You have probably heard that interest rates have plunged to record lows in recent weeks. The average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.66 percent in the latest survey of major lenders taken Aug. 4. Low interest rates in the current market make it the opportune time to buy or build a new home with Mega Homes.

“Historically, interest rates are at an all-time low right now, and typically Mega Homes’ clients are move-up buyers, so the low interest rates benefit them even more,” says mortgage industry expert Aaron McClay of Fairway Financial. “The savings are tremendous on a 30-year mortgage, but if a buyer is able to work with a 15-year mortgage, the savings multiply immediately because less interest is being paid.”

When interest rates are low there are a number of benefits for you as a home buyer. A potential home buyer can obtain a mortgage more cheaply than they normally would, which translates into much lower payments over the life of the loan.

Even a slight decrease in interest rates makes a huge difference in payments and also in purchase power. Not only do lower monthly payments allow you to purchase more home for your dollar, more money is going to the purchase price of the home rather than toward interest. Mega Homes brings upscale features and distinction to the interior and exterior of your home.

Call Aaron at 612-987-2761 or email him for more information. For your convenience, here’s a link to a great mortgage calculator.

by Meg Dehn

Pictures speak 1000 words…. In March, I was fortunate enough to experience my first Mission Trip.  My 11 year old daughter, Angela accompanied me and 6 others on a trip to Reynosa, Mexico.  The group was coordinated by a friend/Mega Homes’ homeowner.  Di Anna has been on many mission trips to this area of Mexico throughout her life and with the help of “Border of Hope” missionaries, she planned a trip of a lifetime for all of us.

We slept in Texas and worked in Mexico for 5 days.  Our days consisted of prayer time, crossing the border, and working with wonderful Mexican adults and children at a church and the pastor’s family home.  We painted the ceiling and walls of the church.  The youth in our group painted the church pews and we assisted in building an addition on the pastor’s home. 

The gracious people of the community where we worked made us an authentic Mexican lunch on our last day, which we truly enjoyed. We relaxed in conversation; while watching the American and Mexican children (and some adults) play a heated game of soccer.

We definitely made an impact by putting the finishing touches on a church where the community was already gathering in praise and we were able to help the Pastor and his family by enlarging their home. 

However, the impact was really on the eight of us, who were fortunate enough to be taught the big lessons of life; acceptance, humility, graciousness and real love!  Those who have less… truly seem to have more.

We came back home; to our families, our work and our schools and life does go on.  However, three months later and I continue to see the angelic faces of our new friends, very clearly in my mind.  I won’t forget the beauty we witnessed in some pretty ugly situations, the wonderful Kincaid family who gave up their life in Chicago to start “Border of Hope” missionary group and our group of 8 who went on this journey with open hearts and open minds…  only to be changed, spiritually, for a lifetime.

Stay tuned as we hope to plan another trip to help with more construction projects in the very near future.  It is a border worth crossing!

Click on the link below for more information about “Border of Hope”.  

Border of Hope

“We do not believe in large houses with many rooms elaborately decorated and furnished, for the reason that these seem so essentially an outcome of the artificial conditions that lay such harassing burdens upon modern life…

That is why we have from the first planned houses that are based on the fundamental principles of honesty, simplicity and usefulness…”

Gustav Stickley

An American furniture maker, Gustav Stickley began his work in upstate New York, studied in England and returned to America prior to 1900.  His trademark was craftsman furniture, which followed with the publication of “The Craftsman”, a magazine that boasted the styles of the bungalow movement in America.  He also produced house plans and offered his design services.  He truly was an icon in the Arts & Crafts industry and Stickley’s passion for the Craftsman Architecture and style was felt throughout America.

Operating a custom home building business today, I have followed some of Stickley’s design ideas while attempting to create homes that offer the innovation and technology of 2010, but are complimented by the simplistic and practical ideals of English Arts & Crafts homes.

During the last two weekends of the Parade of Homes, offering 358 new homes to tour throughout the Twin Cities; be sure to tour them with a keen eye on space.

• Get a strong feeling for how your family would use ALL space and prioritize what rooms and features are the most important to how you live as individuals.
• Be sure to study the outdoor space as well.  What is available to you now?  How can you add to the landscaping and outdoor living areas over time?
• Ask the builder for ideas and request a landscape plan so you can start your research before spring officially hits.
• Buying a model home in the Twin Cities is a financially sound decision right now.  Prices for new homes are extremely competitive and they offer warranties, innovative products and custom designs and should truly be turn key.
• As a move-up buyer, you will gain equity quickly, especially if you plan on living in the home for several years.

