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.

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

NORTH SYRACUSE, N.Y. When Andy and Janice McWains grandson left his grandparents home for the last time before they moved Florida, he was overcome with emotion.

He kissed the house, Janice said, laughing. Im going to miss you, he said.

While doing the interview from the Sunshine State about their amazing ranch at 7674 Windsor Drive North in North Syracuse, the couple began to have similar feelings as their grandson.

We love the house, Andy said. We are attached to the property.

We are having reservations about selling, they joked.

The couple moved to the ranch, built at the end of a cul-de-sac, in December 2013 from a patio home in Radisson.

Janices elderly father was moving in with them and they had adopted a second golden retriever. They needed more space.

They would find it here.

The three-bedroom house has almost 5,000 square feet of living space set on almost two acres of property. There are 36 acres of vacant land, and full of deer, behind them.

(They were also friendly with the homes builder, Nick Paduano, and knew of his reputation for building quality homes.)

The main level is wide open and has a huge kitchen joining a large formal dining room and a spacious family room with a gas fireplace. Sliding doors lead out into a beautiful four-season room which Andy calls the highlight of the house.

The owners enjoy watching wildlife from the rooms 13 windows in a heated and air-conditioned space. There is even a second gas fireplace for cold days in winter.

Thats where you want to sit, Andy said.

Janice says that the homes finished walk-out lower level is like entering a whole new world.

We used to entertain big time here, Janice said. It was a major party house.

The couple says that they hosted four Christmas parties of at least 80 people each last year and have held parties of 125 people during the summer.

The area has a kitchen that mirrors the one upstairs and has a full bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub.

I wish it were it upstairs, Janice joked.

The way they filled the space might explain their grandsons attachment to the home.

The lower level was stocked with a custom billiard table, arcade games, pinball machines, foosball, and bowling machines.

The grandchildren especially liked the slot machines, hoping to learn a little money while visiting their grandparents.

The space leads out to the heated, saltwater in-ground swimming pool which they had installed in 2014.

No wonder the kids wanted them to stay there!

We miss it, Andy said.

They have already moved to Florida and are enjoying the warmer weather there.

For more information about this property, contact realtor Timothy Connors of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties. His information is below.

THE DETAILS

Address: 7674 Windsor Drive North, North Syracuse, N.Y. 13212

Price: $489,900

Size: 4,840 square feet

Acreage: 1.63 acres

Monthly Mortgage: $1,637 (based on this weeks national average rate of 2.93 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.)

Taxes: $16,342 (Based on assessed value of $422,785)

Built: 2005

School District: North Syracuse

Kitchen: The eat-in kitchen is open and allows for easy access from the formal dining room, spacious family room and all-season room. It allows for easy entertaining and keeps party conversations going. Owner Andy McWain says the kitchen can seat 10 people. There is plenty of storage space and a kitchen pantry. The kitchen has double ovens. The lower level has another full kitchen which mirrors the one on the main level.

Living areas: This 2005 ranch is in pristine condition and has had only two owners. It is immaculate, Janice McWain said. Wide plank oak hardwood flooring was used throughout and the home features solid wood doors and no square corners. It is described as being a one of a kind ranch with almost 5,000 square feet of space. Nine new closet systems have been installed since 2013. The main floor has a front living room, which has been primarily used as a home office, a formal dining room and a family room with a gas fireplace. A three-season porch was converted into a wonderful four-season room which the owners consider the highlight of the home. There are 13 windows there, hot water baseboard heat, air conditioning and a gas fireplace. The McWains enjoy watching the wildlife out back from there. The main level also has a laundry room.

Bedrooms: There are three full bedrooms in the house, with space for another in the lower level. The master bedroom has his-and-her California closets and a new ceiling fan.

Bathrooms: All new granite counters and sinks have been installed in the three full bathrooms. The master bath includes a bidet and a glass door around the bathtub. The lower level bathroom has a Jacuzzi-style tub.

Lower level: The walk-out lower level was kept open so it could host parties by the owners. The space was filled with pinball machines, slot machines and a custom billiard table. It was favorite spot for the owners grandchildren. The kids loved it, Janice said. It provides easy access to the back patio and swimming pool area. With a full kitchen and bathroom, the space could be used as an in-laws apartment.

Outdoors: This ranch was built at the end of a cul-de-sac in North Syracuse. It was built on 1.63 acres and there is plenty of room for outdoors parties. The owners have hosted events there with 125 guests. There are 36 acres of peaceful state land behind the house, full of deer. The heated saltwater in-ground swimming pool was installed in 2014 and was featured by Cannon Pools as being one of the best in Central New York. The home as an insulated three-car garage and the back of the home has another garage which the owners use to store pool equipment. They call the neighborhood very friendly and said they knew everyone. The home is just minutes away from two Wegmans and the airport.

