Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

According to Redfin, the median sale price of U.S. homes in zip codes with a low wildfire risk has increased 101% since 2012, compared with an 88% increase for homes in high-wildfire-risk zip codes.

This disparity exacerbates the affordability crisis in low-risk areas, forcing homebuyers who don't have large budgets to look to more fire-prone regions for affordable homes. Redfin's analysis is based on its own housing market data and U.S. Forest Service data across 2,700 zip codes in California, Oregon and Washington.

Over the 12 months ending August 2020, homes in high-wildfire-risk zip codes sold for an average of 3.9% less than those in low-risk zip codes--$640,000 compared to $656,000. This is a reversal from eight years earlier. In 2012, homes in high-risk areas sold for an average 2.5% more than in low-risk areas.

Home prices in high-risk areas first dipped below prices in low-risk areas in 2015--three years before the Camp Fire became the most destructive wildfire in California history, destroying over 18,000 structures and killing 85 people.

Double-digit price growth in already expensive West Coast cities has likely driven homebuyers to look in more affordable, but fire-prone areas. For example, Bay Area homebuyers who are priced out of San Francisco, where the median home sold for $1.45 million in September, may feel forced into more high-risk areas such as Santa Rosa, where the median price in September was $690,000, or Sacramento, where the median price was $475,000.

"Buyers relocating to Sonoma County from the Bay Area for affordability and quality of life have made up more than 90% of my business since May, when more tech workers started to get permission to work from home permanently," said Sonoma County Redfin agent Sandrine Daligault. "One buyer moved from San Francisco to a neighborhood in coastal Sonoma, where he works remotely from a custom home with water views he bought for $1.1 million, unheard of for a home of that caliber in the Bay Area. Another client bought a home in Santa Rosa for $499,000 after selling his East Bay home for $700,000. He's a police officer who helped fight the Tubbs Fire in 2017, and he's not worried about wildfires."

People based in San Francisco make up a significant portion of Sonoma County home searchers: 13.6% of Redfin.com users looking for homes in Sonoma County were from San Francisco in the second quarter of 2020, about on par with 15% in the second quarter of 2019. The net increase in residents was the same during those two time periods, with roughly 440 more Redfin.com home searchers looking to move from San Francisco to Sonoma County than vice versa in the second quarters of both 2019 and 2020.

More than 4.5 million homes are located in areas across the states of Washington, Oregon and California that have a high wildfire risk, with a total estimated home value of $3.3 trillion.

Homebuying competition is more intense in areas with low wildfire risk than in areas with high wildfire risk. To understand how much more competitive the low-risk areas are, consider that 42% of homes sold in low-risk areas over the past three years went under contract within two weeks, while in high-risk areas, just 33% of homes found buyers as quickly.

Similarly, in low-risk areas, 35% of homes sold above list price, compared to 27% in high-risk areas. The tougher competition in low-risk areas makes it harder to buy a home where it's safer, and gives buyers another reason to shift their home search to risky areas where homes are more affordable and there's less competition.

Housing Market Competition by Wildfire Risk

"The lower cost of housing in wildfire-prone areas compared to low-risk areas is likely just the beginning of the consequences of climate change for the housing market," said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. "Right now, wildfires are still a rare occurrence for homeowners, but if fires and other climate disasters continue to happen more and more frequently, some housing markets will go from less desirable to untenable, yet they will remain the only option for many families."

If the trend of recent years continues and wildfires become even more frequent and destructive, migration to high-risk areas could slow. The gap between home prices and competition in high-risk and low-risk areas would continue to widen, making it harder to sell homes in areas with higher risk.

"Right now people are still migrating to places that have suffered through wildfires or smoke in the central valley and wine country in California and parts of Oregon because homes in those places seem like a good deal," explained Fairweather. "Homebuyers often look at the lower sticker price on homes with more fire risk and are driven to buy because it's what they can afford. Wildfire risk can dramatically increase insurance premiums, droughts can increase water costs and heat can increase cooling costs or make spending time outdoors unbearable. All of these factors can drive homebuyers away from fire-prone areas. Rising home prices in expensive cities also contribute to urban sprawl into high-risk areas. But the long-term costs of building homes in fire-prone areas can be both costly and deadly."

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Areas at High Wildfire Risk, Relative Affordability Lures U.S. Homebuyers - World Property Journal

Construction of the new upper school academic building at Sandhills Classical Christian School in Whispering Pines is expected to wrap up in December, a fitting Christmas present from the commercial builder attached to the project, Rhetson Companies.

Based in West End, Rhetson is a preferred developer for Dollar General stores and PetSuites of America, among other corporate clients. CEO Brian Clodfelter said Moore Countys growth has encouraged more interest and opportunities to bring his teams expertise closer to home.

