Child’s Play. Simple, yet effective design for kids!
We never grow tired of great ideas to customize a home in order to make it your own at Gables End. Moving can be difficult for little ones. With the new release of our 4 Bedroom floor plan, we thought growing families may appreciate a resource to customize a nursery or help make a child’s new room become more fun in a snap.
Muralettes:
Simple, yet effective! Wouldn’t our busy lives all be better if more companies embraced this philosophy? How many times have we tried our hand at something only to find it too hard to get an effective and pleasing result. Those days of struggling are over when it comes to decorating your child’s room. Introducing Muralette : the latest in wall decals for kids.
Installation and pleasing creative results are a snap. Artists Anna Conklin and Genevieve Smith make decorating your little one’s room fast and effective. According to their site, Muralette Wall Decals are “No fuss, no muss… Just peel and stick! There is no “right” way to design your Muralette – it’s fool-proof and fun, so just relax and play!”
The company offers four sets of striking wall decals: Fishies, Garden of Posies, Branch and Birds and Polka. The artists also take the environment and your child’s health seriously by using all water-based paints and varnishes that lack toxic fumes, and use low VOC paints whenever possible.
For all the details, please visit their website or become a Muralette Fan on Facebook
Tax Day Blues? 18,000 Reasons to Cheer You Up
If you have considered purchasing a home, but are waiting for that “perfect time to buy” take note…
YOU MUST BE IN CONTRACT BY APRIL 30th to qualify for the Federal Housing tax credit (up to $8,000)!
The provision that puts up to $8,000 in first-time buyers’ pockets and up to $6,500 in move-up buyers’ pockets will soon come to an end.
It is official. Mountain View home buyers this is an amazing opportunity!
Homebuyer tax credits will be continuing, adding a powerful incentive for those considering purchasing a new home. If you’re interested in purchasing a new home at Gables End, be in contract by April 30th to qualify for both California and Federal Housing Tax Credits!
The legislation, signed by the Governor Schwarzenegger today, allows qualified buyers in California to begin claiming up to $10,000 tax credits starting May 1. Details regarding the legislation were posted in this recent Sacbee.com article (link)
In order to take advantage of this credit, Buyers needs to abide by certain criteria including:
- Must purchase the home between May 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010 and purchase date is the date escrow closes.
- This credit will be equal to 5% of the purchase price or $10,000, the lesser of the two.
- The tax credit must be taken in equal installments over three consecutive years.
- Purchasers will be required to live in the home as their principal residence for at least two years or forfeit the credit.
*California Association of Realtors Article about the Homebuyer Tax Credit (link)
The legislation allocates $200 million for more state tax credits – twice what was offered last year to 10,659 buyers of new, unoccupied homes. The state’s newest housing stimulus will grant $100 million in tax credits to first-time buyers of existing homes and $100 million to anyone who buys a new, unoccupied home. *
The state Franchise Tax Board is estimating that nearly 32,000 homeowners statewide might take advantage of the tax breaks.
What about the Federal Housing Tax Credit?
Even better news for well-timed first-time purchasers! It may be possible to combine this credit with the Federal Tax credit (up to $8,000), enabling a home buyer to potentially capitalize on up to $18,000 in tax credits! The catch is that you would need to be in contract by April 30, 2010, and close escrow between May 1, 2010 and June 30, 2010.
Federal Housing Tax Credit Summary (link)
Alas, all good things must eventually come to an end, and so it seems that the significant tax credit for purchasing a home in today’s market will soon run its course.
So if you have been considering making a purchase at Gables End, now is the perfect time to buy in order to take advantage of this great opportunity! Model Homes are open 10-5, daily at 1925 Plymouth Street in Mountain View. Want to take a tour in photos? Visit Gables End on Flickr, tour our new townhomes in photos or watch a slideshow. While you are there, have a look at our very popular 4 Bedroom plan – just released for sale!
Join our Gables End Fanpage to get weekly updates about our new home community and our greater community in Mountain View.
*Restrictions apply, please contact a preferred lender and your tax advisor for additional details.
Up to $18,000 Reasons to Buy Now!
It is official. Mountain View first-time buyers this is an amazing opportunity!
Homebuyer tax credits will be continuing, adding a powerful incentive for those considering purchasing a new home. If you’re interested in purchasing a new home at Gables End, be in contract by April 30th to qualify for both California and Federal Housing Tax Credits!
The legislation, signed by the Governor Schwarzenegger today, allows first-time buyers in California to begin claiming up to $10,000 tax credits starting May 1. Details regarding the legislation were posted in this recent Sacbee.com article (link)
In order to take advantage of this credit, Buyers needs to abide by certain criteria including:
- Must purchase the home between May 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010 and purchase date is the date escrow closes.
- This credit will be equal to 5% of the purchase price or $10,000, the lesser of the two.
