Tundra Homes

Preview of Mallory II

2012-02-24T10:33:00.002-08:00

We are almost finished with the Mallory II. Here is a preview of whats to come.

Cape Coral Adventures

2012-02-23T09:09:00.000-08:00

Cape Coral is known for waterfront property, boating, sailing, fishing, wildlife, and the great outdoors. I was reading this article and thought you would enjoy it as well. Shows some of Cape Coral's many activities you can enjoy here. http://www.news-press.com/article/20120223/NEWS0101/302230008/Parks-rec-Enjoy-outdoors-your-family?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7C%7Cs

Cape Coral Housing Market Update

2012-01-13T05:56:00.000-08:00

Since the crash, Cape Coral has been on the list of the hardest hit areas in the country as far as the housing market. But according to recent studies and the reports we have seen lately we are making a comeback in a serious way. A new report from the National Association of Builders list the Cape as one of the "most improved" housing markets of the year. With that being the case the rest of the local economy will no doubt follow suit.

This Market Index measures employment growth, home price appreciation, and single-family housing permits. Yes you read that right! We are building again here in the Cape. We saw the first signs of it last year and expect better for this year. Of course there is always good and bad news with most any situation.

The good is the obvious. The economy is getting better. More people are opening up new business all around are city, which means more people are finding work, so people are not as afraid as they once were to spend a couple of dollars. In the Cape we see a lot of properties on the market very reasonably priced and a lot of people buying those lots up.

Bad news is that a lot of investors are buying these lots because the prices are so good and they know without a shadow of a doubt that they can resell these properties in a very short amount of time for a profit. Which means the longer you wait the more you are going to have to pay. Now is definitely the time to buy your lot if you were ever thinking of doing so.

The other thing is that prices to build have been at their all-time lows the last couple of years. Because all trades were wanting to work so they cut their prices to be as competitive as possible. Now with building increasing we are soon going to see the different trades increase their prices which will inevitably make builders start raising their prices on their homes. They won’t have a choice. So again if you have a lot and have wanted to build, well ladies and gentleman NOW is the time to build.

Fortunately for our area the worst is over. It's only going to improve from here.

Mallory II

2011-12-29T10:39:00.000-08:00

With this ever changing market, this time for the good, we are getting more leads, more meetings, and more interest than we have seen in years. I am so excited to see the market on the upswing and people wanting to build again. It’s been a lot of fun to meet so many people lately from many walks of life from locals, to northerners, to Europeans, to Canadians, etc. People are getting less scared to hold on to that dollar and more inclined to buy exactly what they want. Not like it used to by any means. But you know what, that’s ok. People need to be more discerning than they once were but at the same time when they are ready to go for it and are able to do so they shouldn’t be scared.

Something that I have noticed is people want to see something that a builder has built. Makes sense! They want to be able to see the quality of work they would be getting if they chose that builder. I don’t blame them. Fortunately, we have had some amazing clients who are very proud of their homes and have allowed us to show their home to prospective clients. But as the market changes, so do we! We are in the middle of building a spec home that we can show to prospects. I am SO excited about this project. Not only were we able to get a great location but the home we are doing is our NEW Mallory II. It’s a luxury version of our Mallory. It’s GOREGOUS!

It's a spanish elevation home. It has about 3000 square feet living area with 3 bedrooms/2 baths plus a pool bath and a bonus room. Great, open floorplan. (I tried to post the floorplan and elevation on here but wasn't able to, so if you want me to send it to you just let me know, you can add to the posting or email me (mary@tundrahomes.com).

This is our experience thus far: we have had stop by’s from neighbors or someone driving by who saw the home going up and stopped and talked to our superintendent asking many questions about the job. We have also recieved phone calls in the office asking even more questions showing interest in buying the house once its completed. They have been so impressed by what they have seen. I have heard people say they are impressed by how quickly it’s gone up, how professional and great our sub outs are, how impressed they are by the quality they have seen in the work. Mostly they just like what they see.

