Finding a home away from home for your summer travels doesn’t have to be nearly as expensive as you think. For those of you thinking you may have already missed out on the travel boat, you’re in luck. When it comes to booking summer travel, what procrastinators miss out on in terms of vacation home availability they often make up for with discounts and last minute deals.

As panic sets in for those left with unrented weeks, vacation homeowners often slash prices at the last minute meaning last minute travelers can save 50 percent off or even more on fully furnished vacation homes throughout the US. Where do you find the deals? Here, we rank the best sites out there for vacation home rentals (and hotels).

1.    VRBO – This site is perhaps the most extensive of any, offering more than half a million properties to choose from worldwide. Despite the overwhelming amount of listings, users can quickly use filters to narrow down properties based upon price, beds, baths and dates available. Look for the red “special deal” bar to find advertised discounts. Users can quickly hone in on the best properties by relying on user reviews. Read More

When people hear we offer more than 60 different floor plans, they think that means there are 60 different ways to lay out a home. The reality is that with a variety of structural options to choose from on each plan in addition to customizing features, an S&A home buyer has hundreds of different layouts to choose from. So, what is the number one most popular feature on all of those layouts? The Morning Room! The Morning Room still remains the most chosen structural option of any that we offer and for a good reason.

It is an automatic kitchen booster – since it is typically located right off the back of the kitchen, it allows for more flexibility with larger island designs, furniture placements and at times, extended cabinet runs. Most feature a wall of windows, letting in abundant light and brightening the entire home. It is also the perfect entertaining area, as it usually provides easy access to the kitchen and back yard. Read More

Investing in a growing area is always an important consideration when choosing to build a home. A growing community indicates economic development, investment into schools and a positive return on home values.

One area that fits this bill perfectly is Moon Township, located just outside of Pittsburgh, PA.  While you may not have heard of Moon Township itself, you have probably heard of its many world-class amenities. In 2007, it was ranked one of the top places in the United States to raise a family. It is also home to some of the area’s biggest employers such as GlaxoSmithKline and FedEx. Additionally, its residents aren’t too shabby either. While we won’t name names, we can tell you it is home to many of Pittsburgh’s professional athletes due to its premiere location close to I-376, the airport, downtown and some of the area’s best shopping. Read More

How often have you tuned in to HGTV and fallen in love with those beautiful modern kitchens whose countertops gleam, tile backsplashes wow and floors pop? We all want a luxurious hub for our home, a place where family life plays out, meals are served and homework is done.

For a limited time, having the kitchen of your dreams no longer needs to be a dream.  At North Ridge and Franklin Square, buyers can spec out a luxurious kitchen full of upgrades without paying the expensive price tag that can go along with these upgrades. During June, buyers in these two communities will receive free hardwood flooring in their kitchen and breakfast area, free 42” upgraded cabinetry and 50 percent off granite countertops.  Read More

We promised you a sneak preview of our brand new Signature Series kitchen designs, and we didn’t forget. The brand new S&A Signature Series Collection offers custom home kitchen options that are brand new to S&A Homes. Each Signature Series home comes standard with the Signature level kitchen with the option to choose from two additional upgrades to build a kitchen usually only found in homes that are part of the Million & Up club.

Here is an outline of the three kitchen levels available for our Signature Series plans:

Example of Signature Level Kitchen

•    Signature – Included as a standard feature in all of our Signature Series homes, this kitchen includes several luxurious upgrades:

o    Granite countertops with an undermount stainless steel sink.
o    Large, “super” sized islands ranging in size from 7 to 9’ long.
o    Built-in, Whirlpool stainless steel appliances that include a stainless steel canopy hood, built in 30” cooktop, as well as a built-in oven and microwave.
o     42”, Upgrade II level cabinetry available in today’s most popular colors like white, gray, espresso and eggshell.
o    Certain plans also offer built-in butler’s pantries, wine racks, desks, shelving and built-in storage solutions for the ultimate kitchen. Read More