RGV NEW HOMES GUIDE
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OCT/NOV 2015 VOLUME 23 ISSUE 6
an Ozuna
04
The Easy Guide 04
This step-by-step article will take some of the mystery out of the financing maze and help you navigate your way to a new home.
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red with
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iation’s
any is
Getting pre-qualified Customers can choose from
14 GUZMAN CONSTRUCTION
Second-generation custom home builder offers innovative designs and high quality construction in a variety of building styles to fit large and small budgets. This award-winning L to R: Jacob, Priscilla, Victor Guzman, Jr., and Victor Guzman, Sr. company is a go-to builder for foreign nationals. (Guzman Construction)
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Erika Sanchez
GRAPHICS / PHOTOGRAPHY Laura Soria IT/ WEB DEVELOPMENT Luis Tijerina
Honored with Pergo Let’s be friends!
from Semper Fi and Local
/rgvnewhomesguide
18 FEATURED MVEC BTS™ BUILDER
Courtesy Custom Homes is featured as a builder who meets standards way above what is required by code to qualify its homes as high performance in the Built to Save™ program.
THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AREA NEW HOMES GUIDE (NHG) is a bimonthly publication of Across Media Marketing, LLC. and is provided to its readers free of charge. Unless otherwise noted, all photography, artwork, and editorial content printed in NHG are copyrighted material and may not be duplicated or reprinted without express written permission. NHG and Across Media Marketing, LLC. are not responsible for typographical or production errors, or for the accuracy of information provided by the advertisers. Opinions expressed by writers and contributors do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher. NHG reserves the right to refuse any advertising which we deem unsuitable for our publication.
is an extremely important factor and is where you should begin. It’s important a variety of architectural styles, so that you can start to talk seriously with a real estate agent or a builder. After all, y to get pre-qualified 28 FURNISHED MODEL HOMES including contemporary, traditional, cannot sign a purchase agreement foraalisting newofhome until the bank says they’ll lend you money to finalize See models available for touring. Mediterranean, and modern. The Visit with on-site consultants who can answer company’s design flexibility allows the sale.
08
them to accommodate large and
So how small budgets.
questions and share valuable information.
L to R: Adolfo Sanchez, McCoy’s Building Supply’s staff members pose with Jacob and Priscilla DeHOUSING La Garza.OPPORTUNITY EQUAL
Jacob and Prisc
does pre-qualification work? When you receive a loan pre-qualification, you will get a letter says you have been pre-approved to get a loan. This letter will note your interestetired rate andSgt.how mo Marine JacobmuchBuildi De La Garza, wounded in to del you have available to pay for a new home. Afghanistan in 2005 by an reside
te Coronado ssive Garza; Joe
(McCoy’s eir homes
golas,
Manny Gonzalez, Jacob, Joe Rodriguez, Priscilla, and Juan Perez.
All real estate advertising in this magazine is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the Amendments Act of 1988 which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” This magazine will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this magazine are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD tollfree at 1-800-669-9777 or contact HUD’s regional office in Ft. Worth, Texas at (817) 885-5521. The telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.
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explosive device that resulted
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In order to become pre-qualified, the bank you have chosen will requireinseveral things: an amputation of his left leg below found (956) 255-2385 the knee, recently received a beautiful the pe A) You have toonhave See ad pg. 5 good credit. outdoor pergola. The pergola was a gift Guzm from the Semper Fi Fund that provided who d B) You have to have a job. funds for the construction materials constr C) You have to have money in the bank to use as a down payment on theincluding house. a gas barbeque grill, and from The p a group of local vendors and builders the D With a pre-qualification letter in hand, you can spend some serious time shopping for the perfect who provided the labor and additional comp property. This is where the fun begins! materials at no cost. presen The Rio Grande Valley New Homes Guide is published bimonthly by:
ion of the
Across Media Marketing, LLC. 1601 N. 8th St. • McAllen, Tx 78501
site
m/videos).
ADVERTISING MANAGER Jose R. Vielma Ken Sabe
TO GETTING F American FOR YOUR NEW Semper Fi Fund and local Valley businesses partnered together to build a beautiful outdoor pergola complete with BBQ grill for wounded retired Marine Sgt. Jacob De La Garza.
