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Homeowner Tips

What to look for when buying a new house

When you’re shopping for a new house, it can be easy to fall down the rabbit hole as you search house after house and study floor plan after floor plan. There are so many things to consider, such as location, school zones, community amenities, and home builders.

Before you even look at houses and floor plans, a good place to start is with how much home you can afford. This can help you narrow down your search and determine your priorities. 

You can work with a real estate agent to help you determine how much you can afford to pay for a home, or try a home affordability calculator that can help you estimate your monthly payments. Be sure you leave plenty of breathing room for property taxes, homeowner association (HOA) fees, and unexpected expenses. It’s also a good move to get pre-approved for a loan up to a specific amount. The lender will look at your income, debts, and credit history.

Once you have a number in mind, then you can work through these tips.

1. Determine the Top Features You Want in a Neighborhood

To help you figure out the general location, start with what you’d like in a neighborhood. Do you want to live in a walkable neighborhood? What about safety? Do you want to be in a preferred school district or near specific schools?

Does anyone regularly commute to work or extracurriculars? That could be a factor in location. What about proximity to grocery stores, services, other retailers, and leisure activities?

2. Prioritize Your Top Home Features

Every homebuyer has their own priorities for what they want in a home. Some want a giant backyard while others would rather have a front porch. You can change a lot of things about a home, but one thing you can’t change is the amount of land. 

Another thing to think about is how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need—especially if you have children or expect frequent guests. Does someone work from home? They may want a floor plan with a home office. Do you often entertain big groups? Some floor plans are more conducive to large gatherings than others. What about smart home capabilities? This could play a factor in your decision. 

To avoid spending more than you want, create a list of “must-haves” and “nice to haves” to help you with your decisions. 

3. Plan for the Future

If you may want to have children in the future, consider a home with room to grow. While a two-bedroom may be all you need now, you may not want to move when you have children. Or perhaps, a parent or other relative will be living with you. If you’re thinking about adding a furry family member, a front and backyard may be a top priority. 

  1. Think about Maintenance and Upkeep

The newer the home, the less maintenance you will have. When you’re the first owner of a new home, you don’t have to consider the home’s maintenance history, as everything is in tip-top shape. But an older home will most likely need regular repairs and updates. Yards and flower beds also need regular upkeep. Consider if you want a smaller yard that just needs to be mowed every once in a while, or if you’d rather get to enjoy seasonal flower gardens and greenery, with a bit more upkeep?

Remember, you can update and change a lot of things both on the exterior and in the interior of a home, but the costs of changes can add up quickly. It’s easy to change the paint color, but not so easy to change the floor plan. 

Looking for a new home in Kyle? Crosswinds is a new master-planned community offering family-friendly amenities with beautiful homes from the area’s top builders. Meet the Kyle home builders or contact our Crosswinds team to start the journey to finding your dream home.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Categories
Homeowner Tips Lifestyle

Should Seniors Buy a Newly Constructed Home or an Older Home?

The average retirement age is 62 according to an article from Experian quoting a Gallup 2021 survey. It’s a great age as seniors are vibrant and can still enjoy many activities. It’s also an exciting time because many decide to downsize their home as they may not need as much space.

But the question they’re asking themselves is whether to buy a newly constructed home or an older home? The benefits of a new home outweigh an older home. This is the time to enjoy life. While the benefits are many, here are the top four benefits of buying a new home.

  1. Customize Your Home Your Way

If the home hasn’t been built, you can work with the home builder to make changes to fit your preferences. If the home is being built, you can have a say in the materials, colors, and flooring. The more involved you are in making decisions to personalize your home, the fewer changes you’ll want to make. 

A used home may have a great floor plan, but some of the rooms have kitchen counters, colors, and flooring that may not be to your liking. This will add to the cost of the home.

  1. Ensure the Home Is Accessible

Many homes come with stairs including single-story homes. They may have steps on the porch or in the back of the house. It’s possible there may be steps from the garage to the house. You use your home every day and one or two steps can become a problem. 

If you have family members who use a wheelchair, you can make sure the home is built with wide doorways and low countertops. Very few older homes considered this in the design. Some may have a low ceiling and shower entry, which is a problem for taller people. 

