Quality of homes in Anthem (Phoenix, Carefree: real estate, new house, buying)

[JGatti]

I understand Anthem is a fairly new community. I have a few questions.

I've heard that some of the new area's builders just throw the homes together and many new home owners have had issues with foundations sinking, ceilings cracking, poor craftsmanship etc. Does anyone know if Anthem has had many of these issues?

Also considering how new Anthem is, and after looking at many new homes on real estate web sites and seeing how many back up to mountains, desert and just open land. Are pests much of an issue? It's my understanding that these new area's have problems with scorpions and snakes etc for awhile due to all the new construction. Does this still remain a problem in Anthem?

If anyone can comment on the schools progress that would be a plus. Thanks all.

[JGatti]

Anyone?

[altus2006]

Everything you have heard is correct. If you plan to buy in the area, have the house inspected by an Arizona licensed inspector who will be knowledgeable about soil issues and foundation problems.

You will find a lot of info if you google "cracked houses" and Arizona.

altus2006

[sablebaby]

I moved this thread to the Phoenix forum to get more results. Anthem is part of the Metro Phx area.

[nitram]

Go to these Google sites on Anthem for your answers.
Construction soil problems Anthem AZ - Google Search

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by JGatti

I understand Anthem is a fairly new community. I have a few questions.

It came to fruition in 1998 or '99 if I remember right ... so regarding the establishment of the community itself, it would be considered very new. Although I don't think it's an incorporated city as of yet. It probably should be, though.

Originally Posted by JGatti

I've heard that some of the new area's builders just throw the homes together and many new home owners have had issues with foundations sinking, ceilings cracking, poor craftsmanship etc. Does anyone know if Anthem has had many of these issues?

Most any master planned community with cookie cutter styled construction is going to have serious flaws. Anthem perfectly fits the description of a far flung, suburban, master planned, cookie cutter community There is very little pride taken in home construction these days. It's all about quantity instead of quality.

Originally Posted by JGatti

Also considering how new Anthem is, and after looking at many new homes on real estate web sites and seeing how many back up to mountains, desert and just open land. Are pests much of an issue? It's my understanding that these new area's have problems with scorpions and snakes etc for awhile due to all the new construction. Does this still remain a problem in Anthem?

Anthem is a far northern suburban area of Phoenix, and is also in a higher elevation desert terrain that was previously home to many snakes & other wildlife. Any time a brand new community is built in a desert region, there are going to be problems with snakes & other dangerous creatures for a while until the "newness" wears off.

If I were you, I'd look at the more established areas of the Phoenix metro area, and there are many to choose from. Construction is much better, and there are fewer desert creatures to worry about. The only thing is that the desert pests are replaced with the urban ones (roaches, rodents, pigeons, etc.).

[dookieboy]

Originally Posted by altus2006

Everything you have heard is correct. If you plan to buy in the area, have the house inspected by an Arizona licensed inspector who will be knowledgeable about soil issues and foundation problems.

You will find a lot of info if you google "cracked houses" and Arizona.

altus2006

I know this is a little off topic, but where was the state and the county when all these sub-par homes were being built? What were the inspectors looking at? Every home built in Anthem, and every other tract in the valley were permitted based on the plans submitted for each individual lot. The county called out the codes, the codes followed based upon the inspectors compliance inspections, and all anyone can do is blame the builders for not giving a crud. True, there are builders who try to get things done as cheaply as possible, but even they have to pass the COUNTY INSPECTIONS! And they do. Some blame needs to be passed on to the county for the ease at which they allowed the builders to operate. The concept of hiring a home inspector to tell you what is a flaw when the county says it's ok is not a very constructive way to get things done. Why hold only the builder accountable when the county, who is the one who tells the builder things are satisfactory in the first place is just crazy.
Yes. Everyone needs to stand behind their product or service. Including our county.

I know, I have issues. Can you tell?

[altus2006]

Originally Posted by dookieboy

I know this is a little off topic, but where was the state and the county when all these sub-par homes were being built? What were the inspectors looking at? Every home built in Anthem, and every other tract in the valley were permitted based on the plans submitted for each individual lot. The county called out the codes, the codes followed based upon the inspectors compliance inspections, and all anyone can do is blame the builders for not giving a crud. True, there are builders who try to get things done as cheaply as possible, but even they have to pass the COUNTY INSPECTIONS! And they do. Some blame needs to be passed on to the county for the ease at which they allowed the builders to operate. The concept of hiring a home inspector to tell you what is a flaw when the county says it's ok is not a very constructive way to get things done. Why hold only the builder accountable when the county, who is the one who tells the builder things are satisfactory in the first place is just crazy.
Yes. Everyone needs to stand behind their product or service. Including our county.

I know, I have issues. Can you tell?

There was a program on the news earlier this year which showed the "drive by" inspections being done by city inspectors in the building hey day. Each inspector had so many houses to inspect each day that it was physically impossible to get there and check out the house properly.

I am sure if you google this topic that you will find more info. Also another problem is the builders only have a one year warranty for the most part and a lot of problems don't show up the first year, so the builder is free from having to fix many problems.

If you are going to build a new house, hire a certified inspector to watch each step in the build. If you are buying a resale, hire a certified inspector to check it out. We just had the house we bought checked out and it cost us $430, which we thought was reasonable for the time the man spent with us and the extent of his report.

altus2006

[Gretchen B]

If we're talking Athem north of the Carefree Hwy, I never thought those homes were any worse than any others. I think the main issue had to do with the expansive soil in the area, but that was mostly on the original homes. I think once it was discovered, the builders started taking appropriate measures such as post-tension slabs, etc. Del Webb built the original homes, but I believe Pulte was a major builder in the latter phases.

A lot of people really love that community. There are nice parks, golf course, planned commercial areas, etc. It's very much geared toward families, and there are a lot of activities for kids. I'd at least check it out before you cross it off your list.

One major drawback right now is the I-17 road construction into Phoenix, but once that's completed I would think the commute to north Phoenix would be a breeze.

[markas214]

The homes older areas have problems with their foundations due to ground instability. Get a good inspection done.