Florida Retirement Blog and News by Pringle

Pringle Homebuilding Group Becomes ENERGY STAR Partner

Pringle Homebuilding Group, LLC today is announcing that it is committing to build and label its homes to meet the new and more rigorous ENERGY STAR requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) for 2012. Pringle Homebuilding Group, LLC has already built about 350 new homes that have earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR to date, representing savings of nearly $156,450 on utility bills while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from more than 175 vehicles.

Pringle Homebuilding Group Sponsors 'Shop With an Officer'

Pringle Homebuilding Group, LLC, central Florida’s premier custom builder for active adults, has announced its corporate sponsorship of the “Shop with an Officer” program in Lake County, Florida. Through Lake County Police Charities, Inc., PHG’s support will help local children in need this holiday season. The program matches children with officers to participate in a Holiday Shopping Spree funded by local individuals and businesses. “We’re very pleased to support this effort”, says PHG’s President, Steve Nordstrom. “Lake County Police Charities does a terrific job in organizing this program, and our sponsorship is an important way for PHG to support our community”.

Discovering Your Best Retirement Part 3 - Long Term vs Short Term Wants

A second consideration for your want list may be equally important - try to think long-term. If you only consider things that may be important or exciting to you for a few years of your long retirement, you may find yourself disappointed after a relatively short while- and committed to a long-term investment!

Discovering Your Best Retirement Part 2 - Defining Your Best Retirement Lifestyle

Among the most important steps in achieving a satisfying retirement lifestyle is to define your vision. This should begin by compiling a categorized list of the elements that make up your best retirement lifestyle. This step should not be underestimated, or approached lightly. The reason it is so critical is that as you begin to test drive various activities, lifestyles, locations and living arrangements, you're sure to be dazzled by at least a few. If you have not carefully considered what is truly important for your best retirement, it becomes more likely that you may make an impulse decision which may not prove to be the best long-term fit.

Pringle Homebuilding Group Sponsors Florida State Parks

Pringle Homebuilding Group, LLC, central Florida's premier custom builder for active adults, has announced its corporate sponsorship of Florida State Parks. Through the Friends of Florida State Parks, Inc., PHG's support will help preserve incredible beaches, magnificent wetlands, historic and cultural sites and the beauty of the Real Florida for generations to come. We're pleased to support Florida State Parks, says PHG's President, Steve Nordstrom. We've long been among the leaders of our industry in energy efficient and green building practices, so direct support our State's park system seemed like a natural next step for us.

Discovering Your Best Retirement

According to federal government statistics, between 8,000 and 11,000 Americans reach �retirement age every day� And millions more ages 45 to 60 begin or continue the process of retirement planning. Most often, when we consider retirement planning, it is focused almost exclusively on the financial aspects of the plan. While this is obviously important, it is only a single component of planning the best retirement lifestyle for you. There is much, much more to a retirement plan than financial security. Read on to learn more about planning your best retirement.

What�s Different about Living on Florida�s �Ridge�?- Part Two

In part One, we touched on a pair of major factors that often have retirees choosing the Florida Ridge over coastal Florida for their future home- The unique rolling topography and protection from coastal storms. These two factors alone make the Central Florida experience quite unique when compared to the most common perception of Florida as strictly a sand and surf haven. Of course, if sand and surf is what you truly crave, you can STILL have the best of both worlds - read on to find out how!

SmartMoney Says "Forget the Market. Buy a House."

Smart Money Blogs says Forget the Market. Buy a House The respected Real-Time Advice column of Smart Money Blogs has joined a chorus of leading financial and business institutions in counseling buyers to consider real estate as a better buy than traditional investments.

Time Magazine: Real Estate Buying Opportunity of a Lifetime

As Time Magazine reports online: No one knows what the economy or the stock market will do over the next six months. But when your time horizon is 20 years, the outlook is actually a lot clearer. And right now, all the trends are lining up to make real estate a fantastic long-term buy.

Wall Street Journal says "It's Time to Buy"

None other than the prestigious and trusted Wall Street Journal has made the case that it is time for consumers to re-enter the housing market. In an article published June 4, 2011, the Journal carefully and methodically reviews the state of the U.S. housing market, and concludes that Despite all the gloom�there are growing indications that it is a good time to buy.