We all live and play and raise our kids here. We have always been engaged in the community and have supported many local organizations through the years, he said. We also firmly believe that we are blessed to be a blessing to our community.

Clodfelter, who worked as a golf course superintendent with Pinehurst Resort for 12 years before going into construction, and his wife, Julianne, who was a nurse for 17 years with FirstHealth of the Carolinas, founded Rhetson in 2002.

When the economic recession hit a few years later, they shifted to commercial interests. The company grew its reputation by specializing in developing single-tenant triple-net properties, spanning from Georgia to Virginia, in addition to custom homes.

Rhetsons president, Richard Vincent, who joined the team in 2016, said they typically complete about 40 projects a year.

That is a lot. To have the manpower to execute projects on that scale, Brian spent 11 years building this machine, Vincent said. But for the last few years, we kept talking about doing more projects here.

This is our community. We love this area and we are proud to be here, and we are excited to be part of the positive growth that we have here, said Vincent.

The Rhetson Companies executive team including, from left, Richard Vincent, Julianne and Brian Clodfelter, and Lee Pittman, Jamie Encinosa, and Lottia Freeman.

Rhetson has been involved in developing the Sandhills Classical Christian School (SCCS) campus for three years. Future building plans call for a gymnasium, athletic fields and an administration building, in addition to academic buildings to serve several hundred students.

This is a good example of what we do a soup-to-nuts project where we work with a client from day one to develop their master plan and construction drawings, help them set a budget, and then build, Clodfelter said.

Gene Liechty, SCCS development director, said construction of the upper school academic building has been underway on-schedule and within budget.

Rhetson has been a terrific partner in several regards, Liechty said. If they say they can do it for X and in this timeframe, they get it done. The other thing is their commitment to excellence and communication. Every week we get a progress report of whats been done and what we can expect in the next two weeks.

Our experience with Rhetson has been nothing short of tremendous, Liechty added.

Clodfelter and Vincent said it is these types of business relationships that keep the Rhetson team energized.

We dont have a client or partner that we dont look at like a friend, Clodfelter said.

Other more recent Rhetson projects include construction of the new shopping plaza at Tylers Ridge, near the Southern Pines Ace Hardware on N.C. 22. Tenants include O2 Dental Group, and the corner is anchored by Roast, a new farm-to-table sandwich restaurant and market scheduled to open soon.

This was our first true from-the-ground-up shopping strip center, added Clodfelter.

In addition, his team redeveloped a commercial building at the corner of N.C. 211 and Juniper Lake Road last year, and constructed the new youth building at Christ Community Church on U.S. 15-501 near Pinehurst.

Rhetson is also in the early stages of developing a new residential subdivision in Moore County.

We love what we do. We are passionate about building things, creating value, and participating in our communities. We havent reached the finish line, said Vincent. We have used these past few months, the pandemic, as a time to be introspective. We see this as an opportune year to become stronger and more diversified, to grow and focus on local project opportunities.

See original here:
Local Roots Give Rhetson Co. Room to Grow - Southern Pines Pilot

The 50 States Project is a yearlong series of candid conversations with interior designers, state by state, about how theyve built their businesses. Today, were chatting with Sioux Falls, South Dakotabased Lindsay Carmody about what its like to work entirely solo, which COVID-era client requests shes been fielding, and how she learned the pros and cons of having a storefront.

When did you know that you wanted to be a designer?When I graduated high school, I didnt really know what I wanted to do. I thought I might want to be a teacher, but quickly realized it wasnt creative enough for me. So I took a year off and had some time to think. Friends encouraged me to [pursue] this path, so I moved from the East Coast and enrolled at the Art Institute of Colorado, thinking, Ill give this a shot. And I just loved everything about it. While I was in school, I worked as a design assistant for a local firm in Boulder, and I learned so much being a part of that teamlooking at fabrics and wallpaper, learning about furniture and lighting, and understanding different kinds of design.

How did that help you transition into the workplace?I was luckyI was hired there right away after I graduated. The firm did some residential, which was my big focus, but also a lot of ski resorts. I worked there for a few months, and then in 2004 was offered an opportunity as an in-house designer for a company in Greenville, South Carolina. A group of builders had formed this company because of the amazing growth happening there, and they asked me to be the sole designer working with over 40 of their clients, designing selections for these semi-custom homes. It was an opportunity that I felt like I couldnt pass up.

Thats amazingIll bet you had to think on your feet quite a bit in the early days.I had an incredible experience there in my early 20s. I learned a lot, fast, not only about making selections, but about working with clients, organizing spec sheets and drawings for contractors, and working quickly. The turnaround for each home was eight months to a year.

