[NJblue]

One way around the time constraint is to buy a lot and have the house constructed to your specs. It gives you more time (approx. 3 months in our case) and it allows you more latitude in making the house the way you want it. In our case (2 years ago), we still got the discount. I'm not sure if that is still the case or not. The entire process was completely smooth.

On the issue of the developer being "evil", I think this comes from a feeling of frustration about their inflexibility (which they are). However, inflexibility does not equal evil. I can't think of any other developer in the country that I would trust enough to close by mail and not even see our new home until 3 months later. We did this as did countless others and I have yet to hear any horror stories as a result. That speaks volumes about the builder's integrity.