Author Archive
Breaking News Stories to End 2011 about Florida Real Estate Are All Positive
Posted by on December 31, 2011 | Comments
More new homes being built on prime Florida real estate! Builders broke ground on a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 628,000 homes last month, the Commerce Department said Thursday, but building permits rose nearly 11 percent. This increase helps gauge future growth and has reached its highest level in 3 years. Single-family homes, which make up about 70 percent of residential home construction, rose nearly 4 percent last month.
This is good news for the national economy as new homes represent 20 percent of the overall home market. Each home built creates an average of three jobs for a year and generates about $90,000 in taxes, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Read More→
Now Selling Tampa New Homes at Sunset Hills
Posted by on November 17, 2011 | Comments
We are excited to announce that we have expanded our presence in Pasco County and are now selling Tampa new homes in Dade City, Fl. at Sunset Hills. Sunset Hills is not only a new community for Highland Homes, but offers a new type of product for us – through a community partnership with Pasco County, every buyer will get $50,000 in Down Payment Assistance and pay no closing costs – wow!
We have always been Central Florida’s Value Leader and specialized in creative financing options. The amount of down payment assistance is the largest assistance program we have ever been involved with, and there are certain restrictions that do apply for buyers to qualify.
This is the largest assistance program that we have ever offered, and it makes owning the Highland Home of your dreams more affordable than ever. The great thing about this program is that buyers will have a house payment much lower than rent. Payments will range from about $600 for a three bedroom, two bath to about $850 for a four bedroom, 3.5 bath home. Read More→
Highland Homes Wins Home of the Year for its Winter Haven Home at Overlook Ridge
Posted by on November 2, 2011 | Comments
The Parade of Homes is going on in Polk County, and at Highland Homes we’re pleased to announce that we have won another award for our newest community of Winter Haven homes. Overlook Ridge is located off Overlook Road just south of Dundee Road in Winter Haven. The new model center was finished just in time for the Parade of Homes on Saturday, Oct. 29. Homes are judged in several price ranges, and every year we have entered a home in the Parade, we have won the coveted “Home of the Year” award for our entry.
This year was no different, and the new Edinburgh II model at Overlook Ridge was awarded the top prize in our price category. The model was decorated by Highland Homes’ award-winning designer, Stacey Antonakos-Perez, who is also our Personal Selection Studio manager. Stacey was also the designer of several of our previous Parade of Homes award-winning models in Central Florida and has received many design awards throughout her career. Read More→
Highland Homes, More Than Just New Lakeland Homes
Posted by on August 31, 2011 | Comments
Highland Homes’ owners, Bob and Joel Adams, are in the news again and it’s due to another success story. Highland Homes is a locally owned and operated, father and son Tampa home builder and the firm is successful due to its diversification. Not only do Bob and Joel own the successful building company, but they own and operate several other businesses as well including a property management company and an engineering firm.
The engineering firm, ECON, has been in the news most recently as being the civil engineering company involved in the new Legoland Theme Park in Winter Haven, Florida.
In addition to constructing high-quality Orlando, Tampa and Lakeland homes, Bob and Joel Adams are owners/business partners in ECON and have made the news again with another success story for the civil engineering firm. The news puts ECON on the map as an international company now as they were awarded a new project in China. Read More→
Affordable Lakeland Homes Make Central Florida a Desirable Location
Posted by on August 30, 2011 | Comments
Why do people find Lakeland, Florida to be one of the best places to live in the country? An affordable housing market with beautiful Lakeland homes is most likely the number one reason. In the most recent news released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) showing the most affordable places to live in the country, Lakeland/Winter Haven, Florida was at the top of the list.
The Lakeland/Winter Haven area is located in Central Florida, between Orlando and Tampa, and is an attractive community for commuters to both metropolitan areas. The housing is affordable and there is plenty to enjoy in this area. Read More→
Don’t Be So Quick to Say No to an ARM Loan. Still a Great Option For Many Buyers
Posted by on March 28, 2011 | Comments
With memories of the housing crisis and the negative perception many people have of the words “Adjustable Rate Mortgage,” buyers of Central Florida new homes have been afraid to consider adjustable rate mortgages, with many opting for the predictable 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.
Indeed, when the housing market started its down turn, using an ARM didn’t make much sense since the adjustable rates weren’t much lower than the fixed-rate options. But today, the rate spread between the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and the 5-year ARM has widened to historic levels, some say.
As rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages began increasing in October, “ARMs have not moved nearly as much,” said Leif Thomsen, CEO of Mortgage Master Inc., a mortgage lender based in Walpole, Mass.
Assuming a $160,000 loan amount, a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 4.875% means a monthly payment of $846.73. Interest paid after five years: $37,468.
Compare that to a 5/1 hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage at 3.125%. For the first five years, the monthly payment would be $685.40, and you’d pay $23,697 in interest over those five years.
So, for a borrower who plans on moving within five years anyway, they’d save as much as $13,771 by financing with an ARM. Read More→
Pasco County, Home to Two Great Communities
Posted by on March 25, 2011 | Comments
Here at Highland Homes, we’re excited about all the activity going on in East Pasco County at our two Zephyrhills locations. All of our homesites at The Greens at Hidden Creek are sold out, and a lot of construction is going on to complete the homes for the final sales in this community. The Greens at Hidden Creek saw brisk sales over the last half of 2010. The beautiful, professional designed model home is now for sale, and a special promotion is available.
The Greens is located off Eiland Blvd., just North of Highway 54, which is just a few miles from I-75 for Tampa commuters. Several new home owners are employed at Moffitt Cancer Center, Pasco Regional Hospital and USF since this Florida real estate is so conveniently located to these employers.
The model home is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom floor plan and features a two-car garage, great room, formal dining room for entertaining, kitchen with breakfast bar and nook and laundry room. You’ll love spending weekend afternoons relaxing in your screened lanai that overlooks a pond. The master bedroom is the best feature of this home with its roomy dimensions and luxury bath offering walk-in shower, garden tub and double vanities. Call us at 813-395-8977 for a special price on this professional designed model home! Read More→
