Coastal Bend New Homes Vol.1 #4 (Nov'18-Jan'19)

6 Important Tips to Consider Before You Buy — PAGE 4 | New Home Resolution — PAGE 6 | Open Floorplan: A Popular Concept — PAGE 8

CoastalBendNewHomes.com

Volume 1 Issue 4 — November/December ’18 / January 2019

NewcastleHomesCC.com (361) 834-5354

SantiagoInv.com (361) 443-1212

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Introducing Outstanding Energy Efficient Builders Recognized by the BUILT TO SAVE™ High-Performance Homes Program | PAGE 15

INSPECTED, TESTED, AND VERIFIED TO MEET SUPERIOR “ABOVE-CODE” HIGH-PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, A N D Y O U D O N ’ T H A V E T O T A K E O U R W O R D F O R I T. Our previous homebuyers speak for our work.

As for energy efficiency and “above-code” quality, we insist that our homes be inspected and tested by an independent third-party inspector to earn the BUILT TO SAVE™ certification—proof of an exceptionally-built home.

PENDING

New Models Coming Soon at The Grand Estates at Northshore

PENDING

See pg. 29

C A L L T O B U I L D YO U R C U S T O M H O M E V I S I O N

(361) 443-1212 santiagoinv.com

Nov/Dec’18/Jan’19 Volume 1 Issue 4 PUBLISHER Across Media Marketing, LLC

Contents

November/December ’18 / January 2019 - Volume 1 Issue 4

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jose Vielma SENIOR EDITOR Barbara Zapffe CREATIVE DIRECTOR Laura Soria GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jeremiah D. Nava

8 6 Important Tips to Consider Before You Buy — PAGE 4 | New Home Resolution — PAGE 6 | Open Floorplan: A Popular Concept — PAGE 8

ON THE COVER NEWCASTLE HOMES & SANTIAGO HOMES:

CoastalBendNewHomes.com

Volume 1 Issue 4 — November/December ’18 / January 2019

NewcastleHomesCC.com (361) 834-5354

SantiagoInv.com (361) 443-1212

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Introducing Outstanding Energy Efficient Builders Recognized by the BUILT TO SAVE™ High-Performance Homes Program | PAGE 15

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Recognized for their committment to building high-performance homes certified as BUILT TO SAVE™ by third-party Raters.

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Real Quality Is Behind The Walls

Learn more online and on page 15.

Don’t be fooled by a home’s bling. Granite

Newcastle Homes Photos by: Eddie Seal

countertops and impressive flooring have

Santiago Homes Photos by: Jason Page

nothing to do with construction quality and energy efficiency.

HOMEBUYING ADVICE 4

6

Six Important Tips To Consider

12

Is Your Home Energy Efficient?

Learn some good questions to ask about

Get some valuable advice on shopping for a new

the new home you may be considering. Find

home: looking beyond the pretty décor to what is

out how you can be sure about the home’s

really important.

energy efficiency.

New Home Resolution

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Rise Above The Rest

If one of your goals in 2019 is to move into a new

Find out about the certifications available

home, this short checklist will help you get there.

for new homes and what they mean. These

Don’t rush into what will most likely be your biggest

“above-code” labels add value to your home.

investment in life.

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Open Floorplan: A Popular Concept Open floorplans create impressive spaces in a home and make the home seem larger. More importantly, these floorplans allow for better family

SPECIAL SECTIONS 15

Cover Feature: Outstanding Builders

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Furnished Model Home Listings Find address, contact information, and hours

interaction and unity.

of operation. Visit these model homes and

BUILDER INDUSTRY NEWS 24

GREEN: Good For You, Better For ALL

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DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Ken Sabe THE COASTAL BEND NEW HOMES GUIDE is a quarterly publication of Across Media Marketing, LLC. and is provided to its readers free of charge. Unless otherwise noted, all photography, artwork, and editorial content printed in NHG are copyrighted material and may not be duplicated or reprinted without express written permission. NHG and Across Media Marketing, LLC. are not responsible for typographical or production errors, or for the accuracy of information provided by the advertisers. Opinions expressed by writers and contributors do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher. NHG reserves the right to refuse any advertising which we deem unsuitable for our publication.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this magazine is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the Amendments Act of 1988 which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.”

This magazine will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this magazine are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD tollfree at 1-800-669-9777 or contact HUD’s regional office in Ft. Worth, Texas at (817) 885-5521. The telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

The Coastal Bend New Homes Guide is published quarterly by: Across Media Marketing, LLC. 1601 N. 8th St. • McAllen, Tx 78501 FOR ADVERTISING RATES AND INFORMATION: (361) 752-1658 / (956) 971-9700 coastalbendnewhomes.com

New Home Communities Map Color-coded maps with the most up-to-date

for your family, and for future generations. Green

listings of new home communities in the area.

Shoreline Vista - Phase 2

ADVERTISING SALES Johnny Vasquez

“feel” which one is right for you.

Find out what a Green Built home means for you, building is more than just a trend, it’s the future.

STAFF ACCOUNTANT Celina Herrera

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New Home Communities At a glance, look at everything you need to

Get ready for the Grand Opening coming in 2019.

know: prices, photos, plats, maps, descriptions,

This new phase will feature a waterfront park for its

and contact information. Download flyers / lot

residents and excellent homesites.

sheets at www.CoastalBendNewHomes.com

@coastalbendnewhomes

RELOCATING?

The Best Place To Start Your New Home Search Is With A Housing Guide.

CANADA

MARYLAND

Toronto Homes Magazine HomesMag.com

Suburban MD / Baltimore / Eastern Shore New Homes Guide NewHomesGuide.com

Condo Life CondoLifeMag.com DELAWARE

Eastern Shore New Homes Guide NewHomesGuide.com DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

NEVADA

Las Vegas New Homes Guide LasVegasNewHomesGuide.com NORTH CAROLINA

Grand Strand / Myrtle Beach New Home Guide GrandStrandNewHomeGuide.com

Wow Factor For Sale — PAGE 8 | Mortgage Shopping 101 — PAGE 12 | The Right Size A/C — PAGE 16

CoastalBendNewHomes.com

Volume 1 Issue 1 — February/March/April 2018

TEXAS

Coastal Bend Coastal Bend New Homes Guide CoastalBendNewHomes.com Rio Grande Valley RGV New Homes Guide RGVNewHomesGuide.com

Washington DC Metro Area New Homes Guide NewHomesGuide.com

Greensboro / Winston Salem / High Point New Home Guide TriadNewHomeGuide.com

San Antonio San Antonio At Home SAAtHome.com

GEORGIA

SOUTH CAROLINA

Atlanta Communities Magazine AtlantaCommunities.com

Charleston Greater Charleston New Homes Guide NewHomesGuideCharleston.com

Northern Virginia New Homes Guide NewHomesGuide.com

Award-Winning Recognition for Outstanding Craftsmanship PAGE 10

newcastlehomescc.com

Stay Connected

@coastalbendnewhomes New Year, New Home, New You — page 14 | Mortgage Shopping 101 — page 16 | Why & How To Tour Model Homes — page 20

Volume 26 Issue 1 — Dec. 2017 / Jan. 2018

rgvNewHomesGuide.com

VIRGINIA Custom Homes That Impress The Soul.

