Custom Building a Luxury Home- Part 1

It is only natural that if you are spending millions on a home, you want it to be as close to your dream as possible. That’s why many potential homebuyers prefer to custom build their new home, rather than purchase an existing property. 

Despite the availability of very nice luxury homes, homebuyers typically have something they would add or change about an existing home.  It makes sense to build a dream home if you are planning to spend a substantial amount of money on a home and if you are planning to live there for a significant amount of time. 

It is not uncommon for those looking for luxury real estate to decide to build a custom home. If homebuyers are looking for a dream home the only way to get it is to partake in the design and construction.

The first steps in building a custom home are choosing the location for the home and hiring a builder. Whether you build a luxury home or buy an existing home, location is always a key factor.  Even custom-built homes may in the future become resales, think about having a location that will attract other buyers.  A great tip is a location that is private yet close to shopping and freeways, this way you get the best of both worlds. Landmark Ranch Estates is a perfect example of a community that is private and equestrian in nature, but near all urban conveniences. 

Choose the right builder; it is best to interview two or three builders before deciding on which to work with. Aside from quality of work, personality is also an important factor to consider. Not everyone gets along personality-wise, so picking a builder that you are both confident in and can work well with are absolute musts. 

In our next blog post we will be discussing the next steps to building your custom-built dream home.

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Luxury housing market led by Gen X

Generation X adults (ages 31 to 45) are expected to lead the recovery in the South Florida luxury housing market. The Florida Association of Builders conducted a survey of 10,000 buyers and found that adults ages 31 to 45 were most likely to purchase a luxury home.

While Gen X isn’t Florida’s largest population group, it is the most active age group. Gen X adults are in full force with their careers and are now looking to grow and expand their families, requiring new accommodations.

This age group also comes with their own distinct set of home preferences. They prefer a home with a large lot in a gated community, making Landmark Ranch Estates or Parkland Golf and Country Club a perfect community for Gen X.

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Who is Rick Bell?

I am the owner of Landmark Ranch Estates and I have spent over 20 years perfecting the craft of custom home building. As a graduate of the School of Building Construction at the University of Florida, I am a Florida Certified Building Contractor and a second-generation homebuilder, having spent many years working alongside my father, Gerald Bell, a well-respected South Florida homebuilder.

As the leader of Landmark Custom Homes, I have built in many of South Florida’s finest communities, including Windmill Ranch Estates, Weston Hills Country Club, Parkland Golf and Country Club, Long Cove and The Falls at Heron Bay Country Club in Parkland, and Equus in Boynton Beach.

My most recent projects include multi-million dollar ranch estates in Sunshine Ranches and Landmark Ranch Estates in the town of Southwest Ranches, Florida.

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Marshall buys SW Ranches home in Landmark Ranch

This week The South Florida Business Journal published a blog titled “Dolphin star Marshall buys Broward home”. The article talked about the purchase made by Brandon Marshall in our community of Landmark Ranch Estates. The home purchased by Marshall was the Siena and it was a one of a kind home both in interior design and architecture. The Siena luxury estate was also the last remaining ready-now home available by Landmark Custom Homes.

While the blog post briefly describes the house, it is much more than what is described in the blog. The custom estate home is set on over two acres and is part of a secluded enclave of palatial homes in SW Ranches that is home to celebrities, pro athletes and the ultra successful.

The estate has six bedrooms, seven full and one half baths, a family room, a dining room, a gym, a game room, a den, a loft, home theater, two full wet bars, a porte cochere, a five car garage, an elevator and much more. The expansive backyard includes a custom designed pool with spa, conversation pit and summer kitchen.

The residents of Landmark Ranch Estates enjoy living in the vast acres of land afforded by this SW Ranches community. Buyers wishing to enjoy the privacy offered by the peaceful equestrian setting of Southwest Ranches need to look no further. Landmark Ranch Estates is the only gated community within SW Ranches. Despite the privacy, no urban conveniences will be given up as the upscale Weston shopping, and dining areas are nearby.

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Landmark Ranch Estates Experiences Record Sales

The community of Landmark Ranch Estates in the town of Southwest Ranches has experienced record sales despite national trends in the housing market. With over 18 million in home sales so far in 2010, Landmark Ranch Estates proves that their is a real need for a private custom home community of palatial custom estate homes.

