Superior Walls Factory Tour

The Stateson Homes team was recently invited to tour the production facility of our trade partner Superior Walls of Central Virginia, Inc.   Although Superior Walls was established in 1981, Superior Walls of Central Virginia opened their manufacturing facility in 2004 and began producing the insulated, precast concrete walls that we now use at Stateson Homes.  The current 50,000 square foot production facility located in Amelia, VA provides a climate controlled environment in which every wall panel can be individually formed and poured, very helpful as we endure these January days.  Superior Walls is able to control all aspects of their production by having an on-site plant to produce the concrete used in the panels.  We were able to observe the various Quality checks that were implemented at each phase of production.  As we watched this process it became more apparent than ever that this product was truly “Superior”. 

Some of the benefits of Superior Walls that we learned more about during our visit: 

1.       Superior Wall foundations are dry.  They use a special low water/cement ratio concrete that requires no additional damp proofing.

2.       They are warm, with full-length insulation built in to increase energy efficiency.  

3.       Superior Walls high strength 5000+ psi concrete is reinforced with steel rebar and polypropylene fibers for added strength and performance.

4.       The wall panels also feature convenient features like built-in accesses for wiring and stud facings for easy drywall installation with screws.

During our visit, the wall panels for our new model home, the Burwell on lot 12 of Phase 4 in Maple Ridge, were in production.  We were able to see first hand the diligent work and high quality standards that go into every wall panel we receive.  All wall panels are formed horizontally on a large production line where the components are installed, the concrete is poured, the brick impression created, and each panel allowed to dry before being loaded for delivery. It was great to be able to see the production of our panels and one week later, watch as they were set as the foundation of our newest home. 

Superior Walls offers many advantages to us, as a builder and to our customers starting with the R-12 insulation, drywall readiness, and the promptness of installation.   If you get a chance you can visit their website at www.superiorwallsva.com and www.superiorwalls.com to learn more.

Joshua Boothe

Stateson Homes

540.239.8868

Superior walls in production

Josh, George, and the Superior Walls Crew

Housing Affordability Index to Set Annual Record for 2012

Housing Affordability Index to Set Annual Record for 2012

With 11 months of data reported, 2012 will clearly go down as a record year for favorable housing affordability conditions, and a great year for buyers who could get a mortgage, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

NAR’s national Housing Affordability Index stood at 198.2 in November, based on the relationship between median home price, median family income and average mortgage interest rate. The higher the index, the greater the household purchasing power; recordkeeping began in 1970.

An index of 100 is defined as the point where a median-income household has exactly enough income to qualify for the purchase of a median-priced existing single-family home, assuming a 20 percent down payment and 25 percent of gross income devoted to mortgage principal and interest payments. For first-time buyers making small down payments, the affordability levels are relatively lower.

For all of 2012, NAR projects the housing affordability index to be a record high 194, up from 186 in 2011, which was the previous record. November’s reading was 2.5 index points below October, but up 1.5 index points from a year earlier.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home buyers are able to stay well within their means. “Although 2012 was highest on record, the excessively tight underwriting precluded many would-be homebuyers from locking-in generational low interest rates,” he says. “Rising home prices and a gradual uptrend in mortgage interest rates will offset improvements in family income, but 2013 likely will be the third best on record in terms of household buying power. A window of opportunity remains open for buyers who can qualify for a mortgage.”

NAR projects the housing affordability index to average 160 during 2013, which means on a national basis that a median-income family would have 160 percent of the income needed to purchase a median-priced existing single-family home. Conditions vary widely, with the highest buying power in the Midwest. Even in the West, where the regional index is lower, they typical family is well positioned in most markets.

NAR President Gary Thomas, broker-owner of Evergreen Realty in Villa Park, Calif., says the minor erosion in affordability conditions moving forward could be mitigated by bank and regulatory policies. “Clearer rules from the government regarding future lawsuits and buybacks of Fannie and Freddie loans could encourage banks to use their massive cash holdings to originate more loans,” he says.

“A more sensible lending environment that makes it easier for other financially qualified buyers to get a mortgage would allow many more households to enter the market, boosting home sales as much as 10 to 15 percent,” Thomas says.

Stateson Homes Builder Twenty Meeting

Stateson Homes Builder Twenty Meeting

I had the good fortune to be invited to a Builder Twenty meeting last month in Bend, Oregon.  Builder Twenty groups consist of approximately 20 builders of similar sizes, matched to share ideas and best practices with one another.  This particular group was formed in 1996 and although some have come and gone, many of the original members are still participating, including my partners at Atlantic Builders.  The group’s mission is to share best practices, provide feedback to one another, and to host expert speakers and vendors in the industry.

First off, Bend, Oregon is a great small city.  With a population about the same as the New River Valley (Blacksburg MSA), the town appears to have doubled in size since 2000.   Spas, coffee shops, and upscale restaurants are alive with customers.  The Deschutes River, a beautiful clear water river abuts one side of town and the Cascade mountain range can be seen in the background providing beautiful scenery.  Located in the high desert, cold water streams abound but the soil is dry and the plant life is what one would expect in the desert.  If you ever get a chance to visit Bend, I would strongly recommend that you do so.