SEE PAGES 5 & 23

WaldoHomesRGV.com • (956) 466-8590

Stay Connected

HOUSING GUIDES of HousingGuides.com

SUPERIOR NEW HOME SEARCH RESOURCES IN PRINT & ONLINE

@rgvnewhomesguide @rgvnewhomes

HOMEBUYING ADVICE

Six Important Tips to Consider Before you buy or build a new home.

There is nothing like walking into a freshly painted and decorated new home that is up for sale, and picturing ourselves coming home. We look around: do we feel comfortable here? Do we like the style? Do we like the layout? Do we like the décor? Every time we walk into another new home for sale, we emotionally decide if it works for us or not.

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But are we judging logically as well? What looks and feels perfect at the time that we walk through that new home is only scratching the surface of finding our dream home in which we will be living for 10, 20, 30 or more years. It is like going on a first date. Sure, the person looks good on the outside, but what about inside? Are we too quick to judge what is truly right for us just by a first glance at a seemingly attractive new home?

If you are shopping for your dream home—maybe your “forever” home,” here are six tips to consider before getting emotionally serious about building or buying.

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1. BEFORE YOU EVEN BEGIN TO SERIOUSLY LOOK,

DECIDE ON A BUDGET. What can you afford to buy? Nothing is more depressing than looking at a $500,000 home when you know you can only afford a $100,000 home. That just eats at the soul. Visit your bank. Get to know your banker. Find out from him or her what you qualify for, and, if you can, get prequalified. That solves a lot of problems!

2. PICK A CITY AND A NEIGHBORHOOD. Remember,

you will be living here for a long time. If your job is in Flour Bluff but you begin looking in Kingsville, there can be problems ahead. And if you like Padre Island neighborhoods but look at homes in Annaville, again you are defeating yourself.

3.

FIND A REPUTABLE BUILDER. Any “Joe Schmo” can build a home. And there have been “builders” out there who were here one day and gone another. You want to find a builder who has been around a while and who has a great reputation, both with customers and with suppliers (lumber companies, building supply stores, etc.)—suppliers being just as important because you can tell a lot about a company by the way it treats its vendors. The Coastal Bend New Homes Guide magazine is a perfect place to start your search, as it features some of the area’s finest builders and suppliers.

NOW ONLINE

Home Tours Get inspiration for your new home search and walk through the rooms of some of the Coastal Bend’s most breathtaking homes.

4. GO LOOK AT MODEL HOMES & NEWLY CONSTRUCTED

HOMES TO SEE WHAT YOU REALLY LIKE. This 2018 Coastal Bend Parade of Homes was a perfect venue for driving around and looking at some of the finest new and model homes in the Coastal Bend area. If you missed the Parade this past Spring, consult this magazine or go to our website—www.coastalbendnewhomes.com—online to find neighborhoods and builders.

COA STA L B E N D N E W H O M E S .CO M

5. WHEN YOU LOOK AT A BUILDER’S NEW HOME FOR

SALE, REMEMBER THAT IT MAY BE ONLY A MODEL FOR YOU. For example, that builder’s new house you see in

Portland can be custom built for you in the area of your choice. All the builders listed in our magazine would be happy to work with you in choosing a neighborhood and lot, in assisting with design & layout, and in helping you select options that fit your budget and desires. You are not limited to what you see in a model home. You CAN design your home and have it built in an area of YOUR choosing!

6. MOST IMPORTANT, ASK IF THE BUILDER CONSTRUCTS

through third-party testing, that your home will have cleaner inside air, be more comfortable with stable temperatures, and help save on utility expenses—far better than a similar new built-to-standard-code home.

With energy costs and global warming rising, your dream home needs to be energy efficient, and these programs guarantee your home will comply. Another excellent qualification is the Coastal Bend Green Built Program, guaranteeing your home will be more environmentally friendly. All of these special programs will ensure your home will keep hard-earned money in your pocket, and if you ever need to sell, will guarantee you a better resale price.

Hopefully, these 6 tips can get you started and on your way to your “Happy Ever After” new home. Don’t choose just any house that is available. With the right tools, the right choices, and the right attitude, building and buying a new home can be a wonderfully personalized and lifechanging experience.

Home by: Newcastle Homes

HOMES, OR CAN CONSTRUCT YOUR DREAM HOME, CERTIFIED UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY’S ENERGY STAR® PROGRAM OR UNDER THE NEW BUILT TO SAVE® PROGRAM. Both of these programs guarantee,

Have a home you’d like us to tour? Email us: info@coastalbendnewhomes.com

November / December ’18 / January 2019

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HOMEBUYING ADVICE

NEW HOME RESOLUTION A checklist for choosing a home that lasts.

The New Year is a great time to set goals for improving your life. Whether the goal is to lose weight, to stop smoking, or to start a new career, it’s the season to set positive intentions and turn last year’s “would have, should have, could have” to “Yes! This year, I am going to!”

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SO, WHAT’S ON YOUR NEW YEAR’S AGENDA?

Do you have a New Year’s resolution to buy a place to call your own, that dream home you have always wanted? Well, the year 2019 is a great time to consider building or buying a custom new home that meets your needs…and dreams. If your goal for 2019 is to become the proud owner of a new home, we’ve got the checklist to help you invest wisely.

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CoastalBendNewHomes.com

1) GET PRE-APPROVED FOR A LOAN FIRST.

cooling options that work in the Coastal Bend area. This includes having a right-sized air conditioning system, windows, and exteriors that protect against heat gain, and so on.

2) RESEARCH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Take a look not only at the value of your home as you purchase it, but at what comparable homes by this contractor are selling for on the resale market. If possible, visit a house built by a company you are interested in that’s up for sale to get an idea of how well the workmanship holds up after the home has been lived in for a while. Remember that homes with energy certifications like BUILT TO SAVE™ generally provide a higher resale value.

Before you start looking at floorplans or speaking with contractors, you need to know your buying power. This means going through a financial review and getting approval from a lender for a specific amount. This will save you the disappointment of looking at homes outside of your price range. It also shows you’re serious about making a purchase.

There are many programs available that help you become a homeowner faster. Each program has different qualifications you need to meet, so do your homework. You might be surprised to learn you could qualify. As a Texas resident, consider looking at TxHomePrograms.org as one potential option.

3) BE REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD

In addition to the amount the bank approves, you need to factor in how much you can spend on a monthly mortgage payment.

This means thinking about other expenses, such as how much money you need to live on each week for things like groceries, entertainment, and other necessities.

4) KNOW WHEN TO SPLURGE AND WHEN TO SAVE

One thing to watch is the upgrade costs as you build your home.

Be sure to ask about the base price and how much additional features will add to your total price. You want to weigh the value of upgraded fixtures and flooring options to how long they will last. In other words, will the extra money you spend save you down the road from having to replace, say, a carpet or floor that wears faster, but costs less initially?

