Payne Family Homes - Blog

Buying a home is undoubtedly one of the biggest (if not the biggest) financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. Often associated both with excitement and uncertainty, it’s a decision that certainly requires significant amounts of time, effort and confidence (okay, and money). But as they say, the first step is always the hardest. So with the help of the Home Buying Institute, we compiled a short list of signs that will help you know whether 2011 is your year to buy.

You’re doing your homework. You have taken the time to research the local housing market for your current (or future) city. Was the market in the majority that bottomed out during the housing bust, or was it lucky enough to stay relatively stable? Keeping track of recent trends and current conditions will only help you try to predict how the coming year will play out and to find the home of your dreams.

You’re an expert at mortgage options. Okay, so you don’t have to be an expert—but you’ve assessed your short- and long-term plans and have decided whether a fixed or adjustable rate mortgage is best for you. If this home is to be yours for the long term, consider the fixed rate; if it’s a shorter-term investment, it may be worth the calculated risk of an ARM.

This is the right move. You’ve considered all other options, and the thought and logic behind owning your own new home is the best decision for you at this time. The thrill and excitement of owning your own home matches perfectly with the house you have chosen!

Again, there are many other signs that can help you decide whether 2011 is the right time to buy for you. Are you planning to buy in 2011? If so, what factors helped you make this decision?

So you just found out you’re playing host this New Year’s Eve for your neighborhood friends. But don’t worry—there’s no need to stress or panic. Of course you want to have a fun party with fun decorations, food and drink (and Ryan Seacrest). Well, thanks to Better Homes and Gardens, we’re here to compile a quick New Year’s Eve to-do list for you!

Keep convenience in mind. When you’re deciding what foods to get and where to set everything up, make sure you spread things out and make getting around easy for your guests. Stick with finger foods for the evening—the easier, the better! A fun touch can be creating a menu card that lists the foods available. A fashionable (yet inexpensive) menu card lets your guests know what you’re offering and adds a touch of décor to the buffet line. Also, keep the adult beverage tray off to the side, away from the food and sitting areas. Create as much space as you can.

Pick a color scheme. This can be quite easy—popular New Year’s Eve colors include white and silver. Sometime sticking with this mix is the best idea—silver and white balloons, stars, and other simple touches will give the party a nice ring!

The kids are alright. It’s one thing to entertain adults (sometimes all you need is the champagne and pigs in a blanket). But don’t forget to have activities on hand for the little ones—coloring, separate TV room, and mess-free drinks and snacks (if that’s ever possible). You can even have some of the adults work with them on creating party hats for the ball drop at midnight!

Give them something to remember. Party favors are always a hit for New Year’s Eve. Depending on your budget, consider glassware, personalized party hats, or small cards with the date and place of the party. Most importantly… have fun with it!

Are you hosting or attending a neighborhood or family party for New Year’s Eve? Let us know what decorations or plans you have in mind!

“Terrie, you deserve this!” chorused Terrie DuHadway’s friends as they lifted champagne flutes and toasted her mid-November move into a stunning new detached luxury villa in The Pointe at Heritage Crossing, Payne Family Homes’ multi-product neighborhood in St. Peters.

Terrie’s response illustrates the gracious personality of this world-traveling professional and proud mother of three. “The best reward,” she replied, “is to live the way you want to.”

An executive publisher of medical journals with Elsevier, Terrie raised her children, now all in their twenties, in a large two-story home in St. Charles County. By the fall of 2009, the youngest was off to college, and Terrie was ready for a more manageably-sized home-– one that would free her from yardwork, allow her to enjoy the “empty-nester” lifestyle, and still provide plenty of space for entertaining, family gatherings, and the collegians coming home for school breaks.

Accompanied by a close friend, Terrie embarked on an exhaustive new-home search. The Pointe was one of their first stops, and Terrie found herself returning again and again. “I fell in love with the open floorplan of the Cape Cod ranch display, and nothing else ever compared,” she recalls.

Last spring, she made her purchase decision and, in spite of the slow housing market, her existing home sold quickly. Another good friend welcomed Terrie, her dog Isabelle, and cat Paco as house guests while the Cape Cod was under construction, a kindness for which Terrie is most grateful.

What followed was a picture-perfect homebuilding experience. According to Julie Jones, community sales manager for The Pointe, “Terrie is the homeowner we wish we had every time! She has great taste and a terrific sense of humor. When I stopped by with her housewarming gift, she even had gifts waiting for us!”

Terrie was equally appreciative of Jones’ expertise, saying, “The choices [with Payne Family] are endless, and Julie could visualize exactly what I wanted. It was fun!”  Superintendent Dave Wilcoxen earned similar accolades. “Dave went through every detail with me! After meeting with him, I knew my house would be built well and built right.”