Start By Getting Pre-Qualified
nCuellar
SENIOR EDITOR Barbara Zapffe
Want to become a homeowner? You’re not alone. Choosing to own a home rather than rent allows you to choose paint and appliance colors you like and arrange/rgvnhg fixtures to suit your p /rgvnewhomes pay for buying your dream home? We’ve got all the most important tips you need to get goi
A st yle for everyon e!
ularity
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jose Vielma
F I N A FINANCING N C E S E C YOUR T I O NNEW | RHOME GV NEW HOMES GUIDE
08 AMERICAN HERO HONORED
TION S S
PUBLISHER Across Media Marketing, LLC
Basic Loan Steps For18 Getting A Mortgage 14
FOR ADVERTISING RATES AND INFORMATION: (956) 971-9700 • www.rgvnewhomesguide.com
his fam The Semper Fi Fund and its program FINA America’s Fund provide financial organ assistance and support to post 9/11 and fr wounded,There critically ill, andmany injured moreover 7 Getting pre-qualified is just the first step on the home ownership journey. are step members of all branches of the U.S. you have to take in order to get the funding you need to own property, but we’ll walk you through Armed Forces and their families to help them “My f during their recovery and transition of let the support This is the stage during which you’ll get pre-qualified. Being pre-qualified will Volume 23.6 2015 www.rgvnewhomesguide.com (956) 971-9700 2 back to their communities. Generous our co
g of ike me from
A) INITIAL STAGE:
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FINANCE SECTION | RGV NEW HOMES GUIDE
The Easy Guide
TO GETTING FINANCING FOR YOUR NEW HOME
Want to become a homeowner? You’re not alone. Choosing to own a home rather than rent is a great way to customize how you live. It allows you to choose paint and appliance colors you like and arrange fixtures to suit your personal taste. So how do you borrow money to pay for buying your dream home? We’ve got all the most important tips you need to get going.
Start By Getting Pre-Qualified Getting pre-qualified is an extremely important factor and is where you should begin. It’s important to get pre-qualified so that you can start to talk seriously with a real estate agent or a builder. After all, you cannot sign a purchase agreement for a new home until the bank says they’ll lend you money to finalize the sale. So how does pre-qualification work? When you receive a loan pre-qualification, you will get a letter that says you have been pre-approved to get a loan. This letter will note your interest rate and how much money you have available to pay for a new home. In order to become pre-qualified, the bank you have chosen will require several things: A) You have to have good credit. B) You have to have a job. C) You have to have money in the bank to use as a down payment on the house. With a pre-qualification letter in hand, you can spend some serious time shopping for the perfect property. This is where the fun begins!
Basic Loan Steps For Getting A Mortgage
Credit Score Tip! Having a great credit score before, during, and after you start your home buying experience is extremely important for getting great financing. From the time you’re pre-qualified to when you finalize the sale, you need to make sure you keep your credit score the same or better than what it was when you first applied. This means not using your credit cards or getting other loans during this time because these activities could lower your credit score. So to avoid the chance that you won’t get approved for a mortgage, don’t take on more debt unless you’ve discussed doing so with your bank.
Getting pre-qualified is just the first step on the home ownership journey. There are many more steps you have to take in order to get the funding you need to own property, but we’ll walk you through them all so that you know what direction to go. A) INITIAL STAGE: This is the stage during which you’ll get pre-qualified. Being pre-qualified will let you know how big a home you can buy and what features you can afford. Once pre-qualified, you are in a secure position to make an offer. Now you can attend Open Houses and tour different properties to see what homes are available to you. B) APPLICATION: Once you’ve selected your dream home, you will actually fill out a full mortgage application based on the price you’ve agreed on with the builder or seller. You will need to provide many documents to your banker, including things such as your government-issued photo ID; proof of bank account balances, retirement savings, property holdings, and investments; monthly debt payments; income verification (with W-2s, pay stubs, and IRS tax returns); and much more. Your bank will help you with the checklist. C) FINAL APPROVAL: At this stage, your bank will provide a firm approval for the loan you have requested. They will also offer you a set of terms that outline how many years your mortgage will cover, your monthly payments, your interest rate, and so on. D) MOVE IN: When you have everything done, you can sign the final papers and move into your new home once it is ready. Start packing!
What About Financing A New Build?
Types of Interim Loans ONE-TIME CLOSE CONSTRUCTION LOAN With this option, you only have to go through the loan approval process one time. Your interim loan gets converted into a permanent mortgage once construction is complete. It is sometimes called a “construction-topermanent” loan. This method will allow you to lock in your interest rate and reduce your closing costs. TWO-TIME CLOSE CONSTRUCTION LOAN This option means you must complete the interim loan approval process before construction begins. Then once construction is complete, you will go through another approval process in order to get a permanent mortgage. This is a great option if you have less than 20% as a down payment.
