The Food Pantry

During the month of December, Steere Home Builders donated 1 item to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank for each new friend on our Facebook Page.  Our deadline was December 21.  By December 21, we had 67 new likes, and 67 items!  After December 21, we gained 7 more, so we decided to throw those items in as well. 

As a result, we donated 74 items to the food bank.  The NE Iowa Food Bank is one of 6 food banks in Iowa.

It is estimated that 1 out of 8 Iowans go to bed hungry.  At least 40,000 Northeast Iowa residents (this number includes at least 16,000 children and 4,000 seniors) receive emergency food assistance each year from the NE Iowa Food Bank and it’s member agencies.

At Steere Home Builders, we are proud to be able to participate in this small way to assist Iowans with food security. 

For more information on how you can get involved in feeding Iowans, visit the website for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.

winter in Iowa

Winter in Iowa is bittersweet.  We mourn the loss of warm sunny days, and welcome being snowed in to sip hot cocoa and read a good book.

At Steere Home Builders, we don’t just build houses.  We build homes.  Iowa homes.  And this past weekend, as we peeked out our windows and heard the wind howling as it ushered in the first blizzard of the winter season, we realized that this is what we love to do.  Build homes where families gather and share their lives.  And even though it’s winter.  And we don’t necessarily enjoy shoveling snow and braving the sub-zero temperatures, we are proud to be a part of building homes and building our community.

Stay warm.

Thank you.

We got this adorable thank you from McKenzie, our playhouse winner.

 

Shell Rock Iowa

Our most recent house set was planted in the Shell Rock, Iowa.  I intend to post a few pictures again on the progress there.  Our crew is fast and I’m amazed at how hard they work for our customers.

But, in the meantime… a few facts about Shell Rock Iowa. 

1. Shell Rock is well known in these parts for the annual 4th of July Celebration.  They produce fabulous fireworks and a good time for everyone.  We’ve seen fireworks when on vacation in other parts of the United States.  None of them compare to Shell Rock.

2. Property taxes in Shell Rock are at least 25% lower than neighboring communities.

3. The Shell Rock Music Association puts on a swing show each year that is over-the-top.  I’m not sure how many members there are.  But, the show started small and currently runs 8 times in the spring.  They begin practicing in January and I can’t even imagine how many hours of practice go into this show.  It’s fabulous.

4. Shell Rock is part of the Rolling Prairie Tri-county bike trail system. Though not complete yet, this bike trail system will include 9 communities, 3 counties, and 2 state parks.

5. A small community with a big heart, Shell Rock Iowa.

2 weeks later…

Just two weeks ago, we had a house set party.  Here are a few photos of the progress at the home in just two weeks.  

Doing all we can to build homes your way, on time, with firm pricing.

Keeping an eye on affordable housing

Part of what we do at Steere Home Builders, is to watch the activity around the nation concerning housing in general.  Interest rates are at the lowest in history.  One local bank is advertising a mouth-watering 3.75% 30-year fixed mortgage rate.

Earlier this spring, billionaire Warren Buffett predicted that by 2011 “residential housing problems should largely be behind us”.

And today, as released by the US Commerce Department, nationwide housing starts edged up 0.3% in September, due entirely to a 4.4% gain in single-family housing.

As the nation continues to recover from some difficult times, I believe that Americans have learned a bit about housing.

I would take a venture to predict that by the end of 2011, the current buzz phrase “affordable housing” will be the norm.

What exactly is “affordable housing”?  Basically, it is housing that can be afforded by those that have a median income. Affordable housing would typically not exceed 30% of gross income.  In the Cedar Vally, the median income, according to Fannie Mae is $60,500.00.  30% of this is $18,150.00 or $1512.50 a month.

Obviously, when getting a loan for a new home, there are many many many (can I add one more many here?) factors involved.  We are not bankers and we recommend you consult with your bank before deciding how much to spend on building a new home.  But, on average $1512.50 would be the payment for a home between $200,000 and $230,000.

At Steere Home Builders, we know affordable housing. In 2009 and 2010, the average cost of building a home with us was $175,545 (actually final costs used, lot not typically included). 

We’re continuing our efforts to build affordable housing for Iowans.  Stop by our design center today to discuss how you, too, can afford to build a new home in the Cedar Valley.

Waverly at Dawn

Waverly is truly a beautiful city.  A beautiful place to call home.

House Set Party

Today, in Shell Rock, we had a House Set Party.  It was a lot of fun!  We grilled brats and got to watch this house construction begin.  We served about 22 people in the small town of Shell Rock for lunch. 

By the end of the day, the house was ready for roof sheeting, tar paper and shingles! 

Housing Grant Program

Steere Home Builders is proud to continue in our partnership with INRCOG (Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments) and also expand to other cities to provide affordable housing for Iowans.

In the cities of Waverly, Shell Rock, and Nashua Steere Home Builders will construct new homes for homeowners who qualify for the program.  Qualifying residents will receive (in the form of a 5 year forgivable loan) 25% down payment towards the purchase of a new home. 

