Pages
Categories
Library
- December 2011
- November 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- November 2010
- September 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- March 2010
- December 2009
- October 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- January 2009
- October 2008
- September 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
Links
Take a Video Tour Calvis Wyant Resources
Pinstriped Suits and Custom Homes
07 December 2011
Recently, I learned that the stripes in a pinstriped suit can be customized in a way that I never would have imagined. The pinstripes look normal to the naked eye, but when you zoom in, the wearer’s name is spelled out in microscopic letters, repeating over the length of the stripe. There’s custom, and then there’s custom.
Similar to a suit being sold off the rack and tailored in the back room, many of the so-called custom homes being built today have luxury on their label but won’t say anything about you from their design or finish. Production home builders certainly can build in the luxury home market; they usually have a couple of floor plans already designed and limited packages of finishes. The home may be labeled as “luxury”, but they may have done little more than apply some travertine to their assembly line product. Their clients may get one or two meetings to determine which floor plan they want, choose a paint color and pick some finish materials. Limiting the ability to make changes is the key to offering low prices.
At Calvis Wyant, we’ve never had a customer who didn’t have a budget; but every one of the families we’ve served wanted their home to do more than just keep out the weather. Since 1986, we’ve designed and built our homes around the lifestyle needs of our clients. We begin by asking how you like to live, what’s important to you, how should your house say it’s your home. Then we creatively figure out how to fit those ideas into the location you’ve chosen.
A few Custom Features you might want in your Calvis Wyant home:
- Extra bedrooms for a growing family or frequent visitors
- Large outdoor living spaces that take full advantage of Arizona’s mild winters and beautiful sunsets
- Roomy laundry area with space dedicated to gift wrapping, crafts, and other hobbies
- Correctly located, comfortable media/gathering room - instead of an executive theater that you might only occasionally use
- Spacious garages that accommodate oversized vehicles - and leave room for storage and sports equipment.
- iPad based Savant home controls for lighting and entertainment
- High efficiency heating and cooling systems that enhance your air quality and keep your home dust free
- Cleaner, brighter finishes that amplify the abundant
natural light in every CW home
We could go on and on with ideas we’ve worked into our customers’ homes. It’s a wonderful experience for us to fully understand a family’s needs and help create their perfect home. Such customization is just impossible in the production luxury market.
Even though you may feel that having your name spelled out in pinstripes is a bit over-the-top, building a custom home for your family could make a lot of sense right now. Although a custom home will always cost more than a tract home, there’s never been a better time to build.
We’ve been designing and building custom luxury homes in Arizona for over 25 years, using craftsmen who are experts in their fields. Calvis Wyant is a locally owned company, and our continued success depends entirely on our reputation to create homes for one happy customer after another. We’d like to do that for you also; please call us at 480.905.0200 anytime to share your ideas for your next home.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like ….. a House!
09 November 2011
Construction is underway on lot 1116 with a refreshing new alternative in The Parks at Silverleaf! We’re building a 4076 square foot custom home with all the amenities you’d expect from Calvis Wyant. This home features generously sized spaces in a great room plan consisting of three bedrooms and a den in the main house, and a guest casita off the front courtyard.
We’ve listened to what you’ve been requesting: single story, high-ceiling public spaces, oversized garages, his and hers water closets in the master bath, spacious pool-sized yards with great privacy. We’ve tried to include everything we’ve heard folks ask for!
Call us at 480.905.0200 for details and a walk-through. We’d love to show you the specifications - and help you make them your own!
Luxury Homebuilders using the Spider Crane
06 November 2011
There are few professions that can trace their lineages as far back to recorded time as construction. When the first caveman hollowed out a cave, “construction” had begun. And I’m willing to bet it took longer and cost more than he thought it would by the time he finished. Fast forward some tens of thousands of years, and you’ll find the Pharaohs using geometric principles that we still use today. However, since civility and human decency prevent us from also using their labor methods, we use the Spider Crane.
The Spider Crane is exactly what it sounds like, except with four legs instead of eight. It is an essential tool in the modern home builder’s tool shed, especially when dealing with varied topography like many luxury homes in Scottsdale. It can go anyplace (thanks to tank treads), set up anywhere (thanks to spider legs) and lift a considerable amount of weight. When you watch the video you’ll see why it is so useful - as the crew lifts a full-size spa to a second story balcony in a matter of minutes.
However, we can and do use it for just about anything. Roofing tiles and decorative stone, pillars on a second story balcony, or even for interior materials. When the legs are folded away it can easily navigate through an unfinished home.
It is just one of the many things we do to help keep our projects on time and on budget. See what else we do to keep our clients among the happiest owners of custom homes by contacting us about your project today.
Video of the Spider Crane in Action
Concrete. It’s not just for shoes anymore.
