also give you an opportunity to see each home more objectively, after your initial excitement has faded. Then you can more easily decide which houses you’d like to follow-up on.
• Before you purchase a home, visit or drive through the neighborhood at different times and on different days to get an idea of what you would experience living there daily.
• Buying a home will probably be the biggest financial decision of your life. So it deserves careful consideration each step of the way. Even in a hot market where homes sell quickly, you have to make wise decisions based on research. Remember, there will always be another house to come along. So even if you miss one due to your cautious approach, another home will be right around the corner. Keep these tips in mind while house hunting and you will have a much better experience.

Frequently Asked questions:

What is a Homeowners Association?

This is the organization that governs regulations and expenditures within a community. The Homeowners Association is typically responsible for the development of an annual budget, the collection of “HOA Fees” that homeowners pay to maintain and repair “common areas”, and the creation of various rules and guidelines for living in the community. Most Homeowners Associations have a Board of Directors that is elected annually. Each homeowner within the community is a member of the Association and has equal voting privileges.

What are CC&R’s and what purpose do they serve?

The covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&R’s) are the governing documents that dictate how the Homeowners Association operates and what rules the homeowners (and their tenants and guests) must obey. This can include the kinds of architectural changes you can make on your home, rules regarding the use of recreation facilities, or how many pets you can own. CC&R’s are legally enforceable by the Homeowners Association, unless a specific provision conflicts with federal, state or local laws. CC&R’s help maintain the value of both individual properties and the community as a whole by establishing standards that owners must comply with.

When purchasing a home what fees are tax deductible?

Generally, any pre-paid interest, pro-rated property taxes and loan origination fees (or points) you paid to obtain your mortgage can be deducted that year from your state and federal tax return if you itemize your return; but you should discuss your individual situation with your financial advisor.

Define these lender terms: VOE, P&I.

VOE (Verification of Employment): This is a document signed by the borrower’s employer verifying his/her position, salary and dates of employment.

P&I (Principal and Interest): Your monthly payment is made up of several parts, the largest of which is principal and interest, or what is referred to as P&I. The principal is the part of your monthly mortgage payment that reflects the amount borrowed that you still owe. The principal decreases with each payment you make (that’s how you build equity in your home). The interest is the part of the monthly mortgage payment that reflects the fee you’re charged for borrowing the money.

What is mortgage insurance (PMI)?

Mortgage insurance is a policy paid by the borrower that protects lenders against some or most of the losses that can occur when a borrower defaults on a mortgage loan. Mortgage insurance is required primarily for borrowers with a down payment of less than 20 percent of the home’s purchase price.

Define agency relationships: Buyer’s Agent, Seller’s Agent, and Dual Agent

A Buyer’s Agent is a real estate agent who represents the buyer and provides fiduciary duties to the buyer.

A Seller’s Agent is a real estate agent who represents the seller and provides fiduciary duties to the seller.

A Dual Agent is a real estate agent who represents both the buyer and the seller. In almost every state dual agency is illegal and considered unethical without the written consent of both the buyer and the seller.

Do I need a realtor to purchase a YourStyle Home?

No, a realtor is not required when building or purchasing a YourStyle Home, but we do co-op with the real estate community when they refer clients to us, serving as a buyer’s agent on your behalf.

Why purchase a new home over resale?

Used resale homes come with a history-whether it’s questionable design or the previous owner’s wear and tear. YourStyle Homes are designed with family-centered spaces, and function for the way we live today. With a new YourStyle Home, you get to select your own customizing options and finishes, not live with someone else’s. You also benefit from the latest structural improvements. Builders like YourStyle Homes must meet tough new building codes, so we’re focused on the most current building materials and techniques and the latest in energy efficiency. You deserve your own “style” in your next home, not someone else’s.

Why purchase from YourStyle Homes versus other builders?

That’s easy! YourStyle Homes offers fresh Superior Design, Superb Craftsmanship (using Name Brand products), and the Included Features you should expect in a new home. Visit our How We Build section of our web site to learn about all the features and benefits provided in a Yourstyle Home.

As important, YourStyle Homes provides the Personal Attention you deserve when building a new home. You will deal one on one with the same YourStyle Representative from start to finish, and through your home’s first year of warranty. We pride ourselves in flexibility, accountability, and prompt communication; you are a welcome part of the homebuilding experience.

Can I have a home inspector look at my home?

Of course, just coordinate with a YourStyle representative to schedule an inspection.

Please visit the “Our Partners“ section of our Web site to find links to YourStyle trade partners and major manufacturers.