Second, I would like to thank our host, Hayden Homes for providing a great forum to learn and see their operation first hand.  The wine tasting dinner they arranged allowed us to try Oregon's finest Pinot Noirs and Cabernets.   

Many builders across the country went out of business between 2008 and 2011.  Although there were many battle scars among this group, each member in this group survived and is in good position to thrive going forward.  There were many lessons to be learned from this group of business leaders, strategies that one would like to follow and ones to avoid.  There was an overall sense of pride among the members because sales have picked up in their respective markets and they realize they have weathered the storm.  Low interest rates and low inventories are returning markets to normal across the country.

As I got to know the principals of these various builders two things stood out to me.  This group of strong business leaders had a strong commitment to customer service and they all understood the importance of training, developing, and maintaining a professional team of employees.

One reason that these companies survived is the strong value they placed on customer service.   Although each of these members had pressures coming from many directions such as bank loans being recalled on land positions, downsizing their staffs, and appraisals falling through, they never forgot about the customer. They recognized that doing the "right thing" for their customers, trade partners, and other stakeholders was the number one priority despite the other issues going on.    I attribute their ability to survive in large part to the high standards these individuals had cultivated in their organization.  They stand by their homes. Great Customer Service EQUALS More Sales and this group understood that equation.

The other common theme I saw from the meeting was an understanding that the organization is only as good as the team they had assembled.  It is essential to provide the resources and time to train and develop a team of employees to enhance the customer experience as well as the bottom line.  Developing a culture that attracts talented people and provides the training for them to grow and expand their skills is important in any industry.  The builders that had this culture before the downturn were much more likely to survive.  Those that have it today will continue to gain market share and become the leaders in the industry of the future. 

When and if you look to build a new home, make sure you builder understands the importance of these two points.  Choose a builder that has been tested in the industry and can manage the process.  It is one thing to know how a home goes together, but it is a different skill set to manage the multiple challenges during the process that protect you, the home buyer.  Choose a builder that places an emphasis on doing the right thing.  There are over 300,000 different parts in a new home and occasionally, even the best companies have things go wrong.  Make sure you are confident that your builder has the financial means and a track record of doing the right thing by their customers.  And finally, choose a builder that hires, trains, and develops a staff of high potential managers.  It is your investment in a new home that they will be managing and you should expect a qualified team to serve you along the way.

Stateson Homes understands these values.  Our team has been directly responsible for building over 2000 new homes.  We have assembled a team of top notch individuals to assist you before, during, and after the construction of your new home.  Visit us at www.StatesonHomes.com to learn more.

Todd Robertson

www.StatesonHomes.com

Your Home's Skin - The Thermal Building Envelope - and Stateson Homes' Care

At Stateson Homes we place great focus and effort on the thermal building envelope of your home during designing, planning and constructing your home.  As defined by the Building Science Institute, the building or thermal envelope of a home consists of the following: “…the components that make up the shell or skin of the building. These components separate the exterior of the building from the interior, and are designed by the project architect or engineers to meet the needs of each individual home. The building envelope may also be defined as the components that separate conditioned areas from unconditioned space. Exterior or unheated living spaces are not included inside the envelope, while any living space that is equipped with heat or air conditioning would be included.”

Accordingly, there are four primary functions of the building envelope: adding structural support, controlling moisture and humidity, regulating temperature, and controlling air flow exchanges between the interior and exterior of the home. By maintaining these different areas, the envelope also impacts ventilation and energy use within the building.

For the purposes of this article we will focus on only 5 of these components and how the installation of these systems will maximize the long term energy efficiency and health of your home.  Let’s look at these 5 components from a foundation to roof approach. 

1.       Foundation Insulation and Moisture Control.  Stateson Homes utilizes a rigid foam board insulation installed continuously on the foundation walls to a thickness of R-12.5.  This material is bonded directly to the concrete and increases the energy efficiency to help reduce energy costs.  With the use of 5,000 psi concrete that is moisture resistant you are guaranteed a foundation that will be free of moisture infiltration and provides a drainage plane which directs water away from the foundation. 

2.       Sealed Duct Work.  All joints and unions in the ductwork system are continuously sealed with a sealant that prevents air leakage, and increases the efficiency of the heating and air conditioning system.  By reducing the air leakage within the system, the efficiency of the system dramatically increases, and allows the HVAC designer to reduce the size of the overall system equipment; which reduces energy bills and makes the home more comfortable.  In addition, Stateson Homes goes to great lengths to keep all the equipment, duct work and mechanical systems components within the thermal envelope of the home.  This reduces the lengths of the duct work and increases the efficiency of the overall mechanical system by reducing heat gain/loss through thermal dynamics.

3.       Air Sealing.  Through the use of advanced framing techniques which reduce the use of redundant materials we are able to reduce thermal bridging between the interior and exterior of the home and install more insulation in the exterior walls of the home.  In addition, any exterior penetrations through the thermal envelope such as joints; where different materials come together; switches and outlets are continuously sealed with expansive foam or caulk.  This provides an extraordinarily tight seal which reduces air leakage from the home.