5) DON’T JUST GO FOR CODE – GO FOR BETTER THAN CODE

Just because a house is built to code doesn’t mean it will have the best performance. Homes built using basic building codes are often less efficient to operate and more costly to maintain. In addition, minimum construction quality could invite issues like dust and mold that will make you sick. So work with a BUILT TO SAVE™ (BTS) or ENERGY STAR® builder. These contractors will build above code, ensuring your home will save you significant money in energy costs. For example, a BTS builder will consider

6) ESTIMATE RESALE VALUE

7) CHOOSE THE RIGHT COMMUNITY

In addition to building a home to meet your needs, how do you choose a community in which you want to build? There are many points to consider:

LOT SIZE: Is the homesite large enough to accommodate your house plans?

WHAT’S NEARBY: How close is this location to your workplace?

How good are the schools? Can you get to shopping districts, hospitals, and other places easily?

WHAT DOES THE COMMUNITY OFFER: Is there a community center or pool? How about parks and recreational activities?

HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION COSTS: How much are the fees for being a member of the community? What do they cover? Will this fit into your budget? Check out our new New Home Communities on page 29 where we break down all of these factors and more to help you quickly identify the right development for your new home.

8) HAVE YOUR HOME INSPECTED

BY A PROFESSIONAL

Hiring an independent professional home inspector has saved many from moving into a home that has substandard workmanship. It is much better to have someone who advocates for your best interests to evaluate your home carefully and point out features that need to be fixed before you close the contract.

Once you’ve signed, any existing issues will become your problems to fix.

Hopefully, the checklist here will make it easy for you to realize your new home in the New Year. Use it to ready yourself for finally making the dream of a brand new home a reality. Because, yes, this year, 2019, you are going to buy a home!

November / December ’18 / January 2019

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HOMEBUYING ADVICE

Opening Up About an Open Floorplan

Imagine standing in your kitchen, either cooking dinner or checking on what’s for dinner. Your children are playing in the family room in front of you while your spouse is working at a computer station. The television in the living area is showing the evening news as you grab a cool drink from the refrigerator.

Welcome to the open floorplan! This design is one that meets the needs of families with young children, as well as people who enjoy entertaining. The concept is simple. In a traditional layout and most older homes, walls divide the kitchen, living room or family room, and the dining room. An open floorplan is different because it removes those barriers to create one large room that is the center of a family’s activities.

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CoastalBendNewHomes.com

Home by Newcastle Homes

WHY PEOPLE LOVE AN OPEN FLOORPLAN What are some of the advantages to choosing a home with an open floorplan? First, it lets you visualize the entire space. For instance, you can be in the kitchen cooking or washing up while your young children play in the living room within eyesight.

Second, if you love to entertain, you likely want to spend time with your guests. An open floorplan lets you prepare food in the kitchen and chat with them as they mingle in the living area. You can be part of the action at all times.

An open floorplan also offers more natural light. The sun can shine through windows that are shared by the living, dining, and kitchen areas. You can even extend this open living to the outdoors with a deck accessible through glass doors.

MAKING AN OPEN FLOORPLAN WORK FOR YOU How can you make an open plan one that’s as functional and as beautiful as possible? Here are some tips: •

Use low furniture: Small couches and other low-profile seating and tables lend themselves to the airy feel of this plan.

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Have comfortable seating: The large open floorplan room is one you’ll be in most of the time, so why not go for comfort?

•

Think about buying durable furniture: If you have kids, pets, or lots of guests, you need furniture that can be cleaned easily. Choose colors and materials that can hide spills and won’t tear or sag when used daily.

•

Remember storage: Without walls for closets, your furniture should also serve as spaces to store your stuff. Look for bookshelves, ottomans, and coffee tables with removable baskets that double as places to hide toys and books.

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Consider light, sheer curtains: Let that light in to maintain a breezy, open feeling.

•

Multi-purpose seating works: Keep lots of small seating choices accessible. This could be slim or foldable chairs and stackable ottomans that can be pulled out when needed.

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And most important—a cohesive color palette: When you design an open floorplan, consider the big picture. Make sure that your colors and style complement each other from one space to the other. You want the entire large space to look coordinated.

Home by Santiago Homes

An open floorplan gives your home a bigger feel, no matter what your square footage is overall. Many builders now are moving towards the open floorplan concept. When you’re exploring options for new home construction, consider how this plan might work into your life. You might be surprised at how easily one big room can bring everything and everyone together.

Home by Live Oak Construction November / December ’18 / January 2019

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ENERGY EFFICIENCY

COMPLETED STAGE

REAL QUALITY IS FOUND BEHIND THE WALLS

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ot all homes are constructed equally. Sure, some may look the same, and both may appear to be of high quality energy efficient construction, but how can a homebuyer be sure that the home is truly what it is represented to be? The only way to be sure is to ask for proof—a certificate that officially recognizes the home as a high-performance home.

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CoastalBendNewHomes.com

Home by: Innovative Construction

PRE-DRYWALL STAGE

High-performance home programs like BUILT TO SAVE™ issue such certificates—proof that the home was constructed to above-code requirements and guaranteed to be more energy efficient than a similar home built to minimum code standards. The certificate backs up the builder’s claims of superior quality and energy savings. Without this certificate, a builder’s claims may simply be just “words’’ with little weight if and when you choose to sell the home.

While you cannot feel that the energy efficiency of a home was actually measured, the other benefits of a BUILT TO SAVE™ certified home can be felt and enjoyed every day by homebuyers. Because the homes in the program are tightly sealed and constructed, occupants will enjoy clean, healthy indoor air. And because the air conditioning system is properly sized to the size of the home, the unit will not cycle on and off before it has done its job of removing humidity in the home. This not only makes for a comfortable interior, but proper sizing of the A/C unit also protects against the accumulation of moisture that can cause mold issues over time. An oversized A/C unit

also wastes more electricity and will likely have more maintenance issues from cycling on and off more often as it cools a smaller space too quickly.

A common complaint from homeowners who move into their new home is that some rooms are too hot while others are too cold. These uneven temperatures are often the result of pressure imbalances caused by the blockage of air when the door of a room is closed and air cannot find its way back to an air handler return where the air filter is located. The air handler tries to replace the lack of air by sucking air from holes, outlets, doors, and cracks in the home, bringing in dust and debris from the attic and the outside. The cool air blown into a room with imbalanced pressure is pushed out of the room through windows, electrical outlets, and other cracks, and this increases your utility bill. The BUILT TO SAVE™ program makes sure that the air pressure in a room with the door closed is not excessive, and, if necessary, will require a jumper duct be installed.

The goal: to allow the proper amount of air to return to the air handler, which helps reduce the loss of cool air and

Home by: Newcastle Homes

prevents the need for unclean air to be forced into the home.

Don’t just judge the quality construction of a home by its “bling.” Once the walls are installed in a home, it becomes difficult to determine if the insulation was properly installed or if there are any areas where cool air can escape to the attic or to the outside. The BUILT TO SAVE™ certification requires a “pre-drywall inspection” to be performed by a RESNET licensed Rater who visually verifies that what is behind the walls complies with the program’s criteria for a highperformance home. The Rater returns to the home once it is completed and tests the home Home by: Santiago Homes

using specialized equipment and software that measure the home’s envelope and ductwork to make sure that it meets the program’s requirements for air tightness and energy efficiency.

