Leander, TX has been named as one of the best towns for small families in the entire country! How did humble Leander earn this distinction? Leander is not only a clean, modern, cozy enclave of sweet homes but also for location. Leander is just 28 miles from downtown Austin, which is close enough to your metro needs but still far enough away to enjoy the feeling of wide-open spaces. Wildlife thrives and nature abounds here; as do families! Carneros Ranch has been developed to give these lucky families a wonderful community of homes to choose from. Designed and built by two of the nation’s top builders, Lennar, and Wilshire Homes, you are sure to find the perfect place to settle with your family.

Carneros Ranch’s location gives you easy access to surrounding wonders: Lake Travis, Devine Lake Park, and numerous municipal parks and recreational facilities. Within Carneros Ranch, you’ll enjoy a The Carneros Ranch Amenity Center featuring a sparkling jr. Olympic-sized pool, a joyful children’s splash zone, and indoor and outdoor meeting and party facilities. 

Carneros Ranch offers gorgeous stately homes from the fine folks at Lennar and Wilshire Homes. Lennar Homes fulfills the promise of “everything is included.” All the upscale finishes and high-end touches are already built into the design. Wilshire Homes’ masterful use of light and space shines throughout their designs offering families a home-y, comfortable environment with a contemporary vibe you’ll love. Both builders have a range of plans available at Carneros Ranch so you can find just the right fit for you and your loved ones.

Leander, TX offers the perfect location for a growing family to stretch out and make memories. Carneros Ranch is here to give you the ideal home base from which to grow those memories. Come on home to Carneros Ranch.

The community of Meridiana offers a selection of brand new homes that includes something for everyone as well as every budget. Meridiana offers a catalog of dreamy models from the most respected home builders in the country. Whatever your needs or expectations, you will not be disappointed.

Plantation Homes are found in two different sections of Meridiana: Allegro Trails (near Freedom Field) starting from just $220,000 and Explorer’s Vale (near Galileo’s Lab, where science finds fun in the stars) with prices from the $290,000’s. 

Highland Homes offers a variety of price points. They can be found in several sections of Meridiana: Allegro Trails near Freedom Field, Zephyr Cove near Adventure Lake, and soon to be popping up at Royal Estates near Café Sol.

David Weekley Homes are budget-friendly, contemporary dwellings starting in the $250,000s. They can be found near beautiful Explorer’s Park.

Perry Homes are priced from the affordable $250,000’s. Your family can choose to be close to the entrance and Galileo’s Lab or across from Explorer’s Park.

Trendmaker Homes are to the left of the entrance and near to Galileo’s Lab. Price points there start at $250,000.

Taylor Morrison’s fine homes are centrally located and centrally-priced from the $260,000’s.

Shea Homes will be coming soon with lovely floor plans priced from the $280,000’s. They will be centrally located for easy access to the future high school, Galileo’s Lab, and Café Sol.

Lennar Homes are found on Discovery Drive right by Explorer’s Park. They are priced from the $290,000’s.

Chesmar Homes are not far from Galileo’s Lab. These homes are priced from the $290,000’s.

Drees Custom Homes start in the $340,000’s. They are in the Zephyr Cove section close to The Park at Adventure Lake.

All these award-winning builders offer timeless exterior designs, open-concept interiors, gorgeous finishes, and extensive opportunities for customization and personalization. Located just off the 288, 10 minutes south of Pearland, the Meridiana community is convenient to downtown Houston, Galveston, Sugarland, the airport, and Texas Medical Center. Stop in and visit with a professional home consultant to find your dreamy new home at Meridiana.

So, you’ve just gained the title of “homeowner” and the stress and anxiety of the home buying processes are finally over with. Now, what do you do? Don’t think that the work is done once you sign the dotted line. There are a few steps you should make after the home buying process that will make your life a little easier. We’ve got 10 helpful tips below to help you along the way.

Change the locks

Many people don’t think about taking this step when purchasing a home. With all of the open houses, realtors, and past homeowners trafficking through the home, you never know who may possess an extra set of keys or even the garage door opener. The cost to change the locks is minimal compared to both your peace of mind and the possibility of a break-in. When changing your locks, be sure to replace the hardware as well.

It’s also best to wait until the day after closing to schedule a locksmith to come out to make this change. You never know how closing can go. Sometimes it can drag on for a few more days than expected and you want to make sure that the entire deal is finalized before changing your locks.

Set up your utilities

This is probably everyone’s least favorite part about having their own living space when it’s apartment living or being a homeowner. It’s time to set up those utilities and pay deposits.

Say hello to your new neighbors

A bowl of jello or a plate of fresh-baked cookies is not required for this step. We’re not living in the ’60s, but it’s still nice to introduce yourself to your new neighbors. It’s great to form a relationship with the people you live next to. You’ll see them on a daily basis leaving and coming in and in most cases, it’s a great way to look out for one another’s homes when you’re away or form a carpool when the kids go to school.