We are pushing hard to complete this project by early to mid-February. Believe me, once completed you will hear a lot from me about open houses, maybe even a party to show the home to our community. We are obviously excited and will be excited to share. If you are curious with how its looking I post pictures on our facebook page with updates on the build or feel free to drive by or stop by. The address is 5602 Coronado Pkwy in Cape Coral. Our guys would be more than happy to talk to you and answer any questions or you can come by and just see. Beautiful lot, beautiful neighborhood, beautiful home. Enjoy!

Good News For SW Floridians

2011-11-22T08:08:00.000-08:00

It's been a hard stretch for SW Florida with our economy. That's for sure. I don’t know anyone that hasn't been affected by it regardless of occupation. For years, the stories that you read about were how many foreclosures there were and how many were coming up. Well ladies and gentlemen there is a glimpse of hope. When positive articles come out I feel I must share so everyone can have that glimpse of hope of a recovery. We all have been waiting for it and it seems like things are finally looking better.

Here is what the article had to say:

(Six Florida Markets make it to Realtor.com's Top 10 Early Turnaround Town Report

-Steve Gara, Fort Lauderdale Business Examiner)

"To further the proof that south Florida’s recovery is finally here, Realtor.com’s Top 10 Turnaround Town Report, based on third quarter 2011 data, includes six Florida markets: Miami, Orlando, Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fort Lauderdale, Sarasota-Bradenton, and Lakeland-Winter Haven.

Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL: Median prices in Fort Myers-Cape Coral have increased almost 33% year-over-year, according to Realtor.com’s October 2011 Real Estate Trend Data. In addition, foreclosures are down–only one in 313 homes in September–while inventory has been reduced and foreign buyers have been attracted to the area’s real estate prices. The metro ranked third on the turnaround report.

Realtor.com’s Top Ten Turnaround Town Report is compiled using a formula based on price appreciation, changes in inventory, median age of inventory, searches by Realtor.com visitors, and unemployment data."

Recently, over the last several months, I have talked to many real estate agents and that is exactly what they have seen. Many of our properties are being sold, which is great. The more land that sells, the more houses that have to be built, the more jobs there will be to build these homes, more homeowners there will be here (many that are coming in from out of state or country which means new money), the more money that will inevitably be put back into our economy, and more happy Floridians new and old.

Don’t you just love good news!

Don't Take Our Word For it....

2011-10-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

The best way to judge someone’s business and how they run it is first by seeing it (quality of work, how quickly the job was completed, how the whole process went, and their business history). Second, would be their reputation. What are people saying about them? Whether it's their employees, men in the field, but most importantly their CLIENTS!

Your home is one of the biggest investments you will make in your lifetime. So listen to the ones that have used them. Has that builder ever had a lien or judgment against them? What are people saying about them? Are they truly satisfied with the finished product and how they have been treated and taken care of? After their home is done are the clients still getting cared for? Ask! Research! Educate yourself! Protect that investment!!!

We urge you to check us out at http://www.leeclerk.org/OR/search.aspx. When you search our name-Tundra Homes- you will see that we have never had to place a lien on a subcontractor or homeowner. You also won't find any judgments against us for not finishing a job or for installing faulty materials. Checking your builder out with your local clerk of court is a smart way to find out what's really going on with their business.

Then listen to those who have used that builder. What are they saying? Here is our latest testimonial...I must share:

We would gladly recommend you (Tundra Homes) to anyone. If we ever decided to build another house, there would be absolutely no question that we would come to you.

We did our homework when choosing a Builder and did a LOT of comparing.

Cost was of course the biggest factor, but equally important was reputation and a solid financial background of the builder. Tundra passed with flying colors.

Since we lived in Wisconsin and built in Florida, we had concerns about details slipping through the cracks, not being kept up to date and making long distance choices. Not with Tundra! I sensed that Heidi was very organized and detail oriented (it was part of our reason for deciding to build with Tundra) and she was - in spades! It made us very comfortable with the entire process.

They built us a home that exceeded our expectations of quality and beauty.

We made the right choice when it came to the builder.

