1. Assess the Space – Before you move into your new home in Little Elm, TX, decide which area of the garage is going to be used for what purpose. Figure out which side of the garage will hold your vehicle, and which will be used to store large items such as bicycles, lawn equipment and/or luggage.

2. A Place for Everything – Group like items together, so you know where they are when you need them. Consider installing shelving units if the garage doesn’t have enough storage space. Hooks for the walls are also great to hang items you don’t use very often out of the way. Use as much vertical and ceiling space as possible, especially if you want to keep your car in the garage.

3. Label, Label, Label – Drawers and bins are great for storing items, but they’re even better when you label them! Sort your nails, screws and bolts and other items by type, and label your storage containers and shelves accordingly.

4. Keep it Clean – Once you’ve put everything away, make plans to give the garage in your new home in Little Elm, TX a thorough cleaning every three months. The time and effort you spend will be well worth it!

No matter what type of house you’re looking for, Landon Homes can build the home of your dreams. As one of the premier builders in Texas, Landon offers several different floor plans to suit your style and taste. Visit the website to learn more about our better built, affordable green homes for sale in Little Elm.

Area rug – Adding a sizeable, weather-resistant rug will define and anchor a seating area. Plus, a rug gives your bare feet some cool relief from the sun-baked patio and deck.

Lighting – Create an intimate mood after dark with a variety of lighting systems, lanterns or candelabras. Decorative fire pits and fireplaces also do wonders to add warmth, drama and ambience to your outdoor space.

Water – Adding a fountain or waterfall is a wonderful way to create your own backyard retreat. The soothing sounds of water enhance any natural space, and also help to block out traffic sounds and other noises.

Wall coverings – Murals and wallpaper are becoming more popular as an easy way to decorate outdoors. They create a striking scene, depending on the color and patterns you choose.

Planters, Statues – Define your space with planters or decorative urns filled with lush, aromatic greenery. Or add artistic elements such as statues and sculptures to increase visual interest.

Furniture & accessories – Patio umbrellas, chairs, chaises, and tables also lend an inviting element to your outdoor décor. Choose bold colors to enhance your design scheme, either as a foundation or accent.

Landon Homes is rated among the best home builders in north Dallas. When searching for homes for sale in Frisco, TX, visit the Landon website to learn about our better built, affordable green homes at Austin Ridge and Richwoods.

Landon Homes took home the gold at the McSAM Awards for …

-   Best Architectural Design in $300-400’s for their Stonebridge Collection

-  Best Interior Merchandising in $300-400’s for their Stonebridge Collection by the Mary DeWalt Design Group

-   Best Architectural Design in $200-300’s for their Southlake Collection

Landon Homes builds beautiful, award-winning new homes in McKinney, TX and the surrounding area. Buying a new home for sale in McKinney, TX from an award-winning new home builder like Landon means your home will retain its property value longer and may even increase with time. Your award-winning new home is a sound investment for you and your family and will even make you winners in the long run!

Landon Homes is a winning new home builder with many great new homes for sale in McKinney, TX. For more than 20 years, Landon Homes continues to build new homes with uncompromising quality, outstanding customer service, and exemplary value. Stop by today and find out for yourself why Landon Homes is one of the best new home builders in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

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Colors – Soft, neutral colors such as pale green, sand, cream, ivory, gold, silver, brown and white are featured in bathrooms this year. Walls tend to be a neutral off-white, while ceilings are perfect for adding a subtle touch of pale aqua, pink or green. Bright colors such as tangerine tango work well for kids’ bathrooms.

Natural materials – Eco-friendly and natural fabrics are in vogue this year. Wood-grain ceramic tile is popular, while glass and recycled glass tiles are also in fashion. Champagne bronze or oil-rubbed bronze are in fashion for decorating sinks, faucet handles and cabinet door knobs.

Clean, Streamlined – Black and white designs bring a streamlined feel of simplicity and cleanliness. Many of the new homes in Frisco are replacing heavy, dark vanities with light, airy colors.

Textures – Uniquely-textured tile floors are being utilized more in bathrooms this year. Shower curtains are also adhering to the trend, with linen or cotton in rough-hewn, visible weaves adding texture to the modern bath.

Patterns – Geometric wallpapers in bold colors, and prints that look like fabric are replacing the usual floral and stripe motifs. Attractive mosaic patterns and wall tiles that look like they’re made of silver, mother of pearl or gold also create a luxurious atmosphere.

If you need suggestions for fixtures, flooring and more for the bathroom and the rest of your new house, the professional design center staff at Landon Homes can guide you through each decision, large or small. Landon specializes in building high quality homes in Frisco that are both beautiful and eco-friendly. Learn why you should choose Landon for your next new home purchase.

