Cost of New Homes Goes Up at Pulte Homes’ Windermere Community

New construction town homes just got more expensive at Pulte Homes’ Windermere community in Ashburn, Virginia. Though base prices didn’t go up, a large number of options that were once standard on the Tyler and Westley II town home models will no longer be standard (click here for my video tour of the Tyler model and click here for my video tour of  the Westley II model).

What is no longer standard?

The previously standard options that are no longer included for free are,

• boxed ceiling in Master Bedroom
• window, door, baseboard, chair rail and crown molding package
• 3-piece plumbing/full bathroom rough-in in basement
• 42 inch cabinets in kitchen
• 12″ x 12″ designer ceramic tile floor in kitchen and nook
• recessed lighting
• double bowl under-mount stainless steel sink
• granite counter tops in kitchen
• Energy Star appliances in kitchen
• granite counter tops with under-mount porcelain sinks in all full bathrooms
• 6″ x 6″ ceramic tile floors in all bathrooms
• elongated water closet in master bathroom and powder room
• insulated garage door with openers and remote
• electrical outlets – front and rear
• double hung insulated vinyl “Low E” windows with grid inserts and screens

What does this mean to you?

The majority of the previously standard options are pretty “standard” in today’s day and age to begin with so you’ll probably want them anyway. The estimated cost of the options listed above is upwards of $15K, which means you’ll be spending at least $15K more than you would have previously.

Don’t be bummed

Though I can’t say for sure, I have a feeling that Pulte may be raising base prices after the next release of lots. With inventory down, demand still strong and the tax credit being extended and expanded, builders have been raising base prices and/or cutting the list of standard options. If the market continues this way, they will continue to do the same thing in the future.

But…even though the overall cost went up, I know of incentives and ways to negotiate money off the total price that will make it much less of an increase in overall cost than what’s on paper.  See…told you not to be bummed

If you would like more information about this or any other new home builder in the area and to save money when buying new construction, click here to contact me – I would be happy to help.

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Loudoun Community Spotlight: Pulte Homes, Windermere in Ashburn

This Loudoun County Community Spotlight falls on the Pulte Homes Windermere community in Ashburn, VA. The Windermere community is located near the corner of Claiborne Parkway and Croson Lane immediately next to the Broadlands community.

Windermere is a mix of large town homes and medium sized single family homes. A total of 91 town homes and 83 single family homes will make up the community. Pulte has built or sold about 35 percent of the total homes so far and they’re expecting to sell the remainder of the community within the next 18 months. That puts completion of the entire community at about 24 months.

In speaking with the Pulte sales staff, I found out that they’ve already sold 9 homes this month (that’s a lot for new construction especially in a community of only 174 homes). I’m sometimes skeptical at how busy they say they are, but I’m going to believe them on this one – there at the same time as I was today were three Buyer’s Agents with their clients, two other sets of buyers without an agent and one set of buyers about to write a contract. And that was at 3:30pm on a Wednesday.

Base Prices/Models

Prices on the town homes start at $380K for the Westley II interior model (2296 – 2735 sq ft) and $390K for the Tyler exterior model (2411 – 2857 sq ft).

Prices on the single family homes start at $524K for the Kenley model (2696 sq ft on upper two levels); $533K for the Wynnewood model (2770 sq ft on upper two levels); and $542K for the Jamestown model (2974 sq ft on upper two levels).

Delivery Dates

Delivery dates vary, but count on about 4 to 6 months on the town homes and about 6 months on the single family homes. There are some “spec” homes available for earlier delivery including a Tyler model in the low $400K’s with a September delivery date.

Incentives

Pulte is offering some incentives as far as closing costs if you use their preferred lender. As for wiggle room in the base prices and/or options, there may or may not be any – that’s a secret I’ll only share with my clients (it’s only fair).

Amenities/HOA fees

Two things that popped out at me were the lack of amenities and not-much-return HOA fees. There are no amenities in the community yet, the HOA fee is $86 for single family homes and $100 for town homes. Considering what other communities within Ashburn and Loudoun County charge for HOA fees and the amenities they offer, Windermere has high HOA fees with little offered to home owners in return. In case you’re wondering…neither I (nor the sale rep from Pulte) could figure out why the town home fees are higher than the single family home fees.

Photos/Video Tour

There should be a slideshow of community photos I took at the top of this post (click here if you don’t see it). And don’t forget to check out my two-part video tour of the Windermere Pulte Homes Westley II and Tyler model town homes – part one and part two.

Visiting the new homes sales center in person

Make sure you have your Buyer’s Agent with you when you visit a new home/builder sales center. Click here to find out why.