Hubbell Homes

Sunshine, Sunshine
You are sublime, you are divine
Your presence is an extra lifeline

In your face I forget my sorrows
For I can face them tomorrow
In your warm rays I shall make headlines
Just shine on me love before you resign

Sunshine, Sunshine
You always shine a delightful design
That sends joyous glitters down my spine

Sunshine, Sunshine
Now and then you taste sweeter than wine
Your smile is one I simply dare not decline

Sunshine, Sunshine
Today you shall be mine
Tomorrow I am yours to outshine

Copyright 2007 – Sylvia Chidi

Yes, I do wax a bit poetic when the sunshine returns. It means we will soon have flowers and green grass, and more importantly more fine Hubbell Homes can be completed for Des Moines area families. Aaahhh, life is good.

It seems like the days are flying past me faster than ever! Weren’t we just celebrating the new year yesterday? Here we are and it is already February 4th! I know a number of home buyers today are wanting to take advantage of the government’s tax credit. First-time home buyers can qualify for $8,000 and move-up buyers can qualify for a $6,500 tax credit. We know the deadline for contracts to be written is April 30th and that the homes must close by June 30th.

But what if you want to customize your new home so it is just right for you? That deadline is much closer. If you would like to do a built-to-order, or a custom home, purchase agreements must be written by the 15th of February in order to guarantee completion by June 30th. Hubbell can always build you a custom home, but if you want to take advantage of the tax credit, time is running out.

Is it still possible to make the 15th if I start now? The answer is yes! Contact Susan, our Internet Concierge (susan@hubbellhomes.com), and begin the process, or simply visit any one of our open homes this weekend from 1 – 4 and ask the REALTOR how you can build a custom Hubbell Home.

In 2006, Hubbell Homes and an army of trade partners built an Iowa family the home of their dreams for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Just this past year, the team came together again to build 9 homes in just 9 days, Extreme style. We know the dedication, resources, and time it takes to complete a project like Extreme Makeover. And it’s not just the builders and trades, its the entire community. A dear friend of ours, and Iowa native, Greg Simmons of Simmons Homes, is the leading builder in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His team and the entire Tulsa community is doing their THIRD Extreme Makeover project! Can you believe it? While Tulsa is a bit warmer than Des Moines, IA, it is still January and weather is always tricky in January. If you’d like to follow the progress of their build before it airs on ABC, please consider becoming a Friend on Facebook of Simmons Homes. You can also visit their website at www.extremesimmons.com

They are doing an incredible job of keeping things updated online. Go Simmons Homes! We’re all pulling for you here in Iowa!

Last Friday, we took time out of our monthly sales rally to recognize the top Hubbell Homes Realtors for 2009. It was the first time we recognized our Realtors, and it is definitely something we are going to continue to do. What makes a Realtor a top agent for Hubbell? Several things – the total number of homes sold, total volume in dollars of homes sold, as well as who had the best social media efforts. Our congratulations to the following individuals and teams: Angie Dehmer, Dan Rivenburgh, David Schabold, Ben Van Zee, Katie Sell and Becky Hansen. Congrats to all of you and thank you again for helping to make 2009 a record breaking year for Hubbell Homes!  More importantly, thank you for helping so many families find the home of their dreams.  After all, that is why we love doing what we do.  We get to help make families’ dreams become a reality!

Today, Hubbell Homes and Hubbell Realty Company celebrated the 171st birthday of our company’s founder, Frederick M. (F.M.) Hubbell. F.M. Hubbell was one of Iowa’s greatest entrepreneurs. In 1856, he recorded his first real estate transaction. Since that time, he brought to Des Moines the railroads, created the first water works company, and started Equitable of Iowa, a life insurance company that would one day be sold to ING. Throughout Des Moines, the legacy of F.M. Hubbell lives on. From the streets and schools that bear his name, to the cafeteria at Drake University, F.M. Hubbell was about making Des Moines a better place to live and work. That philosophy lives on today in each of Hubbell’s associates. It’s amazing what one person can do, and F.M. is an incredible example to all of us. Happy Birthday, F.M.!

With due precautions and proper equipment nearly all construction work can be carried on in winter and at no great difference in cost. Although equipment needed for protection and artificial heat in winter construction requires some expenditure, and there may be some increase in overhead on the job due to delays from winter storms, these items often may be offset by the saving in salaries and the reduction in the contractor’s general overhead. Labor in general is more efficient as skilled workmen can be more easily obtained. Although relative unit costs of labor in winter and summer vary with the class of work, the cost in winter, especially under first-class management, may be actually less than the cost at other seasons…..Building materials usually can be obtained at somewhat reduced prices because of the smaller demand.
As the methods of handling winter work develop, and as manufacturers, supply dealers, and labor take more interest in encouraging winter work, the cost can be appreciably reduced.

