Chat with us, powered by LiveChat Market Tips Archives - Schaeffer Family Homes

Reasons to Move to South Jersey

As a home builder in South Jersey, we at Schaeffer Family Homes think our luxury homes are a great reason to move to South Jersey! Of course, there are plenty of wonderful reasons to move to this area, ranging from beautiful natural scenery to a wealth of attractions, and we’d like to share a few of our favorites with you.

Just because the summer season is winding down doesn’t mean that the beaches aren’t still a great draw for this area. All year long, you can enjoy walks with the family along the many beautiful clean beaches. Plus, during the warmer months, the whole family can enjoy sunbathing, swimming, surfing, fishing, or just hanging out with friends.

The beaches aren’t the only source for great outdoor activities. You’ll find a fantastic range of options for hiking and biking trails at numerous nature reserves and parks. Among some of the most popular spots are the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area that hosts plenty of fun things to do, plus there’s the Pine Barrens and Wharton State Forest.

There’s no shortage of indoor activities, either, with a wealth of museums, historical sites, and cultural events. You can find great local and national performers at the various art galleries, theaters, and music venues. The Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, the African American Heritage Museum, and the Garden State Discovery Museum offer a range of exhibits, attractions and more. Plus, there are historic sites of interest such as the Batsto Village and the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial that offer a chance to learn while still having fun.

Dining out is always a pleasure, especially if you love seafood, such as the local blue crabs. You’ll also find plenty of restaurants that focus on farm-to-table dining experiences that offer fresh, seasonal food that is sure to please.

These are just a few of the reasons we love to be a home builder in South Jersey. Don’t forget that this area has a lower cost of living, as well, compared to many northern regions, so your money will go much further. If you’re interested in building your own home in this delightful region, then we invite you to reach out for a free consultation meeting to learn more about the homes we build on your own land and in quality communities.

Floor Plan Profile: Weatherby

As a NJ new home builder, we’re proud of our Weatherby floor plan, which offers comfort, style, and flexibility. This spacious ranch style home will appeal to a variety of home buyers. Like all Schaeffer Homes’ floorplans, it offers a lot of luxury add-on choices that allow you to mold the home to fit your lifestyle and family needs.

The Weatherby includes 2,494 square feet of single level living with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a powder room, and a two-car garage. Among the available luxury add-on choices, you can personalize your home with a sunroom, fireplace, basement, front porch and so much more.

The front door enters into the home via a welcoming foyer, complete with a coat closet for convenient storage. Off the foyer is an entrance to the home office, a feature that most people want in their home today. The foyer then leads you into the open-plan main living area. In the center is a dining area flanked by the spacious family room on one side and the kitchen on the other. The kitchen includes a dine-in island, a wealth of counter space, and a walk-in pantry for additional storage. A door in the dining area leads out to the backyard.  A sunroom can be added off of the family room to add additional living space.

Off the family room is a recessed area that leads to two of the bedrooms and a full bathroom. Off the kitchen is a hallway that leads to the owner’s suite, with a large walk-in closet and a spa-like bathroom including a 5’x5’ stall shower.  Luxury choices include a free-standing tub and tile seat in the shower. The hallway continues past the powder room, the stairs to the optional basement, and finally to the mudroom, which provides access to the garage and to the laundry room. The laundry room can also be accessed from the master bathroom for added convenience.

The thoughtful layout of the Weatherby floor plan makes it appealing to a broad range of buyers. It is spacious, has an easy flow, while still providing the privacy preferred for the bedroom and home office areas. With the luxury add-on choices available, you can fine-tune the home to fit your lifestyle and preferences.  If you’re in the market for a NJ new home builder, contact us today to schedule a free new home consultation meeting to learn more about the Weatherby and our other floor plans.  Don’t delay in starting your journey to owning your own dream home.  You deserve it!

Last Opportunity Available at Menantico Estates

At Schaeffer Family Homes, we help you build on the strongest foundation so you can enjoy your home for many years to come. We have only 1 opportunity remaining. 1059 seneca is last homesite available left at Menantico Estates, a community of new homes in Vineland NJ, so don’t miss out on this amazing chance.

