What Homebuyers Should Look for in a Planned Community Today

Are you looking for the "right" home or "right" price? How about finding the right neighborhood too? It seems that many real estate agents and buyers visiting our communities in the past year are locked into finding the home with the best deal or best price. We like to remind them that they should also be looking for the "right" community! "Oh, you mean we should pay as much attention as to what the community offers as we do the house? What a concept!"

YES! In this price-conscious home buying market, everyone involved should also focus on finding the right place to live- that being the location or community. What should you look for in a planned community?

Here are 5 things you should consider when you're searching for that right home and right place to call home.

1. The Overall Community Layout (The land plan, front entrance, common areas, recreational facilities, etc)Prospective homebuyers generally decide within 30 seconds of driving into a community as to their potential interest in relocating there. When shopping for a new place to live, the first impression is vitally important. Which is why planned communities like The Riverfront at Harbour View, Gatling Pointe, Eagle Harbor, Liberty Ridge, and Founders Pointe spend a lot of attention at the front entrance and streetscape architecture.

• Homebuyers today definitely appreciate a sense of arrival and they notice the meticulous landscaping and the seasonal planting found at the front entry monument.
• Distinctive architectural home styles and quality homebuilders are other important parts of distinguishing a neighborhood.
• Variety and pleasing color palettes are also important components in most planned communities.
• Investigate the other communities a developer has done in your area if you're looking at a new neighborhood in the early stage of development.

2. Quality of Homes/Builders - Is there a preferred team of builders building models for sale? Is it up to consumers to buy the lot and find their own builder?

• Do the builders pay attention to the streetscape?
• Are the homebuilders sensitive to the buyers needs and how long have they been in the business?
• Do your Featured Builders have a proven track record and have good reputations?
• Are the homes unique enough yet offering a nice blend of architectural styles?

3. Neighborhood Amenities - What does the neighborhood offer in terms of recreational opportunities? Does it have a clubhouse and pool? Are there parks and trials for walking/jogging? If you're selling an exciting "lifestyle community", then your amenities better have something worth selling the sizzle over. (Under promise and over deliver is always a good policy)

What do people want today? Are walking trails and parks more appealing to today's buyer than tennis courts? Surveys and focus groups can help you decide. The amenities need to appeal to the target market for the community. If the neighborhood does not offer anything, how close is the community to recreational facilities?

4. Testimonials from residents who already live in the community. Testimonials from the club members can help understand what type of activities and programs the neighborhood club offers. It also helps in understanding how active the homeowners' association is. Is there a community newsletter or website that customers can rely on for detailed information? Research and feedback from your present and past customers helps to guide us in our decisions of what to include and what to leave out in our new home communities. Every market is different, but there are trends as to what consumers value today than what they wanted 10-20 years ago.

5. Differentiation and an effective overall marketing and sales approach will help a community accomplish its goal- to develop and create a quality neighborhood that appeals to the appropriate target market and blends well within the local community. Developers and builders need to work together to offer the right product types for the buyers the neighborhood attracts. If the neighborhood is appealing to a wide market segment (like the Founders Pointe, Eagle Harbor, or The Riverfront communities), then there needs to be a wide variety of home styles, sizes, floor plans, and price range. The uniqueness and overall appeal of our communities help assure that homebuyers will still be attracted to move there, even when economic times slow the local real estate market.

East West Communities will often work closely with 5 to 10 builders in a single community. This allows an opportunity to offer an interesting diversity of home styles and also have strategic Featured Models for sale to appeal to the relocating buyer. It also helps to shape the "look" of the community and accomplish sense of community early on in the development stage of a neighborhood. The sum of all of the above elements helps to develop a community that will attract many buyers in the future and helps to give current homebuyers confidence in their resale value down the road.

What are some of the important features that you look for in a new home community?

Check out www.eastwestcommunities.com for information about our planned communities in Virginia and Florida.

For Information about East West Partners’ communities, visit www.eastwestcommunities.com. Discover the best in lifestyle communities at Founders Pointe, Eagle Harbor, Liberty Ridge, and The Riverfront at Harbour View. East West Realty Sales Centers are open 7 days a week on-site. Equal Housing Opportunity

Before you make that offer on a home that you aren't that excited about, ask yourself- "Is this the RIGHT HOME for my family?" A few weeks ago, we had a customer walk into our Sales Center, and he said he was just in the area to look at a resale in the area. He stopped in because he wanted to see what new homes were available and what they had to offer. (His agent didn't suggest he look at new homes) After discussing his wants and needs, we looked at three homes and the next day he returned to write a contract on one of our new homes that was priced $150,000 more than the short sale listing (same size home, but different features). I'm sharing this true story because we've seen this happen quite a bit in the past year, much to the surprise of many in the business. Our hope is that real estate agents will consider why buyers should consider the right home and the right community and not just focus totally on what they perceive to be the right price.

