Jennifer Jinnette

What do you think of when you hear the word "basement?" An extra space for the kids to play? Additional storage for those items you just can't bare to part with? A refuge from storms when they roll through? The basements of your childhood have gotten a makeover! Long gone are the dark, drab spaces where Kevin McAllister did his laundry. Basements today are versatile and highly desired! They are also something that you don't find in every community, so your house can really stand out. Whether you want an additional hang out space for your family, a guest bedroom and bathroom, a virtual schooling space, or a theatre, we've got you covered with our basement homesites available in Brickshire, Dispatch Station. and Pennwood Estates. To find out more about the private basement homesites available in our communities, or learn more about building a basement home on your own land, email sales@shurmhomes.com or call 804-929-4297.

At Shurm Homes our employees are like family (and many are literally related). We are so excited to introduce you to one of the newest members of the Shurm Homes sales team, Demi! We asked Demi a few questions so you can all get to know her! What is your relationship with Shurm Homes? What do you love most about working with them? I am the new home sales assistant. I love working with Shurm Homes for many reasons, but most importantly, I love that it is a family business. There is something so sincere about being a part of a family business. My colleagues and I get to have a relationship that is more genuine than just rubbing elbows at a computer desk. That same level of caring and respect gets passed very fluidly to our clients as well, which is one of my “musts” when looking into working with an employer! Where did you grow up/tell us about your family! I grew up in an extremely close immediate and extended family! I am the oldest of three girls and we grew up in Midlothian Virginia. Although, my parents are from the West Coast and all of my family other than my parents live in Texas or Arizona. I consider Phoenix my second home, and I love it out there! – Go Suns! How do you spend your free time? Or What do you do to relax? In my free time I love to write. Creative writing has always been a passion of mine. I also play guitar, ukulele and piano. Whether it is music, or stories, I love to put a pen to paper and create. I also love trivia nights, interior design and fashion blogs, reality television, watching football/baseball/basketball/ hockey, video games, cooking, movies, and you cannot keep me away from a good pool party! What do you wish other people knew about Shurm Homes? How meticulously and thoughtfully every home is built. In the same way that every lot we build on may have a different floor plan and different features, we honestly see that every family has a different plan as well. We know that the process of building a home is not a “One-Size-Fits-All.” We will never see our clients as a number. We want to know you, your kids, your pets, how we can take any stress off you and smooth out every bump that you see in your way. From the time that you come into a meeting with an idea, to the time that we get to hand you the key to your new home, and all of the years after that, you are a part of this family too. We want this to be an exciting adventure for you because we don’t want to build you “a house,” we want to build you “YOUR HOME.” Tell us about someone you admire. One of the people that I admire more than anyone else on the planet is my mother. I know this seems like a cop-out—but stay with me. My mother is the most hard-working woman on the planet (I may be slightly biased). She went through college with three kids in her lap and graduated with the highest honors and a recognition by the governor at graduation. All the while ran the HOSA program at the school and was head of the Phi Theta Kappa honors society. The best part of all is that she still ALWAYS put family first, and never stopped being unapologetically herself! She is and always has been the most perfect model of a mother, student and employee that I could ever hope to have. What’s your favorite snack? Outshine popsicles in the “LIME” flavor! What is your favorite place of all the places you’ve traveled? Treasure Cay, Bahamas. If you want a beautiful, quiet beach destination, this is a 10/10 recommendation! If your life was a movie, what would your theme song be? “Into the Unknown” from Frozen Two, because I like to go through life throwing myself into the next adventure head-first! ….and honestly it’s really fun to scream the “UNKNOWWWWWWWWWN” part on the top of your lungs. You may see Demi, or one of our other team members in one of our great communities! To learn more about where we build, visit www.shurmhomes.com/communities or call 804-929-4297.

Ahh, the fall. Pretty leaves, sweaters, PSL's. But do you know what we love the MOST about the fall? PARADE OF HOMES! As we put the finishing touches on our Hanover Parade of Homes entry in Glebe Hill, we can't help but be brimming with excitement at what's to come! We are thrilled to share that Parade of Homes will be in person this year! We will of course be taking extra sanitary precautions. Masks are required, and we are cleaning and sanitizing regularly. In the meantime, here is a sneak peak at just a few elements in this gorgeous 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath home located on 1.48 acres in the Hanover High School district. Join us for our Model Grand Opening - Saturday October 3rd - 12pm - 5pm. Come see us every Saturday/Sunday in October for Parade of Homes! And be sure to vote for us as your favorite entry! Interested in learning more about building in Glebe Hill or any of our other communities or on your own land? Contact sales@shurmhomes.com or call 804-929-4297.

