If you're in the market for a new home, now is the best time to buy. Mortgage rates are at historic lows, and home prices have bottomed out in most markets. This is a good week to buy a house!

Volatility in the stock market has investors looking for safer places to stash their cash this week. Despite the downgrades, many investors fled to the relative security of long term U.S. Treasury Bonds, pushing down rates.

Rates for mortgages and other consumer loans tend to mirror the movements in the U.S. bond market. The rates on 30-year mortgages are highly correlated with the rate of the U.S. 10-year Bond. Despite Standard & Poor's downgrade of U.S. debt Friday night, investors still fled to long term U.S. Treasuries Monday through Thursday. The 10-year Treasury bond rate is at all time lows.

Tuesday’s decision by the Federal Reserve to keep the target federal funds rate low until 2013 was a result of considerably slower economic growth. This is the first time the Fed has pegged its low rate to a date and the announcement of the timeframe was aimed at calming nervous investors. A low rate is supposed to stimulate economic growth by making it cheaper to borrow money for consumption or investment. When investors have confidence in the market and have the ability to borrow, money flows out of long-term treasuries into stocks, bonds and commodities. Ultimately, this will causes mortgage rates to rise.

While people continue to worry about the market conditions, U.S. Treasury securities will remain attractive to anxious investors. There is no telling when mortgage rates will go up or how far they will rise. Homebuyers with stable incomes and job security should take advantage of the low 30-year fixed rates now. Buying a home now can allow you to make a significant positive impact on your long term net worth.

Click here to view our move-in-quick homes!

Nationwide D.C. Trip Sweepstakes*

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. PROMOTION OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES (D.C.), 21 YEARS AND OLDER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Promotion begins 5/28/11 and ends 9/5/11. Trip prize consists of $5,000 Travelocity Incentives Vacation Gift Certificate. Prize subject to terms and conditions of the Travelocity Incentives Vacation Gift Certificate. For Official Rules, methods of entry, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit www.standardpacifichomes.com/AllAmerican. Sponsor: Standard Pacific Corp., 26 Technology Drive, Irvine, CA 92618. Travelocity is a registered mark of Travelocity.com LP.  Travelocity is not affiliated with Sponsor and does not sponsor, endorse, approve or have any responsibility for this Promotion.

Weekly and Monthly Prize Drawings***

***NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. PROMOTION OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES (D.C.), EXCEPT FLORIDA OR NEW YORK, 21 YEARS AND OLDER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Promotion begins 7/1/11 and ends 8/31/11. For Official Rules, methods of entry, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit www.facebook.com/charlotte.new.homes . Sponsor: Standard Pacific Corp., 11525 Carmel Commons Blvd., Suite 301 Charlotte, NC 28226. Facebook, Charlotte Knights Baseball, Great Wolf Lodge and Carnival Cruise are registered trademarks of their respective owners.  None of Facebook, Charlotte Knights Baseball, Great Wolf Lodge or Carnival Cruise is affiliated with Sponsor and do not sponsor, endorse, approve, or have any responsibility for this Sweepstakes.

If you want to build a new home, you can feel confident in your new home purchase, knowing we’re doing things right every step of the way.

1. Meet You Builder

You will have the opportunity to meet the experienced Construction Representative who will be proud to build your home to our company’s high standards of excellence.

We recommend that only adults attend and that you wear comfortable outdoor shoes, especially during the rainy season when an umbrella and enclosed shoes/boots are advised.

At the appointment, you can expect to

• Learn about the construction process and the proposed schedule.
• Understand the benefits of our Quality Assurance Certification process.
• Review specific information about your home.
• Confirm your option selections.
• Hear about our safety considerations.
• Spend about 1 to 2 hours for this appointment
• Ask any questions you may have. We’re here to help!

2. Open Wall Tour

Your Construction Representative will lead this exciting and informative tour through your framed home. This important milestone will provide a construction status update as well as other valuable details. Again, please wear comfortable shoes and bring appropriate outdoor clothing.

