Top 7 New Home Trends

BY : Joshua Ferris

New homes are the top tier when it comes to home buying because they afford you the option to customize your home to your liking with upgrades and you get to be the first owner of the home. As the real estate market continues on its path to recovery there are many home builders who are now reconsidering what to include in a new home's standard features list.

Many of these newly included standard features previously served as pricey options so new home buyers today are getting the latest in creature comforts without the heavy price tag. Check out seven of the latest new home trends and keep this list handy as you browse new homes to see what's included in the builder's standard features list.

Granite Countertops and Undermount Sinks in Kitchen and Baths - This premier touch surface of high end homes can be seen on the standard features list of townhouses and other moderately priced properties nowadays. A secondary benefit to granite countertop surfaces is the undermount sink which means you won't have any sink edges rising up past the countertop creating a very clean, modern look.

Living Room Evolution - Living rooms used to serve as the crucial gathering room but today's homeowners tend to gather in the kitchen instead. If builders are using a floorplan that includes a living room you can expect it to offer features unseen in living rooms of the past like ethernet wall ports and home theater system niches to hide home theater hardware.

Solid Wood Front Doors - The cold steel front door is more frequently being swapped out with the vastly more attractive solid wood door. Solid wood doors come in many styles ranging from intricate glass detailed doors to solid wood doors reminiscent of those seen in craftsman home design.

Hardwood Floors - During the middle and late 20th century it was all the rage to have carpeting throughout your home because it was a softer walking surface and kept the floors warmer than hardwood and tile during the winter. Now that radiant floor heating and the demand for low maintenance flooring have become more common it's expected that hardwood floors will replace carpeting in high traffic areas like foyers, hallways and family rooms.

Stone Exteriors and Accents - Vinyl siding is very low maintenance and styling options have grown in recent years. Even so, full stone exteriors or stone accented exteriors are hot because they give a more substantial curb appeal to a home and help break up the monotony of some home designs.

Solid Interior Doors - An increasingly popular trend in new home design are solid interior doors. Solid interior doors are different because they create a stronger sound barrier between rooms and are more durable.

Nine to Ten Foot First Floor Ceilings - Feeling cramped inside a home is the number one reason homeowners opt to move up into a larger home. One way builders are countering this concern is to raise ceiling height by one to two feet bringing the total floor to ceiling distance to nine or ten feet. This creates a vastly more open space and the cost to builders is minimal.

Utilizing this list of the seven latest new home trends, many of which can now be found standard in new homes, you will have the distinct advantage of buying the most house for the money and owning a home that will require few, if any, updates should you decide to sell in the future.

Appealing Property Taxes for Your Home

BY : Patrick oconnor

Property taxes are a substantial expense for Texas homeowners, averaging about $3,600 annually. To reduce this expense, property owners should annually review and consider appealing property taxes. While there is no guarantee that an appeal will be successful, a recent survey conducted by O'Connor & Associates indicates that 70% of property tax appeals are successful.

Since the mortgage company typically disperses payments, property taxes tend to be a stealth tax. Although the homeowner writes a check, including taxes and insurance monthly, the property tax component is not evident. The property tax component can become quite evident when the homeowner is asked to fund a deficit in the escrow account.

Although 70% of property tax appeals are successful, only 7% of homeowners appeal each year. Research indicates five primary reasons homeowners do not appeal:

The process seems overwhelming and they do not know how to appeal,

They do not think an appeal is likely to be successful,

They think their home's assessed value is below market value and there is no basis for appealing,

They do not understand they can appeal on unequal appraisal,

They are busy and do not want to set aside time, given the presumption that "you can't fight city hall".

Why appeal?

Consider an appeal for a $150,000 house where the property taxes are reduced by 5%. This would reduce the assessed value by $7,500 and the property taxes by $225, based on a 3% tax rate. Since the typical appeal hearing takes less than an hour, these are meaningful savings for the time involved. Regularly appealing your property taxes will minimize the value, so you are assessed for less than most of your neighbors. Most of the property tax appeals are resolved at the informal hearing, which is the first step in the process.

