Three new model homes recently opened in Balmoral showcasing a diverse array of designs priced to fit any budget.
Highland Homes, Empire Communities and Darling Homes each opened new model homes, giving home buyers a taste of the floor plans, options and upgrades available to them when they are ready to make the move to Balmoral.
Highland Homes’ 11 floor plans are designed for maximum livability. Priced from the $260,000s, the one- and two-story homes range from 1,638 to nearly 3,000 square feet. All plans offer five elevations ensuring curb appeal that fits your design aesthetic. Inside, floor plans provide everything from bay windows in the breakfast room to entertainment lofts and game rooms. All plans feature island kitchens, relaxing master suites and copious storage areas.
Empire Communities presents two collections of home designs. The Signature Series encourages outdoor living with cozy front porches and large covered patios. Flexible dining areas, game rooms and media rooms come standard with some plans. Prices start from the $230,000s.
There are a dozen floor plans in the Premier Series. Priced from the $270,000s, buyers can choose plans with formal dining rooms, spa-like master baths and generously sized laundry rooms. Options include three-car garages, additional bedrooms and extended covered porches.
Darling Homes is offering floor plans from the Keystone Collection. Homes are priced from the low $300,000s. Ranging from 1,767 to 3,433 square feet, designs sport island kitchens, luxurious master suites and flex rooms.
Make an appointment to tour one of our new models today, You are sure to fall in love. Then look around our exciting community featuring Texas’ first crystal lagoon. We’re sure once you see it, you are going to want to dive into life at Balmoral.
Despite the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Balmoral sales increased an astonishing 143 percent over last year, propelling our community to No. 12 on the Robert Charles Lesser & Co (RCLCO) mid-year list of the 50 top-selling master-planned communities in the nation.
The housing research firm’s mid-year calculations also placed us at No. 2 in Texas. Our builders sold 409 homes during the first six months of 2020. Last year they sold 168.
Overall, sales in the top 50 master-planned communities rose by 16 percent. Only true master-planned communities that reflect a comprehensive master plan incorporating a variety of housing types, sizes, prices, shared common space and amenities are included on the list, according to RCLCO.
What makes Balmoral so popular? Everything. From our range of home choices to our unique crystal clear lagoon, homebuyers are assured a lifestyle unlike any in the Houston area.
Seventeen builders offer homes priced from the $200,000s to the $500,000s. Homebuyers can choose from an enormous selection of home designs, options and upgrades allowing them to tailor their homes to meet their needs.
And let’s not forget our amenities. The centerpiece of our community is our beautiful lagoon surrounded by sandy white beaches. It’s a tropical paradise our residents can enjoy every day. The lagoon is a signature feature of our gorgeous Amenity Village, voted the Best Recreation Center in Houston by the Greater Houston Builders Association. The expansive eight-acre complex resembles a vacation resort with an infinity pool, clubhouse, fitness center, hammock row, sand volleyball court and more.
Finally, we are a Land Tejas community. Three additional Land Tejas communities made the RCLCO list. Sierra Vista/Sterling Lakes in Arcola placed at No. 29 with 261 home sales. Ranking at No. 37 was Harmony in Spring with 235 sales. Lago Mar in Texas City placed at No. 45 with 216 sales.
Want to see what a top-selling community looks like? Make an appointment or stop by and see us today!
If your energy bill is higher than normal, you aren’t alone. According to data released by energy monitoring company Sense, the average home electrical usage increased 22 percent this April compared to 2019 due to the pandemic. Now that the Texas heat is on, you could be looking at even higher bills.
Want to keep your cool? Follow these tips.
Invest in a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats provide the ability to control your heating and cooling system more efficiently, which can help you save in the long run. Many will provide you with reports about your usage, prompting you to turn down the AC when you don’t need it. Many Balmoral builders now install smart thermostats as a standard feature in their homes.
Use Ceiling Fans
Most Texas builders install one or two ceiling fans, but it may be worth it to spend a little extra and have them installed in every room. Ceiling fans do a great job of cooling a room and may allow you to lower your thermostat by a few degrees.
Close the Blinds
Oversized windows offer beautiful views, but in the summer, sunlight entering your home can really heat up a room. A simple solution is to close the blinds during the hottest part of the day. Doing this can actually lower the mid-day temperature of your home by nearly 20 degrees.
Stay Out of the Kitchen
Kitchens are full of appliances that bring the heat. Rather than spend an evening sweating over a hot stove, move your kitchen outdoors. Summer kitchens are a great investment because you can cook an entire meal — including dessert — on the grill.
Wash in Cold Water
Even energy-efficient washers, dryers and dishwashers can generate a lot of heat. Most people try not to use them during the day but you can accomplish the same thing by washing everything in cold water. As long as you use a high-quality detergent, things will get clean.
Buy a New Home in Balmoral
Advances in building science and stricter building codes mean new homes are now 20 percent more efficient than homes built 10 years ago and can save you as much as 30 percent on your monthly electric bill. And that means purchasing a new home in Balmoral will keep your energy bills low for years to come.
Once you’ve chosen a builder for your beautiful new home in Balmoral, it’s time to tailor it to fit your needs. One way to do this is by selecting structural options.
Structural options are items that impact how your home is built. These items run the gamut from the addition of a bedroom or media room to balconies, built-in bookshelves and extended patios.
All Balmoral builders offer a range of options for an additional price. While it is important to choose the ones that best fit your family’s lifestyle, here are five options you can never go wrong with.
Kitchen Islands and Cabinets
Once an upgrade, island kitchens are now offered as standard features by most builders. However, not all islands are built the same and once yours is installed, it’s going to be expensive to remodel. Oversized islands will provide more workspace and more counter seating. A particular favorite is an island with a table extension. Cabinets also are expensive to tear out later, so invest in high-quality wood, extra height (up to the ceiling if possible) and glass inserts.
Patio Extensions and Summer Kitchens
If you love having the neighbors over for barbecues, then investing in an extended patio will be a must. Extended patios allow you to have a dining area and a conversational area. If your budget allows, splurge on a built-in outdoor kitchen, an outdoor fireplace or a firepit. The addition of folding patio doors blurs the line between indoors and outdoors.
Extra Rooms
Bonus rooms, lofts, extra bedrooms or sunrooms can and should be added when your home is built. Additional rooms allow you to stay in your home if your family grows and increases the square footage of your house.
Bigger Garage
If you can expand your garage consider doing so. No one has ever complained about having too much garage space. Builders generally offer the option to add extra garage bays but many also offer workshop or storage options.
Master Bath Changes
Remodeling a bathroom isn’t fun, so create your ultimate bath when you are building your home. Install a jetted tub, take the custom tile up to the ceiling or ditch the tub and expand your frameless glass shower.
What’s better than a Westin home? A move-in ready Westin home boasting all the upgrades. The four-bedroom home at 12218 Skene Bend Drive includes upgrades inside and out including the gorgeous brick-and-stone elevation with a mahogany wood and glass front door, upgraded French glass panel doors open to the study and a freestanding tub gracing the master bath. You even get a window in the large walk-in master closet. Is it a dream? No, you can move into this home today!
More highlights:
This elegant 3,233-square-foot home is priced from the $380s.
Come Home to Balmoral
When the work day is done, where do you want to come home to? Why not come home to white sand beaches, a luxurious amenity village, friendly neighbors and an enviable lifestyle. Why not come home to Balmoral? We’d love to show you around.