Congresswoman Letter of Congrats

Congress woman sends Congratulations

Austin Custom Home Builder, Jenkins Custom Homes, was again honored to receive a letter of congratulations, this time from Congresswoman Valinda Bolton, who read about our awards in the Lake Travis View.

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Parade Home Outdoor Living

Designs that Inspire – Indoor-Outdoor Spaces

Indoor Outdoor spaces have been around for a while now, inspired by coastline climates like Florida and California. Typically these indoor-outdoor spaces are separated by a large glass door or wall that opens up to an adjoining outdoor living area. Here in Texas, we install a lot of these indoor outdoor living areas.

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austin business journal

Jenkins Custom Homes named in Top 5 Custom Homebuilders!

The Custom Homebuilders List, released each year by the Austin Business Journal, just hit the streets and Jenkins Custom Homes has been named #5 on the list of top custom builders in Austin! The business journal ranks Custom Home Builders by size, and Jenkins has been shooting to the top the past 5 years. In a market where most home builders are shrinking, Jenkins has gone from #23 on the list just five years ago to #5.

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Kitchen in Westlake Custom Home

Jenkins Custom Homes Finishes Home in Westlake

Custom Home Builder Jenkins Custom Homes just finished their latest masterpiece in Westlake.  This home features their signature stone arches and a swimming pool on the front elevation to capture the panoramic views of downtown Austin.  This project was 100% conceived, designed and built in-house for custom clients using our proprietary Lifestyle Analysis(C) system. To …

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Cost_Breakdown

Top 8 Custom Home Pricing Questions

We are often asked questions about pricing in our industry. So, we thought it might be helpful to arrange a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) about pricing in the custom home building industry. These are our top 8 custom home pricing questions.

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Congress woman sends CongratulationsDesigns that Inspire – Indoor-Outdoor SpacesJenkins Custom Homes named in Top 5 Custom Homebuilders!Jenkins Custom Homes Finishes Home in WestlakeTop 8 Custom Home Pricing Questions

May 01

Designs that Inspire – Indoor-Outdoor Spaces

May 1, 2012

Parade Home Outdoor LivingIndoor Outdoor spaces have been around for a while now, inspired by coastline climates like Florida and California.  Typically these indoor-outdoor spaces are separated by a large glass door or wall that opens up to an adjoining outdoor living area.  Here in Texas, we install a lot of these indoor outdoor living areas.  In fact, I would say that over half our custom homes have an indoor space that opens up to an outdoor living area via a large glass wall or door that pockets back either into the wall or stacks next to it.  They work especially well with a pool and outdoor kitchen area because the pool tends to keep the area cool and can have a nice “white noise” effect with its spa overflow.

What we love about this particular outdoor living design is how well it flows for entertaining.  The indoor space is a game room that serves as a “sports bar” of sorts, with its multiple TVs and wet bar.  The wine room, which houses an impressive 800+ bottles in its temperature-controlled environment, sits at the back of the wet bar out of the way.  The outdoor living beckons, with the huge built-in bench and outdoor kitchen with covered seating and a nice fireplace.  The multiple levels give the feeling of different rooms (or functions), with the sunning deck on one level and a grassy area below that.  Check out the gallery below to be inspired by the design of one of our favorite indoor-outdoor living areas.

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Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newhousebuilder.com/2012/05/01/indoor-outdoor-living-areas/

Apr 26

Our New Office

April 26, 2012

We are excited to announce that SL Jenkins Construction is in the planning / permitting phase of building a new 4,800 s.f. office near the Galleria!  This new office will be home to Jenkins Custom Homes and two other tenants, tbd.  The location of the office is just off of Bee Cave Parkway, the road that runs behind the mall, but is accessed via Bee Cave Road and Juniper Trace (across from the HEB).

The one-acre lot is covered in beautiful oak trees, and our architectural designers have designed a two-phase plan to build two buildings, one on the front of the lot and one on the back, leaving the trees in the center of the lot to become a park-like area for employees to enjoy during the day.  The style of the building is in keeping with the Bee Caves planning and zoning ordinances for commercial buildings and has been approved ‘in concept’ by the City of Bee Caves.

The construction of the building provides another important project for our commercial portfolio, which now includes a field house, a doctor’s office, and a commercial kitchen.  It also provides us experience with the commercial permitting process and associated expenses.  However, the best part for us is the creative aspect.  Creating unique, high-tech commercial spaces which make excellent use of the natural land and bring a sense of order to a work environment is what really gets us excited!

