Conaway Homes Blog

Is Buying a First Home in East Texas Right for My Family?

It’s an interesting time to be a first-time home buyer. From the outside, it may seem like it’s an impossible task to even find a new home, much less afford one. But East Texas is different. There are plenty of opportunities in this burgeoning area of the state. And thanks to Conaway Homes’ years of experience, there are a variety of homes available in great neighborhoods and at attainable price points. If you’re a first-time buyer, there’s no better place to start your search than with Conway Homes.

For First-Time Home Buyers, East Texas Is The Place To Be

There are many good reasons (personal and financial) to become a homeowner. If you’ve been renting, you’ve been adding to your landlord’s equity rather than your own. You’ve also been stuck with your landlord’s rules and regulations. Buying a first home is a great opportunity to start building your life, your way.

What you need to buy a home

East Texas is an ideal place to start! The economy is booming, businesses are thriving, and new homes are everywhere. If you’re ready, it’s a good time to buy. All you need is:

Good Credit. Reasonably good credit is the best place to start. You'll need a score of at least 620 for most conventional loans.
Low Debt To Income Ratio. This refers to how much money you owe in relation to how much you make. Lenders want to know you won’t have trouble paying your mortgage.
Financial Documentation. Lenders need certain documents to approve a loan. Pay stubs, tax records, credit reports and debt documentation are just a few of the financial documents you will need.
Down Payment. Most conventional loans require 20% of the purchase price as a down payment. There are other options that require less, so discuss all the financial tools available with your lender.

One thing to remember is that WHERE you live has a definite impact on WHAT you can afford. Homes in Texas have one of the lowest costs per square foot in the country when compared to other states in the U.S. Why? Lots of available land and a lower cost of living.

While overall home prices in Texas are more reasonable than in other places, you may notice that home prices vary wildly throughout the state. Obviously, more developed, populous areas such as DFW, San Antonio or Houston will have higher home prices because the cost of living in a more urban area is higher.
Luckily, East Texas is still in a sweet spot — with plenty of buildable land and a healthy economy, but not too many people. In addition to offering a more reasonable cost of living, the quality of life in East Texas is unparalleled. It is home to some of the best outdoor recreation in the state - especially if you like camping, fishing, and hiking!
East Texas features a wide variety of outdoor recreation sites, from Upper East Texas down to the Gulf Coast. There are a variety of national, state, and local parks with plenty to interest everyone, including Tyler State Park, Martin Creek Lake & State Park, Minneola Nature Preserve, and Davy Crockett National Forest. Go camping, explore the trails, go canoeing and kayaking on the lakes, or partake of the area’s fave pastime: BASS FISHING!
East Texas has been overwhelmingly blessed when it comes to good bass fishing lakes. In fact, East Texas lakes are renowned for being dependable year after year. The East Texas Region is home to no fewer than three of the top bass lakes in the U.S.: Sam Rayburn Reservoir; Lakes Fork Reservoir; and Toledo Bend Reservoir.
East Texas also has an array of fun, unique and interesting towns, from Palestine which has the Museum For East Texas Culture and Dogwood Junction Family Fun Park, to Tyler, the Rose Capital of the United States, as well as the home of the Tyler Museum of Art, and the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum.
The city of Longview is packed with entertainment for all ages: golfing at the Challenge at Oak Forest, culture at the Gregg County Historical Museum or the Longview Museum of Fine Arts, and classical music at the Longview Symphony or Opera East Texas. The city of Beaumont is the site of the first oil discovery in Texas. The town of Jacksonville is home to the Cherokee Trace Drive-Thru Safari where you can see zebras, the African longhorn cow, and Indian antelope.

Browse the Best Homes for Sale in East Texas!

If we’ve piqued your interest in living in East Texas, then it’s time to look at homes for sale in East Texas. Conaway Homes has a variety of homes and communities throughout East Texas. One-and two-story single-family homes that are sure to fit your lifestyle and budget. Communities that are conveniently located in highly-rated school districts.

Our homes range from three to five bedrooms, 1,300 to 2,600 square feet. They feature an array of desirable features, from spacious front porches to gourmet kitchens to main floor primary suites. There’s definitely a home that will meet your needs. Currently, there are a variety of homes for sale in Bullard, Flint, Lindale, Longview, and Whitehouse. Ideal for first-time homebuyers, prices range from the mid $200’s to the low $500’s.

The Pros of Buying in East Texas

Moving to East Texas

Ranging from the piney woods bordering Louisiana and Arkansas to the prairies on the eastern edge of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, from Oklahoma south to the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, the East Texas region has so much to offer! With a reasonable cost of living and plenty to do, it’s no wonder that so many people are making the move to the East Texas area.

Conaway Homes provides home buyers with a variety of choices in homes and communities in the East Texas area. All of our communities are located near schools, shopping, and restaurants, and have easy access to local highways, businesses, and area attractions.

If you’re considering buying your first home, take a closer look at fascinating East Texas. With a lower cost of living, affordable housing, and plenty of open space, it’s no wonder it’s the hottest spot in the Lone Star State!

When you’re ready to make your move, or if you have questions, connect with us.

Why Rising Interest Rates Make Today a Great Time to Buy a Home

Mortgage rates have been rising lately, and you may be wondering whether to put your real estate plans on hold or charge ahead into the marketplace to find your dream home. The reality is that interest rates in a variety of markets, while they have certainly ticked up in recent months, are still close to historic lows.

If you decide to wait for a lender to offer you a better deal than you're able to find right now, you may be waiting for quite a long time. The Federal Reserve has signaled very clearly that they intend to keep raising rates in an effort to stem the tides of rising inflation. Whether this plan will work or not remains to be seen, but it’s fairly certain that they intend to stick to their word for the foreseeable future.

