Mark Johnson Custom Homes Blog

Wilmington, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share with our readers an interesting article written by Carla Hill with RealtyTimes.com about today’s mortgage rates.

You’ve heard it all across the media. Interest rates are at historic lows. If you are new to the mortgage process, these figures and statements give you little frame of reference. Let’s take a moment to look at where interest rates have been over the last few decades, and what today’s rates really mean for homebuyers. Interest rates are affected by a gamut of factors. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, “Lower interest rates make it easier for people to borrow in order to buy cars and homes. Purchases of homes, in turn, increase the demand for other items, such as furniture and appliances, thus providing an additional boost to the economy. Lower interest rates mean that consumers spend less on interest costs, leaving them with more of their income to spend on goods and services.” And this is, after all, what you want people to do in a down economy. You want them to reinvigorate the economy with spending. The Fed continues, “If the rates that consumers and businesses have to pay to borrow rise too rapidly, however, spending may decline, leading to an economic slowdown.” So, it is a intricate dance the powers that be must perform in order to steer the economy the best they can. They, namely the Federal Reserve and Banks, are seeking stable prices, high employment rates, and sustainable growth in the economy. 30 years ago, in 1980, when many first-time home buyers parents were making home purchases, Freddie Mac reports that the 30-year fixed rate mortgage hit a staggering 16.32 percent. Let’s compare that in relation to today’s interest rate, averaging around 4.5 percent.

• In the most basic terms, a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage for $100,000 at 16.32 percent, will cost you around $1,450 a month.
• For the same mortgage at a 4.5 percent rate, you’ll be paying $580 a month.

The difference is astounding, and this is the main reason the media is shouting news about interest rates. If you are in the position to buy, now could very well be the time.

Article Courtesy of RealtyTimes.com.

We all know how hot attics can get in the summer months, causing HVAC systems to work overtime. Mark Johnson Custom Homes aims to educate both our clients and readers, so we’d like to share with you a Green product that we use in all of our homes called Radiant Barrier Roof Sheathing. 

The product name comes from the ability of the foil coating to be a barrier to the transfer of radiant heat. In the middle of summer, the temperature in attics using this product will be approximately 40% cooler than a home using traditional sheathing. The product is made by laminating a thin, durable sheet of aluminum to OSB.

We use LP® TechShield® in our homes because it is the only radiant barrier with VaporVents, incisions that penetrate the foil, glue and OSB substrate. This patented, post-lamination incising process allows LP TechShield panels to dry more quickly from construction moisture than other radiant barrier panels. Without this incising step, moisture could build up and lead to foil delamination.

But how it is Green exactly? Radiant Barrier Roof Sheathing helps reduce energy consumption. It’s ENERGY STAR®-certified and reduces the heat load on in-attic air handling systems, cutting monthly air conditioning bills up to 17%. Several other factors make Radiant Barrier an environmentally friendly building material; for more information on Radiant Barrier Roof Sheathing, click here

Mark Johnson and his team have extensive experience with Green building, including their Green home in Wilmington, NC. The home was not only Energy Star Certified, but also earned a LEED Platinum Rating, the highest attainable certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

This article was featured in our August issue of The Precursive Planner, our free monthly e-newsletter. Subscribe to receive our home builder newsletter today!

Custom home builder Mark Johnson encourages those in the Wilmington, NC area to attend a once in a lifetime experience! Wilmington, NC native and the most popular member of the Harlem Globetrotters, Meadowlark Lemon, is holding a Harlem’s All Stars two-day event on August 27^th and 28^th, 2010!

Beginning at 7pm both nights, Meadowlark Lemon’s Harlem All Stars, including Hollywood Brown and Pee Wee Harrison, will compete against local area basketball coaches (including UNCW, CFCC and the Sea Dawgs) on Friday night and against the crewmembers of the USS Gravely on Saturday night.

A portion of the event’s proceeds will establish scholarships for Cape Fear Community College’s student athletes. Both nights’ events will be held at the Schwartz Center at Cape Fear Community College and tickets can be purchased online in advance for $30 or $40 at the door. For more information, view the Facebook Event Invitation, call (910) 350-1211 or email info@mccoll-associates.com. We hope to see you there!

In a previous blog post, we introduced our readers to our latest custom home in Wilmington, NC, which is being built just north of Wrightsville Beach and Figure Eight Island. The home, on Bald Eagle Lane, is currently at the framing stage of construction and the installing the air barriers is the next step for Mark Johnson and his team.