BUILT TO SAVE™ is an “above code” program, which means the home will be of better quality and perform better than a home built to minimum code requirements.

For most people, buying a home is the biggest investment of their lives. So why would anyone be satisfied with buying a home that is built to minimum standards when a high-performance home certified as “BUILT TO SAVE™” offers a return on their investment—with immediate savings on utility bills, a healthier, more comfortable interior, and long-term durability with the peace of mind knowing that the home will command a higher-resale value!

Discover two outstanding Coastal Bend energy-efficient builders on page 15. Visit www.builttosave.org to learn more about this High-Performance Homes Program.

November / December ’18 / January 2019

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ENERGY EFFICIENCY

How To Know If A Home Is Energy Efficient

There isn’t one contractor who will say their home is not energy efficient. Every builder will say his or her home is energy efficient—but compared to what? The following is a guide for homebuyers to help them identify whether or not the home they are planning to buy is—or will be built—as a high-performance energy efficient home.

Today’s energy code is based on the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

The code, which was adopted by the State of Texas and became law on August 1, 2016, sets the minimum energy efficiency requirements for new homes built after that date. Homes built to standards that are higher than required by the 2015 IECC are considered to be highperformance energy efficient homes. Here’s what you need to know and some questions you can ask the builder to help identify those homes.

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1. DOES THE HOME HAVE A HIGH-PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATION?

Initiatives like the ENERGY STAR® Program and BUILT TO SAVE™ Program provide certifications to homes that meet the strict criteria that qualify them as high-performance energy efficient homes. Ask for a copy of the certification and the home’s systems label, which is required by code after the home is built.

2. DO CODE OFFICIALS ENFORCE THE 2015 IECC? If they do, no problem. If they do not, builders should know that Texas law requires compliance with the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code. Even if city code officials do not enforce the 2015 IECC, this does not mean that the builder is free to ignore the law. The ultimate responsibility to be code compliant rests with the builder.

3. HOW MANY OF THE BUILDER’S HOMES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS ENERGY EFFICIENT?

If a builder certifies 100% of its homes as ENERGY STAR® or BUILT TO SAVE™, this is a good indicator of the company’s commitment to building energy efficient homes.

These builders are true industry leaders that invest their time and money in building homes that provide not just energy savings to consumers but, more importantly, their homes will provide more comfort, better indoor air, more durability with less maintenance—and a higher resale value for homeowners down the road.

Some contractors build only one certified home per year, which is the minimum requirement of energy efficient initiatives like ENERGY STAR® and BUILT TO SAVE™ in order to continue using the program’s logo in their marketing.

If you want a home certified as energy efficient from these builders, you must ask for it.

4. WAS THE HOME MODELED FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY? Any home can be modeled before it is built. All that is required is a set of blueprints and a Manual J, which specifies the home’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning requirements. A home energy rater inputs the information from these documents and models the home to predict its energy efficiency performance once it is built.

The software used by the rater produces a projected Energy Rating Index score (ERI) and a projected percentage of energy efficiency over minimum code requirements.

The modeling allows contractors to make adjustments if required to hit the targeted goal. Modeling is the first step in certifying a home in the ENERGY STAR® and BUILT TO SAVE™ programs.

5. WAS A BLOWER DOOR TEST AND A DUCT BLASTER TEST PERFORMED?

of the home’s envelope—how much air comes in and goes out through the roof, windows, doors, and other openings in the home. The duct blaster test measures leaks in the joints and seams of the ductwork in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

These tests are required by the 2015 IECC to comply with minimum code requirements. Note, however, that just because a home received these tests does not mean that the home received an energy efficient certification.

Additionally, as required by law, the tests should be performed by a licensed home energy rater not associated with any part of the construction of the home, including HVAC-related services or products.

6. DID THE HOME RECEIVE AN ENERGY RATING INDEX SCORE?

An Energy Rating Index (ERI) score is the best indicator of a home’s projected energy efficiency performance. The lower the score, the better the home should perform with regard to energy efficiency. Without an ERI or other predicted performance information, you won’t know what your utility bill will be like until you move in. You wouldn’t buy a car without knowing its miles per gallon (MPG). So why would you buy a home without an ERI?

7. IS THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT SIZED PROPERLY FOR THE HOME?

The air conditioning unit accounts for 50% of the home’s energy consumption but, more importantly, it accounts for 100% of the home’s comfort. A unit that is oversized will not only use more energy by cooling the house too quickly and cycle on and off, it will never stay on long enough to remove the humidity in the home.

This accumulated humidity will make for an uncomfortable indoor environment and create potential moisture problems in the long term. ENERGY STAR® and BUILT TO SAVE™ certified homes ensure properly sized units and equal room-to-room temperatures for enhanced comfort.

8. CAN THE BUILDER PROVIDE REFERENCES? As with any home you buy, you should ask for references from the builder’s previous homebuyers.

Good questions to ask these homebuyers are, “What is your average monthly electrical bill?” and “Do you experience any rooms that are more uncomfortable than others?” And, of course, “Would you buy another home from this builder?” The best references can be found from the builder’s own peers. Has he or she been recognized with any awards for Energy Efficiency? Are they or have they ever been featured as a leading energy efficient builder?

A licensed energy rater using specialized equipment performs these tests. The blower door test measures the leakiness

November / December ’18 / January 2019

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1/2 Mile

A typical home has about a Less on utilities, more on family.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

RISE ABOVE ALL THE REST

THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION FOR THE BUILT TO SAVE™ LABEL

From the outside—and even from the inside—two homes that look identical could actually be very different in how they consume electricity. The good news is that you don’t have to wait until you move — Visual Inspections and Testing in to find out how your new home will perform. When you see the BUILT TO SAVE™ certification, you A home with a BUILT TO SAVE™ label be sure be Home, no surprises with energy bills. The If you can are building or there buyingwill a New don’t settle forhigh minimum standards.

Ask extra savings make homeownership has gone through stricter and more your builder if they build homes any of these high-performance morewith affordable and provide extracertifications. cash to spend on loved ones. comprehensive inspection and testing than a Ask for the certificate. You’ll be glad you have it if you resell your home.

home built only to code.

of cracks and gaps throughout.

— Preliminary Review

DOE ZERO ENERGY READY HOME

A builder is required to submit the home’s 1

This certification is awarded to homes that meet all of the criteria of floor plans and elevation drawings to see if the Department of Energy’s Energy Ready Home National Program. any changes are required to provide more The These hundreds not things we think about until someone points homesof areholes verifiedintoabehome at leastare 40%-50% more energy efficient energy efficiency. The home’s Manual J, themthan out.

And home. yes, you read right.

A typical home has a typical Zero Energy Ready Homes are so efficient thatover a ½ mile of whichcracks determines and the proper size of the air crevices that, according the Department Energy, can result in 20%conditioning to 40%unitextra incorporating a renewableto system can offset most of or all annual energy for the specified size of the consumption. www.energy.gov for more information. also be submitted for review in heating and Visit cooling costs every year through air leakage. A BUILThome, TOmustSAVE™

to ensure that it is correct. The data is then certified home means the home is properly sealed, thus protecting against high utility ENERGY STAR® entered into a software program that projects costs, moisture damage, and dusty, unhealthy indoor air.

