February 1, 2010 at 12:13 pm
· Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged IBS, International Builders Show, Las Vegas, NAHB, Professional Women in Building
Part of my time in Las Vegas at the International Builders Show was spent with the Professional Women in Building (PWiB) Council. I am not sure if I had mentioned it here previously, but I was the 2009 Co-Chair for our local PWiB chapter at the Master Builders Association of King/Snohomish Counties.
Talk about fun–what a great group of women (and a few men). 2009 was our official council re-launch and re-launch we did. With the start of Cosmo Connection, a networking happy hour that has since grown to 2x a month to meet the geographic preferences of those who participate to our Networking Lunches which provide a more structured format to meet new people and to grow your business. Not to mention the community service projects we participated in, least of which is not Ramp-a-thon which has been previously mentioned on this blog. It was a year full of activities (and for those who are curious, YES, Lakeville did get business from all of this networking) and responsibility and laughter, fun and reward.
Back to the Builders Show. And accolades.
Our council was recognized nationally for our efforts and contributions in:
-Member Benefits & Services
-Recruitment Recognition
and
COUNCIL OF THE YEAR!
As in, of the entire country.
Congratulations to our 72+ members who deserve recognition for making our Council so great. It’s something I am honored to be a part of!
Jamie Hsu is President of Lakeville Homes, a quality custom home builder in the Seattle area since 1985. For additional information specific to your home construction or remodel project, please contact us at www.lakevillehomes.com.
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January 26, 2010 at 5:10 pm
· Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged builders show, convention, IBS, Las Vegas, Professional Women in Building Council
Last week was the International Builders Show in Las Vegas. The biggest home building convention in the country, put on by the National Association of Home Builders.
It was a week filled with walking the show floor to visit the hundreds (?) thousands (?) of vendors, educational seminars and Council, Director and social meetings. Styx performed at the spike party (apparently I was in the minority not knowing any songs they sang…except for Mr. Roboto, which they didn’t actually get around to performing that night). It was a week full of learning, meeting and enriching.
And in case you were wondering, the overall feeling at the event was more uplifting than last year. Consensus is that the home builders of this nation are happy to have 2009 behind them and are looking forward, with great anticipation, to a better of 2010. An achievable bar.
Jamie Hsu is President of Lakeville Homes, a quality custom home builder in the Seattle area since 1985. For additional information specific to your home construction or remodel project, please contact us at www.lakevillehomes.com.
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November 13, 2009 at 12:39 pm
· Filed under Uncategorized
As you’ve most likely heard, Congress and our President have passed an extension and expansion to the home buyer tax credit. One of our friends in our local real estate community just sent us this very nice synopsis of the details of this new benefit.
And in case you were wondering what you could buy within that maximum purchase price, and how it was too bad that you couldn’t get a Lakeville Home within that price range. Please see our project MLS #29057195 located in the Robinswood area of Bellevue that is offered as a presale for $774,500.
Jamie Hsu is President of Lakeville Homes, a quality custom home builder in the Seattle area since 1985. For additional information specific to your home construction or remodel project, please contact us at www.lakevillehomes.com.
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August 24, 2009 at 9:13 am
· Filed under Uncategorized
Lakeville Homes is proud to announce that Rick Rahlfs has been named our new Vice President. Rick has a degree in Construction Management from Washington State University. He has been with Lakeville Homes for a time period that belies his age in years, originally working on landscape maintenance for Lakeville projects while attending high school.
Rick will probably shake his head at me for posting the below, but I think it speaks much more about the person he is than I can. Please note the received date of March 24, 1997.
Since the time this letter was authored, Rick has risen in the ranks from laborer to job superintendent. He now site manages projects for Lakeville Homes. His loyalty and commitment to the company is obvious and an asset. We look forward to continuing to grow this company under Rick’s able leadership.
Congratulations to Rick and to Lakeville Homes.
Jamie Hsu is President of Lakeville Homes, a quality custom home builder in the Seattle area since 1985. For additional information specific to your home construction or remodel project, please contact us at www.lakevillehomes.com.
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June 12, 2009 at 12:27 pm
· Filed under Projects
Lakeville Homes isn’t all about the whole-house remodel these days. As the needs of our client base changes, we are trying to change with them. It’s a necessity to stay in business, but we’ve always considered ourselves nimble, and this is our opportunity to put that quality into practice.
