Carpenter Village/Amberly/Kitts Creek: PROS & CONS (Durham, Cary: HOA fees, chapel)

[TwinPrincesses]

I like all of these communities and my husband & children love love love them. We like the entire setup with the front being "all house" and having the garage & yard behind the house. And we love that the communities have that "old close-knit neighborhood type feel" and the idea of our children being able to play outside in our own little village. They seem very kid-friendly and family-oriented.
For anyone who lives in any of these communities, can you please give me the pros & cons. We're ready to buy!

[h2ohzrd]

Amberly, here. I like the proximity to RDU and RTP and my commute time in the morning is under 15 minutes. Southpoint is very close so the wife likes that. The rec center is outstanding (pools, play areas, gym, exercise room).
Cons? For me it's how far I have to go to get to a golf course. The only grocery store nearby is HT's, which isn't bad but they need more competition. Ditto gas stations - the one at 55 and Carpenter FS Rd is a price gouger.
Likely that once Parkside Commons opens all those cons might change.

Other than that, we like Amberly. No complaints.

[twingles]

If you don't mind the small plots I think Amberly is nice. We wanted land so we didn't consider it, but my kids LOVE the pool (my parents live at Carolina Preserve and have privileges there) and my DH has used the other amenities while they are using the pool. Personally I think it's nicer than Carpenter Village just from an observer standpoint of amenities. Congrats on narrowing your search and good luck!

[annesg]

I have lived over in NW Wake for 3 years and my kids go to Carpenter with the kids from Carpenter Village. My sister in law lives in Amberly. We looked at Kitts Creek. They are all nice. Kitts doesn't seem to be developing very fast due to the economy. How are the amenities at each place compared to HOA fees? I know Amberly is pricey; in the Village Square section (where my SIL loves with 3 kids), the houses are basically townhomes that are detached--2 neighbors can reach through windows and shake hands, and yards are smaller than many townhomes I've seen. I love Carpenter Village b/c of the huge town square area that many of the houses face--the open green space. The pool is nice and has a swim team. It's also the best established. Amberly and Kitts are still building. I know in Amberly's case, that means the developer still has controls and that is kind of scary.

I would pick CV just because of the fact that building is over. The library and elementary are walking distance. Sidewalks and green space abound. Plus there's a little lake.

[RedZin]

I've driven through all of them a number of times, and I'd pick Carpenter Village.

I don't really care for anything in far West Cary, though. I'm a local. If you're gonna go that far outta Cary proper, you might as well move to Durham.

[h2ohzrd]

Originally Posted by h2ohzrd

Amberly, here. I like the proximity to RDU and RTP and my commute time in the morning is under 15 minutes. Southpoint is very close so the wife likes that. The rec center is outstanding (pools, play areas, gym, exercise room).
Cons? For me it's how far I have to go to get to a golf course. The only grocery store nearby is HT's, which isn't bad but they need more competition. Ditto gas stations - the one at 55 and Carpenter FS Rd is a price gouger.
Likely that once Parkside Commons opens all those cons might change.

Other than that, we like Amberly. No complaints.

Full disclosure - we have no kids that live with us so I don't care how much backyard space I have.

I will also comment that if our neighbor sits outside with friends and starts a gab fest then we hear everything through the open window. Can be annoying.

[cheapdad00]

Originally Posted by h2ohzrd

Amberly, here. I like the proximity to RDU and RTP and my commute time in the morning is under 15 minutes. Southpoint is very close so the wife likes that. The rec center is outstanding (pools, play areas, gym, exercise room).
Cons? For me it's how far I have to go to get to a golf course. The only grocery store nearby is HT's, which isn't bad but they need more competition. Ditto gas stations - the one at 55 and Carpenter FS Rd is a price gouger.
Likely that once Parkside Commons opens all those cons might change.

Other than that, we like Amberly. No complaints.

Old Chatham golf course is 5 minutes away down O'Kelly Chapel Rd.

[cheapdad00]

Originally Posted by TwinPrincesses

I like all of these communities and my husband & children love love love them. We like the entire setup with the front being "all house" and having the garage & yard behind the house. And we love that the communities have that "old close-knit neighborhood type feel" and the idea of our children being able to play outside in our own little village. They seem very kid-friendly and family-oriented.
For anyone who lives in any of these communities, can you please give me the pros & cons. We're ready to buy!

If you don't mind a more traditionally sited house by a production builder, the Blackstone @Amberly community has larger lots than village square and is completely built out. Tons of children, currently in the Mills Park school district. Monthly block parties in the summer. A long walk or short drive to the Amberly clubhouse and an easy walk down the hill to the trail around the Cary Park lake. Several resales currently on the market.

[cheapdad00]

Originally Posted by annesg

I have lived over in NW Wake for 3 years and my kids go to Carpenter with the kids from Carpenter Village. My sister in law lives in Amberly. We looked at Kitts Creek. They are all nice. Kitts doesn't seem to be developing very fast due to the economy. How are the amenities at each place compared to HOA fees? I know Amberly is pricey; in the Village Square section (where my SIL loves with 3 kids), the houses are basically townhomes that are detached--2 neighbors can reach through windows and shake hands, and yards are smaller than many townhomes I've seen. I love Carpenter Village b/c of the huge town square area that many of the houses face--the open green space. The pool is nice and has a swim team. It's also the best established. Amberly and Kitts are still building. I know in Amberly's case, that means the developer still has controls and that is kind of scary.

I would pick CV just because of the fact that building is over. The library and elementary are walking distance. Sidewalks and green space abound. Plus there's a little lake.

My kids love the green space in CV. Whenever we eat at Cafe Capistrano, my kids can't wait to finish, so they can run around on the green and play in the haunted gazebo. {haunted is their term as usually they're playing at dusk after dinner, doesn't mean that the gazebo is actually haunted} We looked at houses there when we were buying 5 years ago, but the ones in our price range had lots smaller than we wanted.

[RedZin]

Originally Posted by cheapdad00

My kids love the green space in CV. Whenever we eat at Cafe Capistrano, my kids can't wait to finish, so they can run around on the green and play in the haunted gazebo. {haunted is their term as usually they're playing at dusk after dinner, doesn't mean that the gazebo is actually haunted} We looked at houses there when we were buying 5 years ago, but the ones in our price range had lots smaller than we wanted.

I also like that CV was done primarily by local, custom builders. In fact, I know one that lives out there.