Payne Family Homes - Blog

Payne Family Homes is proud to announce their membership in the St. Louis Union Homebuilding Partnership!

Together, with 7 other area builders, we heave teamed with the area’s local unions for The Neighborhoods Built by Your Neighbors Program.  The program’s fund is created by a consortium of local St. Louis Unions to help stimulate new home ownership and provides credits to new home purchasers valued between $2,000 and $10,000 to use at closing.  The credits are based on the contract price of the home and certificates are awarded to home purchasers on a first come first served basis. 

We’re very excited about this program and couldn’t be more grateful to the participating unions: Carpenters District Council of Greater St. Louis, International Union of Painters & Allied Trades District 2, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1, Sheet Metal Workers Local 36, Greater St. Louis Construction Laborers, International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 513 and Cement Masons Local 527.

Thinking of purchasing a new home this month?  Better act fast!  Our funds are limited in this program–so stop by any of our communities to find out more information! Or

*This offer is valid on firm purchase agreements while funds are available 2/6/12 through 2/29/12.

Courtesy of the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), we thought we’d share some positive news about the housing industry!  Nationally, single family housing starts posted a 9.4% gain to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 453,000 units in June, their best pace since November of 2010.  Starts activity improved across every region in country in June, with the Midwest posting a 25.3 percent gain. Great news!

To read the entire news release from the NAHB, please click here.

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!

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?

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?

Ah, ‘tis the season in St. Louis.

The holiday season isn’t something that can always be described with words, can it? There is just something about reuniting with family, or even just becoming closer to those around you—on your street, in your neighborhood, around the city—that isn’t always there the other 11 months of the year. The holidays have a way in breeding community and creativity that truly brings people together.

So as the holidays approach, Payne Family Homes wants to share some subtle yet creative holiday decoration ideas that can help bring your entire Payne home together:

• Rockin’ Around the… Mailbox? Cars will come and cars will go, but the first thing they may notice from the road is a beautifully decorated and/or lit mailbox or light post. A simple mix of evergreen branches and white lights can give off a festive and inviting feel to passersby. Don’t want to wait for the snow? You can even add some of your own, if you’d like!

• Baby it’s Cold Outside… so we’re not going to be sitting on our bench out there, are we? Instead, use it as a decorative prop for tinsel, red bow, and wintergreen elements (cones, wreaths, etc.) to complement your outside decorations.

• All I Want For Christmas is… for someone to move that pile of logs out of the front yard. But until then, use those random objects—bushes, logs, etc.—as a source of lighting and decoration (neatly, of course). Get creative and see how you can utilize those objects around your yard!

• Up On the House Top… are nothing but gutters and shingles. Winterize your roof with beautifully lit icicles and lights across the front of the house to illuminate not only the house, but the yard in general.

These are just a few ways you can visually enhance your home for the holidays. But don’t leave it just up to us—in what other creative ways can you decorate your yard or home for the season?

It may be getting darker earlier and colder every day, but for us at Payne Family Homes that just means one thing: it’s time for the holidays!

When it comes to the holidays, our Payne staff loves exploring various St. Louis destinations for music, events, and other activities that are synonymous with spreading the winter cheer. And since we’re all about community, what better way to enjoy the holidays than to share some of our favorite ideas with you?

• AmerenUE Thanksgiving Day Parade. A mere two days away, the Ameren Thanksgiving Day Parade is a Payne Family favorite. Entertaining for the kids and adults alike, the parade starts at 8:45am on Thursday and will include some of the area’s best marching bands competing for the top spot!

• Winter Wonderland 2010 at Tilles Park. The Winter Wonderland is in its 25th year and looks to be better and brighter than ever. Whether you do the drive or the romantic carriage ride, this is a visually stimulating experience that we love to visit every year. And if you can brave the cold, you can do the WinterWalk, too!

• St. Lou IS Holiday Magic. This unique holiday event takes place December 3-5 at the CVC downtown St. Louis. A Schlafly Beer Garden for the adults, arts and crafts for the kids, and a full-size ice-skating rink for all to enjoy—this has everything!

• St. Louis Zoo’s U.S. Bank Wild Lights. Starting this weekend and going through Christmas weekend, enjoy the splendid colorful lighting of the famous St. Louis Zoo! Gorgeous lighting displays, a beautiful atmosphere and live choir performances on various nights make this an area favorite every year.

These are only a few of the many things to do for the holidays in St. Louis. But enough from us—we want to hear from you! Where do you like to spend your holiday evenings and weekends in St. Louis? Share below!

The leaves have come and gone (unless you haven’t raked your yard yet!) and there’s frost on the pumpkin and landscaping.

Payne Family Homes would like to offer a handful of tips to get the house in shape as “Old Man Winter” creeps his way into a weather forecast.

• Windows, Doors & Siding…Oh My! In the cold winter months, a home’s windows, doors and siding can not only provide you shelter from a storm, but it can also help keep those energy bills down and your pocketbook smile. By properly sealing the crevices that may have appeared during exposure to the summer elements, the cold air has little to no chance to enter into your home, preventing your furnace from running virtually around the clock.

• Roof/Gutter/Downspout Inspection. After going being exposed the elements for months, your home’s roof, gutter and downspouts may have experienced some wind or weather-related wear. In cleaning out the gutters and downspouts of leaves, you’ll prevent potential damage to your roof’s shingles due to drainage backup and water seepage into your basement. Additionally, a gutter that’s filled with water and leaves could freeze over, causing the gutter to potentially loosen – and even fall – from your home’s fascia.

• HVAC Maintenance. Despite the age of your home and heating system, with temperatures regularly falling below freezing there’s always the possibility of your furnace failing. Have your HVAC system serviced by a licensed professional to ensure it’s running properly and equipped to handle the harsh cold. Stock up on air filters and change them frequently; also consider clearing the area around your furnace of flammable materials like cardboard boxes to prevent the possibility of fire.

• Landscaping Preparation. You thought you were done with yard work?!?!?! Oh, contraire! Trim any trees that may hang over your home, seal decks and driveways to avoid possible cracking and move sensitive vegetation indoors to avert serious damage.

By putting together a good checklist in preparation for “Mother Nature’s” harshest conditions, your Payne Family Home can be a nice oasis from the cold temps…and your pocket book will thank you! What else can you do to prepare for “Old Man Winter?”