Architect Paul Knitter, discusses his inspiration for the designs of Payne Family Homes.

The second you walk into a Payne Family Home you realize you’re not visiting just another cookie-cutter house in suburbia.
The research and design that goes into these home is unparalleled by any custom home builder in the area. You will never feel like you’ve just stepped off the set of the 1998 movie “Pleasantville” -each new home has its own character, its own style, and its own meticulously- designed floor plan.
The first step Payne Family Homes’ architect, Paul Knitter, takes in designing each home is to get as much information about Payne Family Homes’ customers. He studies demographic trends, industry trends, and relies heavily on input from the Payne Family Homes sales team. As Paul is actively researching, he also stays current with professional journals, attends trade shows, and networks with other design professionals.

After the design team sits to collaborate, the fun part begins. How does it start?
With a blank piece of paper.

“A lot of people think that it should be easy to just pick a plan that has been previously designed that will fulfill all of the requirements of the current project. If this doesn’t work, surely there is an existing plan similar enough to use and “tweak” to conform to the client’s needs – but it today’s world, neither scenario is ever the case.” – Paul Knitter.

Every project has its own set of requirements that result in unique designs that attempt to satisfy specific customer profiles.

Payne Family Homes is in sync with what today’s customers need.
Kids come home from school and need a place to set backpacks and boots, young children need a place to play, people need a place to iron and fold clothes, aging adults desire more light and prefer large showers in lieu of bathtubs – and because of Paul’s extensive research, he is able to design new homes that effectively meet the needs of each demographic.
Working with an expert like Paul Knitter has given Payne Family Homes the ability to craft distinctive homes that stand the test of time.

Next week in part 2 of this blog series, we’ll discuss how designs throughout the years have changed and have been perfected to create the ultimate experience for each Payne Family Homes home owner.

Mortgage rates sink to lowest level on record

Rates on 30-year fixed mortgages fall to 4.69 pct., lowest level on record, Freddie Mac says

·         Companies:

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  • Federal National Mortgage Association
  • Freddie Mac

Alan Zibel, AP Real Estate Writer, On Thursday June 24, 2010, 10:09 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mortgage rates fell this week to the lowest level on record, giving consumers added incentive to lock in low payments on home purchases and refinancings.

Mortgage company Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate for 30-year fixed loans sank to 4.69 percent, from 4.75 percent last week.

That’s the lowest since Freddie Mac began tracking rates in 1971. The previous record of 4.71 percent was set in December. Rates for 15-year and five-year mortgages also hit lows.

Mortgage rates have fallen over the past two months. Investors wary of the European debt crisis and the turbulent stock market have shifted money into the safety of Treasury bonds, driving down yields. Mortgage rates tend to track the yields on long-term Treasury debt.

Freddie Mac collects mortgage rates on Monday through Wednesday of each week from lenders around the country. Rates often fluctuate significantly, even within a given day.

Rates on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to an average of 4.13 percent, the lowest on records dating to September 1991 and down from 4.2 percent a week earlier.

Rates on five-year, adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 3.84 percent, down from 3.89 percent a week earlier. That was also the lowest on Freddie Mac’s records, which only date back to January 2005.

Average rates on one-year, adjustable-rate mortgages fell to 3.77 percent from 3.82 percent. That was the lowest average since May 2004.

The rates do not include add-on fees known as points. One point is equal to 1 percent of the total loan amount.

The nationwide fee for loans in Freddie Mac’s survey averaged 0.7 a point for 30-year, 5-year and 1-year loans. The average fee for 15-year loans was 0.6 of a point.

Just minutes from Mid Rivers Mall Drive in St. Peters, Missouri, you’ll find a community filled with new homes that allow you to live your life with ease – in luxury.

The Townes at Belleau Creek by Payne Family Homes offer a low maintenance lifestyle accompanied by a beautiful setting and endless amenities. This charming new home community consists of Detached 1 ½ and 2-story Cottage Homes, many of which are move-in ready.