Were you customizing the homes with the clients, or were the properties being developed to sell?It started out where we had X amount of finishes that we allowed our clients to choose from. I had made all of those selections, and then each client could pick from those selections. At the beginning, I really tried not to go outside of the box, but as things unfolded, some of the homes became truly customized. I was working with clients on the cabinet layouts, the cabinet finishes, the paint colors, the flooring, the countertop style, the tile for the bathrooms, the tile layoutall of it. I did that for a good three or four years. It was a lot of work, but also a wonderful experience. And then it evolvedI took on a business partner, we formed our own business and got into furnishing model homes for this company. I learned how to run a business with employees, and even had a storefront to sell goods. Then, in 2008, I decided to step back and work on my own.

Carmody mixes black, white, wood and brass accents in the kitchen.Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

What made you decide to go back to working solo?I think it was knowing that I was so young. I needed a little time-out to think about what I wanted to focus on. I mean, I was working on these incredible homes, but I also wanted to try to focus on a few projects and develop truly custom homes and have a more personalized, one-on-one relationship with my customers. Greenville was growing and changing rather quickly, and I started feeling like I might want to just work from home and focus on a few great homes at a time. So thats what I tried to do.

Thats a major reset. Howd it go?It took a little bit of time. The struggle was mostly in marketing myself, as opposed to being a builders designer. And then I met and married a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He swore he would never move backbut of course we did. We didnt have family in South Carolina, and after we had our first baby, we realized that South Dakota was actually another place that was just starting to grow and boom and that there was opportunity here for both of us.

We decided to move to Sioux Falls in 2014. Even after being here for six years, it still is amazing to me that there are so many people moving here. There is a lot of workthe city is continuing to grow and expand, and builders are extremely busy here right now.

What was it like to start over like thatagain, no less?It was definitely hard at first. Not only did I have to get myself out there to meet customers, I also had to meet new sales reps [and tradespeople]. I feel very lucky because Sioux Falls is a great community for forming relationships. People were so willing to pass on my name and information. I also did some advertising in local home magazines to get started, and an announcement in a local paper shared that there was a new business in town. I tried to emphasize, Here is a designer who grew up on the East Coast, has lived in Colorado, and did design work in South Carolina, just trying to show that I can bring something new to the table in South Dakota. Otherwise, I had to get out there, start mingling and form new relationships. From there, it grew.

A chartreuse sofa offers a jolt of color in an expansive black-and-white living space.Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

Where did your early clients come from?[My first leads] came from family, which Im lucky to sayI realize that doesnt happen for everyone. And then I met a couple of builders that I really tried to get to know, first and foremost, thinking that would be a good way to get my name out there. I honestly havent done any marketing since we first moved hereits really been returning customers or happy customers sharing my name with their friends. I feel very lucky. But also, thats been my biggest focus: not only trying to show customers something new and a little different, but truly forming relationships with them and making sure that ultimately, theyve been happy with the entire process.

Do those builder jobs ever become more than the finishes and cross over into furnishings?It depends. Thats something that is very different here: In South Carolina, a lot of customers would first seek out their architect to design the plans for their homes, then the builder that theyd want to work with, and then they would hire an interior designer to work with the builder on all the selectionswhich could then turn into custom window treatments, furnishings, bedding and lighting. Here in Sioux Falls, its often the builders who are designing the floor plans and the layout of these homes.

So theyre filling the role of the architect and the designer.Yes. I dont know why thats the way things are done here, but a lot of builders have the designs drawn up with the homeowner. From there, some clients decide that they would like to hire an interior designer to work with their builder; others are OK with making selections with the help of their builder and then hire a designer to help with the furniture and window treatments. But Im someone who really likes to be there from the ground up.

Theres a returning customer who I absolutely adored working with three years ago, and she and her husband have decided to build again. Were going to start brainstorming the layout of the floor plan and the design of the home with the builder, and that truly excites me, because I think a designer can bring a lot to the table [in those early stages of the process]. There have only been a few jobs in Sioux Falls where I was involved from the very beginning, but thats what Id like to do more of.

The living roomCourtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

You mentioned that the housing market is really booming and that there are people moving inwho are they, and what are they looking for?A lot of my clients that have just moved here are doctors. We have two wonderful hospitals in Sioux Falls, so I think a lot of people are moving to work there. Amazon is coming to Sioux Falls, as well, and I think thats going to also generate a lot of business, and the banking world in Sioux Falls is pretty well-known for generating new business and people moving in, as well. Its definitely a little bubbleI dont know that most people really understand or know about it until theyre here, but its been pleasantly surprising to see how Sioux Falls is changing and growing.

