Author: alien

3 Floor Plan Ideas For Young Families in The RGV

Posted on June 2, 2022 by alien - Before Building

Young families looking to build in the RGV have unique needs when it comes to crafting a house that can serve them both now and as their family grows. One of the most fundamental, and important, elements in meeting these needs is the right floor plan.

Interior design, appliances, fixtures, and more can be changed with relative ease, but changing the floor plan can be expensive and time-consuming. As a result, young families need a design that is carefully built with their lifestyle in mind. To help you get started, here are a few floor plan ideas for young families in the Rio Grande Valley.

Idea 1: Make room(s) for the kids.

Families with children need space, and a good floor plan in the RGV will make sure they have it.

Bedrooms are, of course, the place to start. The home should have enough bedrooms for everyone, with one or two bedrooms to spare for guests.

The location of these bedrooms is also important. Families with infants and toddlers may want a bedroom close to the master in order to make supervising their young children easier.

However, families with older kids may want to create space away from the master bedroom, where the kids can relax, hang out, listen to music, and spend time with friends.

Some floor plans place the master bedroom on the first floor and the other bedrooms on the second floor, while others place the master bedroom on one side of the house and the other bedrooms on the other side of the house. Either way can work, as long as kids are old enough to enjoy their own space away from the parents’ sleeping area.

The best floor plan ideas for RGV families also often include extra space for kids (and parents) to relax. Playrooms, game rooms, lofts, and finished basements can all add enjoyable living space perfect for families looking for room to spread out.

Idea 2: Open (And Spacious) Living Areas

RGV floor plans for families should also include areas where the family has space to enjoy each other’s company and entertain the guests that are often a part of a young family’s life.

The best idea for a family-based floor plan in the RGV is to create an open concept living area where all barriers between the kitchen, living room, and dining room are removed.

Often defined by fireplaces, large kitchen islands, big windows, and vaulted ceilings, these open concept living areas are a beautiful and relaxing place to spend most of your family time together.

Thanks to their open design, they offer straight lines of sight throughout most of the primary level of the house for easy tracking of kids, make it simple to entertain and cook at the same time, and offer enough room to have a crowd over the Superbowl or to build blanket forts and train tracks with the kids.

Idea 3: Convenient Laundry and Storage

Families make a lot of laundry – And have a lot of belongings. Creating a home where they can be managed easily is an important part of any floor plan for young families.

Some families prefer to have the laundry on the main floor, so they can work on loads while they complete other household tasks or spend time with their kids. Others prefer to have the laundry near the bedrooms to make it easier to move laundry back and forth. The best floor plan is one that places the laundry where it will best fit with the flow of YOUR day, so you can easily keep on top of the laundry and your other daily chores.

Storage is also an important element of any floor plan in the RGV. From spacious closets in each bedroom to a separate mudroom and large garage where families can store essentials such as shoes, decorations, and yard tools, storage should be integrated into every room of the home.

The best floor plan idea for the RGV is the one that suits your lifestyle. Here at Guzman Construction, we can create layouts that work best for your family life and needs. Contact us today to discover how a #GuzmanStrong home can be the right home for your family!

What to Look for in Quality Home Construction in RGV

Posted on April 13, 2022 by alien - Uncategorized

Building a new home is the biggest dream we see for most of us. A home that reflects our personality and attracts positivity for a fulfilled life. When putting the first building blocks for a quality home construction, it is important to know exactly what you need to look for.

The entire process of building the home of your dreams from the ground up can quickly become overwhelming and exhausting. However, if you have a concise guide to help you navigate through all the details of this process, it can become much easier. Often times, the first point of distress becomes the choice of the locality.

While the nuts and bolts of your home can be replaced later in case of any mismatch, you cannot do the same for the location of your house. Once built, the location of your new house is permanent. If you are not sure where and how to start with choosing a locality for your quality home construction – read on.

Here, we take you through all the points that need to be considered for your new home construction in Rio de Grande Valley, Texas.

