Wednesday, July 10, 2013
The spacious, yet practical Cavanaugh II plan has been a favorite among homebuyers since it was introduced into the Ball Homes collection several years ago. Taking the favorite features from that plan and adding some new design structures and options, we're now introducing the Cavanaugh II Expanded plan to our Villa Collection. This plan includes some nice updates, like a upscale butler's pantry, a drop zone option for more storage and a quiet study.
The Cavanaugh II Expanded adds 45 square feet of living space to the already roomy 3,262 square feet of living space in the Cavanaugh II plan, and several enhanced plan features.
This plan offers an redesigned kitchen layout with a butler's pantry and a large walk-in kitchen pantry, and a wider dining room. A more defined study with double doors replaces the formal living room in the original plan, and the relocated breakfast area is more clearly separated from the family room. The entry from garage to house is reconfigured to include the optional drop zone, and a tool area in the garage, while the powder room entry is relocated to the entrance hallway.
Like the Cavanaugh II, this plan includes nine-foot ceilings on the first floor, and four bedrooms and a large loft, which can also be configured as a fifth bedroom. The huge master bedroom with double tray ceiling opens to a master bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, garden tub and separate shower, and a commode enclosure. Additional luxury bath options and decorative window options are also available. The oversized wrap-around master closet has a direct door to the utility room, which is located upstairs for convenience, and features a folding counter. Four front elevations are also available.
The Cavanaugh Expanded is offered in neighborhoods across Central Kentucky, Louisville, and Knoxville. Starting prices range from $205,950 to $261,950. For more information on this plan, visit our website today!
Friday, July 5, 2013
The laundry room. It's a place that we probably spend more time in than we'd really care to think about. Just because this room serves as a very cut-and-dry purpose (no pun intended), it doesn't mean that the room can't be useful as well.
A few weeks ago, we asked you what is on your laundry room wishlist. We received a lot of comments about what people love (and don't love) about their laundry rooms.
Here's the top 3 must-haves:
1. Folding counter
Have you ever had a hard time finding a clean surface to fold your clothes? Having a folding counter gives you a designated space to spread out and keep your clean clothes clean (and off the kitchen counter or couch). We've incorporated a folding counter into many of our floor plans, like the Hudson or the McCormick II.
2. Located on the second floor
Laundry rooms have been moving out of the basement and closer to the source of the dirty clothes. For those with two story homes, many people prefer to have their laundry rooms upstairs, like in the Cavanaugh II or Livingston plans. For added convenince, we've also started including a doorway from the master closet for easier access to put freshly laundered clothes away.
3. Mudroom
If you're not able to have a laundry room on the second floor, many people prefer to have a laundry room/mud room located near the garage entry. These helpful buffer zones allow you to have a drop off location for all the shoes, gym bags, and sports gear that tends to accumulate near entrances and exits. Our popular Preston and Hartford II floor plans allow for customization of your mudroom, including a boot bench or utility sink.
Monday, June 24, 2013
We're pleased to announce that Ball Homes has acquired more than thirty homesites in Primrose Meadows, a south Louisville location that will feature homes from the $160's to the $240's. You may choose from twenty-six floor plans, which range in size from 1550 to 3262 square feet. These homes offer two car garages and up to five bedrooms, with many plan options available to customize the plan to your needs.
A dozen ranch plans are offered, and as many two-story homes. New plans offered include the Livingston, a 3176 square foot home with a three car tandem garage and a traditional, family oriented two story layout that includes a drop zone, a loft, and plenty of closet space.
Homesites range from 50 to 60 feet wide. This south end community is located near the Gene Snyder and has good access to I-65 and to Bardstown Road.
A model home of the Baldwin Expanded, one of our newer ranch plans, will be constructed. Several homes for sale will also be started on selected homesites.
For more information about Primrose Meadows, please contact a Ball Homes Specialist at Prudential Parks and Weisberg.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
With the summer temperatures rising, so does the need for more energy for your home. Make sure your home is running at the highest efficiency possible by following these simple tips. They can help lower your energy bills and leave you cool and comfortable all summer long!
1. Keep the blinds closed during the day. By keeping your blinds closed during the hottest part of the day, you’ll block heat from seeping into your home. For added insulation from the heat, use heavy drapes or curtains to block out the sun’s rays.
2. Adjust your thermostat to run at least two degrees warmer than you normally would. Consider using a programmable thermostat so that your air conditioner isn’t working hard to cool your home while no one is there to enjoy it. According to Kentucky Utilities, a programmable thermostat can save up to 12% on your home energy costs. Avoid placing lamps or TV sets near your room air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
3. Use ceiling fans to cool your home. Even when your air conditioner is running, turn your ceiling fans on so you can spread the cooled air more effectively throughout your home without having to adjust the thermostat. According to energy.gov, if you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort level.
4. Consider planting shade trees or shrubs in areas of your yard that receive full sun during the day. Not only will you save on energy costs, but you’ll give your home more curb appeal! An air conditioning unit that operates in the shade uses less energy than one operating in the sun, however when planting, make sure to keep limbs far enough away from the unit so that they don’t block airflow.
5. On really warm days, avoid using your oven. Stick to using a crockpot, the microwave, or grilling out. Heating your oven up daily adds more heat to your interiors and therefore requires your air conditioning cooling system to work harder and longer. If you need to do laundry, wait until the sun has gone down so that you aren’t heating your home more than necessary.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
You’ve heard over and over that now is the time to buy. House prices are increasing and mortgage rates are at historical lows and you know you need to get into the game. But what do you do if your credit doesn’t look that great? Here are 4 things you can do to improve your credit score so that you’re ready to buy your first house.
1. Get copies of your credit report and make sure it’s accurate.
Errors on your credit report can force you to pay a higher interest rate or even disqualify you from getting a mortgage at all. Go to
www.annualcreditreport.com and get a free report from each of the three national credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) According to federal law, you’re eligible for a free report every twelve months. Check for any errors, accounts that aren’t yours, or negative marks older than seven years. Make sure lenders have reported your credit limits accurately, because they can affect your credit score.
2. Make all your payments on-time.
The easiest way to build up your credit score is to make every payment on-time. If you don’t have a good bill-paying system, you can set up automatic payments from your bank account to help you pay on time.
3. Improve your debt-to-credit ratio.
The credit-scoring process looks at the ratio of your debt to the total amount of available credit you have. While your credit card might have a $10,000 maximum balance, having it maxed out looks bad to potential lenders and doesn’t look good on your credit history. Some lenders may consider multiple maxed out balances to be a sign of irresponsibility on your part. Your long-term goal is to get rid of all your debt, but a good, short-term target is to shrink your ratio to less than 50 percent. Then 40, then 30, and so on.
4. Pay it off, but don’t close it out.
Because Lenders looks at your debt-to-credit ratio, having an account with a $0 balance but a high credit limit can be a good thing. Lenders also look to see the length of time an account has been opened. They want to know that you can handle debt on a long-term basis because they are considering loaning you a large sum of money for 30 years. Avoid opening up new accounts just to increase your credit limit. Adding accounts too quickly sends up a red flag that you might not be able to handle your credit responsibly.
If you’re planning on buying your first home in the near future, follow these tips to help raise your credit score and build a well-rounded credit history that will make lenders want to loan you the money for your mortgage. Contact a mortgage professional at
Walden Mortgage for more information on purchasing your first home.