Put your mortgage documents in a safe place

All of your documents may already be saved somewhere in the cloud or right in your email and that’s great! We may be in a new age with technology, but it’s always a good idea to make hard copies of your official mortgage documents and place them in a safe place for future reference. If for some reason, you cannot access your documents on a computer, you’ll always have a backup copy in hand.

Give your home a good deep clean

The best time to give your house a deep clean is when it’s completely empty. You won’t be able to see every spot, stain, or spider web with your house fully furnished. Take the time out to steam clean the carpets, buff the floors, wash windows, and deep clean in and around your appliances before your home becomes lived in with the day to day wear and tear. If you prefer to do it yourself, that’s great and you’ll save a few dollars, but there’s also nothing wrong with hiring a professional to get the job done and save some time.

Purchase a home warranty

A home warranty is a service contract that will repair or replace things around your home like a broken dishwasher. A warranty on your home may have come with the purchase of your home, but be sure to read the fine print. If you find that you may need extra security with another warranty, take the steps to do so.

Set aside an emergency fund

It may not sound very appealing to start yet another savings fund after shelling out the last of your savings on your new home, but this is a very important part of homeownership. Now that you’re a homeowner, there is no longer a maintenance man to fix the garbage disposal and there’s no leasing office to complain to. When something goes wrong, it’s up to you to fix it, so it’s better to be safe than sorry and has a few dollars stashed away for emergency purposes only.

Create a maintenance plan

The same way you have a maintenance plan for yourself when it comes to routine salon visits, dental appointments, and doctor visits, you should also have a maintenance plan for your home. Keeping a plan in place will prevent future problems around the house like the A/C going out in the summer or a pipe bursting in the middle of the night potentially flooding your brand new floors. Keep important numbers handy for your homes maintenance repairs.  Keep track of how long your warranties are for your major appliances and schedule “checkups” routinely to ensure everything is in good shape. 

We hope you find these tips helpful as you get settled into your new residence. 

May’s realtor of the month is Rob Bittle, real estate agent for Realty One Group Complete and our Roseville and Rocklin, CA real estate market expert.

Rob has over 10 years of experience in the real estate industry which includes buying, selling, lending, marketing, and development. Going through the buying process with Rob Bittle by your side is a plus. Not only does he have general knowledge in the real estate industry, but Rob has also worked with many contractors and purchased several fixer-uppers, so he knows a thing or two about what to look for in a home. In his spare time, Rob enjoys officiating high school sports such as football, basketball, and girls’ softball.

At Realty One Group, Rob provides the tools needed for consumers to access the same information that real estate agents have in order to make the best decision possible during the buying process. Potential home buyers have the ability to find information such as photos, features, asking price, and the home’s specific details, as well as narrow down their search with an advanced search to save time. Home buyers also receive email updates with changes in price as well as new homes added to the Sacramento market and access to speak with a real estate agent to get all of their questions answered. 

If you are looking to settle into a new Sacramento home or sell your home, contact Rob Bittle and his team of experienced real estate agents to fulfill all of your home buying and selling needs. 

The new community of Palmera by Brandywine Homes is a new development of family-friendly townhomes offering maintenance free living in Baldwin Park, CA. Conveniently located near the 10, 605, and 210 Freeways, Palmera allows easy access to shopping at Plaza West Covina, Target, and Vons, as well as local parks and recreation for the entire family such as Vineland Drive-In Theatre, The Baldwin Park Aquatics Center, and Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area. Continue your education or enroll your soon to be adults at nearby Azusa Pacific University or Cal State LA. Create memories and so much more in at your new residence at Palmera.

This community offers 3 open home designs with a maximum of 4 bedrooms and 3.5 appointed bathrooms. The homebuilder, Brandywine Homes offers you the opportunity to personalize your home with several upgrade options to make your new house a home. Some of the must-have features included at Palmera are the Spanish architecture, Dal One Quartz® countertops with integrated sinks, and Truss Joist® floor system. Enjoy a gorgeous gourmet kitchen with a Whirlpool® stainless steel Energy Star® dishwasher, a built-in Whirlpool® microwave oven, and Dal One Quartz® countertops with 6” backsplash throughout.

Decrease your carbon footprint while saving a few dollars along the way with an energy efficient home. Brandywine Homes has thought of it all with water-efficient faucets, auto shut-off motion sensors in all baths, laundry, and the garage, as well as water efficient toilets. There is also insulation in the ceiling areas and exterior walls and dual glazed white vinyl windows with Low-E glass.

Brandywine Homes was established in 1994 by founder Jim Barisic with the plan to help revitalize established neighborhoods and convert underutilized and often run-down space into needed housing. Over the years, Brandywine Homes has created new home communities located near opportunities for employment and extended families in Southern California. Brandywine’s mission is to rebuild older cities, provide a new home option, provide integrity in partnerships, and valuing resources. Be sure to purchase your Los Angeles new home with a home builder you can trust at Palmera by Brandywine Homes.