Thoughts on Trinity Ridge/Orleans Homebuilders? (Raleigh, Durham: to rent, home builders, established neighborhood)

[gwillikers]

Has anyone visited Trinity Ridge btwn. Pickett and Cornwallis or had any experience with Orleans Homebuilders? We're moving from the coast with our two boys and looking to buy in that area. Would prefer more trees, privacy and a larger subdivision, but the idea of a new home is appealing and these seem very nice and priced in our range (380k-420k), though I suspect that living around construction for 1-2 years could get old. Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated.

[coltank]

With what it sounds like you are looking for, I might look in Brightleaf at the Park. To specifically answer your question, I like some of Orleans homes, but I'm not so crazy about Trinity Ridge.

[sneezecake]

I looked at Trinity Ridge and about the only thing it hits on for your wants are the trees...privacy it's tough to tell without the build-out, but definitely not a large subdivision - only something like 50 houses in all...and there is no clubhouse/pool or anything that makes it feel like anything other than just a little neighborhood.

Coltank's suggestion of Brightleaf is a good one - I just bought a house there and in the price range you are looking at, you can get a beautiful home (there is even a selection of inventory homes in your range, new construction, just ready to be sold).

Trinity Ridge's location is only really convenient for Duke/Downtown Durham. For RTP or heaven forbid, Raleigh, it's pretty tough.

Orleans seems decent - the model is nice and a good floorplan, but there are tons of upgrades - way too many to be fair to the buyers looking at the baseline pricing.

American Village is a larger community in that general area near Duke/Durham that may be worth looking at.

Check out a few of the threads on Brightleaf at the Park, though!

[Heathercp]

I pass by Trinity Ridge every day as I drive my son to school, and while I absolutely love this particular area, I personally don't find that development very appealing. The houses are set rather close together considering their size, and if the company is planning to build 50 homes, you'll have to deal with lots and lots of construction traffic. That being said, did I mention I absolutely love this area?? And I feel very, very safe here.


We've been here for 9 months now and I'm still discovering lovely areas to live in. I prefer more established neighborhoods myself, but I think there are also some newer developments that don't have quite that squished feeling to them.

If you can post the general area you'll need to commute to, I'm sure more people will chime in with suggestions. Good luck with your search!

[RGodwin]

I'm responding for my husband, gwillikers. Thanks for your helpful suggestions. Our sons will be at Duke School and Carolina Friends, so we were looking somewhere in that area, but are flexible as my husband travels a lot for work. Would the drive from Brightleaf at the Park be a nightmare? Judging from their website and everyone's comments here, that seems like a great neighborhood, and I like the house styles. We probably ought to rent for a while, but I'd prefer not to if we can find the right house/neighborhood. We'd appreciate any other suggestions.

[doc8370]

I disagree, I think the location in general and the subdivision has great privacy. A few of the lots are pretty big. I don't really want to be at home doing yardwork....but to each his own. There is not a lot of development in that area near Duke School, Durham Academy or Carolina Friends, so I think location wise it fits in well RGodwin.
As for the builder, I know several homeowners in another subdivision (Weldon Ridge) and they love their homes. The model at Trinity is pretty cool, and, yes 'sneezcake' loaded with options. I see it from a different perspective.....it is one of the better floorplans and you can have yours look any way you want on the inside.....but you need the "box" first. I don't want their $625,000 model home (can't afford it either), but the guy there said the box is only about $450,000. I went through some of the homes under construction and was impressed with strength of the home. They have been around since like 1930 so I have to imagine they are buidling good homes and are well run. Most of the bigger home builders in the Triangle have only been in business for 20 years or less.
Heathercp, SW Durham is a really pretty area, close to hiking in the Duke Forest and convenient to the major arteries......and I agree it is a safe place to live...one of the few.
I really haven't seen any other communities that offer the quaint living, privacy and trees in this area. You can absolutlely leave the SW Durham area and find other options, but they have a pretty nice set-up with short streets and cul-se-sacs in an area where new home opportunities are limited. I don't like the power transmission lines running up to American Village....but if that doesn't matter, check it out.