For those in search of privacy in an equestrian setting, Landmark Ranch Estates in SW Ranches, FL is the leading estate home community. For buyers looking for the best South Florida Real Estate, Landmark Ranch Estates offers an opportunity unlike any other.

As the only private community in Southwest Ranches, just south of Weston, Landmark is the ideal setting for the construction of a luxury estate custom home. The uncommon blend of luxury estates in a setting that preserves its rural character separates this communities from all others. The town of SW Ranches is filled with grazing animals, nurseries, farms and exquisite scenery.

Landmark Ranch Estates offers residents that best of both worlds by offering the perfect combination of quiet country living and urban living with nearby upscale shopping, dining, and entertainment.

At the present time, there are no Landmark Custom designed homes available for sale but other listings for homes in Landmark Ranch Estates are available. To learn more about the opportunities to build a custom home in Landmark Ranch Estates, call me, Rick Bell at 954-444-9875 and I’ll be glad to answer all your questions about the design/build process and show you how enjoyable and rewarding it can be to make your dream home a reality.

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The Siena is sold in Landmark Ranch Estates

The Siena custom home in Landmark Ranch closed last Tuesday, November 23, 2010. The Siena was the last ready-now home available by Landmark Custom Homes within Landmark Ranch Estates.

While Landmark has no new available homes for sale, there is one new custom home for sale built by CBS Construction. The home is located on 16750 Stratford Ct, Southwest Ranches and is for sale for $3,999,888. Another way to own a home within Landmark Ranch is to purchase an available lot for sale and build a custom home.

Landmark Ranch Estates, in SW Ranches, is one of the most sought after communities in South Florida, as it offers residents extreme privacy in a peaceful equestrian setting without having to give up urban conveniences. The Weston lifestyle does not have to be sacrificed in order to enjoy the sprawling country homesites available in Landmark Ranch.

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Market not booming but improving

Wealthy and international buyers are coming out of the woodwork looking to get their hands on a well priced luxury home. Upscale homes are being purchased more readily, but it should not be misconstrued as a return of a real estate boom. As a luxury home builder, I have seen a much needed improvement in new home sales. So far this year, we have sold four luxury estates in Landmark Ranch Estates with prices over three million.

With the economy set to move up, there is no better time to purchase a new custom home. The stock markets are rising daily, interest rates are low and luxury real estate is quickly disappearing.

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Parkland Golf Welcomes New Ownership

There is much excitement at Parkland Golf and Country Club as we welcome the new change in ownership. At Landmark Ranch Estates, we feel that this is a big step forward for the community.

The uncertainty that once existed in the community is gone, and the future is bright. Parkland Golf, now backed by a financially strong builder, will once more be the premier golf community it was always destined to be.

The future will deliver a luxurious country club, the way we always believed it to be. We always saw the true potential and value that a community like Parkland Golf held for South Florida, and that is why we invested in it from the very beginning. Now the future is secure, as it is owned by America's leading luxury home builder.

The new owners know exactly how a first-class country club should be run, and they are already taking steps in the right direction. This news is great for both current residents and new residents who will enjoy premier upscale amenities throughout the club.

At the present time, Landmark Custom Homes has the only NEW custom home for sale in all of Parkland Country Club, and we don't expect it to be on the market long. The interest in the community has already increased, and this is the time for a savvy home buyer to take advantage.

News travels fast and Parkland Golf is the community everyone will want to call home.

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Enjoy the Finest Luxury Outdoor Grilling in SW Ranches

The Lynx Professional Grill is the perfect high-end outdoor grill for any luxury home. Any backyard, within Landmark Ranch Estates, is the ideal place to host an outdoor shindig and Lynx products are just the thing to have on display.

The extravagant Lynx Professional Grill is available in both a free-standing and built-in models. The grill is made of stainless steel and has instantly become a favorite amongst luxury consumers who are enamored with its clean and sophisticated design.

With the endless amounts of space afforded by any custom home purchased in Landmark Ranch Estates, there has never been a better time to own a Lynx Professional Grill as well as, their other high-end products .

