Beginning January 1, 2023, new efficiency standards for A/C units will take effect. The new regulations will focus on the energy efficiency of air conditioning systems. The new rating for the South will be 15 SEER.
The seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) measures the energy efficiency of an A/C unit. It is a maximum efficiency rating, so the higher the SEER number… Continue reading ..
Builder’s risk insurance helps protect buildings under construction. For a home builder, it minimizes the risk that they take for potential property damage that could occur during the construction on a property. A construction project is protected from property damage from fire, lightning, hail, explosions, theft, vandalism, and natural disasters.
Builder’s risk insurance is needed by anyone that has a financial interest in the construction project. This includes the property owner, builder, general contractor, subcontractors, and any lender providing financial investment in the project. It is always a good idea to make sure you are covered so that you are not personally liable in case something happens. Continue reading ..
Scammers like to take advantage of anyone they can, especially after a natural disaster when you may be at your weakest. They may try to get money or steal your personal information. Be on alert for these potential threats.
Scammers will pose as someone from FEMA or a contractor to take advantage of you. They will try and steal your personal information and, in some cases, use it to apply for FEMA assistance in your name. If this happens and a FEMA official shows up at your door let them know you did not fill out the application. FEMA inspectors are also never allowed to collect your financial information.
Contractors in times of need may be hard to come by, but do not settle for just anyone. Be wary of door-to-door solicitations as these are typically people posing as a licensed contractor. If they claim to have come from another area to help disaster victims or that they were just in the area and noticed that you need repairs these are also signs of fraud.
An unmarked vehicle is a telltale sign. They often try to pressure you into a sale as well. If they are advertising without a Florida license number and not willing to give you an itemized estimate for the cost of the labor, this is a red flag. Ask for a written contract and if they refuse, take that as another bad sign. Never pay in full or in cash for work or repairs to start a job, because they could leave you high and dry.
It is best to use trusted companies that have done work for family or friends you know. Ask for references you can reach out to that are local. Do the work upfront to protect yourself.
Another important tip! Always verify their license through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation before moving forward. A license can be verified here: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp?mode=1&SID=&brd=&typ=
Protect yourself, your assets, and your family by being an educated consumer or you could fall victim to scammers. Contact us directly here if you have any additional questions on this information.
Hurricane Ian devastated areas in Southwest Florida when it made landfall with winds up to 155 miles per hour. It wreaked havoc on the beaches that we know and love, broke bridges, flooded homes and so much more. We are thankful that our staff are safe and are working diligently to get their homes and lives back on track.
We have put together a list of six important things to take into consideration after a hurricane. Being prepared and knowing the steps to take after a storm are important for your personal well-being and your home.
On Wednesday, September 28, Hurricane Ian directly hit Southwest Florida and left mountains of devastation in its wake. Many homes have suffered damage from the high winds and storm surge leaving most without power, water, and some even without a home. Our community is suffering and rebuilding the areas will be a long road to recovery. Here are a few ways to help rebuild the communities affected by hurricane Ian.
The American Red Cross is accepting monetary donations to help those affected by Hurricane Ian. They are also accepting volunteers who want to help in the relief efforts. Volunteers will be trained and on standby to travel to support the unique needs of the communities affected. These volunteers would be helping with the day-to-day shelter activities. Learn more here https://www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-ian-donations.html/
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) gives you the opportunity to give a cash donation. This gives the voluntary agencies the flexibility to get the most needed resources to the affected areas. Donating to them will help experienced disaster responders get on the ground to help the affected areas to recover. A cash donation helps buy food, water, medicine, and equipment. The National VOAD also allows you the opportunity to volunteer if you feel led to do so. You can learn more here https://www.nvoad.org/
Project Hope is offering support for Hurricane Ian. They are taking donations to aid those impacted and offering volunteer options for those who want to help. Learn more here https://www.projecthope.org/hurricane-ian-how-to-help/09/2022/
United Way has donation and volunteer opportunities. They are accepting volunteers for cleanup, emergency response, relief supply and more. For volunteer opportunities click here https://volunteer.unitedwaylee.org/ They created a disaster relief fund to support local nonprofits and areas that have the most immediate needs. For donations click here https://unitedwaylee.org/hurricane-ian-relief-fund/
The Salvation Army is taking donations to offer food, drinks, shelter, and other emergency services to hurricane survivors. Donations go to the disaster relief operation you select to help bring comfort to those in need. Learn more here https://give.helpsalvationarmy.org/give/166081/#!/donation/checkout
During this time of uncertainty, Southwest Florida needs all the support it can receive. Monetary donations are being accepted at all the companies mentioned above and volunteer opportunities to help with disaster relief are much appreciated. They are asking that you do not send items as the needs of each area may change.
Here at Sposen Homes our staff is devastated by what we have endured in the aftermath of hurricane Ian but are dedicated to helping restore our amazing Southwest Florida communities. Now is the time to come together and rebuild our piece of paradise.
If you are struggling to find your dream home, here is why one of our inventory homes might be right for you. Inventory homes are new construction homes that are built with the same standards and quality as our semi-custom-built homes.
These homes feature our most popular floor plans and premium design selections. With a faster move in timeline, popular layout, and designer selections pre-selected you may find an inventory home is perfect for your family.
The price of an inventory home is set. This means you are not investing any more money in additional upgrades, the land and selecting the floor plan. It also takes away the headache of choosing the selections you want in your home since this is done by the builders’ design team.
This new modern bathroom design style is named for its basic concept, that all surfaces or a part of the bathroom is designed to be resilient to water. Hence the name “wet room.”
Benefits of a wet room bathroom design includes a layout that feels spacious, offers easy cleaning, and adds value to your home.
