Congratulations to Bryan Daugherty of 3 Washington Street, Nazareth, and the Lehigh and Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum in Bethlehem for winning our 2020 Holiday Lights Contest, Tour and Fundraiser, sponsored by Bobs Valley Wide Carpet Care,Blair Custom Homes Inc. and Saucon Source.

Daugherty used a lovely display of holiday lights to line the roof and siding of his Victorian-style home, and his trees and shrubs are decorated with festive and colorful lights.

The home received just over one-third of the nearly 500 votes cast, and beat out 26 other homes with festive displays.

Bryan Doughertys historic home at 3 Washington Street in Nazareth is the winning home in our 2020 Holiday Lights Contest.

The Lehigh and Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum at 705 Linden Street in Bethlehem is decked out with an array of multi-colored lights on the front and side of the building. It even has lights lining its railroad crossing signs.

The museum received more than 40 percent of the 329 votes cast, beating out the five other business submissions.

The Lehigh and Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum on Linden Street in Bethlehem is the winning business in our 2020 Holiday Lights Contest.

More than 800 votes were cast by our readers over the past week.

The winning entrants will receive wonderful prize baskets, which include gift cards totaling more than $100 to businesses such as Thai Thai II,ROOT Crafted Cocktail Mixers,SimpliciTea & Co., PEEPS & Co., Keystone Puband Apollo Grill.

Saucon Source thanks everyone who entered the contest and took time to vote in it. The festive efforts of our 33 entrants will result in a charitable donation to the Allentown Rescue Mission, theCenter for Animal Health and Welfareand theCommunity Food Bank for the Hellertown Area Ministerium.

We are also grateful to our friends at Bobs Valley Wide Carpet Care and Blair Custom Homes Inc. for helping put together the prize baskets our winners will receive as well as supporting this fundraiser with donation commitments. Their generosity is exemplary of how our local small business community never fails to support others in times of need.

Please stay tuned for the delivery of the prize baskets and donations in the near future.

Below is a map containing all of the contest entries, so you can treat yourself to another tour of the decorated homes and businessesand admire the displays of our two winners!

View 2020 Saucon Source Lights Tour in a full screen map

Congratulations to our winning entries in the 2020 Saucon Source Holiday Lights Contest! Bryan Daughertys home at 3 Washington Street in Nazareth borough was awarded the title of winning home for receiving the most votes, while the Lehigh and Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum in Bethlehem received the grand prize in our business category.

The rest is here:
View the WINNERS of Saucon Sources 2020 Holiday Lights Contest - Saucon Source

Less is more in this newly built farmhouse nestled between Wilshire and Olympic boulevards in Beverly Hills. While many of its peers try to wow buyers with five-digit square footage and over-the-top amenities, this custom-built abode focuses on high-end finishes and warm, livable spaces.

The details

Location: 220 S. Wetherly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Asking price: $5.695 million

Year built: 2020

Living area: 3,745 square feet with five bedrooms and five bathrooms on a 5,921-square-foot lot

Features: Black-and-white exterior; landscaped frontyard; European white oak floors; Carrara marble; San Sebastian limestone; 13-foot vaulted ceilings; open floor plan; chandelier-topped dining room; kitchen with tiered island; floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors; primary suite with private balcony; fountain-fed swimming pool; spa

About the area: In the 90211 ZIP Code, based on two sales, the median price for single-family homes in November was $2.608 million, up 11% year over year, according to CoreLogic.

Agents: Susan Perryman, Hilton & Hyland, (310) 261-1960

To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, send high-resolution color photos via Dropbox.com, permission from the photographer to publish the images and a description of the house to jack.flemming@latimes.com.

View post:
Home of the Week: A brand-new farmhouse in Beverly Hills - Los Angeles Times

WINDSOR, ONT. -- A newly renovated home, and the surprises inside, saw a Windsor family brought together by tragedy awestruck by the promise of a new life together.

On Sunday, the keys were handed over to Terrence and Chantell Hurst, and the six Allen children the newlywed couple has taken in as their own, for a home donated by the childrens great-grandfather and made new again with the support of the community.

The Erie Street-home was renovated for the family after the Hursts decided to adopt the six orphaned Allen children following the sudden loss of the childrens parents, Carmen and Adam Allen in early September.