Gardening Guide from Mother Earth News (Free on iPhone & on Android as Garden Guide) – This app from America’s leading organic gardening magazine provide excellent help, especially for vegetable gardeners. Features expert advice on pest control, tutorials on how to grow about 20 different types of crops, like carrots and tomatoes, and illustrations to make your gardening project easier to accomplish.

Landscaper’s Companion ($6 on iPad and iPhone, $5 on Android) – If you are buying one of the new homes in Frisco, the Landscaper’s Companion will come in handy as a resource for determining what flowers and plants to install in your yard. This encyclopedia-style app lists more than 20,000 plants and vegetables, with information on the plant’s zone, growth rate, water and sun requirements, color and typical height and width. You can narrow search criteria to specify the zone, height and color of a plant, among other features.

Gardening How-To (Free on iPad and Android) – The iPad version of the national gardener magazine has been enhanced with digital content, including videos, interactive maps, graphics, photos, tips and articles. The Android version is limited to editorial content.

Landscape Calculator (Free on iPhone) – Consult this handy app when looking at new homes in Frisco to determine how much soil, mulch or stone you’ll need for your gardening or landscape project. Simply enter the depth on the handy slider rule and add in the area for your results. Also provides tips on how to apply compost, and overall topsoil maintenance.

Landscape & Garden Calculators ($7.99 on Android) – Similar to the iPhone’s Landscape Calculator, this app allows you to plan your plot sizes, fences, ponds and any other arrangement you’ll want to spruce up your garden or lawn. Measurements are in U.S. and metric. You can email or text your data or copy them to the clipboard.

If you are looking for affordable, high quality, energy efficient new homes in Frisco, there’s no better builder to consider than Landon Homes. For more than 20 years, the Landon name has been synonymous with uncompromising quality, outstanding customer service and exemplary value. Visit the website today to see why you should choose Landon as your green home builder.

A real estate professional with 15 years of new home sales experience at First Texas and Meritage Homes, Oxley is pleased to have joined the Landon Homes family. She is excited about the opportunities available at Richwoods for home buyers who are looking for a high-end home that provides a lot of value for the money.

This is the first time in his 30+ years of homebuilding that John Landon has linked his own name to a series of home designs. This new Signature Series incorporates architectural flair and function into new homes that represent the best Landon Homes has to offer. Oxley adds that the floor plan layouts and architecture are incredible, designed by renowned architects Robbie Fusch and Cary Kipp.

Fusch has gained a reputation for creative, high quality design and is well-known in North Texas for his luxurious, residential designs in the Preston Hollow and Highland Park areas. Kipp, meanwhile, is an award-winning architect who specializes in designing beautiful homes that address the different lifestyle needs of buyers, while keeping a focus on flair and good value.

There are six different collections for home buyers to choose from, with different layouts that include options such as covered patios, studies, up and down stairs media rooms, and game rooms. There are also designs that offer dual staircases. All the homes in Richwoods Landing and Country include a 3-car garage, and homesites starting at 84’ x 130’. In addition, Oxley says Richwoods is the only gated community in the South East Frisco corridor that offers so many amenities, such as soccer fields, hike and bike trails, a resort-style pool and wellness center.

The John R. Landon Signature Series homes include Landon’s energy efficient package which incorporates such features as 2”x 6” wall construction, 16 SEER Air Conditioners, Tech-Shield Radiant Heat Barrier for Roof Decking, UV & heat blocking glass, and R-45 blown insulation in the attic.

If you’d like to learn more about the John R. Signature Series of homes at Richwoods Landing & Country, visit the Landon website today.

Even if you’re lucky enough to find an older home that has the features you want, home repairs and maintenance costs could put a big dent in your wallet. A home builder in McKinney provides your new home with a builder’s warranty that’s good for at least a year, while other major components are usually warrantied for extended periods.

Building a new home gives you the advantage of being able to design the look of your house right from the beginning. You can evaluate the different models a home builder in McKinney has to offer and determine which one best suits your taste. Once you’ve settled on a floor plan, you can choose paint colors and visit the builder design center to choose the fixtures, flooring and appliances for your new home that fit your lifestyle.

Another major benefit to building a new home is that it will be more energy efficient than an older home. New homes are built according to the latest energy conversation standards and feature higher-efficiency insulation, doors and windows, for starters. Plus, a home builder in McKinney like Landon Homes, goes a step further by using 2×6 exterior wall construction, tech-shield radiant heat barriers, tankless water heaters, Energy Star rated appliances and water-saving faucets and shower heads that minimize utility bills.  An older home usually has to be retrofitted with these features, at an additional cost.

