builders

The Truth Above Home Builders In Tampa

April 14, 2018 by Lance Mohr

I did this video because new home buyers have a lot of unrealistic expectations from home builders and they just don't understand what the builders and their contractors are going through. Most all home buyers do not understand what is going on in the real estate market (now) in regards to new construction home builders. Everyone knows that it's a crazy seller's market and home prices are going up. I will help you understand what is really going on right now.

Transcrption

Hi everybody. This is your Tampa Bay realtor Lance Mohr and in this video I made a go over about the truth about new construction homes in Tampa. What’s really going on and I'm going to be talking about some stuff a lot of you may not want to hear and personally won’t like but that’s what I’m going to talk about in this short video.

So as most of you know, we are in a sellers’ market. In other words there’s a lot of buyers out there and not a lot of inventory and not a lot of inventory and a lot of people are starting to lean, have been leaning toward new homes in the Tampa area. The reason is because a lot of sellers just aren’t realistic on their price. If you look at a lot of pre-existing homes they’re either overpriced or they’re not nice condition or their assumption something functionally wrong with them and it’s just drawing people to new construction homes but the problem we have here and it’s not just in Tampa, it’s not just in Florida, it’s in a lot of places across the country is that everything is going up up up. So labor cost is getting higher. Prices that people want is getting higher. Material cost a whole bunch of different factors and there’s not enough qualified people around the country to build homes or having to do a lot of training. Then of course people get the training they want to go somewhere else and make more money.
So this is coming up everywhere. Now this is something, if you watch my new home videos. I talk about all the time, inspections, inspections, inspections, but I’ll give you a couple of examples. The other day I was talking to a representative with multi-home. He showed me this upgrade on the home and he said “see that upgrade over there?” and I said “yes” he said “last week that was $3800 this week it’s $5,200”. He said “that’s not something we’re doing”. He said “the company that we go to that does that their cost to us went up $1,400”.

I was talking to another builder and he was telling me where I always tried to get my buyers to get their scheduling if they’re coming in from out of town to go into the design center and take a look at everything before their appointment and a lot of builders will actually let you go in before you even write a contract. So I had buyers go into this one company before they even wrote a contract and I had them take the pricing catalog to get a good idea. The problem was the builder just cut that out, they said “You know, what we’re not when people in our design center. If they are on the fence there’s no more of that. You have to be under contract with the home. Once you’re under contract with a home then you could go to the design center and just look around before your design center appointment.”

So things are starting to change and a lot of this because a lot of the builders especially the good builders and the good areas are just busier than they know what to do it. They have so many buyers out there and there are so many consumers. I’m going into this model homes and I’m walking in and there may be on or two cars in the parking lot all of a sudden I’m walking out an hour late. The entire parking lot is full of people parking on the streets. So it’s just something to keep in mind when you’re looking for a new home just take everything with a grain of salt because things are changing. They are always changing, it’s not that the builders trying to be mean, it’s just that they’re very very busy right now and they’re really taken their pick and going with buyers that are ready to buy right now opposed to sitting on the fence in another six months or a year. And this happens when the market is busy. So hopefully you’ve had a chance to watch some of my new construction videos and how to save money and understanding the process. I’ll put a couple up above.

If you have any questions at all don’t hesitate to give me a call (813-317-4009). If you like these videos give me a thumbs up and if you’re in the Tampa Bay area and you need a good real estate agent let me know I’d love to talk to you, help you out. Thank you very much for watching my videos. I wish you the best of luck no matter where you’re building a new home.

For more education real estate videos. From home buying tips, new homes and new construction, seeling a home tips etc. Please visit my real estate YouTube channel. Share my videos and don't forget to subscribe. You can also visit my podcast https://www.spreaker.com/show/how-to-buy-a-house-series. Thank you.

Why Are New Home Builder Contract So One-Sided?

February 21, 2018 by Lance Mohr

Have you read a new home builder contract and wondered why it's so one-sided and wanted to know if you can do anything about it? I will explain why ALL home builder contract are one-sided and what you can expect for this.

Transcription

Hi everyone, this is your Tampa Bay realtor Lance Mohr and in this video, I want to talk about why builder contracts are so one-sided and is there anything you can do about it and for those of you who actually read the builder contract, you know how one-sided they are. They lean completely toward the builder and not toward the purchaser. We are going to talk about that in this video.

Over the years I’ve read a lot of builder contracts from huge national builders to small little builders. It seems like they're all virtually the same. The one thing they all have in common is there very one-sided. It's almost like there a boilerplate contract and they just look out for the builder’s best interest. There is a reason for this. You have to look at things the way the builder looks at it when you’re buying a home and there in business to build a home and get it sold. They’re not a business to kick people out a contract even though you read one of their contracts and you look at it they have some normal stuff in there that will be in a regular real estate contract. Like you have so many days to get a home loan or you get your earnest money back and you have so many days if you have to fill out an application for the loan and stuff like that. But then a lot of them have some really weird things. Like it could take them 2 years to build. You’re thinking, what the heck out is that about or they kick you out a contract for basically any reason. You’re like why, oh my gosh I don’t want to be kicked out of the contract what’s going on there.

