Belmonte Builders is proud to celebrate an outstanding showing at this year’s Saratoga Showcase of Homes, earning six awards across two featured models. The Lincoln Ranch at 18 Dahlia Drive received top honors for Best Interior Floor Plan and Best Landscaping , while the Willow Twin Home at 60 Daintree Drive captured four awards for Best Exterior Architectural Design , Best Landscaping , Best Workmanship , and Best Interior Decorating . Together, these honors highlight Belmonte’s continued dedication to exceptional craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and the superior livability that defines every Belmonte home.

Plans for Exciting New Amenities Unveiled

Talk about the economy is all over the news, and the odds of a recession are rising this year. That’s leaving a lot of people wondering what it means for the value of their home – and their buying power. Let’s take a look at some historical data to show what’s happened in the housing market during each recession, going all the way back to the 1980s. The facts may surprise you. 

Think a new home means a bigger price tag? Not necessarily.

On November 14th, Belmonte Builders was honored to take home three(3) awards for our Cypress Twin Home at the 2024 Capital Region Builders & Remodelers Association’s (CRBRA) Best in Building Awards night. We were proud that our Cypress model home at 22 Daintree Drive was recognized for: Best New Twin Home or Townhome Best New Merchandised (staged) Model Best Aging in Place Design

Now that it’s September, all eyes are on the Federal Reserve (the Fed). The overwhelming expectation is that they’ll cut the Federal Funds Rate at their upcoming meeting, driven primarily by recent signs that inflation is cooling , and the job market is slowing down . Mark Zandi, Chief Economist at Moody’s Analytics, said : “They’re ready to cut, just as long as we don’t get an inflation surprise between now and September, which we won’t.” But what does this mean for the housing market, and more importantly, for you as a potential homebuyer or seller? Why a Federal Funds Rate Cut Matters The Federal Funds Rate is one of the key factors that influences mortgage rates – things like the economy, geopolitical uncertainty, and more also have an impact. When the Fed cuts the Federal Funds Rate, it signals what’s happening in the broader economy, and mortgage rates tend to respond. While a single rate cut might not lead to a dramatic drop in mortgage rates, it could contribute to the gradual decline that’s already happening. As Mike Fratantoni, Chief Economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), points out : “Once the Fed kicks off a rate-cutting cycle, we do expect that mortgage rates will move somewhat lower.” And any upcoming Federal Funds Rate cut likely won’t be a one-time event. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says : “Generally, the rate-cutting cycle is not one-and-done. Six to eight rounds of rate cuts all through 2025 look likely.” The Projected Impact on Mortgage Rates Here’s what experts in the industry project for mortgage rates through 2025. One contributing factor to this ongoing gradual decline is the anticipated cuts from the Fed. The graph below shows the latest forecasts from F annie Ma e , MBA , NAR , and Wells Fargo (see graph below):

Being a part of the Sandwich Generation comes with its challenges – but it also might come with one truly great perk. If you’re looking to buy a home, your caregiving situation can actually make it a bit easier for you to afford a home. And building a new home makes it easier to personalize the floor plan to fit your unique needs

Retirement is a time for relaxation, adventure, and enjoying the things you love. As you imagine this exciting new chapter in your life, it's important to think about whether your current home still fits your needs. If it's too big, too costly, or just not convenient anymore, downsizing might help you make the most of your retirement years. To find out if a smaller, more manageable home might be the perfect fit for your new lifestyle, ask yourself these questions: Do the original reasons I bought my current house still stand, or have my needs changed since then? Do I really need and want the space I have right now, or could somewhere smaller be a better fit? What are my housing expenses right now, and how much do I want to try to save by downsizing? If you answered yes to any of these, consider the benefits that come with downsizing.

When you’re planning a move, it’s normal to wonder where you’ll end up and what your future home is going to look like. Maybe you’ve got a specific picture of that house in your mind. But unless you came into this process knowing you want to buy a newly built home, you may not have pictured new home construction. These two reasons may make you want to reconsider that. 1. Adding Newly Built Homes Could Give You More Options There are two types of homes on the market: new and existing. A newly built home refers to a house that was just built or is under construction. An existing home is one a previous homeowner has already lived in. Right now, the inventory of existing homes is tight. But there may be options for you on the new home side of things. Data from the Census and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that newly built homes are a bigger part of today’s housing inventory than the norm (see graph below):