Simmons Homes

Simmons Homes already embraces the personal approach when it comes to building your new home. But now, with our ENERGY STAR qualified homes, we’re taking the personal approach to the next level. More than ever, people are calling us to inquire about the benefits that come with purchasing one of our Tulsa Energy Star home for sale.

Do we take the time to explain? Of course! After all, we want your homebuying process to be nothing short of a positive adventure; and that requires us to ensure that you have a firm grasp of the facts. It’s why we’ve already explained to you the benefits of ENERGY STAR homes in previous entries; and, it’s why we’re happy to share the numerous, additional advantages with you here.

We’ll focus on one of the unique benefits of owning one of our new Energy Star homes in Tulsa every week; each of them is relevant to energy efficiency, a concept that, when implemented, minimizes environmental impact and your utility bills – while ensuring your family’s optimal comfort.

Energy Star Benefit #1: Effective Insulation. Climate-appropriate insulation in the floors, walls, and attics of our new Energy Star homes in Tulsa ensures more even temperatures throughout the house, and you know what that means: less energy consumption. Because when everyone is comfortable, no one asks to run the heater or cooler – and your hard-earned dollars are easily saved! Yes, our new Energy Star homes in Tulsa are designed to be environmentally-friendly; but more importantly, they’re meant to be enjoyed. Minimizing energy consumption has never been so easy!

Stay tuned for more information on the homebuyer advantages of our Tulsa Energy Star homes for sale. We have lots to share with you, and we know you’ll be impressed by these practical, money-saving perks!

Sure, much has been said recently about the prospect of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates – but what about mortgage rates? After all, part of the Fed strategy for phasing out the creative finance programs that lead to the mortgage crisis of 2008 and the weak market of 2009 is to stop buying up mortgage-backed securities. Logically, this will impact mortgage rates – in fact, it’s already started to some extent.

According to a CNN Money blog, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage reached its highest figure in the past eight months (5.21%), during the first week of April. This is in stark contrast to the low (below 5%) rates that buyers enjoyed at various points in 2009.

Doesn’t sound so bad, right? But raise that rate by half a point, and it lowers the price that you, the homebuyer, would be able to afford in a home substantially. How much? The rate has increased by less than a full point – but you will only be able to purchase a home worth $156,000 (if your payments are to remain the same).

What can we learn from this? That when it comes to moving forward with a new home purchase, sooner (before rates rise further) is better than later! Even if you are still saving up a down payment, now is a good time to research the new homes in your desired market.

What makes a new home Energy Star Qualified? Well for a new home to meet the ENERGY STAR qualifications it must follow the strict guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Each Energy Star new home must be at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built in 2004 that followed the International Residential Code (IRC). New homes must also include additional energy-saving features that typically make the home 20–30% more energy efficient than the standard new home.

If you are a homebuyer interested in a green new homes for sale, Energy Star qualified homes are the place to start. Energy used in your home often comes from the burning of fossil fuels from power plants. Burning fossil fuels contributes to smog, acid rain, and risks of global warming. So, by owning an ENERGY STAR qualified new home, you will use less energy and contribute less to air pollution.

Any new home that is three stories or less can earn the Energy Star label once the home has been verified to meet EPA’s guidelines. Energy Star qualified homes for sale include a variety of energy-efficient features that improve home value as well as your comfort. How do you know if your new home is Energy Star certified? Just look for the blue Energy Star government-backed symbol for energy efficiency within the home. Remember, there is a big difference between Energy Star Certified and just using energy Star products. Be sure to ask your new home specialist if the home your are looking at is certified. Stay tuned over the next few weeks to learn how an Energy Star new home can lower your energy demand, reduced air pollution and save you money!

Last March, Simmons Homes and a small combination of national home builders help the New Orleans residents rebuild their homes after Hurricane Katrina. Two years before that, Simmons Homes participated with ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” show to build a new home for a Dewey, Oklahoma family.

Now the leading Tulsa area home builder, Simmons Homes, is teaming up with ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” once more for a third project, but this time, it’s to help a family in their own backyard. You can learn more and get involved at www.extremesimmons.com

“Our employees’ hearts and lives have been touched through our participation with Extreme Makeover and the families we’ve been fortunate enough to help,” said Greg Simmons, founder of Owasso-based Simmons Homes. “To be a part of the same spirit of generosity in our own community brings our amazing Extreme Team experience full circle.”

The Tulsa “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” family’s name has not yet been released, to insure the family will enjoy the surprise, and the final project details will be announced the week of Jan. 15. The Simmons Homes team will work on the Extreme Makeover home for nearly one week.

