Breaking News - The Holiday Season Is Flying By But Not Too Late To Say Thank You!

Somebody please tell us where the month of December went?  I mean is it really December 23?  Two days before Christmas?  We know we have been building starting new homes but seriously this cannot be the case.  

Well it is true and from all of us at Biltmore Homes we want to wish all our homeowners, suppliers, real estate partners, Realtors, friends and family a very happy holidays!  Although 2009 has been a challenging year to say the least we all still have a lot to be thankful for.  This list could go on and on but Thank You to the following:

• Our homeowners who have chosen Biltmore to provide them with one of the single most important item we all own in life -  A home!
• Our real estate partners - From developers to onsite sales agents to the buyers agents we meet throughout the year.  We know that any real estate transaction is a true team effort!
• Our suppliers - Sure we would of all loved to have been busier this year but we survived and are confident that much better days are ahead of us!

Biltmore Homes looks forward to 2010 and the exciting opportunities that exist.  What opportunities you ask?  Well how about great new home prices, awesome new floor plans (more info on our new Hillandale plan coming soon), record low interest rates, popular new home neighborhoods and a builder that is ready and able to customize any house to fit your needs and price point!

We hope you and your entire family have a very safe and happy holiday season!  

Cheers - 

Team Biltmore

Happy Thanksgiving!

From all of us here at Biltmore Homes we want to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!  Although this past year has been a challenging time for a lot of us we all have a lot to be thankful for.  Every year we like to remind everyone of the story of Thanksgiving.  We hope you enjoy it and have a great holiday!

Cheers -

Team Biltmore

Most stories of Thanksgiving history start with the harvest celebration of the pilgrims and the indians that took place in the autumn of 1621. Although they did have a three-day feast in celebration of a good harvest, and the local indians did participate, this "first Thanksgiving" was not a holiday, simply a gathering. There is little evidence that this feast of thanks led directly to our modern Thanksgiving Day holiday. Thanksgiving can, however, be traced back to 1863 when Pres. Lincoln became the first president to proclaim Thanksgiving Day. The holiday has been a fixture of late November ever since.

However, since most school children are taught that the first Thanksgiving was held in 1621 with the pilgrims and indians, let us take a closer look at just what took place leading up to that event, and then what happened in the centuries afterward that finally gave us our modern Thanksgiving.

The Pilgrims who sailed to this country aboard the Mayflower were originally members of the English Separatist Church (a Puritan sect). They had earlier fled their home in England and sailed to Holland (The Netherlands) to escape religious persecution. There, they enjoyed more religious tolerance, but they eventually became disenchanted with the Dutch way of life, thinking it ungodly. Seeking a better life, the Separatists negotiated with a London stock company to finance a pilgrimage to America. Most of those making the trip aboard the Mayflower were non-Separatists, but were hired to protect the company's interests. Only about one-third of the original colonists were Separatists.

The Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating. At the beginning of the following fall, they had lost 46 of the original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. But the harvest of 1621 was a bountiful one. And the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast -- including 91 Indians who had helped the Pilgrims survive their first year. It is believed that the Pilgrims would not have made it through the year without the help of the natives. The feast was more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true "thanksgiving" observance. It lasted three days.

Governor William Bradford sent "four men fowling" after wild ducks and geese. It is not certain that wild turkey was part of their feast. However, it is certain that they had venison. The term "turkey" was used by the Pilgrims to mean any sort of wild fowl.

Another modern staple at almost every Thanksgiving table ispumpkin pie. But it is unlikely that the first feast included that treat. The supply of flour had been long diminished, so there was no bread or pastries of any kind. However, they did eat boiled pumpkin, and they produced a type of fried bread from their corn crop. There was also no milk, cider, potatoes, or butter. There was no domestic cattle for dairy products, and the newly-discovered potato was still considered by many Europeans to be poisonous. But the feast did include fish, berries, watercress, lobster, dried fruit, clams, venison, and plums.

This "thanksgiving" feast was not repeated the following year. Many years passed before the event was repeated. It wasn't until June of 1676 that another Day of thanksgiving was proclaimed. On June 20 of that year the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, held a meeting to determine how best to express thanks for the good fortune that had seen their community securely established. By unanimous vote they instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a day of thanksgiving. It is notable that this thanksgiving celebration probably did not include the Indians, as the celebration was meant partly to be in recognition of the colonists' recent victory over the "heathen natives," (see the proclamation).

A hundred years later, in October of 1777 all 13 colonies joined in a thanksgiving celebration. It also commemorated the patriotic victory over the British at Saratoga. But it was a one-time affair.

George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, although some were opposed to it. There was discord among the colonies, many feeling the hardships of a few pilgrims did not warrant a national holiday. And later, President Thomas Jefferson opposed the idea of having a day of thanksgiving.

It was Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, whose efforts eventually led to what we recognize as Thanksgiving. Hale wrote many editorials championing her cause in her Boston Ladies' Magazine, and later, in Godey's Lady's Book. Finally, after a 40-year campaign of writing editorials and letters to governors and presidents, Hale's obsession became a reality when, in 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving was proclaimed by every president after Lincoln. The date was changed a couple of times, most recently by Franklin Roosevelt, who set it up one week to the next-to-last Thursday in order to create a longer Christmas shopping season. Public uproar against this decision caused the president to move Thanksgiving back to its original date two years later. And in 1941, Thanksgiving was finally sanctioned by Congress as a legal holiday, as the fourth Thursday in November.