We've seen a resurgence in new home sales activity in several of our new home communities in the Hamtpon Roads area of Virginia, and I've come up with 5 REASONS WHY BUYERS SHOULD CONSIDER A BRAND NEW HOME.

1. Are you trying to achieve just the RIGHT price? Or would you prefer to have both? (The RIGHT home AND the RIGHT price? Maybe even pay attention at the RIGHT neighborhood, while you're at it.) Many of today's new homes have advantages over some of the competitive homes on the market today, and because they offer more quality and a superior floor plan, can help make the new home "a better deal". In some cases, the short sale/foreclosure/resale home may be the best momentary opportunity for the homebuyer, and everything is perfect for them...that's great, but it's always good to compare and investigate all options before they do make the offer.

I realize that many buyer agents are looking for the "best deal" for their clients because their buyers initially tell them, "I want the best price for a house, I don't want to pay too much in today's economy". Fair enough. We understand that there are a few momentary opportunities out there and many potential buyers see them as the best deal on the surface. But is it really the best home for their family for their long term happiness? What is the right decision? Is it the right price but the wrong decision for your family? The lowest price home may not be always mean the right home.

2. The Brand New Home may actually be a better floor plan and design for your family. New homes at The Riverfront at Harbour View, Founders Pointe, Graystone at Eagle Harbor, and Liberty Ridge all offer more of what today's buyers are looking for. (Hampton Roads area of Virginia)

Custom builders are paying more attention to interior design, energy efficiency, quality appointments, and how people want to live today. Backyard creations and covered back porches are found in many of the new homes because people are looking for outside living space. Some homesites offer a view of the water, golf course, or a view over their privately wooded backyard. Many of today's floor plans showcase bigger Kitchens with floating center islands which connect to the Grand Room (Family Room/Great Room). More attention is being paid to the cabinet layout, the energy star appliance package, and focusing on a return to the old mud room, now referred to as a "drop zone"- which is commonly located off the Kitchen/Laundry on the way to the garage.

3. Newer homes are built to a higher standard in our region, starting about 2009. More energy efficient homes, better foundations & framing, and better overall engineering. Some of the building construction changes/improvements that our builders are now including in their new homes are highlighted below. (Many localities did not start requiring these changes until 2009)

The 2006 International Residential Code changes implemented as of May 1, 2009 *

• Pier and curtain walls not allowed anymore in the prescriptive code. Solid perimeter foundations required.
• Continuous interior footers required in lieu of footings for individual piers.
• Some cities are requiring an engineered stamp on the footer under the steel beam point load. This creates a possible increase in concrete and a charge from the engineering firm.
• Brace wall provisions in the 2006 IRC have been rewritten and are being enforced. The Brace wall provisions require a Brace wall plan on the plans. The area most affected are the garage wing walls on most floor plans. Narrow walls with big openings next to them are not allowed in some cases. A proprietary system may be required on some floor plans.
• Two story Family rooms and two story Foyers are now being looked at very closely. New requirements may be enforced for the large window walls that are common on most plans. LSL studs may soon be required on each side of a window opening.
• Insulation requirements have increased under the new code in the ceiling and under slabs. We are required to use R38 in the ceilings and R10 at the perimeter of concrete slab foundations.
• Window efficiency requirements have increased to .40 U value minimum. This has forced suppliers to provide Low-E window units in order to meet code. The old standard insulated glass window unites could only reach a .45 U value. *Information obtained from Sadler Building Corporation

4. In many cases, the new homes include more quality appointments than the competitive homes on the market (plus carry new home warranties that older homes won't have) and often times include more features than the new homes that were built four or five years ago. Builders are able to get more from their trades and subcontractors, and they're passing the value onto the consumer. One of our builders' cabinet maker admits they're throwing in extra little things in the kitchens that help make a difference, because they want to impress the homebuyer too. Many landscapers are including more shrubbery/plant beds. Carpenters are adding small touches like southern bead board in porch ceilings or below chair railing where they didn't before. Some of the backyard kitchens, stamped concrete patios, and fireplaces help make the setting a place people want to be. Everyone is out to give the customer something extra, and we're seeing happier homebuyers.

5. Go visit your new home communities BEFORE you make that offer...don't be afraid to tell your agent that you'd really like to investigate the neighborhood and the community amenities as much as you'd investigate a home on a resale home inspection. Too many times, we qualify buyers by asking them just the price range, the number of bedrooms & baths, square footage, etc. I've witnessed many instances where buyers, who recently bought a resale, came into our Information Centers after they bought somewhere else and say, "I had no idea that your community offered so much...our real estate agent didn't bring us here...we would've loved to have had a clubhouse and pool for our kids to grow up around"...or "the quality in your homes is much better than the resale we just bought four months ago". What's the big picture? (Make sure your agent brings you out to compare BEFORE you decide.)

