How different Centex is from Pulte? Tract home life span?

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

I thought they were both entry level builders.

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

I thought they were both entry level builders.

They range from low-end to fairly expensive.

Here, I can show you Pulte and Centex resales in the $600,000's and up to about $700,000.
To go over that and stay with a production tract builder, people look to Toll Brothers product.

It is all about delivering the most square footage for the buck, whatever size home it is, to people who measure value by size.

[Ted Bear]

At the risk of sounding like an idjit, you have to see what you are dealing with.

Both of these builders put up some of the cheapest crap possible, and they both built 'some' better quality homes.

Look for the obvious: 2X4 construction, poor insulation, no basement, 40 gallon hot water heater in a four BR home, cheap fixtures, carpet, little overhead lighting, poor quality moldings, thin sub floors--SB 3/4" glued and screwed, cheap sheathing, poor quality aluminum windows, curled shingles on the roof, 2 car garage with 16 foot door, poor quality vinyl siding ....

The list goes on and on. You can tell, and if you can't, then get a good inspector (get one anyhow) to go through the place from top to bottom.
Moderator cut: libelous

Just be really careful. Understand the condition of the house, and know exactly what you are buying.

[kharing]

Here's a great resource to check out the news on Centex and Pulte homes.

HomeOwners for Better Building - Pulte-Centex -Latest News

There are links to FBI investigations, housing fraud and several other important stories about these homes.