If you look at it from where the builders coming from and think of it this way, they are on the job to build homes and sell homes not kick people out of contract. A lot of times the reason why that's in there is because they need to protect themselves. I've had this happen before and I’ve head the stuff like this happening where they've called builders call that the buyer and said hey I know this you’re out in front of the home with the kids and you’re walking around and you don't have a hard hat on. You can’t take kids on the job when the workers are working and there telling people this over and over and over again. Well if People continue to do that, if buyers continue to do that will probably have to kick you out of the contract because if OSHA comes by and they see something like that, the builders are going to get slapped with huge fines. So just work with the builder and understand why they are telling you this stuff.

If you have any question about new hoes or new home builders in Tampa Bay, FL please contact me.

Housing Market Index Emphasizes Builder Confidence in 55 and Over Homebuyers

November 19, 2012 by Lance Mohr

The November 2012 report released by the National Association of Home Builders, frequently referred to as NAHB, indicates growing builder confidence in the 55 and over housing market. The third quarter 2012 showed the increase in the 55+ Housing Market Index (HMI) for single-family homes has risen from 12 to 36 in just one year. This is a record high for the third quarter of HMI, started in 2008. It is a welcome surprise to developers and builders. The general feeling is that people in that age group are making a life-change decision on whether an apartment or home best suits their lifestyle. Either choice is good for the market.

The HMI consists of three segments for the 55+ market. A survey focuses on builders and how they view prospective buyer traffic, current sales and anticipated 6-month sales. Choices are poor, fair or good, with a higher number indicating positive results. If the index is below 50, conditions are poor. The paradox in the recent index is that each component reflects less than 50, but has stirred excitement. What did the builders say about the 55+ market?

Rental apartments for this age group had an impressive recovery in 2011 and increases in the 3rd quarter 2012. There were increases in all areas:

Present production up 6 points to 31.
Anticipated future production up 9 points to 35.
Current demand for existing units up 2 points to 42.
Anticipated future demand for existing units up 2 points to 44.

Single-family homes represent a healthy improvement:

Present sales up 25 points to 36.
Expected sales (next 6 months) up 27 points to 42.
Traffic of prospective buyers up 20 points to 33.

Multifamily condominiums are still the weakest part of the 55+ housing market, although the overall increase to 23 points (up from 13) is the highest 3rd quarter reading since 2008. Results of each area are:

Present sales up 13 points to 22.
Anticipated sales up 19 points to 29.
Traffic of prospective buyers up 11 points to 22.

Will the upward trend continue? The indicators are positive, with conditions improving across the nation. Deterrents include difficulty in selling current homes due to tight mortgage credit and a shortage of buildable lots in market areas drawing the attention of the fifty-five and over market.

If you have any questions or are considering the purchase of a new home in Tampa Bay, FL or moving to the primier active adult community of Sun City Center, please visit www.tampa2enjoy.com.

New Homes Around Tampa Bay

July 20, 2012 by Lance Mohr

Ashton Woods at South Tampa's The Landings offers an interesting return to retro Southern homes, including walk-up porches, a balcony on the upper level and intermingling of small and large window panes. A single-sized front door adds to the charming style complete with modern features, such as a large double garage and beautiful lights on either side of the garage door. If the idea of a comfortable futon, porch swing, or chair outside on the second story sounds inviting to you, this is an area to consider for your home. Other styles intermix to present the image of planned elegance rather than cookie cutter cloning. Three and four bedroom homes are the norm at Ashton Woods. The builder has included green living into the style, potentially reducing energy costs and definitely offering a better lifestyle.

One of the organizations that encourages new homes in Tampa Bay, whether it is virtual building such as an online business or a brick and mortar store, is the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. Small businesses (typically businesses with 250 or fewer employees) are the backbone of our nation, keeping people working and providing the services consumers want or need. The Chamber works to provide programs of interest to businesses. In addition, there is no other organization quite like the Chamber in most areas, as they are a reliable reference for businesses that perform the services a business or home owner often need.

Another example of new construction around Tampa are the beautiful homes being built in Haven Bend. These beautiful homes-in-the-making qualify for Energy Star certification and are designed for families that enjoy living and entertaining at or near home. Plans cover as many as five bedrooms and one set of plans has a 17 x 21 foot master bedroom, leaving plenty of room for an overstuffed chair to curl up in while reading a favorite book. Quiet time is hard to get for mom or dad, and this could be the solution for which you have been looking. If a large kitchen and walk-in pantry are features that you have been looking for, these are homes definitely worth looking at.

Tampa is a beautiful area to live for singles and families, offering recreation, sports and cultural events, learning opportunities and an excellent way of life. If you have been wondering about or are considering purchase of new construction in Tampa, Fla., please visit www.tampa2enjoy.com.

