DR HORTON vs SITTERLE HOMES vs MERITAGE HOMES (Austin, Mercedes: buying a house, neighborhood)

[adhdec01]

Hi all,

We are looking to buy a home in Avery ranch or Ranch at Brushy creek. Between these communities, which is better? Also we need reviews on the builders. We cannot find reviews on Sitterle homes. Can someone shed light about their experience with these builders?

Thanks in advance...

[jobert]

"Dr. Horton an Meritage Homes iss CLRAAP!!"

[luksky]

We have lived in a DR Horton home for the past 3 years and have had no problems with it...the construction of the home itself that is. It seems the problem with the DR Horton homes in our neighborhood are the Carrier a/c units that are installed.

Several homes just on my street have had a/c issues, everything else has been up to par...for us anyway.

[homeinatx]

They are all crappy houses built by illegal Mexican labor. Why are you even looking at them?

[jobert]

Originally Posted by luksky

We have lived in a DR Horton home for the past 3 years and have had no problems with it..

Everaboda loves their oon BRAAAND!!

[pjoseph2]

Jobert, Wondering if you have any favorite builders.

DR Horton has built both tract homes and high-end homes in Austin. There seems quite a difference in quality between the two categories.

i was at a David Weekley seminar a couple of weeks ago. They are the highest rated builder, with excellent customer service. But even they seem to use sub-contractors for everything (from an approved list, they pointed out).

Builders nowadays just sell houses. This was my building inspector's opinion recently.

[jobert]

Originally Posted by pjoseph2

Jobert, Wondering if you have any favorite builders.

I would recommend Mercedes, Standard Pacific or David Weekly for middle tier builders. I would avoid DR Horton, Centex, Pulte and NewMark - just personal preference, and I know that this will rile feathers of sorts.

[AJohn]

You might also want to consider local builder, Streetman homes. I am having them build me a house now, granted it is still few weeks from completion, but I am impressed with what I have seen thus far.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by adhdec01

Hi all,

We are looking to buy a home in Avery ranch or Ranch at Brushy creek. Between these communities, which is better? Also we need reviews on the builders. We cannot find reviews on Sitterle homes. Can someone shed light about their experience with these builders?

Thanks in advance...

The differentiating factors between production builders are not substantive enough to rely on as a decision point. I can't even think of a situation where I would allow the brand name of a builder to break a tie between two otherwise equal homes. There is always a deciding factor more reliable and important than the brand name of the builder, especially given the fact that they use substantially the same pool of subcontractors.

Find a house (or floorplan) you like on a lot you like and make sure you hire a good home inspector to complete phase inspections during the build. You're buying a house, not selecting a builder.

If you're not experienced in the process required to obtain the very best pricing and upgrade packaging from a builder, find someone who knows the ins and outs of that to help you, otherwise you'll be paying too much no matter which builder you buy from.

Good luck,

Steve

[Everest209]

Originally Posted by homeinatx

They are all crappy houses built by illegal Mexican labor. Why are you even looking at them?

Come on, no need for that.