The "after care" we received was incredible. The very few things that were not exactly to our liking or something didn't fit - they were out and/or subcontracted out, remedying it immediately. This was very important. They really stand behind their work.

Check Tundra out-it is worth it.

That's one of many testimonials that our clients have given us. (See more on our website http://www.tundrahomes.com/). The reason that we get such beautiful testimonials is because of our enthusiasm. When you meet us you'll soon realize that we love what we do! From the initial meeting to completion and warrantee work, we go the extra mile to make your experience an enjoyable one. You'll be hard pressed to find another builder with more passion about your home and building a relationship with you. We love what we do and we show it every day!

Energy Efficicient - What's the big deal?

2011-09-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

Most people would think you were crazy if you didn't think it was a big deal. Going green is really the popular thing to be in our day. You see more people using recycling bins instead of trash cans (oh and if you don't use a recycling bin-whew! the looks and the comments you get-not so nice if you know what I mean), many offices now are using both sides of printed paper instead of being wasteful and using only 1 side, and just being more conservative all the way around. Going green is definitely important these days to the majority.

A couple years back a little known senator, Al Gore, made an impactful documentary "An Inconvenient Truth." You remember it don't you? It really opened the eyes of our government to the big problem we are facing. In fact, honestly I think it opened many people's eyes to the severity of the problem. It did me. But so much so on the government that they decided to give us many tax deductions to make our homes more energy efficient. Tax deductions on new windows, AC units, appliances, anything energy efficient. You could go around Home Depot or Lowes and be overwhelmed at all the tags you saw everywhere saying "Tax Deduction". Nice huh?

Well you would think so; unfortunately going green can be, oddly enough, expensive. Very expensive! You would think the opposite. But no! For instance, if you go to Whole Foods to buy organic produce, grass fed meats, and products the way they should be to begin with, you are coming out of the store with a huge hole in your pocket and an attitude vowing never to do that again. Because you are paying 3 times or more compared to going to your neighborhood grocery store and buying the "regular stuff". And in these days most people, well, they just can’t do that no matter how much they would want to.

Now as a builder we have kind of experienced some of the same issues. We got a special certification to build a green home, but what we found is that people really liked the idea, but when they got the price tag on these items (that we as the builder had absolutely no say so in) these "green products" became a lot less important. So as with anything else you become innovative. We wanted to give the buyer a great product, a green product, to where in the long run not only would it be good (or better) for the environment but also would have our buyer save money in the long run. So we looked at these green products that could really make a difference and used those. Really weed out the more expensive products that the consumer in the long run really didn’t want to spend the extra money on and use the products that someone could get their monies worth and still be energy efficient and "green".

For instance, we did the green home in Pine Island Florida (1st green home on Pine Island) and the house is 1505 sq. ft. living area. Some of the "green features" include R-19 Batt Insulation for exterior walls, R-30 for ceiling open cell spray foam insulation, high impact windows, etc., etc., etc. many green products. A truly wonderful, beautiful, GREEN home. And they definitely get their monies worth with about 60.00 a month in electric bills. Nice bang for your buck don’t you think?

Then we have several homes that upgraded to the energy efficient packages which include the R-19 open cell spray foam insulation, energy efficient windows (high impact) and an upgraded energy efficient A/C unit. For instance this house that has 3016 sq. ft. of living space. They have a pool that they run for 7 hours a day 7 days a week and they keep their AC at 78'. Their electric bills for this summer (being as warm as it has been) was:
June - $198.00
July - $220.40
August - $238.90

Alright, so if you are not from Florida you may think those electric bills are pretty high. No, not at all. In Florida you run your AC constantly and run your pool and you just use a lot of electricity compared to other places in the states. So let me compare it for you and you decide if it's worth it or not. A friend of ours has a home that's about 1500 sq. ft. living area (not a Tundra Home). They run their pool for about 8 hours a day 7 days a week; they keep their AC at about 76' (which they just put a new AC unit so you will see the amounts getting lighter). This summer this is what it looked like for them:

June - $344.31

July - $329.46

August - $282.29

So compare that to the green home, which are the same sq. feet. About 5-6 times higher, yes you heard that right 5-6 times HIGHER. Then you compare it to the 2nd home - that 2nd home is twice the size and yet about 1.5 x higher.

