Instead of an outright purchase of a home, a lease with the option to buy can make more deals happen. Here are some benefits that often occur in these type transactions:

Seller Benefits:

1. Instead of selling a property with seller financing, when a seller does a lease option they still have the title to the property. If the buyer does default for whatever reason, then the seller can usually evict the lessee in a much more timely manner than going through the foreclosure process. The lessee is not the owner.

2. Instead of receiving a down payment on the sale, the seller/lessor will receive an option deposit. Whether this option deposit is $5,000 or $500,000 it is typically treated just like a security deposit. It is not reported on the sellers tax return until the option either expires or is exercised. This can in effect postpone the capital gain taxes on the sale for several years depending on when the option expires or is exercised.

3. The seller/lessor will still be allowed to depreciate the mobile home park improvements until the option is exercised. This depreciation can shield some of the income that the seller/lessor receives from the lessee during the option period.

4. The seller/lessor is relieved of the day to day management duties and can be freed of that responsibility. Instead of running the park themselves, they step aside and collect a monthly rental payment from the lessee until the option is exercised.

5. By using a lease/option an owner that may have only owned the property for a few months may be able to convert a short term capital gain into a long term capital gain. This would happen as long as the option is not exercised for at least 1 year from the date the owner acquired the property.

6. By doing a lease/option instead of a purchase/sale/owner finance, the current financing can be left in place until the option is exercised without triggering a due on sale clause. If the property is in need of being turned around and it would be hard to get a new loan this may be the best option for the buyer and seller.

7. The seller/lessor can continue to make the mortgage payments and not be in default. If the buyer does default it should not be a difficult process to get rid of the buyer.

Buyer Benefits:

1. For a buyer with less than perfect credit, this may allow them to get into a property while their credit is being built up and then complete the purchase when they can qualify.

2. During the option period, the buyer can build equity so long as the property increases in value. This is the usual case.

3. If the property declines in value, then the lessee is not required to exercise the option. As long as the option deposit is not more than the decline in value, it shifts some of the risk.

4. The seller/lessor is usually more readily available to help in the case of problems with a lease option than an outright sale. They don't usually want the property back so they will be available to answer questions and give other advice.

5. Instead of the depreciation deductions, the lessee will be able to deduct the monthly rent payment to the owner. While this is amount will probably be less than the mortgage interest and depreciation, if the lease payments are structured that a portion of them reduce the option price, this can be a benefit as well.

6. The lessee is able to work the property as if it were their own and if done right will be able to increase the value of the property above the option price. Then when the option is exercised it will be much easier to obtain financing.

7. The lessee may be able to sell the option rights to another purchaser which is often easier than buying a property and selling a property. They are just selling the right to buy the property at a predetermined price.

Natural resources fuel the building industry, and many of the materials used deplete those resources at an accelerating rate. The world is becoming more conscious of how human actions can impact the planet. The best emerging choice is wood, a sustainable resource. With proper management, wood can supply our needs for generations while new young forests absorb more carbon dioxide and release more oxygen than old forest reserves.

New England Cedar Homes draws from these reserves and also with the implementation of new Timber Frame Building systems, many of our products are engineered to utilize smaller pieces of wood applied together to make a stronger, more efficient building member. Drastically reducing wood waste.

Why Wood?....
We build with a variety of materials, from traditional products such as steel, wood, concrete and masonry to more modern alternatives such as plastics and composites. Assessing the environmental impact of each of these materials requires a look at the full life of the product, from its extraction to manufacturing through its use in service to disposal. At every step, each of these products can impact our environment. Out of all of these materials, wood emerges as the most environmentally responsible choice available today. Wood's natural attributes make it uniquely suited to both the performance and environmental demands for modern building materials.

Wood is the only naturally renewable building material produced today and its existence alone generates many good things for the environment. For example, a young forest produces 1.1 tons of oxygen and absorbs 1.47 tons of carbon dioxide for every ton of wood fiber, which stores the carbon. A typical 2,400 square foot wood house represents 28.5 tons of stored carbon dioxide, or the rough equivalent of seven years' of emissions from a small automobile.

As a natural material, wood is safe to handle and use, is biodegradable and can be recycled easily. Wood is converted into thousands of products, from lumber, panels and paper to shoe polish, liquid soaps and cologne.

Forest harvesting and renewability....
There is a popular misconception that America's forests are disappearing and that we are running out of trees. The facts, however, show just the opposite.
Forest growth in the U.S. has exceeded harvest continually since the 1940s. According to the Forest Service , the U.S. forest inventory has actually increased by 39 percent since 1952.

The U.S. is the leader in reforesting, planting some 2 billion new trees a year. The forest products industry is responsible for 41 percent of all replanted forest acreage. Thanks to these efforts, there are 10 million more acres of forestland in the U.S. today that there were 15 years ago.

The forest products industry does more than just plant and harvest trees. As foresters, wood products companies follow rigorous standards and forest practices to protect the trees, soil, air, water and wildlife.

Responsible choices....
It all comes back to choices. If we are to join the growing number of responsible people who advocate the sustainable and wise use of our natural resources, we must measure our choices between one building material and another. We must look at all aspects of each material, from extracting to manufacturing to final use, and consider the variety of impacts such actions can have on our planet.

By nearly any measure, wood offers the best choice among building materials for most uses. It is strong, light, durable and safe to handle. It uses less energy over its lifetime, generates little pollution and is biodegradable for disposal. It is naturally renewable and there are ways to assure that the wood we use is being produced sustainably and responsibly.

