Now Is A Good Time For A Home Loan

As far as borrowing money now is a good time to remodel or build a new home.

Now is a very good time to borrow money to build that new dream home or to update your current house. Grand Builders will work with you to assist with everything from designing the project to the finished project.

According to Freddie Mac (4/2/2020) mortgage rates have drifted down for two weeks in a row and that drop reflects improvements in market liquidity and sentiment. April 2, 2020 30-year FRM 3.33%, 15-year FRM 2.82% 5/1 year ARM 3.4%. Forecasts for 2020 say rates will average around 3.7%. Rates could bounce between 3.5% and 4% all year, and you’d get an average of around 3.7%. When you lock during that range is important. The good news is that 30-year fixed rates are now near 3.5%.

The United States suffers from a severe housing shortage. With the inadequate U.S. housing supply, it is estimated that 2.5 million additional housing units will be needed to make up for the shortage. If you have been thinking of building a new home, updating your existing house, adding a garage or making an addition onto your house, now is a good time to give Grand Builders a call. 207-671-7093

Living On Or Near Water In Maine

Like anything, there are pros and cons to living near water. Peoples personalities, jobs, and lifestyle dictate whether they prefer to live in the hustle and bustle of the city, small towns, countrysides or on water. We know that humans seem to be drawn to the water. Living in a town that is close to a lake without actually living on the lake is a more affordable way to have the best of both worlds. Living in Gray, Maine puts you close to a number of different beautiful lakes and ponds. Crystal Lake, Little Sebago Lake, Forest Lake, Sebago Lake, Crescent Lake, Long Lake, Gray Pond, Notched Pond, Raymond Pond, Panther Pond, Thomas Pond, Trickey Pond, and Brandy Pond are a few.

Why would humans be attracted to living near water or at the shores of the water, or not.

1.       Water sports would be a reason to be close to water. Some water sports would be boating, water skiing, water tubing, pontoon boating, beaches, swimming, rope swinging, fishing, surfing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, scuba diving, paddle boarding, sailing kitesurfing, wakeboarding, jet boating. No wonder living near the water is so much fun.

2.       Peaceful and quiet. The sounds of the loons and the quietness of the lake is so peaceful when you are lounging around at night. Or even during the day being near the water is so tranquil.

3.       Nature, if you love nature you will love being near water where the view is breathtaking and so serene.

4.       Skip the hustle and bustle of busy streets, neighbors and loud noises once you get to your home or camp on the water.

5.       You can also use the lakes and ponds for winter sports once they are frozen safely. Ice fishing and snowmobiling are great winter activities.

A few reasons people may not want to live on the water or close by.

1.       Waterfront homes are more susceptible to weather and storm damage, wind, flooding.

2.       Home maintenance can be greater due to humidity, erosion and storms.

3.       Mosquitos and insects can be greater near water since that’s their breeding ground.

4.       Depending how close neighbors are you could lack some privacy.

5.       Your relatives and friends will want to visit more often because of your great waterfront location.

6.       Traffic could be increased during warmer months due to tourists that also like to visit the beaches and waterways during the warm summer months.

7.       Short summer, Maine summers are short.

But, overall the Gray, Maine area brings a lot of great community and closeness and you can frequent beaches and boating areas quite easily. Whether you

Hiring A Professional Competent Contractor To Do Your Kitchen Remodel

Most people don’t do a remodel in their home very often so when the time comes and you want to make your kitchen more efficient it is important that you find a professional contractor to work with. It is easy to become overwhelmed when you start looking for a contractor that will be qualified to do your kitchen remodel. It is important you find a contractor that is sensitive to your needs, but also knows what can and cannot be done to make your dream kitchen come to fruition. Since an average kitchen remodel can range from $16,000 to $35,000 it is important the job is done right.

Simple remodels can be just an upgrade of the paint, resurfacing the cabinets, changing the backsplash, changing the countertops, changing flooring and maybe updating the appliances. The kitchen is usually the gathering spot for family and friends and considered the heart of the home. Some kitchen remodels need to be stripped down to the bare walls for a complete remodel. Moving the placement of the sink means changing the plumbing, adding heat in the floor means possibly changing the heating system. So, these types of remodels are more expensive and require an experienced builder to manage the job at a high level from start to finish.

You may have an idea of what you would like your remodeled kitchen to look like. Keep in mind a skilled kitchen remodeler or building contractor will also offer suggestions and will know if walls can be moved or taken out if they are support walls or not.

If you have a budget and get a quote a contractor should discuss with you a quote may change if they find any rot, mold, electrical wiring problems or even leaking pipes once they start the project.

Some questions you might consider asking when you are looking for a person to do the kitchen remodel are:

Do they have references or reviews, are other people talking about them on social media or Google?

If you prefer to work directly with the owner, you might want to ask are they involved with their clients and who will actually be doing the work?

Do they have a website that shows samples and quality of their work?

Also, getting a detailed contract on the work to be done will help prevent questionable concerns in the end.

The Truth About Building A Home

Pros

You get to customize every aspect of your home exactly how you want it.

Less compromises typically come with building vs buying.

People love the modern touches that a new home offers.

You will not have to worry about the “bidding wars” that can come from trying to purchase an existing home on the market.

Avoid any unpleasant “surprises” that can come from a home that has already been lived in.

Turn-key means much less maintenance for you.

You will save money by having an energy-efficient home.

A brand new home means a fresh and clean home.

Old homes may come with wear-and-tear or damages that could be dangerous for you and your family.

Create a floor plan that best meets the needs of your family and lifestyle.

Cons

Because your home is being built, you won’t have the convenience of moving right in.

While customization is great, you may not enjoy all the decisions you need to make at times.

Some things may take longer than expected.

Many people might prefer the “character” and “charm” that comes with purchasing an older home.

You may find that it costs more to build than buy. Buying tends to offer more flexibility with price.

Improve Your Quality Of Life - Live On A Golf Course!

Have you ever dreamed of living on a championship golf course? Just imagining the wide open spaces and rolling hills of green right outside your window brings you joy, doesn't it? While you may think that the dream of living on a championship golf course is just that, a dream, it might not be as far fetched as you think. Here are some reasons why we think it is the perfect idea! 🏌

• Whether you are a beginner or a professional in the game of golf, you can't beat the convenience of being walking distance from a golf course.
• The views will make every day feel like a vacation. 
• Living on a golf course will bring people to your neighborhood that share your same love of golf which provides a common interest to build new friendships off of. 
• Having your home in such a desired location will add to the value of your home should you ever decide to sell.
• You can feel good knowing that the surrounding land will always be well manicured. 
• Living on a golf course provides you with something to do in your spare time. Some golf courses also offer other amenities like pools, bars, and banquet halls. 
• Speaking of banquet halls, the golf course is a great place to host a get-together or special event.

Welcome To Our Blog!

Grand Builders is excited to announce that we now have a blog! We have created this blog as another way to connect with all of you and share tips, ideas, and information related to home building, remodeling, and design. We hope that you feel free to leave us any comments or questions that you may have. If there is a home building related topic that peaks your interest, please let us know. You might just see it in our next blog post! 😁