Buying a KB Home (San Diego, Trinity: credit, loan, house)

[banker]

Originally Posted by nrlatsha

I saw that too, it was around the same time I realized that I will never trust JD power awards again.

There used to be an entire site devoted to KB owners, if you look hard enough, you'll find whats left of it... It had something to do with vacuum cleaners...

I love my Pulte home that I had to buy in 3 weeks, of course I had been looking at areas for over a year, getting ready, the end just came suddenly...

I've had problems with this house as well... but they've handled it very well.

Even Siterle has been in the news for problems with home owner's - and they are expensive compared to the tract builders on this list. One off examples can't be taken too seriously. A survey of a cross section of buyers gives better results. So - I tend to trust groups like JD Power.

[dendox]

Not to disagree with you banker, but I seriously think JD Power and the like are capable of being bought. Not literally, but I think they can be influenced.

I can't answer your question specific to KB, but my wife is in sales for a major production home company (just left one of the largest). I can tell you that unless you are buying a spec - as mentined above- you aren't likely to get the steep discounts you are hoping for. When you build it the way you want it you pay for it the way they want it - for the most part.

Now, at the end of the year when their numbers aren't what they are supposed to be (this year for sure) you may have better luck with incentives - such as more money at the design center etc. This doesn't cut into the margins so much (at least how the show it on the papers) and are more likely to give incentives like that. Also, towards the end of the year, there are homes that people have backed out of at various stages that are then trnasitioned into spec homes. These are at varying stages of build and can be negotiated accordingly. Sometimes you catch them soon enough to get your own stuff in the design - sometimes not.

As mentioned earlier the builders who are sitting on a lot of inventory are willing to deal. Those who only build when contracted aren't. I am not sure which category KB falls into as I have never shopped them, but if the above posters are correct in that they are a build when contracted - you aren't likely to get great deals.

I can get a lot more detailed as to how my wife's companies work if you would like, but I can't comment as to KB. If you have any real specific questions that I may be able to answer, please PM me......some of this stuff probable shouldn't be planted all over the interweb.

[Turtle_Mom]

Originally Posted by banker

I thought that Fox Grove was Classic and Hallmark line homes. What is Q and R? What I have found is that no matter what the builder - your resale will be driven by the average price range - so if you are on the small side - you benefit but if you are on the large side - you don't. A co-worker is building a classic home in Fox Grove right now. Nice area - but I prefer the neighborhoods that are just higher end homes without any Classic floor plans so it doesn't draw down the average price.

The whole Q and R thing was an attempt at a different concept. It didn't work! The houses that were in that series were just nicer and different than all the others. The fronts just have more character and depth, they offered unique things (like one in the Q series had a huge upstairs laundry room.) But it looks like they got the Saddle Mountain to be what they had planned for Fox Grove initially. Iron (something?) behind Costco and near the new Methodist Hospital was another that was trying to do the higher end "Q" series too - I do believe. Like I said, wasn't successful! But we do have some floorplans in our side of the neighborhood that aren't going to be found anywhere else, they were discontinued.

I have always said it's best to be the least expensive home in the neighborhood, rather than the most. If you are the biggest, the smaller or cheaper ones bring you down. If you are the cheapest - the bigger ones help raiser your value! I agree with not wanting to have the mixing of series.

[banker]

Originally Posted by Turtle_Mom

The whole Q and R thing was an attempt at a different concept. It didn't work! The houses that were in that series were just nicer and different than all the others. The fronts just have more character and depth, they offered unique things (like one in the Q series had a huge upstairs laundry room.) But it looks like they got the Saddle Mountain to be what they had planned for Fox Grove initially. Iron (something?) behind Costco and near the new Methodist Hospital was another that was trying to do the higher end "Q" series too - I do believe. Like I said, wasn't successful! But we do have some floorplans in our side of the neighborhood that aren't going to be found anywhere else, they were discontinued.

I have always said it's best to be the least expensive home in the neighborhood, rather than the most. If you are the biggest, the smaller or cheaper ones bring you down. If you are the cheapest - the bigger ones help raiser your value! I agree with not wanting to have the mixing of series.

Thanks for the input. Saddle Mountain is all high end floor plans - so it won't suffer from the mixing of the series and it is in a higher end part of town to begin with. Very nice - you should check it out.

[Turtle_Mom]

Originally Posted by banker

Thanks for the input. Saddle Mountain is all high end floor plans - so it won't suffer from the mixing of the series and it is in a higher end part of town to begin with. Very nice - you should check it out.

You couldn't get me to move now! I love being East of the 281 and my husband heads East on Evans to Green Mountain, so he avoids the 281/1604 mess going to work. We also back up to a 1/4 mile green belt and will always have wilderness behind us. We looked in Cibolo Canyons, but I really just want to stay here and save money while the house earns value. The golf course will be just North of us, so I hope that will help in that area.

Our next move is to get 1-2 acres and build a custom home. We're looking at the land now so we can stay in the same School District, but don't want to start building just yet.

But sounds like you are getting into a great place!

[imaterry78259]

As a fellow KB Fox Grove residents, this has to be one of the most beautiful subdivision for the money in the area. East of 281 is going to boom in the next couple of years. I know Fox Grove subd will apprreciate in value due to the PGA. TurtleMOm -don't leave us now

[banker]

Originally Posted by imaterry78259

As a fellow KB Fox Grove residents, this has to be one of the most beautiful subdivision for the money in the area. East of 281 is going to boom in the next couple of years. I know Fox Grove subd will apprreciate in value due to the PGA. TurtleMOm -don't leave us now

Did you build your home brand new? Were you able to negotiate on the purchase price or upgrades?

[imaterry78259]

Yes, i got only 15K in incentives when I built my home here last year. Its the supplyu and demand theory.-supply is high and demand is low so you have the upper hand

[banker]

Right now Saddle Mountain is offering 15K in incentives - on a much more expensive neighborhood than Fox Grove. Wish they offered more.

[imaterry78259]

banker, What are the other builders offerring in incentives versus KB for the same $ of house. Get quotes from different builders and show them to KB and see what they will do. I know Plantation and Highland are excellent builders. Also check out Medallion. Do anyone know anything about Trinity Oaks