Sometimes when people hear the term “Custom Home” they get a little bit nervous—even fearful. That’s understandable because to some, the term “custom” conjures up images of gold faucets, mother-of-pearl inlaid toilet seats, swimming pools in the family room, and other luxury accoutrements.

Springtime is when a lot of people are looking to build a new home. If you glance out your window, you may think it’s a little early to start talking about spring, but when it comes to building a custom home in the Poconos, now is a great time to get your hand in and start the process.

There’s ancient wisdom that says, “There’s nothing new under the sun.” The originator of that phrase was doubtless very wise, but he probably wasn’t talking about new products for the home. There are new products out there that nobody could have conceived of 10 years ago—much less thousands of years ago. Maybe nobody is reinventing the wheel, but there are some pretty interesting ideas out there!

When people talk about heading to the Poconos they’re talking about a pretty good-sized area. This section of northeast Pennsylvania covers more than 2,400 miles and crosses four separate counties (Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties). Just because you’ve seen one part of the Poconos doesn’t mean you’ve seen it all.

One of the reasons people relocate to the Poconos is to enjoy the greenery that surrounds them so much of the year. But there’s another kind of “green” that can help homeowners use less energy, save on utilities, and be a little easier on the green that grows outside their homes. Whether you’re building a new custom home in the Poconos or remodeling and existing home, here are four simple ways to use less energy and save money—while lessening your impact on the environment.

What do you do when the home you’re currently living in no longer fits your lifestyle? Do you move or remodel? And if you decide to move, how do you balance the benefits of a new home with the challenges of selling your existing home? Is it worth it?

For more than 20 years we heard the question every Monday night: “Are You Ready for Some Football?” Most of the time, a lot of us were ready. We had our snacks. We had our favorite chair. But the Super Bowl isn’t just any football game. And the question isn’t just are you ready—but is your Poconos home ready for some Super Bowl football?

We’ve all known “high-maintenance” people. They constantly need attention or they begin to fall apart. Your home in the Poconos is a little bit like that (but less annoying). The fact is that homes do need constant maintenance. And by taking a little bit of time and effort to maintain your home, you can avoid some major discomfort and expense down the road. Not everything has to be done at once, but there are a number of things you’ll want to stay on top of throughout the year.

Who wants to think about looking for a new home in the middle of winter? Bundling up and braving the roads in January is probably not high on your list of favorite things to do. But even though it’s cold outside, it’s a perfect time to start your search for the perfect new home in the Poconos.

Maybe you’ve thought about owning a home in the Poconos for a long time. A lot of people toy with the idea of escaping to the mountains and leaving it all behind. It could be that you’ve thought of having a second home here. Maybe you’ve thought it would be a great place to retire and enjoy all the outdoor activities the region has to offer. Or maybe you’ve considered moving the family to a place where the pace is a little slower and relaxed.