About the NDI Blog
Welcome! If you are looking for a custom builder, you will do a lot of research. You will ask your neighbors, your friends and your family what they think. You will Google. You will comb through Pinterest. You will watch …
Finding A Fitness Routine That Sticks
While this post has absolutely nothing to do with building a custom home, I do find the topic timely. It is the turn of the new year, and we’re all making resolutions, which often leads to talking about self care. …
What’s Trending In Design For 2023 & What’s On The Way Out
I love examining trends in new home design, and the start of each year seems like a great time to take a look at what’s hot, and at the same time, what’s not. First up, let’s talk about what’s trending… …
Construction Financing: Update on Rates & What To Expect in 2023
Everyone is talking about interest rates, and specifically when the Fed will ease increases, and what impact that will have on mortgage rates. A lot has changed over the last 12 months, and to help us sort through it, I’ve …
Jen In The Kitchen: My Favorite Recipes of 2022
My 2022 New Year’s Resolution was to cook one new recipe each week. I had done this back in 2006, and it really jump started my love for cooking! While I did a very poor job of sharing my favorite …
Jen’s 2023 Forecast
Happy New Year! I hope this finds you and yours well and enjoying 2023 so far! After saying “See ya later 2022!”, we were all very happy to ring in the new year. What will it bring? No one knows …
Expert Q&A: How To Get Your House Ready To Sell
The northern Virginia real estate market has been on fire over the last few years. Even as interest rates have ticked up, marketable homes are still flying off the shelf. So if you are thinking about selling, you should consider …
Jen In The Kitchen (with her son, Andrew): Cinnamon (Baked) Doughnuts
My son Andrew and I started baking together last year. Baking is not my forte, mainly because I am absolutely terrible at following directions. Baking requires a type of precision in the kitchen that I do not possess. But when …
Expert Q&A: Should I Be Concerned About Rising Mortgage Rates?
When Paul and I bought our first home in 2000, the mortgage rate was over 8%. While that seemed “normal” back then, today’s buyer has been accustomed to the historically low rates we’ve had for over a decade. So when …
Jen In The Kitchen: The Ultimate Burrata Board
Looking for an easy recipe for entertaining a crowd? I love a good food board (check out this post and this post for more ideas!) when I’m entertaining. They’re fun and so easy to make! I came across this article …
Home Building FAQs: What Money Do I Need Upfront When Building?
I started a blog series answering common home building questions. My goal is to provide you with a quick answer (300 words or less!) to a common question and when I can, give you resources to find more information on …