Geography and location

Rio de Grande Valley is embedded in the deep South Texas region. Rio de Grande Valley (RGV), known as “The Valley,” is well known for its interesting geography. In the United States, the term ‘valley’ refers to a vast expanse of rivers and not a region within mountains like the rest.

The RGV owes its name to the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo or Rio del Norte in Mexico), the fourth-longest river in the United States. It is believed that early Anglo settlers used the term ‘valley’ and not the literal ‘delta’ as it sounded better.

The RGV is considered to possess very fertile land with good agricultural production, which attracted numerous settlers in the 20th century. At present, it remains a popular choice for quality home construction.

The interesting borders of RGV

The confluence of multiple tributaries of the Rio Grande forms a delta, and the resulting fertile land makes up the RGV. This region is bordered by the state of Tamaulipas and the Gulf of Mexico to the east; the Rio Grande river forms the southern border. Political borders include Mexico and the United States.

This location makes the RGV a very convenient place for travel and scenic beauty, thus a great choice for constructing your quality dream home.

Demographics

Counties

The RGV comprises the four major counties in Texas: Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy, and Cameron. McAllen (Hidalgo County) and Brownsville (Cameron County) are the major cities. There are multiple other urban hubs in lower RGV; Rio de Grande city, Edinburg, Harlingen, Mission, and Pharr, to name a few. These urban hubs bring RGV at par with any other metropolitan region, making your living as comfortable as any other city in the country. However, with RGV, the proximity to nature and cultural diversity is a plus.

Communities

The current population in RGV is 1,402,340 persons approximately. The median age of the population is 31.05, making it suitable for the youth and the elderly. People belonging to at least eight different ethnic origins (American, Alaskan, American India, Asian…) coexist in RGV, making it a hub of cultural diversity. This reflects the cultural openness of the RGV community, making it a safe space for your family to thrive.

Cultural characteristics

The fascinating cultural aspect of the RGV is its language. The major language of Spanish has intermixed with English giving rise to the famous ‘Spanglish’ language. People interacting in Spanglish is a common sight in this region. Along with the language, the cuisines have also adapted to the cultural intermixing. Mexican-American delicacies of the RGV make it unique in terms of culinary experience. While starting your family in a new location, finding great food joints is important for a family that eats together, stays together. RGV radiates diversity in every cultural aspect, thus, making life interesting for its residents.

Trends in weather

We know you cannot imagine your quality home construction without information on the area’s weather. In the RGV region, summers are hot and dry, whereas winters are short and windy. The sky is partly cloudy year long, and July and August are the most comfortable months. The temperatures range from 380F to 990F. You need to ensure that your quality home construction considers all these weather trends for the best weather shielding features to make your home comfortable.

The cultural diversity, natural beauty, and not to forget decadent tacos make the Rio de Grande Valley a perfect choice for the quality construction of your dream home.

Why is McAllen the Best Place to Build a New Home?

Posted on March 23, 2022 by alien - Before Building

Thinking of settling in one of the states of the US? Texas is one of the US states that have gained massive popularity in recent years. It’s amongst the top 20 affordable states to live in in 2022 in the US. Within Texas, McAllen is also amongst the top 10 most affordable towns.

As of 2019, the median household income in McAllen, Texas, was $46,804. Whereas the median household income in the US is $65,712, making it one of the most affordable towns in the US.

Not only this but there are various other reasons why you can choose to build a new home in McAllen.

Reasons to Build Home in McAllen

Affordable Cost of Living

The key that makes McAllen the best place to build a new home is its low cost of living. Be it custom-made homes or move-in homes, the property prices in McAllen have seen a sharp rise. A typical house property in McAllen can be bought for $187,000.

Also, the average commute time in McAllen is about just 18.6 minutes only.

Suitable Weather

One of the prime reasons you choose McAllen for a new home is its suitable weather. McAllen has perfect weather if you hate extreme winters and love to have long summers.