"This is like my dream home," said Chantell Hurst, cycling between giddy smiles and teary eyes. "Its beautiful and its truly stunning."

Caster Custom Homes partnered with 26 different businesses, foundations and donors to renovate a donated Erie Street home for the Hurst an Allen family. Sunday, December 20, 2020. (Ricardo Veneza/CTV Windsor)

Chantell knew the family and would come over to do their hair. When she heard about the familys tragedy, she felt a calling to do more.

"The Lord just laid something on my heart," said Chantell. "When they were at their house, I was doing their hair and when I realized they werent being placed anywhere, the Lord put it on my heart and then I called my husband and he just said, 'If thats what you want'."

The act saw the community respond.

Dan Caster, the president of Caster Custom Homes, worked to bring partners together to give the family a new home after he was moved by the Hursts generosity to keep the brothers and sisters together.

He has had his own brush with heartache.

"I almost lost a daughter five-and-a-half years ago in my arms," said Caster. "You realize how precious children are and you realize what life is all about. Its not all about you anymore, its about your children."

The Caster Group along with 26 partner businesses, foundations and donors came together to renovate the home donated by the Allens great grandfather.

Caster hopes the new home will be the backdrop of great new memories.

"Its all about family to me," said Caster. "I just hope they feel welcome. I hope they feel loved. Love from the community, love from the people who put all their energy forth to do this and love from our partners that helped us to renovate the home."

Not only did the business community step up but, so did the familys church community.

New Life Fellowship Bishop Paul Riley says the church community rallied around the family in their time of need.

"For something like this to happen, this is nothing but the perfect example of what love of a community and people is," said Riley.

One more surprise

The surprises did not end with the tour of all the new features of the redone house.

Caster gathered the blended family at the dinner table for a final surprise revealing a cheque for $100,000 from the Alan Quesnel Family Foundation.

"This is not at all what I was expecting," said Terrence. "Im just speechless."

Some of the Allen children held their head in their hands in disbelief while Chantell wiped tears from her eyes.

"Were blessed. We both have jobs. We dont have $100,000 I dont think weve ever even seen $100,000," said Chantell. "But, to know that you can just send your children to college, to university, to not let them want."

Chantell says the couple are still working through the adoption process but, are humbled and elated to be spending Christmas together under the same roof.

Read the original:
'This is like my dream home': Renovated home donated to Windsor family brought together by tragedy - CTV News Windsor

A modern haven house with a big personality awaits you and your loved ones this holiday. This sublime home is complete with extensive updates and amenities suited for all of your holiday entertaining needs including a Henrybuilt kitchen with an additional cleverly appointed lower level kitchen, a secret floating bar, and fantastic indoor-outdoor flow with a heated covered patio and a killer roof-top deck and big walls for the art collector. Reflect upon the year with your loved ones in the intimate and private garden, the crowning gem of the home, with multiple seating areas, lovely paintings, LED lighting and steel-framed custom water feature-completely gated and secure. A new weight bearing roof awaits the arrival of Santa and his reindeer on Christmas Eve. Additional updates include a pneumatic elevator, powder room, floating stairs, 2-car tandem garage with electric charger, solar panels, interior vacuum with hide-a-hose feature, custom exterior railings, and smart-home alarm system!

Unwrap all of the magic this home has to offer at the website here >>

Love this home? Vote for it to help make it the Geek Home of the Month, and check out other featured Geek Homes of the Day here.

Contact Laura Halliday at Laura.Halliday@rsir.com or +1 206.399.5842 for more information about this home.

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Unwrap the Magic | Haven House in Seattle - GeekWire

Randall JasonArmstrong, (better known as "Randy") age 60, of Holladay, Tennessee, died in a tragic car accident on Friday, December 18th, 2020.

Randy was a skilled guitarist and songwriter, who made a big name for himself in the Central California music scene before moving to Tennessee in 1993. Randy left his mark on his hometown, and much of Middle Tennessee as a master carpenter and general contractor, building custom homes. He was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting, camping, and fishing with his grandson, Jude.

He is preceded in death by his father, Jerry Riley Armstrong. He is survived by his mother, Jemma Armstrong; daughter, Tara Armstrong (Sean Gurdon); grandson, Jude Gurdon; sister, Alicia Armstrong (Corey) Curtis; brother, Donald Armstrong; nephew, Riley Lashlee and niece, Bergan Lashlee.

Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at Bond Memorial Chapel with Les Stallings officiating. For those who plan to attend, please wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Visitation will be one hour prior to service time Wednesday at Bond Memorial Chapel, N. Mt. Juliet Road and Weston Drive, Mt. Juliet, TN. (615) 773-2663. http://www.bondmemorial.com

Original post:
Randall Jason Armstrong | Obituaries | wilsonpost.com - Wilson Post

The concept for a whole tiny townhouse complex made of these small homes was dreamt up by a Vancouver home builder

A Vancouver home builder working to provide a solution to homelessness in the city got tired of waiting around for laws to accommodate the project and built a prototype.

Bryn Davidson is the co-owner of Lanefab Design/Build, a company that builds custom homes and infill mini-homes or laneway houses. A few years ago Davidson heard about the Partners on Dwelling (POD) program based in Portland, Oregon which is now the Kenton Womens Village. The POD program facilitated the building of small sleeping pods that could be grouped closely together, it was this idea that got Davidson thinking his company could do something similar.

His vision was a house with a footprint of less than 10 square meters and less than 4.5 meters tall, dimensions small enough their construction would not require a building permit. These tiny homes could then be butted up against each other and be kept on empty lots throughout the city. The smallest version of these homes would be just for sleeping in but Davidsons design allows for the addition of kitchen and bathroom modules.

In an interview with Vancouver Is Awesome, Davidson said although he had been working on the project for a few years, things really started to heat up in September when residents near Strathcona Park protested what they viewed as government inaction on the homeless population staying in the park.

"That's when I really just started working on it, doing more drawings and started putting out drawings for concepts of tiny house villages on the sites of these community gardens, Davidson said. People are talking about all these different things but there wasn't a whole lot that was actually happening.

Davidson shared his design process extensively on his Twitter account. Renderings of the homes placed on the front lawn of Vancouver City Hall eventually garnered the attention of city counsellors Jean Swanson and Pete Fry, who pushed for the tiny home concept to be considered as an option for emergency housing.

In October he took his renderings to city council but the results of this attention were somewhat lacklustre for Davidson. When his idea came back to council after being studied for the projects feasibility, staff ranked down the idea. Davidson says this was in part to building code and zoning hurdles the project would have to go through.

Aside from the Strathcona Park protests, 2020 highlighted the need for additional sheltering for Vancouvers homeless population in a big way.

"The COVID situation exacerbated everything because the shelter capacities were reduced, Davidson said. We saw the Balmoral and other buildings were basically closed and emptied so we had this kind of perfect storm of things that were pushing people onto the street."

Davidson added it is not just a Downtown Eastside problem, that just happens to be where it is most visible but the pandemic has exacerbated these already dangerous issues.

On Nov. 5, Davidson started construction on the first prototype of a tiny home in a parking lot on Annacis Island. On Dec. 10, Davidson started a GoFundMe campaign to help finance the project. Thirteen days later the campaign has reached $2,740 raised of its $8,000 goal.

Ten days after creating the GoFundMe campaign, Davidson along with his girlfriend and son spent the night in the home.

Without any heat hooked up it was still warmer than the almost freezing temps outside, Davidson wrote of the experience on Twitter. We didnt need to zip up the sleeping bags

Even with the prototype nearing completion, Davidsons mission is far from over. The next steps include forming a partnership with a registered charity and getting the home in front of city officials so they can see a real-life example of what he proposed at council months earlier.

Davidson plans to accomplish this with the help of the Overdose Prevention Society.

When the prototype is completed, the tiny home will be moved to the OPS location on 58 and 62 East Hastings where it will serve as a support building for an Indigenous artist in residence at the society.

Sarah Blyth, a founding member of the OPS, says she is more than willing to showcase the tiny home, saying she is in support of showcasing all sorts of housing solutions.

"If you didn't have a place to sleep and you had to sleep in terribly cold and rough conditions, any human being needs a place to sleep that is warm and comfortable, Blyth said. When you don't have that life can be pretty difficult."

Blyth also hopes the tiny house will draw the attention of city officials and bureaucrats so they can get their eyes on it and have a real conversation about the possibilities.

Blyth added that she has asked unhoused people in the DTES about what they think of the tiny homes idea and the response has been purely positive.