So is "going green" important. Depends on how you look at it. If you want lower monthly bills, and help save the environment than you might just say not just yes but...um... HECK YES!

Cape Coral - Is it a place where you want to live? Part I

2011-09-22T08:29:00.000-07:00

Relocating is a very hard decision. Whether you are young and thinking about leaving the comforts of your home for the first time, or you have a family that you are thinking about uprooting, or your newly retired. It's a hard decision. Not just if you are going to go somewhere new - but where you are going to go. Why?  Well, many reasons.  You got the obvious reasons such as leaving friends and family, but then a place may look like a great place to live but fear sets in because you wont really know until you live there. So I thought about adding this ongoing section to our blog to help people that are not from here learn more and more about beautiful Cape Coral.

Cape Coral is a surrounded by 400 miles of canals. There is no other place that has so many opportunities for ones to live on the water including many properties that have river access.    In fact Cape Coral is ranked #2 in the best places to retire according to Money magazine.   Lower taxes, cheap housing and a gentle climate. Then you have the many things that will keep you busy such as golf courses, boating, biking trails, parks, beaches, palm trees, kind people, and much wildlife. You definitely wont get bored here.

Pricing on homes are very affordable.   You can buy a lot (which will depend on where you are in the Cape, and the type of water access you want) and you can have a new home built starting at just 154,000 with no hidden fees. A home that back in the boom was probably closer to 250,000-350,000.

Back in the boom, Cape Coral was becoming the new up and coming place.  Then the economy hit and put a halt on that idea for awhile. But we locals see a change.  A host of new restaurants, shops and offices have made the South Cape the choice destination to open a business this year.

There are about 11 new eateries in town that I can think of. One being Ciao Wood Fire Pizza. Dont be mistaken it's not all pizza. It's just down the street from our office so we pop in there from time to time. Such a cute place and yes the pizza is OUTSTANDING! But they have a full Italien menu. It's the cutest little restaurant and the food is great. But that is what you will find in Cape Coral. Many hole in the wall places, instead of chains, that are superb. Why? This is just speculation from living here, but everyone here sees a glimpse of hope of better times and they just put their ALL into their businesses. So things are just better. Local people, fantastic products, hard work. Who could ask for more?

Hard time finding a Lender?

2011-09-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest problems that people complain about is that they feel it's nearly impossibly to get a loan these days. With banks tightening their belt, many people are finding it hard to find someone to loan them money for a home.

We saw an ad in a magazine for a company called weemba. Check it out at http://www.weemba.com/. It's a pretty cool concept. (I am talking not from experience because I haven't used them but I did look through the website and researched it a bit and found it compelling).

The borrower puts their infomation in their program and the project they are going to be working on. The borrower can publish what they feel comfortable with. Then the lender (or lender's) search for different projects and if they want to work with you then they will contact you to go further.

So this is not only good for people who find it difficult to find a loan, but also for everyone else who wants to get the best deal out there. I think this may be the new wave for loans. Pretty great idea huh?

New home vs. Foreclosure or Short Sale

2011-09-15T07:59:00.000-07:00

I found an article that I thought was very interesting and very informative by Robert Burton, vice president of sales and marketing at The Hofmann Company...so I thought I would share.

A common misconception among homebuyers is the idea that the best home values in today's market are foreclosures. While there are some good deals on homes in foreclosure, for most buyers, buying a new home is actually the better value.

What makes buying a new home a better value?
For starters, when you purchase a new home you are protected by a warranty. As Burton points out, "If anything goes wrong, the home is covered by the builder's one-year limited warranty on workmanship and materials, as well as a ten-year structural warranty." You have peace of mind knowing there won't be any unanticipated out-of-pocket repair costs to absorb.

