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Deciding Where to Build Your Home
Posted On: 2010-08-06 at 10:38:05 PM

Category: House Plan Articles

Just as important as deciding on that perfect house plan for you and your family is the decision of where to build your dream home! Begin by selecting a building site or lot that is compatible with your home plan, or choose the home plan that works great for your site. Would you like to live on a private lot or in a subdivision? Check with your town’s building department to confirm that your lot is zoned accurately and that your home will fit within the allowable setbacks. Also, verify any other restrictions that may be in place. You must decide the best placement of your home while following all codes and guidelines. Consider the conditions and the terrain. What are the levels of the land, and how does the movement of the water over the surface of the soil affect your home? What are the views of and from your home and the way it is built on your site. Another issue to weigh is the location in the general community you wish to live. Is it near work, schools, church, shopping, restaurants, activities and other places that are important to you and your family? You may want to check on the utilities for your area as well. Is public water available and in what capacity or is well drilling necessary? What are the choices for the electric and/or natural gas services? Are there sewer lines available to the property, or is it necessary to install a septic system? These are just a few factors to consider when deciding where to build your perfect house plan. A little pre-planning is a great idea and makes the exciting process of seeing your dream home come to life a little easier! So, start your search today!

Submitted by: Blogmaster



What your paint color means..
Posted On: 2010-07-27 at 07:44:26 PM

Category: House Plan Articles

Paint—Welcome to the Wonderful World of Color! Psychologists have long attested that colors signify meanings and effect peoples’ moods. There are so many colors and shades to choose from. How do you decide what is right for you? First, decide what mood or theme you want to set in each room of your new home. Also, you can use paint as a great way to accent a room just by painting one wall or trimming out the molding in a hint of color. Red: is a vibrant, rich color. It is stimulating and draws attention. Red even demands attention! Reds are used to accent doors, walls, niches, and shutters. It provides that perfect pop of color. If you are searching for the “wow factor”, red is your answer! Orange: is a warm, fun, splashy color. There are so many lovely shades from a pale peach to a perfect pumpkin! The tint of terra cotta is a most popular selection. Orange is just inviting! Yellow: is associated with sunshine. It is related to happiness and cheer. With a golden hue to an electric hue, yellow offers a wide range of choices. Yellow also is an energetic color. Blue: is calming and cooling, and it is fresh and clean. Blue is generally considered the most favored color. It is a favorite among men and women. Blue is associated with the awesome sky and cascading ocean. It is widely used in bedrooms, because it is restful. Green: is considered calming and relaxing and even soothing. It is ranked generally as the second most popular or favored color second only to blue. Varying shades of green (a natural forest tint) are tranquil and other shades (a hint of lime) are refreshing. Green is a color linked with harmony and even a sense of renewal. Purple: with it’s red and blue base evokes a sense of uplift or encouragement. It is full of vibrancy and life. Purple is considered a color of royalty as well. Brown: is often related to the colors of the earth. You may have heard the description of “earthy brown”. It is considered a color of stability and reliability. It is associated with organic, natural things. A “down-to-earth” color you might say! It is relaxing and peaceful too. Brown is a wholesome hue. White: (actually the absence of all color) is symbolic of cleanliness and purity. White reflects all the colors of light. It is both fresh and refreshing at the same time. White is neutral. Gray: is considered solid. It is a widely used base color in varying shades. It mixes well when paired with other colors and complements them too. Black: is actually not a color. It is the combination of all colors. Black absorbs all the other colors and light. It makes a bold, powerful statement and can be considered serious. Black is often a great choice for doors and shutters. When choosing your perfect house plan, consider your perfect paint to complete your new home design both inside and out! Start your search for your dream home plan today at www.houseplancentral.com. HousePlanCentral.com offers thousands of premier house plans!

