Negotiating a price with TV on Spec Home
 

On previously owned homes we can negotiate a price with the seller. Buying a new build in TV we are told what the price is after design meetings, and I believe that price is final with no negotiating. What about buying a Spec house from TV, can we negotiate a price on a Spec home? I would think with nearly 300 new builds currently on the market and more being added every few days they would deal on price.

I doubt it. The Villages would be very foolish to start negotiating the price of their new houses individually. When houses don't sell, they issue a price reduction.

When we bought, we were told that they don't negotiate the price. The price is the price. If we made a deposit, it was ours - even if someone came by an hour later and offered $50,000 more. Although to be honest, I don't know if that has actually happened! I have not heard of a bidding war on spec homes.

I think that would set a very dangerous precedent so doubt if they would

No negotiations on new construction.
The demand for homes is too great. They don’t need to negotiate, if you don’t want it at their price, there are 15 people behind you on the wait list. One of those 15 will pay their asking price, many would pay above asking.

If you want to negotiate, go pre-owned. But the demand is the similar

Having 300 new builds on the market is not a negotiating point. That is only about 3-4 weeks inventory.

I have noticed you can save quite a bit of money if you are one of the last to purchase a home in a new village. The developer has moved on to another area and drops the prices of the few homes that are remaining Of course, your selection is limited. These are the homes no one showed any interest in.

Pennywise and pound foolish. You are better off being one of the first to purchase.

How? The developer never tells anyone what or where he is building next. It is a crap shoot for everyone. Today your new home and area may be prime real estate, in 6 -12 months, not so much.

Pretty sure 'retired' is saying there is always a reason why the last house in any development, is often hard to sell, and often discounted.
Lets face it. It wont be the best location, layout, and build in the area!

An experienced agent can help you with that. I have been shown new houses before they go on the market. It may not be according to the rules, but it happens.

I believe I stated that in my first post. But, if saving money is your only concern, then buying last is an option.

Not quite what I meant. A realtor doesn't tell you what is coming down the pipeline. Look at Dabney. Is section 84 really going to be worth investing in? Or, does the Developer have another premier area planned in the area of Eastport? Or, does he plan on building premier homes in several locations? He has already built some in Middleton. And, who is to say, in the end, which will be better?

I would suggest that you order a crystal ball from Amazon.

Look at the area being built (goldwing will show us that on his videos) and talk to an experienced agent. Believe they have access to the lot layout and can guide you as to the designer home that can fit on a lot you want.

I tried a magic 8 ball, that didn't work.

Just follow the trail of new Championship Golf Courses.

If you pay attention to site prep, progress on Championship Golf Courses, and Don Wiley's videos - it's not so hard to anticipate where next home production will take place.

Underground utilities and road prep are substantially completed in much of the area South of Monarch Grove, along Marsh Bend Trail and south of Eastport.

They typically complete 3-4 new Villages a year and those new Villages are shown on the maps released by the Villages.

South of Monarch Grove through Middleton including Eastport will fill in along with the new golf courses the next two years.

I referred to all of those. I saw several championship golf courses are planned in the area of Eastport. What I don't know is why section 84 was kept under guard until Don Wiley found the information. Is that area of homes going to be so exclusive and worth the price or is another premier area going to be built near the new championship golf courses that will be better than section 84? I agree that it is a crap shoot. Guess one has to do what they believe is best.

Realtors do not know what is coming down the pipeline. Neither do Villages agents.

That area is definitely a one off.

It's interesting things to watch the Developer takes risks and innovate in the new areas.

Edna's, Sawgrass and now Middleton are recent examples.

His risks do seem to always pay off even when they build near the turnpike or the quarry.

Never! Not even 50 cents. Though as someone else mentioned, if certain homes don’t sell after several months or more, they’ll lower the price by 5000. It’s not always and not many choices, usually bad areas, noisy or whatever for not much savings. They always sell.

Then they are not doing their homework.

As stated previously, plenty of evidence for what will materialize the next couple of years.

Will the premier homes be all custom builds?