- The tax credit must be taken in equal installments over three consecutive years.
- Purchasers will be required to live in the home as their principal residence for at least two years or forfeit the credit.
*California Association of Realtors Article about the Homebuyer Tax Credit (link)
The legislation allocates $200 million for more state tax credits – twice what was offered last year to 10,659 buyers of new, unoccupied homes. The state’s newest housing stimulus will grant $100 million in tax credits to first-time buyers of existing homes and $100 million to anyone who buys a new, unoccupied home. *
The state Franchise Tax Board is estimating that nearly 32,000 homeowners statewide might take advantage of the tax breaks.
What about the Federal Housing Tax Credit?
Even better news for well-timed first-time purchasers! It may be possible to combine this credit with the Federal Tax credit (up to $8,000), enabling a home buyer to potentially capitalize on up to $18,000 in tax credits! The catch is that you would need to be in contract by April 30, 2010, and close escrow between May 1, 2010 and June 30, 2010.
Federal Housing Tax Credit Summary (link)
*Restrictions apply, please contact a preferred lender for additional details.
April 30th Deadline for Federal Housing Tax Credit
If you have considered purchasing a home, but are waiting for that “perfect time to buy” take note…
YOU MUST BE IN CONTRACT BY APRIL 30th!
The Buyer incentive tax credit may not be renewed for a third time. According to industry leaders and lawmakers, the provision that puts up to $8,000 in first-time buyers’ pockets and up to $6,500 in move-up buyers’ pockets will soon come to an end.
In this LA Times Article, the end of the program is explained. Home buyers hoping to take advantage of a new or extended tax credit should not procrastinate: This third bite at the apple may be the last.
Legislative advocates of the $8,000 credit for first-time buyers and the $6,500 credit for move-up buyers made it clear during the debate on Capitol Hill that the benefits would not be renewed when they expire. This fact was confirmed by a lobbyist for the National Association of Realtors at the organization’s annual convention last month.
So what does that mean for potential buyers? If buyers meet the income eligibility requirements, they have until midnight April 30, 2010 to be in contract and must close escrow by midnight June 30th to qualify.
A Brief History of the Buyer Credit Programs -
The original buyer credit, part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, was not as effective as anticipated by legislators. There were relatively few takers, due to the fact that the credit took the form of a no-interest loan rather than a true credit, requiring the purchaser to “pay back” the credit.
In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, lawmakers made the incentive to purchase more appealing by increasing the credit to a maximum of $8,000 for new buyers who closed before December 1st. The only requirement imposed for the program to be a true credit for the buyer – the taxpayer must not move out of the property for a three-year period following the purchase.
This second attempt at stimulating sales and removing standing inventory was extremely successful, so much so that that the housing lobby implored Congress to help keep the momentum going. Lawmakers extended the deadline for first-timers and even added a “long-term resident” tax credit for repeat buyers who owned their current home for at least five consecutive years out of the last eight.
An excellent summary of the current program can be found here.
Alas, all good things must eventually come to an end, and so it seems that the significant tax credit for purchasing a home in today’s market will soon run its course.
So if you have been considering making a purchase at Gables End, now is the perfect time to buy in order to take advantage of this great opportunity! Model Homes are open 10-5, daily at 1925 Plymouth Street in Mountain View. Want to take a tour in photos? Visit Gables End on Flickr, tour our new townhomes in photos or watch a slideshow. While you are there, have a look at our very popular 4 Bedroom plan – just released for sale!
Join our Gables End Fanpage to get weekly updates about our new home community and our greater community in Mountain View.
Personalizing Your New Home: 2010 Hot Paint Colors
Congratulations on your new home at Gables End!
Even though our homes come move-in ready and are beautifully appointed…no remodel necessary, we understand the need to personalize your space. One of the easiest and quickest ways to add some personality is with a fresh coat of paint. Picking a paint color can be a daunting task. It’s a delicate balance between lighting, personality, mood and current trends. Are you one of those people whot feels overwhelmed by the process and are left with a dozen swatches on walls and no direction? Have a look at what the experts are saying about the freshest colors of 2010 and browse the list of The Hottest Paint Colors of 2010 in this House Beautiful article.
Our personal favorite is Pantone’s 2010 Color of The Year – PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise. Pantone supplies and tracks color for fashion and home decor, among other industries. Experts agree that the color is both universally appealing & puts everyone in a positive state of mind – think “vacation”! Even in small doses turquoise can inspire a sunny disposition…
More about Pantone and the color of the year pick can be found in this online article.
Still looking for your new home to call your own?
Our New E-Plan now available at Gables End! This long awaited plan features 1,873 approx. sq.ft., 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, granite countertops, surroundstone in bathrooms, expanded great room, high ceilings, large dual pane windows, hallway skylight, side by side garage and much more. Hurry, this plan is popular!
