That's right!  It's time again for the Home & Garden Show at the Memorial Coliseum.  Stop by and visit the booth by Granite Ridge Builders! 

This is the largest home & garden event in the tri-state area.  Mark your calendar for March 3-6.  Thursday & Friday 11-9, Saturday 10-9 and Sunday 11-5.

Granite Ridge is building in Hamilton County (Indianapolis area) and we now have 4 homes up and ready for sale!

These homes start at $129,900 including the lot.  We have 3 bedroom or 4 bedrooms homes available.  The homes are located in Cicero just feet away from the Morse Reservoir and convienent to shopping.   

Call 260-490-1417 for more information!

 Make 2011 the year to build your dream home!

Have you thought about building?  Are you looking for more space or less space?  Do you want land?  Give us a call 490-1417.  We can make your dreams come true!

 We can build on your lot or ours!  Each Granite Ridge home is custom built with the highest quality.

Lead Based Paint

Was your home built before 1978?  Are you thinking about remodeling?  We have some important information for you.  Beginning April 2010 contractors performing work that disturbs lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and schools must be EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

Luke Hoffman is ceritified in lead safety for renovation, repair and painting and Granite Ridge Builders now has the certification from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Lead is a toxic metal that was used many years in products found in and around homes.  Lead can cause a range of health problems from learning disabilities to seizures.

Some of the most common sources of lead poisoning are:

Deteriorating lead-based paint

Lead contamination dust

Lead contaminated residential dust

If your looking to remodel, call 490-1417 for a certified professional!

Merry Christmas!

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!  Remember the reason for the season!

Our office will be closed for Christmas but we'll be back Monday  at 8 am!

Did you know that Granite Ridge remodels?  Whether your renovating, adding on, or your home just needs updating give us a call at 490-1417.

This home was recently updated by Granite Ridge Remodeling.  This beautiful home was a blast from the past.  Below are a few before and after pictures.

So....  Don't you love this house?  Well, now that everything's updated it's FOR SALE!  This one of a kind home is PIne Valley is listed for $179,900!  This beautiful home is over 2600 SF, full basement, 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths located on the driving range.  This home is listed by Century 21 Bradley  MLS #201014284.  Call today 490-1417.   Below we have a few more pictures of this remarkable home! 

Granite Ridge employees had a little fun yesterday with a carry-in luncheon followed by a white elephant party.  We enjoyed a lot of food and dessert!  Lots of dessert!!!  I think a lot of people around here will be making New Year's resolutions.

Then we enjoyed some Christmas carols lead by some of our talented co-workers.

And finally, the white elephant gift exchange!  The term white elephant refers to a gift whose maintenance cost exceeds its usefulness or the gift is a burden.  We had some people take the term very seriously! 

Sooooo we had a bird

A fish

Oh, another fish

And.......A gerbil (he even came in a ball)!

Don't worry, all of the animals ended up in loving homes.  We had a wonderful afternoon full of fun and laughs.  Everyone had a great sense of humor and was a good sport.  Hmmmm, I wonder what will have next year?

Are you one of the millions of people planning to venture out on Black Friday for some hot deals?  Don't forget Choice Designs!  Starting Monday, November 29 visit us Monday-Friday from 9-5.  Choice Designs is a retail store full of unique items for that special someone or just for you.  Choice Designs is located in the Granite Ridge office.  All of the Granite Ridge model homes are professionally decorated by the designers from Choice.

People come here seeking the interior design expertise and consultation of our extraordinary professional and experienced design team. They work together coordinating their highly individual talents and resources to help you achieve your distinctive home style, whether through a simple design upgrade or a complete room or home remodel.

Choice Designs has a lot to offer:

Window Treatments

Flooring

Home Accessories

Artwork

Lighting

Gifts

Furniture

Kitchenware

Jewelry

Purses

For more information call Choice Designs at 490-6393 or visit their website choicedesignsbycarma.com.  Choice is located at 1020 Woodland Plaza Run in Fort Wayne.

