Dunhill Homes | News and Events

A checklist to help with your Move

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:40:19 +0000

Once you have purchased your new Dunhill house it is time to start thinking about the fun part of creating a “home”.

This checklist should be grouped by time lines since some tasks will take longer than others. Here are a couple of things to get you started?

Six Weeks

Make an inventory of everything to be moved
Collect everything not to be moved for a garage sale or charitable donation.
Contact mover, secure packing materials and start packing
Contact Insurance Agent

Four Weeks

Change of address
Contact utility companies
Service power mowers, boats, etc. that are to be moved
Check with doctors, dentist, and vet
If moving schools, secure school records and contact information
Check freezer and plan to use the food over next 2-3 weeks
Notify yard service, pool service, and newspaper carrier
Secure jewelry and other valuables
Keep Packing

One Week

If moving to a new community; transfer or close checking and savings accounts
Change of address card
Pack a separate carton for cleaning materials and tools
Separate cartons and luggage you need for personal travel.

Moving Day

Plan to spend the entire day at the house
Stay with the moving van driver to oversee inventory
Make a final check of the entire house- basement, closets, shelves, attic, garage, every room
Give driver phone numbers both here and in new community to contact you in case of a problem
Have all utilities disconnected and advise the Realtor who sold or is selling your house
Lock all doors and windows, advise your Realtor and neighbors that the house is empty.

Craig Ranch course makes Golf Digest’s Top 10 list

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:25:12 +0000

The TPC Craig Ranch has been named by Golf Digest as one of the 10 best golf venues in Texas.

The TPC Craig Ranch, located in the 8000 block of Collin McKinney Parkway in McKinney, was ranked No. 14 in the state last year by Golf Digest and moved to No. 10 this year.

Brett Stern, TPC Craig Ranch director of sales and marketing, said, “Aspects such as course design, course conditioning, uniqueness, overall experience and notability all had an impact on the Craig Ranch course’s Top-10 ranking.”

The course was built in 2004 to host a significant future PGA TOUR event.

“We previously hosted the 2008 Nationwide Tour Championship and numerous other USGA and PGA Tour qualifying tournaments,” Stern said.

He said the Tournament Players Club (TPC) at Craig Ranch and the community of McKinney “will undoubtedly benefit from this new ranking by hosting other significant golfing events in the future.”

TPC Craig Ranch to host NWT Championship in 2012

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:22:34 +0000

McKINNEY, Texas — The PGA TOUR’s Nationwide Tour and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas announced Monday that the Tour’s season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship will return to TPC Craig Ranch in the Dallas suburb of McKinney in 2012.

The official name of the tournament will be the “Nationwide Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch”. TPC Craig Ranch hosted the championship in 2008 when Matt Bettencourt defeated Jeff Klauk by one shot.

Dates for next year’s 20th playing will be announced in the near future.

Golf Channel, the exclusive television carrier of the Nationwide Tour, will provide coverage of all four rounds.

As the culminating event of the Nationwide Tour season, the Nationwide Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch will feature the top-60 money winners through the year’s final full-field event, the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters.

Toys for Tots

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:08:06 +0000

Dunhill Homes’ partnership with Toys for Tots was very successful. Several Dunhill communities in Texas participated in the campaign and collected hundreds of toys. The generous donations from homeowners, Dunhill staff members, friends and families made this campaign so successful. Thanks to all.

Getting ready to buy a home? Some helpful tips

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:49:27 +0000

Purchasing a home is probably the largest financial decision you will ever make. Whether this is your first purchase or you are moving on to a different home that better meets your needs, this decision must be made carefully.

Defining Your Needs
Congratulations on your decision to purchase a new home! Before you start your home buying journey it is best to clearly define and understand why you want to buy. Are you tired of paying rent? Have you outgrown your current home? Do you want to shorten your commute? Having a clear sense of your reasons for buying will help you chose the right home.