Imagine a Worry-Free Weekend
Low maintenance living ensures your weekends will be void of the tedious landscaping tasks that have kept you from enjoying your days off.
Enjoy a day at the nearby recreation center; the St. Peter’s Rec-Plex, which includes an indoor ice rink that’s perfect for staying out of the sweltering summer heat. If you want to enjoy a day outdoors, the city of St. Peters has 20 parks covering 1,000 acres including over 10 acres of paved pedestrian trails. You’ll never be short of activities to enjoy; these parks include recreation trails, playgrounds, pavilions, athletic fields, outdoor pools, fishing ponds, an 18-hole golf course, and basketball, tennis, and sand volleyball courts.

Ultimate Efficiency
Everything you need is within five minutes of your new home at Belleau Creek.
Forget about planning your day around errands – The Townes at Belleau Creek is centrally located between highways K and 70. A vast array of shops, grocery stores, markets, and restaurants are situated throughout the city which leads to less time running back and forth, and more time enjoying the day with your loved ones.

Come Experience Luxury for Yourself
To visit these 1,500 to 2,000 square foot low maintenance, worry-free cottage homes, drive I-70 to T R Hughes/Belleau Creek Exit. Drive south on Belleau Creek Rd 1.1 Miles to Community entrance on right. The Townes at Belleau Creek is located directly across from AAA-Rated Fort Zumwalt South High School at the corner of Belleau Creek Rd. and Mexico Road.

Tucked away in St. Charles County sets a new home community that seems too private to be located conveniently close to major highways and shopping centers.

Ohmes Farm is the area’s premier luxury neighborhood – featuring five of St. Charles’ most respected home builders.
From the low 200’s, these elegant homes are surrounded by trees, lakes, and walking trails. The architecturally stunning exteriors and spacious plans allow style, functionality, and quality to come together into one stunning community.

Located in The Meadows of Ohmes Farm, Payne Family Homes offers homeowners a variety of home styles to choose from: Ranch, 1 1/2-Story, and 2-Story Mediterranean-inspired Estate Homes that range from 1,632 to 3,388 square feet.
Close to highway 70 and 40, Ohmes Farm is just minutes from the countless restaurants that line Mid Rivers Mall Drive, and plenty of family-friendly venues. Spend a Saturday at the Golf Course just across the road, or stroll down to one of Cottleville’s outdoor cafes.

Not only are Payne Family Homes unparalleled by any other in the idea, their sales team is dedicated to giving their buyers what they deserve – and that’s the absolute best.
“I have a homeowner that said he has built 5 new homes and felt his experience and the quality of his home has been the best with Payne at Ohmes Farm!  I have been in the business 18 years and Payne is the only builder I would want to represent in today’s world of new home sales due to their reputation and their mission statement.” - Sharon Bruemmer, Sales Manager at The Meadows.

Whatever your style, The Meadows at Ohmes Farm provides endless opportunities to live in luxury. As one of the largest and most desirable new home communities in St. Charles, Ohmes Farm is country living with windy-city convenience.

It’s all about location.

It is often said that “Home is where the heart is,” but what if the home isn’t in the right place?
So you’ve found the perfect home; perfect yard, perfect size, large master bedroom, but there’s one problem: it’s not close to work, your kid’s school, or the grocery store.
Do you still take it?

What motivates YOU?
All Payne Family Homes are built in distinctive communities conveniently located near major highways, restaurants, shops, and AAA rated schools. Not only will your children be close to their schools, you are just seconds away fabulous food and shopping plazas. Not only are Payne’s St. Louis area communities in premier locations, home owners have the satisfaction of knowing they live in an award-winning city. This year alone, St. Louis has won the following awards:

• February 2010, Forbes magazine named St. Louis #8 on its “America’s Best Housing Markets” list based on low foreclosures, rising home prices, and affordability.
• St. Louis also ranked 8^th on a list of the “Nation’s Most Generous Large Cities” [based on 2009 per capita online giving and total amount donated online] with total populations of more than 100,000.
• St. Louis was named as one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2010 “Dozen Distinctive Destinations”, which ranked cities on their offerings of cultural and recreational experiences that differ from those found at the typical vacation destinations.

