Fine new custom designs on the market
Hudson Valley Carpenter
| Posted in General Discussion on
The link is to a RE agent’s presentation of a handsome new home, a few blocks from where I’m staying in SoCal. I walked through it during an open house sales day, a while back. Asking price is $3,475,000.
Looking at the sales brochure again today, I thought that this might be a good topic for BT, new custom homes in our cities/towns.
Edited 6/6/2009 5:04 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Replies
Up here in the still frozen North Saskatchewan, there is a lot of custom homes going up. The recesion is not hitting use as hard here. most are retirees that want a dream home. 3+ million not here. Some real nice custom places on lakefront property just under a million, lots around $500,000.
Still hard finding trades but people are flowing in. Noticed a drywall outfit from Colorado, and a friend who is a mason said people are calling from all over looking for work.
That house in the post what is the land value? and what kind of interior finish do you get for that cash? How many square feet?
Glad to hear that custom building is still happening up your way. If it's going well in the frozen north, the economic thaw here can't be far behind.
I'd estimate the land value of that lot at $1.5 million. Amestoy Estates is an old development in an up-scale part this suburb of Los Angeles.
The original homes, built about sixty years ago, are gradually being replaced with larger custom homes such as this one.
The answers to your other questions can be found on the linked web site. There are a dozen or more photos of the interior.
There are currently three custom homes of this size under construction in the same neighborhood. Another one was completed last year.
Since that's on the market, is it not a spec?
Just to pick nits, a couple of things I noticed. In the photo of the master tub with the curved wall, the window trim is not ganged, it is one picture-frame per window. Wouldn't that look a helluva lot better with a continuous curved sill and casing legs that spanned from one jamb to the next? And, in the photo of the pool/rear yard you can see the neighbor's roofs on both sides. Does not look upscale.
Up here, $3.5M will buy you a major trophy house.
http://www.chrisspaulding.idxco.com/idx/3424/details.php?idxID=041&listingID=28095838
Of course the owner of a house like this might also own one costing equal or more in SoCal.
>Since that's on the market, is it not a spec?<
I was thinking the same. Oddest one I saw was a neighboorhood of townhomes/condos for 55yo and older. The sign said Custom TowneHomes & Condos.... how do they do that?
Only 3 left.
went back and looked at the site again and saw the interior pics.
Yup pretty spanky! one thought, since in So Cal how much does seismic building codes add to the cost of a house? And 1.5 for a lot does add up real quick.
In 1997 I bought 180 feet of lake front with a crappy remodeled old house. $80,000.
Tore the house down and saved salvage to build 1200 Sq f shop.
Built ICF house tamed over growen yard. Built gabions. could sell for Over half million easy now.
when I started lots of people warned against "it's to big for the area. Now it looks small compared to some. Lake view lots are selling like mad and pouring basements as we speak.David I checked out the island, that seems like a deal. your own island in the Straits. I think I could take that? where do you park?
That's only one tiny piece of the island. There recently has been an entire island for sale, listed for around $3M. It was maybe ten acres, no power/water/anything else.
Friend of mine is building a pretty nice place on a private island about 4 miles out of the harbor:
http://www.bellisland.us/
Some of the site is either inaccessible or just not there, but there are some decent photos and videos.
WAY more than $3M for this place.
Thanks for posting that Bell Island link. Very interesting. Must be great fun to have a friend who's involved in a project of that kind.
Built ICF house tamed over growen yard. Built gabions. could sell for Over half million easy now.
Hey, sounds nice. How about adding some photos here?
I was thinking the same. Oddest one I saw was a neighboorhood of townhomes/condos for 55yo and older. The sign said Custom TowneHomes & Condos.... how do they do that?
I agree. There's a builder in my area that has as a motto (in his ads, on his vehicles, etc.): "Builders of Individualized Custom Homes".
The word "custom" is way overused. Kinda like the phrase "Neotraditional community".
Runnerguy
The word "custom" is way overused
True. I subbed the framing and exterior finish of a few slap-dash "custom" vacation homes in the Poconos one summer. They had four basic models, each of which could be built with different add-ons, like screen porches and carports.
The sales person would go through a check list of options with the new clients ("will you want a roof with that?") and pass it along to the construction department. Even before computers they were very well organized, able to order an entire framing/exterior package from the lumber yard with a brief phone call.
"For tomorrow afternoon, Lot 23, a type B shack with a screen porch and brindle brown shingles."
Edit: As I recall, that GC paid about $1.50 a square foot for a completely stick framed house, T1-11, windows installed, fascia and roofing. Early 1970s.
Edited 6/8/2009 1:08 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
("will you want a roof with that?")
ROTFLMAO
That was an actual cartoon caption from some home publication...the young couple sitting at the salesman's desk, him with an "options" list in hand.
The construction super of that company had the cartoon framed, hanging on the wall behind his desk. He enjoyed sharing that point of view about sales tactics with all his subs. Of course I ROFLMAO too. It was such a perfect comment on those cheapie "custom" homes.