Pringle�s Lakes of Mount Dora Named Among Nation�s Top 50 Communities

Adding further acclaim to its already impressive reputation, The Lakes of Mount Dora- a Central Florida active adult community- has been named among �America's 50 Best Master-Planned Communities' by Where to Retire magazine. The honorees are revealed in the bimonthly magazine's July/August issue on newsstands June 21. This issue marks the seventh biennial honor roll of America's best master-planned communities compiled by the magazine. The Lakes of Mount Dora was also honored in 2009 as among this elite group of communities.

What's Different about Living on Florida's Ridge? - Part One

The Florida peninsula, warmed by surrounding subtropical and tropical waters and cooled by the trade winds, is famous for its pleasant climate, abundant sunshine, and scenery. Many imagine Florida to consist only of beaches and palm trees- but there's much more to our beautiful state�

Accessibility and Customization

Most often when meeting a client in the Pringle Design Studio, discussion focuses on the home from the point of view of wants and dreams. What does the client envision in their custom home? A unique designer bath, gourmet kitchen, workshop or big library? At PHG, we pride ourselves on meeting virtually any of these desires with beautiful custom construction in our Florida retirement communities. But we also can design a home to meet any specific physical needs our client may have...

About CDD's Part 3: What are the Risks?

As we discovered in Part One, CDD stands for Community Development District. It is a local, special purpose government with the power to issue bonds (among other things), and result in significant costs to a homeowner. In Part Two, we reviewed where the costs of a CDD can be found, and why some may refer to them as a �hidden fee'. Now in Part Three, we will explore what some of the possible risks to you are from owning property in a CDD funded community.

Why a New Home Might be a Better Choice Than Resale

In Part One we looked at the often hidden disadvantages of purchasing a bank-owned or foreclosed home. In many Florida retirement communities, the large number of resale or previously occupied homes on the market may lead some buyers to consider these homes as an alternative to new construction- especially if the home in question is priced below what might appear to be a comparable new home. But careful comparison might make the apparent pricing advantage less appealing...

Looking at "Bank Owned" or Foreclosed Homes?

The large number of foreclosures on the market have lead some buyers to consider these homes as an alternative to new construction - especially when the home in question is priced far below market. But careful consideration must be given to many factors that might make that bargain look far less attractive...

Lake-Sumter Building and Remodeling Show 2011

Pringle Homebuilding Group will be highlighting our top-rated Florida Retirement Communities and our custom homebuilding services at this years Lake-Sumter Building & Remodeling Show this Saturday, March 5, 2011 from 9am to 4pm at Main Street Receptions in Historic Downtown Leesburg. Admission is FREE, enjoy some great Blues and Jazz music from Deja Blue and you can win $100 every hour, with $1,000 prize given away at 4pm! All this AND the Leesburg Art Festival, too! Come on out and see us!

About CDD's Part 2: What Does a "CDD" Cost?

As we discovered in Part One, CDD stands for Community Development District. It is a local, special purpose government with the power to issue bonds (among other things). It is designed as an alternative method for a developer to finance infrastructure or amenities needed to develop a community or subdivision. This allows the developer to avoid paying for construction of the amenities from its own resources. But what does living in a CDD funded community cost me?

About CDD's: Part 1 - What is a Community Development District?

CDD stands for Community Development District. It is a local, special purpose government and was designed as an alternative method for a developer to finance infrastructure or amenities needed to develop a community. CDD's possess several powers as a legal entity, such as the right to enter into contracts; the right to own both real and personal property; adopt by-laws, rules and regulations and to issue bonds and levy assessments.

Home and Lot Package Update - 1 Left at Legacy of Leesburg

There has been a fantastic response to our Home & Lot Package Special� So much so that there is now only 1 lot left in Legacy of Leesburg that qualifies for this great deal! You don't want to miss out on this great opportunity to become the newest resident in the Legacy of Leesburg! Contact us TODAY!

Pringle�s Lakes of Mount Dora Introduces New Elevations

Pringle Homebuilding Group has added new elevations to its most popular home designs in The Lakes of Mount Dora. These beautiful elevations are designed to add further variety to the streetscape of Pringle's flagship Florida retirement community. As an added bonus, many of the newly introduced elevation styles can allow a buyer to save thousands of dollars and still take advantage of Pringle's award-winning custom design services.

Pringle Custom Homes Partners with Maimone Realty in New Family Community

Pringle Custom Homes, a division of Pringle Homebuilding Group, LLC, is pleased to announce an agreement with Maimone Realty to exclusively represent the company's Wolf Branch Meadows community.

Pringle Announces Special Home and Lot Packages to Kick Off 2011

Pringle Homebuilding Group, LLC, central Florida's premier custom builder for active adults, is pleased to announce special pricing for a limited number of lot and home packages in two beautiful top-rated Florida retirement communities!