“You can be confident that the Tulsans receiving this home are truly deserving of our help,” said Simmons. “We’re looking forward to building a team of local volunteers to really make a difference in this family’s lives.”

Simmons Homes needs skilled/licensed craftsmen to volunteer for onsite shifts; to make a well deserved family’ dreams come true. Volunteers from the home building industry are needed with skills including electricians, painters, framers, plumbers and drywallers. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” volunteers will be responsible for all transportation, lodging and food. In addition, Simmons Homes encourages other Tulsa community organizations to get involved by allowing employees to participate and/or donate tools and supplies. Visit www.extremesimmons.com to volunteer for ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” in Tulsa.

What is the smartest purchase you will ever make? Well, buying a home of course. One reason is that owning a home has multiple positive tax benefits. Once you become a homeowner you qualify for three important sources of tax savings:

1. Deductions for mortgage interest.
2. Deductions for real estate taxes.
3. Capital gain exclusion for the sale of a home.

The deductions of real estate taxes decrease the annual cost of owning a home by dropping the home owner’s tax responsibility each year. If you own a home with $10,000 yearly mortgage interest costs and you fall in the 25 percent tax bracket, you qualify for up to $2,500 in tax savings each year. Not to mention that in most state the taxes paid on your home are deductible.

Not only will you save overall on taxes by purchasing a home, you will receive a tax benefit when you sale a home.

“Under present law, sellers of a principal residence can exclude from taxation profits from the sale of a home, up to $500,000 for married taxpayers and $250,000 for single taxpayers. With capital gain tax rates expected to increase from 15 to 20 percent in coming years, these tax savings can be substantial.” , according to the According to National Association of Home Builders.

The NAHB economists estimate that a married couple with an annual income of $80,000 and a mortgage rate of $250,000, will save on taxes from the mortgage interest and real estate tax deductions more than $11,000 in the first five years of owning a home. If the couple owns the home for twelve years, the savings will grow to $25,000. In collusion if you combined the capital gains exclusion and the total tax savings for the entire period of owning the home the savings will surpass $52,000.

With the home buyer tax credits available with up to $8,000 for first-time home buyer and $6,500 for repeat home buyers, buying a home today is a rewarding financial decision. Find out more at http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/.

Oklahoma is more than “OK” in our eyes! Tulsa is a city that boasts affordable new home prices, low interest rates, and a great tax rebate for first-time home buyers, also provides affordable new homes for sale within a city with a growing economy. With a double-digit job growth, it is no surprise that Tulsa real estate market conditions of 2009 were ranked among the healthiest housing markets and an appearance of recovery before many other real estate markets. Below is a list of just some of the great news that came out about Tulsa’s growing economy and the real estate market in 2009.

• Tulsa was ranked best Cost of Living and ranked 2ed for best Quality of Life by Business Facilities magazine’s metro report; “Tulsa World“

• Tulsa, Oklahoma was named as one of the Growing Cities with a median home price of $135,000. CNN Money; “Where the Growth Is – and Isn’t“

• Tulsa ranked 11th among the nation’s top performers in a recently released home pricing forecast that indicated Tulsa real estate market will be among the top 13 performers in the nation this year. Tulsa World; “Tulsa Housing Market Predicted to Fare Well“

• Tulsa was ranked the 15th most affordable place to live. BusinessWeek; “The 30 Strongest Housing Markets in the U.S.”

• Tulsa, Oklahoma as the 7th healthiest housing market and is on the edge of becoming the first city to recover in the real estate market. Builder Online; “Healthiest Housing Markets by Hanley Wood Market Intelligence Report“

• Tulsa ranked 7th strongest Metro Economics with home prices growing 2.5% in the second quarter compared to the same period a year before. BusinessWeek; “Forty Strongest US Metro Economies“

• Oklahoma Ranks #1 in cost of living and 3ed highest in overall economy. Oklahoma is also the #23 in overall for doing business. CNBC; “Americas Top States For Business“

• Tulsa was ranked 12th recovering city out of 100 of the largest Metropolitan Areas within the U.S. Forbes; “Full List: America’s Fastest-Recovering Cities“

• Tulsa had seen a double-digit job growth in business services, education and health, government, manufacturing and retail. Forbes; “Best Cities for Jobs: Best Mid-Sized Cities For Jobs“

• Bixby, Ok, Tulsa’s neighboring city was, rank 67th best place to live. CNNMoney.com; “Best Places to Live 2009“