Submitted by: Blogmaster



The Kitchen (The Heart of the Home!)
Posted On: 2010-07-03 at 01:54:30 PM

Category: House Plan Articles

Kitchens have long been acknowledged as the “Heart of the Home”! Kitchens are one of the most important features when building or buying your home. The kitchen is not only the work space for food preparation, but also today’s entertaining areas. This is where people take the time out of a busy, hectic day to share a meal and spend time with family. You could say the kitchen is where memories are made! Remember those wonderful Sunday dinners at Grandma’s?! Kitchens also offer a great benefit for a home’s resale value. So when choosing your house plan, choose the design with the kitchen--that is right for you! The most efficient design for a kitchen is to create a work triangle between your sink, stove, and refrigerator. This will give you room for food preparation, cooking, clean up, and storage. Islands are a great functional feature (with all the counter space, possibly including a vegetable sink, and extra cabinetry for storage )that also makes a perfect space for entertaining! Consider the following kitchen layouts so you can decide which right for you: Galley style: The corridor approach of a galley kitchen lengthens your available space, making it ideal for a small kitchen. This style provides lots of counter space around the sink and the cooking areas and enables the work stations to be placed together, usually on parallel walls. The best work arrangement for a galley kitchen places the refrigerator and sink on one wall and the stove on the opposite wall. L-Shape: The 2 adjacent walls in an L-shape kitchen form a natural triangle for your work space. An L-shape layout works well in almost any size kitchen. It has diverse flexibility in the arrangement of your sink, stove, and refrigerator. U-Shape: The U is an efficient design since it provides three walls for counter and storage space. It also prevents household traffic from interfering in the work space. If you have a large kitchen, you may want to consider adding an island to your kitchen for even more work space. The U is great for this! HousePlanCentral.com offers thousands of varying styles of kitchens. Please visit us today to start your search for your perfect home plan!

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Exciting Playhouses
Posted On: 2010-06-27 at

Category: House Plans

When choosing your home design, go ahead and think about a possible matching playhouse! Who doesn’t love a great adventure in the fairytale land of make believe? Picture a mini version of your dream home! We offer custom design services for playhouses. What an adorable addition to your homesite. These playhouses add extra stand alone recreation, play area square footage and space. You can also add many features including dutch doors, window boxes, porches, dormers, shutters—anything you wish to give it that extra dollhouse charm or to simply mirror your own house plan. Exterior finishes range from wood and vinyl siding to brick! Anything goes! Paint colors complete the perfect look to your playhouse. You can “doll” up the interior to reflect your child’s own personal taste or match your own home’s interior style. Add some of the many choices of playhouse furnishings, and you are set for years of fun. What a great way to cultivate your child’s creativity and enjoy countless hours of family time! If you choose not to mimic your own home plan, there are many styles and designs for playhouses and clubhouses. We offer custom design services for these as well. The many styles include cottages, chalets, Victorians, Cheshire manors, contemporaries, Cape Cods, cabins, English manors, Spanish villas, country farmhouses, and Tudors. Any home design and home plan can be scaled down to a playhouse. The choice is yours! Start your search here today for your house plan, and then complete it with a playhouse too!

Submitted by: SRC



Custom Closets (A Functional Room Decorating Idea)
Posted On: 2010-06-25 at

Category: House Plan Articles

Custom Closets (A Functional Room Decorating Idea!) Create warmth, depth, and design in any room just by framing out your closets as cabinetry! The doors to the closets may be created with paneled blocks that resemble actual custom cabinets; yet, the inside of the closets are arranged exactly as you choose. With numerous wood, metal, and laminate finishes you are able to design the room exactly as you wish. By choosing the right finish and material, you are able to begin your decorating before adding a piece of furniture or stitch of material. A variety of trim patterns and hardware make you the interior designer indeed. Install custom shelving, rods, bins, and drawers to meet your individual needs. What a great way for organizing while decorating your room at the same time! Don’t forget your garage is a room too! Complete the look of the garage with cabinetry, shelving, and storage. You may choose to have the organizers installed at the time your home is built, or it is a great do-it-yourselfer project. Just visit your local home improvement store and select the pieces that appeal to you and your organizational needs. HousePlanCentral.com offers many house plans with customized features. When selecting the house plan that is right for you and your family, keep in mind the “living” features of the home. What house plan actually works for you? A home plan that offers what you need and the style you want is ideal! HousePlanCentral.com offers a modification tool that you can actually draw your proposed changes. Please visit www.houseplancentral.com today, and choose your perfect home plan. We offer free standard ground shipping as well!

Submitted by: SRC



Go Green!!
Posted On: 2010-06-25 at

Category: House Plan Articles

Go Green! We hear so much about “Go Green”. What exactly is going green? To “go green” simply involves environmentally conserving our resources and improving the state of our environment. One of the obvious great benefits of going green is to save our environment and resources making our earth a better, safer place to live now and for the future. There are so many items and categories that offer green choices today. These choices are smarter choices that offer an environmentally friendly advantage as well as money and resource savings. Energy efficient appliances, light bulbs and lighting, housebuilding materials and designs, bamboo and other types of flooring, window coverings of blinds and shades, furniture, solar powered fans and electronics, bedding, candles, clothing, cleaning solutions and yes, even personal hygiene products that are “green”. In any category that you may be needing an item, make a wise “green” choice! With many of the green products and services, you may receive an instant savings or rebate. So whatever product or service you are looking for, check on the “green” version. Make a wise, green choice today! HousePlanCentral.com offers many home plans with “green” consideration in the design and features. Feel free to visit www.houseplancentral.com to begin the search for your house plan that makes a green home today! We offer free ground shipping!