Granite Ridge welcomes Jake Wiederkehr to our team!  Jake is a New Home Specialist on the sales team.  Jake holds open house most Sundays in New Haven at 9591 Falcon Way in the subdivision Pinestone. 

Jake is a 2007 graduate of New Haven High School and studied Business for 2 years at IPFW.  He attends Harvester Avenue Missionary Church and enjoys working out plus a little boxing!  His guilty pleasure is building bankers boxes in the basement at Granite Ridge:)

Granite Ridge Builders is proud to welcome Angie Chaney to our team!  Angie can be found doing a multitude of things around the office.  Angie is always willing to help anyone out with their work load. 

Angie graduated from Bishop Dwenger High School and Saint Francis with a social work degree.  She is very passionate about the community of Fort Wayne and its people.  Angie is also a huge Minnesota Vikings fan. Boo!!!  Just kidding.  Go Vikings!!!

Granite Ridge loves to get creative!  Here are a few pictures with some creative ideas for railing & spindles.  We also have something unique for your railing, just add leather!  Yes, leather!  This will definately create a talking point in your new home.

Are you tired of mowing your yard or shoveling snow?  We have the answer!  Granite Ridge has 5 villa lots located northwest off of Union Chapel Road between Auburn and Tonkel Roads.  Each lot is priced at $34,900. 

So what is villa living?  Well, you can basically forget about exterior chores around the house!  Each home pays association dues plus quarterly dues.  The quarterly dues cover mowing, maintenance of landscaping, vegetation, plants, trees, snow removal from streets, driveways and sidewalks, some exterior repainting and maintenance as necessary to the in-ground sprinkler system.

Granite Ridge Builders just completed a 35 unit senior living community.  The Overlook Villas is located in Columbia City just off of SR 9.  This community is already 100% occupied. 

Granite Ridge received the Energy Star Home Leadership Housing Award!

So what does this mean to energy efficient construction and environmental protection?

The environmental impact Granite RIdge has made is equivalent to:

$296,808 savings to our homeowners on their utility bills

Or

325 Vehicles taken off the road

Or

538 Acres of trees planted

Or

1,968,096 Pounds (984 Tons) of coal saved

We've got land!

Are you looking for acreage?  Granite Ridge has parcels starting at 2.0 acres.  Water's Edge is located in the Leo-Grabill area by the St. Joseph River.  Water's Edge is off of Halter Road between St Rd 1 (from St Rd 1 turn on Clay Street) and St Joe Rd. 

Lots start in the $50's.  Well and septic are required.  Water's Edge is also approved for outbuildings!  Our model home in Water's Edge is coming soon!  This home is a 4 bedroom/2.5 bath on a full basement with a seperate 40'x24' auxillary garage for $324,900. 

Call Granite Ridge at 490-1417 to reserve your lot today! 

Granite Ridge wants to let you know about an exciting new tax credit for home owners who install geothermal heating and cooling.  The tax credit is through the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008.  This is a one time tax credit of 30% of the total investment for homeowners who install residential geothermal units.  Units installed from 2009-2016 must meet or exceed the EnergyStar requirements and can take advantage of the full credit!  Call Granite Ridge at 490-1417 for more information.  Consult your tax professional for more information on taking advantage of this tax credit.

Diagram courtesy of waterfurnace.com

Granite Ridge invites you to the New Haven New Construction Home Tour this weekend.  Visit us October 9 & 10 from 1-4 pm!

This home is a split bedroom ranch with 1392 square feet.

This home is located in Greenwood Lakes at the corner of Seiler Road and Green Road.

10217 Chesterhills Court is listed for $139,900

This custom ranch home is 1376 square feet is situated on a beautiful pond.

This home is located in Pinestone off of Seiler Road between Hartzell Road and Green Road.

9591 Falcon Way is listed for $139,900

Many times when a homeowner is deciding on what brick they want on their new home they drive by other homes and pick a color they like.  What most people don’t realize it that mortar color will drastically change what their brick will look like.  Did you know that when you look at brick 20% of what you see is actually mortar!  So remember, if you choose a brick and it looks like a different color it’s probably the mortar.