08 September 2011
Benefits of Concrete
When my architectural designer Gary Wyant suggested concrete, I asked him if he had this idea after hitting his head on some. He assured me he hadn’t, and then pointed out that it has all the properties of granite while actually being more malleable, giving us options for complete customization. It’s natural. It’s durable. Believe it or not, concrete can also be beautiful. In fact, I’m willing to bet that you’ve come across a concrete countertop or two over the last couple years. Concrete’s use has been rising rapidly in the hospitality industry - where durability and attractive design are paramount.
Keeping that in mind, ignore any thoughts you might have of an oil speckled parking lot or skid marks up Scottsdale Road. We can make your counters into any shape or size and color you can pull out of the 64-crayon box. Imagine a single piece of concrete that is not only your countertop, but also your sink, backsplash and shelves, which can easily become cabinets with the attachment of a few doors? Try finding a piece, or even pieces, of granite that can perform all these functions and be customized to your favorite color.
Installation
Depending on the style and design of the countertop and any additional features, it often makes the most sense to build it on-site. Dye is measured and added as the concrete is being mixed, with extra care taken to ensure an evenness of color throughout the project. The concrete is formed around reinforcement material like steel and wire mesh. These reinforcements help the concrete maintain its shape as it cures as well as adding long-term structural integrity and durability.
Once the concrete has cured, the surface is then ground down with progressively finer grinding tools. The concrete is then sealed with several coats of epoxy with a careful hand to guarantee an even application and smooth finish.
See for yourself
Since 1986, Calvis Wyant has been designing and building innovative luxury homes in Arizona. If your kitchen or bath counters are due for an upgrade or you’re thinking of creating your dream home from the ground up, we would love to show you our award-winning portfolio. Contact us to learn how we can help you.
New Healthcare Bill Includes 3.8% Sales Tax on… Housing?
08 September 2011
The tax isn’t designed to affect everyone. It applies to any profits on a home sale by individual taxpayers with an annual income over $200,000, or $250,000 if married and filing jointly. If the home is your primary residence, the first $250,000 of profits on the sale are tax-free. That number doubles if you’re married and filing jointly.
In the event anyone selling right now is going to surpass those tax-free thresholds, take heart. The tax is not scheduled to apply until 2013. If you bought your home during the last housing bust and could earn a nice profit by selling over the next few years, you may wish to reevaluate your time frame.
By way of example, some un-fuzzy math:
Example #1
Let’s say a recently divorced professional is making $205,000 per year and decides to sell his Paradise Valley home. He gets $2.2 million for it. He bought it over a decade ago for $1.3 million. This new tax will cost him an additional $24,700. ($2.2m minus $1.3m equals $900,000. Less the exempted $250,000 yields a taxable amount of $650,000.)
Example #2
Or how about a married couple from Chicago sells their winter retreat in Silverleaf for $3.2 million. They bought it for $2 million in 2002. This sale will cost them an additional $45,600 in taxes, because the home was not their primary residence and they couldn’t take advantage of the exemption. The entire $1.2 million difference is subject to the 3.8% tax. They may wish to enjoy their home a little more often in order to claim it as a primary residence before selling.
Thinking of the Future
Everyone has different strategies for home ownership, investing and taxes. My goal wasn’t to tell you what yours should be, but to help my clients become aware of this new tax and see how it may affect them. Many people would like to build their dream home, but wonder about selling their current one in this market, or if the rumors of a new tax are true. I hope this information shed some light on this complex and potentially very costly new tax.
PARADISE VALLEY HOMES NOW AVAILABLE
16 August 2011
Can’t find what you’re looking for? It’s no secret that very few new homes have been started in Paradise Valley in the last five years, and the more recently built homes have almost all been sold. Summer 2011 may be the right time to take advantage of the bottoming market in PV homes! At the time I’m writing this, there are about 200 single family homes available in PV on lots of ¾ acres or more. I can remember checking that figure a couple of years ago and it was well over 500! Whether you are looking for a new build or a Calvis Wyant home that is only a few years “young,” we may just have what you’re looking for:
7541 N SHADOW MOUNTAIN RD
This magnificent Rural Mediterranean home has it all - 8729 sq ft livable home on a gorgeous lot near the Paradise Valley Country Club! Currently designed as a 5 bedroom/8 bath courtyard style home with a game room, media room, casita, oversized 4 car garage and outdoor living room, the bedroom count can be easily increased to a 7 bedroom plan within the same footprint. This home can be delivered complete in 10 months and with your choice of finishes. Call our office at 480-905-0200 for more information.
(more…)
INTRODUCING…The Silverleaf House
11 July 2011
INTRODUCING…The Silverleaf House
11 July 2011
The developers of Silverleaf built a sales office for their community a few years ago that became one of the most classic residential structures ever to be presented in the Valley. The Silverleaf House introduced a way of living that reflected the sense of permanence European homes seemed to so naturally have. It served as the introduction to the Silverleaf community and hosted many events for the hundreds of families that now call Silverleaf home. The Silverleaf House has become a valued part of Scottsdale history.
