Why are Ranches more expensive than Colonial style homes?

Good Question! With only one floor it would seem logical that a Ranch would be less expensive than a 2-story home right? This is a very common misconception among buyers.

The answer is simple, the basement and the roof. In a Ranch home, all of the square footage is on one floor therefore the basement and roof are double what they would be in a Colonial of the same size. Colonials are simply more economical to build and can guarantee to give you a larger home for less money.

Of course, if a Ranch is the home of your dreams, there are ways you can keep your home more affordable. A helpful hint to keeping costs down in any home is to focus on structural items rather than surface items. Surface items such as flooring or counter tops can be changed anytime, however raising your ceilings from 8 feet to 9 feet would be impossible after the fact. If you are on a budget (and most people are), this is a good rule of thumb.

Also, consider looking at homes with more of a rectangular shape, simple rooflines and standard windows compared to a complicated roof with lots of gables or a hip roof. This will without a doubt keep more money in your pocket. Using simple things like house colors and landscaping to enhance the look of your home will always give you a great looking house for less.

Canandaigua Christkindl Market Begins November 12th!

Come enjoy the 2010 Canandaigua Christkindl Market and Festival of Trees at The Granger Homestead on November 12th, 13th and 14th. This is a European inspired event that will include over 100 juried artisans, musical acts to delight the entire family, delicious holiday treats and beverages, Austrian, French and German foods, horse-drawn carriage rides, and so much more! There will be over 100 decorated trees, wreathes, mantel displays and other holiday pieces on display inside the elegant mansion.

General admission is $6 for the Christkindl Market and $5 for the Festival of Trees exhibit. Group tours are also available. Contact Jane Clark by phone at (585) 394-1472 or by email at jclark@grangerhomestead.org. For more information go to www.CanandaiguaChristkindlMarket.com . Hope to see you all there!

Carrie Erwin
Advertising & Marketing Administrator

New Home Sales & Design Center Open in Victor!

If you're planning to remodel or you are looking forward to creating the home of your dreams, there is a new Home Sales & Design Center that will help you do just that! The @home Builders New Home Sales & Design Center, located in Victor/Farmington, holds all of the latest and greatest options – not only from a design standpoint, but from a technology stand point as well. Designing a new home can be stressful, but with the help of the professionals here at @home Builders, it can be fun. We will help you with everything you need, and help you to make the decisions necessary to making your new home perfect in every way. From fixtures to cabinets to countertops, we’ll ensure everything fulfills your ultimate vision. This one-stop shop allows you to mix and match and see how different colors and patterns look together before you install them in your home. All of our vendors, staff members and contractors not only help provide our new home owners with every option available, but we make sure that everything we’re offering is of the highest quality imaginable.

The New Home Sales & Design Center is the only one of its kind in New York, so stop in to see all that this amazing place has to offer!

Carrie Erwin
Advertising & Marketing Administrator

Riedman Development Corporation

Don’t miss your chance to live at The Preserve!

The pond has been extended at The Preserve! Phase 7 sold out in record time and Phase 8 is quickly taking shape. Who wouldn’t want to have their home back up to these spectacular views that will be forever wild? The Preserve offers the only water-front homes in Henrietta so you will want to reserve your space here as soon as possible.

Nowhere else will you find lots like these. Don’t miss your chance to live at the beautiful and peaceful Preserve!

Carrie Erwin
Advertising & Marketing Administrator

Factors Walk using solar powered generators on the site during construction

Factors Walk is now using solar powered generators to run our machinery and lights throughout the site during construction. In the face of a global energy crisis, @Home Builders is taking the necessary steps to help through the use of renewable energy. Solar powered generators use energy from the sun, so they are a pure, environmentally-friendly option.There’s no pollution with solar powered generators, and they can be recharged daily by simply keeping the panels in the sun. One of the beneficial features of solar panels is their ability to store power for use at night or for a cloudy day. An inverter allows the stored energy to be used when appropriate.

