If you’ve ever thought about purchasing new construction on Long Island, then now is the time for you to be looking. With the real estate market where it is, it is more affordable than ever to purchase new construction. On Long Island, your choices are limited. The amount of vacant real estate available in this once farmland space, is virtually fully developed. Many associations have placed restrictions on construction, preserving the remaining farmland and open areas.

However, new construction is still available and may be perfect for the new homeowner. If you’ve been searching at real estate, and have considered new construction, you should consider this:

1. Older homes, while “charming” on the outside, are, in fact, old homes. Over time they age. Many houses in the 50 to70-year-old range have become “knock downs”purchased by builders to put up new construction. If you’re buying an older home, it could cost you a lot in the long run with maintenance and repairs.

2. New construction gives you more freedom. Very few people ever find the “ideal home” of their dreams. Generally, they need to paint, spackle, change carpeting, move walls, renovate bathrooms and kitchens and a list of other tasks that become very expensive. That older houses that looked like a deal becomes very expensive once you’ve completed the repairs and alterations you want.

3. With new construction, you do not have to live through renovations. Kitchen remodeling, expansions and modifications to your home could take months-even years. All the while, you are living in a construction zone.

4. You also have the additional expense of doing these upgrades, which must be purchased on top of the purchase price of the house. Many families have to save for many months to have the available cash for improvements. Others may try to take second mortgages or home-equity loans, but this can prove unsuccessful-especially with more rigid lending requirements.

You could look to borrow an additional $200,000, but your home is not worth an additional $175,000 today. Therefore, you lack the collateral to support that home equity loan. In comparison, new construction, even if slightly more expensive, has the full value in the house already, which is what mortgage companies want to see.

5. When selecting real estate, and evaluating existing homes, you have very few choices. The real estate is “as is”-meaning the grass is what it is, the plantings are what they are, and the yard is what it is. Generally, with new construction, it is usually newly landscaped or in natural form so that you can landscape as you want (usually, new construction without landscaping is less costly than landscaped). With new construction, you are getting gorgeous new property or freshly graded land that is ready for landscaping.

When you’re ready to buy new construction, be sure to keep all of these factors in mind. As you examine the expense of the house, acknowledge the final costs beyond the purchase price. Many families discover far better values with the newly built houses vs. a less expensive existing home that needs renovations. Even if you are handy, a updgrade are not free. You also need to come up with the money to pay for those upgrades (whereas with new construction, those expenses are built into the asking price and are covered by the mortgage).

Article by Craig Axelrod, with Emmy Homes, one of LI’s top real estate developers. Their Commack real estate features new construction in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for more information.

categories: home buyers,homebuyer,first time home,first time home buyer,buy home,buy house,purchase home,purchase house,new home

If you’re looking to buy a new home, you’re looking at the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and the size of the family room. The area, property and neighborhood are important to you. But how much time did you spend thinking about energy?

New construction houses, such as new real estate in Commack New York, tend to be far more energy efficient than older homes . Older houses simply were not designed to be energy efficient.

When you look for a new house, you should search for an Energy Star rated house . In general, Energy Star homes are 30% more efficient than older homes . This energy efficiency can keep you warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer and save you money every month on your bills.

Many of the energy Star features are cultivated by the builder during the construction phase. High quality insulation, for example, keeps out drafts and aids your home holds heat in the winter time. An attention to detail in avoiding gaps and cracks in the framing, walls and ceilings, can make a tremendous difference. A space of just 1/4 inch to the outside can cause your house to leak air like a balloon with a small hole. An airtight construction is very important.

In addition to the construction, appliance choices can have a direct effect on your electric bills. You should pick energy Star rated appliances, including the refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, microwave, washer and dryer. If your home includes air-conditioning, you should only select one with a top energy Star rating.

On the heating side, you’ll need a system with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency Rating of 90 or greater. On the cooling side, your air conditioning system should have a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating of 12+ to be Energy Star efficient.

Other choices will also help the efficiency in your house include digital thermostats with timers, outdoor lighting with timers or light sensors, room switches with motion sensors and other features to aid ensure that you are not wasting electricity. Of course, you could try to remember to turn off the lights, but having technology aid you in case you forget will save you money and lower waste.

When it comes time to resell your home, energy-efficient homes are more attractive. One of the great bonuses of new construction, such as the Emmy houses project in Commack NY, is that if you resell in five or ten years, you will be offering an efficient home as opposed to an older home which is less efficient. This can not only increase the resale price but also the ease of selling your home .

Tips by Craig Axelrod, from Emmy Homes. Emmy is one of LI’s top real estate builders. Emmy’s Commack development features luxury homes in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for more information.

When looking at property in Commack New York, you want to find the perfect home. New construction in Commack, such as new homes built by Emmy houses, you the chance to have a brand-house with beautiful layout that no family has lived in before.

More than just a new house, when you move to Commack it is a community. Located in the suburbs of Long Island, new homes in Commack give you and your family great schools and a strong sense of community. With many parks, golfing, restaurants and beautiful property, Commack NY should be one of the towns on your shortlist.

