27 Oct 07 What do you want in your new Arizona home?

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The following information was gathered from several housing industry experts and illustrates the features that home buyers want in their new homes.

Master-planned communities are all the rage for home buyers. Many Arizona builders are joining together to provide home shoppers with carefully designed developments. These mini-towns provide residents with an array of amenities, from town-centers full of locally owned shops to 27-hole golf courses; and often as many as six or more home builders to choose from.

A popular trend, that many home builders are pursuing, is a Mediterranean style facade. These homes often portray Spanish and Italian detailing and include rustic terra cotta pottery, wrought iron accents, and tile roofing.

Interior designs have evolved in the past several decades to emphasize an open living area. Rather than short ceilings and enclosed kitchens and living areas, you will often find open archways and rounded wall-corners.

There is often an exceptionally strong emphasis on quality and detailing. This includes low-maintenance surfaces on floors and counter tops—granite, limestone, marble, and slate.

The kitchen area is a particularly important feature for the majority of home buyers. New homes in Arizona often attribute open space to the main living area and kitchen. Large kitchens are designed with ample counter space and a large island for food preparation and entertaining guests.

Most home builders in Arizona pre-wire living areas for surround sound and wall mounted flat-panel televisions. A growing trend is for home automation. Often a central control unit can automate lights, thermostats, door-locks, and security systems.

Master bedrooms that are large open areas, with vaulted ceilings, and offer large walk-in closet space are a must have. Home buyers often request larger master baths that provide separate vanities, showers with lavish shower heads and benches, and Jacuzzi bathtubs.

Home buyers want a big backyard with a majestic swimming pool. Generous patio space and balconies, a private space large enough for a bistro table and chairs are an essential feature for most.

The garage should house at least two mid-sized vehicles; however space for a third car is often desirable for workspace and tool storage, and many home buyers want a basin facility.

Perhaps the most important trend in today’s day in age is the Go Green movement. Homes that offer energy saving appliances and Low-E fixtures are often a standard feature from Arizona home builders and are greatly appreciated by home owners.

Arizona custom home builders can refine home buyers’ desires, to detail every little want and need. From flooring options to wall textures and colors—custom cabinetry to extravagant counter tops—today’s home owner can rest assured knowing they reside in the home of their dreams.

References:

Nation’s Building News. Buyers want more home tech than builders offer. Retrieved October 25, 2007 from http://www.nbnnews.com/NBN/issues/2006-07-31/Research/index.html

Oliver, F. “50 Must-Have Features for Today’s Home Buyers.” Professional Builder (1993) 71.6 (June 1, 2006): 54. General OneFile. Gale.

Weintraub, E. (2007) Trends for home buyers. About.com. Retrieved October 25, 2007, from http://homebuying.about.com/od/buyingahome/qt/Hotbuttons.htm?p=1

Tags: arizona homebuilders, custom home builders, Go Green, golf community, home shoppers, home trends, master planned community, mediterranean, new homes, new homes for sale in arizona, new homes section

02 Oct 07 Go Green and Fit In!

With the recent “Go Green” headlines getting splashed around the media arena it might not be a bad idea for home builders to find effective cost cutting strategies to free up a little money for Green Building. Our environment needs our help and people are beginning to realize the potential of doing a few little things to help save energy. Home builders are also learning the value of Green Building and some builders are creating a buzz by offering Green Friendly Homes. It might not be a bad idea for all builders to start producing green homes. They could get more sales and headlines from their efforts.

A couple things we can do as consumers to lower energy costs in our homes include changing traditional light bulbs in for energy efficient bulbs. I heard that if every American household changes one light bulb it would be equivalent to removing 1,000,000 cars from our roads annually. We can also buy energy efficient appliances and turn computers, receivers and laptops off instead of leaving them in power save mode. Another great way to save energy is to make a conscious effort to turn lights off when they’re not being used.

Going Green is becoming a big part of some American purchases and the trend will likely increase as exposure continues. Here’s an article about some things custom home builders are doing to accommodate the Green needs of home buyers. Arizona Custom Builders go green.

Tags: custom home builders, energy efficiency, Go Green, green builders, Home Builders