Warrantied Work

Last week I met with Jimmy who will be overseeing any and all warranty work I need completed on my home. He was prompt, professional and courteous. We went over some paperwork, he explained how things work and told me how to get in contact with him. We also went over a few things in my home that need to be addressed. He made a list and we talked about each and what he would do for each one. Last, we set up a time and date where he could have workers come and complete the work. Its all very straightforward and simple. Im happy with the service Im receiving thus far and am very happy with my home.

Today the crews showed up to complete the work that I asked to have fixed; the ceiling fan on my back porch needed to have the board above it replaced, a couple of my kitchen cabinets needed new skins, a baseboard wasn't painted (primed, but not painted) and the floor in my master bath needed to be caulked where the tile meets the tub. Each crew came in and was in and out fairly quickly. The back patio took the longest and the poor painters have to wait around. However the guys doing the skins in the kitchen worried me most. One of the fellows was having a hard time breathing (perhaps he was asthmatic?) and he was sweating really badly and seeming to not move around well. I was a little nervous that he would keel over in my kitchen. Consequently, he cut the board wrong and then the installer broke it, and low and behold, they'll have to come back again.

Overall this process seems simple and, as long as I keep a list of things I come across that need attention, it will work fine.

First Weekend as a Homeowner

This weekend was the first weekend of my whole entire life as a homeowner. When I arrived at school to pick the girls up, I brought their keys, jingling in my hand. Their faces said it all: long awaited happiness and excitement.

We took over our air mattresses, a cooler with some water, and a few other things that we'd need. We basically setup camp so we could spend the weekend there enjoying the house. And we did. It felt so good to be there. On Sunday morning it rained! I loved listening to it. My yard and new trees loved it, too, I'm sure.

This picture is the first sunrise I was able to witness as a homeowner. It's a cool, brisk day and looks like rain. The sunrise will be lovely to see everyday while I get ready for work.

 Today the wood blinds rep came and measured. It'll take about two weeks or so for them to arrive.  In the meantime I put up temp shades over the windows in the areas we were using (gameroom, bedroom, baths, etc). Next my IKEA sofa and the girls' beds arrived. Tomorrow they'll get assembled. Soon I need to order the appliances and mattresses.

Closing Day!

I'm a homeowner!!!!

Day 160: Tomorrow is Closing!

Today is Day 160. Its the final day of the fourth 40-day period in this home building journey. The first period was hard because I was so eager to get started only to have to wait. The second period was a little better because there was something to see during this time but, still required patience. In the third period, the building caught up to my excitement with its daily changes and the surrealism of it all. But this last period has been the best. I've gotten to see my house become a home made with all of the details I picked out. It's a place I am proud to call my home and I am looking forward to moving my family in and live the life I envisioned us living here.

People often look at you like you need your head examined when you mention you're going to build a house. I can honestly say it's been the best decision I've made. KB Home makes the process easy and enjoyable from day one to day 160.

I've been able to appreciate every piece of lumber, drywall, nail, etc. that has gone into my home. My kids started a "scrapbox" (if you will) of all the pieces of material we found. It has a bit of everything from nails to copper wire to a bit of shingle to a siding sample. There's a bit of marble, some foam, a cabinet scrap and so much more. Every bit we saw go in, knew what it was for and can appreciate its piece of this 3D puzzle that has become our new home.

If you baulk at the notion of building, just remember you give up the opportunity to reap the riches that come with the experience. My kids and I have many memories now, ones I'm sure they will tell their own kids about one day. And, I like knowing where my pipes and water lines are. I like knowing where my studs are without having to use a stud finder. I like knowing that I know my home from the inside out. I took pictures of it all! One day, if I ever move, I'll be able to provide the new owner with a wealth of information about their house.

That said, here is my final update before I close tomorrow:

I had my final walk-thru today with Raymond. All the paint touch ups were done. There were only a few things left to be done such as adding a piece of bullnose molding to the bathroom cabinet, restaining part of the railing, and then just going over things that were on the list to be fixed. They got it all knocked out!

There is only one more thing that needs done and that was installing the water filter by the kitchen sink.  Pur is supposed to get doing that in the morning. 

Overall, the house looks so beautiful! I can't wait to get the keys tomorrow!

Day 143: Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Erin go bragh!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Day 109: A Cold and Rainy Day

Today is another cold, and now rainy day. The wet may freeze tonight when temps reach below freezing. Like yesterday, workers are keeping warm in other homes that need insulating and walls and such. Work on mine will pickup again once the weather flips back to warm. Until then, adding another picture to our journey.

Day 103: Mortgage Credit Certificate

When I first looked into buying my first home, one of the first things I did was jump online and look to see what programs were available to me as a first time homebuyer. Some programs I wasn't eligible for due to income or location or whathaveyou. One program did catch my eye though--the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC).

The Texas Department of Housing and Current Affairs (TDHCA) created its Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate Program for the residents of Texas, to help make ownership of new and existing homes more affordable for individuals and families of low and moderate income, especially first time buyers.