As long as you understand what's happening, you'll be able to navigate the real estate market with ease during a period of rising rates and maybe even pick up the deal of a lifetime.

Tips For Getting Pre-Approved

Congratulations! You’ve decided it’s time to purchase a new Conaway home in East Texas. Whether it’s your first time buying or you’ve bought before, the process can be a little overwhelming. There’s a lot of information available on the home buying process in general, but one of the best ways to streamline that process is by first getting pre-approved for a loan. Our trusted lender is here to help you every step of the way.

When it comes to financing a new home, the typical first step is to get pre-approved by a mortgage lender. This is a process where the lender goes through several parts of your financial information, such as income, assets versus debts, and credit, to ensure your financial stability to buy a home. You might be thinking, how can I make sure I get approved? While there’s no guarantee that you will get approved, we’ve put together a few tips to improve your chances for pre-approval and, hopefully, future loan approval.

1) Check and Increase Your Credit Score

As mentioned above, one of the things that a lender will check in regards to your financial stability is your credit score. You can typically check your credit score for free online and even order your credit reports to see if there are any discrepancies or inaccuracies. If you find there’s incorrect information, you want to make sure to get that taken care of as soon as possible. Creditors can work with you to resolve or dispute inaccurate information, which will in turn help increase your credit score.

When making any big purchase, it’s always good to know where your credit score stands. Even if you currently have a good credit score, an even higher score can only help when it comes to getting a great mortgage rate. For a conventional loan, the average recommended score is 620. However, scores of 740 or higher typically have a much lower interest rate, which can save you money in the long run.

2) Calculate and Improve Your Debt-to-Income Ratio

Another aspect of your finances that a lender will consider is your debt-to-income ratio. This is a comparison of your gross (pre-tax) income to housing and non-housing debts. Non-housing expenses include such long-term debts as car or student loan payments, alimony, or child support.

Typically, mortgage payments should be no more than 29% of gross income, while the mortgage payment, combined with non-housing expenses, should be no more than 41% of income. The sooner you're able to determine what your ratio looks like currently, the easier it will be to make changes in order to close the gap and heighten your chances for pre-approval.

3) Gather All Necessary Income & Personal Information

Getting pre-approved starts with a loan application. After submitting the application, the lender likes to see a few documents to verify some important items. Having this information readily available and prepared will make the process so much simpler. Here’s a list of some of the most common pieces of information needed:

SSN and drivers' license
Current addresses and employment details
Bank and investment account information for all accounts
2 years of proof of all sources of income (Tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, pay check stubs etc.)
List of monthly debt payments, including real estate debts

4) Ask For Help

Most importantly, ask for help. Don’t let the fear and confusion of the pre-approval process hold you back from purchasing a new home. Working with a lender will help you understand how much you can afford and how much you’re qualified to borrow. The key word here is “help.” Take advantage of their wealth of knowledge and ask plenty of questions to ensure you understand what the lender is offering you.

Choosing the right lender for you doesn’t have to be difficult. Conaway Homes has a trusted preferred lender that will make sure the process is stress-free. As a special offer, The Texas Loan Company has partnered with Conaway Homes to put $1,300 towards the closing costs of any buyer who finances with this preferred lender.

If you have any questions about the pre-approval process or any other part of purchasing a new Conaway home, please feel free to connect with us. We look forward to showing you all that our East Texas homes have to offer!

Your 7-Step Guide to Buying a New Home in East Texas

If you're exploring the option of buying a new construction home in Texas, chances are you’ve got some questions about how it all works. While the process does require a few more steps than buying a used home, it’s all worth it in the end. Not only do you get to select a floor plan and a homesite that exactly fit your needs, you get to choose the finishes and features that you’ve always dreamed of in a home. Here’s how the new home buying process typically works:

1) Floor Plan & Homesite Selection

Your New Construction Specialist is likely the first person you will meet when you walk into a model home or community sales center. He or she will work with you to select your floor plan, asking questions about how you like to live and what you want to change about your current living situation. At Conaway Homes, we offer a variety of plans with different lifestyle opportunities and can even personalize those plans to meet your requirements. As you go through the floor plan selection process, there are a few questions you should ask yourself early on:

Do you plan to start or grow a family?
Within the next 5-10 years will you want the flexibility of stairs, or will you need most of your living on the first floor?
How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need to comfortably accommodate your family and guests?
Where should the bedrooms be located in the home?
Do you ever work from home?
Do you enjoy entertaining?

Knowing the answers to these questions up front will help your New Construction Specialist narrow down the best options and save you time in making a final selection.

If you haven’t already decided which community to build in, you’ll want to choose that along with the floor plan to make sure an available homesite can accommodate it. Most builders typically release homesites in phases so that they can build out one area of a community at a time, creating a neighborhood feel right from the beginning. Homesites within a phase can have lots of variety, so it's best to consider the ideal type of land for your lifestyle:

Do you need a flat, grassy yard for your kids to run?
Do you prefer mature trees for privacy or shade?
What would be your ideal view from a particular room in the house?
Would you prefer a smaller lot so you have less yard maintenance?
Do you prefer the privacy of a corner or cul-de-sac lot?

Again, thinking about these answers now will make the decision-making easier, allowing you to reserve your perfect homesite before anyone else does.

2) Financing & Pre-Qualifying

When you're building a new home within a community, the builder typically assumes the construction loan, which means the building company owns the homesite until construction is complete. You would pay a deposit (similar to earnest money in the case of a used home) in order for construction to begin. Once the home is completed, you would take out a regular mortgage based on the terms agreed upon with your lender, and at closing, ownership of the land and home transfers from the builder to you.