The ENERGY STAR® is a national program administered by the Department of Energy in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency. To earn the ENERGY STAR® certification, homes must meet strict construction and energy efficiency criteria verified by a third party.

An ENERGY STAR® qualified home consumes 15% to 30% less energy than a similar home and provides better durability, more comfort, cleaner indoor air, and reduced maintenance costs.

Visit www.energystar.gov for more information.

the expected energy efficiency for that

INDOOR AIRPLUS

the home to the attic. The insulation is also

home—allowing builders to make appropriate changes if required.

— Thermal Bypass (Pre-Drywall Inspection) A visual inspection is performed during the framing phase of a home to ensure that there are no gaps in the thermal barrier that would allow cold air to escape from the inside of inspected to ensure it has the correct R-value

The Indoor airPLUS is a program of the Environmental Protection Agency and is a companion label that can only be awarded to a home that has qualified for the ENERGY STAR® or Zero Energy Ready Home programs. The construction and system requirements of the Indoor airPlus program are designed to reduce contaminants to improve indoor air quality, including mold, moisture, radon, carbon monoxide, toxic chemicals, and other detriments found in poor air quality.

Visit www.epa.gov for more information.

BUILT TO SAVE™ —

and that it was properly installed.

— Blower Door Test & Duct Leakage Testing The final inspection and testing is performed once the home is complete using special diagnostic equipment to conduct a blower door test, which measures the air leakiness of the home, and a duct leakage test that measures the leakiness of the ducts. Final

Best Value!

results must meet the requirements of

The BUILT TO SAVE™ program is a regional energy efficiency program designed to provide a high-performance home that is “superior to code.” To receive the BUILT TO SAVE™ certification, homes must be inspected before drywall is installed to ensure proper insulation, and tested at the completion of construction to verify that the air leakage requirements of the program are met. A BUILT TO SAVE™ certification means the following: savings through low energy consumption, a more comfortable home, better indoor air quality, and less maintenance, all resulting in a higher resale value for the home.

Visit www.BuiltToSave.org for more information.

1

Department of Energy

COASTAL BEND GREEN BUILT

the program for the home to pass. These tests will predict the home’s future energy efficiency performance.

— RESNET Approved Third-Party Raters While anyone can perform third-party inspections with the proper equipment, it is important to ensure that the rater is a RESNET approved inspector. RESNET is the accrediting agency for Home Energy Raters.

Qualified raters are issued an RTN# by RESNET. Make sure your rater has one and is

Coastal Bend Green Built is a voluntary program for building industry professionals who are committed to using products, technologies, B and environmentally friendly building practices that conform to higher Smart shoppers know there isof more a new homewater than pretty granite standards site to management, efficiency, indoor air quality, countertops, impressive flooring, andand designer lightingeducation. fixtures. These can Bend energy efficiency, homeowner The Coastal GreenBuilt Program is administered the Coastal Bend Home Builders easily be mistaken for quality construction.

Look for thebyBUILT TO SAVE™ Association and isand designed to encourage the use of sustainable certification—the “High Performance High Quality” seal of approval materials in construction to conserve energy and protect our natural from third-party inspectors. You’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing the home resources.

Visit www.coastalbendgreenbuilt.org for more information. will save you money on utilities, improve indoor air quality, and be healthier,

CB Coastal Bend

Green Built

Builders Association - Corpus Christi Area

more comfortable, and more durable—with a higher resale value—than a home that has only been built to code.

listed on RESNET’s website (www.resnet.us) as a current member.

IMPORTANT CHANGE IN THE 2015 ENERGY

CODE REGARDING INSPECTORS Look for the Home That Says: Third-party inspectors must not have been affiliated with the design or construction of the building (Section C104.4).

www.BuiltToSave.org

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

O U T S TA N D I N G H O M E S B E G I N W I T H

OU TSTA N DI NG Energy Efficient

BU ILDERS Meet the companies that stepped up to a leadership role in the construction of high-performance homes in the Coastal Bend of South Texas. Their craftsmanship is superior to minimum code-built homes, with excellent long-term benefits for homebuyers.

This special issue of the Coastal Bend New Homes Guide features two outstanding builders who, during the past year, have earned the right to be called “Outstanding Energy Efficient Builders.”

While many builders today claim that their homes are energy efficient, only those—like the ones featured here with homes identified as “high performance” by programs like BUILT TO SAVE™—are able to support those claims with a third-party written guarantee from an independent RESNET-certified Rater who guarantees the superior energy efficiency of their homes.

Whether it is spending more time to make sure that construction is done properly, or spending more money upgrading the quality of materials, the 2018 Outstanding Energy Efficient Builders featured here invest above and beyond what is required by minimum building codes to make sure you, the buyer, are getting a superior home worthy of their company’s name. These builders are true leaders at a time when many, even new homebuyers, are content to accept the most basic of standards in a new home—an investment that is meant to last a lifetime.

We invite you to compare the “above code” quality construction and benefits of a BUILT TO SAVE™ home with a similar home built only to minimum code. Aside from the most obvious benefit with a BUILT TO SAVE™ home of impressive savings on your monthly utility bills, you’ll discover enhanced comfort, durability, superior resale value, and the peace of mind that what is behind the walls was inspected by a third-party Energy Rater to guarantee that the home complies with the strict requirements for certification as a high-performance BUILT TO SAVE™ home.

Builders Recognized by the BUILT TO SAVE™ Program for High-Performance Homes:

Newcastle Homes FEATURED PG. 17

Santiago Homes FEATURED PG. 19

SEE FULL BIOS & PHOTO GALLERIES ONLINE

CoastalBendNewHomes.com/LEEB-2018

Visit www.BuiltToSave.org to find out more about why you should not settle for a minimum code constructed home when you can enjoy the utility savings and long-term benefits of a BUILT TO SAVE™ certified home.

November / December ’18 / January 2019

15

1/2 Mile A typical home has about a

What value would you put on the quality of air your family breathes?

Did you know that levels of air pollution inside the home are often 200% to 500% higher than the outside air?* And it is a well-known fact that poor indoor air quality is responsible for a variety of health problems like allergies, headaches, and a host of respiratory problems such as 1asthma. A BUILT TO SAVE™ certified home not only improves indoor air quality with construction processes that reduce dust, pollen, and excessive but also to enjoy points long-term The hundreds of holes in a homehumidity, are not things weallows think homeowners about until someone savingsthem on utilities while enjoying the right. peaceAoftypical mind that their breathing air. out. And yes, you read home hasfamily over is a ½ mile of healthier cracks and

of cracks and gaps throughout.

*

1

crevices that, according to the Department of Energy, can result in 20% to 40% extra in heating and cooling costs every year through air leakage. A BUILT TO SAVE™ certified home means the home is properly sealed, thus protecting against high utility costs, moisture damage, and dusty, unhealthy indoor air.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency

Department of Energy

Smart shoppers know there is more to a new home than pretty granite countertops, impressive flooring, and designer lighting fixtures. These can easily be mistaken for quality construction. Look for the BUILT TO SAVE™ certification—the “High Performance and High Quality” seal of approval from third-party inspectors. You’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing the home will save you money on utilities, improve indoor air quality, and be healthier, more comfortable, and more durable—with a higher resale value—than a home that has only been built to code.