The new reimagined premier models have already been built in Middleton. I went there and asked questions. It seems what you can do is very limited. The tilt wall construction they are currently using is the reason for these limitations. I am going to stay clear of section 84. I believe I will be happier building a home in the areas of Eastport. Just my own personal crap shoot.

We're in the
same boat, waiting for something within walking distance of Eastport. Probably 12-24 months away.

I heard the first Village near Eastport is very close to ready. Supposedly, new homes will be available in the Spring. I do not believe the area is within walking distance but close. The village is surrounded by a championship golf course. I think the name of that course is Sugar Creek?

As we looked at 84, the lots are no where as large as previous Premier neighborhoods. But if one wants to build a house with all 10’ ceilings, and 8’ interior and exterior doors, it only offered in a premier model. One can build same floor plan in a designer, but those two options are no longer offered in a designer.

Which leaves us with waiting, to build again. 84 is in nowhere land right now, but in time that will change. If you are traveling or working in Orlando it’s convenient. Adding up what we would build base premier house at $600,000, another $150,000 in upgrades, view lot roughly $100,000, pool $150,000, and the bond $71,000. Will give some to pause before taking that leap. Of course one could build on an interior, small designer, no pool and be around half that cost. It will be interesting, how 84 will sell out

I agree. But, I believe you will have the same options in the areas closer to Eastport. I can't imagine premier homes will not be built there. But, that is my own crap shoot. I have no knowledge to back it up. Remember, a bond price is determined by the amount of homes built in the section. There are only 121 homes being built in section 84. I can understand the bond price. I just do not see the attraction. Just my opinion.

With new houses selling faster than the sod taking hold why would anyone in their right mind negotiate.

The developer has created an incredible business.

As someone else mentioned reading the tea leaves, it was pretty much guaranteed that either Premier homes would be back or they would life the limitation on true customization of designer homes. We thankfully were able to build and customize our designer home just a few months before they stopped. Lots of frustration that if one wanted "home A" there were only a few changes one could make. Maybe this is their test to see is the demand is really there or that they can continue with their limited customization options.

As exclusive as they try to make section 84, it looks like there are still "kissing lanais" with only a portion of the homesites as desirable. I'd be curious if the premier homes are again fully customizable or if its just a bigger home with limited customization options.

Seems that the ones questioning this are fairly new to the community. This is what was happening all along. I know folks who bought in the 90's here and had to decide the same day the house came up due to the interest in folks wanting to move here. NO negotiations could be done. This community isn't a town or city like we all moved here from. It's a planned community of a developer. It's a business with a plan. I see so many people coming and right away want to change things like where they're from. So many also plan or over-plan what house they want, the direction it sits etc. but don't do their homework on how FL or the county does things.

You can go to Middleton. The larger, one-story homes are the exact model options for section 84. There are more model options, but they are the same as those built in prior villages. The premier homes in Middleton are easy to identify when driving through because they are larger than those surrounding. Stop in, chat with the realtors, get your own feel.

We were lucky enough to buy one of those homes that were reduced several years ago. We got more house than we were originally looking for and still love it.

You would be thinking wrong. Give it a shot and post your findings.

The post right above yours supplies an answer. Homeowner bought last in a Village for quite a discount and is extremely happy in the home.

When we purchased here five years ago, we also thought of making an offer, but that was just it--a thought. Whether new build or existing home, the price was the price. In other markets we've been in (Mississippi, Indiana, Washington DC) the builder's price was the price and you could try a negotiation on an existing home, but would not succeed in a "seller's" market. The main reason (I think) that the TV builders will lower the price on homes that have not sold is because they don't want to continue to pay the carrying costs beyond a certain date. Those "left over" homes may be perfectly fine, just like the left over inventory in clothing sales may be perfectly fine. Limited choices for sure, but ok if you find a home that suits you and also comes at a savings. As to figuring out where development will go.....did someone say crystal ball?

OK it happened but we all know it is not a very common occurrence.

When it did happen others picked the most desirable lots and locations.

They don't negotiate! if inventory/Spec homes aren't selling they lower the price. If demand is high, they are going to lower prices on spec houses. I built in late 2008 and the economy and demand were down, so they discounted even new construction.