To help the process move even faster, speak with a lender as soon as you start searching for a home, so that you can get pre-qualified. You may have to gather additional paperwork or fix an item on your credit report in order to be approved for a loan, and it’s best to get these items taken care of as early as possible. For more information on new home financing, please contact our preferred lender.

3) Sales Agreement

Once you've got your financing in order, the builder will need a signed sales agreement in order to kick off the building process. This contract will cover the basics of the decisions you've made up until this point: floor plan, lot, address, price, items that are included with the home, and any special conditions. It will also include timelines for selections, deposits, and the construction process itself, so that your build stays on schedule. Lastly, the contract will include the contact information for key people you'll need to communicate with along the way. Once all parties sign off, the sales agreement serves as a guide to getting your house built on time and within budget. Even better, with our MyConaway Program, you can create an online account to see the progress of your home as it’s being built!

4) Finishes

Once your sales agreement is finalized, it's time for some fun! A builder typically allows homebuyers to make some or all finish selections, so that their home is a true reflection of their style. You'll work with a professional interior designer to select cabinets, flooring, light fixtures, paint colors, exterior elevations, landscaping, and more.

A useful tip is to keep a record of your favorite interior looks — that could be magazine clippings or Instagram photos saved to a folder. It's best to go into your design appointment having an idea of what you like; that way, your designer can present a few options that really hit the mark. By working with a professional designer, you'll have the benefit and peace of mind knowing that everything you select will work cohesively in your home.

5) Construction Process

By the time construction starts, all your selections have been finalized, pricing has been set, and agreements have been signed. Pouring the foundation of your dream home is one of life's most exciting moments! Throughout the process, your Project Manager will keep you in the loop with updates and developments, often through a weekly email or phone call. You’ll also participate in a series of walk-throughs to make sure you are satisfied with the progress. Construction times vary depending on the level of customization, but the wait is always worth it.

6) Closing on Your New Home

Construction is complete, and you're almost to the finish line! All you have to do is attend your New Home Orientation to learn how your home and all its systems work. Once your builder has your final sign-off, you’ll close on your new home, receive the keys, and move into the dream home you’ve worked so hard for. HOME SWEET HOME.

7) Follow Up

At Conaway Homes, we like to go the extra mile! After 30 days from closing and moving in, we do a follow-up home performance review and repairs builder inspection. Another review is done after 11 months to ensure our homes are built to last and meet our high standard of customer satisfaction.

There's a lot that goes into buying a new construction home, but working with a great builder makes the process smooth, exciting, and enjoyable! For more information on building in the East Texas area with Conaway Homes, please contact us. We can’t wait to start building with you!

What is a Quick Move-In Home And Why Buy One?

Looking for your dream home but don't want to wait? You may want to consider a quick move-in home over waiting for one to be built. Not only will this type of new home allow you to move in faster, but there are also other benefits you may not be aware of.

What is a Quick Move-In Home?

At Conaway Homes, our quick move-in homes are new homes that are partially or fully complete. These new homes have a timeline of less than 30 days up to 60+ days depending on the type of construction necessary. Many of our quick move-in homes are equipped with certain features and upgrades, setting them apart from other homes.

What Are The Benefits Of Purchasing A Quick Move-In Home?

Easy Relocation

Quick move-in homes are great if you are looking to relocate for a new job opportunity, to grow your family, or other major life changes. Since they are nearly or already finished, the time needed to complete the home buying process is drastically decreased.

When there’s high competition for buyers in the real estate market, you cannot guarantee you will receive the home you place an offer on. Furthermore, if you do, you may have to pay over the asking price for the home. Quick move-in homes don't have the same level of competition. The home you want is the home you get.

Comes With Standard Features

All builders provide standard features in their homes. But often with a quick move-in homes, features that normally might be an expensive upgrade come standard within that home. This may include energy efficient features, upgraded kitchen counters, appliances and cabinets, unique finishes, advanced smart technology, and more.

Shorter Wait Period

When you build a new home, the timeline for completion generally takes eight to ten months. Quick move-in homes provide personalized design features with less waiting times. At Conaway Homes, your time frame will depend on what stage of the building process your home is currently in.

Potential Pricing Advantage

Quick move-in homes contain pricing advantages over homes that are still to be built. A quick move-in home may have a fixed price; the price on the website/listing reflects the actual cost. There is no guesswork, no unexpected costs, and eliminates the hassle of bidding wars.

Choosing a quick move-in home also means being able to take advantage of current interest rates, which means that you may be able to increase your buying power. You might just find a home that has more inclusions or is larger for the same price.

Quick move-in homes offer advantages that you may not have considered. They are perfect for quick relocations, a growing family, or if your situation changes. They offer the opportunity to buy a new home without the wait or hassle. They feature the thoughtfully curated choices of our professional designers, with the latest trends and features.

All of these benefits show why quick move-in homes are a very attractive option. Check out our available quick move-in homes or get in touch with our Online Sales Counselors to see what we can do for you.

Search for Homes Easier and Faster Using an Online Sales Counselor

Searching for a new home in East Texas can be time consuming and overwhelming. There are so many great choices for housing of all kinds, and in so many areas. How do you narrow it all down without spending weeks or months driving around and looking at home after home? The answer is to speak with a New Home Online Sales Counselor.

What is an Online Sales Counselor?

An Online Sales Counselor, or OSC for short, is your initial point of contact when you fill out an online interest form for a new home community, or call a home builder for more information. This person is a skilled customer service specialist, whose only job is to make sure you have all the information you need to move forward in your home search.

Why is an OSC important to the new home sales process?

