A great opportunity to participate in the American dream of homeownership is now available to savvy buyers in the Lake Meadows subdivision just north of Smithville, according to the marketing team. </p><p>&ldquo;If you are a first-time buyer or are just looking for an affordable new home, this is definitely an opportunity you don&rsquo;t want to miss,&rdquo; said Paul Garnett, one of the marketing agents for the community. </p><p>Garnett was referring to the new homes being built in Lake Meadows subdivision in Smithville, all of which qualify for the $8,000 federal tax credit available for first-time buyers.</p><p>&ldquo;We have seven new homes under construction ranging in price from $149,900 to $179,900, and most all will be completed in time to qualify for the $8,000 federal tax credit, scheduled to expire Nov. 30,&rdquo; Garnett said. &ldquo;We initially started eight new homes and sold five of them before we could get a model finished. The builders had to hurry to get four more homes started so we would continue to have some inventory. I guess that&rsquo;s a good problem to have.&rdquo;</p><p>Builders in Lake Meadows are LBS Homes and Life Design Homes.</p><p>&ldquo;Both builders have won awards from the HBA for the design and quality of their homes,&rdquo; Garnett said. &ldquo;They both normally build in higher price brackets, but they have realized the need to diversify their product line in this type of economy. The good news for our buyers is they are including the same quality and design features in the Lake Meadows homes that can be found in the higher-priced homes they build in other communities. They are both hands-on type builders, meaning they work with the buyers themselves, not through superintendents or subs. I am always confident the buyers will be totally satisfied with their new home.&rdquo; </p><p>In addition, both builders have a professional designer on staff, so buyers who act quickly can choose their interior finishes and have the services of a professional decorator for no charge. </p><p>&ldquo;We are very proud to be able to offer the services of M. Simpson Design to all of our new-home buyers,&rdquo; said Kevin Davis of Life Design Homes. &ldquo;Marilyn has worked on some of the most exclusive projects in the metro area, and we feel fortunate to have her as part of our team.&rdquo; </p><p>Smithville continues to be one of the most popular suburban locations in the Kansas City area, Garnett said. Newsweek magazine recently named Smithville as &ldquo;The Best Affordable Suburb in the State of Missouri,&rdquo; noting the great recreational opportunities and its low crime rate. The AAA-rated Smithville School District always ranks at or near the top of all metro area districts, and continues to turn out award-winning students.</p><p>&ldquo;When we were asked to build in Lake Meadows we jumped at the chance,&rdquo; said Bruce Hollewell of LBS Homes. &ldquo;We wanted to diversify our product line, and we think there is no better place to do it than Smithville. It is a great place to live, and the recreational opportunities are the best in the metro area. As builders, we see Lake Meadows as the perfect combination &mdash; an affordable community that offers a great quality of life.&rdquo; </p><p>The homes in Lake Meadows qualify for many types of mortgage financing, including USDA, FHA and VA.</p><p>&ldquo;The program offered by the USDA is especially good for buyers in this price range,&rdquo; Garnett said. &ldquo;Not only is it a zero-down loan, in many cases the monthly payments can be tailored to fit a family&rsquo;s size and income. When you factor in the potential of the $8,000 tax credit, it makes for a great deal for the homeowner. With new home sales beginning to increase, an opportunity like this may not come along again for quite a while.&rdquo;