Submitted by: SRC



New and Improved Site
Posted On: 2010-06-13 at 01:23:22 AM

Category: House Plans

Houseplancentral.com has a new look and new owners! We are very excited about the future of this site and it is our number one goal to constantly improve upon the current content and provide the very best in customer service. We are adding new designers and new house plans over the coming weeks and we have made some changes to the home page to highlight our newest floor plans. We are working hard behind the scenes to make this site your number one source for house plans on the internet! Please check back often and tell your friends, too!

Submitted by: Blogmaster



NEW ARTICLE: Why buy stock house plans vs. custom - Part II?
Posted On: 2009-08-01 at 01:51:06 PM

Category: House Plan Articles

Part II of the "Why buy stock house plans vs. custom" article has been posted on the site here....

Submitted by: Blogmaster



NEW ARTICLE: Why buy stock house plans vs. custom - Part I?
Posted On: 2009-07-31 at 01:50:07 PM

Category: House Plan Articles

New article has been added to the site here....

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Bi-Monthly vs. Bi-Weekly comparison...
Posted On: 2009-07-30 at 02:35:12 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Watch out for the bi-monthly mortgage, which is not the same as the bi-weekly mortgage and does NOT achieve the same results. With a bi-monthly mortgage, you pay one-half your monthly mortgage twice a month as opposed to every two weeks, so you don't make an extra payment over the course of a year. You save only one month's interest on a 30-year mortgage instead of seven year's interest...

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Unless you have absolutely NO self-discipline...
Posted On: 2009-07-30 at 02:36:33 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Don't allow your mortgage company to convert your payment plan (FOR A FEE) to a bi-weekly plan. Many companies will offer to "convert" your mortgage to a bi-weekly mortgage payment plan for a fee. They'll automatically withdraw the payments from your bank account every two weeks. Read the small print on such plans. Many of them only pay your lender once a month, so the extra payment doesn't get applied to your loan until the end of the year. In the meantime, the company has been earning interest on your money as well as charging you a sometimes outrageous fee.

Save the money, apply it to your mortgage, and include this payment in your family's budget.. You can do EXACTLY the same thing....with $0 fees.

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Other Options For Saving Significant $ On Your Mortgage
Posted On: 2009-07-29 at 10:12:01 AM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

You can achieve the same benefits of a bi-weekly mortgage by making your monthly mortgage payments as usual, but making one additional payment each year. The difficulty with this method is that you have to come up with a large lump sum at one time.

Another method is to pay an extra 1/12th of your monthly payment each month. If your payment is $700, pay $758 each month ($700 divided by 12 = $58). After 12 months, you'll have made the equivalent of an extra month's payment.

As in most things in life, discipline is very important.. Make this extra $ amount a fixed item in your family's budget...

Submitted by: Webmaster



Caveat on pre-payment of your home mortgage..
Posted On: 2009-07-28 at 02:11:26 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Every mortgage is different.... You absolutely MUST validate that your particular mortgage will allow you to pre-pay.... very important.

Submitted by: Webmaster



Learn about home construction loans
Posted On: 2009-07-27 at 08:46:17 AM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

View article here...

Submitted by: Webmaster



Example of savings generated by pre-paying mortgage - part II...
Posted On: 2009-07-26 at 05:09:49 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

The larger your mortgage, the more dramatic the savings. On a $200,000 mortgage, you'll pay $255,088 in interest, plus the $200,000 principal, for a total of $455,088. Paying one-half your regular monthly mortgage amount every two weeks will result in interest of $194,430, a savings of $60,658. You'd have to earn at least $85,000 before taxes to net that much money.

Most mortgages can be pre-paid without penalty, but some mortgages in the secondary market (where many people with questionable credit have to go for a mortgage) have a penalty for pre-payment. Check with your lender.

You can achieve the benefits of pre-paying your mortgage without converting to a special type of mortgage or paying a fee. All it requires is discipline.

Submitted by: Webmaster



Example of savings generated by pre-paying mortgage - part I...
Posted On: 2009-07-25 at 02:09:27 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

First, the facts: on a $100,000 30-year mortgage at 6.5%, you'll pay $127,544 in interest, plus the $100,000 principal, for a total of $227,544. Paying one-half of your regular monthly mortgage every two weeks will result in interest of $97,215, a savings of $30,329. You'd have to earn over $42,000 before taxes to net that much money.

