STATE COLLEGE, Pa., July 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- West Virginia and Pennsylvania Home Builder S&A Homes recently launched a groundbreaking new line of floor plans, dubbed the "Signature Series Collection." The new plans were developed after 2 years of in-depth market research and are an instant hit with home shoppers, who appreciate that the Signature Series homes come included with state-of-the-art upgrades that most competitors charge extra fees for.

The Signature Series plans range in size from 2,700 square feet up to 5,000 square feet and offer an array of customizing features such as first floor guest rooms, dual owner's suites for multi-generational families, and gourmet kitchens normally only offered in expensive custom homes. The collection also features dozens of inclusions that most home builders charge "extra" for such as granite countertops, upgraded cabinetry, open tread oak staircases, partial stone exteriors and built-in stainless steel appliances.

Bob Shoemaker, Architectural & Design Manager explains, "The Signature Series collection was created with the modern family in mind. It was important to ensure we undertook an extensive market research project to incorporate our buyer's feedback directly into each plan. After doing a lot of listening, we learned that custom touches like oversized laundry rooms, expansive cabinetry and supersized kitchen islands are the types of features homeowners want to see included in a new home."

Shoemaker's team worked diligently to integrate those features and many more, such as butler's pantries, wrap-around cabinetry and cozy reading nooks to make each Signature Series plan a custom home without the custom price tag. In fact, the homes are being offered at a competitive price point and include far more luxurious amenities when compared to their custom home counterparts, meaning those purchasing a Signature Series plan can be assured they will get the most for their money.

Chris Schoonmaker, President of S&A Homes, offers a challenge to prospective home buyers. "There is so much to explore with our new Signature Series line that we feel confident those shopping for a new home in our West Virginia and Pennsylvania markets will not find comparable features along with the highest quality products anywhere else."

For more information about the S&A Homes Signature Series, visit: http://www.sahomebuilder.com/signature-series.

About S&A Homes

S&A Homes is a new home builder and ENERGY STAR partner that has delivered more than 15,000 homes and currently operates in more than 60 communities throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia. For more information, please visit http://www.sahomebuilder.com

Media Contact: Chris Schoonmaker, S&A Homes, 814-231-4780, cps1000@sahomebuilder.com

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S&A Homes Introduces New "Signature Series" Floor Plans

QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP CUSTOMER SERVICE

"Quality is never an accident; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives."William A. Foster

Craig Custom Builders is a full service general contractor in business for 25 years specializing in upscale custom residential home construction and light commercial work in New Jersey. Projects include renovation, additions, new construction, specialty rooms and disaster restoration. We pride ourselves on great customer service and work hand in hand with our clients who receive the ease and simplicity of a single source for professional design services, project management, product selection and construction services.

Our dedicated, experienced team will guide you through all aspects of the construction process - from vision to reality - and keep you informed and assured along the way.

Click to view all third party customer satisfaction survey results

We are part of a select group of professionals nationwide, through the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), who have earned theCertified Green Professional (CGP) designation and the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation; identifying us as people with knowledge of the best strategies for incorporating green building principles into homes and the technical knowledge to solve the remodeling needs of maturing individuals who wish to remain safely, independently and comfortably in their home for a lifetime.

Take a look at our projectportfolio. Read what ourclients and themagazines have to say about us. Learn about our2012 Guildmaster Award from GuildQuality. Check out our Handyman Services.

Contact us at973-831-8988 to get your construction project started with the team you deserve atCraig Custom Builders.

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Custom Home Builder in New Jersey : Craig Custom Builders ...

(July 9): Doug Immel recently completed his custom-built dream home, sparing no expense on details like cherry-wood floors, cathedral ceilings and stained-glass windows -- in just 164 square feet of living space including a loft.

The 57-year-old schoolteachers tiny house near Providence, Rhode Island, cost $28,000 -- a seventh of the median price of single-family residences in his state.

I wanted to have an edge against career vagaries, said Immel, a former real estate appraiser. A dwelling with minimal financial burden gives you a little attitude. He invests the money he would have spent on a mortgage and related costs in a mutual fund, halving his retirement horizon to 10 years and maybe even as soon as three. I am infinitely happier.

Dramatic downsizing is gaining interest among Americans, gauging by increased sales of plans and ready-made homes and growing audiences for websites related to the niche. A+E Networks Corp. will air, beginning today, Tiny House Nation a series on FYI that celebrates the exploding movement.

The pared-down lifestyle allows people to minimize expenses and gain economic freedom, said architect Jay Shafer in Cotati, California, who founded two micro building and design companies and is widely credited with popularizing the trend.

It shows people how little some need to be happy, and how simply they can live if they choose, said Shafer, 49, who shares a 500-square foot home with his wife and two young children.

No Mortgage

Despite gains in the labor and housing markets, Americans choosing mini houses remain wary of tethering themselves to a mortgage.