How to appeal

The first step to appealing annually is to send a written notice to the appraisal review board (ARB) for the county in which your home is located. Even if you have not received a notice of assessed value from the appraisal district, file a notice of appeal by May 31st for the following reasons:
The notice of assessed value can get lost in the mail, A notice of assessed value is not necessary unless your assessed value increases by more than $1,000, and

You should appeal annually

You can file a notice of appeal by utilizing the Comptroller's form available at www.cutmytaxes.com or by sending a letter to the ARB. The letter to the ARB simply needs to identify the property being appealed and the basis for your appeal. You should always appeal on both market value and unequal appraisal. Since the appraisal district staff is extremely busy during late May and early June, sending any data on the value of your property tax is probably a waste of time. At the same time you send your notice of appeal to the ARB, send a "House Bill 201" request to the chief appraiser at the appraisal district. The House Bill 201 request will provide you a volume of information at a modest price.

Reasons for obtaining House Bill 201 information

Since most homeowners are not familiar with House Bill 201, you may be wondering what it is and when it became available. House Bill 201 is the term used by property tax consultants and appraisal district staff to describe provision 41.461 of the Texas Property Tax Code. This section reads as follows:

"at least 14 days before hearing on a protest, the chief appraiser shall: … inform the property owner that the owner or the agent of the owner may inspect and may obtain a copy of the data, schedules, formulas, and all other information the chief appraiser plans to introduce at the hearing to establish any matter at issue."

The property tax code further provides the chief appraiser the right to charge up to $15 for each residence, and up to $25 for each commercial property owner for this information. However, there are limits on the cost per page an appraisal district can charge. Practically speaking, the maximum charge is $1 to $2 for a residence. In Harris County, most homeowners can print this information from the appraisal district's web site once an appeal has been filed using the "I file" system.

This section of the tax code was added in 1991, but many appraisal districts have attempted to ignore this section of the property tax code for years and some still do. After discussing this section of the Texas Property Tax Code on a radio show in 2005, several listeners called back a week or two later to report certain appraisal districts were claiming to be unaware of this section. When O'Connor & Associates sent House Bill 201 requests to appraisal districts in 2005, some called us and said "what do you mean you want our information, we plan to use your information at the hearing to prove our value." While these examples seem quaint and cute, it is surprising that 15 years after taxpayer friendly legislation has been passed, that appraisal districts are still ignoring property owners and tax consultants who ask for this information.

There are at least seven reasons to utilize House Bill 201 to obtain the information the appraisal district will use at the hearing:

It is an effective way to obtain information regarding both market value and unequal appraisal for your property tax appeal, You will receive the appraisal district's information regarding the size, condition and other qualitative and quantitative data for your house,

The information can be obtained for a nominal cost, It is helpful to know what information your adversary will be able to use at the hearing, Making the request limits what information the appraisal district can present at the hearing. If you do not request their information prior to the hearing, they can use any information available to them at the hearing. However, if you request the appraisal district information using a House Bill 201 request, they may only use information previously provided to you,

If they do not provide you information on market value or unequal appraisal in the House Bill 201 request, you win by default at the ARB hearing, and In many cases, the appraisal district House Bill 201 information clearly supports a lower value.

Preparing for the hearing

When you receive the appraisal district House Bill 201 information, start by reviewing the appraisal district's description of your home and ask yourself these questions:

Is the year built accurate?

Are the qualities and amenities accurate?

If the appraisal district overstates either the quantity or quality of improvements to your property, this is an excellent means to reduce your property taxes both for the current year and subsequent years.

Filing a 2525c Appeal

If the appraisal district has overstated the size of your house by more than 5% to 10%, even if you did not file a property tax appeal in prior years, you should consider filing a 2525c appeal. This will allow you to reduce the assessed value of your property for the current year and for prior years.

Tips for Selling Your Home

BY : john mce

Whatever the housing market is doing, there are a number of tips that will always help your house appeal to potential buyers. These are ways to make your home appeal to the greatest number of potential buyers.

First impressions

Your house needs to look great from the very first impression; curb appeal is critical! Make the front of your house look as good as it can. Plant flowers, trim bushes, weed, pick up leaves, repaint your front door, clean or replace house numbers, park your old car somewhere else.

The front of your house is a good place to spend a little extra time and money. If it looks good, it may even attract passersby.

De-Clutter

Potential buyers need to imagine themselves living in your house. You need to show a blank canvas, in which they can picture their own belongings. Estate agents can tell you stories of potential buyers rejecting a house because they didn't like the DVD collection! Buying a home is an emotional decision; you want potential buyers to make an emotional connection with your home by being able to "see" themselves in it.