I didn't stay there very long. The pay and the quality of those houses were both so poor that I could only justify doing them as fill-ins between architect's jobs in well established Pocono communities.
Edited 6/8/2009 1:16 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
probably the next morph of the term custom will be Custom Apartments.
Here's another new custom home in the same neighborhood. The RE sign just went up this week so I haven't been inside it yet.
http://www.5063Aldea.com
Since that's on the market, is it not a spec?
Yes, it's a new spec home. The furnishings are rented, I'm sure. Probably done by a decorater.
And, in the photo of the pool/rear yard you can see the neighbor's roofs on both sides. Does not look upscale.
You'll have to visit SoCal to get an idea about lot sizes and prices. Most of the higher end homes in places like Beverly Hills and Bel Air are built on lots of similar dimensions to this one, many on smaller lots. Hillside homes are usually on postage stamp lots, costing just as much.
That is a nice, new home. Lots of interesting architectural features that aren't standard in many new subdivisions around here.
What I found interesting is the "features" link. That is quite a large home! No wonder there are 6 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms.
I realize your market is much different from many markets...
When will homes start to be "normal" size?
When will homes start to be "normal" size?
Sooner than later, I'd say, according to the price of energy and future projections.
I haven't yet looked at anything other than the "opening" picture on the linked site.
But I gotta say, I'm not much impressed. I guess its attractive to many, or it would not have been built. But for me.....
No two windows match.
Upper doors don't match lower doors, and don't match each other very well.
And which wall cover did they start with but run out of, stucco or stone?
But I gotta say, I'm not much impressed. I guess its attractive to many, or it would not have been built. But for me.....
It's not my preferred style either but it's interesting enough to start a thread about new custom homes on the market.
So how about posting a link to a new house in your area that you admire?
>>"So how about posting a link to a new house in your area that you admire? "I'd love to. And perhaps I will, if I ever see one.I guess I'm just too much of a purist, or just an old fogey. I like houses that look good, even though they look like they've never been added on to. And the fashion for the past twenty years is for houses that have twenty different roof slopes, roof "edges" sticking out of walls, dormers where dormers should not be, dormers sticking out of dormers..... To me, most of the newer homes look just as bad as the vision conjured up when Johnny Cash sang about stealing parts from an assembly line over thirty years, and building a car.http://www.songlyrics.com/cash-johnny/one-piece-at-a-time-lyrics/
Politics is the antithesis of problem solving.
Being a purist about home design is like what a friend of mine once said about being an active idealist, "it works fine, if you have plenty of money".
As I mentioned, this home isn't a style that I'd choose for my own nor do I believe that it's very original. As you suggest, it probably borrows from many other homes but how many home designs don't do that?
I've been drawing floor plans for many years, for one special view lot that I own. I never begin with a particular style in mind, just a way to make good use of the view, from every level and room. That's a very demanding task in itself.
Add to that, the design must be pragmatic enough that the house will appeal to a reasonable percentage of potential buyers and turn a good profit, if and when I decide to move on. So market influences make many of my decisions for me.
I once bought a very cool custom pickup truck for a bargain price. When I decided to sell it I was surprised to find that so few people were interested in owning it, even at a price which clearly was much less than the hours of work which went into it. It took one year to sell, even though it was prominently displayed on a busy main road.
From that experience, just trying to recoup my small investment in an unusual custom vehicle, I came to understand the dilemma faced by many people who build original spec home designs. The market must be defineable, predictable and large enough that there will be several qualified buyers around who want to own it.
A purist friend of mine once built a beautiful new spec home on an interesting two acre lot in the country. It had many original features and included lots of expensive materials.
Two problems with his planning; the house was above the value of other homes in the area and....he had to sell it in a particular time frame. In the end, he lost some money on it.
Edited 6/8/2009 12:55 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Looks like a house Allan Edwards, from JLC, would build.
Jon Blakemore
RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Looks like a house Allan Edwards, from JLC, would build.
I don't spend any time on JLC. Got an example?
Yes
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Thanks Jon. That's the kind of web site I'm looking for in this thread.
I don't like the side with the stone work. Looks bad in my opinion.
You see that a lot in some areas. Lots of expensive elements but some stuff makes you wonder.
In So Cal there are a lot of immigrants that are building houses now. I think sometimes they miss the ball on things. Most of the house is fine but then there is something kind of ugly in one or more areas. Just my opinion. Like that stone work.
Maybe they hired the wrong stone mason.
Will Rogers
Edited 6/7/2009 12:13 am by popawheelie
Edited 6/7/2009 12:20 am by popawheelie
So...what can you show us from your town? Got any good architects/custom homes there?
I grew up in the LA area so I saw a lot of growth that I really didn't like so I moved.
Right now I'm in a mid/small size town. I bought in an older part of town purposely so I wouldn't have to get in the car every time I went somewhere.