How do you shop, and what resources are available to you locally?That is a little tricky here. The closest design center is in Minneapolis, but we have a lot of sales reps that come to town quarterly or twice a year to show new product lines, fabrics, furniture and lighting. The biggest thing is really for designers to try and make it to High Point or Vegas markets and to have relationships with the sales reps.

Is there a big design community in Sioux Falls?There is, actually. There are other designers that I have met and I have worked with or just bounced ideas off of, which is nice. There is a designer in town who has a storefront, and they will let outside designers come in and shop with them and use their style library, which is wonderful. I think it just comes down to the fact that there is plenty of work here for all of us, so theres just no reason we cant work together and share the same resources. There are some higher-end furniture showrooms here that have in-house designers, as well, but they definitely encourage outside designers to come in and shop with our clients and go through their resource room, too, which is quite nice.

Floor-to-ceiling glass-and-steel shower doors command attention in the master bath, while a chandelier adds a touch of glamour.Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

A pretty black-and-white powder room.Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

Left: Floor-to-ceiling glass-and-steel shower doors command attention in the master bath, while a chandelier adds a touch of glamour. Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors | Right: A pretty black-and-white powder room. Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

You mentioned that you briefly had a storefront in South Carolina. Is that something you would have considered in Sioux Falls, as well?I struggle with this. Every year, I think, Maybe, I should ... The nice thing about it is that it does give you a little bit of traction from just people walking around town and gets your name out there more if you show your goods in a storefront. But the hard thing is keeping up with inventory, making sure that your windows always look fresh and updated with new thingsand it definitely requires having employees to help with that. The other downside is you have to pay for those goods, and I think the cost of upkeep is just more, and thats a little scary right now. I am really liking having relationships with designers that have the storefront, but I very much like working in my little office space out of my home and the luxury of making my own hours if need be.

It can be hard to sell someone furniture without being able to show it in personwhen youre looking at things in a catalog or online and telling a client, Hey, I have used these lines X amount of times, Im comfortable with them, and its good quality. Ive tried to invest in some lines that Ive sold to others in my own home, so Ive been using those as show pieces. It allows me to bring a customer to my house and say, Hey, this sofa is from so and so, you can sit in it, see how comfortable it is, see the quality and the craftsmanship of it. And thats been helpful.

So instead of opening a storefront, your home is your own private showroom.Yes, exactly. Now, is it all the way to where Id want it to be? Not quite. But I think I would still say I would choose to continue the way its been going.

Do you have a team right now?Its just me. Ive been working on my own for eight years now, and its worked well. If business got to be so busy that I needed to hire someone, Im not opposed to thatIve had employees beforebut so far Ive been able to manage on my own.

What is the secret to working solo?I am naturally a driven go-getter who cannot sit still. Its maybe a curse, but maybe a blessing, Im not sure. With work, I definitely feel like its either feast or faminethere are times when Im so busy, and then there are times where its either steady or a little quiet. I think naturally wanting to always be busy and on the go, Im learning to understand and accept that its good to pace myselfto have those slow moments that [help] me get ready to be busy again. It was slow for the first couple of months with COVIDa lot of jobs were stopped and clients wanted to [pause and] regroup later or finish up [early]. Business was sort of at a standstill. But now its busy again, which is great.

Another view of the master bathCourtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

Carmody tucked away the laundry behind a sliding door.Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

Left: Another view of the master bath Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors | Right: Carmody tucked away the laundry behind a sliding door. Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

Do clients want different things now?I dont know if things are different, but Ive found that clients are definitely interested in updating things now that they are at home. Im working with a customer who wants a screened porch with a fireplace because she wants to enjoy her backyard more. Maybe thats part of COVID and not travelingtrying to enjoy outdoor space and just being at home.

I also have some clients that have decided they need new window treatments, and a couple other clients are doing bathroom and kitchen renovations with the idea that theyre going to want to sell their homes and downsize. People are saying, We have been talking about some of these upgrades for a while. Nows probably a good time to do it. Or they realize that theyre going to be retiring soon and they need to update their home to be able to sell and move on to something else.

How many projects are you typically working on at one time?Typically four to six at a time, but theyre all different. Right now, one client would like just some new drapery in her living room and dining room; another project is being the designer and contractor to renovate a master bathroom. I also met with a lady today who wants to just get a new countertop and backsplash and refinish her kitchen cabinets. But in general, four to six projects is a good number for me to stay busy and be able to manage it on my own.