Wet room bathrooms typically have a grander shower area that is more open to the rest of the bathroom. They give your bathroom a spa-like luxury and relaxing feel.
They can make the bathroom feel more spacious with less barriers separating the wet areas in the space. The accessibility in a wet room is better since there is often no shower curb to step over. They are covered in tile or stone to allow for a waterproof area which can give you a more spa-like feeling. Floor to ceiling tiles give warmth and texture to the space to give a great luxury feel.
In some luxury bathrooms, a wet room uses a glass frameless wall to separate the wet areas from the rest of the bathroom, which can often include a free-standing tub and shower.
When building a wet room there are some key factors that need to be considered. A gradient is one of the most important components, because it guides the water down the drain. A slope is created for the water to stay in the designated wet area, so it does not pool on the floor in other areas of the bathroom. If no gradient is used in the design, the finished floor is recessed during the homes slab pour to allow for the curb and is also graded to the drain.
Typically, when building a wet room, you want the proper drainage to be the furthest away from the bathroom door. Waterproofing the bathroom is another vital component and begins with water resilient barrier materials on the floor and walls.
Wet rooms add to the value of your property since they are better protected and reduce the chance of water damage. Having a highly desirable bathroom layout in your home will not only allow you to enjoy all its benefits now but will also attract more buyers if or when you decide to sell your home. Your bathroom will be more inviting, feel more spacious and will appeal to a wide variety of buyers.
In a wet room, the shower seamlessly flows into the rest of the bathroom, whereas in a regular bathroom the shower is separated by a curb or threshold. They also have tile going from the floor to the ceiling which creates a waterproof area unlike a regular bathroom. Another difference is that wet rooms have a sloped floor that goes toward the drain compared to a flat floor with a shower curb.
We offer a wet room as a customized option in some of our Sposen Homes models. Contact us today if you are looking to build a new construction home with a wet room option!
We invite you view our Signus Signature model with wet room option here!
As of Friday, August 19, the Cape Coral permit desk at city hall will be closed on Fridays to allow the staff to catch up on their backlogged permits. There are over seven thousand permits in progress, and they’re working on training more staff to help get them processed.
They will still be open for emergency permits, returning phone calls and emails but will not be taking new permit submissions. The online portal will also be accessible for those to check on permit statuses.
City hall believes that closing to the public on Fridays will help them to train more employees and catch up on the influx of permits they have. For more information please visit: https://nbc-2.com/news/2022/08/12/cape-coral-city-officials-working-through-permit-backlog/
Sposen is hopeful this will help in streamlining their process and allow for faster turnarounds, so we can get to building your home faster! To view the floor plans Sposen offers please check here.
If you have specific permitting questions, please inquire directly at 239-244-8886 to speak directly to our New Home Specialist team or email hello@sposenhomes.com.
Investing in Real Estate is one of the best ways to grow your personal wealth. Being an educated investor when it comes to real estate transactions and the taxes you are subject to is important. To understand that we are going to discuss about Capital Gains and ways these monies are taxed when you sell a home.
After a successful real estate transaction, the capital experienced from the sale on your asset, is up for grabs to the IRS.
Capital gains are realized if you sell an asset (in this scenario your home) for more than what you paid for it. The difference between what you paid and what you sold it for may be subject to capital gains taxes.
The amount of taxes due on these gains, varies based on how long the asset was in your possession before selling. If the home was held for a year or less this is considered short-term capital gains, and if the home was held for longer than a year it’s considered a long-term capital gain.
Now, the IRS does allow homeowners an opportunity for tax relief on capital gains due to an Act passed in 1997 called the Tax Relief Act of 1997. This Act shifted the policy on how taxes are treated for capital gains realized when it comes to housing. Prior to 1997, homeowners paid capital gains taxes if they sold their house, unless they purchased a new home of equal or greater value.
Today, there are exemptions on capital gains for the sale of a person(s) primary residence of up to $500,000 for jointly filed married couples and $250,000 for singles if they lived in their home for at least two of the previous five years.
The Tax Relief Act of 1997 also lowered the top tier of taxes for long-term capital gains. The current 2021 long-term capital gains tax rate is 0%, 15% or 20% dependent on the income bracket of the taxpayer, while short-term gains are now taxed at the persons ordinary income tax level. This credit has been phased out for high-income families and is capped at usage to once every two years.
You may also qualify for an exception of these gains if the sale of your home was sold because of your employment, health or “an unforeseeable event, according to the IRS.
Always speak with a trusted financial professional for details on how this may affect YOUR own financial information. The IRS has an edibility test you can find here. Deferring capital gains tax on a sale with the use of a 1031 Exchange is something you will want to explore. To learn more about 1031 Exchange click here.
If you’re ready to invest in real estate, Sposen offers new construction homes at a great value. Contact us today!
For example, your floors and countertop should have the same tonality and depth. This creates an “easy on the eye” appearance.
Choosing colors that are light will make your space feel larger while choosing neutral tones throughout will create a welcoming environment. Remember, you can always add pops of color on accent walls, treys, and niches once your home is complete.
When it comes to New Construction, we always remind homeowners that they’re creating a blank canvas to enhance later with furniture, paintings, décor, etc. Sometimes curbing the creativity is hard, but it is necessary to create a space that is easy to enhance after move in.
Floor tile, shower wall tile, and accent tiles are the most time consuming and expensive materials to change. Make the selection that you love – you will not regret it.
Two words: floor outlets. If your builder allows you to add electrical features, you may want to consider upgrading a bit. Floor outlets are a great way to avoid exposed cords in living areas. Another great electrical addition is under cabinet or trey lighting.
