Payne Family Homes - Blog

It’s a new year at Payne Family Homes and we’re excited to share our new website with everyone!  In case you haven’t had a chance to check everything out, we’ve got some great new features that will hopefully make your search for a new home in Saint Louis or Saint Charles more enjoyable, more informative and easier to navigate!  Here’s a just few of the many new features that are worthy of pointing out:

1. Homebuyer’s Corner-The Homebuyer’s Corner will provide you with additional information about purchasing a new home.  Here you can check out our special offers, learn more about the purchasing process, read FAQ’s that previous customers have asked and more.

2. My Favorites-My Favorites gives you the ability to store your favorite communities and floorplans so you can access them easily the next time you visit us! 

3. Gallery-Want to see what our homes look like?  Check out our gallery where you can see photos of various homes and floorplans.  If you have a question about what floorplan a home is, be sure to ask us!

4. Realtor’s Hub-If you’re a local  realtor, be sure to check out our Realtor’s Hub!  Here you can save homes and floorplans, register a client, view special promotions and much more.

Thanks for taking the time to check out our new website!  We hope that you enjoy all of the new features and we look forward to helping you find your new home!

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Ranked among the fastest-growing St. Louis homebuilders, Payne Family Homes offers unparalleled customer care and a quality-built home you’ll be proud to live in.  We build innovative lifestyle-oriented homes in a wide variety of styles, featuring unique single-family. condominium, villa, terrace, and cottage home designs.  Our new homes are offered in preferred neighborhoods throughout the St. Louis and St. Charles county areas, including St. Peters, Wentzville, O’Fallon, Lake Saint Louis, Eureka, St. Charles, and St. Louis, Missouri.  We cordially invite you to see the difference, feel the difference, and live the difference in a Payne Family Home.

Some of our Sales Team attended the annual Hot Tips seminar by the Sales & Marketing Council of the St. Louis Homebuilder’s Association yesterday, where they focus on financing, merchandising, social media, and sales updates and tips for the new year.  In the merchandising arena, it’s always interesting to see where the color trends will take us in relation to new home design.  So we thought we would share what we learned and discovered!

Sherwin-Williams ColorMix 2012 was introduced to the market in the fall and you can see how all of 2012′s trend colors are inspired by nature.  A combination of brights, cooler hues and neutrals, these colors are absolutely gorgeous and you can almost envision a home taking shape around these hues this year.  Sherwin-Williams grouped these colors into 4 categories-Reds, Blues, Greens, and Neutrals.  Check ‘em out below!

We're loving all of these nature inspired colors! We can't wait to try them out in some of our homes!

For more on these nature inspired colors, simply visit your your neighborhood Sherwin-Williams store or visit their website.  If you’re interested in incorporating these colors into your new Payne Family Home, just ask one of our sales consultants or request more information here!

Wedding bells will be ringing for Joel Lester and Saretta Wade at the Jewel Box in Forest Park on October 7, with Saretta’s 9-year-old daughter Alexis proudly serving as junior bridesmaid.  (Correction! – that’s nine-and-a-half, according to this vivacious, articulate 4th-grader.) Joel is a native St. Louisan.  Saretta was born and raised in Tupelo, Mississippi.  So, how did this stunning young couple meet back in 2008?  Silly question in today’s cyber-world! – on the Internet, of course.  And how did they find their gorgeous new Payne Family Home in The Pointe at Heritage Crossing?  Well, that story is a bit more complicated…

Saretta had already moved to the St. Louis area, where she’s employed as a labor and delivery nurse for St. John’s Hospital.  Joel is a Web and graphic designer for AT&T and a talented part-time photographer.  Once “matched,” the two found themselves going in opposite directions, each relocating to and from Atlanta at different times.  Eventually, though, they decided to marry and put down roots in St. Louis. Finding the right home for their family-to-be was at the top of the priority list.  But Joel was still in Atlanta, and Saretta was living in St. Charles.  So, Joel arranged for a local Realtor to do the legwork, then Saretta would tour the suggested homes.  Staying in the Francis Howell School District was important to mom, and easy commuter access was a must for this busy professional couple.

 From her first visit to the sales center at The Pointe, Saretta was impressed by the warm welcome she received from community sales manager Julie Jones and her staff.  And the two-story Breckenridge display was love at first sight!  “It was exactly what we wanted – big, open, and free-flowing,” Saretta recalls.  “From that moment on, nothing else measured up.”

 The couple made relatively few alterations to the basic floorplan, but were amazed by Payne Family’s willingness to personalize, saying, “Most other builders wouldn’t let us make any changes.” Joel flew in to finalize the contract on Valentine’s Day (symbolic?), and construction began under the meticulous supervision of builder Dave Wilcockson.  Once reestablished back in St. Louis, Joel visited the site every day.  Both he and Saretta appreciated the friendliness of Payne’s field personnel, who always invited them to inspect the home’s progress and quality, insisting, “This is your house!”