At the appointment, you can expect to:

• View the high level of quality inside the walls of your new home.
• Confirm your structural option selections.
• Review the exterior elements of your home.
• Understand the grading, drainage, and utilities around your homesite.
• Spend about 1 to 2 hours for this tour.

3. Quality Assurance Certification

Throughout the construction process, internal quality inspections are conducted to ensure that each detail is executed to our high standards.

When the home nears completion, it is subject to a final Quality Assurance Certification inspection to ensure that it is complete and ready for your New Home Presentation Tour.

Upon approval, a “Quality Assurance Certification” window sticker is signed and proudly displayed in the front window of your home.

If you wish to engage your own third-party home inspector, we ask that you provide us with their information as soon as possible so that the necessary arrangements can be made to provide them safe access to your home to complete their work.

4. New Home Presentation Tour

About one month before closing, you will receive a letter confirming the dates and times for both your New Home Presentation and New Home Delivery Tours.

You will be escorted on a tour of your home by our company’s representative to review every feature and learn how your home functions!

You can expect to:

• Celebrate the completion of your new home!
• View and confirm the quality features included in each room.
• Ensure that each installation has been made as promised in our Warranty Manual.
• Receive a demonstration of the features of you home.
• Spend about 2 to 3 hours for this tour.
• Ask questions.

5. New Home Delivery Tour

About five days after your New Home Presentation, we will escort you on your New Home Delivery Tour appointment. You will confirm any adjustments noted on your previous tour and sign a New Home Delivery form.

You can expect to:

• Review the Homeowner’s Limited Warranty and Maintenance Manual.
• Be empowered with knowledge to maintain your home at its optimum level.
• Spend about 1 hour for this tour
• Get ready to close!

6. Customer Care Visit

At a convenient, pre-determined time after your move-in, a Standard Pacific Customer Care Representative will contact you to make sure your expectations have been met and that you are familiar with how to use and maintain all the wonderful features of your new home.

7. We Value Your Feedback

Standard Pacific has commissioned J.D. Power and Associates, a globally-recognized independent market research firm, to conduct a survey of our valued customers.

J.D. Power and Associates will mail 30-day and 10 month surveys that help ensure we continue to deliver a new home experience that meets our high standards for excellence.

Completing these surveys is an essential part of our sincere effort to provide an outstanding customer experience. We truly appreciate your participation!

Charlotte, N.C. was recently named a best bet for housing recovery by CNN Money. This financial-services center has seen an uptick in economic confidence as corporations announce expansions and relocations to the Queen City.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the Democratic National Convention recently announced that their 2012 convention will be held in Charlotte, N.C. This alone will bring thousands of people into the city.

With the promise of increased job growth on the horizon, Charlotte, N.C. is an excellent place to live, work and play.

Just because Valentine's Day is over, it doesn't mean you have to slow your chocolate intake. At Standard Pacific Homes, we're spreading the love all month during our February Love Fest. When you visit one of our Charlotte new homes communities, you'll receive a box of Godiva chocolates just for stopping by!

Plus, we've got a great "Be Mine" financing package for home buyers who purchase before February 28. They'll want to act quick, though - that's only 11 more days!