 

"A Mortgage Credit Certificate allows the homebuyer to claim a tax credit for some portion of the mortgage interest paid per year. It is a dollar for dollar reduction against their federal tax liability.
Note: The Mortgage Interest Credit (MCC) is a non-refundable tax credit, therefore, the Homebuyer MUST have tax liability in order to take advantage of the tax credit.

The size of the annual tax credit will be 40% of the annual interest paid on the mortgage loan. However, the maximum amount of the tax credit shall not exceed $2,000 per year. The credit cannot be larger than the annual federal income tax liability, after all other credits and deductions have been taken into account. MCC credits in excess of the current year tax liability may, however, be carried forward for use in the subsequent three years."

A mortgage interest deduction differs from a mortgage tax credit in a number of ways. For example, all homebuyers, regardless of income, may take a mortgage interest deduction, whereas mortgage tax credits are available only to holders of MCCs. And, you can use the MCC for the entire length of the term of your mortgage, so 30 years for me! There is an origination fee of 1%, however I'll reap that back in the first year of filing the MCC with my taxes.

I can also adjust my W4 so that I have my savings immediately each month instead of waiting until April to file my taxes, thus helping me afford my home every easier. If you know you'll max out the credit of $2,000 (which you probably would the first few years since most of what you're paying goes to paying interest), you can effectively plan to receive $167 more dollars back in your paycheck each month, if you make the W4 adjustment.  In reality, I plan to drop that money into a savings account for a rainy day fund. Even with home warranties, and new appliances and such, you never know what might expenses might crop up.

So, if you're like me, buying your first home, ask your mortgage specialist about the Mortgage Credit Certificate see if it's right for you so that you can save even more of your hard-earned money.

Day 89: Standing Water in Kitchen

Today I stopped by without the kids on my way home and discovered a large puddle in the kitchen. You could see where the water seeped under the wood into the garage, too. When Raymond, the new construction superintendent, came over to inspect, he informed me that the kitchen pipe was opened and realigned so it would fit into the drywall. The water in the pipe must have been what spewed out everywhere. All of the pipes everywhere else looked to be in good shape, no leaks. We did see that the plumber had been upstairs however no leaks there.

I also asked him what they do for the pipes when we have freezing weather, which we're supposed to have tomorrow. He advised that they would turn the water off and drain the line so that the pipes don't burst. I was glad to hear that!

Not much else is going on here. I did see that the main house is shingled, porches not yet. I didn't take a picture but will tomorrow and post it back here.

Day 81: First Peek Inside

Today was the first day we actually went inside to take a peek. It was an amazing feeling to walk into my home for the first time. My kids were ecstatic. I will say that the slab looked small compared to how large the house feels inside now. We had such a good time looking in each room and seeing all that had been done this far. It's truly amazing how quickly they get it put up. I suppose the pre-made pieces help quite a bit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I spy a hidden space here! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How the arches are formed: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Now this is something to talk about. Do you see two windows here? The one on the right is a bonus/mystery window. It isn't on the plans. We'll see if it stays or goes.

 

 

 

 

 Radiant Barrier:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She's Up!

This evening we went to see the progress of the framing and could hardly contain our squeals of delight when we could see our house for the first time as we drove thru the neighborhood. She's up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She has a bottom level, stairs, a second level with subflooring, window spaces, doorways, the half wall, all exterior walls, porch covers and I'm sure more that I couldn't see from just driving by.

Crews were still working so we didn't hop out to go peek but we will tomorrow for sure!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

Day 64: Couple Days til Pour Day

 

 

Day 56: End of Week 8

Getting ready to head into Christmas week and Im not expecting much, if anything, to get done. Likewise this blog might take a little hiatus until things start back up. May you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Dear Homeowner

Yesterday I received a letter from KB Home, albeit a little late, advising me that construction was beginning and I would be having some meetings with the construction superintendent. All of that has happened, of course, but what I especially loved about the letter was that it saluted me as "Dear Homeowner". Yes! Im so very proud to be a this place in my life right now. I absolutely love building! I love that Im buying a home! I couldn't be happier. :)

Day 40: Forty Days!

Today is a special day. Today is Day 40 of this whole house building process. Forty days ago I got the call and signed the paperwork that started this whole thing. Now, if you're a numbers type of person, like me, you know that forty has an interesting significance. For starters, it's heavily tied to the bible. Ancient writings and artifacts along with early astronomers appear to have once time tracked a cycle of 40 days for calendric purposes. It's been the topic and/or title of many movies, songs and books.  It's even the length of a prolife movement.

That said, today might be a ground breaking day in the process of building my home.

Or not.

No change today. There's always tomorrow!

Day 29: Plot Plan Update

 

 

 

Welcome to Week #5!

 

Today Chance, my super salesman, went out in the neighborhood with the construction manager and discussed my plot plan in detail. I made my way in that direction as well, after not hearing back from him. Along with another salesman there in La Conterra, who was very helpful, we all went out to see another lot with a similar "C drain type" plot plan (same as mine, above) and we were able to see how water would drain as well as how the driveway would be graded. The lot we looked at had a 11% grade. Mine will be 14%, which means there will be greater area for water to collect. We saw water collecting just from a worker power washing. That is not okay with me.

