Tri-County Homes, Inc.

Is Buying a Home in Today's Economy a Good Idea?

As a long-term investment, home-ownership is still one of the best investments for individual households.

“Why” you may ask? After all, while the headlines say the housing market is recovering slowly, defaults are still rising, and mortgage markets are so tight many home buyers have trouble obtaining a loan.

What buyers need to realize is that housing markets, like all markets, inevitably have their ups and downs. And home-ownership has a track record that is virtually unmatched by any other purchase in terms of its real benefits for both home owners and their communities. Despite the turmoil in mortgage lending, if you have good credit, a job and steady income, you will find there is still plenty of mortgage credit to be had at good rates. For well-qualified buyers, rates are running at near historical lows.

Home-ownership Real Value

Here are a few examples of why, dollar for dollar, home-ownership is a solid stepping stone to a future of financial security and the single largest creator of wealth for many Americans.

Over the long-term real estate has consistently appreciated, even through periodic adjustments in local markets in response to economic conditions. On a national level, home appreciation has historically increased 5-6 percent annually, report economists at the National Association of Home Builders.

           

Furthermore, the tax benefits of home-ownership make housing an important source of wealth for middle-income Americans. Deductions for mortgage interest payments and property taxes, as well as a $500,000 tax exclusion for capital gain for married couples selling their primary home, make the investment return on housing very attractive. For example, a married couple with an $180,000 mortgage and $80,000 in income can expect to save more than $7,500 in taxes during the first five years of home-ownership.

           

Finally, interest rates for mortgages are near historical lows. This means a lower monthly housing payment, which when tied to a fixed rate mortgage is held constant even if rates go up in the future. When combining the expected long-run price appreciation, the tax benefits, and today’s historically low interest rates, today is certainly a buyers’ market. Don’t miss out on the benefits of home-ownership.

Some Easy Math Adds Up To Customer Advantages!

When you add 49 and 40 together you don't just get 89.  You get unmatched expertise and bragging rights.  You get a new relationship between Simplex Industries and Tri-County Modular Homes, Inc. that marries resources and experience with a single purpose - Build homes with unsurpassed quality that exceed customer expectations.

Simplex and Tri-County have recently announced an agreement where Simplex, one of the nation's most successful and honored high quality modular builders, and Tri-County a long time market leader builder, will team up.  Simplex's two state-of-the-art climate controlled production facilities will serve as the manufacturing arm for Tri-County's highly experienced sales and construction team.  Tri-County brings almost a half century of customer expertise to the relationship while Simplex provides perhaps the most respected construction group in the industry to the mix.  

"At Simplex, we're very careful when it comes to choosing relationships.   When the discussions first began to work with Tri-County it was easy to see from the beginning the economies of scale and advantages to customers we each could bring," said Patrick Fricchione, Jr., President of Simplex Industries.  "We are excited about offering Tri-County's customers, retail as well as commercial customers, the level of unmatched quality construction we offer our own customers."

"This pact with Simplex made sense from the start," said Howard J. Schmader, President of Tri-County.  "It allows us to focus on what we do best - from design to build-out - from sales to customer service and to have access to the award winning building capability of Simplex. This relationship will benefit our customers for many years to come."

Tri-County Homes is located near Shippenville, Pennsylvania and has a proud history of building excellence.  Simplex, located in Scranton, Pennsylvania  shares many traits with Tri-County, including the willingness to offer completely custom building to their customers as well as industry leading commitments to GREEN and ENERGY STAR© building methods.  In addition to custom building, both offer customers countless designs to choose from and the ability to turn a customer's ideas into a dream home or one of a kind commercial structure. Both companies are also successful family-run organizations. 

Tri-County Homes in Western Pennsylvania was founded in 1962.  Long considered as one of the Premier Custom Builders in their region, they offer customers the ability to custom design a new home or commercial structure or work with their highly experienced staff to find building plans that work for them.  Preparing to celebrate their 50th anniversary, they are renowned for their dedication to customer service.  Visit Tri-County homes at www.TriCountyHomes.com.

