M/I Homes (Lawrence, Fishers, Carmel: HOA fees, new home, neighborhoods)

[aallensr]

My family and I are looking into building a home with M/I. We've narrowed it down between building in Lawrence near Sunnyside Rd. and 63rd Street (very close to Indian Lake), Pike near 42nd and Raceway (very close to Eagle Creek), and Fishers near 96th and Olio Road. I was hoping for some input about the builder and any additional information about the areas. We currently live next door to Fort Benjamin Harrison park so we are naturally leaning heavily towards Lawrence. We've actually already put a deposit on the lot we like here in Lawrence so there is a very small window open to change before they break ground. Any and all information or advice we can get would be greatly appreciated!

[ischyros]

I can't tell you much about M/I Homes, but if you're from Lawrence, you obviously know the area well, if you like it and already have a deposit down on a lot, why not just stay in Lawrence?

[masters1]

Don't know much about M/I homes either but for location, I like the 96th and Olio option. New, growing part of town. Close to Geist, Hamilton Town Center. But it also depends on work location. It's somewhat isolated from other parts of town.

[aallensr]

I actually work next to the airport so it's quite a drive either way with Pike being the closest. I am not a huge fan of the rest of the neighborhood in Fishers. The home I'm building is in the $365-375,000 range and the neighborhoods in Fishers and Lawrence concern me because I'd be surrounded by $175-250,000 homes. Pike, believe it or not, seems like the area where the home would sustain it's value much better because the neighborhood is somewhat isolated as opposed to Fishers and Lawrence where it seems like I'd be at the mercy of the surrounding developments.

[aallensr]

Thanks you guys for the fast responses, btw.

[fe63]

In Fishers, at 96th and Olio, the lowest priced homes are going to be over 200K. Ambria, the MI community you're talking about, starts at 212K before options. In The Villas at Timberstone, which adjoins Ambria, the pricing will be similar, once you're done with upgrades. Most of the homes in that area sell for 300k+. Fox Hollow, Cambridge, Timberstone (which backs up to Ambria and Villas at Timberstone) are all in the 300K-500K price range. I don't think you'd have to be worried about be surrounded by "cheaper" homes. We are closing on our new home next week on the Villas at Timberstone; our home is certainly not decked out, and we are over 220K.

[mike0618]

M/i took over a nice sub in carmel off 116th near michigan rd. that might be a option for you too.

[aallensr]

Thanks. I looked at Carmel but it's out of my price range. They want around $60,000 more to build the exact same home there.

[aallensr]

Does anyone have any info about the builder? Reputation, etc?

[fe63]

MI has an excellent reputation and builds a very nice home. We have built 4 homes in the last 25 years and researched builders for the last 5 years on our latest new home. We had narrowed our decision down to MI's Clayton model in Ambria and Westport's Madison model in The Villas at Timberstone. Timberstone has lawn care and snow removal included in HOA fees. That made the deal for us. Quality wise, I think MI is a great choice.