October 20th, 2011

Remodeling Your Home

After living in home for so long, it gets tiring looking at all the same decor, bathroom fixtures and small rooms. You've decided that its time for a change, a clean slate. The question persists, should I buy new or remodel the house we live in? Many Americans are now opting for improving their existing homes instead of moving into a new home for several reasons.

- The cost of building a new home is much greater than customizing your home in order to fit your lifestyle and needs as your life changes, family gets bigger and demands for accommodating living quarters.
- Moving requires adjusting to a new neighborhood and different schools.
- The stress of moving is usually greater than remodeling parts of your existing home.

By staying put and choosing to remodel your home, the end result after the new space is finished is a feeling of satisfaction and enjoyment without the stress and financial woes of moving. The expense of updating your home will usually pay off, as long as your investment doesn't out-do the neighbors. The rule of thumb when paying for a remodel is not raising the value of your home to more than 10-15% above the middle price of a home in your neighborhood.

When you do decide to sell, the updating you've done will give you an edge on others in the market and attract buyers that are weighing on whether to buy new or buy an newly updated home. Be looking at the latest home trends and demands that buyers are looking for such as an updated kitchen or bathroom and higher ceilings. This may help you decide how to improve your home for yourself and future potential buyers.

October 4th, 2011

Buying a New Home or Resale

Homebuyers have many choices these days as the market is flooded with homes new and old. Interest rates are the lowest they've been in 50 years and the Wall Street Journal says this is the time to buy! There are many options to weigh out when selecting the right home and there are quite a few factors to consider. There are a few reasons that buying a new home instead of a resale may be the best choice to make.

More Energy Efficient. Homes that are built new offer better energy efficient features and systems. Heating and cooling systems are new and wall insulation is better quality than homes that were built years ago. Low-e windows are the normal as well as other cost saving features. In the end, you will have the piece of mind that most everything is covered under warranty and will save you money on utilities.

Includes a Homebuyer's Warranty. New homes come with a builder's warranty and will give you a sense of security for years to come. Many resale homes do not come with as comprehensive of a warranty and often isn't included in the price. Your brand new heating and cooling systems are also usually covered under the manufacture's warranty.

New Appliances. Many times, brand new appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers can be included in the price of a new home or mortgage. You won't be settling for old outdated appliances that may need to be replaced.

Custom Design Options Available. When you're building and buying new, you will usually have the freedom to make choices of colors, stains, flooring, cabinets and countertops. Buying a resale means either living with someone else's style choices or remodeling which can be expensive.

More Storage. When you are buying a new home, you'll be able to choose floorplans that offer more space saving and storage options such as walk-in closets, pantries and larger garages and basements that you'll be able to grow into. With older homes, the storage space is often limited or customized to someone else's liking.

Being faced with the decision to purchase a new home or resale can sometimes be difficult but making a smart decision is looking at the long-term investment and remember that these factors will matter. If buying a new home sounds like it's the way to go, see talk to Hillcrest today and see how we can build your dream home!

February 24th, 2011

LEED Platinum Home Under Way

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May 31st, 2010

Hillcrest Builders Ownership Change

Hillcrest Builders on May 27, 2010 completed a restructuring of its ownership structure. Oyvind Solvang, President and co-founder bought the remaining ownership from Tod Hellmann who has left the company. Solvang comments: "Tod helped start the company and had many ideas that initially contributed to the growth of the company. We wish him luck in his future endeavors." Solvang further states that the market is now showing strong signs of recovery and that Hillcrest is poised to accelerate its growth again. "We have introduced three new product lines in addition to our original Premium Line of homes. For our budget focused customers we offer the Value Line with home/lot packages starting at $159,900. At the other end of the scale we have our Custom Home Division, and we build high end custom homes from Ozaukee County to Green Bay. Our Remodeling Division is also growing fast based on our in-house design, value offered and timely completion. We are also known as the leading green builder based on our in-depth technical expertise and experience building the first LEED Silver certified home in the area." Solvang concludes that "the simplified ownership structure and added capabilities makes us very excited and optimistic about our future".

Hillcrest Builders is located in Glenbeulah, WI. The company offers over 30 pre-priced home plans ranging from a $110,000 Value Line home to ranch and two-story Premium Line homes over 3,000 sqft. The Custom Home and Remodeling Divisions provides our customers complete design-build solutions, where our in-house design team brings ideas to reality. The Plymouth Design Center contains complete selections services where customers work with a Hillcrest designer to select all exterior and interior finishes and fixtures. For more information, call 920-526-3600.

February 25th, 2010

Hillcrest unveils Value Line of Homes

- Tri-County News

October 24th, 2009

Pushing the Green Envelope

'Pushing the Green Envelope' - The Sheboygan Press October 24 2009

March 5th, 2009

Kiel Subdivision Open for Great Homes

'Kiel subdivision open for great homes' - Tri-County News March 5th, 2009

September 1st, 2008

Green & In Balance

- Sheboygan Press

August 19th, 2008

Green Building

- Tempo August 2008

June 24th, 2008

Landing a slice of heaven

- Tempo June 2008

February 20th, 2008

Timing Right for Kiel Growth

- Kiel Progress February 2008