Payne Family Homes crafts communities in the best locations in St. Charles and St. Louis County. Each new home community is conveniently located near highways, shopping, dining, and entertainment. Regardless of which community works for your lifestyle, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that your home is located in a AAA-Rated School District, and is one of Money Magazine’s 100 Best Places to Live in America.

Payne Family Homes has added Molly Maher to their sales team. Maher will serve as Assistant Community Sales Manager at Ashton Woods, which is the homebuilder’s newest community and its first in St. Louis County.

Prior to joining Payne Family Homes, Maher was a sales consultant for two of the area’s largest and most well-known homebuilders. During her 10 years in the industry, Maher has been honored with numerous awards for her outstanding sales achievement from the Sales & Marketing Council of the Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri.

Maher, who has earned her Certified Sales Professional designation, is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she received a B.A. degree in architectural design.

A resident of Webster Groves, she has been active in the Junior League and Nurses for Newborns.

At Ashton Woods, Payne Family Homes is debuting their new Lifestyle Series of designs, containing the features that today’s buyers want most. The neighborhood offers an array of highly desirable homesites, including some large enough to accommodate a three-car garage. Located near I-44 and Hwy. 109 in Eureka, Ashton Woods is in the highly desirable AAA-rated Rockwood School District. Prices start in the $190’s.

According to Ed Lott, Payne Family Homes Director of Sales and Marketing, “Molly Maher is an exceptional addition to our team. Her impressive track record in new homes sales reflects her ability to relate well to buyers and provide them with a superior homebuilding experience.”

Payne Family Homes crafts distinctive homes that are built to stand the test of time, with seven well-located communities in St. Louis County, St. Charles, St. Peters and Cottleville. Their communities include Ashton Woods, Bordeaux Condominiums, The Crossing at Heritage Pointe, The Enclave at Heritage, The Meadows at Ohmes Farm, The Pointe at Heritage Crossing, The Townes at Belleau Creek and Tuscany. All Payne Family Homes neighborhoods are served by an AAA-rated school district and most are located in one of Money magazine’s “100 Best Places to Live in America.” For information call 314-477-1218.

Payne Family Homes has named Donna Cusumano as the new Community Sales Manager at Ashton Woods in Eureka, the builder’s first new-home community in St. Louis County. Cusumano is the winner of multiple awards from the Home Builders Association’s Sales & Marketing Council and from the St. Louis Association of Realtors. A 27-year veteran in new-home sales, Cusumano previously worked for several of the area’s largest and most well-known builders.

Ed Lott, vice president of sales and marketing for Payne Family Homes, praised Cusumano’s experience and abilities. “She was named Real Estate Salesperson of the Year by the Home Builders Association four years in a row. No one has ever had that distinction. We’re very excited to have her expertise in providing our homebuyers with an enjoyable experience.”

Ashton Woods is located in St. Louis County, in the city of Eureka, near the intersection of I-44 and Highway 109 in the highly sought-after Rockwood School District. At Ashton Woods Payne is offering 65 80-foot-wide homesites and introducing its new Lifestyle Series of 12 floor plans that include opulent master baths, 9-foot ceilings, see-through fireplaces that can open from the family room to a screened porch or to the living room, princess suites with their own private bath, kitchen center islands, three-car tandem garages for hobbyists and more. Ranch models offer pre-designed finished lower levels. Prices start in the $190’s.

Payne Family Homes was named the fastest growing homebuilder of 2009. In addition to Ashton Woods in St. Louis County, Payne Family Homes offers six communities in St. Charles, St. Peters and Cottleville. They include Bordeaux Condominiums, The Crossing at Heritage Pointe, The Meadows at Ohmes Farm, The Enclave at Heritage and Tuscany. All Payne Family Homes neighborhoods are served by a AAA-rated school district and are located in one of Money Magazine’s “100 Best Places to Live in America.”

Tucked away in the heart of St. Charles County lies the most wonderful small town; Cottleville. Established in the early 1800′s, this town’s population and Historic Old Town developments have grown rapidly over the past few years. Their mission is to develop a main street comparable to Main Street St. Charles.