Look for the Home That Says:

www.BuiltToSave.org

Newcastle Homes (361) 834-5354 www.newcastlehomescc.com pope232@hotmail.com

1800-2400 sqft

John Pope

Founded: 2006 Price Range: From $250’s to 1.5 Million Areas Served: Corpus Christi Bay Side; Padre Island; Port Aransas Construction Type: Residential

Newcastle Homes Newcastle Homes is an elite custom builder with a reputation for building environmentally friendly homes with remarkably impressive Energy Rating Index scores—a testament to their superior energy efficiency performance. As a pioneer of sustainable construction, Newcastle Homes continues to lead the Coastal Bend market in the construction of homes that provide immediate return on a homebuyer’s investment—with reduced utility bills, and, over the life of the home, more comfort, better indoor air quality, and a higher resale value. Newcastle Homes is affiliated with the high performance home programs of BUILT TO SAVE™ and Coastal Bend GreenBuilt. The company’s homes have consistently, and rightfully, been recognized by industry peers in Parade of Homes’ competitions over the years with awards for beauty, awardwinning design, and quality construction. Newcastle Homes specializes in building extraordinary waterfront custom homes of exceptional beauty, and the company’s versatility can accommodate any needs or budget for their clients.

SEE FULL BIO & PHOTO GALLERY ONLINE

CoastalBendNewHomes.com/LEEB-2018 November / December ’18 / January 2019

17

Less value on utilities, onon family.

What would more you put the quality of air your family breathes?

From the outside—and even from the inside—two homes that look identical could actually be very different in how they consume electricity. The good news is that you don’t have to wait until you move in to find out how your new home will perform. When you see the BUILT TO SAVE™ certification, you can be sure there will be no surprises with high energy bills. The extra savings make homeownership more affordable and provide extra cash to spend on loved ones.

Did you know that levels of air pollution inside the home are often 200% to 500% higher than the outside air?* And it is a well-known fact that poor indoor air quality is responsible for a variety of health problems like allergies, headaches, and a host of respiratory problems such as asthma. A BUILT TO SAVE™ certified home not only improves indoor air quality with construction processes that reduce dust, pollen, and excessive humidity, but also allows homeowners to enjoy long-term savings on utilities while enjoying the peace of mind that their family is breathing healthier air. *

Source: Environmental Protection Agency

Smart shoppers know there is more to a new home than pretty granite countertops, impressive flooring, and designer lighting fixtures. These can easily be mistaken for quality construction. Look for the BUILT TO SAVE™ certification—the “High Performance and High Quality” seal of approval from third-party inspectors. You’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing the home will save you money on utilities, improve indoor air quality, and be healthier, more comfortable, and more durable—with a higher resale value—than a home that has only been built to code.

Look for the Home That Says:

www.BuiltToSave.org

Santiago Homes (361) 443-1212 www.santiagoinv.com santiagoinv@aol.com

Founded: 1988 Price Range: From $230’s Areas Served: Coastal Bend Area Construction Type: Residential and Commercial Jose S. Vielma

Santiago Homes Santiago Homes is known for building unique custom homes that express a homebuyer’s individual tastes and lifestyle. What sets this company apart is its commitment to fine craftsmanship, ensuring true quality in the construction of its homes. From the use of rebar for a superior foundation to the unquestionable energy efficiency of the finished home, Santiago Homes is focused on building a home that exceeds customers’ expectations and whose beauty and durability will outlive its mortgage. The company’s reputation has earned a loyal following of satisfied customers—often repeat customers—who value high quality energy efficient homes with tighter, more durable construction, and, as well, a builder who can understand their unique ideas and dreams and build what they want. Santiago Homes is the Coastal Bend’s first builder to certify homes in the BUILT TO SAVE™ high performance home program that gives peace of mind to homebuyers who can rest assured that their home is inspected during construction and tested upon completion by an independent third-party inspector who guarantees the company’s claims of above-code quality construction and energy efficiency.

SEE FULL BIO & PHOTO GALLERY ONLINE

CoastalBendNewHomes.com/LEEB-2018 November / December ’18 / January 2019

19

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

RISE ABOVE ALL THE REST If you are building or buying a New Home, don’t settle for minimum standards. Ask your builder if they build homes with any of these high-performance certifications.

Ask for the certificate. You’ll be glad you have it if you resell your home.

DOE ZERO ENERGY READY HOME

This certification is awarded to homes that meet all of the criteria of the Department of Energy’s Energy Ready Home National Program.

These homes are verified to be at least 40%-50% more energy efficient than a typical home. Zero Energy Ready Homes are so efficient that incorporating a renewable system can offset most or all annual energy consumption. Visit www.energy.gov for more information.

The ENERGY STAR® is a national program administered by the Department of Energy in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency. To earn the ENERGY STAR® certification, homes must meet strict construction and energy efficiency criteria verified by a third party.

An ENERGY STAR® qualified home consumes 15% to 30% less energy than a similar home and provides better durability, more comfort, cleaner indoor air, and reduced maintenance costs.

Visit www.energystar.gov for more information.

The Indoor airPLUS is a program of the Environmental Protection Agency and is a companion label that can only be awarded to a home that has qualified for the ENERGY STAR® or Zero Energy Ready Home programs. The construction and system requirements of the Indoor airPlus program are designed to reduce contaminants to improve indoor air quality, including mold, moisture, radon, carbon monoxide, toxic chemicals, and other detriments found in poor air quality.

Visit www.epa.gov for more information.

Best Value!

The BUILT TO SAVE™ program is a regional energy efficiency program designed to provide a high-performance home that is “superior to code.” To receive the BUILT TO SAVE™ certification, homes must be inspected before drywall is installed to ensure proper insulation, and tested at the completion of construction to verify that the air leakage requirements of the program are met. A BUILT TO SAVE™ certification means the following: savings through low energy consumption, a more comfortable home, better indoor air quality, and less maintenance, all resulting in a higher resale value for the home.

Visit www.BuiltToSave.org for more information.

COASTAL BEND GREEN BUILT Coastal Bend

B

Green Built

Builders Association - Corpus Christi Area

20

Coastal Bend Green Built is a voluntary program for building industry professionals who are committed to using products, technologies, and environmentally friendly building practices that conform to higher standards of site management, water efficiency, indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and homeowner education. The Coastal Bend GreenBuilt Program is administered by the Coastal Bend Home Builders Association and is designed to encourage the use of sustainable materials in construction to conserve energy and protect our natural resources. Visit www.coastalbendgreenbuilt.org for more information.

CoastalBendNewHomes.com

A home with a BUILT TO SAVE™ label has gone through stricter and more comprehensive inspection and testing than a home built only to code.

— Preliminary Review A builder is required to submit the home’s floor plans and elevation drawings to see if any changes are required to provide more energy efficiency. The home’s Manual J, which determines the proper size of the air conditioning unit for the specified size of the home, must also be submitted for review entered into a software program that projects the expected energy efficiency for that home—allowing builders to make appropriate changes if required.