With the use of this generator, Factors Walk can now extend the workday and won’t have to worry about losing valuable working time due to power outages. In turn, that will help us meet deadlines and continue to be as efficient as possible. While some people choose to use their solar powered generators solely at the time of a power outage, @Home Builders has decided to go the extra mile and use our generators full-time.

It is projected that the quest for renewable power sources will increase by fifty percent in the next several years. Solar panels like the ones used at Factors Walk are extremely reliable and operate silently since there are no moving parts. This definitely isn’t your typical construction site!

The Estates at Beaver Creek Is Exactly What You’ve Been Looking For!

@home Builders is pleased to introduce their newest neighborhood – The Estates at Beaver Creek in the quaint town of Farmington. These all-new homes are set on .75 to 1.25 acres on private wooded homesites. Phase I, featuring 19 homesites, is now selling.

These low maintenance, Energy Star® rated homes feature classic architectural details combined with modern design elements. They have timeless elements like oak floors and stair rails, colonial trim work, and 6-panel colonial doors. The gourmet kitchens include maple cabinetry with a choice of finish, Wilsonart® countertops, Moen® stainless steel sinks, and GE Energy Star® microwaves and dishwashers.

Farmington is located in the northern part of Ontario County, about twenty-five miles southeast of Rochester, NY. With its low taxes and acclaimed Victor Schools, Farmington is just the spot for growing families. The Estates at Beaver Creek is close to the village shops & restaurants, too. Homes are priced from the $230’s. To see photos or community site plans, please visit www.athomebuilders.com.

For more information about The Estates at Beaver Creek or other @home Builders communities, contact Brian Warren at (585) 232-1000 x104.

Why Can’t You Get A Mortgage?

Mortgage rates are at an all time low. House payments are equal to (or in some cases less than) rent! So why the difficulty getting a mortgage? The most likely answer – credit!

Good credit is more important now than ever. With the banking industry clamping down on the requirements for loans, almost all banks are bound by the same criteria. You may have a good income, even a decent savings accounts… So what’s the problem? Without a credit score of 620 or above, you will find it challenging if not impossible to get a mortgage.

So what can you do? There are some options.

• If you are in a position where you can afford to put down a large down payment, you may be able to qualify for a portfolio loan. This is a private loan held by your lender and will stay in their institution.

• Another option may be to go through a Mortgage Broker. Brokers deal with many lenders inside and outside your city that may have more flexibility in credit qualifying.

• If you are still not able to get a mortgage, I highly recommend you contact a credit counselor. A credit counselor will look at your credit report and guide you to repairing any issues you have and put you on a path to homeownership.

A free copy of your credit report is available through the Credit Bureau. You do not have to sign up for any programs or pay any fees. You can request to have one mailed to you or you can print it from their site. If you see any information on your report that is not accurate, the site will direct you on how to send a dispute directly to the Credit Bureau. You are allowed one report from each credit agency every year for free at annualcreditreport.com. It is best to spread them out and print one ever 4 months to keep a consistent eye on your credit.

@home Builders Launches New Website - Comprehensive and versatile site has plenty of information for potential homebuyers

@home Builders is pleased to announce the launch of our newly redesigned website, www.athomebuilders.com.

In addition to a new look and design, the site has been optimized for search engines so that it will appear more easily during an internet search. Each of the community pages includes floorplans and features, details about the neighborhood – including photos and directions, and so much more.

The new site was designed by Blue Tangerine Solutions in Del Ray Beach, FL and Group Two Advertising.

Early responses have been terrific. We invite you to visit and give us your feedback via email or on our Facebook page. (Just search for “@home Builders”.) Or contact Brian Warren at 585-281-1293 or bwarren@athomebuilders.com.

Thank you for visiting our Blog! While we are getting everything up and running, please visit us on facebook!

We update our page daily with photos, industry information, and answers to frequently asked questions and we are looking forward to having you join the conversations!

Just search "@Home Builders" on facebook.