Creating A New Home Wish List
Before the home search begins, your real estate agent will want to know as much as possible about the features and amenities you desire. Divide your preferences into “negotiable” and “non-negotiable.” Here are some details to consider; Exterior – type of home – new or old, age of property, preferences in architectural style, number of stories, type of foundation, roof construction, lot size and/or location, landscape preferences, pool and garage. Interior considerations include number of bedrooms, bathrooms, minimum square feet, central air/heat, electric or gas appliances, fireplace, kitchen amenities, formals, office or study, laundry room, flooring preferences, how much renovation will you be willing to do and must your home accommodate any special needs. The finer the details on your wish list, the more effective your home search will be. You should divide your lists into negotiable and non-negotiable items; this will allow some flexibility during the search, especially as your agent scouts for homes on your behalf.

Deciding On A Location
Where you buy not only affects the home’s current and future value, but it also affects your lifestyle. Your agent will be able to conduct a more targeted home search if you outline your preferences in neighborhoods and nearby amenities. Items that should be considered and communicated to your agent include; urban / suburban / rural, commute time, school districts, desirable neighborhoods, proximity to restaurants, retail, airport, and major highways as well as health care facilities, parks and length of time you plan to live in your home.

Considering New Home Construction
Whether to buy an existing home or have one built is yet another decision to make during the home-buying process. If you decide to go with new construction, there are things to consider in this area - selecting a builder and understanding the timing of new home construction.

Upcoming events in McKinney, Texas

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:44:25 +0000

12/9/2011		Scrooge! The Musical by Plano Childrens Theatre
12/13/2011		Love Life Wrapping
12/17/2011		Artist’s Reception
12/17/2011		Holiday Trail of Lights
1/4/2012		Art History Brown Bag Series
1/7/2012		Networking University Conference

Sick of high Energy Bills

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:33:32 +0000

The sizzling hot summer has come to an end and the cooler temperatures are welcomed.

How do you know if your home is energy efficient? The HERS Index provides an easily understandable means to compare the relative energy efficiency of different homes. The HERS Index is a scoring system established by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). The lower a home’s HERS Index, the more energy efficient it is in comparison to the HERS Reference Home. Each 1-point decrease in the HERS Index corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy consumption compared to the HERS Reference Home, which scores a HERS Index of 100.

Every Dunhill Home is individually rated by a third party and receives a personalized HERS rating so the homeowners can feel confident their new home will save them money every month. The average HERS rating for a Dunhill Home is in the 60′s, making them 40% more energy efficient than the HERS Reference Home.

Dunhill Homes featured in Dallas Morning News

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:44:02 +0000

By STEVE BROWN

Real Estate Editor

stevebrown@dallasnews.com

Published: 08 September 2011 10:35 PM

Driving through the sprawling Craig Ranch community, you’d never know that North Texas housing construction is at the lowest point in two decades.

Builders are pouring foundations and putting up framing for homes in the McKinney project — thanks in part to the efforts of startup firms that are taking advantage of the down market.

One of the busiest is Dunhill Homes, a company that just began building in the Dallas area this year.

“We are probably going to have 60 to 70 starts this year, and our first community didn’t open until May,” said Dunhill’s John Mann. “We already have five communities going in Dallas-Fort Worth.”

Dunhill last year built houses in the Las Vegas area, then leapfrogged to North Texas with locations in McKinney and North Fort Worth.

“We were able to get into a bunch of good communities before the lot prices started going crazy,” said Mann, who was previously a top officer with Meritage Homes. “For a ‘no name’ builder, we are selling pretty well — 12 homes just last month.”

Dunhill is part of the small cadre of residential companies to get under way since the housing crash began five years ago.

Single-family home construction in the Dallas-Fort Worth area has plunged almost 75 percent since 2006. And almost half of the homebuilding firms that were active in North Texas have shut down or pulled out of the market.

