Out of state buyer trying to decide between Stone Creek (GL) and Raffia Preserve (Lennar/WCI) (Naples: HOA fees, houses)

[Kram71]

Out of state buyer trying to decide between Stone Creek (GL) and Raffia Preserve (Lennar/WCI)

I'm having trouble deciding which community. I'd like to keep the budget around $500k.

I'd like some space in between neighbors with a 3 car garage. Raffia seems to have that but is that a nice area?

Stonecreek seems a bit more upscale with a great entrance but their homes are close together.

Any advice would be great. I have seen Stonecreek in person. I have not seen Raffia Preserve in person.

[Russman3000]

Stonecreek is GL homes which has an excellent reputation whereas Raffia is WCI whose reputation is less great.

I really liked the way Raffia was set up. The idea of the preserves infiltrating the space is a great one. That being said, I'd rather be close to upscale neighbors than further away from other neighbors. In the end we went with Stonecreek and it wasn't even a question. $ 500k is going to be a challenge, though.

[Richard818]

Originally Posted by Russman3000

Stonecreek is GL homes which has an excellent reputation whereas Raffia is WCI whose reputation is less great.

I really liked the way Raffia was set up. The idea of the preserves infiltrating the space is a great one. That being said, I'd rather be close to upscale neighbors than further away from other neighbors. In the end we went with Stonecreek and it wasn't even a question. $ 500k is going to be a challenge, though.

Agree completely. Also building in Stonecreek.

[Thundarr457]

WCI was taken over by Lennar on February 10th of this year. Not sure what effect this will have. We looked at Raffia and Riverstone but wound up not moving to Naples. Riverstone sold out and now they are building Stone Creek. From what I can glean from the site plans, Stone Creek appears to have smaller lots which isn't surprising considering the cost of land has skyrocketed. Riverstone started around 2011 but was planned before that. GL has a sterling reputation and like someone once said "you can't get fired for buying an IBM", when IBM was the dominant computer maker. GL is the safe choice if you can live with the lot sizes.

What's the Difference between Stonecreek and Riverstone Naples Florida

New 850-home community rises where wetlands development dispute once simmered

[Kram71]

Thanks for all the advice. Stonecreek's entrance is beautiful but I do not know if I would like being in such a large community with houses so close.

[Thundarr457]

Originally Posted by Kram71

Thanks for all the advice. Stonecreek's entrance is beautiful but I do not know if I would like being in such a large community with houses so close.

Kind of ironic your name is KRAM and the houses are crammed together

[movin1]

You can get bigger lots with more space between houses but you pay a premium for the lot size. It's going to be hard to do it on your budget in Naples.

[Thundarr457]

Originally Posted by movin1

You can get bigger lots with more space between houses but you pay a premium for the lot size. It's going to be hard to do it on your budget in Naples.

You also need a larger more expensive house. If you look at the site-plan for Stonecreek the large lots are in the Classic Collection that start at 570k plus the lot premium. Larger lots almost always equal larger wider houses with the same or almost the same distance between them. Because of the price of land they squeeze in as many houses as they can

[DestinationNaples]

Look at Mockingbird Crossing by DR Horton, which is East of Collier between Immokalee and Vanderbilt Beach Road. The lots are larger and prices start at around $485K for a 2,500+ square foot home with a 3 car garage. There are no amenities, other than lawn mowing and common maintenance, so the HOA fees are low.

[Thundarr457]

Originally Posted by DestinationNaples

Look at Mockingbird Crossing by DR Horton, which is East of Collier between Immokalee and Vanderbilt Beach Road. The lots are larger and prices start at around $485K for a 2,500+ square foot home with a 3 car garage. There are no amenities, other than lawn mowing and common maintenance, so the HOA fees are low.

I would take GL over DR Horton if it was me.