Terrie personalized a few design elements, chose a contemporary décor, and finished the villa’s lower level with an optional recreation area, sewing studio, and a third bedroom suite (dubbed the “man cave”) for her son. Progress photos were sent to the kids regularly via phone (the newly-dug foundation was humorously labeled “our hole”), and future neighbors stopped by the site often, assuring Terrie that she would love living in The Pointe.

The elegant villa was completed in time for a gala Thanksgiving celebration. “My kids are thrilled,” she concludes, “and I feel like I’m living in a luxury vacation home!”

Blessed with a wonderful family, great friends, treasured pets, and a gorgeous new home, Terrie DuHadway is enjoying the “best reward”… living just the way she wants to in The Pointe.

Fiscal conservation is all the rage these days, isn’t it? And as Old Man Winter begins to bear down on us, energy conservation becomes equally as important for homeowners whom are trying to save as much energy and money as possible.

Payne Family Homes knows how critical it can be to save even the smallest of amounts on your home heating costs. We want to share with you some conventional energy-saving tips that can make your bills more bearable and your holidays happier!

• 68 is your new favorite number. Setting your thermostat to 68 degrees will allow your system to use less energy by operating less. And as you leave the house or head upstairs for bed, don’t hesitate to turn the thermostat down an additional 5 degrees to conserve additional energy. There is no use in using the heat when no one is home or awake. You can also purchase an inexpensive programmable thermostat to automatically adjust your home’s temperatures when you are sleeping our out of the home.

• Here comes the sun. Little darling, take advantage of what Mother Nature has to offer—free sunlight. Open your south-facing window shades or coverings to let natural light in. At the same time, make sure those that cannot receive sunlight are closed. Close all the coverings at night to retain the heat and insulate from drafts.

• Something scary is in your attic. That would be the lack of insulation that’s haunting you in the wintertime. Insulating your attic is an investment, but it’s also one of the most cost-effective methods to save costs in your home. Depending on what you plan to insulate (walls, crawlspace, etc.), you may need a contractor for assistance or consultation.

• Payne can be a good thing! Payne Family Homes is working hard for our customers. Our Lifestyle Series offers an energy savings package which includes higher efficiency furnace and higher seer air conditioner, low-E windows, digital programmable thermostat, power cost monitor and higher r-values in the ceiling insulation. We try to practice what we preach, so feel free to contact us with any questions about our energy saving applications!

Of course, regardless of the home you’re in, there are other daily subtle changes that can help. Using cold water in your washing machine, running the dishwasher only when completely full, and closing the fireplace damper when not in use are effective and routine tasks that can save you money.

What are other ways you can save energy and prepare your home for the wintertime?

Here at Payne Family Homes we’re all about getting outside, enjoying nice weather and staying active. But when the freezing temperatures and precipitation have other ideas, we have to adjust accordingly throughout the winter. Trust us—it’s not always easy entertaining kids, pets or even that spouse of yours when you’re all sharing the same space.

So when you’re occasionally “stuck” inside that beautiful Payne home of yours, here are a few ideas on how to entertain in other ways.

• Channel your inner Emeril. That’s right—you don’t have to be Martha Stewart’s relative to take up cooking as a hobby. With every resource now at your fingertip (Food Network, online cookbooks, etc.), make a point to learn a new meal or snack every week or so. And if you have kids, put them to work—create a “Feed the Family” night where one child cooks for the family. Yes, you can help them if they’re only 10! It’s a great way to bond with your family or loved ones.

• Have kids? Have a camp-out! Who said you can only camp outside? Turn your living room into your own campground with blankets, games, family movies, and even tents. Suddenly your fireplace is your source for cooking dinner and making s’mores (okay, you can still use the kitchen for dinner). Use your imagination!

• Everyone has that one room. You know you have it—that one room that needs a cleaning badly. Whether it’s a paint job, a plaster job or even just throwing things out—this is the time to do it. Because once spring rolls around, you’ll have one less room to worry about… and a bit extra time to spend outside in the sun!

• Stimulate that brain of yours. There are countless ways to keep sharp when trapped indoors. Puzzles, crosswords and online trivia can help you keep mentally fit and entertained at the same time. Pick up that dusty book that’s been under your nightstand for months. And we’re not ignoring TV—watch shows on the History Channel or Discovery Channel if you’d like! No knowledge is useless knowledge.

• Finally…time to unpack. We know, we know—no new homeowner likes to unpack everything.But what better time than when you’re stuck inside with all of your things? Make it enjoyable with music and snacks, or make it a contest with another friend you know moving in elsewhere. Perhaps the first family or couple to unpack wins a bet (we’re not encouraging gambling… but you get the idea!). Hey, it has to get done sometime, right?

While these are all entertaining suggestions, we want to hear from you! What are some other in-home activities you can use during the cold winter weather?