Going, Going -- Almost Gone

Sun-Sentinel.com

10 reasons to purchase a brand-new home at Greystone by G.L. Homes... While you still can

When I spoke with Nicole Muscarella, project manager for G.L. Homes at GreyStone, last March, she revealed that sales had been so brisk at the West Boynton Beach community, which started selling in the fall of 2006, she expected to be completely sold out in 16 months. Just six months later, Muscarella has tightened the span considerably, revealing that she now expects that to be the case in approximately just another six months. "We've been selling 25 homes a month since the spring," the energetic and personable Muscarella says, adding proudly, " Yesterday I signed my 400th contract out of the 552 home sites here [488 single-family homes and 64 townhomes]. That's how quick we're selling." The numbers don't lie, reflecting the power of the G.L. Homes brand and also the increasing confidence of consumers who know that now is the time to buy. For anyone who's considering taking advantage of the remaining opportunities at GreyStone, here are 10 reasons why you need to act now -- and why you definitely will not regret your decision.

1. Affordability

Let's face it, Americans are more cost conscious than ever, especially when it comes to major purchases, but the prices at GreyStone are so good, it makes this one a no-brainer. "The prices for our quick-delivery, pre-designed homes are $249,900 to $319,900, which includes $20,000 in upgrades," Muscarella says. "If you want to build new and choose your own options and finishes, the prices are just from the high $260,000s to the high $330,000s." "We're getting a lot of local renters who realize it's cheaper to own here -- everyone from lawyers, to nurses, IT people and even a handful of empty nesters," Muscarella says. Adding to the affordability are the extremely low HOA fees -- just $282 for townhomes, which includes exterior building insurance and lawn maintenance, and $146 for single-family homes. "The HOA fees are phenomenal compared to other communities in the area. People are shocked when they hear how low they are," Muscarella says. Property taxes are approximately 1.64 percent of the total purchase price. Plus the low down payment G.L. requires also is a huge draw. "If you're an FHA buyer, you only need to give us three-and-one-half percent down. If you're a conventional buyer, it's still just five percent. The only time we require 10 percent down is if you're building a new home with us from scratch to your specifications," Muscarella says. "It really makes a difference to people who don't want to pull too much out of their savings."

2. Sense of community

GreyStone is a community comprised of people of all ages, primarily young families with a nice mix of empty nesters and snowbirds, all of which are very interested in socializing. "The guys like to get together and play basketball, and the women like to plan block parties. Even though we don't have an activities director here the way we do at other G.L. communities, I installed a huge bulletin board in the clubhouse for residents to have a way to communicate with each other and plan activities," Muscarella says. G.L. also contributes to the strong sense of community with their site plan. "When people drive into one of our communities, we want to make sure the landscaping will be unsurpassed and you will not see the backs of homes," Muscarella says. "We strive to create little neighborhoods."

3. Location, location, location

Greystone is centrally located near the Florida Turnpike, churches, schools, shops, restaurants, Palm Beach International Airport, beaches and more. "Being connected to the brand-new Hagen Road Elementary School, which is adjacent to Greystone, is a really big plus for us," Muscarella says. "We even have our entrance to the school, so parents don't even have to get in the car." There is a Super Target within walking distance, and the 200,000-square-foot Canyon Town Center is around the corner. Now open at the center are Publix, Panera Bread, a U.S. Post Office facility, boutiques, hair salons and a nail salon. Many more restaurants, specialty shops and services will be opening soon.

4. Designs that work

Muscarella says G.L. spends a lot of money and time listening to what their customers want and need in order to make their floor plans even more functional and attractive. For example, lots of people liked the ranch-style plan at GreyStone but asked for more space, so the builder designed the Pearl to include a double-door entry and a fourth bedroom that can also be used as a den. "At just over 2,100 square feet, it's a great size for any family, with plenty of room to grow," Muscarella says. "It's situated on a bigger lot, and we only have four remaining." G.L. also tweaked the Hope, Princess, Opal and Marquis, creating the "Grand Plans." "Most noticeably we bumped out the kitchen with a bay window, creating a café area so families will be able to eat together in the kitchen," Muscarella says.