People want a more modest lifestyle now, said Derek Diedricksen, who travels nationally to lead building workshops. Those who opt for super-small structures dont want to waste their time or be a slave to a house they dont fully use.

Defined as 500 or fewer square feet, tiny houses range from primitive 96-square-foot huts to award-winning displays of sustainable architecture with elegant streamlined design. While many are built on wheels to avoid regulations, mobility isnt the main draw.

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Tiny houses big with U.S. consumers who pursue economic freedom

Hartford, CT (PRWEB) July 08, 2014

Capitalizing on the success of their award winning custom home communities at their premiere phases of Washington Farms, Chimney Hill Estates and Timberbrook in Farmington, By Carrier, Inc. is pleased to announce this newest model home, fresh with new ideas along with the opening of new phases to build new semi-custom built single family homes in the Washington Farms community in Farmington, CT and Burlington, CT. Known for their expert craftsmanship, attention to detail and energy efficient amenities, By Carrier will continue their tradition of excellence at Washington Farms Phase III, by offering unique custom built homes that feature award winning Kohler finishes, stainless steel built-in appliances and sustainable hardwood flooring.

All home parcels feature private wooded locations, all about 1 acre and some with walk-out or day-lit basement options. Each semi-custom home will be carefully designed by The Carrier Team to feature 3-4+ bedrooms, 2 to 3 bathrooms, 2-3 car garages and will include high performance energy efficient systems to save homeowners significantly in utility costs through-out years of ownership. The newly constructed Modified Washington model home in Farmington features 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, a two story foyer and spacious family great room, Pampering Master Bedroom Suite with a few surprises along with oversized 3 car garage perfect for the family needs. Phase I in Burlington also boasts immediate occupancy homes for viewing at our Grand Opening.

In a time when cookie-cutter homes are defining many neighborhood communities, By Carrier stands out by delivering exquisite craftsmanship on each new home construction it is involved in. Understanding the special bond each owner develops with their home, By Carrier is adamant that the homes they build reflect the unique lifestyle and character of the owner and takes great pride in communicating with each client to see that their vision for a low-maintenance, energy efficient home is realized.

By Carrier is very pleased to be involved with new green features homes for sale using many American-made products and supplying economical natural gas heating and cooling. By Carrier will also offer their industry-leading 5-year warranty for the new model homes in Washington Farms that covers basement leaks, roof leaks, structural defects, electrical, plumbing, windows, doors and interior climate control.

By Carrier, Inc. is a family run business dedicated to serving its clients with such basic values as hard work, excellent ethics and integrity in all facets of the home building process. For more information on By Carrier Inc., please visit http://www.bycarrier.com.

For more information on this new community and our grand opening, please visit: http://www.washingtonfarmshomes.com.

To locate this event via GPS, use zip code 06013.

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By Carrier Announces New Furnished Model Home at Washington Farms

Gatehouse Realty, a new real estate firm, opened recently at Shelmore Village in Mount Pleasant (Provided).

Two long-time real estate professionals have swung open the entryways on a new East Cooper venture geared to help people buy and sell their homes.

The "boutique real estate firm," Gatehouse Realty LLC, launched May 1 in the Shelmore Village live-work development off Mathis Ferry Road.

Chris Calabrese and Rex Coyne opened the Mount Pleasant business.

"Rex and I are excited to be part of the growing Mount Pleasant real estate market," Calabrese says.

"We are Mount Pleasant residents and love living and working here, but we also chose a location with easy access from other areas," he says. "We're less than a mile from the (Ravenel) bridge."

The company will assist residential buyers, sellers and investors while offering "high-end, modern services" such as staging consultations and professional photography.

Coyne, whose real estate career spans 25 years, will be recruiting and marketing director. His background includes seven years in new home sales as well as relocation, investment properties and renovation.

Taking the post as broker-in-charge, Calabrese brings "a varied career prior to real estate" including as an engineer and country club manager.

According to Gatehouse Realty, the pair's diverse backgrounds "serve them well in the ever-changing real estate world."

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Realtors start new firm east of the Cooper, home contractor holds grand opening at Moncks Corner neighborhood

Custom Home Builders Northern Virginia
Schulz homes has been a premier home builder in Northern Virginia building beautiful homes in Loudoun County, Fauquier County and all of Northern Virginia fo...

By: kevin peter

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Custom Home Builders Northern Virginia - Video

Friday, July 4, 9:15 AM EDT

By Carole Hawkins,Staff Writer

Then she held an open house.

I invited everybody in the business that I knew, all of our friends and local Realtors, said Johnston, a homebuilder of more than 20 years.

One of her business contacts liked the unique finishes and asked Johnston to build her a custom home at St. Augustine Beach. That was the beginning of Generation Homes and of Johnstons re-emergence as a homebuilder, starting over from scratch.

Johnston, a petite and personable but no-nonsense businesswoman, came into homebuilding through the sales and marketing side of the industry, rather than the construction side.