4.       Energy Efficient Windows.  The windows in a home provide great views, fresh air and the opportunity for substantial reduction in energy efficiency!  Through a partnership with Atrium Windows and Lansing Building Products, Stateson Homes utilizes windows that are Energy Star® Rated, double-paned, and filled with argon gas; to provide additional insulation; and a Low-E coating which reduces solar thermal heat gain. 

5.       Attic and Wall Insulation.  At Stateson Homes we provide a combination of fiberglass side wall insulation which is installed after our Air Sealing Program.  This helps in completely filling the wall cavity space with insulation.  In addition, blown insulation in the attic is installed to an insulated value of R-38.  Minimizing the need for equipment and unnecessary trips to the attic space will ensure the insulation is kept in place and not adjusted; decreasing the potential for cold spots. 

These are just a few of the highlights of the different components of your home’s thermal building envelope, and the importance it brings to your home’s performance and health.  Make sure you ask how your potential home builder addresses these areas. There are many ways to achieve an efficient building envelope and the home building industry is ever evolving to develop new products to reduce energy use and increase the home’s energy efficiency.  However, it is important to remember that having the newest gadget or product on the market installed in your home may not provide a greater value than a building process and system installed in an effective and efficiently designed manner.  The installation and design of an effective system will contribute to comfort and savings for years to come. 

~ By George Grundler, Stateson Homes

Introducing The Burwell at Brittany Meadows in Blacksburg, VA

Stateson Homes is excited to announce the release of the Burwell model at Brittany Meadows at Maple Ridge.  The Burwell is 2,560 square feet and can easily be expanded to well over 3,000 square feet, not including the basement.   Many upgraded features such as a luxury owner’s bath, 42” maple kitchen cabinets, and nine foot first floor ceilings are standard in the Burwell.  TheBurwell starts at $324,900. The Burwell can be expanded by choosing from an impressive list of customizing options such as a morning room, a sun room, a four foot extension of the family room, and a finished basement.  Please visit our website at StatesonHomes.com and follow the link to Brittany Meadows at Maple Ridge to view the floor plan of the Burwell.

Check back in the next few weeks as the long awaited Chesapeake model is finally released.   

To see more new homes in Blacksburg, visit www.StatesonHomes.com

NEW Luxury Villas & Estate Homes Coming to Heron's Landing along the New River & VA Tech Pete Dye Golf Course

Stateson Homes www.StatesonHomes.com is excited to announce our recent agreement with Stellar One Bank to begin selling homes in Heron’s Landing at the River.  Heron’s Landing sits along the banks of the New River in Radford, VA.  It is one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in the United States.  It offers views of the New River, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and The River Course, a Pete Dye designed golf course that is home to the Virginia Tech Golf Team. 

The Golf Course is open to the public and the clubhouse is home to the Bull and Bones restaurant and micro-brewery.  Residents of Heron’s Landing can walk to both the Bull and Bones and The River Company restaurant, located just outside of the community entrance, to enjoy fine dining, live music, and incredible views of the New River.

Centrally located, Heron’ Landing is approximately 10 miles from downtown Blacksburg and the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, 3 miles to Radford University, and 5 miles to The New River Carilion Medical Center.

Stateson Homes will be offering luxury villas starting from $239,900 and single-family estate homes starting from $294,900.  Sales will begin in August 2012.  To sign up for our Priority List and become eligible for our grand opening incentive package, send us an email at info@StatesonHomes.com .

Meet Brittany Meadows at Maple Ridge - Custom homes just minutes from VA Tech

Neighborhood amenties include
clubhouse, pool & more!

Brittany Meadows at Maple Ridge is officially off and running. We have 3 homes under construction and 3 more ready to start over the next few weeks. We are fortunate to have 3 of our 4 house types under construction so that we can show off our various house types and quality workmanship while they are under construction.

A presold Richmond on lot 58 will be in drywall the week of June 18^th, the Lexington on lot 10 is currently in rough mechanicals, and a presold Sweetbriar on lot 61 is in the foundation phase. Two more Richmond house types have been sold and are part of our next 3 starts. The third home will be a Burwell. This new two story floor plan with 4 bedrooms and 2600-3600 square feet will be our new model home on lot 12.

If you are in the market for a new home, or you know someone that is, you will want to look at "The Lexington model" on lot 10. It has a morning room and triple windows in the rear of the home that overlook a spectacular view of the mountains and a rolling valley. This home site has community open space on the left side and to the rear offering a private setting. Many mature trees border the back property line adding to the already impressive views. This home has a walk out basement with multiple full size windows and 9-foot basement walls. There are over 1,200 square feet of finished space and a full bath in the basement alone. This home will also have granite countertops, a gas fireplace, and upgraded brushed nickel Moen faucets. There is still time to select flooring and cabinetry. Priced at only $363,490 it is a value seldom seen in Blacksburg.

We'll post more more updates about Blacksburg home building and constructing new homes in general, so check back soon!