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But what if you want to have a builder construct something brand new instead of purchasing a pre-built home? In this case, the process is a little different. When building a new home, often you don’t need to complete a full mortgage approval before construction starts. This is because there’s no way to know the actual cost of a newly-built home before it is complete. Instead, you will likely need to obtain a short-term interim loan. This type of loan lets you borrow money from the bank to give to the home builder to cover costs such as materials and labor. In most cases, you need to pay back your interim loan within 18 months of receiving it. Depending on the type of interim loan you get, (see sidebar), your bank will either roll your interim loan into your permanent mortgage, or require that you go through two separate approval processes. Sound easy enough? Start today by pre-qualifying for your mortgage with Community 1st National Bank at (956) 631-0081 or visit, www.cfnbmortgage.com. The people there can help you understand what you need and how to begin applying for your pre-qualification letter. Your dream home could be closer than you think!
CONSTRUCTION P R O C E S S
Jacob and Jonathan Ozuna (Westwind Homes).
L to R:
Jacob, Priscilla, Victor Guzman, Jr., and Victor Guzman, (Guzman Construction) L to R:
L to R: Jacob
and Joshua Cuellar (Guzman Construction).
McCoy’s Building Supply’s staff members pose w
Manny Gonzalez, Jacob, Joe Rodriguez, Priscilla, an
Jose Lopez and Annette Coronado (Hanson Brick); Jacob De La Garza; Joe Rodriguez and Eriverto Diaz (McCoy’s Building Supplies).
L to R:
“
The outpouring of support for veterans like me from people we don’t even know makes us feel honored to have served our country.
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Volume 23.6 23.5 2015
“
- Jacob De La Garza
www.rgvnewhomesguide.com
Special Thanks to: (956) 971-9700
American Hero Honored with Pergola Gift from Semper Fi and Local Businesses
Jacob and Priscilla De La Garza (standing) with family members. Patricia Munoz (Priscilla’s mother) with Jacob and Priscilla’s children, Jayden and Braelyn; April Munoz; Anita De Leon (Jacob’s mother); and Heaven De La Garza.
L to R:
Sr.
with Jacob and Priscilla De La Garza. L to R: Adolfo Sanchez,
nd Juan Perez.
Across Media Marketing (AMM) and Rio Grande Valley Builders Association (RGVBA) members with Jacob and Priscilla. Jacob and Priscilla with Janie Anzaldua (Westwind Homes).
R
etired Marine Sgt. Jacob De La Garza, wounded in Afghanistan in 2005 by an explosive device that resulted in an amputation of his left leg below the knee, recently received a beautiful outdoor pergola. The pergola was a gift from the Semper Fi Fund that provided funds for the construction materials including a gas barbeque grill, and from a group of local vendors and builders who provided the labor and additional materials at no cost. The Semper Fi Fund and its program America’s Fund provide financial assistance and support to post 9/11 wounded, critically ill, and injured members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families to help during their recovery and transition back to their communities. Generous local businesses who contributed to this project included the following: Hanson Brick, who donated the brick for the barbeque area; McCoy’s
Building Supply, who donated services to deliver the brick to the De La Garza residence; Westwind Homes, who donated the cement and labor for the foundation and a sidewalk leading to the pergola from the main house; and Guzman Construction, the lead builder who donated all the labor including construction, electrical, and finishing. The pergola is the finishing touch to the De La Garza home, which was completed a few months ago and presented mortgage-free to Jacob and his family—a gift from Operation FINALLY HOME, another grass-roots organization helping wounded veterans, and from the generous donations of over 70 local businesses.
Danny Gamez, Erika Sanchez, Jose Gamez (AMM); Jacob, Priscilla; Marcy and Louie Alamia (RGVBA); and Jose Vielma (AMM).
L to R:
my deepest gratitude for everyone’s support,” said Jacob De La Garza. With the help of the Rio Grande Valley Builders Association and Across Media Marketing, who donated the food and refreshments, Jacob and his wife Priscilla, along with their two children, Jaden (9) and Braelyn (5), hosted a small barbeque under their new pergola for the members of the companies who helped with the project. Jacob’s service dog, a 3-year-old German Shepard, also had a chance to enjoy some of the delicious barbeque leftovers. For more information on The Semper Fi Fund and its programs, America’s Fund and Team Semper Fi, visit www.semperfi.org and find out how you can honor our
“My family and I are very appreciative of the kindness and generosity that our community has shown us. The outpouring of support for veterans like me from people we don’t even know makes us feel honored to have served our country. I would like to express
wounded heroes. Visit www.operationfinallyhomeRGV.org to read more about Jacob De La Garza, the first Valley veteran to receive a mortgagefree home from Operation FINALLY HOME.
