5 Reasons To Consider – or Reconsider – Building

Right now is perhaps the closest thing to the perfect time to build a new home we will ever see. If you have been holding off breaking ground on your new home, it may be time to reconsider your position. Here are the top 5 reasons why we think now is the time to build:

1. Mortgage rates dropped to a near record low, even as recently as this week, but are expected to start moving up again soon. “Experts say it’s time to get a loan now, or end up with a higher rate later…Mortgage professionals believe rates are poised to jump sharply within a few weeks.” (source: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/mortgage-rates-drop-to-2010-low.aspx).

2. Home prices continue to fall, but not as drastically. According to CNNMoney.com, while home prices have fallen another 2.5% during the last 3 months of 2009, that was a “big improvement over the past three years.” This means that the trend down may be about to change, and housing prices may be about to start trending up instead of down. (source: http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/23/real_estate/2009_Case-Shiller_report/index.htm)

3. The price of materials will inevitably start to go up as building resumes. CNNMoney.com reports that “Home Depot said it returned to a profit in its fiscal fourth quarter after posting a loss a year earlier, with earnings of 18 cents per share, two cents better than expected.” (source: http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/23/markets/markets_newyork/index.htm)

4. Land prices are at an all-time low.  While this is, of course, specific to your region of the country, in Austin, TX, the general belief is that these prices are only going up from here. “January 2009 was the low point of this cycle…with steady improvement throughout 2009 that continued in January 2010, we can see that we’re one year into the recovery in Austin.” (source: http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2010/02/15/daily52.html?ana=from_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bizj_austin+%28Austin+Business+Journal%29)

5. Tax credits have been extended. “The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 has extended the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence. It also authorized a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified repeat home buyers.” (source:http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/)

Jenkins Custom Homes completes Home in Spanish Oaks

Recently-completed in Spanish Oaks is a beautiful custom home for a very happy family!  This home features the signature Jenkins rock arch, a Jenkins Waterscape pool and landscape, and a spectacular indoor/outdoor entertaining area.  One of our favorite features, though, is the doggie shower and doggie “living space” which leads to the private outdoor living for the dogs.  The owners of this home came to Jenkins with a “concept” of what they wanted and no lot.  The Jenkins team assisted the family with just the right lot in Spanish Oaks to accommodate their needs.  The Jenkins team then analyzed the family’s lifestyle, created the design, and built the home.  The home is situated a little above grade and has fantastic Hill Country views off the side of the home.  Since the front door faces the cul-de-sac, the Jenkins team opted for a C-shaped design with the pool and outdoor living (complete with fireplace and grill) facing the great view.

“It’s a fabulous view, and they really get to enjoy it all the time,” says Shan Jenkins of Jenkins Custom Homes.  The Austin Custom Home Builder says he really enjoyed working with these particular homeowners because they were so complementary of our team.  “At every step, they seemed so joyful about the process.  That kind of excitement and enthusiasm is infectious, and I think we all felt it,” says Jenkins.  “In addition,” Jenkins states, “rarely do we see these kinds of great views with this amount of privacy in a subdivision.  It is much to the credit of the developer in Spanish Oaks.”  Spanish Oaks is between Austin and Bee Cave, conveniently located off of Highway 71.

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About the Author:  Bethany Jenkins is Vice President of Jenkins Custom Homes in Austin, Texas.  To read more about Bethany check out her bio here.

Rough Hollow Community Featured in the Statesman

The Austin-American Statesman, or “Statesman” as the locals call it, featured an article about the Rough Hollow subdivision and Yacht Club on 08/01/2009.  It was a really nice article, and I’ve copied it below for those of you who may have missed it.  Local custom home builder, Jenkins Custom Homes, is an Approved Builder in this neighborhood and has a luxury home available in this prestigious community.  Read more about the available home here.  Here is the article, as featured in the Statesman.

Rough Hollow stands out with yacht club and marina, plus new grille

Saturday, August 01, 2009

Though summer is still in full swing, 2009 has already proven to be a very busy year for the Rough Hollow Lakeway waterfront community and yacht club. Having opened its Welcome Center and launched an interactive Web site this spring, Rough Hollow, the last new lakefront development in Lakeway, will soon celebrate the opening of The Grille at Rough Hollow.