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Q. How many times may I build a house from the plans I purchase from you?
Posted On: 2009-07-23 at 7:10:52 AM

Category: Questions & Answer

A. You are permitted to build only one house with the plans you purchase from House Plan Central.com. When you buy a set of house plans, you are also buying a license or permission to use the designer's copyrighted material for the construction of one home. (See Copyright Information). Some of our designers offer discounted fees for multiple use, but you need to contact us to verify this option with the designer.

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Looking for home mortgages online...
Posted On: 2009-07-23 at 04:33:33 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Interesting article here...

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Closing costs for your mortgage...
Posted On: 2009-07-23 at 08:48:09 AM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Learn more about typical closing costs in this article...

Submitted by: Webmaster



Paying your mortgage on a bi-weekly vs. monthly schedule...
Posted On: 2009-07-20 at 11:09:07 AM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

One easy way to save thousands over the life of your mortgage is to pay bi-weekly. Basically, you would pay half your mortgage amount every two weeks instead of paying 100% once monthly.. Making this one change can, literally, save you untold thousands off the real cost of your mortgage, because the accelerated payment causes you to pay off more principal than you would normally (if paying 100% at the end of the month.)

Submitted by: Webmaster



What lenders don't want you to know...
Posted On: 2009-07-20 at 04:32:37 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Interesting article here...

Submitted by: Webmaster



You should consider making bi-weekly or accelerated mortgage payments...
Posted On: 2009-07-19 at 02:06:40 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Prepaying any portion of your mortgage, really at any time, can save you SIGNIFICANTLY on interest.

As you begin to look at your mortgage's amortization schedule (available here), you can see that....over the life of your loan...your paying an insane amount of interest over the loan term.

Submitted by: Webmaster



Minimize out of pocket fees and costs
Posted On: 2009-07-19 at 04:31:37 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Learn how to minimize out of pocket fees and costs on your next mortgage refinance. View article here...

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Mortgage Loans with a 5% Down Payment or Less - Part II
Posted On: 2009-07-18 at 02:14:37 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Non-Profit Assistance Programs

Another option to achieve a no down payment purchase is the current wave of non-profit assistance programs. Some are only available to first time homebuyers but the vast majority is accessible to everyone. Most programs use a loophole in FHAs rules that allow non-profit groups to contribute money for down payment and closing costs. The non-profit group will charge a fee of around $500 and allow the seller to deposit an agreed upon amount with them. The non-profit organization will then forward that amount to the buyer to be used toward their closing costs and down payment. The amount put toward the buyers costs is agreed to upon acceptance of the contract.

These programs will require specific language in the contract and there is a maximum rate of around 3% that can be contributed. This type of contribution can be used on a conventional loan directly with no additional steps necessary. The seller and buyer simply would agree to the amount contributed and that amount would be debited from the seller then credited to the buyer at the closing table.

To conclude, there are many ways and options to purchase a home with a no or a low down payment. It is something that can be worked out creatively with the seller. Even in hot markets where credits to the buyer are rare this is possible. The buyer could make an offer of more than they would otherwise want to pay in the amount they wish to have credited back at closing for costs and down payment.

As long as the property will appraise for the higher amount, and in most busy markets it will, the buyer could take advantage of this option. One of the only downsides to accessing a no or low down payment is that the interest rate is typically a little higher. Usually though, the appreciation in value, todays low interest rates, and simply the ability to own property will more than make up for the higher rate.

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Mortgage Loans with a 5% Down Payment or Less?
Posted On: 2009-07-17 at 02:14:15 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

There are many loans available right now that offer a solution to almost every type of financial situation. This flexibility has helped sustain the housing boom and has allowed many people to get into a home they can call their own. Today most people can qualify for a loan that makes affording a home within their grasp.

One of the major obstacles to buying a home is the down payment. To qualify for a traditional mortgage, buyers used to need around 20% of the sale price to put towards a down payment. Times are changing and now there are some methods to transgress this old style of obtaining a mortgage. Buyers now have programs available, which will allow for 5% down or less toward their mortgage.

FHA and VHA Low Down Payment Loans

FHA and VA loans are the most common way people use to get into a home at a low down payment with VA being the less common of the two. To qualify for a VA loan you must be a veteran of the armed services. The vast majority of these loans are made with a 0% down payment. FHA loans are similar in that they are government backed and generally are made with a down payment of only 3%. A good rule of thumb is that a buyer can get into a FHA loan with a total cost of 5% of the sales price, down payment and closing costs inclusive.