Pringle Difference: Superior Construction of Your Custom Home - Part 7 - Real Plywood Decking

The roof of your custom home needs to hold up to everything that Florida weather can throw at it. Sometimes literally� We build your roof from real moisture-resistant CDX plywood rather than Oriented Strand Board. Read on to find out why.

Pringle Difference: Superior Construction of Your Custom Home - Part 6 - High Tech Wiring

The wiring in your home is the basis for communication in the 21st century, at Pringle Homebuilding Group, we use the best current wiring technology available to ensure you are ready for the future!

Pringle Difference: Superior Construction of Your Custom Home - Part 5 - Dens-Shield Tile Backer

See why Pringle Homebuilding Group chooses "Dens Shield Wallboard" in place of "green board" when building your custom home's bathrooms.

Pringle Difference: Superior Construction of Your Custom Home - Part 4 - Austrian Pine Framing

Pringle Homebuilding Group uses only the best components to build your custom home. Your custom home's interior walls are built with Austrian Pine and framed with 16" on center stud spacing resulting in a stronger, straighter and truer walls. Read on for why we prefer to build your custom home this way.

Pringle Difference: Superior Construction of Your Custom Home - Part 3 - Insulation Board

Insulation board is yet another way the Pringle Homebuilding differentials ourselves from the competition. Read on to find out more about the Pringle difference.

Pringle Difference: Superior Construction of Your Custom Home - Part 2 - Fibercrete Foundations

Pringle Quality Continued: What kind of foundation do we build your new home on? 3000 PSI Fibercrete - Read on to find out more.

Pringle Difference: Superior Construction of Your Custom Home - Part 1 - CPVC Pipes

With so many purchases big and small, we have learned that all are not created equal. And in the case of a new home, some components, materials and products are significantly better than standard or code compliant that most builders rely upon. At Pringle Homebuilding Group, we create custom homes in each of our Florida Retirement Communities with quality uppermost in mind. This series illustrates just a few of the ways a Pringle custom home stands out from the rest�

Pringle Homebuilding Group Introduces New Marketing Tools

As the central Florida active adult home market enters the traditional Fall sales season, Pringle Homebuilding Group, LLC. is launching three major initiatives designed to introduce prospects to the area, its Florida retirement communities and the advantages offered by PHG's custom building program. We're excited to be rolling out three major initiatives this Fall, says Steve Nordstrom, PHG's President. We're proud of our retirement communities, and these tools will help us spread the word about central Florida's terrific lifestyle.

PHG Announces Alliance with Bonded Builders Home Warranty

Pringle Homebuilding Group LLC, central Florida's premier custom builder for active adults, has announced its partnership with Bonded Builders Home Warranty to provide its clients unsurpassed home warranty protection in its Florida retirement communities.

What Can "Green" Do For You? - Part 3

In parts one and two of "It's Not Easy Building (or Buying) Green", we explored the numerous and often confusing definitions and categories of 'Environmentally Friendly' construction. To further complicate matters, claims of environmental awareness or responsibility in the construction industry are subject to very little oversight or scrutiny. In summary, what an environmentalist, politician, builder, developer and consumer value in Green Construction can be widely different, so the buyer must be educated and quite careful when navigating among the many options offered as green.

It's Not Easy Building (or Buying) "Green"- Part 2 - What do you mean, "Green"?

As noted in part 1 of this series, understanding the benefits of 'green building' has to start with a definition of what 'green' is. Unfortunately, that's not quite as easy as one might presume. Over the years, the terms 'green', 'environmentally friendly' and 'sustainable' (among others) have come to mean a broad spectrum of things- and not always things a consumer necessarily wants or needs.

It's Not Easy Building (or Buying) "Green" - Part 1

Though location, lifestyle, amenities and features will always rank among the highest decision drivers for buyers contemplating a retirement move, today's active adult homebuyers are interested in much more. This increasingly sophisticated demographic now carefully considers ongoing maintenance and operating costs of a new home when choosing a builder or neighborhood. Among recent trends, so-called Green building is the hands-down champion. But a closer look at the trend reveals a number of issues that should factor into a consumer's decision when it comes to purchasing a new home in a Florida retirement community.

Lakes of Mount Dora Named Among Nations Top 100 Retirement Communities

Adding further acclaim to it's already impressive reputation, The Lakes of Mount Dora-a central Florida active adult community- has been named among 'America's 100 Best Master-Planned Communities' by Where to Retire magazine.