Put away everything you don't use on a daily basis. Pack up ornaments, photos and posters in kids' bedrooms. Large pieces of furniture should go into storage; this will make rooms feel much bigger. In the hallway, clear away coats and shoes. In the bathroom, hide all your toiletries. In the kitchen, clear the worktops of appliances, jars and tins and replace any ragged tea towels or grubby bins.

Watch out for over-stuffed wardrobes - yes, people do look in them to check the amount of storage space - so clear them out.

Clean, clean, clean

Your home must sparkle and smell clean! Getting professional cleaners in can be money well-spent. Have the carpets, curtains, sofa covers and oven cleaned. Make sure your windows are clean inside and out. Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms, which need to be inviting and hygienic. Buy a new toilet seat and some fresh white towels. Clean grubby fingerprints from light switches and doors. Make mirrors sparkle. Add a strategically placed plant or two, or some fresh flowers.

Fix it

Go around the house room by room and make a checklist of all those little jobs which need doing. Fix dripping taps, repair peeling wallpaper, touch up paint chips. If you can't stretch to re-tiling in the bathroom, re-grouting should bring it up like new. A couple of new kitchen doors can really smarten up a tired-looking kitchen.

Leaving these little jobs undone will give the wrong message to potential buyers - that you haven't looked after your house.

Freshen Up

A fresh coat of neutral paint, new tiling or lino, and will transform rooms. Neutral colours may be a little boring to live with, but buyers really do find it easier to imagine themselves living a home where they can't object to your colour scheme; they find it easier to imagine brightening it up, than toning it down!

You can add some character back with a few bright accessories. A new shower curtain in the bathroom, some new cushions in the sitting room, some bright bedlinen on the beds - all these can add a little spark, without detracting from the feeling of light and space.

If you have too many different floor coverings, it can make any area seem smaller. If you can't stretch to replacing all your flooring, close the doors on the other rooms until showing each room in turn.

Pets

Leave pets with a neighbor, and thoroughly clean up any cat hair in particular, as many people are allergic to animal hair. Your beloved pooch may make viewers nervous, or leave a distinctive aroma which won't appeal to the buyers.

The best side

Most properties have good and bad points to them. Don't point out the bad side, or even comment on it. Remember, buyers will only buy what they perceive your house to be worth. If your house is presented at its best, then people will want to live there.

Buying Foreclosed Property

5 Great Tips that Will Help You Profit in the Current Financial Climate.
Lance Thorington

The current financial climate has lead to an increase in mortgage defaults which puts the foreclosed properties on the market, often at a price well below market value. This would seem an ideal time to get into property investment, but before you jump straight in, there are some important things you really need to know. We will discuss these in this article.

Tip 1: Buying a foreclosed property is little different to buying any property, at any time. You need to research things like the best areas to buy property, property values and predictions, what you can afford, what you intend to do with the property etc. If you are buying as an investment, find out about the rental market in different areas, expected rent return, demand for rental property. Complete all your research before you start looking at properties, keep your list of results with you and refer to them when you are considering individual properties.

Tip 2: Organize your finance before you start to look at any property so that you are qualified to buy when you find the ideal property. A pre-qualified buyer has greater bargaining power when offers are being negotiated. Look for a lender who is experienced with foreclosures and understands the special requirements for this type of sale. When you are properly pre-qualified, there is less stress with the buying process.

Tip 3: Understand the laws and the process with buying foreclosed property. You need to know how the property is being sold - by auction, private treaty, open market etc. Make contact with a real estate agent who specializes in foreclosed property sales and increase your advantage. Look out for Sale by Owner properties in which you negotiate directly with the seller.

Tip 4: Stick to your game plan. If you have decided you want a four bedroom, two bathroom, double garage home, don't even look at a three bedroom, one bathroom, single garage house. The reason you spent time on research was to pre-determine what you wanted to buy, so keep to your plan. If there comes a time when you realize that your original decisions might need reviewing, do this at the appropriate time and not at an auction! You need to be happy with your purchase after the sale has gone through and there is no need to rush the process - there will be many more properties for sale.

Tip 5: Searching, short-listing, viewing and negotiating is a process that is the same no matter what type of property you are buying, the only difference being that you will be targeting foreclosures. It can be a long or short process but it takes as long as it takes. Don't rush into buying the first property because it seems like a good deal. When you find the right property at the right price, negotiate a better deal. Consider taking over the current mortgage, if you are dealing directly with the bank - they will look favorably at this at may lower the price.