©Standard Pacific Homes 2011. *Available for select homes only. This financing example is based on a sales price of $300,000 with a 3.5% down payment and a minimum credit score of 640. The mortgage is an FHA 30 year fixed loan with a 1-0 Buydown in the amount of $292,395 (including financed up front mortgage insurance premium) with a Note rate of 4.75% (5.441% APR). Buyer must qualify for financing at the Note rate of 4.75%. The interest rate is temporarily reduced to 3.75% for Year 1 and is 4.75% for Years 2 - 30. Monthly payments are $1,946.22 for Year 1, and $2,117.35 for Years 2 - 30. Monthly principal and interest, taxes, mortgage insurance and hazard insurance are included in the above payments. HOA assessments are additional and are not included in the above payments. Interest rates, payments, terms and availability of this loan program, and the sales price, are examples only and are subject to change without notice. Interest rates may not be available at time of loan commitment or closing. Maximum allowable FHA loan amounts will be determined by county loan limits. All loans are subject to credit approval. REstrictions and conditions may apply. Seller contributions toward buyer's closing costs including seller paid buydown costs cannot exceed maximum limits established by loan program for which buyer qualifies. ** This loan program is available through Standard Pacific Mortgage, Inc. NMLS# 89607 the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks Mortgage Lender License Number: L-146109, L-146109-101, L-146109-102, the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions MLS-89607. © Godiva Chocolatier 2011. No purchase necessary. While supplies last. No rainchecks. ** Restrictions apply, varies by community contact your Sales Representative for details. Does not include prepaids and Escrow items. ***Washer Model # WTW 4900, Free dryer model # WED4900XW.

We've redesigned our website to give home buyers and Realtors an easier way to find and learn more about our homes. If you haven't seen the new Standard Pacific Homes website yet, take a look!

Along with a whole new look, we've added helpful tools like a mortgage calculator and the Notebook feature.

Here's a screenshot of the new site. We'd love to hear what you think!

As always, feel free to contact us here, via Facebook or Twitter for more information about our Charlotte new homes.

Charlotte-area home buyers can get a great rate on their new home this weekend! StanPac has a special rate offer, this weekend only. Check out complete details underneath the image below.

Visit one of our new home communities in the Charlotte area today! They include:

Skybrook Townhomes: Huntersville, NC

• 2,236 - 2,264 sq. ft.
• From the mid $170s
• Click here to view available homes in Skybrook

• 1,556 - 1,777 sq. ft.
• From the high $120s
• Click here to view available homes in Whitley Mills

***This financing example is based on a 30 year fixed FHA loan with a 3.5% down payment and a minimum credit score of 640. The mortgage has a 1-0 Buydown with an interest rate of 4.75% (5.587% APR). Buyer must qualify for financing at the note rate of 4.75%. The interest rate is reduced to 3.75% for Year 1. Based on a sales price of $230,000 and a loan amount of $224,170 (including financed up front mortgage insurance), monthly principal and interest payments are $1,038.16 for Year 1 and $1,169.37 for Years 2 - 30. Monthly taxes, HOA assessments, mortgage insurance and hazard insurance are additional and are not included in the above payments. Interest rates, payments and terms of this loan program, and the sales price, are examples only and are subject to change without notice. Restrictions may apply. **Restrictions apply. Non recurring closing costs paid by seller when financing through Standard Pacific Mortgage. Seller contributions toward buyer's closing costs including seller paid buydown costs cannot exceed maximum limits established by loan program for which buyer qualifies.  *** This loan program is available through Standard Pacific Mortgage, Inc. licensed by North Carolina Commissioner of Banks Mortgage Lender License Number: L-146109, L-146109-101, L-146109-102.  South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions supervised Lenders License Number S-7,691. NMLS# 89607. Buyer must obtain financing and close with Standard Pacific Mortgage by 3-15-11. Available on non-contingent sales written between 1/14/11 and 1/16/11. Homes must close by 3/15/11. Prior sales excluded. See Sales Representative for complete details.

The image above is a rendering of one our new home plans that will be built in Chapel Cove. Standard Pacific has recently acquired 33 new homesites in this desirable Charlotte lakeside community. We've already broken ground on our new sales center, and plan to start construction on the homes early next year!

The 33 new StanPac homes will create a new section in the already well-established community. Our Chapel Cove home buyers will have their choice of six new home plans that we've specifically designed for the community. 

Some more info on the new homes we'll be building in Chapel Cove:

• One ranch plan & five two-story plans available
• .5 to 1 acre wooded homesites 
• Plans range from 2,670 to 3,665 square feet
• Homes will start in the $300s
• Easy access to Lake Wylie
• Minutes from I-485