Biltmore Homes Energy Star Video #2 - Testing and 3rd Party Verification

Welcome to another round of Biltmore Homes Energy Star videos.  We again would like to thank Dan McFarland and Southern Energy Management for their time and great insight.

Today's featured Energy Star video shows you an example of the blow a door test which is one of the important tests that every Biltmore Home has to go through in order to be Energy Star certified.  Having 3rd party verification gives every Biltmore homeowner peace of mind that our houses exceed the standards in quality each and every time!

Biltmore is very proud to be an Energy Star builder.  If you would like to see a Biltmore Energy Star home or learn more about pre sale opportunities please contact us.  The Biltmore sales team would love to show you around and help you take that first step in building your next dream home!

Built For Life!

 - Team Biltmore

Dig deep and bring out the best in yourself!

There is no doubt that we are in a challenging real estate market. The good news is that we are hopefully at the end of this challenging journey. Signs continue to point towards growth and recovery. We here in the Triangle are lucky because compared to the rest of the country we have fared pretty well!

A real estate agent recently shared the below clip with Team Biltmore and it was a good reminder during these challenging times. Rather then quit or walk around defeated it is times like these that you need to dig deep and bring out the absolute best in yourself.

This clip is somewhat long but we wanted to share with you and hope that it inspires you to keep battling and challenge yourself to be the very best during these hard times.

Built For Life and Ready To Battle!

- Team Biltmore

An Inside Energy Star Look At A Biltmore Home

Biltmore Homes is very proud to be an Energy Star certified builder. We strongly believe in the features and benefits of Energy Star and are homeowners have appreciated it as well. You can read all about the features and benefits of Energy Star here on our website. We also wanted to tell a visual story about Energy Star so we are thankful to have partnered with Southern Energy Management to create a video series on everything Energy Star.

Dan McFarland from Southern Energy Management was kind enough to lend some hours and lots of good information recently that we have made into short videos. We look forward to bringing you these short videos through our website, blog, You Tube Channel and social media sites like Facebook and Twitter and hope you find them helpful.

Today we will start with a behind the scenes Energy Star look at a Biltmore Home.

If you have any questions about a Biltmore Energy Star home or would like to review one in person please contact us.

Built For Life!

- Team Biltmore

Biltmore Homes Featured Plan of the Month - The Whitley Ranch Floor Plan

The Whitley ranch floor plan is one of Biltmore's most popular floor plans. No matter what Biltmore neighborhood we build the Whitley in, chances are it will not only sell but sell quick!

The standard Whitley at 2261 square feet features three bedrooms all located on the first floor, 2 full baths, bonus room, screened in porch, large inviting front porch, 2 car garage and lots of unfinished space. The large master bedroom is located in the back of the house and we have recently redesigned the master closet so there are 3 different layout options all increasing the amount of space available. The master bathroom features a shower, large corner tub layout and private water closet.

The two front bedrooms make for great secondary bedrooms or can be converted to an office. The open living room, kitchen and breakfast nook layout will ensure lots of room and space for entertaining or family living. The huge upstairs bonus room is the perfect space for your favorite games, media room or a hobby room. Off the bonus room is a lot of unfinished space that is great for storage or future expansion. And remember that the Whitley like all Biltmore houses are Energy Star certified.

With the growing popularity of ranch floor plans, the Whitley will continue to be a top selling floor plan. We have many different layouts, elevations, custom features and upgrades so don't worry because no two Whitley's are ever alike! Best of all the Whitley is between the very popular $250k - $300k price point.

If you would like to tour a Whitley please contact us and we would be glad to show you around. You can also view and download the Whitley floor plan here.

Biltmore Homes is committed to bringing you over 30 great floor plans that will fit any living style and needs.

- Built For Life!

Team Biltmore

Things are busy at Heritage Wake Forest and We Know Why!

By far the busiest neighborhood we have seen during this years Wake County Parade of Homes has been Heritage Wake Forest. Our Heritage Knoll section has been hopping all parade long and that is a great thing! A lot of the people ask us "Why is Heritage so populal?" Well for those who are local and live in or near Heritage the answer is self explanatory. For those of you who may be following along from out of town and are thinking about relocating let us provide some answers!

• Beauty - Drive around Heritage and you instantly get a feel for how beautiful it is. From the well done entrances to the landscaping you know that this is a neighborhood everyone is very proud of!
• Homes - Heritage features many of the best local and national builders in all of the Triangle. You drive up and down the streets of Heritage and every home is a thing of beauty. Biltmore is very proud to be part of such a great builder team.
• Location - Wake Forest is one of the Triangle's fastest growing communities. Only minutes away from Downtown Raleigh and Research Triangle Park, Heritage sits in a ideal location.
  
• Golf - Heritage features one of the Triangle's best golf courses. The golf course has won numerous awards and is not only beautiful but a great challenge!
• Swim, Tennis and Fishing - Along with the golf Heritage features 2 community pools, tennis courts and a fishing pond that keeps the entire family happy especially in the summer!
• Schools - Heritage is lucky to have day cares, private schools and public schools located all with-in the community. To learn more about all the school options please click here.
• Retail - You won't have to go far to shop or eat when you live in Heritage. Heritage features everything from local coffee shops and restaurants to large grocery stores and pharmacies.
• To learn more about the many things Heritage Wake Forest has to offer please visit their website.