And how long do each of those projects typically take?So, like this master bathroom, Im anticipating about a month and a half from start to finish. For the screened-in porch with the fireplace, that could be maybe a two-month project. ... Now, with the returning customer thats looking to do it again, that could certainly be a year, year-and-a-half project as far as working with the builder from the ground up and then making selections. It may be even a two-year process. It just kind of depends.

In another project, bold turquoise and coral accents augment a warm, layered living space.Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

How do you decide what you say yes to?I guess Ive never had to turn down anything. I dont know if thats good or bad. Some designers out there have a certain design look that they focus on, but my goal is to have a mix of different clients as far as style and taste. Yes, I have my own particular style in my own home, but really what excites me is just trying to do something different each time. Its hard for me to turn down any job.

As a funny example, I just finished working on a fraternity. Never in a million years would I have ever thought Id be designing a fraternity! The job came through a builder about two years ago, and I think it just challenges me. There truly isnt a job that Ive turned down. Ive always just said, Well, lets take a look.

Where do you see the most opportunity to grow?I just want to continue to learn and try and push clients to do something thats more cutting-edge than what has been going on. That can be hard to do sometimesbecause were not close to a major city like New York or Chicago, its not as easy for people to see those things. So, [my goal is to] learn to comfortably get clients to naturally trust me and [to implement] what Im learning as a designer.

How do you help people uncover what their kind of aesthetic is?I dont like to come into a clients house and say, Well, all of this needs to change. Its definitely [about] trying to say, Well, hey, we need to work with what you currently have, and then trying to mesh that together. I first say, What is your main goal? For this one kitchen, for example, my client said, To brighten it up. But the trick is to brighten it upbut not [to the point] where its so drastic in comparison to the rest of the house. So we talked about ways we could make things lighter but still tie [the design] in with what she already had.

A view from the living roomCourtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

On the budget and billing side, how do you approach those money conversations with clients?There are times when I do say, Do you have a budget in your mind? or Do you have an idea of what this will cost? Some clients will say, Yes, I have a budget, and others will say, I truly dont know what this will cost. I think a lot of times, people truly dont know what it would cost to have custom drapery or how much fabric costs a yard.

Are people coming to you with the right budget earmarked? Is that a hurdle, typically, or has that been pretty workable?That has been pretty workable here in Sioux Falls. On certain jobs, we may have to scale back or say, OK, lets see if we can find something thats similar but costs less and still looks great. Or we do things in stages. But its kind of a rare situation where Im not moving forward with a customer on some things that theyve discussed.

Whats your biggest challenge at the moment?Ive been lucky [to get new business by] word of mouth, [but] what I struggle with when it is slow is marketing. I wish I learned a little bit more of how to market [myself] and get people to know who [I am] are and what [I] do. Im constantly struggling with that: Is it social media? Is it constantly posting? Or is it once a job is complete, making sure you have great photos to put on your website? Is it trying to get to know other builders? Is it trying to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce, or is it mingling more? Which, obviously, is even harder now with COVID. So, the marketing is [a consistent challenge].

Whats keeping you inspired right now?Im addicted to Pinterest and seeing whats out there. Im gravitating a lot toward designers that are mixing things. I love looking at kitchen designs [and] colorsthings like the latest trends and paint colors for cabinets.

I truly feel very blessed to say that I love what I do, and I know that there are a lot of people working jobs [where they] cant say that. It does have its challenges of being self-employed and [not knowing] when the next job is going to come in, but then it always seems to work out, and then theres some new, exciting things to be a part of. Its never the same thing again, and thats whats so exciting about itits always changing.

To learn more about Lindsay Carmody, visit her website or find her on Instagram.

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How this South Dakota designer learned to appreciate the slow moments - Business of Home

Every day, duPont REGISTRY features the finest luxury real estate and showcases Homes of the Day across all of our social media platforms, including our Instagram: @dupontregistry_homes. Mansions from around the globe are highlighted through our partnerships with luxury real estate experts, both domestically and internationally. Our top properties are the most highly-engaged posts from the week these are the most-liked listings our followers have selected. Be sure to follow, like and comment to see your favorite listing here next week!

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This modern mountain home with natural finishes spans more than 6,000 square feet with five bedrooms, six bathrooms and endless vistas.

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Mansion Monday: Top 5 Mansions of the Week - duPont REGISTRY DAILY

Construction will begin next month on a new mixed entertainment area coming to The Commons in Oxford.

Developer David Blackburn announced this week thatconstruction on the first phase of theproject, which will be completed in three phases, will begin this fall with dirt work.

The Blackburn Group itself will be building new corporate offices as part of the project, which will also feature retail locations and a freestanding restaurant.At the center of the design is alargemusic andoutdoor entertainmentvenuewithraised stage anddrop-down videoscreenwith anopen lawnsurrounded byadditionaloutdoor seating, a playground, fountain and landscapingthat includes shade trees and overhead lighting and partial shading.The entertainment venue will be nestled inside the development, separated from traffic and parking lot area.