7 Reasons Why You Should Buy a Luxury Investment Property

Investment properties are typically looked at as either flips or rentals at the lower end of the financial spectrum. An investor will buy something relatively inexpensively, fix it up and then sell it if the market is right, or rent it out. However, the luxury rental market can be quite lucrative and is often overlooked by many investors. A luxury property can be worth its weight in gold if bought at the right price and in the right location. So, if you're contemplating investing in real estate, or expanding your existing real estate portfolio shouldn't you consider buying a luxury home or condominium?

Luxury holds different meanings for different buyers. It may translate into a home with its own stretch of beach. Or a top-of-the-line condo along the fairway of one of the best golf courses in the world. Perhaps your idea of luxury is a secluded retreat where you can get away from it all. Obviously, there is no set definition for luxury to each and every investor, but there is certainly a difference in terms of location, price and features.

In any given area, the luxury properties will be on the high end of the sales price range. In some small town in the middle of North America a luxury home with all the bells and whistles may cost $400,000. But head on over to the Wailea area on the island of Maui where condominiums are easily found in the million dollar range and luxury properties, especially single family homes, will be well above that million dollar mark.

Of course, it's exciting to purchase a luxury home as an investment property. Doesn't everyone want to add high end homes to their real estate portfolio? But there are more explanations why buying a luxury investment property is a smart move, other than just the "feel good" aspect. Here are seven reasons why a luxury real estate purchase can work in your favor:

1 - Right now is the perfect time for an investor to buy! Real estate is a cyclical industry. Prices go up and prices go down. The market gets hot and properties are selling left and right. And then the market cools. That's just the nature of real estate. And currently, prices are extremely favorable to buyers. Not only are prices reasonable, but many sellers are very motivated and are pricing their homes to sell!

2 - Luxury real estate is a great long-term investment...it does not depreciate to the extent that other markets may. Yes, the market is favorable to buyers at this moment, but over the long run, you won't see the ugly drop in your investment. Meaning, you won't see your property depreciate by 50% or worse. Luxury properties tend to hold their value fairly well.

3 - Luxury properties are flexible! You can purchase it as your upscale getaway and then turn around and rent it out to travelers by the week or by the month. You can even rent it out annually until you plan to retire to your luxury property paradise. But the flexibility is there. Many investors are able to make it work financially buy renting luxury property out on short-term agreements with travelers or locals and then still take advantage of the property themselves.

4 - Luxury rentals are typically treated better by tenants. The reality of renting a property out is that people may not treat the property as you would. However, when you are renting out higher end properties you attract those who will care for the property.

5 - You can see a higher rate of return on a luxury investment property because you can rent it out at a higher rate. A property in a coveted location can demand a higher monthly payment from tenants.

6 - Luxury property is typically quite secure and can bring with it peace of mind. Gated homes or gated communities are the norm for luxury real estate. Depending on the community, there may even be a dedicated security force. Increased security is a great bonus in terms of protecting your investment and keeping you and your tenants comfortable, knowing that extra level of security is in place.

7 - If you own a business or network with other business executives, a luxury rental makes a great reward for business well done, or as a getaway for a business retreat. It can also be used as a perk for exceptional clients.

Imagine everything you could do with a luxury real estate investment! A wonderful place you can call your second home, in a paradise of your choosing. A relaxing getaway and a lifelong investment rolled into one!

by : Volker Weiss

Questions About 1031 Exchange Properties

Who here has questions about 1031 exchange properties? Unless you have done a few of these exchanges I am sure everyone probably has quite a few questions so let us take a moment and talk about what is necessary when exchanging properties. Most importantly we want to make sure that we are protected from paying taxes while doing our 1031.

For those of you that are new to 1031 exchanges in general there are several terms that are used to mean the same thing such as starker exchange or like kind exchange. Essentially what you are trying to do is take a business asset, usually a property, and sell or exchange it for a new property. With a like kind exchange you are able to do defer taxes that you would pay on any of the profit from the sale. This will allow you to roll over that profit into the new property or asset and save a lot of money on your taxes.