After moving with her husband in 1982 to Jacksonville, she took a job as a site agent for Summerhomes Inc.

The company president brought ideas like total quality management to his business. He also emphasized training, including cross-training.

He trained builders on how to do sales and he trained salespeople on how to build, Johnston said. While I was working at the model, along with my training, I would go out to the job sites and talk to the plumbers and electricians, and Id ask them questions.

Nine years with Summerhomes prepared Johnston for the next leg of her career a 16-year stint with Mercedes Homes, where she became division president.

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Custom builder finds markets silver lining

BAKERSFIELD, CA - What better way to celebrate our independence than to welcome a local hero home. Lance Corporal Jeremiah Thein is in his new custom built, Bakersfield house made possible by the Wounded Heroes Fund and countless community donations.

The house has been over two years in the making. That's when Jeremiah lost his legs in an IED explosion in Afghanistan. Friday, he walked into his new home for the first time.

"This is crazy. This is amazing," said Thein as he entered his new home.

In May 2012, the Marine Lance Corporal, a double amputee, lie in a Walter Reed Hospital bed. He had just sacrificed himself for the rest of his unit in Afghanistan.

But, Bakersfield had his back. Through Wounded Heroes fundraisers, soon Jeremiah was helping break ground on a custom house.

On Friday morning, a proud, patriotic, packed tent came to welcome him home.

"It makes you proud to be an American and be part of Kern County, those values that we take forward," said Rep. Kevin McCarthy.

Wendy Porter, Executive Director of the Wounded Heroes Fund, handed Jeremiah the keys to his home. Once holding his family's future, Jeremiah got to see a community-wide labor of love. From the kitchen, backyard, laundry room, and swimming pool, it is a hero's home.

"The love and joy I am feeling right now, I want to give that to the next family that comes to Bakersfield, to the next amputee, or to the next veteran who decides he wants to move here," said Thein.

"There's a lot of love that goes into helping somebody. Its an honor to be there and do it, and the most rewarding deal is when he walks in and he's all smiles. I love it," said Jim Ward of Northwest Builders.

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A hero's home

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. How does a grateful nation compensate a U.S. Marine who has lost both legs in combat? How does a community properly thank a hometown hero who has made such a profound and life-changing sacrifice?

The answer is, no one knows for sure. But that uncertainty doesn't stop them from trying.

On Friday, on the occasion of the nation's 238th birthday, the keys to a new home built entirely from donations of cash, labor, materials and gratitude were handed over to retired Marine Lance Cpl. Jeremiah Thein, his wife, Ashley, and their two young children.

Simply put, it was Bakersfield's way of saying thank you.

"It's a testament to how we feel as Americans," said Jim Ward, who, along with business partner Mike Alsup, were the general contractors for the project through their company, Northwest Builders.

"We are unable to make Jeremiah physically whole again," Ward said.

But through the gift of a beautiful new home designed specifically to help Thein with the many challenges that lie ahead Ward and scores of others who were involved in the effort hope the house will provide the family with comfort, security and a place for each member of the family to grow and be healthy, happy and productive.

Service to his country

Like hundreds of students who were part of Bakersfield High School's class of 2009, Jeremiah Thein wore a blue cap and gown during commencement ceremonies held in the spring of that year.

Before the year was done, he would change from Driller blue to the desert-camouflage uniform of a U.S. Marine.

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Keys to new home given to Marine severely wounded in combat

On 30 June, the government launched a prospectus (12-page / 68 KB PDF) inviting councils to express their interest in becoming 'Right to Build vanguards', to test different approaches to the scheme before a consultation on extending it nationwide.

According to the prospectus, the scheme will "give people with a serious interest in building their own home a right to a plot from their local authority".

The scheme will require authorities to "open and promote a register of prospective custom builders" in order to gauge local demand for custom building, the prospectus said. The government is yet to decide on the eligibility requirements for registering an interest to custom build, but is considering opening eligibility to "those who are resident in the local authority area and potentially also those with a direct family connection to the area", the prospectus said.

In response to registrations of interest, authorities will have to offer "a sufficient number of serviced plots" of land, from their own landholdings or belonging to other landowners , for sale "at market value" within "a reasonable period of time", the prospectus said.

The scheme forms part of the government's wider proposals to boost the custom build sector and the announcement follows the launch last week of a prospectus (24-page / 179 KB PDF) inviting bids for a share of 150 million in loans towards the release of plots of land for custom build housing in England.

"I believe that government should help anyone who wants to build their own home to find a plot of land to build on", said Boles in a statement. "Becoming a Right to Build vanguard offers councils a way to help local people get a place to live which is designed and built locally."

The deadline for submitting expressions of interest in taking part in the pilot scheme is 31 July.

Successful applicants will be required to open and publicise registers by 31 October and to begin identifying and securing plots by 31 January 2015.

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Boles calls for volunteer councils to participate in custom build housing pilot scheme