The greatest drawback to these types of loans is that there are limits to the maximum size of the loan. These limits vary from area to area but generally are around $250,000. The consumer will want to check with their lender to see if the property they are looking for falls within the loan limit for their area. There are also extra fees that one would not find on most conventional loans. On a FHA loan the borrower must pay mortgage insurance and on a VA loan the borrower is charged a 2% funding fee.

Continued.....

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Q. Do your house plans have all the information I need to get a building permit?
Posted On: 2009-07-15 at 8:57:49 AM

Category: Questions & Answer

A. Almost, with a few exceptions, depending on where you are building your house. All building departments will require a site plan to show where the house will sit on your property. You might also need beams sized to accommodate roof loads specific to your region. Your home builder can usually help you with this. If you are not connecting to a sewer system, you also need a septic design attached to your application. And many areas now require compliance with local energy codes, which is normally a simple form you fill out and attach to your application.

In some regions, you also need to ensure that your house plans are in compliance with local codes. Some areas of North America have very strict engineering requirements. For example, earthquake-prone areas of California and the Pacific Coast, hurricane risk areas of the Florida, Gulf, and Carolina coasts, as well as New York, New Jersey, Nevada, and parts of Illinois require review by a local professional. If you are building in these areas, you will most likely need to hire a state-licensed structural engineer to analyze the design and provide additional drawings and calculations required by your building department. If you aren't sure, building departments typically can give you a handout, listing all of the items they require to obtain a building permit.

Additionally, stock plans do not have a professional stamp affixed. If your building department requires one, they will accept only a stamp from a state-licensed professional where you plan to build. In this case, you will need to have your house plans reviewed and stamped by a local engineer or architect.

Please keep in mind that it is the owner's full responsibility to ensure that any house plan purchased meets all local and state building requirements.

Submitted by: Webmaster



Q. What if the foundation option I'm looking for is not available with the house plan I want to buy?
Posted On: 2009-07-13 at 12:00:38 PM

Category: Questions & Answer

A. Just send us an email and we can verify whether it's available. Often a designer is willing to change the house plans for you, but we need to contact him to obtain a quote for the modification. If it's not available, you should also check with your builder. Often, changing a foundation type is a very simple matter and can be done during construction without modifying the drawing. If your building department requires drawings that describe the exact foundation you are planning to use and it is not available from the original designer, you also have the option of purchasing either the reproducible plan set or the CAD-file version (if available), and hire a local designer to make the changes for you.

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Q. What are building codes? How do they affect me?
Posted On: 2009-07-12 at 08:08:10 AM

Category: Questions & Answer

Building codes are standards created to ensure the structural safety of buildings. To obtain a building permit, you will need to demonstrate to your local building department that your new house will meet the building codes of your community.

Submitted by: Blogmaster



What is a "standard" home equity loan?
Posted On: 2009-07-12 at 02:15:03 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

There are two basic types of home equity loans: the standard home equity loan and a home equity line of credit. Another way of borrowing against home equity is cash-out refinancing.

The Standard Home Equity Loan

A standard home equity loan, (also called a term loan, a closed-end loan or a second mortgage installment loan), works like a traditional loan. You receive a lump sum payment at a fixed interest rate and you pay the money back in monthly payments over the life of the loan. Since the interest rate on the loan is fixed, your monthly payments will also be fixed.

An example of this is a home equity loan for $30,000 with an interest rate of 7.5% where you pay the money back in monthly payments of $356.11 over the 10 year life of the loan.

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Q. What is a materials list and what does it include?
Posted On: 2009-07-11 at 04:50:41 PM

Category: Questions & Answer

A. It is a list of building supplies needed to construct the infrastructure of your new house and includes materials such as lumber, insulation, rafters, concrete, and hardware. However, it usually doesn't include hardware for lighting, heating, electrical, or plumbing.

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Fixed Rate Mortgages...
Posted On: 2009-07-11 at 04:30:10 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

If you ever had questions on how fixed rate mortgages worked, here is a good article to clarify...

Submitted by: Webmaster



Q. How do copyright laws affect me?
Posted On: 2009-07-10 at 07:13:13 AM

Category: Questions & Answer

Any original writing (books, plays, songs, poetry, software, etc.) or creative production of images (photographs, films, video, drawings, etc.) is considered the intellectual property of the creator and is protected by copyright laws.

