When You Dream

Achew, sniffle, Achew,

What is making me sneeze? I was hoping that moving into a new house would make my allergies much better. I wonder if there is something in the ducts. While I know that Saddletree Homes has a strict clean up policy maybe there is stuff they just cannot get to.  Like...

 

 

 Saddletree Homes has been doing research on the affects of construction debris being left in the duct system, and wants to protect your family as much as you do. These pictures were taken in one of our homes during a demonstration by a third party helping us understand the importance of cleaning our duct work. We work with excellent craftsman who believe in quality and they do their best to help minimize the debris. There are just somethings that collect that without professional cleaning we would never be able to reach. Starting February 1st every home will have their ducts cleaned professionally before closing. It is our goal at Saddletree Homes to continue to put you and your family first. We promise to continually research to continue to improve our product and provide you and your family with your dream home. Any questions about the process feel free to leave us a comment below. 

So I am notorious for leaving lights on and the heat turned up in the house. If I had a dime for every time my dad yelled at me, lets just say I would have a small mint. ;-) Maybe its my subconscious childhood fear of the dark that makes me do it or the fact I have twenty thousand things on my mind; I am sure I am not the only one with this problem. Well Saddletree has found a solution to the busy problem. They are now putting home automations systems in each of their homes, that can be controlled from computer, smart phone, and or ipads. This system comes as a feature of their homes. You are able to control your thermostat, alarm, lights, door locks, and outlets. The system is completely secure and runs through an app from alarm.com, the hardware is from the company 2 GIG. 

It all sounds like the Jetsons right? Well I was meeting a buyer at the model that had this system in it and was running a little late not out of the ordinary for me. As I am driving up I- 25 to the home, I open my trusty encrypted app and I turn up the heat, turn on the lights, I unlock the doors, and as I pull in the driveway I turn off the alarm. No one would ever know I was running late. The system is awesome. While the basics of this system are cool there are even better features. You can set the door lock with special codes that are time sensitive. You can plug in small appliances and turn them on or off from another location, never again will the crockpot boil over, or your curling iron get left on. Yes, I won't be responsible for burning the house down! 

This system can be retrofitted to old alarm systems as well, just in case some current Saddletree Homeowners want to upgrade. If you want to see this super system yourself stop by our model in Cordera and you too can turn on the lights, unlock the doors, and play with the heat. It is a dream come true, no more broken pipes because of a random colorado blizzard while you were out of town. 

I am excited to have this in my home soon because it is truly revolutionizing the way we live. I can always have the lights on and the heat up! 

We are honored to work with a talented group of individuals that helped us achieve great success during the 2011 Parade of Homes.  In the upcoming weeks we will be featuring our employees so you can get to know them. Below is the press release from the 2011 Parade of homes Awards Banquet. We hope that if you missed it during the parade you will come out and see it now, or if you have questions on something you saw in our parade house just ask below. This "Smart House" can be controlled by your ipad, iphone, droid, or laptop. 

On Wednesday night August 31, 2011 at the 2011 Parade of Homes award dinner held at the U.S.
Olympic training facility in Colorado Springs, Saddletree Homes won 7 of the 8 industry awards for its
category. Saddletree’s 2011 entry was “The Monarch” located in the beautiful community of Corderra
on the North East side of Colorado Springs.


Saddletree Homes is proud to be awarded the following trophies:

Best Architectural Exterior
Best Landscaping

Best Master Suite

Best Kitchen

Best Interior Design
Best Innovative
Best Overall Home

The dedication and hard work of the entire Saddletree Staff certainly paid off with the 2011 Monarch.

The beautiful development of Flying Horse Ranch located on the north end of Colorado Springs is home to a new District 20 grades K-12 school called “Discovery Canyon” at 1810 North Gate Blvd.  It is situated on 84 acres south and east of North Gate Rd.  The Discovery Canyon campus provides a safe secluded setting that integrates all grade levels K-12 in a forward-thinking, content rich study program.  With an amphitheater and special areas in which to display student work, Discovery Canyon is as much a community as it is a place of learning.  Its unique location is perfect for environmental studies and plays favorably with the school’s choice theme of science and mathematics with space and aviation science integration.

