NW Cary new home search - $400 to $600K (Troy, Green Level: neighborhoods, buy)

[bcityguy]

We are looking for a new home in NW Cary close to RTP, a couple options popped up in searches, any comments/comparisons:

1. Toscana from Forever Home - why so cheap for nice looking homes starting at $390 to $420 range on 1/3 to 1/2 acre lots, the website shows impressive pictures of their model home
2. Manors @ Green Level from Toll brothers
3. Harmony from Pulte
4. Hortons Creek

thanks.

[MikeJaquish]

Concrete Slab construction holds cost down for the builder.
Harmony and Toscana will put you on a slab.

[crifever]

Toscana is cheap for a reason. [1] Construction is on a slab. [2] They have a semi-KB mindset. (base price does not give you a whole lot, upgrades will cost you!)

[cry884]

I wouldn't buy from any of those builders. With that budget, you can afford to be picky.

[tbill]

You might look into Hilliard Forest. Check out Loyd Builders. Excellant quality and he builds in that neighborhood. We have a home of his and our daughter/son-in-law are going to build with him.

[NewUser]

Originally Posted by MikeJaquish

Concrete Slab construction holds cost down for the builder.
Harmony and Toscana will put you on a slab.

Originally Posted by crifever

Toscana is cheap for a reason. [1] Construction is on a slab. [2] They have a semi-KB mindset. (base price does not give you a whole lot, upgrades will cost you!)

I moved here from TX and nearly everything is built on a slab.. . . . from $100,000 starter homes to $10,000,000 mansions. I would agree that it is less expensive and quicker to build a house on a slab, but often the type of soil and groundwater conditions in the area limit choices. I do not feel that the slab = cheap (i.e., inferior quality) argument is accurate.

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by MikeJaquish

Concrete Slab construction holds cost down for the builder.
Harmony and Toscana will put you on a slab.

Originally Posted by NewUser

I moved here from TX and nearly everything is built on a slab.. . . . from $100,000 starter homes to $10,000,000 mansions. I would agree that it is less expensive and quicker to build a house on a slab, but often the type of soil and groundwater conditions in the area limit choices. I do not feel that the slab = cheap (i.e., inferior quality) argument is accurate.

The OP mentioned "cheap" as it relates to price, not quality.
In that regard, slabs tend to be cheaper in price.

But, it is all about design and execution. I would rather have a "good" slab foundation than a "bad" crawlspace foundation.

[bcityguy]

Originally Posted by tbill

You might look into Hilliard Forest. Check out Loyd Builders. Excellant quality and he builds in that neighborhood. We have a home of his and our daughter/son-in-law are going to build with him.

Thanks, but I read there were some issues with Ryan homes having taken over H.Forest and thereby potentially bringing the price point down for the whole neighborhood?

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by bcityguy

Thanks, but I read there were some issues with Ryan homes having taken over H.Forest and thereby potentially bringing the price point down for the whole neighborhood?

The cogent point being: If you are willing to discuss going as high as $600,000, you bring custom builders into the mix, as well as the tract builders you are considering.

[Funky Chicken]

Go STEAL a RESALE.

Of the choices you list I would select Horton's Creek, but I would MUCH rather look at resales. There is some stuff in Cary Park between 500K and
600K whose quality DESTROYS the current new stuff. Freshen up the interior paint and you are done.

Pulte does not get my money in that price range, period.
Toll is just OK. Not a fan. The elevations are way overdone-the homes look dated.
I walked thru some Toscana homes and was shocked by the shoddy workmanship. Anyone can buy granite and espresso cabinets-how about SANDING the WALLS??? Those homes look like junk to me.

IMO the time has come and gone for new construction in NW Cary. Most new neighborhoods are pretty stagnant and prices are dropping. Developers are bring in new cheaper builders or launching new series of cheaper and smaller floorplans. The only exceptions might be Copperleaf and Horton's Creek.