Book List:

When planning to build a YourStyle Home, it can be helpful to refer to books and magazines on interior design, outdoor living, and home ownership.

They’ll spark new ideas and help you communicate “your style” to our various designers.

Below are some great resources on home design:

• Designing Your Perfect House – by William J Hirsch Jr
• Kitchens that Work: The Practical Guide to Creating a Great Kitchen -by Martin Edic and Richard Edic
• Home by Design: Transforming Your House into Home – by Sarah Susanka
• Designing Your Dream Home -by Susan Lang
• Sunset Ideas for Great Rooms – by Barbara J. Braasch
• The New Homeowner’s Handbook: What to Do After You Move In – by Barbara Ballinger Buchholz (Editor), et al
• Will This Place Ever Feel Like Home? : Simple Advice for Settling in After Your Move – by Leslie Levine. Paperback
• After the Boxes Are Unpacked: Moving on After Moving In – by Susan Miller
• Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House – by Cheryl Mendelsohn
• Design Ideas for Bathrooms -by Susan Doyle Hillstrom
• Pure Style Outdoors – by Jane Cumberbach and Pia Tryde
• Sunset Western Landscaping Book – by the editors of Sunset magazine
• The New Cottage Home – by Jim Tolpin
• Bathrooms, Bedrooms, Living Rooms or Storage & Display – Pottery Barn Design Library
• Home Theater Design: Planning and Decorating Media-Savvy Interiors – by Krissy Rushing
• Debbie Travis’ Painted House Kids’ Rooms: More than 80 Innovative Projects from Cradle to College – by Debbie Travis
• The Backyard Idea Book -by Lee Anne White
• Relaxing on the Porch – by Megan Fulweiler
• Designed to Sell: Smart Ideas That Pay Off – From HGTV
• The Healthy Home Workbook – by Kimberly Rider
• Color Harmony for Interior Design: A Guidebook for Creating Great Color Combinations for Your Home – by Martha Gill
• Room by Room: Contemporary Interiors – by Carol Meredith
• East Meets West: Global Design for Contemporary Interiors – by Kelly Hoppen

Home Building Terminology:

easement

A right given to a third party to use a portion of property for certain purposes, such as power lines or water mains.

elevation

The exterior facade of a home, including the materials (like brick or stone) used on that face. YourStyle Homes are designed with at least two different elevations, or architectural styles, in addition to the selection of colors for each of our plans.

framing

The construction of the skeleton structure, or framework, of a house.

floor plan

An architectural drawing showing the overall layout of a home. The size and shape of each room, as well as any optional configurations of those rooms, are shown on the floor plan.

floor joist

The individual framing members of the floor that span from the exterior walls to the center beams within a home. Floor joists are typically 9 ½” to 12″ in height, and spaced 12″ to 19.2″ apart from each other. Your home’s subfloor is then glued and nailed to the joists.

HOA (Homeowners Association)

In many new communities, an association of homeowners is formed. The Homeowners Association is responsible for enforcing the rules and regulations of the community, and also for the maintenance and upkeep of any common areas, including community centers, swimming pools, health club facilities and landscaping.

home site

Each new community is divided into individual lots, or home sites.

homeowner orientation

The Homeowner Orientation provides buyers with the opportunity to become acquainted with their new home prior to moving in. During the orientation, a YourStyle Representative provides a thorough demonstration of the completed home (e.g., mechanical components, appliances, etc.) and reviews items covered by the warranty.

phase

A group of home sites within a community. Most homebuilders sell all the lots within the current phase before moving on to the next phase of the community. The benefit to the homebuyer is that construction activity is focused in one small area at a time. So when you move in to your new home, most of the construction for neighboring homes will already be complete. Builders “release” a new phase when the current phase is almost sold out. This means that there is now a completely new selection of lots, available for purchase.

plot plan

A drawn to scale illustration of the home placed on the home site. The plot plan indicates the dimension of the home’s exterior walls, distance to the property lines, grading and the elevation (height above sea level) the home should be placed at, as well as exterior items such as the driveway, sidewalks, easements, etc.

reservation

A non-binding agreement to purchase a home at a future date. Often, a reservation is taken for a specific lot in an upcoming phase, giving the buyer the first opportunity to purchase that lot when the phase is released. A reservation usually requires a deposit.

warranty

A plan to fix or repair specific items of your home according to the warranty terms. At YourStyle Homes, we offer a 10-year limited warranty that includes a 10-year structural warranty; a two-year warranty on electrical components, heating or cooling systems, and plumbing; and a one-year warranty for all other components of the home. All elements of the warranty are reviewed with the homeowner at the time of the walk-through.