Anne's Advice
|  | Q: Dear Anne, I've signed my contract and now I need to hire a site engineer/surveyor. How do I get started? And what should I look for in choosing the "right" site engineer? - Helpless in Hagerstown A: Dear Helpless, You should begin by contacting 2 or 3 site engineers and asking them to provide you with a written proposal for their services. We can provide you with the names of engineers we have worked with or you can ask friends and family for a recommendation. Request that the proposals they provide include everything required for you to apply for and obtain the permits and all work required for your project from beginning to end. Compare the bids you receive and call and ask questions if you see differences or discrepancies Once you have contracted with a site engineer, we will provide him with a copy of your foundation plan. He will use this plan when he walks your property and draws your site plans. The "right" surveyor is the one you feel most comfortable working with. In addition to making sure that his proposal includes all of the items in our scope of work you will want to choose a surveyor who has done work in your county and is familiar with the permitting laws and the paperwork needed to file for your permits. Be sure to walk the property with your site engineer so that you can inform him of any special requests you have such as saving a beloved old tree or having the perfect view from your bedroom window. - Anne To submit a question, email newspost@classicmd.net or visit our Online Assistance page. |
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Classic Homes Events
Attend our Upcoming Events:
Please be our guest...come to our upcoming events! Register online now, space is limited! (Location details will be emailed three days prior to the event.)
July 15th - Hard Hat Tour: Luxury Model
Thursday, 6pm, Potomac Take a personal tour of one of our homes still under construction, the popular luxury series home, the Washington. This home features a grand, dual curved-staircase, majestic two-story Foyer and Family Room with floor to ceiling windows, a huge Master Suite, and over 7000 sq ft of beautiful, open space! The purpose of the tour is to give you the opportunity to learn about our modern construction techniques and high-quality materials, and to answer your questions on the building process. Meet our production manager and sales representatives, who will be guiding you through the home. Register Here
July 17th - Private Home Tour: Princeton Model
Saturday, 11am, Rockville Take a private tour of one of our newly finished homes from our City Series, the Princeton Model. Meet with Classic sales representatives who will answer your questions and enhance your understanding of the building process.
Register Here
RSVP: Classic Homes Events Page
Seating is limited, Advance registration is required.
For more events see our Events Page.
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Builder News
Special Alert: Home Loan Rates at All Time Low
June 28, 2010
By Laurant Berman, EagleBank
CNBC and Bankrate.com just reported that home loan rates are at their all time lows. Yes, all time lows! This is great news for anyone who has yet to refinance to take advantage of the lowest rates ever recorded, or to purchase that new home or investment property more affordably than ever before.
Both 30 Year and 15 Year Fixed Rates clipped down to their lowest levels. All this is incredible as just months ago, many experts had anticipated that rates would be well above 5% this summer and on their way to 6% by year end.
Last month, NBC reported that nearly 50% of all people with a 30 Year Fixed rate had rates higher than 5.75% - do you know where your interest rate is at currently? It's worth a look.
Plus - in most parts of the country, home values as reported by both the National Association of Realtors and the S&P Case-Shiller Indices are higher than last year. If you were unable to refinance last year, the combination of your current home value and historic interest rates may provide you a greater opportunity to save money more than ever before.
Finally, even if your home has lost value from when your loan was originated, you may still be able to refinance. There are some special programs available that might allow you to refinance without private mortgage insurance, even if your loan will now exceed 80% of the present value.
Don't miss this chance to save money. Even if you have already taken advantage of the historic rates that have been offered, don't miss this chance to help your family and friends.
Time waits for no one...and when rates rise, they will rise quickly.
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Jamie's Picks of the Month
- Restaurants: Spice Xing weaves a number of accents into its
menu, dishes that hint of Persia (lamb and apricot stew) or Portugal
(balchao shrimp laced with chilies). Fans of Indian cuisine won't need their hands held, however. They can count on
finding samosas, lamb roganjosh and tandoor-cooked chicken and fish:
familiar territory.
- Around Town: Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell - A new show of 57 Rockwells, borrowed from the collections of Hollywood
celebrities Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, opened in early July at the
Smithsonian American Art Museum. It includes oil paintings and drawings,
and every one of them is a perfect depiction of what we've been taught
to think of as true Rockwellian America.
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We hope you enjoyed the latest news and events from Classic Homes of Maryland. We look forward to hearing from you with questions and comments. Just send an inquiry/comment to info@classicmd.net.
Sincerely,
Classic Homes of Maryland
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