Once you’ve handed out the last of the candy tonight, treated yourself to Charlie Brown’s Halloween Special and collapsed with exhaustion after tucking the little ones in, the inevitable reality will sink in that the holiday season is upon you (and us).

We want to know – is a new home on your holiday wish list this year? If so, what do you want in that brand new home? If you aren’t sure, here is a list of top five buying trends for 2013 according to Zillow:

1.    Man Caves & Smart Homes
2.    Custom Designed Closet Systems
3.    Home Offices
4.    Hardwood Flooring
5.    Urban Homes with Amenities Read More

It’s been an interesting economy for the last several years. A bit of a “two steps forward, one step back” methodology to our country’s growth has made it confusing for potential home buyers about whether or not to jump into the market or stay on the fence.

If we’ve learned anything about the last seven years, it’s that national trends, “growth forecasts” and interest rates tell a very small part of the story. Rather than analyzing Wall Street’s opinions to death, having knowledge of where you want to move often proves the best strategy.

At S&A Homes, we are confident that the neighborhoods we build in contain the best value in the best housing markets. Pittsburgh, PA, for example, is consistently listed as one of the healthiest real estate markets in the nation. Year after year this metropolitan area allows home buyers in any price range to purchase a brand new home in the best school districts for an affordable price.  Read More

It’s pretty doubtful anyone is dreaming of a white Christmas this early in the season. But, there’s a pretty decent chance some of you are dreaming of a new home for the holidays. With autumn upon us and Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, there is a limited window for anyone thinking about doing holiday entertaining in a brand new home.

Building a home from scratch is out of the question for those hoping to ring in the New Year in a new home. So what are your options? At S&A Homes, we have many brand new, move-in ready homes available to purchase. Read More

As the leaves continue to fall this autumn, so do the days from the calendar. With just eight days remaining until Halloween, any procrastinators out there may feel like they’ve missed out on the tricks and treats in their area. But for those living in State College, PA, the fun is just getting started!

Below is a list of festive autumn events happening in and around town:

• Pumpkin Carving at Shaver’s Creek – Thursday, Oct. 24 – Do you think you have what it takes to create your own masterpiece? Bring the kiddos this Thursday at 6 p.m. and put your art skills to the test.
• Golfin’ On the Graveyard – Saturday, Oct. 26 – Pumpkin carving not your style?  How about some pumpkin bowling? Or, golfzilla? Combining sports and spooks on the Penn State golf course definitely sounds like a great way for kiddos 6 to 12 to burn off some steam this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. But wait, participants must register first so click here for more information! Read More

Halloween is just 16 days away! If you have little ones, that fun day comes with a lot of responsibility. Here are a few tips from S&A Homes to help make your Halloween fun and safe!

•    Take pictures on a different day (i.e. the week before). Many local photographers offer mini sessions for kiddos in their Halloween costumes. With portrait sessions starting as low as $15, we say that is a great investment! Let the photographer worry about capturing those cute little smiles, so you can enjoy the evening without the stress of capturing that perfect picture!

•    Write your child’s name, address and phone number on the inside of their costume if they are young. Figuring out how to find your child AFTER you get separated is not the time to think about taking precautions.

•    Put reflective material on your child’s costume, especially if it’s made of darker material to ensure cars can see your little trick-or-treater! Read More

What are your plans this weekend? No matter what you have on tap, if you live in the State College, PA area, there is no doubt the upcoming Penn State vs. Michigan game may play a role in your weekend plans. But with a 5 p.m. kick off, there should be plenty of time to kill Saturday morning and all day Sunday. So, what better way to do it then joining us for the unveiling of our brand new Village at Canterbury model home, The Charlestowne?

This picture is a sneak peak, but the finishing touches are being placed as we speak. This weekend, we are offering an open house of our brand new model home to the public, complete with custom decorating courtesy of Patricia Gordon, owner of Riley on Main based in Boalsburg, PA.  Read More

The finished basement. What exactly does it mean to you? The answer probably depends on your lifestyle and who is living in your home. Obviously, it could become the infamous Man Cave, or maybe a kid’s play room. From exercise rooms to full blown movie theaters to extra space for the guests, the options for a finished basement are nearly limitless. Even better, there are no rules when it comes to this part of the house! Whether you strive for extra organization, a fun zone, or more space to spread out, chances are you can achieve any type of housing goal with the roominess of a finished basement.

Now that you’re sold on the idea of one, how is this for a cherry on top? This month, and this month only, those that purchase a to-be-built home with S&A Homes can take half-off those finished basements! Are there exceptions? Of course, there are a few communities that don’t offer the incentive, and any plan that does not include an excavated basement doesn’t offer the bonus. But, by and large, the vast majority of our communities do offer this half-off promotion and the savings can amount to the tens of thousands of dollars. Wow! You better hurry, because this offer expires Oct. 13, 2013, so if you don’t purchase by then, you could be missing out on the biggest savings event of the year! Read More