It makes sense to build smart! What we build for you will give you a return on your investment with significantly lower utility bills, as well as transferable discounts on your power bills for the life of the home. This example of building smart represents ultimate value for our clients and is why we have partnered with Energy Star to make every home certified. Enjoy the posts below to see our promises turn into action.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Make the most of the new CFPB mortgage rules
Beginning January 2014, new rules take effect that are designed to achieve a common sense goal: When it comes to shopping for a home mortgage, it should be easy for consumers to find the information they need to make good decisions. The CFPB rules simply require lenders to document a borrower’s ability to repay the loan and follow other common sense rules to protect consumers. fairly at key points in the process.
The CFPB’s rules ensure that anyone being paid to help you find a mortgage treats you fairly at key points in the process. The rules are aimed at empowering you to shop for loans to buy and own a home with more confidence.
Use your Fireplace Safely and Effectively
During the winter months, many families gather around their home’s fireplace. A fire in the fireplace creates a warm and cozy atmosphere, but don’t expect it to add heat to your home. As little as 10 percent of the heat from a fire in an open masonry fireplace radiates into the house.
The National Association of Home Builders’ MyHome Press has published a handbook for home owners, “Home Maintenance Made Easy,” and the excerpt below contains helpful advice on how to safely build fires and maintain your fireplace.
Wood Burning Fireplaces
The Multigenerational Household Trend
Family households consisting of three or more generations, or “multigenerational households,” have become increasingly popular in the 21st century. According to the most recent Census, approximately 4.4 million American homes had three generations or more living under one roof in 2010, a 15 percent increase from two years earlier. This is 5.6 percent of the total of 76.4 million U.S. households with more than one person.
There are many reasons for this trend. The recession caused many adult children to return home after college, either because they weren’t able to get jobs that would cover rent, or they wanted to save up to buy homes of their own. According to Pew Institute research, the share of the U.S. population aged 18 to 31 living in their parent’s home increased to 36 percent or a record 21.6 million young adults in 2012.
For many ethnic and immigrant groups, multiple generations of a family living together is a common cultural custom.
Welcome to Living Stone Construction
Sean Sullivan, President and Accredited Master Builder
“Sean Sullivan’s skills and experience exemplify superlative leadership in business and construction. His commitment to doing the right thing and being focused on the best interests of his customers is always clear. The consummate professional, Sean’s strong relationships with the many disciplines within the trade establish him as one the best go-to contractors in the business!” – Travis Childs, Senior VP First Citizens Bank
Sean Sullivan was born in Oceanside, California, on June 19, 1972 to parents John and Roberta. As the son of a career Marine Corps officer, Sullivan moved around the country and lived overseas, although he spent most of his childhood on the US east coast. After graduating from Beaufort Academy in South Carolina, he enrolled in the Business Administration program at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. He graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Leadership and Marketing. Read More
Do’s and Dont’s for Do-it-Yourself Remodeling
According to HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau, in recent years home owner do-it-yourself (DIY) projects accounted for 37 percent of all home remodeling projects performed nationwide. The growing popularity of cable television channels with programming dedicated to home improvement including HGTV and the DIY Network, as well as the financial pressure of the economic downturn, may be inspiring home owners to take on home fixes and decorating challenges on their own.
However, it is important that home owners consider the safety risks, time delays and hidden costs before attempting DIY home improvements. Remodeling industry professionals report that about 30 percent of their work comes from fixing DIY debacles.
Custom Home for George Ackerman and Stanlee Stahl in The Settings of Black Mountain
Design/build is an outstanding approach and the implementation of it was just amazing. We had very high expectations based on Sean’s reputation and what we had seen. And they were exceeded.” George Ackerman
“It’s special, it’s wonderful and I keep pinching myself because I cannot believe that this is our home. Living Stone Construction, headed by Sean Sullivan more than met our expectations. They hit a grand slam out of the ball park. This house is amazing.” Stanlee Stahl
Homeownership: A New Year’s Resolution That Lasts
January 1 is just around the corner and millions of Americans are once again thinking about the resolutions they will make for the New Year. Why not make this year’s resolution one that will last long into the future — long after you’ve stop bothering to set the alarm an hour early to go for a run. Deciding to become a home owner is possibly the best resolution you can make.
According to a 2012 nationwide poll, 96 percent of home owners are happy with their decision to own, and 74 percent say that owning a home is the best long-term investment they can make.
Here are some tips to help you make good decisions for your homeownership resolution.
First, figure out how much you can afford. This depends on factors including your credit rating, your current expenses, cost of a down payment, and interest rates. Don’t forget that you will need a down payment up front and money to make monthly mortgage payments.
Living Stone Construction and “The Rockcliff” Shine at 2013 AHBA Parade of Homes
Living Stone Construction had yet another successful showing at the 32nd annual Asheville Parade of Homes. On the weekends of October 12-13 and 19-20, people all over the area were able to visit Living Stone’s craftsmen built home “The Rockcliff”, which is located in the beautiful Southcliff development.
“The Rockcliff” which was designed by Jason Weil (Retro + Fit Design) and decorated by Laura Sullivan (ID.ology Interior Design), served as the front cover of the 2013 Parade of Homes magazine and drew in more traffic this year than in any other previous year. Over 100 people signed up to receive Living Stone Construction’s newsletter with design ideas for a potential future build with the company.