Right now – today – Hubbell Homes is digging basements! We intend to have the biggest and best inventory of available homes in the Des Moines area.

Okay so I am exaggerating about the digger, but we really are working on basements for new houses. Our dedicated construction people are getting it done no matter what obstacles they face.

It really is coming!

We are still looking at small mountains of snow, but having a little sunshine is a big improvment.

There really seem to be more upbeat attitudes on days when there are a few rays coming down.

Looks as though we are going to be snowed in again! Well, I intend to improve my efficiency on the computer my learning a few shortcuts with the web browser.

1. Close the browser quickly
Here are two keyboard shortcuts that you can use to quickly close the currently selected Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 browser window: ALT-F4 or CONTROL-W. These shortcuts can be useful if you use the keyboard to do much of your website navigation.

2. Keyboard Shortcut to Your Home Page
To access your home page in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 using the keyboard, just hold down the ALT key and press the HOME key.
3. Keyboard shortcuts to use when you surf the web with Internet Explorer
Although most users prefer surfing with the mouse, clicking on the “Forward” and “Back” buttons to navigate through pages, others still like using the keyboard for most tasks. If you like learning shortcuts that may save you time, this tip is for you.

Hold down the ALT key while pressing the left-arrow key to visit the previous web page (”Back.”) Hold down the ALT key while pressing the right-arrow key to go to the next page (”Forward.”)
4.A keyboard shortcut to open multiple Internet Explorer browser windows.
If you are a “Power Surfer” and like using multiple browser windows when using the Internet, here’s a quick timesaving shortcut. To open a new browser window, just press CONTROL-N. That’s it. No more fumbling with the mouse.
5. Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 keyboard shortcuts to common tasks.
CONTROL-A: Selct all text for copying
CONTROL-B: Open the Organize Favorites dialog box
CONTROL-D: Immediately add the current page to your favorites
CONTROL-E: Open the search bar
CONTROL-F: Search for text on the page
CONTROL-H: Open the history bar
CONTROL-I: Open the favorites bar
CONTROL-L: Open an URL
CONTROL-N: New browser window
CONTROL-O: Open an URL
CONTROL-P: Print a web page
CONTROL-S: Save a web page to disk
CONTROL-W: Close the current browser window

ALT-D: Select the address bar
ALT-Left Arrow: Go back
ALT-Right Arrow: Go forward
ALT-F4: Close Internet Explorer
ALT-Home: Visit the home page

TAB: Move focus to the next link
ENTER: Select the current link
UP: Scroll up in the current webpage
DOWN: Scroll down in the current webpage
PAGE UP: Scroll up one page
PAGE DOWN: Scroll down one page
HOME: Move to the top of the current webpage
END: Move to the end of the current webpage

ESC: Stop loading the current page

F1: Help
F5: Refresh the current page
F11: Full Screen Mode

For many, 2010 will be the year to buy a new home Outside of actually buying the house itself, there are some goals to set along the way:

1. Get a detailed credit history report. Although it may take a while to have corrections on your credit report (if needed) show up, at least you can have a letter in your hand from the credit bureaus noting that the change was made. This will also give you a better idea of what kind of mortgage rate you will be able to get. Often, a mortgage company will accept the letter from the credit bureau as enough assurance to offer you a lower interest rate until the report shows the actual correction.

2. Start a budget book. This will help you get a more accurate idea of what you can afford to pay for a new mortgage. Along the same note, your budget will help you put away more money for the down payment. Find ways to save more money by noting any extraneous spending that you can cut out.

3. Research real estate web sites. Many real estate companies are developing elaborate web sites with options for keeping track of what houses you like, neighborhood research and statistics and a variety of other tools. Perusing their web sites will give you an idea of which company you will feel most comfortable working with. Also, ask friends, coworkers and family about which realtors or real estate companies they felt were the most efficient and professional.

4. Out with the old. It is never too early to start cleaning out closets, having yard sales and giving away items to charity. You will thank yourself later, when it is time to pack, that you got rid of unnecessary furniture and stored items ahead of time. If you are going to be selling your current home, then your realtor will also thank you for making your home so appealing and open.

5. Get a feel for neighborhoods and schools. Perhaps you are just moving across town so you already have a good idea the town you’ll be living in, but it still doesn’t hurt to find out as much as you can about the school districts, traffic patterns, amenities and styles of different areas. Through this process, you might even be able to narrow where you want to live down to two or three neighborhoods.

Financial preparedness, getting organized and gaining knowledge about where you will be living will help make choosing your next real estate investment as smooth as possible. Happy resolutions!