It is very important that you understand that all properties exchanged in a 1031 must be business properties. This means your money cannot be rolled over into a new personal residence for yourself. It must have been a commercial property or a rental property that is sold and a new commercial or rental real estate investment is made. If you were to use the money from the starker exchange to buy a personal property then you will be liable for the taxes you were trying to avoid by doing this tax-free exchange.

When looking for 1031 exchange properties, it is important to understand the timeframe that you have to work with. For instance, when engaging in a 1031 exchange you must identify the replacement property within the first 45 days following the sale of your previous property. It does not mean that you need to a buy business property within 45 days but must at least identify a possible property within that timeframe.

This can be very confusing for many people, but the property that you have identified as a replacement property in your 1031 exchange does not need to be the same asset that you eventually by. It is very possible to identify a few different properties as likely candidates for the purchase so you can complete the exchange as long as you follow through and complete the entire process with a new real estate investment.

It is important that your final real estate investment for the 1031 exchange property is complete within 180 days of the sale of your original real estate asset.

As you can see a 1031 exchange can be somewhat complicated so it is important that you research as much as possible to make sure you get the right information as well as work with qualified agents that could help steer you through the process. When deciding on your 1031 exchange properties the most vital thing is to make sure that the new property is owned within the proper time frames.

by : James Steele

St. Louis Real Estate Auctioneer, Rick Bauer AARE, of Father Time™Auctions Designated Accredited Auctioneer of Real Estate by NAA

Father Time™ Auctions, Real Estate and Appraisal Services, www.fathertime.com today announced that Auctioneer, Rick Bauer AARE received his designation as Accredited Auctioneer Real Estate (AARE) from the National Auctioneers Association’s Education Institute. The AARE program provided an educational platform for Bauer AARE to receive expert training in evaluating property, preparing important financial documents, and preparing the property for auction in the Real Estate Market available today.

St. Louis, MO, May 29, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Father Time™ Auctions, regionally services St. Louis, Missouri and Southwestern Illinois, is a full service auction company specializing in real estate auctions, estate auctions, business liquidations and salvage is proud to announce that Rick Bauer, AARE has earned the Accredited Auctioneer Real Estate (AARE) designation by the National Auctioneers Association.

There are less than 400 people who hold and have earned the Accredited Auctioneer of Real Estate (AARE) designation offered by the National Auctioneers Association, which is the only organization with the credibility to offer auctioneering designations.

The AARE program provided Rick Bauer AARE with the expert knowledge necessary to effectively market residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial real estate in today’s economy. The AARE designation requires completion of three courses and the completion of a case study.

St. Louis Real Estate Auctioneer, Paul Roesch, AARE, and partner at Father Time™ Auctions applauded Bauer AARE for his achievement.

“The economy and the real estate market going forward will continue to be more challenging than ever. The requirement for expert training in gathering business intelligence, effecting solid marketing strategies and sales techniques are critical to our success in helping our clients achieve their financial goals. Education, information and execution are key elements to successful transactions today. The AARE program brings these essential elements to real estate clients of Father Time™ Auctions. This adds to Mr. Bauer's already impressive real estate knowledge” said Roesch AARE. Bauer has over thirty years of real estate experience along with a Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) designation.

Bauer said “participating in this educational program assures Father Time™ Auction’s clients that we have up to date industry knowledge. It provides our firm a platform for networking with progressive Real Estate Auction Professionals from around the country. This gives us incredible market knowledge, advantage and perspective to play forward with our clients.”

Father Time™ Auctions Services www.fathertime.com is a leading full service professional Auction, Appraisal, Marketing and Sales Liquidation Service: Home, Business, Real Estate-Home-Commercial-Farm-Land and Online Auctions. Father Time™ Auctions territory includes the St. Louis, Missouri and Southwestern Illinois region of the United States.

25 Luxury Condos Go Up for Auction at The Beacon in Jersey City, NJ

Historic Opportunities For Buyers As 12 Homes Will Be Sold Absolute Regardless Of Price

JERSEY CITY, N.J., -- Metrovest Equities announced today that Sheldon Good & Co. Auctions N.E., LLC will auction off 25 one- and two-bedroom luxury condominiums at the landmark Beacon residential development in Jersey City, NJ as part of a proactive approach to closing out the community's first phase of 315 homes which is approximately 80% sold and occupied.