Of course, the ultimate benefit of buying new is having the opportunity to purchase your dream home. You are the first owner and everything is pristine, sparkling, and brand new. In many cases you'll be able to customize the home, selecting items like cabinetry, countertops, and flooring. Rather than making due with someone else's choices, you have the advantage of living in a home and a neighborhood that truly reflects your taste, lifestyle and personality.

Are you prepared to roll the dice on a foreclosure?
Most buyers don't realize there are a variety of risks associated with buying a foreclosure. Perhaps the biggest concern for any potential buyer should be the fact that properties in foreclosure are sold "as is." This means there's no warranty protection and more importantly, as Burton states, "there's no stipulation on disclosures on the property."

By law, conventional sales on new or resale homes require full disclosure of any details or drawbacks on the property. The seller can be held liable if a problem arises as a result of an issue that wasn't fully disclosed at the time of the sale. With foreclosures, it's always "let the buyer beware." When you purchase a foreclosure you have no recourse against the seller if there are construction defects, environmental hazards, or problems of any kind with the home.

Additionally, when you purchase a foreclosure you can't always be sure of the condition of the home. Many homeowners stop taking care of the property when they realize they will be losing the home. Often, maintenance issues are not immediately visible, for example, having the water turned off for a long period of time can result in problems with seals and plumbing fixtures throughout the home. Buyers are forced to come out of pocket to bring the home up to an acceptable standard of living.

Then there's the issue of price. Burton notes, "You may be surprised to discover that the below market listing price is not what the property actually sells for." Foreclosure properties often attract multiple offers, with professional investors stepping in and bidding up the prices of many below-market foreclosure listings. What initially looks like an incredible deal ends up selling at a significantly higher price. Keep in mind that many foreclosure properties may also require a substantial additional investment after the sale to replace damaged fixtures, missing appliances, stained or worn-out carpets and dead landscaping.

Finally, for many, there's still a stigma attached to buying a foreclosure-a feeling of buying someone else's problems or benefiting from another family's misfortune.

What about short sales?
A short sale occurs when homeowners who want to avoid bankruptcy or foreclosure proceedings gain lender approval to sell the home for less than they owe. In a short sale situation, you are at the mercy of the lender. Even if the owner accepts your offer, the lender has the final say. Obtaining lender approval is a time consuming process, which can take upwards of thirty to sixty days. Short sales require patience and may result in disappointment since lenders frequently reject offers that are below market value.

The bottom line is peace of mind�

The reality is it's a great time to be a homebuyer. Prices are down, interest rates are extremely attractive, and the selection of available homes couldn't be better. If you're a risk taker, a foreclosure or even a short sale could be right for you. For the rest of us, Burton concludes, "When making an investment as significant as a home purchase, the bottom line is peace of mind." Buying a new home from a trusted builder in today's market promises the best of both worlds-outstanding value and peace of mind.

Small builder vs. Large builder

2011-09-13T07:49:00.000-07:00

Building a new home is one of the most exciting times for a person/family. So choosing the right company to build their new home is extremely important. Because when you purchase your home you're also buying the company that will build it.

It was said that "your satisfaction will depend on their experience, their skills, and their committment to customer service."

"As you look at homes and communities, also think about the company behind them. Before choosing which one to buy from, take a close look at each builder you are considering and ask these questions:

1. Who are they?
2. Do they build a quality home?
3 What are they like to buy from?
4. What is their after-sales service like?
5. What’s their reputation, what do others say about them?"

Saying that...let's just say I have done some of the research for you. Let me share what I have found.

Large builders will build hundreds to thousands of homes every year. Which means that their product could be good or even great. But I havent seen one of the bigger builders that didn't have some pretty horrible testimonials - along with some good ones. But here is the obvious....if they are building that many homes they just cant have the manpower to give you the time that you want as the buyer. Most people want constant updates...if they have questions they want those answered immediately. With bigger builders having so many clients, well... they just cant get to everyone the way the clients would hope for. And what happens if something is wrong with the home after the build? I am sure there is some kind of warrantee, but to get them back out to your home..well....all I have to say about that is it may be timely.