Agent: Timothy Connors

Coldwell Banker Prime Properties

Address: 6263 Route 31, Cicero, N.Y. 13039

Phone: (315) 345-4058

Email: Tim.Connors@coldwellbankerprime.com

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If you know of a beautiful or interesting house currently up for sale, please consider sending a nomination for it to be featured as a future House of the Week. Send an email with the listing to home@syracuse.com.

Do you know of any older homes in Central New York which have fallen on hard times but have a lot of potential should they be restored to their original grandeur? A fixer-upper with a lot of potential? Consider nominating them to our new feature, Save this Home, in which we will spotlight grand houses of the past around Central New York that need to be saved. Send nominations to home@syracuse.com.

Go here to read the rest:
House of the Week: Couple call their North Syracuse ranch their major party house - syracuse.com

About a mile from the ocean in Santa Monica, a brand-new home is shaking things up with a dazzling concoction of jagged lines and concrete finishes. Designed by architect Joe Flynn, the modern, blocky build features a massive wall of glass perched above the street, and inside, floating staircases navigate spaces with Italian tile, heated floors, skylights and smart home features. Out back, the landscaped patio tacks on a lap pool and spa.

The details

Location: 1767 Sunset Ave., Santa Monica, 90405

Asking price: $5.487 million

Year built: 2020

Living area: 5,400 square feet, four bedrooms, six bathrooms

Features: Landscaped walkway; high ceilings; polished concrete finishes; dining room with angled wood ceilings; kitchen with custom island; floating staircases; lofted office; wine cellar; media room; owners suite with private terrace; steam shower; outdoor fire pit; two-car garage

About the area: In the 90405 ZIP Code, based on 12 sales, the median price for single-family homes in October was $2.438 million, up 40.7% year over year, according to CoreLogic.

Agents: David and Anna Solomon, Douglas Elliman of California, (310) 279-7759

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.

Read more here:
Home of the Week: A jagged structure in Santa Monica - Los Angeles Times

Garfield Township planning commissioners will discuss a proposed 168-unit apartment complex on Hartman Road and a planned bed-and-breakfast on Hainey Lane at their 7pm virtual meeting tonight (Wednesday). The board will also consider approving a construction extension for a planned 84-unit apartment complex on Garfield Road that has experienced project delays due to the pandemic.

Hartman Road Apartment ComplexThe owner of 6.19 acres of vacant land on the south side of Hartman Road west of Dracka Road hopes to build a 168-unit apartment complex on the site, complete with seven three-story buildings, a clubhouse, and a pool area. But while the project is similar to other high-density, multi-family developments nearby such as Liv Arbors it likely faces an uphill battle for approval because of being located on the more rural, agricultural side of Hartman, says Township Planning Director John Sych.

Township planning commissioners will hold a conceptual planning review of the proposed Mosser apartment complex tonight an informal first look at plans that allows commissioners to talk through the project and share feedback before developers return with a formal application. No decision will be made on the project tonight. However, developers will likely hear some tough feedback, according to Sych, who says the townships master plan calls for keeping the south side of Hartman more rural with lower-density housing as opposed to the type of bigger complexes that are just across the street.

When I look at the master plan, at some point there needs to be a transition to lower density, he says. I dont know if Hartman is a good place to allow too much more residential. Were really trying to encourage infill further north. While Sych acknowledges the need for more housing in the region, he says there are multiple other locations in Garfield Township along Garfield and LaFranier roads, as examples, and in several commercial areas where property is still available and dense apartment complexes make more sense.

If planning commissioners want to consider allowing dense housing on the south side of Hartman, Sych says the board could revisit the master plan and consider changing zoning designations for the entire corridor. That would prevent the township from spot zoning or changing the zoning rules for one particular property which Sych says undermines the purpose of a master plan. When you make a considerable deviation of the master plan, it weakens the plan itself, he says. So if we wanted to do something, we should evaluate the master plan.

The Mosser project is the second apartment complex in two months to be proposed for the area surrounding the Miller Creek Nature Reserve. The first, which planning commissioners conceptually reviewed in October, is a proposed 60-unit complex on vacant land behind the Baymont Inn between Hartman and South Airport roads. Sych says that project has attractive potential, being located near commercial properties and offering possible sidewalk and trail connections to the Mall Trail along US-31 and to Miller Creek Nature Reserve. That one, the location looks very well from our standpoint, says Sych. Its a nice fit. Developers M Brothers Northern LLC have not yet returned with a formal application following the October conceptual review, though Sych notes that planning commissioners raised questions about wetland impacts and sewer and water connections at that meeting that may take developers time to address in project plans.