When you purchase a house in Commack, you have a tremendous number of choices. There are more than 100 restaurants, museums, a dozen parks, and many activities for the family. Whether you like movies, bowling, sports, shopping or outdoor activities, the choices are yours.

Within the town, there are many local communities. Manorwood Estates in Commack, a new development by Emmy new houses, offers a range of choices from 3200 to 4000 sq.ft. with a variety of floor plans. Whether you’re looking for a classic design, open layouts or traditional designs, you’ll find many options available. On 1 acre parcels, these new houses were spacious inside and out.

As you look a Commack real estate, ask yourself these 5 things:

1. is this a house layout or an old home? Many older new homes have smaller rooms lower ceilings, lacking that open house feel.

2. Does the kitchen need to be renovated? This can cost $50,000 or more; with new construction, you have the brand-house of your dreams built into the price of the house.

3. Does the new house have enough bedrooms? Most people want at least one extra room for future family growth, visitors or a new house office. Make sure you don’t limit yourself with your buy.

4. How large is the basement? A few decades ago, people used the cellar for storage. Today, many people can pick up up to 2000 extra sq.ft. of living space by finishing your basement. Make sure that you have high ceilings (8 to 9 feet) with as little piping and low hanging duct work as possible. Some new houses designed two decades ago had high ceilings but piping and other structures hung from the ceiling throughout the basement, unfortunately creating a complicated maze that people are required to duck through.

5. Do you like the neighbors? You are going to be living there, so make sure these are the people you want on your block.

As you choose your new house, keep in mind-you’re purchasing a home, not just the new house. Make sure that you choose your house in Commack – or any other area – that is a new house you will be happy in.

Craig Axelrod is one of the principals from Emmy Homes. Emmy is one of LI’s most established real estate builders. Emmy’s Commack development features luxury homes in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for details.

categories: real estate,buy a house,home buyers,homebuyer,first time home,first time home buyer,buy home,buy house,purchase home,purchase house,new home,new house

As the summertime ends and fall nears, many families consider whether it’s a good time to purchase a home. This can actually be a great time to buy since many home buyers focus on the spring. You can locate many opportunities on quality houses. This is particularly true with new construction, such as with Emmy Homes in Commack New York.

If you visit EmmyHomes.com, you will see a range of new construction houses available. Even during this season, you may be able to purchase a new construction house that had not sold over the summer. Similarly, if you want to choose your house and have construction begun, now is the time to speak to the builders. If they can get a foundation in the ground before the frost sets in (more of an issue in the North) your project can run through the winter. If you’re looking for a new house to move into at the end of this new school year, start construction now.

As you look for a new home, what issues should you raise?

First, is this a one project contractor or is this a builder who builds complete developments? You want to work with a larger scale contractor because they are more likely able to see it through in the timetable that you’ve designated. While we do not oppose small builders, if this is the only house that a contractor is working on, what will happen if he runs out of money? What if his plumber gets sick? What if his roofer walks off the project – you could be delayed for weeks or months.

When you’re working with a more substantial builder, they have multiple people in each trade. If they are understaffed, they can promptly find replacement workers. In the end, you are much better off with an established reputable builder who will finish the task, as opposed to a small contractor who, unfortunately, can bring a great amount of doubt.

Second, look at homes that the builder has already completed. Do you like them? The artist drawing may be beautiful, but the home may be something else. A construction company who is consistently delivered high quality construction is worth their weight in gold. A shoddy construction company who under delivers is not worth the savings he may bring.

Finally, consider the long-term cost of the house. Not only does it carry a purchase price, but it needs to be maintained. A well built home may have lower maintenance costs. Also, is it rated as energy efficient? An “energy star” home meet certain government requirements on energy efficiency. Not only is this good for the environment, but can yield substantial savings on your energy bills. An energy Star rated home is also desirable on resale. You may plan on living here for 20 years, but unexpected issues happen and you want to choose a house that, if you need to, will be very marketable for resale. So yes, the summer of 2009 has passed. Nonetheless, there are vast options to buy new construction as we go into the autumn season. Websites, such as www.EmmyHomes.com can show you many choices of homes that are available in your market.

Tips by Craig Axelrod, from Emmy Homes. Emmy is which is one of LI’s most established home builders. Emmy’s Commack development features new construction in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for more details.

If you’ve ever thought about buying new construction on Long Island, then now is the time for you to be searching. With the real estate market where it is, it is more affordable than ever for you to purchase new construction. On Long Island, your choices are limited. The amount of free real estate available in this once farmland area, is virtually completely developed. Many communities have placed restrictions on construction, preserving the remaining farmland and open areas.

However, new construction is still available and may be perfect for the new homeowner. If you’ve been looking for real estate, you can consider this:

1. Older homes, while “charming” on the outside, are, in fact, old housess. Over time they age. Many homes in the 50 to 75-year-old range have become “knock downs” bought by builders to put up new construction. If you’re buying an older home, it may cost you more in the long run with maintenance and improvements.