Led by operating partner Shane Street, the 3,400-square-foot The Grille at Rough Hollow will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, serving continental American cuisine. The restaurant will offer indoor and outdoor seating to accommodate 165 guests. The Grille also will have the capability to host groups of 20 to 250 in designated areas such as the indoor cocktail area, the patio and the pavilion of the Rough Hollow Yacht Club & Marina. Chef J.P. Lacoste, formerly of Eddie V?s, Gumbo’s and Roaring Fork, will give the menu a unique style and variety reflective of his upbringing in the kitchens of Baton Rouge. For additional information on The Grille at Rough Hollow, call (512) 261-3444.

“The opening of The Grille at Rough Hollow further fulfills the vision of Rough Hollow as the premier waterfront community in Central Texas, and we look forward to serving residents of Lakeway and around Lake Travis who appreciate casual, exceptional cuisine in a convenient location with stunning views of the lake,” Street said.

Located in the heart of Lakeway in the scenic Texas Hill Country, the 1,787-acre Rough Hollow community is comprised of seven distinct neighborhoods — The Enclave, Yacht Club Villas, Water’s Edge, East Rim, The Bluffs, The Woodlands and The Overlook. There is literally something for everyone, from growing families to retirees, thanks to Rough Hollow’s diverse selection of ownership opportunities for custom home sites, villas, custom homes and semi-custom homes ranging in price from the low $300s to more than $3 million. Just in its first year, Rough Hollow served as host to the prestigious Parade of Homes event by the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin.

Adding to the allure of Rough Hollow is the community’s access to some of the state?s finest schools through the Lake Travis school district, long known for its educational achievements and corresponding exemplary ratings. The district’s award-winning schools, from elementary to high school level, are located right within the close-knit Lakeway community. Some are within walking distance of Rough Hollow.

The outdoor recreation that Lakeway is known for can be found in abundance at Rough Hollow.

Within the community, residents enjoy more than 3 miles of pristine shoreline and can hike, bike or jog on more than 22 miles of inter-connected hike and bike trails connecting multiple activity centers. And instant everyday access to Lake Travis opens the doors to a world of water sports such as yachting, scuba diving, jet skiing, fishing, wake boarding and tubing.

Without question, one of the most talked about features of Rough Hollow is the community’s private Yacht Club & Marina, the site of the Austin Boat Show’s signature annual event, the In-the-Water Showcase.

This facility offers a wide spectrum of concierge and seasonal valet services. It includes more than 260 wet slips, an amphitheater, resort-style pool, fitness center and dual car tram to the ship’s store and marina.

There are plans for a clubhouse, day spa, coffee bar, deli and corporate offices. The site also features a 4,000-square-foot open-air pavilion with commanding views of Lake Travis that serves as the perfect venue for community and private events.

In terms of location, Rough Hollow is ideally situated for easy access to both work and entertainment. Some of Central Texas’ largest employers are in close proximity, including AMD, National Instruments and Silicon Labs.

For business or fun, downtown Austin is only 25 minutes away. Shopping is a can’t-miss here as well, with the brand-new Shops at the Galleria and the recently completed Hill Country Galleria.

Residents of Rough Hollow take advantage of an impressive lineup of recreational venues, including some of the region’s top public and private signature and PGA golf courses and country clubs — The Hills, Flintrock Falls, Falconhead, Yaupon and Live Oak. At the entrance to Rough Hollow, tennis enthusiasts will enjoy the renowned Lakeway World of Tennis, with its multitude of indoor and outdoor courts, as well as USTA-sponsored league events.

Other highlights include close proximity to numerous parks and hiking trails, the Lakeway Airport and the Lakeway Sailing Academy.

Contact Rough Hollow today at (512) 617-1776 to learn more about the community’s new summer promotion, designed for families wishing to start enjoying the lakefront lifestyle immediately. To receive additional information or to set up a personal tour, call or visit the interactive Web site roughhollowlakeway.com.

To reach Rough Hollow, from RM 620 turn west onto Lakeway Boulevard and continue for approximately 2 miles. Turn left onto Highlands Boulevard and continue one-half mile to the Rough Hollow Welcome Center on the left.