 When asked to describe the best aspects of their homebuilding experience, the pair chime, “The company’s timeliness, flexibility, and the personable treatment we received.  Even our Realtor was singing Payne’s praises!”

 ”We were very happy with Dave,” Saretta added.  “At the beginning, all we worried about was getting moved in before the wedding, but the house was actually completed ahead of schedule.”  And all three are delighted with every facet of their new home. One of the Breckenridge’s four spacious bedrooms serves as Joel’s office, the other as guest accommodations.  Saretta loves her second-floor laundry, and the unique kitchen flooring is a highlight for Joel.  Alexis has started school, found several neighborhood playmates, and is thrilled with the color of her room (a yummy shade of her favorite blue called “Dazzle”).

Just glowing in front of their new Breckenridge at The Pointe!

What amazing work Joel does!

So, all that’s left is to wish this lovely family a joyous wedding and every blessing as they begin their new life together.

Just two minutes from the juncture of Highway 94 and the Page Extension, The Pointe at Heritage Crossing is one of our most successful residential communities, featuring single family homes from $177,900 and attached & detached villas from the mid-$160s.  For more informatio

n on plans offered at The Pointe, please click here or connect with our Online Sales Consultant by clicking here.

It was a surprisingly quiet Saturday afternoon in the Siders’ gorgeous new Payne Family home at Ohmes Farm.  Thirteen-year-old Spencer was in his “man cave”; toddlers Maggie and Hayden were down for their naps; and cherubic, copper-haired Anna, age 3, cheerfully abandoned the cartoons she’d been watching to supervise the interview with her parents.

Mom and dad to these active youngsters, Mackenzie and Ben Siders are a classic example of two highly successful young professionals who found their ideal “match” on the Internet.  Ben is an attorney with the Lewis Rice law firm, specializing in technology litigation.  Formerly a senior project manager with Express Scripts, Mackenzie now devotes her considerable management skills to organizing their busy household.

 By last year, the Siders family had outgrown their West County house, and Ben and Mackenzie began an intensive six-month search that included both pre-owned homes and new construction.  Space was a priority, and the couple had a clear vision of the home they wanted.

 Ultimately, their real estate agent found the perfect floorplan – a “Breckenridge II” two-story, one of 12 designs featured in Payne Family Homes’ Lifestyle Series and offered in several of the builder’s communities.  The logical neighborhood choice was Ohmes Farm, an expansive multi-village development in St. Peters, where Mackenzie’s brother was already a resident and her father lived nearby.

 “Payne Family gave us the most home for the money,” Ben maintains, “and unlike many other builders, they were extremely flexible.”  In fact, the couple laughingly describe their home as a “guinea pig project,” explaining that this was the first time Payne had built the Breckenridge II with the modifications they requested. 

 Assisted by Payne’s community sales manager, the Siders’ adapted the plan to include six bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths, a loft, and a home office.  “It’s hard to put your dream together on paper,” Mackenzie noted.  “We’re reasonable but particular, and we wouldn’t have the same house if it weren’t for her.”

 Construction began the first week of January, with continual site inspections by one or both of the new homeowners.  “We rarely found anything amiss,” Ben recalls, “and anything we did find was addressed quickly.”

 Both attribute the smooth construction process to builder Bruce Wilson, and their assessment of his performance can only be described as glowing:  [He] “inspired tremendous confidence”; “was in charge”; “knew what he was talking about”; “got things done”; “definitely above and beyond.”  “The subs Payne works with are excellent, too – consultative and helpful,” Mackenzie added.

 Comfortably settled in their new home, the family celebrated with an open house in earlier this summer, proudly accepting enthusiastic compliments on the quality and styling from their guests.  But this excerpt from Mackenzie’s thank-you note to company headquarters may be the best summary of the Siders’ experience with Payne Family Homes:

 ”We’re trying to get all of our friends and family to move here!… We’re extremely pleased…  It didn’t matter what I asked for, you guys always tried to make it happen!… Service was great.  House is even better!”

Open daily, Ohmes Farm fronts Ohmes Road in St. Peters and showcases two of Payne Family Homes’ most popular single-family collections – a grand total of 20 home designs.  Pricing starts from $189,900, and details may be obtained by simply clicking here or by contacting Ashley, Payne Family Homes’ Online Sales Consultant. (click here)

Payne Family Homes is proud to annouce that we are 2011 Professional’s Choice Award Winners!  The Professional’s Choice Awards Program is sponsored by the Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri and the homes are judged on construction quality by professional building inspectors.  Each year, homes entered into the awards program are judged in 10 specific areas including foundation, framing, exterior finishing, flatwork, finish carpentry, drywall, woodwork, floor coverings, and hard surface materials.  This ensures a comprehensive review of many of the major components of a new home.