The air barriers in this home, in the form of sheathing and drywall, control the home’s air leakage, keep moisture out of the home and help lower energy costs. Air barriers ensure that the insulation is working properly, since the insulation cannot work if air is blowing through it.

Bonus rooms in particular are infamous for being cooler or warmer than the rest of the home, usually because there was no air barrier installed on the short knee walls. But in this Wilmington, NC custom home, air barriers will be installed (see right), so that the insulation will be able to work to the best of its ability.

Is your home currently on the market? Want to make it more marketable to potential buyers but you’re on a tight budget? Mark Johnson Custom Homes understands that feeling the weight of a home that won’t sell is extremely stressful, and we’d like to share these tips from a recent RealtyTimes.com article by Phoebe Chongchue on how to make your home more attractive while keeping costs down!

The first place to start, and oftentimes the most important place to a potential buyer, is the kitchen. Sprucing up the kitchen can make a huge difference, even if it’s only a fresh coat of paint or replacing the cabinet handles and knobs (both inexpensive jobs). And something that doesn’t cost but helps with the overall look: a clean sink. Never leave dirty dishes in the sink, or as Chongchue puts it: “the way you live in a home is not the way you stage it.”

Secondly, walk through your home and look for any scuff marks or nail holes that can be patched, painted or scrubbed off. With clean walls and baseboards, the entire home will instantly become more attractive. Also, Chonghue recommends you pay close attention to your tub and bathroom floor tile. A good scrubbing or re-grouting can make the overall bathroom look much more appealing.

And finally, do not allow your lawn or plants to suffer because your focus has been on the house itself. A well manicured lawn shows that your home has been taken care of over the years, and that your home is the perfect fit for that potential buyer!

In a previous blog post, Mark Johnson Custom Homes introduced our readers to The Energy Detective (TED) , the latest in energy monitoring systems for your home. TED was essential in giving their Green home in Landfall in Wilmington, NC a LEED Platinum rating, the highest rating of a Green home by the U.S. Green Building Council and certifying it as an Energy Star home. As emphasized previously by Mark Johnson Custom Homes and in a recent article by Stephani L. Miller of CustomHomeOnline.com, installing an energy monitor alone will not lead to utility savings. There are two key points that must be addressed regarding the system you’re installing and its daily use.

First, the energy monitoring system must provide essential data to the homeowner that will result in behavioral changes. Real-time data that is useful to the homeowner is a must, whether it’s in table or chart form, or includes tips on how to manage your home’s energy consumption. And secondly, the information must prompt the homeowner to implement behavioral changes. Changing your behavior is the most effective method in energy savings and according to Miller’s report, many of the latest monitoring systems do not provide the proper information for homeowners. The Mark Johnson Custom Homes team is proud to announce that TED provides real-time information in an easy to use format, therefore increasing your annual energy savings!  

If you live in the Wilmington, NC area and would like more information on The Energy Detective, contact Electronics 2 You, a trusted member of the Mark Johnson Custom Homes team and one of Coastal Carolina’s finest home audio establishments.

When you build a home with Mark Johnson Custom Homes, you also build a relationship with Mark himself! Mark Johnson guarantees that the builder/client relationship does NOT end at the closing table and his commitment to you is most important. But that’s not all that sets Mark apart from other custom home builders! His award-winning website’s Client Progress Portal, his Home Warranty Procedure and the overall Building Process exceed the expectations of all of his past clients, giving Mark a 100% referral rating. Contact Mark directly today and see how building a custom home can be an enjoyable experience on every level!

Client Progress Portal:

• Our Client Progress Portal acts as an electronic concierge for our clients. Accessed via our website, the portal allows clients a place to view construction photos and progress, access construction documents, make online warranty claims and most importantly, see their full-view production schedule at their convenience. Our clients have found this to be a tremendous feature of our award-winning website. It has allowed us to build custom home for clients residing in Ohio, New York, Canada and even India.

Warranty:

• At the 11^th month of ownership, we ask the owner conduct a thorough walk of the home and alert us to any warranty related issues.  We will then conduct a two-day warranty blitz, addressing any settling or issues that have arisen over the year. By completing the warranty in two days, we are able to minimize intrusion on our clients. Warranty claims are handled online via the Client Progress Portal. If there are items that need to be addressed before the blitz warranty, such as a drawer won’t open or a safety hazard, they are promptly scheduled.