“We are today at about 43 builders, down from 80 at the peak of the market,” said Ted Wilson, principal with Dallas housing analyst Residential Strategies.

One of the country’s biggest homebuilders — Ryland Homes — announced plans last week to sell off more than 1,000 lots in North Texas and withdraw from the market.

“It’s very competitive here, and that — as much as anything — had to be weighing on the folks at Ryland’s minds,” Wilson said. “At one time they were building over 1,000 units here and had dropped to 120” in the last year.

Read the complete story

Dunhill Homes in Las Vegas Review Journal

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:35:07 +0000

Dunhill Homes has extended its sales event through Oct. 31. Home shoppers have two weeks left to take advantage of the builder’s Luxury For Less event, which provides incentives of as much as $17,500 at Rhodes Ranch and Tuscany Village master plans.

“This is without a doubt the most popular incentive we have offered this year, and for good reason,” said Ryan Soucie, director of sales for Dunhill Homes.

“Where else can you get a brand-new, energy-efficient home in one of the two best neighborhoods in Southern Nevada with such a large incentive? The incentive is also very flexible and can be used toward upgrades, closing costs or a combination of the two.” Read more

Dunhill Homes Expands Footprint with Two New Communities in Dallas/Fort Worth

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:51:51 +0000

8/10/2011 (Dallas, Texas) – Dunhill Homes has successfully launched 7 new subdivisions in Dallas and Houston markets in the last five months. In an economic environment marred by disappointing news, Dunhill homes’ expansion is refreshingly optimistic. The homebuilder has been on an expansionary spree in Texas after successfully launching two master-planned communities in Las Vegas. In July 2011 Dunhill added two new communities to its portfolio – The Retreat at Craig Ranch in McKinney and Ridgeview Farms in Northwest Fort Worth.

The Retreat at Craig Ranch is located within the master-planned community Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. This exclusive enclave allows residents a luxurious lifestyle with access to world class amenities and low maintenance homes. Residents of The Retreat have exclusive access to their own pool and a 9,000 sq. ft., 2-story clubhouse. Residents also enjoy the benefits of living within the Craig Ranch masterplan; social membership to the famous Craig Ranch TPC Golf Club and access to the Cooper Fitness Center & Spa. The Retreat, located at the intersection of Custer and Stacy Road, offers a wide range of plans starting in the low $200s.

Dunhill Homes’ second community, Ridgeview Farms, is located in Northwest Fort Worth, adjacent to the booming Alliance Corridor and minutes from four major highways. Homeowners enjoy the luxury of a private amenity center with a playground, swimming pool and cabana. Dunhill Homes is offering several one and two story floor plans that range from 1,400 to over 3,000 square feet and start in the $140s.

All Dunhill homes are designed to surpass the industry standard on energy efficiency with features such as continuous air barrier and sealing, optimal HVAC with programmable thermostat, internal moisture management, soffit and static roof venting, and air pressure balancing. Each home is then inspected by an independent consultant or organization and assigned a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) rating.

Dunhill Homes is owned by Winchester Carlisle Companies which also launched another new home brand, Nathan Carlisle Homes, in July. Nathan Carlisle focuses on building exclusively for active adult homebuyers.

The Retreat and Ridgeview Farms sales offices and model homes are open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The Retreat model is located at 8608 Shallowford Lane, McKinney, Texas 75070. For more information and directions, call 972-547-0869 or visit www.dunhillhomes.com. Ridgeview Farms model home is located at 8605 Glenburne Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 7613. For more information please contact the sales associate at 817-847-2080.

About Dunhill Homes

Based in Dallas, Dunhill Homes is a private builder, active in Las Vegas, Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth. Dunhill Homes is a subsidiary of Winchester Carlisle Companies, a real estate-related holding company, which also owns Nathan Carlisle Homes, Nathan Grace Real Estate, Land Commerce, and Carwin Advisors, a national corporate and real estate advisory firm.