Simplex is a nationally recognized leader in the modular home and commercial modular industry.  Many of the techniques used to make modular the superior building method were developed in the two Simplex construction facilities in Scranton, Pennsylvania.  The company has won numerous national building and marketing awards for its expertise.  For 40 years Simplex has proudly remained a family owned and operated company. To learn more about Simplex Industries, visit at www.simplexhomes.com

SET & WEATHER PROGRAM

The Set & Weather Program is designed for the customer with a strong construction knowledge. Using your skills, friends and family in the construction trades, you could save several thousands of dollars on the construction of your new home.

Through our Set & Weather Program, you act as your own general contractor and Tri-County Homes, Inc. partners with you as the Set Contractor.

Tri-County Homes, Inc. meets with you and our suppliers to coordinate the ordering of your new home. We deliver and erect your home on your foundation. Your home is erected in two days or less and is weather tight with approximately 80% of the home completed. Tri-County Homes, Inc. will then walk you through the entire scope of work required to complete the balance of work required to finish the home.

Tri-County Homes, Inc. Set & Weather Program includes the following:

• Complete set of construction plans.
• Provide for all transportation of the home to the customer's construction site.
• Provide crane and erection of home on customer's foundation.
• Secure home to foundation as required by code.
• Bolt center beam and install customer provided supports down the center of the home.
• Tie in the roof shingles, complete roofing and cap peak.
• Seal all openings between sections.
• Provide all factory materials as noted for the completion of the home.

Customer's responsibility includes the following but not limited too:

• Acquire all necessary permits and tap fees.
• Excavation and foundation.
• Install sill plate and sill sealer.
• Floor and/or foundation insulation as required by code.
• Install collar ties, 9/12 and 12/12 pitch roofs.
• Adjust windows and/or doors if required.
• Install all siding, trim, soffit and fascia shipped loose from the factory.
• Install interior stairs/railing on select plans shipped loose from the factory.
• Interconnect plumbing between first and second floor (if required).
• Install all plumbing in crawlspace or basement (customer supplies materials).
• Interconnect electrical between modules.
• Complete drywall and repair any shipping drywall cracks.
• Customer completes the painting.
• Customer installs any ship loose carpet and/or flooring shipped loose from factory.
• Grout any ceramic tile installed at factory.
• Install doors and trim along marriage walls shipped loose from factory.
• Supply and install HVAC system.
• Supply and install rain gutters.

ADVANTAGES OF MODULAR CONSTRUCTION

• INHERENTLY ‘GREEN’: On average only 2% material waste generation versus 30-40% for site built homes.

• ENERGY EFFICIENT: Most modular homes consume 15% less energy then the typical site built home.

• PRECISE CONSTRUCTION: Assembled more accurately with the aid of specially designed jigs and machinery not available for on-site construction. 

• REDUCED SITE RISKS: Protection from weather, theft, vandalism, mildew and mold.

•  PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS: Materials and construction takes place in a climate controlled environment providing protection from rain, wind, sun and snow. 

• FAST COMPLETION: Typically built and finished in less than 120 days from the start of production.

• MORE DURABLE: Built to be transported on the highway and lifted into position by a crane.

•  MORE CONTROL: Factory production means enhanced supervision and a highly dependable time-line.

• INCREASED QUALITY: Third party inspectors and engineers are engaged throughout the process.

MODULAR HOME BUILDER: TRYING TO REPEAL SPRINKLER LAW IN PA

MODULAR HOME BUILDER: TRYING TO REPEAL SPRINKLER LAW IN PA

WHY MODULAR IS INHERENTLY GREEN!

If you thought that buying a “Green” home meant changing your lifestyle or paying for expensive new technology and building materials, think again. Since the inception of modular construction, modular home builders have been practicing many of the construction techniques that are now identified as “Green” or “Sustainable”.

Reducing waste, improving efficiency and enhancing indoor air quality are the primary aspects of building Green.  

