News Room

"Around the Valley"
New River Valley Home Builders Association – July 13, 2010
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"Why Build Now"
New River Valley Magazine – March/April, 2010: James Oliver from Highlander Construction & Development explains why now is a great time to build a home.
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Highlander Construction & Development Presented with Design Excellence Award by the New River Valley Home Builder’s Association
Blacksburg, VA – March 1, 2010: The New River Valley Home Builder’s Association presented Highlander Construction & Development with the Design Excellence Award this past Saturday night at its annual Inaugural Gala which was held at Blacksburg Country Club.
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A Perfect Storm of Building Opportunities
The Roanoke Times – February 21, 2010: James Oliver of Highlander Construction builds homes such as his one in High Meadows. Oliver said a "perfect storm" of conditions - lot availability, low construction loan interest rates and competitive labor and materials pricing - makes now the best time to build a house.
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A Recession is a Terrible Thing to Waste:
Why Now is the Best Time to Build a New Home
Custom home builder teaches about the advantages and challenges related to new construction.

Radford VA – February 22, 2010: Recession. Mortgage rates. Home buyer tax credits. It seems these words have been shouted from television screens, newspapers and radios around the country for months. But is it really the right time to be thinking about buying or building a new home?

James Oliver, President of Highlander Construction & Development, says it is. "The recession has created several unique conditions that provide considerable advantages to building a home in this market."

For example, according to a Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) released this week, fixed-rate mortgage and construction loan interest rates are historic lows. In fact, both 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) and 15-year FRM are down from this time last year. So what does that mean for potential buyers?

"With interest rates at historic lows, you’re never going to get a better deal from the banks," Oliver says. "Banks are currently borrowing money from the federal government at almost zero percent, which means your cost to borrow money is very inexpensive. Eventually, the federal government will raise interest rates to stave off inflation, so the cost of borrowing money from the bank will increase, which raises your monthly payments and reduces the amount of money you can borrow and spend."

In addition to interest rates, the recession has stabilized the cost of building a home. Due to the decreased demand for building lots and construction improvements, prices have stabilized and in some areas actually decreased. In his free new construction seminars, Oliver says the cost of crude oil, which is refined into petroleum, has a lot to do with this because petroleum is used in the production of a majority of building materials, not to mention the gasoline used to deliver materials to site.

"Despite the current economic conditions, real estate has always proven to regain and hold its value because there is a finite amount of property available," Oliver says. "As the economy improves, the price of land and construction materials – just like oil – will also go up."

Finally, what about those tax credits? On Nov. 6, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which extended the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit through April 30, 2010, giving buyers who have signed a sales contract by that deadline until June 30 to close their deal. Likewise, it created a new tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified repeat home buyers who have owned a home for five consecutive years out of the eight years preceding the purchase of the new home. This act also increased the income limits, allowing more consumers to qualify for these tax credits.

The community can learn more about how to navigate and take advantage of these unique opportunities through a series of seminars that Highlander Construction & Development is holding free to the public. The next seminar will be held February, 20 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Courtyard Marriott in Blacksburg.


Highlander Construction & Development Nominated for Design Excellence Award
Blacksburg VA – November 30, 2009: The New River Valley Home Builder’s Association announced today that Highlander Construction & Development has been nominated for the Design Excellence Award for the original design and construction of the Earthcraft homes in the Piedmont Place Subdivision in Blacksburg. The Design Excellence Award is voted on by the General Membership and is awarded to an active member who demonstrates excellence in the original design of a project completed within the same calendar year.

Said company President James Oliver, "We are honored and pleased to receive this nomination which we humbly accept on behalf of our entire team of design and trade professionals. The original design of the Earthcraft homes in the Piedmont Place Subdivision was a collaborative effort between our in house design staff and our many trade contractor and vendor partners, most of whom are members of the Association. We appreciate this special recognition."


Highlander Construction & Development Awarded Builder of the Year by the New River Valley Home Builder’s Association
Blacksburg, Virginia - January 31, 2009: The New River Valley Home Builder’s Association awarded Highlander Construction & Development it most prestigious award this past Saturday night designating the company as “Builder of the Year” at its annual Inaugural Gala which was held at the Holiday Inn in Blacksburg.

Download Press Release: Builder Of The Year 1-31-09.pdf (24 KB)