Nearly 100% of home shoppers start their searches online. On builder websites and social media pages you can find lots of information about floor plans, communities, quick move-in homes, and pricing. But when you want to know more, it’s time to reach out to an Online Sales Counselor. He or she can help guide you to the community that best fits your lifestyle, and even to a collection of specific floor plans that have the pricing and upgrade options you need.

How can an OSC make my home search easier or faster?

You can save time in your home search by speaking with an OSC. They are resources of information, and know up-to-date details about every single community and every floor plan a builder offers. They can help narrow down your home search within a matter of minutes. Then, all you have to do is schedule an appointment to see the handful of homes you have pre-selected. All will be in your price range, meet your requirements, and have brand new everything. Best of all — they’ll all have the potential to be "the one." One phone call can save you weeks or even months of searching, and get you into a new home, faster.

How Do I get in touch with an OSC?

It's easy! Simply contact us by using our online form or by calling us at 903-321-4040 for information about our homes. You'll be connected right away with an Online Sales Counselor. From there, just sit back and let the OSC gather information for you, then make your selections and schedule an appointment to see them. Searching for a new home has never been easier.

5 Tips to Choose the Right Floor Plan

One of the most exciting times in your life can be choosing to build a new home. Here at Conaway Homes, we know that selecting the right floor plan depends on how you use your home and how it fits with your lifestyle. Every aspect of your home, from its size and shape to where the rooms are located in relation to one another, can influence your experience, so knowing what you really want is crucial. We have five tips to help you choose the right home for your lifestyle.

1) Figure out what size home will best suit your needs

Choosing a floor plan should start with how large a home you need to fit your lifestyle. How many bedrooms and bathrooms are enough for you and visiting guests? How many garage bays do you need? Are you downsizing or expecting to grow your family? Prioritize your most important needs by thinking about your current space and what you need or don’t need in terms of rooms.

2) Choose a floor plan based on your lifestyle

Every family has their own style, so choosing a floor plan that meets your needs is essential. Do you work from home and need an office? Are you a movie buff who wants a media room? Do the kids need a rec room? Think about the space you need to be comfortable based on your daily activities.

3) Trust your instincts on what “feels” right when choosing a floor plan

All of us know when a space feels comfortable. Take these instincts into consideration when looking at different floor plans. Someone with children may want the master bedroom up with the other bedrooms. On the other hand, an older couple might prefer for the master bedroom to be downstairs, separated from the other bedrooms.

4) Be honest about your needs and lifestyle

Lifestyles and family needs differ depending on what stage of life you are in. Features that young couples look for in a home are different from what a single person or a retired couple might find important. Before choosing a home design, ask yourself:

Do you have plans to start a family? How many children? Is there room in your plan for growth?
Will you need guest rooms for overnight visitors?
What about additional living space for visiting parents or grandchildren?
Are you approaching retirement? Should you choose a plan that’s great for aging in place?
How do you entertain? Do you want formal spaces or relaxed get-togethers?
What will your budget allow when it comes to the amount of space needed for your lifestyle and plans?

5) Don’t forget workspace considerations

Are you working from home more these days, full-time at an office, or a mix of both? Do you have any hobbies or special interests that might require special rooms to enjoy them? Do you need lots of attic or storage space to store your treasures?

Answering these questions honestly will ensure that you choose the right floor plan for your lifestyle now and into the future. If you need any guidance or suggestions, our new home specialists are here to help! Please give us a call at 903-321-4040 or schedule a personal tour of our models today.

Fully Connected: What Is a Smart Home?

4 Ways You Will Be Fully Connected in Your Brand-New Smart Home

More and more homeowners are choosing to upgrade to or purchase new smart homes. with the added safety, convenience and comfort that technology can provide. This wave of the future can help simplify life for your family through an app on your phone. Features in every home can include technology to:

1. Set a Comfy Temperature

Your smart home can include a thermostat that you can set on your way home from work or on your way home from a vacation. You don't need to manually set it anymore because you can set the temperature easily from an app on your phone or computer. A perfect preset temperature can make walking through the front door one of the best welcome homes ever.

2. Help Keep Your Home Safe and Secure

Keep your family safe and your home secure when you have a smart home that includes surveillance technology. You can check the perimeter and inside of your home whether you are away or in another room. Alarms can be set, disarmed and changed with a touch of a button. Locks can be activated without actually being on the premises to allow you to protect your family even when you aren't there.

3. Turn Lights On and Off

Another feature that offers safety and convenience in a smart home allows you to turn lights on and off. Never walk into a dark house again when you can turn the porch light and indoor lights on as you make your way home. Turn on lights to illuminate your backyard from the comfort of your living room or turn on lights around the perimeter of your home when night falls. Once tucked into bed, you can switch off forgotten lights without getting up again.

4. Operate Appliances

Our smart homes allow you to start that load of laundry you forgot about. Turning on the washing machine can be done when you're out doing errands so that you can switch your clothes to the dryer the minute you get home. Preheat your oven from the bathroom or start a load of dishes in the dishwasher without getting up from the movie you're watching.

Call us today at Conaway Homes to learn how you can reap the benefits of a smart home. Homes by Conaway Homes are fully connected from the moment you move in. Once you experience the features that our smart homes offer, you might find yourself wondering how you lived without a smart home until now. At Conaway Homes, we want to help make your home more streamlined and safer for your family.

5 Ways to Enjoy Your Outdoor Living Space this Spring

The weather is warming up in East Texas, and there’s something so special about this time of year. Maybe it’s the promise of the gloriously long summer ahead, or the excitement of evenings still tinged with a cool breeze. Whatever you love most about spring, there’s no better way to enjoy it than by relaxing outside in your own beautiful outdoor space.