“We’re very excited to be a part of this initiative for Iowans”, said Shawn Steere of Steere Home Builders.  “A lot of families are still recovering from the flood a couple of years ago and attempting to rebuild their homes.  This gives them some incentives to stay in their hometown and build a new home.”

There are restrictions and income guidelines to the program.  “It isn’t something you will want to wait on”, said Steere.  “There are a limited number of homes we are able to build.  Therefore, we are encouraging residents to stop in right away to get more information on the program to see if they qualify”.

For more information on the grant program and a step by step process of how to proceed, contact Steere Home Builders at 319-352-1013 or the economic development directors in Waverly and Nashua.  You can also contact INRCOG for details as well.

And the winner is….

McKenzie!

On Friday night the drawing for the playhouse was held at the WSR High School Homecoming football game.  We’re very excited to announce that McKenzie won the playhouse!  Mckenzie is in fourth grade. 

We delivered the playhouse to her home on Tuesday….and she was very excited.  She and her family have already discussed plans to finish the interior…add wiring… and make it her own 64 square foot home.

Congratulations McKenzie!  

Steere Home Builders helps the Cedar Valley bounce back from the Flood

This article recently appeared in the Waverly Newspapers Home Improvement tab.  One of our satisfied customers talks about their experience with the damaging flood of 2008…and rebuilding their home.  It was a pleasure working with this young couple.  We’re thrilled to have been a part of this success story.

Interest Rate Forecast

The National Association of  Home Builders (NAHB) does a great job of watching interest rates in the United States. 

Since 2006, we’ve seen a gradual decline in interest rates.  Nationwide, over the past four years, interest rates have decreased significantly.  Rates that were 6.5% are now 4.78%, creating quite a savings for homeowners.

The NAHB is projecting 2011 will begin to see a gradual climb in interest rates as the housing market also continues to climb.  Beginning in the first quarter of 2011, home buyers will see small percentages of increase.  Not a significant increase, and still keeping a reasonably affordable rate for home buyers at around 5.5%.

At Steere Home Builders, we are doing all we can to continue to provide affordable housing to Iowa homeowners.  Stop in our design center today and take advantage of today’s low interest rates.

Win the Playhouse

Steere Home Builders donated a playhouse to the Waverly-Shell Rock Schools. The playhouse will be raffled off and all proceeds for classroom instructional supplies, equipment, and technology.

The response from the community to support the elementary schools has been very positive. Tickets are just $5 each and can be purchased at any of the elementary school offices.

The raffle will be held on Friday, October 1 at the Waverly Shell Rock home football game. That's when one lucky winner will be announced!

We are thrilled at Steere Home Builders to support our children and community and help fill in some gaps where the school's budget falls short. It's a privilege to partner with a fine district such as Waverly-Shell Rock.

Win this PLAYHOUSE and support OUR SCHOOL

Steere Home Builders and Operation Homefront

Steere Home Builders is proud to support our troops.  For every home sold from May 1 to July 4, Wausau Homes will donate $2000 to Operation Homefront in our community.

Operation Homefront (OH) provides emergency and morale assistance for our troops, the families they leave behind, and for wounded warriors when they return home.

Steere Home Builders is proud to be a part of this opportunity to give to the men and women who serve our country.

To learn more  out Operation Homefront, visit operationhomefront.net

Steere Home Builders Celebrates Grand Re-Opening with Open House

The hammering has stopped and the dust has settled. It’s time for local Wausau Homes builder Steere Home Builders to celebrate their Grand Re-Opening with an open house on April 10 from 10am to 2pm to offer a look at the future of home-building.

Visitors can tour the new, state-of-the art Design Center that showcases everything from cabinets and countertops to siding and shingles while providing the latest technology to help homebuyers plan and customize their new homes. Among the highlights is an amazing 3D viewer that allows homebuyers to see their home plans take shape before their eyes so they will know exactly what their new home will look like before it’s ever built.

“We’re prepared for the improving economy,” says Shawn Steere. “By partnering with Wausau Homes and opening our new Design Center, we’re able to give customers a stress-free building experience different than anything out there today.”

The new building experience includes a firm price up front and a firm move-in date, removing the angst from what can be the two most stressful aspects of building a home. “We’ve redefined the building experience and we’re inviting everyone to come in and take a look, whether they are thinking of building a home this spring or planning for the future,” says Steere.

Visitors to the Grand Re-Opening Open House will have a great time! There are a lot of family-friendly things planned. Beginning at 10am, visitors will enjoy refreshments and Dutch letters by Pella Window Company, enter a drawing for prizes including a gift basket and a blue ipod nano. From 10am -12pm, Darrell Anderson, Waverly’s own balloonman, will be making balloon animals for kids, and from 12pm – 2pm, facepainting will be provided. From 11am – 1pm, enjoy grilled pork burgers compliments of Steere Home Builders.