Whether it’s the first home in a community or one of the last, we always stand by our commitment to quality, beauty, craftsmanship, enduring value, and personal service. Reserve your homesite with a refundable deposit that will hold your site of choice for five days. During this period you’ll meet with one of our sales managers to discuss the floor plan, and the luxury and personalization elements that make a new home truly outstanding. This is also the time to work with our preferred lender to qualify and receive a pre-approval mortgage, which is necessary to move forward in the process.

Once you’re approved and the full downpayment on the home and property is made, it’s time for building to commence! With more than 10 floor plans available and a variety of home styles ranging from ranch to multi-story homes, with three to four bedrooms and 2+ bathrooms, and two-car side-entry garages for even more curb appeal, you’ll easily find the home that is right for you. Within a few months, your dream home will be a reality and you’ll be living in the welcoming Menantico Estates community. Plus, you’ll have a quality-built Schaeffer home that starts with a poured concrete crawl space foundation and soars with 9’ first floor ceilings, chair and crown molding in parts of the home, premium carpeting, Progress light fixtures, Sherwin-Williams paint, and many more features as standard throughout.

So if you’re looking at new homes in Vineland NJ, don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to have one of the last available homes at Menantico Estates. Contact us today to learn more about how you can take advantage of this chance to live in an outstanding community.

Floor Plan Profile: Ravello

The Ravello floorplan is a modern floorplan that responds to the changing needs of any family in today’s busy lifestyle. With over 2,340 square feet of well-planned living space, the Ravello is a floorplan by Schaeffer Family Homes, a home builder in N.J., and features a two-story design with four upstairs bedrooms, a two-car garage, built-in storage, plus room to both flex and grow.

From the front door, the home welcomes you through the foyer to an open-layout living room and kitchen with a large center island.  Natural light floods this space from a wall of windows along the back of the home. The coffered ceiling in the living room is an option to capture and bounce more light throughout the space. These are just some of the great touches that the Ravello floorplan offers from this established home builder in N.J.

The kitchen connects back to the front dining room through a butler’s pantry and large storage pantry. There is a large center island in the kitchen and an eat-in nook too.

The first floor also has a main powder room and a roomy mud room /drop area with direct access to/from the two-car garage.

A split staircase leads to the second floor that holds the master bedroom with optional coffered ceiling, and a private ensuite master bathroom with large shower, double sinks, and linen closet that can be modified to include a soaking tub in addition to the separate shower. There is also large walk-in closet to accommodate all the changing seasons.

There are three additional bedrooms which can also be used for any type of flex space such as an exercise room, home office, and game/zoom room. There is a second full bathroom upstairs and the smartly placed laundry room.

Building this home will start at $274,900, plus the site location. You can either build on your own lot or choose a homesite from one of several planned communities from this home builder in New Jersey.

On Schaeffer’s website, you can explore other available floorplans, filter by size and specifications, and then begin to make customized selections. You can also view photos of the models, learn more about each floor plan, and more.

Contact Schaeffer for any type of new home in N.J. Explore your options and call Schaeffer today at (856) 208-5118, email at General.Info@Schaefferhomes.com, or visit our website to learn what is possible!

Living in Vineland, NJ

Vineland, NJ is more than just an escape from the busy cities and suburbs of Philadelphia, Wilmington, Newark, Atlantic City, and New York. This established area offers a walkable, small town feel with scenery, charm, and character.

As a thriving city, Vineland offers a range of shopping, dining, recreational, community, and business opportunities. Vineland was once popular with several vineyards. While most are no longer there, a few wineries still operate nearby including Bellview Winery and Coda Rossa Winery in the towns of Landisville and Franklinville.

Locals with homes in Vineland, NJ appreciate the over 280 acres of park lands, golf courses, and playgrounds. Sports enthusiasts participate in one or more of the area’s community sports leagues that include venues like Landis Park and the Joseph E. Romano Sports Complex. Outdoor enthusiasts take advantage of the diverse nature areas found at Giampietro Memorial Park, Willow Oak Conservation Area, as well as down the road at the New Jersey shoreline.