Agents: How often do you know what they're really feeling? Do we listen well enough to discover what matters most to the buyer? Many times, buyers say one thing, but aren't ready to open up and share their true feelings and motivations. It's wise to include a new home community in your initial tour. You can rely on the site agent to help qualify their needs and wants. At our new home communities in the Hampton Roads area, we try to figure out the right match (home plan/homesite) for potential buyers first. If you're showing homes for sale in our price range, at least expose your buyer to all options before they lock in on what may not be the right home for them.

• Right Home + Right Neighborhood + Fair Price = Happy Homeowner

Top 10 Design Trends for New Homes in 2012

Wonder why some people are turning towards a brand new home? What is different about some of the new custom homes being built today? If you study some of the Design Trends that are popular today and you'll find the answer.

It's exciting to see the resurgence in new home sales in our Hampton Roads' area of Virginia. Builders are paying closer attention to what buyers' really want in a new home. It is vitally important to listen to what our homebuyers are telling us.

Times have changed, and people aren't living in their homes the way they did five to ten years ago. There are some new "old" features that builders should try and incorporate into their new homes today if they want to stand out and appeal to today's homebuyers. Of course, there are still certain things that the different buyers want in their new home- an empty nester buyer doesn't necessarily want what a young family considers important in a home, but I've put together a list of 10 top trends that we've seen in our four new home communities in theHampton Roadsarea of Virginia.

The following Trends for new homes were presented during a recent Southern Living® Custom Builder Seminar at Founders Pointe:

1. Unique flooring materials such as reclaimed wood, walnut, other exotic hardwood finishes are becoming more popular. Pebbles are being used on shower surfaces, offering a foot massage while showering. And, a herringbone pattern is being used for outdoor brick pavers to create greater character and warmth.

2. Wall coverings are making a comeback. Wallpaper is returning to the Dining Rooms and more tile on the bathroom walls again. Taller wainscoting is also found in dining rooms and Southern bead board in drop zone areas and Utility Room areas.

3. Creative use of color with yellows, greens, and blues. Deep chocolate and darker tones are also used as accent colors to add warmth to a room.

4. Fabulous ceiling treatments including medallions with trim detail, coffered ceilings, and materials typically used for floors applied to the ceiling.

5. Greater use of natural and hand-crafted materials such as wrought-iron gates and antique doors. Many are using reclaimed wood, beams and mantels milled from trees cleared from their lots. Old photos were used in door panels from an old house in Virginia. They were displayed in our Berkshire Pointe model in Founders Pointe (Virginia).

6. Functional and Fabulous kitchens with features such as cabinets with glass doors, and a center island with fold-away table. Accent colors are also popular in islands. More quality features are being included in the Kitchen- it is where buyers make their decision! The kitchen below is from the Meadow Glen model by Norman Miller in Founders Pointe (Virginia).

7. Unique use of lighting such as pendant lighting, smaller chandeliers hung over dining rooms tables rather than a single large one.

8. Live-Work Spaces such as desk-top work surfaces in the kitchen. Work spaces at counter height rather than desk height.

9. Outdoor living spaces with fireplaces and outdoor cooking. (The Southern Living Showcase Home, built in The Riverfront at Harbour View, pictured below by Sasser Construction shows the ultimate "Twilight porch".)

10. Maximizing space with built-ins Drop zone and cell phone charging areas, mudroom seating, cubbies, and other interesting uses for nooks inside the home. (Shelves under a staircase is an easy area to inlcude a built-in shelf)

Other Hot buttons for Kitchens so far this year:

• Center islands
• Mix finishes
• Wine racks
• Extra kitchen storage space under islands on ends of cabinets
• Staggered-height cabinets
• Walk-in pantries
• Solid surface or stone countertops
• Decorative moldings, Glass doors,
• Plate racks, Tilt-out sink tray
• Built-in spice and wine racks
• Deep drawers, Over-refrigerator cabinet
• Wastebasket base cabinet (hidden)

Brick was used on the interior wall of this Founders Pointe home to give a feeling of warmth in this Kitchen. African walnut floors, and pine cabinets. The center island was a shaker style cabinet with a darker stain and a leather finish granite top.

Branch Lawson, East West Partners (Left), Brent Warren formerly with Southern Living Custom Builder program(Center), Mark Edwards, East West Partners, Russ Hohmann custom builder (Right)

For Information about East West Partners’ communites, visitwww.eastwestcommunities.com. Discover the best in lifestyle communities atFounders Pointe,Eagle Harbor,Liberty Ridge, andThe Riverfront at Harbour View.East West RealtySales Centers are open 7 days a week onsite. Equal Housing Opportunity

East West Realty ~ 1302 Founders Pointe Trail Carrollton, Virginia 23314 ~ (757) 238-9009 East West Communities.

