Everyone wants a home that has it all, but few floor plans can deliver. Among the small number that can, the Emmaline by Westin Homes is at the top of the list.
The impressive design is both elegant and comfortable with high-end details you find in many custom homes. This is particularly true of the lavish primary suite. The generously proportioned bedroom is crowned by a coffered ceiling. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the area with light. The focus of the primary bath is the large oval soaking tub. Dual sinks and dual walk-in closets make the morning routine a breeze.
The gourmet kitchen is designed for gathering — whether it’s just the family for midnight ice cream sundaes or party guests enjoying wine and conversation. The island boasts counter seating, and the entire kitchen is open to both the casual dining nook and the soaring two-story family room. A fireplace adds a cozy touch while a wall of windows overlooking the patio and backyard encourages contemplation of the natural world.
The Emmaline is flexible, as well. The formal dining room can easily flex into a home office or playroom for the kids. A bedroom with en suite bath is perfect for overnight guests, but no one would blame you for turning it into the ultimate work out room. An upstairs game room makes a great teen den or can be sectioned off to make a data center, media area and activity center.
The Emmaline floor plan is priced at $414,000. It is one of 11 designs the builder offers in Vanbrooke. Prices start from the low $400s and include spacious island kitchens, flex rooms, elegant primary suites, game rooms and two-car garages.
Visit us and speak with a Westin sales representative about moving into an elegant Westin home today.
If you’ve made the decision to purchase a new-build home, you may also have decided that you don’t need to engage the services of a Realtor. That would be a mistake. As helpful as your builder’s representative is, no one is better at helping buyers navigate the home buying process than a licensed agent.
Here are seven benefits of working with a Realtor.
Realtors Keep You on Budget
Your Realtor can help you create the home of your dreams and make sure you stay within your budget. Because they know the communities and builders, they can point you toward the ones that include your must-haves at a price you can afford. They will walk through model homes with you and let you know which of the upgrades showcased will add value to your home.
They Know the Communities
Texas is full of master-planned communities. A Realtor will know which communities are right for you because they spend a lot of time in them. They know which ones have walking trails, onsite schools and pools. They also know where to go for date night, which high school boasts a winning team and where to shop for holiday gifts.
They Save You Time
With today’s technology, you can search for, find and even buy a home without stepping outside your office. That takes precious time away from things like work and family. Realtors can do the looking for you and do it better. They attend builder and master-planned community events all of the time, so they can weed out builders and floor plans that don’t meet your criteria.
They Hold Themselves to a Higher Standard
Realtors are professionals who are trained to prioritize your needs. They follow guidelines, principles and ethical standards to ensure trust in themselves and their profession. It is not in their interest to steer you in the wrong direction or give you bad advice.
They are Experts
Realtors are experts in mortgages, contracts, negotiation and coordination. They will help you find the right lender and loan, negotiate with the builder on your behalf and take the lead if you have concerns or questions about your contract. It’s their job to keep you from making mistakes.
They are Motivated
Realtors are most often independent contractors. That’s means they don’t get paid unless they find you a home. This makes them very motivated. Often, they get new clients based on referrals from old ones so they will do the best job they possibly can for you.
They Know Vanbrooke
Your Realtor has probably already visited Vanbrooke, toured our models and spoken with our builders’ representatives. They are also aware of any move-in-ready homes we have available. That means they can show you your dream home as soon as you retain them.
Where do Vanbrooke residents go for farm-fresh produce, locally sourced meats and local wines? The Fulshear Farmers Market, of course.
Run by Ramona Ridge of Forever Fulshear, the market has been a Saturday morning tradition for Fort Bend residents since 2014. All of the fruits, vegetables and food products sold at the market were grown or produced within a 200-mile radius of Fulshear.
The list of vendors is lengthy but on any given day you are sure to be able to fill your canvas shopping bag with seasonal vegetables and fruit, fresh seafood, artisan breads, pastured Red Wattle pork, Dorper lamb, certified grass-fed Wagyu beef, eggs, free-range chicken, baked goods, kombucha, BBQ sauces, locally roasted and blended coffees, plants and more. The first Saturdays of each month include selections from local artists and craftspeople. Most Saturdays there is at least one food truck, if not more.