The mission of Discovery Canyon is to educate and inspire all students to achieve social, emotional and academic success through a comprehensive inquiry-based curriculum with real-life global applications taught in a purposefully designed environment.  The curriculum and co/extra-curricular programs are designed to provide a wide range and variety of experiences to engage students learning opportunities.  Needs-based offerings featuring experiential learning problem-based curriculum opportunities and self-directed learning investigations will complement traditional curriculums.  Students attending Discovery Canyon will have multiple opportunities to assume stewardship responsibilities for the land, wildlife and campus environment.  

The educational benefits of Discovery Canyon include the following:

• Enhanced communication among students and as a result of proximity of programs and facilities.
• Many facilities are shared by multiple grade levels for peer-mentoring and tutoring programs.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) instructional methodologies and strategies used by all staff.
• All staff trained on inquiry-based instruction.
• All students receive the benefits of the IB instruction.  Students choosing to qualify for the IB diploma (DP) will have additional requirements.
• Multiple world languages available throughout the campus.  French and Spanish are both offered as world languages.

As a convenience for parents and patrons, the Discovery Canyon campus includes a unique feature of centralized campus services.  These services include attendance, health center and counseling, which are located in an area convenient to all students, staff and parents.  

Student capacity is set at 600 for elementary, 1,000 for middle school and 1,200 for high school.  Grade 12 opens August 2011.  Enrollment is open to residents of Flying Horse Ranch as well as a few surrounding communities, making it a highly desirable benefit among many for families looking to relocate to the Flying Horse Ranch community.  

As schools go, the Discovery Canyon campus is clearly in a class all its own.  Featuring seamless curricula for grades K-12, the campus is a bold new direction in contemporary education – one that allows multiple schools to share common grounds in pursuit of uncommon academic goals.  The difference is more than academic.  For more information, the Discovery Canyon campus can be reached at 719-234-1800 or District 20 at 719-234-1200.

This Blog written by Dean Skinner Flying Horse Community Specialist  

With the large number of foreclosed homes on today’s market, homebuyers are considering them for their housing needs, often due to below-market pricing.  While saving upwards of 25% off the market price of a home can sound very enticing…are the risks worth the rewards?

In the end, if you are not a risk taker, and would prefer peace of mind on this significant investment, not only is it still a great time to buy a home, it is a great time to buy a NEW HOME.  The rewards of building or buying a new home are evident when you look at the facts.  NEW HOMES are protected by workmanship, material and structural warranties, protecting you from large out-of-pocket expenses after purchasing.  NEW HOMES are available for immediate occupancy or in a timeframe that is conducive to your moving schedule, and are available in a variety of designs, sizes and locations, giving you many choices.  NEW HOMES are often available with Special Incentive Programs, making it more affordable for your to own a new home in many instances.  NEW HOMES are open for you to make them your own.  Why live in someone else’s dream home, when you can live in your own?  NEW HOMES are more energy efficient, saving you money and helping the environment.  

Foreclosures can come with many risks.  You are purchasing the property as is.  Often times, when a previous owner is unable to meet the financial obligations of a mortgage, they are also unable to meet the financial obligations of maintaining their property altogether.  Buying a new or resale home requires full disclosure on details and drawbacks on the property, so the seller is liable.  There is no requirement  on disclosures with a foreclosed home.  This opens your pocketbook to liability.  Along 

the same lines, when being evicted, owners don’t necessarily care what shape they leave the home before they are forced to leave.  You could end up with steep cleaning, repair and maintenance bills to get the home back to a livable condition.  Foreclosed homes do not come with any kind of warranty, and often times are not even available for inspection before purchase.  This leaves the new owner open for substantial risk, with additional investments having to be made for repair and replacement work.  Keep in mind that if you are buying a foreclosed home versus a new home, you are limited to the locations, features, characteristics, etc. of the homes.  Also, if a bank has not begun to initiate formal foreclosure proceedings, you may have to evict the foreclosed owner, tenant or whomever else may be occupying the property yourself.  You need to be a savvy buyer.  Some properties are mortgaged so steeply that banks often ask for bids that are higher than the property is worth.  You need to research the home values in the area you are looking in.  Buying a foreclosed home is a different buying process, so you need to be well educated and well prepared.  The process can take months, even well over a year, depending on the bank that owns the foreclosure.  Although often times purchasing a foreclosed home might mean a discounted purchase price, if the home is not available for inspection before purchase, getting a mortgage can become quite difficult.

