Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Woman-Centric Background
I thought that since our first Woman-Centric floor plan will soon be under construction in Linden, it might be good to give some insight into what it all really means. At first glance, this idea of Woman-Centric might seem to be just a creative marketing scheme. However, you will see that it is not just a new way of building a more useful, relaxing home, but it is also new way of providing the best customer service possible.
In 2005, it was reported at the National Association of Home Builders that “Women are the sole or primary decision makers in 91% of new home purchases.” After conducting 1000’s of hours of research, in 2006 Merillat, America’s largest cabinetry brand proclaimed “Women are the target market for home builders.”
America’s largest residential design firm, Design Basics, has been specifically researching women homebuyers’ preferences in home designs since 2003. During the previous decade, the majority of their firm’s research had been with men. But an article in FORBES magazine, attributing Lowes success against their bigger rival Home Depot was due to Lowes’ recognition that “she” was the key decision maker, encouraged Design Basics seek the input from female homebuyers. Women from all parts of the country, with differing backgrounds and varying levels of financial resources have participated in their research, which continues today.
In addition to being asked to critique the company’s home designs and describe their dream home, women identified what they were frustrated with in their current homes. Design Basics used focus groups, online and telephone surveys, model home interviews and spent time with women in their current homes observing aspects of design. All to better understand how these women wanted their homes to “live”. Paul Foresman with Design Basics points out, “I’ve been married 27 years and thought I knew what women wanted in a new home. But our research findings continue to amaze me. Flat out, many of my assumptions were wrong. And as guys, we simply overlooked design amenities that we’ve learned are very important to women.”
At Raymus Homes, we believe the woman-centric approach is better. The home designs are better because they truly focus on how the home “lives”. We’ve developed a new appreciation for the products included in our homes—again based on women’s feedback. And all of our buyers benefit from our emphasis on delivering a great customer experience.
If you have any questions about the Woman-Centric Matters approach or want to see what we've been up to, please contact us at 887-2172 or ryan@raymushomes.com.
You can take our Woman-Centric personality quiz on our website at www.raymushomes.com
In 2005, it was reported at the National Association of Home Builders that “Women are the sole or primary decision makers in 91% of new home purchases.” After conducting 1000’s of hours of research, in 2006 Merillat, America’s largest cabinetry brand proclaimed “Women are the target market for home builders.”
America’s largest residential design firm, Design Basics, has been specifically researching women homebuyers’ preferences in home designs since 2003. During the previous decade, the majority of their firm’s research had been with men. But an article in FORBES magazine, attributing Lowes success against their bigger rival Home Depot was due to Lowes’ recognition that “she” was the key decision maker, encouraged Design Basics seek the input from female homebuyers. Women from all parts of the country, with differing backgrounds and varying levels of financial resources have participated in their research, which continues today.
In addition to being asked to critique the company’s home designs and describe their dream home, women identified what they were frustrated with in their current homes. Design Basics used focus groups, online and telephone surveys, model home interviews and spent time with women in their current homes observing aspects of design. All to better understand how these women wanted their homes to “live”. Paul Foresman with Design Basics points out, “I’ve been married 27 years and thought I knew what women wanted in a new home. But our research findings continue to amaze me. Flat out, many of my assumptions were wrong. And as guys, we simply overlooked design amenities that we’ve learned are very important to women.”
At Raymus Homes, we believe the woman-centric approach is better. The home designs are better because they truly focus on how the home “lives”. We’ve developed a new appreciation for the products included in our homes—again based on women’s feedback. And all of our buyers benefit from our emphasis on delivering a great customer experience.
If you have any questions about the Woman-Centric Matters approach or want to see what we've been up to, please contact us at 887-2172 or ryan@raymushomes.com.
You can take our Woman-Centric personality quiz on our website at www.raymushomes.com
Saturday, January 9, 2010
New Year's Resolutions Guide
Now that we are well into the New Year, here is something I found to be useful in helping us all keep our New Year's resolutions....
New Year's Resolutions Guide
New Year's Resolutions Guide
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Raymus Homes, Inc is now a Woman-Centric Homebuilder
Find out what makes us a Woman-Centric Homebuilder
http://www.raymushomes.com/whywomancentric.html
Take the 'Finally About Me' quiz here - find out what type of home fits your personality
http://fam.quantabasics.com/quiz.aspx?client=raymus
http://www.raymushomes.com/whywomancentric.html
Take the 'Finally About Me' quiz here - find out what type of home fits your personality
http://fam.quantabasics.com/quiz.aspx?client=raymus
Saturday, November 7, 2009
GOOD NEWS HOME BUYERS! FEDERAL TAX CREDIT EXTENDED
2009-2010 Home Buyer Federal Tax Credit Fact Sheet
Who is Eligible
•First-time home buyers, who are defined by the law as buyers who have not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase, may be eligible for up to an $8,000 tax credit.
