Heartland Homes

Home Design Trends Sway Toward Simplicity

2012-02-27T18:49:35Z

There was a time when following the home trends meant the bigger the better. During that time, having more was what people wanted. A larger home, with more detail and upgrades, was on the top of many buyers’ priority lists. Today, home design trends are pushing just the opposite. Trends today sway much more toward simplicity.

According to the Home Design Trends Survey released by the American Institute of Architects, since home buyers rank affordability as a priority, the latest home styles are much simpler with lower maintenance. Buyers look for durable products with simple characteristics for their exteriors.

The trend also led to more focused residential development. With homes being built primarily near transportation and job centers, the large subdivision concept might become less popular as time goes on.

To stay updated on the latest news in the home industry, subscribe to the Heartland Homes Blog!

Source Styled, Staged, Sold via Realtor

Inspired By the Oklahoma City Spring Remodel & Landscape Show

2012-02-24T22:44:09Z

As the spring season is quickly approaching, you’ve probably beginning to think of your spring to-do’s lists. Among the list of ideas, most of us have a few household items to take care of. Is remodeling, upgrading, or landscaping in your plans? If so, make plans to be inspired by this weekend’s Oklahoma City Spring Remodel & Landscape Show.

Now is the time to begin planning for your outdoor designs.

Held at the Cox Convention Center, the Show will last through the weekend and will offer homeowners the opportunity to meet with some of the most experienced professionals in the industry. There will be ideas and inspiration for every room in your home, as well as ideas for your outdoors space.

Feature gardens have also been created inside the exhibit halls to help you envision the possibilities for this year’s gardens. The Show is certainly something to take advantage of this weekend and we look forward to hearing all about it. Leave us a comment afterward and let us know what you thought about the show!

Image via Houzz

Appraisers Make Sustainability Count!

2012-02-20T15:30:46Z

Until recently, having a home that boasts strong sustainability measures and energy efficiency was only something that gave owners increased savings and bragging rights. Green upgrades had not been a factor in home appraisals and values, though they are often an important selling factor for homes. In an effort to add these green standards into the appraisal process, the Appraisal Institute is adding a new, optional form for appraisals involving homes that boast greener standards.

When your home is appraised, make sure that the appraiser is aware of all the upgraded green features!

The new form is an optional addendum to the most widely used form in the mortgage industry, Fanny Mae Form 1004. If the new tool is used regularly, the way home value is calculated and standardized for sustainability could greatly improve. This would be extremely beneficial for anyone with an eco-friendly home.

At Heartland Homes, we pride ourselves on building homes that include advanced energy-efficient qualities. To learn more about our effort to promote sustainable living, just contact our team at Heartland Homes by calling 405-520-1400!

Source Realtor

Image via Danilo Rizzuti

Emerging Home Design Trends for 2012

2012-02-17T13:42:26Z

Though trends in home design tend to change over a longer period of time than typical trends, this may be the year that we see much more of a push for the emerging trends.

Have you spotted the newest trends in home design yet? During the mid-20^th century, nationwide the modern design of the “White Box” look was prominent. Today, according to the National Association of Home Builders along with the International Builders’ Show, the new American home will look much more spa-like and eco-sensitive.

Notice how the "White Box" style is softened in this year's trends?

For areas where the modern look might not be appropriate for traditional neighborhoods, architects are designing homes that blend modern technology with colonial details. We’re also seeing many more homes come along with tudor-style roofs and craftsman exteriors.

Features of the classic craftsman style homes can be seen in this year's exterior design trends.

One design that has particularly dropped out of the trending home designs is that of the McMansion styles homes. These homes are being replaced with more economical modern, craftsman, or Neo-Mediterranean style homes.

What do you think of these emerging trends? Share your thoughts with us!

Images via Yahoo! Real Estate (1), roarofthefour (2)

Oklahoma City’s Booming List of Accolades Continues

2012-02-14T13:40:59Z

Every now and then at Heartland Homes, we think we deserve a quick reminder of just how nice it is to be a part of a thriving area such as Oklahoma City. In the midst of economic recessions and bad news, knowing that Oklahoma City has been able to beat the odds certainly gives us all a reason to celebrate. As new residents and visitors move into Oklahoma City, we also want to keep them aware of the prestigious city and all that makes it great. Here are a few of Oklahoma City’s most recent accolades that we have found most impressive.

If you're new to Oklahoma City or thinking about moving to the area, here are just a few of the things that make the city so ideal.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

OKC Ranks in Top 10 for Manufacturing Growth
OKC Ranked Third in the nation for in percentage increase in Retail Jobs
OKC is one of the 13 cities in the nation that has bounced back from the recession
OKC Ranked Third in the nation for private-job growth last year

According to Career Bliss:

Oklahoma City is One of the Happiest Cities to Work In

According to Forbes:

OKC is One of the Cities with the Best Real Estate Appreciation Potential

According to Zinnov:

OKC Ranks Highly for IT Activity

With all of the top ten lists circulating, it’s easy to lose track of all the things that make Oklahoma City stand out. Consider the Heartland Homes Blog your source for all that you need to know about moving to or living in Oklahoma City. We’ve proudly built homes around this city for years and look forward to continuing to do so!

Source Greater Oklahoma City

Image via David Castillo Dominici

VentureSpur Aims to Boost Startup Business in Oklahoma City

2012-02-08T20:31:42Z

In managing a startup business, quality advice and mentoring is invaluable.