Recently, we were offered the opportunity to acquire this “potential” residence and we’re excited to begin the renovation. Although a conceptual design was originally drawn showing how this former sales center could eventually be turned into a home, much has changed since then regarding what is expected in a luxury home today. Calling on Gary Wyant’s creative yet practical design flair, Calvis Wyant has begun the process of adding a kitchen, master bath, four-car garage, and new front entry as well as other requirements and features to this wonderful property. This soon-to-be home isn’t officially on the market yet but call us if you’d like to have an advance look at the property, plans, specifications and interior design palette. We’d love to hear your thoughts about this project! Call us today at 480.905.0200 for more info!
A LUXURY HOME MARKET UPDATE
22 March 2011
LOTS OF HOMES ON THE MARKET - BUT SOME OF THEM DON’T COUNT!
Everyone knows there’s still a large inventory of homes for sale in the Phoenix area. You might think the inventory includes plenty of luxury homes, and you’re right, it does. However, spend time with any Realtor who works in the custom home price range, and you’ll hear the same thing: each month, it becomes more difficult to find newer luxury homes without significant drawbacks.
Here are some reasons why the inventory of fault-free newer luxury homes is limited:
- A large number - perhaps even the majority - of distressed luxury properties have already been taken back by the lenders and subsequently resold. The earliest buyers may not have bought at the bottom, but they had more to choose from as a result of shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving versus waiting until Christmas Eve.
- If you chart the number of foreclosure notices that were filed each month since 2006, you’ll note a flattening and the apparent top of a bell-shaped curve forming with a downtrend indicated. The upcoming supply of luxury foreclosure homes available will be flat at best and more likely decreasing. Remember, the supply of homes in distress is finite, and we’ve already worked our way through 150,000 trustee sales in the last three years.
- Demand doesn’t seem to be slacking off. Although consumer sentiment in the last half of 2010 wasn’t all that optimistic, Cromford Report noted that closed sales in February 2011 were 11.4% higher than February 2010. Also, February 2011 was the second highest February ever in numbers (the highest occurred in February 2005).
- We’ve gone nearly four years since the last batch of luxury “spec” homes was built. Financing has been unavailable, and the value of the home, until just recently, would have been at or perhaps below the cost of producing the home. Consequently, the newest homes you can find for sale are almost all at least four years old. A significant difference in this last generation of homes is the emphasis on historical authenticity in their design. Homes that are ten years old look significantly different than homes built more recently.
- The current inventory is dwindling. All of the easy, no-brainer kinds of houses sell quickly if priced appropriately, and the homes with objections obviously stay on the market longer. There are many homes on the market today that have poorly designed floor plans, are in less desirable locations, or haven’t taken advantage of their setting.
- All of those nice new builder spec homes that were in progress when the banks pulled their builder construction financing are gone now. However, Calvis Wyant does have ONE left in Paradise Valley - call us for details; it’s privately owned and may have private financing available!
Mike Orr, publisher of the Cromford Report recently wrote that the last indicator to turn around at the top or the bottom of a market is pricing. The ARMLS supply and demand numbers are showing a market turn coming, so this may be the time to start shopping. If the sources I follow are right, and if you think inflation is here or coming (filled up your gas tank lately?), you won’t go wrong building your new home in 2011. As always, call me any time you’d like to talk about ideas for your next home.
Puppy Love Benefits Notre Dame Preparatory
22 March 2011
Calvis Wyant is once again donating a darling puppy to the Notre Dame Preparatory High School Auction and Fashion Show. This year’s attendees will have a chance to bid on an 11-week-old female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and puppy package, which includes her bed, carrier, vet gift certificate, training certificate, and more.
This is the eighth year that Calvis Wyant has donated a puppy to the annual fundraising event which is presented by the Notre Dame Mother’s Guild. The puppies have always been popular with auction guests, as indicated by last year’s record high bid of $4000. The puppies are also a favorite with Calvis Wyant staff since the pups spend the day before the auction socializing in the office. Let us know if you want to stop in and meet her before she goes on stage!
The “Walk on the Wild Side” evening will be held on Saturday, March 26 at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort.
The November/December issue of Residential Design and Build showcases a recently completed luxury home by Calvis Wyant as its featured cover story.
The article, “Collaborative Views,” includes a multiple page story with several photos of the 10,000-plus square foot Calvis Wyant home in North Scottsdale’s Silverleaf community. The home includes a theatre, his-and-her studies, wine room, detached casita and incredible mountain and city light views
Residential Design and Build was founded in 1935 and has more than 44,000 subscribers nationwide. If you’d like to receive a complimentary copy of the magazine, please call us at 480.905.0200
Newer Posts »