Throughout the year, Vineland hosts a variety of festivals filled with food and fun activities for the whole family. Main Street Vineland attracts both locals and visitors for its annual vintage and classic car show called the Cruise Down Memory Lane. During the summer, the town holds cultural and food focused events like a Seafood and Greek festival, while the winter months feature a holiday parade and seasonal activities.

Due to many nearby restaurants and stores. To access the nearby large metropolitan cities, residents with homes in Vineland, NJ can access state routes via car or opt for a commuter bus transit.

Enjoy the benefits of Vineland and choose to either build select home plans within Menantico Estates or build a new home on your own lot in any of the counties in or throughout Central and South New Jersey.

Menantico Estates is a new home community with 10 home in Vineland, NJ that have two-acre homesites. Floorplans in Menantico range from 1,880-3,100 square feet, start in the $400,000’s, and have close access to great recreation, dining, and shopping.

Schaeffer Family Homes builds to suit the lifestyle and needs of you and your family. Schaeffer can create your dream home with streamlined floor plans and options.

On our website, you can explore available lots, filter by size and specifications, and then select a homesite. You can also view photos of our models, learn about floor plans, begin selection colors and more. You can even calculate your mortgage. Visit the Schaeffer Family Homes website to explore more about our great new homes and communities, and find your new home in NJ.

Just a few homes remain in Vineland, NJ at Menantico Estates, so contact Schaeaffer today to start your home buying journey. Call us today for details and to schedule your appointment: (856) 208-5118 or General.Info@Schaefferhomes.com.

Tour Our Homes

Begin the new year with a fresh start in one of Schaeffer Family’s new homes in South New Jersey.

Schaeffer Family Homes builds new construction homes in NJ, both on your own lot and in spectacular planned communities.  With a range of great homesites and a variety of floor plans, it’s easy to find your dream home.

The best way to explore is in person. Stop by our Blake Model Home at 42 Haddonfield-Berlin Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 or visit one of our upcoming open houses in South Jersey or Central NJ.

Begin your tour of Schaeffer Family Homes at the Blake Model. This beautiful and functional floor plan is where you can see the quality and detail that we build into every home. The Blake Model boasts 2,915 sq ft of two story living space and includes 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 Baths and a choice to add a large 3rd floor finished loft space/bedroom or finished basement.

We also welcome you to visit during one of Scheffers’ upcoming open houses in South Jersey or Central NJ on:

Saturday, 12/17 from 11am – 2pm: The Phoenix Quick Move-In in Vineland, NJ

Contact Schaeffer directly to schedule an appointment by phone 856-208-5118 or email general.info@schaefferhomes.com.

During your visit, start the process to design your new home. Choose from two existing new home communities, Menantico Estates and Kresswood, or build a new home on your own lot in any of the counties throughout Central and South New Jersey.

The new home community of Menantico Estates has 10 available homesites in Vineland, NJ  featuring two-acre homesites, with floorplans ranging from 1,880-3,100 square feet, starting in the $400,000’s and close access to recreation, dining, and shopping.

The Kresswood Community has 3 available homesites, with floorplans ranging from 2,494- 3,676 square feet on 1.5 -2 acre homesites, that are priced between $731,900 – $919,850, and is located outside Philadelphia in the popular Voorhees Township that has a mixed urban/ suburban feel.

If you are unable to visit in-person, then visit us online where you can choose any one of our model homes to find the one that best suits your lifestyle and needs. Scheffer Schaeffer can build on your own lot with streamlined floor plans and options, and even modify the home as needed.

On our website, you can explore available lots, filter by size, and select a homesite.  Then you can view photos of our models, learn about floor plans, begin selection colors and more. You can even calculate your mortgage.

Visit the Schaeffer Family Homes website to explore more about our great new homes and communities, and find your new home in NJ.