Let's look at five ways to enjoy your Conaway Homes backyard and make the most of this beautiful spring weather.

1) Turn your patio into an outdoor living room

If your new home has a patio, turn up the comfort factor and select a few plush couches or settees, a soft outdoor rug, pillows for lounging, and lots of cozy blankets for after-dinner drinks and conversation. This time of year (and all year, really), we promise your outdoor living room will get just as much use as your indoor space!

2) Make s'mores with the kids

A back patio is the perfect spot for an outdoor fire pit. You can find them in an array of sizes and materials to match your home’s style. The little ones will LOVE making their own desserts, and you’ll love making sweet memories, around the fire in the comfort and safety of your own yard. What was once only an occasional camping experience can be an everyday treat at home.

3) Take in a movie

Your spacious yard is the perfect place for family movie night! Purchase a screen and projector, or get creative with a white sheet, and set up blankets, pillows, low chairs, and of course, a fully-loaded snack bar to enjoy your favorite films under the stars.

4) Let the light shine

Lighting can make or break interior design, but did you know you can use light to completely transform your outdoor space, too? Use string lights, fairy curtain lights, or paper lanterns to instantly create ambiance and make your patio cozier and more welcoming. When you add a pair of comfortable, cushioned chairs and your favorite beverage, you’ll never want to leave.

5) Dine outdoors in elegance

East Texas has some of the best weather in the country this time of year. Take advantage of it by having special occasion meals at home. Create an unforgettable dining experience with formal dinnerware, candles, and a gorgeous tablescape. For ultimate luxury, have a catering company take care of all the cooking and cleaning up.

However you choose to dress up your outdoor space, it’s sure to be a highlight of your new Conaway home. We can’t think of a better way to enjoy the great outdoors than right in your own backyard. For more information, please contact us!

Tips For Moving To a New Town

There is no greater feeling than finding the perfect home for you and your family. And when you finally connect with “the one,” this may mean moving to a new town! Relocating is an exciting opportunity for you and your family to start fresh — but it is understandable if you feel a bit nervous too. After all, it is not always easy to leave your current hometown, no matter how much you are looking forward to your new neighborhood.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to make your big move as smooth as possible for everyone. Because you should enjoy every moment of your new home journey! Take a look at a few of our favorite tips for moving to a new area:

Explore by car or foot. One of the best things about a new hometown is finding the local spots you will love to drive or walk to in your daily life, from the coffee shop down the street to the ice cream place you enjoy with your kids. When you are all settled into your home, take some time to explore. Pop into the stores you see, try an interesting-looking restaurant, and get acclimated to the streets you will soon know like the back of your hand.

Enjoy a family outing. With all of the new places to explore, it is always helpful to do some research online. Search for parks and trails near your home where you can spend an afternoon relaxing in the great outdoors with your kids. You can also search for fun attractions like zoos, shopping centers, or museums for a family outing. Set aside a day to spend quality time together — this will help everyone feel comfortable and get excited about your new hometown.

Meet your neighbors. It goes without saying that your neighbors are part of what makes your daily routine so special. As you go for a walk around your neighborhood, make sure to say hello to new faces and introduce yourself. Let your neighbors know that you are new in town, and ask for recommendations on where to eat, relax, or have fun. Consider inviting new friends over for a get-together or one of your very first outdoor dinner parties!

Join a club. If you enjoy organized activities with other people, you will love joining a club or taking a new class. Take a look at the local library, a museum, a public garden, or an art center — there are bound to be art classes, book clubs, and more to enjoy! Another great way to meet people (while staying active) is to join a gym and take fitness classes. This will also help you get settled into a routine and enjoy the company of others who live close by. You can even start your own walking or jogging club with your neighbors!

Above all else, one of the best things you can do is simply relax and enjoy your time. You have just made a big move, and you do not have to know everything about your new hometown right away. As the days go by, you will come to feel a sense of familiarity and belonging — but there is certainly no rush. Give yourself time to explore and enjoy the excitement of something new. There is so much to look forward to with your family!

If you’re thinking of moving to East Texas, come explore our new home communities throughout the area. You're sure to find a new home — and a new town — that you love!

Woodway Park: Boutique Community in the Heart of East Texas Now Selling

Woodway Park is a boutique community in East Texas with just 28 homesites available. We have just released new lots for sale but they won't last long in this desirable location!

6 Spring Cleaning Hacks for a Fresh Home this Season

Step outside and take a breath of fresh, clean air — spring has arrived! If you’ve bought a new Conaway home recently, what better way to celebrate the season of new beginnings than by freshening it up? From your window sills to your pillows, small changes can make a big difference in the overall feel of your living space.

This season, take a few moments to refresh your beautiful home to welcome the best time of year. Here are a few of our favorite hacks for spring cleaning in 2022:

1. Welcome Home: You’ve wiped your shoes clean of dirt and mud for an entire year on your outdoor welcome mat. Give it a major spruce-up by hosing it down and letting it air-dry, taking care to hose off or scrub the area underneath it. Another effective way of stopping dirt in its tracks (no pun intended) is to use a mat on the inside of your door as well. If you already have one, vacuum both sides of it to really get the dirt out for a new season of visitors.

2. Dust It Off: Even the most simple of tasks can make a big impact. Dusting off the often-forgotten surfaces of your home — like window sills, blinds, fan blades, and the top of the fridge — can give your entire home a clean aura and feel. With a cloth, store-bought duster, or dusting gloves (our favorite!) get around hard-to-reach places like coffee maker nooks, picture frames, and vases.