To see what is currently available by Biltmore at Heritage please click here. Along with current available homes and new homes coming out of the ground Biltmore has great pre-sale opportunities available on some of the neighborhoods best lots! Biltmore Homes and the Heritage New Home Sales Team would love the opportunity to show you around Heritage Wake Forest and our Knoll section so please contact us to set up a time for a personal tour.

We look forward to seeing you at Heritage Wake Forest!

Built For Life!

- Team Biltmore

Bring On Those Baby Boomers!

Biltmore had a great first weekend of traffic at all our 2009 Parade Homes and there was one dominant theme that we all noticed - the baby boomers were out in full force and they know what they want! To make sure we are all on the same page a Baby Boomer was born between the years 1946 and 1964. The economic upturn after World War II during those years saw a tremendous increase in birth rates which brought on all the baby boomers!

Here are some fascinating stats and info from a 2008 National Association of Home Builder's study regarding Baby Boomer's:

• 55+ households now account for almost 21% of new homes purchased in the US.
• Important to build within an hour's drive of major urban areas.
• Proximity to restaurants, retail areas, golf courses and medical facilities.
• And we have learned first hand being on site that weather plays a big role in where Baby Boomers want to settle down. Although they don't seem to mind the change of seasons they want that change in temperature to not be to drastic!

Biltmore knows how important a new home is to Baby Boomers and we continue to listen to their needs. We have added award winning ranch plans like the Whitley, Torrington, Williamston I and II, Berkley and the Shelton. Not to mention the many first floor masters Biltmore has available. Click here to see all our floor plans! Biltmore is also researching new ranch floor plans and hope to introduce some more in the near future.

The Triangle continues to win numerous awards as the countries best places to live and that includes hitting all the wants and needs of the baby boomers. The Triangle features warm weather the majority of the year. Our hospitals are some of the countries best. Golf courses are around every corner. There are many award winning master planned communities that have the amenities that baby boomers are looking for. (Biltmore is proud to be building in two of the best in Heritage Wake Forest and South Lakes.) Lastly downtown Raleigh, Durham and the rest of the Triangle cities have been transformed the past couple of years into vibrant hot spots with great selections of restaurants. shopping and events!

Biltmore is ready to serve the needs of Baby Boomers as they look to move into new homes. Contact us and let us show you the floor plans and communities that we think will be a perfect fit for your needs!

Built For Life!

- Team Biltmore

Biltmore Homes 2009 Parade of Homes Special

Parade week has arrived and we are very excited to get started on Saturday. Click here to see all the Biltmore Parade Homes around the Triangle from the Wake HBA Website. We are excited to have in Heritage Knoll at Heritage Wake Forest a Whitley, Dayton and Magnolia featured. In South Lakes we are excited to have a Whitley featured. All of these homes feature Biltmore's quality craftsmanship and are Energy Star certified.

Purchase any Biltmore Homes Pre-Sale or Spec-Home by November 30, 2009 and receive the following incentives:

• Appliance Package - Washer, Dryer and S/S Refrigerator
• 42 Inch Flat Screen High Definition Television
• $3000 in Closing Costs with Approved Lender and Attorney

Parade of Homes will take place on October 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 from the hours of 12-5:00pm. Biltmore looks forward to seeing you at the 2009 Parade of Homes!

- Built For Life!

Team Biltmore

2009 Wake County Parade of Homes - Like Christmas For Builders!

Did you ever realize that Christmas for builders really comes every October? That is right Parade of Homes is like Christmas time for builders around the Triangle and that is no different here at Biltmore Homes!

Instead of being busy hanging stockings we are hanging trim and windows. Instead of waiting for Santa and his cute reindeer's we eagerly await the Parade of Homes judges who we also leave cookies and milk out for! Instead of the last minute wrapping of presents we builders are frantically unwrapping light fixtures. Finally instead of putting up a tree inside we like to decorate the outside with landscaping of new trees and bushes. Very much like Christmas we are rushing against the clock to have everything done!

This year's 2009 Wake County Parade of Homes will be held: October 3-4, 9-11 & 16-18. All homes will be open from 12-5:00pm. The county wide Open House is a great opportunity to see the latest floor plans, features and benefits that builders have to offer.

Biltmore Homes is proud to have Parade Homes in both the Heritage Knoll and South Lakes neighborhoods. Please mark your calendars so that you can come out and see our beautiful custom built Energy Star homes. Along with touring our Parade Homes you will have the opportunity to meet the builders, enter to win contests, learn about the benefits of Energy Star and take advantage of our 2009 Parade Special incentives. There is no better time to buy then during Parade of Homes!

The 2009 Wake County Parade of Homes is always a great event and Biltmore Homes is glad to be participating once again. Please contact us for more information or to set up your own personal viewing. We look forward to meeting you at the 2009 Parade of Homes!

And one last thing - Merry Christmas.....I mean Happy Parade of Homes!

- Built For Life

Team Biltmore

Biltmore Loves Writing Checks To REALTOR's!

So did this blog title make you do a double take? No that is not a typo. Biltmore loves to present checks to REALTOR's because it means we are not only selling homes but more importantly building relationships.

Real Estate is very local so building long term relationships with local REALTOR's is something we put a lot of focus into. Whether it be the buyers agent or our on-site new home agents, Biltmore is lucky to have worked with so many great REALTORS over the years.