The current version of one tiny house Bryn Davidson says comes with a $20,000 price tag. A number that could be significantly reduced by partnerships with charities and assistance from the City of Vancouver.

See the original post here:
Tiny townhouse project potential housing solution for Vancouver's DTES - Vancouver Is Awesome

MPNnow

The following deed transfers were recorded at the Ontario County Clerks Office in October 2020.

1173 Earls Drive: Amanda L. Tuttle and David M. Tuttle to Amanda L. Tuttle, $0.

8 Moraine Point: Elizabeth A. Missick and Gregory J. Missick to Laura Marie DiMarco and Michael Andrew Leshley, $571,000.

1160 Cork Road: Norbert W. Kaiser to Hamid Kamal, $250,000.

6969 Wyndham Hill: S and J Morrell Inc. to Beverly J. Lanoue, $299,982.

6984 Hackney Circle: Terrill L. Morgan to Daniel Gajewski and Janine M. Gajewski, $459,500.

6608 Boughton Hill Road: Betsy H. Riedman, Betsy Holden Riedman and David J. Riedman to 6608 Boughton Hill Road Investments LLC, $950,000.

3 Beach Flint Way: Renee L. Paulsen and Peter C. Paulsen to Georgia K. Queri and Thomas K. Queri, $440,000.

41 Stoneleigh Trail: Sevasti R. Stathopoulos and Constantino G. Stathopoulos to Sevasti R. Stathopoulos, $1.

1049 Warters Cove: Sarah L. Cammilleri to Gregory Hoffman-Fragale and Chad Hoffman-Fragale, $550,000.

23 Kent Drive: Nancy L. Bethel and Kirk J. Bethel to Marney C. Womble, $190,000.

65 Barchan Dune Rise: Jennifer Paszkiewicz and Jeffrey M. Paszkiewicz to Vadym Vasyliev, $901,000.

7216 Lane Road: Carol F. Forest and Carol F. Robinson to Michael Yeaple, $216,000.

6708 Setters Run: Julie MacAnn and Gregory MacAnn to Melanie C. Caccamise and Todd R. Caccamise, $321,000.

395 Fisher Road: Jay A. Yates to Heidi C. Piper, $0.

Fisher Road: Jay A. Yates to Heidi C. Piper, $0.

