News | Summer Lake

5 Best Places to Live in Virginia

October 14, 2020 By Summer Lake

There’s something special about living in Virginia. They say Virginia is for lovers, but these cities in Virginia show that Virginia is also for families who want all the amenities of resort-style living without the expense. Compare the top five places to live in the Old Dominion and discover where you can plan your forever home in this wonderfully diverse and scenic state.

1. Centreville

With a population of over 73,000, Centreville is a mid-sized city that has plenty of diversity. For families new to the area, you’ll find surprisingly affordable homes and a welcoming community of young families. While this city size may be too large for families looking to get away from it all, two forested parks have reasonable recreation opportunities.

2. Richmond

The capital of Virginia offers big-city living and a thriving economy to move up in your profession. The bustling city of 213,000 has eight Fortune 500 companies, state government, and other professional opportunities. The average home value is relatively low for a city of its size, and a convenient public transport system keeps you connected to all parts of the city.

If you’re looking for a calm neighborhood in a laid-back community, Richmond is not for you. Families looking for a slower pace of life for their forever home may need to look elsewhere. If you have a remote job or other reason to avoid the hustle and bustle of the professional world of Richmond, you may want to look for a smaller city.

3. Williamsburg

Take a stroll through Colonial Williamsburg for daily history lessons for your young ones. This former capital of the colony boasts 15,000 residents, 301 acres of a historic district, and shopping opportunities for visitors and residents alike. It’s also a great way to rub shoulders with Hampton Roads and Tidewater areas while still finding an affordable home.

Of course, you may not want to have a major tourist attraction in your hometown. A forever home next to a historic district that hosts four million visitors every year may be exhausting for growing families.

4. Bon Air

Find an affordable home in this Victorian-style town. Highly rated schools and low-cost homes combine to make Bon Air a popular place for growing families. With just 17,000 residents, it’s a much more comfortable size than Richmond or other major cities in Virginia.

While affordable, many homes in Bon Air may feel more like starter homes than forever homes. These homes are great for families just starting out, but if you’re looking for unique amenities and comfortable walking areas, Bon Air may not be the right fit.

5. Moseley

Take a stroll through Summer Lake in Moseley, Virginia, to instantly fall in love. Create your custom home tucked away in a community full of family-friendly amenities. View homes for sale or purchase an empty lot to create your dream home on a blank canvas.

Young families may be surprised to find out how affordable these homes are. Beautiful craftsman homes, a comfortable community and playgrounds, tennis courts, and a large swimming pool create a neighborhood truly personalized for growing families.

Explore Family-Friendly Home Designs in Summer Lake

Contact Summer Lake today to schedule a visit to our Model Court. Taking a walk through a community may be the best place to live in Virginia for your family. Explore Moseley, view available properties, and work with a custom designer to build a home to match your family needs.

How to Maximize Your Budget When Building a House

September 15, 2020 By Summer Lake

Few journeys in life are as exciting as building your dream home. As you work with professionals at Summer Lake to build your custom home, find out how to maximize your budget. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to build the home you’ve always dreamed of. Find out how you can afford to build a house in an excellent neighborhood near you.

Create a List of Essential Features

You’ve probably already owned your starter home. That first home will always bring back memories, but there are many things you wish you could change. Remodeling every room of a home is a costly and impractical plan, so use your resources to build a custom home to include all your must-have features. Here are some example features you may or may not wish to add to your list:

Large kitchen
Master suite
Bedroom for every child
Large backyard
Community amenities

Not every building site and custom home design can offer these features. Consider which ones are essential to your dream and which ones are flexible. Remaining flexible with your features is key to keeping down costs. Discuss how each item will fit in your budget to where you can maximize your investment.

Looking for inspiration? An architect or home design team can help you feel inspired and provide you with the resources you need to craft your custom home. Take a home tour in your ideal neighborhood to see some examples of great designs that may fit your family.

Build for Your Future Family

You may have been fine with only two bedrooms in your starter home, but your forever home may need more space to accommodate your growing family. Be sure to include enough rooms for your children, pets, and guests to stay in your new home comfortably.

Adding a third or fourth bedroom in the initial plan is far more affordable than a new addition. Don’t wait until your home is already complete to add a guest suite or room for your children to have their own space, but include it in your plan to meet your budget.

Select an Open Layout

Removing interior walls makes your home feel larger than it is. Don’t settle for a floor plan that’s too small for your family, but consider ways to make your home feel spacious. Lofted ceilings, open lofts, and combined living areas are all great ideas to maximize your budget. These low-cost additions are often more affordable than increasing the size of your home’s footprint.

A popular main floor design includes your living room, kitchen, and dining room in one large area. This living space makes it easy to talk to your guests or family as you prepare meals or wash dishes.

Work With a Quality Builder

After an architect translates your dream into a design, you need a custom home builder to make it a reality. Work with local building professionals in Virginia to enjoy a unique home that’s built to last. State-of-the-art materials, designs, and timeless construction techniques ensure you have a property that you can pass on for generations.

Choose the Right Building Site

Even the perfect design may not fit your dream if it’s in a less-than-desirable location. Look for available lots in Moseley, VA, to explore popular options. At Summer Lake, we offer open lots in a welcoming, family-friendly community. Browse our lots or contact us to prepare for building a home that maximizes your budget.

5 Things to Know Before You Build a Custom Home

August 4, 2020 By Summer Lake

Your starter home may be full of memories, but a custom home can give you space, neighborhood, and personalized design you deserve. Explore these five key things to know before you work with a professional builder near Richmond, VA, to enjoy a custom home in Summer Lake. Use these when working with a local build team to create the perfect home for you and your household.