•Existing home owners who have been residing in their principal residence for five consecutive years out of the last eight and are purchasing a home to be their principal residence (“repeat buyer”), may be eligible for up to a $6,500 tax credit.
•All U.S. citizens who file taxes are eligible to participate in the program.
Income Limits
•Home buyers who file as single or head-of-household taxpayers can claim the full credit ($8,000 for first-time buyers and $6,500 for repeat buyers) if their modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is less than $125,000.
•For married couples filing a joint return, the combined income limit is $225,000.
•Single or head-of-household taxpayers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000, and married couples who earn between $225,000 and $245,000 are eligible to receive a partial credit.
•The credit is not available for single taxpayers whose MAGI is greater than $145,000 and married couples with a MAGI that exceeds $245,000.
Effective Dates
•The eligibility period for the tax credit is for homes purchased after Nov. 6, 2009, and before May 1, 2010. However, home purchases subject to a binding sales contract signed by April 30, 2010, will qualify for the tax credit provided closing occurs prior to July 1, 2010.
Types of Homes that Qualify
•All homes with a purchase price of less than $800,000 qualify, including newly-constructed or resale, and single-family detached, townhomes or condominiums, provided that the home will be used as their principal residence. Vacation home and rental property purchases do NOT qualify.
Tax Credit is Refundable
•A refundable credit means that if the amount of income taxes you owe is less than the credit amount you qualify for, the government will send you a check for the difference.
•For example:
◦A first-time buyer who qualifies for the full $8,000 credit who owes $5,000 in federal income taxes would pay nothing to the IRS and receive a $3,000 payment from the government. If you are due to receive a $1,000 refund, you would receive $9,000 ($1,000 plus the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit).
◦A repeat buyer who owes $5,000 would pay nothing to the IRS and receive $1,500 back from the government. If you are due to get a $1,000 refund, you would get $7,500 ($1,000 plus the $6,500 repeat buyer tax credit).
•All qualified home buyers can take the tax credit on their 2009 or 2010 income tax return.
Payback Provisions
•The tax credit is a true credit. It does not have to be repaid unless the home owner sells or stops using the home as their principal residence within three years after the purchase.
The www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com site is being updated. Please check the site next week for more detailed information on the new tax credit!
Who is Eligible
•First-time home buyers, who are defined by the law as buyers who have not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase, may be eligible for up to an $8,000 tax credit.
•Existing home owners who have been residing in their principal residence for five consecutive years out of the last eight and are purchasing a home to be their principal residence (“repeat buyer”), may be eligible for up to a $6,500 tax credit.
•All U.S. citizens who file taxes are eligible to participate in the program.
Income Limits
•Home buyers who file as single or head-of-household taxpayers can claim the full credit ($8,000 for first-time buyers and $6,500 for repeat buyers) if their modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is less than $125,000.
•For married couples filing a joint return, the combined income limit is $225,000.
•Single or head-of-household taxpayers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000, and married couples who earn between $225,000 and $245,000 are eligible to receive a partial credit.
•The credit is not available for single taxpayers whose MAGI is greater than $145,000 and married couples with a MAGI that exceeds $245,000.
Effective Dates
•The eligibility period for the tax credit is for homes purchased after Nov. 6, 2009, and before May 1, 2010. However, home purchases subject to a binding sales contract signed by April 30, 2010, will qualify for the tax credit provided closing occurs prior to July 1, 2010.
Types of Homes that Qualify
•All homes with a purchase price of less than $800,000 qualify, including newly-constructed or resale, and single-family detached, townhomes or condominiums, provided that the home will be used as their principal residence. Vacation home and rental property purchases do NOT qualify.
Tax Credit is Refundable
•A refundable credit means that if the amount of income taxes you owe is less than the credit amount you qualify for, the government will send you a check for the difference.
•For example:
◦A first-time buyer who qualifies for the full $8,000 credit who owes $5,000 in federal income taxes would pay nothing to the IRS and receive a $3,000 payment from the government. If you are due to receive a $1,000 refund, you would receive $9,000 ($1,000 plus the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit).
◦A repeat buyer who owes $5,000 would pay nothing to the IRS and receive $1,500 back from the government. If you are due to get a $1,000 refund, you would get $7,500 ($1,000 plus the $6,500 repeat buyer tax credit).
•All qualified home buyers can take the tax credit on their 2009 or 2010 income tax return.
Payback Provisions
•The tax credit is a true credit. It does not have to be repaid unless the home owner sells or stops using the home as their principal residence within three years after the purchase.
The www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com site is being updated. Please check the site next week for more detailed information on the new tax credit!
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