Pulte/Corta Bella in Surprise homes feedback (Sun City: HOA, houses)

[sells500]

I am in the last stages of deciding on purchasing a home in Corta Bella. I like it very much so far. Does anyone have any feedback good or bad on Pulte/Corta Bella homes located in Surprise?
I know the rules are very strict as I have read the HOA rules and covenants. I am looking for feedback to help me decide if this is the right community to buy in right now. I also know they have voted yes to reduce the age restriction from 55 to 45, it is in the final stages and I am told is a done deal. Pulte is changing the paperwork as I speak and it will take 30 days to complete. What I am looking for is:

*people who have purchased and left for any reason having to do with corta bella or the community.
*any problems with the association being unusually difficult to deal with
* Equity protection
*Resale issues, valuation losses
*Golf course problems that may lead to higher costs etc.
*Golf course bankrupcy possibilities
*property tax and HOA increases that are/will be unusually high
*quality of life good or bad
* a concern I have is due to it's small size and limited amenities as compared to sun city grand or SCW. Will this limit buyers for any possible resale in the future?
* anything else that may help.

Thanks for any help you have to assist my decision.

[Ritchie_az]

Seemed like a very nice place to me, the few times I drove past. I doubt you have much to worry about.

[sells500]

Thanks Ritchie_az. I think so too.

[altus2006]

There is, or was, a lawsuit filed with about 1,000 Sun City Grand residents against Pulte. It has been a year or so since I last read about it, but the basic problem people were having was cracking foundations and walls due to the expanding soil issues in the area.

Make sure that the house you are interested in buying is not in the problem area. Getting a soil study before closing on the property would be a good idea too.

There is a lot of info online if you search for Sun City Grand and house cracking or foundation cracking.

altus2006

[sells500]

Thanks, but I am not interested in SCG just Corta Bella which is an entirely diff. community.

[rational1]

> I am told is a done deal

If you are under 45- it would be unwise to buy unless it actually IS a done deal.

[sells500]

Yes I heard unconfirmed rumors of that too. I am over 50 so not a problem for me thanks!

[jambini]

Originally Posted by altus2006

There is, or was, a lawsuit filed with about 1,000 Sun City Grand residents against Pulte. It has been a year or so since I last read about it, but the basic problem people were having was cracking foundations and walls due to the expanding soil issues in the area.

Make sure that the house you are interested in buying is not in the problem area. Getting a soil study before closing on the property would be a good idea too.

There is a lot of info online if you search for Sun City Grand and house cracking or foundation cracking.

altus2006

The Sun City Grand issue with Pulte was on golf course lots. When they built the houses around the course they did not compact the soil well enough when they moved soil in. I have not heard of anything concerning Pulte in Corte Bella. The Pulte homes in the west valley are in my opinion not the best. On the other hand they are far from the worst. It looks like some of the subs weren't of the highest quality.

The HOA is strict so if you want anything other than a beige or gray house you are out of luck.

The golf course was in bad shape last I was there which is a little out of the norm.

I have the pleasure of working in Corte Bella quite a bit and the people are great. Overall a nice community to live just don't plan on making much noise past 8:00 pm.