Start your new home journey by contacting us today for details and to schedule your appointment: (856) 208-5118 or General.Info@Schaefferhomes.com.

Phoenix Quick Move-In

Schaeffer Family builds new homes in Vineland, NJ at Menantico Estates. This planned community features two-acre homesites, floorplans ranging from 1,880-3,100 square feet, and boasts a small-town feel with recreation, dining, and shopping.

One of the featured floor plans at Menantico Estates is the Phoenix “B” model. This home, available at the end of December and listed at $529,815, is located at the end of a private cul-de-sac and includes 2,334 sq ft of living space with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a 2 car garage.

The Phoenix floorplan has a traditional feel but still features an open family room and kitchen area. When completed, the selected finishes in the model are generous.

  • The Phoenix B has a stunning kitchen that is part of an expanded layout with a large center island, and pantry. The cabinets have 42” full overlay with soft-close construction, and are Coventry White in color along the perimeter and Coventry Sand in color for the island. The kitchen countertops are Quartz in the Sparkling White color. The kitchen faucet is a Moen pulldown with soap dispenser in “Indi” black for both functional and style. The hardware will complement the dark faucet on both the cabinets and the pendent lighting. Other features include crown molding, cabinet matching toe-kicks, an oversized sink, a double wastebasket pullout, and rollout shelves.
  • The adjacent first floor powder room, located off the entryway foyer, will include black hardware for the faucet, towel bar, and light sconces.
  • A large sunroom is located through a sliding glass door adjacent to the kitchen. There is also a generous back yard.
  • Around the first floor are oversized windows that bring in plenty of natural sunlight.
  • On the second floor is a laundry room and an expanded master bedroom with a tray ceiling.
  • The home is upgraded throughout with luxury baseboards and door casings, plus luxury vinyl planks floors in Prairie Walnut color in the first floor. Each bathroom has unique and tasteful floor coverings. However, an alternate flooring may still be chosen depending on timing.
  • There is more attention to detail that includes the black color design choice found in door hardware and the timeless but trendy, lighting fixtures.
  • Lastly, there is a full unfinished basement with nine foot ceiling as well as an expanded finished recreation room with a sliding glass door walk-out to the yard.

With easy access to the Jersey Shore, Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore, and Washington D.C., this new home in Vineland, NJ is perfectly located to allow for big city conveniences and suburban benefits.

Visit the Schaeffer Family Homes website to explore more about this great community and find this new home in Vineland, NJ.

Start your new home journey by contacting us today for details and to schedule your appointment: (856) 208-5118 or General.Info@Schaefferhomes.com.

Mortgage Pre-Approval Important 1st Step in Buying Home

The road to home ownership for NJ new homes, begins with a mortgage pre-approval process as the first step to buying your new home. The home buying journey is an exciting time and it’s important to understand the financial process for home financing. Once you know what to expect regarding the financing of a home, then you know your options for the type of mortgage that will work best for you.

You will also want to take time to learn the lingo and understand the settlement process. There are plenty of resources to help you understand terms and the process, and your local lender or relationship bank might also be a great source to find helpful, trustworthy information.

  1. Know Your Affordability

Before you can get pre-approved, you should understand your income and expenses. Begin with a spreadsheet of your current monthly bills and expenses. This spreadsheet will help you figure out what you can actually afford to pay on a monthly basis toward a mortgage. Keep in mind that in addition to the monthly principal and interest, you will also pay into escrow for property taxes, and insurance. This part of the process will prepare you to be in the best situation possible when you enter into the buyer agreement for a NJ new home.

Learn how to calculate your “Debt-to-Income Ratio” or DTI. A DTI compares the monthly amount that you owe to the amount that you earn. This number is a percentage showing your gross monthly income (before taxes) that is applied towards rent, mortgage, credit cards, or other debt payments.

  1. Pay Off Your Debts

Next before any large purchase, such as a NJ new home, improve your credit debt limit. After a lender checks your total debt ratio, they can suggest ways to improve, if helpful. It is always a great time to start saving for a new home. If possible, pay off any smaller debts you owe such as a car payment that only has a few months left on it.  Now is NOT the time to open a new credit card or open a new line of credit.