 

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Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newhousebuilder.com/general-contractor-office/

Apr 19

Doors open at Lakeway Regional

April 19, 2012

We seldom post local news, but we have all watched as Lakeway Regional Medical Center has gone from a piece of dirt to an eight-story building.  It’s nice to hear that it is now open!  Here’s the article from the Austin Business Journal today:

Lakeway Regional Medical Center has opened its doors to patients.

The long-awaited hospital, located at 100 Medical Parkway in Lakeway, will offer primary care, general surgery, emergency room, labor and delivery, oncology, dentistry and a host of other specialties.

The eight-story, 270,000-square-foot hospital has 106 inpatient beds, 23 emergency room beds, six operation room beds and six labor and delivery beds.

The hospital has just over 200 employees, of which about 130 are physicians. It will have roughly 250 employees when it is fully operational. Lakeway Regional Medical Center is currently hiring for entry-level and skilled positions, including pharmacy technician, pharmacist and nurses.

Adjacent to the hospital is a 54,000-square-foot medical office building that is fully leased, according to Brandon Moreno, director of business development for Lakeway Regional Medical Center.

California-based developer Pacific Medical Buildings    is putting the finishing touches on the office building, which will be ready for occupants in June.

Additionally, an unnamed developer has plans for a second 54,000-square-foot office building on the site, Moreno said.

To read the entire article, click here.

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Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newhousebuilder.com/2012/04/19/doors-open-lakeway-regional/

Apr 13

Sellers Rejoice – the Market is Back!

April 13, 2012

From our friend & local Realtor, David Brodsky,  we heard the good news today that it is unofficially a seller’s market here in Austin.  Here’s what he says about it:

Consistent with the national trend, Austin [housing] inventory levels have also declined. The current active inventory for Austin is 4.84 months. In other words, it would take less than five months to absorb (sell) the inventory for sale today. Why does this matter? When inventory exceeds 6 months, it is generally considered a Buyer’s market. When inventory is less than six months, it is generally considered a Seller’s market. The current inventory level suggests we are generally in a Seller’s market. Here are a few more local examples of inventory levels which illustrate a Seller’s markets in Austin:

Southwest Austin, Circle C: 1.52 months/  Barton Hills, SOCO (78704), Travis Heights: 4.49 months/  Westlake: 3.57 months

As we write to you, there are approximately 8,300 active listings in the Austin market. This represents approximately 22% less inventory than the same time last year.

This means that, if you have been holding off putting your home up for sale until the market returns, it may be almost time!  Unfortunately, it also means that pricing for new homes will be on the rise as well.  Hey, it’s just nice to have options, right?!

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Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newhousebuilder.com/sellers-market-back-austin/

Apr 11

Design Inspiration of the Week

April 11, 2012

Today we are featuring one of our favorites in flooring material.  Once featured on HGTV’s Sweat Equity, the Brazilian Tigerwood has a vibrant reddish-brown tone with black stripes which resemble tiger stripes.  Not only is it beautiful, but it also boasts a hardness rating of 1850 and is ranked among the hardest wood species in the world.  Priced very reasonably, this flooring can take a room from bland to beautiful while also taking the foot traffic of busy family life.

FEATURED FLOORING

Brazilian Tigerwood

Brazilian Tigerwood Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

·    Thickness: 3/4 Inch
·    Width: 3 Inch

·    Length: Random 1 to 7 feet
·    Weight: 74 lbs
·    Construction: Solid Design
·    Finish: Aluminum Oxide
·    Species: Astronium Graveolens
·    Janka Rating: 1850 psi
·    Surface Type: 40 Semigloss

·    Edges: Micro Beveled
·    Warranty: 25 Year Surface/Lifetime Structure
·    Install Type: Nail Down
·    Usage: Residential or Light Commercial

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Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newhousebuilder.com/brazilian-tigerwood-flooring/

Mar 29

How did they do that?

March 29, 2012

Ryan just posted this great video from the site of our our 2011 Luxury Home Show.  Have you ever wondered how that cool driveway was created?  You know, the one that looks like pavers, but it’s not.  It’s probably stamped concrete, and this video shows how we built it.

 

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Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newhousebuilder.com/stamped-concrete-driveway

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