Finally, home builders may be able to offer more flexible financing options due to their relationships with lenders. You could get a deal on closing costs, special upgrade financing, or some other type of Internet incentive. Individual sellers don’t always have room to negotiate on these terms, so a new home could be your best option if financing is a critical factor for you.

If you’re looking for a home builder in McKinney, visit the Landon website to learn about the affordable green homes we build for sale in premier Dallas neighborhoods like McKinney, Little Elm and Frisco.

Windows – Clean your windows and remove any dust and grime that have settled during the winter months. Then, breathe new life into your new home in McKinney, TX by opening those windows and letting the fresh air in!

Upholstery – Get rid of any pollen, dander and dust from your furniture and draperies by vacuuming them.

Ceiling Fans – If you haven’t used the ceiling fans in a few months, dust and grime have probably collected on the blades. Clean them properly so the dust does not circulate in the room when the fan is switched on.

Central A/C Unit – Call your local A/C repair company to perform a spring checkup of your air conditioning unit to make sure it’s in top working order. There’s nothing worse than being without A/C during those hot summer months.

Home Exterior – Once the inside of your new home in McKinney, TX is clean, it’s time to check out the exterior. Inspect weather stripping, and replace as necessary. Investigate the roof for missing or broken tiles and shingles, and clean out the down spouts and gutters.

Landscaping – Clear away any tree limbs, leaves and other debris from walkways around your home. Check your garden hoses and/or sprinkler system to make sure they’re in top shape. Wash the paver and concrete areas that may have become soiled and dirty.

If you plan to spend this spring looking for a new home in McKinney, TX, visit the Landon Homes website to learn about the better built by design homes for sale in Shiloh Lakes and Shiloh Ranch.  As one of the leading home builders in Texas, Landon offers a variety of floor plans to accommodate your personal style and taste. Plan a visit to our model homes and experience the Landon difference.

New home buyers have a broad range of financing choices available that offer excellent flexibility and affordability. Shop around and ask a mortgage professional to assist you. Or visit the Landon Homes website to ask the experts at TX Home Lending. They can help guide you through the mortgage process until you move in, so your new home buying experience is less stressful and more manageable.

Here is a look at some of the more popular home financing options:

Veterans Administration (VA) loans -  Active and honorably discharged members of the armed forces can apply for one of these loans that offer low interest rates, no down payment and lenient credit cutoffs.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans – These loans make up a large percentage of all home financings in the U.S. because of their flexible credit and debt-to-income ratios, low down payment requirement and the ability to use gifted funds for closing costs.

Rural Development loans – These loans are funded by the USDA and were traditionally aimed at creating sustainable and quality housing in rural areas. But with the increase in development around major metropolitan areas, many new housing communities fall under the auspices of the USDA loans. The loan terms are very generous, so if you’re looking at homes for sale in Frisco, check with a mortgage professional to see if the new home community you’re considering qualifies.

Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) – If you don’t plan on staying in a new home for many years, an ARM can save you a lot of money every month on the mortgage payment. Adjustable rate loans are typically set a fixed rate for an initial period (typically 5 years), with rates then adjusting to current market rates each year.

Interest-only loans – If you’re looking for the lowest possible monthly payment, an interest-only loan allows buyers to pay only the interest on their loan principle for a set amount of time. This type of loan may work well in certain financial situations, just don’t fall into the trap of using this type of loan to buy more home than you can afford.

Home builders like Landon will offer new home incentives that include special lending rates. When you’re looking at homes for sale in Frisco, check the Landon website to see what incentives are available to help with your new home purchase.

When you’re looking at quick move-in homes, take into consideration the community’s location. As with any home purchase, the area you live in affects many aspects of your life, including work commute, neighborhood schools, shopping, etc. Take all these factors into consideration before making an offer to purchase.

One of the things that makes a quick move-in home appealing is that they typically include options and upgrades that appeal to new home buyers. For instance, a home builder in Frisco, TX often includes features that have been popular with existing home buyers. As a result, you’re getting a brand new home whose design has already been tested by families similar to yours.

Of course, you may not necessarily like all of the features that are included in a newly built home. As you tour these homes, take note of the features you can live with and those you might consider changing. Most items won’t cost all that much money to replace, such as cabinets, rugs, or even windows. So don’t let minor items keep you from buying a quick move-in home.

At the same time, remember, if you expect perfection in almost anything, you will be disappointed. That goes for homes, too, whether you have one built by a home builder in Frisco, TX or buy one that’s already been constructed. If you find that the bathroom in a newly built home is not your cup of tea, and it would cost thousands of dollars to remake it, then you’ll have to take a hard look at whether this house is for you. In addition, if there are multiple things you want to change or can’t possibly live with, you’re better off moving on and finding something else.

Visit the Landon Homes website to see the variety of quick move-in homes that this premier home builder in Frisco, TX has available for sale.