This is a great time of year to look back at what trends were popular in Home Building for 2012.  Annually, Builder Magazine publishes the top 10, best selling house plans, and we have noticed some consistency with all of these plans.  First of all, 80% of them are 1-story plans, indicitive of demand coming from an aging population.  Other commonalities include open living spaces, indoor / outdoor entertaining areas, and as always, classic styling with a modern touch.  If you are considering Building a New Home on Cape Cod, or Remodeling, or Renovating your Cape Cod Home, take some time to look at these plans, as you might want to include some of these features in your project.

If you are considering a project for your Cape Cod Home, contact REEF today to see how we can incorporate these ideas into your home: CONTACT US

Click Here to See the full article and slideshow from Builderonline.com: Top 10 Best Selling House Plans

    We have noticed a large uptick in inquiries for our construction services since the last large stock market dip in August.  People are struggling with where to put their money, and real estate has always been a sound investment, especially on Cape Cod.  People's perception of the marketplace has a lot to do with their willingness to make the decision to invest.  Unfortunately, most of the news you hear on a daily basis covers the negative market conditions, and the impending failure of the European financial system.  US news recently published this article on the real estate market, which supports our position that now is a great time to build. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/whats-store-housing-market-2012-221458067.html

So the weather has been cooperating with us this fall, and we have been moving along nicely on this new home in Wellfleet, MA.  This project is unique, as the site posed a few challenges due to its proximity to the coastal bank. When building anywhere near the water, the permitting process will involve approval by the local conservation commission.  The conservation commission's input will influence things like lot coverage, site drainage and septic locations, vegetation preservation or removal.  REEF was able to work with its team of engineers and the commission to negotiate an exceptional location for this house, which allowed the preservation of critical environmental concearns, while maximizing the views of Wellfleet Harbor.  Here are some photos from the site this week. The house has been insulated, and we are starting to sheetrock and plaster today.... If you have a property on Cape Cod with a challenging site like this, click here to see how REEF can help you!! CONTACT US

   We have seen land prices fall somewhat over the last few years, and we can say with some certainty, that the prices are about as low as they are going to get. With the bottom of the market here, many people are thinking about purchasing a piece of land to build their new home.  This is a great idea, given the economy, permitting environment, and favorable lending rates.  However, there are some things you definitely want to think about before purchasing a piece of raw land.

1. Get a Building Permit before you close on the property
2. Understand all of the zoning, and other regulatory issues that apply to a certain property. (Historic, septic, conservation etc.)
3. Make sure you can build what you want to build, where you want to build it on the lot.  A good design/build contractor can help with this
4. Find out about the cost of construction prior to committing to the purchase. What you think the house will cost you vs. what it will actually cost you may not be the same
5. Find a team of professionals to help you.  A good realtor, working with a competent design/build contractor like REEF can point you in the right direction, and assemble the other experts you will need.

Here is some additional information from about.com

http://homebuying.about.com/od/secondhomes/qt/102507_buyland.htm

 Many of our clients spend a lot of time with us designing a home that will have the aesthetic, functional and livability features that they have always wanted. However, seeing a house plan in two dimensions on a piece of paper is dramatically different than seeing it built.  To help in this process, our team can provide detailed renderings of the interior and exterior of the home, to include  a virtual interior view.   Here are some plans we did recently for our customers so they can better visualize the finished product.

Much of the work requested over the last several years has been for small, nicely detailed, and smartly-designed homes to replace family cottages in areas near many of Cape Cod's beaches. Zoning bylaws do allow cottage tear-downs in most towns, and you would be surprised what towns will allow to replace them.  Often times customers come in with a desire to remodel or renovate an old cottage, but once they find out the poor condition of the structure, the cost to upgrade all mechanical systems, and the requirements of the structural and energy codes, the costs often times far surpass the costs of new construction.  REEF has new home plans tailored for this scenario called our Cottage Collection (Click here to see our -Cottage Plans.)  These plans are compact, efficient, and but stylish and offer a lot of flexibilty and they are a good starting point for many of our customers. Click below and contact us today to find out what we can do for you!!