FEMA's new Flood Insurance Rate Increase has caused much anxiety and confusion in areas in and around the new flood maps. Real estate values and purchase transactions for homes in the new flood zones have been significantly impacted. The effect on insurance premiums has been drastic for homes in flood zones.

It is obvious to many that FEMA did not properly analyze the effect on these areas, and their economies, before promulgating the new flood maps. Legislators have been banging the drum for relief for months. Finally there is some relief, if only temporary. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act was recently signed into law:

The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act repeals FEMA’s authority to increase premium rates when a property is sold. It also refunds the excessive premium to those who bought a property before FEMA warned them of the rate increase. The bill limits premium increases to 18 percent annually on newer properties and 25 percent for some older ones. The senate approved the bill on March 13, and the House of Representatives March 4.

Here’s a link to more information:

Obama signs Flood Insurance Relief Law for Cape Cod

Obama signs Flood Insurance Relief Law for Cape Cod

Forget tomorrow’s blizzard! Daffodils and crocuses are on my mind. Cape Cod is wonderful environment for all sorts of flowers, flowering shrubs, vineyards…you name it! Many of our Customers plan their garden spaces right on their site plan. One of the home sites with which we’re currently working includes a “deer garden” for an outdoor enthusiast.

It’ll be 50 degrees on Friday, with more warm weather right behind. Flower gardens, vegetable gardens, even casual spaces filled with modern grasses benefit from the wisdom of Cape Cod Organic Gardeners. Here’s a link to their blog, which is filled with great information for your Cape Cod garden:

Cape Cod Organic Gardeners blog

Cape Cod Organic Gardeners blog

Virtually every custom kitchen we design and build has solid surface countertops. They clean easily, wear very well, and look fabulous. But what are the options to granite? Creating a focal point in your kitchen, or just jazzing up a powder room, can be as simple as selecting a not-so-common countertop.

Before deciding on your next kitchen or vanity countertops consider some of these unusual materials. Here is a succinct over view of some different materials to consider, complete with square foot price ranges.

Kitchen Countertop Materials for your Cape Cod Home

Kitchen Countertop Materials for your Cape Cod Home

Spring is around the corner, and then Summer will be here! Visitors will arrive, and there may be a small child or two in the mix.

Many of our Customers ask us to design and build homes for active, busy family life. It’s a real joy to create spaces for families to enjoy life together. A little forethought can ensure that the Cape Cod family vacation home is safe and accommodating to even the youngest in the party.

Grandparents will agree that without the small ones around all the time, it can be easy to forget about child-proofing.

Here are some creative and useful tips to ensure your home is ready for all sizes of inquisitive visitors!

Is your Cape Cod Home safe for the kids?

Is your Cape Cod Home safe for the kids?

Spring is in the air! Or at least the snow is melting. Soon we’ll be tending gardens, and rejoicing in the sprouts returning even after such an arduous winter.

What is your garden’s personality? Introvert, with careful, protected spaces? Or extrovert, with pathways and multiple spaces with different sorts of offerings?

Here are some wonderful ideas to get your gardening juices flowing. Small spaces, entertaining spaces, walking spaces. These ideas are simple to implement, and can transform your Cape Cod Home.

Garden Personalities for your Cape Cod Home

Garden Personalities for your Cape Cod Home

Once upon a time…a long time ago…I had a bathroom remodeled. I returned home to find an enormous oak threshold as a transition from my new bathroom tile to my hardwood floors. It was so big the contractor had to cut a half inch off the bottom of the bathroom door! Ouch.

So how do you transition from one floor material to another? Done correctly and it can define spaces, and compliment the flow of your floor plan. Done poorly, and it chops up the house, and can be a dangerous tripping hazard.

Learn from the pro’s, and not from your own mistakes. Here are some great examples of how to transition from one floor material to another, comfortably, attractively:

How to transition from Tile to Hardwood Floor in your Cape Cod Home

How to transition from Tile to Hardwood Floor in your Cape Cod Home

Staying current with new products is one of the really fun parts of building custom homes. There are constant innovations in our business. Everything from roof shingle materials, to HVAC system refinements, to insulation, countertop materials, window and door advances…you name it, there is no end to developments and improvements in building materials.

The annual Kitchen & Bath Show is the premier venue for introduction of new ideas, designs and materials. Copper and stainless steel infused sinks, French door ovens, in-wall wine coolers, and alligator-patterned cabinets. This a great roundup of new ideas, textures, and creations for your Cape Cod kitchen and bath:

Standouts from the 2014 Kitchen & Bath Show

Standouts from the 2014 Kitchen & Bath Show

Its winter, and my tile floors are COLD! Floors of any material can be quite cold this time of year. Building a new home presents a great opportunity to move past cold floors …forever. More and more of the homes we build include radiant heating, especially in the floors. It’s a great idea, and makes for a very comfortable home.

Gas-fired forced hot air systems are great for heating spaces, and accommodating central air conditioning. Add to that a radiant floor system, and you’ve got the best of both worlds. As with any system, there are caveats. Here’s a comprehensive review of considerations when evaluating a radiant system for your new home:

Is Radiant Heating right for your Cape Cod Home?

Is Radiant Heating right for your Cape Cod Home?

Snowed in? Bummed out? February is often the depths of the winter blahs. You’ve made it through Valentine’s Day...now what? As you ponder the merits of the huge snow pile outside your window, consider some spruce-ups to get your home through the winter and ready for spring.

Keep your home running smoothly with this list of easy fixes for some common challenges:

Snowday February Checklist for a Smooth Running Cape Cod Home

Snowday February Checklist for a Smooth Running Cape Cod Home

FEMA’s new Flood Insurance Rate Maps have caused a lot of confusion and questions. Their impact on real estate values on Cape Cod is huge. Sales and refinances are being lost, and most people aren’t quite sure what will happen next.

Congressman Bill Keating has proposed legislation requiring FEMA to reevaluate their flood maps, and better analyze the maps’ economic impact. This may slow down their implementation for several years.

What exactly is the situation? Will flood insurance rates increase right away? Should home owners near flood zones be concerned? How will home repairs and improvements affect my insurance rates? Must homes in flood zones now be built above the flood plain?

Get answers directly from Congressman Keating next week, February 20. Here’s more information on his presentation in Bourne:

Congressman Keating announces FEMA Flood Insurance Information Session

 Congressman Keating announces FEMA Flood Insurance Information Session