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Hi all,
In the next couple of months we will be selling our home and moving into the RTP area (I am currently in an apartment in Morrisville). I have spoke to a few real estate agents and got their opinion on neighborhoods which might meet our desired criteria. Here is our criteria, and curious to get suggestions on any other neighborhoods which may fit our criteria
1. Basement foundation
2. No tract home builders (example Pulte, Ryland, etc)
3. More than 2000 sq ft
4. Neighborhood pool or close to a private swim area (example YMCA, private swim club)
5. Price range up to $400k
6. Would like to have more than .20 acre lot
7. Neighborhood with lots of trees (see #2 above)
I like Preston the best thus far. But, havnt explored many other neighborhoods. Please help.
In all honesty. Limiting to no tract builders, basement and under $400k, pretty much means you are looking for a white elephant. Maybe if you go up to $499k, you might find something, but even then, it would be tough.
They are out there, but be prepared to be a stalker and a predator when you find one. You will not have a wide choice of neighborhoods.
Whitebridge, Harrison Place, and a lot of homes from the '70's in the center of Cary.
why 2. No tract home builders (example Pulte, Ryland, etc)?
I live in N. Raleigh in a custom built home mid-80s -- so I am unaware of tract home builder issues. Are there issues?
Mike J. - are there so few custom built home neighborhoods in Cary? or are they just above the pricerange mentioned? I think we have a ton of them in N. Raleigh, but they are probably above 400k as well...
why 2. No tract home builders (example Pulte, Ryland, etc)?
I live in N. Raleigh in a custom built home mid-80s -- so I am unaware of tract home builder issues. Are there issues?
Mike J. - are there so few custom built home neighborhoods in Cary? or are they just above the pricerange mentioned? I think we have a ton of them in N. Raleigh, but they are probably above 400k as well...
Who built Preston? Lochmere? Weston?
N Raleigh is as large as Cary....
There are many custom neighborhoods. There are just none right now building 2000SF @ $400000 with basements.
The issue for the OP is going to be finding a basement in a custom home below $400,000, I think. Finding a custom home would be much easier without the basement requirement.
Preston is a mix of tract, semi-custom and custom homes.
Lochmere is largely semi-custom and custom with a smattering of tract homes.
Thanks for all the replies. OK, to clarify what I meant about no tract home houses is that there is a large neighborhood called Breckenridge that is in Morrisville that I am not very keen on. The reason for the comment is because nearly all the houses in Breckenridge look exactly the same. Tract home is ok with some minor elevation changes, and some semi custom nature. I disagree on the white elephant comment. I saw several houses sell this summer in Preston under 400k with a basement. I also like Highcroft, but the lots are awfully tiny (only drawback). I could probably overlook the .20 acre requirement if the lot had woods or common area near by. I would ideally like to keep the homes from 1980 and up if possible, so I have already ruled out the center part of Cary.
One more comment. North Raleigh is ok also. Suggestions in North Raleigh?
why 2. No tract home builders (example Pulte, Ryland, etc)?
I live in N. Raleigh in a custom built home mid-80s -- so I am unaware of tract home builder issues. Are there issues?
Mike J. - are there so few custom built home neighborhoods in Cary? or are they just above the pricerange mentioned? I think we have a ton of them in N. Raleigh, but they are probably above 400k as well...
Who built Preston? Lochmere? Weston?
There *are* "semi" custom homes out there--that is, small, local builders mixed into a single neighborhood--but they are still on TRACTS of land. For example, in parts of, say, Amberly, you have "custom" homes (that aren't truly custom in all cases--they're just small MORE customizable) but they're all built on a single n'hood aka TRACT of land. But there are lots of builders in there--building to VERY specific style and price point ranges. So you won't see a 1200sf house with laminate flooring and a ranch style situated next to a 3-story, 3500 sf house with all the bells and whistles and a totally different exterior. It's all one DEVELOPMENT with different builders. Realtors, please correct me if i'm wrong. Plus, Amberly tends toward the $400-500k range in the Village Square portion, and they are sitting on .08 acre lots!
The thing about these places in Cary/Morrisville is that they're all newer, and lots larger than .20 are hard to find, as are fully mature trees. So, the combination of the price point plus lot requirements plus non-tract builder means, well, it's a tough one unless you want to go into "old" Cary in one of the non-neighborhood areas.
We live on a .24 acre lot in Morrisville in a subdivision that has mostly homes on .10-.15 acre lots--we just chose a bigger lot than usual. Those can be hard to find.
There *are* "semi" custom homes out there--that is, small, local builders mixed into a single neighborhood--but they are still on TRACTS of land. For example, in parts of, say, Amberly, you have "custom" homes (that aren't truly custom in all cases--they're just small MORE customizable) but they're all built on a single n'hood aka TRACT of land. But there are lots of builders in there--building to VERY specific style and price point ranges. So you won't see a 1200sf house with laminate flooring and a ranch style situated next to a 3-story, 3500 sf house with all the bells and whistles and a totally different exterior. It's all one DEVELOPMENT with different builders. Realtors, please correct me if i'm wrong. Plus, Amberly tends toward the $400-500k range in the Village Square portion, and they are sitting on .08 acre lots!
The thing about these places in Cary/Morrisville is that they're all newer, and lots larger than .20 are hard to find, as are fully mature trees. So, the combination of the price point plus lot requirements plus non-tract builder means, well, it's a tough one unless you want to go into "old" Cary in one of the non-neighborhood areas.
We live on a .24 acre lot in Morrisville in a subdivision that has mostly homes on .10-.15 acre lots--we just chose a bigger lot than usual. Those can be hard to find.
Commonly, your tract builders will build exclusively in a neighborhood or subdivision. Often, like KHOV or Pulte, they will purchase and develop the tract of land and build it out 100% with their own product.
"Production builders."
Breckenridge, McCrimmon at the Park, Davis Village. All Pulte.
Twin Lakes Arlington Park @ Amberly All KB Homes.
Seagroves Farm, Lauel Park. Standard Pacific Homes
Silverlake @ Silverton. (With a basement home on the market) Orleans Homebuilders.
Olde Salem, Providence Place all KHOV.
Ellington. Lennar
Riggsbee Farm. Zaring
Carramore. McCar
Preston
Etc.
An exclusive tract builder will produce cookie-cutter stuff by definition. All their own product, often with limited floor plans, minimal or no customization, front elevations and palettes.
Custom builder groups will buy lots from a developer and offer broader choices, willingness to customize, willingness to build a different plan, etc.
Weycroft
Cameron Pond.
Peninsula @ Amberly
Highcroft
Highcroft Village
Preston
Etc
I would be curious to see these Preston homes under 400,000 with a basement. What part of Preston were these homes located?
Quote:
Originally Posted by heatwavex
Thanks for all the replies. OK, to clarify what I meant about no tract home houses is that there is a large neighborhood called Breckenridge that is in Morrisville that I am not very keen on. The reason for the comment is because nearly all the houses in Breckenridge look exactly the same. Tract home is ok with some minor elevation changes, and some semi custom nature. I disagree on the white elephant comment. I saw several houses sell this summer in Preston under 400k with a basement. I also like Highcroft, but the lots are awfully tiny (only drawback). I could probably overlook the .20 acre requirement if the lot had woods or common area near by. I would ideally like to keep the homes from 1980 and up if possible, so I have already ruled out the center part of Cary.
One more comment. North Raleigh is ok also. Suggestions in North Raleigh?
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