Quality home builders in the York, PA area? (Lancaster, Horsham: hardwood floors, short sales)

[Dave88LX]

My wife and I, and two daughters (ages 2 & 4) are looking to relocate to the York area sometime the end of summer. Specifically, we're looking at the Dallastown school district, and possibly the Southern York school district. We are aiming to find cheaper cost-of-living/housing, coupled with a superior school district. Plan is to move up there and rent/lease for a year or so to get a better handle of the area before committing to anything, and not having to rush. We have a lot of friends up in York and have heard many good things. Work just south of Baltimore, so I don't want to go any further north.

Currently, there are very limited choices for what we are looking for already built; may end up needing to build. I want a company who cares about the details. Doesn't rush drywall and finishing details. Who works with customer and listens to them.

I've heard hundreds of stories about Ryan homes, they're off the list. I've heard good and bad about Keystone, probably skip them. Heard bad about Lancaster Home Builders, probably scratch them.

Thank you!

[Dave88LX]

Burkentine and Sons:
http://www.burkentineandsons.com/index.php

Jeffrey Henry:
Remodeling and Custom Home Builder York PA - Henry Custom Homes

Kreider and Diller:
http://www.kdbuilders.com/

Perry L. Cisney:
http://www.perrylcisney.com/index.html

S&A Homes:
http://www.sahomebuilder.com/

Reistville Builders:
http://www.reistvillebuilders.com/

Gerard Builders:
http://gerardbuilders.com/index.php

Jeffrey A. Hinderer:
http://www.jahindererinc.com/index.html

C.C. Dietz:
http://www.ccdietz.com/index.php





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[Quinoa]

Dallastown has Great schools. We have had a great experience with them. What are you looking for in a house that you think you need custom built? I have seen some very lovely houses in the $500 k range, and some very livable ones around $200k. (3 bedroom. Ranchers are about $150k, I think)

In the upper prices ranges, there is a huge incentive to buy used - people who built $500k houses around 2005 are now selling them for $400k or less. So the hardwood floors and other expensive new builder upgrades are "free".

[teachbeach]

Agree with Quinoa~you should probably research foreclosures and short sales, especially if you're willing to rent for a year to get a feel for the area. Most of the builders mentioned by Dave88LX are familiar to me, but only for building homes in the $300-500K or even higher range. If that's your budget, you might be okay. My advice would be to look for housing as if you were looking for a job. Check out open houses on weekends, work with a realtor that will send you specs without forcing you to "go see the house" as well. You can learn a good deal about the home on the specs (public water or well, sewer or septic, type of heating/cooling, room sizes, age of home, replacement water heaters, furnaces, roof etc.) without actually wasting time going through the home. There is a glut of homes on the market in the York area, so competition to keep them at a fair and decent price is fierce. I just sold a home (that in 2005 would have easily fetched $250K) for $185, and was thrilled that I was able to get full asking price with no contingencies. Buyers are asking (and getting) all kinds of incentives towards closing costs, carpet/flooring replacements, and the owners who are able to unload their homes are conceding to the buyers.

[catdog2022]

We are also contemplating either Southern York County, or Dallastown School District. I know nothing about either area. Can someone give me some indepth information about living in these two different school districts? We would like to be near some amenities, but are looking at the affordability factor at or around 300K. I would love an area with a charming downtown, but it doesn't look like Glen Rock, Shrewsbury, or New Freedom have that. Those are the towns I think we would look at for Southern York School District. Can you tell me what towns are associated with Dallastown and what amenites exist or what the towns are like in this school district? Do parents like the schools and why? Thanks so much.

[catdog2022]

We also just added York Suburban School District to our list, we think Dallastown may be too large for what we prefer, but it looks like york suburban gets great reviews. Would love some feedback for Southern York/York Suburban.

[teachbeach]

York Suburban is an excellent district on paper. PM me for more specific information. The district has 2 early elementary schools, 2 upper elementary schools, 1 junior high and a senior high. Experienced teachers, dedicated staff, strong administrators. The district is spread out over several areas of Spring Garden Township; Queen Street to York Hospital area, and then along Route 83 between Mt. Rose exit and North Hills. Charming older neighborhoods mixed with options for new housing and rental units as well. The homes are priced a little higher, only because the school district is so preferred.

[Quinoa]

Red Lion is the closest to a charming downtown that I can think of around here. (red lion school district)

"charming downtown" suggests the following to me:
New Hope PA (philadelphia suburb)
Hatboro/Horsham PA (philly again)
Lambertville NJ
Wellsboro PA (far away!)
Strasburg PA (lancaster county)
Gettysburg PA
New Oxford PA
Hanover PA
Westminster MD
Frederick MD

Has anyone found CHARM in York County PA?

[Dave88LX]

I will be working in Columbia, MD, so commute time and location within the county play an importance. That said, York Suburban would IMO be too far north, and, too close to the city for my liking. Prefer to be away from any potential sprawl like I'm dealing with in my current house. Looking to stick with Dallastown and Southern York districts I believe.

Originally Posted by Quinoa

What are you looking for in a house that you think you need custom built?

Probably nothing. I just really want quality workmanship. I don't want a rushed-through POS Ryan home. I'm living in a split level built in '79. I'm beyond frustrated repairing and updating this thing. Tired of surprises around every corner and behind every wall.

Originally Posted by teachbeach

Agree with Quinoa~you should probably research foreclosures and short sales, especially if you're willing to rent for a year to get a feel for the area. Most of the builders mentioned by Dave88LX are familiar to me, but only for building homes in the $300-500K or even higher range. If that's your budget, you might be okay. My advice would be to look for housing as if you were looking for a job. Check out open houses on weekends, work with a realtor that will send you specs without forcing you to "go see the house" as well. You can learn a good deal about the home on the specs (public water or well, sewer or septic, type of heating/cooling, room sizes, age of home, replacement water heaters, furnaces, roof etc.) without actually wasting time going through the home. There is a glut of homes on the market in the York area, so competition to keep them at a fair and decent price is fierce. I just sold a home (that in 2005 would have easily fetched $250K) for $185, and was thrilled that I was able to get full asking price with no contingencies. Buyers are asking (and getting) all kinds of incentives towards closing costs, carpet/flooring replacements, and the owners who are able to unload their homes are conceding to the buyers.

Great advice, thank you. I think we could learn a lot from open houses, and possibly looking at some homes in the under-construction phase. My wife is currently talking with some realtors up there.

My big question is:
What are the rules and zoning requirements to build a garage!

[Dave88LX]

I have a basemen question.

Are these houses just built over crawlspaces? Or do they just have unlisted basements?

Ascot Drive, Shrewsbury PA - Trulia

I have a couple friends in York, and both of them have basements. I would want one (unfinished, do it on my own on my time).