Can't make it out to Founders Pointe for a look in person? Wish you could see what homes are built on certain lots or are you interested in a lot with a water view? Check out the Founders Pointe Interactive Site Plan and find the right homesite for you!

Our Location

Overlooking the creeks and tributaries of the James River, Founders Pointe is centrally located between the Peninsula and Norfolk near the historic town of Smithfield in Isle of Wight County. Tucked away in this pastoral county, Founders Pointe offers a quiet enclave for family living with the conveniences of all of Hampton Roads in close proximity.

Located off Sugar Hill Road on Route 17, just 4 miles from the James River Bridge, Founders Pointe is a quick 10 minutes to Newport News and just 25 minutes to downtown Norfolk. Founders Pointe is also just 10 minutes to the Harbour View area in North Suffolk and the I-664 interchange. To view a list of conveniences, click here.

Come to Founders Pointe, a waterfront community centrally located in Hampton Roads, and discover the perfect pairing of yesterday’s hometown feeling with today’s convenient lifestyle.

Life at Founders Pointe begins at home, with quality homes tucked into quiet lanes and private cul-de-sacs, made all the more inviting by marsh, creek and wooded views. Ten custom homebuilders are providing a wide array of innovative home designs featuring a variety of distinctive architectural styles. Click here to see our Available New Homes for sale.

Overlooking the Batten Bay, with creeks and tributaries flowing to the James River, there’s never a shortage of breathtaking vistas and outdoor activities. Residents enjoy resort-style amenities including a community clubhouse with swimming pool, a children’s playground, leisure trails for walking and biking, and more. Even socializing with your neighbors is made effortless at Founders Pointe, with a year-round calendar of social events planned by a community Activities Director.

With quality custom homes from the upper $400′s to over $1 million, this community provides you with not only the home of your dreams, but the opportunity to live the lifestyle you have always dreamed of living. Founders Pointe is centrally located to all of Hampton Roads, near the historic town of Smithfield, just 3 miles south of the James River Bridge in the Carrollton area of Isle of Wight County – a quick 10 minute drive to the Peninsula or 25 minutes to downtown Norfolk.

Our Amenities

The centerpiece of Founders Pointe are the exceptional resort-style recreational amenities the community has to offer.

• Residents’ Club with swimming pool and 112′ water slide
• 844′ observation pier offering panoramic views of Batten Bay and the James River
• 3 miles of biking/leisure trails and sidewalks
• playground and sand volleyball court
• Full-time activities director coordinating year-round events for all ages.

To see what fun is in store, visit the Founders Pointe Resident’s Club website.

In addition to hosting sporting and fitness activities, the clubhouse serves as a center for holiday celebrations, themed social events for adults, and special interest clubs. A full-time activities director keeps the community’s social calendar full with a year-round schedule of exciting events. The clubhouse’s swimming pool and waterslide is augmented by a children’s playground and sand volleyball court. Both children and adults make use of the network of nearly three miles of sidewalks and walking trails that wind throughout the community. An observation pier overlooks Batten Bay, with views reaching to the James River and the Hampton Roads. Founders Pointe provides a nurturing environment in which children can thrive and adults can relax. Whether you are young, or simply young at heart, going outside to play is conveniently rewarding.

For more information, call (757) 238-9009. The Information Center is open daily. New homes and waterfront homesites are now available.

THIS WEEKEND, TOUR FIVE BRAND NEW MODELS IN FOUNDERS POINTE- a waterfront community near Smithfield, Virginia, just ten minutes to Newport News/Hampton area and fifteen minutes to I-664 in Chesapeake. Models Open Noon to 5 pm, both Saturday and Sunday, October 8th and 9th.

Come to Founders Pointe and discover the perfect pairing of yesterday’s hometown feeling with today’s convenient lifestyle. Life at Founders Pointe begins at home, with quality homes tucked into quiet lanes and private cul-de-sacs, made all the more inviting by river, marsh, creek and wooded views. Ten custom home builders are providing a wide array of home designs featuring a variety of distinctive architectural styles.

Emerson Builders 213 Summerhouse Lane • $459,900	Orleans Homebuilders 112 Richmond Way • $479,900
Sadler Building Corp. 102 Carter's Creek Lane • $529,000	Norman Miller Builder 119 Commander's Cove • $639,900
Hohmann Builders 104 Carter's Creek Lane • $519,900	Founders Pointe 1302 Founders Pointe Trail Carrollton, VA 23314 Located on Sugar Hill Road off Rt. 17; 4 miles south of the James River Bridge; 9 miles north of I-664 at Harbour View.

Click here for directions to start your tour
at Founders Pointe

Mark Edwards or Donita Frantz - East West Realty ~ 1302 Founders Pointe Trail Carrollton, Virginia 23314 ~ (757) 238-9009