Not feeling the turkey this year? That’s okay, the Pilgrims probably didn’t serve turkey either. Instead, grace your table with these turkey alternatives.
There Are Other Birds
If it’s only the two of you this year, roast a chicken instead of a turkey. Don’t know how? The Kitchn has got you covered. If you do know how, give your roast chicken a holiday makeover. There will be no fighting over drumsticks if everyone gets their own bird. If you want to serve something a little more elegant, try this easy duck confit recipe.
Breathtaking Beef Dishes
Yes, you can serve beef for Thanksgiving. In fact, some people might prefer it. Serve a crowd on a budget with this eye-opening chuck roast. This tender rib roast will have guests coming back for seconds and thirds. Sophistication is the name of the game with flank steak in bourbon cream sauce. We love the idea of serving Boeuf Bourguignon for the holidays.
Practically Perfect Pork
Spend less time in the kitchen and more with your guests by popping a ham in your slow cooker. Pork loin is a simple, yet elegant substitute for turkey. Up your pork loin game with mushrooms and wine. Move over Beef Wellington, this pork version is a treat for the eyes and the tummy.
Surf Without the “Turk”
Seafood was definitely on the Pilgrim’s dinner menu although they probably didn’t have it as good as this herb roasted salmon. You can never, ever go wrong serving lobster. Who doesn’t love shrimp in a cream sauce? Think soup can’t be the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving meal? Think again.
Vegetarian
Thinking of ditching the meat altogether but dreading the usual vegetable lasagna? Try these oyster mushroom steaks instead. Not a mushroom lover? These butternut squash steaks are Thanksgiving on a plate. Even confirmed carnivores will be drooling over this greens-and-cheese stuffed pumpkin. Vegetables go upscale with this mushroom wellington recipe.
You’ve probably heard it most of your life. To buy a home you need to put 20 percent of the purchase price down. That may have been true once, but not now. Today you may qualify to put as little as 3 percent down. You might even qualify to put no money down. How? We break it down for you.
Do Most People Put 20 Percent Down?
According to the National Association of Realtors, the average down payment is 12 percent. First-time buyers average 7 percent down. The average down payment for repeat buyers is 16 percent. In other words, the average home buyer is not putting 20 percent down.
Benefits of Making Lower Down Payment
With a smaller down payment, you may be able to purchase a new home faster. To put 20 percent down on a $300,000 home, you would need to save up $60,000. Ouch. If you qualify to put 3 percent down, you only need $9,000. A smaller down payment can give you a cushion against other expenses.
Certain Loans Require Smaller Down Payments
If you qualify for certain loans, you won’t have to put 20 percent down. You might not have to put any money down at all. These loans are usually backed by the federal government. That means if you default, the lender is still protected. Most of these loans have conditions attached, but the money you save is worth it.
FHA loans are government-backed and require you to put at least 3.5 percent down. To obtain this type of loan, you will need a minimum credit score of 580. It is possible to get an FHA loan with a credit score between 500 and 579 but you will be required to put at least 10 percent down.
Veterans do not need a down payment to qualify for VA loans. There are service requirements, however, and veterans should check with the Department of Veterans Affairs to see if they qualify. Spouses of active-duty military or veterans who have died in service or have a service-related disability also may be eligible.
Homebuyers who have not served can get a USDA loan that will relieve you of having to put money down. To qualify, your home must be in an approved rural or suburban area. Members of your household will need to meet income requirements, as well.
Conventional loans are offered by lenders at higher interest rates. Lenders have different requirements and set their own percentages, but it is possible to get a loan that allows you to put anywhere from 3 to 5 percent down. If you have a credit score above 620 points, you are more likely to get a better loan percentage.
What About Community Seconds?
A “Community Seconds,” loan from Fannie Mae or “Affordable Seconds” loan from Freddie Mac can help you purchase a loan without a down payment if you qualify. These loans are essentially second mortgages that cover the cost of your down payment. Their purpose is to make affordable housing more accessible. To qualify, you must meet certain requirements. You can find out more here.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that you can qualify to purchase a home in Balmoral for less than you thought. Talk with a Realtor and your lender. You could be living the lagoon life before you know it.
If a new home for the holidays is at the top of your wish list, we have good news. Balmoral builders have many move-in ready homes just waiting for families to discover. Many of these homes are ready now, so you can be settled in time to cook a holiday feast. Check out the advantages of purchasing a move-in-ready home.
Less Time Until Moving Day
Quick move-in homes, also called inventory homes, are at or near completion. The time it takes to close is typically the same as for an existing home. That means if you buy now, you could be home in time to hang up your holiday decorations.
You Can Tour Them
Instead of looking at a floor plan, you can see the completed home. Completed inventory homes are open for touring. You can see if the home will fit your family’s needs for the holidays and the future.
Many Builders Offer Incentives
Hoping to save some money? Many builders offer incentives if you purchase a move-in-ready home. Those incentives could take the form of reduced pricing, money toward closing costs, money toward upgrades and more. More savings could mean more money in your wallet to buy holiday gifts.
A Nicer Kitchen
New homes boast the latest trends. Yours might feature stainless-steel appliances, a kitchen island, more counter space, more cupboard space and a walk-in pantry. Purchase an inventory home and you can get it all in time to bake holiday cookies, stock up on holiday dinner supplies and have more space to entertain holiday guests.
