Moving into the Quarry at Iron Mountain (San Antonio, Liberty: home sales, construction)

[GoTexan]

Originally Posted by banker

Actually the color palate of the neighborhood makes a big difference in long term appeal. Look at the RAYCO/KB community Gold Canyon. Big boxes - strike one, horrible brick color choices (pink brick...who picks that) - strike two and finally huge unatractive lots backing up to 1604 - the broken trampolines are such an eye sore - strike three.

We carefully considered the brick choices in all the neighborhoods we looked at from the various builders. A classic palate was important to us. You never know what color your neighbor will choose. KB is hit and miss on this. Some communities are horrible - some very nice. The Quarry is more classic and earth toned in their brick choices. Also - they have beautiful stone choices as well.

huh? My pink brick is 'haut mauve' and I have 'grey mauve' granite to match

Anyway, sorry to read that the KB home saga continues........

I was in that neighborhood the other day since I pulled over to load my laptop and saw the lots you are referring to. In my opinion, it looks a little off but maybe I was looking at the wrong one?

I hope all things work out for the homeowners and hope KB builds consistently within the neighborhood.

I could see how in the future it could be a headache when trying to resell a home in that subdivision if one part of the neighborhood isn't built to the same standards as the other half.

time will tell.

[banker]

Originally Posted by joe123456

When I talk about a bow in a wall.... you install crown and there is even a slight bow it makes it harder to install you then have to trim out crown with a razor blade to make it align correctly with the top of the wall. It sounds like the bow you caught in your bedroom was very noticeable.

When you trim out windows with wood and make 45 degree cuts to make it fit perfectly as compared to using square blocks to join the joints you can definitely tell if it is not plum. I had only two windows in my home that the blinds did not fit properly because they were too out of plumb. Most of the other windows are out of plumb, but didn't affect the blinds.

I believe you can use the metal straps and also use OSB or plywood. The metal straps are notched into the 2x4 framing. When I say hurricane straps they are metal ties that tie down the roof trussess to the double top plate of your exterior walls. KB like probably all builders in San Antonio nail the roof trusses directly to the top plate. When you have high winds, if the roof goes so does the house. Therefore spending $1.5 for a galvanized metal tie is common sense. In fact KBs independent inspector told me that building codes were going to change to make hurricane ties mandatory.

Glad to know you are satisfied with your KB home. I am also very satisfied. However with that said, if I build again I would be looking more closely at a David Weekly home.

Learn something new every day. Hurricane ties - I will ask for them on my next house. Thanks.

[banker]

Originally Posted by GoTexan

huh? My pink brick is 'haut mauve' and I have 'grey mauve' granite to match

Anyway, sorry to read that the KB home saga continues........

I was in that neighborhood the other day since I pulled over to load my laptop and saw the lots you are referring to. In my opinion, it looks a little off but maybe I was looking at the wrong one?

I hope all things work out for the homeowners and hope KB builds consistently within the neighborhood.

I could see how in the future it could be a headache when trying to resell a home in that subdivision if one part of the neighborhood isn't built to the same standards as the other half.

time will tell.

For those that come in on the lower end of the price range (like me!) - resale shouldn't be an issue. However - for the first buyers that spent between $500K and $600K - they may have issues.

[playmaker7206]

Originally Posted by banker

For those that come in on the lower end of the price range (like me!) - resale shouldn't be an issue. However - for the first buyers that spent between $500K and $600K - they may have issues.

$500-600k!! WHAT!!! I hope that wasn't the sales pitch given to you to get you to purchase your home.

There is not one single home in the Quarry that has sold for over $500k. Don't believe the KB sales staff if that is your source. The only home that MIGHT break the $500k mark is the 2 story estate model, but it recently came back on the market.

[firstclassflyer]

Oh boy...he's been drinking that KB Kool-Aid for a verrrryy long time. . A faithful apologist.

[banker]

Originally Posted by playmaker7206

$500-600k!! WHAT!!! I hope that wasn't the sales pitch given to you to get you to purchase your home.

There is not one single home in the Quarry that has sold for over $500k. Don't believe the KB sales staff if that is your source. The only home that MIGHT break the $500k mark is the 2 story estate model, but it recently came back on the market.

And you know this how? Yes - the two story estate listed for around $550K just came back on the market...but there are others that are around $500K - especially ones that were built early in the project.