Biltmore also believes that REALTOR's need to rewarded for their hard work. Just in the past 2 weeks we proudly presented checks to REALTOR's who took advantage of our get paid 1/2 of your commission upfront on newly signed contracts. It was a win-win situation because Biltmore sold homes in Snow Hill Preserve and South Lakes and the REALTOR received a check immediatley even though the closing is still a couple weeks out.

We welcome the opportunity to meet and work with as many REALTOR's as possible in the Triangle. If you are interested in learning more about Biltmore Homes and the neighborhoods we build in then lets set up one of the following:

• Personal Neighborhood Tour - Let one of our Biltmore builder reps give you a personal tour of the neighborhoods we build in. This is a great way to learn more about the neighborhood price points, home styles, amenities and the local area.
• Biltmore Building 101 - Let one of the Biltmore owners or project managers walk you through a home to go over the overall construction, quality, craftsmanship and Energy Star features. This is a great way to get behind the scenes insight on the construction process so that you can better educate your clients on new construction.
• Office Presentation - Let the Biltmore crew come present to your office so that all the office REALTORS can learn more about Biltmore, our story, neighborhoods, floor plans and service. We can even bring breakfast or lunch!

If you have already sold a Biltmore Home then we appreciate your business and look forward to working together again. If you are new to working with Biltmore then lets schedule a time to get together so that you can learn more about Biltmore and how we can help you and your clients. And we look forward to writing you a check in the near future!

Contact Biltmore Homes to set up a Personal Tour, Builder 1o1 or Office Presentation in the near future!

Built For Life!

- The Biltmore Crew

Why do builders want Congress to extend the tax credit?

It should come as no surprise that builders are urging (urging is putting it lightly) Congress to extend the tax credit that has helped first time home buyers get into a new home in 2009. What currently is being proposed is that Congress extend the home buyer tax credit through November 2010 and make it available to ALL buyers of main residences. That ALL part is the key. What if every home buyer could receive a tax credit when buying a home - Think that would get some people excited about moving into a new home? The answer is yes. If you look at how important the "Cash for Clunkers" deal has been to the car industry then you can now see how important this could be for the real estate and building industry. It could jump start the housing market and create jobs! Don't just take our word for it - read some of the specifics from the latest NAHB information:

“If Congress acts to extend the tax credit program, it would spur 383,000 additional home sales, including 80,000 housing starts, creating nearly 350,000 jobs over the coming year,” said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson, a home builder from Tulsa, Okla. “That’s good for the economy and good for America.”

NAHB also does a great job laying out the other issues that need to be addressed with local and federal law makers regarding the housing industry:

• Correct a faulty appraisal process. The inappropriate use of distressed and foreclosed sales as comps in determining home values is hurting home values and killing home sales.
• Improve housing credit conditions. Since there can be no meaningful economic recovery until the flow of credit is restored to housing, NAHB is calling on Congress to urge regulators and the banking industry to end the stranglehold on acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) loans that has emerged as a major impediment to the housing recovery.

Biltmore Homes is glad that we are part of an industry with such strong leadership and support but it is up to all of us as builders, real estate agents and even home owners to contact our government leadership and let them know that fixing the housing market should be a top priority!

Contact Biltmore Homes if you need any additional information or want to learn more on how to take advantage of the current first time home buyers tax credit or great home pricing.

Built For Life!

- Team Biltmore

The Awards Keep On Coming For The Triangle!

Let's say there is a restaurant in town that always wins the award for the best burger in town. Every time you read the local newspaper or website it talks about how great this place is and how everyone is going there.  Guess what?  You wind up going there because you want to see what all the fuss is about!

Well sorry to toot our own horn but that is how we feel about the Triangle and we have the awards, honors and reviews to back it up.  People continue to relocate to the Triangle at a record pace and there are many good reasons why.  The list is long (and this is probably only half the list from the past 2 years) but from jobs to food, from schools and businesses the Triangle continues to be the place to relocate to.  Don't just take our word for it - see the long list of awards and honors the Triangle has compiled lately:

Triangle 2009 Awards
#10 Best City of 2009 (Raleigh-Cary) Kiplinger's Personal Finance, May 2009
#1 City Where Americans Are Relocating (Raleigh-Cary) Forbes.com May 2009
#5 Top City for Designers and Artists (Raleigh-Cary) ArtBistro.com, May 2009
50 Best Burgers (Raleigh Times Bar, Raleigh) Food Network, May 2009
#1 City with Best Economic Potential (Raleigh) fDi Magazine, April 2009
#1 City Where Americans Are Relocating (Raleigh) Forbes.com, April 2009
50 Best New U.S. Restaurants (The Pit, Raleigh) Travel + Leisure, April 2009
#24 Top Arts Destination among Mid-Size Cities (Raleigh) AmericanStyle Magazine, April 2009
Ultimate Hyatt Place Hotel (Hyatt Place Raleigh-Durham Airport, Morrisvile) Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, March 2009
#1 Best Place for Business and Careers (Raleigh-Cary) Forbes.com, March 2009
#1 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan Area in the Country (Raleigh-Cary) U.S. Census Bureau, March 2009
Tree City USA recognition (Cary, Raleigh, Wendell and Zebulon) Arbor Day Foundation, March 2009
2nd Best State to Do Business In (North Carolina) Chief Executive Magazine, March 2009
#6 Healthiest Housing Market (Raleigh) Builderonline.com, February 2009
#18 MSA with Highest Rate of House Price Appreciation (Raleigh-Cary) Federal Housing Finance Agency, February 2009
#1 Top City for Small Business (Raleigh, NC) Bizjournals and portfolio.com, February 2009
Award of Excellence (Greater Raleigh CVB) SportsEvents Magazine, February 2009
Mobil Five-Star Award (The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary) Mobil Travel Guide, January 2009
Mobil Four-Star Award (The Umstead Spa and Herons at the Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary) Mobil Travel Guide, January 2009
10 Great Cities for Salary Growth (Raleigh-Cary) Yahoo! Hotjobs, January 2009
#3 Most Visited Attraction in North Carolina (N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh) Carolina Publishing Associates, January 2009
#10 Most Visited Attraction in North Carolina (N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh)
Carolina Publishing Associates, January 2009
#22 Most Visited Attraction in North Carolina (N.C. Museum of Art, Raleigh) Carolina Publishing Associates, January 2009
Midtown Diamond Award for Best Martini (The Red Room Tapas Lounge, Raleigh) Midtown Magazine, January 2009
#2 Splurge Worthy Restaurant in Readers’ Choice Awards (Angus Barn, Raleigh) Southern Living, January 2009
#2 Best Festival or Fair in Readers’ Choice Awards (North Carolina State Fair, Raleigh) Southern Living, January 2009
#6 Best Value Public College for 2009 (North Carolina State University, Raleigh) USA Today, January 2009
#4 among America’s Best Cities for Dating (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) Sperling’s BestPlaces, January 2009
Raleigh-Cary strongest metro in N.C. Brookings Report, June 2009
The Raleigh-Durham area has finished on top in a study designed to determine how several prominent Southeastern cities compare to each other. Triangle Business Journal, June 2009
Top 10 boom town offering solid employment opportunities and the talent to create new, well-paying positions Kiplingers, May 2009
#2 on their list of Cities on the Rebound The Today Show, May 2009 

Triangle Previous Awards

 #1 Pro-Business State (North Carolina) Pollina.com, June 2008
#1 Best Place to Live in the U.S. (Raleigh, N.C.) msnbc, June 2008
#1 Best Place for Young Adults (Raleigh, N.C.) Bizjournals, May 2008
The Best American City for Singles (Raleigh, N.C.) Every Day with Rachael Ray, January 2008
#1 Healthiest City for Men (Raleigh, N.C.) Men’s Health, January 2008
Top Research Science Park (North Carolina State University - Centennial Campus)
The Association of University Research Parks, November 2007 #1 Top Business Climate (North Carolina) Site Selection, November 2007
“Fast City” for Research and Development (Raleigh-Durham, N.C.) Fast Company, July 2007
#1 Seller’s Market-Residential (Raleigh, N.C.) Forbes.com, June 2007
#1 Best Place for Business and Careers (Raleigh, N.C.) Forbes, April 2007
#1 Best Place for Business and Careers (Raleigh, N.C.) Forbes.com, March 2008
#1 Best U.S. City for Jobs (Raleigh-Cary, N.C.) Forbes.com, February 2007
#1 School District in the Nation for Certified Teachers (Wake County)
National Board of Certified Teachers, January 2007 Gold Rating (Wake County Schools)
Expansion Management’sEducation Quotient, January 2007
#2 State with the Best Business Climate (North Carolina) Development Counselors International, July 2008
#2 Best City to Live, Work and Play (Raleigh, N.C.) Kiplinger’s, July 2008
#2 Best City for Bargain House-Hunters (Raleigh, N.C.) Forbes.com, February 2008
#3 Most Educated Workforce (Raleigh, N.C.) Business Facilities, July 2008
#3 Most Romantic City for Baby Boomers (Raleigh-Durham- Chapel Hill, N.C.) Sperling’s BestPlaces, March 2008
#3 Most Wired City (Raleigh, N.C.) Forbes.com, January 2008

Okay you get the idea.  The Triangle is a great place to live.  Contact Biltmore Homes and let us us help you find a new home in the award winning Triangle!!

Built For Life!

 - Team Biltmore

So What Is The New Home Building Process?

We run into many home shoppers that would like to build a new home but many times are hesitant of the actual building process.  They would love the outcome of a brand new home built customized with all their personal wants and needs but are "scared" of the process.

Well we here at Biltmore have taken the "scary" out of the process.  Be more scared of what the inspection report will tell you about purchasing an old home rather then building a brand new home!

Here is a quick rundown of the building process:

1. Pre-Construction Meetings and Planning
2. Selection
3. Foundation and Framing
4. Electrical Walk Through
5. Electrical and Plumbing
6. Exterior Painting
7. Flooring
8. Drywall
9. Interior Trim/ Cabinetry/ Fixtures
10. Interior Finishing
11. Final Touches
12. Move In!

For a more in depth description on the above steps please visit our website to learn more about the step by step process!  Contact Biltmore Homes as we would enjoy the opportunity to sit down with you and answer any questions you have about building a brand new home!

Built For Life!

Team Biltmore

Biltmore Appreciates Our Homeowners!

When building a house we realize it is more then just a house.  It truly is a home where memories are made, holidays are celebrated, where kids mark the walls through the years to track how tall they are and where parents see their kids grow up and then move out (hopefully right)!  

Biltmore has been honored to build homes for so many special people (over 350 in the Triangle) through the years as many times we gain new friends as we get to know them and their families.  The ultimate compliment is when a homeowner sells their current Biltmore Home to move into another.  Bottom line is we appreciate our homeowners and know that without them we would just be building houses rather then a home! 