Follow the link below for more details about our Parade Model Home #273 in Nature’s Crossing, at the crossroads of Maple Grove and Dayton.

Edgewood Parade Home

by Meg Dehn

Windows tend to be a frontrunner when homebuyers are looking at options in their new home.  However, considering the importance of energy savings, climatic changes in Minnesota and simply the desire for beautiful windows with classic design, it is amazing  that many are willing to “settle” for a lesser window.

Whether you are looking in the new or used market, be sure to educate yourself on windows prior to your first home tour.  Know what you are looking for on the interior & exterior of the windows.

• Take a look at the window jambs, and the casing to see if there has been moisture damage.
• Open and close the windows to test the ease of operation.  Ask about cleaning options…  Andersen has a “Tilt Wash” window that allows you to swing double hung windows in with ease for quick cleaning.
• On the outside, check to see if the windows are clad or wood.  Will they need to be maintained in the future and are you willing to sacrifice time and quality for a lesser window?
• Ask about the window glass; is it Low E glass and how does it perform in extreme cold and extreme heat conditions?

Mega Homes has used Andersen Windows exclusively for over 10 years, based on our belief that they are the best quality built window, with an exceptional warranty, at an affordable price.  Below are some facts about Andersen Windows and a link to their website for more information….  go ahead, educate yourself!

Andersen Advantage
Our wood interiors feature superb styling — with no visible finger joint seams. Natural wood provides structural stability and is one of the most effective insulators available. For added reliability we treat the frame and sash parts with wood preservative.

Andersen Advantage
All Andersen® windows and doors feature the Perma-Shield® system, which protects the window’s exterior beautifully for decades.* It also eliminates the need to paint—and repaint.

Andersen Advantage
Ordinary dual-pane glass lets 62% of UV light pass through. Our High-Performance™ Low-E glass cuts that down to 17% with virtually no effect on the clarity and color of the light.
With Low-E glass, if your thermostat is set at 70°, the temperature of the innermost glass pane won’t drop below 57° even if it’s 0° outside. In warm climates, Low-E glass works just as hard to keep your home cool. For extreme climates, we also offer High-Performance Sun™ glass for maximum UV protection and temperature control.

Andersen Windows

by Meg Dehn

If you’ve spent any time in the last 3-4 years looking at new homes, you have surely noticed that the sizes of new homes have slowly decreased.  It makes one ponder the question, are the Mc Mansions slowly becoming a home of the past?  Don’t misinterpret me; I think large homes will always have a market share in most regions, but that market share has declined.  Quoted from Builder Magazine, November 2009, “Even for those who can afford them, trophy homes constitute an image problem at a time when modesty has become fashionable.  One recent CNNMoney.com poll asked more than 33,000 online readers if they thought American homes had gotten too big; 69 percent said yes.”

At Mega Homes, we’ve always concentrated on designing homes that use every inch of the space; trying to avoid rarely used rooms by creating “flex space” and doing away with long hallways and oversized rooms that are simply wasted square footage.  This design philosophy has been popular with our customer niche, but in the past not all buyer’s recognize the value of well planned space. However, with the changes in the economy, it seems that most individuals do much soul searching as to what is truly important in life.  Housing costs and therefore home sizes seem to be one of the biggest areas of reflection.  Now more buyer’s are looking for homes that are designed around their family’s lifestyles.

If you are in the market for a new or used home, keep these things in mind:

• What spaces does your family use most of the time?
• What rooms could your family do without?
• Are there two rooms in your current home that could be combined as one; such as a guest room and computer room? 
• When designing and building a new home, be sure you consider a “Bonus Room” above the garage.  This space is so valuable!  You can add 300-400 square feet for well under $20,000 when designed correctly.  And this space can be used in many different ways as your family’s needs change through the years.
• In your current home, are there rooms with misplaced windows and doors that cause chaos when trying to furnish that room?  Watch for this when designing or buying your new home.
• How much time does your family spend outdoors?  The warm weather months in Minnesota are deeply cherished.  Consider setting aside a portion of your budget to create comfortable and well designed outdoor space; whether it be a screened porch, a partially covered courtyard, an outdoor kitchen or bar…  the ideas are endless!

No matter what the size of the home you are pursuing, using ALL the space well is integral.  Why throw money away on something you’ll never use?