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Considering the fortune they are still asking for newly constructed McMansions, are you really better off buying one? I do not think so. Look at the people who they use to build new houses, often non-union, unskilled "day laborers", many of whom are here illegally. The construction is often shoddy, and in some cases downright dangerous, as some folks in a Scarsdale neighborhood found out today MyFox New York | Scarsdale House Explosion (http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6212364&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.1.1 - broken link)
I would rather buy a home that is older that was built by quality American labor. This is something homebuyers should think about. Renters too. The newly constructed Archstone apartment complex in Westbury had to close because the builders didn't seal up the roofs and pipes and mold was growing, again another "quality" job done by illegals, I know because I saw them working there, and the big "rat" was out in front, a protest by unions of the use of non-union labor on construction projects.
My 1926 stucco tudor with plaster walls is like a mini-bomb shelter. I can't imagine what some of the cheaper McMansions will look like when they are 80 years old.
Considering the fortune they are still asking for newly constructed McMansions, are you really better off buying one? I do not think so. Look at the people who they use to build new houses, often non-union, unskilled "day laborers", many of whom are here illegally. The construction is often shoddy, and in some cases downright dangerous, as some folks in a Scarsdale neighborhood found out today MyFox New York | Scarsdale House Explosion (http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6212364&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.1.1 - broken link)
I would rather buy a home that is older that was built by quality American labor. This is something homebuyers should think about. Renters too. The newly constructed Archstone apartment complex in Westbury had to close because the builders didn't seal up the roofs and pipes and mold was growing, again another "quality" job done by illegals, I know because I saw them working there, and the big "rat" was out in front, a protest by unions of the use of non-union labor on construction projects.
Quite True, also the materials used today are of inferior quality. PVC pipes have replaced copper and steel where ever possible, pressed plywood today instead of hardwood planking, etc... Homes built from the 1920s through the 1950s are the best. Some of the homes built in the 60s are quite good also, but since the 70s home construction (at least here on Long Island) has taken a turn for the worse. Quick profits are more important than a job well done.
Oh, don't forget, those older homes often have much lower property taxes. Newly constructed homes often have very high property taxes. Another reason why older homes are better is that they are often situated in better planned neighborhoods on quality land in the best locations. Think about where most new construction is taking place today; the worst possible places next to highways, in flood zones, etc...
Considering the fortune they are still asking for newly constructed McMansions, are you really better off buying one? I do not think so. Look at the people who they use to build new houses, often non-union, unskilled "day laborers", many of whom are here illegally. The construction is often shoddy, and in some cases downright dangerous, as some folks in a Scarsdale neighborhood found out today MyFox New York | Scarsdale House Explosion (http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6212364&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.1.1 - broken link)
I would rather buy a home that is older that was built by quality American labor. This is something homebuyers should think about. Renters too. The newly constructed Archstone apartment complex in Westbury had to close because the builders didn't seal up the roofs and pipes and mold was growing, again another "quality" job done by illegals, I know because I saw them working there, and the big "rat" was out in front, a protest by unions of the use of non-union labor on construction projects.
Somehow people who want new manage to see around the obvious; they want the latest and greatest and just don't care how it came to be. They aren't going to stick around long enough to see what the house will be like in 30-40 years as they will be complaining about their taxes and fleeing, leaving those of us remaining to look at their eyesores.
The townhomes adjacent to Home Depot in South Setauket are a great example. They were slammed up. Those 'semi-custom' homes on the NW corner of Moriches Rd & 347 in St James -- major corners were cut to make a bigger profit. The developers are churning out a product; they hire whoever costs least to give them a finished product. Gone are the days when a builder would proudly place his name on his product.
Homeowners of the houses that do start going bad fast will be calling local contractors crying about leaks and other larger problems and will have problems accepting that it is attributable to a bad build. They'll blame the messenger. They'll accuse him of trying to rip them off when all along they want to ignore the fact that they were ripped off the moment they bought the place.
My house was built in the late 50s. It's a very small development (spans maybe five or six streets, tops), but still, a development. The stories I heard from some of the neighborhood's original residents sound not unlike what I'm reading here. Plumbing problems, foundation issues, inferior finishing materials...the list goes on and on. As the years passed and newer residents (like us) began doing renovations on what were now considered "older" homes, we found 1/4 inch sheetrock (which some earlier residents discovered when their kids put elbows or knees through the walls while playing), uneven spacing of studs (not even following any discernible pattern), and undersized joists in some areas. And that was back in the 1950s!
Still, it is clear that many of the homes going up today are largely of shoddy workmanship. They may look pretty on the outside, but their inner workings are rotten.
Funny.....I find many issues with newer construction than with older. Most people do not get new construction inspections. Its new construction, what can go wrong?
Town inspectors have been overwhelmed and get paid very little. Many are former house builders! Plus some towns are just much better at enforcing NYS building code than others.
KB, I am sure you find many, many more issues with newer construction than with older; of this I have no doubt. What I was pointing out was that while most new construction is pure crap, there are still some older development homes with similar such serious issues.
You brought up a great and very important point about people foregoing inspections on new construction, because they assume that being brand new, following code, and passing town inspection is a final seal of approval. Honestly, I have to admit that I probably would have assumed the same thing, were I in the position of buying a newly constructed house.
I am very glad you brought our attention to this issue. You just may be saving a lot of people out there much heartache and money.
I can't imagine moving every seven years. I can't imagine being able to AFFORD to move every seven years! I like my town, my neighborhood and my house, so I have no real reason to go anywhere else.
But, yes, I know that on average, it's true. Blows my mind!
I can't imagine moving every seven years. I can't imagine being able to AFFORD to move every seven years! I like my town, my neighborhood and my house, so I have no real reason to go anywhere else.
But, yes, I know that on average, it's true. Blows my mind!
I'm with you, very content where I am and will not move any time soon.
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Quite True, also ....