— Thermal Bypass (Pre-Drywall Inspection) A visual inspection is performed during the framing phase of a home to ensure that there are no gaps in the thermal barrier that would allow cold air to escape from the inside of the home to the attic. The insulation is also

INDOOR AIRPLUS

CB

— Visual Inspections and Testing

to ensure that it is correct. The data is then

ENERGY STAR®

BUILT TO SAVE™ —

THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION FOR THE BUILT TO SAVE™ LABEL

inspected to ensure it has the correct R-value and that it was properly installed.

— Blower Door Test & Duct Leakage Testing The final inspection and testing is performed once the home is complete using special diagnostic equipment to conduct a blower door test, which measures the air leakiness of the home, and a duct leakage test that measures the leakiness of the ducts. Final results must meet the requirements of the program for the home to pass. These tests will predict the home’s future energy efficiency performance.

— RESNET Approved Third-Party Raters While anyone can perform third-party inspections with the proper equipment, it is important to ensure that the rater is a RESNET approved inspector. RESNET is the accrediting agency for Home Energy Raters.

Qualified raters are issued an RTN# by RESNET. Make sure your rater has one and is listed on RESNET’s website (www.resnet.us) as a current member.

IMPORTANT CHANGE IN THE 2015 ENERGY CODE REGARDING INSPECTORS Third-party inspectors must not have been affiliated with the design or construction of the building (Section C104.4).

PUT YOUR BRAND IN THEIR HAND EVERY DAY! These popular FREEBIES are perfect for Home Shows, Parade of Homes Events, Open Houses, & Meetings!

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(956) 971-9700 * Includes 1-color printing in1 location unless otherwise specified with package. Offer applies to new advertisers as of 11/01/18 only and is valid until 12/31/18. Discounted prices shown on this page are good until 12/31/18 only. A setup fee of $50 per item is additional on items in Packages B & C. Freight not included. Koozie® is a registered trademark of BIC Graphic.

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Over 2400 sqft

DREAM DESIGN BUILD 2018 PARADE AWARDS (Over 2400 Sq. Ft. Division) + Best Exterior + Best Interior + Best Kitchen + Best Floorplan + Best Landscaping

Take a personal tour and fall in love with LIVE OAK! See Pg. 23 for model home hours.

BUILD ON YOUR LOT OR OURS

LIVEOAKCUSTOMHOMES.COM

coastalbendnewhomes

(361) 850-9153

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Coastal Bend New Homes Guide Highlighting Beautiful New Homes in the Coastal Bend coastalbendnewhomes.com

South Texas

Get your daily inspiration fix!

Follow us on Instagram @coastalbendnewhomes to see the beautiful homes from some of the top builders in the Coastal Bend. #coastalbendnewhomes

22

CoastalBendNewHomes.com

FURNISHED MODEL HOMES

SALES: Casey Mengele: (361) 850-9153 | (361) 336-4663 casey@liveoakcustomhomes.com

ADDRESS: Lago Vista 5902 S. Oso Pkwy Corpus Christi, Tx HOURS: Mon, Tues, Fri 11:00am to 6:00pm Saturday 12:00pm to 6:00pm Sunday 1:00pm to 6:00pm

www.newcastlehomescc.com

ADDRESS: Padre Isles 15229 Isla Pinta Court Padre Island/CC, Tx HOURS: By appointment only

Padre Island (CC)

www.liveoakcustomhomes.com

SALES: John Pope: (361) 834-5354 pope232@hotmail.com

www.liveoakcustomhomes.com SALES: Elizabeth Anguiano: (361) 937- 5668 I (956) 341-6407 elizabeth@liveoakcustomhomes.com

Flour Bluff (CC)

Corpus Christi

There is nothing like actually walking through a home. These builders have their homes furnished and ready for you to tour. Stop by and see which one FEELS like home.

ADDRESS: Shoreline Vista 2117 Oak Creek Corpus Christi, Tx HOURS: Mon, Tues, Fri 11:00am to 6:00pm Saturday 12:00pm to 6:00pm Sunday 1:00pm to 6:00pm

VIEW FULL GALLERIES OF THESE MODEL HOMES ON OUR WEBSITE www.coastalbendnewhomes.com/model-homes

Start your search CoastalBendNewHomes.com The Coastal Bend’s newest resource for new homes, new home builders, and new home communities.

For advertising call (361) 752-1658 | Vol. 1.4 | November / December ’18 / January ’19 | CoastalBendNewHomes.com

23

HOMESHOPPER NEWSLETTER

Real Estate News Shoreline Vista, Phase 2: Your Second Chance for a Great Place to Live!

IF YOU MISSED BUYING A HOMESITE and building a custom home in the first phase of Shoreline Vista in Flour Bluff, don’t despair. Live Oak Construction is now pre-selling lots in the new Phase 2 of this wonderfully located community set to open in 2019. Shoreline Vista, Phase 2, offers homesites from $40K to $70K with plans for a family-friendly waterfront park for residents.

Shoreline Vista is located in the top-rated Flour Bluff Independent School District, known as one of the best school districts in Texas. In addition to its high ranking and excellent teachers, the Flour Bluff ISD also has a reputation for offering award-winning extracurricular programs for students.

Along with access to great schools, residents of Shoreline Vista will enjoy the community’s excellent location near the SPID Freeway, giving easy and quick access to malls, restaurants, theaters, and Gulf beaches. Shoreline Vista is only minutes away from the Naval Air Station, H-E-B Food Store, Walmart, the Post Office, and nearby businesses.

We invite you to tour Live Oak Construction’s furnished model at Shoreline Vista. Call Elizabeth Anguiano for a personal tour and be among the first to pick a “choice” homesite. See page 23 for more information.

Got great news to share about the Building Industry in the Coastal Bend Area? Email us at: info@acrossmediamarketing.com for a chance to be featured.

24

CoastalBendNewHomes.com

Green Building: Good For You, Good For The Environment

By Garrett Dorsey III, Coastal Bend Green Built Chair

GREEN BUILDING IS A TERM WE HEAR OFTEN in the construction and marketing of new homes. But what does it mean exactly? More importantly, what does it mean for the homebuyer? Green building is defined by the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive as “1) increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use energy, water, and materials, and 2) reducing building impacts on human health and the environment.”

In South Texas, the major green building program is the Coastal Bend Green Built Program (CBGB). Founded in 2007 by the Coastal Bend Home Builders Association and affiliated with the United States Green Building Council, the CBGB has certified over 1,000 homes as “green built.”

Why should a homebuyer value a green-built home? The most obvious reason is the return on investment. From Day 1, a green-built home will provide increased savings on utilities from the home’s reduced energy consumption. While this alone would be enough, the home’s positive impact on the occupants’ health and the natural environment are benefits that one can only refer to as “invaluable.”

According to the US Green Building Council, buildings consume 14% of potable water, 40% of raw material, and 39% of energy. The Coastal Bend Green Built Certification requirements focus on all of those by reducing the use of energy, water, and raw materials with the ultimate goal of protecting our natural resources.