This is the third year we have received this award from the HBA and we are aboslutely thrilled to have a 3rd party testiment to our commitment to construction quality standards.  A big thanks goes to our community builders, sales managers, and subcontractors who all play a crucial part in constructing quality built homes for our customers!

Feel free to stop by to tour our two winners:  The Bristol Display at Ashton Woods in Eureka, MO and The Meridian Display at Ohmes Farm in St. Peters, MO!  Again, a big hats off to the many people who have made this possible!

Payne Family Homes 1st ever Summer Signing Sale has been underway for just over 3 weeks, and what a success it has been!  Over 20 buyers have chosen a Payne Family Home as their new place to call home in the past three weeks across the St. Louis Metro Area.  The best incentives ever offered at Payne Family Homes are still available for the next six days for anyone looking to purchase an inventory home or build their dream home! 

For specific incentive details, please contact Online Sales Consultant, Ashley, at 314.477.1218 or click here to request more information.  You may also click the below links for incentives per community.

Ashton Woods, Eureka, MO

Bella Vista, St. Peters, MO

Belleau Creek, St. Peters, MO

Bordeaux Condominiums, Cottleville, MO

Boulder Ridge, Wentzville, MO

The Enclave at Heritage, St. Charles, MO

Ohmes Farm, St. Peters, MO

The Pointe at Heritage Crossing-Single Family Homes, St. Peters, MO

The Pointe at Heritage Crossing-Villas, St. Peters, MO

Tuscany, St. Charles, MO

The Estates of Uthoff Valley, Fenton, MO

Hurry!  Time is running out!  If you’re looking in Eureka, Fenton, St. Charles, St. Peters, Cottleville, or Wentzville-Now is the Time!

You may have noticed some changing faces in some of our communities.  We’re proud to announce that two of our seasoned Community Sales Managers, Brooke Bailey & Kim McIver, are settling into their new communities at Ohmes Farm, Tuscany, and The Enclave.  Brooke Bailey had great success selling our Tuscany & Enclave locations and we are excited about the momentum she is already building at Ohmes Farm in St. Peters, just off of Mid Rivers Mall Drive!  Kim McIver, has had equally great success at our Belleau Creek and Bordeaux locations, and we’re looking forward to having her customer centric, upbeat attitude at Tuscany and The Enclave, both conveniently located in St. Charles County near the Page Extension.  For those of you who might be homeowners curious about the new faces you’re seeing in our displays, pop in and introduce yourself!  Both Kim and Brooke are excited to get to know all of our homeowners that have chosen to call these communities “home”.  For those of you considering purchasing a new home, there’s never been a better time to visit these communities than now!  Offering a variety of plans from our Vision Series, Lifestyle Series, and Estate Series, these three communities offer the flexibility of selection, timing and location!  New Lifestyle Series displays have been built at both Tuscany and Ohmes Farm and we have a selection of Fast Move! Inventory Homes available at various stages of construction!  For more information, visit us Mondays 12-5, Tuesday through Sunday 11-5, or click here to request more information!

There’s no time to waste for anyone interested in owning a home in The Estates of Uthoff Valley, Payne Family Homes’ newest offering in Fenton.  The upscale development opened for sales on April 16 and by mid-May was already half-sold!

So, what’s attracting buyers to Uthoff Valley?  Quite simply, everything!  According to community sales manager Donna Cusumano, the landscape is “gorgeous” and showcases a considerable amount of mature trees and common ground.

The cul-de-sac neighborhood has no through-streets and is tucked above and between the city’s RiverChase Recreation Center and picturesque Westside Park.  Walking/biking trails lead from the community entrance to both popular recreational venues.

Uthoff Valley’s 14 generous walkout and in-grade homesites vary in size from approximately one-third to two-thirds of an acre, creating dramatic settings for Payne’s exciting Lifestyle II design collection.  “These sites are absolutely stunning!” Cusumano enthused.  “Every one is unique and has its own distinctive qualities.”

Due to the phenomenal sales pace, no display is planned for the community, which is being marketed from the builder’s display center at nearby Ashton Woods in Eureka.  But shoppers will soon be able to see the streetscape taking shape.  This month, construction of the first four customer-owned homes and an inventory model will begin at Uthoff Valley.

These initial homes will represent four of the six Lifestyle II designs offered, emphasizing the portfolio’s broad-based appeal.  “With so much variety, this neighborhood is going to have fabulous curb appeal,” Cusumano noted.