Tampa Bay Homes for Sale

January 1, 2009 by Lance Mohr

The Tampa Bay area of Florida is a wonderful place to live for a lot of reasons. The weather is beautiful, the sun and the beaches that are close by make it feel like a year-round vacation. A multitude of families from the northern states have packed up, moved to Tampa won’t ever return to the north.

Tampa Bay homes offer even the pickiest buyer a place to call home. It’s also Florida's largest open-water estuary, extending over 1031 square kilometers and forming coastlines of Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas counties. Tampa is about 30 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico beaches to the west, and one hour from Disney and Universal theme parks to the northeast. The City of Tampa is Florida's third largest city with 300,000-plus residents, while Hillsborough County has more than a million residents in all. If you are lover of the ocean, you will know you are home, as a short drive will bring you to the water.

The Tampa Bay Area is the second most populated metropolitan region in the state of Florida, the 19th-largest metro area in the United States, the fourth largest in the Southeast behind only Miami, Atlanta and Washington, and second largest on the Gulf Coast behind Houston. Tampa Bay homes for saleare in abundance at the current time and it’s a buyer’s market right now. Whether you're looking for land to build your own home or in the market for an existing home, you will have all of the resources at your fingertips in Tampa.

When it comes to homes for sale in the Tampa Bay area, there are several options available. Tampa has some of the best home builders to choose from if you are looking to build your own home. Here are just a few:

Beazer Homes – Beazer Homes, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, combines the capabilities of a national home builder with the knowledge and insight of the best local professionals. Beazer currently builds in over 40 markets in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, West and Central United States. In all these areas, Beazer has a reputation as a quality home builder of superior value.

D.R. Horton – D.R. Horton, Inc., America's Builder, is the largest homebuilder in the United States, delivering more than 41,000 new homes in its fiscal year ended September 30, 2007. Founded in 1978 in Fort Worth, Texas, D.R. Horton currently has communities in 77 markets in 27 states. The Company is engaged in the construction and sale of single-family detached homes, town homes, duplexes, triplexes and condominiums with sales prices ranging from $90,000 to $900,000.

Engle Homes – They design and build innovative homes that appeal to each lifestyle. Whether you are choosing a villa, townhome, single-family home, or luxury home, their homes and communitiesare built to meet your needs.

These are a few of the builders located in the Tampa Bay area offering homes for sale. You can also choose to buy a pre-existing home and the list of real estate agents for the Tampa area is also very impressive.

Tampa Real Estate Review: Doing Business with Bankrupt Builder

December 15, 2008 by Lance Mohr

image of a new contruction home The Towers of Channelside were among the first to file for bankruptcy protection but not the last; in fact, recent months seem to indicate a growing trend among builders of all sizes to file for bankruptcy. Woodside Homes, a nationwide private builder responsible for the Tuscany at Tampa Palms project filed in September. Smith Family Homes, a mid to upscale builder who build properties among popular community such as Seven Oaks, Connerton and Wilderness Lake Preserve filed in July. Nearly every month the media reports a major builder or sub-contractor filing for bankruptcy; learn how to protect your investment when buying Tampa real estate with these simple steps:

1. Don’t Assume Warranty Protection. Many new home builders included an extended warranty in the sales package of a home; unless the assets and obligations have been sold to another company it is wise to assume the builder will not be able to fulfill any extended warranty obligations once they have filed for bankruptcy.

2. Verify Standard Warranty. Everything from appliances to roofing is often covered by a standard warranty in a new home. If you are considering the purchase of a home built by a bankrupt company, find out how the warranty was registered and whether or not it can be transferred.

3. Check then Double-Check Liens. Unfortunately, many builders facing bankruptcy may not have satisfied all the debts owed on the work performed on the home. Sub-contractors, material suppliers and others may still be owed money and may be eligible to place a lien against the property. Since title companies are also filing for bankruptcy protection it is instrumental to make sure you do business with a reputable Realtor, title company and others when purchasing a home from a developer or building filing for bankruptcy protection.

4. Investigate. Many developers and builders were responsible for more than just building homes; everything from the community club-house to the infrastructure of the neighborhood could be impacted by a bankruptcy. Make it a priority to investigate how and when unfinished roads, side-walks, lighting or other community resources will be completed especially when contemplating the purchase of a home by a company filing bankruptcy. In many cases, property values could be negatively impacted for years to come should work stop on the infrastructure or local homeowners could face the prospect of paying out of pocket for improvements.

5. Work Closely with a Tampa Bay real estate agent that know the area. It is more important than ever to make sure the agent, title company, builder and others involved in your real estate transaction are reputable and understand the challenges facing the current market.

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builders

The Truth Above Home Builders In Tampa

Why Are New Home Builder Contract So One-Sided?

Housing Market Index Emphasizes Builder Confidence in 55 and Over Homebuyers

New Homes Around Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Homes for Sale

Tampa Real Estate Review: Doing Business with Bankrupt Builder

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