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(956) 971-9700
GUZMAN CONSTRUCTION
Helping home shoppers become home owners. The key to building a new home that’s perfect for you is finding a builder that’s a perfect fit with you. A good builder-homebuyer fit should include not only a shared vision of the new home, but, more importantly, shared values of trust, friendship, and fairness—all needed for an enjoyable and rewarding home-building experience.
M
eet Guzman Construction, a second-generation residential and commercial builder with a solid reputation for designing and
building made-to-fit homes for quality-conscious homebuyers. Knowing that a builder does not cut corners when it comes to quality materials and craftsmanship gives homebuyers a sense of peace and security, encouraging a strong foundation of trust. “Gaining our customers’ trust and consistently honoring it, project after project, has been the cornerstone of our success, “ said Victor Guzman, Jr., son of Victor Guzman, Sr. who founded the company. “We gladly become consultants and educators to our homebuyers, helping them to make informed decisions on what will surely be the biggest investment of their lives,” he added. Indeed, if you speak with Guzman Construction customers, one popular comment will be the owners’ and staff’s generosity in sharing their time and knowledge to help customers meet challenges during
“The company’s design flexibility allows Guzman Construction to accommodate large and small budgets.” ly We porrotuodur su pp a ns! ve t e r See pg. 8
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Volume 23.6 2015
Visit www.GuzmanConstructionrgv.com to see more photos of their custom homes. construction. Homebuyers who need
are key reasons for their popularity
help are provided guidance in all
with foreign nationals.
areas of the construction process, from selecting a lot, to designing floor plans, choosing construction materials, and navigating through the financing stages. A tremendous assistance that Guzman Construction currently offers is its in-house financing that eliminates the need for customers to obtain a construction loan and provides huge savings to homebuyers. Guzman Construction’s bilingual
Over the years, Guzman Construction has been honored with homebuilding awards from the Rio Grande Valley Builders Association’s Parade of Homes. The company is
Customers can choose from a variety of architectural styles, including contemporary, traditional, Mediterranean, and modern. The company’s design flexibility allows them to accommodate large and small budgets.
also well known for its impressive outdoor designs. Many of their homes feature gorgeous patios, pergolas, gazebos, swimming pools, and other outdoor structures. Recently, Guzman Construction was awarded Facebook
staff is a favorite of Mexican Nationals
Fan Favorite for Cool Outdoor Spaces. A
seeking to establish a residence, a
video of this magnificent outdoor space
business, or a vacation home in the
can be seen in the video section of the
United States. The company’s extensive
RGV New Homes Guide website
knowledge of the area and their
(www.rgvnewhomesguide.com/videos).
experience in the construction industry
Follow us on facebook!
A st yl e for ever yone!
Fb.com/GuzmanConstruction
(956) 255-2385 See ad on pg. 5
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Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc. -Because Your List is Long Enough Juggling work, after school activities, and family means that you are constantly on the go. Finding the next home that’s right for your family can be an overwhelming and timeconsuming process, especially when you already have enough on your list. Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc. is a one-stop-shop that provides the resources and information for home buying right at your fingertips. Visit our office or start online to learn about down payment and mortgage options, realty services, neighborhoods, inspections and more. As a community-building nonprofit, we keep your best interest at heart and streamline the process - allowing you to cross more items off your list and get back to your family. Powered by NeighborWorks 22
Volume 23.6 2015
®
ahsti.neighborworkscompass.org
www.rgvnewhomesguide.com
(956) 971-9700
(956) 687-6263
NMLS# 346878
(956) 971-9700
www.rgvnewhomesguide.com
Volume 23.6 2015
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BUILDER I n d u s t r y N e w s
The Rio Grande Valley Builders Association Honors Associate Members At Its 2015 September Meeting With the financial help of some Builder members, the Rio Grande Valley Builders Association (RGVBA) hosted a special meeting in September to show appreciation to its Associate members for their support. As with any non-profit organization, the RGVBA relies on its membership for volunteers, sponsorships, and other contributions throughout the year. The Associate members form the backbone of the RGVBA, and their generosity makes it possible for the organization to continue its day-to-day activities. The Associate members were treated to a delicious barbeque meal, and the highlight of the meeting was the giveaway of prizes and cash gifts to many lucky Associates attending the meeting. The grand prize, a large screen TV that was raffled at the meeting, was donated by Camino Real Builders and was won by Eleazar Renteria of Mr. G Propane, Inc. A portion of the proceeds from the raffle was given away in three large cash prizes to the participating members. The following builders provided the sponsorships for this event: Platinum SPONSOR: (TV donation) Camino Real (Michael Pavon). GOLD SPONSORS: Averill Builders (Joe Averill); Caltia Construction, LLC (Raul
Perez); Framework Homes, LLC (Ken DeJarnett); Keystone Construction (Delfino/Glenda Gaona). SILVER SPONSORS: Caribella Homes (Rafael Munguia); Frontera Homes (Jack Pollock); Classic Homes (Joaquin Gonzalez); Terra Homes (Tony De La Tejera).