The rights to use these works or copies of these works is controlled by the creator. To use any of these copyrighted materials, including house plans, you need permission, which is often in the form of a license, from the person who holds the copyright. Unauthorized use or copying of these works is stealing. It deprives creators of the income they normally charge for using their words or images.

Consequently, whether you want to build a house from a copyrighted house plan or make a copy, it is your legal responsibility to obtain permission from the copyright holder before using or copying the house plan. House Plan Central.com does not hold the copyrights to the plans you find on our site.

House Plan Central.com acts as a broker, or representative, for hundreds of independent designers, giving you the best selection of stock house plans available. Just as you would not steal materials from a lumber yard to build your house, it is important to obtain building licenses and copyright releases to use and copy any house plan you find on our site.

Submitted by: Webmaster



Q. Do your house plans include electrical, mechanical, and plumbing?
Posted On: 2009-07-09 at 8:14:05 AM

Category: Questions & Answer

A. They include an electrical plan, showing code-required locations for switches, outlets, etc. However, plans do not include an electrical-wiring diagram or the location of the electrical panel because these items are handled differently throughout North America. Mechanical plans, typically, are not specified for the same reasons. Mechanical systems are installed in different locations, depending on your location, foundation, and weather conditions.

Our plans do show the location of plumbing fixtures but not the location of pipe risers, etc. Plumbing specifications are also dependent on your location and foundation options. Your plumbing contractor will determine pipe locations based on the requirements of your region.

Submitted by: Webmaster



Q. How much do modifications cost for your house plans?
Posted On: 2009-07-08 at 08:03:23 AM

Category: Questions & Answer

A. Modifications to your house plan range from a modest fee of approximately $100, for a minor change, to several thousand, for a larger project, depending on the extent of your changes. If you are interested in making changes to one or more house plans, send us an email describing the items that you would like to see modified. We can discuss the details with you and then obtain a quote for those services from the designer.

Many simple changes can be made during construction by your builder and will not require plan modifications.

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Q. What building codes do your plans comply with?
Posted On: 2009-07-06 at 03:34:17 PM

Category: Questions & Answer

All our house plans are designed to conform to the local codes where the original house was designed/built. All building codes in the United States are similar because they meet industry-standard minimums that are based on three nationally recognized standards. Certain areas of high risk due to earthquakes and hurricanes typically have more stringent standards.


Submitted by: Blogmaster



Q. After I order my plans, how long will it take to receive them?
Posted On: 2009-07-05 at 1:53:13 AM

Category: Questions & Answer

A. Most plans are shipped within 1-2 business days of receiving your order. Many shipping options are available. (See House Plan "Shipping Options"). Normal ground shipments within the continental United States take five to seven business days.

Submitted by: Webmaster



Q. What does the term "Living Sq. Ft." actually mean/include?
Posted On: 2009-07-04 at 12:04:32 AM

Category: Questions & Answer

A. The total living square footage of a house plan is the sum total of the areas inside the exterior face of the heated walls, that is, it does not include areas like garages, porches, or decks. Consequently, you cannot determine the actual square footage of a house by adding the square feet of each room.

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Q. If I buy a set of plans from HousePlanCentral.com, can I have them modified?
Posted On: 2009-07-02 at 12:07:12 AM

Category: Questions & Answer

A. Yes. We can either arrange for the original designer to make the changes for you, or we can arrange for an outside firm to make the changes for you. Most House Plan Central.com designers will make modifications for a fee. However, you should email us and discuss the kind of modifications you are considering.

Submitted by: Webmaster



Q. How can I find a house in my area that has been built with a house plan from your site that I like?
Posted On: 2009-07-01 at 11:52:05 PM

Category: Questions & Answer

A. Unfortunately, our designers do not release this information for privacy reasons. For more information, please see Privacy Policy.

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Q. Is it possible to see a rear view of the house plan that I'm interested in?
Posted On: 2009-07-01 at 11:55:12 PM

Category: Questions & Answer

A. In most cases, yes. A growing number of our house plans already have a rear view (also called a rear elevation). If it's available, there will be a rear elevation link located below the house floor plan image.

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Do stock plans contain everything I need to build in the state of "INSERT STATE/LOCATION HERE"...
Posted On: 2009-06-25 at 09:54:28 AM

Category: House Plans

One question that we receive almost every day is whether or not the plan package for plan 1234 contains everything that a person would need to build the home in the state of "INSERT STATE/LOCATION HERE"... As such, we wanted to provide some additional information to clarify the subject.

In most areas of the country, these stock house plans will be everything you need to build, but not necessarily everything you need to obtain a building permit.