3. Scrub it Out: Believe it not, your trash can needs some cleaning love, too! Although this might not sound like the most fun chore, it’s amazing how much fresher your kitchen can look and smell once the trash can is scrubbed clean. Take your empty can outside, give it a squirt of liquid dish soap and water, scrub it with a long-handled brush, and voila! The smells are long gone and it’ll look good as new.

4. Bedding Beauty: The place you go to for ultimate relaxation, your bed is one of the most special parts of your home. Refresh this space by switching out thicker, winter sheets and pillow cases for spring ones. Not to mention, a new look — like a light-colored duvet or spring-themed pillows — creates an entirely fresh vibe. Take care to wash duvet covers, give your mattress a quick spray of disinfectant, and rotate your mattress so that the springs remain even and comfortable all year long.

5. Flower Power: The most prominent sign of spring, fresh flowers make this season so lovable. Whether in your primary bedroom, guest bathroom, living room, or kitchen, sweet-smelling flowers like lilacs, tulips, and daffodils make your home feel fresh, light, and beautiful. If fresh flowers make your nose itch, replace them with scented candles, potpourri in dishes, or scented oil diffusers to enjoy the fresh scents of spring.

6. Gut Your Garage: It’s easy to let the things in your garage pile up, but it’s difficult to clean it all up… With the start of spring officially here, make it a point to tackle the garage! After sorting items into piles (keep, donate, sell, recycle), do a little dusting, sweeping, and hosing down, and it’ll be as good as new in no time.

There’s nothing as sweet as springtime scents and a little bit of sunshine! This season, make sure your Conaway home feels just as fresh as the day you bought it. We can’t wait to see how you spruce up your home. From all of us at Conaway Homes, have a happy and refreshing spring!

4 Reasons to Move to East Texas

If you're considering moving to East Texas from within the state or if you're relocating from another part of the country, congratulations! You have chosen one of the most dynamic, friendliest, and fastest-growing regions there is! There are so many reasons to make a move to East Texas, but we've compiled four of our top ones below:

1) Safety

If safety is a priority for where you live, you'll be happy to know that two East Texas cities — Tyler and Longview — ranked in the top 20 for "Safest Cities in Texas." Safety.com compiled data using public safety scores and financial safety metrics. Tyler's mayor credits excellent relationships and coordination between residents and the police department for the city's high score.

2) Beautiful Scenery

East Texas is well known for having some of the most stunning scenery in the state. With rolling hills, deep woods, wide pastures, and serene beaches, the natural landscape here is varied and abundant. East Texas cities are full of community gardens and parks that are perfect for strolling, jogging, and picnicking. And there are plenty of lakes — like Lake Palestine, Lake O' the Pines, and Lake Fork — that offer fishing, boating, camping, wildlife watching, and so many more fun activities.

3) Slower Pace of Life

We all know how hectic life can get, so it's nice to come home to a place that isn't. East Texas prides itself on smaller, friendlier cities where residents can relax and enjoy a hometown feel. If you work in the area, you'll be happy with the short, easy commutes and light traffic on the highways. For those who travel to larger, nearby cities — like Dallas or Shreveport — for work or play, it's a scenic ride along I-20 East or West.

4) Lower Cost of Living

Not only will you enjoy a high quality of life in East Texas, you'll also save money along the way. East Texas residents enjoy a lower cost of living compared to the U.S. average, and compared to larger Texas cities just a short distance away. Residents save on food and groceries, utilities, and transportation. Where they save the most, however, is on the cost of housing. Housing in East Texas is nearly 37 percent less than the national average, and nearly 16 percent less than Texas as a whole.

If you're considering a move to Texas to take advantage of its booming economy, great weather, tons of outdoor recreation, and friendly neighbors, be sure to check out East Texas! With new home communities in Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Bullard, Flint, Lindale, Chandler, and Whitehouse, you're sure to find a home — and a community — that you love. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment to see all your options.

4 Tips for Buying Your First Home

Buying a home today is certainly different than it was two years ago. Now, there are fewer homes on the market due to high demand and disruptions in various supply chains. When they do become available, they sell quickly. If you're ready to make the (very smart) leap into homeownership, there are a few things you can do to make sure you're ready when you find that perfect one.

1) Focus On Your Priorities Today

Most people live in the first home they buy for an average of seven years. When you're considering homes, think about what would make your life better today, rather than try to guess what your priorities will be in the future. If your quality of life would improve by being close to your job, within driving distance to restaurants and shops, or having a low monthly payment, make those the priorities that guide your home search. In seven years or so, as your life circumstances change, you'll be ready for a home that better fits your lifestyle at that time.

2) Get Pre-Qualified

If you know what you’d like your monthly payments to be, but need an idea of how that compares to your total investment, take the very first step and speak with a preferred lender. He or she will give you a breakdown of home prices within your budget, down payment and loan options, and monthly costs. A good idea is to go one step further and get pre-qualified. Your lender will gather important financial documents and produce a letter stating the loan amount that you qualify for. This will be helpful if you need to make an offer on your dream home quickly and show the seller you are a serious buyer.

3) Start Shopping Early

High demand for homes over the past two years, along with the high price and scarcity of materials, have caused home supplies to dwindle, even as builders work hard to build new ones. If you are interested in all the perks that homeownership brings, start your home search early, ideally 12 months or so before you'd like to close. In case there are no quick move-in homes available, this will give you time to go through the building process (and personalize your new home!).

4) Keep An Open Mind

Focus on your needs first, then your wants. For example, you may need home office space because you work remotely. Or you may need to live close to your office so you don't have a long commute. Because homes are not in high supply these days, find something that checks MOST of your boxes. To get more of what you want, new construction is a great choice because you can give input on the layout and design of the home.