The Fulshear Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday — rain or shine — at 9035 Bois D’Arc Lane, Fulshear, TX 77441. Come out for the fresh food and to support the smallest of small businesses. Hope to see you there.
Buying your first home is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement and one of which you can take great pride in. As you get ready to take this important step, you’ll want a budget that considers all aspects of homeownership. Luckily, with today’s low interest rates, you should have plenty of room in the budget to have the home of your dreams and all that comes with it.
Private Mortgage Insurance
If you pay less than a 20 percent down payment, your lender might require you to have private mortgage insurance — also known as PMI. This protects the lender in case you default. Premiums vary between about 0.25 percent and 1.5 percent of the loan amount per year and are usually included with your monthly mortgage payment. This cost typically goes away once you have 20 percent equity in your home — and with today’s housing market, this can happen sooner than you might think. Make sure to stay on top of your home’s market value and talk to your lender about when you can drop this insurance.
Homeowners Insurance
Even if you don’t need PMI, a lender will likely require you to have homeowners insurance as a condition of your loan. Even if it isn’t required, it’s still a good thing to have. Sometimes the insurance can be rolled into your mortgage payment but usually, you will select your own insurer. Rates and coverage vary. Premiums may be higher in certain areas.
Property Taxes
The average effective property tax rate is 1.69 percent and are based on the value of your home, the land your home is on and improvements such as a pool. The higher the value, the higher your taxes are. This is typically paid as part of your overall mortgage payment each month.
HOA Dues
Purchasing a home in a master-planned community gives you access to some great amenities like pools and clubhouses, but there is an associated cost. In Vanbrooke, residents pay an annual fee to the community’s homeowners association. The fee generally covers the cost of maintaining the amenities as well as upkeep of the community and other services that benefit the neighborhood and preserve your home value.
Home Maintenance
Homes come with lawns and those need to be mowed. Your property might also have trees to prune and landscaping to maintain. Factor the cost of purchasing lawn equipment into your home’s purchase price if you don’t have it already. Luckily, there are plenty of affordable options. If you plan to have a professional take care of lawn maintenance, add the cost to your monthly home expenses budget.
You’ll also want to think about once-a-year maintenance of your HVAC system — just like when it comes to your own health, giving your air and heating system a regular check-up will likely negate future problems. Pest control is also a good investment — treating termites early is much less expensive than letting them go unchecked. Pest control is something your landlord or apartment complex likely handled without you even realizing to keep the spiders and bugs at bay — it’s now your responsibility. And while you’re being smart about home maintenance, you probably don’t have too much to worry about when purchasing a new home because everything is new and warranties are still in effect.
Rainy Day Fund
There are always unexpected expenses when it comes to your new home. To ensure that you aren’t caught completely off guard, maintain a rainy day fund. How much you save depends on the age and condition of your home. An older home will require you to save more while a brand new home likely requires you to save less. Most financial experts recommend that you budget between 1 and 2 percent of your mortgage balance. If that rainy day never comes, you have a nice start on saving for more of life’s milestones, such as children and retirement.
With arctic temperatures that left many with dead landscaping, many questioned if February’s winter blast would do the same to the famed Texas wildflower season.
It looks like just the opposite is happening.
According to a recent news report, the snow acted as a blanket for the wildflower seeds, watering them as they melted. Steady rain and temperatures below 80 degrees will ensure a blooming spring.
Bluebonnets are the talk of every wildflower season, but while these blankets of blue are beautiful, they aren’t the only color that will be popping up this spring. A plentiful season means fiery Indian Blankets, pale purple Prairie Verbena and the Pink Evening Primrose that only opens its soft petals as the sun goes down. Those wanting to identify the colorful flowers that can be seen along highways, at nature centers and even in our own yards can learn more by checking out this wildflower field guide.
Whether you decide to visit any of the spectacular wildflower locales such as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center in southwest Austin, Fredericksburg Wildseed Farms, Burnet for the famed Bluebonnet Festival or just drive along Highway 290 toward Brenham and College Station, you’ll want to make sure you’re playing it safe while enjoying the scenery:
We can’t wait to see everyone’s Instagram pages blooming with wildflower photos!