Bed & BreakfastA couple with an organic working farm on Hainey Lane near the northeast corner of Cedar Run and Gray roads hope to open a small bed-and-breakfast on the site.

Matthew and Rebecca Ligon are seeking township approval of a special use permit (SUP) to turn a former mother-in-law suite into overnight guest accommodations on their property, called Blended Roots Farm. The couple bought the site in 2014 and started developing an organic farm on the property the following year, producing maple syrup and growing vegetable gardens, sunflower patches, and U-pick flower beds open to the public.

In their application documents, the Ligons say they hope to create walking paths through their expanding sunflower fields with signage and turn the farm into an educational community experience showing and teaching people how to grow, raise, and produce food for the community and their families. The bed-and-breakfast would not only help the farm reach its long-term goals of educating and possibly inspiring visitors from all walks of life, but provide a quiet, peaceful getaway for those looking to enjoy our way of life, the couple wrote. This would also showcase Garfield Township for our commitment to putting community and farming first.

Bed-and-breakfast establishments are permitted on agricultural land in Garfield Township with a SUP. Staff indicated the Ligons proposed project appears to meet SUP requirements, including being on owner-occupied property, having no more than eight guests at any time, having adequate on-site parking, not renting out any snowmobiles/all-terrain vehicles/other recreational equipment, and being at least 1,000 feet away from the next closest bed-and-breakfast. If planning commissioners find the application acceptable tonight, they will vote to set a public hearing for January 13, at which time they could approve the bed-and-breakfasts SUP.

Fox RunFinally, planning commissioners will consider offering a construction extension to Eastwood Custom Homes tonight for the development groups planned 84-unit apartment complex called Fox Run on the east side of Garfield Road between South Airport and Hammond roads. The complex is planned to include 84 two-bedroom apartments on approximately 4.3 acres of land, with amenities including a walking trail, dog park, and three playgrounds. The project was approved as a planned unit residential development (PURD) by planning commissioners in early spring 2019, giving developers two years from that date to begin construction and make meaningful progress toward completion. Developers can seek a one-year extension of that deadline if they can provide evidence they will be able to start construction and make meaningful progress before the third year is up.

According to Eastwood Custom Homes President William Clous, the pandemic and loss of labor caused by COVID-19 forced construction to be delayed this year. He is requesting a one-year extension of his PURD through April 2022, noting in a memo to the township that he intends to break ground in May 2021 and work towards completion in the following months. Township staff are supportive of the extension, agreeing in a memo to the board that the ongoing pandemic has certainly been identified as causing many disruptions across all industries and is certainly a factor beyond the control of the applicant.

Pictured: Garfield Township Hall

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Garfield Township To Discuss Proposed Apartment Complex, Bed & Breakfast - Traverse City Ticker

Gig Harbor, Washington , Oct. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harbor Custom Development, Inc. (Harbor Harbor Custom Homes or the Company), (NASDAQ:HCDI), an innovative and market leading real estate company involved in all aspects of the land development cycle, today announced that it has appointed Walter (Wally) Walker to the Companys Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mr. Walkerwill be an independent director in accordance with the applicable rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.

In 1987, following a nine-year career as a professional basketball player, Mr. Walker began his financial services career at Goldman Sachs & Co, serving as Vice President of Private Client Services, becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst in 1992. In 1994, Mr. Walker returned to professional basketball in the front office to become President of the Seattle SuperSonics of the NBA. Beginning in 2001, he took on the additional role of CEO with the SuperSonics, and served as President and CEO of the Seattle Storm of the WNBA. Upon the sale of the Seattle franchises in 2006, Walker founded Hana Road Capital, LLC, an investment advisory firm in 2007, which he continues to own as well as serving as Chief Investment Officer. Since 2005, Mr. Walker has been a member of the Advisory Council of Stone Arch Capital, a Minneapolis based private equity firm. Mr. Walker also serves on the Board of Trustees of Smead Capital Management, a Seattle based mutual fund. In 2017, Mr. Walker was named an independent director on the Board of Directors of Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. Mr. Walker graduated from the University of Virginia in 1976 as an Academic All-American with a BA in psychology. and upon retiring as a player from professional basketball in 1985, he attained a Masters of Business Administration from Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1987.

Sterling Griffin, President and CEO of Harbor stated, We are delighted to welcome Wally to the Harbor team as an independent Board Director. Wallys stellar collegiate and professional basketball career as a player foreshadowed his abilities and characteristics as a proven winner and leader which he transitioned from the court to Wall Street and the front office on some of the worlds biggest stages.