Homes certified as Coastal Bend Green Built are inspected during construction and tested upon completion by an independent thirdparty inspector who verifies that the home has met all of the program’s requirements. The third-party inspections and testing are key components of the Coastal Bend Green Built certification. While many claims can be made about a home’s energy efficiency or about its construction quality, the only way homebuyers can reduce their anxiety about these concerns is to ask for proof. They should ask to see the actual certificate, which the homebuyer should receive anyway for potential resale purposes.

We invite you to learn more about how you can improve your quality of life and live healthier through the sustainable construction of the Coastal Bend Green Built Program. It’s the right thing to do for your family and for your children’s future. We all have an obligation to see that our children and their future generations can continue to enjoy the quality of life that we do.

Visit www.coastalbendgreenbuilt.org for more information.

You’re Not the Only One with a NEW HOME DREAM. Gulf Coast Humane Society has been completing families since 1945.

ADOPT, FOSTER, VOLUNTEER, or DONATE at: www.gchscc.org We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit: the largest no-kill animal shelter in South Texas.

We house and care for hundreds of adoptable dogs and cats and are dedicated to providing the best care possible for all the animals under our roof.

Agatha

Bella

Available For Immediate Move-In

See more online!

Our mission is to save animals, one life at a time, and to place homeless animals into loving homes.

Our services include community outreach, animal smart training, cremation services, resources, microchipping, and more.

3118 Cabaniss Parkway, Corpus Christi, TX, 78415 | (361) 225-0845 | office@gchscc.org Open Monday-Saturday: 11am - 6pm & Sunday: 12pm - 5pm

Get your FREE copy at any of these locations.

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CoastalBendNewHomes.com/Locations V I EW TH E D I GI TA L MAGA ZI NE Wow Factor For

CoastalBendNew

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12 | The Right Size

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I NTERESTED I N A DV ERTI S I NG?

CoastalBendNewHomes.com/Contact

Homes.com Volume 1 Issue

1 — February/Marc

h/April 2018

If you’d like to have a magazine rack at your business, call (956) 971-9700.

Award-Winni ng Recognitio n for Outstanding Craftsmanship PAGE 10

For advertising call (361) 752-1658 | Vol. 1.4 | November / December ’18 / January ’19 | CoastalBendNewHomes.com

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St CORPUS CHRISTI 35 35 Barcelona Estates...............102 ...K13 35 BarclayCGrove .....................103 ...M15 188 orpus Christi Bluegrass Estates ...............104 ...N19 St Bordeaux Place ..................105 ...N16 Cayo Del Oso......................106 ...N17 188 Chicago Town Homes.........107....N14 Enclave at Oso Parkway ........108 ...N14 35 35 Graford Place .....................109 ...M14 Greenfields by The Bay ........110 ....M17 35Greystone ...........................111 .....N17 King Estates........................112 ....O13 Kitty Hawk ..........................113 ....O13 35 Lago Vista .......................100 ...O14

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See Inside Back Cover for more info on communities shown in red.

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Landon Club Estates ..........114 ....M10 Las Brisas at Rancho Vista........115 ....O17 Los Arboles at Terra Mar ........116 ....M17 Melvin Estates ....................117.....M10 The Crossing at Northwest ......118 ....D6 Overland Meadows ............119 ....C5 Parkview at the Preserve ........120 ...M18 Pinehollow..........................121 ....N19 Rancho Vista.......................122 ...O16 Royal Creek Estates ...........123....O15 San Cristobal ......................124....M18 Sandy Creek .......................125 ...M17 Shoreline Vista ................101 ...N19 Summer Wind Village .........126 ...L13

PORTLAND Bay Landing........................300...J2 Bay Ridge ...........................301 ...I3 The Grand Estates ...........302 ..J3 Northshore .........................303 ...J3 INGLESIDE County Oaks .......................400...O6 Garden Oaks ......................401 ...M7 ROCKPORT Lighthouse Cove ................500...N3 Wandering Oaks .................501 ...N2 BANQUETE The Plains ...........................600 ..G17 KINGSVILLE Wildwood Trails ..................700 ...J18 ORANGE GROVE Santa Clara Estates ............800...G19

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CoastalBendNewHomes.com | November / December ’18 / January ’19 | Vol. 1.4 | For advertising call (361) 752-1658

D E T T R A I L CR T

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ONLY 6 LOTS LEFT

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King Trail

Lago Vist Dr. ista eV

Model Home Hours: Mon, Tues, Fri: 11-6 | Sat: 12-6 | Sun: 1-6 ISD: London - (361) 855-0092 | Elem, Mid, High: London

HOMES FROM THE $400’S, LOTS FROM THE $90’S

101

A cres

Casey Mengele: casey@liveoakcustomhomes.com (361) 850-9153 | (361) 336-4663 | liveoakcustomhomes.com

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Reserve your lot today!

Enjoy 5 private lakes on over 30 total acres. Quiet countryside atmosphere with spacious 3/4 acre lots starting from the $90’s and beautiful homes from the $400’s. Lago Vista amenities include: private lakeside pool and outdoor clubhouse; spectacular signature waterfall lakeside entry; private lakeside park; dock; and shaded deck.

Choose from King Ranch frontage lots and waterfront lots. New furnished model home is available for viewing. Excellent London ISD.

5 6

CORPUS CHRISTI

1

24 23 22 21 20

Furnished Model Home

SHORELINE VISTA

FLOUR BLUFF (CORPUS CHRISTI)

Excellent Flour Bluff Location South Padre Island Dr N Affordable homes starting from the $210’s. Shoreline Don Patricio Rd Vista amenities include a clubhouse and swimming Division Rd pool for residents. Only 6 lots left and new phase coming soon with Oso Sea Oak Bay waterfront lots. Choose from 15 new home plans with matchless Purdue Rd style and design. Homes completely sided in brick and stucco with stone accents and inviting entrance passageways. Enjoy HOA maintenance for common areas and a waterfront viewing park. Top-rated Flour Bluff school district.

Flour Bluff

4

OP

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LAGO VISTA / UNIT 3-C

Ca p

VISIT OUR AWARD-WINNING MODEL

King Tra il

100

Elizabeth Anguiano: elizabeth@liveoakcustomhomes.com (361) 937- 5668 I (956) 341-6407 | liveoakcustomhomes.com Model Home Hours: Mon, Tues, Fri: 11-6 | Sat: 12-6 | Sun: 1-6 ISD: Flour Bluff - (361) 694-9000 | Elem, Int, Junior, High: Flour Bluff

HOMES FROM THE $210’S

THE GRAND ESTATES AT NORTHSHORE

302

PORTLAND

One of Portland’s best-kept secrets!

The community is nestled in between N the Northshore Country Club, with its championship links styled golf course along the shores of Corpus Christi Bay, and a convenient municipal park with playgrounds and ball parks.

Santiago Homes, the first builder to introduce BUILT TO SAVE™ certified homes in the Coastal Bend area, is currently building two model homes in the community and has available homesites for your custom home. The company’s BUILT TO SAVE™ certified homes save homeowners money on utilities, plus offer more comfort and a higher resale value.

Nor

thsh

ore

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PENDING

HOMES FROM THE $230’S

(361) 443-1212 | santiagoinv.com

Broadway

ISD: Gregory-Portland - (361) 777-1091 | Elem: East Cliff | Mid: Gregory-Portland | High: Gregory-Portland

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