Trained to Verify High-Performance BUILT TO SAVE® Homes

A Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Rater is a third-party inspector certified by an accredited Rating provider and licensed by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET).

HERS Raters inspect a home while it is under construction, and then test the home when completed (1) to visually verify that it complies with construction requirements and, using specialized software and equipment, (2) to determine its energy efficiency performance.

Raters play a key role in certifying homes as high performance. They have the ability to predict a home’s expected energy efficiency even before it is built by entering the home’s dimensions and other specifications into energy modeling software. The Rater’s knowledge of building science and their continuing education makes their oversight and technical advice invaluable to the home builder. Additionally, the Rater’s independent verification of compliance with programs like BUILT TO SAVE® adds confidence and trust to highperformance certifications.

Get PreApproved for a Loan

Make sure to set a budget before you start speaking to contractors or drafting floor plans. Review your finances, compare different loan options, and, most importantly, seek approval from a lender that matches your needs. Knowing the amount you’re eligible for will spare you disappointment and enable you to focus your energy on the homes you can afford. Lastly, taking this initiative also shows builders that you’re serious.

Set a Realistic Budget

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Your homebuying budget should include more than your loan. Consider your monthly income and calculate how much you’ll be spending on monthly payments, including costs associated with homeownership, such as taxes, maintenance, and mortgage payments. Factor in other living costs, such as utilities, groceries, and car payments.

Keep in mind that you may qualify for a financial assistance program; these can help you with your down payment. Some will even provide you with mortgage tax credits. Although plenty of programs are available, many homebuyers don’t realize they may be eligible for such assistance. Do a bit of research to see if you qualify.

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New Year, New Home: A Homebuying Checklist for 2023

The New Year is an excellent time for a new adventure—like buying a new home. But just like any New Year’s resolution, like losing weight or taking up a new hobby, it’s always best to plan ahead. Purchasing a home may sound like a complex ordeal, but with some preparation, you can significantly lower excess stress. Here’s a handy checklist to help you comfortably move into your dream home in 2023.

Build Above Minimum Code Standards

It’s good to aim above minimum code standards when building a custom home. Durable, highperformance homes require less maintenance than their minimum-code counterparts. Consider working with a

Choose the Right Community

You’re not going to feel comfortable in the world’s most lavish home if its location doesn’t satisfy you. Visit communities you’re interested in and, if possible, chat with the locals. Some things you should consider when selecting a community include: builder who’s a member of a high-performance home program, like BUILT TO SAVE®. These builders put superior construction and energy efficiency first, ensuring you’ll enjoy lower utility bills, healthier indoor air, and a comfortable living environment.

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Lot size

Proximity to schools, hospitals, businesses, etc.

Amenities, such as pools, parks, and community centers

Homeowner association costs

Proximity to major roads

When building a new home, you may be offered additional features, such as upgraded appliances or premium flooring options. As you consider your choices, select only the upgrades that will add resale value to your home. It’s not uncommon for expensive upgrades—such as hardwood or natural stone floors—to save you money in the long run, as they’re more durable and add value to your home. As long as you approach your options strategically, you will boost your home’s style and comfort and its resale value, too.

Hire an Independent Home Inspector

It’s always good to have an independent pair of eyes inspect your new home before you move in. If you opt for BUILT TO SAVE® or another high-performance certification, a licensed third-party home inspector checks your home to verify it complies with the program’s strict requirements. Homes in the BUILT TO SAVE® program are inspected during construction and tested after completion to document and provide proof that they are high-performance homes.

Once you’ve ticked off all the boxes on its checklist, you can buy your home with confidence and peace of mind, knowing it will be built to the highest quality and energy efficiency standards.

So, what’s stopping you? Make 2023 the year you buy the home of your dreams.

Every year, RGV New Homes Guide devotes one of its issues to put a spotlight on a select group of builders in the Rio Grande Valley who are leading the industry in the construction of verified high-performance homes–the key word being “verified.” No builder will ever say that his or her homes are not energy efficient. The Leading Energy Efficient Builders special feature in the next pages identifies builders who have stepped up to a leadership role in the construction of energy efficient homes in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. They represent an exclusive group of building professionals who build to construction and energy efficiency standards that are superior to the required minimum code standards. They don’t have to do this, but they do so because they take pride in their work and in the value it provides for their homebuyers.

At a time when many construction companies are cutting costs by building to bare minimum legal code requirements, the builders featured here focus on investing more time and money to build superior high-performance homes. And while a lot of companies say they do exactly what these builders do, the fact is that the builders featured here can provide proof. Buying or building a home is surely the largest investment you will make in your lifetime, so why would you take anyone’s word that you are investing in a superior highperformance home? Ask for proof. Ask to see the BUILT TO SAVE® or ENERGY STAR® certificate.

A BUILT TO SAVE® and/or ENERGY STAR® certificate means that the home was inspected while under construction and tested after completion by an independent licensed home energy Rater who verifies that the home met the strict requirements of these highperformance home programs.

Some of the benefits of a high-performance home are better indoor air, enhanced home comfort, tighter construction, properly installed insulation, and increased savings on monthly utility bills. But the best benefit is that homeowners can enjoy peace of mind knowing that they truly have a high-performance home. The certificate of highperformance will be invaluable if you ever decide to sell your home.

FEATURED BUILDERS OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE HOMES IN

Company Facts

Founded: 1985 Price Range: $150’s-$400’s+

Areas Served: Hidalgo and Cameron County

Construction Type: Residential BUILT TO SAVE® Member Since: 2016 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty: Available

About The Builder

What distinguishes a quality energy-efficient builder from the competition is their ability to construct excellent homes again and again. This definition describes Villanueva Construction perfectly. Founded in 1985, the company builds highperformance homes with the kind of confidence that can only be acquired after nearly four decades of hands-on experience. The sheer gratitude of Villanueva homeowners alone is a testament to the quality, value, and energy efficiency of their homes—but that’s not all. See more online.

For the sixth year in a row, Villanueva Construction was honored with the Outstanding Achievement Award: “Most Homes Certified in the BUILT TO SAVE® Program in 2022.”

From the very start of the company’s membership in the BUILT TO SAVE® program in 2016, Villanueva Construction has received this award and continues to be a leader the Rio Grande Valley’s new home construction industry by building high-performance homes. In addition to its exemplary excellence in energy-efficiency construction, the company has earned a reputation for first-class in customer service–before and after the sale–thanks to their staff’s one-on-one personalized attention, and their family-centered way of building homes. When Villanueva Construction says they build homes of absolute quality, beauty, and value, they mean it. The company’s commitment to building superior high-performance homes is a testament to that.

The BUILT TO SAVE® initiative, sponsored by Magic Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC), is a voluntary home certification program for builders who build to higher standards than what is required by minimum building code requirements. As a steward of energy conservation, MVEC has been a major contributor to the BUILT TO SAVE® Program, thereby helping to reduce energy costs for homeowners and improve the quality of new home construction in the Rio Grande Valley.

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Company Facts

Founded: 1976 Price Range: $110’s - $180’s Areas Served: Valleywide Construction Type: Residential BUILT-TO-SAVE® Member Since: 2014 ENERGY-STAR Member Since: 2009 NMLS# 346848