[playmaker7206]

The model is LISTED at $534k, and that is before incentives and the KB discounts. For the life span of this neighborhood, this model has the HIGHEST asking price of ANY home in the neighborhood. This has the potential of being the FIRST to break the $500k mark. It will probably go for $450k if a sucker buys it. Only a fool would buy this home at $450k given all of the cheap homes that will be built around it. If KB can't find a sucker, it will sell closer to $400k.

Even the very early estate home sales did not top the $500k mark. I have a strong feeling that the KB sales staff was telling potential home buyers of the lower level collections that they were buying into a neighborhood of homes that sold for $500-600k. If they did tell you that I am sorry that you were lied to like everybody else. I know what the nicest most expensive homes sold for in here and NONE topped $500k. I have no idea how anyone that drives the neighborhood would even think that any of these homes sold for $600k unless they were from out of town with no Realtor.

[banker]

No offense - but you don't know everything and I am not "drinking the kool-aid". I know of one that did sell for $550K last year. It is an estate model on a very large (over half acre lot) with nearly every upgrade. And the estate one you mentioned originally listed for $596K before going with GMAC realtors at $540K. There is no way it will sell for $400K. Maybe the very high $400K range when it is all said and done - but not $400K. The biggest discount I have seen given from the original spec price at the time of build on an inventory home was a $98M discount. The spec/build price on the large two story estate model was $596K. From talking to some of the disgruntled home owners that built some of the early estate homes with lots of upgrades - there are many in the $475K-$550K range. Most of them were built 18+ months ago before the Liberty line was introduced last year (now discontinued) and long before any of them dreamed the new lower level line would be brought in. There are many on my street with tons of upgrades with will sell for at or near $400K for the build price (no incentives were given when most homes on my street were put under contract) and all the homes on my street were Liberty homes and much cheaper than the Estate homes.

[banker]

Originally Posted by playmaker7206

I have no idea how anyone that drives the neighborhood would even think that any of these homes sold for $600k unless they were from out of town with no Realtor.

To your point - there are quite a few people that moved in from out of town - California, Nevada and Virgina to be exact. All those places are/were very high priced. People that moved in over the past two years were moving out of very high priced homes and even at full price these houses were quite a good deal with lots of luxury touches.

And you say that in know what all the homes sold for. How? Some of the inventory/spec houses were sold directly by KB and not through a realtor so the information wouldn't have been on MLS. The one house I know sold for a very high price was one such example.

[playmaker7206]

Originally Posted by banker

No offense - but you don't know everything and I am not "drinking the kool-aid". I know of one that did sell for $550K last year. It is an estate model on a very large (over half acre lot) with nearly every upgrade. And the estate one you mentioned originally listed for $596K before going with GMAC realtors at $540K. There is no way it will sell for $400K. Maybe the very high $400K range when it is all said and done - but not $400K. The biggest discount I have seen given from the original spec price at the time of build on an inventory home was a $98M discount. The spec/build price on the large two story estate model was $596K. From talking to some of the disgruntled home owners that built some of the early estate homes with lots of upgrades - there are many in the $475K-$550K range. Most of them were built 18+ months ago before the Liberty line was introduced last year (now discontinued) and long before any of them dreamed the new lower level line would be brought in. There are many on my street with tons of upgrades with will sell for at or near $400K for the build price (no incentives were given when most homes on my street were put under contract) and all the homes on my street were Liberty homes and much cheaper than the Estate homes.

Your credibility is not too good debating with me on here. I speak the truth, and the KB reps tell you what you want to hear to purchase a house and keep you happy after your purchase so you give them a good survey rating. They probably told you when you purchased your home about the many homes that went for $500-600k like you think.

There are many ways to get home sales besides MLS. KB has only listed a small amount of homes on MLS, and "coincidentally" they have all been estate homes. They are trying to hold off putting the cheaper homes on MLS to avoid degrading the neighborhood comps. Secondly, MLS sales from home builders are not always accurate either. I could write an entire book on the many ways MLS sales numbers can be skewed, and KB is a pro at it.

In terms of the model home, i said only a sucker would pay over $450k. Secondly, given the most recent 6 months in homes sales pricing in this neighborhood, I would be surprised it would appraise for much above $450k.

The estate home you refer to that you "think" sold for $550k last year did not sell for $550k. The home you are talking about is on .75 acre lot at 19314 boltmore Bay, and was originally built by a VP at KB, and then backed out. I am sure the homeowner would be upset if i put their info on here. For argument sake, let's say they overpaid and bought this house in the $500's. We both know it is on one of the largest lots in the neighborhood, and had upgrades similar to the model. Where are all of the other numerous homes you refer to that went for $475-550k?

Answer: They DON'T exist.