My clients often ask me why there is such a big difference in prices between homes in different neighborhoods in Cary and Apex, parts of the Triangle area of North Carolina, even though the homes may be located right next to each other and and are of the same sized homes.
Contents
Quick Summary
Explore the Cary and Apex housing market, where you’ll find a wide range of building options to suit every homebuyer. Discover the difference between custom builders known for their unique, high-quality homes, and production builders who offer practical and flexible designs. Whether you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind custom home or a production home that allows for personal touches within your budget, this guide explains the pricing difference and provides an overview of what to expect in both Cary and Apex.
The Builder Difference
The residential construction landscape in Cary,has a distinct difference between custom-built homes and those constructed by large-scale production builders. This separation is not just a matter of scale but also of approach, quality, design, and the customization options available to homeowners. Understanding these differences may help you when you are building or buying a home in Cary or Apex.
Also, check out my complete guide to building a new home in the Triangle.
Custom Builders
Quality and Features
Over the years as a real estate agent in the Triangle Area, I have watched a group of custom builders who have been creating homes in different upscale neighborhoods since the 1990s. This group often includes well known names such as Wardston Construction, Legacy Custom Homes, Poythress Construction Company, Lloyd Builders, Upright Builders, Wagner Homes, Ange Signature Homes, and more. These builders are recognized for their commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and distinctive designs that cater to the nuanced preferences of homeowners in the area.
Prominent Neighborhoods
These builders have left their mark on some of the most sought-after neighborhoods in the area, such as Cameron Pond, Cary Park, Sedgefield, Copperleaf, Bellewood Manor, Montvale, Stillwater(the custom section) and Highcroft. These neighborhoods are known for their beauty, community feel, and the quality of life they offer to their residents. You will often see the builders name when a house is resold, for example, “built by Wardson Builders”
Style Variations
Many of my clients are coming from the west coast and are asking for modern plans. Builders are just now starting to offer more modern designs although sometimes neighborhood covenants won’t allow much variation from the Cary traditional style. Recent development in neighborhoods like Montvale and Destin have introduced newer, different styles so it’s possible we will see more variety in 2024.
Production Builders
Design Flexibility
Production builders offer a range of floor plans along with considerable design studio options, allowing buyers to customize their homes within a certain framework. This model provides a balance between the efficiency of mass production and the personalization that many homebuyers desire. The ability to select finishes, fixtures, and other design elements enables buyers to tailor their homes to their preferences, within the constraints of predefined upgrade options.
Quality Concerns
A notable drawback of homes built by large production builders is the starting point of base quality, which is typically lower than that of custom-built homes. This base level often necessitates significant spending on upgrades to achieve the desired level of comfort and aesthetic appeal. It’s common for buyers to spend a substantial portion of the base price on upgrades, with some investing as much as 50%, while others may limit their additional spend to around $10,000. Interestingly, opting for no upgrades at the design studio appears to be a rarity, I have never seen no design or structural options. There is often a lot premium which can be as low as a couple of thousand to over one hundred thousand. These numbers are from my experience working with many new home buyers and will vary depending on your choices and lot premiums.
Examples of the process of production builders:
In Cary, the landscape of production builders is characterized by a hierarchy that is informed by their building processes and the range of features they offer. This distinction is important for understanding the range of options available to homebuyers and how different builders cater to varied buyer needs and preferences.I chose three prominent builders to try to explain the different processes: Lennar, Toll Brothers, and Pulte, each with its own approach to the construction and sale of homes.
Lennar Builders- Efficiency and Curated Choices
Building Model
Lennar Builders stands out for its efficient, streamlined approach to the building process. By offering pre-sale homes with curated, everything is included, packages rather than a carte blanche selection from a design center, Lennar simplifies the decision-making process for buyers. This model facilitates a smoother building process and ensures that the designs reflect the latest market trends, making them highly appealing to buyers looking for both value and style.
Advantages
The curated package approach allows Lennar to offer competitive pricing while ensuring that homes are equipped with popular and contemporary designs. This method eliminates the overwhelm that can come from too many choices and speeds up the construction timeline.
Toll Brothers- Luxury and Customization
Building Model
Toll Brothers is positioned at the higher end of the production builder spectrum, offering a more traditional customization process akin to custom home builders but within a production framework. Their approach includes a wide array of options, such as extended rooms, sunrooms, additional bedrooms, and numerous upgrade features, allowing for a high degree of personalization.
Cost Implications
While Toll Brothers offers a more luxurious base product, the final price of their homes can significantly exceed the base price, sometimes doubling it, due to the extensive customization options available. This builder caters to buyers who prioritize luxury and personalized design in their new home.
Pulte Homes-Affordability and Practicality
Building Model
Pulte Homes aims to maintain affordability by often opting for slab foundations and offering a lower base price. This approach appeals to buyers seeking practical, cost-effective housing solutions without sacrificing quality.
Cost Strategy
By focusing on base prices that keep costs down, Pulte is able to offer homes that are accessible to a broad range of buyers, including those entering the housing market for the first time or those on a tighter budget.
Conclusion
In Cary and Apex, the residential construction scene presents a diverse array of options for homebuyers, marked by the distinction between custom and production builders. Each offers unique benefits tailored to different preferences and needs.
Custom Builders
Builders like Wardston Construction, Legacy Custom Homes, and others, have established a reputation for quality and craftsmanship in neighborhoods such as Cameron Pond and Copperleaf. They cater to buyers seeking homes that are both distinctive and of superior quality, ensuring that each residence reflects the high standards and unique preferences of its owners.
Production Builders
Companies such as Lennar, Toll Brothers, and Pulte Homes offer varying degrees of customization and price points. Lennar streamlines the home buying process with pre-selected design packages, Toll Brothers appeals to those seeking luxury with extensive customization options, and Pulte Homes focuses on affordability, particularly attractive to first-time homebuyers or those budget-conscious.
The blend of custom and production builders enriches Cary’s housing market, accommodating a wide spectrum of buyer preferences from the elegance of custom-built homes to the efficient and personalized approach of production homes.