We appreciate our homeowners who provide us with testimonials because they are the best sales and marketing people that we have.  Cynthia Crummey who recently moved into a new home in Snow Hill Preserve said, "I chose a Biltmore Home's because they take great pride in their craftsmanship which is readily apparent when you walk into any of their homes. Working with Biltmore to construct my new home was such a pleasure! They were more than willing to work with me to customize my plans. I love my home and would recommend Biltmore to my family and friends with confidence."  Thank you for that Cynthia because we appreciate the kind words.  To read more Biltmore homeowner testimonials please click here.  

At Biltmore we do not claim to be perfect as no one ever is but we do promise to be honest and work with our homeowners the best we can to keep them happy Biltmore customers for years to come, whether it be their first Biltmore Home or their third!

Please contact us and let us know how we can help you build memories in a new home!

Built For Life!

 - Team Biltmore

The Factory is just another reason to live in Heritage Wake Forest!

How would you like to live right down the street from a place that's tag line is Eat, Shop, Play? Sounds like the perfect place to be!  Well if you live in Heritage Wake Forest then such a place is right down the street at The Factory!

The Factory is a place that is perfect for the entire family.  Just take a look at some of the many activities The Factory has to offer (taken from The Factory website):

• The Polar Ice House, featuring twin ice sheets, full service snack bar, and birthday party rooms.
  
• The MVP Sports Center indoor soccer facility hosting leagues, camps, and instruction.
  
• The Factory Ballpark baseball/softball complex comprised of six fields and a large field house. Operated by Capital City Baseball.
  
• YMCA at The Factory.
  
• Klok's School of Martial Arts, Destiny Dance Institute, indoor batting cages and basketball at MVP Sports Center, Works of Clay pottery painting, and Progressive Music Center.
  
• Delicious Skateboard Shop and The Factory Skateboard Park, a huge indoor/outdoor skate park with all the trimmings.
  
• Great local restaurants including Village Deli, Las Palmas, and Sweet Loralee Pastries.
  
• Shopping for the entire family at retail locations Silly Goose, Planetary Nutrition, Victory Trophies & Gifts, Lily Mae's Jewelry & Gifts, and the Factory Pro Shop.
  
• Three Oaks photography to take care of all your photography needs.
  
• Seasonal events such as Breakfast with Santa, Ice Cream with the Easter Bunny, the Boys and Girls Club art contest, and the Factory 5k.
  
• Spacious common areas both indoor and out with big screen televisions to catch great sporting events and free wi-fi internet access.
  

When we talk to many of the homeowners who move to Heritage Wake Forest they mention that being so close to The Factory was a main reason and we can see why!

Biltmore Homes is proud to be building in the Heritage Knoll section so if you are interested in living so close to a family fun place like The Factory please contact us and let us show you what is available or what we can build you!

Hope to see you at The Factory - look for us in the batting cages as we love to get our swings in!

Built For Life!

 - Team Biltmore

Information on First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit

Anywhere the Biltmore crew goes these days it seems the number 1 question we get asked is about the First Time Homebuyers Tax credit especially since the December 1, 2009 deadline looms closer. Again here are the details on the tax credit:

$8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance

• The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.
  
• The tax credit does not have to be repaid.
  
• The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
  
• The credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
  
• Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
  

Biltmore has some great floor plans that are priced right for the first time homebuyers in all five of our neighborhoods but the tax credit is only available until December 1 so don't miss out on this great opportunity.  The best resource to learn more is the Federal Housing Tax Credit website so go there to learn more or contact Biltmore Homes as we would be happy to assist you!

Built For Life!

 - Team Biltmore

Neighborhood Feature - Snow Hill Preserve

How would a new home neighborhood sound that was tucked back into the woods surrounded by natures beauty but yet only minutes away from Downtown Durham, Duke and Research Triangle Park?  Well look no further then Snow Hill Preserve!  Biltmore Homes is proud to be the exclusive builder of Snow Hill Preserve located in North Durham.  Snow Hill Preserve features awesome Biltmore Energy Star certified floor plans priced from the low $200's to the mid $300's.  

Just across the road from Little River Reservoir, Snow Hill Preserve offers quiet country living in a peaceful, natural setting. In the vicinity, Historic Southern homes and working farms dot the countryside. The nearby Little River provides a natural habitat for several species of wildlife while the reservoir serves as a gathering place for visitors to get out and enjoy nature. On both sides of the river there are rich forests, meadows and wide-open spaces that give this area a distinct rural feel, though in reality the best part of this neighborhood is that it is only minutes from Duke and downtown Durham.  

Snow Hill currently has the Irlington inventory home available and then it will be down to only 10 lots left to pick out your home site, floor plan, selections and build the house of your dreams! To learn more about Snow Hill Preserve please click here and for a personal tour of Snow Hill Preserve please contact us as we would enjoy the opportunity to show you around this great neighborhood.

Built For Life!

 - Team Biltmore 

Yes You Save Money With An Energy Star Home - And Here Is How!

As more and more home buyers are getting familiar with Energy Star and its features and benefits, the biggest question Biltmore gets asked is "how does it actually save me money"? Well here is a good breakdown that shows an example of how an Energy Star home priced at $300,000 lowers your monthly costs!

Through better construction techniques and the use of energy efficient features, your Energy Star home offers lower total monthly costs (mortgage plus utility bills) than typical new homes of the same and even lower sale prices.