Starting from $319,900, the ranch, story-&-a-half, and 2-story plans provide three or four bedrooms and 2028 to 3388 square feet of living area.  Most include a 3-car tandem garage with the option of a 4-car version, and even owners with fewer vehicles appreciate the additional space, which can be used for any number of purposes, including motorcycle or boat storage or a workshop.  

Homes in the Lifestyle collection are distinguished by their stylish elevations, outstanding utilization of space, light-filled interiors, and well-planned, open kitchens.  The for-sale inventory will be a 3090-square-foot “Montego II” story-&-a-half with four bedroom and 2-1/2 baths, scheduled for delivery in early October.

“Uthoff Valley’s location is another huge attraction,” Cusumano added.  “Just minutes south of I-44 and less than a half-mile east of Bowles Avenue, everything you could possibly need is virtually at your doorstep.”  The community is served by the award-winning Rockwood School District, and Uthoff Valley Elementary is within walking distance.

For more information, click here and Donna welcomes inquiries at 314.565.8465.

Welcome to the beautiful City of Eureka.  Located along highway 44 in St. Louis County, this city is adorned with beautiful trees and rolling hills that are especially breathtaking near fall.

Award-Winning Schools
Eureka is located within the award-winning Rockwood School District.  The Rockwood School District has been awarded the “Distinction in Performance” award by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and a “Gold Medal” rating from Expansion Management Magazine.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has given Rockwood School an Accreditation Rating of “Distinction in Performance with High Achievement.”
They have separate campuses for gifted, early childhood and alternative high school education.

Going Green
Not only does Rockwood School District strive to be the best in the area, they are strive to make a difference in the environment.
With Rockwood’s “Smarter Supplies” program, classrooms are provided with environmentally-friendly alternatives whenever possible.  All plastic cups used for science have now been replaced by 100% biodegradable corn cups.  Styrofoam is not an option for science supplies anymore- items are purchased in bulk and split up to save on packaging.  The food service department is working to convert Styrofoam cups, plates and trays to biodegradable paper products.

Custom Homes for Every Lifestyle
Payne Family Homes’ community Ashton Woods is located in Eureka’s Rockwood School District.
At Ashton Woods, Payne Family Homes introduces their 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, and prices start in the $190’s!

Eureka Days 2010
The City of Eureka will be hosting Eureka Days 2010 on September 9th – 11th.  The event will include carnival rides, a parade, car show/cruise, 5K Run, Cornhole Tournament, Kids’ Korner, live music and nearly 100 vendors.  Come visit Payne Family Homes and Melanie Cooper for giveaways and a drawing for St. Louis Blues Tickets!
Friday night will end with a high energy show by Smash Band, while Saturday will spotlight the Well Hungarians and a spectacular fireworks display !

Come see all the City of Eureka has to offer this weekend!  It truly is the perfect city to live in!

The St. Louis area offers plenty of ways to enjoy the long weekend with family and friends!

Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden
September 4th, 5th, and 6th
Come celebrate the history, culture, and people of Japan at the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden. This festival is one of the largest and oldest festivals of its kind in the U.S.
The Botanical Garden has been hosting the event for over 30 years – it boasts one of the largest Japanese gardens in North America. The festival includes a fruitful collaboration with several local Japanese-American organizations and showcases authentic Japanese music, art, dance, food, and entertainment!

Laclede’s Landing Big Muddy Blues Festival
Saturday, September 4, Sunday, September 5
Don’t miss St. Louis’ only blues festival featuring national, regional, and local blues acts. There will be a variety of choices for food and drinks at the outside booths or nearby restaurants and bars!

Greek Festival in the Central West End
September 4^th, 5^th, and 6th
The Greek Festival in the Central West End begins this Friday and is a must-see on Labor Day weekend! Each year, thousands of visitors enjoy music, dancing and some of the best Greek food you’ll find in the area. The weekend is packed with entertainment and all the Greek food you can eat!

Race for the Rivers in Frontier Park in St. Charles
September 4^th, and 5^th
All are welcome to come out and enjoy live music, great food and a family-friendly, hands-on environment this weekend! Activities include a custom canoe and kayak show. The festival is the perfect place to watch the race leader boards as you shop for outdoor gear from local vendors – and it’s a prime spot to watch the racers cross the flying finish line at the end of the day!

Labor Day Parade
September 6^th
What better way to end Labor Day weekend than with the Labor Day Parade!
Sponsored by the St. Louis Labor Council, the Labor Day Festival and Parade begins at 9am on Monday at 13^th & Olive and runs down Tucker Street, past St. Louis City Hall and west on Market Street to 15th Street!
Bring your lawn chair, grab a spot and enjoy Labor Day!