Lenders will look at everything and use your credit score as a key factor to determine whether or not to approve you. Take time to learn about all of the areas that affect your credit score and the credit approval process. This logic and course of action will not only help you with a new home purchase, but also with so many things moving forward in life too.

  1. Get Pre-Approved

Once you have become comfortable with the lingo and know your credit, then work with your lender to learn about loan choices that would be available to you. Determine which type of loan is the most suitable, and complete the process by getting pre-approved for a loan. Because you have done your homework and already know how much money you can borrow, you will know what price range to consider and can move quickly into entering a buyer’s agreement for your NJ new home.

Please see our 2 communities of Kresswood in Voorhees and Menantico Estates in Vineland and reach out to our preferred lender for those communities, Greentree Mortgage, with Eric Reeber’s contact information: Eric Reeber, Director, Green Tree Mortgage: Cell: (856) 261-7256 | Email: ereeber@greentreemortgage.com

Now, as you put a contract on a NJ new home, you can breathe easier knowing what to expect during the mortgage pre-approval process. Visit the Schaeffer Family Homes website to explore interactive floor plans, begin to personalize and design your new home online, and view available plan options.  Contact us today at 856-208-5118 or email general.info@schaefferhomes.com to reserve your new home in NJ today!

Tips for Designing a Kitchen Layout

When it comes to kitchen designs for new homes in NJ, the possibilities are endless. From cabinets, to flooring to fixtures, you can easily begin to feel overwhelmed as you consider the options. However, before you can even begin to select the colors and finishes, you first need to plan and design a layout for the kitchen. As an overlooked step, a good kitchen design is the foundation you need to efficiently and effortlessly utilize this central home space.

As you work with a professional to formally design a new kitchen space, below are a few tips and ideas to help you create your ideal kitchen layout.

  1. Think about your routines and needs. Are you a super chef, or a take-out connoisseur? Do you have dishware for every occasion or do you just prefer the basics? Think about what you will need to store in your kitchen. Also, will you have a dining room buffet or cabinet -meaning, what will be kept there versus in the kitchen? If you have your grandmother’s china, plus other dishes and glassware, then you might want to create enough storage space. How large of a pantry area do you think you will need? Will there be expeditions to warehouse club stores where you buy in bulk? So, consider the amount of items you will need to access and store in your kitchen, and then be sure to plan for enough cabinet and pantry space.

Pro-Tip: If possible, build in an appliance center into your pantry – where you can leave things like your stand mixer and/or food processor set up, plugged in, and ready to use. This way small appliances are not cluttering up counter space and you are not having to haul them in and out of cabinets when you need to use them.

  1. Plan room for an island and large appliances. How large of a kitchen island do you need? How much seating should be around it? Do you want to have a sink and dishwasher built into that island or just leave it as extra counter space?  Picture the flow of working inside your kitchen. How easily do you want to access your refrigerator, oven and microwave? Also know the ovens and cook tops you want to purchase ahead of time so that you plan to leave enough space for all of them. Remember to leave the aisle and walkways roomy enough to accommodate more than one cook in the kitchen.

Pro-Tip: Some appliances, like refrigerators, come in counter depth and standard depth. Consider the appliance you have now and what you might purchase in the future. In your design, you will want to accommodate the correct depth of those appliances as well as room leave room to open and close the doors.

  1. Be smart with space. As far as kitchen layouts for new homes in NJ go, there’s always room for personalization. Get creative with the elements in your kitchen. Think of… opportunities to build in paper towel dispensers, locations to add outlets for appliances, and an area where a charging station for phones and mobile devices might be handy.

ProTip: Don’t let empty spaces go to waste. Some ideas include adding cabinets to the outside of the kitchen island, placing a vertical spice cabinet near the cooking or prep area, and utilizing pull out drawers and pull down shelves to hold everything from pots and pans to cereal boxes and coffee pods.