916 Fenwick Lane: Naresh K. Vedula to National Transfer Services LLC, $435,000.

916 Fenwick Lane: National Transfer Services LLC to Jeffrey A. Richardson, $435,000.

192 Miles Cutting Lane: Sheri Kobryn and Roman Kobryn to Sheri Kobryn, $0.

25 Barchan Dune Rise: Barbara S. Moore and William B. Moore to Barbara S. Moore, $0.

921 Taylor Rise: Jeffrey J. Salzburg and Colleen M. Salzburg to Christine Karaoguz and Adam A. Karaoguz, $450,000.

155 Huxley Way: Sarah S. Brown and Bruce E. Brown to Laura OBrien and Robert Marks, $236,000.

7443 Summerhill Lane: Woodstone Custom Homes Inc. to Thomas A. Crescuillo and Irene M. Crescuillo, $401,086.

93 Barchan Dune Rise: David J. Klein and Dawn K. Klein to Michael S. Hess, $1,630,000.

6830 Citation Way: Salvatore M. Guglielmino and Donna L. Guglielmino to Chad W. Boehly and Angelina M. Boehly, $390,000.

7243 Hertfordshire Way: Nancy L. Vaniseghem and Kerry E. Vaniseghem to Michele Beachner and Brett E. Beachner, $410,000.

71 Barchan Dune Rise: Rosemary Zaepfel to Thomas Delaney Jr., $895,000.

242 Haywood Glen: Caitlin R. Magiera and Randall J. Magiera to Joseph J. Seiler, $425,500.

48 Hillcrest Drive: Thompson Living Trust to Zachary Byron, $270,000.

4 Beach Flint Way: Barbara K. Bernier and Kurt J. Bernier to Shawn Marshall and Wendy C. Marshall, $414,000.

6931 Wyndham Hill: Redding Living Trust to John C. Emerson, $400,000.

6741 Falcons Point: Patricia J. Popielec and Michael D. Popielec to Kalagh M. Campbell and Jonathan Caswell, $927,500.

6689 Golf View Rise: Melanie M. Butler and Melanie L. McNally to Daniel Megelick and Aimee Fried-Hardy, $451,500.

6670 Golf View Rise: Lois S. Palomaki and John M. Palomaki to Paul Nardozzi, $545,000.

324 Meadowlark Lane: Debra S. Stirone to Nicholas Samuel Farnsworth, $309,900.

12 Ambassador Drive: Sandra K. Ayers Estate to Amanda Robinson and Friend R. Olsen, $168,500.

6945 Wyndham Hill: Lori J. Thompson and Russell D. Thompson to Mary Anne Kiernan and Robert E. Lazeski, $407,500.

1277 Wellington Drive: Nancy Zavaglia and Robert Zavaglia to Sandra J. Deutsch, $224,000.

6401 Erica Trail: Trina Viggiano and Dan Viggiano III to Haley S. Erwin and William K. Erwin, $392,000.

Log Cabin Road: Martha J. Rossi and Thomas M. Rossi to Laura Anne Byrne and Patrick Norman Byrne, $20,000.

7434 Summerhill Lane: Woodstone Custom Homes Inc. to Joseph M. Pilger and Brittany A. Pilger, $555,730.

1169 Wellington Drive: Brenda Randall to Mitchell James Long and Amanda Kamarck Long, $390,000.

1530 Brace Road: Susan Brown and Susan Ricci to Vanessa I. Wooden and Steven E. Wooden, $305,000.

20 School St.: Robert Chiapperino to ESL FCU, $100,000.

32 School St.: Victor Coal and Lumber Co. Inc. and Elaine Bliss Estate to ESL FCU, $691,600.

259 County Road 9: Christina Stewart and Mitchell R. Stewart II to Christine Schillaci, $387,500.

1226 The Grove: Catherine E. Varalli to Kendra A. Kosten, $125,000.

0 W. Main St. and state Route 96: James H. Northrop to Bruce Stenglein, $7,000.

State Route 96: Lake Edge LLC to Victor East Holding Co. LLC, $535,000.

0 School St.: Michael K. Bliss to ESL FOC, $68,400.

1291 Blossom Drive: CED II LLC to PREA LLC, $50,000.

6829 Citation Way: Robert O. Bailey to Robert A. Bailey, $0.

7359 Sachem Trail: Paul M. Nardozzi to Marlene B. Jones and Jeffrey M. Jones, $422,000.

4 Medford Way: McStay Family Wealth Trust to Kiersten Palmer, $0.

Link:
DEED TRANSFERS: Town of Victor - MPNnow.com

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. The real estate market is booming. But be careful, not everyone is building dream homes with a solid foundation.

More than 20 homeowners whove spoken to Fox 4 over the last two years say their problem is simply they trusted the wrong person to build their house.

Fox 4 uncovers that those homeowners represent a small fraction of about 2,000 complaints filed with state and local construction agencies against multiple contractors within the last two years. complaints range from code violations to unlicensed work to misconduct. A third of the complaints filed in Collier County were unfounded by the county's licensing board.

The state agency - Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation - has closed more than half the cases. Even if cases are closed, wounds for customers are still wide open.

Dan McAtee and his wife Tina signed a contract with Rhino Custom Homes in 2018 to build their dream home. Two years later, theyre still waiting to move into what was supposed to be part of their happily ever after.

Its not only a gut-punch, but I was expecting to retire at the end of last year, said Mr. McAtee.

Even after paying Rhino Custom Homes, more than 75 percent of the total cost for their new home, the McAtees say all they got for their hard-earned money was completed a concrete shell and a roof that had to be replaced because it had rotted.

When they confronted Rhino owner Mark Southwick about their rotted roof after they received this violation order from Charlotte County Code Enforcement, he replied Im calling inspector" and Ill get it taken care of right now." That was in February.

Southwick did not respond to my requests for comment within the last two weeks. The attorney who previously spoke on his behalf told Fox 4 he's no longer representing him.

In August, Southwick told the Charlotte County Licensing Board he did not oversee the build of the McAtee's home.

Board Member: With respect to the McAtee's home, _______ testified that the quality of the work was poor. What's your response to that, and do you supervise your job sites? Or do you have someone that does?

Southwick: I was not at that time. We went over all this before. I grew way too fast.

The McAtees say Southwick shouldn't have bitten off more than he could chew.