The winter season in McAllen starts in December and ends in mid-February. It has long summers from mid-February to August and the warm and hot summers in early February and March. The sweltering summers are in June and July, and after that, the climate switches to moderate summers. The maximum temperature in summers reaches up to 97 degrees F. In winters, the coldest days touch 52 degrees F.

Less Population

Do you want to live in a less crowded area? McAllen is best for people who like less crowded places. McAllen has a population of 1,060,000 people only. Also, this is only after an increase of 2.22% compared to last year.

The majority of people living in McAllen are Americans, and the rest include people from other countries. Also, the foreign-born population in McAllen is increasing. Still, it is a great place to live as less population means less crowded areas and better job opportunities.

Call For Mexican Food Lovers

If you are a big fan of Mexican food, you may find McAllen attractive. It is known for its delectable Mexican food. There are a variety of Mexican food joints in McAllen, like the Los Asados Mexican Restaurant, Costa Messa Restaurant, Don Pepe’s, and many others.

Best For Simple Living

McAllen is also known for its simple living. It is a modern city and still feasible for those who like to live a plain and simple life. Besides this, it also has good educational facilities. It nestles some good universities like South Texas College, Platt College, the college of Health are and Professions within its premises.

The town is also famous in specific major fields like general studies, criminal justice, safety studies, early childhood education, and training and welding technology. There is also scope for other majors like general business, nursing, social work, biological sciences, and many others.

Rich in Entertainment

You do not have to live a saint’s life while in McAllen. Entertainment is always a few minutes away. If you are bored on weekends, you could have fun exploring McAllen. There are always fun events happening in McAllen. You can stay tuned through the exploreMcAllen.com website.

You can attend special events, go shopping, and enjoy the nightlife. You can spend some quality time at McAllen historical entertainment venue, Cine El Rey Theatre, or Valley Symphony Orchestra. McAllen also has a performing arts center.

You can shop at Trenton Crossing, Northcross Shopping Centre, Palms Crossing, Las Tiendas, or La Plaza Mall.

Move-in or Build Custom Homes

Another reason to build a house in McAllen is the availability of options in real estate. You can either choose to buy a move-in house in McAllen. Such houses are equipped with all the amenities and are well-furnished. Some homes are also approved as energy-saving homes due to the usage of construction materials that keep the home temperature liveable.

There are also custom homes in McAllen that allow you to get your home constructed as per your choice. These homes allow you to customize your home as per your desires. You can find both choices in McAllen.

Conclusion

These reasons should convince you to build a new home in McAllen. Weigh in your options and make a wise decision. For more information and assistance, contact us now.

Top 3 Tips for Buying Land in McAllen–Edinburg–Mission

Posted on November 18, 2021 by alien - New Homes

The Rio Grande Valley is one of the most popular destinations for buying real estate in South Texas. A booming local economy and an affordable cost of living have made the area a favourite haunt of home buyers and builders. From residential to commercial, you can hope to find builders and properties that meet your needs.

If you are planning to buy land in McAllen and adjoining areas, the following 3 tips could prove to be useful:

1. Scout for the best location

Topography

Might sound ironic, but most buyers do not pay much thought to the location of their lot in all detail. Whether you want a lot in a community or are looking forward to a single family home, location is a big factor. You could take a look at various plots to see if they meet your needs – lot size, access, elevation, shape, and views. In short, it’s topography. All these things will determine the final experience of living in the house, so choose well. Do you know there is something called soil property and that it can be a major factor in building quality?

Natural calamities

Is it prone to flooding? While buyers don’t usually consider natural calamities like fires or earthquakes, they do hit. And real estate often takes the worst hit. Make sure your plot is well protected from these risks. Can you imagine what it will be like to be knee-deep in floodwater when you’ve just erected the framework? The damage can run into thousands of dollars.