This is correct, lower monthly costs than a lower priced home!

Standard New Home Energy Star Home
$300,000 Base Sales Price $300,000
$0 Energy Upgrades $5,000
$1796 Monthly Mortgage* $1826
$214 Monthly Utilities* $160
$2010 Total Monthly Housing Costs $1986
$0 Yearly Savings $288

Total Mortgage Life Savings $8,640
* = 30 YEAR 10% DOWN 7% APR * Utility costs based on current prices

So yes you do get lower total monthly housing costs & along with the below benefits of an Energy Star Home: 

• More Comfortable and Quieter
• Higher Resale Value
• Third Party Quality Verification 
• Healthier Indoor Air Quality 
• Lower Maintenance 
• Helps Protect the Environment 

Before you buy your next home consider your Total Monthly Costs and we feel certain you will see the benefits of owning a Biltmore certified Energy Star Home!

Biltmore Homes is proud to be an Energy Star certified builder as please contact Biltmore for a personal tour of one of our homes to see the features of Energy Star up close and personal.

Built For Life!

 - Team Biltmore

Biltmore Homes Featured Home Spotlight:The Irlington in South Lakes

Biltmore likes to refer to our inventory homes as featured homes as that is what they are loaded with - Awesome FEATURES!

This week's featured home is the beautiful open Irlington floor plan located at South Lakes in Fuquay Varina, NC.  The Irlington is a popular first floor master with an additional 4 bedrooms and a bonus loft upstairs.  At 2457 square feet the Irlington is the perfect house for the entire family.  The Irlington features hardwoods floors, trey ceiling, tile master bathroom, granite countertops, upgraded cabinets and and stainless steel appliances.

The best part of the home very well may be the HUGE screened in porch perfect for those beautiful North Carolina spring, summer and fall nights!  This house is a must see - start be viewing the below video tour and then contact Biltmore Homes to set up your very own personal tour.

This Energy Star Certified home priced under $300,000 is ready for move in so that you can be enjoying the pool and lakes of South Lakes this summer!

Biltmore is proud to bring you this featured house and looks forward to seeing it come to life as someones home in the near future!

Built For Life!

- Team Biltmore

Great Video On The First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit

One of the biggest questions floating around the real estate market right now is exactly how does this first time homebuyers tax credit work?  It seems that most first time homebuyers or those who are eligible for the tax credit know that now is the time to buy but are not 100% sure how the details work.  Here is a great video from the NAHB that explains and answers questions about the first time homebuyers tax credit.

Biltmore Homes has home prices and floor plans in selected neighborhoods that are a great fit for first time homebuyers so please contact us and let us know how we can help making homeownership a reality!

- Team Biltmore

Heritage Wake Forest is the place to be in the spring time!

Nothing beats spring time here in the Triangle and especially at Heritage Wake Forest.  Why you ask?  Well it is because of the awesome amenities that Heritage has to offer.  Many of our new Biltmore homeowners in the Heritage Knoll always talk about being drawn to the many amenities that Heritage has to offer and no time are these amenities more featured then during the spring and summer!  

Once that spring daylight savings time kicks in then it means more hours to play a round of golf, swim in the pools, play tennis, walk the many trails, fish in the pond, play at the soccer field or just sit on the back porch at the 1250 Heritage restaurant and enjoy a cocktail with friends. Yes these are all things you can do without ever leaving Heritage Wake Forest.

Biltmore Homes has over 20 award winning floor plans priced in the $300-$400's in our Heritage Knoll section.  Weather you want to pick your own lot and customize your very own floor plan or move into one of our showcased inventory homes, Biltmore will take care of your home needs and Heritage Wake Forest will take care of all your fun needs for the entire family!

Contact Biltmore Homes today and let us show you around the homes of Heritage Knoll and the amenities of Heritage Wake Forest!

- Team Biltmore

Biltmore Homes Builds Energy Star Certified Homes - What Does That Mean Though?

The popularity of Energy Star is growing as many home buyers are asking for it by name when researching new homes but at the same time too many home buyers are not aware of the actual benefits.  Whenever the Biltmore team is on site one of the most popular questions we get asked is "What are the benefits of an Energy Star home?"  Let us help try to answer that as the www.energystar.gov website has a lot of great information.  Here are just a few of the specific benefits they point out:

LOWER OWNERSHIP COST
Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating-delivering $200 to $400 in annual savings. Over the average 7 to 8 years you may live in your home, this adds up to thousands of dollars saved on utility bills. Additional savings on maintenance can also be substantial. Financing your home purchase using an energy efficient mortgage can also lead to savings.

BETTER PERFORMANCE
Properly installed energy-efficient improvements deliver better protection against cold, heat, drafts, moisture, pollution, and noise. An energy-efficient home helps ensure consistent temperatures between and across rooms, improved indoor air quality, and greater durability.

SMART INVESTMENT
To date, more than 6,500 home builders (including Biltmore Homes) have partnered with EPA to construct nearly 940,000 ENERGY STAR qualified homes. The trend is clear. By choosing a home with the ENERGY STAR label, you can be confident that it will have an increasingly valued feature when the time comes to sell.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Did you know that your home can be a greater source of pollution than your car? In fact, 16 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the energy used in houses nationwide.

Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and global warming. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air pollution we generate.

If you would like to learn even more additional benefits then visit our Biltmore Energy Star section or contact us as we would enjoy the opportunity to meet with you locally and show you some of the many great Energy Star features!  