Were going to be out by about $200,000 at the end of the day - at least! said Mr. McAtee.

Since then, the McAtees have hired a new contractor, Vantage homes. Instead of retiring, McAtee says he is now working a few more years just to pay for his home, but also for Rhino Custom Homes not finishing the job they were paid to do in the first place.

Ben Bailey, Director of Charlotte County Community Development says the countys licensing board has revoked Mark Southwicks permitting privileges in the county. So, he cannot work under any permits issued by the county under his name or his company rhino custom homes.

Amira Fox, State Attorney for the 20th judicial circuit says shes working to assure homeowners that all Southwest Florida contractors finish the jobs they start in a timely manner. At the cost outlined in original contracts moving forward. Last month, she created a contractor fraud task force that spans across Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Glades and Hendry Counties.

Homeowner complaints go beyond Rhino Custom Homes. Nearly 600 complaints from Southwest Florida were filed with DBPR between the beginning of 2019 and October of this year against hundreds of contractors.

Even more were filed in individual counties. Locally, complaints span beyond contractors allegedly taking money and failing to complete work.

During that same time frame, 782 complaints were filed with the Collier County licensing board against multiple contractors for issues including unlicensed and unpermitted work and failing code inspections. 47 percent of those cases have either been settled or closed. a third of them were unfounded. The rest are still pending or awaiting citation.

In 2019, Charlotte County received 398 complaints against individual contractors and 485 so far in 2020.

McAtee says the complaints mean nothing if contractors continue to get away scot-free.

Fox says prosecuting these cases was difficult because the Moneys Received by Contractor statute had holes in it. Her office could prosecute contractors using that law. Under it, they'd have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the contractor had no intent to complete a home or use the customer's money properly. Something Fox admits was difficult to do.

But, since homeowners have shared their stories with Fox 4 over the last two years, Fox says that law has changed.

Theres specifics now written in the statue. If you take the money, and you take a certain percentage from the victim, and then you dont perform within a certain amount of time, theres a presumption that youve committed a crime, said Fox.

Unfortunately, the new law went into effect at the end of last year, after the McAtees signed their contract with Rhino. So, it wont protect them.

The flip side, is the owners of Harden and Dukes Custom Homes Matthew Harden and Stephen Dukes have been charged with crimes.

Fox 4 cameras captured HD homes owner Stephen Dukes walking out of Sarasota County Jail in September after he and his partner Harden were charged with one count of scheme to defraud and 12 counts of misapplication of construction funds. Days later his partner was arrested, too.

Listed phone numbers for Dukes were disconnected, and one rang on end without ever going to a voicemail. Same thing for Harden, except someone answered the one number that wasn't disconnected, and said no one by the name of Matthew Harden lived there.

But, before it gets to an arrest, before you lose money, before signing on the dotted line, Bailey recommends doing your homework.

We have a lot of information on our county website. If you want to go in to look at the progress that the contractor has on all their permits, you can simply go in there, do a search, itll pull up all their permits, inspection history, whether or not theyve had any complaints, said Bailey.

You can search any contractor before signing on with them and get a list of all the subcontractors working on a particular permit and call them. Ask if the contractor has made any late payments.

The McAtees say they wish they had known about this before trusting Southwick.

But, despite waiting for a home they say should've been finished last year they're looking toward the light at the end of the tunnel.

Even though, were going to be out the money, at least were going to be able to get the house done. So, were focusing on the positive, rather than all the negative of the last year, said Mrs. McAtee.

According to DBPR, Southwick has agreed to voluntarily relinquish his contractor license with the state by March 15, 2021 to avoid any further administrative action. Homeowners who've filed complaints would then be eligible to receive compensation from the state's contractor recovery fund.

The McAtees are expecting a completed home in January.

See the rest here:
Fox 4 uncovers thousands of complaints filed against Southwest Florida contractors - Fox 4

Rockports Ledgemont is inarguably one of the North Shores grande dames, boasting sweeping views of Thacher Island and the open expanse of the Atlantic Ocean from nearly every one of its 15-plus rooms. Just moments to beautiful Long Beach, this magnificent property sits 130 feet above sea level while bordering the 100 bucolic acres of Rockports South Woods. Expertly crafted and designed with only the finest of materials, nearly everyone who sees it will assuredly agree that this is no ordinary offering. Marketed by J Barrett & Companys George Needham, it lists for $3,350,000.