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Where do Celebrities Live?

Celebrities aren’t all that different from the typical home buyer. Most celebrities and high profile athletes want to live in the area they work and play. Location is one reason that Landmark Ranch Estates appeals to professional athletes, celebrities and others seeking the ultimate in luxury living with space to play.

Celebrities and professional athletes often times feel the need for a certain amount of privacy from paparazzi and adoring fans, another consideration when choosing a location. Southwest Ranches in Broward is perfect for those working in Miami or Fort Lauderdale, who want their privacy from the crowds without giving up their popular conveniences. SW Ranches provides the best of both worlds, a peaceful setting, with proximity to all the local amenities.

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Show Off Outdoor Space

The home sites at Landmark Ranch Estates give residents a vast amount of outdoor space to enjoy with family and friends. With exotic outdoor furniture by Koji you can transform the outdoors into a showpiece.

Just like the custom homes designed by Landmark, these pieces exude quality and charm. Made of natural materials like wood and rattan, and featuring artistically inspired original designs, these pieces will be the perfect addition to a custom home.

Koji’s artistic pieces capture and exemplify the harmony between art and craftsmanship. The Koji Collection is a furniture company based out of Miami who is committed to providing high style and furniture made from natural materials. Their mission is inspiring the imagination of the observer. The unique custom designs in Southwest Ranches' private community, Landmark Ranch Estates, require furniture that is equally unique and refined.

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Welcome to Southwest Ranches

No one knows Landmark Ranch Estates better than the professional realtor, Joe Caprio & Company, who represent our exclusive gated community. Joe Caprio , of Joe Caprio & Co. has been on site since the communities inception, helping homebuyers find the perfect luxury home.

If you prefer to build a custom home, contact Landmark directly. We will help you select a premier home site based on your needs. We will work with you every step of the way from planning to completion. We take pride in our level of service to our clients. We believe that the custom home process should be one that runs as smoothly as possible.

No matter what your desires are, we will work with you to ensure that your needs are met and that you are fully satisfied. Take a drive through our custom gates and discover all that Landmark Ranch Estates has to offer. Join the ranks of those select privileged homeowners that get to call Landmark Ranch Estates home.

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The Real Landmark Ranch Estates

Looking for a high-end private community in South Florida? Landmark Ranch Estates may be just the place; those who seek the ultimate in luxury will be pleased with an exclusive address in Southwest Ranches. This community is perfect for those who want the pleasure of enjoying the seclusion afforded by SW Ranches, but who still aim to be conveniently located to Weston.

This is the only community in Southwest Broward that provides vast home sites, extreme privacy yet, a convenient location to the upscale lifestyle. Only in SW Ranches can denizens be far from the crowds but close to all the action. It is no surprise that high-profile athletes, and successful entrepreneurs choose Landmark Ranch Estates for their home sites.

There is no better time, to be part of the privileged few who get to call Landmark Ranch Estates home.

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Welcome to Landmark Ranch Estates...

Landmark Ranch Estates is the only upscale gated community located in Southwest Ranches, making it one of South Florida’s most desirable communities for upscale living. The custom homes at Landmark Ranch Estates are situated within an equestrian setting of exquisite scenery and wildlife.

Landmark Ranch Estate’s current inventory of home sites represents the best in rural living without having to give up the urban life (“Weston Lifestyle”). As the only upscale custom home community in the area, Landmark Ranch Estates offers home buyers an opportunity to build their dream home.

Spectacular and spacious custom homes grace the streets of Landmark Ranch. In addition, the designer home interiors grace the interiors of the homes themselves. The home interiors feature distinctive architectural rudiments found in the finest homes in both America and Europe.

To live in Landmark Ranch Estates is to live the dream.

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SW Ranches Community-Down to One Ready-Now Custom Home

In our Southwest Ranches community we are down to only one ready-now luxury home, The Siena. For those who are unfamiliar with it, The Siena is located in SW Broward’s premier multi-acre, gated estate home community of Landmark Ranch Estates. This home was originally listed at $5,700,000 million, but now, this no-expense spared sprawling 6 bedrooms, 7.5 bath homes is offered at $4,875,000. This home is perfect for buyers who want their own private oasis without giving up the amenities offered by nearby Weston, Miami and Fort. Lauderdale.