Limited supply and over 60% sold before our Grand Opening!
Contact Victoria or Antonio at 877.826.0704 http://www.regishomes.com/gablesend/
Gables End on Twitter - http://twitter.com/GablesEnd
Gables End on Facebook
Your Credit Score
Planning on purchasing a new home but not sure where to start? A basic understanding of your credit score is an important first step in the process of acquiring your dream home.
When applying for a mortgage, a lender will review your credit history. A negative history can have an effect on your new mortgage regarding rate and down payment requirements. Blemished credit is both stressful and costly, but it’s not the end. If you are ready for the commitment to purchase, plan ahead. There is still time to improve your credit history and take advantage of home ownership in today’s real estate market.
1. Obtain a copy of your credit report. Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to a free credit report from each of the three nationwide reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — every twelve months. It’s free here.
2. Eliminate issues – Pay down large sums of any revolving debt. Spot identity theft. Dispute any inaccuracies.
3. Practice good habits – Lenders will be looking at your rental payments, car payments, etc. Pay your bills on time! Most lenders look for 1 year’s worth of good history. Demonstrate to a lender you are capable of making monthly mortgage payments.
4. Establish a credit history – If you lack one, secure a credit card and begin making timely payments. Make sure the credit card company reports your payment history to credit reporting agencies.
5. Talk about housing needs with your significant other – Do you have realistic goals? Do you share priorities and a vision of what your new home will be? Does the area include future employment opportunities? Your first home may not be your dream home, but it should be a place that you envision sharing for a minimum of 2-3 years.
Purchasing a new home in today’s climate certainly has its advantages, including historically low rates, competitive pricing, tax write-offs and tax credits. Don’t be discouraged by a less than stellar credit report. Make the changes today so that you are prepared for tomorrow.
ZippGo – The Green Moving Box
Gables End is selling…..fast! Gables End has only one home remaining in its current phase. Our next phase homes, including the popular E2 – 4 bedroom plan, already have a number of reservations.
Since there are so many new homeowners at Gables End, moving is on everyone’s mind. If you have an upcoming move and are looking for an alternative to traditional methods, we’d like to introduce you to a local company that delivers sustainable moving supplies to you – ZippGo. ZippGo is convenient, cost-effective and sustainable, plus Ash (ZippGo’s owner), is an all around nice guy. Not only does ZippGo use 100% recycled plastic re-usable boxes, their delivery trucks are also fueled by local biofuel stations. And ZippGo is affordable! Move green, save green…
ZippGo’s three bedroom package includes a 2 week rental, free delivery and pickup, 50 reusable moving boxes, and a dolly to help move the boxes. This package is only $199 and the rental can be increased from 2 weeks to 3 or 4 for a small increase in total price. A complete list of ZippGo’s package pricing can be found here. You can also find ZippGo on Twitter and Facebook.
Financial Trimming is Easier than Sit-Ups
Did you start of the New Year with a “Diet Resolution”, only to be tempted by all the great eats we have in downtown Mountain View? (Not to mention a few extra tastings at local brew houses in celebration of SF Beer Week.)
So you haven’t given up desserts or hit the gym yet. You can still trim-up financially. Let’s face it…taxes are just around the corner and budget are on our mind. By adjusting your insurance policies, you may be able to save hundreds annually on your premiums! Plus, cutting costs gives you quicker results than those sit-ups you’ve been working up the courage to start.
We recently stumbled upon this clever guide via insuranceagents.com, outlining 4 simple steps homeowners can take to cut out the extra calories and fat in their budgets spent on home insurance.
The article’s four recommended ways to trim up include boosting the policy deductible, living in low-risk areas, and demonstrating selectivity when insuring content in the home.
<Read Article Here> Or See the 4 steps summarized below:
1. Before purchasing home insurance policies, homeowners should take an inventory of personal belongings and home content. Being selective when insuring contents in the home may help you save.
2. Raise your deductible and put the extra cash in an interest bearing account. If you need to file a claim, the amount in the account may be much more than your deductible.*
3. Shop Around. Shopping online for insurance quotes is fast, free and easy for homeowners looking to save a little money. Check with a local agent who may be able to provide a better policy and match the best rate you find online.
4. Check to see if you live in low risk areas. If you live on a river and are more likely to flood (flood zone) insurance rates may increase significantly.
*This posting is intended for informational purposes only. Advice from the article’s author in no way reflects or represents planning advice by Regis Homes or Gables End team.
Phase 6 Already 60% Sold! New 4 Bedroom Unit!
The brand new 4-bedroom E-plan at Gables End is a huge hit! Phase 6 was just released and is already 60% sold out!
If you are looking for extra room in Mountain View, stop by for a tour of our community and a look at the new 4 bedroom floor plan (limited quantity).