mironda homes vs. ryan homes, your thoughts? (Pittsburgh: bankruptcy, drywall)

[neurodistortion]

Originally Posted by lifepgh2op

I know around Cleveland... if you search Ryan Homes, they have a TON of plans starting around 110's. That is unheard of here, so far, when it comes to these houses.

In Detroit, there are homes for like $100,000 that if were purchased in Pittsburgh, would run in the neighborhood of $500,000.

[epitathpunk]

This is a funny thread to me, because my company does A LOT of work in Maronda home plans. I guess their customer demographic is similar to ours. Anyhoo, I haven't been inside many of the houses, but the ones I have been inside are beautiful and spacious. The outside is a different story. Yes, they're very box-like. We refer to them as "boxes on the hill" actually.

[hempfield mania]

But that's Detroit, nothing more needs to be said. :-)

Shuster builds a lot of semi-custom to custom homes in North Huntingdon/Irwin area. These are fairly pricey though.

I have an older Ryan home and they are crap. Hopefully the newer homes are better. Like I have posted before, luckily the previous Owner did a lot of upgrades to it before we moved in 5 yrs ago. Lack of adequate insulation, original roof sheathing was thin crap, shingles were crap, original windows were crap.

[Burghgirl17]

Originally Posted by epitathpunk

This is a funny thread to me, because my company does A LOT of work in Maronda home plans. I guess their customer demographic is similar to ours. Anyhoo, I haven't been inside many of the houses, but the ones I have been inside are beautiful and spacious. The outside is a different story. Yes, they're very box-like. We refer to them as "boxes on the hill" actually.

Yes, they're spacious - that's the point of a Maronda home. More square foot for the money.

As to beautiful... they use the cheapest materials possible. The cabinets, fixtures, flooring, etc. are all garbage. They look cheap and will need to be replaced in no time.

Does Maronda even trim around doorways, etc.?

[hinsey86]

Originally Posted by epitathpunk

This is a funny thread to me, because my company does A LOT of work in Maronda home plans. I guess their customer demographic is similar to ours. Anyhoo, I haven't been inside many of the houses, but the ones I have been inside are beautiful and spacious. The outside is a different story. Yes, they're very box-like. We refer to them as "boxes on the hill" actually.

I don't know which ones you went in but the two we toured were crap. Not much better quality materials than a trailer. Big yes, quality--none at all.

[DunkinBee]

Maronda vs Ryan and to a lesser degree Heartland, is like comparing a bruised apple to a sour apple to a genetically enhanced apple. Welcome to the world of "GLORIFIED MOBILE HOME PARKS" is the best way to consider any of these companies "developments". Buy some acreage, put up the cheapest stick built homes you can, as close together as you can and market it as the AMERICAN DREAM. It's a shame that zoning laws in so many of the cities around the "Burgh" allow for this type of development.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by DunkinBee

Maronda vs Ryan and to a lesser degree Heartland, is like comparing a bruised apple to a sour apple to a genetically enhanced apple. Welcome to the world of "GLORIFIED MOBILE HOME PARKS" is the best way to consider any of these companies "developments". Buy some acreage, put up the cheapest stick built homes you can, as close together as you can and market it as the AMERICAN DREAM. It's a shame that zoning laws in so many of the cities around the "Burgh" allow for this type of development.

I can't believe you would denigrate mobile home parks like that!

Hell, most double wides are better quality than Maronda.

[amishchicrd]

Go with the Ryan, Maranda's look very good, but check their workmanship Junk, I know people who had to replace things inside and out in 5 years.

[ShaynaPgh]

The reason why new homes in the Pittsburgh area are much more expensive than in DFW is that we don't have many Mexican construction workers here that can be exploited through the paying of substandard wages.

[Cam34]

Avoid Maronda like the plague!!! I know of at least one development in Allegheny county that is quickly falling apart after only 2 years!! They are pricing 2 bedroom townhouses at $195,000 and 3 bedroom homes at 235000 just to recover from the losses. The quality is horrible and most likely you have a contractor come in build a series of homes and then never seen or heard from again.