2. New construction gives you more flexibility. Very little people ever find the “perfect home” of their dreams. Usually, they need to paint, tile, change carpeting, re-locate walls, renovate bathrooms and kitchens and a list of other projects that become increasingly expensive. That older home that looked like a bargain becomes very pricey once you’ve completed the improvements and modifications you need.

3. With new construction, you do not have to live through renovations. Kitchen remodeling, expansions and modifications to your home can take months-even years. All the while, you are living in a hazard zone. 4. You also have the added expense of doing these renovations, which must be paid on top of the purchase price of the house. Many families have to save for many years to have the available cash renovations. Others can try to take second mortgages or home-equity loans, but this can prove unsuccessful-especially with more stringent lending requirements. You can look to borrow an additional $200,000, but your home is not worth an additional $200,000 today. Therefore, you lack the collateral to substantiate the home equity loan. In addition, new construction, even if slightly more expensive, has the full value in the home already, which is what mortgage companies want to see. 5. When selecting real estate, and evaluating existing houses, you have very little options. The real estate is “as is”-meaning the lawn is what it is, the plantings are what they are, and the yarn is what it is. Usually, with new construction, it is either newly landscaped or in raw form so that you can landscape as you choose (generally, unlandscaped new construction is less expensive than landscaped). With new construction, you are getting beautiful new property or freshly graded land that is set for landscaping.

When you’re ready to consider new construction, be sure to keep all of these factors in mind. As you examine the cost of the home, consider the real costs beyond the purchase price. Many families discover far better values with the newly built house versus a less expensive existing house that needs renovation. Even if you are handy, improvements are not free. You also need to come up with the cash to pay for those renovations (whereas with new construction, those improvements are built into the purchase price and are covered by the mortgage).

Story by Craig Axelrod, with Emmy Homes, which is one of LI’s most established real estate developers. Emmy’s Commack development features luxury homes in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for more details.

The real estate market, including the market in Commack New York, has been hit hard over the last couple years. This nationwide recession has certainly had an impact on the real estate market, creating opportunities for those who are ready to purchase.

Interest rates are at historic lows, making real estate in Commack more affordable than ever. Interest rates usually range from 4 to 6%, roughly half of what the rates were just a decade ago.

If you’re getting ready to buy a home , whether you are a first time home buyer or moving from an existing house, there are several questions to ask yourself:

Is buying a house now a solid long-term investment? Given that the real estate market has fallen 20 to 30%, you’re purchasing a house at deep discount to prices from three or four years ago. You’re buying at $.70 on the dollar. When prices return to normal levels, you will see an appreciation of almost 50%.

Are you a smart investor? Most people are not. They lack the discipline to make long-term investments, and often put off investing and saving-until it is too late. When you invest in a house, you are making a long-term commitment. This, in a very real sense, represents forced savings. Every month, you have the chance to build equity in your home as you pay into your mortgage. Historically, real estate appreciates significantly over time. Taken with a long-term view, real estate remains one of the best investments available.

Am I purchasing in the right area? Commack New York is a beautiful area to reside in and to raise a family. An established neighborhood, it provides the resources of a major suburb with high quality of living standards. With new construction, you are able to get the house of your dreams. The builders have designed beautiful homes, and very often you are able to customize to suit your needs. Given the current economic conditions and reduced real estate prices, now is a great time to buy your first home or your next house.

Are there advantages in purchasing new construction? Yes. New construction tends to be bigger, more current and can easily be customized to suit your taste. In contrast? When buying an existing home, you must very often go through costly renovations to customize that home to your taste. New construction offers you the chance to make those changes before the houses built. Generally, it cost 1 to 4 times as much to make changes to an existing structure as opposed to simply changing the plans on a house that is yet to be built.

What questions should I ask of a home builder?

If you’ve never bought a new home before, there’s several things that you can ask the builder:

1. Does the builder have experience within the county? To build a house, you need permits, zoning approvals, and compliance with county and local ordinances. An experienced builder is aware of these requirements; and inexperienced builder is not. Mistakes here can be extremely costly and presents huge delays.

2. Does this builder put up one home at a time, or have experience in building developments? Often, you are better off with the builder who works on multiple developments at once. While this may seem counterintuitive, a small builder who only handles one task at a time works with a limited crew. If any member of the crew-a plumber, painter or electrician-is unavailable, your construction may come to a stop for weeks. In contrast, a larger builder has assorted craftsmen available to him, and may deliver a steadier construction project.

3. Do you want to be in a new community or a single renovated home within an old neighborhood? The neighborhood around you not only impacts the resale value of your home, but also impacts your lifestyle. If you are in a community with dilapidated homes, and yours is the only new construction in the area, your home will feel out of place. If the builders will bring a new community, and you are one of the new homeowners in that new development, there is a much better fit for you and your home. Additionally, all of the people living in that development will be moving in at about the same time and will have the opportunity to form friendships and relationships. If you are moving into a block with families that have lived there for decades, you may be the outsider and maybe quite some time for you to “fit in”-if at all.

Craig Axelrod is one of the principals from Emmy Homes. Emmy is one of Long Island’s top real estate builders. Emmy’s Commack real estate features new construction in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for more details.