The efficient use of materials and resources is one of the primary advantages of modular construction. These practices are in place because, as a modular home builder, they are central to our business. While we can’t completely eliminate waste, we are able to reduce it and manage it better than site builders.

We are able to reduce it and manage it better then traditional site builders, by purchasing specifically dimensioned lumber, sheathing, decking and drywall. All materials are stored under cover until they are assembled inside an environmentally controlled manufacturing facility. So, unlike traditional site construction, there is virtually no waste generated from weather damaged materials, vandalism or theft.

We can typically have the modules built for several homes in one day. With such concentrated construction, managing the waste is a relatively simple process. Recycling containers are located throughout each manufacturing facility where the key elements of construction waste – cardboard, gypsum, lumber, copper and vinyl – are collected for recycling.

When you compare this to a typical site built job site with only one home under construction on a site, it isn’t economically feasible to gather up all of the waste and separate it for recycling purposes. They would have to haul of the material from job site to job site just to collect enough to for recyclers. This is the primary reason why site built construction waste is the largest contributor to landfills!

Green certification programs focus heavily on the key elements of a home’s energy performance, so insulated doors, windows, wall/floor/roof insulation and high efficiency HVAC systems are central to Green construction. What makes modular construction different is the ease in which we are able to build a tight building envelope and minimize air infiltration. While site built homes are built from the outside in, modular construction allows the home to be built from the inside out. This allows us the manufacture to seal around exterior wall penetrations, such as light switches, receptacle and light fixtures prior to the insulation being put into the wall and ceiling cavities. The use of special equipment and tools also allows large sub-assemblies to be built. This results in the ability to purchase materials in dimensions not practical for site builders. Larger sheathing and gypsum panels result in fewer seams, which results in fewer chances for air leakage.

The quality of indoor air is another important component of Green construction. One of the biggest threats to indoor air quality is mold. It can be insidious and difficult to eliminate one it has a foothold. Your new modular home is constructed inside an environmentally controlled facility and the materials are stored under cover from the elements. Think about the last home you saw built on site. The partially constructed structure may have stood unfinished, exposed to rain and snow for months. The sheathing, sub-floor and studs may have become wet several times, absorbing moisture into the structure. Then when it was finally completed, some of this moisture may have been trapped inside the finished home.  While no construction technique can promise 100% protection against mold, we take great care to insure your new home is protected during the construction process.

If you are considering going Green with your new home, then modular construction is the natural choice and it is one that is not only attractive, it is one that is affordable! For more information, please contact Tri-County Homes by phone at (800)540-1295 or by e-mail at Info@TriCountyHomes.com. Visit our web-site at www.TriCountyHomes.com

Welcome To Tri-County Homes Online!

Tri-County Homes has been providing quality custom modular homes, to people like you in Pennsylvania, since 1962. With that much experience, I can guarantee, you cannot buy a better built home for your money...modular or stick built. Also, there is no other modular home company that has the ability and/or the expertise to custom build your home as Tri-County Homes has. I would like to encourage you to schedule a tour of one of our state of the art production facilities and see how Tri-County Homes can be your number one choice in a new home. As a custom builder, our standard home plans and designs are only a small percentage of the homes we can build. Your home can be built from one of our standard plans that you have totally revised or from your own special plan that you have your heart set on. Construction specifications can be either ours or those particular construction specifications that you desire. Tri-County Homes is the only company that will (and can) custom build to just about 100 percent of your own individual plans and specifications. There are only two things that limit what we can do: first, your own imagination and second, the amount you want to invest in your new home. Tri-County Homes can either build your home as turn-key, where we do everything and your home is ready to move into, or as a wholesale owner finished home where you can elect to do as much of the work as you want or can do. Also, we can either work with our own subcontractors or we can use those subcontractors you specify. I encourage you to browse our website for plans and information. Then give me a call. I am very interested in talking with you more about how Tri-County Homes can be your best choice for a new home. I also have some excellent low interest, low/no money down financing for our home buyers. Sincerely, Howard (Howie) J. Schmader, Pres.