We have the ability to take anything we want from this earth. But we also have the responsibility to take it wisely and give back what we can.
We all have choices. In building materials, there is only one clear choice: wood.

Many of us are shocked and dismayed at the amount of money the federal government is spending on Wall Street businesses that are failing. Well it is about time that Uncle Sam did something for Main Street and now its happening!

The Federal Government wants to help you to participate in the dream of buying your own home. As part of the Housing Stimulus Bill, Congress created an unbelievable opportunity for first time buyers, in the form of a tax credit for those who purchase a home before July 1, 2009. With most lender programs now demanding higher down payment, that $7500 can be the bridge to your future.

The tax credit is a "refundable" credit, of up to $7,500 or 10% of the purchase price of their home, whichever is less.

Who is eligible? Any person who has not owned a principal residence in the three years prior to closing and meets the income limitations $75,000 individual and $150,000 for married couples. Also $95,000 individual and $170,000 married can receive a partial credit.

How do you qualify? Meet the definition of "first time buyer" you must purchase and close on a home prior to 1 July 2009. Log homes, post and beam homes, timber frame homes, and modular log homes qualify and sales are expected to heat up because of this new path to home ownership.

Do I have to pay the money back? Yes - but not immediately. The credit is an interest free loan for up to 15 years. The credit must be repaid at a rate of 6.67% per year starting two years after the purchase. Unpaid balance due at time of sale. You could even pay the full $7,500 by increasing your Federal income tax withholdings by only $20 per paycheck!!

Not quiet free money but a very economical way to get the down payment you need to buy your own home. Probably the only opportunity we will enjoy in our lifetime for an INTEREST FREE government loan.

How do I get the money? Talk to your tax advisor. It appears that you can receive a credit against your 2008 or 2009 Federal income Tax. It will reduce your tax bill and increase the amount of your refund. Dont Wait. Now is the time to start the paper work so you will in a position to purchase your home as soon as your 2008 federal tax return is ready to mail in.

We have loans ready for your new home. You can check out our lenders or contact us for assistance.

While many log home producers have been putting their prices up, New England Cedar Homes have announced that they will buck industry trends and reduce the prices on all of their log homes, post and beam homes, and modular log homes. Across the entire model range a price reduction of $15 per square foot has been applied.

"This is a great time to lock in a great price on a new log or post and beam home, a saving of $24,000 on a average 1600 square foot home." said Simon Halliday, General Manager at New England Cedar Homes. "We have worked with our suppliers to reduce costs, and the recent decline in fuel costs has allowed us to realize savings that we are passing on to our customers."

Finance is available at great rates.

Many customers have been putting off the purchase of their home due to the concern of finding an affordable mortgage. New England Cedar Homes has access to some of the best rates in the industry and can take the pain out of finding finance.

"We thought we would have problems getting finance but New England Cedar Homes got us a great deal, and it was painless! said Barry Lynx of Vermont, who has just moved into his dream vacation home. "And I got to take advantage of my VA status".

Great homes available now

New England Cedar Homes offers custom designed and built western red cedar log homes, post and beam homes, timber frame homes, and modular log homes. With design offices in New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina, New England Cedar Homes works with customers on a national basis.

New England Cedar Homes, headquartered in New Hampshire, is a leader in the timber home industry. With design offices in New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina New England Cedar Homes works with customers on a national basis.

New England Cedar Homes can be contacted Toll Free on 800 998 6132 and found on the web at www.newenglandcedarhomes.com

Green Living Sod Roof System

The innovative Green Roof System is designed for superior Storm Water Management creating a sustainable green roof. We can work closely with you from conception stage to ensure you maximise the benefits of this green roof system.





GREEN ROOF SYSTEM - ADVANTAGES

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  ECOLOGY: the units are made from 100% recycled plastic.
  
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  EXTRAORDINARILY stable, practical, and quick to assemble, due to its easy-to-use attachment system (an unskilled worker can lay more 80 m²/hour ).
  
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  HIGH waterproofing protection, due to the staggered layout of the feet, which have large, circular, support surfaces.
  
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  PRACTICAL: Pipes can pass through the empty cavity between the waterproofing and the ground.
  
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  SUITABLE for use with any type of watertight facing, without damaging it, thanks to its completely smooth, large, circular feet.
  
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  HIGH level of drainage of rainwater, thanks to the number of holes allowing it to run through.
  PERFECT hole diameter, which does not allow the root to pass below the system.
  
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  UNBELIEVABLE resistance to compression more than 10,000 kg/m² , allowing it, when dry, to stand up even to heavy loads (such as small rubber-tyred loaders, mini-excavators etc.). It works as loading sharing out and distributing of the ground over.
  
  Special attachment connectors which allow the elements to follow the contour of the roof without unhooking from each other, even with extreme slope changes.
  
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  EFFICIENT water tanks, providing plants with a constant water supply, allowing them to grow, problem-free.
  
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  ETERNAL: Will not deteriorate, even if attacked by mould and bacteria, or by chemical agents, such as fertiliser.
  
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  VERSATILE: it can even be assembled on roofs with a slope greater than 15% using Porous Paving Grid onto the Green Roof, to hold the soil in place.
  
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  EFFECTIVE: thanks to special attachment system that follows the different sloping or curved surfaces.
  
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  EASY to shape with a saw or grinding-disc.