Some of the largest drivers behind Oklahoma City’s strong economic force are the small startup businesses within the city who are on the brink of success. These companies create the behind-the-scenes motivation that attracts new business and keeps the area vibrant. In an effort to support these companies, VentureSpur, a firm dedicated to aiding these startups, recently launched in Oklahoma City.

VentureSpur will take on several businesses each year that have developed a successful business plan but that have not yet made the leap into venture capital. Since the move is such a big one, the group will provide free office space, mentoring, educational opportunities, and even financial support from a seed fund to support the businesses.

If you own a business in Oklahoma City, you picked the right area to operate in! This opportunity, combined with the many others that exist in Oklahoma City, make the area a fantastic place to live and work.

To learn more about living in Oklahoma City, just visit Heartland Homes online!

Source Greater Oklahoma City

Image via nokhoog_buchachon

Are Homes Still a Worthwhile Investment?

2012-02-06T13:54:38Z

With unsteady economic times, you might seriously be questioning what the best way is for you to invest your money. Changing stock market trends and fluctuations in investment portfolios might even make you consider burying the money in your backyard. Though the day-to-day investment circumstances vary, we’ve found that the best way to invest your money remains in buying a home.

Before you go and bury your investments, remember that the long term pattern for real estate values has been a positive one.

When thinking of long term investments, real estate is still the most effective means of growing your money. The recent drops in values are not reflective of what the market has historically done for home prices. In fact, many experts agree that now, rather than later, is the time to invest in real estate.

From Lary Cowart, assistant professor of real estate and finance at the University of Alabama, Birmingham:

“Holding out to try and find the lowest price is not a good strategy because if the house were to go down 10 percent but the interest rate goes up 1 percent you are not gaining anything. If rates go up 1 percent, say from 4 to 5 percent, that is a 25 percent increase in the interest rate; so the mortgage payment goes up by more than 10 percent and the amount of house that can be purchased goes down by more than 10 percent. People fail to realize that and it is another little thing that will cost them big over the 30-year life of the loan.”

To learn more about the homes built with integrity and an eye for the future in Oklahoma City, contact Heartland Homes by calling 405-520-1400.

Source Speaking of Real Estate, NAR

Image via Clare Bloomfield

Oklahoma City Offers New Mode of Transportation

2012-01-31T12:57:32Z

Just when you thought Oklahoma City had it all, we hear about yet another improvement headed to the city. As you all have probably noticed, Oklahoma City has undergone some dramatic improvements over the last year. To complement those changes, bicycle lanes that were added by downtown’s Project 180 could soon be in use by an Oklahoma City shared bike program called Spokies.

Are you interested in getting involved with Spokies?

The program is a part of the city’s efforts to improve transportation downtown for residents and to improve a wealth of other factors around the city. For both residents and visitors, this new mode of transportation could offer a way to enjoy the rides around town. The project is expected to cut down on traffic and even boost fitness efforts around the city.

Launching this spring, the program will include 95 bicycles that will be placed at six stations throughout the downtown area. Automatic kiosks will be available for those wishing to check out bikes. The kiosks are expected to be within close proximity to the Oklahoma City National Memorial, Bricktown, Midtown, Chesapeake Energy Arena, Deep Deuce, City Hall, and the Civic Center Music Hall.

As Oklahoma City continues to flourish, we are still proudly building the homes to sustain it. Visit Heartland Homes online to learn more about our dedicated team of builders.

Source OKC Chamber

Image via Tung Photo

How Average is Your Mortgage?

2012-01-26T15:40:29Z

Knowing where you could fall on the list of average mortgages could help you decide what to expect when you buy a new home.

After deciding that now is the time for you to purchase a home, the second thought you probably have is how you will pay for it. Since most buyers require additional funds to purchase home, a majority of buyers consult a mortgage professional to buy the home of their dreams. But how much of a mortgage is too much? How does your mortgage compare to others? We recently came across an article about what the average homeowner pays in mortgage expenses. Take a look at this information from Lending Tree to get a good idea of what an average mortgage looks like.

The national average for a home loan is $222,261 with a $1,061 average monthly payment on a 30-year mortgage at 4 percent.

The highest average mortgages in the nation can be found in Hawaii where the average loan amount is $677,299. On the flip side, the lowest mortgage in the nation can be found in Mississippi with a loan amount of $137,182.

For Oklahoma, our state came in toward the bottom of the list, with an impressive average mortgage of $160,868. Do you think the findings sound similar to your own situation? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below!

Source Realtor

Image via Salvatore Vuono

New American Dream Home Is Green!

2012-01-24T14:45:49Z

What's your idea of a dream home? Tell us about it!

You might expect that with the problems that have been plaguing the housing market over the last several years that the dream of American homeownership might have changed. Maybe more people now look forward to renting? But recent studies have actually found quite the opposite.

In a Yahoo! Real Estate Study, partipants cited that owning a home is a high priority for them, but that unlike in recent years, owning a manageable, energy efficient home is their central dream. In years past, the concept of “bigger is better” took center stage and many people purchased homes without concern for costs and maintenance. Today’s buyers however, are focused on homes built with eco-friendly materials and energy efficient appliances.

This may be due to the fact that homeowners would like to remain in their homes for many years after its purchased, and would like the costs to remain manageable. If you are considering moving to a home that is built with integrity and consideration for the environment, contact Heartland Homes to build your dream home today!

Source Yahoo Real Estate

Image via danilo rizzuti