1. Plan for the Future

Whether you’re just getting started or you have growing children, it’s important to look forward to life as you plan your new custom home. Design features that appeal to a young married couple may not have the same convenience when you have a few children.

Look for a location with excellent schools, great amenities, and plenty of room for a growing family. These features are often the difference between a starter house and a forever home. Additional bedrooms, spacious living areas, and a great yard help you enjoy your new home through all stages of life.

2. Learn from Previous Home Design Mistakes

Is there anything you don’t absolutely love about your current home? A closed-off kitchen, cramped bedrooms, lack of bathrooms, and budget fixtures are just a few common features that many homeowners wish they could change about their current home.

Take advantage of your custom-designed home to fix these and other areas. By choosing an open-concept design, adding bedrooms, and investing in quality fixtures, you can create a dream home for you and your family. The design and fixtures of your home are the most difficult to change during a remodeling project, so work with an expert contractor to create a home you’ll love for a lifetime.

3. Wait Until It’s Finished to Move

It can be tempting to jump into your house as soon as you see four walls. While it may be possible to move in before landscaping, basement construction, and trim details are finished, it’s best to wait until your home is completed before unpacking boxes.

It’s much easier to make a punch list, which is a list of all the items that still need to be completed when you’re not living in your custom home. This step comes a week or more before the project is finished and is crucial to ensuring you enjoy a flawless new build in an ideal community.

4. Include Energy-Efficient Designs

Green technologies significantly reduce the utility costs of your home. While you’re designing a new home, be sure to include the latest energy-efficient appliances. The latest furnace, AC, water heater, and refrigerator are just a few items that can help you enjoy reduced bills and greater convenience in your dream home.

Energy-efficient designs aren’t just about reducing your electricity bills. Ask about the latest faucets, washing machines, and shower fixtures to see how you can reduce your water usage. Lowered water usage is great for the environment and great on your wallet.

5. Work With a Professional Team

Trust your new home to a qualified team of home builders to enjoy a hassle-free design and build. Work with custom home builders in Virginia to receive a stunning design that fits your lifestyle and custom home dream.

Contact us today at Summer Lake to learn more about building a custom home in our stunning, family-friendly community. Compare modern craftsman and luxury homes today before moving into your custom home in a vibrant, local community.

How to Tell if The Price is Right

August 14, 2019 By Summer Lake

The search is finally over – you’ve found your dream home in your dream community. You’re ready to put in an offer but, like most people, you don’t want to overpay. How do you know if the price is too much or too little?

Knowing and determining the right buying price for your home can be as daunting as the home search itself, but it doesn’t have to be. Ask yourself these questions to figure out what your initial offer should be.

What is the market value of the home?

Market value is a price range (i.e. $400,000 – $450,000) of what a buyer is willing to pay for a home. If you purchase on the lower end you’re getting a great deal; on the higher end, top dollar. Where you end up in that range is back on market conditions, comparable home sales in the neighborhood, the motivation of both the buyer and seller, and financial preference. Another factor is the status of the current market. This is determined by comparing the sale price to the list price and amount of time on the market. The result of all these factors is the final price agreed upon by the buyer and seller.

What about the comps?

The most crucial step in determining a home’s asking price is analyzing the comparative sales, or comps, of all listings sold in the past six months in your desired neighborhood. Comps are a good baseline determine value, but each home’s value will vary based on condition, size, age, and other factors.

Keep in mind that true market value only applies to sold homes. A listing only takes into account the perceived value of the home by the seller, not what you’re willing to pay.

Is the list price in line with the comps?

If you’ve done your research and analysis, then you’ve come up with a price you’re willing to pay that ideally matches up with the selling price. However, there are instances where your prices may differ. The seller could have priced the home lower than market value to entertain multiple offers. Or the seller could be pressing their luck to how much they can get for the home. While it can offer insight and help determine your initial offer, don’t think the seller’s motivation or strategy.

Are you looking at the details?

It’s easy to get carried away when touring your potential new home. Remember to take note of any upgrades improvements that may be needed, such as the HVAC unit, water heater, and appliances. These are items that usually are not negotiable after the home inspection, so fact in repair or replacement costs when making your initial offer.

If you’re looking to move into the home of your dreams in an imaginative community, look no further than Summer. Lake! We have a variety of homes for sale that is just waiting for you to move in. Visit our Model Court, featuring three brand new homes from three of Richmond’s premier buildings. For more information about available homes and the Summer Lake community, visit our website or call 804-790-1950 today!

Sources

https://www.thebalance.com/price-range-for-buying-a-house-1798238

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgages-real-estate/08/fair-price-on-home.asp

Staging Your Home to Sell

July 18, 2019 By Summer Lake

Declutter

Getting rid of clutter is the first thing you should do when preparing your home to sell. Few things will turn a buyer away faster than a cluttered, messy home. Potential buyers want storage space, so make the most of yours by removing unused items from closets (store out of season clothing elsewhere for the time being to capitalize on closet space), drawers, and cabinets. Even your garage should be decluttered. A clean, clutter-free home looks bigger and more appealing than one that’s stuffed to the brim with, well, stuff. If space is an issue while decluttering, see if you can stash the items at a friend or family member’s home while your house is on the market, or consider renting a storage unit if you have a lot of items.

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What Makes For An Ideal Community?

July 10, 2019 By Summer Lake

When looking for a new home, you must take into consideration the community in which it resides. The community you’ll potentially live in is just as important as the home you fall in love with. Your dream home could end up more of a nightmare if you aren’t happy with where its located. Read on to learn the top 5 features to look for in the ideal community.