This home provides a rare opportunity for the sophisticated buyer looking for a move-in ready custom home in Landmark Ranch Estates, where every detail has been planned and executed with impeccable taste and style. A home of this magnitude often takes 2 years to build, but the Siena is already completed and ready to be enjoyed.

Looking for the best of both worlds? Only Landmark Ranch Estates offers a gated equestrian themed community, a peaceful serene setting, and all the Weston amenities, such as high-end restaurants and shops.

The Siena’s one-of-a-kind interior design sets it apart. The fixtures, lighting and design were part of the collaboration of top-notch designers who sought to create a contemporary stroke of genius, and were successful. The level of detail and design make the Siena a must-see home in order for it to be fully appreciated.

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Let There Be Light!

From materials to style, appliances to custom artwork- there are endless ways one can customize a dream home. Light fixtures are a beautiful way to not only create a desired ambiance but also neatly showcase your sense of style.

At The Siena in Landmark Ranch Estates, Florida's top interior designers used interior light to create a custom look and feel for each room. Take for instance the gorgeous work of art (top left) that hovers in the foyer. This custom creation creates a drama that reminds me of the ceiling art in the luxurious Bellagio Casino. The artistic montage looks light enough to consist of paper but is in actuality thin sheets of glass artfully composed to create a completely unique and show stopping chandelier.

The Siena also houses another one of my favorite examples of how light accents a room (top right). Above the breakfast nook in the great room is a light fixture that is at once dainty and bold. Glowing rounds of beautiful glass perfectly compliment the round interior of this dining area. You can just imagine sitting at a table, looking out at the gorgeous backyard, and basking in the beauty of your surroundings.

So, when envisioning your custom home be sure to remember that light fixtures not only serve as a necessary function but they can be works of art which can transform a gorgeous room into a gallery experience.

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The Castle at Landmark Rach Estates is Sold

Sign of a better economy? I know so. Presently there is only one ready-now home remaining at Landmark Ranch Estates in SW Ranches, FL.

The Castle was just sold; I am thrilled for the new owners. As a builder, I love the feeling that I have made the best product out there for my clients. The Castle was a dream home and now the owners are living that dream.

I knew their would be a light at the end of the tunnel and here it is.

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The Siena Gives Pro Athletes And Celebrities A Place To Call Home

Thank you to everyone who came to the Siena Broker Open House last Wednesday at Landmark Ranch Estates. We had a great turn out of about 60 high end real estate brokers. There were drinks, incredible sushi boats, and a beautiful home; the Siena.

VIDEO: Siena Broker Open House.

This estate is set on over 2 acres in Landmark Ranch Estates, the gated and secluded homes in SW Ranches appeal to celebrities, pro athletes and the ultra successful.

Here are a few special features found within the Siena:

• Six bedrooms
• Seven full and one half baths
• Gym
• Game room
• Home theater
• Two full wet bars
• Fire pit
• Custom designed pool

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Parkland Golf and Country Club

This is an amazing family focused community in which to live. It offers both convenience and active recreational activities. Residents will be impressed with all that this sports and social club has to offer as well as the members-only golf club.

We invite you to come fall in love with this community, as it is simply breathtaking.

Now is your chance to live in the most prestigious community in Parkland, FL. There is only one new custom home of this stature available immediately.

Get more information on this amazing community: Parkland Golf and Country Club
Get more information on this spectacular home: Villa Positano at Parkland Golf

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Live in the home that is an expression of your success

A sprawling residence reminiscent of a by-gone era, this English Country Manor home offers the ultimate expression of elegance and sophistication on a grande scale. Set on over 2 acres in Landmark Ranch Estates, the secluded enclave of palatial homes in Southwest Ranches (close to Weston and Davie) that’s home to celebrities, pro athletes and the ultra successful.

True to its name, the Castle is the ultimate custom home from its classic stone and wrought iron entry gate to the grand motor court you’ll experience a sense of arrival that is unparalleled.

The Castle at Landmark Ranch Estates in SW Ranches, FL

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