Now I am going to compare that to Tundra homes. A smaller quality builder. Do we have the product of a large builder? Absolutely! Whether its a luxury home or starter home. We can give our clients whatever they want. Plus customer service is EXTREMELY important to us. We go out of our way to show it. By regular photos during the build being emailed to our clients, by answering all questions and being available to our clients at all times, if there are changes during the build that the clients want to make we make sure they are made, and unlike most builders even after the build we try to keep in contact with our clients to make sure they truly are happy with their new Tundra home. We are not just building beautiful homes but we are also building trusting relationships.

Another thing (that some may not even know) is that Tundra homes has another business associated with it called DQS (Dave's Quality Service). It's a trim carpentry business. So whatever fancy trim work you could ever want or dream of we can make sure it happens. you may think you know exactly what you want (and we will give that to you if in fact that is what you want) but we will offer suggestions to you that you may never have even thought of. Why? Well, simply put...we specialize in it. We want you to have a beautiful home!!!

Now dont take my word for it...look at www.tundrahomes.com and you can read our clients testimonials yourself. you will see that each and every client has had a wonderful experience working with us. and let me say...if you live in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Sanibel, Captiva, Bonita Springs, or Naples you too would have a wonderful experience. Let us show you what we can do for you!!

Another happy client!!!

2011-09-08T07:31:00.000-07:00

Who wouldn't want to live on a canal in beautiful SW Florida? Whether it's

permanently or just for vacation (like this client-vacation home). Just look at the specs, granite, stainless steel appliances, tiled shower, tiled roof, beautiful pool package, and so much more. Happy clients-happy life!

Optisimistic

2011-08-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

Being in SW Florida I can say the word "Optimistic" is NOT the word that would come into a person’s mind. We have been hit hard with the economy and many are struggling. People, lots of people at that have lost their jobs and can’t find one. People that you would not even think, that once made 6 or 7 digits can’t afford even a simple life insurance policy.

Regardless, when I think of SW Florida the word that comes into my mind is Optimistic. Why? Well in short...that's how I like to look at life. Some call it unrealistic (pessimists). But I would like to ask those people what good thing has happened to them lately? What I have found is when you think that the best is going to happen you’re rarely disappointed. Why you might wonder? Well, because your eyes are open to any and all good around you and you appreciate it....to the fullest. Those same things happen to someone "realistic" (pessimists) and they would never even see it. How sad!

Most people would say that we have been fighting down here in Florida, especially if you are in the construction industry. That's not how I look at it. Nope not at all. I say "we made it". Sure is there still a struggle going on? Is it over? No! But we got through it so far and I am positive we will get through the rest.

For instance look at us...Tundra Homes. Family owned business that has been in business over 20 years. And yes we were smart, we didn’t take huge risks. In fact we are pretty conservative. But let me tell you where that has gotten us. A great reputation, wonderful friends, amazing clients, strong families and beautiful homes...did I mention beautiful homes!

But we are pretty fortunate. We get to do something we love. We get to make dreams come true. Whether it is a newly married couple who are getting their very first home or someone who has worked a very long time and is at that point in their life where they get to build their dream home. Doesn't matter to us which scenario it is. Because with either, we get to see their excitement and be the ones that they are thankful to for making it happen for them.

So yes optimistic is the word I would use. I see things improving. And I hope...no I know...it will continue.

Free Ipad

2011-08-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

So we want as much feedback as we possibly can! We were featured in the Newspress with our new Mallory plan virtual tour. Check it our and leave us your feedback. We want to be as customer friendly and useful that we can. Go to our www.tundrahomes.com and on the right side of the page is a link for you to speak to us and register to win a iPad. Go soon!

Relocating?

2011-08-19T09:57:00.000-07:00

We know that relocating to a new area can be one of the most stressful times in a persons life. So we are trying to make it as easy a transition for YOU as possible! We have partnered up with a property manager to get you in a short term rental (quick and easy), storage will be on us, and you can build a home that you will love! No more rushing to buy a home just because you dont have the time to figure out what you want. Now you have the opportunity to get exactly what you want and to have a stressless move. Welcome to beautiful SW Florida!!