New home buyers, realtors - what is your opinion about builders? (Durham: sales, chapel)

[mcbeth01]

Here in the Triangle area? Are they being flexible in moving presales homes, and are they not being flexible? I am helping my sister look for a new home, and we have so far run into MI and Orleans - they have raised their prices, there are lot premiums and not really not that much of negotiating going on. Are you all seeing negotiations or have gone through it? Can you share what you have negotiated?Thanks,Liz.

[silverflash]

i was able to talk my builder down 22k from asking price.

[annesg]

Well, we negotiated 40k off but that was a year ago. And the builder had raised prices significantly and without good cause over the prior 6mo. Maybe since we're heading into peak selling season they are not wanting to budge much?

[silverflash]

oh sorry, talked them down a little over 12k on a 179k home.

almost 7%. Guess I did ok....

[leighbhe]

I think it depends on a number of factors..........location, price point in the neighborhood, sales in the neighborhood, status of the builder (are they selling a lot, not selling much), etc. The production builders tend to have more people needed to approve the "sale price" whereas a custom builder can make that decision on his/her own. Hopefully your sister has a buyer's agent who can help with all of this, it doesn't cost her a thing and just remember the on site agents work exclusively for the builder.

Leigh

[coltank]

Depends on the builder, the home, the lot, and the area. Some builders had previously reduced prices a lot, and are now starting to raise them b/c they are selling a lot, others are still doing some negotiating. I think most places will have lot premiums, since people would rather have the culdesac with a huge backyard, versus the small lot that backs directly to the trailer park.

[silverflash]

and what is wrong with a trailer park??

just kidding. my lot backs up against a natural area of trees etc and the houses behind me are like 100 so yards away at least.....and down hill.

[hammester]

In January we got about 16-17K off of a 200K house.

[percysmith]

Hi,

I am relocating to the area and did a search of new construction single family homes in both Chapel Hill and Durham - list includes Zinn, Drees, Shea, Orleans, Toll Brothers-

In the end, we purchased with a local semi-custom builder Jim Garman who we found out about through city data -
Garman Homes: Experience the Garman Difference!

He is a great guy to work with, and negotiated on many options, lot, and closing costs (though not on the actual sale price of the home, which IMHO is a good thing so the property values remain high in your neighborhood). I know he builds in Durham, Apex, Cary and some other places.

Feel free to PM me with any questions.

[mcbeth01]

Thanks for the information.Checked with a couple of co-workers who are also looking at houses, and apparently they are running into the same issue - Orleans refused to lower the asking price on a spec home this past weekend. Apparently the builders here had a good March and now very optimistic and holding on to their prices...