Biltmore Homes are not only Energy Star certified but Built For Life!  Thanks for reading!

 - Team Biltmore

PS - Come out to a Biltmore model home, mention this blog and get a free Biltmore Homes t-shirt!

New Home Inventory Continues To Fall

We could spend days and even weeks blogging about the past challenges of the real estate market (who wants to live in the past though) but one of the simplest reasons for the problems was the supply vs demand factor.  When the housing market was booming demand was high so supply kept getting pumped out.  Well when that demand stops you obviously get to a point where there is just to much supply.

Well a recent April 24 press release from the National Association of Home Builders told us that we are going in the right direction as new home inventory continues to dwindle which is a good sign for builders and the overall real estate market.  Below is an excerpt from the release that shows some of the figures:

-The number of newly built, single-family homes on the market declined for a 23rd consecutive month in March as builders focused on winnowing down their inventories of unsold units, according to new-home sales data reported by the U.S. Commerce Department today. Inventory shrank to 311,000 units, which is a 10.7-month supply at the current sales pace.

“Builders are doing a great job of thinning the supply of unsold homes and positioning themselves for a slow but steady housing recovery,” noted NAHB Chairman Joe Robson, a home builder from Tulsa, Okla. “Today’s numbers are a welcome sign that the market is stabilizing as some of the best home buying conditions in a lifetime are drawing consumers off the fence and back into the market.”-

Biltmore has some great inventory homes available as click here to view all our homes that are ready for move in today!  Overall we are very excited about the pick up the market has seen the past 30 days and are gearing up for growth the rest of 2009 and into 2010!

If you are in the market for a new home now is the time to buy so contact us and let us know how we can help you get into your next dream home!

Built For Life!

- Team Biltmore

Live Where Growth Happens!

Maybe this economic recession has got you down and you are looking for a place to go where "growth happens"!  Well look no further then Raleigh and the Triangle as Forbes magazine just named it the fastest growing metro area in the nation!

If you are looking to relocate to Raleigh and the Triangle then Biltmore Homes would enjoy working with you on your next dream home.  As a local custom builder we have the knowledge, passion, quality and floor plans to deliver the house you want at the value you need.  Whether it be a showcase inventory home or you want us to build exactly the home you want we are ready to deliver on those new home dreams!

Contact Biltmore and let us know how we can help as we look forward to you being part of the fastest growing metro area!

Built For Life!

- Team Biltmore

Here is an excerpt form the recent Forbes article:

Despite the overall economic slowdown, some parts of the country keep on moving ahead, attracting more and more newcomers--even if it's at a slower pace than in more sound economic times. These places still offer a semblance of stability, as well as great weather, cultural life and, in many cases, affordability.

Behind the Numbers 

To determine the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, we used 2008 population estimates for metropolitan statistical areas with a population over 1 million, released March 19, 2009, by the U.S. Census Bureau. MSAs are geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for use by federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics.

We then compared the 2008 population estimates to the previous year's data to see which areas had grown the most, percentage-wise.

Nine places fared even better than Denver, though they share similar qualities: more business opportunities, better weather and more affordable housing. The top three areas according to the data are Raleigh, N.C., ranking first, which jumped 4.29% to nearly 1.9 million; Austin, Texas, which came in second, with a 3.77% increase to almost 1.7 million; and Charlotte, N.C., which moved up 3.36% to 1.7 million.

To read the entire article click here.

Wake Forest Meet in the Street Festival - May 2, 2009

If you live in Heritage Wake Forest then you will want to mark May 2 on your calendars for the 29th Annual Meet in the Street Festival.  And if you don't live in Wake Forest then make it a Wake Forest type of day - start by touring some of Biltmore's inventory homes at the Heritage Knoll section of Heritage Wake Forest and then head over to the Meet in the Street Festival. Come by the Biltmore Homes Southhampton model and be sure to let us know you read the blog and you will receive a free Biltmore t-shirt!

Below are the details on the  29th Annual Meet in the Street Festival taking place in Downtown Wake Forest.  Put it on your calendars as Biltmore looks forward to you coming by our Heritage Knoll model that weekend!

Date: May 2, 2009

Time: 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM

29th Annual Meet in the Street® Festival - A Celebration of Art and Artisans

For 28 years, people in the Wake Forest community have gathered to enjoy one of the largest family-friendly festivals in the region. A crowd of more than 10,000 is expected to descend upon the historic business district of Downtown Wake Forest for the 29th Annual Meet In The Street® on Saturday, May 2nd. The event is held from 10:00am-4:00pm and is free and open to the public.

While there, visitors will have the chance to acquire some wonderful hand-made arts and crafts. Approximately 100 vendors from all over the Southeast proudly show off their handiwork at Meet In The Street®. You can find beautiful paintings, jewelry and home décor, as well as many unique handcrafted items that make this annual event a celebration of local art and artisans.

Be sure to stop by the Children’s Village. There you will find games and activities. Come with an appetite, as the Food Village will be stocked with all of your festival favories.

The entire family will be entertained by local dancers, singers and musicians on two performance stages. As always, you can meet up with some of the Triangle’s favorite mascots.

Meet In The Street® is sponsored by WakeMed. The annual festival is organized by the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce and made possible by the volunteer efforts of Chamber members. Special thanks to The Wake Weekly for their media sponsorship.

http://www.wakeforestchamber.org/calendar.asp