Whether you plan to buy a home in a few months or next year, it’s best to start planning and preparing now. If you are considering a new home in East Texas, we’d love to help you kickstart that planning process! To learn more about Conaway Homes’ available homes, or plans you can build, please contact us.

Fully Loaded Design Packages Make New Home Design Easy

Conaway Homes is always looking for ways to make the new home design process easier, more enjoyable, and faster for our valued customers. While many people have a general idea of which design styles they like, selecting the final interior and exterior finishes can sometimes be overwhelming.

Enjoy Relaxed Country Living in Eagle View Estates in Lindale, TX

Eagle View Estates offers beautiful new homes in the heart of the East Texas countryside where you can enjoy wide open spaces, both indoors and out. With large, grassy homesites, spacious 3 and 4-bedroom homes, and a convenient Lindale, TX location, this community offers the best of all worlds.

Living in Lindale, TX

Located in the heart of East Texas, Lindale offers quiet and charming country living in a convenient location. Just a 20-minute drive from Tyler and a quick 1.5-hour commute into Dallas, Lindale offers a lower cost of living and a high quality of life without the hassle of a big city. Here, you can save on the cost of new housing, enabling you to purchase more land and a larger home at a reasonable cost, especially compared to Dallas and its surrounding areas. More people are moving to Lindale as the economy grows, with well-paying jobs in fields like healthcare, education, transportation, production, and financial services. Students will benefit from the high-rated schools of the Lindale ISD.

New Community and Homes

Eagle View Estates is conveniently located just off Jim Hogg Road & US-69, just minutes from I-20. The oversized homesites are a full 1/2 acre, giving you plenty of room to spread out and enjoy your yard while maintaining privacy. Your home should always reflect you and your unique lifestyle, so Eagle View Estates offers three home plans and a variety of designs to choose from. Ranging from 3 to 4 bedrooms and 1,893 to 2,097 square feet, these homes have the rooms, features, and finishes you're looking for in new construction, starting from $359,988.

Like all Conaway homes, these are built to high standards of energy efficiency and are HERS rated to certify energy performance. Inside, you'll be thrilled with high-end finishes like granite kitchen countertops, primary suites with luxurious baths, walk-in closets for maximum storage, and additional flex rooms that offer a variety of uses.

The exteriors of these homes are just as welcoming, with a fully-sodded yard all around, professionally landscaped front yard, and an automatic sprinkler system to keep it all healthy and green. There's a full privacy fence surrounding each homesite complete with a 4-foot entry gate. Decorative front lighting makes this home a joy to come home to each evening.

For more information about living the good life in a brand new home in Lindale, TX, please contact us. We can't wait to welcome you to modern country living!

Create a Peaceful Retreat with 2022’s New Home Design Trends

In 2022, it's all about peaceful, calming, well-edited interiors. With many people still spending more time indoors, and an overall emphasis on minimizing stress of any kind, interior designers are transforming homes into retreat-like havens that incorporate soothing color palettes, natural materials, and spaces that can be... well... whatever you need. Whether you are designing an entire home, or just want to refresh a few rooms, here are the top new home design trends of 2022.

Natural, Neutral Tones

While neutral colors are a mainstay of interior design, this year they are leaning toward the warmer, more natural tones, like beige, white, ivory, taupe, and brownish-gray. These are colors you would likely find in nature (think of a day at the shore or hiking through an amazing forest) and by bringing them inside your home, you'll find yourself more grounded, relaxed, and focused. Play with these colors in different fabrics, materials, paint, and decor to create an interesting and layered neutral aesthetic.

Organic Materials

Playing right into the natural theme, this is the year to bring more organic materials into your interior design. Look for furniture and accessories in natural-finish wood, wicker, rattan, stone or ceramic, and natural fiber rugs like wool, cotton, or jute. Even mirrors and other wall art can take a million different natural forms. These organic materials create a calm and cozy feeling — a great way to combat the higher stress levels of the last few years. Designers fully expect this to be a long-term design trend as we all seek to lead simpler, less chaotic lives. A great side benefit is that these materials are sustainable and can easily be repurposed.

Flexible Spaces

Like plastic straws, single-use rooms are out. Multifunctional spaces are in — ones that can transform and change along with your life. A bonus room might be both a private study and a home gym, or a loft may start out as a child's playroom then transform into a homework station. Even an open-concept living space can be flexible in that it allows you to place furniture whenever it makes the most sense during a particular period in your life.

Dedicated Home Offices

More people continue to work from home these days, and trying to focus in a highly trafficked room or clearing a space on the already-messy dining table just doesn't cut it. In order to be "on" and professional, find a room or space in your home that can serve as a home office and nothing else (hello, flex room!). Bring in all the things that make you feel comfortable, inspired, and productive — like great lighting, a quality chair, bookshelves, photos, awards, and collectibles. Make this office "off limits" while you're working, and your feeling of accomplishment will soar.

Minimalism

With many of us still spending so much time at home, we need our spaces to feel airy and open, no matter their size. Minimalism is both a way of life and a design aesthetic that can help accomplish that. Use only what's necessary; keep only what's meaningful and important. Decluttering your home goes a long way toward decluttering your mind so that you can rest more peacefully and focus when necessary.

Biophilia

Minimalism is the way to go for furniture and decor, but in 2022, designers say bring in all the plants you can! Indoor plants have mood-boosting benefits like reducing stress, increasing focus, boosting productivity, and more. Not to mention, they help purify the air by converting carbon dioxide into fresh oxygen — perfect if you're spending long periods of time indoors.

