May 8th 2011
Guenther Homes Thrives in
Toughest Market in Decades
According to data from the Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS, 30% of all the new homes sold in the last 12 months in Ann Arbor, Saline, Clinton and Adrian were Built by Guenther Homes! That's an astounding achievement in a market where building companies big and small have closed their doors for good.
An informal survey of Guenther Customers asked the question: Why did you choose to build with Guenther Homes? The most common answers where:
1. Value. The prices for new homes is similar to pre-owned homes and without the hassle and repair associated with short sales and foreclosures.
2. Guenther is the only builder that seems to still be "Open for Business" with models staffed by sales people, sold homes under construction and spec home inventory available.
3. Guenther has a good reputation and has been around a long time. We hear folks say all the time. "Since you guys have been around since 1946 you have made it through tough times like these before".
May 7th 2011
Going Green
Like
all industries these days the homebuilding industry has heard the call
to “Go Green”. Customers are expecting the new homes they buy to be more
energy efficient, more comfortable and to create less waste when being
built.
But
the problem can be deciding whether your builder is simply using the
green label as a marketing tool, while not really changing their
building practices, or whether they have embraced the new techniques and
technologies that can really make a difference in the way a new home
performs.
So
having said that what is green building anyway? The best definition of
green building, I have discovered, is in a Weyerhaeuser iLevel
publication, Green Simplified:
“While
there is no commonly accepted definition, a green home is one that
minimizes impacts on the human and natural environment. This can include
actions to boost energy efficiency, reduce construction waste, improve
indoor air quality, and use water more wisely, among other
considerations.”
Here at Guenther Homes we incorporate “Green” building practices!
- Reducing construction waste:
When we construct our homes we use wall panels, roof trusses and floor
trusses made off site in indoor facilities. These facilities use the
wood products very efficiently and engineer the production and assembly
of the panels to create as little waste as possible. And the waste that
is generated can be recycled.
-
Boosting energy efficiency:
The biggest loss of energy in a home is through air leakage. We
incorporate an energy seal into each home that seals cracks throughout
the entire structure. This step is done twice during the construction.
Once upon the completion of the rough framing and then again after
drywall. Studies have shown that this step alone can save up to 30% of
the homes’ utility costs! To make the most of the fuel that is needed in
the home we use a 95% efficient furnace and high efficient water
heater.
- Indoor air quality.
The energy seal also assists in keeping dust and airborne debris from
the outside from entering the home. And fresh air is ducted in from the
outside to the combustion area near the furnace and hot water heater. To
ensure that all fuel-burning appliances operate safely, air must be
provided while they are operating. Without this make up air, your house
can quickly become polluted with unhealthy gases, including deadly
carbon monoxide (CO).
-
Reduce water use. By using low-consumption toilets and faucets we reduce the amount of water used in the home.
- Land Conservation and Erosion control. As
we plan and develop our neighborhoods we put an emphasis on set aside
conservation areas and water run off erosion control. In a Guenther
neighborhood it is very common to see deer, fox, waterfowl and other
wildlife flourishing in the woods and wetlands that are protected as
part of the overall development plan. In Plum Grove in Monroe there is a bald eagle that visits the ponds that we created as well as bufflehead ducks and egrets.
Many of us here at Guenther spend hours with our families in Michigan’s great outdoors. Our commitment to environmental responsibility is more then a slogan.
Builder Of The Year
LONG TIME ANN ARBOR RESIDENT BUSINESS OWNER BOB GUENTHER NAMED BUILDER OF YEAR BY HOME BUILDERS ASSN. OF WASHTENAW COUNTY
ANN ARBOR, MI. – Long time Ann Arbor resident Bob Guenther, second generation member of his family to run Guenther Homes, an iconic and established homebuilder based here, was named Builder of the Year by the Home Builders of Washtenaw County Association, which represents some 750 companies and persons involved in home building in Washtenaw County, located here and about 45 minutes west of Detroit.
Bob Guenther, who began going to work with his father Reuben at the age of 12, took over the family business in 1963 and never looked back. Today, Bob Guenther continues to apply his skills as a home designer, draftsman, and developer with his daughter Natalie Ceccolini and Rob Guenther assuming day to day activities of running the company.
Guenther has managed to survive by pursuing an aggressive and creative strategy of cost cutting and business diversification despite the current economic downturn.
Sunday February 1st 2009
Understanding Short Sales
Many people these days find themselves in the tough situation of owning a home that is worth less then the mortgage amount and needing to sell.
They may be facing economic hardship such as the loss of a job or struggling with medical bills and have found that they can no longer make their monthly mortgage payment. Foreclosure may seem to be the only option but a short sale might be a better alternative for the homeowner and the bank.
As the name implies a short sales is when a property is sold “short” or for less then the outstanding mortgage amount. The first question many people ask is why would a bank allow a short sale? The answer is that if they foreclose they could lose even more.
Let’s look at it from the banks perspective. Let’s say the mortgage amount on a home is $200,000 but the value is now only $175,000. If the bank forecloses they will receive no payments for up to a year while the legal process and redemption period run their course. Then when they take possession of a home the will need to change the locks, maintain the home, make any necessary repairs, insure the property and pay a real estate agent a commission to sell the home. When it is sold it will probably sell for less then $175,000 because buyers usually bid low on these types of properties. So if the bank sells the property for $160,000 and has spent $20,000 in fees and maintenance then they will only recoup about $140,000 of the original $200,000 mortgage amount.
Now imagine that the bank gets a call from the homeowner saying, “ I am a few months behind in my payments, I can not afford to continue to make these payments and I may have to let the home fall into foreclosure and I may need to file bankruptcy. But the good news is I have an offer on the home for $175,000 and they can close as soon as you approve the short sale.”
The math for the bank is clear. They will come out much father ahead if they approve the short sale.
Will It Always Work?
No. Most lenders don’t even consider a possible short sale situation if the mortgage payments are not behind by at least two or three months. Also you will need to prove that a hardship exists and navigate the paperwork requirements. Below is a list of some of the items the lender may require. The process can seem daunting. But if you or someone you know needs to take advantage of a short sale Guenther Homes can help. We have all the forms required and we will deal directly with your mortgage company to negotiate a short sale.
Tuesday October 14th, 2008
Sales, sales, sales!! When the going gets tough the tough get going! While other builders are rolling up the sidewalk and closing shop Guenther Homes continues to sell homes!
Plum Grove in Monroe has sold two condos at
The Park, one Town Home at the
Village and 3 single family homes in
The Estates in the last 30 days!!!
At
Middlebrook Meadows in Adrian we have closed one sale and entered into contracts to build two homes all in the last ninety days!
Foxfire, Guenther's premier Ann Arbor City Location, completely sold out in summer 2008!
Inverness Woods, a spectacular community located north of Chelsea Michigan, completely sold out in summer 2008!
11/30/1999$8000 Tax Credit!11/30/1999Builder of the Year11/30/1999Meeting the GREEN challange.11/30/1999Understanding Short Sales11/30/1999Sales! Sales! Sales! 