Don’t settle.  Instead, settle into a brand new home, instead of the stress or disruptions with buying a foreclosure.  When it comes to homes, there is something to be said for new.  Walking in, on day one, with all the new touches that you helped pick out yourself.  When you build with Saddletree Homes, you don’t have to settle.  You don’t have to inherit someone else’s headaches.  Instead, you get more of what you want:  new appliances, up-to-date decor, new carpet, a contemporary floor plan and a comprehensive warranty.  All in a great location that suits you.  

Not only that, but you can rely on our quality and value for years to come.  With a new home that’s built to be energy efficient from the ground up and something you can’t count on from homes built ten, even five years ago.  With Saddletree Homes, you can focus on what’s really important:  Enjoying life together in your new home.

Saddletree Homes has been an award winning semi-custom and custom home builder in the Colorado Springs area since 1994.  You come to Saddletree Homes with your wants and needs and we will design and build the home of your dreams.  

Saddletree Homes currently builds homes ranging from the low 300’s to over a million.  We have available lots and build in many of the most popular and acclaimed Colorado Springs and El Paso county communities such as Cordera, Pine Creek, Jackson Creek, Flying Horse Ranch, Cathedral Pines, High Forest Ranch and Kings Deer.  We can also design and build on your privately owned lot within El Paso County.   

We have numerous ranch and 2-story plans to choose from to fit a casual Colorado lifestyle.  We are also one of the only true semi-custom builders in the area that will allow you to make any modifications to our floor plans you desire to personalize your home for your needs and lifestyle.  If you want a truly one-of-a-kind custom home, we have an in-house designer that can make can work with you to bring your vision to life.  

Visit any of our current models in Cordera or Flying Horse Ranch and begin the journey with Saddletree Homes in building “The home you see when your close your eyes and dream”.

You made the decision to purchase a new home, executed the contract and applied for a mortgage. With today’s great rates you receive your approval letter from the lender, life is good. Now what?

Don’t do what you are tempted to do and go shopping for all the things you will need for your new home. Unlike in the past, lenders often pull a second credit report just before closings and new consumer debt from the furniture store or a new car loan can jeopardize the loan approval that you had on your new home and the whole deal could fall through.

Fannie Mae’s instructions to lenders say that “lenders must determine that all debts of the borrower incurred or closed up to and concurrent with the closing” are considered in the final loan analysis. And if those new loans push your debt to income ratio above the approved limits your loan will be denied.

Don’t take a chance of losing the opportunity to purchase your new home.

Here is a list from Bank of America of the 7 don'ts when buying a new home:

• Don’t buy or lease an auto.

The lender looks carefully at the debt-to-income ratio and a large payment such as a car lease or purchase can greatly impact those ratios and prevent the buyer from qualifying for the home loan.

• Don’t move assets from one bank account to another

These transfers show up as new accounts and complicate the application process, as you must then disclose and document the source of funds for each new account. You can consolidate your accounts after the close

• Don’t change jobs.

A new job may involve a probation period which must be satisfied before income from the new job can be considered for qualifying purposes.

• Don’t buy new furniture or major appliances for the new home.

If the new purchase increases your debt load, or reduces your cash on hand, it can disqualify you from the loan or decrease your funds to close.

• Don’t run a credit report on yourself.

This will show as an inquiry on your lender’s credit report. Inquires must be explained in writing and can slow the process down.

• Don’t attempt to consolidate bills before speaking with your lender.

The lender can advise you if this needs to be done.

• Don’t pack or ship information needed for the loan application.

Important paperwork such as W-2 forms, divorce decrees, Form DD-214, and tax returns should not be sent with your household goods. Duplicates can take weeks to obtain.
Please contact your Saddletree Sales Counselor for additional information.