Serene Green

In line with the overall trend of all things natural and soothing, green is making its way into every designer's look book as a must-have accent color in 2022. Earthy, organic greens like sage, olive, and forest destress and revitalize, and are associated with nature and growth. Use green anywhere you need a pop of color or need to feel energized, like a wall, accent chair, or pillows. You could even try removing window coverings to highlight your green landscape outside — it’s like built-in wall art!

Outdoor Rooms

It's no longer just the "patio" or "deck." More designers are transforming these spaces into fully outdoor living spaces. It's an easy way to enjoy more livable square footage in your home without actually adding any rooms. Bring in multiple seating arrangements, a cozy bistro table for coffee and breakfast, soft rugs for underfoot, and ambient lighting to make this one of the most used rooms in the home.

If you’d love to incorporate these design trends into your new home in East Texas, you’re in luck. At Conaway Homes, we offer professionally curated design packages that include many of these on-trend colors and finishes. They set the perfect foundation for the calming, tranquil home design you’re looking for. For more details or to see our design packages, please contact us.

How to Lower Your Winter Energy Bills in East Texas

Maintaining a totally energy-efficient home can be a lot of work, especially during the winter. But an energy-efficient home is really the only way to ensure that you and your family stay warm and comfortable all season long — without paying sky-high energy bills.

If you live in an older home, and because heat can escape from the unlikeliest of places, you'll probably need to conduct a pricey energy audit to even know what to look for. Then there's the time and expense of caulking, sealing, insulating, replacing materials and products, and more to treat the heat loss. What a job!

Luckily, when you buy a new home in East Texas, energy efficiency is often built right into the construction process, lowering your home maintenance and energy costs for many years. At Conaway Homes, our homes are so energy efficient and air tight that homeowners can expect to pay less per month on their energy bills than owners of older, used homes. Here's how we do it:

Create Heat More Efficiently

Up to half of a home's energy is used for heating and cooling interior spaces. Today's energy-efficient furnaces provide maximum heat with minimum gas usage by electronically monitoring the thermostat to ensure precise temperature control. Having the right-sized HVAC system for your house is also critically important to maintain even temperatures room-to-room and control humidity levels.

Prevent Heat Loss

Your furnace works hard to warm your home. The number one thing you can do to lower your energy bills is to prevent that heat from escaping, so that it doesn't have to work even harder. While effectively sealing air leaks around floors, walls, ceilings, windows, doors, fireplaces, and outlets (yes, outlets!) is a given, the right insulation and window glass will help trap heat and keep it right where you need it.

Effective Insulation Solutions: Homes in East Texas need to be able to withstand low winter temperatures that regularly reach down into the 30s. For maximum heat retention and comfort, 2x6 exterior wall construction allows for fiberglass batt insulation to fill a wider space without breaks or gaps, resulting in less air leakage. In ceilings, blown-in fiberglass insulation 13 inches thick prevents warm air from escaping.
Qualified Low-E Windows and Sliding Glass Doors: Inefficient windows are notorious for ushering your hard-won heat right out of your house. Low-emissivity coatings on glass windows and doors reflect the home's interior heat and bounce it right back into the spaces where you need it the most. (Fun fact: Low-E windows do the exact same thing to exterior heat from the sun in the summer, keeping the inside of your home cooler in warmer months).

Efficiently Maintain Hot Water Temperature

When it’s cold outside, maintaining hot water for bathing and cleaning can use LOTS of energy. Traditional water heaters (those big, unsightly tanks), are very good at constantly heating stored water to whatever the thermostat is set to, but that comes at a major cost. There's a better way.

Efficient Water Heaters: Tankless gas water heaters are the best option to keep your water hot and your energy bills low. They allow for endless hot water (no more hot water running out when the last person in the family showers), save a ton of space, and don’t pose a flood-risk when they expire.

Harness the Power of the Sun

You know how you can stand in the sun on a cold day and your face will still get warm? The same is true for your home. Large, strategically-placed windows are a fantastic way to harness a natural resource to warm your home that costs absolutely nothing. If you think those Low-E windows that are preventing interior heat from escaping also prevent the sun's heat from entering, think again.

Low-E windows actually transmit the winter sun's shortwave energy easily so that it passes right through the glass. That energy can naturally warm your home on even the coldest day. Once that heat is inside your home, it converts to long-wave energy, and THAT'S the kind of heat that the special coating blocks. Pretty genius if you ask us.

Get Smart About Your Thermostat

Programmable thermostats increase efficiency in your heating and cooling system by learning how long it takes your system to reach your desired temperature, and activating the system earlier, so that your home is how warm or cool you want it to be, at the precise moment you want it. Smart thermostats that allow for multiple programming settings — like auto-adjusting on the weekends or when you are not home as often — will save you both money and the hassle of remembering.

Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

In rooms with ceilings of normal height, fans can keep you just as warm in the winter as they keep you cool in the summer, and can potentially lower your energy bill. At the first sign of cool weather, reverse the direction your ceiling fans turn — so that they are spinning clockwise — to pull cool air upward and push down the warmer air that naturally rises to the ceiling. Just be sure blades are spinning at the lowest possible setting.

All of these systems work together in a new Conaway home to keep your space as toasty as you'd like, for a lot less money. Here are some other quick tips that you can implement daily to keep your home warmer in winter!

Open the curtains and blinds on a sunny day, close them at night
After using the oven, leave it open to let the heat warm your kitchen and open living spaces
Close doors and narrow air vents in rooms you don't use often. (Don't close vents all the way as you don't want the room to reach freezing temperatures. That could freeze pipes in the walls and take more energy to re-heat.)
Put rugs down on hard surface floors to create more soft surface area, which holds heat more effectively

Have questions about buying a new, energy-efficient home in East Texas? Contact us — we’d love to help!