The lots are small and so are most of the houses so large custom homes aren't built here very much.
They build them outside of town.
I could get a picture of one next time a go up to a friends house. It's a nice house but i don't like the neighborhood. "There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."Will Rogers
I could get a picture of one next time a go up to a friends house.
Here's another approach, a general suggestion for anyone who'd like to show a custom home from their home town or county.
Go to http://www.realtor.com and search for new homes for sale, using your zip code. Most of the better home listings include a series of photos, showing off the place.
It's always worthwhile to know what kind of new homes are selling for what kind of prices. Keeping track of sales and open houses allow you to take a Sunday afternoon drive and see it first hand. After doing that for a few months, the current market comes into focus very nicely. Remember to take your camera.
I think you guys are on a different page than I am. Or I'm out of my league.
I think I shouldn't be in this subject."There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."Will Rogers
It doesn't matter if you're building high end homes, just that you're interested in them.
The idea behind this thread is to share our local knowledge of new custom homes with one another. Just as reading Fine Homebuilding can inspire us, so can reading about other interesting projects and seeing a few pictures.
Another idea behind this thread is to use links to present photos and descriptions of custom homes, thereby saving our hosts some bandwidth.
Some personal comments about any home linked would help to make it all more real.
Edited 6/8/2009 1:17 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Boy, can't say as I care for that one at all.
Not exactly my taste either but it's what is selling around here. Whaddaya got to show us from your area?
When I look at these houses I see too many flaws, detail-wise and overall.
My next project is along the lines of one of Frank Lloyd Wright's more popular designs. The "prairie style". It's a home designed specifically for the client, not for sale. As a matter of fact, I've never really seen a home that was built on spec that was acceptable, quality-wise. Folks just cut too many corners because they really don't have that "all in" emotional investment in the property. Even if the quality of the construction is tolerable they cut corners on the design in effort to make the house easier to build, therefor cheaper and more profitable for sale.
It's funny, because I'm building myself a home on a pretty impressive view lot right now, (similar to your situation I read), and I'm doing almost all the work myself. One of the permits I have out is for a storage building/pumphouse/etc. and I'll be up there tying steel for the footings tomorrow. As I'm building I'm realizing that my design gave no consideration at all to ease of construction. Way too many curved concrete walls, lol! It's going to be pretty damn cool though.
The fellow I've been renting heavy equipment from said the other day that no one in the area, (just north of Napa Valley), will appreciate what I'm doing there. I told him he was wrong. He will. This is a guy who builds a nice friggin' road, believe me. Anyone who cares can see.
I'll try and dig up some shots of things around here that are well done. Silicon Valley has it's share of extremely intelligent client types who are committed to getting things right. A true custom home is tailor made to the client and no detail is too small to overlook. I don't see that level of care at all in spec homes. That being said, they work for folks who don't really know what they're looking at. And of course, the vast majority of the populace ain't that conscious.
Can't say that I disagree with you, on any of your points. I certainly believe that every builder and tradesperson should be conscientious about quality for it's own sake and for the sake of his/her inner life. Striving for perfection in the work place is one significant way to attain higher understanding of life and strength of character.
One of the reasons I build t&m when working with clients is that it's extremely difficult not to choose the less costly option as opposed to the correct one when the money is coming out of one's own pocket. There's always the conflicting impulse to get things done. It's completely understandable. Especially when we're talking high dollars and you're worried about losing your ####.
That being said, there's a lot of tacky stuff evident with those homes you posted going on at the design end. I bet whoever was shelling out the money was constantly bugging the architect about how to make things cheaper. People do so much just for show that really doesn't work at all. It's the old "lipstick on a pig" thing.
There's always the conflicting impulse to get things done. It's completely understandable. Especially when we're talking high dollars and you're worried about losing your ####.
The two houses I've linked are both spec jobs so you can understand why, in the current market, some of the nicer and more expensive options that you'd like to see, might be missing.
Anyway, the main idea of this thread is for everyone to provide similar links to architect's homes in your area. Like the examples I've posted, they don't have to be something that you or I admire, just what's new on the market.
Edited 6/10/2009 12:09 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Sorry, I'm getting off track. One impression leads to another, heh, heh.
I live and work in an area where land is at such a premium that anything new or even extensively remodeled never goes on the market. I'll have a look around and see if there's anything available though.
As for capitalism, mass everything is probably a natural outgrowth of the system. It doesn't exist in the context of just one individual. I suspect human beings can corrupt any form of social order. Socialism ostensibly has it's merits yet look what happens under that system. Any conglomeration of humans can count on a degree of lack of character and integrity among it's members, going back to your point a few posts back.
It's funny, but there's a lot about our supposedly almighty capitalist system that doesn't work. There's a lot of #### in this country.
It's funny, but there's a lot about our supposedly almighty capitalist system that doesn't work.
Mass communications and mass marketing have made capitalism the culprit when it's really just a simple idea about serving one's own needs and interests, in an open market.