What do you want in a community? Walkability, great neighbors, excellent schools and tons of activities? You can have all that and more when you choose a home in a master-planned community like Balmoral. Master-planned communities offer everything families need for a fabulous lifestyle.
Here are some of the advantages.
It’s Already Planned Out
Master-planned communities are just that — planned. Developers, like Land Tejas, locate their communities near good schools, health care and services. Many reserve areas for on-site schools, mixed-use retail centers and office space. That means you are never far from the grocery store, gas station or pharmacy.
A Prime Location
Master-planned communities are built in prime locations that allow easy access to employers as well as dining, entertainment and recreational opportunities.
Homes to Fit Every Budget
Master-planned communities don’t offer cookie-cutter style homes, rather they invite in a variety of builders, who then offer a broad assortment of highly customizable floor plans. You will also find a range of home prices so you can take advantage of living in an MPC without breaking the bank.
Signature Amenities
Residents of master-planned communities never lack for things to do. Neighborhood parks, trails and lakes rival anything offered in the city. Some are built around a signature amenity such as a golf course, farm or park. In Balmoral, residents enjoy our crystal clear lagoon, sandy beaches and superb Amenity Village.
Natural Surroundings
The master plans of most MPCs incorporate green space, parks, trails and nature as a key aspect of the design. That means you have plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy Mother Nature’s offerings.
Your Neighborhood Looks Great
Homeowners associations are a part of any master-planned community. Their purpose is to keep neighborhoods looking great, maintain amenities and preserve the value of your home. Homeowners associations ensure common areas are kept beautiful, the pool is clean and the re-sale value of your home remains high.
A Sense of Community
Traditional neighborhoods don’t always offer a strong sense of community. It may be hard to meet your neighbors, plan activities or borrow a cup of sugar. Master-planned communities aren’t like that. Planned activities help neighbors get to know each other so when you walk down the street everyone knows your name.
If you’ve never visited a master-planned community before, stop by Balmoral and let us show you around.
Kitchens are still the heart of the home, but first-time Millennial buyers and downsizing Boomers are having an impact on how they look. While some trends are simply aesthetic, others have risen in response to outside forces such as the pandemic. What will kitchens look like in 2021? Interior designers, architects and builders all have some thoughts.
The Return of the Closed-Off Kitchen
Kitchens open to the family room have long reigned supreme, but the closed-off kitchen — or at least partially closed-off kitchen — is making a comeback. While they may not be relegated to separate rooms, the trend is towards defined zones. Kitchens may sport high wrap-around breakfast bars or archways to hide dirty dishes and counter clutter.
Your Kitchen, Only Smarter
With the rise of the smart home comes the rise of the smart kitchen. Refrigerators that tell you when you are out of something, touchless faucets, smart lights, smart outlets and more will become more prevalent.
White Cabinets are Out
It seems like only yesterday that white cabinets were the epitome of kitchen design. Expect to see natural wood cabinets making a comeback. Painted cabinets will still be popular, but today’s buyers are looking for color with greens and blues being the most popular.
Speaking of Color
Whether it is the state of the world or boredom with all-white kitchens, today’s buyers are looking for pops of color. In addition to painted cabinets, more buyers are ditching stainless steel and opting for stoves in a range of colors from the simplicity of black and white to cheery reds and yellows. You will also see more colorful backsplashes and kitchen islands painted in colors that contrast with cabinets.
Organization is King
One thing we learned this year is that our kitchens need to be organized. Expect to see organization systems built into walk-in pantries, cabinets specifically for small appliances, drawer dividers for cutlery, built-in spice racks, deep drawers and even wastebasket cabinets.
What About Islands?
Kitchen islands are now standard in most home designs. People love the ability to sit at the island and talk to the chef. Look for waterfall islands that make a statement and provide a focal point, Tiered islands will further separate food preparation from diners. Islands that stretch out to create dining room tables will also grow in popularity.
Backsplashes and Floors
There’s no other way to say this. Subway tile backsplashes are out. Large tiles and slabs are taking over. While they may be traditional tiles, copper, glass and even stainless steel are taking their place. Hardwood floors are still popular, but ceramic tile that looks like wood is growing in popularity because they are easy to clean.
Get the Trends
How can you incorporate these trends in your new Balmoral home? Visit your builder’s design center. Design experts will work with you to choose the interior décor that works for you and your lifestyle.
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.
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.