Recently we’ve had a few investors come to us with their rental properties. Some are purchased on short sale, others are just reacting to a general rise in demand in the rental market and need to update.
I thought this would make an interesting before and after…so you too could see what is available to you for just under $30,000.
Exterior work included:
-New asphalt driveway
-Landscape cleanup
-Exterior paint touch up
Kitchen work included:
-Demolition of walls around the kitchen
-New cabinets
-Mostly new appliances (the range and refrigerator were already new)
-New granite slab countertops
-New hardwood floor in the kitchen
-Replacement of window (including some reframing/patching)
Throughout the house:
-Refinished hardwood floors (all of main floor)
-New carpet (bedrooms downstairs)
-Paint
-Handrail installation and carpeting of stairs
-Changing some light fixtures
So does this sound like something your home or property could use and is it something in a price range that’s more palatable?
We’d like to work with you on making your house the perfect home. Please call us.
Jamie Hsu is President of Lakeville Homes, a quality custom home builder in the Seattle area since 1985. For additional information specific to your home construction or remodel project, please contact us at www.lakevillehomes.com.
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June 3, 2009 at 4:50 pm
· Filed under Uncategorized
If you’ve been joining us here, you know that Lakeville Homes blogs.
The blog and our website are not our only web presences. Please follow us at twitter @Lakevillehomes
and become a fan of our facebook page.
Through these two mediums, you’ll get the latest on what Lakeville Homes is up to, open houses and information about our free downloads as they are available.
Besides these main avenues, we are also active on Trulia a real estate targeted website…hoping to give good information and advice to those who are seeking it.
See you on the web!
Jamie Hsu is President of Lakeville Homes, a quality custom home builder in the Seattle area since 1985. For additional information specific to your home construction or remodel project, please contact us at www.lakevillehomes.com.
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May 15, 2009 at 3:34 pm
· Filed under Purpose
You’ve been hearing abou the $8,000 first time home buyer’s tax credit that is available. And you’ve probably even heard that it can now be applied to your downpayment at closing.
Well, there are even more options available for downpayment assistance. With some limitations, the ARCH Housing program allows for up to $30,000 in downpayment assistance. This government sponsored assistance comes in the form of a simple interest loan that doesn’t have to be paid back for 30 years.
There are restriction as to who can qualify (income limits, first time home buyers), location (certain East King County areas only) and the purchase price of the home (there is a cap), but the assistance is available.
For additional information, you can call our friend Fern Lam who is teaching the required classes through the Master Builders Association of King/Snohomish Counties.
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May 14, 2009 at 4:56 pm
· Filed under Projects
This was one of my favorite projects.
The interior aesthetic is on the contemporary side, and I can just imagine how well this home lives.
The main floor has a generous living space, with the family room connected to the kitchen and nook (with access out to the outdoor room). Formal dining and living spaces are separted, but near by. The kitchen has all top of the line appliances. My favorite part of it though, is the cabinet package. We have the spice racks, garbage cabinets and tray storage. But the uppers also have a “garage door” style hardward. It’s fantastically contemporary. And just a little unexpected.
Upstairs boasts one of my favorite master baths ever. Contemporary tile that wraps up onto the wall behind the sculptural free-standing tub. A shower with a bench. His and her vanities that add warmth to the room. And lastly, a master closet that Carrie Bradshaw could live in.
Well, the good news is, the home finally sold. The bad news is, I don’t get to move in.
But hopefully the new owners will love the reality of living in it as I loved the putting it together and living there in my imagination.
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April 14, 2009 at 9:41 am
· Filed under Politics, Purpose ·Tagged environment, green, money
As part of the Federal Stimulus package, homeowners can now receive up to a 30% tax credit for making their home more energy efficient (http://www.djc.com/news/bu/12004940.html?cgi=yes).
What is eligible? Built goods such as energy efficient windows, additional insulation and heating/cooling equipment fall within the categories. Items such as that new washer and dryer or refrigerator you’ve been wanting are not eligible.
Your contractor will need to separate out the cost of materials/supplies vs. the labor, because they are viewed differently. But the tax credit will be a dollar for dollar reduction on what you owe the federal government for next year’s taxes.
Of course the real benefit to all this is a more energy-efficient home that will save you money and help to save the earth. The government is just sweetening the pot for you to do this now, rather than later.
So call your contractor (our number is 425.453.8388) and schedule an appointment to talk about your home improvements.
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