A two-story 14,600-square-foot building will host ground floor retailand office space, whilean equal sizesecond story willpartially house thenew Blackburn offices.In addition, a 6,000-squarefoot free standing restaurant will feature indoor, outdoor and rooftop seating. It will be located adjacent to an outdoor event space.A residential component is also included in the project.

We are excited about the next steps in Blackburns vision of building spaces forcommunities to come together. With the most recent success of leasing out The Terrace at OxfordCommons so quickly, we cant wait for The Commons to become a jewel to an already incrediblearea,said Frank Dyer III of Gill Properties, who handles the leasing of retail space in the development.I am sure that residents of Oxford Commons and citizens of Oxford will enjoy something newand exciting in this vibrant city.

Amaster plannedcommunity, Oxford Commonsfeatures a variety of retail centers and mixed use residential and business spacefeaturing tree-lined streets and winding walking trails.To date, approximately 125 homes have been built in the roughly 500-acre area, with another 750 planned in the next two decades.There are six distinct residential options for residents ranging from townhomes starting in the $240,000 range to semi-custom homes starting in the $380,000 range to Estate Custom Homes.

Whether you are looking for boutique shopping, local flavors, or open outdoor spaces to relax and unwind, The Commons will be the place to be. We look forward to the evolution of this great development and making connections with business owners looking to be part of this vision, said David Blackburn, President of The Blackburn Group.

He noted that interest and enthusiasm among businesses to locate in the space.

The most recently completedportion of thedevelopment, a16,000 square-foot neighborhood retail centercalledThe Terrace at Oxford Commons, is now fully occupied with businesses opening throughout the summer.New businesses include: 20-20 Lux Day Spa, Core Cycle and Outdoors, Endurance Physical Therapy, Foxs Pizza Den, Heartbreak Coffee, Oxford Commons Home Sales and Design Center, and The Citizens Bank.

For more information, visit http://TheCommonsOxford.com.

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"The Commons" entertainment area breaking ground this Fall - The Oxford Eagle - Oxford Eagle

For the second year, Mantell-Hecathorn Builders has been selected as Grand Winner of the Department of Energys National Housing Innovation Awards. Local builders Hunter and Greg Mantell-Hecathorn, principals of Mantell-Hecathorn Builders, had the honor of receiving the highest award in the 2020 Custom Home for Buyers category.

To be considered for this award, a home must meet the technical requirements of the DOEs Zero Energy Ready Homes program. Homes earning this recognition feature advanced levels of comfort, health, durability and are ultra energy efficient. The quality of homes built to this standard is ensured by rigorous inspections, diagnostics and checklists.

This home received a HERS score of 14, making it 86% more energy-efficient than most new homes built to code in Durango. It is also certified by the EPA for Healthy Indoor Air Quality, using non-toxic materials and providing continuous fresh air. This is the fifth year an M-H Builders home has received HIA recognition.

More information can be found at http://www.m-hbuilders.com and https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/zero-experience.

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Mantell-Hecathorn Builders named Grand Award Winner by Department of Energy - The Durango Herald

Homebuyers are flocking to Rogers Ranch, a popular San Antonio subdivision, for its unbeatable location, highly rated schools and community amenities.

Jenny Crider, a San Antonio REALTOR who both lives and works in Rogers Ranch, said that the neighborhoods convenient location off 1604 and Bitters makes it a popular place to live.

From first-time homebuyers to families, military, retirees and investors, all buyers and demographics are interested in the area.

(It) offers easy access to major highways, shopping, restaurants, entertainment and large employers, Crider said.

Featuring walking trails and amenities within the neighborhood, its also right near Salado Creek Greenway Trail. There, nature lovers can enjoy hiking, walking and biking just around the corner.

(Salado Creek Greenway Trail) has been an outlet for exercise and building friendships, especially this year, Crider said.

She added that neighborhood amenities, swim team and community events throughout the year promote culture and activities that build community spirit and strength.

Neighbors are always looking out for each other and come together in times of need and celebration, Crider said.

The four gated neighborhoods in Rogers Ranch Falling Brook, Crosstimber, Salado Canyon and Point Bluff offer many types of homes that support different lifestyles. Whether home buyers are looking for a low-maintenance garden home or a sprawling custom home with a heavily wooded lot, theres something for everyone.

Crider said the average Rogers Ranch home is 3,000 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms and an open floor plan, with prices ranging from $300,000 to over a million dollars. A number of different builders are available, including Monticello Homes, Mike Holloway Custom Homes, and others.