Mr. Walker commented, I am honored to be named an independent director at Harbor Custom Development, Inc. The Company is extremely well positioned to capitalize on the unique market forces that have driven home inventory to historically low levels, at a time when demand for suburban residential living is in high demand. I look forward to helping Harbor Custom Development, Inc. realize its potential, while representing the interest of its stakeholders.

About Harbor Custom Development, Inc.

Harbor Custom Development, Inc., dba Harbor Custom Homes, is a real estate development company involved in all aspects of the land development cycle including land acquisition, entitlements, construction of project infrastructure, home building, marketing, sales, and management of various residential projects in Western Washingtons Puget Sound region. Harbor has active or recently sold out residential communities in Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Silverdale, Bainbridge Island, and Allyn in the state of Washington. Harbor Custom Developments business strategy is to acquire and develop land strategically, based on an understanding of population growth patterns, entitlement restrictions, infrastructure development, and geo-economic forces. Harbor focuses on real estate within target markets with convenient access to metropolitan areas that are generally characterized by diverse economic and employment bases and increasing populations. For more information on Harbor Custom Development, Inc., please visit http://www.harborcustomdev.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as may, might, should, believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, continue, predict, forecast, project, plan, intend or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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Financial Services and Front Office Executive and Former NBA Player Wally Walker Appointed to Harbor Custom Development, Inc. Board of Directors -...

According to Redfin, the median sale price of U.S. homes in zip codes with a low wildfire risk has increased 101% since 2012, compared with an 88% increase for homes in high-wildfire-risk zip codes.

This disparity exacerbates the affordability crisis in low-risk areas, forcing homebuyers who don't have large budgets to look to more fire-prone regions for affordable homes. Redfin's analysis is based on its own housing market data and U.S. Forest Service data across 2,700 zip codes in California, Oregon and Washington.

Over the 12 months ending August 2020, homes in high-wildfire-risk zip codes sold for an average of 3.9% less than those in low-risk zip codes--$640,000 compared to $656,000. This is a reversal from eight years earlier. In 2012, homes in high-risk areas sold for an average 2.5% more than in low-risk areas.

Home prices in high-risk areas first dipped below prices in low-risk areas in 2015--three years before the Camp Fire became the most destructive wildfire in California history, destroying over 18,000 structures and killing 85 people.

Double-digit price growth in already expensive West Coast cities has likely driven homebuyers to look in more affordable, but fire-prone areas. For example, Bay Area homebuyers who are priced out of San Francisco, where the median home sold for $1.45 million in September, may feel forced into more high-risk areas such as Santa Rosa, where the median price in September was $690,000, or Sacramento, where the median price was $475,000.

"Buyers relocating to Sonoma County from the Bay Area for affordability and quality of life have made up more than 90% of my business since May, when more tech workers started to get permission to work from home permanently," said Sonoma County Redfin agent Sandrine Daligault. "One buyer moved from San Francisco to a neighborhood in coastal Sonoma, where he works remotely from a custom home with water views he bought for $1.1 million, unheard of for a home of that caliber in the Bay Area. Another client bought a home in Santa Rosa for $499,000 after selling his East Bay home for $700,000. He's a police officer who helped fight the Tubbs Fire in 2017, and he's not worried about wildfires."

People based in San Francisco make up a significant portion of Sonoma County home searchers: 13.6% of Redfin.com users looking for homes in Sonoma County were from San Francisco in the second quarter of 2020, about on par with 15% in the second quarter of 2019. The net increase in residents was the same during those two time periods, with roughly 440 more Redfin.com home searchers looking to move from San Francisco to Sonoma County than vice versa in the second quarters of both 2019 and 2020.

More than 4.5 million homes are located in areas across the states of Washington, Oregon and California that have a high wildfire risk, with a total estimated home value of $3.3 trillion.

Homebuying competition is more intense in areas with low wildfire risk than in areas with high wildfire risk. To understand how much more competitive the low-risk areas are, consider that 42% of homes sold in low-risk areas over the past three years went under contract within two weeks, while in high-risk areas, just 33% of homes found buyers as quickly.

Similarly, in low-risk areas, 35% of homes sold above list price, compared to 27% in high-risk areas. The tougher competition in low-risk areas makes it harder to buy a home where it's safer, and gives buyers another reason to shift their home search to risky areas where homes are more affordable and there's less competition.