In addition to the house plans you order, you may also need a site plan that shows where the house is going to be located on the property. You might also need beams sized to accommodate roof loads specific to your region. Your home builder can usually help you with this. You may also need a septic design unless your lot is served by a sanitary sewer system. Many areas now have area-specific energy codes that also have to be followed. This normally involves filling out a simple form providing documentation that your house plans are in compliance.

To find out what documents you should expect with your house plans, see What's Included?.

In some regions, there is a second step you will need to take to insure your house plans are in compliance with local codes. Some areas of North America have very strict engineering requirements. Examples of this would be earthquake-prone areas of California and the Pacific Coast, hurricane risk areas of the Florida, Gulf & Carolina Coasts. New York, New Jersey, Nevada, and parts of Illinois require review by a local professional as well. If you are building in these areas, it is most likely you will need to hire a state licensed structural engineer to analyze the design and provide additional drawings and calculations required by your building department. If you aren't sure, building departments typically have a handout they will give you listing all of the items they require to submit for and obtain a building permit.

Additionally, stock plans do not have a professional stamp attached. If your building department requires one, they will only accept a stamp from a professional licensed in the state where you plan to build. In this case, you will need to take your house plans to a local engineer or architect for review and stamping. In addition, plans which are used to construct homes in Nevada are required to be drawn by a licensed Nevada architect.

It is always a good idea to check with your local city, municipality, and state building authorities to ensure that your home construction will meet all applicable building codes.

Hopefully, the above information will provide you with a good basis for evaluatiing your particular house plan situation.

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Red Flags of getting a home loan..
Posted On: 2009-06-23 at 04:53:07 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Look out for these ...

Submitted by: Webmaster



Be sure to check out these new house plan designs...
Posted On: 2009-06-22 at 02:10:47 PM

Category: New Home Plans

This designer's collection has recently been expanded to include several larger designs... view these here...

Great designs...

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Mortgage questions to ask your lender...
Posted On: 2009-06-21 at 10:52:19 AM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Keep these in mind when you begin evaluating mortgage options. Article can be viewed here...

Submitted by: Webmaster



House Plan Packages - Part II
Posted On: 2009-06-19 at 11:18:38 PM

Category: House Plan Articles

Part II of the article can be found here ...

Remember to always email us if a particular homeplan package is shown as being "Not Available" on the site....

Submitted by: Webmaster



Great Tool..."How much house can I afford?
Posted On: 2009-06-19 at 02:13:32 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Here is a link to an excellent calculator to tell you how much home you can afford: http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/houseafford/houseafford.html

Submitted by: Blogmaster



When to order which type of houseplan package?
Posted On: 2009-06-17 at 09:30:55 PM

Category: House Plan Articles

Most house plan designers offer a variety of plan "packages" to better fit our customer's specific needs.

There are packages specifically meant to provide additional information, for review purposes only.....there are packages that allow you to obtain CAD file sets which can then be modified by a designer in your area, to exactly fit your specific needs....and there are many other "packages" that allow you to purchase the type that best fits your needs..

As such, we have developed a short article to better explain the different types of floorplan packages, and when to use each....

Part I can be found here


Submitted by: Blogmaster



Understanding Fixed Rate mortgages...
Posted On: 2009-06-16 at 02:51:13 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Good description of this type of mortgage here...

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Q. Can I buy a plan and have it modified by a local professional?
Posted On: 2009-06-14 at 9:15:33 AM

Category: Questions & Answer

A. Yes. You need to purchase either a CAD-file set or reproducible set. Both include copyright releases, so your professional can make the modifications and copies. Both versions also include a building license.

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Part III available...
Posted On: 2009-06-12 at 10:54:56 PM

Category: House Plan Articles

We've finished the third portion of the "Most Popular Homeplan Features" article , and you can view here

If you have ideas for other articles that you'd like to see, drop us an email at webmaster@houseplancentral.com

Submitted by: Webmaster



Which mortgage is best?
Posted On: 2009-06-12 at 04:50:21 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Here are some secrets your banker won't tell you. View article here...

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Popular Houseplan Features - Part II Posted...
Posted On: 2009-06-09 at 10:03:55 PM

Category: House Plan Articles

I wanted to let everyone know that we've just completed Part II of our article series on the "Most Popular Homeplan Features" . Be sure to check it out, as several of the items may be helpful as you look for features that you would like in your new home plan...

You can view it here

Stay tuned for part III....

Submitted by: Webmaster



Most Requested Floorplan Features...
Posted On: 2009-06-08 at 11:46:39 PM

Category: House Plan Articles

One of the most popular questions, by far, that we receive from our customers is "What are the most popular houseplan features?"