But a large range of home sizes are available: At The Gardens on Point Bluff, homebuyers can find luxury garden homes that are mostly one story and located on smaller lots. An HOA maintains the properties, making this an excellent choice for retirees or those with busy lifestyles and little time for upkeep.

RELATED:Stone Oak: a beautiful place to live

Or, for those seeking larger luxury homes, custom estates in Point Bluff in the section The Peninsula offer homes of more than 4,000 square feet.

And with wonderful neighborhood amenities, theres always something to do, Crider said.

Almost any day, you will find neighbors at the pool, playground, tennis courts or playing a pickup game at the basketball courts, she added.

And, Crider said, when in search of food or entertainment, its only a short drive to The Shops at La Cantera, The Palladium, The Rim, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

Six Flags is popular among tourists but equally enjoyed by locals with season passes especially those with a love for the evening fireworks that occur every night. Sea World, slightly farther away, also offers many entertaining experiences for the whole family.

A top fitness club, Golds Gym Rogers Ranch, is also close at hand when home buyers choose Rogers Ranch. With fitness classes, an outdoor aquatics complex and a basketball court, many opportunities for health and fitness are available. The club also offers a healthy caf, a water park for kids, and a full-service day spa.

Rogers Ranch also feeds into both North East Independent School District and Northside Independent School district, both premier, highly sought-after public school districts, she added.

Both districts have high school magnet programs with specialized curriculum. Opportunities in the fine arts, electrical system, automotive technology, math, health care, construction, business, communications, engineering, agricultural sciences, and many others are available.

Private schools dot Rogers Ranch as well. Inside the community is the Montessori School of San Antonio, which is highly ranked and offers programming for students ranging from preschool to junior high. The Atonement Academy, TMI and the Concordia Lutheran School are also nearby.

Rogers Ranch feels like home from the minute buyers drive into the tree-lined entrance, Crider said.

With the wide variety of homes, neighborhood amenities, community culture, nature trails, nearby conveniences and top-rated schools, its irresistible for those looking for a place to call home.

The Rogers Ranch swim team brings a spirit to the community by promoting an active lifestyle and neighborhood camaraderie, Crider said.

Not even COVID-19 kept our neighborhood (of Rogers Ranch) from finding a way to provide a swim team training season while social distancing and providing a safe environment for our swim team families, she said.

If Crider had three words to describe Rogers Ranch, they would be community, tranquility, proximity.

Whatever you enjoy, Rogers Ranch offers opportunities for every lifestyle, said Crider.

Those with more questions on purchasing property in Rogers Ranch can contact the Crider Group at 210-883-8974 or thecridergroup@kw.com.

Editor's Note: This content is made possible by Sponsored content contributor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at http://www.hearstmediasanantonio.com

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Community, tranquility, proximity: Rogers Ranch is a top place to live in S.A. - mySA

Multigenerational living arrangements are becoming increasingly common in Australia, with households expected to host a diverse range of family members. But how do you ensure your home is set up to assist every member of the family now and into the future?

Weststyle Lead Architect Mary Ong said the floor plan was the most important factor, with custom homes best suited to meeting individual design needs.

Its essential to consider not only how the family will utilise the spaces now, but how they will live in the home 10-15 years from now, she said.

Does the family cook or eat together? Are there smaller kitchenettes required attached to some bedrooms or separate living spaces?

It is more practical to locate bedrooms and separate living spaces that are dedicated to older members of the family on the ground floor to avoid stairs, and to include a lift if possible for easy access to other levels.

Coast Homes Building and Design Consultant Fab Marion agreed, and said a custom home aimed to create a future-proof dwelling.

The most common reason to customise is to accommodate specific needs, as the growing or larger family requires more accommodation to suit functionality, entertaining, living and working spaces to fit todays requirements and those of the future, he said.

According to Mr Marion, creating flexible zoned spaces, maintaining privacy and separation between parents and childrens wings, and allowing self-expression through hand-selected design elements are all benefits of a custom build.

He said not only could you build what you wanted, where you wanted you could also maximise solar orientation or capitalise on surrounding views.

Ms Ong said it was important to consider whether everyone in the home had adequate space for parking and access.

Extra entrances can work if some family members are after more privacy in their day-to-day lives or if they work shifts, for example, she said.

Weststyle Managing Director Tony Ricciardello said low-maintenance aspects were also important, to allow the family to spend more time together rather than working on or maintaining their home and garden.

Our ways of living are adapting due to varying factors the economy and cost of living, families growing and extending, he said.

These are all affecting our way of living.

Weststyle have four or five jobs in design and construction at the moment, which are all considering multigenerational living.