5. Incentives to help you save

If you're looking for even more reason to purchase at GreyStone, G.L. Homes has several money-saving incentives that create additional value for homebuyers. "If you build new with us, we offer $10,000 to be used toward options, which is really huge in the amount of upgrades it can buy. If you purchase a pre-designed home, we'll take the $10,000 right off the list price, or you can use it for even more options," Muscarella says. "In addition to the $10,000, we'll contribute $5,000 toward closing costs -- and another $3,000 if you use our lender, G.L. Financial Services." Talk about making a purchase worth your while!

6. Reputation of the builder

G.L Homes has been in business for 32 years, with most of their purchases by referral. "The No. 1 reason to do business with G.L. Homes is that we ask for feedback -- and execute what people want more often than not," Muscarella says. "For years, we listened to what our customers had to say, but we didn't have any way to really track the anecdotal information. Now we have people fill out surveys immediately following purchase, mid-year and one year later. It's a great system, and execs at every level personally read each survey to do whatever we can to address issues so we can make our communities even better and more successful." In addition to a Dwelling Warranty, which covers major structural defects for 10 years, G.L. stands behind its homes with a one-year warranty for anything from a cracked tile to a paver that needs to be replaced. "Homebuyers, especially those who have never owned a home before and don't know where to turn when there's a problem, really appreciate the fact that we also have someone on staff with a pager to handle emergencies 24 hours a day," Muscarella says. "Depending on the problem, we can either take care of it, or dispatch the appropriate subcontractor." G.L. professionals are also on hand to teach people about common maintenance issues, such as caulking window and tubs, power washing, or how to prepare homes for the rainy season. "People want to take care of their new home and are really open to what we have to say," Muscarella adds.

7. Amenities that impress

GreyStone offers a fitness center, resort-style pool, water play area, tot lot, picnic pavilion, full basketball court, lighted tennis court, huge soccer field with two goals and scrimmages every weekend, sand volleyball court, and walking paths around the "five acres of fun." "We pretty much have a five-acre park here," Muscarella says. "Our residents can spend the entire weekend here, without having to go anywhere or getting bored, and the kids love it." There's also a social hall that can be rented for private parties up to 37 people. Plus all residents appreciate the gated entry, which has a programmable telephone communication network between the gates and your home.

8. Close in time to save BIG

Muscarella says lots of people have purchased to take advantage of the government tax credit for first-time buyers, scheduled to end on Nov. 30. Even during our interview, I couldn't help but overhear a woman walk into the lobby and say, "I'm ready. What do you have available?" "We actually accelerated the production of our home currently under construction, so they will be finished by mid November, giving people plenty of time to close by Nov. 30," Muscarella says. "A huge advantage to purchasing one of our pre-designed homes is that you can close within a week if paying in cash, or as soon as your lender is ready if you're taking out a mortgage. Another advantage is the fact that these homes already include all the hot-button, sexy items -- tile on the diagonal in main living areas, granite counters, upgraded fixtures -- that people generally want anyway."

9. Brisk sales create urgency

When a builder can sell an average of 25 homes a month during what is undeniably one of the rockiest times many of us have ever seen, it sends the message that what they have to offer must be of considerable value. It also plants the seed that all good things must come to an end, which in this case means that at a pace like this, the opportunities will likely not last much longer than the six months Muscarella predicts. "Of the 80 single-family homes currently under construction, over half [45 to be exact] are under contract. We sold nine homes in the first nine days of September alone -- plus there's another half dozen reservations," Muscarella says. "If you want to reserve a home or a lot, all you have to do is give us $3,000 to hold it, so you have time to show your family. You have three or four days to revert to contract, or get your money back no questions asked." Muscarella notes that all of the townhomes at GreyStone have been sold out for a while now. "There will be 16 more townhome units in three buildings offered for sale in early 2010 and expected to be delivered in the summer of 2010," she adds. "We already have people on a waiting list for them." With 1,402 to over 2,000 square feet under air, the townhomes live like single-family homes.

10. Buy new for peace of mind

"We have lots of people who come back to us after they've had a short sale or foreclosure fall through," Muscarella says. "We have the price they want, and the builder is right here, so they know exactly what they're getting." New homes are also built to the most up-to-date codes and requirements. "For example, the county code requires that our a/c calculations our determined by the actual exposure for each particular home, so a home that gets more afternoon sun will have a different unit than one that gets early-morning sun, ensuring greater efficiency for everyone," Muscarella says. "All of this translates into savings for the homeowner." It's just one more reason to purchase a brand-new home at GreyStone by G.L. Homes.