This is a very difficult question to answer, since the most popular features vary so greatly between demographic groups....between different parts of the country, etc...

In any case, we thought it appropriate to develop a series of articles devoted to this topic, and here is part one of the "Most popular house plan features" series.

Stay tuned for part II and III....

Submitted by: Blogmaster



How to buy a home without a down payment...
Posted On: 2009-06-07 at 04:49:22 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Interesting tips here...

Submitted by: Blogmaster



How to finance and build your dream home...
Posted On: 2009-06-05 at 07:53:55 AM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

View article here...

Submitted by: Webmaster



Look for more new home financing articles....
Posted On: 2009-06-03 at 04:00:38 PM

Category: Home Mortgages and Financing

Over the next few months, our team will be providing access to several new home financing tips and helpful articles to help you through this part of the process...

Check back often!

Submitted by: Blogmaster



Topics of Interest...
Posted On: 2009-06-01 at 03:39:55 PM

Category: House Plan Articles

Over the coming months, our team will be developing a series of educational articles focused on providing you with the information that you need...quickly and concisely.

As such, if there are any particular topics that you would like to see addressed, send us an email at webmaster@houseplancentral.com.

Thanks....

Submitted by: Webmaster



New Plans being added...
Posted On: 2009-05-27 at 01:32:24 PM

Category: New Home Plans

We just wanted to let everyone know that we are in the process of loading new plans...on a weekly basis.

A large number of the new plans are in the 2,100 sq. ft. and up size range, and feature a variety of highly-flexible floorplan configurations.

Something to definitely check out.....

Submitted by: Blogmaster



House Plan Blog Launched
Posted On: 2009-05-23 at 02:40:00 PM

Category: House Plans

Well, after many months of hard work, we've finally launched the House Plan Central.com houseplan blog!.

Through this section of the site, we'll be able to provide you with the information that you're looking for, as it relates to finding your next home plan.

In addition, we've spent a great deal of time to ensure that we have the website features and functionality that you need in your search for the perfect house plan, and this site will be continually updated with new home plans and designs, as well as useful articles, house plan comparison features, and increasingly advanced search functionalities.

If you should have any suggestions on ways that we can improve your experience and ability to find what you're looking for, quickly, please let us know. We are here for you, and are committed to making House Plan Central the Internet's #1 location for finding your next house plan. Thank you in advance....

Submitted by: Webmaster



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Recent House Plan Articles
Mortgage Questions To Ask Your Lender

Mortgage Refinance - Tips to Help You Cut Fees and Costs

Why Buy Stock House Plans vs. Custom? - Part II

Why Buy Stock House Plans vs. Custom? - Part I

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Home Buyer and House Plan Terms and Definitions - Part V

Home Buyer and House Plan Terms and Definitions - Part IV

Home Buyer and House Plan Terms and Definitions - Part III

Home Buyer and House Plan Terms and Definitions - Part II

Home Buyer and House Plan Terms and Definitions - Part I

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Learn about your home mortgage options - Part II

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What are the different types of house foundation types and when to use each? - Part II

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What are the different types of house plan packages, and when to use each? - Part II

What are the different types of house plan packages, and when to use each? - Part I

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What are the most popular floorplan features? - Part II

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You should consider making bi-weekly or accelerated mortgage payments...

Q. Can I buy a plan and have it modified by a local professional?

Q. Do your house plans include electrical, mechanical, and plumbing?

Q. How do copyright laws affect me?

Q. What is a materials list and what does it include?

Q. How many times may I build a house from the plans I purchase from you?

Q. What are building codes? How do they affect me?

Q. If I buy a set of plans from HousePlanCentral.com, can I have them modified?

Q. What does the term "Living Sq. Ft." actually mean/include?

Q. How much do modifications cost for your house plans?

Q. What if the foundation option I'm looking for is not available with the house plan I want to buy?

Q. What building codes do your plans comply with?

Q. Do your house plans have all the information I need to get a building permit?

Q. Is it possible to see a rear view of the house plan that I'm interested in?

Q. After I order my plans, how long will it take to receive them?

Q. How can I find a house in my area that has been built with a house plan from your site that I like?

Do stock plans contain everything I need to build in the state of "INSERT STATE/LOCATION HERE"...

House Plan Packages - Part II

When to order which type of houseplan package?

Part III available...

Popular Houseplan Features - Part II Posted...

Most Requested Floorplan Features...

Topics of Interest...

New Plans being added...

House Plan Blog Launched

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