  1. Enjoy Minimal Maintenance

An older home will have wear and tear that leads to problems. Appliances only last for so long. The water heater may be nearing the end of its life. If something happens, it will cost time and money to replace it. The same goes for the air conditioning and heating system. When you buy new, you won’t have to worry about problems for years.

  1. Benefit from Energy Efficient Features

Older homes have outdated features that may cause the heating and air conditioning system to be inefficient. This drives up energy costs. Newer thermostats allow you to program the heater or air conditioner to kick on or off at set times. 

The house can contain energy-efficient appliances to use less electricity. LED lighting lasts longer and uses less energy than older lights. All these steps will help keep your energy bill down. 

Seniors have worked hard and should relish every minute of their retirement. Buying a new home will make that possible.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Meet the Kyle home builders or contact our Crosswinds team

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Homebuilder

Shopping for a New Home? Pacesetter Homes Available at Crosswinds

Have you and your family been looking at new homes in Kyle, TX, but can’t quite seem to find the home that’s right for you? Have you taken a look at Pacesetter Homes in our master-planned community? If not, then here’s a little more info on this great builder and the available designs by Pacesetter Homes at Crosswinds.

About Pacesetter Homes

Getting their start in 2007, Pacesetter Homes is a part of the QUALICO development and communities brand and recognized as the No. 6 fastest-growing private homebuilder in the country by Builder Magazine. The magazine also named Pacesetter in its top 100 Builders of 2016 list. They have a reputation for creating amazing homes that are built to seamlessly fit into every homeowner’s lifestyle.

They aren’t one of those homebuilders that try to build as many homes as quickly as possible. Pacesetter Homes takes the time to ensure that every one of their new homes meets their high standards. Aside from their exceptional quality, one of the main reasons we chose Pacesetter Homes to build in our community was their dedication to providing a positive home buying experience. Their friendly staff is always there to answer any questions you may have before, during or even after buying one of their new homes in Kyle, TX.

Pacesetter Homes Available at Crosswinds

As of August 7, Pacesetter Homes has four available homes nearing completion in our master-planned community.

509 Nautical Loop

new homes in Kyle

floor plans for new Homes Crosswinds
• The Cooper floorplan
• 1,381 square feet
• 3 bedrooms
• 2 bathrooms
• Special Features: Extended master shower, 10 ft ceilings throughout, covered patio, granite kitchen countertops & kitchen island, tile throughout besides bedrooms, stainless steel gas appliances, fully sodded yard with automatic irrigation system
• $236,016
• Expected completion: October

525 Nautical Loop

preview-full-unnamed

525 Nautical Loop Pacesetter Homes at Crosswinds
• The Wright floorplan
• 1,679 square feet
• 3 bedrooms
• 2.5 bathrooms
• Special Features: Master downstairs, two-story ceiling height in family room, extended master shower, game room, large covered patio, granite kitchen countertops, tile throughout all living areas, stainless steel gas appliances, fully sodded yard with automatic irrigation system
• $267,173
• Expected completion: September

533 Nautical Loop

Pacesetter Homes at Crosswinds

533 Nautical Loop Pacesetter Homes at Crosswinds
• The Architect floorplan
• 2,043 square feet
• 3 bedrooms
• 2.5 bathrooms
• Special Features: Master upstairs, extended master shower, game room with balcony, large covered patio, granite kitchen countertops & kitchen island, tile throughout entire first floor, stainless steel gas appliances, fully sodded yard with automatic irrigation system
• $282, 945
• Estimated Completion: August

Pacesetter Homes at Crosswinds

543 Nautical Loop Pacesetter Homes at Crosswinds
• The Faber I floorplan
• 2,119 square feet
• 4 bedrooms
• 2.5 bathrooms
• Special Features: Master downstairs, large glass master shower and garden tub, two-story ceiling height in kitchen, enormous covered patio, granite kitchen countertops & kitchen island, tile throughout all living areas, stainless steel gas appliances, fully sodded yard with automatic irrigation system
• $294,929
• Expected completion: August

Your family’s search is finally over! Come to Crosswinds in Kyle, TX to see the new beautiful homes from Pacesetter Homes. You’re sure to find your family’s dream home. To learn more about our available new homes in Kyle, TX or about our master-planned community, contact Crosswinds today.