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Sposen Homes Blog

     
Aug
26

Cape Coral Permitting Office Update

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.

Aug
16

What are Capital Gains on Real Estate Investments?

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.

How long did you own it?

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.

EXEMPTIONS

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.

CONCLUSION

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!

May
23

5 Tips for Designing a New Construction Home

Tip 1: Horizontal surfaces should complement each other.

For example, your floors and countertop should have the same tonality and depth. This creates an “easy on the eye” appearance.

Tip 2: Keep paint selections light and neutral.

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.

Tip 3: Design with simplicity in mind.

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.

Tip 4: Splurge on tile selections.

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.

Tip 5: Pay attention to what electrical options come standard.

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.

 

Apr
13

UNDERSTANDING CREDIT SCORES

With many major financial decisions in life, there’s one number that keeps rearing its potentially ugly head – credit score. In fact, you have many credit scores, not just one. Use your credit card app to look up your credit score and you might get one number. Apply for a loan, and the lender might end up using a different credit score altogether. Whichever scoring system is used to determine your credit scores, you can expect it to fall somewhere within a range of 300 to 850. The higher your scores, the better your credit.

The most common scoring systems you’ll encounter are FICO, which is established credit by the Fair Isaac Corporation, or VantageScore, the system used by the three major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. These scoring systems measure your creditworthiness, or how much trust financial institutions should have in you as a borrower. To take charge of your credit scores, you must understand what exactly is being factored into them.

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Feb
21

Sposen named in 10 Best Custom Home Builders in Cape Coral by Home Builder Digest

Sposen Signature Homes has been named in The 10 Best Custom Home Builders Cape Coral, FL by Home Builder Digest.

Sposen Homes

Established in 2015, up-and-coming builder Sposen Homes has created a name for itself with its award-winning custom homes and floor plans, tailored to its clients’ lifestyles. Whatever the size or budget, Sposen Homes guarantees a beautiful final product. The company’s certified team of professionals has a combined experience of over 65 years across a range of sectors. Managing Member and Partner Neil Esner is a two-term past President of Florida’s Gold Coast Builders Association and has also been recognized as the GCBA’s Builder of the Year. Currently, he is an active member of the National Association of Homebuilders. His more than 25 years of high-level development experience translate into the fine craftsmanship and dedication that go into building each custom home.

An example of Sposen’s work can be seen in the Cape Coral home featured here….

You can read the full article here.

Jan
25

Sposen Wins Ten Awards for Models on Display at 2022 CCCIA Builders’ Showcase!

Sposen Signature Homes is currently highlighted as part of the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association (CCCIA) 51st Builders’ Showcase and was awarded with both homes entered on January 20th. The NEW Mira Vista model was awarded Best Outdoor Living and Best Pool, while the Signus Model swept its category with Best Overall, Best Livability, Best Interior Design, Best Kitchen, Best Bath, Best Pool Design, Best Landscape Design, and Best Exterior.

This three-weekend event runs from Jan. 21 to 23, Jan. 28 to 30, and Feb. 4 to 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

PREMIER HOMES ON DISPLAY

CCCIA’s Builder Showcase will highlight premier builders in the Cape Coral area, featuring new construction homes that represent a wide range of styles, features, and price points.

This year Sposen Homes, a leader in the SWFL new construction home industry, entered a 2400 sqft, 3 bedroom/2 bath Mira Vista model from their 5-Star Resort collection located in the NW Cape and one of their most popular models the Signus located in SW Cape featuring 1815 sqft, 3 bedrooms/2 baths.

PREMIER BUILDER – SPOSEN HOMES

Sposen boasts beautiful award-winning floorplans with must see exteriors, kitchens, bathrooms, interior finishes, landscaping, and more!

Although other builders will be present, we want to show you how 70+ years of combined experience in the new construction industry shows why we are a leader in our community.

After all, while all new construction homes are designed, very few are designed well.

With flexible financing options for new construction Sposen can ensure you get into the home of your dreams. The bottom line: Sposen homes are built to exceed, your expectations.

If you are interested in building a new home, you need to set aside time to attend this year’s CCCIA Builders’ Showcase. There, you can see for yourself the innovative designs and unrivaled quality associated with every Sposen Signature home we build.

Contact Us

For more of a one-on-one experience, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with our New Home Specialist Team. hello@sposenhomes.com or 239-244-8886

Dec
09

Get to the Root!

With the rapid expansion of home development in Cape Coral, many new homeowners are discovering the joy of owning waterfront property. Owning a little slice of waterfront paradise is the essence of Florida living, where life revolves around the water. If you’re considering building your dream home on a waterfront lot, this article will help guide you through the process, especially if your property includes natural vegetation along the water’s edge.

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Oct
21

Get the Dirt on Compaction Tests!

Get the Dirt on Compaction Tests

When building in Southwest Florida you most often need to bring in yards of fill dirt to your property to meet elevation and drainage code requirements. The amount of fill dirt needed heavily depends on your lot specific characteristics, like the flood zone it resides in and its current elevation. (Learn more about virgin ground and Finished Floor Elevation (FFE) here).

The dirt used in home construction comes from a dirt mine. The dirt product can’t be too wet or too dry and must pass a soil test showing its properties are suitable for construction. In Florida with severe heat and a rainy season it’s very important your builder uses dirt from a mine supplying quality dirt.

Foundation Construction

One of the very first steps in your homes building process is the piling of the house pad whether you are building a stem-wall or monolithic foundation. Learn more about the differences here. 

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Oct
18

Which Elevation Fits Your Style?

At Sposen Signature Homes, we offer three elevation choices for each of our floorplans. Here are some things to consider when deciding which elevation is best for you.

First Impressions, Style, Personality-

The exterior of your home is responsible for creating valuable first impressions. Anyone walking up to your home is greeted first by its outward appearance, so be sure to make a thoughtful selection from the elevations available: Coastal, Modern, or Transitional.

COASTAL

Sposen’s Coastal Elevation gives your home an ocean side feel by featuring corbel details, trim accents, and the option of Bahama shutters or coastal lap-stucco siding. Soft, sandy neutrals paired with shades of light blues and greens perfectly to tie together the coastal theme. Florida’s beaches, sunshine, and palm trees provide amazing home décor inspiration. You’ll oftentimes find lovely accents of tropical motifs throughout the home. Coastal homes are light, elegant, and casual.

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Sep
22

Quartz or Granite?

Chances are, before now you haven’t given much thought to the differences between granite and quartz. One of the many choices you will get to make during your Sposen design session will be between granite and quartz countertops. If you are unsure which you prefer, perhaps this blog will help you make the final decision by providing you with information about both materials.

Glorious Granite

Granite is a very hard stone, rated a 6 on Mohs scale and is completely natural. It is formed over thousands (perhaps millions) of years as rhyolite lava cools. The word granite comes from the Latin word, grano meaning “grain” and it is aptly named for its large mineral granules. The slow cooling process is what allows for large mineral pieces to develop in the stone, producing its gorgeous patterns which we all know and love.

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