For more information on how to join the RGVBA, contact Marcy Alamia (RGVBA Executive Director) at 956-686-2932 or visit rgvba.org to download membership forms.
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www.rgvnewhomesguide.com McAllen
cAMI NO REA L
McAllen
Hours:
Hours:
Address:
Address:
Mon.-Fri. 8:30am to 6pm Sat. 10am to 3pm
Hidden Cove 3705 N. 42nd St. McAllen, TX
Sales:
Michael Pavon - (956) 460-0286 michael_pavon@hotmail.com See display ad on page 1.
Office: (956) 992-9501 www.caminorealbuilders.com
McAllen
Mon.-Fri. 8:30am to 6pm Sat. 10am to 3pm
Sales:
Hector Franco - (956) 239-1618 hectorfranco@gmail.com See display ad on page 1.
Office: (956) 992-9501 www.caminorealbuilders.com
Hours:
Call for personal tour.
Mon.-Fri. 10am to 7pm Sat. 12pm to 6pm
Address:
Address:
Tanglewood at Bentsen Palm 3611 Oriole Dr. Mission, TX
Plantation Gap 7018 N 44th Lane McAllen, TX
Sales:
Sales:
Sam Rangel - (956) 688-8321 srangel@westwindhomes.com See display ad on page 11.
Olga Treviño - (956) 467-1111 olga@divinecustomhomes.net www.westwindhomes.com
Mission
See display ad on page 25.
www.divinecustomhomes.net
Mission Hours:
Hours:
Tue.-Sat. 10am to 6pm Sun. & Mon. - Closed
Mon.-Sat. 9am to 5pm Sunday- 1pm to 5pm
Address:
Address:
Retama Village
Tanglewood at Bentsen Palm 1920 Seagull Lane Mission, TX
at Bentsen Palm
Sales:
Eddie Sligh - (956) 874-8676 eddie@mlrhodes.com See display ad on page 17. Volume 23.6 2015
La Puerta 2909 La Puerta McAllen, TX
Mission
Hours:
28
cAMI NO REA L
www.rgvnewhomesguide.com
2204 Seagull Lane Mission, TX Active Adult Community 55+
Office: (956) 380-6500 www.bentsenpalm.com
(956) 971-9700
Sales:
Juan Pacheco - (956) 369-2456 juan@mlrhodes.com See display ad on page 17.
Office: (956) 380-6500 • Hablo español www.bentsenpalm.com
BUILT TO SAVE & ENERGY STAR Certifications represent homes with lower ownership costs, and require less energy for heating and cooling.
GreenBuilt RGV Certification represents homes that are built using products, technologies, and environmentally-friendly building practices.
Edinburg
Mission
HOMES
Hours:
Hours:
Mon.-Sat. 10am to 6pm Sun.- 11am to 5pm
Mon.-Fri. 10am to 7pm Sat. 12pm to 6pm Sunday - Closed
Address:
Address: Sales:
Tanglewood at Bentsen Palm 3701 Oriole Dr. Mission, TX
Belinda Longoria - (956) 205-0356 blongoria@westwindhomes.com Natalie Gonzalez - ngonzalez@westwindhomes.com See display ad on page 11.
Edinburg
www.westwindhomes.com
W
Summerset Estates 5112 Nevis Edinburg, TX
Sales:
Eddie Garza - (956) 460-3290 Mario Pena - (956) 534-2353 info@infinityhomesrgv.com See display ad on page 22.
Office: (956) 460-3290
www.infinityhomesrgv.com
Weslaco
A L D O
H O M E
S
Hours:
Hours:
Mon.-Fri. 10am to 7pm Sat. 12pm to 6pm
Daily - 1pm to 7pm or call for appt.
Address:
Address:
MidPoint Manor 1408 Mulberry Weslaco, TX
Pepper Ridge Estates 1303 Rocotillo Lane Edinburg, TX
Sales:
Sales:
Luis Waldo - (956) 466-8590 Tere Waldo - (956) 466-8227 luiswaldo@yahoo.com See display ad on page 3.
Pete Lopez - (956) 969-2500 plopez@westwindhomes.com www.waldohomesrgv.com
See display ad on page 11.
*Attention builders: To list your furnished model home in this section, call (956) 971-9700.
www.westwindhomes.com