Housing Market Competition by Wildfire Risk

"The lower cost of housing in wildfire-prone areas compared to low-risk areas is likely just the beginning of the consequences of climate change for the housing market," said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. "Right now, wildfires are still a rare occurrence for homeowners, but if fires and other climate disasters continue to happen more and more frequently, some housing markets will go from less desirable to untenable, yet they will remain the only option for many families."

If the trend of recent years continues and wildfires become even more frequent and destructive, migration to high-risk areas could slow. The gap between home prices and competition in high-risk and low-risk areas would continue to widen, making it harder to sell homes in areas with higher risk.

"Right now people are still migrating to places that have suffered through wildfires or smoke in the central valley and wine country in California and parts of Oregon because homes in those places seem like a good deal," explained Fairweather. "Homebuyers often look at the lower sticker price on homes with more fire risk and are driven to buy because it's what they can afford. Wildfire risk can dramatically increase insurance premiums, droughts can increase water costs and heat can increase cooling costs or make spending time outdoors unbearable. All of these factors can drive homebuyers away from fire-prone areas. Rising home prices in expensive cities also contribute to urban sprawl into high-risk areas. But the long-term costs of building homes in fire-prone areas can be both costly and deadly."

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Areas at High Wildfire Risk, Relative Affordability Lures U.S. Homebuyers - World Property Journal

Construction of the new upper school academic building at Sandhills Classical Christian School in Whispering Pines is expected to wrap up in December, a fitting Christmas present from the commercial builder attached to the project, Rhetson Companies.

Based in West End, Rhetson is a preferred developer for Dollar General stores and PetSuites of America, among other corporate clients. CEO Brian Clodfelter said Moore Countys growth has encouraged more interest and opportunities to bring his teams expertise closer to home.

We all live and play and raise our kids here. We have always been engaged in the community and have supported many local organizations through the years, he said. We also firmly believe that we are blessed to be a blessing to our community.

Clodfelter, who worked as a golf course superintendent with Pinehurst Resort for 12 years before going into construction, and his wife, Julianne, who was a nurse for 17 years with FirstHealth of the Carolinas, founded Rhetson in 2002.

When the economic recession hit a few years later, they shifted to commercial interests. The company grew its reputation by specializing in developing single-tenant triple-net properties, spanning from Georgia to Virginia, in addition to custom homes.

Rhetsons president, Richard Vincent, who joined the team in 2016, said they typically complete about 40 projects a year.

That is a lot. To have the manpower to execute projects on that scale, Brian spent 11 years building this machine, Vincent said. But for the last few years, we kept talking about doing more projects here.

This is our community. We love this area and we are proud to be here, and we are excited to be part of the positive growth that we have here, said Vincent.

The Rhetson Companies executive team including, from left, Richard Vincent, Julianne and Brian Clodfelter, and Lee Pittman, Jamie Encinosa, and Lottia Freeman.

Rhetson has been involved in developing the Sandhills Classical Christian School (SCCS) campus for three years. Future building plans call for a gymnasium, athletic fields and an administration building, in addition to academic buildings to serve several hundred students.

This is a good example of what we do a soup-to-nuts project where we work with a client from day one to develop their master plan and construction drawings, help them set a budget, and then build, Clodfelter said.

Gene Liechty, SCCS development director, said construction of the upper school academic building has been underway on-schedule and within budget.

Rhetson has been a terrific partner in several regards, Liechty said. If they say they can do it for X and in this timeframe, they get it done. The other thing is their commitment to excellence and communication. Every week we get a progress report of whats been done and what we can expect in the next two weeks.

Our experience with Rhetson has been nothing short of tremendous, Liechty added.

Clodfelter and Vincent said it is these types of business relationships that keep the Rhetson team energized.

We dont have a client or partner that we dont look at like a friend, Clodfelter said.

Other more recent Rhetson projects include construction of the new shopping plaza at Tylers Ridge, near the Southern Pines Ace Hardware on N.C. 22. Tenants include O2 Dental Group, and the corner is anchored by Roast, a new farm-to-table sandwich restaurant and market scheduled to open soon.

This was our first true from-the-ground-up shopping strip center, added Clodfelter.

In addition, his team redeveloped a commercial building at the corner of N.C. 211 and Juniper Lake Road last year, and constructed the new youth building at Christ Community Church on U.S. 15-501 near Pinehurst.

Rhetson is also in the early stages of developing a new residential subdivision in Moore County.

We love what we do. We are passionate about building things, creating value, and participating in our communities. We havent reached the finish line, said Vincent. We have used these past few months, the pandemic, as a time to be introspective. We see this as an opportune year to become stronger and more diversified, to grow and focus on local project opportunities.

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Local Roots Give Rhetson Co. Room to Grow - Southern Pines Pilot