Spend an evening at one of the town’s exquisite restaurants. No matter your craving, the restaurants and markets on Cottleville’s Historic District are sure to please your pallet.

Mannino’s Market: Truly a staple in Cottleville (and a frequent stop for church-goers after Sunday mass) Mannino’s Market offers fresh and quality meat, produce. Jo’s 5th Street Pub: Remember Cheers? Get ready to experience it yourself at Jo’s where everybody really does know your name.  Thyme Out Café: Thyme Out’s quaint patio is perfect to enjoy a sunny day on.  Sherlock’s Steak and Seafood: Casual dining in a warm, stylish environment -it’s a great place to meet friends for happy hour.   Cottleville Wine Seller: Set in a quaint and charming atmosphere, Cottleville Wine Seller has live music on the weekends and a large wine garden; it’s a wonderful place to spend a beautiful evening. Stone Soup Cottage: This 1850′s restored farmhouse allows you to enjoy classically prepared Southern French and Northern Italian fare.

Stunningly Stylish
Minutes away, you’ll find Cottleville’s premier condominiums, Bordeaux Condominiums. Conveniently located off Mid Rivers Mall Drive and Ohmes Road, these stunning condominium homes come equipped with a patio or deck for you to enjoy on warm summer nights. Enjoy an evening at one of Historic Cottleville’s recommended establishments and head home to your luxury condominium patio. What could be more perfect?

Not Your Traditional Condo
Floor plans in these condominiums range from just over 1,000 to over 1,200 square feet. With the ability to choose your interior finishes, these new homes are equipped with soundproof floors and shared walls. The ability to choose your interior finishes gives you the opportunity to personalize the overall look of your home based on your taste and style preferences. Bordeaux’s beautiful sweeping views of the park and fountains set these new homes apart from others in the St. Charles area.

Built By The Best
Payne Family Homes was awarded The Fastest Growing Homebuilder in 2009 and continues to strive for excellence. Not only are Payne’s homes luxurious, they are timeless. Payne Family Homes crafts distinctive homes that stand the test of time.

Heads up all Payne Family Homes fans!

The Eagle has landed: Payne Family Homes is now selling at Ashton Woods – a beautiful masterplanned community nestled in a treelined location in St Louis County! Ashton Woods is served by AAA Rated Rockwood Schools and features 65 “once in a lifetime” home sites that are 80′ wide and ideally suited for home owners that want an expansive site that offers a 3 car garage opportunity!

Eureka, Missouri offers convenient highway access near Highway 109 and 44: whether you’re travels take you downtown, West County or St Charles County this location is in the heart of it all with a beautiful treelined drive awaiting you whether travelling along Highway 44 or Highway 109 to 40!

Come check out our all new Lifestyle Series of homes – 10 all new plans that have been designed with thoughtful features that make a difference!

Payne Family Homes is introducing its new Lifestyle Series of 10 floor plans, the first of which – the Breckenridge – is now on display at The Pointe at Heritage Crossing. “We’ve really done our homework,” says Sales and Marketing VP Ed Lott. “It’s all in keeping with our philosophy, ‘Expect more, get more’- with a twist,” he explained. The series is designed with lots of opportunities to personalize, and include opulent master baths, full-length mirrors in the walk-in closet, 9-foot ceilings, see-through fireplaces that can open from the family room to a screened porch or to the living room, princess suites with their own private bath, kitchen center islands, three-car tandem garages for hobbyists and more. “All of our two-story and 1-1/2-story models have zoned heating and cooling for additional comfort,” he said. “Our ranches offer pre-designed finished lower levels.”

Payne’s Lifestyle Series is offered at Ashton Woods; The Pointe at Heritage Crossing; The Meadows at Ohmes Farm; The Enclave at Heritage and Tuscany. Payne soon will be opening displays at Ashton Woods in west St. Louis County. This is the builder’s first community in St. Louis County. For information and to get on the update list call Online New Homes Consultant Kelli Gould at 314-477-1218. Our Sales Trailer will open this weekend, June 5, 2010.