Granite Ridge Builders offers a large variety of bricks to choose from on your new home.  Most Fort Wayne homes have some brick on the exterior.

This is a brick wall in the showroom at Granite Ridge.  This shows one brick color will several different mortar selections.

New Home Construction and Homeownership just got easier with below 4% interest rates.  A $125,00 Loan at 4 ½% for 30 years is now only $633.36 per month.  The same $125,000 Mortgage Loan at 10% Would be $1,096.96 per Month.  What a Difference!  Historically, this is the time to buy a new home in Fort Wayne. 
Summer Trends:  Villa Homes with Less Maintenance, 1 Acre Lots With 40’ x 30’ Storage Barns, Energy Efficiency with Better Insulation, Health are Interior Building Envelop, One Room Kitchen/Nook/Great Room Living Area and Green Building. 
Financing News:  FHA is raising it’s monthly insurance charge, Granite Ridge continues it’s Successful Government Backed Financing Program which let’s a Potential New Homeowners Buy a Newly Constructed Home for $141,700 with Payments from $535 PITI – Check Out More Information at 535permonth.com! 
Fall Events for Granite Ridge:  Fall Home show in Goshen, Indiana – September 16; Fort Wayne Home Builders Town and Country – September 25 -26 and October 2-3; Warsaw Home Show September 23-26; Kiosk in Mall – Everyday!  Please come and see us! 
Granite Philosophy:  Expect Success – You will Become What you Believe!

We are blessed to have good clean quality water and lots of it in the Midwest!  20% of the world lacks clean water.  DID YOU KNOW – the average person in the United States uses almost 70 gallons of pure water every day!  WOW!  Granite News – 2009 was a great year – 258 families trusted Granite Ridge to build their new dream home.  We promise we will work hard to fulfill that dream!  Granite Philosophy – Dream!!!!

This Fort Wayne Home might meet your dreams.  New construction in the country! Custom home by Granite Ridge Builders with a seperate 40'x 24' auxiliary garage on 1.1 acres. Master bedroom is located on the main level with a box ceiling, and spacious master bathroom with a double sink vanity, garden tub and seperate shower. 12' ceiling in the great room plus a woodburning fireplace. U-shaped kitchen with custom Grabill cabinets, corner pantry and breakfast bar. 2 spacious bedrooms on the second level and a main bath with a double sink vanity. Full basement partially finished with 9' formed wall height. The basement has an additional full bath and bedroom. This home has geothermal, Andersen high performance windows, finished 3-car garage.

Granite Ridge - Fort Wayne Home Builder

The weather is cold buying housing is getting warm.  Rates are low – 5.04%, but Not for long!  DID YOU KNOW – one quarter percentage point change in mortgage interest rate equals $6,000 change on a mortgage.  Also housing affordability is HIGH!  The national price to income ratio in 1991 – 2001 was 3.2, mid 2000’s was 4.7 and today it is 3.1 – That’s very low and it might be a time to consider buying a new home.  News Flash – Obama urges banks to get lending (Sci. USA Today Article 12/29.  Credit Scores of 600 can still get a loan!  Prediction – rates will be 6% by summer – YICK!  Granite Ridge Philosophy – Accent the Challenge!

Introducing Granite Ridge Builders’ attempt at a new educational and informative social networking, blog, facebook  and twitter.  Most of you that know me, know that I am a man of many words.  So for me to twitter and be a man of few words – This could be interesting. 
Here goes – Noteworthy News:

Geothermal heat, new windows and doors, and now new appliances may give you a tax credit.  Tony’s 2010 Top Trends – Colors will be purple, yellow, gray and aqua; Screen dividers, medicine cabinets, shelves, technology, and storage.  By the Numbers; Home Mortgage rates 5% - WOW!; 27% of Americans live in homes worth less than what they owe; 4.5 million existing homes sold in 2009; Approximately 430,000 New homes were built in US in 2009.  Granite Ridge Builders sold 258 Fort Wayne Homes in 2009.  Granite Ridge Builders philosophy – Happiness is a decision!  Decide to by Happy!