Design Center Transformed

The Saddletree Homes design center was transformed in November 2010 to give new home buyers an improved experience as they design their home. Some of the changes to the design center include:

• New hardwood floors showing the Saddletree standards (#1 - 2 1/4 inch Red Oak) and Symphony standard (2 1/4 inch Hickory)
• New cabinet display that shows the standards for American Traditions Series (Aristokraft Avalon Maple), Signature Series (Aristokraft Landen Maple) and Symphony Series (Aristokraft Briarcliff Maple).
• Additional standard features (per plan) that are highlighted include sink bump out, kitchen cabinet pulls, roll trays in base cabinets and a lazy susan.
• Optional upgrade features include full extension, dovetail construction drawers with soft close mechanism, spice pullout, waste basket pullout, message center cabinet, wine cubby, stem glass holder, crown moulding upgrades, appliance garage and plate rack.
• New under-mount granite composite sink.
• New Absolute Black Granite counter-top with leather finish.
• New carpet.

The design center continues to offer the ability to view product samples including stucco, stone and brick, wrought iron, TREX decking, paint swatches, cabinet door styles, faucets, granite and composite countertops, shower glass, door hardware and sinks.

You are invited to stop by and see the updated design center but since it is regularly used for new home buyers, please contact us ahead of time to schedule around other appointments.

Earth Day

What a beautiful day today has been as we celebrate “Earth Day” we have had sunshine, rain, and snow; spring time in the Rockies is beautiful. We at Saddletree Homes want to help protect this beautiful country we live in, that is why we at Saddletree Homes are committed to building energy efficient homes. We were the first builder in Colorado Springs to be E-star and then the first builder to be one hundred percent Energy Star. We pay to have each of our homes third party tested, to make sure that we meet all the EPA criteria for Energy Star homes. This testing allows for tax rebates, mortgage incentives, and savings on energy bills. We are helping to reduce everyone’s carbon foot print by building energy efficient homes. We feel it is our responsibility to continue to take care of this planet, so we work as a team to continue to be at the forefront of energy efficient and green building. This is a task that we take seriously, especially in these tough economic times, when it would be easier to cut corners and use cheaper products. Saddletree Homes has been through many tough economic times in the past and has continued to succeed because of our commitment to excellence. We will continue to be on the cutting edge of energy efficiency and green technologies, as well as provide our homeowners with the best possible products. Here are a few things that we are proud to do that make us energy efficient.

• 2x6 Exterior Wall Construction
• R-20 Blown- Cellulose Insulation
• 91% Efficient Furnace
• Sized, Sealed, and Insulated Ducts
• Low-E Vinyl Windows
• Tight Construction
• Programmable Thermostats

On this “Earth Day” we hope that you will join with us to be more energy efficient and to help keep this earth a beautiful place for generations to come. 

Tax Credits are Now Available for Saddletree and Symphony Homebuyers

With the anticipated extension of the successful first time home buyer tax credit program, Congress gave an unexpected gift to existing homeowners. Now existing homeowners that have owned a personal residence for 5 consecutive years out of the past 8 years, are eligible for a tax credit of up to $6,500.00 on homes valued up to $800,000. And this is a tax credit and not just a deduction, meaning that even if you do not owe any federal income tax you would be eligible for a refund of the $6,500.00. Better yet, some loan programs allow you to “monetize” this tax credit to be used as a type of cash in your purchase transaction.

The tax credit can also be earned buy customers who currently own their own lot and enter into a contract to build a home prior to April 30^th, 2010 and obtain a certificate of occupancy by June, 30^th 2010. This option will require quick work to complete a home by that June 30^th, 2010 deadline.

Some of the rules to this program are that your maximum income is limited to $125,000 for single filers and $225,000 for joint filers, although partial credits are available for income levels up to $145,000 and $245,000 respectively. Contracts have to be written by April 30^th, 2010 and closed by June 30^th, 2010 but extensions may be available to active duty military who were deployed for a period greater than 90 days in either 2008 or 2009. The credit is limited to 10% of the purchase price.

Although there is reporting requirements to the IRS to obtain this credit, the paper work is fairly simple using documents that you will receive at closing.

The first time homebuyer credit of up to $8000.00 applies to buyers who have not owned a personal residence within the last 3 years. All of the timing and income requirements are the same as for the existing homebuyer credit.

These credit appear to be a once in a lifetime gift from the federal government and should not be overlooked. Contact a Saddletree community specialist to see how these credits can benefit you.