Speaking of Guests
A new home could mean more room for guests. Your new home could have a guest suite. Bigger children’s rooms offer more space for younger guests. If your current home is too small for entertaining, you could have a larger one in time for a New Year’s Eve bash.
Less Holiday Stress
The holidays can be stressful. So can choosing floors, countertops, cabinets, paint colors and all the other decisions that come with a build-to-order home. With an inventory home, most of those decisions have already been made.
You’ll Have Fun Meeting the Neighbors
Inventory homes are usually located in master-planned communities. These communities host a lot of holiday events — which are great places for you and your family to make new friends.
Ready to Get Moving?
Visit Balmoral and talk to our amazing builders about their inventory homes. Then make a list of all the holiday activities you can enjoy in your new home.
Apple cider, pumpkin spice and flannel — there’s a lot to love about fall! Tap into that fall aesthetic and give your home a cozy décor makeover. How? Here are some tips for easy-as-pumpkin-pie fall decorating.
Cozy Curb Appeal
Up your home’s curb appeal with a fall-themed porch and front door. Start with one of these DIY fall wreaths to make your front door stand out. We like this letterboard wreath because we change up the greeting every day. Fill a red wagon with pumpkin patch finds for an adorable porch display. Celebrate the spooky season with these scary good Halloween decorations.
Fall Halls
Jazz up your entryway so you get that fall feeling every time you walk through the door. Fill a vase with painted acorns. This Magnolia-topped white pumpkin is an elegant addition to your hall table. Pick up a few items at a garage sale and craft a centerpiece around them. You can also hang up fall art or a quilt and place painted pumpkins on the stairs.
Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere
Purchase pumpkins in all shapes to use in craft projects, centerpieces, topiaries and more. Part place marker, part party favor, these pumpkin succulent planters are sure to be a hit with dinner guests. Nestle your favorite vintage in this pumpkin wine cooler. These caramel apple pumpkins are simply adorable. Want pumpkin décor without having to make pumpkin pie later? Craft these pumpkin mason jars.
Throw on the Throw Pillows
The shelves at Target, Wal Mart and HomeGoods are filled with fall-themed throw pillows, cozy blankets and other linens. Orange, red and yellow throw pillows will brighten your sofas and beds. Pack a wicker basket full of plaid throws and place it in your family room. Have fun and hang a few blankets on hooks or coat wracks — autumn colors of course.
Inviting Kitchens
Spruce up the heart of your home with well-chosen, well-placed fall decorations for a cozy kitchen. Treat your island the same way you treat your table. Pile pumpkins in an antique basket, arrange fall flowers in a vase and stack up these tree-branch coasters. Hang up cute fall-themed kitchen towels for instant autumn appeal. These burlap wine covers are easy to make and fun to display.
Perfect Patios
If you plan to entertain guests on the patio, make sure it is dressed for the season. Pinterest has some beautiful pictures you can take inspiration from. Give your patio furniture a makeover with fall-colored cushions. Pile pumpkins in the yard. Those apples you picked will look great next to your outdoor fireplace.
In Texas, we love our outdoors, and state parks offer ample opportunity for day and overnight adventures. And you have a lot to choose from with 89 state parks found throughout the state — several less than three hours from Balmoral. We’ve picked five favorites:
This expansive park offers 37 miles of hiking trails — including 13 for horseback riding that lead to primitive equestrian campsites. But beyond hiking, Brazos Bend State Park is especially known for two things — alligators and George Observatory. It’s common to spot alligators in the water and on the land, and signs throughout the park offer safety tips when encountering one. George Observatory is part of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, giving visitors an amazing view into galaxies far, far away. Tickets to the observatory must be purchased in advance. Brazos Bend State Park is located about an hour and 15 minutes from Humble in Needville.
Huntsville State Park may not be the largest state park in Texas (that honor goes to the 311,000-acre Big Bend Ranch State Park), but its 2,083 acres are still pretty impressive. Fish, swim or kayak along the 210-acre Lake Raven (kayak rentals are available). Hike 21 miles of trails. Enjoy playgrounds, a bird blind and nature center. Get ice cream at Gator Junction. You’ll often find food trucks down by the picnic area during busy weekends. Balmoral residents can get to Huntsville State Park, located in Huntsville, in just over an hour.
The closest of our featured state parks near Humble is Lake Livingston State Park, found in Livingston. Less than an hour away, this park is along the state’s second largest lake, which means you can boat and fish to your heart’s content. Miles of trails wind through the park, and campers can choose from tent sites to RV campsites with full hook-ups. There are also 10 screened shelters and several group sites.
Because Texas is so large, it’s easy to see a completely different landscape when traveling throughout the state. This certainly happens in a less-than-two-hour drive from Humble to Martin Dies, Jr. State Park, located in Jasper. This park is deep into Texas’ Pineywoods and sits along the banks of the B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir. You can hit 7 miles of hiking trails found within the park or grab a paddle and explore the nearly 14 miles of paddling trails. Canoes and kayaks are available to rent. Martin Dies, Jr. State Park offers more than 200 campsites, many along the water.
Palmetto State Park is just shy of three hours from Humble in Gonzales. The park’s namesake — the dwarf palmetto — can be found throughout the park, lending it an almost tropical ambiance. The park is small — just 19 tent sites, 17 RV sites, a group site for 24 and an air-conditioned cabin for six. But despite its size, there’s still plenty to do. You can fish from the pier at Oxbow Lake, canoe the San Marcos River, bike and hike trails, birdwatch and simply enjoy time outdoors.