The aggressive move will also allow the Manhattan-based developer to accelerate the opening of The Beacon's second phase of half- and full-floor live/work lofts situated in the 17-story Mercury building where construction is progressing rapidly.

The auction will be conducted by Sheldon Good & Company Auctions Northeast, LLC, America's leading real estate auction marketing firm, on June 27, 2009 at the Hyatt Jersey City, located just minutes from The Beacon. Registration begins at 11:00 a.m. with the auction commencing at 12:00 noon. Twelve of the homes will be sold "Absolute" regardless of price. Suggested opening bids will range from $150,000 to $250,000 for architecturally-distinctive residences that were originally priced from $380,000 to $700,000 -- representing historic opportunities for interested buyers.

"With approximately 80% of The Beacon's first phase not only sold but closed, it's fair to say that we've enjoyed a level of success very few residential developments can claim in today's marketplace," states George Filopoulos, President of Metrovest Equities, which has already completed the first two buildings and 45,000 square feet of amenity space at the award-winning art deco landmark and is well underway on a third building. The Beacon will ultimately comprise ten buildings containing 1,200 luxury residences and 80,000 square feet of retail space.

"As the developer, I take great pride in seeing our ambitious vision of creating the region's most unique, architecturally-significant, amenity-laden and value-driven condominium community come to fruition. Our goal was to create a dynamic neighborhood setting teeming with resident interaction, and to the nearly 500 people currently living there, The Beacon is just that. With our next phase of homes, The Mercury Lofts at The Beacon, nearly ready to be unveiled, we decided to utilize an accelerated marketing program to sell the remaining available residences in the first phase. This is not a distress sale, but a sophisticated approach to reinforcing value for prospective buyers through competitive bidding that will capitalize on the tremendous success The Beacon has enjoyed to date. The auction will cut months off of our current marketing program, resulting in considerable savings that will be passed on to the buying public through discounted pricing."

Sitting high atop the Palisades Ridge near Jersey City's vibrant downtown district, The Beacon represents a $350 million conversion that is currently the largest residential restoration project in the country and the largest in the history of New Jersey. The historic grandeur of the buildings' dramatic interior spaces has been immaculately restored by refurbishing and preserving the original chandeliers, marble and terracotta flooring, brass elevator door surrounds and windows. The addition of modern amenities and services has helped foster an exclusive resort lifestyle within an historic Art Deco landmark complemented by dramatic views of the New York City skyline and surrounding cityscape.

"The Beacon is unquestionably one of the most exciting residential projects ever to be developed along the Gold Coast of New Jersey," said Lawrence Samberg, managing Director of Sheldon Good & Company."

"Because it offers such a wide diversity of amenities, The Beacon affords residents not just a sumptuous home, but a luxurious lifestyle in a restored old-world ambiance that reflects the historic grandeur of yesteryear," noted Mr. Jeffrey L. Hubbard, Executive Managing Director of Sheldon Good & Company Auctions.

The Beacon's initial phase of uniquely-designed studios, one- and two-bedroom homes -- including the residences to be offered at auction -- are located in the Rialto and Capitol buildings which are situated adjacent to each other and are joined by a dramatic two-story lobby with a 24-hour doorman and Club Aqua, the development's exclusive 45,000 square-foot amenity center. Club Aqua features an indoor pool, an Aqua Grotto lounge with hot tubs, his/her saunas and steam, social sauna and treatment rooms; a yoga studio, fitness center, juice bar, screening room and a children's playroom. There's also a restored Art Deco theater/event space with catering kitchen, a rooftop sundeck, poker room, a reading gallery and a magnificent billiards hall.

Residents also enjoy private concierge service, valet parking and convenient shuttle service to PATH trains and ferries to Manhattan, while The Beacon Express, an onsite market offering prepared foods, fine cheeses, mouthwatering desserts and assorted conveniences, recently opened its doors.

The Beacon's loft-like condominium residences feature an abundance of upscale finishes and appointments, and many of the homes offer sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline, the harbor and beyond. The spectacular residences are distinguished by outstanding detailing and finishes and soaring ten-to-twelve-foot-high ceilings. Spacious kitchens feature Pietra Cardosa stone countertops, glass backsplashes, full-height pantries and stainless steel appliances, while bathrooms boast elegant marble and premium finishes and fixtures. All homes offer a Bosch washer and dryer and are pre-wired for multi-phone lines, high-speed internet and digital TV.

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