Neighborhood

Apart from the properties of the plot itself, the neighborhood must be considered. Some of the finest lots are found in the vicinity of supermarkets, schools, hospitals, or highroads. The traffic around these parts also matter. If it is too far away from work, you’ll have trouble monitoring the home building process, not to mention wasting time in the commute. On the contrary, if you buy a plot that’s too remote, you might have trouble accessing basic necessities like electricity or water. And the cost of setting up new connections is rising. Today, a modern home needs energy efficiency, smart amenities, and doorstep delivery of services. Make sure your plot can give you that.

Zoning

There are several other things like site assessment and zoning licenses. More so, if you are looking at commercial lots instead of residential ones. It would be detrimental to your peace of mind if your chosen lot is right beside an upcoming industrial project. No one wants to wake up to the grunts of machinery. There is another thing called an easement. It gives another person the right to use your property even though you own it. So double-check for the easement on your plot. That’s a serious threat to privacy, not to mention the resale price.

2. Arrange for loans

Nothing is more disastrous than finding out a lot you love but being unable to pay for it. Sure, you don’t have to pay a fortune to buy one, but it is a big expense and will affect your nest egg, albeit in small ways. It is true that the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area has affordable real estate and you can find inexpensive lots. But you still need to set your finances in order.

Loans and mortgages are your best friends when you are building your house and the same can be said of buying the most suitable plot. So talk to your bank about loans and how you can pay them back. Real estate prices fluctuate and you must be on your toes, staying abreast of trends and price changes.

Plot prices depend on a lot of things like location and size. For instance, if it is downtown McAllen or has a lot of green space around it, the tag will be bulkier. Also, think about the improvements that are needed to be made on it and how much it is going to cost.

3. Connect with a reputed builder

How do builders help identify suitable plots?

If you don’t own a piece of land yet, the most useful thing to do is get a builder to choose it for you. Builders, who have been in the trade for long, already have suitable lots waiting to be built upon. This will also give you the chance to see how their finished homes look.

But why involve a builder at all? Why not do it on your own?

The short answer is builders have more experience buying land. When prospective buyers walk into the real estate jungle, they are faced with a lot of things, the least of which is a bad plot. They are pitted against real estate giants who have a lot of influence and a lot of money to snag the right plot. This is something the average homeowner has little idea about. So, your chosen spot may vanish from right under your nose.

Buying plot is a complex process

Buying a lot is not just about paying the agent. If you can’t seem to keep pace with all the technicalities that stand in the way, the best thing to do is ask your builder. Builders of repute always work with a large team of experts. The best ones have their own in-house lender. They look at your loans and get them approved. All you have to do is arrange your documents in order. And not just lenders, the company will connect you with assessors, municipal officials, and subcontractors.

Factor in the depreciation

Another benefit is you get an idea of the property a few years down the line. Your builder will be able to fill in with depreciation rates and how that will affect the resale value eight or ten later. Whether you need residential or commercial properties, your builder can help you get them. Hence it is better to connect with the right persons.

Cut down on time and effort

It is easy to understand how your contractor will save you time. Since most of the things are done in-house, there are few outsiders involved. From floor planners to interior designers to financers, and surveyors – there is little need for you to run around.

Save money

When you go about buying a plot on your own, you lose out on bulk discounts. Your builder is also able to save you hundreds of dollars when you buy plots from them. You don’t have to negotiate with sellers or their agents. You don’t have to exhaust resources visiting banks and getting approvals. You don’t even have to cut down on your free time. Everything is taken care of by home builders.

The bottom line?

If you want to buy land in the RGV, McAllen is a popular choice. There are fine community homes and stand-alone residences. You can go about visiting properties on your own, shortlisting them, and then finally settling on one. In the next step, you can apply for various approvals and spend time and money getting permits and mortgages. Or you can straightaway call up a local builder and ask to see the plots available with them. Local contractors know the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area very well and would be able to offer solid real estate advice.

Get in touch with a local builder today and get quick possession of your plot.