Depending on the family situation, this may include a completely independent granny flat or ancillary dwelling, or an autonomous space integrated into the floor plan of the main house.

This was echoed by Mr Marion who said everyone lived and expressed themselves differently.

A family home should improve and complement your lifestyle, while fulfilling a practical need, he said, outlining a recent custom-designed multi-generational home for a family in Karrinyup.

The family of three generations decided to amalgamate their lives together into a single home, while accommodating for separate areas to suit each generation.

Accommodating the slope of the site, we used the contours to create three separate self-contained living areas one for the young grandchildren, one for the parents and another for the grandparents each with its own kitchenette facility and private ensuite.

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Finding your new family fit - The West Australian

At the Oct. 5 Great Bend City Council meeting, Councilman Dana Dawson raised concerns about the boarding of windows and the public eyesores this practice creates. It was determined that the matter would be discussed when the council next met, which was this Monday night.

Dawson requested looking at possible alternatives to address broken windows in buildings being replaced with wood or similar materials. No action was taken, and the matter was tabled indefinitely pending further discussion, possibly at a council study session.

First impressions are everything, Dawson said. Great Bend has a lot to brag about, but what stands out are things that dont look so nice.

There are a lot of factors to be considered, City Administrator Kendal Francis said. These include such things as enforcement, cost, the grandfathering properties not currently meeting the new standards, and others.

I have concerns about the magnitude of the issue, Francis said. It is very widespread throughout the entire city and encompasses both residential and commercial properties.

As a starting point, he prepared a draft ordinance that would require broken windows to be replaced with glass or plexiglass. Failure to do so would result in municipal court fines.

Violations can also be met with abatement by the city at the recommendation of the code enforcement officer. Standard abatement procedures, time lines and hearing guidelines apply.

This would make a lot of difference in how things look, Dawson said. His biggest concern were commercial properties along Main and 10th streets, including the dilapidated former Highland Hotel.

The town ought to look nice, he said. This might cause owners to take action and show some pride in their properties.

But. Im afraid were opening a can of worms, said Mayor Cody Schmidt. He worried about the fairness of singling out businesses, as well as how it would be enforced.

Francis shared similar trepidation. Where do you draw the line?

When a property is abated, city crews can come in and clean it up, and bill the owner. But, in these cases, the city doesnt want to be the one to make the repairs, making taking the cases to municipal court the only option.

I would caution you not to rush into anything, Francis said.

According to the draft ordinance, windows in any permanent building or structure may be temporarily boarded for a period of not-to-exceed 30 days. After that time, windows must be replaced with glass or Plexiglas.

As for the plywood, windows and similar openings shall be temporarily boarded with exterior grade plywood of minimum 7/16 of an inch thickness or its equivalent. All boarded openings shall be painted with a minimum of one coat of exterior paint which is of a color compatible with the exterior color of the building or structure.

Should offender fail to comply with the notices to abate or request a hearing, the code enforcement officer shall file a complaint in the municipal court against them and, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of $500 dollars or a jail sentence of up to 30 days in jail, or both.

Each day during or on whicCh the violation occurs or continues after notice has been served shall constitute an additional or separate offense.

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Council tables action on boarded windows - GREAT BEND TRIBUNE - Great Bend Tribune

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) Its an act of vandalism against the vulnerable. Someone shattered the windows at the Society For The Blind building in downtown Sacramento early Monday morning.

This is the second time the facility has been hit in just months. Its an attack that is personal for Priscilla Yeung.

I think we were really shocked this morning, Yeung said.

Yeung, who is blind, also works at the Society For The Blind. Its a place where she learned to gain her own independence and where she now teaches others.

I want to be able to feel safe when I come to work as well, Yeung said. So when a space like this is shattered, it hurts us.

Photos show the shattered glass in the front and back doors. Someone targeting both sides of the building.

Earlier this year thieves also stole a Society For The Blind van. The organization has now built a steel cage for parked vehicles to prevent further thefts.

Shari Roeseler is the executive director for the organization and says the combined costs of the criminal acts will cost the organization $25,000. Its money that will not be pulled from its important programs.

Non-profits, we dont typically have big slush funds, Roeseler said. How quickly you can get things repaired, we still havent replaced our van, because again you gotta secure those funds.

A series of attacks on a place meant to protect the vision impaired.

You know, why would somebody do this, Yeung said. I feel the hurt of it.

Police are searching for a suspect with no sense of shame.

This organization serves 6,000 clients a year. They are now looking for funds to help them cover the costs of these crimson acts.

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Vandals Shatter Windows Of Society For The Blind Building In Sacramento - CBS Sacramento