This exceptional one-of-a-kind home is truly a crown jewel of Cape Ann, says the Realtor. Constructed in 2013 by a renowned local builder, its 21 acre lot is one of the largest, if not THE largest, residential parcels in town.

Approached by a long driveway lined with custom lighting and attractive stonework, the homes shingle-style facade enhanced by multiple decks is quintessential New England. Step inside to a wide open and versatile floor plan riddled with exquisite finishes such as coffered ceilings, crown moldings, wainscoting, hardwood floors, recessed lighting and architectural columns. Offering the perfect blend of formal and relaxed spaces, the main level features stunning living and dining rooms; a handsome den with pocket doors, beamed ceiling, wood burning fireplace and a built-in mahogany bar; and a family room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a stone fireplace with pellet stove. In keeping with the homes thoughtfully fluid design, this space melts into a breathtaking gourmet kitchen with state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances, custom cherry cabinetry, stone counter tops, an expansive center island with pendant lighting and a generous dining nook. For outdoor entertaining when the weather permits, a bluestone patio with granite fireplace is easily accessed from most of the rooms on this level.

A master suite with sitting area, built-in jetted tub, double sinks and private deck is just one of five en suite bedrooms on the second floor including a generous space with private entrance, ideal for a workout room, au pair or in-law, suggests Needham. Also sharing this level is a home office, custom bookcases in the hallway and a convenient laundry room.

While the entire home is undeniably awe-inspiring, it is perhaps on the third floor where you will find the best seat in the house. Wrapped in windows and nautical-inspired bead board, this secluded observatory with soaring wood ceiling offers uninterrupted 180-plus degree ocean views. As if all this were not enough, other amenities include a mudroom with walls of closets and cubbies, a large lower level with full bath, and a six-car heated attached garage.

For more information on this remarkable property, or to schedule a private showing, call George Needham at 978-382-8178.

AT A GLANCE:

5-plus bedrooms

7 full and 1 half bath

7,022 square feet

21.19 acres

$3,350,000

LISTED BY:

George Needham

J Barrett & Company

978-382-8178

http://www.jbarrettrealty.com

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Read more from the original source:
Amazing Rockport estate leaves nothing to the imagination - The Salem News

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) analyzed the 2019 Survey of Construction (SOC) data, which shows a trend of declining home size across the country before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NAHB predicts that this trend is likely to reverse in the years to come, however, there are some regions of the country that have large homes built today. The NAHB reports which areas of the United States have some of the largest single-family homes.

According to the 2019 Survey of Construction, the three regions of America with the largest homes built are the Middle Atlantic, Mountain States, the West South Central, and the South Atlantic. Middle Atlantic states include New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. The Mountain States include Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

The West South Central region is made up of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. Lastly, the South Atlantic region consists of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, as well as the District of Columbia.

The median square footage of new single-family homes started in the U.S. last year was 2,300 square feet. This includes finished areas of the basement and attic. The median square footage was 2,500 square feet for new single-family homes started in the Middle Atlantic region of America in 2019. That same year, single-family homes started in the Mountain States, as well as the West South Central and South Atlantic regions, all had a median square footage of 2,300 square feet.

The NAHB also reports that there were substantial differences in square footage between single-family attached and detached homes. In single-family attached homes, the median square foot area of completely finished floor space nationwide was 1,800 square feet. For detached single-family homes, the median square footage was 2,400.

The Middle Atlantic is the top region in the country for building some of the largest attached and detached homes, with a median of 2,400 square feet and detached 2,600 square feet, respectively. Meanwhile, the New England area, where new single-family attached homes are more common than in any other region, had a median square footage of 1,800 for attached homes in 2019.

Analyzing spec homes compared with custom homes built by contractors and owners also reveals some variation in new home sizes. Across the country, new single-family homes built by contractors have a median square foot area of completely finished floor space of 2,400 square feet.

By comparison, homes built by owners are typically smaller, with about half of them reporting square footage of 2,000 square feet or less. New single-family homes built for sale tend to be about the same size as those built by contractors, with a median square footage of 2,300 square feet.

The NAHB provides more detailed data on the square footage of new single-family homes in its full analysis.

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Where Americans Build the Biggest Homes - theMReport.com - The MReport