Act now by September 30th to activate a Luxury Kitchen Coupon with Schaeffer Family Homes.

Whether you Build on your Own Lot (BOYL), or choose a beautiful homesite at either Menantico Estates in Vineland, or Kresswood in Voorhees, this Luxury Kitchen Coupon gives you granite countertops, 42” cabinets with crown molding, undermount stainless steel sink, and $250 toward any luxury kitchen faucet. Contact Schaeffer for all details and more information.

New construction homes in Vineland, NJ at Menantico Estates include ranch style, multi-level and traditional 2-story layouts, with floorplans that range from 1,880-3,100 square feet in both 3 or 4 bedrooms floorplans, starting in the $420s.

Or discover Kresswood, a small community of new homes in Voorhees, NJ, and lies just outside the city of Philadelphia. The four homesites featured in Kresswood have 3-4 bedrooms and range from 1900- 3600 square feet of living space, starting in the low-$700s.

Visit the Schaeffer Family Homes website to explore interactive floor plans and begin to personalize and design your new home online, by exploring all of the available plan options.

Contact us today at 856-208-5118 or email general.info@schaefferhomes.com to reserve your new home in NJ today!

Explore the Ellis Model Floor Plan

Menantico Estates, a community of two-acre homesites, showcases nine exciting floor plans to choose from and build your dream home in Vineland, NJ. This cozy new home community by Schaeffer Family Homes also allows for a wide choice of selections and features designed for your family.

New construction homes in Vineland, NJ at Menantico Estates include ranch style, multi-level and traditional 2-story layouts, with floorplans that range from 1,880-3,100 square feet and include 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 or 2.5 baths, and 2-car garages.

One of the newest smartly designed floor plans that is offered by Schaeffer Family Homes is the Ellis Model.

The Ellis is an updated but traditional style 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath single family home with 2,183 sq ft of living space and a two-car side entry garage. There is an option to add a basement for additional square feet and/or storage. The Ellis has nine foot ceilings throughout this beautiful plan to meet the needs of today’s family.

The front porch provides a great space for those who love to decorate throughout the seasons or simply enjoying spending time outdoors. Enter from the front door into a welcoming foyer. A guest bath and closet are easily accessible off the foyer. There is a split staircase that leads upstairs to the master bedroom, plus three more comfortable bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and the second floor laundry room. The master bathroom features a double sink vanity, tiled, walk-in large shower, and a generous walk-in closet. The selections available in the design center will allow you to create a spa- like bath experience.  The Ellis boasts the option to add more flexible space by adding a finished attic with a fifth bedroom, loft and full bathroom.

On the backside of the first level is the spacious kitchen with a plentiful pantry and an adjacent eat-in dining area. The open-layout kitchen features a large center island for preparing and enjoying meals and the option to design a more gourmet cooking area. Another option offered would expand the kitchen by adding a sunroom with a larger dining room space.

The living room flows off the kitchen and is anchored by a well-designed gas fireplace, and makes the perfect location for entertaining guests or cozying up with a great book!  Access your private, wooden two-acre lot from the back door off of the living room.

This model is currently available at 1059 Seneca Court for pre-sale with a $10,000 builder discount, plus a waived homesite premium of $3,000.  Personalize this home with your own selections from the Schaeffer Design Center. In approximately nine months, you can be living in this new home in Vineland, NJ.

Visit the Schaeffer Family Homes website to explore interactive floor plans and begin to personalize and design your new home online, by exploring all of the available plan options.

Contact us today at 856-208-5118 or email general.info@schaefferhomes.com to reserve this new home in Vineland, NJ at Menantico Estates today!

         

We are proud to offer new homes that have earned the ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are substantially more energy-efficient than homes built to the minimum code requirements. Our ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are independently verified by a third-party Home Energy Rater to ensure they meet ENERGY STAR energy efficiency guidelines. These homes are better for the environment and better for you. Learn more about ENERGY STAR qualified new homes at http://www.energystar.gov/

Looking to Build Your Dream Home?

Contact us by filling out the form below and
we will be in touch with you shortly.