 

They did say that when the time comes for my driveway to be paved, that I can come out and check on the grade and we could then talk about installing a French drain, if necessary. And if, once Im in the home and we have a heavy rain, water collects then I may have to make even further improvements to make sure water drains away from the home and into the yard.

 

Im not keen about their answer as there wasn't a solution offered, nor was the construction manager present. I feel as if my concerns weren't addressed, but rather the salesman said it best, "the train has left" and therefore there isn't anything I can do about it.

 

Going to talk to my broker and see what his thoughts are.

 

Day 26: Final Selection Day

This is it! Final Selection Day!

Today Im letting go of all of my anxiety and Im going to enjoy this moment. Many people never get to experience this in their whole entire lives. Im going to enjoy this blessing that God has bestowed upon me and be thankful and joyous.

Chance told me at our last meeting that he expected construction to begin the first week of December. Changes will happen fast then. For today, Im going to relish the serenity of the moment because in a couple short weeks, changes will happen every day!

Watch for pictures of my selections today in a separate post to follow later today, and wish me luck!

Day 16: This Section Is Filling Up

It's a super beautiful day today. The sky is so blue. It's breezy yet not too chilly. It's a perfect day to be outside.

There are currently 8 homes with sold signs, including mine, and the two houses being built. This section is quickly filling up as the pool and 8 surrounding homes are on hold for Model homes. There aren't too many left in this section. It'll be interesting to see which direction the neighborhood expands into next.

Ive been going over the options list that my salesman sent over. Just trying to wrap my head around the things I know I want and, at the same time, sort of making a mental list of things I know my handyman can take care of for me a little at a time down the road.

Remember when I said I felt like a kid at Christmas? Christmas is here! It's going to last for about 10 days, too! Today is Peek Day. Wednesday is Preliminary Appointment Day then a week later will be Final Appointment Day. Watch for pictures to come!

Day One: Signed The Contract! And We Have Land!

Today was a wonderful gift from God! Let me backup. Yesterday I received a text from my salesman, Chance, who advised he was having a super sale in the neighborhood I was considering and wanted to know if I was ready to go ahead. I needed to talk to my mortgage lender first, who ran my credit report and advised I could go ahead. After the long journey Ive been on to get to this point, I am over the moon!

After brunching with my mom and praying about it, I scheduled with Chance to go pick out a lot and sign the contract this evening. We looked at a few lots, talked about slope, measured, used orange cones for visual, and I finally decided on a nice corner lot on Ignacia Drive.

This is where our home will be built!

The lot size is 62' x 110'.  The way the house will sit, the land slopes downward slightly towards the back, which means I wont have water standing at any time. My foundation will need to be built up a bit, but I don't mind. The thicker, the better! Right?! Since my house is also a two-story with a nice 10' bumpout on the backside, I'll have a bit of a view over the houses behind me that are built lower than me.

There will be a neighborhood-styled (and installed) fence on the outermost right side edge of our yard, running by the sidewalk, giving us a bit more space on the side of our house. I like that as it will give us a bit more side yard. Across the street is a light post. Im sure one day there will be a stop sign there, too.

Here is the lot looking straight on, as if we are standing in front of my house looking at it.

Below is the overall finished look of how the neighborhood is designed. My house is starred in the upper yellow section as shown. We will be the very first of 24 houses to be built on this street.

Enjoy the view today! In a couple of weeks, this will all be changing.

Welcome to Raising Ignacia!

Welcome!

This is my newest blog-venture where I will be documenting my family's journey to Ignacia. We are the first to buy and build on this street and we are excited to be able to watch every aspect of our home being built, as well as the rest of the homes on our street. And all of you future buyers of homes on Ignacia, while we wont document your homes being built, we will happily welcome you to Ignacia when your house is complete and you move in.

For me, homeownership is something I've always wanted. Ive rented for 18+ years in various apartments and houses in many different cities. However, it wasn't until I lived in Georgetown did I realize I was ready to buy. After looking at several homes, I knew this neighborhood was where I wanted to be. It offers wonderful sidewalks for walking to and from the amenity center, which I know my kids and I will frequent many times over. It has wonderful proximity to major arterials as well as the backroads to places I frequent. This will be a wonderful neighborhood to stay in.

Ignacia is in the section being built by KB Homes. I know many people have bad experiences, however thousands more have wonderful experiences.  I know there are people in this world who are quick to blame someone else for their problem when in fact it might have been their own error such as not following through with scheduled maintenance checks or not registering their appliances for warranty. I plan on documenting mine to be a voice for those who haven't gotten up to say they love their KB Home.

I am told the building process will take 4-5 months. Here, you will see a daily picture of our home's current status as well as a short synopsis of what is going on at that time. I hope you enjoy this journey as much as I do.

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