As interest rates continue to decline, many people are thinking about buying a house. Maybe you're tired of renting and ready to call something your own. Maybe your current home just doesn't work for you anymore. Either way, there are a lot of $0 down or low $ down loan programs available, as well as grant programs that can help with down payment. We recently sat down with one of our preferred lenders, Russell Nash with George Mason Mortgage, to learn more about programs that are available to help people become a home owner with little to no money down. Click here to watch our video, or check out frequently asked questions answered by Russell below. Let’s start by talking about 0% down loan programs. Can you give me a breakdown of the 4 most popular 0% down loan programs, how they work, and who they are best suited for? USDA (available in Dispatch Station)- The USDA loan is available in rural areas. It typically has a low interest rate(depending on credit qualifications) with lower monthly mortgage insurance. VA- Available for all veterans with 100% financing. There is a VA funding fee required but has no monthly mortgage insurance. This loan program, like USDA loans, is available for 1st time homebuyers or on subsequent purchases. FHA+- This loan program has a 1st & 2nd mortgage that covers 100% of the purchase price. The 1st mortgage allows for a loan of 96.5% of the sales price while the 2nd loan allows for up to 3.5% of the sales price. Conventional +- This loan program is like the FHA plus loan where it has a 1st & 2nd mortgage to cover 100% of the sales price. The difference is the 1st mortgage allows for a loan amount up to 97% of the sales price and the 2nd loan allows for up to 3% of the sales price. What do you need to qualify for these loans from a credit, income, and debt standpoint? Typically the minimum credit score for the VA, FHA Plus & conventional loan programs is 620. The maximum debt to income ratios for these programs is 45%. This means for every $1000 of monthly income the maximum monthly debt cannot exceed $450. The maximum income for a 2 person or less household is $98,400 and the maximum for a 3 person household or greater is $114,900. The USDA loan program follows all the above requirements other than the minimum credit score. The minimum credit score requirement is 640 for all USDA loans Are there other grants that are available for first time homebuyers? Yes. We have the VHDA first time homebuyer grants where a borrower can get anywhere from 2-2.5% of the sales price in grant money. This is for all VHDA loan programs (VA, USDA, FHA & Conventional). There is also the H.O.M.E. grant available to first time homebuyers. These are done directly through HOME and the county website where you are looking at purchasing. What are the requirements for these loans, and how much can they help a borrower? The requirements are the same for the grant programs as the above guidelines with the exception of income requirements. The maximum income for a 2 person or less household is $78,700 and a 3 person or greater household the limit is $91,900. What if you aren’t a first time homebuyer? What options are out there for little to no money down on a mortgage? The USDA & VA loans are still available if you are not a 1st time homebuyer at the 100% financing level. The conventional loans require a minimum of 3% down and the FHA requires a minimum of 3.5% down payment if you are not a 1st time homebuyer. What advice would you offer someone who is looking to purchase a home? o Number 1 is to contact a lender to get pre-qualified. To verify that your credit scores are within the requirements to become qualified. With historic lows for interest rates, now is a fantastic time to become a homeowner as you can pre-qualify for more today than you could have qualified 6 months to a year ago. For more information on $0 or low money down loan programs, or to find out more about Shurm Homes, contact Jennifer at 804-929-4297, or sales@shurmhomes.com.

Do you love the thought of something new, but don't love the thought of going through the process of building? Maybe your house sold faster than you thought, and you need something now. Maybe you want to take advantage of the RECORD LOW interest rates in todays market. Maybe you just can't stand the thought of being stuck in your home that is no longer working for you and your family for one more day. We've got you covered! We have move-in ready spec homes throughout the Richmond area. Why buy a move-in ready NEW home, versus a used home? New homes are built with the latest building codes and safety regulations. They are built with industry standards in energy efficiency, technology, and building practices. Even a 5-10 year old home will cost more each month in energy bills, than a new home built with today's standards. Outdated home appliances, HVAC units, and water heaters may require replacement or repairs, costing thousands of dollars. Buying a move-in ready NEW home means you have a home warranty and peace of mind. Your move-in ready Shurm Home is a chance for you to start fresh with a home that works for you, not a home that didn't work for somebody else. Interest rates are at RECORD LOWS! Buying a move-in ready home allows you to lock in your rate with one of our Preferred Lenders and save big time! Want to learn more about any of our move-in ready homes, or about building in one of our communities? Fill out your information below, or contact Jennifer at sales@shurmhomes.com.