Process:

• From the first step, MJCH takes a hands-on approach to the building process. We provide a transparent, collaborative project planning approach that leverages the latest technology on the Internet. Providing you the highest level of customer service through these key steps is our number one priority:
  • Budget Estimate, Purchase Contract, Design Selections, Construction Process, Quality Control Inspection and New Home Orientation.

Since their inception in 2005, Mark Johnson Custom Homes has supported local Wilmington, NC charities and sponsored events for local groups. Their support continues in 2010 with the sponsorship of Nsalo Salon’s 3^rd Annual “Arts for the Arts” hair fashion show which raises money for the local youth organization, Kids Making It. Below is the official press release from Nsalo Salon and for more information, e-mail them at nsalosalon@gmail.com!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

• Contact: Erica Adams
• Nsalo Salon
• Tel: (910) 251.9666
• Cell: (910) 546.2671
• Email: nsalosalon@gmail.com
• www.nsalosalon.com

Nsalo Salon to host 3rd Annual “Arts for the Arts” hair fashion show raising money for Downtown Wilmington Youth Program, Kids Making It.

Wilmington, North Carolina- “Arts for the Arts” will be held on Saturday, July 31, 2010 in The Beam Room, the 3rd floor of Front Street Brewery located at 9 North Front St, featuring cut and color styles, glamour, and avant-garde and fantasy hair pieces in an effort to raise money for the downtown youth woodworking program, Kids Making It.  This year there will be 2 shows, the first, a VIP Premiere Show at 8:00 with a cocktail party before beginning at 6:30- tickets $30 for individuals or $50 for couples, and a second showing at 9:30- tickets $20 each.  The WWII era inspired models will be dressed by local designer Chanel Depare and wear jewelry by Joanne Miranda Designs along with a mixture of local designers, boutiques and vintage period fashions. 

Kids Making It is a national award winning program unique in its strengths-based approach to empower at risk youth to transcend their challenges and grow into responsible, employed, law-abiding citizens. This is done thru teaching the KMI youth woodworking in a strong mentoring environment, instilling patience, pride, perseverance, confidence, teamwork, and self-esteem, while building character through consistent modeling of the golden rule, community service projects, and imparting the truth of actions and consequences through the woodworking process. The youth attending the program also learn about being an entrepreneur as they can sell their one of a kind woodworking items in the on site retail store , and they get to keep all the profits from the sale of their items.

The Kids Making It woodworking shop and retail store located at 15 S. Water St gets most of their funding comes from a grant from the Governor’s Crime Commission, with the balance coming from the City, the County, grants from the Cape Fear Memorial Foundation, United Way, Landfall Foundation, Wilmington Woman’s Club, PPD, IKA, and individual, and corporate donations. As with many other organizations in these tough economic times, Kids Making It is finding it’s funding down over 20% from last year. Nsalo Salons goal this year is to raise $10,000 through our fashion show proceeds, donations, and collective efforts of our sponsors.  The sponsor donation fee is $100 and will include 2 VIP tickets and a sponsor spot in our show playbill.

Mark Johnson and his team are currently wrapping up their second Energy Star home in the private Waterford Community in Leland, NC. (The first Energy Star home was in the gated community of Landfall in Wilmington, NC.) Part of the Energy Star certification process is the Blower Door Test to determine the airtightness of the home.

Pictured to the right, the Blower Door is a powerful fan that is mounted to an exterior door and pulls the air out of the home. This ensures that the air pressure is low in the home and high outside and air will flow through the unsealed cracks and openings which will then be addressed.

Ensuring the home has the proper airtightness allows you to:

• Reducing energy consumption due to air leakage
• Avoiding moisture condensation problems
• Avoiding uncomfortable drafts caused by cold air leaking in from the outdoors
• Making sure that the home’s air quality is not too contaminated by indoor air pollution.

For more information on Blower Door Tests, check out this article from the U.S. Department of Energy!

The Birkdale Community in the private, gated community of Landfall in Wilmington, NC offers four available floor plans to create your dream home. The Primrose Plan allows you to enjoy open one floor living with 2,770 square feet, 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. There is a private suite above the garage and ample storage space, and a large kitchen with center island and breakfast nook. As with most Mark Johnson Custom Homes projects, this home has an excellent insulation package with 2×6 exterior walls insulated with blown cellulose.

Mark Johnson Custom Homes’ 100% client referral rating is a testament to the quality of their projects and hands-on approach from Mark Johnson himself. Contact Mark today for more information on this corner lot for sale in Wilmington, NC and other Mark Johnson Custom Homes Inventory!